Washing machine test method

Abstract

 A test method for washing machines (M) is disclosed in the present invention. Said method comprises the steps of- initiating the test process (10) once the closing of the door (3) and the use of the control element (1, 2) in a determined order and/or combination are detected by the electronic control unit; checking if there is present a required amount of water (13) for the test by measuring the water level in the washing compartment (6) of the machine (M); supplying water (17) by means of the valve (7) if no adequate amount of water is present; measuring again the water amount (18); sending a valve/water failure signal (21) to the warning element and terminating the test process (23) if the water amount has not come to a desired level; activating the drain pump (4) (15) if there is present an adequate amount of water in the washing compartment (6); and checking if the water is drained out in a predetermined time interval (16).

Description

Field of Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for testing the operation of washing machines.

Prior Art

[0002] In electronic household appliances, one or more components thereof may become damaged, either because of user faults, or due to the conditions in which the appliance is used (e.g. the ambiance in which the appliance is situated, or other factors such as electricity, water, etc. used for running the appliance). When one or more components of a household appliance is/are damaged, it cannot function completely. If a household appliance cannot function due to a damaged component according to the prior art, it is brought to technical service. In the technical service, the problematic component of the appliance is found and the problem is solved.

[0003] In the patent document CA2730497A1 according the prior art is disclosed a system and method for laundry machines. That system and method ensure to detect the presence of any water leak from the laundry machine or the presence of poor drainage from the machine. According to that method, the drain pump of the machine is automatically checked and the user or service is alerted in case a failure occurs.

[0004] In another patent document WO2008154711A2 according the prior art is disclosed a laundry machine system. Said laundry machine comprises a button by which a user is enabled to determine the time to run the machine. Said button can also be used to switch the machine to a test mode. Once the machine is switched to the test mode, the water valves, motor, and pump of the machine are tested.

Brief Description of Invention

[0005] A test method is disclosed in the present invention for washing machines, comprising at least one control element controlling the operation of the machine; at least one warning element providing the respective user with information of the operative state of the machine; at least one electronic control unit regulating the operation of the machine; at least one washing compartment into which items to be washed are placed; at least one door through which items to be washed are placed into the washing compartment; at least one valve supplying water to the washing compartment, and at least one drain pump to drain out the wash water present in the washing compartment.

[0006] Said method comprises the steps of- initiating the test process once the closing of the door and the use of the control element in a determined order and/or combination are detected by the electronic control unit; checking if there is present a required amount of water for the test by measuring the water level in the washing compartment of the machine; supplying water to the washing compartment by means of the valve if the water amount in the washing compartment is not adequate for the test; measuring again the water amount in the washing machine; sending a 'valve failure signal' or 'water failure signal' to the warning element and terminating the test process if the water has not come to a desired level; activating the drain pump if there is present an adequate amount of water in the washing compartment before or after water supply; and checking if the water present in the washing compartment is drained out within a predetermined time interval.

[0007] According to the present invention, when a failure is detected in the machine, a warning is indicated on the warning element of the machine so that the person conducting the test sees the presence of a failure.

Object of Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to develop a method for testing the drain pump of a washing machine.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to develop a method for testing the drain pump of a washing machine in the place where the machine is already situated.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to develop a method by which the operation of the drain pump is tested by an authorized person.

Description of Figures

[0011] Illustrative embodiments of a washing machine and the washing machine test method according to the present invention are shown in annexed figures briefly described hereunder.

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of the washing machine.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of the washing machine.

Figure 3 is a flowchart of the test method.

[0012] The parts in said figures are individually referenced as following.

washing machine

(M)

control element

(1, 2)

door

(3)

pump

(4)

warning element

(5)

washing compartment

(6)

valve

(7)

sensor

(8)

initiation

(10)

door locking

(11)

lock check

(12)

water-level check

(13)

temperature check

(14)

pump activating

(15)

water-drain check

(16)

water supplying

(17)

water-level recheck

(18)

cold water supplying

(19)

failure sending

(20)

valve or water-failure sending

(21)

lock-error sending

(22)

completion

(23)

Description of Invention

[0013] In electronic household appliances, one or more components thereof may become damaged, either because of user faults, or the conditions in which the appliance is used (e.g. the ambiance in which the appliance is situated, or other factors such as electricity, water, etc. used for running the appliance). Drain pumps of washing machines may be malfunctioning when a laundry item or a foreign object such as a coin left in a pocket of such laundries washed in the washing machine becomes stuck in the drain pump, or when laundries become worn out and fluffy as a result of extensive washes so that these fluffs become stuck in the drain pump. Therefore, a method is developed with the present invention for testing the drain pump in washing machines.

[0014] The washing machine (M), illustrated as a laundry washer in figures 1 and 2, comprises at least one control element (1, 2), which controls the operation of the machine (M) and may be in the form of at least one button or switch; at least one warning element (4) providing the user with information on the operative state of the machine (M); at least one electronic control unit (not illustrated in figures) regulating the operation of the machine (M); at least one washing compartment (6) where items to be washed are placed; at least one door (3), through which items to be washed are placed into the washing compartment (6); at least one valve (7) supplying water to the washing compartment (6), and at least one drain pump (4) to drain out the wash water present in the washing compartment (6) from the machine (M). Said warning element (4) may comprise at least one speaker alerting the respective user in an audible manner, and/or at least one indicator (e.g. display, illuminant) warning the respective user visually.

