EP3418442B1

EP3418442B1 - Washing machine and device for attachment to a washable garment

Info

Publication number: EP3418442B1
Application number: EP17176720.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Burhan GULBAHAR; Gorkem MEMISOGLU
Original assignee: Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS; Ozyegin Universitesi
Current assignee: Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS; Ozyegin Universitesi
Priority date: 2017-06-19
Filing date: 2017-06-19
Publication date: 2023-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-19
Also published as: TR201709559A2; EP3418442A1

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, a device for attachment to a washable garment, and a garment comprising such a device.

Background

Washing machines are used for washing garments such as clothes. Typically a user can select a suitable washing cycle via an interface on a front face of the washing machine. The interface usually includes a number of control knobs and/or buttons.
EP 1431444 A1 discloses a laundry sorting apparatus having a plurality of compartments and sorting means for selectively sorting articles in to the compartments. The sorting apparatus has a sensor that is configured to read identifiers from the articles, and to perform the sort based on article parameters read by the sensor.
FR 2794550 A1 discloses an automatic identification system for laundered garments on a moving conveyor, where each garment has an electronic label.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a controller; a sensor constructed and arranged to obtain an indication of degradation of a degradable identifier of a garment during a washing cycle of the garment in the washing machine; wherein the degradable identifier is attached to the garment and is arranged to degrade during a washing cycle in response to exposure to one or more of: water; solvents; raised temperatures; thereby changing a strength of an electrical signal the degradable identifier can induce in an induction coil of the sensor, wherein the sensor is arranged to relay the electrical signal to the controller to provide the indication of degradation of the degradable identifier; the controller being configured to use the indication of degradation received from the sensor to generate an output to a user indicative of a washing status of the garment.
In an example, the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged at different locations on the washing machine.
In an example the induction coil comprises a coil array.
In an example, the washing machine comprises a memory configured to associate a said degradable identifier with a garment placed in the washing machine.
In an example, the memory is configured to associate a said degradable identifier with a position of a said degradable identifier on the garment.
In an example, the controller is configured such that the output comprises information of one or more of: a number of times the garment has been washed; whether an area of the garment has been insufficiently washed.
In an example, the controller is configured such that the output comprises a visual output provided on a display of the washing machine.
In an example, the controller is configured to control parameters of the washing cycle in dependence on the obtained indication of degradation.
In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for attachment to a washable garment, the device comprising: a degradable magnetic identifier for generating an electrical current in a sensor of a washing machine, the degradable magnetic identifier constructed and arranged to degrade during a washing cycle in response to exposure to one or more of: water; solvents; raised temperatures; in a manner indicative of a washing status of the garment, thereby changing a strength of an electrical signal the degradable magnetic identifier can induce in an induction coil of the sensor.
In an example, the degradable magnetic identifier comprises a magnet at least partially overlaid with a degradable membrane.
In an example, the magnet comprises a coil or coil array.
In an example, the device comprises a water-permeable layer that at least partially overlies the degradable membrane.
In a third aspect there is provided a garment comprising a device according to the second aspect.
In an example, the device comprises a plurality of the devices arranged at different locations on the garment.
In an example, each of the plurality of devices has a different topology.

Brief Description of the Drawings

To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a system according to an example;
Figure 2A shows schematically a degradable identifier in plan view according to an example;
Figure 2B shows schematically a degradable identifier in a side cross-sectional view according to an example;
Figures 3A to 3C show schematically degradation of a degradable identifier according to an example;
Figure 4 shows schematically a garment comprising a plurality of degradable identifiers;
Figure 5 shows schematically some computing hardware of a washing machine according to an example. ;

