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(11) | EP 0 362 676 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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A laundry drying control device for a clothes drier Vorrichtung zur Überwachung der Wäschetrocknung in einem Wäschetrockner Dispositif pour contrôler le séchage du linge dans un séchoir à linge |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic control device for a clothes drier adapted to allow for the run of drying cycles for drying the laundry in a predetermined manner and for limited durations.
[0002] Italian patent application no. 45702 A/88, filed by the same applicant on Jan. 25, 1988, describes a laundry drying control device for a clothes drier comprising a microprocessor containing encoded information on the drying cycles to be selected and adapted to control the run of the selected cycles: first, second and third selector means adapted to select drying cycles with nominal power and with reduced power of a heating element with adjustable power and adapted to keep the heating element switched on for a supplementary period: and integrator means constituted by electrical capacitors connected with two sensor electrodes disposed within the drum of the machine and adapted to be short-circuited by the damp laundry.
[0003] This control device further comprises an electronic comparator adapted to switch on and off the heating element of the machine in accordance with a comparison between the charging voltage level of the integrator means and a predetermined reference voltage level and the microprocessor of the device is designed to generate through one of its outputs a continuous rectangular enabling signal and to send this signal to the microprocessor through a corresponding input, making it pass through the integrator circuit and the second and third selector means.
[0004] The microprocessor is in particular in a position to identify, at the output of the comparator, the absence or presence of the enabling signal when the drying cycles have been selected through the first or second selector means, and an enabling signal identical but complementary to the preceding one when the drying cycles are selected through the third selector means.
[0005] In accordance with the identified enabling signal, the microprocessor thus controls the run of the drying cycles with nominal or reduced power of the heating element or with supplementary switching on of the element.
[0006] The control device thus constituted allows for a correct run of the drying cycles for the laundry in the machine, providing for the heating element to be switched on with the fixed and invariable power for the entire duration of each selected cycle. However, this does not allow for an adaptation of the heating power effectively required for drying the laundry during the run of the cycle, for a power which is variable while the laundry is dried, resulting in higher consumption of electrical power.
[0007] The document DE-A-2 904 274 discloses a laundry drying control device with a thermostat for a cloth drier including a pair of heating elements.
[0008] The invention is based on the problem of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages and limits by means of a laundry drying control device for a clothes drier realized in such a way as to effect the run of each drying cycle with optimal consumption of electrical power and with a limited duration of the cycle.
[0009] This control device is in particular adapted to switch on the electrical heating element with the maximum heating power during the initial phase of each "acrylic" drying cycle for drying delicate synthetic fabrics, the temperature of the fabrics being slowly increased until the operating value is reached and the heating element being then switched on with reduced power for the entire duration of the cycle.
[0010] Similarly, this control device is in a position to keep the electrical heating element switched on with reduced heating power during the run of the so-called "extra dry" drying cycles for completely drying cotton and resistant synthetic fabrics, having the heating element switched on for a supplementary time period.
[0011] This and other goals are achieved by the inventive device specified in the claims at the end of the patent.
[0012] The features of the invention will become more evident from the following description, intended solely as a nonrestrictive example, with reference to the adjoined drawing showing the block diagram of the inventive control device.
[0013] Referring to this drawing, one can see an electronic laundry drying control device for a clothes drier realized in substantially the same way as the device described in Italian patent application no. 45702 A/88, filed by the same applicant on Jan. 25, 1988, and capable of controlling the automatic run of cycles for drying laundry consisting of cotton and resistant synthetic fabrics, the cycles being performed with the maximum heating power until the predetermined laundry drying level is reached, or keeping the heating element with adjustable power of the machine switched on for a predetermined supplementary period so as to effect complete drying of the laundry (these drying cycles being known as "extra dry cycles").
[0014] This device is also capable of controlling the automatic run of cycles for drying laundry consisting of delicate synthetic fabrics, the cycles being performed with reduced heating power until the predetermined laundry drying level is reached (these drying cycles being known as "acrylic cycles").
