[0001] The present invention relates to industrial washing machines and, in particular,
to such washing machines comprising an automatic product-concentration control.
[0002] In the field of industrial laundry cleaning both batch-type and continuous washing
machines are used. In general batch-type washing machines resemble conventional household
washing machines, whereas continuous washing machines often are so-called tunnel washing
machines, i.e., multi-compartmented continuous laundering machines capable of handling
wash loads of 250 to 3000 kgs per hour.
[0003] Tunnel washing machines can be divided into single- and double-drum tunnel washers.
[0004] A conventional type of single-drum tunnel washer comprises a single elongated rotatable
drum, a hollow shaft being disposed along the central axis of the drum and rigidly
attached to the drum via a spiral blade which is perpendicular to and winds round
the shaft thereby dividing the drum into a plurality of compartments. The hollow shaft
normally houses one or more liquid product and water supply lines. As the shaft is
rotating during the laundering operation, the liquid supply lines are in free or sliding
suspension therewith.
[0005] In constrast to the single-drum type double-drum tunnel washers have two co-axial
drums, viz. a multi-compartmented rotatable inner drum, and a static outer-drum.
[0006] Whatever the type of industrial washing machine, to ensure effective and economic
performance it is an essential requirement that the product concentration in the wash
bath and, accordingly, the product dosing operation is continuously monitored and
controlled during the washing process. To this purpose generally a cell is incorporated
capable of measuring a concentration-dependent physical parameter, such as e.g. the
conductivity, transparency or pH of the wash bath solution. The measuring cell is
monitored by a control unit which controls the product dosing operation as a function
of the value measured for the physical parameter, e.g. by switching on or off a -
dispensing pump or by regulating the speed or capacity thereof.
[0007] In this way it is possible to continuously control the product concentration in the
wash bath and keep it at the level desired.
[0008] Conventionally such cells have been positioned in the static parts of the washing
machine outside the rotating drum, i.e. in the wall of the static outer-drum (double-drum
machines) below the normal level of the wash bath level or in the outlet reservoir
or in a static cavity (single-drum machines) specifically designed for this purpose.
[0009] From a maintenance point of view a constantly immersed cell is far from optimal and,
in particular with single-drum tunnel washers where such cell is necessarily positioned
in a non-circulating part of the wash bath, product-concentration control is adversely
influenced and often slow and inaccurate.
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an industrial washing
machine in which the disadvantages attached to the conventional product-concentration
control are overcome.
[0011] In its broadest aspects the present invention provides an industrial washing machine
having a rotatable drum which comprises a device for product-concentration control
consisting of a cell capable of measuring a concentration-dependent physical parameter,
a device for dosing product into the washing machine and an electronic control unit
which monitors said measuring cell and controls the operation of the said dosing device
as a function thereof, characterized in that the measuring cell is positioned inside
the rotatable drum and capable of rotation therewith.
[0012] Preferably the cell will be suitable for conductivity measurement, but also other
techniques may be used suitable for the purpose, such as optical techniques or pH-measurement.
[0013] Since the measuring cell is positioned inside the drum, it will rotate therewith
during the laundering operation. Only part of the drum being occupied by wash liquor,
the cell will be emerged from the wash liquor during part of the total rotation cycle,
resulting, at least during this part of the cycle, in a parameter value not related
to the instant product concentration.
[0014] It is therefore an essential feature of the present invention that the dosing operation
is interrupted during the emerged position of the cell in order to avoid miscontrol
of the dosing operation due to improper measurement by the emerged cell. Accordingly,
the control unit is preferably such that the product-dosing device is switched off
during the emerged position of the measuring cell. Such temporary switch-off can be
by way of mechanical or electrical means.
[0015] When concentration measurement is based on conductivity, emersion of the cell from
the wash liquor will result in a very low conductivity value.
[0016] Preferably therefore, the control unit is designed such that it switches off the
dosing device when the conductivity value as measured by the cell drops below a certain,
pre-set value. When the cell is immersed again, the conductivity is restored to the
value corresponding to the wash liquor and the control unit resumes the conventional
control of the dosing operation.
[0017] Preferably the electric connection between the measuring cell and the control unit
is established by way of a sliding contact in the shaft. This type of electric connection
is already found in a conventional type of single-drum tunnel washing machine in the
form of a sliding ring/carbon brush contact connecting the thermometer in the drum
to the control unit.
[0018] Due to the often damp atmosphere near washing machines sliding contacts suffer from
parasitic resistances which significantly influence the parameter values monitored
by the control unit. It is therefore preferred to correct the parameter value as monitored
by the control unit using a reference value as monitored during the emerged position
of the cell. The magnitude of the parasitic resistance is influenced by the degree
of moisture and accordingly changes, although slowly relative to the drum rotation
time in the laundering process, with time. Preferably therefore, the control units
corrects the parameter value as monitored in each cycle of rotation using the reference
value as measured in the previous cycle.
