ES2334722T3 - WASHER AND METHOD TO PROGRAM THE WASHER SAID. - Google Patents

Abstract

A washer (1) comprises: means (3) for regulating washing performance which allow the modification of at least one washing parameter; a user interface (30) comprising both means (2) for selecting the washing program and a washing performance selector (32) associated with the means for regulating washing performance. The washer comprises a memory (4) suitable for storing a command issued using the selector at the end of a wash in which a specific washing program is selected. The command is unambiguously associated with the specific washing program just completed and relates to the request for a more or less thorough washing performance than the performance of the wash just completed. The memory issues the command to the means for regulating washing performance when the user again selects a wash according to that same specific washing program with which the command is associated.

Description

Washing machine and method to program said washing machine.

The present invention relates to a washing machine, for example a washing machine, a dishwasher or in general a appliance for washing. The present invention also relates to a method to program a washing machine.

Normally, washing machines of this type are used to clean different types of items: garments clothing, sheets, lingerie, etc., in the case of a washing machine; dishes, pots, cutlery, etc., in the case of dishwashers. Currently, such washing machines have spread not only in commercial activities such as laundries (in the case of washing machines) or restaurants (in the case of dishwashers), but also in many family homes

The term "washing machine" means any machine suitable for carrying out at least one washing treatment of textile articles of any fiber or of any color, which can be a machine called "washing machine or washing machine of textile articles" or a machine called "washer-dryer or washer-dryer textile articles ", if apart from washing it also effects at least a drying treatment of textile articles (in particular, using hot air injected into the wash tank through of a blower unit). Textile items can be loaded in a washing machine from the front of this last, through an opening made in the front wall of the machine or from the top, through an opening made on the upper wall of the machine.

There are known washing machines in the which can be selected a default wash program (for example, delicate items, wool, cotton at 30 ° C, cotton at 60 ° C, etc.). The consequence of selecting such a program is the automatic selection of washing parameters (temperature, duration washing, etc.) predisposed according to values standards defined by the manufacturer based on experience. Such standard defaults are established by the compromise solution between the degree of cleanliness that can be achieve, operating time and energy consumption. These Washing machines have several disadvantages. In particular, the predefined wash parameters according to standard values they could leave the most demanding customers unsatisfied in terms of degree of cleanliness of the washed clothes, or they could demand a level of energy consumption considered exaggerated by customers less demanding.

There are also known washing machines with a knob to establish, before each wash, the degree of laundry dirt that the washing machine is about to clean. Bliss knob allows the user to modify in advance, within predetermined limits, some characteristic parameters of washing so as to perform a more or less deep wash.

Also those washing machines exhibit disadvantages

In particular, it is difficult for the user define when laundry is very dirty or just dirty. In particular, dirty garments with different degrees of dirt could be washed together. Therefore, make the User evaluate the degree of dirt could lead to error.

Obviously, if you use the knob to define a high degree of dirt, more electricity will be consumed, while if the knob is used to define a degree of dirt too low the user could be dissatisfied with the degree of cleanliness obtained from items that have been washed.

The document US-A-2004/079120 publishes a machine washing machine comprising means to regulate the provision of washing, a user interface, which includes means to select the washing program associated with said means to regulate the provision of washing, and a memory to store relative data when washing

An objective of the present invention is that of eliminate these disadvantages by providing a washing machine that will allow the user to find the predispositions that, depending on the selected wash program, provide a correct solution of commitment between the provision of washing required and the others washing parameters, such as for example energy consumption and time needed for the washing machine to wash.

Another objective of the present invention is that of provide a method for programming such a washing machine.

Such goals and still others, which will still be set more evident in the description that follows, are achieved, of in accordance with the present invention, by a washing machine with the structural and functional characteristics described in the independent claims that are ahead while other dependent claims are described realizations of the washing machine.

It is described below with a higher level of details the present invention, referring to the drawings annexes, which exhibit a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, and in which:

- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a washing machine according to the present invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are front views of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Referring to the attached drawings, the Number 1 denotes a washing machine (1). Advantageously, the washing machine (1) comprises an appliance. As shown, by title Example, in Figure 2, the washing machine comprises a washing machine. As shown, by way of example, in the figure 3, the washing machine (1) comprises a dishwasher.

