Patent Application
20250122662
The disclosure relates to a washing machine.
A washing machine, which is one home appliance, performs various laundry treatment processes. For example, a washing machine may perform laundry treatment processes such as washing, rinsing, detangling, and spin-drying. By optimizing the rotation speed and torque when driving a rotary drum during each laundry treatment process, a washing process may be simplified and power consumption may be reduced.
Aspects of an embodiment of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiment.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a washing machine includes a fixed tank; a rotary drum accommodated in the fixed tank and into which laundry is loadable; a drain configured to discharge water collected in the fixed tank; a ball balancer installed in the rotary drum; a controller; and a driver configured to rotate the rotary drum, the driver including a shaft fixed to the rotary drum, and configured to be rotatable to rotate the rotary drum, a motor including a stator and a rotor, a reducer, and a clutch configured to be switched between a first mode in which rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the shaft through the reducer, and a second mode in which the rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the shaft without passing through the reducer.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to perform a first operation of setting the clutch to the first mode in a first process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, and control the motor in the first mode so that a rotation speed of the rotary drum is a first rotation speed higher than a predefined rotation speed that causes laundry inside the rotary drum to stick to an inner wall of the rotary drum.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to, in the first operation, control the motor to have the first rotation speed and detect a vibration period of a vibration system including the rotary drum, the laundry inside the rotary drum, and the ball balancer.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to perform a second operation of controlling the motor so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum is higher than the first rotation speed and lower than a second rotation speed in a high-speed rotation period corresponding to a period excluding a maximum amplitude time point at which an amplitude of the vibration period of the vibration system detected during the first operation is maximum.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to perform the first operation until a second maximum amplitude time point following a first maximum amplitude time point at which an amplitude of the detected vibration period is maximum during the first operation.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to end the first operation and initiate the second operation when an end condition of the first operation is satisfied.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the end condition of the first operation may be determined according to the first rotation speed. A length of time before an end time of the first operation may increase as the first rotation speed increases.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to fix the rotation speed of the rotary drum to the second rotation speed while performing the second operation.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the second rotation speed may be a maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum, and may be lower than a resonant rotation speed of the washing machine.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to estimate a next vibration period from the vibration period of the vibration system detected in the first operation, and detect a high-speed rotation period excluding a start time and an end time from the estimated next vibration period.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to perform the second operation during the high-speed rotation period.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to estimate the next vibration period based on a difference between the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the first operation and the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the second operation.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to end the second operation and initiate a spin-drying process when an end condition of the second operation is satisfied.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the end condition of the second operation may include a condition that a predefined time elapses. The predefined time may be determined by a load of the rotary drum.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to control the drain so that water collected in the fixed tank in the second process is discharged, set the clutch to the second mode, and control the motor so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum is higher than the first rotation speed.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the second mode may be a maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to set the clutch to the first mode in a washing process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, and control the motor so that a rotation speed of the rotary drum is a washing rotation speed lower than a predefined rotation speed that causes laundry inside the rotary drum to stick to an inner wall of the rotary drum.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to set the clutch to the second mode in the second process in which the spin-drying is performed. Torque of the motor in the second mode may be lower than the torque of the motor in the first mode. The rotary drum may rotate at a same speed as the motor in the second mode.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may be configured to set the clutch to the first mode to rotate the rotary drum in a detangling process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, so that a load caused by laundry inside the rotary drum is reduced, and set the clutch to the second mode in the second process.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the clutch may include a clutch that is moved by a magnetic field of a clutch coil or a clutch that is moved by an operation of a mechanical actuator.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings listed below.
An embodiment of the disclosure and terms as used therein is not intended to limit the technical features described in the disclosure to a specific embodiment and should be understood as including various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiment.
In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numbers may be used to denote like or related elements.
A singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.
In the disclosure, the expressions “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one of the items listed in the corresponding expression or all possible combinations thereof.
The term “and/or” as used herein includes a combination of a plurality of related recited elements or any one of a plurality of related recited elements.
The terms “first,” “second,” etc. as used herein may be only used to distinguish one element from another and do not limit the elements in any other aspects (e.g., importance or order).
When a certain (e.g., first) element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., second) element with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” it means that the certain element may be coupled or connected to the other element directly (e.g., by wire) or wirelessly or through a third element.
The terms “comprise” or “include” as used herein are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to,” “coupled to,” “supported to,” or “in contact with” another element, the element may be “directly connected to, coupled to, supported to, or in contact with” the other element or may be “indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported to, or in contact with” the other element through a third element.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being located “on” another element, the element may be in contact with the other element, and another element may also be present between the two elements.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those of ordinary skill in the art may easily carry out the disclosure. However, the disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiment described herein. In order to clearly explain an embodiment of the disclosure, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings, and the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar parts throughout the disclosure.
A washing machine may include a driver that drives a drum. The driver may include a shaft, a motor that rotates the shaft, and a reducer including a clutch and a planetary gear located between the shaft and the motor. The clutch may be switched between a first mode in which the motor rotates the shaft through the reducer and a second mode in which the motor rotates the shaft without passing through the reducer. The washing machine may rotate the drum at high speed by switching the clutch to the second mode during a spin-drying process. It is desirable to reduce torque required to rotate the rotary drum during the spin-drying process in the washing machine. In the disclosure, a washing machine that may reduce torque required to rotate a rotary drum in a spin-drying process is provided.
A washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may initiate a second process after reducing a load of a rotary drum in a first process, thereby reducing torque required to rotate the rotary drum in the second process in which spin-drying is performed.
Also, in the following description, for convenience, directions such as “up” and “down” may be used based on the corresponding drawings. In addition, in the following description, a direction in which the rotation axis extends is referred to as an “axial direction,” a direction around the rotation axis is referred to as a “circumferential direction” or a “peripheral direction,” and a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis (the direction of diameter or radius) is referred to as a “radial direction.”
The case 2 of the washing machine 1 is a box-shaped container composed of panels or frames and constitutes the exterior of the washing machine 1. A circular load port 2a is formed for loading or unloading laundry. A door 2b with a transparent window is attached to the load port 2a. The load port 2a is opened or closed by the door 2b. A manipulator 2c having a user-operated switch or the like may be installed above the load port 2a.
The fixed tank 3 communicating with the load port 2a may be installed inside the case 2. The fixed tank 3 may be a cylindrical, water-storable container with a bottom and may be connected to the load port 2a. The fixed tank 3 may be supported by a damper (not shown) installed inside the case 2 so as to be stable in a position where the center line (axis line) thereof is inclined upward from the horizontal. In other words, the fixed tank 3 may be disposed so that the axis line thereof follows a direction crossing a vertical direction.
The rotary drum 4 may be a cylindrical container with a diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the fixed tank 3 and may be accommodated in the fixed tank 3 with the center line (axis line) thereof aligned with the center line (axis line) of the fixed tank 3. For example, the rotary drum 4 may be rotatable in a position where the center line (axis line) thereof is inclined upward from the horizontal. In other words, the rotary drum 4 may be disposed so that the axis line thereof follows a direction crossing a vertical direction. A circular opening 4a that in contact with the load port 2a may be formed at the front of the rotary drum 4. Laundry may be loaded into the rotary drum 4 through the load port 2a and the circular opening 4a.
A plurality of spin-drying holes 4b (only some spin-drying holes are illustrated in
The water supply device 5 may be installed above the fixed tank 3. The water supply device 5 may have a water supply pipe 5a, a water supply valve 5b, and a detergent inlet portion 5c. An upper end of the water supply pipe 5a may protrude outward from the washing machine 1 and may be connected to a water supply source (not shown). A lower end of the water supply pipe 5a may be connected to a water supply port 3a located at the upper portion of the fixed tank 3. The detergent inlet portion 5c may accommodate detergents, such as liquid laundry soap or fabric softener, may mix the detergents with the supplied water, and may inject the resulting mixture into the fixed tank 3.
A drain 3b may be installed at the bottom of the fixed tank 3. The drain 3b may be connected to the drain pump 6. The drain pump 6 may discharge unnecessary water collected in the fixed tank 3 to the outside of the washing machine 1 through the drain pipe 6a. The drain pump 6 is an example of a drain that discharges water collected in the fixed tank 3.
The driver 10 may be attached below the fixed tank 3. The driver 10 may include a unit base 20, a shaft 30, a motor 40, and the like.
The shaft 30 may pass through the rear of the fixed tank 3 and protrude into the fixed tank 3. An end of the shaft 30 may be fixed to the lower center of the rotary drum 4. In other words, the rear of the rotary drum 4 may be supported by the shaft 30. The driver 10 may directly rotate the rotary drum 4. Accordingly, the rotary drum 4 may rotate around a rotation axis J by the driving of the motor 40.
For example, the rotation axis J may coincide with the center line of the fixed tank 3, the center line of the rotary drum 4, and the axis of the shaft 30. In addition, the rotation axis J may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction or in an approximately horizontal direction.
The configuration of the driver 10 is described in detail below.
The ball balancer 11 may be installed at the front of the rotary drum 4. The ball balancer 11 is described in detail with reference to
As illustrated in
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the ball balancer 11 may be replaced by a fluid balancer. The fluid balancer is a balancer including the fluid instead of the plurality of balls 11b. The fluid may include, but is not limited to, a viscous fluid such as oil. Throughout the present disclosure, it may be understood that the ball balancer 11 may include the fluid balancer.
