Abstract: A method to control a laundry drying machine having a rotatable drum, a motor for rotating the drum, and a hot air generator for supplying a drying airflow to the drum. The method includes: collecting physicals quantities during an initial phase of said drying cycle, performing an estimation of polynomial coefficients of a cubic polynomial model indicative of an estimated change of a laundry moisture value over the time based on respective linear polynomial models comprising the collected physicals quantities, performing an estimation of the laundry moisture value by the cubic polynomial model based on the estimated polynomial coefficients, and controlling the motor and hot air generator during a drying cycle, based on one or more physicals quantities associated with the drum loaded with laundry, the electric motor and the hot air generator.

Abstract: A method to control a laundry machine. The method includes: controlling an electric motor to rotate a drum to change the rotational speed according to a prefixed reference speed profile comprising an acceleration ramp from a low speed to a prefixed high speed and a constant speed phase at the high speed, sampling first torque values generated by the motor during the acceleration ramp according to a first sample time, sampling second torque values generated by the motor during the constant speed phase according to a second sample time, calculating a third value indicative of an average torque being calculated on the basis of the second torque values, determining a fourth value by performing an integral function with respect to the first torque values less the third value, and determining the amount of laundry load on the basis of the fourth value.

Abstract: A method to control a laundry machine. The method includes: controlling an electric motor to rotate a drum to change the rotational speed according to a prefixed reference speed profile comprising an acceleration ramp from a low speed to a prefixed high speed and a constant speed phase at the high speed, sampling first torque values generated by the motor during the acceleration ramp according to a first sample time, sampling second torque values generated by the motor during the constant speed phase according to a second sample time, calculating a third value indicative of an average torque being calculated on the basis of the second torque values, determining a fourth value by performing an integral function with respect to the first torque values less the third value, and determining the amount of laundry load on the basis of the fourth value.

Abstract: A laundry drying apparatus, in particular dryer or washing machine having drying function, has: a cabinet, a control unit (4) adapted to control a laundry drying cycle according to at least one drying program, a drum (18) rotatably arranged within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be dried, a drying air channel (20) adapted at least to guide drying air into the drum (18), and a heater unit (6) arranged at or in the drying air channel (20) and being adapted to heat the drying air. The heater unit (6) has two or more heating levels. A temperature sensor unit is adapted to detect the temperature of the drying air and to provide at least one temperature signal to the control unit (4). The control unit (4) is adapted to control the heater unit (6) to heat the drying air at a selected one of the two or more heating levels.

Abstract: A laundry drying apparatus, in particular dryer or washing machine having drying function, has: a cabinet, a control unit (4) adapted to control a laundry drying cycle according to at least one drying program, a drum (18) rotatably arranged within the cabinet for receiving laundry to be dried, a drying air channel (20) adapted at least to guide drying air into the drum (18), and a heater unit (6) arranged at or in the drying air channel (20) and being adapted to heat the drying air. The heater unit (6) has two or more heating levels. A temperature sensor unit is adapted to detect the temperature of the drying air and to provide at least one temperature signal to the control unit (4). The control unit (4) is adapted to control the heater unit (6) to heat the drying air at a selected one of the two or more heating levels.

Abstract: A method of sensing the motion of the wash assembly (3) of a washing machine (1) due to the dynamic unbalance of the laundry drum assembly (6), and which comprises the steps of: increasing the rotation speed (?) of a laundry drum (6) to a first rotation speed (?DIST); determining a first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF) related to the time pattern of the values of an unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt; increasing the rotation speed (?) of the laundry drum (6) by a predetermined value (??) determining, at each increase (??) in rotation speed (?), a second parameter (ALF; AHF) related to the time pattern of the values of the unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt filtered at the predetermined filtration frequency (LF; HF); calculating the difference (TdynLF; TdynHF) between the second parameter (ALF; AHF) and the first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF).

Abstract: A method measures the electric power of a universal electric motor (4) connected to an electric power mains (6) by a Triac (7) and supplied by sinusoidal alternating voltage (V(t)). The method determines a first (ton) and a second (toff) instant at which the current (I(t)) supplied to the motor (4) passes from a zero value to a value other than zero. The current supplied to the motor (4) at a third instant between the first (ton) and second (toff) instant is measured. A fitting current time pattern (f(t)) approximating the real time pattern of the current (I(t)), and which has a zero current value at the first (ton) and second (toff) instant, and a current value equal to a sampled current at the third instant (tin), is determined. The mean electric power is calculated on the basis of the fitting current time pattern (f(t)).

Abstract: A method for estimating the moment of inertia of a rotating unit of a washing or washing-and-drying machine comprising the steps of: establishing one or more linear parameters; rotating the drum of the rotating unit in such a way as to reach a set of speeds of a pre-set value; once each speed of a pre-set value is reached, detecting the value of the torque provided to the rotating unit; and finally estimating the moment of inertia of the rotating unit through a linear combination of the torques detected and by means of the linear parameters.

Abstract: A method for estimating the moment of inertia of a rotating unit of a washing or washing-and-drying machine comprising the steps of: establishing one or more linear parameters; rotating the drum of the rotating unit in such a way as to reach a set of speeds of a pre-set value; once each speed of a pre-set value is reached, detecting the value of the torque provided to the rotating unit; and finally estimating the moment of inertia of the rotating unit through a linear combination of the torques detected and by means of the linear parameters.

Abstract: A method of measuring the electric power of a universal electric motor (4) connected to an electric power mains (6) by a Triac (7) and supplied by sinusoidal alternating voltage (V(t)), the method determining a first (ton) and a second (toff) instant at which the current (I(t)) supplied to the motor (4) passes from a zero value to a value other than zero; measuring the current supplied to the motor (4) at a third instant between the first (ton) and second (toff) instant; determining a fitting current time pattern (f(t)) approximating the real time pattern of the current (I(t)), and which has a zero current value at the first (ton) and second (toff) instant, and a current value equal to a sampled current at the third instant (tin); and calculating the mean electric power on the basis of the fitting current time pattern (f(t)).

Abstract: A method of sensing the motion of the wash assembly (3) of a washing machine (1) due to the dynamic unbalance of the laundry drum assembly (6), and which comprises the steps of: increasing the rotation speed (?) of a laundry drum (6) to a first rotation speed (?DIST); determining a first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF) related to the time pattern of the values of an unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt; increasing the rotation speed (?) of the laundry drum (6) by a predetermined value (??) determining, at each increase (??) in rotation speed (?), a second parameter (ALF; AHF) related to the time pattern of the values of the unbalance function A=T?Jd?/dt filtered at the predetermined filtration frequency (LF; HF); calculating the difference (TdynLF; TdynHF) between the second parameter (ALF; AHF) and to the first parameter (TFRICTION; AHFREF).