[0015] In the present case the control device substantially comprises first and second selector means 1 and 2 constituted by conventional push-button switches disposed in the control panel of the machine and adapted to be operated separately and manually to select the aforesaid "acrylic" drying cycle or the "extra dry" cycle with the heating element of the machine being switched on for a predetermined supplementary period, said device also comprising, as in the case of patent application no 45702 A/88, further selector means (not shown) for selecting "extra dry" drying cycles with the maximum heating power. These selector means shall not be described here since they are not relevant to the effects of the invention.
[0016] This control device further comprises at least one electrical heating element 3 with adjustable power and a moisture control means 4 both realized in the way described below and adapted to effect the heating of the laundry drying air and to predetermine the drying level required for each laundry load, respectively.
[0017] In particular, electrical heating element 3 is subdivided into at least a first and a second portion 5, 6 which are interconnected electrically, preferably in series, and supplied by conductors 7 and 8 of the electrical circuit of the machine through an electrical contact 9 of the normally closed type and provided for the purposes to be described below, and through safety thermostats 10, 11 interconnected in series and calibrated so as to switch off the heating element portions in the presence of elevated temperature within the machine.
[0018] Portions 5 and 6 of heating element 3 are further dimensioned to supply a reduced heating power so as to effect an adequate drying temperature for delicate synthetic fabrics when both these portions are energized, and a maximum heating power so as to effect a drying temperature more elevated than the preceding one, although without damage to the fabrics, when only portion 6 of the heating element is energized, a state obtained by short-circuiting the other portion 5 of the heating element due to the closing of an electrical contact 12 on an electrical conductor 13 connected to the heads of portion 5, the closing being performed in the ways described below.
[0019] In its turn, moisture control means 4 is constituted by an integrator circuit equipped with a plurality of electrical capacitors collected with limiting resistors, diodes and further electronic components known as such, the circuit being adapted to vary the time constant of the capacitors in accordance with the drying level required by the laundry, and by two sensor electrodes disposed within the rotating drum of the machine (not shown) and connected with the integrator circuit and with the ground of the machine, the electrodes being adapted to be short-circuited by the damp laundry to be dried.
[0020] The integrator circuit and sensor electrodes, which are not represented in the drawing, are identical to the corresponding electrical components described in the above-mentioned Italian patent application no. 45702 A/88 and therefore have the same functions as these components.
[0021] To allow for control of the switching on and off of portion 5 of the heating element in order to vary the heating power for the purposes and in the ways described below, the present device further comprises an electronic comparator 14 and a logical AND gate 15 of the conventional type and a driver 16 or similar driving element controlled alternatively by comparator 14 or by logical AND gate 15 for moving electrical contact 12 associated with the driver from the normal closed position to the open position with respect to conductor 13, in which states portion 5 is switched off and on, respectively, with respect to other portion 6 of the heating element.
[0022] In particular, comparator 14 is provided with two inputs 17 and 18 respectively connected with a first resistor 19 supplied by a predetermined continuous voltage Vcc, the resistor being adapted in turn to be connected in parallel with a second resistor 20 that is grounded, due to the closing of contact 21 of first selector means 1, the contact being connected with the second resistor, and with a conventional electronic converter 22 adapted to detect constantly the temperature levels of the drying air within the clothes drier and to convert these temperature levels into corresponding voltage levels.
[0023] The comparator is further provided with an output 23 connected to driver 16 whose logical level is determined by comparison between a predetermined reference voltage VREF applied to input 17 of the comparator and generated by the closing of contact 21 and a variable voltage generated by converter 22 during the run of the drying cycle selected through first selector means 1.
[0024] The level of reference voltage VREF is in particular selected so as to be identical to the voltage level generated by converter 22 and applied to input 18 of comparator 14 upon attainment of the operating temperature during drying, at which temperature delicate synthetic fabrics are dried in a satisfactory manner without danger of overheating or damage thereto.