The controller 15 may comprehensively control the operation of the washing machine 1. Specifically, the controller 15 may control the driver 10. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may include a processor 16 and driving circuitry 17.
The processor 16 may be communicatively connected to each part of the washing machine 1 and may control each part of the washing machine 1. For example, the processor 16 may include a processor and memory that stores data and a program for operating the processor. Alternatively, the memory may be externally provided separately from the processor 16. The controller 15 may include software such as a control program in addition to hardware such as the processor (or Micom) or the memory. For example, the controller 15 may include an algorithm for controlling the operations of components inside the washing machine, at least one memory that stores data in the form of a program, and at least one processor that performs the operations according to the disclosure by using the data stored in the at least one memory. The memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. The processor may include one or more processor chips or may include one or more processing cores. The memory may include one or more memory chips or one or more memory blocks. In addition, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip.
The driving circuitry 17 may receive power from a power source (not shown). In addition, the driving circuitry 17 may be electrically connected to the driver 10 and supply power to the driver 10. Accordingly, the driver 10 may be driven to rotate the rotary drum 4.
The configuration of the driving circuitry 17 is described in detail below.
Next, the driver 10 is described with reference to
Referring to
Referring to
The shaft 30 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a cylindrical metal member having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the shaft insertion hole 21. The shaft 30 may be inserted into the shaft insertion hole 21 with the end portion thereof protruding from the shaft insertion hole 21. The shaft 30 may be supported to the unit base 20 through the ball bearings (the main bearing 22 and the sub-bearing 23). Due to this, the shaft 30 may be rotatable around the rotation axis J.
As illustrated in
The motor 40 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a stator 41 and a rotor 45. The rotor 45 may face the stator 41 with a predefined gap therebetween. In addition, the rotor 45 may be rotatable around the shaft 30. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the motor 40 may be an outer rotor motor in which the rotor 45 is located outside the stator 41 in the radial direction. This is only an example, and the motor 40 in which the rotor 45 is located inside the stator 41 in the radial direction may be used. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the motor 40 may be a three-phase motor or a single-phase motor.
A plurality of motor coils may be formed by winding conducting wires around each of the plurality of teeth 42b in a predefined order. In the protruding cross-sections of the plurality of teeth 42b, a portion of the stator core 42 may be exposed. The exposed portion of the stator core 42 may face a magnet 47 of the rotor 45 described below in the radial direction with a predefined gap therebetween.
The plurality of motor coils according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be three-phase motor coils. Specifically, as illustrated in
Current flow to the motor coil 43 may be controlled by the controller 15. When electricity flows through the motor coil 43, a magnetic field that causes the rotor 45 to rotate may be generated. Specifically, when AC power is supplied to the motor coils 43, the magnetic field may be formed between the motor coil 43 and the rotor 45. Due to the action of the magnetic field, the rotor 45 may rotate around the rotation axis J.
The rotor case 46 may have a cylindrical shape with a bottom arranged so that the center thereof coincides with the rotation axis J. For example, when the motor 40 is an outer rotor motor, the rotor case 46 may accommodate the stator 41. When the motor 40 is a motor in which the rotor 45 is located inside the stator 41 in the radial direction, the stator 41 may be located outside the rotor 45.
Specifically, the rotor case 46 may have a disk-shaped base wall 46a with a hole in the center thereof and a cylindrical outer wall 46b extending around the base wall 46a. In addition, the base wall 46a may be multi-item or single-item. The rotor case 46 may be formed so that the bottom thereof is shallow (the thickness thereof is small) and the height of the outer wall 46b is less than the radius of the base wall 46a.
A hole may be defined in the center of the base wall 46a. The rotor case 46 may have a cylindrical shaft support portion 46c formed around the hole in the center of the base wall 46a. The shaft support portion 46c may face the outer wall 46b in the radial direction.
Each of the plurality of magnets 47 may be a rectangular permanent magnet bent in an arc shape. The plurality of magnets 47 may be connected in series in the circumferential direction and may be fixed to the inner surface of the outer wall 46b of the rotor case 46. The plurality of magnets 47 may be arranged so that S poles and N poles are alternately magnetized to form the magnetic pole of the rotor 45. For example, four magnetic poles may be formed in one magnet 47.
A cylindrical oil-containing bearing 48 may be fixed inside the shaft support portion 46c in the radial direction. The shaft support portion 46c may be slidably supported to the shaft 30 (specifically, the main frame 51m fixed to the shaft 30) through the oil-containing bearing 48. Due to this, the rotor case 46 may rotate around the shaft 30.
The reducer 50 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be arranged between the shaft 30 and the rotor 45. As illustrated in
The carrier 51 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be fixed to the shaft 30. The carrier 51 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a main frame 51m and a sub-frame 51s. The sub-frame 51s may include an annular member having a plurality of lower bearing recesses (four lower bearing recesses in this example) respectively corresponding to the plurality of planetary gears 54. The sub-frame 51s may be mounted on the rotor case 46 through an annular guide plate 55.
A ring-shaped first sliding member 56 may be fixed inside the guide plate 55 in the radial direction. The guide plate 55 may be mounted on the base wall 46a of the rotor case 46 while being rotatable through the first sliding member 56 between the guide plate 55 and the shaft support portion 46c.
The main frame 51m may include a cylindrical base 51a having a shallow bottom and a cylindrical shaft support portion 51b protruding from the center of the base 51a to the rear of the base 51a. The back side of the base 51a may face the sub-frame 51s. A plurality of upper bearing recesses (four upper bearing recesses in this example) axially facing the plurality of lower bearing recesses formed in the sub-frame 51s may be formed on the back side of the base 51a.
A serration that is engaged with a gear and a base end of the shaft 30 may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the shaft support portion 51b. By inserting the base end of the shaft 30 into the shaft support portion 51b, the main frame 51m may be fixed to the shaft 30 in a non-rotatable state. As described above, the shaft support portion 46c of the rotor 45 may be supported around the shaft support portion 51b with the oil-containing bearing 48 therebetween.
The sun gear 52 may be rotatable together with the rotor 45. For example, the sun gear 52 may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft support portion 46c.
The internal gear 53 may surround the sun gear 52. As an example, the internal gear 53 may include an approximately cylindrical member having a diameter greater than a diameter of the sun gear 52. A gear portion 53a may be installed on the lower inner circumferential surface of the internal gear 53. Teeth may be formed in the gear portion 53a in all directions. In addition, a plurality of inner slide guides 53b including linear protrusions extending in the direction of the rotation axis may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the internal gear 53 at equal intervals.
The internal gear 53 may be arranged around the sun gear 52 with the rotation axis J as the center. The lower portion of the internal gear 53 may be arranged on the guide plate 55. A ring-shaped second sliding member 57 may be fixed to the upper inner side of the internal gear 53 (see
The plurality of planetary gears 54 may be arranged between the sun gear 52 and the internal gear 53 so that each of the plurality of planetary gears 54 is rotatably supported to the carrier 51 and is engaged with the sun gear 52 and the internal gear 53.
As an example, each of the plurality of planetary gears 54 may include a small-diameter gear member. A pin hole may pass through the center of the planetary gear 54. Both ends of a pin inserted into the pin hole may be supported to the upper bearing recess of the main frame 51m and the lower bearing recess of the sub-frame 51s. Teeth may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the planetary gear 54 in all directions. The teeth of the planetary gear 54 may be engaged with both sides of the sun gear 52 and the internal gear 53.
With this configuration, when the sun gear 52 rotates at a predefined speed while the internal gear 53 is fixed (non-rotatable), the plurality of planetary gears 54 themselves may rotate (revolve) while the plurality of planetary gears 54 rotate around the sun gear 52. Accordingly, the carrier 51 and the shaft 30 may rotate in a reduced state.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The rotor-side fixing portion 61 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be formed in an annular shape surrounding the shaft 30 and may be rotatable in conjunction with the rotation of the rotor 45.
For example, the rotor-side fixing portion 61 may be fixed to the rotor 45. In addition, the rotor-side fixing portion 61 may be arranged in a portion that rotates at the same speed as the rotor 45. For example, the rotor-side fixing portion 61 may be integrally formed with the rotor case 46.
For example, the rotor-side fixing portion 61 may have a rotor-side base 61a and a plurality of rotor-side fixing protrusions 61r. The rotor-side base 61a may be formed in an annular shape with the rotation axis J as the center and may be attached to the base wall 46a of the rotor case 46. The plurality of rotor-side fixing protrusions 61r may be arranged in an annular shape with the rotation axis J as the center and may protrude axially from the rotor-side base 61a toward the movable unit 65 described below.
As illustrated in
The stator-side fixing portion 62 may be formed in an annular shape surrounding the shaft 30 and may be fixed to the stator 41. The stator-side fixing portion 62 may face the rotor-side fixing portion 61 with a gap therebetween in the axial direction of the shaft 30. The axial length of the gap between the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be greater than the axial length of the movable unit 65.
For example, the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be directly fixed to the stator 41. In addition, the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be indirectly fixed to the stator 41. For example, the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be arranged in a portion that does not rotate in the same manner as the stator 41. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be integrally formed with the unit base 20 or the stator core 42.