The washing machine (1) includes means (3) to regulate the provision of washing, which allows the modification of at least a wash parameter As explained in greater detail below, said washing parameters include for example: duration of the cycle, amount of detergent, use of adjuvants of detergent, temperature range between activation and deactivation of the washing water thermostat, amount of water of washing to use, etc.

The washing machine (1) also includes an interface of user (30) which, in turn, comprises means (2) for selecting The washing program. The washing machine (1) offers the possibility of selection among a plurality of washing programs. If of a washing machine, examples of such washing programs are: program for wool, program for delicate garments, program for cotton at 30ºC, program for cotton at 90ºC, etc. In the case of a dishwasher, use a program instead allows to have in count the required washing: crystals, pots, washing at 30 ° C, washing at 50 ° C, etc. The crystals program is suitable for washing items delicate such as glass glasses while the program for pots is suitable for washing items that can tolerate a extremely energetic wash. When the user selects a program wash, automatically defines a plurality of parameters that They regulate the same wash. When a wash program is selected predefined, some of these parameters are limited to values default For example, the temperature, whose maximum value can be restricted in the washing machine (usually at 30 ° C, 60ºC, 90ºC) depending on the type of items to be washed. How can appreciate in figures 2 and 3, by way of example and, therefore, without limiting the scope of the present invention, the means (2) for Select the wash program comprise a knob.

In addition, the user interface (30) includes a wash benefit selector (32). Said selector (32) is operatively associated with the means (3) to regulate the washing service

As the washing performance is increased required to the washing machine (1), the degree of cleanliness that will be obtained will be older In the case of washing machines, to evaluate the washing performance a measurement is made, for example of the reflectance of items washed in accordance with IEC 60456. In particular, a greater washing performance is associated with a higher energy consumption and / or a longer cycle time washed.

Normally the washing machine (1) includes a memory (4). Said memory (4) allows the storage of a remote issued using the selector (32). The command is issued at the end of a wash in which a wash program had been selected specific. This command refers to the request for a benefit of washing more or less deep than the provision of washing just made. In addition, the command is unambiguously associated with the specific wash program selected for washing that It has just been done. The memory (4) issues the command to the media regulation (3) when the user, using the means (2) to select the wash program, select a wash again with that specific washing program with which the remote is unambiguously associated. It provides the freedom to have a provision of different washing by making variations in the program washing With the present invention the user can control immediately the result of the washing carried out and modify the parameters related to that predetermined wash program, adapting them better to your specific requirements. Next time such a specific washing program is used, the washing machine (1) will take into account the command issued by the user. In this way, the User can adjust the greater or lesser depth of washing, in part depending on the wash program selected. The user satisfaction, after a wash, is subjective; he obtained result could be considered sufficient for some users and, on the contrary, insufficient for others. With the present invention, for each type of washing, the user can achieve the correct compromise solution between degree of cleanliness and energy efficiency and / or detergent consumption.

In the absence of such command, the washing machine (1) will reproduce the wash performance defined in the last wash carried out according to the washing program to be carried cape.

This command leaves the provision of washing corresponding to washing programs other than washing program with which it is unequivocally associated.

Advantageously, the memory (4) has the ability to simultaneously store a plurality of controls, each of which can be unequivocally associated with a respective washing program.

Preferably, the memory (4) is in conditions of simultaneously storing as many controls as washing programs are there and that can be established using the selection means (2) of the washing program. By way of advantageously, the user interface (30) includes means (31) for Provide information to the user. In an exemplary embodiment, no restrictive, the first time the washing machine (1) carries out a washing in accordance with a predetermined washing program, the washing performance set by the manufacturer is what achieves a compromise solution between degree of cleanliness and savings in terms of energy and detergent. Where appropriate, the user, in accordance with Your degree of satisfaction, you can modify the washing performance as described above.

Advantageously, the selector (32) includes two buttons, one to increase the washing performance and the other to decrease the washing performance. Alternatively, the selector (32) may include a knob so that the user can require an increase in the washing performance by turning the knob on a first sense (for example, clockwise) or a decreased washing performance by turning the knob in a second sense (for example counterclockwise). The control is associated exclusively with the direction of rotation of the knob and not with the angle of the knob.

The signaling means (31) allow the washing machine (1) suggest to the user add adjuvants of detergent, in the case that the washing performance required by the user with user selector (32) exceeds a value predefined Preferably said predefined value corresponds to High washing performance. Advantageously, such artifice is used when it is considered inconvenient to keep changing the others  wash parameters For example, it is clear that even from in front of a user always dissatisfied, there are technical limits and common sense beyond which to change the parameters of Washing may not be appropriate. For example, it would not make sense perform a wash that lasts for several days.

