Method for Controlling the Intake of Washing Liquid in a Laundry Washing Machine, and Laundry Washing Machine Actuating that Method

Abstract

A method for managing the load of washing liquid in a laundry washing machine ( 100 ) is provided. The laundry washing machine has a washing tub ( 110 ), in which washing liquid may be loaded, and a rotatable drum ( 115 ), rotatably accommodated in the washing tub ( 110 ), for containing the laundry to be washed. The method includes performing a sequence of partial loads of washing liquid into the washing tub ( 110 ). Each partial load provides for loading a corresponding liquid amount in the washing tub ( 110 ). For at least one of the partial loads in the sequence, the method provides for loading into the washing tub ( 110 ) a predetermined amount of washing liquid which depends on at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence.

1 . A method for managing the load of washing liquid in a laundry washing machine comprising a washing tub, in which washing liquid may be loaded, and a rotatable drum, rotatably accommodated in the washing tub, for containing the laundry to be washed, the method including performing a sequence of partial loads of washing liquid into said washing tub, each partial load providing for loading a corresponding liquid amount in the washing tub, wherein the method comprises for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, loading into the washing tub a predetermined amount of washing liquid which depends on at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said loading into the washing tub a predetermined amount of washing liquid, for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, is conditioned on a predetermined level of free washing liquid in the laundry washing machine not being attained yet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence comprises at least one among:
 the level of free washing liquid and/or the value of the pressure in said washing tub reached before said at least one of said partial loads in the sequence,   the time taken by the level of free water/pressure in the washing tub to fall below a minimum level from the end of a previous partial load,   the total amount of water loaded by the previously performed partial loads, and   the number of partial loads already performed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading an amount of washing liquid dosed in such a way that the overall liquid amount of washing liquid in the laundry washing machine before said at least one of said partial loads plus said dosed amount reaches a previously fixed quantity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said previously fixed quantity is calibrated for the washing of at least one among:
 substantially half a standard load of laundry the laundry washing machine is configured to house, and   substantially the standard load of laundry the laundry washing machine is configured to house.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, before said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, selecting whether the next partial load is to be cold washing liquid or hot washing liquid. 
     
     
         8 . A laundry washing machine comprising a washing tub, in which washing liquid may be loaded, a rotatable drum, rotatably accommodated in the washing tub, for containing the laundry to be washed, a metering device for measuring the amount of water loaded into the washing tub, a dosing device, for activating/deactivating the loading of water into the washing tub, and a control unit, operatively connected to said metering device and to said dosing device for managing the load of washing liquid in said washing tub in such a way as to perform a sequence of partial loads of washing liquid into said washing tub, each partial load providing for loading a corresponding liquid amount in the washing tub, wherein said control unit is configured for loading into the washing tub a predetermined amount of washing liquid, for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, which depends on at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of previous partial loads in the sequence. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said control unit is configured to condition said loading into the washing tub a predetermined amount of washing liquid, for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, on a predetermined level of free washing liquid in the laundry washing machine not being attained yet. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence comprises at least one among:
 the level of free washing liquid and/or the value of the pressure in said washing tub reached before said at least one of said partial loads in the sequence,   the time taken by the level of free water/pressure in the washing tub to fall below a minimum level from the end of the previous partial load,   the total amount of water loaded by the previously performed partial loads, and   the number of partial loads already performed.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 8 , wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts. 
     
     
         12 . A laundry washing machine, according to  claim 8 , wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading an amount of washing liquid dosed in such a way that the overall liquid amount of washing liquid in the laundry washing machine before said at least one of said partial loads plus said dosed amount reaches a previously fixed quantity. 
     
     
         13 . A laundry washing machine, according to  claim 12 , wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that said previously fixed quantity is calibrated for the washing of at least one among:
 substantially half a standard load of laundry the laundry washing machine is configured to house, and   substantially the standard load of laundry the laundry washing machine is configured to house.   
     
     
         14 . A laundry washing machine, according to  claim 8 , wherein said dosing device is adapted for allowing selectively providing, at its outlet, cold water or hot water, and wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that before said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence, said control unit selects whether the next partial load is to be cold washing liquid or hot washing liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence comprises at least one among:
 the level of free washing liquid and/or the value of the pressure in said washing tub reached before said at least one of said partial loads in the sequence,   the time taken by the level of free water/pressure in the washing tub to fall below a minimum level from the end of a previous partial load,   the total amount of water loaded by the previously performed partial loads, and   the number of partial loads already performed.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one indicative parameter related to one or more of the previous partial loads in the sequence comprises at least one among:
 the level of free washing liquid and/or the value of the pressure in said washing tub reached before said at least one of said partial loads in the sequence,   the time taken by the level of free water/pressure in the washing tub to fall below a minimum level from the end of the previous partial load,   the total amount of water loaded by the previously performed partial loads, and   the number of partial loads already performed.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 9 , wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry washing machine, according to  claim 10 , wherein said control unit is configured in such a way that loading into the washing machine a predetermined amount of washing liquid for at least one of said partial loads in the sequence comprises loading a previously fixed amount of washing liquid selected among a collection of already predetermined partial amounts.