Laundry appliance and operating method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry washing machines inefficiently detect and handle undetached laundry rings, leading to unnecessary energy consumption, stress on machine components, and potential damage, especially for varying load sizes and masses.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use motor current measurements at different rotational speeds to determine if an undetached laundry ring is present, allowing for targeted loosening operations only when necessary, incorporating a controller to energize the drum at specific speeds and compare motor current indications to decide on the presence of a laundry ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laundry ring detection is performed using conventional methods (assumed presence or learning phase), then laundry ring loosening operations are carried out, but this leads to unnecessary energy consumption, time loss, and machine stress when no laundry ring is present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detection methods (such as sensors or physical inspection) with an acoustic detection system that uses sound analysis. The system listens for characteristic sounds generated by laundry items moving within the drum to determine whether a laundry ring is present, eliminating the need for mechanical intervention or assumption-based operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the laundry load itself to generate detectable acoustic signals during drum rotation. By analyzing the sound patterns produced by the laundry items naturally moving within the drum, the system performs self-detection without requiring external sensors, additional components, or manual inspection, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and machine stress.
2Reliability
If laundry ring loosening operations are performed for all loads, then detection reliability is improved, but cycle time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detection methods (such as sensors or physical inspection) with an acoustic detection system that uses sound analysis. The system listens for characteristic sounds generated by laundry items moving within the drum to determine whether a laundry ring is present, eliminating the need for mechanical intervention or assumption-based operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the laundry load itself to generate detectable acoustic signals during drum rotation. By analyzing the sound patterns produced by the laundry items naturally moving within the drum, the system performs self-detection without requiring external sensors, additional components, or manual inspection, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and machine stress.
3Measurement precision
If motor current measurements are used to detect laundry rings, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detection methods (such as sensors or physical inspection) with an acoustic detection system that uses sound analysis. The system listens for characteristic sounds generated by laundry items moving within the drum to determine whether a laundry ring is present, eliminating the need for mechanical intervention or assumption-based operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the laundry load itself to generate detectable acoustic signals during drum rotation. By analyzing the sound patterns produced by the laundry items naturally moving within the drum, the system performs self-detection without requiring external sensors, additional components, or manual inspection, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and machine stress.
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 approach efficiently detects undetached laundry rings for all load sizes, reducing cycle time and energy consumption, and prevents unnecessary machine stress, ensuring effective operation and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a drum for receiving a laundry load, the drum rotated by an electric motor
Implementation Method 2
The rotational speed of the drum during the high speed spin may be greater than 1000 rpm, for example 1400 rpm. During the high speed spin, the laundry/clothes load is spread over the drum's inner surface around its circumference and compressed there-against
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry washing (or washing and drying) machine, and a machine so operated, for determining whether an undetached laundry ring is present within the drum at the end of a washing cycle. The method includes rotating the drum at first and second rotational speeds, respectively below and above the threshold speed at which the load is centrifugally held against the drum's surface, measuring motor current/torque at each speed and comparing the measured values. Optionally, a percentage change in current/torque can be calculated and the existence of the ring detected if the percentage change is above/below a predetermined threshold value. Optionally, speed variation of the drum at each threshold speed can be determined and this information also used in the determination of whether the ring exists.