Abstract: A method for detecting entrapment of an article within a laundry washing machine. The method includes rotating the drum to a target rotation speed, determining a respective drum motor torque value for each rotation, determining a distribution characteristic value of the drum motor torque values, comparing the distribution characteristic value to a predetermined threshold value, performing a correction operation to address an entrapment condition upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is above the predetermined threshold value, and proceeding with the laundry washing cycle upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is below the predetermined threshold value.

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 for detecting entrapment of an article within a laundry washing machine. The method includes rotating the drum to a target rotation speed, determining a respective drum motor torque value for each rotation, determining a distribution characteristic value of the drum motor torque values, comparing the distribution characteristic value to a predetermined threshold value, performing a correction operation to address an entrapment condition upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is above the predetermined threshold value, and proceeding with the laundry washing cycle upon determining that the distribution characteristic value is below the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for the determination of a laundry weight in a laundry treatment appliance. The method includes selecting a laundry program in the laundry treatment appliance; starting the selected laundry program; sensing a plurality of parameters indicating operating conditions of the laundry treatment appliance during the laundry program; and predicating a weight of the laundry present within the laundry treatment appliance based on said plurality of parameters by means of a data-driven soft sensor.

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 for the determination of a laundry weight in a laundry treatment appliance. The method includes selecting a laundry program in the laundry treatment appliance; starting the selected laundry program; sensing a plurality of parameters indicating operating conditions of the laundry treatment appliance during the laundry program; and predicating a weight of the laundry present within the laundry treatment appliance based on said plurality of parameters by means of a data-driven soft sensor.

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 dryer (1) has a laundry drum (3) which is designed to rotate about an longitudinal axis (6). An air recirculating conduit (10) is connected to the laundry drum (3). A heater device (10) is located along air recirculating conduit (10) to heat the airflow. A rotatable fan (11) is located along air recirculating conduit (10) to produce an airflow flowing through drum (3). The fan (11) is designed to be rotated in a main and secondary direction of rotation for providing different air flow rates. An electric motor (14) is mechanically connected with the fan (11) and the drum (3) for rotating the fan (11) and drum (3), simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier to dry delicate laundry in a drum of the rotatable-drum laundry drier. The method includes the steps of feeding drying air into the drum; rotating the drum at a variable rotation speed about an axis of rotation; rotating the drum at a first rotation speed higher than, or equal to a rotation speed, at which centrifugal acceleration of the inner surface of the drum equals gravitational acceleration; making interruptions in rotation of the drum at the first rotation speed; and performing, at each interruption, one or more rotation cycles at a second rotation speed, so that, at each cycle, at least part of the laundry slides/tumbles slowly inside the drum while remaining in contact with the inner surface of the drum and/or another part of the laundry contacting the drum.

Abstract: A method for controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier to dry laundry in a drum is provided. The control method includes the steps of memorizing, in a memory device of the laundry drier, a comparison threshold variable in time according to a predetermined profile, and, at predetermined drying times in the laundry drying cycle, measuring an electric quantity indicating the moisture in the laundry at the drying time; comparing, at each drying time, the measured electric quantity with the memorized comparison threshold corresponding to the drying time; and determining the end of drying cycle time on the basis of this comparison.

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 is provided for controlling a drying operation of a rotatable-drum laundry dryer (1) having a rotatable drum (3) for loading laundry (5) and at least an electrode sensor (22) for sensing dryness of the laundry (5). The method includes the step of detecting the presence/absence of moist laundry (5) inside the rotatable drum (3) by the electrode sensor (22). If a presence of moist laundry inside the rotatable drum (3) is detected, a drying cycle is started. The dryness of the laundry (5) is sensed during the drying cycle and a cycle time (TD) at which the sensed dryness reaches a preset dryness threshold is measured. If the cycle time (TD) is lower than a preset dryness threshold time (Sm), the drying cycle is continued for a first additional time (D1), and the drying cycle is stopped at the end of the first additional time (D1).

Abstract: A laundry dryer (1) has a laundry drum (3) which is designed to rotate about an longitudinal axis (6). An air recirculating conduit (10) is connected to the laundry drum (3). A heater device (10) is located along air recirculating conduit (10) to heat the airflow. A rotatable fan (11) is located along air recirculating conduit (10) to produce an airflow flowing through drum (3). The fan (11) is designed to be rotated in a main and secondary direction of rotation for providing different air flow rates. An electric motor (14) is mechanically connected with the fan (11) and the drum (3) for rotating the fan (11) and drum (3), simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier to dry laundry in a drum is provided. The control method includes the steps of memorizing, in a memory device of the laundry drier, a comparison threshold variable in time according to a predetermined profile, and, at predetermined drying times in the laundry drying cycle, measuring an electric quantity indicating the moisture in the laundry at the drying time; comparing, at each drying time, the measured electric quantity with the memorized comparison threshold corresponding to the drying time; and determining the end of drying cycle time on the basis of this comparison.

Abstract: A method of controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier to dry delicate laundry in a drum of the rotatable-drum laundry drier. The method includes the steps of feeding drying air into the drum; rotating the drum at a variable rotation speed about an axis of rotation; rotating the drum at a first rotation speed higher than, or equal to a rotation speed, at which centrifugal acceleration of the inner surface of the drum equals gravitational acceleration; making interruptions in rotation of the drum at the first rotation speed; and performing, at each interruption, one or more rotation cycles at a second rotation speed, so that, at each cycle, at least part of the laundry slides/tumbles slowly inside the drum while remaining in contact with the inner surface of the drum and/or another part of the laundry contacting the drum.

Abstract: There is described a control system (15) for controlling unbalance of the wash assembly (5) in a vertical-rotation-axis washing machine (1), wherein a wash assembly (5) is housed inside a casing (2), and has a wash drum (8) rotating about an axis of rotation (R) substantially parallel to a vertical reference axis (V), and an electric drive unit (12) for rotating the wash drum (8) about the relative axis of rotation (R); said control system has first computing blocks (19, 20, 21) for determining a number of operating quantities (Cm(t), J, alpha (t)) associated with rotation of the wash drum (8), and for determining, as a function of the quantities, the time pattern of the amplitude (h(t)) of vertical oscillation of the centre of mass (B) of the wash assembly (5) in a first direction substantially parallel to the vertical reference axis (V); and a second computing block (23) for determining the maximum amplitude (H) of vertical oscillation of the wash assembly (5) within a given time interval (T); the second co

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier (1) for drying laundry. The rotatable-drum laundry drier (1) has a rotatable drum (3) for laundry (5) and moisture sensors (22) generating an electrical signal (SM) indicative: of the loaded laundry moisture/quantity.

Abstract: Laundry washing machine (1) provided with a casing (2) and with a vibration damper (7) which is fixed to the casing (2) so as to reduce vibrations transmitted to the latter; the vibration damper (7) comprising a supporting frame (8) rigidly fixed to the casing (2), an oscillating mass (9) housed inside the supporting frame (8), and at least one block (10) of viscoelastic polymeric gel interposed between the oscillating mass (9) and the supporting frame (8) to floating support the oscillating mass (9).

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.