Laundry Sanitizing Steam Control for Load-Adaptive Fabric Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloth treating apparatuses face challenges in sanitizing laundry without damaging fabrics, as high steam temperatures can cause deformation or discoloration, while low temperatures may result in incomplete sanitization, and existing systems lack efficient control methods to adapt to varying laundry loads, leading to energy waste.
Innovation Solution
A control method for laundry treating machines that selects between two sanitary courses based on laundry load, adjusting steam temperature and supply time to maintain a predetermined sanitary standard, with feedback control to ensure the temperature is maintained for the required duration, preventing fabric damage and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperature steam is used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but fabric damage (deformation, shrinkage, discoloration) occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the steam temperature adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the steam temperature based on the selected sanitizing course and fabric type, allowing the system to adapt between high temperature for effective sterilization and lower temperature for delicate fabrics, thus resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and fabric protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of steam based on different sanitizing courses. The control unit modifies the steam temperature parameter according to pre-set courses that correspond to different fabric types and contamination levels, enabling the system to optimize between sterilization effectiveness and fabric safety by adjusting this critical parameter
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low temperature steam is used for sterilization, then fabric damage is prevented, but sterilization completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts steam temperature based on the selected course, allowing lower temperatures for delicate fabrics while compensating with extended treatment time or multiple cycles to achieve complete sterilization, thus maintaining both fabric safety and sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through multiple steam treatment cycles. For delicate fabrics requiring lower temperatures, the system performs repeated steam applications, each cycle contributing to cumulative sterilization effect, thereby achieving complete sterilization without exposing fabric to damaging high temperatures
3Loss of energy
If steam is supplied without load-based control, then energy waste increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control unit receives input about the laundry load and selected sanitizing course, then adjusts steam supply parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables energy-efficient operation by matching steam supply to actual needs while maintaining manageable system complexity through pre-programmed adjustment rules
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts steam supply duration and intensity based on load size and fabric type selected by the user. Larger loads receive longer or more intense steam treatment while smaller loads receive reduced treatment, optimizing energy consumption without requiring complex real-time monitoring systems
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
The method effectively sanitizes laundry while preventing fabric damage and reducing energy waste by tailoring steam treatment to the specific load, ensuring the temperature is maintained at a sanitary standard for the necessary time, thus enhancing the sanitization process and energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
supplying steam to the objects, with controlling a temperature of the accommodating space and a steam supplying time to maintain a temperature of the object to be at a predetermined sanitary standard temperature or higher for a predetermined sanitary standard time or longer
Data Source
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AI summary
A control method of the same are disclosed. A control method of a laundry treating machine comprising an accommodating space receiving laundry therein, the control method includes selecting one of at least two sanitary courses to sanitize objects, and supplying steam to the objects, with controlling a temperature of the accommodating space and a steam supplying time to maintain a temperature of the object to be at a predetermined sanitary standard temperature or higher for a predetermined sanitary standard time according to the selected course. According to the control method of the present invention, steam may be supplied appropriately according to the load amount of the laundry treating machine such that damage of laundry fabric may be prevented, sanitizing, or sterilizing the laundry.