In other words, the state of being “fixed to the stator 41” may include not only a state of being “directly fixed to the stator 41” but also a state of being “indirectly fixed to the stator 41.” Examples of the state of being “indirectly fixed to the stator 41” may include a state of being arranged in a portion (the unit base 20, etc.) that does not rotate in the same manner as the stator 41, a state of being integrally formed with a portion that does not rotate in the same manner as the stator 41, and the like.
For example, the stator-side fixing portion 62 may include a stator-side base 62a and a plurality of stator-side fixing protrusions 62s. The stator-side base 62a may be formed in an annular shape with the rotation axis J as the center and may be attached to the core 42a of the stator core 42. The plurality of stator-side fixing protrusions 62s may be arranged in an annular shape with the rotation axis J with the center and may protrude axially from the stator-side base 62a toward the movable unit 65 described below.
As illustrated in
The movable unit 65 may be formed in an annular shape surrounding the shaft 30. The movable unit 65 may be movable in the axial direction between the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the stator-side fixing portion 62. For example, the movable unit 65 may be installed on the outer circumference of the internal gear 53. The movable unit 65 may be rotatable together with the internal gear 53.
The movable unit 65 may include a cylindrical member having a diameter greater than a diameter of the internal gear 53. A plurality of outer slide guides 65a including linear protrusions extending in the axial direction may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the movable unit 65 at equal intervals in all directions. The plurality of outer slide guides 65a may be engaged with the plurality of inner slide guides 53b formed on the outer circumferential surface of the internal gear 53.
The movable unit 65 may be arranged around the internal gear 53 while the outer slide guides 65a are respectively engaged with the inner slide guides 53b of the internal gear 53. Accordingly, the movable unit 65 may be slidable in the axial direction.
The movable unit 65 may have a plurality of rotor-side movable protrusions 65r and a plurality of stator-side movable protrusions 65s.
The plurality of rotor-side movable protrusions 65r may be arranged in an annular shape with the rotation axis J as the center and may protrude axially toward the rotor-side fixing portion 61. The plurality of rotor-side movable protrusions 65r may be engaged with the plurality of rotor-side fixing protrusions 61r of the rotor-side fixing portion 61. Specifically, the plurality of rotor-side movable protrusions 65r may include a plurality of protrusions arranged at equal intervals in all directions. The plurality of protrusions may protrude downward.
The plurality of stator-side movable protrusions 65s may be arranged in an annular shape with the rotation axis J as the center and may protrude axially toward the stator-side fixing portion 62. The plurality of stator-side movable protrusions 65s may be engaged with the plurality of stator-side fixing protrusions 62s of the stator-side fixing portion 62. In other words, the plurality of stator-side movable protrusions 65s may include a plurality of protrusions arranged at equal intervals in all directions. The plurality of protrusions may protrude upward.
The movable unit 65 may have a mover accommodation portion 65b. The mover accommodation portion 65b may include a hole or recess on the outer side of the movable unit 65 in the radial direction. The mover accommodation portion 65b may accommodate the mover 67.
In addition, the axial length of the gap between the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the stator-side fixing portion 62 may be greater than the axial length of the movable unit 65. Therefore, when the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the movable unit 65 are engaged with (connected to) each other, the stator-side fixing portion 62 and the movable unit 65 may not be engaged with each other and may face each other with a gap therebetween in the axial direction. On the other hand, when the stator-side fixing portion 62 and the movable unit 65 are engaged with each other, the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the movable unit 65 may not be engaged with each other and may face each other with a gap therebetween in the axial direction.
The driver 66 may drive the movable unit 65.
As illustrated in
The slider core 67a may include a cylindrical metal member having magnetism. The slider core 67a may be installed inside the mover accommodation portion 65b. The clutch magnet 67b may include a permanent magnet. The clutch magnet 67b may be installed on all sides of the mover accommodation portion 65b in contact with the surface of the slider core 67a.
For example, the clutch magnet 67b may include a plurality of magnetic pole members in which permanent magnets surround the slider core 67a in an arc shape. Each of the plurality of magnetic pole members may have a plurality of magnetic poles with N poles and S poles alternately arranged in the axial direction. For example, when the magnetic pole member is viewed in the cross-sectional direction, the magnetic pole member may include a central magnetic pole (e.g., S pole) located in the center thereof and end magnetic poles (e.g., N pole) located at both ends thereof in the axial direction.
As illustrated in
The coil holder 68b may include a ring-shaped insulating member in which a cross-section where a hole faces outward in the radial direction has an approximately C-shape. The clutch coil 68a may be formed by winding a conducting wire around the coil holder 68b.
The holder support 68c may include a pair of upper and lower annular members that support the coil holder 68b. The holder support 68c may be fixed to the stator 41. Accordingly, the clutch coil 68a (the stator 68) may face the clutch magnet 67b (the mover 67) with a slight gap therebetween in the radial direction.
Current flow to the clutch coil 68a may be controlled by the controller 15. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when current flows to the clutch coil 68a, a magnetic field that causes the clutch magnet 67b to move in the axial direction may be generated. Specifically, current flow to the clutch coil 68a may form a magnetic field between the clutch coil 68a and the clutch magnet 67b. Accordingly, the movable unit 65 may move in the axial direction. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, due to the movement of the movable unit 65, the operation mode of the washing machine 1 may switch from the first mode to the second mode, or conversely, from the second mode to the first mode.
As illustrated in
In the first mode, the internal gear 53 may be supported to the stator 41 with the movable unit 65 therebetween. Thus, the rotation of the rotor 45 and the sun gear 52 may be transmitted to the shaft 30 and the carrier 51 through the reducer 50. Therefore, the driver 10 may output high torque at low rotation.
In the second mode, the internal gear 53 may be supported to the rotor 45 with the movable unit 65 therebetween. Thus, the rotation of the rotor 45 and the sun gear 52 may be transmitted to the shaft 30 and the carrier 51 without passing through the reducer 50.
Because the rotor 45, the sun gear 52, and the internal gear 53 rotate as a single body, the plurality of planetary gears 54 do not revolve. Accordingly, the shaft 30 and the carrier 51 may also rotate as a single body with the rotor 45 or the like. Therefore, the driver 10 may output low torque at high rotation.
Driving circuitry 17 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may have motor driving circuitry 70 and clutch driving circuitry 80.
The motor driving circuitry 70 may drive the motor 40 by supplying power to the motor coil 43. The motor driving circuitry 70 may operate in response to control by the processor 16.
For example, the motor driving circuitry 70 may include an inverter. The motor driving circuitry 70 may include a first busbar 72 and a second busbar 73 connected to a DC power source 71, three output lines (a U-phase output line 74u, a V-phase output line 74v, and a W-phase output line 74w), and three arms (a U-phase arm 75u, a V-phase arm 75v, and a W-phase arm 75w). The DC power source 71 may be generated by a converter that converts AC power supplied from a commercial power source (not shown) into DC power.
The U-phase motor coil 43u, the V-phase motor coil 43v, and the W-phase motor coil 43w may be star-connected (Y-connected). A common connection point of the U-phase motor coil 43u, the V-phase motor coil 43v, and the W-phase motor coil 43w may be a neutral point 43c.
The U-phase output line 74u, the V-phase output line 74v, and the W-phase output line 74w may be respectively connected to the U-phase motor coil 43u, the V-phase motor coil 43v, and the W-phase motor coil 43w. The U-phase arm 75u, the V-phase arm 75v, and the W-phase arm 75w may be connected in parallel between the first busbar 72 and the second busbar 73. The center point of the U-phase arm 75u may be connected to the U-phase output line 74u. The center point of the V-phase arm 75v may be connected to the V-phase output line 74v. The center point of the W-phase arm 75w may be connected to the W-phase output line 74w.
The U-phase arm 75u may have a first switching element SW1 and a second switching element SW2. The first switching element SW1 and the second switching element SW2 may be connected in series between the first busbar 72 and the second busbar 73. The first switching element SW1 may be connected between the first busbar 72 and the U-phase output line 74u. The second switching element SW2 may be connected between the U-phase output line 74u and the second busbar 73. A freewheeling diode may be connected in antiparallel to each of the first switching element SW1 and the second switching element SW2. The connection point of the first switching element SW1 and the second switching element SW2 may constitute the center point of the U-phase arm 75u.
The configuration of the V-phase arm 75v and the W-phase arm 75w may be the same as the configuration of the U-phase arm 75u. The V-phase arm 75v may have a third switching element SW3 and a fourth switching element SW4. The W-phase arm 75w may have a fifth switching element SW5 and a sixth switching element SW6.
The motor driving circuitry 70 may convert DC power supplied from the DC power source 71 into AC power by the switching operation of switching on and off the first to sixth switching elements SW1 to SW6 and may supply the converted AC power to the motor coil 43 (the U-phase motor coil 43u, the V-phase motor coil 43v, and the W-phase motor coil 43w). Accordingly, the rotor 45 of the motor 40 may rotate. In addition, the switching operation of the motor driving circuitry 70 may be controlled by the processor 16. For example, the processor 16 may control the switching operation of the motor driving circuitry 70 by pulse width modulation (PWM) control so that the rotor 45 rotates at a predefined speed.
The clutch driving circuitry 80 may drive the clutch 60 by supplying power to the clutch coil 68a. The clutch driving circuitry 80 may operate in response to control by the processor 16.