Detailed Description

The present disclosure has applicability to clothes washing machines.
When a user places a washable item such as a garment or garments in a washing machine the user has to select a washing cycle from a variety of available washing cycles. For delicate clothes a user may select a hot washing cycle, possibly with additional rinse and soak stages. Each selectable washing cycle typically has one or more fixed parameters, such as duration and temperature. At the end of the washing cycle the user removes the garment or garments from the washing machine. It can be difficult for a user to ascertain whether the garment or garments have been adequately washed. If the user is in any doubt, then the user may place the garment or garments back in the washing machine to repeat the washing cycle. This can lead to wasted energy, and/or damaged garments due to over-washing.
Figure 1 shows an example system 100. The system 100 comprises a washing machine 102 and a washable item in the form of a garment 104. As represented by arrow 130 the garment 104 may be placed in the washing machine 102 to be washed. As will be explained in more detail below, the garment 104 also comprises at least one degradable magnetic identifier 106. The degradable magnetic identifier 106 may be a biodegradable magnetic identifier.
The washing machine 102 comprises a drum 108 into which the garment 104 can be placed for washing thereof. The washing machine 102 also comprises an input 124 which may comprise one or more knobs or buttons. Via input 124 the user can select parameter(s) of a washing cycle, start and stop the washing cycle etc. A display 126 may also be provided. The display may visually output information, for example showing a user information regarding instructions input via input 124, and/or status information regarding the washing cycle.
The washing machine 102 also includes at least one sensor shown generally at 110. In the example of Figure 1 the at least one sensor 110 comprises sensors 112, 114, 116, 118, 120 and 122. Of course this is by way of example only and more or fewer sensors may be provided. The positioning of the sensors may also vary from that shown in the example of Figure 1. Therefore where more than one sensor is provided, those sensors may be provided at a plurality of locations in or on the washing machine.
Wherever the at least one sensor 110 is or are provided, the at least one sensor 110 is constructed and arranged to obtain an indication of the degradation of the degradable identifier 106 of the garment 104. As explained previously the degradable identifier 106 is magnetic. The at least one sensor 110 is constructed such that proximity of or interaction with degradable magnetic identifier 106 causes an electric current to be generated in the sensor 110. That is the at least one sensor 110 may comprise an electromagnet. The sensor 110 may then generate or relay an electrical signal to a processor for processing, as is discussed in more detail with respect to Figure 5.
As the magnetic identifier 106 degrades, the strength of electrical signal it can induce in the at least one sensor 110 may change. For example the current that can be induced in the at least one sensor may reduce as the degradable identifier 106 degrades. The at least one sensor 110 may comprise an induction coil. The induction coil may comprise a coil array.
The washing machine 102 may also be configured to communicate with an external apparatus 128. To this end the washing machine 102 and the external apparatus 128 may comprise suitable transmitters and receivers. In some examples the washing machine 102 may also be configured to be controllable by the external apparatus 128. For example a user may be able to enter parameters of and/or control a washing cycle via external apparatus 128. The external apparatus 128 may also comprise a display enabling a user to view information of the washing machine 102, for example status information of a wash. That is information displayable on display 126 of washing machine 102 may additionally or alternatively be displayed on external apparatus 128. Communication between the external apparatus 128 and washing machine 102 can take place in any way. For example the washing machine 102 and external apparatus 128 may communicate via a local area network, at least part of which may be wireless. The washing machine 102 and external apparatus 128 may communicate via the Internet, which may include one or more cloud servers. Additionally or alternatively the washing machine 102 and external apparatus 128 may communicate directly with each other, for example using Bluetooth or any other short-range radio frequency protocol. The external apparatus may be a user device such as a smart phone or tablet.
Although in Figure 1 the garment is shown as a T-shirt it will of course be understood that the garment may be any type of garment such as a shirt, jumper, trousers, underwear, skirt, shoes etc. The term garment may also include any other type of washable object such as sheets, pillowcases etc. That is the term "garment" may be interchangeable with the term "item" or "object".
Figure 2A shows in more detail an example of a degradable magnetic identifier 206 which may be affixed to a garment. For example the degradable magnetic identifier 206 may be equivalent to the degradable magnetic identifier 106 shown in Figure 1.
The degradable identifier device 206 (or 106) may degrade in response to exposure to water and/or raised water temperature, particularly in the case of the washing machine using water. In some examples raised water temperature may be considered any temperature at or above about 25°C. Of course the threshold water temperature at which the identifier degrades may be altered, based upon construction of the identifier. For example the threshold may be any value between 25°C and 100°C. In the case of dry cleaning, the degradable identifier device 206 (or 106) may degrade in response to exposure to the solvent used, which may be for example tetrachloroethylene or other solvents used in dry cleaning.
The degradable magnetic identifier 206 comprises a substrate (or backing layer or body portion) 208. Attached to the substrate is a magnet shown generally at 210. In some examples the magnet may be any type of magnetic metal. In this example the magnet 210 is in the form of magnetic coils 212, 214 and 216. Of course more or fewer coils may be provided in other examples. The structure or arrangement of the magnet 210 may also be changed in other examples. For example one or more of thickness; shape; quantity; relative spatial arrangement of one or more magnets may be varied. That is the topology of the degradable magnetic identifier device 206 may be varied between examples. For example a first degradable magnetic identifier may have a first topology. A second degradable magnetic identifier may have a second topology that is different from the first topology. This may enable the first degradable identifier to be distinguished from the second degradable identifier, for example by an appropriately arranged washing machine.
