Dual-Drum Laundry Control for Accurate Load and Water Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses with a single drum face inaccuracies in detecting laundry quantity in auxiliary and main drums during auxiliary and simultaneous washing modes, leading to suboptimal washing effects and water supply issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that includes a main drum and an auxiliary drum, where the auxiliary drum's water is pre-spun to remove initial water, allowing accurate detection of laundry quantity and optimal water supply through centrifugal force, enabling precise control of washing modes and water distribution between the drums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the auxiliary drum is mounted in the main drum to enable auxiliary and simultaneous washing modes, then washing versatility is improved, but measurement precision of laundry quantity deteriorates due to initial water in the auxiliary drum
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary spinning operation before the washing cycle to remove initial water from the auxiliary drum. This preliminary action eliminates the measurement error caused by residual water, ensuring accurate laundry quantity detection when the auxiliary drum is subsequently mounted for auxiliary or simultaneous washing modes.
2Ease of operation
If water is supplied to the auxiliary drum without removing initial water, then washing process simplicity is improved, but washing performance deteriorates due to inaccurate water quantity control
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs a preliminary spinning operation to remove initial water from the auxiliary drum before the washing cycle begins. This ensures accurate water quantity control during water supply, improving washing performance while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit detects the laundry quantity in the auxiliary drum after the preliminary spinning operation and uses this feedback information to control the water supply quantity. This closed-loop control ensures optimal washing performance by matching water supply to the actual laundry load.
3Productivity
If the main drum rotates at high speed for spinning, then water removal efficiency is improved, but laundry damage increases due to excessive centrifugal force
Solution Approach 1:
The spinning operation is divided into multiple stages with different rotation speeds. The control unit rotates the main drum at a first rotation speed for a predetermined time to remove most water, then reduces to a second rotation speed to complete water removal. This periodic speed variation achieves efficient water removal while minimizing laundry damage from excessive centrifugal force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures accurate detection and processing of laundry quantities in both drums, optimizing washing performance and water usage across different modes, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the laundry treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a provisional spinning operation for discharging initially-remaining water in the auxiliary drum out of the auxiliary drum by a centrifugal force resulting from a rotation of the main drum before the auxiliary water-supply operation
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus may include a main drum and an auxiliary drum selectively mounted on or separated from the main drum. A method for controlling the laundry apparatus may include rotating the main drum to cause a centrifugal force for discharging water from the auxiliary drum before supplying washing water into the auxiliary drum. The method may include one of washing laundry in the main drum while the auxiliary drum is separated from the main drum, washing laundry in only the auxiliary drum while the auxiliary drum is mounted on the main drum, or washing laundry simultaneously in the auxiliary drum and the main drum while the auxiliary drum is mounted on the main drum.