EP2961879A1

EP2961879A1 - Washing machine washing and rinsing system having an improved efficiency

Info

Publication number: EP2961879A1
Application number: EP13706276.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ilkan Erdem; Omer Dogan; Hakan Tatar
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-02-28
Filing date: 2013-02-28
Publication date: 2016-01-06
Also published as: TR201719303T3; WO2014131452A1; TR201413632T1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) in which cloth items are placed, a water tub (2) in which the rotary drum (3) is rotatable, a motor (7) providing the rotary drum (3) to be driven by means of a pulley mechanism (10), the latter disposed outside the water tub (2). The washing machine (1) of the present invention further comprises a pump (4) in a circulation pipe (5) drawing wash water stored in the water tub (2) and delivering pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) via a nozzle water conduit (9), the spray nozzle (8) jetting the wash water from a front door (6) side above the rotary drum (3) toward the inner part of the same.

Description

WASHING MACHINE WASHING AND RINSING SYSTEM HAVING AN IMPROVED EFFICIENCY

The present invention relates to a washing machine having an improved washing performance in response to different load conditions.
Washing machines are generally classified as a top loading type washing machine or a front loading type washing machine. It is well-known that a front loading type washing machine contains a tub in a cabinet for receiving washing water and a drum rotatably mounted in the tub. Typically, wash water is received in the tub, and cloth items to be washed are placed in the drum. Cloth items are then lifted and dropped by lifters while the drum is rotated so that washing and rinsing process is carried out.
The washing machine of the above type further incorporates a pump unit for circulating washing water in the lower part of the tub, said pump unit conveying washing water to an upper part of the tub such that a more efficient washing angle can be obtained according to different load conditions. A nozzle is accordingly provided to deliver water jets from said upper part of the tub.
It is to be noted 20 % of total household water consumption originate from washing machines. Although washing machine calibration and efficiency tests are carried out by manufacturers under certain load situations, it is possible that some users may operate those machines under minimal load, i.e. an amount of laundry much less than half-load situation. This causes both inefficient water jetting angle and direction as well as requires use of more water than needed for an efficient washing performance. The final result is generally unacceptable considering the amount of water being used.
Among others, a prior art publication in the technical field of the invention may be referred to as JP 54062661, which attempts at improving washing performance by means of a plurality of jet spraying nozzles. The situation is the same for EP 2 343 409, which discloses multiple nozzles for jetting the wash water.
The present invention provides a washing machine with improved washing or rinsing efficiency under different load conditions, which is provided by the characterizing features as defined in Claim 1.
Primary object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with improved washing or rinsing efficiency under different load conditions.
The present invention proposes a front loading washing machine with a drum in which cloth items are placed and a water tub in which said rotary drum is rotatable. A motor conventionally provides that said drum is driven by means of a pulley mechanism disposed outside said tub.
A pump is provided in a circulation pipe, which draws wash water stored in said water tub. Pressured water is supplied to a spray nozzle through a nozzle water conduit. In this way, said spray nozzle produce water jets targeting cloth items in the drum. As the amount of laundry can be outside the suggested weight range in certain situations, it is desirable to adapt a method to suit particular load conditions.
The spray nozzle jets wash water from a front door side above said rotary drum toward the inner part of the same. The angle of effect of water jets is controlled by varying the flow rate and pressure of the pump. Water supplied to the spray nozzle by said pump is therefore controlled by varying said pump’s speed. Speed control is performed by a control device based on the laundry weight in said rotary drum.
Said control device sets the angle of effect of said spray nozzle to an angle between 45 and 75 degrees when a laundry weight of less than half-load is sensed. In smaller angles, it would be more probable that water jets jump over all the cloth items without hitting any one. On the other hand, the control device, that is an electronic control unit, sets the angle of effect to an angle between 30 and 45 degrees if the laundry exceeds half-load weight.
The information as to the required pump speed for obtaining a certain angle of effect on different load conditions is loaded into said control device in the form of a predefined table during manufacturing stage.
Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a washing machine with improved washing or rinsing efficiency whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will be explained in brief hereinafter.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.
Fig. 1 demonstrates a side cut-away view of a washing machine according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 demonstrates a side cut-away view of a washing machine with minimal load according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 demonstrates a side cut-away view of a washing machine with full load according to the present invention.
The following numerals are used in the detailed description:
Washing machine (1)
Water tub (2)
Rotary drum (3)
Pump (4)
Circulation pipe (5)
Front door (6)
Motor (7)
Spray nozzle (8)
Nozzle water conduit (9)
Pulley mechanism (10)
Control device (11)
The present invention proposes a washing machine designated generally by the numeral 1.
The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) rotated around the horizontal axis and wherein the laundry is placed. A water tub (2) in which the rotary drum (3) rotates is provided such that a motor (4) drives a rotary drum (3) by means of a pulley mechanism (10) disposed outside the water tub (2). The latter transmits rotational movement of the motor (7) to the rotary drum (3). The washing machine (1) conventionally comprises a discharge pump that discharges the wash water at the end of the washing process; a discharge conduit conveys the wash water accordingly.
There are several methods in order to determine load weight in the rotary drum (3). For instance a weight sensor system with sensors disposed at different directions for measuring the displacement of the water tub (2) in these directions can be used and the amount of load emplaced in the rotary drum (3) can be detected by rotating the rotary drum (3) while actuating the motor (7) for at least a short while before starting the washing process and accordingly evaluating the change in the displacement data with respect to the time received from the sensors during this rotation.
When the motor (7) is operated for a short while and stopped, the rotary drum (3) makes an oscillatory movement depending on the amount and position of the load emplaced therein and this movement is dampened in time. In this course, the load can be measured by processing the wavelength, period and dampening time of the waves in the displacement data.
According to the present invention, a pump (4) placed in a circulation pipe (5) draws wash water stored in the water tub (2) and pressurizes the wash water flowing in a nozzle water conduit (9) for conveying it into the rotary drum (3). This mechanism allows the wash water stored in the water tub (2) to run through the nozzle water conduit (9) and to circulate to the water tub (2).
The pump (4) is a water pump whose speed is controlled such that load weight as measured is processed by a control device (11) to determine the speed of said pump (4). Therefore, a control system operatively coupled to the weight sensor system as well as to the pump (4) is provided. A motor (7) is drivingly coupled to the pump (4) which delivers pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) via said nozzle water conduit (9). A conventional drum-type washing machine jets the wash water from a front door (6) side toward the inner part of the rotary drum (3) through said spray nozzle (8) placed above said rotary drum (3) at the front door (6) side.
By varying the flow rate and pressure of the water supplied to said spray nozzle (8), it is possible to control the angle of effect of the same under different load conditions. In other words, it is possible to provide water jets directly targeting cloth items in a more accurate manner such that different water jetting heights are adopted, ensuring that produced water jets do not jump over the cloth items.
If an amount of laundry much less than half-load is intended to be washed, pump (4) motor speed is set to provide water jets which can still hit the laundry. When a laundry weight of less than half-load is sensed, the control device (11) sets the angle of effect of said spray nozzle (8), which is defined as the angle in between the base, i.e. lower inner surface of said rotary drum (3) and the direction along which water jets are produced, to an angle between 45 and 75 degrees by varying pump (4) speed accordingly.
On the other hand, if the laundry exceeds half-load weight, an angle between 30 and 45 degrees is applied, that is pump (4) speed is increased. The information as to the required pump (4) speed for obtaining a certain angle of effect on different load conditions is stored on said control device (11) in a predefined manner. This information is then used to determine the required angle of effect for a certain load condition.
In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) in which cloth items are placed, a water tub (2) in which the rotary drum (3) is rotatable, a motor (7) providing said rotary drum (3) to be driven by means of a pulley mechanism (10), the latter disposed outside said tub (2). A pump (4) in a circulation pipe (5) draws wash water stored in said water tub (2) and delivers pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) via a nozzle water conduit (9), said spray nozzle (8) jetting the wash water from a front door (6) side above the rotary drum (3) toward the inner part of the same.
The angle of effect of the spray nozzle (8) is controlled such that the flow rate and pressure of the water supplied to the spray nozzle (8) by the pump (4) is varied by way of varying the pump’s (4) speed. Said pump’s (4) speed is controlled by the control device (11) based on the weight of laundry in the rotary drum (3).
The control device (11) sets the angle of effect of the spray nozzle (8) to an angle between 45 and 75 degrees when a laundry weight of less than half-load is sensed. On the other hand, it sets the angle of effect to an angle between 30 and 45 degrees if the laundry exceeds half-load weight. The information as to the required pump (4) speed for obtaining a certain angle of effect on different load conditions is stored on the control device (11) in a predefined manner.