A membrane or layer 220 overlays or at least partially overlays the magnet 210 (in this example coils 212, 214 and 216). The membrane 220 is arranged to degrade or melt or dissolve when exposed to water and/or raised temperatures. For example the membrane 220 may be made of any material that melts at a typical washing temperature. For example the membrane material may have a melting temperature at or about 30°C, 40°C or 60°C. Of course these values are by way of example only. By way of non-limiting example, the meltable membrane may be made of solid meltable polymer derivatives such as PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), etc. Such membranes may slowly melt when subjected to warm water.
A further layer 222 overlays or at least partially overlays the membrane layer 220. The further layer 222 is at least semi-permeable to water or water vapour, and therefore can act to filter an amount of water to which the membrane 220 (and consequently coils 212, 214 and 216) are subjected. The further layer 222 may be termed a water-permeable layer or a water filter cover.
The further layer 222 and membrane 220 can be selected based upon application. For example the further layer 222 and membrane 220 can be selected so as to provide relatively fast or relatively slow degradation of the degradable magnetic identifier 206 during a washing cycle.
Also shown in the example of Figure 2A is human readable identifier 218. By way of example only this human readable identifier is in the form "123", although it will be understood it could take any human readable form. The human readable identifier may provide information regarding the degradable identifier 206. For example it may give information as to type. For example it may provide information as to whether it is a type of degradable identifier that degrades relatively quickly or relatively slowly. Additionally or alternatively the human readable identifier may be for identification purposes. The human readable identifier may be used to prompt the user to assign the degradable identifier 206 to a certain type of garment or to a certain part of a garment. For example the human readable identifier may read "T-shirt", "trousers", "skirt", "collar", "cuff" etc.
The human readable identifier 218 may be unique to a respective degradable magnetic identifier 206. This enables a first degradable magnetic identifier 206 to be distinguished, by a user, from another degradable magnetic identifier 206. As will be explained in further detail below the human readable identifier 218 also facilitates an association to be made between a degradable magnetic identifier 206 and a particular garment, and/or an association to be made between a degradable magnetic identifier 206 and its location on a respective garment.
Figure 2B is a side view showing the arrangement of layers according to an example. The coils 212, 214 and 216 are sandwiched between substrate 208 and membrane 220. The membrane 220 is overlaid by water-permeable layer 222. The relative thicknesses of the layers shown in Figure 2B is by way of example only.
In an example the degradable magnetic identifier 206 is in the form of a sticker, which enables the identifier 206 to be stuck or adhered to an item or garment to be washed. In such an example a releasable backing layer 224 may be provided, which when removed exposes an adhesive layer on the underside of substrate 208.
Of course in other examples the degradable magnetic identifier 206 may be attached to an item or garment in any other suitable way. For example the degradable identifier may be sewn in to a corresponding garment.
It will of course be understood that the structure shown in Figures 2A and 2B is by way of example only. In another example the device 206 may omit one or other of the membrane 220 and water-permeable layer 222. In another example the device 206 may omit both the membrane 220 and water-permeable layer 222.
As explained above, the degradable magnetic identifier 206 is constructed so as to induce a current in a corresponding one or more sensors of a washing machine. The washing machine can detect the level of degradation of the identifier 206 based on a determination of a value of the induced current. For example, a new or non-degraded identifier may induce a relatively large current in a corresponding sensor. A used or degraded identifier may induce a relatively small current. Thus the term "degradation" of an identifier may be associated with a level of current that that identifier device can induce.
In some examples the magnetic material itself of the degradable magnetic identifier 206 degrades in response to water and/or temperature. Therefore as the magnetic material itself (e.g. coils 212, 214, 216) degrades, then the current they can induce can relatively reduce.
In another example the magnetic material itself (e.g. coils 212, 214, 216) is constructed so as not to degrade, or to not significantly degrade, in response to exposure to water or temperature. In such examples the membrane 220 degrades upon exposure to water and/or raised temperature, and therefore will increasingly expose the magnetic material during a wash. In such an example the degradable magnetic identifier 206 may be capable of causing an increased induced current in a sensor of a corresponding washing machine, the more the membrane 220 degrades and the more the magnetic elements are exposed.
In another example both the magnet 210 and degradable membrane 220 are constructed to degrade upon exposure to water and/or raised temperatures.
Degradation of a degradable magnetic identifier 206 is shown schematically and by way of example in Figures 3A to 3C. In this example the magnet 210, comprising coils 212, 214 and 216 degrades upon exposure to water and/or raised temperature during a washing cycle.
Figure 3A is taken at time t1 of a washing cycle. The identifier 206 has degraded by a first amount, as schematically represented by the dashed lines of coil 216.
Figure 3B is taken at time t2 of a washing cycle. Time t2 is after time t1. The identifier 206 has degraded by a second amount which is greater than the first amount, as represented by the dashed lines of coils 214 and 216.
