Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
) e~ 6/
--2--
This invention relates to a method o~ and machine
for washing clothes or other textile articles.
Conventional washing machines comprise a body
including a chamber containing a perforated drum mounted
for rotation about a horizontal axis and having an open-
ing at one end through which the articles can be loaded
into the drum, the latter being driven by an electric
motor usually in a cycle which involves rotation in one
rotational sense and then rotation in the other rota-
tional sense at a speed in which the articles undergo
tumbling action in a washing liquid introduced into the
chamber to a level such that the articles in the drum are
immersed in the liquid. Such washing action is conti~ued
for a relatively prolonged period and thereafter the
washing liquid (which may contain a detergent) is pumped
out of` the machine and the articles are subjected to at
least one rinsing in f`resh water fed into the washing
chamber after which it is pumped out, the articles being
then subjected to centrifugal extraction by spinning the
drum. Usually the rinsing and centri~ugal extraction
operations are repeated twice more.
Whilst efficient washing of the articles can be
achieved by this conventional method, it does consume a
considerable amount of energy both by reason of the fact
that the washing action is continued for an appreciable
period, and in this actlon the load of articles is raised
from the lowest point of` the drum to near its highest
point repeatedly, and by reason of the fact that the drum
undergoes reversals of rotation so that it has ko be
repeatedly accelerated from rest to the "tumbling" speed.
-3--
The ability of automatic washing ma¢hines to clean
articles of clothing and other textile articles is con-
siderable. However the energy expended by such machines
can make a washing process quite expensive. It would be
desirable there~ore to provide in an automatic washing
machine programme some washing event that enables the
same cleanliness to result in the articles at the end o~
a washing programme with a reduced expenditure of energy.
It is known to soak articles to be washed for a long
period, for example overnight, in cold water in washing
liquid. However the dirt from the articles tends to form
a scum on the surface of the ~ashing liquid and then when
the washing liquid is subsequently pumped out of the
machine before the articles are removed therefrom, the
scum settles on the surface of the articles and causes
streaks or tide marks, which in a subsequent washing
operation are as difficult, if not more so, to remove
from the articles than the original dirt.
The above described soaking technique has therefore
not really provided a satisfactory answer to providing a
more economical method of washing kextile articles and no
longer finds the popularity with which it was first
received.
Because of the rather unsatisfactory result of soak-
ing articles as afore described, the tendency has been to
provide shorter washing programmes which, since they are
carried out for a briefer length of time, use consider-
ably less energy and for some articles are quite satis-
factory. However other articles made from different
material, for example, or articles which by their nature
of use are more soiled, may not reach a sufficient degree
of cleanliness and require further washing.
V 3 ~
~4-
The object of the present invent,ion is to provide a
method of washing by means of which energy saving can be
achieved without detriment to washirg performance, that
has the ability to extract dirt from the articles under-
going washing and thereafter remove it from the vicinity
of the articles.
According to the present invention the method of
washing textile articles comprises:
a. substantially immersing the articles in a
washing liquid having a relatively low tempera-
ture as herein defined,
b. subjecting the washing liquid to agitation for a
relatively brief period in each o~ a succession
of longer basic periods over such time as is
necessary to achieve removal of dirt from the
articles into the washing liquid,
c. removing the articles and washing liquid rela-
tively from the immersed relation.
The term l'wrashing liquidl' includes water, water to
which a detergent has been added, and water to which a
biological agent has been added.
The number of considerably longer basic periods will
be such that a sufficient time is allowed to remove dirt
from the articles into the washing liquid.
The method preferably includes heating the washing
liquid to a relatively low temperature. By "relatively
low'l is meant a temperature above that at which unheated
water available from normal domestic water systems is
supplied and which generally is between 4C and 15C
depending upon climatic conditions, but not higher than
is no more than pleasantly warm to the hand. Typically a
llrelatively low" tempera-ture would be 30C but it is
contemplated that more generally it would be in the range
of 20C to l~oc.
