U.S. patent application number 11/019396 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-25 for network and protocol for controlling washing and drying machines which share common utilities.
Invention is credited to Costa, Craig A., Slutsky, Dennis.
Application Number | 20050183209 11/019396 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34863735 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050183209 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Costa, Craig A. ; et
al. |
August 25, 2005 |
Network and protocol for controlling washing and drying machines
which share common utilities
Abstract
A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a
laundry facility which share a common resource. A plurality of
autonomously operated washing machines are connected through a
network, so that a slave controller of each washing machine may be
controlled by a master controller of the network. The master
controller issues periodic polling commands over the network to
obtain status information from each of the washing machines. Each
slave controller of the washing machine can be prohibited from
proceeding through a washing cycle when a common resource used by
all machines has reached capacity limits.
Inventors: |
Costa, Craig A.; (Fairhaven,
MA) ; Slutsky, Dennis; (Providence, RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
SUITE 800
1990 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-3425
US
|
Family ID: |
34863735 |
Appl. No.: |
11/019396 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60546187 |
Feb 23, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158 ; 68/12.02;
68/12.16; 68/13R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20130101;
D06F 2103/14 20200201; D06F 34/04 20200201; D06F 33/42 20200201;
D06F 2103/18 20200201; D06F 34/28 20200201; D06F 2103/00 20200201;
D06F 2210/00 20130101; D06F 2105/08 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/158 ;
068/012.02; 068/012.16; 068/013.00R |
International
Class: |
D06F 033/04 |
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the united states is:
1. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a
laundry facility which share a common resource, comprising: a
plurality of autonomously operated washing machines; a network
connecting a slave controller of each of said plurality of washing
machines; and a network controller connected to said network for
obtaining status information from each of said washing machines,
and for transmitting to each slave controller connected to said
network a command prohibiting a washing machine from using said
common resource based on previously received status information
from other of said washing machines.
2. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines
according to claim 1 wherein said network controller determines the
number of washing machines which use said common resource.
3. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines
according to claim 2 wherein said network controller determines
from status information received from said washing machines when
said common resource is not available for a washing machine to
use.
4. A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines
according to claim 1 wherein said master controller determines from
said status information the number of machines which are
simultaneously using said common resource.
5. A system for controlling a drain function of a plurality of
washing machines which use a common drain in a laundry facility,
comprising: a slave controller at each washing machine, said slave
controller controlling said washing machine wash and dry cycles;
and a network controller connected via a network to each of said
slave controllers, said network controller connected to receive
information identifying the status of each washing machine, said
network controller determining from said status how many machines
are using said common drain, and generating an inhibit command for
the remaining machines entering a drain portion of their washing
cycle when a predetermined number of machines are using said drain
to prevent said remaining machines from draining into said
drain.
6. The system for controlling said drain function according to
claim 5 wherein said network controller authorizes a remaining
machine to utilize said common drain when the number of machines
using said drain drops below said predetermined number.
7. The system for controlling said drain function according to
claim 5 wherein said network controller issues a drain permissive
command to a remaining one of said washing machines that reports
status information indicating that it is entering a drain portion
of its washing cycle when said number of machines using said common
drain is below said predetermined number.
8. The system for controlling said drain function according to
claim 7 wherein each slave controller determines that a drain
permissive command has been received before permitting a respective
washing machine to enter a drain cycle.
9. In a system for operating a plurality of laundry machines in a
laundry, a slave controller for each washing machine comprising: a
laundry cycle controller for operating a laundry machine; and a
network interface for receiving commands and transmitting data from
and to a network controller, said commands including a permissive
which permits said laundry machine to enter a portion of a laundry
cycle which shares a common resource with other laundry
machines.
10. The slave controller according to claim 9 wherein said slave
controller permissive is removed by a command from said network
interface indicating that said shared common resource is
unavailable.
11. The slave controller according to claim 10 wherein said laundry
machine enters said portion of said laundry cycle when a subsequent
command from said network interface reestablishes a permissive.
12. The slave controller according to claim 11 wherein following
said portion of said laundry cycle, said slave controller transmits
a completed command to said network controller.
13. A method for sharing resources among a plurality of laundry
machines which are connected over a common network to a network
controller, comprising: determining at a network controller when
one or more of said laundry machines is entering a portion of a
machine cycle requiring a shared resource; determining the number
of laundry machines using said shared resource; determining if the
number of machines using said shared resource is at a maximum;
inhibiting any additional machines from using said shared resource
when the number of machines reaches said maximum; and authorizing
said additional machines to use said shared resource when the
number of machines using said resource is less than said
maximum.
14. The method for sharing resources according to claim 13 wherein
said shared resource is a common drain.
15. The method for sharing resources according to claim 13 further
comprising: forwarding status information identifying each machine
requiring said shared resource from a slave controller of said
laundry machine to said network controller.
16. The method for sharing resources according to claim 15 wherein
said network controller inhibits a machine from entering said
portion of a laundry cycle by forwarding a command removing a
permissive in said slave controller.
