Washing machine
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorsKazutoshi Tani, Kaichi Hatsukawa, Satoko Hasegawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A washing machine has an entanglement detector. The detector detects forward load torque while a pulsator (water flow producing means) is being turned in a forward direction during one of the washing and rinsing operations as well as reverse load torque while the pulsator is being turned in a reverse direction. The detector calculates a difference between the forward load torque and the reverse load torque and determines that the washing are entangling with one another if the difference is greater than a reference value. The washing machine also has a disentangle unit for disentangling the washing if the entanglement detector determines that the washing are entangling.
Claims14
A washing machine comprising:
- entanglement detection means for detecting forward load torque while water flow producing means is being drived in a forward direction during one of washing and rinsing operations as well as reverse load torque while the water flow producing means is being turned in a reverse direction, calculating a difference between the forward load torque and the reverse load torque, and determining that the washing are entangling with one another if the difference is greater than a reference value;
- and
- disentangle means for disentangling the washing if said entanglement detection means determines that the washing are entangling.
A washing machine comprising:
- a washing tub for holding washing water;
- a spin basket disposed inside said washing tub;
- means for producing a water flow in said spin basket;
- a motor for driving at least said water flow producing means;
- detection means for detecting maximum load torque (Tmax(CW)) of said motor while said motor is driving said water flow producing means in a forward direction to wash or rinse washing as well as maximum load torque (Tmax(CCW)) of said motor while said motor is turning said water flow producing means in a reverse direction;
- calculation means for calculating a difference (.DELTA.Tmax) between the maximum load torque (Tmax(CW)) and the maximum load torque (Tmax(CCW));
- entanglement detection means for determining that the washing are entangling with one another if the difference (.DELTA.Tmax) is greater than a reference value;
- and
- disentangle means for disentangling the washing after the entanglement detection means determines that there is entanglement.
A washing machine comprising:
- a washing tub for holding washing water;
- a spin basket disposed inside said washing tub;
- means for producing a water flow in said spin basket;
- a motor for driving at least said water flow producing means;
- load torque detection means for detecting load torque of said motor when said motor is driving said water flow producing means at a fixed speed during washing or rinsing;
- means for detecting a peak-to-peak value (.DELTA.Tp-p) of the temporally changing torque of said motor detected by said load torque detection means for a period through which said motor turns said water flow producing means in one of the forward and reverse directions;
- entanglement detection means for detecting entanglement of washing according to the peak-to-peak value (.DELTA.Tp-p);
- and
- disentangle means for disentangling the washing after said entanglement detection means finds entanglement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.