Laundry treatment machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top-loading laundry treatment machines face challenges in increasing the coupling force of the clutch during operation changes, leading to noise generation and potential damage due to the difference in speed between forward and reverse rotations.
Innovation Solution
The motor is controlled to repeat rotation and braking in specific directions multiple times during a short time period after the clutch operation is changed, reducing noise and the risk of clutch damage while enhancing coupling force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the clutch operation is changed during normal operation, then the coupling force of the clutch is increased, but noise is generated and the clutch may be damaged due to the difference in speed between forward and reverse rotations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by controlling the motor to perform multiple rotation and braking cycles in a specific direction before the clutch operation is actually changed. This preliminary rotation and braking action prepares the system for the upcoming clutch operation change, reducing the speed difference between forward and reverse rotations when the clutch engages, thereby minimizing noise and preventing clutch damage while ensuring reliable coupling force transmission
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the motor rotates in a specific direction multiple times before clutch operation change, then noise and clutch damage are reduced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing a controlled sequence of multiple rotation and braking cycles in a specific direction before changing the clutch operation. This periodic motion pattern (rotate-brake-rotate-brake) systematically reduces the speed differential between opposing rotations, thereby minimizing noise and clutch damage during the transition, while the structured nature of this periodic action makes the control implementation manageable despite the increased complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment machine includes a wash tub, a pulsator provided inside the wash tub and to be rotated, a motor to rotate at least one of the wash tub and the pulsator, a clutch to selectively transmit torque of the motor to at least one of the wash tub and the pulsator, a clutch drive unit to control driving of the clutch unit, and a controller to control the motor to repeat rotation and braking in a first direction a first number of times during a first time period after operation of the clutch is changed. With this configuration, in the top-loading type laundry treatment machine, the coupling force of the clutch may be increased when operation of the clutch is changed.