Patent Publication Number: US-2016244905-A1

Title: Washing machine and washing control method of same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing control method of a washing machine, in which rotation manners of an impeller and an inner drum are separately controlled, and a washing machine thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A structure of a conventional washing machine is constituted by an inner drum, an outer drum, an agitator, a transmission system, a control system, and a housing. During washing, the inner drum does not rotate, and the agitator rotates alternately in forward and backward directions to move clothes through the water in the inner drum so as to implement washing. This washing method is found to have some disadvantages: 1. there exists a single washing manner, and it is difficult to improve a rate of washing ability; 2. strength of a water flow is weak, and clothes are easily twisted. In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantages, some washing machine manufacturers design a “rotary drum” washing machine, and a method thereof is that: during washing, an inner drum is in a free state, when an agitator rotates, and the inner drum rotates by means of a reaction force generated from the rotation of the agitator, so as to enable the inner drum and the agitator to rotate opposite to each other, thereby achieving a purpose of “scrubbing clothes”. 
     However, a disadvantage still exists in this method because the inner drum has no power, the rotation strength of the inner drum is weak, the agitator only rotates forward and backward on a bottom of the drum, an effect of “scrubbing clothes” is little, a washing effect is not improved obviously, and the problem of twisting clothes still cannot be resolved in a favorable manner. Therefore, there still exists a need to address the disadvantages. 
     Chinese Publication No. 01127557.X discloses a bidirectional washing method and a washing machine thereof. The washing machine includes an inner drum, an agitator, a motor, and a power transmission mechanism. The washing machine also includes a power transmission mechanism that is connected to the inner drum and has a rotation direction opposite to that of the agitator. During washing, both the inner drum and agitator are driven to perform washing in opposite directions. Because the inner drum is provided with the power transmission mechanism, during washing, both of the inner drum and agitator are driven by power, in a manner of one-way in two-way out, i.e., the inner drum and agitator are separately driven to rotate opposite to each other. However, because the power transmission mechanisms are used for transmission in this driving manner, their reversing manner and rotation speed are both fixed, the inner drum or agitator cannot be freely independently driven to reverse, and the inner drum and agitator must rotate opposite to each other. 
     For a conventional impeller washing machine, a motor transmits power to a deceleration clutch through actuating a belt by a belt pulley, the deceleration clutch converts a high rotation speed of the motor into lower rotation speeds required in different washing processes of the washing machine by using an internal gear structure thereof, and meanwhile, according to different washing manners, the deceleration clutch uses different gear structures to transfer different rotation directions and rotation manners to the impeller. 
     In such a structure, because the deceleration clutch and motor are horizontally arranged at the bottom of the outer drum, the structure of the whole system is relative large. On the other hand, the deceleration clutch is located at a central portion of the outer drum, the motor deviates from a position of the central portion, and a center of the whole structure of the bottom of the outer drum deviates from a central hole of the outer drum. In a working process of the washing machine, while the motor actuates the deceleration clutch to work, torque is generated relative to the center of the outer drum during a rotation process of the motor, instability of the whole system is increased, and during the washing process, the washing machine generates relatively high noise and large vibration. 
     In order to alleviate a phenomenon that the washing machine generates noise and vibration during a working process, many existing washing machines use direct drive motors, where belt pulley and belt apparatuses are removed, and the deceleration clutch is directly longitudinally mounted on and connected to the motor, and in this way, a center of gravity of the structure of the bottom of the outer drum is basically at a position of the central hole of rotation of the outer drum. Such a structure improves transmission efficiency and stability of the motor and meanwhile, reduces noise in a running process. 
     However, in the existing structures where the direct drive motor is used, because a deceleration clutch is still used, during a washing process, a rotation manner of a conventional dual-power washing machine or a fully-automatic washing machine is still used as a rotation manner of the inner drum and the impeller, and this washing machine do not improve the washing water flow and the rate of washing ability. 
     Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a washing control method for freely controlling relative rotation directions of an inner drum and an impeller during a washing process so as to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing control method for cyclically reversing an inner drum and an impeller that rotate opposite to each other and rotate in a same direction during a washing process. 
     Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing control method where an inner drum and an impeller have different actions during a washing process. 
     Further another purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that separately drives an inner drum and an impeller to rotate by using a dual-rotor motor and controlling relative actions and rotation directions of the inner drum and the impeller. 
     In order to solve the foregoing technical problems, in one aspect, the present invention includes a washing control method of a washing machine, where the washing machine includes an outer drum, an inner drum, an impeller, and a driving apparatus. In a washing process, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to rotate opposite to each other, and after each rotation cycle, the inner drum and the impeller reversely rotate. The washing method includes driving, by the driving apparatus, the inner drum and the impeller to reverse asynchronously, so as to enable the impeller and the inner drum to rotate in a same direction within a time difference between reversals of the impeller and the inner drum. 
     In one embodiment, the impeller and the inner drum reverse asynchronously, and the time difference between the reversals is greater than 0 and less than 5 S. 
     In one embodiment, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum or the impeller to delay or advance a reversal, and a set time for delaying or advancing the reversal is greater than 0 and less than 5 S. 
     In one embodiment, within each rotation cycle, a time of a reversal of the inner drum or impeller is earlier or later than a time of a reversal of the impeller or inner drum by 0.05 to 3 S. 
     In one embodiment, when washing starts, the impeller and the inner drum rotate opposite to each other, and a delayed starting time between the two is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 3 S. 
     In one embodiment, the impeller or inner drum first rotates, after a delay of a set time, the inner drum or impeller further rotates in an opposite direction, each rotation cycle time of the inner drum is equal to that of the impeller, and the set time of the delay is less than the rotation cycle time. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a washing control method of a washing machine including an outer drum, an inner drum, an impeller, and a driving apparatus. The washing method includes, during a washing process, driving, by the driving apparatus, the impeller and the inner drum to rotate in a manner of switching between rotation in a same direction and rotation in opposite directions. 
     In one embodiment, after driving the impeller and the inner drum to rotate in the same direction or opposite to each other by a set time, the driving apparatus stops driving, drives the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other or in a same direction by a set time, stops driving, and then drives the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other or in a same direction by a set time. The foregoing process is repeated. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a washing control method of a washing machine, where the washing machine includes an outer drum, an inner drum, an impeller, and a driving apparatus. In a washing process, a driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to rotate opposite to each other, and after each rotation cycle, the inner drum and the impeller reversely rotate. The washing method includes driving, by the driving apparatus, the inner drum and the impeller to reverse asynchronously, so as to enable one of the impeller and the inner drum to rotate and the other to stay stationary within a time difference between reversals of the impeller and the inner drum. 
     In one embodiment, when each rotation cycle ends, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to stop rotating, the impeller to reversely rotate, and the inner drum to further reversely rotate after a set time, and the set time is greater than 0 and less than 5 S. 
     Alternatively, in another embodiment, when each rotation cycle is about to end, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to stop rotating, the impeller to continue rotating, and the inner drum and the impeller to further reversely rotate after a set time, and the set time is greater than 0 and less than 5 S. 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides a washing control method of a washing machine including an outer drum, an inner drum, an impeller, and a driving apparatus. The method includes, in a washing process, driving, the driving apparatus, the impeller and the inner drum to move by switching between at least two of three control manners of rotations in a same direction, rotations in opposite directions, and the impeller rotating while the inner drum being stationary. 
     In one embodiment, in the washing process, a rotation speed ratio between the inner drum and the impeller is 1:(1 to 5); and a rotation speed of the impeller is 40 to 150 revolutions per minute. 
     In one embodiment, a time when the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to rotate opposite to each other within each rotation cycle is 1 to 5 S. 
     In one embodiment, in the washing machine according to the present invention, a rotation speed of the inner drum and/or impeller in each washing process is changeable, and the rotation speed is increased or reduced corresponding to a set changing rule. 
     In one embodiment, speeds of the inner drum and the impeller that rotate in a same direction are different from speeds of the inner drum and the impeller that rotate opposite to each other; a rotation speed of the impeller when the inner drum is stationary is different from a rotation speed of the impeller when the inner drum and impeller rotate opposite to each other. 
     In one embodiment, speeds of the inner drum and the impeller that rotate in a same direction are less than speeds of the inner drum and the impeller that rotate opposite to each other; a rotation speed of the impeller when the inner drum is stationary is less than a rotation speed of the impeller when the inner drum and impeller rotate opposite to each other. 
     In one embodiment, when the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other in each rotation cycle, a change of the rotation speed(s) of the inner drum and/or impeller may also be independently controlled. 
     In the washing machine according to the present invention, the driving apparatus is a dual-rotor direct drive motor, including two rotors and one stator, where one rotor is connected to an axis of the inner drum, another rotor is connected to an axis of the impeller, and during washing, the two rotors respectively drive the impeller and the inner drum to rotate independently. 
     In one embodiment, the two rotors are respectively an outer rotor and an inner rotor, and the stator is disposed between the inner and outer rotors. 
     In one embodiment, both of the two rotors are inner rotors or outer rotors, and the stator is accordingly an outer stator or an inner stator. 
     The foregoing technical solutions of the present invention, as compared with the prior art, have the following beneficial effects. 
     In the washing control method of the washing machine according to the present invention, the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other. After each rotation cycle, the inner drum and the impeller reversely rotate and still rotate opposite to each other, and within two rotation cycles, a motion manner of the inner drum or impeller is changed, so that the inner drum and the impeller rotate in the same direction or one of the inner drum and the impeller rotation rotates, and the other is stationary. This washing method changes a washing water flow, alleviates clothes twisting resulted from simultaneous reversal of the inner drum and impeller, and alleviates wearing of the clothes. 
     In the washing machine according to the present invention, two rotors are respectively connected to an axis of the inner drum and an axis of the impeller to respectively drive the inner drum and impeller to rotate, and such a structure reduces, to a greater extent, a weight, a column, and costs of a driving system, thereby improving transmission efficiency and stability. Because a deceleration clutch apparatus is omitted, control of the present invention is more convenient. 
     During a washing process of the washing machine of the present invention, the impeller and inner drum are separately driven to rotate by means of correspondingly connected rotors, during washing, when the impeller and inner drum rotate either in a same direction or opposite to each other, a rotation direction is directly controlled by using a rotor, and during dewatering, the impeller and inner drum are controlled to rotate in a same direction and at a same speed. In this process, power transmission directly driven by two rotors is used, a conventional implementation manner of transferring torque by merely depending on gear reduction is broken through, and because there is no force division and deceleration structure therebetween, loss caused by intermediate energy transfer is reduced, and meanwhile, noise is reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of dual-rotor motor driving of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is another schematic diagram of dual-rotor motor driving of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the impeller washing machine according to the present invention includes an outer drum  1 , an inner drum  2 , an impeller  3 , and a driving apparatus; the driving apparatus is a dual-rotor motor that separately controls actions of the inner drum and the impeller, and the dual-rotor motor directly drives impeller and the inner drum to act; the dual-rotor motor includes two rotors and one stator, which are respectively, a first rotor  4 , a second rotor  5 , and a stator  6 ; the first rotor  4  is connected to an inner drum axis  21 , the second rotor  5  is connected to an impeller axis  31 , the inner drum axis  21  is hollow, the impeller axis  31  is coaxially disposed inside the inner drum axis  21 , and the first rotor  4 , second rotor  5 , and stator  6 , as well as the impeller axis  31  are disposed coaxially. In the dual-rotor motor in  FIG. 1 , the first rotor  4  is an outer rotor, the second rotor  5  is an inner rotor; and in the dual-rotor motor in  FIG. 2 , the first rotor  4  is an inner rotor, and the second rotor  5  is an outer rotor. In addition to the dual-rotor motor, the driving apparatus of the washing machine may be two motors that are respectively connected to the inner drum axis and impeller axis, so as to drive them separately, or another driving apparatus having two independent power inputs. 
     In the washing control method of a washing machine according to the present invention, an inner drum and an impeller rotate opposite to each other, after each rotation cycle, the inner drum and the impeller reversely rotate and still rotate opposite to each other, and within two rotation cycles/before each rotation cycle ends, a motion manner of the inner drum or impeller is changed, so that the inner drum and the impeller rotate in a same direction or one of the inner drum and the impeller rotation rotates, and the other is stationary. This rotation cycle is a cycle time when the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other, that is, after the impeller rotates forward and the inner drum rotates backward for a cycle, in a next cycle, the impeller rotates backward and the inner drum rotates forward. The present invention makes further improvement on the basis of an existing washing method of a dual-power washing machine, and implements cyclic rotation in a manner that the inner drum and impeller rotate opposite to each other, rotate in a same direction, or rotate opposite to each other and then rotate in a same direction, and during dewatering, the impeller and the inner drum are driven to rotate in a same direction and at a same speed. 
     Embodiment 1 
     In this embodiment, in the washing machine, after each rotation cycle ends, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to reverse and the impeller to continue rotating to delay the reversal, a set time of the delayed reversal is 0.05 to 3 S, that is, after each cycle that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other ends, the inner drum first reversely rotates, and the impeller continues rotating in an original rotation direction (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate in a same direction), after the inner drum reversely rotates by 0.05 to 3 S, the impeller further reversely rotates (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate opposite to each other), and a next cycle that they rotate opposite to each other is entered; during a reversal stage of 0.05 to 3 S, the inner drum and the impeller rotate in a same direction. 
     Embodiment 2 
     In this embodiment, in the washing machine, after each rotation cycle ends, the driving apparatus drives the impeller to reverse and the inner drum to continue rotating to delay the reversal, a set time of the delayed reversal is 0.1 to 2.5 S, that is, after each cycle that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other ends, the impeller first reversely rotates, and the inner drum continues rotating in an original rotation direction (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate in a same direction), after the impeller reversely rotates by 0.1 to 2.5 S, the inner drum further reversely rotates (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate opposite to each other), and a next cycle that they rotate opposite to each other is entered; during a reversal stage of 0.1 to 2.5 S, the inner drum and the impeller rotate in a same direction. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The washing machine of this embodiment differs from the foregoing embodiments in that: when each rotation cycle is about to ends, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to reverse in advance and the impeller to continue rotating and further reverse until the cycle ends, a set time of the advanced reversal is 1 to 2 S, that is, 1 to 2 S before each rotation cycle ends, the inner drum first reversely rotates, and the impeller continues rotating in an original rotation direction (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate in a same direction), after the inner drum reversely rotates by 1 to 2 S, at this time, the rotation cycle ends, and the impeller further reversely rotates (at this time, the impeller and the inner drum rotate opposite to each other), and a next cycle that they rotate opposite to each other is entered; during a reversal stage of 1 to 2 S, the inner drum and the impeller rotate in a same direction. 
     Embodiment 4 
     In the washing machine of this embodiment, when washing starts, a driving apparatus drives the impeller/inner drum to first rotate forward, clockwise, at this time, the inner drum/impeller is stationary, after the impeller/inner drum rotates clockwise by a set time t, the inner drum/impeller further rotates backward, counterclockwise, at this time, the impeller/inner drum still rotates forward, clockwise, and the impeller and inner drum rotate opposite to each other; after the impeller/inner drum rotates clockwise by a time T (t&lt;T), the impeller/inner drum reverses to rotate counterclockwise, after rotating counterclockwise by the time T, the inner drum/impeller also reversely rotates, and after reversely rotating by the time T, the impeller and inner drum further reversely rotate; in this way, actions are performed according to this rule until the washing ends; a period of time after each time the impeller/inner drum reversely rotates and before the inner drum/impeller reversely rotates is t, and within this period of time, the impeller and inner drum rotate in a same direction. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The driving apparatus of the washing machine of this embodiment controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other by 2 to 4 S, stops, controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate in a same direction by 2 to 4 S, stops, and then controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other by 2 to 4 S, and the foregoing process is repeated. 
     Embodiment 6 
     In a washing process of the washing machine of this embodiment, a cycle time that the impeller and the inner drum rotate in a same direction is less than a cycle time that the impeller and the inner drum rotate opposite to each other, which is specifically that the driving apparatus controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other by 2 to 4 S, stops, controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate in a same direction by 1 to 2 S, stops, and then controls the impeller and the inner drum to rotate opposite to each other by 2 to 4 S, and the foregoing process is repeated. 
     Embodiment 7 
     In the washing machine of this embodiment, when washing starts, a driving apparatus drives the impeller to first rotate forward, clockwise, at this time, the inner drum is stationary, after the impeller rotates clockwise by 1 to 2 S, the inner drum further rotates backward, counterclockwise, at this time, the impeller still rotates forward, clockwise, and the impeller and inner drum rotate opposite to each other; after the impeller rotates clockwise by 3 to 5 S, the impeller reverses to rotate counterclockwise, after rotating counterclockwise by 3 to 5 S, the inner drum/impeller also reversely rotates, and after reversely rotating by 3 to 5 S, the impeller and inner drum further reversely rotate; a cycle of reverse rotation of the impeller is the same as that of the inner drum; with a period of time after each time the impeller reversely rotates and before the inner drum reversely rotates, the impeller and inner drum rotate in a same direction. 
     Embodiment 8 
     This embodiment is a washing process of the washing machine, where the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to rotate opposite to each other, and after each rotation cycle, the inner drum and the impeller reversely rotate, where: the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to reverse asynchronously, so as to enable one of the impeller and the inner drum to rotate and the other to stay stationary within a reversal time difference. That is, a cyclic motion manner in which the impeller and inner drum rotate opposite to each other, only the impeller or inner drum rotates, and impeller and inner drum further rotate opposite to each other is implemented. 
     Embodiment 9 
     On the basis of Embodiment 8, in this embodiment, when each rotation cycle ends, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to first stop rotating, the impeller to reversely rotate, and the inner drum to further reversely rotate after a set time, and the set time is 1 to 4 S. 
     Alternatively, in another implementation manner, 3 to 4 S before each rotation cycle of the inner drum ends, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum to stop rotating, the impeller to continue rotating, and the inner drum and the impeller to further reversely rotate after 3 to 4 S. 
     Embodiment 10 
     This embodiment is a washing process of the washing machine, after the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and impeller to rotate in a same direction or opposite to each other by a set time T 1 , the inner drum stops and the impeller continues rotating by a set time t 1 , the impeller and inner drum are controlled to rotate opposite to each other or in a same direction by a set time T 2 , further the inner drum stops and the impeller continues rotating by the set time t 1 , and the impeller and inner drum are further controlled to rotate in a same direction or opposite to each other by the set time T 2 , and the foregoing process is repeated; the set time T 1  may be equal to the set time T 2  or may be different from the set time T 2 , the set time t 1  is less than or equal to the set times T 1  and T 2 , and the set times t 1 , T 1 , and T 2  are greater than 0 and less than or equal to 5 S. 
     Embodiment 11 
     On the basis of Embodiment 10, in this embodiment, speeds of the inner drum and the impeller in each cycle that the inner drum and the impeller rotate in a same direction are less than speeds of the inner drum and the impeller in each cycle that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other. 
     Embodiment 12 
     On the basis of the foregoing embodiments, in this embodiment, the driving apparatus drives the inner drum and the impeller to increase or reduce rotation speeds corresponding to a set changing rule within each rotation cycle. A rotation speed ratio between the inner drum and the impeller is 1:(1 to 5); and a rotation speed of the impeller is 40 to 150 revolutions per minute. 
     Embodiment 13 
     The washing machine according to the present invention sets different driving manners of the foregoing embodiments according to different washing programs. For example, in a bulky laundry program, washing is merely performed in manner that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other. Moreover, in a mild washing program, washing is performed in a cyclic rotation manner that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other, rotate in a same direction, and then rotate opposite to each other. In a sweater washing program, washing is performed in a cyclic rotation manner that the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other, the inner drum stays stationary and the impeller rotates, and further the inner drum and the impeller rotate opposite to each other. 
     While there has been shown several and alternate embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that certain changes can be made as would be known to one skilled in the art without departing from the underlying scope of the present invention as is discussed and set forth above and below including claims. Furthermore, the embodiments described above and claims set forth below are only intended to illustrate the principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the disclosed elements.