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EP 3 017 106 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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20.09.2017 Bulletin 2017/38 |
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Date of filing: 05.07.2013 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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International application number: |
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PCT/EP2013/064260 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 2015/000530 (08.01.2015 Gazette 2015/01) |
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LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPLIANCE HAVING IMPROVED DOOR SAFETY
WÄSCHEBEHANDLUNGSVORRICHTUNG MIT VERBESSERTER TÜRSICHERHEIT
APPAREIL DE TRAITEMENT DU LINGE COMPORTANT UNE SÉCURITÉ DE PORTE AMÉLIORÉE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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11.05.2016 Bulletin 2016/19 |
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Proprietor: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi |
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34950 Istanbul (TR) |
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Inventors: |
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- OCAK, Baris
34950 Istanbul (TR)
- BUYUKTOPCU, Cagatay
34950 Istanbul (TR)
- OZKAHRAMAN, Hakan
34950 Istanbul (TR)
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References cited: :
EP-A1- 2 123 819 US-A1- 2003 197 387
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WO-A2-2008/148788
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying appliance comprising
a door and having an operation initiation control mechanism ensuring that the operation
is initiatable only when the door of the appliance is closed.
The doors of laundry treatment appliances are automatically locked during the washing
process for the safety of the user. Typically, a microprocessor oversees the open
or closed states of the door so as to prevent any attemps to access into the drum
when the latter is in rotation.
[0002] It is to be noted that laundry treatment appliances are attractive devices for toddlers
and kids for the unique reason that such appliances' control panels and doors get
readily accessible to them as they grow up. Further, as more recent appliances have
an increased load capacity, a direct result associated therewith is that larger doors
are being designed. Unfortunately, a plurality of tragic occurrences is reported in
the country of the applicant, such occurrences involving death of children entering
in the drum while playing. It is therefore of utmost importance to diversify safety
measures to help avoid such tragic occurrences.
[0003] Situations which may pose serious risks include automatic restarting of the appliance
after the door is opened during operation and reclosed with a certain period in between
and pressing the start button without the door being closed. The latter situation
is especially dangerous as a considerable amount of time may have passed since the
start button is pressed, during which the door remained open, or the button may have
in the first place been pressed by a child. In the first situation where an adult
deliberately stops the appliance's operation by opening the door and leaves his/her
children unattended for a while, it is more likely that he/she will return soon and
complete the washing and/or drying process, so a shorter risk time can be predicted.
[0004] The present invention therefore proposes an arrangement according to which starting
or restarting of the washing/drying process is not affected if the condition of the
door is not sensed as closed when the start button was pressed.
[0005] Further, it is known that an electronic control system is vulnerable in the sense
that various problems including software based problems as well as environmental impacts
such as noise, irregularity in the mains voltage or the electromagnetic field in the
air may affect the operation. The present invention also addresses this issue and
proposes a more reliable control approach for eliminating risks stemming from environmental
conditions.
[0006] A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred
to as
WO2008148788 among others, the document disclosing a washer/dryer with a microprocessor that allows
the door lock to be opened only after ensuring that the electric motor has halted
before the door is opened, and an extra control circuit that cuts off the energy of
the relay operating the electric motor in the case the microprocessor is in error.
Document
EP 2 123 819 A1 is concerned with the detection of a hazard condition corresponding to the access
door being opened during a power cut, or a safety condition corresponding to the access
door (5) not being opened during the power cut, so that a control module can selectively
disable or enable the operation of the appliance.
[0007] The present invention provides an arrangement in relation to laundry treatment appliances
having a starting control mechanism, which is defined by the characterizing features
as defined in Claim 1.
[0008] Primary object of the present invention is hence to provide a laundry treatment appliance
with a starting control mechanism ensuring that the starting operation is initiatable
when the front door of the appliance is closed.
[0009] The present invention proposes a laundry treatment appliance with a control unit
which initiates rotation of the appliance's drum only upon completion of a prescribed
sequence of actions and in a predetermined time duration in the following situations:
- a) In a first situation where the appliance is stopped and restarted after the door
is left open for instance more than three seconds,
- b) In a second situation where a starting signal is given while the door is not closed.
