FR2674065A1 - A PROGRAMMER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE COMPRISING AN ELECTROMECHANICAL TIME BASE AND AN ELECTRONIC TIME BASE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Household appliance with a programmer comprising an electromechanical member (11) with a synchronous micromotor (12) driving a continuously rotating cam forming a first time base and driving a block the cam acting on switches or control switches. An electronic module (14) with a microprocessor (15) allows other commands. The module (14) comprises a second time base for controlling the stopping of the micromotor (12) of the electromechanical member (11) for determined times.

Description

ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE WITH PROGRAMMER

COMPRISING A BASIS OF TIME

ELECTROMECHANICS AND A BASE

OF ELECTRONIC TIME

  The invention relates to a household appliance programmer such as a washing machine, a dryer or a dishwasher. To simplify the discussion reference will be made in the following most of the time to a washing machine However the invention applies generally to any type of device

appliances to programmer.

  Nowadays the washing machines operate automatically under the control of a programmer. The latter most of the time comprises an electromechanical part with an electric motor driving a cam system acting on control switches of the various organs of the solenoid valve machine. heating resistor, drain pump To this electromechanical element is associated the most

often an electronic module.

  There are two types of (mixed) programmers with electromechanical element and electronic module In the first type the time base, or clock, of the programmer is determined solely by the rotation of a cam which rotates continuously; in the second type the clock is only

  electronic, that is, incorporated into the electronic module.

  In the first type of programmer called continuously rotating cam the electronic module is generally used to control the speed, direction and rotation times of the drum drive motor, and for safety functions The most efficient programmers make it possible to vary the duration of the various phases of operation of the washing machine according to the type of textile and / or load The electromechanical element is then dimensioned on the program of longer duration that can run the machine and a second motor is coupled to the cams to move them faster in some cases, for example when the load of laundry is low.

  programmer usually has several basic times.

  It is complex and therefore expensive. The second type of programmer, only electronic clock whose electromechanical element which has no time base function is constituted by an electric motor driving cam means whose purpose is to act on switches or switches of power, is also expensive because it is equipped with a high-performance microprocessor and a step control of the electromechanical element In addition, to memorize the state of execution of the program in case of interruption of the power supply in electrical energy, either the electronic module is equipped with EEPROM memories, or means are provided so that the position of the cam block of the electromechanical element gives information on the state of execution of the program by means of coding means between the cams and the electronic module, all the program steps must of course be coded. These means for storing the execution state of the program, whether they are EEPROM or coding further increase the price of the programmer. The invention provides an inexpensive programmer for varying the duration of each phase of

  operation of the apparatus he equips.

  The programmer of the apparatus according to the invention comprises an electromechanical element with electric motor, preferably single, driving a continuously rotating cam and having a time base (also preferably single); it is characterized in that it further comprises an electronic module which has a clock constituting a second time base of the programmer and which is able to control the stopping of the motor of the electromechanical element during

determined time.

  For each programming step of the device, that is to say for each electrical situation of the latter, the time base that controls the program will be either

  the electromechanical element, that of the electronic module.

  In this way, the electromechanical element can be of very simple construction without substantially increasing the cost of the electronic module. In particular, this electromechanical element does not require, unlike programmers in which the time base is only in the electronic module of control means. No step change or systematic coding of all programming steps If the machine is stopped, the program execution status is represented directly by the position of the cam block without the need for it. of

provide for complex decoding.

  In one embodiment, the position of the block of cams is not coded. In this case, it is the proper position of this block of cams of the electromechanical element which represents the state.

execution of the program.

  In another embodiment the position of the block of cams is coded, which directly gives information to the electronic module to restart the execution of the program after restoration of the power supply In this case the coding is simpler than with a program based only time

  because the number of steps can be reduced.

  It is possible to make use of the time base at most on the electromechanical element, or for the majority on the electronic module. This provides a degree of freedom which makes it possible to optimize the cost of implementing the programmer with an electromechanical element. simple and / or

microprocessor also simple.

  Since the motor of the electromechanical element can rotate less often, the service life of

  the latter is increased and noise is reduced.

  The invention makes it possible to reduce the number of steps of prograrrmation which, on the electromechanical element, are necessary to carry out a washing; it is thus possible to increase the number of different cycles that can be controlled by the same programmer. In the preferred embodiment the electromechanical element of the programmer is sized to impose the shorter duration program and / or to achieve the sequence of the minimum number of different "electrical states" that are required to execute a program. fast washing or low-load washing functions are performed, or soaking with a single motor and a single delay of the electromechanical element. For the other programs the increase in duration is determined by the electronic module which controls the stops of the motor of the electromechanical element Thus it is not necessary that this electromechanical element comprises a second fast cam rotation control motor; and it is not necessary either that this electromechanical element

  has several internal timers.

  To simplify the control, it is also preferable for the electronic module to control the direction of rotation of the drive motor of the drum and for the cam (s) of the electromechanical element not to intervene (s) for

this order.

  The single time base imposed by the rotation of a cam is advantageously short, preferably less than 3 minutes. In general, a value of the single time base of the electromechanical element which is smaller than that to intervene more often the clock of the electronic module and / or that the programming will be more complex, that is to say that it allows a greater number of possibilities of cycles of operation With a time base of the electromechanical element In short, the electromechanical element can be simplified as much as possible and the electronic time base can be used for practically every phase of the program of the apparatus. For the simplest programmers it will be preferred that the clock of the electronic module intervenes infrequently, which simplifies coding. Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear with the description of some of its modes of

  embodiment, the latter being carried out with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram of a programmer according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram of a part of the programmer of FIG. 3 is a variant of FIG. 2, FIGS. 2a and 3a show other variants of FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, FIG. 4 is a diagram, and FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 represent members on FIG.

  the control panel of a washing machine.

  The example that will be described in connection with the figures relates to a washing machine programmer. Such an appliance (not shown as a whole) usually comprises a perforated drum containing the laundry and rotated in one direction and in one direction. another thanks to a motor 10 (FIG. 1) The perforated drum is arranged in a

  tank containing water and detergents.

  The operation of the washing machine is entirely automatic, under the control of a programmer. The latter thus controls the various operations of the appliance: opening and closing of a water supply solenoid valve, introduction of the various detergent products, feeding of water heating resistor (s), drum drive motor 10 operating control, pump drain operation and safety checks. The programmer according to the invention comprises an electromechanical member 11 with synchronous electric motor 12 driving a continuous rotation cam which itself drives a block of cams 13 (sometimes called "cam block" 13) acting on switches (not shown) for controlling the various components of the washing machine: solenoid valves, water heating resistor (s), drain pump, motor supply It also comprises an electronic module 14 which, according to one aspect of the invention, controls the engine power

synchronous 12 of the organ 11.

  To avoid any confusion in what follows the electric motor 10 for driving the drum will be called "motor" and the motor 12 for driving the cams 13 will be called "micromotor". The progression, or advance in steps, of the cam block is controlled by the continuously rotating cam. More precisely, a revolution of the continuously rotating cam causes, in the example, a rotation of 6 of the cam block and this rotation of corresponds to a passage of step and thus to a modification of

  the state of a switch or electrical situation.

  The electronic module 14 comprises a microcontroller or microprocessor 15 having a clock which constitutes a second time base of the programmer, the first time base being the rotation of the continuous rotation cam driven by the micromotor 12 Of course the microcontroller or microprocessor 15 can be replaced by any other device

  the same function.

  The microcontroller 15 receives, by coding son

  161, information on certain positions of the cam block 13.

  Thus the microcontroller can continuously receive information on the state of execution of the washing program, which allows, especially after cutting and then restore the power supply of the machine, to restart the program at the location o it stopped at the moment of the cut For the positions for which there is no information provided by the electromechanical element to the microcontroller, the restart of the operation after power failure will be carried out according to the position of

  cams of the electromechanical element.

  The microcontroller 15 controls by one of its outputs 151, and through an interface 17, the direction

rotation of the engine 10.

  FIG. 1 also shows an input 152 of the microcontroller 15 which is connected to a member 18, such as a potentiometer, for adjusting the temperature of the washing water, which is on the control panel of the machine and therefore adjustable by the user In addition an input 153 of the microcontroller 15 receives a signal provided by a probe 19 of

  measuring the temperature of the water in the washing machine tank.

  The signals supplied by the potentiometer 18 and the probe 19 enable the microcontroller to control the supply of the water heating resistor. The microprocessor acts on the power supply of the micromotor 12 driving the cams 13 which open or close a setting switch. powered on

resistance of heating water.

  * An output 154 of the microcontroller 15 is connected to the trigger of a triac 16 (FIGS.

the power supply of the micromotor 12.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the triac 16 is in parallel with the micromotor 12, this set in parallel itself being in series with a current limiting resistor 20. In this case the micromotor 12 stops when the triac

16 is conductive.

  In the example of Figure 3 the triac 161 is in series with the micromotor 121 In this case the micromotor

  121 turns when the triac 161 is conductive.

  In a variant of Figure 2, shown in Figure 2a, there is provided a switch 100 in parallel on the resistor 20, the switch 100 being controlled by the electromechanical member It allows in some cases, when the clock is imposed by the electromechanical element itself,

  switch off the micromotor 12.

  Similarly, and for the same purpose, in the variant of Figure 3 has a switch 101 is in parallel on the triac

16

  The electromechanical member 11 is dimensioned so that, in the absence of power interruption of the micromotor 12 controlled by the module 14, the program executed is the shorter program that runs the machine for other programs, so longer periods, the module 14 intervenes at least once to interrupt the rotation of the micromotor 12; The module 14 thus lengthens the duration of the program execution time. Alternatively, even the shortest program involves one or more stops of the micromotor 12; this variant can be used to

to simplify as much as possible the organ 11.

  In order to fully understand how, in a washing program, the time base of the member 11 and the time base of the module 14 can occur, phases of the present invention are described below.

  washing program that use these two time bases.

  In general, it may be noted that it is preferable for the electronic timebase of the module 14 to intervene for phases of the program extending over a relatively long period, for example of several minutes, during which the device 11 In fact, the less the member 11 intervenes, that is to say the more the micromotor 12 is stopped, the more the realization of the cam assembly 13 is simple. The operating phase of the apparatus, which is generally the longest, is that of the heating of the washing water. The first example which will be described relates to this phase. When the cams 13 control the closing of the switch (not shown) for supplying the water heating resistor, this information is transmitted by the wires 161 to the microcontroller 15 which is programmed to stop the rotation of the micromotor 12 or 121, that is, to make the triac 16 conductive (FIG.

block the triac 16, (Figure 3).

  The micromotor 12 or 121 is again rotated when the temperature TB of the water in the tub of the washing machine as detected by the probe 19 reaches the value TB defined by the following formula TB = Tp -Kt 0 (1 ) In this formula Tp is the temperature programmed by the potentiometer 18, K is the coefficient of rise of the temperature of the detergent bath as a function of time, expressed in degrees per minute, and t O is the base time, expressed in minutes , of the member 11 (a turn of the rotating cam

  This time is, for example, 1.5 minutes.

  Starting from the temperature TB above, at the end of the time t O a cam of the member 11 has carried out a complete revolution and has therefore opened again the switch in series with the heating resistance of the detergent bath and at this moment the

  temperature is exactly the desired Tp temperature.

  It should be noted that during the operation of heating the water, with the micromotor 12 stopped, the machine performs, under the control of the module 14, the repetitive operations that are the inversions of the direction of rotation motor 10; for example this motor runs for 9 seconds in one direction, stops for 6 seconds, then turns in

the other direction for 9 seconds.

  During this heating there is no time base intervention The time base of the module 14 can however be used to carry out heating stages with or without

brewing linen.

  It is known that to improve the performance of detergency, that is to say washing, it is advantageous to carry out temperature steps, that is to say that the temperature of the detergent bath is maintained at a constant temperature, less than the desired temperature, for a predetermined time Thus a bearing between 400 and 50 ° C promotes enzymatic action, and a plateau at 600 C promotes the chemical action on pigment spots In general the duration of these steps are about 10 to 15 minutes so that the total duration of the program is not excessive These bearings (Figure 4) are usually performed with stirring, that is to say that during these operations the drum of the washer laundry turns

  alternately in one direction and the other.

  Bearings can also be carried out without mixing or with reduced mixing. It is then a question of soaking. In this case the duration of the bearing is longer. The soaking is effective.

  for washing particularly dirty linen.

  We will first describe the use of the programmer according to the invention for stirring bearings and then for

soaking.

  For ease of explanation, reference is made to FIG. 4 which is a diagram showing the temperature T of

  water as a function of time t during the heating period.

  Phase I, between instants O and tl, is executed as described above for heating After the passage of a step of rotation member 360 of a cam of block 13 during base time t O module 14 determines the time of the stage II during which a brewing is performed This time is preferably an integer, Q of base time t O

of the organ 11.

  The module 14 stops the micromotor 12 during the time (t 2 t 1) of the plateau minus the base time t 0, in this case (Q 1) t OA following this time (Q 1) t O the micromotor 12 turns again and at the end of a rotation of the cam time base we move to the next step

  that is to say, we start to heat the water of the detergent bath.

  The micromotor 12 stops when the microprocessor receives from the probe 19 the information that the bath temperature is T P1 (the temperature of the first stage) and that, by the wires 161, it receives the information that the As a variant, only the information provided by the wires 16, which triggers the control of the stopping of the micromotor 12 by the microprocessor 15, controls the phases III, IV, and so on.

  diagram of Figure 4 are carried out in the manner already described.

  If the objective temperature Tpy determined by the potentiometer 18, is lower than a programmed plateau temperature, during the last heating phase preceding this temperature, the microprocessor controls the start of the micromotor 12 when the measured temperature TB is lower than X Kt O to T, where t is the integer number of steps (heating) that the cam must perform to reach the

end of the heating phase.

  More precisely, if the number of stages is N, the number of heating phases is therefore N + 1. If we reach the objective temperature Tp, defined by the potentiometer 18, during a heating phase m, m being more small that N + 1 remains, to reach the end of the total phase of heating, to cross N + 2 m heating phases and n + 1 m phases of mixing The time (minimum) to cross each phase being of t (the base time of the body 11) the module 14 will control the new start of the micromotor 12 when it detects the temperature

TT t (n + 2 -m).

  If for a temperature step it is desired not a stirring but a soaking, that is to say a step of greater duration but without stirring, or with little stirring, the microprocessor 15 is programmed so that it stops rotation of the micromotor 12 for a longer time Preferably this time is a multiple of the base time t of the electromechanical member 11 and the time Qt O of the corresponding stirring stage So the time of a soaking step is Q St (, S being an integer In an example: t O = 2 mn, Q = 5 and S = 3, that is to say that a level of

  brewing lasts 10 minutes, while a soaking stage lasts 30 minutes.

  When a soak is selected a corresponding information appears on the output 151 of the microprocessor so as to reduce (or eliminate) the brewing of the laundry. Since the control of the soaking function is carried out simply by lengthening the control time of a stirring bearing, this soaking function does not complicate the electromechanical member 11 since, in the latter, it is the same step.

  which is used to control the bearing.

  The electromechanical member 11 is preferably dimensioned so that with the shortest program there is no need to stop the micromotor 12 except perhaps in the heating phase and / or stirring after the desired temperature has been reached. The shortest program is usually the quick wash program, sometimes called "flash", or the "half-load" program. These functions are usually activated by a selector or control button on the washing machine panel. This selector or button generates a signal on an input of the microprocessor 15 for the micromotor 12

  turns constantly, except when heating the water.

  Such a function of fast washing or reduced load generally requires less water rinsing For this purpose the member 11 being programmed to perform a number (for example four) rinses the selector or button activated control allows, in acting on an associated switch

  with the cams, to avoid the emptying between two successive rinses.

  In addition, the member 11 is such that these two successive rinses, without intermediate emptying, have the same duration as a usual rinse if the motor 12 does not stop. On the other hand, when the fast wash or reduced load function is deactivated, the microprocessor 15 controls the stopping of the micromotor 12 so that each of these two successive rinses, then separated by

  emptying, have the same duration as the other rinses.

  The shorter duration program does not involve stopping the micromotor 12 (except for heating and / or stirring after the desired temperature has been reached) if the base time t O of the member 11 is sufficiently large, for example of the order of 1 minute 30 seconds or 2 minutes In this case if it occurs, while the micromotor rotates, a power cut of the machine the position of the cams to determine the state of executing the program and resuming the program at the point where it stopped when the power is restored If the cut occurs while the micromotor was stopped (the module 14 then controlling the operations of the programmer), the program restarts at the location determined by the cam block and it resumes at its beginning the phase controlled by the module 14 and which had

been partially executed.

  If the basic time t of the member 11 is relatively short, for example of the order of 30 seconds, even the program of shorter duration will involve, for stirring, stops of the micromotor 12 controlled by the organ 14. example for a fast program or reduced load the micromotor 12 is, for a given phase of the program, blocked for a time (f 1) t 0, fto (f integer) being the brewing time corresponding to the fast program, and for a program normal washing this micromotor 12 is stopped for a time (g 1) t O for the same phase of the

  program, gt O (g integer) being greater than ft 0.

  As we have seen above, there is usually provision for a brewing of the laundry after a heating period. This brewing time (after the possible stops) is generally

  the longer the temperature is lower.

  Thus, for the programs with the highest bath temperatures (9 QOC in general) the stirring time after heating is the shortest In this case the member 11 is sized to impose, after heating, a brewing time (the shortest ) corresponding to the heating at the highest temperature For heating at lower temperatures the microprocessor controls the stopping of the micromotor 12 during a

  time longer as this temperature is lower.

  The stopping times of the micromotor 12 are for example in memory of the module 14, in a table giving these durations

  shutdown depending on the heating temperature.

  For the user, the program selection is carried out using rotary members 50 (FIG. 5) and 52 (FIG. 6). The button 50 has a notch 51 which can be positioned either

  on a reference PL or on a reference L program departure.

  The PL position corresponds to a prewash and the position L to a wash without prewash The button 52 has a notch 53 positionable in front of marks C, D, E, F, etc.

  corresponding to the desired temperature.

  We see that unlike the prior art, the program start is the same (PL or L) regardless of the type of laundry and whatever the temperature selected. In the state of the art, the prewash is most often provided only with a cycle at 90 ° C. Even if it is provided with a cycle at lower temperature, the total execution time corresponds to the longest program: 'a

  prewash and cycle time at the highest temperature.

  The invention makes it possible to adapt the execution time of the program to the programmed temperature, that is to say that, in one embodiment, it is envisaged that the prewash can be associated with any cycle; that is, the total time will therefore be the duration of the pre-wash plus that of the programmed cycle. If the user selects a pre-wash, the rotary switch 50 is positioned on this pre-wash mark And the microprocessor is programmed so that the cycle following the prewash corresponds at the temperature displayed by the potentiometer 18

(associated with organ 52).

  In what has been described above in connection with FIG. 5, the member 50 actuated by the user rotates during the execution of the program from the starting position (prewash PL in the example) to the final position F This rotation

  at an angle slightly less than 360 In a variant (FIG. 7), the rotary member 55 actuated by

  the user is turning a lot more

  reduced between the beginning and the end of the program execution.

  For a first program C 1, for example cotton washing, the member 55 rotates from the position C 1 to the position

  Dij this position D 1 corresponding to the end of the program.

  On the other hand, when the switch is initially positioned in the position E 1, it executes another program, for example of synthetic textiles, and turns to the position F 1. One of these positions may correspond to a delayed start. In such an embodiment, it is all the more important that the number of operations to be performed by the continuous rotation cam electromechanical member is small. In other words, the number of programming possibilities is as much greater than the number of steps of the member 11, which are necessary for the realization of a program, is low. Since with the invention this number of programming steps is reduced, the number of independent programs that he is

  possible to implement on the electromechanical element.

  Such an organization of the control is called an organization in "chained programs". One turn of the member 55 corresponds to the total number of steps that the cam block can execute. Each program execution corresponds to a rotation of a given angle of As the invention shows that the number of program steps of the cam unit which are implemented is reduced, it is understood why it is then possible to provide a greater number of programs which are chained than with the previous embodiments. known.

Claims (18)

  A domestic appliance with a programmer comprising, on the one hand, an electromechanical member (11) with a micromotor (12), preferably synchronous, driving a cam (13) with continuous rotation forming a first time base and driving a cam block acting on switches or control switches of the first device (s) of the apparatus, and, secondly, an electronic module (14) for controlling second device (s) (10) of this apparatus, characterized in that the module (14) comprises a second time base for controlling the stopping of the micromotor (12) of the organ   (11) for certain times.   2 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electromechanical member (11) is sized to control the machine program of shorter duration when the electronic module (14) does not stop the micromotor (12), longer programs being run with   stops, controlled by the module (14), the micromotor (12).   3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electromechanical member (11) is dimensioned for the sequence of the minimum number of electrical situations   different to run a program.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the elementary time of the time base of the module (14) is equal to the minimum elementary time (t 0) between two operations controlled by the organ electromechanical (11).   Apparatus according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that, to lengthen by a predetermined time the duration of a program phase occurring between two commutations controlled by a switch of the electromechanical member (11), the stopping time of the micromotor (12), controlled by the electronic module, is equal to this determined time minus the elementary time (to) of this organ (11).   Apparatus according to any of the claims   preceding, characterized in that it comprises a tank in which is heated a liquid, with a probe (19) for measuring the temperature of this liquid and a member (18) for adjusting the set temperature, and means for that the module (14) interrupts the operation of the micromotor (12) during the heating period until a temperature equal to the set temperature (Tp) minus the temperature rise (Kt 0) has been reached corresponding to time   passage of step of the electromechanical member (11).   Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the electronic module (14) is provided for controlling the stopping of the rotation of the micromotor (12) for a period of time.   predetermined between two heating periods.   Apparatus according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that a triac (16) controls the rotation of the micromotor (12).   Apparatus according to any one of the claims   previous, this apparatus being a drum machine driven by an electric motor (10), characterized in that the electronic module (14) controls the operation of this motor (10) Drum drive.   Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at each operating phase of this apparatus, the module (14) imposes a stopping time of the micromotor (12) of the electromechanical member (11).   Apparatus of the washing machine type according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises   a prewash program that can be associated with several washing temperatures, the total running time of the program varying with the temperature of the program.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the elementary time of   the electromechanical member is at most 3 minutes.   13 Apparatus of the washing machine type according to any one   of the preceding claims, comprising a switch   rotary program (50) associated with the electromechanical member (11), characterized in that the programmer is arranged so that the starting position of the program is   independent of the water heating temperature.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   previous, characterized in that the electronic module (14) comprises a microprocessor or microcontroller (15) management stops of the micromotor (12).   Apparatus according to any one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the micromotor (12) of   the electromechanical member (11) is unique.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the cam means of the electromechanical member (11) are arranged so that the time   elemental element of this organ is unique.   17 Apparatus of the washing machine type according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (14) imposes a stopping time of the micromotor (12) of the electromechanical member (11) during   temperature or soaking stages.   Washing-machine type apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a quick-running program or reduced load for which, during an operating phase, the micromotor of the electromechanical member is not stopped, the same phase of operation for a different program involving a stop of the micromotor controlled by the module (14).   Washing machine apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that different types of washing are controlled by separate steps of the electromechanical component.