U.S. patent number RE40,732 [Application Number 10/864,919] was granted by the patent office on 2009-06-16 for method for controlling washing during spinning in tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Si Moon Jeon, Dong Won Kim, Kyung Hwan Kim, Oh Hun Kwon, Tae Hee Lee, Young Hwan Park.
United States Patent |
RE40,732 |
Jeon , et al. |
June 16, 2009 |
Method for controlling washing during spinning in tilt-type washing
machine for attenuation of vibration
Abstract
Method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type
washing machine for attenuation of vibration, including (a) a main
rotation step for exerting a centrifugal force to the laundry
gathered to a center of the inner tub for spreading the laundry to
an inside wall of the inner tub before the water discharging step,
(b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately
rotating the inner tub for a preset times to disentangle the
laundry spread to the inside wall of the inner tub, and (c) a
supplementary rotating step for rotating the inner tub at a preset
RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted inner tub spread evenly
during the water discharge step, or alternatively (a) a laundry
disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately rotating the
inner tub to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry in the inner
tub before the water discharge step, and (b) a determining step
either for carrying out a control pattern to eliminate the
eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity of the laundry
after the step (a) is greater than a preset value, or for
proceeding to the water discharging step if the eccentricity of the
laundry after the step (a) is smaller than the preset value,
whereby attenuating the vibration to the minimum.
Inventors: |
Jeon; Si Moon (Seoul,
KR), Park; Young Hwan (Seoul, KR), Kwon; Oh
Hun (Seoul, KR), Kim; Kyung Hwan (Seoul,
KR), Kim; Dong Won (Seoul, KR), Lee; Tae
Hee (Seoul, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc. (Seoul,
KR)
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Family
ID: |
26637742 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/864,919 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
09709549 |
Nov 13, 2000 |
06401284 |
Jun 11, 2002 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 4, 2000 [KR] |
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2000-17663 |
May 4, 2000 [KR] |
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2000-24039 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158; 8/159;
68/24; 68/23.1; 68/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
35/007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
37/20 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;8/158,159
;68/23R,23.1,23.2,23.3,23.5,23.6,24,25,58,140 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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6045388 |
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3-168183 |
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4-141192 |
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4-322698 |
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5-15689 |
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5-220294 |
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6-47191 |
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6-254294 |
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Sep 1994 |
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JP |
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9-299678 |
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Nov 1997 |
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JP |
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2000-51579 |
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Feb 2000 |
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JP |
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99/54539 |
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Oct 1999 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Stinson; Frankie L
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Greenblum & Bernstein,
P.L.C.
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.Iaddend.
.Iadd.This application is a Reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,284,
which was granted on Jun. 11, 2002, based upon U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/709,549, filed Nov. 13, 2000..Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type
washing machine for attenuation of vibration, the method including
a washing cycle having a water supplying step-an alternately
rotating(washing) step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, a
rinsing cycle having a preset times of repetition of a series of
steps with a water supplying step-an alternately rotating(rinsing)
step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, and a spinning cycle
having a spinning step for carrying out a main water extraction,
which are proceeded in a sequence, the method comprising: (a) a
main rotation step for exerting a centrifugal force to the laundry
gathered to a center of the inner tub for spreading the laundry to
an inside wall of the inner tub before the water discharging step;
(b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately
rotating the inner tub for a preset times to disentangle the
laundry spread to the inside wall of the inner tub; and, (c) a
supplementary rotating step for rotating the inner tub at a preset
RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted inner tub spread evenly
during the water discharge step.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner tub rotates
alternately less than 10 times in the step (b).
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supplementary
rotating step includes the step of rotating the inner tub at
.omega.= {square root over ((2 g sin .theta./R)} when a
gravitational acceleration `g sin .theta.` exerting to the laundry
in the inner tub and an average radial acceleration
`(1/2)R.omega..sup.2`, exerting to the laundry at a half way to the
radius of the inner tub are equal, so that the laundry within a
(1/2) area of the inner tub tends to move in a direction of the
gravitational acceleration, and the laundry between (1/2)R and R
area of the inner tub tends to move in a direction of the radial
acceleration by a radial acceleration greater than the
gravitational acceleration(or the average radial acceleration) and
smaller than the maximum radial acceleration `R.omega..sup.2, for
spreading the laundry evenly, where `R` denotes a radius of the
inner tub and `.theta.` denotes a tilt angle of the inner tub with
respect to the ground.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the present PRM is 30-50
RPM, when the radius `R` of the inner tub is 0.25-0.3 m, and the
tilt angle with respect to the ground is 10-15.degree..
