Control method of a laundry washing machine for execution of a general purpose cycle

Description

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a washing machine for the execution of a general purpose cycle.

[PRIOR ART]

[0002] As is known, washing machines can be set to different wash programs depending on the characteristics of the laundry to be washed.

[0003] By way of example, specific wash cycles can be set for cotton, wool, white, coloured, etc. garments.

[0004] In contrast to the increasingly specialized trend of currently available wash cycles, the Applicant has perceived the need for providing a washing machine equipped with a "general purpose" operating mode, i.e. a wash cycle capable of ensuring satisfactory results with substantially all types of garments.

[0005] Document US 2011/099732 A1 discloses a laundry machine that employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

[OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

[0006] It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a washing machine which allows executing a wash cycle that is suitable for a wide range of items.

[0007] This and other objects are achieved through a method for controlling a washing machine as set out in the appended claims.

[0008] In particular, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a washing machine, which comprises:

• the execution of a first wash step, wherein the wash water is gradually warmed up and the drum is moved in rotation at a first speed, in order to facilitate the action of one or more cleansing substances present in the water;
• the execution of a second wash step, following said first wash step, wherein the water temperature is kept above a predetermined threshold and the drum is moved in rotation at a second speed, in order to exert a mechanical cleaning action on the laundry in the drum.

[0009] Preferably, said first speed is comprised between 40 and 50 rpm.

[0010] In said first wash step, preferably, the movement duty cycle is comprised between 80% and 90%, said duty cycle being defined by a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation. Preferably, said second speed is comprised between 40 and 50 rpm.

[0011] In said second wash step, preferably, the movement duty cycle is comprised between 93% and 99%, said duty cycle being defined by a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation. Preferably, said predetermined threshold is comprised between 30°C and 35°C. Preferably, said second wash step is followed by a spin operation, preferably associated with one or more topping-up operations.

[0012] Preferably, the duration of said first step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes. Preferably, the duration of said second step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes. Preferably, the execution of said wash steps is activated upon reception of a command by means of a dedicated button.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0013] Some preferred and advantageous examples of embodiment will now be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed Figure 1, which shows a diagram representative of some characteristic parameters of the method according to the invention.

[DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION]

[0014] As aforesaid, the method of the invention aims at executing a wash cycle that can suit different types of garments or textiles in general.

[0015] First of all, the method comprises a first wash step, wherein the wash water is gradually warmed up and the drum is moved in rotation at a first speed.

[0016] Preferably, the water is heated to a temperature comprised between 28°C and 32 °C. Preferably, the first speed is comprised between 40 and 50 rpm.

[0017] Preferably, the time duration of the first wash step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes.

[0018] The purpose of the first wash step is to facilitate the action of one or more cleansing substances present in the water. In fact, the mechanical and thermal action to which the laundry is subjected during this first step is rather mild, and is substantially aimed at promoting the chemical action exerted by the detergent.

[0019] The method of the invention also provides for the execution of a second wash step, following said first wash step.

[0020] In the second wash step, the water temperature is kept above a predetermined threshold and the drum is moved in rotation at a second speed.

[0021] Preferably, the minimum water temperature threshold is set to a value comprised between 30°C to 35°C.

[0022] Preferably, the second speed is comprised between 40 and 50 rpm.

[0023] Preferably, the duration of the second wash step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes.

[0024] The purpose of the second wash step is to exert a stronger mechanical cleaning action on the laundry, so that the dirt, which was subjected to chemical etching in the first wash step, can be completely removed.

[0025] Preferably, the second wash step is followed by a spin operation, which may be preferably and advantageously associated with one or more water topping-up operations in the drum.

[0026] In one embodiment, the spin may comprise one or more pulses at a first speed, e.g. comprised between 500 rpm and 700 rpm, followed by one or more pulses at a faster speed, e.g. comprised between 700 rpm and 900 rpm.

[0027] As a whole, the cycle thus executed may have a total duration of 45 to 50 minutes, e.g. substantially equal to 50 minutes.

[0028] In said first wash step, preferably, the movement duty cycle is comprised between 80% and 90%, said duty cycle being defined by a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation. For example, said duty cycle may consist of a series of steps wherein the drum is moved in rotation for approx. 13 seconds and is then kept substantially still for approx. 2 seconds. In this case, the duty cycle is substantially equal to approx. 86.7%.

