GB2191615A - Calculator for use with laundry washing/drying machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic calculator comprises a microprocessor with a memory having initially stored therein the characteristic data of a number of optimum washing and drying programmes, and a plurality of manual selection devices, 8-14, operatively connected to said microprocessor and associated with respective parameters of the programmes. The microprocessor connects with a visual display, 15, indicating the parameters selected by the manual selection devices. A support element, 6, and a cover element, 7, are secured to one another and are, preferably, of parallelepipedic shape. The calculator is used separately or may be removably attached to the machine. The support element, 6, includes the microprocessor, manual selection devices, 8-14, display, 15, and an autonomous electric power supply for these components. The cover element, 7, carries indications of parameters associated with the manual selection devices, 8-14, and is interchangeable with other cover elements, 19, provided with different indications. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Calculator for use with laundry washing/drying machines The present invention reIatestoan electroniccalcu- lator for use in com bination with laundry washing and/orlaundrywashing and drying machinesfordetermining in a simple and rapid manner various par ameters required for selecting different washing and/or drying programmes to be carried out by the respective machines.

As generally known, conventional laundry washing machines are designed to carry out different washing programmes each of which can be selected by operating suitable selection devices such as programme selectors,thermostats and the like disposed on the control panel ofthe machine.

In particular,theselection of each washing programme is carried outon the basis ofthetypeand amountoflaundryto bewashed, so that in viewof these characteristics ofthe laundry, the most suitable programme can be selected for ensuring the most effective washing ofthe laundry.

Prior to the initiation of each programme so selected, the different compartments ofthedetergentdis- tributor ofthe washing machines are supplied with the detergents required respectively for the prewashing cycle and the main washing cycle ofthe programme.

The amounts of detergents thus employed are generally determined on the basis ofthe manufacturer's instructions usually referring to the max imumchargeoflaundryto bewashed intherespect- ive machine.

As a result, the amounts of detergents used for each washing programme are invariably the same, even if the laundry loaded into the drum ofthe machine is less than the maximum charge and would thus in fact require a reduced amount of detergents.

in these cases, the consumption of detergents may thus be considerably greaterthan actually required, resulting in economic lossforthe user.

Laundry washing machines are known ofthe washing liquid recirculation type (European Patent Application No 0146719) in which the washing of the laundry takes place by repeated recirculation of the washing liquid from a collector receptacle connected to the bottom portion ofthe tub ofthe machine to the top ofthetub, where the liquid is sprayed onto the laundry.

These machines include a number of pressure switches connected to the electrical circuitry of the machine for controlling the admission ofthe washing liquid intothetub upto a normal level ora reduced level for carrying out respectively "intensive" and "delicate" washing programmes of the conventional type, i.e. without recirculation ofthewashing liquid, or exclusively "intensive" washing programmes with recirculation of the washing liquid.

To this purpose these machines are provided with electric push button switches associated to respective pressure switches for manually selecting the various washing programmes to be carried out, depending on the type and amount ofthe laundryto be washed.

The selection of "intensive" washing programmes with reduced levels of the washing liquid in the tub achieves reduced consumption of water, electrical energy and detergents and optimises the consumption of detergents in relation to the amount of laun- dry loaded into the drum ofthe machine.

On the other hand, when selecting "intensive" or "delicate" washing programmes with normal levels ofthewashing liquid in thetub, these washing machines operate in the same manner as laundry washing machines of conventional type, in which the consumption of the detergents employed is not optimised in relation to the amount of laundry introdu ced into the drum.

Underthese operating conditions, the laundry washing machines ofthewashing liquid recirculation type thus sufferfrom the same disadvantages as the laundry washing machines ofthe conventional type, that is to say, the consumption of detergents is frequently greater than actually required.

According to the present invention,there is provided an electronic calculator for use in combination with a washing machine orwashing and drying machine, comprising at least one microprocessor with at least one electronic memory having initially stored therein the characteristic data of a number of optimum washing and drying programmes, and a plurality of manual selection devices operatively connected to said microprocessor and associated with respective parameters of the programmes to be executed by the washing and/orwashing and drying machines, said microprocessor being operatively connected to visual display means forthereby indicating to the user the parameters selected by means of said manual selection devices, the calculator being in the form of a ruler adapted to be used separately orto be removably attached to the machine of the type described, and comprising a support element including the microprocessor, the memory, the manual selection devices, the display means and an autonomous electrical powersupplytothese components, the ruler being adapted to provide indications of said parameters associated to respective ones of said manual selection devices.

The present invention aims at eliminating the above described disadvantages and limitations by providing an electronic calculator rulerfor use in combination with washing machines and/or laundry washing and drying machines and adapted to determine in a simple and rapid manner a number of parameters required for suitably selecting washing and/ ordrying programmes to be carried out bythe machines.

In particular, the calculating ruler is adapted to determinethe magnitude of certain parameters such as the amount of detergents to be introduced into the tub of a laundry washing machine, orthe duration of the drying cycle in a laundrywashing and drying machine of conventional type, on the basis of characteristic data relating to the machine itself, as for instancethewashing programme selected in view of the type of laundry to be washed, the amount ofthe laundryto be washed, and the hardness of the water supplied to the machine.

To this purpose, the calculating ruler according to the invention functions substantially on the same principle as the electronic programme control unit for laundry washing machines described in Italian Patent No 1 083 320, the latter comprising a plurality of manual selectors disposed on the control panel of the respective machine and each associated to a par ticular parameter of thewashing programme to be executed (type, colour and degree of dirtiness of the laundry, amount ofthe laundry to be washed, etc), and a microprocessor having a memory in which the characteristic data of a number of optimum washing programmes have been previously stored, said mic roprocessorbeing otherwise connected through interface units which may be of perse known type to the various electric components of the machine.

In response to the parameters supplied to the programme control unit, the amounts of detergents required forthe execution of optimum washing programmes are indicated on a display device on the control panel of the machine, whereupon the respective programmes are automatically executed under the control of the microprocessor.

This electronic programme control unit suffers from the disadvantage, however, of being only able tofunctionwhen installed on a laundrywashing machine, while the present calculating ruler eliminatesthis disadvantage thanks to the fact that it may be used separately from the laundry washing machine for determining the above specified parameters therefor.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure shows an exploded perspective view of two possible versions of calculating ruleraccording to the invention; and Figures2 and 3 show perspective views of two possible means of securing the present calculating rulerto a laundrywashing machine.

With reference to Figure 1,theelectroniccalculating ruler 5 according to the invention may be used separately or removably secured to a laundry washing machine in the mannerto be described.

The ruler is substantially composed of a support element 6 and a cover element 7 adapted to be con nected to one another and preferably shaped in the form of a parallelepiped or in any other suitable shape.

In particular, support element 6 is adapted to contain a microprocessor of conventional type (not shown) including or having associated therewith an electronic memory having stored therein the char acteristic data of a number of optimum washing and drying programmes, determined on the basis of practical experience, by the application ofwhich it is possible to obtain optimum results when washing the laundry with a minimum detergentconsumption, and optimum results when drying the laundry with the minimum duration ofthe drying cycle.

These characteristic data are thus utilised for permitting the selection of laundry washing and drying programmes, respectively, in a laundry washing or laundrywashing and drying machine of conventional type, in the manner to be described.

Support element 6 additionally comprises a number of manual selection devices operatively con nected to the microprocessor and associated to respective parameters of the washing and drying programmes to be selected for the respective machine.

In the present example, the selection devices refer red to comprise a rotatable selector dial 8 adjustable tofourfixed positions numbered 1 to4and relating to the hardness of the water to be used in the washing machine, and operatively connected to the microprocessor, and a row of six keys of equal shape numbered 9to 14. In particular, keys 9, 10 and 11 are adapted to be switched to several operative positions distinguished by progressive numbers appear ing on a liquid crystal display 15 orthe like, itselflike- wise operatively connected to the microprocessor.

Key 9 is associated to respective optimum wash ing programmes of a washing machine orwashing and drying machine as indicated by the respective manufacturer and initially stored in the memory of the microprocessor, so that by depressing this key once or several times it is possible to select the most suitable programme for washing a particularlaun- dry, depending on the type of laundry to be washed and thetype and degree of dirtiness ofthe laundry.

Key 10 is associated to the weight of a load oflaun- dry to be washed or dried, respectively, and introdu- ced to this purpose into the drum of the washing or washing and drying machine. In the present example, each depression of key 10 causes the indicated weight to be increased by 0.5 kg, starting at a minimum of 0.5 kg up to a maximum weight of 6 kg.

Key 11 is associated to the speed (expressed in revolutions per minute) at which the drum ofthewashing or washing and drying machine isto be rotated during the spin-drying machine isto be rotated during the spin-drying phase, the respective speed being adapted to be controlled by means of per se known control devices of the respective machine. In the present example key 11 permits the rotary speed ofthe drum to be progressively selected between a minimum value of about 500 rpm and a maximum value of about 1200 rpm.

In the described manner, keys 10 and 11 are thus adapted to be actuated for selecting the most suitable operative positions, depending respectively on the weight of the laundry to be washed or dried, and on the spin-drying speed of the drum.

In the case oftheir being adjusted to an erroneous operative position, all of the three keys 9, 10,11 described above can be manually adjusted to the respective correct operative position, thereby automatically cancelling the previously selected position.

Thethreeremainingkeysl2,l3and 14ofsupport element 6, finally, are manually operableto obtain indications respectively of the optimum amount of detergents to be used inthewashing orwashing and drying machine, and of the optimum duration of two different drying cycles in a laundry washing and drying machine, depending on the parameters ofthe machine previously introduced into the present cal culatorruler by operation of keys 9,10 and 1 1.The described support element6 is thus constructed and functions substantially in the same mannerasthe el ectronic programmer for laundry washing machines described in Italian Patent No 1 083 320, filed on 27 July 1977 in the name of IndustrieAZanussiSpA oflndustrieAZanussi SpA which is incorporated herein by reference.

In contrast to the electronic programmer referred to above, however, the present support element does not have to be installed on a laundrywashing machine, but can be used separately, for which purpose it is provided with at least one electrical power source battery (not shown) for the autonomous power supplyto the microprocessor, selector dial 8, keys9to14anddisplay15.

With respect to the electronic programmerrefer- red to above, moreover, the construction of support element 6 is substantially simplified by the elimination of interface means formerly required for the control ofthe electrical components ofthe laundry washing machine.

Cover element 7 of the present calculating ruler is substantially of the same shape as support element 6, with slightly greater dimensions permitting itto be removably attached to the support element.

In particular, this cover element may be used in combination with laundry washing and drying machines to aid in determining the parameters for selecting respective washing and drying programmes of such machines.

To this purpose, cover element 7 is provided with two openings 16,17 of rectangular shape in alignment respectively with display 15 and keys 9 to 14, and a further opening 18 of circular shape in alignmentwith selector dial 8 ofthe support element.

Below openings 16 and 17 there are provided indication symbols, of which those associated to display 15 refer exclusivelyto the indication of the optimum detergentamountsto be used respectivelyforthe pre-washing phase (first two numerals onthedis- play, startingfrom the left) andforthe main washing phase ofthe laundry washing and drying machine (remainingtwo numerals on the display),whilethe symbols associated to 9 to 14 provide indications of the functions ofthe respective keys in the previously explained sequence.

In particular, in the present case, the symbols associated to keys 13 and 14 denote the two drying cycles which can be executed by the respective machine, namely a "cupboard dry" programme for completely dry laundry, and an "ironing dry" programme leaving a certain moisture content in the laundryforfacilitating pressing or ironing thereof.

Provided above circular opening 18 associated to selectordial8,finally, isa referencemarkforindicating the position to which dial 8 has been adjusted to correspond to the hardness of the water to be supplied to the laundry washing and drying machine.

The thus constructed cover element may be given any suitable outer appearance, so that it can be em ployedforlaundrywashing and drying machines of different models and designs.

Instead of the described cover element it is also possible to use another cover element 19 (Figure 1) for use exclusively with laundry washing machines.

Cover element 19 is substantially identical to the previously described cover element 7, with the sole differencethat it carries a smaller number of indication symbols associated exclusively to display 15 and keys 10 and 12 of support element 6.

The present calculating ruler may of course be designed in another manner than previously described withoutthereby leaving the scope ofthe invention.

The described keys may thus for instance be replaced by proximity switches of the capacitive type or the like or by any other suitable type of key.

The present calculating ruler is of simple construction and comfortable in use, and can be used in com binationwith laundry washing machines and laundry washing and drying machines.

In the first case, the characteristics ofthe laundry to be washed are introduced into the calculating ruler by operating keys 9 and 10, afterselectordial 8 has previously been set to the degree of hardness of the water.

On subsequent depression of key 12, display 15 shows the numeral indication ofthe detergent amounts required forthe pre-washing phase and the main washing phase of the respective washing machine.

In particular, these indications refer to the number of metering cups of the detergents to be introduced into respective pre-washing and main washing compartments of the detergent distributor of the machine.

In the second case, the various parameters forthe selection of a washing programme ofthe laundry washing and drying machine are introduced into the calculating ruler in the same manner as described above.

The parametersforthe execution of drying programmes are introduced into the calculating ruler by operating keys 10 and 11.

Depending on the actual drying programmetobe executed, subsequent depression of key 13 or 14 causesdisplayl5toshowa numeral indication cor- responding to the optimum duration, in hours and minutes, ofthe preselected drying programme to be executed by the laundry washing and drying machine.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there are shown two possible ways of using the present calculating rulerwith a laundry washing machine.

In the case of Figure 2, the ruler is housed in a cassette 20 slidably supported in an opening 21 in the frontface of a control panel 22 ofthe machine, the cassette being movable between a position completely inserted into opening 21 and a fully extracted position, in which the calculating rulercan betaken out for use.

In the case of Figure 3, the calculating ruler is provided with a magnet adhesively secured to its rear face for permitting the rulerto be removably attached to any metallic surface.

Claims (11)

1. An electroniccalculatorfor use in combination with a washing machine orwashing and drying machine, comprising at least one microprocessor with at least one electronic memory having initially stored therein the characteristic data of a number of optimum washing and drying programmes, and a plurality of manual selection devices operatively connected to said microprocessor and associated with respective parameters ofthe programmes to be executed bythewashing and/orwashing and drying machines, said microprocessor being operatively connected to visual display means for thereby indicating to the user the parameters selected by means of said manual selection devices, the calculator being in the form of a ruler adapted to be used separately orto be removably attached to the machine of the type described, and comprising a support element including the microprocessor, the memory, the manual selection devices, the display means and an autonomous electrical power supplyto these components, the ruler being adapted to provide indications of said parameters associated to respective ones of said manual selection devices.

2. A calculator according to claim 1 and which is of generally paralleiipipedonal shape.

3. A calculator according to claim 1 or2 wherein the ruler comprises a cover element secured to the support element.

4. A calculator according to claim 3 wherein said indicators of said parameters are provided on the cover element.

5. A calculator according to claim 4 wherein the cover element is one selected from a set of cover elements provided with different such indications.

6. A calculator according to claim 3,4 or 5 wherein the cover element is designed in the same manner as and with slightly greater dimensions than said supportelementfor permitting itto be attached thereto, said cover element being additionally provided with at least two openings, designated by said indications of parameters and formed in alignment respectively with said display means and said selection devices, and with a further opening provided with a reference mark and formed in alignmentwith a further selection device of said support element.

7. A calculator according to any one of the preceding claims and provided with at least one magnet applied to its rear face for permitting the ruler to be removably attached to any metallic surface.

8. A calculator constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A calculator according to any one ofthe preceding claims in combination with a laundry washing orwashing and drying machine.

10. A combination according to claim 9 wherein the machine is provided with a receptacle for the calculator.

11. Acombination according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the ruler is adpated to be housed in a cassette slideably received in an opening formed in the front face of a control panel ofthewashing or washing and drying machine, said cassette being movable from a fully inserted position in said opening to afullyextracted position permitting said rulerto be taken out for use.