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset RPM is 30-50
RPM, when the radius `R` of the inner tub is 0.25-0.3 m, and the
tilt angle with respect to the ground is 10-15.degree..
6. A method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type
washing machine for attenuation of vibration, the method including
a washing cycle having a water supplying step-an alternately
rotating(washing) step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, a
rinsing cycle having a preset times of repetition of a series of
steps with a water supplying step-an alternately rotating(rinsing)
step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, and a spinning cycle
having a spinning step for carrying out a main water extraction,
which are proceeded in a sequence, the method comprising: (a) a
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately
rotating the inner tub to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry
in the inner tub before the water discharge step; and, (b) a
determining step either for carrying out a control pattern to
eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity of
the laundry after the step (a) is greater than a preset value, or
for proceeding to the water discharging step if the eccentricity of
the laundry after the step (a) is smaller than the preset
value.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control pattern
includes the steps of: carrying out the laundry disentangle
alternately rotating step again for dropping the eccentricity of
the laundry below the preset value, carrying out the determining
step again, and automatically stopping the washing if the
eccentricity of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value
until the foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control pattern
includes the steps of: determining an extent of the eccentricity
and an eccentric position of the laundry, carrying out an optimal
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step centered on the
eccentric position of the laundry for dropping the eccentricity of
the laundry below the preset value, carrying out the determining
step again, and automatically stopping the washing if the
eccentricity of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value
until the foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the eccentric position
of the laundry is determined to be as a region at which the angular
speed of the inner tub is reduced by weight of the eccentric
laundry itself when the eccentric laundry is moved upward, and
increased by weight of the eccentric laundry itself when the
eccentric laundry is moved downward.
10. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the extent of
eccentricity is defined to be a size of oscillating component
deviated from a fixed speed when the inner tub is rotated at the
fixed speed.
11. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the
supplementary determining step before the spinning step, for
carrying out the supplementary control pattern to eliminate the
eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity is greater than the
preset value after the water discharge step, or proceeding to the
spinning step if the eccentricity is greater than the preset value
after the water discharge step.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the supplementary
control pattern includes the steps of; supplying water to the inner
tub, carrying out the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step
again for eliminating the eccentricity of the laundry, carrying out
the determining step, again, carrying out the water discharging
step, again, carrying out the supplementary determining step again,
and automatically stopping the washing if the eccentricity of the
laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the foregoing
steps are repeated for a preset times.
13. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step for
rotating the inner tub at 30-50 RPM to keep the laundry in the
tilted inner tub spread evenly during the water discharge step.