Figure 3C is taken at time t3 of a washing cycle. Time t3 is after time t2 and time t1. The identifier 206 has degraded by a third amount which is greater than the first amount and the second amount, as represented by the dashed lines of coils 214 and 216.
Degradable identifiers can be placed at multiple locations on an item or garment, as shown in Figure 4. This shows a garment 404 in the form of a T-shirt. A first degradable identifier 406 is placed at a waist region of the garment. Second and third degradable identifiers 408 and 410 are located at respective right and left armpit regions of the garment 404. A fourth degradable identifier 412 is positioned at a neck region of the garment. In this way the different degradable identifiers 406, 408, 410 and 412 can be used to determine a washing status of different locations of a garment. Similarly, a washing status of separate garments in a same washing cycle can also be determined.
Figure 5 schematically shows computing apparatus which may be incorporated in a washing machine such as the washing machine 102 of Figure 1. The computing apparatus comprises a memory 502 and processor 504. The apparatus optionally comprises a scanner or reader 506. Also schematically shown is display 526. A sensor (e.g. coil or coil array) is schematically shown at 510. The processor 504 may be considered a controller, or comprised in a controller.
The memory 502 may, in some examples, be configured to make and store one or more associations. For example the memory 502 can store an association between a degradable identifier 106 and a garment 104. Additionally or alternatively the memory 502 can store an association between a degradable identifier 106 and its location on a garment 104. Additionally or alternatively the memory 502 can store an association between a human readable identifier 218 of a degradable identifier 206 and an associated garment 104. Additionally or alternatively the memory 502 can store an association between a human readable identifier 218 of a degradable identifier 206 and topology of a magnet 210 of that degradable identifier.
The scanner or reader 506 may assist with the making of such associations. For example the scanner 506 may scan and determine topology of a degradable identifier. In such a case, for example, a user can present the degradable identifier 206 to the scanner 506, and the scanner reads and stores the magnet topology of that degradable identifier. The human readable identifier 218 can optionally also be read by the scanner or input by a user, for example via input 124 on the washing machine or using an external device 128. However this is achieved the necessary association can be made between human readable identifier 218 and magnet topology of a particular degradable identifier 206.
The associations can be stored in the form of a lookup table.
The memory 502 may also store ongoing degradation states of one or more degradable identifiers 206. That is during a washing cycle the one or more sensors 510 may continuously or periodically provide signals to memory and processor 502 and 504, enabling a degradation status of an identifier to be monitored and stored during a washing cycle.
The display 526 can then be caused to display useful information for a user. For example the display 526 may display a washing status of a degradable identifier 206. More particularly the display 526 may display the washing status and information of the corresponding human readable identifier 218. For example the washing machine may display a readout such as "T-shirt - finished", or "Collar - finished, cuff - unfinished". The user can therefore ascertain a washing status of a particular garment and/or a particular area or region of a garment. For example a user can ascertain information of whether a garment has been fully washed or whether a garment or a location on the garment has been insufficiently washed.
In some examples no such associations are made or required to be made, and accordingly in some embodiments the hardware and/or software necessary to make such associations is not required (or is present but not utilised). For example the washing machine may, without any associations being made, monitor the degradation status of any degradable identifiers placed therein for a washing cycle. In such an example the washing machine may be pre-configured to control operations in a certain way. For example the washing machine may be pre-configured to finish or terminate a washing cycle when a status of a degradable identifier is sensed to have reached a certain state.
It may be considered in some examples that the washing machine 102 operates in accordance with information received via sensors 110 (or 510), at least to some extent. For example the duration of a washing cycle may be automatically controlled based upon the information received. For example the washing machine may finish or terminate the washing cycle only when all garments are determined to have been fully washed, and/or all locations on a garment or all garments are determined to have been fully washed.
It will be understood that the processor or processing system or circuitry referred to herein may in practice be provided by a single chip or integrated circuit or plural chips or integrated circuits, optionally provided as a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), digital signal processor (DSP), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. The chip or chips may comprise circuitry (as well as possibly firmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor or processors and a digital signal processor or processors, which are configurable so as to operate in accordance with the exemplary embodiments. In this regard, the exemplary embodiments may be implemented at least in part by computer software stored in (non-transitory) memory and executable by the processor, or by hardware, or by a combination of tangibly stored software and hardware (and tangibly stored firmware).
Reference is made herein to memory for storing data. This may be provided by a single device or by plural devices. Suitable devices include for example a hard disk and non-volatile semiconductor memory.
The examples described herein are to be understood as illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention. Further embodiments and examples are envisaged. Any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features. In addition, any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the examples or embodiments, or any combination of any other of the examples or embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described herein may also be employed within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