[0029] Preferably, the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed at each deactivation of the rotation.

[0030] In said second wash step, preferably, the movement duty cycle is comprised between 93% and 99%, said duty cycle being defined by a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation. For example, said duty cycle may consist of a series of steps wherein the drum is moved in rotation for approx. 28 seconds and is then kept substantially still for approx. 1 second. In this case, the duty cycle is substantially equal to approx. 96%.

[0031] Preferably, the direction of rotation of the drum is reversed at each deactivation of the rotation.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment, the cycle implemented through the method according to the invention can be activated by pressing a dedicated button advantageously fitted to the washing machine.

[0033] In other words, in addition to the usual controls through which the user can set a traditional cycle, the washing machine may include an additional button specifically dedicated to the activation of the above-described cycle.

[0034] Preferably, said dedicated button may be configured for:

• turning on the machine first, in the event that it is pressed when the machine is off, and then
• activating the above-described cycle.

[0035] Such a button is described in Italian patent application TO2012A000147 by the present Applicant, which has been wholly incorporated herein for reference.

[0036] In a different embodiment, the cycle executed through the method of the invention may be included among the various cycles selectable by the user through traditional controls.

[0037] Figure 1 shows, by way of example, a number of graphs representative of the execution of the method according to the invention.

[0038] The axis of abscissas represents time, whereas the axis of ordinates represents the water consumption of the machine (A), the electric power drawn by the machine (B), the temperature of the wash water (C) and the revolution speed of the drum (D).

[0039] The first wash step is designated F1, and the second wash step is designated F2.

[0040] As can be seen, in the first wash step the temperature rises gradually, and the revolution speed is slow. In the second wash step, the temperature is kept above the predetermined minimum value, and the revolution speed is considerably increased.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a washing machine, comprising:

- the execution of a first wash step, wherein the wash water is gradually warmed up and the drum is moved in rotation at a first speed, in order to facilitate the action of one or more cleansing substances present in the water;

- the execution of a second wash step, following said first wash step, wherein the water temperature is kept above a predetermined threshold and the drum is moved in rotation at a second speed, in order to exert a mechanical cleaning action on the laundry in the drum,
wherein said first wash step comprises a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation, wherein a movement duty cycle is defined as the ratio between the activation time and the total time of a cycle comprising an activation and a deactivation of said movement, wherein the movement duty cycle in said first wash step is comprised between 80% and 90%;
wherein said second wash step comprises a series of activations/deactivations of said movement, the direction of rotation of the drum being reversed at each deactivation, wherein a movement duty cycle is defined as the ratio between the activation time and the total time of a cycle comprising an activation and a deactivation of said movement, wherein the movement duty cycle is comprised between 93% and 99%.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined threshold is comprised between 30°C and 35°C.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second wash step is followed by a spin operation, preferably associated with one or more water topping-up operations.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the duration of said first step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the duration of said second step is comprised between 10 and 15 minutes.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the execution of said wash steps is activated upon reception of a command by means of a dedicated button.

7. Washing machine adapted to execute the method according to anyone of the preceding claims.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Verfahren zur Steuerung einer Waschmaschine, welches das Folgende umfasst:

- die Durchführung eines ersten Waschvorgangs, wobei das Waschwasser allmählich aufgewärmt und die Trommel mit einer festgelegten Anfangsgeschwindigkeit gedreht wird, um die Wirkung einer oder mehrerer im Wasser vorhandener reinigender Substanzen zu fördern;

- die Durchführung eines zweiten Waschvorgangs, der auf den genannten ersten Waschvorgang folgt und während dem die Wassertemperatur oberhalb eines festgelegten Schwellenwertes gehalten und die Trommel mit einer zweiten festgelegten Geschwindigkeit gedreht wird, um eine mechanische Reinigungswirkung auf die in der Trommel befindliche Wäsche auszuüben;

- der genannte erste Waschvorgang umfasst eine Reihe von Aktivierungen/Deaktivierungen dieser Bewegung, wobei die Drehrichtung der Trommel bei jeder Deaktivierung umgekehrt wird; dabei ist der Tastgrad der Bewegung definiert als das Verhältnis zwischen der Aktivierungszeit und der Gesamtzeit des eine Aktivierung und eine Deaktivierung der Bewegung umfassenden Zykluses; der Tastgrad der Bewegung beträgt im ersten Waschvorgang zwischen 80 % und 90 %;

- der genannte zweite Waschvorgang umfasst eine Reihe von Aktivierungen/Deaktivierungen dieser Bewegung, wobei die Drehrichtung der Trommel bei jeder Deaktivierung umgekehrt wird; dabei ist der Tastgrad der Bewegung definiert als das Verhältnis zwischen der Aktivierungszeit und der Gesamtzeit des eine Aktivierung und eine Deaktivierung der Bewegung umfassenden Zykluses; der Tastgrad der Bewegung beträgt im ersten Waschvorgang zwischen 93 % und 99 %.

2. Ein Anspruch 1 entsprechendes Verfahren, bei dem der genannte festgelegte Schwellenwert zwischen 30°C und 35°C beträgt.

3. Ein sämtlichen zuvor genannten Ansprüchen entsprechendes Verfahren, bei dem dem genannten zweiten Waschvorgang ein Schleudervorgang folgt, bevorzugt in Verbindung mit einer oder mehreren Wasser-Nachfüll-Vorgängen.

4. Ein sämtlichen zuvor genannten Ansprüchen entsprechendes Verfahren, bei dem die Dauer des genannten ersten Schrittes zwischen 10 und 15 Minuten beträgt.

5. Ein sämtlichen zuvor genannten Ansprüchen entsprechendes Verfahren, bei dem die Dauer des genannten zweiten Schrittes zwischen 10 und 15 Minuten beträgt.

6. Ein sämtlichen zuvor genannten Ansprüchen entsprechendes Verfahren, bei dem die Durchführung der genannten Waschvorgänge durch die Betätigung eines dafür vorgesehenen Knopfes in Gang gesetzt wird.

7. Eine Waschmaschine, die dazu geeignet ist, das Verfahren gemäß allen zuvor genannten Ansprüchen auszuführen.

Revendications

1. Procédé pour commander une machine à laver, comprenant :

- l'exécution d'une première étape de lavage, dans laquelle l'eau de lavage est chauffée progressivement et le tambour est déplacé en rotation à une première vitesse, afin de faciliter l'action d'une ou de plusieurs substances de nettoyage présentes dans l'eau ;

- l'exécution d'une seconde étape de lavage, à la suite de ladite première étape de lavage, dans laquelle la température de l'eau est maintenue au-dessus d'un seuil prédéterminé et le tambour est déplacé en rotation à une seconde vitesse, afin d'exercer une action de nettoyage mécanique sur le linge dans le tambour,
dans lequel ladite première étape de lavage comprend une série d'activations/de désactivations dudit déplacement, la direction de rotation du tambour étant inversée à chaque désactivation, dans lequel un cycle de service de déplacement est défini comme le rapport entre le temps d'activation et le temps total d'un cycle comprenant une activation et une désactivation dudit déplacement, dans lequel le cycle de service de déplacement dans ladite première étape de lavage est compris entre 80 % et 90 % ;
dans lequel ladite seconde étape de lavage comprend une série d'activations/de désactivations dudit déplacement, la direction de rotation du tambour étant inversée à chaque désactivation, dans lequel un cycle de service de déplacement est défini comme le rapport entre le temps d'activation et le temps total d'un cycle comprenant une activation et une désactivation dudit déplacement, dans lequel le cycle de service de déplacement est compris entre 93 % et 99 %.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit seuil prédéterminé est compris entre 30 °C et 35 °C.

3. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ladite seconde étape de lavage est suivie d'une opération d'essorage, de préférence associée à une ou plusieurs opérations de remplissage d'eau.

4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la durée de ladite première étape est comprise entre 10 et 15 minutes.

5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la durée de ladite seconde étape est comprise entre 10 et 15 minutes.

6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'exécution desdites étapes de lavage est activée lors de la réception d'un ordre au moyen d'un bouton dédié.

7. Machine à laver adaptée pour exécuter le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

Drawing