For example, the clutch driving circuitry 80 may supply power to the clutch coil 68a without using power supplied from the motor driving circuitry 70. The clutch driving circuitry 80 may include a first power line 81a and a second power line 81b connected to a DC power source 81, a first line 85, a second line 86, and a switch 800. The first line 85 may be connected to one end of the clutch coil 68a. The second line 86 may be connected to the other end of the clutch coil 68a. In addition, the DC power source 81 of
The switch 800 may switch the connection state between the first power line 81a, the second power line 81b, the first line 85, and the second line 86. For example, the switch 800 may have four switching elements SWa, SWb, SWc, and SWd. The switching element SWa may be connected between the first power line 81a and the first line 85, and the switching element SWb may be connected between the first line 85 and the second power line 81b. The switching element SWc may be connected between the first power line 81a and the second line 86, and the switching element SWd may be connected between the second line 86 and the second power line 81b. The direction of the clutch current flowing to the clutch coil 68a may be controlled by switching the connection state between the first power line 81a, the second power line 81b, the first line 85, and the second line 86.
For example, when the absolute value of the clutch current flowing to the clutch coil 68a is greater than a predefined threshold value, the movable unit 65 may move in the axial direction by the magnetic field generated in the clutch coil 68a. In addition, when the direction of the clutch current flowing to the clutch coil 68a changes, the movement direction of the movable unit 65 (the axial movement direction) may change. Specifically, when the clutch current flows from one end to the other end of the clutch coil 68a (for example, from the left to the right in
The clutch driving circuitry 80 may supply power to the clutch coil 68a so that the clutch current flowing to the clutch coil 68a becomes a target direction and the absolute value of the clutch current flowing to the clutch coil 68a is greater than or equal to a predefined threshold value. The target direction may be set to the direction of the clutch current when the movement direction of the movable unit 65 in the axial direction becomes the target direction. The predefined threshold value may be set as the absolute value of the clutch current required to generate the magnetic field that moves the movable unit 65. Accordingly, by setting the direction of the clutch current to the target direction and setting the absolute value of the clutch current to the predefined threshold value or more, the movable unit 65 may be moved in the target direction with respect to the axial direction.
The operation of the clutch driving circuitry 80 may be controlled by the processor 16. For example, when the processor 16 attempts to move the movable unit 65 from one end to the other end in the axial direction (e.g., from the rotor-side fixing portion 61 to the stator-side fixing portion 62), the clutch driving circuitry 80 may turn on the switching elements SWa and SWd and turn off the switching elements SWb and SWc. Accordingly, the first power line 81a and the first line 85 may be connected to each other and the second power line 81b and the second line 86 may be connected to each other, and thus, the clutch current flows from one end to the other end of the clutch coil 68a (from the left to the right in
In order to switch between the first mode and the second mode of the clutch 60 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may perform a switching process. In the switching process, the controller 15 may move the movable unit 65 in the axial direction in an initial state in which one side of the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the stator-side fixing portion 62 is engaged with the movable unit 65, so that the other side of the rotor-side fixing portion 61 and the stator-side fixing portion 62 is engaged with the movable unit 65.
The basic operation of the washing machine 1 is described with reference to
When the washing machine 1 is operated, laundry may be loaded into the rotary drum 4 (operation S1). For example, when laundry is loaded, detergent or the like may also be put into the detergent inlet portion 5c. The manipulator 2c may be operated to input a washing start instruction to the controller 15 (specifically, the processor 16) (YES in operation S2). In accordance with the washing start instruction, the controller 15 may automatically start a series of washing processes including washing, rinsing, and spin-drying.
Before the washing process, the controller 15 may measure the weight of the laundry so as to set a water supply amount (operation S3). The controller 15 may set an appropriate water supply amount based on the measured weight of the laundry (operation S4).
When the setting of the water supply amount is completed, the controller 15 may initiate the washing process (operation S5). When the washing process starts, the controller 15 may control the water supply valve 5b to supply a set amount of water to the fixed tank 3. At this time, the detergent contained in the detergent inlet portion 5c may be put into the fixed tank 3 together with the supplied water.
Next, the controller 15 may drive the driver 10 to initiate the rotation of the rotary drum 4. The following description is given with reference to
Before initiating the rotation of the rotary drum 4, the controller 15 may determine whether the process to be performed is one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the detangling process, as illustrated in
When the process to be performed is the washing process (operation S5), the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode. Thus, the driver 10 may output high torque at low speed. Therefore, the relatively heavy rotary drum 4 may be efficiently rotated at low speed.
When the washing process ends, the controller 15 may initiate the rinsing process (operation S6). In the rinsing process, the washing water collected in the fixed tank 3 may be drained by driving the drain pump 6. Next, the controller 15 may perform the water supply or stirring process in the same manner as the washing process. In the rinsing process, the driver 10 may be driven while the clutch 60 is maintained in the first mode.
When the rinsing process ends, the controller 15 may perform the detangling process (operation S7). In the detangling process, the driver 10 may be driven while the clutch 60 is maintained in the first mode. The detangling process is described in detail below.
When the detangling process ends, the controller 15 may perform the spin-drying process (operation S8). In the spin-drying process, the rotary drum 4 may be rotated at high speed for a predefined time. Specifically, the controller 15 may switch the clutch 60 to the second mode before initiating the spin-drying process. By setting the clutch 60 to the second mode, the driver 10 may output low torque at high rotation speed. Therefore, the relatively light rotary drum 4 may be efficiently rotated at high speed.
The laundry may be stuck to the inner surface of the rotary drum 4 due to centrifugal force. Water contained in the laundry may flow out of the rotary drum 4, and thus, the laundry is spin-dried.
The water collected in the fixed tank 3 by spin-drying may be discharged by driving the drain pump 6. When the spin-drying process ends, the controller 15 may notify the end of washing through a predefined notification. The predefined notification may include sound notification such as a buzzer, display notification, text notification via communication, or any combination thereof. Then, the operation of the washing machine 1 may end.
The load of the rotary drum 4 is described with reference to
As such, the load torque Ts, which is the load of the rotary drum 4, changes according to the total weight m of the laundry, the center point distance r, and the center point angle θ. As the total weight m of the laundry increases, the load torque Ts may increase. As the center point distance r of the laundry increases, the load torque Ts may increase. As the center point angle θ of the laundry approaches 90°, the load torque Ts may increase.
When the rotary drum 4 starts rotating, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is low, and thus, the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the rotary drum 4 is small. Therefore, while the center point angle θ of the laundry gradually increases, the laundry is unbalanced and the position of the center point M of the laundry moves down. As a result, the center point angle θ of the laundry decreases and the load torque Ts decreases. As the center point angle θ of the laundry decreases when the laundry is unbalanced and the position of the center point M of the laundry moves down, the increase in the load torque Ts is suppressed. Even when the total weight of the laundry inside the rotary drum 4 is the same, it is difficult to disperse the laundry when the laundry is tangled. Accordingly, when the laundry is unbalanced and the position of the center point M of the laundry moves down, the center point angle θ of the laundry tends to increase.
In addition, the position of the center point M of the laundry may be changed so that the center point distance r of the laundry is shortened by detangling the laundry in the rotary drum 4 and dispersing the laundry in the rotary drum 4. As a result, the load (load torque Ts) of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
In addition, as water is removed from the laundry in the rotary drum 4, the total weight m of the laundry may decrease. As a result, the load (load torque Ts) of the rotary drum 4 may decrease.
The load (load torque Ts) of the rotary drum 4 may be estimated based on the current flowing to the motor 40, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4, the rotation acceleration of the rotary drum 4, the vibration of the rotary drum 4, the weight of the laundry loaded into the rotary drum 4, etc. For example, the controller 15 may detect the physical quantities (specifically, an output of a sensor that detects the physical quantities) and derive the load of the rotary drum 4 based on the detection result. The load of the rotary drum 4 may be derived periodically.
Next, the movement of the ball balancer 11 is described.
For example, in the spin-drying process, when the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 increases to a predefined level, the laundry inside the rotary drum 4 sticks to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 and does not move. At this time, the position at which the laundry sticks in the rotary drum 4 is unspecified, and the laundry is usually distributed in an unbalanced state. Therefore, an imbalance occurs in the rotary drum 4. In addition, the position of the imbalance is the center position of the laundry.
The ball balancer 11 may be installed to resolve the imbalance. For example, as the rotary drum 4 rotates, the plurality of balls 11b included in the ball balancer 11 may move within the race 11a in the circumferential direction, and the plurality of balls 11b may be arranged at positions opposite to the unbalanced position of the rotary drum 4 in the radial direction, thereby reducing the imbalance.
When the rotary drum 4 does not rotate, the plurality of balls 11b may be collected vertically downward within the race 11a due to the action of gravity. When the rotary drum 4 starts rotating, the plurality of balls 11b may start to move up and down. As the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 increases, the amount of movement of the balls 11b may increase. After that, when the centrifugal force acting on the balls 11b overcomes gravity, the balls 11b may rotate (move in the circumferential direction) in the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4.
In addition, when the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is relatively high (for example, rotation speed higher than resonant rotation speed), the balls 11b may automatically move to a position that resolves the imbalance (a position opposite to the position of the imbalance). Accordingly, the vibration and noise of the washing machine 1 may be reduced.
On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is relatively low (for example, rotation speed lower than resonant rotation speed), the movement speed of the balls 11b may be slower than the movement speed of the unbalanced position (the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4). Therefore, the relative positions of the imbalance and the ball 11b in the circumferential direction may be changed periodically. For example, the position of the imbalance with respect to the rotary drum 4 does not change, but the position of the ball 11b with respect to the rotary drum 4 may move in the circumferential direction at predefined speed.