[0010] The prescribed sequence of actions to be fulfilled in three seconds comprises reopening
and subsequent closing of the door. A mechanical door switch is provided, whose contacts
being opened and closed in response to the open and closed position of the door. The
laundry treatment appliance further comprises a door lock driven by the control unit
as of starting of the operation. Said door lock is energized by way of closing a relay
that is a microprocessor controlled switch.
[0011] Another microprocessor controlled switch is provided to be closed in order for applying
a control voltage to the mechanical door switch, in response to which a voltage value
that is indicative of the state of the mechanical door switch is communicated to the
control unit by means of a position verification feed-back circuit.
[0012] Accompanying drawings are given solely for the purpose of exemplifying a laundry
treatment appliance, whose advantages over prior art were outlined above and will
be explained in brief hereinafter.
[0013] The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the
claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified
in said claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of
the present invention.
Fig. 1 demonstrates a general cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment appliance
according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 demonstrates the main embodiment according the present invention in the form
of block elements involved.
Fig. 3 demonstrates a further embodiment according the present invention in the form
of block elements involved.
[0014] The following numerals are used in the detailed description of the invention:
- 1. Laundry treatment appliance
- 2. Water tub
- 3. Rotary drum
- 4. Door
- 5. Control unit
- 6. First microprocessor controlled switch
- 7. Door lock
- 8. Second microprocessor controlled switch
- 9. Mechanical door switch
- 10. Position verification feed-back circuit
- 11. Control interface
- 12. Electric motor
[0015] The present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance (1) comprising a water
tub (2) and a rotary drum (3), in which the laundry is to be placed, a door (4) typically
allows access into the drum (3) for loading or unloading laundry and a control interface
(11) for operating the laundry treatment appliance (1)
[0016] The laundry treatment appliance (1) comprises an electric motor (12) rotating the
drum (3) wherein the laundry is placed. In a situation where the laundry treatment
appliance (1) is stopped and restarted after the door (4) is left open a certain period
of time or the start button was pressed while the door (4) is not closed and the door
(4) is closed at a later moment, a serious risk may occur due to the fact that the
door (4) may have remained open during an unknown period. Therefore, it is necessary
to ensure that the door (4) is opened and closed in the presence of an adult.
[0017] A door lock (7) is conventionally provided in order for preventing opening of the
door (4) during washing and/or drying processes. Said door lock (7) is typically driven
by means of a first relay or a triac, that is a first microprocessor controlled switch
(6). In the event that the door lock (7) is unlocked by the user by stopping an ongoing
washing/drying process, restarting of the process is not affected if the door (4)
is not closed within a certain amount of time. If the door (4) is closed after such
predetermined amount of time is exceeded, the user is required to subsequently reopen
and reclose the door (4) within the prescribed time.
[0018] Likewise, if the start button was pressed while the door (4) is not closed and the
door (4) is closed at a later moment, the user is again required to follow the prescribed
sequence of actions, i.e. reopen and reclose the door (4) for the respective laundry
treatment program to be initiated. Therefore, in both cases it is ensured that the
door (4) is opened and subsequently closed in a prescribed time, for instance 3 seconds.
[0019] The present invention further proposes an arrangement in which a control unit (5),
i.e. a microprocessor communicates with a second relay or a triac that is a microprocessor
controlled switch (8). Said microprocessor controlled switch (8) is closed in order
for applying a control voltage to a mechanical door switch (9) which changes to active
and passive modes in response to the actual open and closed condition of the door
(4). More precisely, if the door (4) is closed, contacts of said mechanical door switch
(9) are closed and said control voltage applied on the mechanical door switch (9)
is read by the control unit (5) by means of a position verification feed-back circuit
(10). Therefore, while the microprocessor controlled switch (8) being energized, the
mechanical door switch's (9) actual state is read by the control unit (5) in order
for verifying the state of the door (4).