B~3~-
~,
Further, if desired, khe steps of the method above
defined may be preceded by subjecting the liquid to
agitation for a longer time (possibly the whole of khe
basic period) during the first basic period and there-
after reverting to agitation ~or said brie~ period within
each subsequent basic period.
From a further aspect the invention resides in the
provision of a machine for washing textile articles
comprising:-
a. a body defining a washing chamber for receptionof the articles to be washed9b. means for sup~lying washing liquid to said
chamber,
c. means for agitating said liquid in said chamber,
d. control means for rendering the agitating means
operative for a brief period in each of a
succession of longer basic periods,
e. means for discharging the wash;ng liquid from
said charnber,
f. means for heating the washing liquid to said
relatively low temperature as hereln defined.
Preferably 'the machine will also include means for
heating the washing liquid, and means for controlling the
temperature to which it is heated to a relatively low
value as herein defined.
The ratio of the brief periods of agitation to the
basic periods, and the values of each of these periods
may be as already referred to in defining the method of
the invention.
The invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings wherein:-
FIGURE I is a diagrammatic view in side elevationand in vertical cross-section of one embodiment of wash-
ing machine in accordance with the invention for perform-
ing the method thereof;
60~
~o~
FIGURE 2 illustrates part of a washing machine
control circuit for ef~ecting the method o~ washing in
accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a schematic circuit diagram o~ the
control circuit o~ such washing machine.
Referring firstly to Figure 1, the washing machine
illustrated comprises a body which includes a stationary
washing chamber 1 which may be of generally cylindrical
form containing a washing drum 2 rotatable about a hori-
~ontal axis, the washing chamber being supported in any
suitable manner, for example by struts 3 from a base 3a.
A casing 4 encloses the washing chamber and drive
means for the drum which comprises a motor 12c which
drives the drum spindle 2a through the intermediary of a
belt and pulley drive 9. The spindle 2a and the drum is
supported by a suitable bearing 8 carried by the washing
chamber .
The washing chamber has a plurality o~ inlets, for
example hot water inlet controlled by a solenoid valve
12e, a cold water inlet controlled by a solenoid valve
12~ and a drain outlet preferably oommunioating with a
well or sump in the washing ohamber and oontrolled by an
eleotrically driven pump 12b.
The washing ohamber 1 is sealed with respeot to the
oasing by a flexible gasket or sealing ring 6 and the
entrance to the washing chamber 1 and drum 2 is con-
trolled by a door 5 which is hingedly connected to the
casing 4 about a vertical axis 7 and is movable upon
release of a solenoid controlled door lock 12a between
the closed position shown and an open position. Assoc-
iated with the door is a sealing ring or gasket 5
operative between the door and the casing.
0 ~ ~
A further functional unit seen in Figure 1 i~ a
heater 12d for heating the liquid in the washing chamber.
Other electrically energised functional units are
omitted from ~igure 1 merely for the sake of simplicity
and may include a solenoid operated conditioner valve
controlling the flow of conditioning liquid through a
duct into the washing chamber.
Referring now to Figure 2, a simple control mechan-
ism for bringing the invention into effect i5 illus-
trated.
A conventional programme control mechanism shown by
arrow 20 has an electric motor 21 which drives through
gearbox 22 a rotary cam-operated switch 23. The position
from which the rotary switch 23 commences is adjustable
by a manually controlled member 24 which is normally
situated externally of the casing 25 of the washing
machine normally on the front panel thereof. The opera-
tion of such switches is well known and in use, depending
on the wash programme required, the control member 24 is
rotated from an off position to a commence position7 a
start switch 26 is operated, the motor 21 will rotate
causing rotation of rotary switch 23.
The rotary switch 23 comprises many different pairs
of contacts which are operated sequentially to cause the
normal functions of a washing machine to operate, such as
valves to allow the ingress or prevent ingress of water
into the washing machine, a pump to pu~p out the water
from the washing machine and heating means to heat the
water to the required temperature etc.