[0019] It will be appreciated that in laundering processes where more than one product is
used or the same product is dosed at more than one compartment of the tunnel washer,
a plurality of separate product-concentration control devices in accordance with the
present invention can be used.
[0020] The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which:
Figure 1 shows, in a schematic way, a single drum tunnel washing machine in accordance
with the present invention, for reasons of clarity the drum being drawn partly cut
away and partly cut open, the end of the shaft being drawn in an enlarged window.
[0021] A drum 1 is shown divided into a plurality of compartments 2 by way of a spiral blade
3 perpendicular to a hollow shaft 4 along to the total length of the drum. The outer
edge 5 of blade 3 is fixed to drum wall 6, the inner edge 7 to shaft 4. In the shaft
liquid product lines and water supply lines (of which lines 8,9,10 are illustrations),
are disposed having outlets at appropriate dosing positions in shaft 4. To enable
throughlet of water and product through shaft 4 into the drum mesh type openings 11
are incorporated in the shaft at positions corresponding to the compartments where
specific products have to be dosed. Effluent wash liquor leaves drum 1 via drains
12.
[0022] Drum 1 is rotated by motor driven rollers 13, 14. Washloads enter drum 1 at the inlet
side 15 and are transported from compartment to compartment by way of rotary movement
of drum 1 and the spiral shape of blade 3. After having passed all compartments each
of which corresponds to a specific step of the laundering process, wash loads are
collected at the outlet side 16 of drum 1.
[0023] In accordance with the invention a conductivity cell 20 capable of measuring the
conductivity inside drum 1 is incorporated in drum wall 6 at a position corresponding
to a compartment where product concentration control is desired. By means of electric
wiring (not drawn) along the outside of drum wall 6 cell 20 is electrically connected
to connection points 21 of sliding carbon rings 22. Via a sliding ring/carbon brush
connection at end 23 of shaft 4 cell 20 is electrically connected to an electronic
control unit outside drum 1, which as a function of the conductivity as measured by
cell 20 controls a product pump (the electric wiring, control unit and product pump
are not drawn).
[0024] Concentration control by way of conductivity measurement takes place in a conventional
manner. If the conductivity of the wash liquor is lower than a" operator-set standard
valve product dosing is started and continued until the conductivity has been raised
to above the standard value.
[0025] During the laundering operation drum 1 rotates over 360° around its central axis.
Since the drum is not completely filled with wash liquor, the level being well below
the central axis of the drum, cell 20 is emerged from the wash liquor during part
of the 360° rotation cycle, and accordingly, the conductivity as measured during this
part of the rotation cycle drops to a value far below the conductivity of the wash
liquor. The control unit is such that it switches off the dosing operation when the
conductivity value as monitored drops below a certain value which is pre-set well
below the normal range of conductivity values of the wash liquor but above the conductivity
value as monitored during the emerged position of cell 20. When cell 20 is re-immersed
the monitored conductivity is restored to the normal range of values of the wash liquor,
i.e. well above the pre-set value, and the control unit resumes the control of the
dosing operation.
[0026] Due to parasitic resistances in the sliding ring/carbon brush connection the conductivity
value as monitored by the control unit may be off-set to a significant extent. To
compensate this off-set the conductivity value as monitored by the control unit is
corrected using the reference value as monitored during the emerged position of cell
20. As the absolute magnitude of the reference value may change slowly in time e.g.
due to changes in humidity, the reference value as monitored in the previous rotation
cycle is used for the correction of the conductivity value in the subsequent rotation
cycle.
[0027] The position of the measuring cell inside the drum enables accurate and sensitive
product concentration- control. The switch-off of the dosing operation during the
emerged cell position and the correction of the parameter value as monitored by the
control unit minimizes the interference of spurious measurements or parasitic off-sets.
1. An industrial washing machine having a rotatable drum which comprises a device
for product-concentration control consisting of a cell capable of measuring a concentration-dependent
physical parameter, a device for dosing product into the washing machine, and an electronic
control unit which monitors said measuring cell and controls the operation of the
dosing device as a function thereof, characterized in that the measuring- cell is
positioned inside the drum and capable of rotation therewith.
2. A washing machine according to claim,! wherein the control unit is such that the
product-dosing device is switched off during the emerged position of the cell.
3. A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cell is suitable for conductivity
measurement.
4. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein the dosing device is switched off
when the parameter value as monitored drops below a pre-set value.
5. A washing machine according to any one of the preceding claims which is a single-drum
tunnel washing machine.
6. A tunnel washing machine according to claim 5 wherein the measuring cell is electrically
connected to the control unit by way of a sliding contact between rotating and static
machine parts.
7. A tunnel washing machine according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the control unit corrects
the parameter value as monitored using a reference value as measured during the emerged
position of the cell.
8. A tunnel washing machine according to claim 7 wherein the control unit corrects
the value of the physical parameters using the reference value as measured in the
previous cycle of rotation.
9. A device for product concentration control suitable for use in a washing machine
according to any one of the preceding claims.