.Iadd.14. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising, in the following order: a) a laundry disentangle
alternately rotating step to alternately rotate the inner tub to
eliminate eccentricity of laundry in the inner tub without water
discharge and before a main water extraction and after a washing
step or rinsing step; and b) a determining step to proceed to the
main water extraction step if the eccentricity of the laundry after
the step (a) is smaller than a preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the inner tub
rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step
(a)..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising;
carrying out the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step
again to lower the eccentricity of the laundry below the preset
value if the eccentricity of the laundry after the step (a) is
greater than the preset value; carrying out the determining step
again; and automatically stopping the washing if the eccentricity
of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the
foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising
rotating the inner tub at 30-50 RPM to keep the laundry in the
tilted inner tub spread evenly..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising, in the following order: a) alternately rotating the
inner tub to disentangle laundry and eliminate eccentricity of
laundry in the inner tub without water discharge and before a main
water extraction and after a washing step or rinsing step; and b)
determining if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is smaller than a preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine as set forth in claim 18, and further
alternately rotating the inner tub to disentangle laundry and
eliminate eccentricity of the laundry in the inner tub before a
main water extraction if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is greater than the preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine as set forth in claim 19, and further
determining if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is smaller than a preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the inner tub
rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step
(a)..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising;
carrying out the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step
again to drop the eccentricity of the laundry below the preset
value if the eccentricity of the laundry after the step (a) is
greater than the preset value; carrying out the determining step
again; and automatically stopping the washing if the eccentricity
of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the
foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising
rotating the inner tub at 30-50 RPM to keep the laundry in the
tilted inner tub spread evenly..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising, in the following order: a) alternately rotating the
inner tub to disentangle laundry and eliminate eccentricity of
laundry in the inner tub without water discharge and before a main
water extraction, and after a washing step or rinsing step and
prior to a sensing of the eccentricity; and b) determining if the
eccentricity of the laundry after the alternately rotating is
smaller than a preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine as set forth in claim 24 and further
alternately rotating the inner tub to disentangle laundry and
eliminate eccentricity of the laundry in the inner tub before a
main water extraction if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is greater than the preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine as set forth in claim 25, and further
determining if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is smaller than a preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inner tub
rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step
(a)..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising;
carrying out the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step
again to drop the eccentricity of the laundry below the preset
value if the eccentricity of the laundry after the step (a) is
greater than the preset value; carrying out the determining step
again; and automatically stopping the washing if the eccentricity
of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the
foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising
rotating the inner tub at 30-50 RPM to keep the laundry in the
tilted inner tub spread evenly..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising: a) a main rotation step to exert a centrifugal force to
laundry gathered to a center of the inner tub to spread the laundry
to an inside wall of the inner tub before a main water extraction;
b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step to alternately
rotate the inner tub for a preset number of times without water
discharge to disentangle the laundry spread to the inside wall of
the inner tub; and c) a supplementary rotating step for rotating
the inner tub at a preset RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted
inner tub spread evenly, while concurrently discharging
water..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising, in the following order: a) alternately rotating the
inner tub to disentangle laundry and eliminate eccentricity of
laundry in the inner tub without water discharge before a main
water extraction, and after a washing step or rinsing step; b)
determining if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is smaller than a preset value; and c)
supplying water if the eccentricity of the laundry is less than the
preset value..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a
water discharge step before the step (c)..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. A method for controlling attenuation of vibration in a
tilt-type washing machine having an inner tub, the method
comprising, in the following order: a) alternately rotating the
inner tub to disentangle laundry and eliminate eccentricity of
laundry in the inner tub without water discharge before a main
water extraction, and after a washing step or rinsing step; b)
determining if the eccentricity of the laundry after the
alternately rotating is smaller than a preset value; c) carrying
out the step (a) again if the eccentricity of the laundry is
greater than the preset value; d) carrying out the step (b) again;
and e) automatically stopping the washing if the eccentricity of
the laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the
foregoing steps are repeated for a preset number of times..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tilt-type washing machine, and
more particularly, to a method for controlling washing during
spinning in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of
vibration.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, the necessity for the tilt-type washing machine, having
the vertical type washing machine and the drum type washing machine
applied thereto, is in increasing trend day by day because the
tilt-type washing machine has an excellent washing performance and
convenience of use. Referring to FIG. 1, a related art tilt-type
washing machine is provided with a body 1, an outer tub 2 mounted
tilted in the body, an inner tub 3 rotatably mounted in the outer
tub, a driving device 4 for applying a rotating force to the inner
tub. Moreover, there is a water supply device 5 for supplying
washing water to the inner tub 3, and a water discharging device 6
for discharging water from the inner tub to outside of the washing
machine. The operation of the tilt-type washing machine proceeds in
an order of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, an a spinning cycle,
of which respective cycles will be explained.
First, the washing cycle has a water supplying step for operating
the water supplying device to supply water to the inner tub 3, a
washing step for operating the driving device 4 to wash laundry in
the inner tub by using a penetrating force of water circulation
occurred by rotation of the inner tub, and a dissolving action of
detergent, together with a friction force of water circulation
caused by reverse/regular direction rotation of the inner tub, a
water discharging step for operating the water discharging device 6
to discharge waste water in the inner tub to outside of the washing
machine, and a spinning step for rotating a motor in the driving
device at a high speed, to extract the waste water from the laundry
by using a centrifugal force generated by the high speed rotation
of the inner tub.
