Laundry Machine Control for Reservation and Idle Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial laundry machines are inefficient in power management and require excessive operator involvement for reservation or operator use, lacking satisfactory systems for reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Innovation Solution
A control system for laundry machines that includes a drop-off mode for operator use without payment, a lock-out function for reservation, and idle modes to reduce power consumption, utilizing a microprocessor-controlled drive controller and machine controller to manage operations and power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the laundry machine operates continuously to be available for public use, then service availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the machine's operational state based on usage patterns and time of day, transitioning between active, standby, and shutdown modes to optimize the balance between availability and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The machine performs preliminary actions by entering standby mode in advance of predicted low-usage periods, allowing it to reduce power consumption before actually becoming unavailable, thus smoothing the trade-off between availability and energy use
2Extent of automation
If the machine requires payment activation through coin/cash/card interface, then operator involvement is reduced, but flexibility for operator use without payment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system serves multiple functions: it processes payments from public users, allows operator bypass using service codes, and manages machine state transitions, making the system adaptable to different user types and usage scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the payment interface and machine activation, allowing it to interpret payment inputs or service codes and决定是否 to activate the machine, thus providing flexibility for both public and operator use
3Loss of time
If the machine remains in active state for immediate use, then user convenience is improved, but energy waste increases during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic transitions between active and standby states based on detected idle periods, activating the machine only when needed and allowing it to enter low-power mode during predictable idle times
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors usage patterns and provides feedback to determine when to transition between operational states, using this information to optimize the balance between immediate availability and energy conservation
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a laundry machine provides a system for engaging a laundry machine in a drop-off mode, allowing an operator to use the machine as necessary to process customer garments without being required to activate the machine via a payment interface. In an embodiment of the invention, the system provides a lock-out function for allowing a machine to be reserved for a specific user holding a predetermined password or code. In a further embodiment of the invention, the laundry machine is configured with a low power and/or shut down facility, whereby the power consumption of the machine may be greatly reduce during idle periods.