Washing machine and method of increasing balance of the drum of the washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine having a cabinet, a drum for receiving laundry from its open end where the drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis within the cabinet, a balancer having a mass channel, and a balancing weight where the mass channel extends in a direction from the lateral surface of the drum to the inside of the drum and receives the balancing weight and the balancing weight is movable within the mass channel along the direction of the extension of the mass channel is disclosed. The invention also relates to a method of increasing the balance of a drum rotating along its longitudinal axis within a washing machine, the method determining the unbalanced load of the laundry received by the drum, and moving a balancing weight in a direction between the lateral surface and the longitudinal axis of the drum.

1 . A washing machine ( 1 ) comprising;
 a cabinet ( 4 );   a drum ( 2 ) for receiving laundry from its open end, wherein the drum ( 2 ) is rotatable around its longitudinal axis ( 8 ) within the cabinet ( 4 ),   a balancer ( 5 ) comprising a mass channel ( 3 ) and a balancing weight ( 6 ), wherein the mass channel ( 3 ) at least extends in a direction from the lateral surface of the drum ( 2 ) to the inside of the drum ( 2 ) and receives the balancing weight ( 6 ), and the balancing weight ( 6 ) is movable within the mass channel ( 3 ) along the direction of the extension of the mass channel ( 3 ).   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine ( 1 ) comprises a sensory circuit for determining the unbalanced load of the laundry received within the drum ( 2 ); and a positioner for changing the position of the balancing weight ( 6 ) within the mass channel ( 3 ) from a first distance perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) to a second distance perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ), in response to the determination of the unbalanced load determined by the sensory circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the balancing weight ( 6 ) comprises a ferrimagnetic material and the positioner ( 7 ) comprises a magnet (M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 ) for changing the position of the balancing weight ( 6 ) within the mass channel ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the positioner ( 7 ) comprises means for turning the magnet (M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 ) for changing the position of the balancing weight ( 6 ) within the mass channel ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the magnet (M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 ) is an electromagnet. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensory circuit is arranged to take a first balance measurement when the balancing weight ( 6 ) is at the first distance from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) and take a second balance measurement when the balancing weight ( 6 ) is at the second distance from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ). 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the positioner ( 7 ) is adapted to move the balancing weight ( 6 ) to a distance from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ), where the taken balance measurement is higher. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of the balancers ( 5 ). 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two balancers ( 5 ) are located at two different distances along the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) from the open end of the drum ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the balancers ( 5 ) are located, such that the angular distances between the balancers ( 5 ) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) are equal. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the balancers ( 5 ) are located such that the angular distances between the balancers ( 5 ) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) is 90°. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass channel ( 3 ) extends into the drum ( 2 ) in a direction between the lateral surface and the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) perpendicularly. 
     
     
         13 . A method of increasing the balance of a drum ( 2 ) rotating along its longitudinal axis ( 8 ) within a washing machine ( 1 ), the method comprising
 determining the unbalanced load of the laundry received by the drum ( 2 ); and   moving a balancing weight ( 5 ) in a direction between the lateral surface and the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ).   
     
     
         14 . The method of increasing the balance of a drum according to  claim 13 , wherein determining a position of the unbalanced load of the laundry received within the drum ( 2 ) comprises taking a first balance measurement when the balancing weight ( 6 ) is at a first distance from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ), taking a second balance measurement when the balancing weight ( 6 ) is at a second distance from the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) and comparing the first balance measurement and the second balance measurement. 
     
     
         15 . The method of increasing the balance of a drum according to  claim 14 , wherein the method comprises moving the balancing weight ( 6 ) in a direction between the lateral surface and the longitudinal axis ( 8 ) of the drum ( 2 ) to where the balance measurement is higher.