Second, the rinsing cycle has a water supplying step for operating
the water supplying device 5 to supply water to the inner tub 3, a
rinsing step for operating the driving device 4 to remove detergent
and dirt stuck to the laundry by using water circulation generated
at rotation of the inner tub, a water discharging step for
operating the water discharging device 6 to extract the waste water
in the inner tub to outside of the washing machine, and a spinning
step for operating the motor of the driving device at a high speed
to extract the waste water in the laundry by using a centrifugal
force generated by the high speed rotation of the inner tub. The
foregoing steps may be repeated for a few times as required.
Third, the spinning cycle has a spinning step for driving the motor
in the driving device 4 at a high speed to extract the water in the
laundry by using a centrifugal force generated at a high speed
rotation of the inner tub 3, and a water discharging step for
operating the water discharging device 6 to discharge the water in
the inner tub, which is proceeded on the same time with the
spinning step.
However, the related art tilt-type washing machine has the
following problems.
First, the washing step or the rinsing step before the water
discharging step has the following problems, when, in one side the
washing or rinsing is made as the washing water penetrates the
laundry by the centrifugal force generated at rotation of the
driving motor, and in the other side the washing or rinsing is made
as the washing water and the laundry make friction to each other as
the washing water circulation is inversed following regular/reverse
direction rotation of the driving motor.
Referring to FIG. 2A, as the inner tub 3 rotates in a
regular/reverse direction alternately, the laundry is gathered to a
central region of the inner tub due to a difference of water
circulations between a center and an inside wall side of the inner
tub, and entangled to one another as a speed of the alternating
rotation of the inner tub increases, which causes a strong
turbulence. Consequently, the water discharging step and the
spinning step carried out in a state the laundry is entangled leads
the entangled laundry stuck to the inside wall of the inner tub in
the spinning step, without being distributed evenly on the inside
wall of the inner tub, which causes eccentricity of a weight that
is a cause of a vibration. At the end, the walking phenomenon is
occurred, in which the body 1 moves violently in the spinning.
Second, at an end of the washing cycle or the rinsing cycle, the
penetration washing or rinsing using the centrifugal force
generated at the rotation of the driving motor comes to an end, and
distribution of the laundry in the tilted inner tub 3 becomes
proportional to a distribution of the water. That is, as shown in
FIG. 2B, much of the laundry is disposed at a region away from a
center of rotation, to settle at a lowest region of the inner tub,
a region away from the rotation center, by its own weight as shown
in FIG. 2C after the water discharging step is carried out, which
induces eccentricity of weight that may cause vibration during the
spinning cycle after the water discharging cycle. At the end, the
walking phenomenon is occurred, in which the body 1 moves violently
in the spinning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method for
controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type washing machine
for attenuation of vibration that substantially obviates one or
more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the
related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for
controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type washing machine
for attenuation of vibration, in which the vibration is
minimized.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the
purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described, the method for controlling washing during spinning in a
tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration, including a
washing cycle having a water supplying step-an alternately
rotating(washing) step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, a
rinsing cycle having a preset times of repetition of a series of
steps with a water supplying step-an alternately rotating (rinsing)
step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, and a spinning cycle
having a spinning step for carrying out a main water extraction,
which are proceeded in a sequence, the method includes (a) a main
rotation step for exerting a centrifugal force to the laundry
gathered to a center of the inner tub for spreading the laundry to
an inside wall of the inner tub before the water discharging step,
(b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately
rotating the inner tub for a preset times to disentangle the
laundry spread to the inside wall of the inner tub, and (c) a
supplementary rotating step for rotating the inner tub at a preset
RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted inner tub spread evenly
during the water discharge step.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type
washing machine for attenuation of vibration, including a washing
cycle having a water supplying step-an alternately
rotating(washing) step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, a
rinsing cycle having a preset times of repetition of a series of
steps with a water supplying step-an alternate rotating(rinsing)
step-a water discharging step-a spinning step, and a spinning cycle