[0025] In this operative state of comparator 14, given that both voltages applied to inputs 17 and 18 of the comparator are equal, the logical level of comparator output 23 is thus switched from level 0 to level 1, thereby energizing driver 16 which thus opens contact 12, thereby connecting portions 5 and 6 of the heating element mutually in series.
[0026] Conversely, the reference voltage assumes a level higher then the voltage level generated by converter 22 in accordance with the operating temperature during drying when contact 21 of selector means 1 is kept in the open position, in which state only voltage Vcc is applied to input 17 of comparator 14 through resistor 19.
[0027] In this operative state of comparator 14, given that both voltages applied to inputs 17 and 18 of the comparator are different and cannot in any way become identical, since the operating temperature of the machine and thus also the voltage generated by converter 22 remain constant, the level of this voltage being lower then that of the above-mentioned voltage Vcc, it follows that output 23 of the comparator is always kept at logical level 0, in which state driver 16 is not energized and keeps contact 12 closed and portion 5 of the heating element therefore short-circuited.
[0028] In its turn, logical AND gate 15 is provided with two inputs 24 and 25 connected respectively to a first resistor 26 connected electrically to a second resistor 27 that is grounded and can be energized by the above-described predetermined continuous voltage Vcc due to the closing of contact 28 of second selector means 2, the contact being connected to both resistors 26 and 27, and with output 29 of moisture control means 4 specified above.
[0029] AND gate 15 is further provided with an output 30 connected to driver 16 whose logical level is determined by comparison between the voltage levels applied respectively to inputs 24 and 25 of the gate.
[0030] In particular, as soon as the drying cycle is selected closing contact 28 of selector means 2, input 24 of AND gate 15 is subjected to predetermined voltage Vcc, while in its turn the other input 25 of the gate is not subjected to an identical predetermined voltage which is drawn by output 29 of moisture control means 4, given that the latter generates the voltage only upon attainment of the predetermined drying level for the laundry.
[0031] In this operative state of AND gate 15, output 30 thereof thus remains at logical level 0 and therefore driver 16 is not energized so that portion 5 of the heating element is kept short-circuited, in which state there is the maximum drying power of the drying air.
[0032] Conversely, as soon as the predetermined drying level for the laundry is reached, input 25 of AND gate 15 is also subjected to the predetermined voltage generated by moisture control means 4 and present at output 29 thereof, in which state output 30 of the gate is switched to logical level 1, thereby energizing driver 16 and thus connecting in series portions 5 and 6 of the heating element, thereby obtaining a reduced heating power for the drying air.
[0033] Finally, the inventive control device further comprises a timing element 31 or similar conventional-type element connected electrically to output 29 of moisture control means 4 and mechanically to electrical contact 9 in order to allow for closing or opening of the contact, thereby switching heating element 3 on or off in accordance with the absence or presence of the predetermined voltage at input 29 of the moisture control means.
[0034] The modes of functioning of the present control device during the run of the "acrylic" and "extra dry" cycles to be triggered by selector means 1 and 2 will now be described.
[0035] The "acrylic" cycle is triggered by closing contact 21 of selector means 1 and preparing moisture control means 4 and timing element 31 to obtain the desired drying level for the laundry.
[0036] In this way, reference voltage VREF with a predetermined fixed level and the voltage generated by converter 22 and proportional to the drying temperature are applied respectively to inputs 17 and 18 of comparator 14, the initial level of the latter voltage being minimal and lower then that of voltage VREF.
[0037] In these states, output 23 of comparator 14 is at logical level 0 so that driver 16 remains deenergized, thereby maintaining portion 5 of the heating element short-circuited. In its turn, timing element 31 remains deenergized, given that output 29 of moisture control means 4 is not subjected to the above-mentioned predetermined voltage, since the drying level provided for the laundry has not yet been reached.