[0015] According to the pump test method developed according to the present invention, first the door (3) of the machine (M) is closed in order to test the drain pump (4) of the washing machine (M) and at least one control element (1, 2) is used in a predetermined order and/or combination. With the order and/or combination of use of the control element (1, 2) being detected by the control unit on a software basis, the test process, with an exemplary flowchart shown in Figure 3, is initiated (10). In the test process, first the water level in the washing compartment (6) of the machine (M) is measured and it is checked if there is present a required amount of water for the test (13). This water-level measurement step is preferably performed by at least one water-level sensor (8) provided in the machine (M). If there isn't present an adequate amount of water for the test process in the washing compartment (6), water is supplied to the washing compartment (17) by means of the valve (7). Then, the water amount in the washing compartment (6) is measured again (18), and if the water amount has not come to a desired level, the test process is terminated (23) by sending a valve-failure signal or a water-failure signal (21) to the warning element (5). If there is present an adequate amount of water in the washing compartment (6) before or after the step of supplying water (17), the drain pump (4) is activated (15). Then, it is checked if the water present in the washing compartment (6) is drained out in a predetermined time interval (16). Said predetermined time interval is preferably a time interval which is determined according to the water amount present in the washing compartment (6). If the water present in the washing compartment (6) has not been drained out within said predetermined time interval, a pump-failure signal is transmitted (20) to the warning element (5) and the test is terminated (23). If the water present in the washing compartment (6) is drained out within said predetermined time interval, the test process is completed (23).

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door (3) of the machine (M) is automatically locked once the test process is initiated (10). It is then checked if the door (3) is properly locked (12). If the door (3) is locked properly, the test is proceeded with the step of measuring the water level (13) in the washing compartment (6). If, in turn, a problem is detected while the door (3) is locked, a lock-error signal is transmitted (22) to the warning element (5) and the test is terminated (23).

[0017] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the temperature of water in the washing compartment is measured (14) before the step (15) of activating the drain pump (4). If the water temperature is above a predetermined level (preferably 50°C), some amount of cold water is supplied (19) to the washing compartment (6) and it is switched to the step (15) of activating the pump (4). If the measured water temperature is below said level, it is directly switched to the step (15) of activating the pump (4). The aim of measuring the water temperature in the washing compartment (6) is to prevent the high-temperature water from damaging the drain pump (4).

[0018] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the test process can be conducted by at least one remote control method. In this embodiment, the test process is initiated via a network and the test results are transmitted to the person conducting the test via the network.

[0019] In terms of the present invention, since the control elements (1, 2) are to be used in a determined order and/or combination to have the machine (M) switched to the test mode, the test process can be performed at a place and time only, which are to be determined by authorized persons. Thus, it is both ensured to test the machine (M) in situ (e.g. at home), and to prevent the machine (M) from being switched to the test mode by unauthorized persons.

Claims

1. A drain pump test method for a washing machine (M), comprising at least one control element (1, 2) controlling the operation of the machine; at least one warning element (5) providing the respective user with information of the operative state of the machine; at least one electronic control unit regulating the operation of the machine; at least one washing compartment (6) into which items to be washed are placed; at least one door (3) through which items to be washed are placed into the washing compartment (6); at least one valve (7) supplying water to the washing compartment (6), and at least one drain pump (4) to drain out the wash water present in the washing compartment (6), this method being characterized by comprising the steps of

- initiating the test process (10), once the closing of the door (3) and the use of the control element (1, 2) in a determined order and/or combination are detected by the electronic control unit;

- checking if there is present a required amount of water (13) for the test by measuring the water level in the washing compartment (6) of the machine (M);

- supplying water (17) to the washing compartment (6) by means of the valve (7) if the water amount in the washing compartment (6) is not adequate for the test;

- measuring again the water amount (18) in the washing machine (6);

- sending a 'valve failure signal' or 'water failure signal' (21) to the warning element (5) and terminating the test process (23) if the water has not reached a desired level;

- activating the drain pump (4) if there is present an adequate amount of water in the washing compartment (6) before or after the step of supplying water (17) to the washing compartment (6); and

- checking if the water present in the washing compartment (6) is drained out (16) within a predetermined time interval.

2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising the steps of transmitting a pump-failure signal (20) to the warning element (5) and terminating the test (23) if the water present in the washing compartment (6) is not drained out within said predetermined time interval.

3. The method according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising the step of completing the test process (23) if the water present in the washing compartment (6) is drained out within said predetermined time interval.

4. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the water amount is measured by means of at least one water-level sensor (8) in the steps (13, 18) of measuring the water amount in the washing compartment (6).

5. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined time interval is a time interval which is determined according to the water amount present in the washing compartment (6).

6. The method according to Claim 1, characterized by further comprising the step of checking the lock (12) of the machine (M) door (3) once it (12) is locked (11) following the step of initiating the test process (10).

7. The method according to Claim 1, characterized by further comprising the steps of measuring the temperature of water (14) present in the washing compartment (6) before the step of activating the drain pump (4), and supplying cold water (19) to the washing compartment (6) if the water temperature is above a predetermined value.

8. The method according to Claim 7, characterized by further comprising the step of activating (15) the drain pump (4) if the water temperature is below a predetermined value.

9. The method according to claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said predetermined value is 50°C.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the test process is initiated via a remote control method.

11. The method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the test results are transmitted via a network.

Drawing