having a spinning step for carrying out a main water extraction,
which are proceeded in a sequence, the method includes (a) a
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately
rotating the inner tub to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry
in the inner tub before the water discharge step, and (b) a
determining step either for carrying out a control pattern to
eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity of
the laundry after the step (a) is greater than a preset value, or
for proceeding to the water discharging step if the eccentricity of
the laundry after the step (a) is smaller than the preset
value.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and
explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the
invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention:
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a related art tilt-type washing
machine;
FIG. 2A illustrates entangled laundry at a central region of an
inner tub before a related art water discharging step,
schematically;
FIG. 2B illustrates laundry gathered to a spot in an inner tub
where much of the water is distributed according to a distribution
of water before a related art water discharging step is carried
out, schematically;
FIG. 2C illustrates a state of laundry gathered to one side of an
inner tub after a related art water discharging step,
schematically;
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for
controlling washing for attenuation of vibration in accordance with
a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A illustrates a distribution of laundry caused by the one
directionally rotating step in FIG. 3, schematically;
FIG. 4B illustrates a distribution of laundry caused by the laundry
disentangle alternately rotating step in FIG. 3, schematically;
FIG. 4C illustrates a distribution of laundry caused by the
supplementary rotating step and the water discharging step in FIG.
3, schematically;
FIG. 5 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of vibrations of a
tilt-type washing machine `B` having the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention applied thereto and a tilt-type washing
machine `C` having the related art applied thereto, with reference
to a vibration of the vertical type washing machine `A`, which is
taken as 100%;
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for
controlling washing for attenuation of vibration in accordance with
a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a variation of
the method in FIG. 6; and,
FIG. 8 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of rocking
components of an inner tub occurred when the inner tub is rotated
at a constant speed for vertical type and tilt-type washing
machines, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Components identical to the related art will
be given the same names and the same reference symbols, and
explanations of which will be omitted. The method for controlling
washing for attenuation of vibration in accordance with a first
preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained
with reference to FIGS. 3-5. FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart
showing the steps of a method for controlling washing for
attenuation of vibration in accordance with a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A illustrates a
distribution of laundry caused by the one directionally rotating
step in FIG. 3 schematically, FIG. 4B illustrates a distribution of
laundry caused by the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step
in FIG. 3 schematically, FIG. 4C illustrates a distribution of
laundry caused by the supplementary rotating step and the water
discharging step in FIG. 3 schematically, and FIG. 5 illustrates a
graph showing a comparison of vibrations of a tilt-type washing
machine `B` having the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention applied thereto and a tilt-type washing machine `C`
having the related art applied thereto, with reference to a
vibration of the vertical type washing machine `A`, which is taken
as 100%.
Referring to FIG. 3, the method for controlling washing for
attenuation of vibration in accordance with a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention includes, before carrying out a
water discharge step, a main rotating step for exerting a
centrifugal force to laundry to spread the laundry gathered and
entangled at a central region of the inner tub 3 caused by the
alternating rotation in the washing or rinsing step to an inside
wall of the inner tub 3, and a laundry disentangle alternately
rotating step for rotating the inner tub alternately for a preset
times to disentangle the laundry dispersed to the inner tub. In
this instance, it is preferable that a number of times of the
alternate rotation in the laundry disentangle alternately rotating
step is set to be below 10 times for preventing the laundry from
being entangled, again.
Along with this, referring to FIG. 4C, in order to keep the laundry
evenly distributed in the tilted inner tub 3 during the water
discharging step, it is preferable that the first embodiment method
of the present invention further includes a supplementary rotating
step for rotating the inner tub at a preset RPM. The supplementary
rotating step utilizes a principle that a radial acceleration
becomes the greater as it goes the farther from a center of
rotation of the inner tub when the inner tub 3 rotates at a fixed
angular speed, which may be explained in detail, as follows.