17. The method for sharing resources according to claim 16 wherein
said network controller restores said permissive in said machine
entering said portion of a laundry cycle when the number of
machines using said resource decreases below said maximum.
18. The method for sharing resources according to claim 1 wherein
said shared resource is a common source of input power.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on provisional application No.
60/546,187, filed Feb. 23, 2004, and claims priority thereto.
[0002] The present invention relates to operating multiple machines
of a laundry facility. Specifically, a system and network protocol
are disclosed for controlling laundry machines which use a common
resource.
[0003] Large laundry facilities utilize numerous washing/drying
machines which necessarily share common utilities, such as power
and/or a drain. As the number of machines in a facility increases,
the ability of the common resources to adequately service each
additional machine is limited. For instance, in the case of a
common drain used by all washing machines, the drain capacity may
be such that only a certain number of machines may discharge wash
water at a given time. Accordingly, the facility must include a way
to avoid an overload of any common resources such as a drain, and
it is necessary to avoid completely autonomous operation of each
machine.
[0004] The overload of common resources may only be temporary. For
instance, washing machines, or drying machines in a laundry
facility, may only be draining or using an excessive amount of
power during a portion of their washing/drying cycle. In the case
of the drain, it is only used to discharge water following the
washing cycle or the rinse cycle. Accordingly, it is not necessary
to limit the number of machines in a facility if there is a way of
controlling how many machines will use a particular resource at the
same time. Thus, in the case of the drain, a machine needing the
drain may be inhibited until such time as the drain capacity is
available.
[0005] In the case of a facility that has a limited power service,
such as 60 amp service for instance, the total number of machines
serviceable by the facility would normally be limited. However, by
recognizing that the machines are power intensive only during
portions of their machine cycles, it is possible to inhibit a
machine from entering a power intensive portion of its operational
cycle if inadequate power is available for the machine. The present
invention has been implemented to provide a central control
facility for monitoring the usage of common resources to prevent
exceeding their capacity.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A system is provided for controlling a plurality of washing
machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource. A
plurality of autonomously operated washing machines are connected
via a network to a network controller. The washing machines each
include a slave controller which monitors operation of the washing
machine, collects status information regarding the washing cycle of
a machine and reports the information to the network controller.
The network controller determines from the status information how
many machines are using a common resource. The network controller
issues commands prohibiting a washing machine from using a common
resource when the previously received status information of the
washing machines using a common resource indicates the capacity of
the common resource to service washing machines has been
reached.
[0007] The invention also includes a method for sharing resources
among the plurality of laundry machines. A common network connects
a slave device of the laundry machine to a controller which is
common to all machines. The controller receives data indicating the
number of machines using the shared resource, and if the number of
machines has exceeded the capacity of the shared resource to
service additional machines, the controller can inhibit any
additional machines from attempting to use the shared resource. The
additional machines may be placed in a waiting mode and are later
authorized to use the shared resource when the number of machines
using the resource has decreased by one.
[0008] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
a common drain is used by all machines of a laundry facility, and
the controller receives information from each machine as to the
portion of a laundry cycle being executed by the machine. When the
drain is handling a maximum number of machines, additional machines
are prohibited from entering a drain cycle until the number of
machines in a drain cycle is below the maximum number. While the
preferred embodiment is described with respect to one resource, a
common drain, the features of the invention may be utilized to
avoid exceeding the capacity of other resources, such as power, or
even an exhaust commonly used by a plurality of dryers in a laundry
facility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
invention illustrating a control system for a plurality of
washing/drying machines of a laundry facility;
[0010] FIG. 2 schematically represents the controller and machine
network topology;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by
the master controller to determine the wash cycle status of each
machine;
[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates the process executed at the slave
controller of a washer/dryer machine;
[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates the process for authorizing a machine to
use a common resource; and
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates the system process for allowing a machine
to enter a rinse and extract portion of its washing/drying
cycle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a
laundry facility having a plurality of washing/drying machines
10-13. The illustrated machines are of the type described more
particularly in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/428,994, filed
May 5, 2003, owned by the Assignee of the present application. Each
of the washing/drying machines 10-13 have associated with them a
controller 18, a door 15 for receiving a wash load and a washing
agent compartment 14. The electronic controllers 18-21 of each of
the washing/drying machines 10-13 include a slave controller, which
is capable of transmitting data and receiving data over the network
17 interconnecting each of the slave controllers 18-21 with the
master controller 16. The slave controllers 18-21 monitor the
machine cycles, and determine when each of the machines reaches a
point where a shared resource, such as a common drain 30 or
increased power for the machines is needed. The status of each
machine washing/drying cycle is reported to the master controller
16 where a decision can be made whether or not to authorize one of
the washing/drying machines 10-13 to use the common resource 30.
