Washing Drum Motion Control for Uniform Laundry Fluid Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drum type washing machines face challenges in effectively washing and rinsing large amounts of laundry, often resulting in uneven contact with washing fluid, increased washing deviation, and incomplete removal of contaminants and detergents.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine employs a drum with a lifter and a controller that implements a combination of motions such as tumbling, rolling, swinging, and squeezing, where the drum speed is rapidly accelerated and decelerated to repeatedly lift and drop laundry, ensuring uniform contact with washing fluid and efficient discharge of contaminants and detergents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drum rotates at a constant speed to wash laundry, then the washing process is simple and stable, but the laundry does not contact the washing fluid uniformly and washing deviation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drum motion is changed from constant speed rotation to dynamic motion with multiple phases including acceleration, deceleration, and direction reversal. The controller adjusts the drum speed and direction to create tumbling, rolling, and swinging motions that ensure uniform contact between laundry and washing fluid, thereby improving washing performance through dynamic motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing cycle is divided into periodic phases including filling, washing, rinsing, and spinning, with each phase containing specific drum motion patterns. The drum performs repeated cycles of acceleration and deceleration, forward and reverse rotation, creating periodic tumbling and rolling motions that systematically ensure all laundry items contact the washing fluid uniformly throughout the washing process.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates slowly to allow laundry to contact washing fluid, then energy consumption is reduced, but washing time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drum employs dynamic speed variation rather than constant slow rotation. During filling phase, the drum rotates slowly to allow proper water distribution. During washing phase, the drum accelerates to create tumbling and rolling motions that rapidly and uniformly distribute washing fluid throughout the laundry load, maintaining both productivity and contact uniformity through optimized dynamic motion patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum speed parameter is dynamically adjusted throughout the washing cycle. The controller varies rotation speed, acceleration rate, and direction based on the specific phase of operation. This parameter optimization ensures that the laundry is thoroughly contacted by washing fluid in minimal time, achieving both high productivity and uniform distribution without excessive energy consumption.
3Productivity
If the drum rotates rapidly to improve washing speed, then productivity increases, but laundry items do not contact washing fluid uniformly and washing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washing cycle incorporates periodic alternation between high-speed phases for productivity and low-speed phases for uniform contact. The drum performs rapid rotation during spinning phase for efficient water removal, but switches to slower tumbling and rolling motions during washing and rinsing phases to ensure uniform fluid distribution. This periodic alternation maintains both washing speed and quality throughout the cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum motion transitions dynamically between different rotation speeds and patterns based on operational requirements. The controller adjusts speed and direction to create appropriate motion patterns - rapid rotation when productivity is prioritized, slower tumbling and rolling when uniform contact is required. This dynamic adaptation ensures optimal balance between washing speed and uniformity at different stages of the cycle.
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 improves washing performance by ensuring uniform contact and reduced washing deviation, effectively discharging contaminants and detergents, and allows users to visually monitor laundry movement.
Implementation Method 1
repeatedly dropping the laundry while rotating the drum in a predetermined direction
Implementation Method 2
sticking or separating the laundry to and from the inside of the drum by repeatedly accelerating and decelerating the drum
Implementation Method 3
A lifter is mounted within the drum so as to lift laundry during a rotation of the drum
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine and an associated washing method are provided. The method may include supplying washing fluid into a drum containing laundry, repeatedly dropping the laundry while rotating the drum in a predetermined direction, and drawing the laundry towards or separating the laundry from the inner circumferential surface of the drum by repeatedly accelerating and decelerating the drum.