EP3693505B1 - Washing machine and dryer machine - Google Patents
Washing machine and dryer machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3693505B1 EP3693505B1 EP20156139.6A EP20156139A EP3693505B1 EP 3693505 B1 EP3693505 B1 EP 3693505B1 EP 20156139 A EP20156139 A EP 20156139A EP 3693505 B1 EP3693505 B1 EP 3693505B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- basket
- tub
- washing machine
- laundry
- electric
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims description 74
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 21
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 12
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 9
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010412 laundry washing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 3
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- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002979 fabric softener Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008447 perception Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000002268 wool Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F23/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry
- D06F23/02—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
-
- D06F37/203—
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F21/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement
- D06F21/02—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis
- D06F21/04—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement about a horizontal axis within an enclosing receptacle
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
- D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
- D06F58/02—Domestic laundry dryers having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2103/26—Imbalance; Noise level
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
- D06F2105/48—Drum speed
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers
- D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control
- D06F33/48—Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
- D06F34/18—Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F34/14—Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
- D06F34/22—Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/30—Driving arrangements
- D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device for washing laundry, in particular to a domestic washing machine.
- Domestic washing machines comprise a supporting and housing structure, inside which a wash tub is housed provided with a front opening closable by a porthole door frontally hinged to the housing.
- a basket for accommodating the laundry to be washed is arranged inside the wash tub in rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis.
- the basket also defines a front opening positioned at the opening of the wash tub in order to allow loading and unloading the laundry.
- the wash tub is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of laundry washing.
- a water loading system connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow loading water from the mains, detergents and additive agents into the tub.
- the detergent tray may be configured as a drawer which can be extracted from and inserted into the housing structure and which can be filled manually for each wash with an amount of detergent and/or treatment additive sufficient for a single washing cycle.
- Washing machines with so-called “multiple dispensing” washing substance dispensing and dosing systems are also known, configured to contain an amount of treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles and to automatically dispense a controlled dose of treatment agent for each washing cycle.
- An electric resistor is arranged inside the wash tub in the gap between the wall of the laundry basket to heat the washing liquid contained in the wash tub.
- washing machines In order to reduce the consumption of water and detergent, it is known to equip washing machines with recirculation systems which remove the washing liquid from the bottom of the wash tub (where it accumulates even before touching the laundry in the basket) and reintroduce the washing liquid into the laundry basket, so that a reduced volume of liquid is repeatedly poured on the laundry to be washed.
- Recirculation systems usually comprise a recirculation duct which extends outside the wash tub from a lower opening of the wash tub (for drawing the liquid to be recirculated) to an upper opening of the wash tub (for reintroducing the recirculated liquid), as well as an electric recirculation pump or ejector.
- washing machines are satisfactory from many points of view, they do not allow the use of electrical auxiliary functions at the laundry basket and/or the tub without needing to wire the wash tub and/or the basket and then connecting them electrically to the power supply of the washing machine.
- a wired electrical connection of the basket and/or wash tub to the mains power supply of the washing machine is generally undesirable and complicated due to the moist/wet environment, the direct contact between the user's hand and the metal wall of the basket, the relative movement between the basket and the wash tub and the cost and size of the wiring itself.
- auxiliary electrical functions may include lighting inside the laundry basket, detection of parameters and operating parameters of the washing machine (number of revolutions, position, speed, angular acceleration of the basket, electrical conductivity of laundry soaked in washing liquid and/or detection of features of the laundry (weight, color, stains, degree of filling of the basket, bulkiness of the laundry, liquid saturation of the laundry, temperature of the laundry).
- DE102011007515A1 and EP2551398A1 describe household appliances that represent a closest state of the art for the claimed invention.
- a washing machine comprises:
- the washing machine comprises an electric generator connected between the wash tub and the laundry basket and which generates electricity in dependency of the rotation of the laundry basket with respect to the wash tub, and having the features of claim 1.
- the electricity generated in this manner is available directly at the wash tub and/or basket without any need for connection wiring to the main power supply of the household appliance.
- Such electric current is the result of energy conversion of mains electricity into a rotary motion of the electric motor which drives the movement of the basket and the rotary motion of the basket into electric current.
- the advantage of the availability of electricity at the wash tub and/or basket without the wiring problems prevails over the disadvantage of energy losses which occur during the two conversion phases.
- a washing machine 1 or washer-dryer comprises a supporting and housing structure 2, inside which a washing tub 3 is housed provided with an opening (either frontal or peripheral) closable by a door 4 (e.g. a porthole door) hinged either frontally or above the housing 2.
- a basket 5 to accommodate the laundry to be washed is housed inside the wash tub 3 in rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis.
- the basket 5 may also delimit a front opening positioned at the opening of the wash tub 3 or a peripheral closable opening, in order to be able to load and unload of the laundry.
- the wash tub 3 is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of the laundry washing.
- a water loading system 6 connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow the loading of the tub 3 with water from the mains.
- the loading system 6 may comprise a plurality of ducts which extend, e.g. from one or more, e.g. two supply solenoid valves 7, 8, either directly or through detergent compartments of a detergent basin 9, to the wash tub 3.
- a draining duct 11 with associated draining pump 12 is connected to the bottom 10 of the wash tub 3 and removes the washing liquid from the tub 3 and controls the liquid level inside the tub 3, together with the supply solenoid valves 7, 8.
- an electric resistor 13 may be provided and arranged inside the tub 3, in particular on the tub bottom 10, in the gap between the wall of the tub 3 and the laundry basket 5.
- the laundry basket 5 can be actuated in rotation by an electric motor 14 and a transmission 15, e.g. a belt.
- the operation of the washing machine 1 is controlled by an electronic control unit 16, operatively connected to a user control interface 17 positioned at an outer wall or the door 4 of the housing 2 and which allows the selection of washing and/or drying cycles (more generally, of treatment cycles) and their features.
- the control unit 16 governs the various components of the washing machine 1 for automatically washing the laundry.
- the washing machine 1 may further comprise a dispensing system 18 of the "multiple dosing" type for dispensing laundry treatment agents.
- the dispensing system 18 comprises a plurality of tanks 19 to contain the treatment agents, e.g. detergent for resistant white items, detergent for delicate colored items, detergent for wool, perfuming substances, enzymes, fixing agents and/or fabric softener.
- the plurality of tanks 19 may be positioned in the porthole door 4 and the individual tanks 19 are dimensioned to contain each a volume of the treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles.
- the washing machine 1 may further comprise a system 20 for recirculating the washing liquid from the bottom of the wash tub 10 to the laundry basket 5, similarly to the recirculation systems described with reference to the prior art.
- the washing machine 1 comprises an electric induction generator 21 connected between the wash tub 3 and the laundry basket 5 and which generates electricity according to the rotation of the laundry basket 5 with respect to the wash tub 3.
- the electrical current thus generated is available directly at the wash tub 3 and/or the basket 5 with no need for connection wiring to the main power supply of the household appliance 1.
- Such electric current is the result of an energy conversion of mains electricity into a rotary motion of the electric motor 14 which drives the movement of the basket 5 and the rotary motion of the basket 5 into electric current.
- the advantage of the availability of electricity at the wash tub 3 and/or basket 5 without the wiring problems prevails over the disadvantage of energy losses which occur during the two conversion phases.
- the basket 5 is rotatably supported by wash tub 3 by means of a shaft or hub 22 which is integral with a side wall 23 (e.g. rear wall opposite to the front opening) of the basket 5 and is rotatably supported in a wall 24 (side wall, e.g. rear opposite to the front opening) of wash tub 3, by means of at least one radial bearing, preferably by two radial rolling bearings 25, 26 spaced from one another along the rotation axis of basket 34 in order to better withstand bending moments of the shaft 22.
- a shaft or hub 22 which is integral with a side wall 23 (e.g. rear wall opposite to the front opening) of the basket 5 and is rotatably supported in a wall 24 (side wall, e.g. rear opposite to the front opening) of wash tub 3, by means of at least one radial bearing, preferably by two radial rolling bearings 25, 26 spaced from one another along the rotation axis of basket 34 in order to better withstand bending moments of the shaft 22.
- the electric generator 21 is positioned in an axially confined space between the two roller bearings 25, 26 and radially between the shaft 22 of the basket 5 and the side wall 24 of the wash tub 3. This position protects the electric generator 21 and allows a local wiring protected by means of a groove or hole 25 made in the shaft 22 and/or through a groove or hole 26 made in the side wall 24 of the wash tub 3.
- the electric generator 21 is positioned on an outer side 37 (of the side wall 24) of the wash tub 3, facing away from wash tub 5, and freely accessible from the outside of wash tub 3. This facilitates the assembly and maintenance of the electric generator 21 and in all cases allows protection of the local wiring by means of a groove or hole 25 made in the shaft 22 and/or through a groove or hole 26 made in the side wall 24 of the wash tub 3.
- the electric generator 21 comprises a magnetic part 27, e.g. having a plurality of permanent magnets, and a winding part 28 comprising a plurality of conductor coils, wherein the winding part 28 is arranged in a pivoting manner with respect to the magnetic part 27.
- the resulting movement of the conductor coils through the magnetic field generates electrical current (induction effect) in the conductor coils in a known way.
- the magnetic part 27 is fixed to the shaft 22 of the basket 5 or to the basket 5 and the winding part 28 is fixed to the tub 3, so that the current is generated in the winding part 28 at the tub 3.
- the magnetic part 27 of an electric generator 21' is fixed to the wash tub 3 and its winding part 28 is fixed to the basket 5 or to the shaft 22 so that the current is generated in the winding part 28 at the basket 5.
- the washing machine 1 may comprise two electric generators 21, 21' configured and/or positioned as described above, wherein:
- a multiplication or reduction transmission (reduction gear) 29 is arranged between the electric generator 21, 21' and at least one of basket 5 and wash tub 3 in order to reconcile the range of number of revolutions at which the electric generator 21 works with the range of number of revolutions at which the basket 5 is to be rotated.
- the washing machine 1 comprises at least one chargeable electric accumulator 30, 30' fixed to the tub 3 or to the basket 5 and electrically connected to the electric generator 21, 21'. This allows compensating for variations in electrical power due to variations in the rotational speed of the basket 5 and to accumulate electrical energy which can be used when basket 5 is stationary.
- the electric generator 21,21' can be either a dynamo with a switch to generate direct current or an alternator capable of generating alternating current.
- the electric generator 21, 21' can be in signal connection (via signal wire or wireless) with the control unit 16 of the washing machine 1, e.g. so as to supply to the control unit 16 a signal indicating the angular position and/or the instantaneous angular speed (or number of revolutions) of the basket 5 with respect to the wash tub 3.
- a "direct" detection on the basket 5 through the use of the electric generator 21, 21' as tachogenerator more precisely identifies the dynamics of basket 5 and allows a more targeted adjustment of the control of the electric motor 14 to balance the load of laundry in basket 5.
- the structure of the washing machine 1 is subject to reduced mechanical stress.
- the "direct" detection of the RPM at the basket 5 by means of the use of the electric generator 21, 21' as tachogenerator allows a simplification of the software (or method) of anti-balancing of the control unit 16, compared to a reading of the number of revolutions at the motor 14 in which it is necessary to customize the software for a variety of different types of electric motors and different motor pulley diameters.
- the electric generator 21, 21' comprises angular position detection means of the basket connected to the control unit and the control unit governs the motor to make a basket stop in a predefined angular position (e.g. with the laundry loading opening facing upwards in top-loading washing machines), according to an angular basket position signal provided by the electric generator 21, 21'.
- the washing machine 1 comprises one or more or all of the following:
- the invention can also apply to drier machines with a laundry basket or drum 5 rotatably supported in a stationary support structure and which can be actuated in rotation by an electric motor 14, either similarly or identically to what has been described with reference to the washing machine 1, with the only difference that the electric generator 21, 21' is coupled between the basket 5 and the stationary support structure instead of the wash tub 3.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
- Beans For Foods Or Fodder (AREA)
- Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a device for washing laundry, in particular to a domestic washing machine.
- Domestic washing machines comprise a supporting and housing structure, inside which a wash tub is housed provided with a front opening closable by a porthole door frontally hinged to the housing. A basket for accommodating the laundry to be washed is arranged inside the wash tub in rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis. The basket also defines a front opening positioned at the opening of the wash tub in order to allow loading and unloading the laundry.
- The wash tub is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of laundry washing.
- A water loading system connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow loading water from the mains, detergents and additive agents into the tub. On the bottom of the wash tub, there is a draining duct with an associated draining pump which removes the washing liquid from the tub and which controls, together with the loading system, the liquid level inside the wash tub.
- In order to add detergent or treatment additive to the washing liquid, it is known to arrange a detergent tray in flow communication with the water loading system.
- The detergent tray may be configured as a drawer which can be extracted from and inserted into the housing structure and which can be filled manually for each wash with an amount of detergent and/or treatment additive sufficient for a single washing cycle.
- Washing machines with so-called "multiple dispensing" washing substance dispensing and dosing systems are also known, configured to contain an amount of treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles and to automatically dispense a controlled dose of treatment agent for each washing cycle.
- It is also known to position the multiple dispensing system in the front door and, more precisely, in the porthole of the front door of the washing machine.
- An electric resistor is arranged inside the wash tub in the gap between the wall of the laundry basket to heat the washing liquid contained in the wash tub.
- In order to reduce the consumption of water and detergent, it is known to equip washing machines with recirculation systems which remove the washing liquid from the bottom of the wash tub (where it accumulates even before touching the laundry in the basket) and reintroduce the washing liquid into the laundry basket, so that a reduced volume of liquid is repeatedly poured on the laundry to be washed.
- Recirculation systems usually comprise a recirculation duct which extends outside the wash tub from a lower opening of the wash tub (for drawing the liquid to be recirculated) to an upper opening of the wash tub (for reintroducing the recirculated liquid), as well as an electric recirculation pump or ejector.
- The features described hereto in relation to washing machines of the prior art known by the applicant may be entirely or partially also implemented in at least some embodiments of an improved laundry washing machine according to the invention.
- Although the known washing machines are satisfactory from many points of view, they do not allow the use of electrical auxiliary functions at the laundry basket and/or the tub without needing to wire the wash tub and/or the basket and then connecting them electrically to the power supply of the washing machine. On the other hand, a wired electrical connection of the basket and/or wash tub to the mains power supply of the washing machine is generally undesirable and complicated due to the moist/wet environment, the direct contact between the user's hand and the metal wall of the basket, the relative movement between the basket and the wash tub and the cost and size of the wiring itself.
- On the other hand, in order to further improve the operation of the washing machine and the user's perception of ergonomics, the need is felt to perform auxiliary electrical functions precisely at the tub and/or laundry basket. Examples of electrical functions may include lighting inside the laundry basket, detection of parameters and operating parameters of the washing machine (number of revolutions, position, speed, angular acceleration of the basket, electrical conductivity of laundry soaked in washing liquid and/or detection of features of the laundry (weight, color, stains, degree of filling of the basket, bulkiness of the laundry, liquid saturation of the laundry, temperature of the laundry).
DE102011007515A1 andEP2551398A1 describe household appliances that represent a closest state of the art for the claimed invention. - These problems and requirements of washing machines also apply by analogy to dryer machines.
- It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved washing machine having such features as to overcome the problems described with reference to the prior art and to provide one or more auxiliary electrical functions at the wash tub and/or at the laundry basket without a wiring of the wash tub-basket assembly drawing electricity directly from the (mains) power supply wiring of the washing machine.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved laundry dryer machine having such features as to overcome the problems described with reference to the prior art and to provide one or more auxiliary electrical functions at the laundry basket without a wiring of the laundry basket drawing electricity directly from the (mains) power supply wiring of the dryer machines.
- These and other objects are achieved by means of a washing machine and a dryer machine according to the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention.
- A washing machine comprises:
- a housing,
- a stationary wash tub located inside the housing and having a front opening closable by means of a porthole door hinged to the front of the housing, or a top opening closable and accessible by means of an upper door of the housing,
- a basket arranged inside the wash tub and rotatable about a horizontal or inclined axis, wherein the basket delimits a peripheral or front loading opening for loading and unloading the laundry to be washed,
- a water loading system connectable to the water mains and in communication with the wash tub to load water in the wash tub,
- a draining duct connected to the wash tub and to a draining pump to remove the washing liquid from the wash tub and to adjust a liquid level inside the wash tub together with the water loading system,
- a dispensing system for the supply of laundry treatment substances.
- According to an aspect of the invention, the washing machine comprises an electric generator connected between the wash tub and the laundry basket and which generates electricity in dependency of the rotation of the laundry basket with respect to the wash tub, and having the features of
claim 1. - The electricity generated in this manner is available directly at the wash tub and/or basket without any need for connection wiring to the main power supply of the household appliance.
- Such electric current is the result of energy conversion of mains electricity into a rotary motion of the electric motor which drives the movement of the basket and the rotary motion of the basket into electric current. The advantage of the availability of electricity at the wash tub and/or basket without the wiring problems prevails over the disadvantage of energy losses which occur during the two conversion phases.
- Further advantageous aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
-
figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the invention; - figures from 2 to 5 are section views of a supporting region of the wash tub according to embodiments.
- With reference to the figures, a
washing machine 1 or washer-dryer comprises a supporting andhousing structure 2, inside which awashing tub 3 is housed provided with an opening (either frontal or peripheral) closable by a door 4 (e.g. a porthole door) hinged either frontally or above thehousing 2. Abasket 5 to accommodate the laundry to be washed is housed inside thewash tub 3 in rotatable manner about a horizontal or inclined axis. Thebasket 5 may also delimit a front opening positioned at the opening of thewash tub 3 or a peripheral closable opening, in order to be able to load and unload of the laundry. - The
wash tub 3 is adapted to contain the washing liquid during the steps of the laundry washing. - A
water loading system 6 connectable to the water mains is provided in order to allow the loading of thetub 3 with water from the mains. Theloading system 6 may comprise a plurality of ducts which extend, e.g. from one or more, e.g. twosupply solenoid valves detergent basin 9, to thewash tub 3. - A draining
duct 11 with associated drainingpump 12 is connected to the bottom 10 of thewash tub 3 and removes the washing liquid from thetub 3 and controls the liquid level inside thetub 3, together with thesupply solenoid valves - For heating the washing liquid contained in the
tub 3, anelectric resistor 13 may be provided and arranged inside thetub 3, in particular on the tub bottom 10, in the gap between the wall of thetub 3 and thelaundry basket 5. - For agitating and remixing the laundry with the washing liquid, the
laundry basket 5 can be actuated in rotation by anelectric motor 14 and atransmission 15, e.g. a belt. - The operation of the
washing machine 1 is controlled by anelectronic control unit 16, operatively connected to auser control interface 17 positioned at an outer wall or thedoor 4 of thehousing 2 and which allows the selection of washing and/or drying cycles (more generally, of treatment cycles) and their features. In response to the selections made by the user by means of theuser interface 17, thecontrol unit 16 governs the various components of thewashing machine 1 for automatically washing the laundry. - The
washing machine 1 may further comprise adispensing system 18 of the "multiple dosing" type for dispensing laundry treatment agents. - Either in addition or alternatively to the
detergent tray 9, the dispensingsystem 18 comprises a plurality oftanks 19 to contain the treatment agents, e.g. detergent for resistant white items, detergent for delicate colored items, detergent for wool, perfuming substances, enzymes, fixing agents and/or fabric softener. The plurality oftanks 19 may be positioned in theporthole door 4 and theindividual tanks 19 are dimensioned to contain each a volume of the treatment agent sufficient for a plurality of washing cycles. - The
washing machine 1 may further comprise asystem 20 for recirculating the washing liquid from the bottom of thewash tub 10 to thelaundry basket 5, similarly to the recirculation systems described with reference to the prior art. - According to an aspect of the invention, the
washing machine 1 comprises anelectric induction generator 21 connected between thewash tub 3 and thelaundry basket 5 and which generates electricity according to the rotation of thelaundry basket 5 with respect to thewash tub 3. - The electrical current thus generated is available directly at the
wash tub 3 and/or thebasket 5 with no need for connection wiring to the main power supply of thehousehold appliance 1. - Such electric current is the result of an energy conversion of mains electricity into a rotary motion of the
electric motor 14 which drives the movement of thebasket 5 and the rotary motion of thebasket 5 into electric current. The advantage of the availability of electricity at thewash tub 3 and/orbasket 5 without the wiring problems prevails over the disadvantage of energy losses which occur during the two conversion phases. - According to an embodiment, the
basket 5 is rotatably supported bywash tub 3 by means of a shaft orhub 22 which is integral with a side wall 23 (e.g. rear wall opposite to the front opening) of thebasket 5 and is rotatably supported in a wall 24 (side wall, e.g. rear opposite to the front opening) ofwash tub 3, by means of at least one radial bearing, preferably by two radial rolling bearings 25, 26 spaced from one another along the rotation axis ofbasket 34 in order to better withstand bending moments of theshaft 22. - Advantageously, the
electric generator 21 is positioned in an axially confined space between the two roller bearings 25, 26 and radially between theshaft 22 of thebasket 5 and the side wall 24 of thewash tub 3. This position protects theelectric generator 21 and allows a local wiring protected by means of a groove or hole 25 made in theshaft 22 and/or through a groove or hole 26 made in the side wall 24 of thewash tub 3. - According to an alternative embodiment, the
electric generator 21 is positioned on an outer side 37 (of the side wall 24) of thewash tub 3, facing away fromwash tub 5, and freely accessible from the outside ofwash tub 3. This facilitates the assembly and maintenance of theelectric generator 21 and in all cases allows protection of the local wiring by means of a groove or hole 25 made in theshaft 22 and/or through a groove or hole 26 made in the side wall 24 of thewash tub 3. - According to an embodiment, the
electric generator 21 comprises amagnetic part 27, e.g. having a plurality of permanent magnets, and awinding part 28 comprising a plurality of conductor coils, wherein thewinding part 28 is arranged in a pivoting manner with respect to themagnetic part 27. In such a manner, due to the relative rotation between themagnetic part 27 and windingpart 28, the resulting movement of the conductor coils through the magnetic field generates electrical current (induction effect) in the conductor coils in a known way. - According to an embodiment, the
magnetic part 27 is fixed to theshaft 22 of thebasket 5 or to thebasket 5 and the windingpart 28 is fixed to thetub 3, so that the current is generated in the windingpart 28 at thetub 3. - Alternatively or additionally, the
magnetic part 27 of an electric generator 21' is fixed to thewash tub 3 and its windingpart 28 is fixed to thebasket 5 or to theshaft 22 so that the current is generated in the windingpart 28 at thebasket 5. - According to a further embodiment, the
washing machine 1 may comprise twoelectric generators 21, 21' configured and/or positioned as described above, wherein: - the winding
part 28 of a firstelectric generator 21 is fixed to theshaft 22 of thebasket 5 or to thebasket 5 so that the current is generated in the windingpart 28 at thebasket 5, and - the winding
part 28 of the second electric generator 21' is fixed to thewash tub 3 so that the current is generated in the windingpart 28 at thewash tub 3, - According to an embodiment, a multiplication or reduction transmission (reduction gear) 29 is arranged between the
electric generator 21, 21' and at least one ofbasket 5 and washtub 3 in order to reconcile the range of number of revolutions at which theelectric generator 21 works with the range of number of revolutions at which thebasket 5 is to be rotated. - According to the invention, the
washing machine 1 comprises at least one chargeableelectric accumulator 30, 30' fixed to thetub 3 or to thebasket 5 and electrically connected to theelectric generator 21, 21'. This allows compensating for variations in electrical power due to variations in the rotational speed of thebasket 5 and to accumulate electrical energy which can be used whenbasket 5 is stationary. - The
electric generator 21,21' can be either a dynamo with a switch to generate direct current or an alternator capable of generating alternating current. - According to an embodiment, the
electric generator 21, 21' can be in signal connection (via signal wire or wireless) with thecontrol unit 16 of thewashing machine 1, e.g. so as to supply to the control unit 16 a signal indicating the angular position and/or the instantaneous angular speed (or number of revolutions) of thebasket 5 with respect to thewash tub 3. - This is particularly advantageous for implementing of laundry anti-imbalance strategies in the
basket 5 in order to reduce the dynamic stresses of thewashing machine 1 in preparation for the steps of washing and/or of high-speed spinning in thebasket 5. Anti-imbalance procedures are carried out bycontrol unit 16 by means of the steps of: - identifying a state of imbalance of the laundry in the
basket 5 by comparing detected rotational speed values (number of revolutions) of thebasket 5 with reference values for a determined control program of theelectric motor 14, - in the event of an identified state of imbalance, implementing a sequence of alternating rotatory movements of the
electric motor 14, and thus of thebasket 5, with the aim of re-balancing (or in other words, equalizing the spatial distribution of the) laundry in thebasket 5. - Experimental tests have shown that an "indirect" detection of the
basket 5 speed by reading themotor speed 14, e.g. by means of a tachogenerator positioned on the motor rotor, does not take into account the transmission ratio alteration due to belt slippage and is therefore inaccurate. - A "direct" detection on the
basket 5 through the use of theelectric generator 21, 21' as tachogenerator more precisely identifies the dynamics ofbasket 5 and allows a more targeted adjustment of the control of theelectric motor 14 to balance the load of laundry inbasket 5. As a result, the structure of thewashing machine 1 is subject to reduced mechanical stress. - Furthermore, the "direct" detection of the RPM at the
basket 5 by means of the use of theelectric generator 21, 21' as tachogenerator allows a simplification of the software (or method) of anti-balancing of thecontrol unit 16, compared to a reading of the number of revolutions at themotor 14 in which it is necessary to customize the software for a variety of different types of electric motors and different motor pulley diameters. - According to an embodiment, the
electric generator 21, 21' comprises angular position detection means of the basket connected to the control unit and the control unit governs the motor to make a basket stop in a predefined angular position (e.g. with the laundry loading opening facing upwards in top-loading washing machines), according to an angular basket position signal provided by theelectric generator 21, 21'. - According to embodiments, the
washing machine 1 comprises one or more or all of the following: - a system for lighting 31 the inside of the
laundry basket 5 and/or - one or
more detectors 32 of operating parameters and/or quantities of the washing machine 1 (e.g. number of revolutions, position, speed, angular acceleration of basket 5), e.g. Hall effect sensors, - one or
more detectors 33 of features of the laundry (e.g. electrical conductivity of the laundry in thebasket 5, weight of the laundry in thebasket 5, color of the laundry in thebasket 5, stains on the laundry inbasket 5, degree of filling of thebasket 5, bulkiness of the laundry in thebasket 5, liquid saturation of the laundry in thebasket 5, temperature of the laundry in the basket 5), e.g. conductivity sensors, optical sensors, resistance sensors, weight sensors, - wherein said one or
more systems 31 ordetectors 32 orsensors 33 are electrically connected to and powered by thecurrent generator 21, 21' and can optionally be in signal connection with thecontrol unit 16. - As already mentioned in the introduction, the invention can also apply to drier machines with a laundry basket or
drum 5 rotatably supported in a stationary support structure and which can be actuated in rotation by anelectric motor 14, either similarly or identically to what has been described with reference to thewashing machine 1, with the only difference that theelectric generator 21, 21' is coupled between thebasket 5 and the stationary support structure instead of thewash tub 3. - Obviously, a person skilled in the art may make further changes and variants to the washing machine and the dryer machine according to the present invention all without departing from the scope of protection of the invention, as defined in the following claims.
Claims (14)
- A washing machine (1) comprising:- a housing (2),- a stationary wash tub (3) arranged inside the housing (2) and having an opening closable by means of a door (4) of the housing (2),- a laundry basket (5) rotatably supported inside the wash tub (3) and operable in rotation about a basket rotation axis (34) by means of an electric motor (14),- a water loading system (6) connectable to a mains water system and in communication with the wash tub (3) for loading water into the wash tub (3),- an electric induction generator (21) connected between the wash tub (3) and the laundry basket (5), and which generates electric current in dependency of the rotation of the laundry basket (5) with respect to the tub (3),characterized in that the washing machine further comprises at least one chargeable electric accumulator (30, 30') fixed to the tub (3) or to the basket (5) and electrically connected to the electric generator (21, 21').
- A washing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the basket (5) forms a shaft (22) protruding from a side wall (23) of the basket (5), and rotatably supported in a side wall (24) of the tub (3) by means of at least one radial bearing or by means of two radial bearings (25, 26) spaced apart from each other along the basket rotation axis, wherein the electric generator (21) is positioned adjacent to said one or more radial bearings (25, 26).
- A washing machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein the electric generator (21) is positioned in an axially confined space between the two roller bearings (25, 26) and radially between the shaft (22) of the basket (5) and the side wall (24) of the tub (3).
- A washing machine (1) according to claim 2, wherein the electric generator (21) is positioned on an outer side (37) of the tub (3), facing away from the basket (5).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a local basket electrical wiring (35) connected to the electric generator (21) and extended in a groove or hole (25) in a shaft (22) which is integral with a side wall (23) of the basket (5) and is rotatably supported in a wall (24) of the wash tub (3) by means of at least one radial bearing.
- A washing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a local tub electrical wiring (36) connected to the electric generator (21) and extended in a groove or hole (26) in the side wall (24) of the tub (3).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric generator (21) comprises:- a magnetic part (27), having a plurality of magnets, and- a winding part (28) comprising a plurality of conductor coils,wherein the winding part (28) is arranged in a rotating manner with respect to the magnetic part (27),wherein the magnetic part (27) is coupled to the shaft (22) or to the basket (5) and the winding part (28) is coupled to the tub (3), so that the current is generated in the winding part (28) at the tub (3).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electric generator (21) or a further electric generator (21') comprises:- a magnetic part (27), having a plurality of magnets, and- a winding part (28) comprising a plurality of conductor coils,wherein the winding part (28) is arranged in a rotating manner with respect to the magnetic part (27),wherein the magnetic part (27) is coupled to the tub (3) and the winding part (28) is coupled to the basket (5) or to the shaft (22), so that the current is generated in the winding part (28) at the basket (5).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising two said electric generators (21, 21'), wherein:- the winding part (28) of a first electric generator (21) is coupled to the shaft (22) or to the basket (5), so that the current is generated in the winding part (28) at the basket (5), and- the winding part (28) of the second electric generator (21') is coupled to the tub (3), so that the current is generated in the winding part (28) at the tub (3).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electric generator (21, 21') is coupled to at least one of the basket (5) and the tub (3) by means of a reduction transmission (29).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric generator (21, 21') is in signal connection with a control unit (16) of the washing machine (1) and provides the control unit (16) with a signal indicative of the angular position, and/or number of revolutions, of the basket (5) with respect to the tub (3).
- A washing machine (1) according to claim 11, wherein the control unit (16) performs an anti-imbalance procedure by means of the steps of:- identifying a state of imbalance of the laundry in the basket (5) by means of comparing rotational speed values of the basket (5), which are detected by means of the electric generator (21, 21'), with reference values for a determined control program of the electric motor (14),- in the event of having identified a state of imbalance, implementation of a sequence of alternating rotatory movements of the electric motor (14) with the aim of equalizing the laundry distribution in the basket (5).
- A washing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more of:- a system for lighting (31) the inside of the laundry basket (5) and/or- one or more detectors (32) of operating parameters of the washing machine (1),- one or more detectors (33) of characteristics of the laundry,electrically connected to the current generator (21, 21').
- A dryer machine, comprising:- a housing (2),- a stationary support structure (3) arranged inside the housing (2),- a laundry basket (5) rotatably supported inside the stationary support structure (3) and operable in rotation about a basket rotation axis (34) by means of an electric motor (14),- an electric induction generator (21) connected between the stationary support structure (3) and the laundry basket (5), which generates electric current in dependency the rotation of the laundry basket (5) with respect to the stationary support structure (3),characterized in that the dryer machine further comprises at least one chargeable electric accumulator (30, 30') fixed to the stationary support structure (3) or to the basket (5) and electrically connected to the electric generator (21).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT102019000001815A IT201900001815A1 (en) | 2019-02-08 | 2019-02-08 | Washing machine |
Publications (2)
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EP3693505A1 EP3693505A1 (en) | 2020-08-12 |
EP3693505B1 true EP3693505B1 (en) | 2022-12-21 |
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Family Applications (1)
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EP20156139.6A Active EP3693505B1 (en) | 2019-02-08 | 2020-02-07 | Washing machine and dryer machine |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP3693505B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN111549481A (en) |
ES (1) | ES2939541T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT201900001815A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2142685A1 (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-08-23 | Dale E. Mueller | Method of washing in a vertical axis washer |
DE19832292A1 (en) * | 1998-07-17 | 2000-01-20 | Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete | Registering loading weight of laundry drum of washing machine or dryer |
CN201056632Y (en) * | 2007-06-26 | 2008-05-07 | 深圳市福田区景秀中学 | Multifunctional energy-saving barrel washing machine |
KR101590371B1 (en) * | 2009-02-16 | 2016-02-02 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Washing machine and washing method |
DE102011007515A1 (en) * | 2011-04-15 | 2012-10-18 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Device for monitoring an operating device of a household appliance, domestic appliance for the care of laundry items and method for operating a household appliance |
KR101555897B1 (en) * | 2011-07-27 | 2015-10-07 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Motor usable with washing machine and washing machine having the same |
EP2657392B1 (en) * | 2012-04-27 | 2014-11-26 | Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. | Method for washing laundry in a laundry washing machine and laundry washing machine |
WO2015159173A1 (en) * | 2014-04-17 | 2015-10-22 | Indesit Company S.P.A. | Method for cleaning an air filter in a washing/drying machine and machine for its execution |
CN107641929A (en) * | 2017-10-25 | 2018-01-30 | 繁昌县清新水洗有限责任公司 | A kind of novel washing machine |
-
2019
- 2019-02-08 IT IT102019000001815A patent/IT201900001815A1/en unknown
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2020
- 2020-02-07 EP EP20156139.6A patent/EP3693505B1/en active Active
- 2020-02-07 ES ES20156139T patent/ES2939541T3/en active Active
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ES2939541T3 (en) | 2023-04-24 |
EP3693505A1 (en) | 2020-08-12 |
RU2020105832A (en) | 2021-08-09 |
CN111549481A (en) | 2020-08-18 |
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