# US 7,610,644 B2 · Method and apparatus for washing and/or spin-drying laundry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,644 B2 - Document ID: US7610644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/469,966 - Filed: 2006-09-05 - Published: 2007-03-29 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-06 - Assignees: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH - Inventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt; Engelbert Heinz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610644B2 ## CPC - D06F 34/18: Condition of the laundry, e.g. nature or weight - D06F 33/48: Preventing or reducing imbalance or noise - D06F 95/00: Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries (D06F31/00 takes precedence) - D06F 2103/04: Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight - D06F 2103/08: Humidity - D06F 2103/18: Washing liquid level - D06F 2103/26: Imbalance; Noise level - D06F 2105/02: Water supply - D06F 2105/48: Drum speed - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract The invention makes provision for the weight of the contents of the drum to be continuously determined. As a result, the weight of the dry laundry in the drum and the weight of the liquid required for washing can be determined. The weight determination also makes it possible to determine the residual moisture content of the laundry, identify an unbalance and/or assist batch division. The spin dryer (10) or laundry centrifuge preferably rests on its feet (19) by means of weight sensors, that is to say is weighed. In this way, the weight of the contents of the drum as well as dynamic forces which are produced when the loaded drum is driven in rotation can be established in a simple and reliable manner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for washing and/or spin-drying laundry, with the laundry being washed and then spun-dry or only being spun-dry in a drum (12) which is driven in rotation, wherein the weight of at least of the contents of the drum (12) are determined, the weight of the laundry, together with remaining liquor which is still bound in the laundry, is determined before and during unloading of the drum (12), and the weight of the laundry still remaining in the drum (12) together with the rest of the bound liquor, which weight is determined during unloading of the drum (12), is used to form partial batches with a specific amount of laundry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight of at least of the laundry in the drum (12) is determined by weighing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weight of the liquid in the drum (12) is determined by weighing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight is determined two or more times. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the weight is determined two or more times. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight is determined two or more times. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least almost the entire spin dryer (10) for washing and spin-drying the laundry or at least almost the entire laundry centrifuge for spin-drying the laundry is weighed together with the laundry and the liquid contained in the drum (12). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein only the weight of the laundry is determined during loading of the drum (12). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein loading of the drum (12) with the intended amount of laundry is checked by determining the weight of the laundry which is contained in the drum (12) at that moment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the required amount of liquid is established by measuring the weight of the liquid and the laundry in the drum (12). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein continuous weight measurements establish when a sufficient amount of liquid is present in the drum (12) in relation to the weight of the dry laundry in the drum (12). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the residual moisture contained in the laundry is established during spin-drying of the laundry by continuously determining the weight of the laundry and the liquid which is still bound therein. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dynamic forces caused by changes in weight over time are determined by continuous weight measurements over at least one specific time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein an unbalance of the loaded drum (12) when it is driven in rotation is determined by determining dynamic forces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rotational drive speed of the drum (12) is influenced on the basis of the determined unbalance of the loaded drum (12). ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein driving is interrupted on the basis of an unbalance of the loaded drum (12), which unbalance is determined when said loaded drum is initially driven in rotation, when the determined unbalance of the loaded drum (12) reaches a prespecified limit value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partial batches are formed by the unloading process being interrupted for a specific period of time after a specific amount of laundry containing the rest of the bound liquor is unloaded. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for spin-drying laundry in a spin dryer (10) or laundry centrifuge, having a drum (12) which is driven in rotation and is mounted on a basic frame (18) which stands on the floor, wherein at least one weight sensor (20) is associated with the basic frame (18), wherein the laundry is washed and then spun-dry or only spun-dry in the drum (12) which is driven in rotation, the weight of at least of the contents of the drum (12) are determined using the at least one weight sensor (20, the weight of the laundry, together with remaining liquor which is still bound in the laundry, is determined using the at least one sensor (20) before and during unloading of the drum (12), and the weight of the laundry still remaining in the drum (12) together with the rest of the bound liquor, which weight is determined using the at least one sensor (20) during unloading of the drum (12), is used to form partial batches with a specific amount of laundry. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one weight sensor (20)is arranged in the vicinity of a foot (19) which is used to support the basic frame (18) on the floor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the basic frame (18) comprising the drum (12) is supported on the at least one weight sensor (20). ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one weight sensor (20) is arranged in the basic frame (18) in such a way that the weight sensor (20) which bears the basic frame (18) comprising the drum (12) is supported on the respective foot (19). ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein each foot (19) of the basic frame (18) has an associated weight sensor (20). ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the basic frame (18) comprising the drum (12)is supported on the at least one weight sensor (20). ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one weight sensor (20) operates in a capacitive, inductive or piezoelectric manner, or in accordance with the strain gauge principle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one weight sensor (20) is in the form of a load cell, a force pickup cell or the like. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the partial batches are formed by the unloading process being interrupted for a specific period of time after a specific amount of laundry containing the rest of the bound liquor is unloaded.