The rotary switch 23 is provided with a pair of
contacts 27 connected through switch 28 to a second
programmer generally indicated at 29 and which comprises
motor/gearbox 30, rotary timer switch 31 and manually
operable member 32.
.
---`` 3 ~680~6
If it is required in a washing programme to employ
the method of washing of the present invention, the
switch 28 is closed and at a predetermined time in a
washing programme, preferably near the beginning (see
programmes on pages 16 and 17), the rotary switch 23
closes contacts 27 which has the effect, providing the
switch 28 has been closed, of commencing operation of
motor 30 which drives rotary timer switch 31.
The rotary timer switch 31 has a plurality of
contacts, one pair o~ which 33 are normally closed but,
on energisation of motor 30 they will open to prevent
further rotation of the conventional programmer 20.
A second pair of contacts 34 will open, which
cGntacts 34 are connected to the water inlet valve to
allow the container to fill with water and contacts 35
will also close. The contacts 35 connect the motor 12c
driving the drum 2 through an electrical control circuit
36 to a source of supply connected to terminals 38 and
39.
The electronic circuit 36 is adapted to provide
energy for a short duration at predetermined intervals o~
time such that the ~otor 12c will be energised for a
period of 30 seconds for example once i~ each basic
period o~ 10 minutes for example. Such electronic
circuits are well known and may comprise semi-conductor
switches operated by constant time delay means provided
by the rate of charging of a capacitor through resistive
means.
The electronic circuit 36 may also be adapted during
its period of energisation to cause the motor 12c to
rotate the drum 2, first in one direction and then in an
opposite direction of rotation. Such action can be
achieved by using a D.C. electric motor to drive the drum
1 16~0~6
, ~
2 and causing a reversal of polarity of energisation by
the conkrol oircuit 36 to cause reversed rotation.
The clothing or other textile articles present in
the drum 2 will thus be washed in accordance with the
method of the present invention for a period of time
which may be determined by the manually operable member
32.
The rotary timer switch 31 may, for example, be
adapted to complete one revolution in 12 hours but its
starting point may be predetermined by rotating the
manually operable member 32 to any desired position so
that the method of washing of the present invention may
be carried out for any time, say from a quarter of an
hour to 12 hours.
On completion of rotation of the timer, the contacts
33 will again close which will once again connect power
to the motor 21, thus recommencing operation of the
programmer 20 to allow the remainder of the washing
programme to continue.
During the method of washing of the present inven~
tion controlled by programmer 29, the water will not be
heated in the washing machine itself. In the case where
a hot water supply and a cold water supply both supplies
may have been open to fill khe tub with water, that is at
a relakively low temperature, for example 30C, or alter-
natively only the valve allowing cold water to enter may
have been opened, in which case the temperature of the
water will be lower.
In the case of an automatic machine having a cold
fill only9 when time is limited and it is desired to
achieve the same results in a short time by using the
method of washing of the present invention as would be
J ~0~6
achieved by carrying out the method of washing of the
present invention for a considerably longer time in cold
water, the water may be heated to said predetermined low
temperature by heater 12d.
A switch 41 is provided on the facia of the washing
machine which, when in its "switched on" position will
ensure that the heater 12d is energised through thermo-
stat 42 designed to switch on and off at the predeter-
mined desired low temperature so that the water will be
heated by heater 40 up to the desired low temperature and
when it achieves that temperature thermostat 42 will open
to terminate the heating supply. If the temperature
falls below the predetermined low temperature thermostat
42 will once again switch on to re-energise the heater
12d to return the water to said predetermined low
temperature.