When it is assumed that a radius of the inner tub 3 is `R`, and a
tilted angle of the inner tub with respect to the ground is
`.theta.`, a maximum radial acceleration exerting to the laundry on
an inside wall 3a of the inner tub is R.omega..sup.2, an average
radial acceleration exerting to the laundry at a half way to the
inside wall 3a is 1/2(R.omega..sup.2), and a gravitational
acceleration exerting to the laundry in the inner tub is g sin
.theta.. If the inner tub 3 is rotated at an angular speed .omega.=
{square root over (2 sin .theta.)/R)}, when the gravitational
acceleration is equal to the average radial acceleration, the
gravitational acceleration moves the laundry disposed within a 1/2R
region(hereafter called as `a central region of the inner tub`) of
the inner tub toward a direction of the gravitational acceleration,
a radial acceleration(hereafter called as `peripheral radial
acceleration`) greater than the gravitational acceleration(or the
average radial acceleration) but smaller than the maximum radial
acceleration moves the laundry disposed between the 1/2R region to
a R region(`a peripheral region in the inner tub`) toward a
direction of the radial acceleration. That is, it can be known that
the laundry dispersed in the laundry disentangle alternately
rotating step is subjected to different acceleration depending on
positions of the laundry in the inner tub 3 in the supplementary
rotating step. Consequently, as the laundry at the central region
of the inner tub tends to move toward a bottom of the inner tub by
the gravitational acceleration, while the laundry at the peripheral
region in the inner tub tends to move toward an inside wall 3a of
the inner tub by the radial acceleration, the entire laundry in the
inner tub can be spread evenly in the inner tub 3 because the
laundry even at the central portion is pulled toward the inside
wall of the inner tub by the radial acceleration exerting on a
portion of the same laundry presented in the peripheral region of
the inner tub.
In the meantime, it is preferable that the tilted inner tub 3 of
the present invention is rotated at 30.about.50 RPM in the
supplementary rotating step, which can be obtained under the
following condition and equation.
The radius `R` of the inner tub used in the present invention is
approx. 0.25-0.3 m, and the tilt angle with respect to the ground
is approx. 10-15.degree.. (1/2)R.omega..sup.2=g sin .theta.
.thrfore..omega.= {square root over ((2 g sin .theta.)R)}, and,
.omega.=x RPM, and x=(60 sec/2.pi.).omega..
Accordingly, it can be known that the angular speed of the inner
tub is approx. 30 RPM.about.50 RPM, when the above condition is
substituted. And, the (1/2)R of the inner tub taken as a reference
for dividing the central region and the peripheral region of the
inner tub is given, not for confining the present invention, but
for clear expression of the present invention. That is, within a
scope of the invention, the reference may be any point between the
center of the inner tub 3 to the inside wall 3a of the inner
tub.
The operation of the method for controlling washing during spinning
in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration will be
explained.
In the main rotating step, the laundry is moved to the inside wall
3a of the inner tub by the centrifugal force(see FIG. 4A).
According to this, the problem in the related art can be prevented,
in which the laundry is gathered at a place in the inner tub at the
times the alternately rotating steps (washing or rinsing step) are
finished. And, in the laundry disentangle alternately rotating
step, the laundry is disentangled to spread evenly in the inner tub
3 (see FIG. 4B). Eventually, the related art problem of the
eccentricity of weight caused by entangled laundry in the spinning
step can be prevented in advance. Along with this, if the
supplementary rotating step and the water discharging step are
carried out on the same time, the laundry is kept to spread evenly
in the inner tub 3 (see FIG. 4C), and settled on the bottom of the
inner tub upon finishing the water discharge step. According to
this, the related art problem of gathering of the laundry to one
place in the water discharging step can be prevented in advance.
Therefore, provided that the aforementioned series of process is
carried out, the vibration caused by the eccentricity in the
spinning step, when the inner tub 3 is rotated at a high speed, can
be reduced. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, if it is assumed that a
vibration of a vertical washing machine `A` is 100%, vibrations of
the tilt type washing machine having the first embodiment method of
the present invention applied thereto `B` and the tilt type washing
machine having the related art method applied thereto `C` are
compared to find that the vibration of the tilt type washing
machine having the first embodiment method of the present invention
applied thereto `B` shows a significant reduction of the
vibration.
FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for
controlling washing for attenuation of vibration in accordance with
a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7
illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a variation of the
method in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 illustrates a graph showing a
comparison of rocking components of an inner tub occurred when the
inner tub is rotated at a constant speed for vertical type and
tilt-type washing machines, respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the method for controlling washing for
attenuation of vibration in accordance with a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention includes before carrying out
the water discharging step, a laundry disentangle alternately
rotating step for alternately rotating the inner tub to remove
eccentricity of the laundry in the inner tub (see 3 in FIG. 2A),
and a determining step for detecting an extent of eccentricity of
the laundry, and carrying out a control pattern for removing the
eccentricity of the laundry if the extent of eccentricity is
greater than a preset value, or proceeding to the water discharging
step if the extent of eccentricity is smaller than the preset
value. As shown in FIG. 6, one embodiment of the control pattern
may include a step for carrying out the laundry disentangle
alternately rotating step again for reducing the eccentricity of
the laundry lower than the preset value, a step for carrying out
the determining step again, and a step for automatic stop of the
washing if the eccentricity of the laundry is kept greater than the
preset value until the foregoing steps are repeated for a preset
times. As shown in FIG. 7, another embodiment of the control
pattern may include a step for determining an extent, and a
position of the laundry, and a step for carrying out an optimal
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step centered on the
position of the laundry to reduce the eccentricity of the laundry,
and a step for automatic stop of the washing if the eccentricity of
the laundry is kept greater than the preset value until the
foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times. The eccentric
position of the laundry is determined to be as a region at which
the angular speed of the inner tub 3 is reduced by weight of the
eccentric laundry itself when the eccentric laundry is moved
upward, and increased by weight of the eccentric laundry itself
when the eccentric laundry is moved downward. And, the extent of
eccentricity is defined to be a size of oscillating component
deviated from a fixed speed when the inner tub 3 is rotated at the
fixed speed. As shown in FIG. 8, a reliability of the determination
is assured since the oscillation component of the tilt type washing
machine is significantly greater than the vertical type washing
machine. In the meantime, it is preferable that the another
embodiment of the control pattern further includes a step of
detecting the extent of eccentricity of the laundry after the water
discharging step is carried out, to carry out a supplementary
control pattern for eliminating the eccentricity of the laundry if
the extent of the eccentricity of the laundry is greater than a
present value, or proceeding to the spinning step if the extent of
the eccentricity of the laundry is smaller than the present value.
The supplementary control pattern includes the steps of supplying
water to the inner tub 3, carrying out the laundry disentangle
alternately rotating step again for eliminating the eccentricity of
the laundry, carrying out the determining step again, carrying out
the water discharging step again, carrying out the supplementary
determining step again, and automatic stop of the washing if the
eccentricity of the laundry is kept greater than the preset value
until the foregoing steps are repeated for a preset times. Along
with this, in order to spread the laundry in the tilt type inner
tub 3 evenly, it is preferable that the water discharging step
includes the supplementary rotating step for rotating the tilted
inner tub 3 at 30-50 RPM. Explanation of the supplementary rotating
step will be omitted as the step is identical to the same described
in the first preferred embodiment.
The operation of the foregoing method for controlling washing for
attenuation of vibration in accordance with a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention will be explained.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the laundry disentangle alternately
rotating step, the laundry is disentangled and spread in the inner
tub (see 3 in FIG. 4B) evenly. And, in the determining step, the
extent of eccentricity of the disentangled laundry is detected and
measured, and determined to be within a preset value. In this
instance, though the operation proceeds to the next step, the water
discharging step, if the eccentricity of the laundry is smaller
than the preset value, the control pattern is carried out if the
eccentricity of the laundry is greater than the preset value.
In the meantime, the control pattern is provided for preventing
vibration owing to the eccentricity greater than the preset value,
i.e., excessive vibration of the tilt type washing machine during
spinning in advance, operation of which embodiments will be
explained.
Referring to FIG. 6, in the first embodiment control pattern, the
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step is carried out again
to spread the laundry in the inner tub 3 evenly for eliminating the
eccentricity of the laundry, and the determining step is carried
out for detecting, and determining the eccentricity of the laundry.