Claims

A washing machine (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) in which cloth items are placed, a water tub (2) in which said rotary drum (3) is rotatable, a motor (7) providing said rotary drum (3) to be driven by means of a pulley mechanism (10), the latter disposed outside said tub (2), a pump (4) in a circulation pipe (5) drawing wash water stored in said water tub (2) and delivering pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) via a nozzle water conduit (9), said spray nozzle (8) jetting the wash water from a front door (6) side above said rotary drum (3) toward the inner part of the same characterized in that;

the angle of effect of the spray nozzle (8) is controlled such that the flow rate and pressure of the water supplied to said spray nozzle (8) by the pump (4) is varied by way of varying said pump’s (4) speed.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the pump’s (4) speed is controlled by a control device (11) based on the weight of laundry in the rotary drum (3).
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 2, characterized in that said control device (11) sets the angle of effect of the spray nozzle (8) to an angle between 45 and 75 degrees when a laundry weight of less than half-load is sensed.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 2, characterized in that the control device (11) sets the angle of effect of said spray nozzle (8) to an angle between 30 and 45 degrees if the laundry exceeds half-load weight.
A washing machine (1) as in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that information as to the required pump (4) speed for obtaining a certain angle of effect on different load conditions is stored on the control device (11) in a predefined manner.
A method of operating a washing machine (1) comprising a water tub (2) in which a rotary drum (3) is rotatable, a motor (7) coupled to said rotary drum (3), a pump (4) delivering pressured water to a spray nozzle (8) jetting the wash water, said method of operating said washing machine (1) comprises the steps of:

a) sensing the weight of laundry in said rotary drum (3),

b) setting the angle of effect of said spray nozzle (8) to an angle between 45 and 75 degrees if a laundry weight of less than half-load is sensed by way of decreasing said pump’s (4) speed and,

c) setting the angle of effect of said spray nozzle (8) to an angle between 30 and 45 degrees if the laundry exceeds half-load weight by way of increasing said pump’s (4) speed.