LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPLIANCE HAVING IMPROVED DOOR SAFETY

Description

[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.

Claims

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).

Ansprüche

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)

Revendications

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).

Drawing