Laundry Treating Machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating machine ( 1 ) comprising a casing ( 10 ), a rotatable laundry container ( 7 ) suitable for receiving the laundry to be treated and one or more peripheral units (F 1, H 1, T 1, SW 1, SW 2, S 1, 11, Ml, M 2, P 1 ) which enable the treatment to be carried out. The laundry treating machine ( 1 ) comprises a control unit ( 20; 120; 220 ) comprising a printed circuit board ( 21; 121; 221 ) with electric and/or electronic devices ( 22 ) mounted thereon. The control unit ( 20; 120; 220 ) comprises a control and communication section ( 31 ) for communicating with a user interface ( 11 ), a motor driving section ( 32; 132 ) for setting and varying the speed of at least a motor and/or a high power loads section ( 28 ) comprising switching devices suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1, R 1, R 2 ) and a power section ( 24 ) for supplying power to at least one of said sections ( 28, 31, 32; 132 ).

1 . A laundry treating machine ( 1 ) comprising;
 a casing ( 10 );   a rotatable laundry container ( 7 ) suitable for receiving the laundry to be treated;   one or more peripheral units (F 1 , H 1 , T 1 , SW 1 , SW 2 , S 1 ,  11 , M 1 , M 2 , P 1 ) which enable said treatment to be carried out;   
       characterized in that it comprises a control unit ( 20 ;  120 ;  220 ) comprising a printed circuit board ( 21 ;  121 ;  221 ) with electric and/or electronic devices ( 22 ) mounted thereon, said control unit ( 20 ;  120 ;  220 ) comprising:
 a control and communication section ( 31 ) for communicating with a user interface ( 11 ); 
 a motor driving section ( 32 ;  132 ) for setting and varying the speed of at least a motor and/or a high power loads section ( 28 ) comprising switching devices suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1 , R 1 , R 2 ); and 
 a power section ( 24 ) for supplying power to at least one of said sections ( 28 ,  31 ,  32 ;  132 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . A machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said motor driving section ( 32 ;  132 ) comprises devices suitable for controlling an electric motor (M 1 ; M 2 ), preferably said devices ( 22 ) comprise an inverter. 
     
     
         3 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said control unit ( 20 ;  120 ;  220 ) further comprises a low power loads section ( 27 ) for controlling low power loads (F 1 ; P 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . A machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said low power loads comprise a fan (F 1 ) or a pump (P 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said motor driving section ( 32 ;  132 ) drives an electrical motor (M 1 ) for rotating said laundry container ( 7 ). 
     
     
         6 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said motor driving section ( 32 ;  132 ) drives an electrical motor (M 2 ) of a heat pump compressor (HP). 
     
     
         7 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said high power loads section ( 28 ) suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1 , R 1 , R 2 ) controls a water heater. 
     
     
         8 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said high power loads section ( 28 ) suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1 , R 1 , R 2 ) controls an air heater. 
     
     
         9 . A machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said high power loads section ( 28 ) suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1 , R 1 , R 2 ) controls a second air heater. 
     
     
         10 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said high power loads section ( 28 ) suitable for controlling at least one heater device (H 1 , R 1 , R 2 ) controls an electrical heater of a steamer unit for producing steam which is conveyable into said rotatable laundry container ( 7 ). 
     
     
         11 . A machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said low power loads section ( 27 ) for controlling low power loads (F 1 ; P 1 ) controls a water supply valve and/or a water pump of said steamer unit. 
     
     
         12 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said control unit ( 20 ;  120 ;  220 ) further comprises a sensor section ( 29 ) for controlling at least a temperature sensor (T 1 ) and/or at least a liquid level sensor. 
     
     
         13 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said switching devices comprises electromagnetic or solid-state relays. 
     
     
         14 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said control unit ( 20 ;  120 ;  220 ) further comprises a humidity sensor control section ( 30 ) suitable to detect the degree of humidity and/or of the dryness of said laundry in said container ( 7 ) in a laundry drying machine or in a combined laundry washing and drying machine. 
     
     
         15 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said control and communication section ( 31 ) comprises devices suitable for the communication of power and/or data signals with at least one of the other sections ( 25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  32 ;  132 ). 
     
     
         16 . A machine ( 1 ) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said power section ( 24 ) comprises an input line section ( 25 ) connectable to a mains supply and suitable to reduce and/or rectify the voltage of said main supply. 
     
     
         17 . A machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said power section ( 24 ) further comprises a power supply section ( 26 ) connected to said input line section ( 25 ) and suitable to set the voltage to pre-determined values.