As described above, when the relative positions of the imbalance and the ball 11b in the main direction are changed periodically, the vibration amplitude of the vibration system may be changed periodically. Specifically, when the position of the imbalance and the position of the ball 11b are on the same side (in phase), the vibration amplitude of the vibration system may be maximum. In addition, when the position of the imbalance and the position of the ball 11b are opposite to each other in the radial direction of the rotary drum 4 (anti-phase state), the vibration amplitude of the vibration system may be minimum. Furthermore, as the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 increases, the vibration amplitude of the vibration system may increase.
The vibration period P0 of the vibration system is a vibration period caused by the periodic change in the relative positional relationship between “the imbalance caused in the rotary drum 4 due to the eccentric distribution of laundry in the rotary drum 4” and “the ball 11b included in the ball balancer 11.” The vibration period P0 of the vibration system is a period from a maximum amplitude time point tp, at which the vibration amplitude of the vibration system is maximum, to a next maximum amplitude time point tp. At the vibration period P0 of the vibration system, the vibration amplitude of the vibration system gradually decreases from “maximum” to “minimum,” and then, the vibration amplitude of the vibration system gradually increases from “minimum” to “maximum.”
In addition, the vibration period of the vibration system may be changed due to errors such as a change in viscosity caused by a temperature change in the oil 11c contained in the ball balancer 11 or a difference in frame of the washing machine 1. Furthermore, the vibration period of the vibration system may be changed according to the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4. Specifically, as the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 increases, it is difficult for the ball 11b in the ball balancer 11 to move due to centrifugal force. As a result, the vibration period of the vibration system may increase as the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher.
In addition, the vibration amplitude of the vibration system may be estimated based on the current flowing to the motor 40, the current (e.g., q-axis current) obtained by changing the coordinates of the current flowing to the motor 40, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4, the rotation acceleration of the rotary drum 4, the vibration of the rotary drum 4, etc. For example, the controller 15 may detect the physical quantities (specifically, an output of a sensor that detects the physical quantities) and derive the vibration amplitude of the vibration system based on the detection result. The controller 15 may derive the maximum amplitude time point tp based on the derived vibration amplitude of the vibration system and may derive the period from the maximum amplitude time point tp to the next maximum amplitude time point tp as the “vibration amplitude P0 of the vibration system.”
Next, the main operation (the rinsing process, the detangling process, and the spin-drying process) of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to
In the rinsing process S6, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode. In addition, when the clutch 60 is already in the first mode, the controller 15 may maintain the clutch 60 in the first mode. The controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes a predefined rinsing rotation speed R0. For example, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the time for which the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is maintained at the rinsing rotation speed R0 is a predefined time (rinsing maintenance time).
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the rinsing rotation speed R0 may be set to a rotation speed lower than the rotation speed that causes the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force. Hereinafter, the rotation speed that causes the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force is referred to as a “predefined rotation speed.” The rinsing rotation speed R0 is a rotation speed at which the laundry does not stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 due to centrifugal force. In addition, the predefined rotation speed may be determined based on experiments or simulations.
The rinsing rotation speed R0 is a rotation speed that is different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1. The resonant rotation speed is the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 corresponding to the natural frequency of the washing machine 1 and is the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 when the washing machine 1 is in a resonant state.
In the rinsing process, the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 is shifted to alternately to the predefined “forward rotation direction” and the predefined “reverse rotation direction,” which is the reverse direction of the regular rotation direction. Specifically, the controller 15 may alternately perform a forward rotation operation that controls the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 becomes the forward rotation direction, and a reverse rotation operation that controls the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 becomes the reverse direction. The rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may become a positive rinsing rotation speed +R0 in the forward rotation operation of the rinsing process and may become a negative rinsing rotation speed −R0 in the reverse rotation operation of the rinsing process.
In the rinsing process, the controller 15 may control the water supply device 5 (specifically, the water supply valve 5b) and the drain pump 6 so that water is appropriately supplied to and drained from the fixed tank 3.
The controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the rinsing process ends when the rinsing end condition, which is a condition for ending the rinsing process, is satisfied. When the rinsing process ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the detangling process is initiated. For example, the rinsing end condition is a condition that a predefined time (rinsing time) has elapsed from the start of the rinsing process.
In the detangling process S7, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode. In addition, when the clutch 60 is already in the first mode, the controller 15 may maintain the clutch 60 in the first mode. The controller 15 may perform the first operation (operation S71) and the second operation (operation S72).
In the first operation (operation S71) according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes a predefined first rotation speed R1. For example, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is maintained at the first rotation speed R1 (fixed value) in the first operation.
The first rotation speed R1 may be set to a rotation speed higher than a predefined rotation speed (a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force). In addition, the rotation speed higher than the predefined rotation speed may be a rotation speed that enables the ball 11b of the ball balancer 11 to move in the circumferential direction. For example, when the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher than the predefined rotation speed, the position of the laundry stuck to the inner wall of the rotary drum (the position of the imbalance) does not move in the circumferential direction, but the ball 11b of the ball balancer 11 moves in the circumferential direction.
The first rotation speed R1 is a rotation speed that is different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1. For example, the first rotation speed R1 may be set to a rotation speed lower than the resonant rotation speed Rr.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the first operation, the controller 15 may detect the vibration period P0 of the vibration system including the rotary drum 4, the laundry W, and the ball balancer 11.
As illustrated in
In the example of
When the first operation end condition, which is a condition for ending the first operation, is satisfied, the controller 15 may end the first operation and initiate the second operation (operation S72 of
For example, the first operation end condition is a condition that the vibration period P0 of the vibration system is detected. The controller 15 may end the first operation when the vibration period P0 of the vibration system is detected.
As another example, the first operation end condition may be a condition that a predefined time (first operation time) has elapsed from the start of the first operation. The first operation time may be set to a time longer than the time required to detect the vibration period P0 of the vibration system. In this case, the controller 15 may measure the time having elapsed from the start of the first operation and end the first operation when the elapsed time reaches the first operation time.
In addition, the first operation time may be determined according to the first rotation speed R1 (the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first operation). Specifically, as the first rotation speed R1 increases, the first operation time may increase.
In the second operation, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher than the first rotation speed R1 and lower than the second rotation speed R2 in a high-speed rotation period P2 corresponding to a period excluding the maximum amplitude time point tp at which the vibration amplitude is maximum in the vibration period P0 of the vibration system detected by the first operation.
For example, in the second operation, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the high-speed rotation period P2 is maintained at the second rotation speed R2 (fixed value). In addition, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 after the high-speed rotation period P2 is maintained at the first rotation speed R1 (fixed value).
The second rotation speed R2 may be set to a rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed. In addition, the second rotation speed R2 is a rotation speed that is different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1. For example, the second rotation speed R2 may be set to the maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first mode (in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the first mode). The maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first mode may be a rotation speed lower than the resonant rotation speed Rr.
As illustrated in
Furthermore, as described above, the vibration period of the vibration system may be changed according to the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4. In the high-speed rotation period P2 of the second operation, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be higher than the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first operation. Accordingly, the controller 15 may estimate the “vibration period P1 that serves as a criterion for determining the high-speed rotation period P2” from the vibration period P0 detected by the first operation, based on the difference between the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first operation and the rotation speed (e.g., the maximum rotation speed) of the rotary drum 4 in the second operation (the high-speed rotation period P2). For example, as the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the second operation (the second rotational speed R2) increases relative to the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the first operation (the first rotation speed R1), the vibration period P1 estimated in the second operation may be longer than the vibration period P0 detected in the first operation.
In the example of
Returning back to
For example, the second operation end condition may be a detangling end condition, which is a condition for ending the detangling process. The controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the detangling process ends when the detangling end condition is satisfied. When the detangling process ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the spin-drying process is initiated.
For example, the detangling end condition may be a condition that a predefined time (detangling time) has elapsed from the start of the detangling process. In this case, the controller 15 may measure the time having elapsed from the start of the detangling process, and when the elapsed time reaches the detangling time, may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the detangling process ends and the spin-drying process starts. In addition, the detangling time is an example of the first process time to be compared with the time having elapsed from the start of the first process so as to end the first process and initiate the second process.
In addition, the detangling time may be determined according to the load of the rotary drum 4. Specifically, as the load of the rotary drum 4 increases, the detangling time may increase.
The rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the detangling process may be the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the rinsing process. Specifically, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the detangling process becomes the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the rinsing process. In the example of
For example, in the detangling process, the controller 15 may control the water supply device 5 (specifically, the water supply valve 5b) to stop supplying water to the fixed tank 3.
In the spin-drying process S8 of
The third rotation speed R3 may be set to a rotation speed higher than the second rotation speed R2. In addition, like the second rotation speed R2, the third rotation speed R3 may be a rotation speed that is different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1. For example, the third rotation speed R3 may be set to the maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the second mode (in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the second mode). The maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 in the second mode may be a rotation speed higher than the resonant rotation speed Rr.
The rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the spin-drying process may be the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the detangling process. Specifically, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the spin-drying process becomes the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the detangling process. In the example of
In the spin-drying process, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 6 so that the water collected in the fixed tank 3 is discharged. In addition, the controller 15 may control the water supply device 5 (specifically, the water supply valve 5b) to stop supplying water to the fixed tank 3.
The controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the spin-drying process ends when the spin-drying end condition, which is a condition for ending the spin-drying process, is satisfied. For example, the spin-drying end condition is a condition that a predefined time (spin-drying time) has elapsed from the start of the spin-drying process.
The operation in the washing process is the same as the operation in the rinsing process.
In the washing process, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode. The controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes a predefined washing rotation speed. For example, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the time for which the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is maintained at the washing rotation speed is a predefined time (washing maintenance time).
In addition, the washing rotation speed may be set to a rotation speed lower than a predefined rotation speed (a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force). The washing rotation speed is a rotation speed at which the laundry does not stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 due to centrifugal force. In addition, the washing rotation speed is a rotation speed that is different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1.
The controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the washing process ends when the rinsing end condition, which is a condition for ending the washing process, is satisfied. When the washing process ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the rinsing process is initiated. For example, the washing end condition is a condition that a predefined time (washing time) has elapsed from the start of the washing process.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when the clutch 60 is set to the first mode, the rotation of the rotor 45 may be transmitted to the shaft 30 via the reducer 50. Accordingly, because the rotary drum 4 may rotate at higher torque than when the clutch 60 is set to the second mode, the torque required to rotate the rotary drum 4 may be easily secured. For example, even when the load of the rotary drum 4 (specifically, the weight of the laundry containing moisture) is large, the torque required to rotate the rotary drum 4 may be easily secured. Therefore, even when the load of the rotary drum 4 is large, the rotary drum 4 may rotate sufficiently in the first mode. In addition, compared to the case where the rotation of the rotor 45 is transmitted to the shaft 30 without passing through the reducer 50, motor efficiency may be improved because the motor is operated at a high rotation speed.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when the clutch 60 is set to the second mode, the rotation of the rotor 45 may be transmitted to the shaft 30 without passing through the reducer 50. Therefore, when the clutch 60 is set to the second mode, the rotary drum 4 and the motor 40 may rotate at the same speed, and thus, the washing machine 1 may be operated at a rotation speed with high motor efficiency when the rotary drum 4 rotates at high speed.
As described above, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode in the detangling process. Accordingly, because the rotary drum 4 may rotate at high torque in the detangling process, torque for rotating the rotary drum 4 may be easily secured. For example, even when the load of the rotary drum 4 is high (in a high load state), the rotary drum 4 may rotate sufficiently.
Furthermore, in the detangling process, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher than a predefined rotation speed (a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force). As such, because the controller 15 increases the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 to a predefined rotation speed or higher, the laundry in the rotary drum 4 may be detangled and the laundry may be dispersed within the rotary drum 4. Due to these operations, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the second mode in the spin-drying process. Accordingly, because the rotary drum 4 may rotate at high speed with low torque in the spin-drying process, a motor with relatively low torque may be used.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the second operation of the detangling process, the controller 15 may determine the high-speed rotation period P2 corresponding to a period excluding the maximum amplitude time point tp at which the vibration amplitude is maximum in the vibration period P0 of the vibration system detected by the first operation (specifically, the future vibration period P1 estimated from the vibration period P0). According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher than the first rotation speed R1 and lower than the second rotation speed R2 in the high-speed rotation period P2.
Under such a control, in the detangling process, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be higher than the first rotation speed by avoiding the maximum amplitude time point tp in the vibration periods P1 estimated from the vibration period P0 of the vibration system including the rotary drum 4, the laundry, and the ball balancer 11. Accordingly, the increase in the vibration amplitude of the vibration system accompanying the increase in the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be suppressed, compared to the case where the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 at the maximum amplitude time point tp is higher than the first rotation speed.
In addition, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be maintained constant in the detangling process. However, in this case, because the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is set to a low rotation speed so that the vibration amplitude of the vibration system does not increase, it is difficult to sufficiently reduce the load of the rotary drum 4 in the detangling process. In addition, because the time required to reduce the load of the rotary drum 4 increases, it is difficult to shorten the operation time of the washing machine 1.
On the other hand, in the detangling process, because the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be higher than the first rotation speed for the time that avoids the maximum amplitude time point tp in the vibration period P1 estimated from the vibration period P0 of the vibration system, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced, compared to the case where the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is maintained constant in the detangling process. In addition, because the time required to reduce the load of the rotary drum 4 may be shortened, the operation time of the washing machine 1 may be shortened.
Accordingly, the spin-drying process may be initiated after reducing the load of the rotary drum 4 in the detangling process. Due to this, torque required to rotate the rotary drum 4 in the spin-drying process may be reduced.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, after a predefined time (detangling time) has elapsed from the start of the detangling process, the spin-drying process may be initiated. In addition, the detangling time may be determined according to the load of the rotary drum 4. Under such a control, the detangling process may be appropriately performed according to the load of the rotary drum 4.
The rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the spin-drying process may be the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the detangling process. Under such a control, the detangling of the laundry in the rotary drum 4 may be promoted, and thus, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
Similarly, the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the detangling process may be the reverse direction of the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the end of rotation in the rinsing process. Under such a control, the prevention of the tangling of the laundry in the rotary drum 4 may be promoted, and thus, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
The first rotation speed R1 may be different from the resonant rotation speed Rr corresponding to the resonant frequency of the washing machine 1. Under such a control, the washing machine 1 may avoid resonance. The second rotation speed R2, the rinsing rotation speed R0, and the washing rotation speed may also be different from the resonant rotation speed Rr.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the motor 40 may be miniaturized because the load of the rotary drum 4 (load at startup) is reduced when the spin-drying process is initiated. As the motor 40 is miniaturized, copper loss of the motor 40 in the spin-drying process may be reduced, and thus, the efficiency of the motor 40 may be improved.
The case where the detangling time is a time (variable value) set according to the load of the rotary drum 4 has been described as an example, but the embodiment of the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the detangling time may be a constant time (fixed value). Similarly, the spin-drying time may be a time (variable value) set according to the load of the rotary drum 4 or may be a constant time (fixed value).
The case where the detangling end condition is “a condition that the detangling time elapses from the start of the detangling process” has been described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the detangling end condition may be a condition that the load of the rotary drum 4 falls below a predefined threshold value. In this case, the controller 15 may monitor the load of the rotary drum 4 in the detangling process, and when the load of the rotary drum 4 falls below the threshold value, may end the detangling process.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, whether the detangling process is required may be determined, and the detangling process may be performed based on the determination result.
Referring to
In operation S9 of determining whether the detangling process is required, the controller 15 may determine whether the detangling process (operation S7) is required. For example, the controller 15 may determine that the detangling process is required when the load of the rotary drum 4 is greater than a predefined threshold value, and determine that the detangling process is not required when the load of the rotary drum 4 is less than or equal to the predefined threshold value.
When the detangling process is required (YES in operation S9), the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the detangling process (operation S7) is performed. On the other hand, when the detangling process is not required (NO in operation S9), the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the detangling process is not performed and the spin-drying process (operation S8) is performed.
In addition, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 6 (drain) so that water collected in the fixed tank 3 is drained in the final stage of the washing process or the rinsing process (the rinsing process as an example). The controller 15 may measure the load of the rotary drum 4 after water is drained from the fixed tank 3, may determine whether the detangling process is required, and may determine the detangling time.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may perform or omit the detangling process based on the load of the rotary drum 4 measured before the detangling process is initiated. Accordingly, the controller 15 may appropriately perform the detangling process when necessary (according to the load of the rotary drum 4). In addition, the operation time of the washing machine 1 may be shortened by omitting the detangling process.
In addition, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 6 (drainage mechanism) so that water collected in the fixed tank 3 is drained in the final stage of the washing process or the rinsing process (the rinsing process in this example). Under such a control, when measuring the load of the rotary drum 4 after water is drained from the fixed tank 3, the rotary drum 4 may be controlled so as not to scrape the water collected in the fixed tank 3. Accordingly, because the load of the rotary drum 4 may be measured in a state in which torque for causing the rotary drum 4 to push water is excluded, the necessity of the detangling process and the determination of the detangling time may be accurately determined.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the detangling process and the spin-drying process may be performed immediately after the washing process. In addition, a combination of the rinsing process, the detangling process, and the spin-drying process may be performed a plurality of times.
Referring to
In the flowchart of
The first rinsing process (operation S61) in the flowchart of
In the flowchart of
The first spin-drying process (operation S80) and the second spin-drying process (operation S81) in
The following description is given with reference to
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may repeat the first operation (operation S71) and the second operation (operation S72) in the detangling process (operation S7) of
As illustrated in
In the detangling process (operation S7), the controller 15 may alternately perform the forward rotation operation that controls the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 becomes the forward rotation direction, and the reverse rotation operation that controls the motor 40 so that the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 becomes the reverse direction. The rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes a positive rotation speed (e.g., a positive first rotation speed R1 and a positive second rotation speed R2) in the forward rotation operation of the detangling process (operation S7) and the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes a negative rotation speed (e.g., a negative first rotation speed R1 and a negative second rotation speed R2) in the reverse rotation operation of the detangling process (operation S7).
