The object of the present invention is a method for controlling washing of particular garments in a Washing Machine.
As known, some kind garments, as for example jackets, some trousers, clothes and so on, are generally dry cleaned or at least washed in industrial washing machine. This because they are particularly delicate garments which can be irremediable damaged with a traditional washing program.
It clearly causes some problems for people who need to wash this delicate cloths: take them to the laundry and then go back to withdraw them after washing and ironing.
This is a drawback both under the point of view of comfort because to travel continuously to the laundry may not always be easy, and because it would be too much expensive to wash clothes in the laundry frequently.
Document
The aim of the present invention is to provide a control mode of a washing machine that allows the washing of delicate garments such as trousers, jackets, dresses etc.. without industrial washing machine.
This and other objects are achieved by a method for controlling a washing machine comprising the execution of a wash cycle as described in the appended claims.
The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a wash cycle whose temperatures are constantly kept at low heat and in which, the rotational movements of the garments inside the drum of the machine, are quite soft, and in the meantime a considerable amount of water is used.
In this way the Applicant believes achievable very satisfying results with reference to particular garments as previously said.
In particular object of the present invention is a method for controlling a washing machine comprising the execution of a wash cycle wherein:
Preferably before said spin, and particularly after said series of rotational movements of said drum, at least a rinse step is performed, and preferably two rinse steps are performed.
Preferably the rotational movements of said drum last for a time comprised between 2 and 5 seconds.
Preferably the rotational movements of said drum are alternated to steps wherein said drum is substantially motionless.
Preferably the steps in which said drum is substantially motionless last for a time comprised between 20 and 40 seconds.
Preferably the speed of rotation of said spin is below 90 rpm.
Preferably each rinse step is followed by a step wherein said drum rotates at a speed not exceeding 35 rpm.
Some examples of preferred and advantageous embodiments are described for purely illustrative and not limiting purposes , with reference to the appended
The control method, object of the present invention, comprises, first of all, the step of providing a quantity of water of at least 20 litres, loaded in the drum of the washing machine.
As an example, the amount of water can be equal to 23 litres.
The water is later heated until a not particularly hot temperature, for example less ore equal to 25°C.
A series of rotational movements of the machine drum are then performed at a speed not exceeding 35 rpm;
The rotation movements of said drum are advantageously alternated to steps wherein said drum is substantially motionless.
In the preferred embodiment, the steps wherein the drum is motionless, go on, at least 7-8 times longer than the ones of the rotational movements.
For example the rotational movements of said drum last for a time comprised between 2 and 5 seconds and the steps in which said drum is substantially motionless last for a time comprised between 20 and 40 seconds.
The features so far described allow to keep the garments in a condition of substantial floating inside the drum (thanks to the considerable amount of water loaded), and to practice a mechanical action on the same, due to the short rotational movements at reduced speed of the drum.
In this way it is possible to obtain for delicate garments, satisfactory washing without causing any kind of damage.
Note that even the washing time contributes to the result above described: the series of rotational movements of the drum, for example, can have a duration of between 30 and 35 minutes, while the entire wash cycle can last up to 100 minutes about. Preferably, after said rotational movements of the drum, one or more rinsing steps are performed. In particular, two rinsing steps can be performed.
Preferably each rinse step is followed by a step where the drum is rotated at a speed not exceeding 35 rpm.
Finally, after the series of rotational movements of the drum, particularly after the rinse steps, a spin is carried out with a reduced speed not exceeding 100 rpm, in order to obtain a satellization of the garments in the drum.
According to this control method, the speed of rotation of the spin is below 90 rpm, for example is equal to 88 rpm.
In more detail, the spinning step is performed at a speed equal to, or very close, to the minimum speed, so that, the spin force used is able to balance the force of gravity acting on the garments in the drum.
In this way the laundry can be driven in rotation without suffering too intense mechanical stress which could damage its quality.
In order to perform a wash cycle in an appropriate way, in the drum is placed a limited amount of clothes. This quantity may be, for example, less than 2 kg, and in particular not more than 1.5 Kg.
The horizontal axis represents time, the ordinate axis represents the water consumption of the machine (A), the electrical power absorbed by the machine (B), the wash water temperature (C) and the speed of rotation of the drum (D).
With reference to the water consumption, A1 is the water loaded at the start of washing, A2 and A3 identify the rinse steps performed at the end of the cycle.
The electrical power absorption in an early phase (line B) is necessary for the heating of the washing water up to the set temperature.
With reference to the temperature (line C) it can be noted an initial increase, a period of substantially constant temperature (during the series of movement of the drum) and a progressive decrease at the end of the cycle.
With reference to the drum rotational speed, D1 identifies the number of rotational movements at reduced speed, D2 identifies the movements associated with the rinse steps, and D3 the final step of spin/satellization.
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.