Method for controlling the metered amount of detergent in an automatic washing machine or the like

(19)

(11)

EP 1 096 051 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	07.08.2002 Bulletin 2002/32

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	02.05.2001 Bulletin 2001/18

(21)	Application number: 00120376.9

(22)	Date of filing: 18.09.2000

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: D06F 39/02, D06F 39/08

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

28.10.1999 IT PN990082

(71)	Applicant: Electrolux Zanussi S.p.A.
	33170 Pordenone (IT)

(72)	Inventors:
	Peressi, Valentino 33100 Udine (IT) Babuin, Piero 33170 Pordenone (IT)

(74)	Representative: Busca, Luciano et al
	PROPRIA S.r.l. Via Mazzini 13 33170 Pordenone 33170 Pordenone (IT)

(54)	Method for controlling the metered amount of detergent in an automatic washing machine or the like

(57) In a clothes washing machine that comprises a washing tub (4) containing a drum (5), and is adapted to carry out a washing and rinse cycle followed by respective water discharge phases, the method calls for:

during each water discharge phase, the time intervals (Tw, Tr) to be measured, which elapse from the instant in which the water in the tub (4) lowers down to a first level (L2), to the instant in which the water further decreases down to a level (L1); and
when the ratio (R) between the so measured time intervals (Tw, Tr) is detected to be higher than a given threshold value (Rx), an alarm signal to be generated which is indicative of an excessively metered amount of detergent.

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