In addition, the switching between the forward rotation operation and the reverse rotation operation may be performed at the end of the combination of the first operation and the second operation. For example, the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 in nth first and second operations (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1) is the forward rotation direction, and the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 in (n+1)th first and second operations is the reverse rotation direction. Accordingly, the forward rotation operation and the reverse rotation operation may be converted whenever the combination of the first operation and the second operation ends.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may repeat the first operation (operation S71) and the second operation (operation S72) in the detangling process (operation S7). Accordingly, the load of the rotary drum 4 in the detangling process may be further reduced, compared to a case where the first operation and the second operation are performed only once in the detangling process.
In addition, in the detangling process (operation S7), the detangling of laundry in the rotary drum 4 may be promoted by alternately switching the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 between the forward rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction. Accordingly, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may determine in advance whether the second operation (operation S72) of
Referring to
In the determination process (operation S75), the controller 15 may determine whether the second operation (operation S72) is required. For example, the controller 15 may determine that the second operation is required when the load of the rotary drum 4 is greater than a predefined threshold value, and determine that the second operation is not required when the load of the rotary drum 4 is less than or equal to the predefined threshold value.
When the second operation is required (YES in operation S75), the controller 15 may perform the second operation (operation S72). When the second operation ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the spin-drying process (operation S8) is performed. On the other hand, when the second operation is not required (NO in step S75), the controller (15) controls the operation of the washing machine (1) so that the spin-drying process (step S8) is performed without performing the second operation.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may perform or omit the second operation according to the load of the rotary drum 4 at the end of the first operation. Accordingly, the controller 15 may appropriately perform the second operation when necessary (according to the load of the rotary drum 4). In addition, when the second operation is omitted, the operation time of the washing machine 1 may be shortened.
As illustrated in
In the spin-drying process according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 (specifically, the processor 16) may drive the drain pump 6. Accordingly, water collected in the fixed tank 3 by spin-drying may be discharged. In addition, in the spin-drying process, the controller 15 may perform the following processes.
First, the controller 15 may measure the load of the rotary drum 4 (operation S20). For example, the controller 15 may measure the load of the rotary drum 4 based on an output of a current sensor (not shown) that detects current flowing to the motor 40 (specifically, the motor coil 43) (the amount of current flowing to the motor coil 43). For example, as the weight of laundry containing moisture in the rotary drum 4 increases, the load of the rotary drum 4 may increase and the current flowing to the motor 40 may increase.
Next, the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21) may be initiated. In the preliminary spin-drying process, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the first mode. In addition, when the clutch 60 is already in the first mode, the controller 15 may maintain the clutch 60 in the first mode. The controller 15 may perform the first operation and the second operation. In the preliminary spin-drying process, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 6 so that the water collected in the fixed tank 3 is discharged. In addition, the controller 15 may control the water supply device 5 (specifically, the water supply valve 5b) to stop supplying water to the fixed tank 3.
The first operation and the second operation in the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21) according to an embodiment of the disclosure are the same as the first operation and the second operation in the detangling process (operation S7) of
In
In addition, the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 at the start of rotation in the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21) in
Next, when the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21) ends, the main spin-drying process (operation S22) may be initiated. The spin-drying process according to an embodiment of the disclosure is the same as the spin-drying process (operation S8) of
The controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the main spin-drying process ends when the main spin-drying end condition, which is a condition for ending the main spin-drying process, is satisfied. The main spin-drying end condition in
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the spin-drying process of the washing machine 1, the controller 15 may control the motor 40 to rotate the rotary drum 4 in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the first mode, and then control the motor 40 to rotate the rotary drum 4 in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the second mode.
Under such a control, the washing machine 1 may perform the main spin-drying process after reducing the load of the rotary drum 4 (specifically, the weight of laundry containing moisture) in the preliminary spin-drying process. That is, during a period in which the load of the rotary drum 4 is relatively large, the controller 15 may rotate the rotary drum 4 in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the first mode, and during a period in which the load of the rotary drum 4 is relatively small, the controller 15 may rotate the rotary drum 4 in a state in which the clutch 60 is set to the second mode. Accordingly, the motor 40 may be efficiently driven in the spin-drying process.
In addition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may set the clutch 60 to the second mode in the preliminary spin-drying process and control the motor 40 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is higher than a predefined rotation speed (a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to the inner wall of the rotary drum 4 by centrifugal force). In addition, the controller 15 may control the drain pump 6 so that water collected in the fixed tank 3 is discharged during the preliminary spin-drying process.
Due to the operation described above, the washing machine 1 may drain the fixed tank 3 while rotating the rotary drum 4 at a rotation speed higher than or equal to a predefined rotation speed, which may remove moisture from the laundry in the rotary drum 4 and reducing the weight of the laundry (the weight of the laundry containing moisture). Accordingly, the load of the rotary drum 4 may be reduced.
The case where the preliminary spin-drying time is a time (variable value) set according to the load of the rotary drum 4 has been described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the preliminary spin-drying time may be a predefined time (fixed value). In this case, the processing of operation S20 may be omitted. Similarly, the main spin-drying time may be a time (variable value) set according to the load of the rotary drum 4 or may be a predefined time (fixed value).
The case where the preliminary spin-drying end condition is “a condition that a predefined time (preliminary spin-drying time) has elapsed from the start of the preliminary spin-drying operation (preliminary spin-drying process)” has been described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the preliminary spin-drying end condition may be a condition that the load of the rotary drum 4 is less than or equal to a predefined threshold value. In this case, the controller 15 may monitor the load of the rotary drum 4 in the preliminary spin-drying operation and may end the preliminary spin-drying operation when the load of the rotary drum 4 is less than or equal to the predefined threshold value.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, whether the preliminary spin-drying process is required may be determined in advance before the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21), and the preliminary spin-drying process may be performed based on the determination result.
Referring to
When the preliminary spin-drying process is required (YES in operation S25), the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the preliminary spin-drying process (operation S21) is performed. When the preliminary spin-drying process ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the main spin-drying process (operation S22) is performed. On the other hand, when the preliminary spin-drying process is not required (NO in operation S9), the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the preliminary spin-drying process is not performed and the main spin-drying process (operation S22) is performed.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may perform or omit the preliminary spin-drying process according to the load of the rotary drum 4 at the end of the preliminary spin-drying process. Accordingly, the controller 15 may appropriately perform the preliminary spin-drying process when necessary (according to the load of the rotary drum 4). In addition, the operation time of the washing machine 1 may be shortened by omitting the preliminary spin-drying process.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the spin-drying process (the preliminary spin-drying process and the main spin-drying process) may be performed immediately after the washing process. In addition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, a combination of the rinsing process and the spin-drying process (the preliminary spin-drying process and the main spin-drying process) may be performed a plurality of times.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first operation and the second operation may be repeated in the preliminary spin-drying process. The controller 15 may repeat the first operation and the second operation in the preliminary spin-drying process.
In addition, in the preliminary spin-drying process, the rotation direction of the rotary drum 4 may be alternately switched between the predefined “forward rotation direction” and the predefined “reverse rotation direction” that is the reverse direction of the forward rotation direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, in the preliminary spin-drying process, whether the second operation is required may be determined, and the second operation may be performed based on the determination result.
In the preliminary spin-drying process, for example, when the load of the rotary drum 4 at the end of the first operation is greater than a predefined threshold value, the controller 15 may determine that the second operation is required, and when the load of the rotary drum 4 at the end of the first operation is less than or equal to the predefined threshold value, the controller 15 may determine that the second operation is not required.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when the second operation is required, the controller 15 may perform the second operation. When the second operation ends, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the main spin-drying process (operation S22) is performed. On the other hand, when the second operation is not required, the controller 15 may control the operation of the washing machine 1 so that the main spin-drying process (operation S22) is performed without performing the second operation.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller 15 may perform or omit the second operation according to the load of the rotary drum 4 at the end of the first operation. Accordingly, the controller 15 may appropriately perform the second operation when necessary (according to the load of the rotary drum 4). In addition, the operation time of the washing machine 1 may be shortened by omitting the second operation.
The case where the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 is maintained at the second rotation speed R2 in the high-speed rotation period P2 has been described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in the high-speed rotation period P2, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 may be changed within a range from the first rotation speed R1 to the second rotation speed R2. In addition, the second operation may end with the end of the high-speed rotation period P2.
In
In addition, a case where the motor 40 is a three-phase motor is described as an example, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the motor 40 may be a single-phase motor or a multi-phase motor other than a three-phase motor.
At least one embodiment of the disclosure may be appropriately combined and implemented.
In the block diagram of
The components are sequentially described below.
The driver 10 may drive the drum of the washing machine 1. The driver 10 may rotate the motor 40 to rotate the shaft 30 connected to the motor 40.
The motor 40 is a rotary body that may be driven by an AC voltage and may be used for washing, rinsing, detangling, and/or spin-drying operations by rotation in the washing machine 1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
Because the shaft 30 is connected to the drum, the drum may be rotated by the driving of the driver 10, and laundry put in the drum may be washed, rinsed, detangled, and/or spin-dried. The clutch 60 may be located between the shaft 30 and the motor 40, and the driver 10 may include the reducer 50 including a planetary gear. The clutch 60 may include a first mode in which the motor 40 rotates the shaft 30 through the reducer 50 and a second mode in which the motor 40 rotates the shaft 30 without passing through the reducer 50. The washing machine 1 may rotate the drum at high speed by switching the clutch 60 to the second mode during the spin-drying process. The washing machine 1 may initiate the second process after reducing the load of the rotary drum in the first process, thereby reducing torque required to rotate the rotary drum in the second process in which spin-drying is performed.