Figure 2 shows only one pair of contacts 34
connected to water valve 44 for allowing the ingress of
water into the tub. However it will be appreciated that
in a washing machine which is adapted to be supplied with
both hot and cold water from a supply, there may be two
such pairs of contacts 34 and two water valves 44, one
for the hot water and one for the cold water,
The point of time at whioh the method of washing of
the present invention is carried out during a conven-
tional washing cycle will preferably be near the beginn-
ing of that cycle. However the remainder of the washing
cycle will, in view of the substantial degree of cleaning
carried out by the method of washing o~ the present
invention, be considerably shorter than would normally
have been the case. Thus, if the method of washing of
the present invention is selected by switching on switch
28, it will also have the effect of curtailing some of
the stages, in particular the washing stages of the sub-
sequent part of the programme.
J ~03~
r /~
The above described arrangement is only one method
o~ providing control means for permitting of operation of
the method of washing of the present inven~ion and an
alternative method of control can incorporate a micro-
processor in which the switching of the various
~unctional items of the machine is carried out electron-
ically. Such a method of operation will now be described
with reference to Figure 3.
Referring now to Figure 3, the electrically
energised functional units are identified at 12a to 12~.
The supply of current to these units from a 240 volt
alternating current mains is connected to the input
terminals t1, t2 of a main manually operable isolator
switch S1, the output terminals t3, t4 of which are
connected to the primary winding of power supply trans-
former T1 and also to power supply rails 15 and 16, in
the latter case through the intermediary of a switch S2
operated by door release solenoid 12a.
The supply o~ current to the functional units 12a to
12~ from the conductors 15 and 16 is oontrolled by
respective gate controlled semi-oonductor devices 13a to
13~ respectively in accordance with the output si~nals
developed at the outlets of control circuits incorp-
orating a micro processor and designated 10a to 10g
respectively. In the case of functional units 13b to 13
these outputs are fed through the intermediary of an
output driver 17. Associated with the functional devices
are a number of supplementary devices which control or
contribute to the function performed by the functional
devices, these being high, medium and low level switches
S3y S4 7 S5 serving respectively to control current to the
hot water solenoid valve 12e, cold water solenoid valve
12f and heater 12d and which provide inputs to the micro
processor at terminals 1Ok, 101, 1Om. to control the
liquid levels in the drum. A further supplementary
/,2 ~
device is a tacho generator 12C1 operati~ely coupled
mechanically as indicated by the broken line 12C2 to
drive motor 12c and providing an input to the micro
processor at terminal 1On~
A further supplementary device is a thermistor Th1
which senses the temperature of the washing liquid in the
washing chamber and provides an input to the micro
processor at terminal 10p.
The direction of energisation of the field winding F
of the drive motor 1~c is controlled by a further supple-
mentary device, namely a relay RV having reversing con-
tacts S6 and powered from secondary winding T1c, trans-
former T1 (44 volts). The relay RV is operated under the
control of the output at micro processor terminal 10i.
The magnitude of the current in the motor is controlled
by the output at terminal 10c of the micro processor and
current supply to the motor is isolated by a master relay
MR having switch contacts S7.
For bringing the washing machine into operation in
accordance with the required programme, a series of
switches, preferably of the press button type, S8a to S8i
provide inputs at terminals 11a to 11i respectively for
initiating the following programmes or operations,
namely cancel, open door, rinse hold, test, high level,
bio, prewash, start, and programme, the significance of
which is explained hereinafter.
Indicator means 14 are provided comprising a plural-
ity of electrically energisable indicator elements, for
example light emitting diodes 14a - 14~ which constitute
a 7 segment numerical indicator and elements 14h - 14m
which ccnsist of single light emitting diodes, both sets
of light emitting diodes being controlled by outputs at
terminals 13a - 13g of the micro processor through the
V ~ 6
intermediary of a display power driver. The two sets o~
display elements, namely 14a - 14g and 1~lh - 14m are each
supplied respectively by alternate half qycles of the
A.C. electricity supply from transformer secondary T1b
via diodes 19a and 19b.