If the eccentricity of the laundry detected in the determining step
is smaller than the preset value, though the operation proceeds to
the water discharging step, of the eccentricity of the laundry
detected in the determining step is greater than the preset value,
the laundry disentangle alternately rotating step and the
determining step is carried out, again. However, because there may
be such occasion that an operation time period of the washing
machine is prolonged, or the washing machine is overloaded, if the
foregoing steps are repeated for many times, the repetition of the
foregoing steps are limited to a preset times, when the washing is
ended.
Referring to FIG. 7, in the second embodiment control pattern, for
eliminating the eccentricity of the laundry, after determining the
extent and position of eccentricity of the laundry, the optimal
laundry disentangle alternate rotating is carried out, to spread
the laundry in the inner tub evenly, and the extent of eccentricity
of the laundry is detected and determined again. In this instance,
though the operation proceeds to the water discharging step if the
eccentricity of the laundry detected in the determining step is
smaller than the preset value, the operation proceeds to the step
for determining the eccentric position of the laundry, the optimal
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step, and the determining
step again, if the eccentricity of the laundry detected in the
determining step is greater than the preset value. However, because
there may be such occasion that an operation time period of the
washing machine is prolonged, or the washing machine is overloaded,
if the foregoing steps are repeated for many times, the repetition
of the foregoing steps are limited to a preset times, when the
washing is ended. Once the determining step is passed, water in the
inner tub 3 is discharged, and spinning is carried out. However,
the supplementary determining step may be carried out additionally
before the spinning step, for reducing the vibration of the washing
machine, perfectly. In the supplementary determining step, though
the spinning step is carried out directly of the eccentricity of
the laundry is smaller than the preset value, if the eccentricity
of the laundry is greater than the preset value, the supplementary
control pattern is carried out.
In the meantime, the supplementary control pattern is provided for
preventing vibration owing to the eccentricity greater than the
preset value, i.e., excessive vibration of the tilt type washing
machine during spinning in advance, operation of which embodiment
will be explained.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the supplementary control pattern,
after draining water, the eccentricity of the laundry is detected
again, to carry out a regular spinning directly, if the
eccentricity of the laundry is smaller than the preset value.
However, if the eccentricity of the laundry is greater than the
preset value, water is supplied to the inner tub 3, a laundry
disentangle alternate rotation is carried out, the determining step
is carried out again, and the water is discharged if the
determining step is passed, and the supplementary determining step
is carried out again. However, because there may be such occasion
that an operation time period of the washing machine is prolonged,
or the washing machine is overloaded, if the foregoing steps are
repeated for many times, the repetition of the foregoing steps are
limited to a preset times, when the washing is ended. Provided that
the foregoing series of processes are carried out, the spinning can
be carried out smoothly because the eccentricity of the laundry is
certainly smaller than the preset value when the operation proceeds
to the spinning step.
In the meantime, it can be known that the aforementioned all steps
of the present invention are applicable to the washing cycle
including the water supplying step-the alternately
rotating(washing) step-the water discharging step-the spinning
step, and the rinsing cycle including a preset times of repetition
of a series of steps having the water supplying step-the
alternately rotating(rinsing) step-the water discharging step-the
spinning step.
As has been explained, the method for controlling washing during
spinning in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of
vibration of the present invention has the following
advantages.
Because the laundry is distributed evenly in the inner tub before
the water discharge step, and the even distribution of the laundry
is maintained during the water discharging step, the vibration of
the washing machine can be reduced significantly when the operation
proceeds to the spinning step.
In the meantime, the method for controlling washing during spinning
in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration in
accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention has the following advantage.
The determination of unbalance at first before the water discharge
step is carried out results to a state water is in the inner tub
always. That is, even if no water is supplied to the inner tub, the
laundry disentangle alternately rotating step can be carried out
smoothly for reducing the eccentricity of the laundry, which saves
water actually, and shortens a washing time period,
substantially.
And, all the advantages described in the detailed description of
the preferred embodiment are included.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the method for
controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type washing machine
for attenuation of vibration of the present invention without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention cover the modifications and
variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of
the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *