This invention relates to a horizontal axis washing machine.
In washing machines, the laundry is placed inside a drum that rotates around preferably a horizontal axis. In different steps of the washing program, the laundry is washed with water and detergent by rotating the drum at different speeds. While the drum is being rotated, the laundry is not distributed homogeneously inside the drum, causing an uneven distribution of the laundry by piling up in some regions. Particularly in the spinning step where the drum is rotated at very high speeds, the uneven distribution of the load generates vibrations. Those vibrations not only generate noise and result in consumer dissatisfaction but also cause the machine to wear out. Moreover, the spinning performance at high speeds is adversely affected
In the state of the art, various solutions are developed for balancing the unbalanced load. Of these, a widely used solution is adding immovable weights to the washing machine thereby increasing its inertia. However, as the immovable weights complicate the transportation of the machine, in some of the embodiments in the state of the art, adding a fluid, mostly water, to the washing machine is suggested. Water is filled in the chambers secured on the tub or the drum. In a group of embodiments, the fluid is added to the washing machine once after the transportation and the same liquid is used continually. In another group of embodiments, the fluid needed for balancing is received into the washing machine while the machine is operating, and discharged out at the end of the operation. Moreover in the state of the art, the tub wherein the drum is situated is suspended from above by means of springs and supported from below by means of pistons thereby held in suspended position within the body. Thus the effect of vibrations resulting from the movement of the drum and the tub on the washing machine body is tried to be minimized. However, in washing machines wherein damper systems comprised of spring, piston etc., are used, the sensors disposed on the legs or around the damper system are adversely affected due to damper behavior and also by the forces acting thereon from outside the washing machine.
In the state of the art Swiss Patent Application no
In the state of the art United States of America Patent no.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a horizontal axis washing machine wherein the load and the unbalanced load are detected effectively.
The horizontal axis washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a block supporting the tub, made up of a conductive and flexible material, two conductive plates disposed inside the block, parallel to each other with the conductive material remaining therebetween and a weight sensor, whereto the plates are electrically connected such that there is a potential difference between the plates, that measures the weight of the load acting on the block with respect to the frequency that changes depending on the change in the distance between the plates which changes according to the load acting on the block.
Accordingly, supporting of the tub, dampening of the vibrations due to the rotation of the drum and also detection of the tub weight are provided by the block without using the damper system.
The two plates embedded inside the conductive material during the production of the block and the conductive material in between these plates serve as a planar capacitor. By means of the block compressing and expanding due to the flexibility of the block, results in the plates moving closer or away from each other, whereby the capacitance value of the block changes which in turn affects the output signal of the weight sensor whereto the plates are electrically connected. Thus, since the output frequency changes with the load acting on the block, the weight of the tub can be determined by this method.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the block is produced from a polymer material, preferably of rubber.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plate is produced from a high conductive metal material, preferably of aluminum or copper.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the plate is manufactured of a polymer material having electrical conductivity. Thus, the block can behave like a capacitive circuit element without affecting the flexibility of the block.
In another embodiment of the present invention, supports made of metal are secured above or below the block in order to increase the strength thereof and to provide the homogeneous dampening of the load acting thereon.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine comprises holders secured on the surfaces of both body side walls facing the tub, along the length of the side walls, parallel to the drum axis extending in the horizontal axis and a rest secured to the tub, that extends from the tub surface toward the side wall of the body such that it will be in the same vertical alignment as the holder and a block disposed between the holder and the rest. In this embodiment, the block is secured to the holder from below and to the rest from above.
By means of the present invention, holding of the tub inside the washing machine and detecting the amount of the load acting on the tub are provided without a dampener and piston. Thus, the flexible and conductive configuration of the block provides not only holding the tub, dampening the vibrations but also determining the load acting on the tub.
A washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
The washing machine (1) of the present invention is a horizontal axis washing machine (1) wherein the amount of water to counterbalance the unbalanced load and minimize the effect is continuously delivered to the desired place in the case of unbalanced load, comprising a body (2), a drum disposed inside the body (2), rotating in the horizontal axis, wherein items to be washed are emplaced and a tub (3) wherein the drum rotates.
The washing machine (1), furthermore, comprises:
Thus, the block (7) not only provides to hold the tub (3) but also to dampen the vibrations of the tub (3) and to determine the weight of the load acting thereon.
The block (7) is manufactured of a polymeric material and the tub (3) is seated on one or more blocks (7). Accordingly, the block (7) that serves almost like a buffer, carries both the weight of the tub (3) and the entire drive group connected thereto and also prevents the vibrations from being delivered to the body (2) by dampening the vibrations originating from the rotation of the drum.
Two planar conductive plates (8) embedded inside the block (7) during the production of the block (7) such that the conductive material remains therebetween and the conductive material remaining between the two conductive plates (8) having a certain dielectric constant provides the block (7) to behave as it were a "planar capacitor" (
These plates (8) disposed inside the block (7) move towards or away from each other, proportional to the compression or expansion movements of the block (7) due to the flexibility thereof as a result of the weight of the tub (3) seated on the block (7) and/or the unbalanced load. The capacitance value of the block (7) changes because of the change in the distance between the plates (8) inside the block (7) and due to the movement of the tub (3) and hence of the unbalanced load. The output signal (Vout) frequency of the weight sensor (9) changes depending upon the change in the capacitance value whereby the weight of the tub (3) and the amount of unbalanced load is determined accordingly.
When load is acting on the block (7), the block (7) is compressed and the plates (8) move closer to each other. As the result of this moving closer, the capacitance value of the block (7) increases and the output signal (Vout) frequency of the weight sensor (9) decreases. When load acting on the block (7) is removed, the block (7) opens up and the plates (8) move away from each other. In this state, the capacitance value of the block (7) decreases and the output signal (Vout) frequency of the weight sensor (9) increases.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the block (7) is produced from a polymer based material.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the block (7) is produced from rubber material.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the plate (8) is produced from a metal material with high conductivity like aluminum or copper.
In another embodiment of the invention, the plate (8) is produced from a polymer material having conductivity. Accordingly, the plates (8) are provided to move closer to or move away from each other in a more proportional manner with the compression and expansion of the block (7). Moreover, the flexibility of the block (7) is also protected.
In another embodiment of the present invention, supports (6) preferably produced from metal material are secured below and above the block (7) in order to increase the strength of the block (7). These supports (6) not only increase the strength of the block (7) but also provide homogeneous dampening of the load acting thereon.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises holders (4) secured on the surfaces of both body (2) side walls facing the tub (3), along the length of the side walls, parallel to the drum axis extending in the horizontal axis and a rest (5) secured to the tub (3), extending from the tub (3) surface toward the side wall of the body (2) such that it will be in the same vertical alignment as the holder (4). In this embodiment, the block (7) is disposed between the holder (4) and the rest (5) and is secured to the holder (4) from below and to the rest (5) from above (
By means of the present invention, in washing machines (1) wherein a damper/spring system is not used, not only the tub (3) is held and the vibrations of the tub (3) are dampened but also the load is determined by the block (7). Accordingly, the static and the dynamic loads are also detected and the detection losses encountered in the damper/spring system are prevented.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention, too.
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.