A washing machine (102) comprising:
a controller (504);

characterised in that the washing machine (102) comprises a sensor (110) constructed and arranged to obtain an indication of degradation of a degradable magnetic identifier (106) of a garment (104, 404) during a washing cycle of the garment in the washing machine (102), wherein the degradable magnetic identifier (106) is attached to the garment (104, 404) and is arranged to degrade during a washing cycle in response to exposure to one or more of: water; solvents; raised temperatures; thereby changing a strength of an electrical current the degradable magnetic identifier (106) can induce in an induction coil of the sensor (110), wherein the sensor (110) is arranged to relay the electrical current to the controller (504) to provide the indication of degradation of the degradable identifier (106);

the controller (504) being configured to use the indication of degradation received from the sensor (110) to generate an output to a user indicative of a washing status of the garment (104, 404).
A washing machine (102) according to claim 1, the sensor (110) comprising a plurality of sensors (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) arranged at different locations on the washing machine (102).
A washing machine (102) according to any of claims 1 to 2, the washing machine (102) comprising a memory (502) configured to associate a said degradable magnetic identifier (106) with the garment (104, 404) placed in the washing machine (102).
A washing machine (102) according to claim 3, the memory (502) being configured to associate said degradable magnetic identifier (106) with a position of a said degradable identifier (106) on the garment (104, 404).
A washing machine (102) according to any of claims 1 to 4, the controller (504) being configured such that the output comprises information of one or more of:
a number of times the garment (104, 404) has been washed; whether an area of the garment (104, 404) has been insufficiently washed.
A washing machine (102) according to any of claims 1 to 5, the controller (504) being configured such that the output comprises a visual output provided on a display (526) of the washing machine (102).
A washing machine (102) according to any of claims 1 to 6, the controller (504) being configured to control parameters of the washing cycle in dependence on the obtained indication of degradation.
A device for attachment to a washable garment (104, 404), characterised in that the device comprises:
a degradable magnetic identifier (106, 206) for generating an electrical current in a sensor (110) of a washing machine (102), the degradable magnetic identifier (106)

being constructed and arranged to degrade during a washing cycle in response to exposure to one or more of: water; solvents; raised temperatures; in a manner indicative of a washing status of the garment (104, 404), thereby changing a strength of an electrical current the degradable magnetic identifier (106) can induce in an induction coil of the sensor (110).
A device according to claim 8, the degradable magnetic identifier (106, 206) comprising a magnet (210) at least partially overlaid with a degradable membrane (220).
A device according to claim 9, the magnet (210) comprising a coil or coil array.
A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, the device comprising a water-permeable layer (222) that at least partially overlies the degradable membrane (220).
A garment (104, 404) comprising a device according to any of claims 8 to 11.
A garment (104, 404) according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of the devices (406, 408, 410, 412) arranged at different locations on the garment (104, 404).
A garment (104, 404) according to claim 13, each of the plurality of devices (406, 408, 410, 412) having a different topology.