[0038] Consequently, the timing element keeps electrical contact 9 closed so that only portion 6 of the heating element is energized, in which state the run of the drying cycle is effected with the maximum heating power and thus with rapid heating of the laundry and of the machine to the corresponding operating temperature.
[0039] In this state one thus obtains a considerable reduction of the duration of the total drying cycle without any overheating or damage to the fabrics.
[0040] Thus, as soon as the operating temperature is reached, in which state the voltage generated by converter 22 has reached reference voltage level VREF, output 23 of comparator 14 is switched to logical level 1 so that driver 16 is energized and opens contact 12, thereby interconnecting in series portions 5 and 6 of the heating element. In this state, the drying cycle is thus performed with a reduced heating power until the drying level required by the laundry is reached. As soon as this drying level is reached, the above-described predetermined voltage is applied to output 29 of moisture control means 4, thereby energizing timing element 31 which opens electrical contact 9, thereby switching off portions 5 and 6 of the heating element.
[0041] In this way, the drying cycle is ended and the machine prepared for the run of the following cooling phase, which is performed in the conventional way and controlled by further electrical components (not shown) of the clothes drier.
[0042] In its turn, the "extra dry" cycle is triggered by closing contact 28 of selector means 2 and preparing moisture control means 4 and timing element 31, as above, to obtain the desired drying level for the laundry.
[0043] In this way, the predetermined voltage Vcc is applied to input 24 of logical AND gate 15, while the other input 25 of the gate is not live, given that output 29 of moisture control means 4 is not live either since the drying level provided for the laundry has not yet been reached. In these states, output 30 of logical AND gate 15 is at logical level 0 so that driver 16 remains deenergized, thereby keeping portion 5 of the heating element short-circuited. In its turn, timing element 31 also re-mains deenergized and thus effects the switching on of portion 6 of the heating element only, in the ways and for the purposes already described in the corresponding phase of the "acrylic" drying cycle.
[0044] As soon as the drying level provided for the laundry is reached, output 29 of moisture control means 4 and thus input 25 of AND gate 15 are subjected to the aforesaid predetermined voltage, so that output 30 of the AND gate is switched to logical level 1, thereby energizing driver 16 which opens contact 12 and thus interconnects in series portions 5 and 6 of the heating element.
[0045] At the same time, the presence of the predetermined voltage at output 29 of moisture control means 4 energizes timing element 31 which therefore keeps electrical contact 9 closed and thus portions 5 and 6 of the heating element switched on for a period of time predetermined by the timing element, during which a supplementary drying of the laundry is performed with reduced heating power, thereby avoiding undesirable over-heating of the laundry and the electrical components of the machine.
1. An electronic laundry drying control device for a clothes drier comprising at least
an electrical heating element with adjustable power, first and second selector means
adapted to select drying cycles with reduced power of the heating element and to keep
the element switched on for a predetermined supplementary period, respectively, and
further comprising moisture control means adapted to effect the drying of the laundry
at predetermined drying levels in accordance with the cycles respectively selected
by means of the first and second selector means, characterized in that the heating element (3) is subdivided into at least a first and a second
portion (5, 6) interconnected electrically, the first portion (5) being adapted to
be short-circuited selectively through first and second comparator means (14, 15)
associated respectively with the first and second selector means (1, 2) upon attainment
of the operating temperature and of the drying level required during drying, respectively,
the control device further comprising switching means (31) adapted to be driven by
the moisture control means (4) and to switch on and off the first and second portions
(5, 6) of the heating element during each drying cycle respectively selected.
2. The control device of claim 1, characterized in that the first comparator means comprise an electronic comparator (14) whose inputs
(17, 18) are connected respectively with a predetermined reference voltage (VREF) to be applied through the first selector means (1), and with a voltage level that
is variable in accordance with the drying temperature and generated by an electronic
converter (22), the comparator (14) being connected at its output (23) with a driver
(16) or similar driving element adapted to close or open an electric contact (12)
with respect to a conductor (13) connected to the heads of the first portion (5) of
the heating element.