The controller 15 may control the overall operation of the washing machine 1. The overall operation of the washing machine 1 may be performed by the processor 16 of the controller 15. The processor 16 may control the driver 10, the communication interface 1300, the user interface 1200, and/or the memory 1700 by executing programs stored in memory (not shown) embedded in the processor 16 and/or the memory 1700. The controller 15 may obtain, from the sensor 90, various physical quantities related to the overall operation of the washing machine 1.
The sensor 90 may include one or more sensors. The one or more sensors may include, but is not limited to, a current sensor for detecting the current flowing to the motor 40, a speed sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 (the rotation speed of the motor 40), a vibration sensor for detecting the vibration of the rotary drum 4, and/or a weight sensor for detecting the weight of the laundry loaded into the rotary drum 4, etc. The controller 15 may obtain, from the sensor 90, the sensed information (e.g., physical quantities as output of the sensor 90).
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the processor 16 may include an artificial intelligence (AI) processor. The AI processor may be manufactured in the form of a dedicated hardware chip for AI, or may be manufactured as part of an existing general-purpose processor (e.g., central processing unit (CPU) or application processor) or a graphics processing unit (GPU) and mounted on the washing machine 1.
The processor 16 may include the communication interface 1300 so as to operate on an Internet of things (IoT) network or a home network when necessary.
The communication interface 1300 may include a short-range wireless communication interface 1310 and a long-range wireless communication interface 1320. The short-range wireless communication interface 1310 may include a Bluetooth communication interface, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication interface, a near field communication interface, a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface, a ZigBee communication interface, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication interface, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication interface, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) communication interface, an Ant+ communication interface, and the like, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The long-range wireless communication interface 1320 may transmit and receive radio signals to and from at least one of a base station, an external terminal, or a server on a mobile communication network. The radio signals may include voice call signals, video call signals, or various types of data according to text/multimedia message transmission and reception. The long-range wireless communication interface 1320 may include a 3rd generation (3G) module, a 4th generation (4G) module, a 5th generation (5G) module, a long term evolution (LTE) module, and an LTE-M module.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the washing machine 1 may communicate with an external server or other electrical devices through the communication interface 1300 and transmit and receive data.
The user interface 1200 may include an output interface 1500 and an input interface 1600.
The output interface 1500 may output audio signals or video signals and may include a display 1510 and an audio output interface 1520.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the washing machine 1 may display information related to the washing machine 1 through the display 1510. For example, washing progress information, power factor information, power consumption information, or the like of the washing machine 1 may be displayed on the display 1510.
When the display 1510 and a touch pad are configured as a touch screen having a layer structure, the display 1510 may be used as an input device as well as an output device. The display 1510 may include at least one of liquid crystal display, thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display, light-emitting diode (LED), organic LED, flexible display, three-dimensional (3D) display, or electrophoretic display. The washing machine 1 may include two or more displays 1510 according to the implementation form of the washing machine 1.
The audio output interface 1520 may output audio data received from the communication interface 1300 or audio data stored in the memory 1700. Also, the audio output interface 1520 may output audio signals related to the functions performed by the washing machine 1. The audio output interface 1520 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the input interface 1600 is a component that receives input from a user. The input interface 1600 may be at least one of a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (a contact capacitance type touch pad, a pressure resistance film type touch pad, an infrared detection type touch pad, a surface ultrasonic conduction type touch pad, an integral tension measurement type touch pad, a piezo effect type touch pad, etc.), a jog wheel, or a jog switch, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.
The input interface 1600 may include a voice recognition module. For example, the washing machine 1 may receive a voice signal, which is an analog signal, through a microphone, and convert the voice part into computer-readable text by using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) model. The washing machine 1 may obtain a user's utterance intention by interpreting the text by using a natural language understanding (NLU) model. The ASR model or the NLU model may be an AI model. The AI model may be processed by an dedicated AI processor designed with a hardware structure specialized for processing the AI model. The AI model may be made through machine learning. The phase “being made through learning” means that the AI model or the predefined operation rule configured to perform desired characteristics (or purpose) is made in such a manner that a basic AI model is trained by using a large number of training data by a learning algorithm. The AI model may include a plurality of neural network layers. Each of the neural network layers has a plurality of weight values and performs neural network operations through operations between the plurality of weight values and the operation results of the previous layer.
Linguistic understanding is a technology that recognizes, applies, and processes human language and characters, and may include natural language processing, machine translation, dialog system, question answering, and speech recognition/synthesis, and the like.
The memory 1700 may store a program for processing and controlling the processor 16 and may also store input/output data (e.g., washing progress information of the washing machine 1). The memory 1700 may also store the AI model.
The memory 1700 may include at least one type of storage medium selected from flash memory-type memory, hard disk-type memory, multimedia card micro-type memory, card-type memory (e.g., secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, magnetic disc, and optical disc. In addition, the washing machine 1 may operate a web storage or a cloud server that performs a storage function on the Internet.
A washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a fixed tank, a rotary drum accommodated in the fixed tank and into which laundry is loaded, a drainage mechanism configured to discharge water collected in the fixed tank, a driver configured to rotate the rotary drum, a ball balancer installed in the rotary drum; and a controller. The driver according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a shaft fixed to the rotary drum, a motor with a stator and a rotor, a reducer, and a clutch configured to switch between a first mode in which rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the shaft through the reducer and a second mode in which rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the shaft without passing through the reducer.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be configured to perform a first operation of setting the clutch to the first mode in a first process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, and controlling the motor in the first mode so that a rotation speed of the rotary drum is a first rotation speed higher than a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to an inner wall of the rotary drum.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to, in the first operation, control the motor to have the first rotation speed and detect a vibration period of a vibration system including the rotary drum, the laundry, and the ball balancer.
The controller may be further configured to perform a second operation of controlling the motor so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum is higher than the first rotation speed and lower than a second rotation speed in a high-speed rotation period corresponding to a period excluding a maximum amplitude time point at which an amplitude of the vibration period of the vibration system detected during the first operation is maximum.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to perform the first operation until a second maximum amplitude time point following a first maximum amplitude time point at which the amplitude is maximum during the first operation.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to perform control to end the first operation and initiate the second operation when an end condition of the first operation is satisfied.
In the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the end condition of the first operation may be determined according to the first rotation speed, and an end time of the first operation may increase as the first rotation speed increases.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to fix the rotation speed of the rotary drum to the second rotation speed while performing the second operation.
In the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the second rotation speed may be a maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum and may be a rotation speed lower than a resonant rotation speed of the washing machine.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to estimate a next vibration period from the vibration period of the vibration system detected in the first operation and detect a high-speed rotation period excluding a start time and an end time from the estimated next vibration period.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to perform the second operation during the high-speed rotation period.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to estimate the next vibration period based on a difference between the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the first operation and the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the second operation.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to perform control to end the second operation and initiate a spin-drying process when an end condition of the second operation is satisfied.
In the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the end condition of the second operation may include a condition that a predefined time elapses, and the predefined time may be determined by a load of the rotary drum.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to control the drainage mechanism so that water collected in the fixed tank in the second process is discharged, set the clutch to the second mode, and control the motor so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum is higher than the first rotation speed.
In the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the rotation speed of the rotary drum in the second mode may be a maximum rotation speed of the rotary drum.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be configured to set the clutch to the first mode in a washing process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, and control the motor so that a rotation speed of the rotary drum is a washing rotation speed lower than a rotation speed that enables the laundry to stick to an inner wall of the rotary drum.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be further configured to set the clutch to the second mode in the second process in which the spin-drying is performed, and torque of the motor in the second mode may be lower than torque of the motor in the first mode, and the rotary drum may rotate at a same speed as the motor in the second mode.
The controller of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be configured to set the clutch to the first mode to rotate the rotary drum in a detangling process before a second process in which spin-drying is performed, so that a load caused by the laundry is reduced and then the clutch is switched to the second mode.
The clutch of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a clutch that moves vertically by a magnetic field of a clutch coil or a clutch that moves by an operation of a mechanical actuator.
An embodiment of the disclosure may also be implemented in the form of a recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executed by a computer. A computer-readable recording medium may be any available media that are accessible by the computer and may include any volatile and non-volatile media and any removable and non-removable media. In addition, the computer-readable recording medium may include a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include any volatile, non-volatile, removable, and non-removable media that are implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The communication medium may typically include computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, other data of a modulated data signal, such as carriers, or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium. In addition, the disclosure may be implemented as a computer program or a computer program product, which includes instructions executable by a computer, such as a computer program executed by a computer.
A machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. The non-transitory storage medium is a tangible device and only means not including a signal (e.g., electromagnetic wave). This term does not distinguish between a case where data is semi-permanently stored in a storage medium and a case where data is temporarily stored in a storage medium. For example, the non-transitory storage medium may include a buffer in which data is temporarily stored.
A method according to an embodiment of the disclosure may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as commodities. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or may be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) online either via an application store or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of the online distribution, at least a part of a computer program product (e.g., downloadable app) is stored at least temporarily on a machine-readable storage medium, such as a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or memory of a relay server, or may be temporarily generated.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-176998 | Oct 2023 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. § 111 (a), of international application No. PCT/KR2024/015397, filed on Oct. 11, 2024, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-176998, filed on Oct. 12, 2023, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/KR2024/015397 | Oct 2024 | WO |
| Child | 18934852 | US |
