Method for the control of a spinning cycle of a washing machine and a washing machine suitable for performing said method

A method for controlling a spinning cycle of a washing machine with a detergent solution tub spring-mounted in a housing in which a drum is supported so that it can rotate around an essentially horizontal axis, with a variable speed-regulated drive which drives the drum, with a device for detecting a movement of the detergent solution tub which is caused by items of laundry unevenly distributed in the drum, with a program controller, which controls the spinning cycle, the method comprising:

• accelerating the drum up to a first speed at which the laundry items essentially lie firmly against the wall of the drum;
• detecting a movement of the detergent solution tub in at least one direction for at least one predetermined period during the rotation of the drum at a speed that is equal to or greater than the first speed;
• determining an amplitude of the movement for the recorded direction;
• determining further movement amplitudes for known or detected speeds during the predetermined period;
• determining a change in the movement amplitude over the speed;
• and
• controlling the spinning cycle as a function of the change of the movement amplitude.

A washing machine comprising:

• a spring-mounted detergent solution tub in a housing in which a drum essentially able to be rotated around a horizontal axis is supported;
• a variable speed-controlled drive which drives the drum;
• a device for detecting a movement of the detergent solution tub caused by items of laundry distributed unevenly in the drum, with the device for detecting the detergent solution tub movement comprising at least one sensor, especially a position, movement or acceleration sensor, which can detect the change in position of the detergent solution tub in one and/or more directions;
• a program controller which controls the spinning cycle in respect of the drum speed and its cycle over time;
• a device for determining the change in a movement amplitude of the detergent solution tub over the speed connected to the program controller;
• and
• a device for control of the further spinning cycle as a function of the change in the movement amplitude.