3. The control device of claim 2, characterized in that the second comparator means comprise a logical AND gate (15) whose inputs
(24, 25) are connected respectively with a predetermined voltage (Vcc) to be applied
through the second selector means (2), and with a further predetermined voltage identical
to the preceding one and to be applied through the output (29) of the moisture control
means (4), the logical AND gate (15) being connected at its output (30) with the driver
(16).
4. The control device of claim 3, characterized in that the switching means comprise a timing element (31) or similar element connected
electrically with the output (29) of the moisture control means (4) and mechanically
with an electrical contact (9) of the normally closed type, in its turn connected
to the first and second portions (5, 6) of the heating element, the electrical contact
(9) being adapted to be opened by the timing element (31) only at the end of the drying
cycle respectively selected.
1. Elektronische Einrichtung zur Steuerung der Wäschetrocknung in einem Wäschetrockner,
die wenigstens ein elektrisches Heizelement mit einstellbarer Leistung, erste und
zweite Wähleinrichtungen, die zum Anwählen von Trockenzyklen mit verminderter Leistung
des Heizelements geeignet sind bzw. dazu, das Element für eine vorgegebene zusätzliche
Zeitspanne eingeschaltet zu lassen, enthält und welche eine Feuchtigkeitssteuereinrichtung,
die dazu geeignet ist, das Trocknen der Wäsche auf vorgegebenen Trocknungsstufen in
Übereinstimmung mit den mittels der ersten und der zweiten Wähleinrichtung ausgewählten
entsprechenden Zyklen zu bewirken, enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Heizelement (3) in wenigstens einen ersten und einen zweiten Bereich (5, 6),
die elektrisch miteinander verbunden sind, unterteilt ist, wobei der erste Bereich
selektiv über erste und zweite Vergleichereinrichtungen (14, 15), die jeweils mit
der ersten und der zweiten Wähleinrichtung (1, 2) verbunden sind, nach Erreichen der
Betriebstemperatur bzw. der für das Trocknen erforderlichen Trockenstufe kurzgeschlossen
werden kann, wobei die Steuereinrichtung weiterhin eine Schalteinrichtung (31), die
durch die Feuchtigkeitssteuereinrichtung (4) betreiben werden kann und geeignet ist,
während jedes entsprechend ausgewählten Trockenzyklus den ersten und den zweiten Bereich
(5, 6) des Heizelements ein- und auszuschalten, aufweist.
2. Elektronische Einrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Vergleichereinrichtung einen elektronischen Vergleicher (14) aufweist,
dessen Eingänge (17, 18) entsprechend mit einer vorgegebenen Bezugsspannung VREF), die durch die erste Wähleinrichutng (1) eingespeist wird, und mit einem Spannungspegel,
der gemäß der Trockentemperatur veränderbar ist und von einem elektronischen Wandler
(22) erzeugt wird, verbunden sind, wobei der Vergleicher (14) an seinem Ausgang mit
einem Treiber (16) oder einen ähnlichen Antriebselement, das dazu geeignet ist, einen
elektrischen Kontakt (12) bezüglich eines mit den Köpfen des ersten Bereichs (5) des
Heizelements verbundenen Leiters (13) zu schließen oder zu öffnen, verbunden ist.
3. Elektronische Einrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zweite Vergleichereinrichtung ein logisches UND-Gatter (15) aufweist, dessen
Eingänge (24, 25) jeweils mit einer vorgegebenen Spannung (Vcc), die durch die zweite
Wähleinrichtung (2) eingespeist wird, und mit einer weiteren vorgegebenen Spannung,
die mit der vorhergehenden identisch ist und durch den Ausgang (29) der Feuchtigkeitssteuereinrichtung
(4) angelegt wird, verbunden sind, wobei das logische UND-Gatter (15) an seinem Ausgang
(30) mit dem Treiber (16) verbunden ist.
4. Elektronische Einrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schalteinrichtung ein Timer-Element (31) oder ein ähnliches Teil aufweist, das
elektrisch mit dem Ausgang (29) der Feuchtigkeitssteuereinrichtung (4) und mechanisch
mit einem elektrischen Kontakt (9) des im Normalzustand geschlossenen Typs verbunden
ist, welcher seinerseits mit dem ersten und dem zweiten Bereich (5, 6) des Heizelements
verbunden ist, wobei der elektrische Kontakt (9) nur am Ende des jeweils ausgewählten
Trockenzyklus durch das Timer-Element (31) geöffnet werden kann.
1. Dispositif de commande électronique de séchage de linge, pour un séchoir à linge,
comprenant au moins un élément chauffant électrique à puissance réglable, des premier
et deuxième moyens sélecteurs propres à respectivement sélectionner des cycles de
séchage avec une puissance réduite de l'élément chauffant et à maintenir l'élément
en fonction pour une période supplémentaire prédéterminée, et comprenant en outre
un moyen de contrôle d'humidité propre à effectuer le séchage du linge à des niveaux
de séchage prédéterminés selon les cycles respectivement choisis au moyen des premier
et deuxième moyens sélecteurs, caractérisé en ce que l'élément chauffant (3) est subdivisé
en au moins une première et une deuxième parties (5, 6) électriquement reliées l'une
à l'autre, la première partie (5) étant propre à être sélectivement mise en court-circuit
par l'intermédiaire de premiers et deuxièmes moyens comparateurs (14, 15) respectivement
associés aux premier et deuxième moyens sélecteurs (1, 2) lorsque la température de
fonctionnement est atteinte ainsi que le degré de séchage requis pendant le séchage,
respectivement, le dispositif de commande comprenant en outre des moyens commutateurs
(31) propres à être commandés par le moyen de contrôle d'humidité (4) et à mettre
en et hors fonction les première et deuxième parties (5, 6) de l'élément chauffant
pendant chaque cycle de séchage respectivement sélectionné.
2. Dispositif de commande selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les premiers
moyens comparateurs comprennent un comparateur électronique (14) dont les entrées
(17, 18) sont respectivement reliées à une tension de référence prédéterminée (VREF) à appliquer par l'intermédiaire du premier moyen sélecteur (1), et à un niveau de
tension qui est variable en fonction de la température de séchage et qui est produit
par un convertisseur électronique (22), le comparateur (14) étant relié par sa sortie
(23) à un circuit de commande (16) ou à un autre élément de commande similaire propre
à fermer ou ouvrir un contact électrique (12) par rapport à un conducteur (13) relié
aux têtes de la première partie (5) de l'élément chauffant.
3. Dispositif de commande selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les deuxièmes
moyens comparateurs comprennent une porte ET logique (15) dont les entrées (24, 25)
sont respectivement reliées à une tension prédéterminée (Vcc) à appliquer par l'intermédiaire
du deuxième moyen sélecteur (2) et à une autre tension prédéterminée identique à la
précédente et à appliquer par l'intermédiaire de la sortie (29) du moyen de contrôle
d'humidité (4), la porte ET logique (15) étant reliée par sa sortie (30) au circuit
de commande (16).
4. Dispositif de commande selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les moyens
commutateurs comprennent un élément de temporisation (31) ou un élément similaire,
électriquement relié à la sortie (29) du moyen de contrôle d'humidité (4) et mécaniquement
relié à un contact électrique (9) du type normalement fermé, qui est à son tour relié
aux première et deuxième parties (5, 6) de l'élément chauffant, le contact électrique
(9) étant propre à être ouvert par l'élément de temporisation (31) uniquement à la
fin du cycle de séchage respectivement sélectionné.