Advantageously, the means they provide information (31) includes a display or a speaker that reproduces a audio message already encoded to transmit an information item to user, for example, by suggesting to use a coadjuvant of Detergent.

The means (3) to regulate the provision of timely wash include a detergent tank and means of dosage that regulate the amount of detergent to be extracted from same tank. The washing service will be directly proportional to the amount of detergent used. Saying detergent can be composed of a detergent adjuvant, by example bleach in the case of washing machine. Alternatively, the Detergent may comprise the same detergent. In particular, the requesting party has carried out a series of washes with liquid detergent, checking that, all things being equal, As the amount of detergent is increased, it improves Continuously washing performance.

The means (3) to regulate the provision of properly washed include means to regulate the duration of washed. Keeping the other conditions the same, a wash Prolonged, or with a greater amount of rinses, will be a wash deeper.

The means (3) to regulate the provision of washing include means to regulate the interval between corresponding temperatures of which it is activated and deactivated the thermostat for heating the wash water. Usually the corresponding temperature of which the thermostat is set to the selected wash program: by for example, in a wash at 30 ° C the corresponding temperature of the which thermostat is deactivated is approximately 30 ° C for not damage the items to be washed. In that case, if the interval is reduced between the corresponding temperatures of which it is activated and turn off the thermostat, then the average temperature of washing will be higher and closer to the maximum washing temperature it is possible that, as indicated above, it is established essentially in accordance with the type of program selected.

The means (3) to regulate the provision of properly washed include means to regulate the amount Total water to use during a wash. The older the amount of water used the greater the depth of the washed. Anyway, it should be noted that the use of greater amount of water implies greater energy consumption for heat the.

The means (3) to regulate the provision of washing include means to regulate the operating cycle of a device used to move the items to be washed.

The term operating cycle refers to the relationship between the period of time during which the device of movement is moving and the total duration of washing.

In the case of a washing machine, said device of movement includes a rotating drum in which the user put dirty clothes to wash.

The present invention also relates to a method to program a washing machine (1). The common parts and corresponding are those described above. Advantageously, the Washing machine (1) comprises an appliance. As shown to exemplifying title in figure 2, the washing machine (1) comprises a washing machine. As you can see by way of example in the figure 3, the washing machine (1) comprises a dishwasher.

In accordance with the method, the washing machine (1) request or wait for the user to select a wash program. The method comprises the operational steps to carry out a washing according to the program selected by the user. The washing machine (1) performs at least the operational stages of:

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memorize, at the end of the wash, a command issued by the user. This command refers to the request for a more or less deep wash performance with respect to the washing performance that has just been completed and is associated unequivocally with the specific wash program selected for the wash that has just been finished;

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to emit the media control (3) to regulate the washing performance when request a wash again in accordance with the same program specific wash with which the control is associated.

Advantageously, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance allow the regulation of at least one wash parameter

In the absence of such command, the washing machine (1) reproduces the wash performance defined in the last wash carried out in accordance with the washing program being to perform again.

The command leaves the washing service unchanged corresponding to washing programs other than the washing with which it is unequivocally associated.

The stage of memorizing a command takes place using a memory (4) able to memorize simultaneously a plurality of controls, each of which can be associated unequivocally with a respective washing program.

Advantageously, the memory (4) is in conditions of simultaneously storing so many controls how many washing programs are there and that can be selected by the Username.

Preferably the method includes the stage operation in which the washing machine (1) suggests the user to add detergent builders. This stage takes place when the washing performance required by the user exceeds a value predefined

Preferably, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the amount of detergent to be extracted from a tank. Preferably, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the duration of washing.

Preferably, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the temperature range in correspondence of which a thermostat is activated and deactivated for heating the wash water, the temperature in correspondence of which the thermostat is deactivated while adjusted to the selected wash program.

Preferably, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the total amount of water to use during a wash.

Preferably, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the operating cycle of a device used to move the items to be washed.

The present invention offers advantages important.

Advantageously, it allows the user to be guided by successive approximations to select the conditions of Washing ideal for various washing programs.

