Network and protocol for controlling washing and drying machines which share common utilities

Abstract

A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource. A plurality of autonomously operated washing machines are connected through a network, so that a slave controller of each washing machine may be controlled by a master controller of the network. The master controller issues periodic polling commands over the network to obtain status information from each of the washing machines. Each slave controller of the washing machine can be prohibited from proceeding through a washing cycle when a common resource used by all machines has reached capacity limits.

1 . A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines in a laundry facility which share a common resource, comprising: 
 a plurality of autonomously operated washing machines;    a network connecting a slave controller of each of said plurality of washing machines; and    a network controller connected to said network for obtaining status information from each of said washing machines, and for transmitting to each slave controller connected to said network a command prohibiting a washing machine from using said common resource based on previously received status information from other of said washing machines.    
   
   
       2 . A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines according to  claim 1  wherein said network controller determines the number of washing machines which use said common resource.  
   
   
       3 . A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines according to  claim 2  wherein said network controller determines from status information received from said washing machines when said common resource is not available for a washing machine to use.  
   
   
       4 . A system for controlling a plurality of washing machines according to  claim 1  wherein said master controller determines from said status information the number of machines which are simultaneously using said common resource.  
   
   
       5 . A system for controlling a drain function of a plurality of washing machines which use a common drain in a laundry facility, comprising: 
 a slave controller at each washing machine, said slave controller controlling said washing machine wash and dry cycles; and    a network controller connected via a network to each of said slave controllers, said network controller connected to receive information identifying the status of each washing machine, said network controller determining from said status how many machines are using said common drain, and generating an inhibit command for the remaining machines entering a drain portion of their washing cycle when a predetermined number of machines are using said drain to prevent said remaining machines from draining into said drain.    
   
   
       6 . The system for controlling said drain function according to  claim 5  wherein said network controller authorizes a remaining machine to utilize said common drain when the number of machines using said drain drops below said predetermined number.  
   
   
       7 . The system for controlling said drain function according to  claim 5  wherein said network controller issues a drain permissive command to a remaining one of said washing machines that reports status information indicating that it is entering a drain portion of its washing cycle when said number of machines using said common drain is below said predetermined number.  
   
   
       8 . The system for controlling said drain function according to  claim 7  wherein each slave controller determines that a drain permissive command has been received before permitting a respective washing machine to enter a drain cycle.  
   
   
       9 . In a system for operating a plurality of laundry machines in a laundry, a slave controller for each washing machine comprising: 
 a laundry cycle controller for operating a laundry machine; and    a network interface for receiving commands and transmitting data from and to a network controller, said commands including a permissive which permits said laundry machine to enter a portion of a laundry cycle which shares a common resource with other laundry machines.    
   
   
       10 . The slave controller according to  claim 9  wherein said slave controller permissive is removed by a command from said network interface indicating that said shared common resource is unavailable.  
   
   
       11 . The slave controller according to  claim 10  wherein said laundry machine enters said portion of said laundry cycle when a subsequent command from said network interface reestablishes a permissive.  
   
   
       12 . The slave controller according to  claim 11  wherein following said portion of said laundry cycle, said slave controller transmits a completed command to said network controller.  
   
   
       13 . A method for sharing resources among a plurality of laundry machines which are connected over a common network to a network controller, comprising: 
 determining at a network controller when one or more of said laundry machines is entering a portion of a machine cycle requiring a shared resource;    determining the number of laundry machines using said shared resource;    determining if the number of machines using said shared resource is at a maximum;    inhibiting any additional machines from using said shared resource when the number of machines reaches said maximum; and    authorizing said additional machines to use said shared resource when the number of machines using said resource is less than said maximum.    
   
   
       14 . The method for sharing resources according to  claim 13  wherein said shared resource is a common drain.  
   
   
       15 . The method for sharing resources according to  claim 13  further comprising: 
 forwarding status information identifying each machine requiring said shared resource from a slave controller of said laundry machine to said network controller.    
   
   
       16 . The method for sharing resources according to  claim 15  wherein said network controller inhibits a machine from entering said portion of a laundry cycle by forwarding a command removing a permissive in said slave controller.  
   
   
       17 . The method for sharing resources according to  claim 16  wherein said network controller restores said permissive in said machine entering said portion of a laundry cycle when the number of machines using said resource decreases below said maximum.  
   
   
       18 . The method for sharing resources according to  claim 1  wherein said shared resource is a common source of input power.