Control method of laundry treatment apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment apparatuses with multiple devices, such as washers and dryers, often experience simultaneous operation interruptions due to overcurrent, leading to inconvenient restarts and incomplete laundry cycles.
Innovation Solution
A control method that manages electric power distribution between multiple treatment devices by executing cycles with varying current demands, switching to lower current cycles when the reference current is exceeded, and adjusting cycle times to prevent interruptions, ensuring both devices can operate simultaneously without exceeding safe power limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple treatment devices operate simultaneously, then productivity and user convenience are improved, but overcurrent interruptions occur causing operation instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation mode of treatment devices based on real-time current consumption. When simultaneous operation causes overcurrent, the control unit dynamically switches one device to a low-current operation mode, maintaining operational flexibility while preventing interruptions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining high productivity and ensuring operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of treatment devices by switching between different operation modes (normal mode and low-current mode). When overcurrent is detected, the system modifies parameters such as heating power, motor speed, or cycle duration to reduce current consumption, thereby preventing interruptions while allowing simultaneous operation to continue, thus maintaining both productivity and reliability.
2Productivity
If high current cycles are executed to complete laundry treatment faster, then productivity is improved, but overcurrent interruptions occur causing cycle completion delays
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary assessment of current consumption before initiating high-current cycles. When multiple devices are operating simultaneously and approaching current limits, the system proactively switches one device to low-current mode in advance, preventing overcurrent interruptions before they occur. This preliminary action ensures continuous high-productivity operation without cycle delays.
3Reliability
If the system switches to low current operation mode to prevent overcurrent, then operational reliability is improved, but productivity and cycle efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the treatment devices into different operational groups based on current consumption characteristics. When overcurrent is detected, only the necessary portion of devices is switched to low-current mode while others continue normal operation. This segmentation maintains overall productivity by preserving high-current operation in non-critical devices while ensuring reliability through low-current operation in critical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit periodically monitors current consumption and dynamically switches devices between normal and low-current modes based on real-time conditions. This periodic adjustment allows the system to maintain high productivity during periods of sufficient current availability while ensuring reliability during peak demand periods, optimizing the balance between the two opposing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A control method of a laundry treatment apparatus that includes a first treatment device that has a first load unit and that is configured to treat laundry and a second treatment device that has a second load unit and that is configured to treat laundry includes the action of executing a first cycle in the first treatment device by supplying electric power to the first load unit. The actions include executing a second cycle in the second treatment device by supplying electric power to the second load unit. The actions further include reducing power consumption by terminating the second cycle in the second treatment device and executing a third cycle in the second treatment device, the third cycle being different than the second cycle. The actions further include terminating the first cycle in the first treatment device. The actions further include terminating the third cycle in the second treatment device.