Laundry Load Detection for Uniform Washing and Drying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treatment appliances often face inefficiencies due to improper loading, leading to inadequate detergent distribution and air circulation, resulting in suboptimal washing and drying processes.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the laundry load and issues a warning if it falls outside a threshold range, allowing users to adjust the load before starting the cycle, with adjustments made to operational parameters based on the detected load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the drum is overloaded with laundry, then the productivity of the appliance is improved, but the manufacturing precision of detergent distribution deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaundry treatment capacityVSAvoiddetergent distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary detection of the laundry load amount before the washing cycle begins. Based on this detection, the system pre-adjusts operational parameters such as water quantity, detergent dosage, and drum rotation speed to ensure optimal detergent distribution and washing quality even when the load amount varies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the drum is overloaded with laundry, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability of the washing quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaundry treatment capacityVSAvoidwashing quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters during the washing cycle based on the detected laundry load amount. The control unit modifies water injection quantity, detergent dispensing rate, drum rotation speed, and heating power in real-time to maintain consistent washing quality across different load conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the actual laundry load amount and uses this feedback information to adjust operational parameters. The system compares the detected load with optimal ranges and automatically modifies washing parameters to ensure reliable washing quality regardless of whether the load is light or heavy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If the drum is underloaded with laundry, then the manufacturing precision of air circulation is improved, but the productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair circulation uniformityVSAvoidlaundry treatment capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters based on the detected laundry load amount. For underloaded conditions, the control unit adjusts air circulation volume, heating power, and drum rotation speed to maintain optimal air flow distribution and drying quality, while still utilizing the appliance's full productivity capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If the drum is underloaded with laundry, then the manufacturing precision of energy utilization is improved, but the productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy utilization efficiencyVSAvoidlaundry treatment capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary detection of the laundry load amount and pre-adjusts energy-consuming parameters such as heating power, water heating temperature, and air circulation intensity. This preliminary adjustment ensures optimal energy utilization efficiency for the actual load size while maintaining the appliance's productivity by completing the washing cycle within the standard time frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3257994B1Method for operating a laundry treatment appliance and laundry treatment appliance
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3257994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3257994B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3257994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for operating a laundry treatment appliance (2), comprising a casing within which a drum (36) rotated by a motor (68) is arranged, an opening provided in the casing for loading the laundry into said drum (36) and a door (24) adapted to open or to close said opening, whereby said appliance (2) performs least one laundry treatment cycle, said treatment cycle comprising the steps of: a) determining the amount of laundry load in said drum (36); b) if the determined amount of laundry is outside a laundry load threshold range, issuing a warning to the user and waiting for a prescribed waiting time before starting said cycle, whereby during said waiting time the laundry treatment appliance switches to an operating mode in which the user to is allowed to change the amount of laundry load in the drum (36).