Another important advantage is that, before a washing, the user does not have to set the grade correctly of provision of the selected program: this action has already been performed by the user at the end of the last wash in which it was selected that program and after deciding if it was enough, or No, the degree of cleanliness achieved. The user does not have to do the effort to remember, for each washing program, the last wash settings, and you don't have to do the effort to remember if the washing performance of the last wash It was satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

The invention just described can be modified and adapted in several ways without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

In addition, all the details of the invention they can be replaced by other elements technically equivalent.

In practice all the materials used, as well as its dimensions, can be any, Depending on the needs.

Claims (26)

1. Washing machine comprising:

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media (3) to regulate the washing performance that allow modification of at least one wash parameter;

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a user interface (30) which, in turn, includes means (2) for select the wash program;

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a memory (4) able to store a command, said command being related to the request for a more washing service or less deep than the washing performance just terminate and unambiguously associated with the program of specific wash selected for the wash that has just been finish;

the washing machine (1) being characterized by the fact that:

i)

the user interface includes a selector (32) providing washing, the selector (32) being operatively associated with the means (3) to regulate the provision of washing, said command being issued using the selector (32) at the end of a wash in which you have a specific washing program has been selected;

ii)

the memory (4) sends the command to the regulation means (3) of the provision of washing when, using the means (2) for select the wash program, the user selects again a wash in accordance with that specific wash program with which the command is associated.

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that in the absence of the control, the washing machine reproduces the washing performance defined in the last washing performed in accordance with the washing program to be carried out. 3. Washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unchanged the washing performance corresponding to the washing programs other than the washing program with which it is unequivocally associated. 4. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the memory (4) is in a position to simultaneously store a plurality of controls, each of which can be unequivocally associated with a respective program of washed. 5. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the memory (4) is in a position to simultaneously store as many controls as there are washing programs and that can be established using the selection means (2 ) of the washing program. 6. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user interface (30) comprises means (31) for providing information to the user. 7. Washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the signaling means (31) suggest the addition of detergent builders, when the washing performance required by the user with the selector (32) associated with the means (3) to regulate the washing performance exceeds a predetermined value. 8. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include a detergent tank and dosing means that regulate the amount of detergent to be extracted from the tank. 9. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include means for regulating the duration of the washing. 10. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include means for regulating the interval between the corresponding temperatures of which a heating thermostat is activated and deactivated of the wash water, the temperature at which the thermostat is deactivated while being adjusted to the selected washing program. 11. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include means for regulating the total amount of water to be used during a wash. 12. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include means for regulating the operating cycle of a device for moving the items to be washed. 13. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an appliance. 14. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a washing machine. 15. Washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a dishwasher. 16. Method to program a washing machine, the washing machine (1) asking the user to select a washing program; the method comprising the operational stage of carrying out a washing in accordance with the program selected by the user and provided that the washing machine carries out at least the operational stage of storing, at the end of the washing, a command issued by the user, said command referring to the request for a washing service more or less deep than the washing service of the washing which has just been completed and being unequivocally associated with the specific washing program selected for the washing which has just been completed; the method being characterized by the fact that the washing machine (1) carries out at least one operative stage of sending the control to the means (3) to regulate the washing performance when a washing is requested again in accordance with the same program of specific washing with which the control is associated, the means (3) for regulating the washing performance allowing the regulation of at least one washing parameter. 17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that in the absence of said command, the washing machine (1) reproduces the washing performance defined in the last washing carried out in accordance with the washing program to be reset. make. 18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the control unchanged the washing performance corresponding to the washing programs other than the washing program with which it is unequivocally associated. 19. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 18, characterized in that the operative step of memorizing a command takes place using a memory (4) in a position to simultaneously store a plurality of commands, each of which It can be unequivocally associated with a respective washing program. 20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the memory (4) is in a position to simultaneously store as many controls as there are washing programs that can be selected by the user. 21. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 20, comprising the step operation in which the washing machine (1) suggests to the user the aggregate of detergent adjuvants, said operative stage taking place when the washing service requested by the User exceeds a default value. 22. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 21, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance include a detergent tank and dosing means that extract from the tank the amount of detergent necessary for washing 23. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 22, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the duration of the washing. 24. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 23, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the interval between the corresponding temperatures of which a thermostat is activated and deactivated for heating of the wash water, the temperature in correspondence of which the thermostat is deactivated being adjusted to the selected washing program. 25. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 24, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the total amount of water to be used during a wash. 26. Method according to any one of the preceding claims from 16 to 25, characterized in that the means (3) for regulating the washing performance regulate the operating cycle of a device used to move the items to be washed.