# US 10,480,114 B2 · Drum washing machine

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- Number: US 10,480,114 B2
- Document ID: US10480114B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/557,127
- Filed: 2016-07-07
- Published: 2018-02-15
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-09
- Assignees: Haier Asia Co., Ltd.; Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Haier Asia Co., Ltd.; Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Shigeharu Nakamoto; Hiromi Hirota; Harumi Takeuchi; Takahiro Tsuji; Satoshi Hirose; Masanori Yoneda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480114B2

## CPC

- D06F 37/304: {Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors}
- D06F 23/02: and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
- D06F 23/06: and rotating or oscillating about an inclined axis
- D06F 37/06: Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
- D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)}
- D06F 33/46: Control of the energy or water consumption
- D06F 34/24: Liquid temperature
- D06F 37/36: for rotating the receptacle at more than one speed {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)}
- D06F 39/04: Heating arrangements
- D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F 2103/16: Washing liquid temperature
- D06F 2105/28: Electric heating
- D06F 2105/54: Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
- Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A drum washing machine, including: a driving part, capable of operating in a uniaxial driving form and a biaxial driving form; a heater configured to heat water stored in the outer drum for washing; and a control part which at least performs washing operation of a first washing mode and a second washing mode. In a washing process of the first washing mode, the control part enables the driving part to operate in the uniaxial driving form and also enables the heater to operate. Further, in a washing process of the second washing mode, the control part enables the driving part to operate in the biaxial driving form and also enables the heater to operate in such a manner that heat applied to the water is reduced compared with the first washing mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A drum washing machine, comprising:
an outer drum, configured in a shell;
a drum, configured in the outer drum and operative to rotate by using a horizontal axis or an inclination axis inclining relative to a horizontal direction as a center;
a rotating body, configured in the drum and provided with a protruding part in contact with washings on a surface of the rotating body;
a driving part, operative to operate in a first driving form and a second driving form, wherein the first driving form is a driving form in which the drum and the rotating body are operative to integrally rotate at a same rotating speed or the drum is operative to rotate and the rotating body is operative to be in a free rotation state, and the second driving form is a driving form in which the drum and the rotating body are operative to rotate at different rotating speeds;
a heater, configured to heat water stored in the outer drum for washing; and
a control part, which is configured to at least performs washing operation of a first washing mode and a second washing mode, wherein
the control part is configured to:
control the driving part to operate in the first driving form and control the heater to operate, in a washing process of the first washing mode; and
control the driving part to operate in the second driving form, and control the heater to operate in such a manner that heat applied to the water is reduced compared with the first washing mode or not control the heater to operate, in a washing process of the second washing mode;
wherein the drum washing machine further comprises a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the water stored in the outer drum and heated by the heater.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The drum washing machine according to claim 1,
wherein the control part is configured to:
control the heater to operate in such a manner that a detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches a first target temperature, in the washing process of the first washing mode; and
control the heater to operate in such a manner that a detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches a second target temperature lower than the first target temperature, in the washing process of the second washing mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The drum washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a dirt sensor, configured to detect a dirt degree of washings;
wherein, in the washing process of the second washing mode, the control part is configured to control the heater to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is greater than a specified threshold, and control the heater not to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is less than the threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The drum washing machine according to claim 1,
wherein the control part is configured to:
control the heater to operate in such a manner that a detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches a target temperature, and control the heater in such a manner that a detection temperature of the temperature sensor keeps the target temperature after reaching the target temperature, in the washing process of the first washing mode; and
control the heater to operate in such a manner that a detection temperature of the temperature sensor reaches the target temperature, and stop the heater after reaching the target temperature, in the washing process of the second washing mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The drum washing machine according to claim 4, further comprising a dirt sensor, configured to detect a dirt degree of washings;
wherein, in the washing process of the second washing mode, the control part is configured to control the heater to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is greater than a specified threshold, and control the heater not to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is less than the threshold.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The drum washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a dirt sensor, configured to detect a dirt degree of washings;
wherein, in the washing process of the second washing mode, the control part is configured to control the heater to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is greater than a specified threshold, and control the heater not to operate under a condition that the dirt degree detected by the dirt sensor is less than the threshold.