The programming provided by the micro processor is
such that certain of the display elements provide differ-
ent classes of information at stages of operation of the
machine. Thus before and during programme selection the
single L.E.D.'s 14a - 1~m indicate options for selection
whilst the LED's providing the seven segment numerical
indicator will indicate the identification number of the
wash programme. After start the single L.E.D.'s 14a -
14_ indicate progress of the selected wash programme as
described later. If a fault develops, ~he seven segment
numerical indicator display is then used to indicate this
fact by flashing alternatively 'F' and a code number
signifying the nature of the fault.
Referring now to the washing programmes which can be
provided under the control of the micro processor, the
latter may furnish outputs producing many di~erent
programmes, one of which will now be described in detail.
The method of washing of the presenk invention may
be incorporated in a complete washing programme and is
hereinafter referred to by the designation "Soak".
1. Fill cold for 10 seconds no action.
Fill hot and cold to high level with action.
Heat to 30C with action.
Wash for 10 minutes.
SOAK - one tumble action every 10 minutes.
This sequence will continue until 'START' is
pressed.
Pump spin at 95 r.p.m. for 1 minute 30 seconds.
.,
6~03~
,~,
2. Fill cold to low level no action.
Fill cold to high level with actlon.
Rinse for 1~ minutes.
Pump spin at 95 r~p.m. for 1 minute 30 seconds.
Pump spin at 460 r.p.m. for 10 seconds.
Pump out with cold valve open for 15 seconds.
3. Fill cold to low level no aotion.
Fill cold to high level with action.
Rinse for 1~ minutes.
Pump spin~at 95 r.p.mO for 1 minute 30 seconds.
Pump spin at 460 r.p.m. ~or 10 seconds.
Pump out with cold valve open for 15 seconds.
4. Fill cold to low level no action.
Fill cold plus fabric conditioner to high level
with action.
Rinse for 1~ minutes.
Pause until start is operated if rinse hold is
selected.
Pump spin at 95 r.p.m. for 1 minute 30 seconds.
Pump spin at 460 r.p.m. for 2 minutes.
It will be noted that although the initial wash
sequence set forth in ~ub-paragraph 1 does include a wash
action fo~ 10 minutes, it iB thereafter followed by a
sequence which involves a tumble action (produclng agita-
tion of the liquid) every 10 minutes and typically this
agitation may be effected over a relatively brief period
of 3Q seconds in each of a series of longer basic periods
of 10 minutes. This sequence continues until the start
control is pressed to bring into operation pump out of
the liquid followed by the rinse sequences set forth in
sub-paragraphs 2 to 4.
The sequence of paragraph 1 starting with the first
tumble action producing agitation of the washing liquid
..
) 3
/~
would be continued ~or at least 1 hour and preferably
longer, for example 3 to 4 hours~
It would be possible ko set a period automatically
for continuance of the tumble sequence of the duration 1,
2 or more hours so that it is not necessary for the
operator manually to press the start control and the
machine would then continue with the sequences set forth
in sub-paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 automatically.
The principal difference between the 'soak' tech-
nique of the present intention and conventional washes is
that 9931~91~ IL~L~:C5LD~ is achieved by long soak at
relatively low temperature with minimum agitation
compared with a short wash at high temperature with
vigorous agitation. The economy is achieved by not
heating water to a high temperature, whilst the effic-
iency of the wash is ~aintained by the minimum wash
action to prevent 'tide-marks' and redisposition of dirt.
This can be achieved by electronic control of the
functional units of the machine without di~ficulties
which would be encountered by use of a mechanical timer
due to the long operational period which may be required
e.g. starting the machine at say 2~00 hours and terminat-
ing the soak programme at say 0800 hours the ne~t day.
The requisite programme to oarry out the ~oak programme
hereinbefore re~erred to, followed, if required, by a
main washing programme is provided by a micropressor as
more fully disclosed in our co-pending application
entitled "Improvements relating to control circuits in or
for washing and the like machines or other apparatus".