[0020] It is to be noted that the control unit (5) verifies the state of the door (4) by
closing the microprocessor controlled switch (8) each time the electric motor (12)
is to be energized. Therefore, in the event that the prescribed sequence of actions
is fulfilled in response to a first situation where the laundry treatment appliance
(1) is stopped and restarted after the door (4) is left open a certain period of time
or a second situation where the start button was pressed while the door (4) is not
closed and the door is closed at a later moment, the control unit (5) checks whether
the information received from the mechanical door switch (9) is corresponding to the
information received from the position verification feed-back circuit (10) by closing
the microprocessor controlled switch (8).
[0021] In a nutshell, the present invention proposes a laundry treatment appliance (1) comprising
a rotary drum (3) wherein the laundry to be treated is placed, the electric motor
(12) rotating the rotary drum (3), a control interface (11) for operating the laundry
treatment appliance (1) and a door (4) allowing access into the drum (3) for loading
or unloading laundry. The laundry treatment appliance (1) comprises a control unit
(5) which energizes the electric motor (12) only upon completion of a prescribed sequence
of actions in a predetermined time duration, in response to a first situation where
operation of the laundry treatment appliance (1) is stopped and then restarted after
the door (4) is left open a certain period of time longer than said predetermined
time duration or in response to a second situation where a starting signal is produced
by means of the control interface (11) while the door (4) is not closed and the (4)
door is closed at a later moment.
1. A laundry treatment appliance (1) comprising a rotary drum (3) wherein the laundry
to be treated is placed, an electric motor (12) rotating the rotary drum (3), a control
interface (11) for operating the laundry treatment appliance (1) and a door (4) allowing
access into the drum (3) for loading or unloading laundry, characterized in that a control unit (5) which energizes said electric motor (12) only upon completion
of a prescribed sequence of actions in a predetermined time duration, in response
to a first situation where operation of the laundry treatment appliance (1) is stopped
and then restarted after the door (4) is left open a certain period of time longer
than said predetermined time duration or in response to a second situation where a
starting signal is produced by means of said control interface (11) while the door
(4) is not closed and the door (4) is closed at a later moment.
2. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that said prescribed sequence of actions comprises opening and subsequent closing of the
door (4).
3. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a mechanical door switch (9) which changes to active and passive modes in response
to actual open and closed condition of the door (4).
4. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that a door lock (7) preventing opening of the door (4) during washing and/or drying processes.
5. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 4, characterized in that said door lock (7) is driven by means of a relay in the form of a first microprocessor
controlled switch (6).
6. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that said door lock (7) is driven by means of a triac in the form of a first microprocessor
controlled switch (6).
7. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that a second microprocessor controlled switch (8) is provided to be closed in order for
applying a control voltage to said mechanical door switch (9).
8. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the second microprocessor controlled switch (8) is a relay.
9. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 7, characterized in that the second microprocessor controlled switch (8) is a triac.
10. The laundry treatment appliance (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the control voltage applied on the mechanical door switch (9) is read by the control
unit (5) by means of a position verification feed-back circuit (10).
1. Ein Waschvorrichtung (1) umfassend eine Drehzylinder (3), in die die gewaschen werdene
Wäsche hineingelegt werden, einen Elektromotor (12), der die Drehzylinder (3) umdreht,
eine Steuerschnittstelle (11) zum Betreiben der Waschvorrichtung (1) und eine Tür
(4), die den Zugang zum Inneren der Drehzylinder (3) erlaubt, um die Wäsche zu einlegen
und zu entleeren, dadurch gekennzeichnet; dass eine Steuereinheit (5), die dem genannten Elektromotor (12) Energie nur dann zuführt,
wenn eine Reihenfolge der vorbestimmten Aktionen, die als eine Reaktion für die erste
Situation, bei der nach dem Offenlassen der Tür (4) für eine Zeitperiode, die länger
als der vorbestimmten Zeitraum dauert, der Betrieb der Waschvorrichtung (1) ausgeschaltet
und danach vom neuen an eingeschaltet wird oder als eine Reaktion für die zweite Situation,
bei der ein Startsignal durch Steuerschnittstelle (11) erzeugt wird , wenn die Tür
(4) zu dem Zeitpunkt nicht geschlossen ist und wenn die Tür (4) in einem späteren
Zeitpunkt geschlossen wird, reagieren, in einer vorbestimmten Zeitperiode vervollständigt
werden.
2. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 gekennzeichnet durch das Öffnen und danach Schliessen der Tür (4) der genannten vorbestimmten Aktionen.
3. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2 gekennzeichnet durch einen mechanischen Türknopf (9), der als Reaktion gegen die eigentliche offene und
geschlossene Situationen der Tür (4) in den aktiven und passiven Modus eintritt.
4. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 gekennzeichnet durch einen Türschloss (7), der das Öffnen der Tür (4) während der Wasch- und Trockenprozesse
verhindert.
5. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 4 gekennzeichnet durch das Antreiben des genannten Türschlosses (7) durch ein Relais in Form eines Knopfes (6), der durch einen ersten Mikroprozessor steuert wird.
6. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 5 gekennzeichnet durch das Antreiben des genannten Türschlosses (7) durch einen Triac in Form eines Knopfes (6), der durch einen ersten Mikroprozessor gesteuert wird.
7. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3 gekennzeichnet durch Sicherstellen das Schliessen eines Knopfes (8), der durch einen zweiten Mikroprozessor gesteuert wird, um eine Steuerspannung an den genannten
mechanischen Türknopf (9) auszuüben
8. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 7 gekennzeichnet durch einen Knopf (8), der durch einen zweiten Mikroprozessor gesteuert wird und ein Relais ist.
9. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 7 gekennzeichnet durch einen Knopf (8), der durch einen zweiten Mikroprozessor gesteuert wird und ein Triac ist.
10. Waschvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3 gekennzeichnet durch das Ablesen der Steuerspannung, die auf den mechanischen Türknopf (9) ausgeübt wird,
durch die Rückkopplungsschaltung (10) für Positionsverifikation und die Steuereinheit (5)
1. Un appareil de traitement de linge (1) comprenant un tambour rotatif (3) dans lequel
est placé le linge à traiter, un moteur électrique (12) faisant tourner le tambour
rotatif (3), une interface de commande (11) pour faire fonctionner l'appareil de traitement
de linge (1) et une porte (4) permettant l'accès dans le tambour (3) pour le chargement
ou le déchargement du linge, caractérisé en ce qu'une unité de commande (5) qui active ledit moteur électrique (12) uniquement à la
fin d'une séquence d'actions prescrite dans un durée de temps prédéterminée, en réponse
à une première situation où l'opération de l'appareil de traitement de linge (1) est
arrêtée, et puis redémarré après la porte (4) était laissée une certaine période de
temps plus longue que ladite durée de temps prédéterminée ou en réponse à une deuxième
situation où un signal de départ est produit au moyen de ladite interface de commande
(11) tandis que la porte (4) n'est pas fermée et la porte (4) est fermée à un moment
ultérieur.
2. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite séquence d'actions prescrite comprend l'ouverture et la fermeture ultérieure
de la porte (4).
3. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un commutateur de porte mécanique (9) qui passe en mode actif et passif en réponse
à l'état réel ouvert et fermé de la porte (4).
4. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un verrou de porte (7) empêchant l'ouverture de la porte (4) pendant les processus
de lavage et / ou de séchage.
5. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit verrou de porte (7) est entraîné au moyen d'un relais sous la forme d'un premier
commutateur commandé par microprocesseur (6).
6. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit verrou de porte (7) est entraîné au moyen d'un triac sous la forme d'un premier
commutateur commandé par microprocesseur (6).
7. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'un second commutateur commandé par microprocesseur (8) est prévu pour être fermé
pour appliquer une tension de commande audit commutateur de porte mécanique (9).
8. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le second commutateur commandé par microprocesseur (8) est un relais.
9. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le second commutateur commandé par microprocesseur (8) est un triac.
10. Appareil de traitement de linge (1) selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la tension de commande appliquée sur le commutateur de porte mécanique (9) est lue
par l'unité de commande (5) au moyen d'un circuit de retour de vérification de position
(10).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description