US 5,305,485 A · Cloth detection system for an automatic washer

Abstract

An automatic washing machine having an automatic liquid level control system including an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving arrangement. The automatic washer includes a vertical axis tub disposed within a cabinet and further having a rotatable perforate wash basket disposed within the tub for receiving a load of clothes and a quantity of washing liquid. The cabinet includes an openable lid disposed above the tub and the wash basket. A transducer is provided, mounted in the cabinet lid, for operating in a first mode as a transmitter for transmitting a sonic pulse into the wash basket. The transducer operates in a second mode as a receiver for generating an electronic signal responsive to receipt of a sonic echo pulse from the surface of the load of clothes disposed within the wash basket. The height of the load of clothes may then be determined in accordance with the elapsed time between transmission of the sonic pulse and reception of the corresponding sonic echo pulse. The wash basket is controlled to rotate while a plurality of sonic pulses are generated and the corresponding sonic echo pulses are received such that a plurality of clothes load heights values are measured and stored. From the plurality of clothes load height values, an average clothes load height and an average clothes height deviation value may be determined. An optimum quantity of washing liquid may then be determined in response to the calculated average clothes load heights and the average clothes height deviation value.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An automatic washing machine having a vertical axis tub disposed within a cabinet and a rotatable perforate wash basket disposed within said tub for receiving washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein, said washing machine having a washing liquid level control system comprising:

a sonic transducer for directing a plurality of sonic pulses into said wash basket having said load of clothes disposed therein and further for receiving a plurality of sonic echo pulses from said load of clothes, said sonic echo pulses being the reflections of said sonic pulses from said load of clothes;
means for rotating said wash basket while transmitting said plurality of sonic pulses and receiving said plurality of sonic echo pulses;
means for determining the height of said load of clothes in said wash basket in response to said plurality of sonic echo pulses;
means for determining an optimum quantity of washing liquid in response to said determined height of said load of clothes;
and
means for supplying said determined optimum quantity of washing liquid to said tub.

3 more elements

An automatic washing machine having a vertical axis tub disposed within a cabinet and further having a rotatable perforate wash basket disposed within said tub for receiving washing liquid and a load of clothes to be washed therein, said automatic washing machine having a washing liquid level control system comprising:

means for directing a sonic pulse into said wash basket having said load of clothes disposed therein prior to supplying washing liquid into said wash basket for washing said clothes load;
means for receiving a sonic echo pulse from said load of clothes, said sonic echo pulse being the reflection of said sonic pulse from said load of clothes;
and
means for controlling the supply of washing liquid to said wash basket in response to receiving said sonic echo pulse.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cloth detection system for an automatic washer

Life of this patent

Cloth detection system for an automatic washer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18