Method for measuring the distribution of washing, especially in washing machines

摘要

In the case of a known device, in order to detect the distribution of washing and/or imbalance using a revolution counter which operates in a contact-free fashion by means of the distance measurement method and using a sensor which is fixedly mounted on the machine casing, the relative movement of the oscillating washing machine unit which is elastically suspended by means of shock absorbers is used as a basis. Disturbance factors which are associated with the device are not taken account of during measurement. The new method uses the energy which is directly converted in the oscillation path damping elements and/or the damping work which must be carried out to permit precise determination of the extent to which the washing is properly distributed and/or the imbalance. Some of the oscillating path damping elements are mechanical and operate using the friction principle. The frictional losses arising in them owing to poorly distributed washing cause increases in temperature which are used as a value to indicate the extent to which washing is properly distributed. A calculating method is used to decide whether the washing can be spin-dried or whether is must be redistributed. The method according to the invention is suitable for determining the extent to which washing is properly distributed, especially in washing machines.