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.

Description

∴ω=√{square root over ((2 g sin θ)R)},
and, ω=x RPM, and x=(60 sec/2π)ω.

Accordingly, it can be known that the angular speed of the inner tub is approx. 30 RPM˜50 RPM, when the above condition is substituted. And, the (½)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.

Claims

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 ω=√{square root over ((2 g sin θ/R)} when a gravitational acceleration ‘g sin θ’ exerting to the laundry in the inner tub and an average radial acceleration ‘(½)Rω²’, exerting to the laundry at a half way to the radius of the inner tub are equal, so that the laundry within a (½) area of the inner tub tends to move in a direction of the gravitational acceleration, and the laundry between (½)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 ‘Rω², for spreading the laundry evenly, where ‘R’ denotes a radius of the inner tub and ‘θ’ 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°.

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°.

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.

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.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the inner tub rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step (a).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the inner tub rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step (a).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inner tub rotates alternately less than 10 times in the step (a).

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.

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.

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.

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.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising a water discharge step before the step (c).

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.