Laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance, such as a washing machine, comprises a drum for receiving a load of articles to be laundered. The drum comprises at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive which can rotate the drum portions relative to one another. A controller causes the appliance to perform a laundering cycle which includes a spin cycle in which the drum is rotated at high speed. Before the spin cycle, the controller detects whether there is an imbalance of the load in the drum and, in the event of an imbalance, the controller causes the appliance to redistribute the load by causing the drive rotate the drum portions relative to one another. In the event of a continued imbalance, the controller can repeat the redistribute operation or it can limit the spin speed during the spin cycle.

1 . A laundry appliance comprising a drum for receiving a load of articles to be laundered, the drum comprising at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive capable of rotating the drum so as to cause relative rotation between the adjacent rotatable drum portions, 
 and a controller for causing the appliance to perform a laundering cycle which includes a spin cycle in which the drum is rotated at high speed,    wherein, before the spin cycle, the controller is arranged to detect whether there is an imbalance of the load in the drum and, in the event of an imbalance, the controller causes the appliance to redistribute the load by causing the drive to perform relative rotation of the drum portions.    
     
     
         2 . An appliance according to  claim 1  wherein, after the period in which the drum is driven with relative rotation between the portions of the drum, the controller is arranged to cause the drive to rotate the drum in a normal manner, with both portions substantially rotating together.  
     
     
         3 . An appliance according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the controller is arranged to detect an imbalance of the load in the drum by rotating the drum at a speed at which the load is held against the wall of the drum and monitoring variations in speed indicative of an imbalance condition.  
     
     
         4 . An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the controller is arranged to detect whether there is an imbalance following the redistribute operation and, in the event of a continued imbalance, to repeat the redistribute operation.  
     
     
         5 . An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the controller is arranged to detect whether there is an imbalance following the redistribute operation and, in the event of a continued imbalance, to limit the spin speed during the spin cycle.  
     
     
         6 . An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the controller causes the portions of the drum to rotate in opposite directions.  
     
     
         7 . An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the controller causes the portions of the drum to rotate at different speeds.  
     
     
         8 . An appliance according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a washing machine.  
     
     
         9 . A controller for a laundry appliance, the appliance comprising a drum for receiving a load of articles to be laundered, the drum comprising at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive capable of rotating the drum so as to cause relative rotation between the adjacent rotatable drum portions, 
 the controller being arranged to cause the appliance to perform a laundering cycle which includes a spin cycle in which the drum is rotated at high speed, and wherein, before the spin cycle, the controller is arranged to detect whether there is an imbalance of the load in the drum and, in the event of an imbalance, the controller causes the appliance to redistribute the load by causing the drive to perform relative rotation of the drum portions.    
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a laundry appliance, the appliance comprising a drum for receiving a load of articles to be laundered, the drum comprising at least two rotatable drum portions and a drive capable of rotating the drum so as to cause relative rotation between the adjacent rotatable drum portions, and a controller for controlling the appliance, 
 the method comprising, the controller causing the appliance to perform a laundering cycle which includes a spin cycle in which the drum is rotated at high speed, and, before the spin cycle, the controller detecting whether there is an imbalance of the load in the drum and, in the event of an imbalance, the controller causing the appliance to redistribute the load by causing the drive to perform relative rotation of the drum portions.    
     
     
         11 . A laundry appliance, a controller for a laundry appliance or a method of operating a laundry appliance substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.