Method for controlling spin-drying operation of washing apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spin-drying operations in washing apparatuses are inefficient, leading to prolonged times and incomplete water removal due to fixed rotation speeds and repeated fabric dispersion steps, causing excessive energy consumption and noise.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically adjusts the spin-drying operation based on laundry conditions, using sensors to monitor fabric amount, eccentricity, and vibration, allowing for variable rotation speeds and repeated fabric dispersion steps to ensure thorough water removal without excessive energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drum rotates at a fixed spin-drying RPM for a predetermined time, then the spin-drying operation is simple to control, but the spin-drying time becomes excessively long when fabric dispersion steps are repeated multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed, static spin-drying time to a dynamic, adaptive time determination method. The controller calculates the required spin-drying time based on real-time feedback from vibration sensors and fabric amount detectors, allowing the system to adjust the operation duration according to actual laundry conditions rather than following a predetermined fixed schedule.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring vibration levels during spin-drying and using this information to determine when the operation should terminate. The vibration detector provides real-time data to the controller, which compares the vibration level against threshold values to dynamically adjust the spin-drying duration, eliminating the need for excessive fixed-time operations.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed to remove water from laundry, then water removal efficiency is improved, but severe vibration and noise occur due to eccentric fabric distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing fabric redistribution at lower speeds before initiating high-speed spin-drying. The controller first rotates the drum at a relatively low speed to allow fabric to distribute evenly, then gradually increases to the target spin-drying speed. This preliminary low-speed phase prevents severe eccentric distribution and reduces vibration before high-speed operation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by using intermittent acceleration and deceleration cycles during spin-drying. When vibration exceeds threshold levels, the controller decelerates the drum to redistribute fabric, then re-accelerates to the target speed. This periodic adjustment maintains water removal efficiency while controlling vibration and noise through repeated cycles of speed modification.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the drum is stopped or decelerated to uniformly disperse fabric, then fabric distribution is improved, but the spin-drying operation time increases due to repeated operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the spin-drying system to autonomously monitor its own performance through vibration sensors and automatically determine when fabric distribution is sufficient. The controller uses real-time vibration data to assess whether redistribution is needed, eliminating the need for predetermined repeated cycles and allowing the system to self-regulate the operation duration based on actual conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the vibration threshold and acceleration rates based on fabric amount and operation phase. The controller modifies operational parameters such as target acceleration rate and vibration thresholds according to detected fabric weight and distribution conditions, optimizing the balance between fabric uniformity and operation time without requiring fixed repeated cycles.
4Device complexity
If a fixed spin-drying time is predetermined, then the control process is simple, but water removal may be insufficient when the time is too short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical timing system with a sensor-based detection and calculation system. Instead of relying on predetermined fixed time schedules, the controller uses vibration detectors and fabric amount sensors to calculate the optimal spin-drying time dynamically. This substitution of mechanical timing with intelligent sensing and computation ensures both simple control interface and reliable water removal completion.
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 significantly reduces spin-drying time, ensures complete water removal from laundry, and conserves energy by adapting the spin-drying process to the specific conditions of the laundry load.
Implementation Method 1
the spin-drying operation is a process in which water contained in the laundry is removed as the laundry that has undergone the washing and rinsing operations is rotated at a high speed along with the drum
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus includes a laundry dispersing step of dispersing the laundry inside a drum by accelerating the drum, a spin-drying step including detecting the eccentricity of the drum, and performing spin-drying by rotating the drum to a spin-drying RPM. The laundry dispersing step is re-executed when the eccentricity exceeds a reference eccentricity, and in the spin-drying step, a rotation time during which the drum rotates at the spin-drying RPM is adjusted according to a spin-drying degree. The spin-drying degree is measured after a point in time at which the eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity.