EP0856604B1 - Procédé d'équilibrage d'une machine à laver - Google Patents

Procédé d'équilibrage d'une machine à laver Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0856604B1
EP0856604B1 EP97500210A EP97500210A EP0856604B1 EP 0856604 B1 EP0856604 B1 EP 0856604B1 EP 97500210 A EP97500210 A EP 97500210A EP 97500210 A EP97500210 A EP 97500210A EP 0856604 B1 EP0856604 B1 EP 0856604B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
drum
vibration
unbalance
washing machine
speed
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97500210A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0856604A3 (fr
EP0856604A2 (fr
Inventor
Marcial Iruretagoiena Etxaniz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Original Assignee
Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
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Publication date
Application filed by Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL filed Critical Fagor Electrodomesticos SCL
Publication of EP0856604A2 publication Critical patent/EP0856604A2/fr
Publication of EP0856604A3 publication Critical patent/EP0856604A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0856604B1 publication Critical patent/EP0856604B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • 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
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
    • D06F37/22—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
    • D06F37/225—Damping vibrations by displacing, supplying or ejecting a material, e.g. liquid, into or from counterbalancing pockets
    • 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
    • D06F34/16—Imbalance

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a washing machine whose drum rotates about a horizontal axis, and more particularly to the prevention of vibrations in the clothes-laden drum when it rotates at high speed during the spinning stage.
  • US 5,280,660 describes a method for balancing a washing machine whose drum rotates about a horizontal axis, wherein the washing machine is equipped with at least three water chambers distributed peripherally inside the drum, which chambers selectively receive a preset amount of water from their respective solenoid valves depending upon the result of the vibration measured by a vibration sensor and the drum unbalance position measured by means of a proximity sensor, the signals from both sensors being combined to select the water supply that will compensate for the unbalance, and a motor that accelerates the drum to maximum spinning speed during the compensation process.
  • US 4,517,695 describes a method for balancing a washing machine whose drum rotates about a horizontal axis, wherein the drive motor is connected to a rotation speed control device that controls drum acceleration from an initial spinning speed to a final speed, depending upon the force exerted by the unbalance of the clothing and the comparison thereof with a preset value calculated for the final spinning speed.
  • drum rotation is accelerated from a low initial value to a high final maximum spinning value, in spurts by means of various abrupt speed increases, and maintaining constant velocity in each spurt, in intervals whose length depends upon the result of the measurement of vibration at each constant speed value.
  • a preset quantity of water is placed in the selected compensation chamber, and this action is repeated until the measured vibration value falls below a certain reference value.
  • the acceleration time that transpires until the maximum speed for carrying out the compensation method is reached is excessive, because the water is added to the compensation chambers in ever-equal given doses, and because the drum undergoes successive accelerations after acceleration-free intervals.
  • the object of the invention is a method for balancing the drum of a washing machine equipped with three or more hollow water chambers distributed through its internal periphery by means of compensating for unbalance while the drum accelerates from a low initial speed to a high final maximum spinning speed, while combining the addition of water to the selected water chamber, which is situated diametrically opposite the unbalanced position.
  • the addition of compensating water is continuous, by means of a given flow; acceleration is likewise continuous in gradual fashion, while vibration is measured continuously, and only the rate of acceleration is dependent upon the result of the vibration measurement.
  • smooth rotation is achieved without exceeding an admissible washing machine vibration value by means of drum acceleration at a gradual rate until reaching a maximum speed, while the unbalance of the clothes is compensated for in a shorter total process time.
  • the drum drive motor is controlled through a voltage/frequency speed variator governed by the washing machine's electronic controller to regulate the rate of drum acceleration as a function of the result of the vibration measurement and its comparison with a preset reference value.
  • the vibration reference value for comparison with the real value is changing throughout the range of spinning speeds and is reduced as the drum accelerates to maintain the unbalanced mass of the drum always below a constant value, inasmuch as vibration increases at a square rate with the drum speed.
  • the speed variator also allows the torque of the drum drive motor to be raised at a speed as low as 10 r/min, to effect full water chamber emptying before beginning a new balancing process.
  • the vibration sensor used to execute the method has the advantages of lower economic cost and easier installation than the accelerometers of known methods, as well as the fact that the result of measurement is not affected by the mass of the washing machine's structure, as occurs with an accelerometer, but only by the unbalance of the clothing, thus also gaining time in the execution of the compensation process until final compensation is achieved.
  • FIG. 1 shows two views of the washing machine with the system for carrying out the method for balancing the washing machine drum according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of the sensor used to measure vibration.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram of the measurement of the vibration generated by the drum unbalance combined with the measurement of the unbalance position.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of the different drum accelerations depending upon the unbalance, in an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is the diagram of the steps included in the embodiment of the balancing method, according to fig. 4.
  • the washing machine 1 for executing the method according to the invention is comprised of a tub 2 fixed to the washing machine structure, the drum 3 rotating about a horizontal drive axis 3 a through whose internal periphery are distributed three water chambers 4 a ,4 b ,4 c , a housing 2 a holding the bearings of the axis 3 a which is fixed to the rear of the tub 2, the induction motor 5 for driving the drum 3, the washing machine's electronic controller 6, the voltage-frequency converter speed variator 7, the device 8,9 for detecting vibration and position, and the solenoid valves 10 a ,10 b ,10 c activated individually by the controller 6 to compensate for the unbalance by means of selectively filling the chambers 4 a ,4 b ,4 c by means of water streams according to the arrows 13 in figure 1.
  • the drum drive motor 5 shown in figure 1 has two windings 14,15 powered separately to achieve two ranges of drum rotation speed N, the low 35-to-55 r/min speed for clothes washing and the high spinning speed between 200 and 900 r/min, these latter two speeds being referenced respectively as Nini and Nmax. Both windings of the motor 5 are powered through the speed variator 7, the low-speed winding 14 to reduce the speed N to a very low value such as 10 r/min when the chambers 4 a ,4 b ,4 c are to be emptied, and the winding 15 to bring the speed N up gradually to spinning speed during the unbalance compensation process.
  • the unbalance detection device 8,9 includes a vibration magnitude sensor 8, shown in figure 2, and a position sensor 9 to measure the position of the unbalance, shown in figure 3, which rotates of a piece with the drum axis 3 a .
  • the vibration sensor 8 used for the execution of the compensation method is preferably constructed using a strain gauge 8 a and an associated circuit 8 b for filtering, amplifying and processing the output signal.
  • the gauge 8 a is fixed through a substrate to the bearing-holding housing 2 a where it is easily accessible and in a place to which all radial drum vibration is transmitted.
  • the circuit 8 b faithfully reproduces the oscillation of the vibration through its signal 11 of electrical voltage V oscillating between two alternating peak values +Vc and -Vc which is almost a sine function, shown in figure 3, and the numerical result of the measurement is the Vc peak to peak amplitude.
  • the sensor 9 sensing the unbalance position in relation to the water chambers 4 used preferably for the execution of the method is an optic sensor where the photoelectric transmitter not shown in the figures is associated with a rotating disk fixed to the axis 3 a and perforated with a number of orifices 9 b distributed uniformly over its periphery indicating the angle rotated by the drum.
  • the position sensor 9 could also be a magnetic proximity or Hall effect sensor.
  • One of the perforations in the disk in sensor 9 is a long groove 9 a whose position relative to one of the chambers 4 is recorded in the controller 6, serving as a zero reference of the angle rotated by the drum 3.
  • the photoelectric transmitter provides an electrical signal 12 associated with the position of the groove 9 a , and the controller 6 combines the two electrical signals 11 and 12 to measure the phase angle p hi, as shown in figure 3, between the said groove 9 a and the peak value +Vc of the vibration signal 11, to select one or two of the three chambers 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , diametrically opposite the location of the mass causing the unbalance.
  • Figure 4 depicts the acceleration of the drum 3 by means of the variator 7 in an embodiment of the method 40 for balancing the drum 3 according to the flow diagram in figure 5.
  • the acceleration of the drum 3 takes place smoothly, from the initial spinning speed Nini and gradually up to the maximum speed Nmax, by means of tiny successive "delta N" increments, for example increments of 50 r/min or less at a time, yielding different rates of acceleration Na as a function of the initial unbalanced mass.
  • Vibration magnitude is measured between the two opposing peak values Vc of the signal from sensor 8 shown in figure 3.
  • the preferred embodiment 40 of the balancing method includes prior steps 41 to 44, the balance compensating sequence of steps 45 to 50, and final steps 51 to 53, which include:
  • the water flow 13 in this embodiment is supplied, step 50, to the selected chamber 4a-4c, or interrupted, step 52, according to the result of the comparison in step 49, and the result thus found conditions the activation and deactivation of the selected solenoide valves 10, since inasmuch the acceleration N8 is uninterrupted, when the measurement Vc is less than the value Vum, the valve is deactivated, step 52, and the selected chamber 4 is prevented from overloading, which could cause un unbalance in the position of the selected chamber 4 greater than the unbalance of the initial mass of clothes in the drum 3 in the opposite position.
  • the measurement Vc oscillates with the course of time arround the thresold value Vum, while the acceleration N8 is continuous.
  • step 53 the elapsed time t is compared with the recorded maximum spinning time t max, and the drum 3 rotates at the maximum spinning speed Nmax until the maximum spinning time t max has expired.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)

Claims (3)

  1. Procédé d'équilibrage d'une machine à laver dont le tambour (3) tourne autour d'un axe (3a) horizontal, la machine à laver équipée d'au moins trois chambres (4a, 4b, 4c) d'eau réparties sur sa périphérie interne pour la compensation du déséquilibre du tambour, un moteur (5) équipé de moyens (7) pour l'accélération contrôlée du tambour (3), un capteur (8) de la grandeur de vibration (Vc), un capteur (9) de position pour mesurer la position du déséquilibre à la périphérie du tambour (3), un contrôleur (6) électronique de la machine à laver qui combine les signaux électriques (11, 12) émis par les deux capteurs (8,9) pour sélectionner au moins l'une des chambres (4a, 4b, 4c) de compensation, et lui fournir au moyen de l'électrovanne respective (10a, 10b, 10c) une quantité d'eau (13) pour la compensation du déséquilibre, tandis que le tambour est accéléré (47) entre deux vitesses de rotation (Nini, Nmax) initiale et finale d'essorage, le contrôleur (6) répétant une séquence d'opérations (45-50) qui comprend la mesure (45) de la vibration (Vc) et de la position du déséquilibre (phi), la comparaison (49) de la mesure résultant de la vibration (Vc) avec une valeur préenregistrée (Vum), et la comparaison (48) de la vitesse actuelle (Na) du tambour avec la vitesse maximale (Vmax) d'essorage, caractérisé par les étapes,
    une étape initiale d'identification préalable (41) de l'une quelconque des chambres (4a, 4b, 4c) de compensation avec une position de référence (9a) du capteur (9) de position et l'association de chacune des chambres (4a, 4b, 4c) avec son électrovanne (10a, 10b, 10c) respective ;
    un rythme d'accélération (Na) réel est choisi parmi plusieurs rythmes (N5-N9) en fonction de la mesure résultant de la vibration (Vc) à cette vitesse initiale (Nini) d'essorage ;
    pendant que cette séquence (45-50) d'opérations est exécutée d'une façon répétée pour la compensation du déséquilibre, le tambour (3) est accéléré d'une façon continue à ledit rythme (N5-N9) et simultanément un débit (13) d'eau est fourni à la chambre (4a, 4b, 4c) de compensation sélectionnée ;
    la comparaison (27, 49) continue de la valeur mesurée (Vc) de la vibration avec une valeur préenregistrée (Vum) de la vibration, celle-ci variant avec la vitesse réelle (N) du tambour.
  2. Procédé d'équilibrage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel ce rythme (Na) réel d'accélération du tambour est choisi parmi différents rythmes constants (N5-N9) et le débit d'eau (13) est fourni à la chambre (4) sélectionnée ou interrompu, en fonction du résultat de cette comparaison (49) de la valeur mesurée (Vc) de la vibration avec cette valeur de vibration (Vum) préenregistrée.
  3. Procédé d'équilibrage selon la revendication 1 dans lequel le résultat de la mesure (45) de la vibration est la mesure (Vc) de la grandeur crête à crête (+Vc,-Vc) du signal alterné (12), produit par le capteur de vibration (8) qui est fixé à la carcasse (2a) portant les roulements du tambour, et celui de la position d'équilibre est la mesure de la phase (phi) entre l'une de ces crêtes (+Vc) et un signal électrique (11) depuis le capteur (9) de position.
EP97500210A 1997-01-31 1997-12-04 Procédé d'équilibrage d'une machine à laver Expired - Lifetime EP0856604B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES9700199 1997-01-31
ES009700199A ES2151332B1 (es) 1997-01-31 1997-01-31 Metodo de equilibrado de una lavadora de ropa.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0856604A2 EP0856604A2 (fr) 1998-08-05
EP0856604A3 EP0856604A3 (fr) 1999-06-02
EP0856604B1 true EP0856604B1 (fr) 2001-09-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97500210A Expired - Lifetime EP0856604B1 (fr) 1997-01-31 1997-12-04 Procédé d'équilibrage d'une machine à laver

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EP (1) EP0856604B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69706956D1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2151332B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (24)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6477867B1 (en) * 1998-12-23 2002-11-12 Fisher & Paykel Limited Laundry appliance
GB9924832D0 (en) * 1999-10-21 1999-12-22 Primus N V Method of balancing an object which rotates about an axis
DE10022609C2 (de) * 2000-05-09 2003-11-13 Whirlpool Co Verfahren zur Begrenzung der Unwuchtwirkung einer Wascheinheit einer Waschmaschine und Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens
EP1336004B1 (fr) * 2000-11-24 2004-09-22 Primus N.V. Machines rotatives avec fonctionnement a l'etat desequilibre
ES2277487B1 (es) * 2004-11-08 2008-06-16 Fagor, S. Coop. Dispositivo y metodo para el equilibrado de una lavadora.
PL1736589T3 (pl) * 2005-06-24 2015-03-31 V Zug Ag Pralka z detektorem niewyważenia
PL2010705T3 (pl) 2006-04-13 2012-08-31 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Maszyna do prania i/lub suszenia bielizny
NZ552422A (en) 2006-12-21 2009-09-25 Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd Laundry appliance including control means which energises a motor to evenly distribute a load in response to signals from load sensors
AU2009327647B2 (en) 2008-12-17 2012-07-19 Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited A laundry machine
EP2206823B1 (fr) 2008-12-17 2014-10-29 Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited Machine à laver le linge avec un système de correction d'équilibre
ITCS20110006A1 (it) * 2011-03-02 2012-09-03 Calabrian High Tech Cht S R L Sistema di bilanciamento delle forze d'inerzia rotanti generate dalla maldistribuzione dei panni in una lavatrice
US8713977B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-05-06 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8695383B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-04-15 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8701451B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-04-22 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US9003838B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2015-04-14 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
US8991223B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2015-03-31 Whirlpool Corporation Laundry treating appliance with balancing system
CN103270208B (zh) * 2010-12-27 2015-08-19 阿塞里克股份有限公司 其中不平衡负载被平衡的洗衣机
US9267225B2 (en) 2011-12-22 2016-02-23 Whirlpool Corporation Method of estimating bending moment of a laundry treating appliance drum shaft using a proximity sensor
EP2666899A1 (fr) * 2012-05-22 2013-11-27 Whirlpool Corporation Procédé permettant de détecter la fin de cycle d'un machine à tambour rotatif
KR102032845B1 (ko) 2013-02-13 2019-10-16 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
JP7100839B2 (ja) * 2017-11-21 2022-07-14 青島海爾洗衣机有限公司 ドラム式洗濯機
JP7093069B2 (ja) * 2017-12-20 2022-06-29 青島海爾洗衣机有限公司 洗濯機
JP7442114B2 (ja) * 2019-05-10 2024-03-04 青島海爾洗衣机有限公司 洗濯機
CN112746445B (zh) * 2020-12-25 2022-03-18 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种洗衣机控制方法、装置、电子设备及可读存储介质

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0856604A3 (fr) 1999-06-02
DE69706956D1 (de) 2001-10-31
ES2151332B1 (es) 2001-06-16
EP0856604A2 (fr) 1998-08-05
ES2151332A1 (es) 2000-12-16

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