Each of the machines 10-13 have individual drains 24-27 connected
to a common drain 30 and are connected to a common source of input
power. In order to avoid overloading the common drain, or overload
the power source, the master controller 16 will keep track of the
number of machines entering a discharge cycle or a power intensive
cycle. When the maximum number of machines are discharging wash
water into the drain 30, controller 16 inhibits additional machines
from discharging wash water into the drain 30. The system also
monitors when a maximum number of machines are entering a power
intensive portion of the operational cycle and inhibits additional
machines from entering the power intensive portion when the input
power will not support additional machines.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the controller 16
networked using an industrial network, such as the Allen Bradley
Industrial Machine Network, to each of the washing/drying machines
10-13. Using the application information available from the network
provider, a controller 16 and slave interface for controllers 18-21
of each machine may be realized.
[0017] The master controller 16 and slave controllers 18-21 are
programmed in accordance with the steps shown in the flowcharts of
FIGS. 3-6. FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the embodiment of the invention
which permits sharing of a common drain. Sharing of other
resources, such as input power during power intensive portions of
the washing cycle can be effected using similar programming.
[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, the steps executed by the master
controller are illustrated to determine the state of various
washing/drying machines connected to the network. Once all of the
machines have been powered up, and the network controller 16 has
entered a communication routine with each of the slave controllers
18-21, the master controller in step 36 continuously polls each of
the slave machines for information. When a given washing/drying
machine is entering the discharge portion of the washing cycle, the
master controller is notified as determined from step 37. When the
master controller has received X drain requests, as determined from
decision block 38, where X represents a maximum number of machines
which can simultaneously drain at the same time, it notifies in
step 42 the slave controller of any additional washing/drying
machines that the drain function is at capacity. Step 42 represents
the condition where the slave controller has had a drain permissive
removed, thereby inhibiting the drain function of a given washing
machine.
[0019] Decision block 43 of the master controller determines when a
machine has finished draining through systematic polls of the slave
controllers of the machines, and the count of drain requests is
reduced by one machine.
[0020] At this time, the master controller enables the slave
controller of a waiting machine in step 44 to clear the drain
permissive which has inhibited the machine from entering the drain
cycle.
[0021] The slave controller of a waiting machine initiates in step
39 a drain routine when the master controller has cleared the drain
permissive, previously applied because X machines were determined
to already be using the common drain. When the slave machine
finishes a drain routine, the slave controller reports the drain
status as having finished to the master controller which is
continuously polling each of the slave controllers of the washing
machines.
[0022] The specific machine cycle and network control provided by
the present invention for the machines described in accordance with
the previously identified patent application is illustrated more
particularly in FIGS. 4-6. The invention may also be employed in
other facilities which use other types of washing machines.
[0023] Step 46 of FIG. 4 illustrates that portion of the washing
cycle where the wash/rinse portion has been engaged. Step 47
illustrates a lint cleaning routine which is used in the aforesaid
washing/drying machines. Following the lint cleaning mode, the
washer/dryer begins filling for a wash cycle in step 48.
[0024] Decision block 49 determines whether the washer/dryer has
filled to a desired washing level. If so, the washing cycle begins
in step 50. When the washing cycle is complete as determined in
decision block 51, the washer then looks to open the drain in step
52. Before the washer can use its drain function, the master
controller has in decision block 53 determined whether or not a
condition exits, such as a large number of other machines using the
drain, which will prohibit the use of the drain by another machine.
If a previously drain inhibit command was initiated by the master
controller in step 56, the machine waits until such time that the
master controller has sensed in step 57 that one of the machines
previously in a drain cycle has completed the drain cycle.
[0025] When the machine is allowed to drain in step 58, the machine
wash cycle goes into a post wash extract function in step 59. A
rinse cycle begins in step 60 when decision block 61 determines
that the desired water level in the machine has been obtained. The
rinse cycle completes in step 62, and when decision block 63
indicates it is complete, the washer/dryer then attempts to drain
following the rinse cycle in step 64. However, the master
controller may have previously inhibited the machine from using the
drain if it has sensed in step 65 that X many machines are using
the drain function.
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates the completion of the washing cycle. Step
68 in decision block 69 represents a condition where the machine
has been placed in the wait state because the drain is at capacity
due to other machines using the drain. Once the master controller
determines in step 69 that another machine may use the common
drain, a waiting machine is authorized in step 70 by removing a
drain permissive previously established in the slave machine
controller. The machine may then go into a post rinse extract
function in step 71. The washer/dryer machine of the referenced
patent application may then begin a drying process in step 72.
[0027] The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and
describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows
and describes only the preferred embodiments of the invention in
the context of a network and protocol for controlling
washing/drying machines which share common utilities, but, as
mentioned above, it is to be understood that the invention is
capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and
environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the
scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate
with the above teachings and/or the skill or knowledge of the
relevant art. The embodiments described hereinabove are further
intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention
and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in
such, or other, embodiments and with the various modifications
required by the particular applications or uses of the invention.
Accordingly, the description is not intended to limit the invention
to the form or application disclosed herein. Also, it is intended
that the appended claims be construed to include alternative
embodiments.
* * * * *