IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,305,315
Granted Patent B2
US 12,305,315 · App. 17/915,428 · Granted May 20, 2025

Method for operating a washing machine, and washing machine

Inventors: Rainer Bicker (Verl, DE); Magnus Kortenjann (Telgte, DE)
Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
D06F34/16D06F33/32D06F34/18D06F34/20D06F37/02D06F37/304D06F2103/02D06F2103/24D06F2103/26D06F2103/38D06F2103/46D06F2105/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,305,315
App. No.
17/915,428
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A washing machine and method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum provided with stamped portions rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device. During rotation of the drum in a subcritical rotational speed range, the method includes sampling a variable related to the drum or the motor over a predetermined period of time to determine time signals of the variable, executing a frequency analysis of the time signal of the variable to determine frequency components of the variable in a predetermined frequency range, summing the frequency components at predetermined frequencies of the predetermined frequency range, and detecting, depending on the sum of the summed up frequency components, whether a loading situation where laundry is sliding in the drum is present.

Claims (13)

1. A method for operating a washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum provided with a plurality of stamped portions rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device, said method, during rotation of the drum in a subcritical rotational speed range, comprising the following steps:

sampling a variable related to the drum or the motor over a predetermined period of time to determine time signals of the variable, the variable being a torque of the motor or correlating with the torque of the motor, or an actual rotational speed of the drum or correlating with the actual rotational speed;

executing a frequency analysis of the time signal of the variable to determine frequency components of the variable in a predetermined frequency range;

summing the frequency components at predetermined frequencies of the predetermined frequency range; and

detecting, depending on the sum of the summed up frequency components in relation to a quantity and arrangement of the plurality of stamped portions, whether a loading situation where laundry is sliding in the drum is present.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a loading situation where laundry is sliding in the drum is detected when the sum of the added frequency components is greater than a predetermined limit value.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, if a loading situation where laundry is sliding in the drum is detected, a predetermined action is further executed, wherein the predetermined action is a redistribution of the laundry in the drum or a continuation of the rotation of the drum at a rotational speed of the drum which is below the subcritical rotational speed range.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stamped portions are each designed as a depression and/or an elevation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time comprises an integer number of revolutions of the drum.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frequencies are harmonic.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drum is rotated at a constant rotational speed in the subcritical rotational speed range.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the frequency analysis is a Fast Fourier Transform.

9. A washing machine having a suds container for holding washing liquid, a non-ribbed drum which is rotatably mounted in the suds container for holding laundry, a motor for driving the drum, and a control device that is designed and configured to execute a method according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2022
From: BICKER, RAINER; KORTENJANN, MAGNUS
To: MIELE & CIE. KG
Reel/Frame 061273/0143 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10202010894.6 · Mar 30, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230119831A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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