Multi-drum washing machine and drainage control method

Abstract

A multi-drum washing machine drainage control method, the multi-drum washing machine at least comprising a first washing drum and a second washing drum; the method comprising: when the first washing drum reaches a drainage process, determining whether the second washing drum is draining; if yes, then the first washing drum waits for the second washing drum to finish draining before starting to drain; and if not, then determining whether the first washing drum waits for the second washing drum to finish draining before starting to drain. Alternatively, when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, determining whether the second washing drum is draining or dehydrating; if yes, then the first washing drum waits for the second washing drum to finish draining before starting to drain; and if not, then determining whether the first washing drum waits for the second washing drum to finish draining before starting to drain.

1 . A drainage control method of a multi-drum washing machine which at least comprises a first washing drum and a second washing drum, wherein:
 when the first washing drum reaches a drainage process, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum is in a dehydration process at this time,   if the second washing drum is in the dehydration process, the first washing drum waits until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains;   if the second washing drum is not in the dehydration process at this time, it is determined whether or not the first washing drum waits until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains.   
     
     
         2 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: the process to determine whether or not the first washing drum waits until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed and then drains includes:
 determining a time T 32  for reaching the dehydration process of the second washing drum and a time T 33  taken for the second washing drum to dehydrate is, and setting an allowable waiting time T 3 ,   if T 32 +T 33 <T 3 , the first washing drum waiting until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then draining,   otherwise, water in the first washing drum being drained directly.   
     
     
         3 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: when the first washing reaches the drainage process, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum is draining at this time,
 if the second washing drum is draining at the time, the first washing drum waits until a drainage of the second washing drum is completed, and drains,   otherwise, the water in the first washing drum is drained directly.   
     
     
         4 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is compared a time T 12  for reaching a water supply process of the second washing drum and a time T 11  for reaching a next drainage process of the first washing drum,
 if T 12 <T 11 , the first washing drum waits until the second washing drum supplies water,   if T 12 ≧T 11 , the water in the first washing drum is drained directly.   
     
     
         5 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: it is determined whether or not the water in the first washing drum can be reused before comparing the time T 12  for reaching the water supply process of the second washing drum and the time T 11  for reaching the next drainage process of the first washing drum,
 if no, the water in the first washing drum is drained directly,   if yes, it is compared the time T 12  for reaching the water supply process of the second washing drum and the time T 11  for reaching the next drainage process of the first washing drum;   or, it is determined whether or not the water in the first washing drum is reused when the first washing drum waits until the second washing drum supplies water,   if no, the water in the first washing drum is drained directly,   if yes, the water in the first washing drum is drained into the second washing drum for reusing.   
     
     
         6 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein: if the second washing drum is supplying water when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, the time T 12  for reaching the water supply process of the second washing drum is 0, and no need to wait. 
     
     
         7 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 4  wherein: an allowable waiting time T 1  is set,
 T 1 <T 11 , it is compared the time T 12  for reaching the water supply process of the second washing drum and the allowable waiting time T 1 , 
 if T 12 <T 1 , the first washing drum waits until the second washing drum supplies water, 
 if T 12 ≧T 1 , the water in the first washing drum is drained directly. 
 
     
     
         8 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 4  wherein: when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is determined whether or not the process which the second washing drum is in progress or is about to be performed is a water supply for a last rinse,
 if yes, the water in the first washing drum is drained directly, 
 if no, it is continued to be determined whether or not the water in the first washing drum can be reused. 
 
     
     
         9 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 1  wherein: when the second washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is determined whether or not the first washing drum is in the dehydration process at this time,
 if the first washing drum is in the dehydration process, the second washing drum waits until the dehydration process of the first washing drum is completed, and then drains, 
 if the first washing drum is not in the dehydration process at this time, it is determined whether or not to wait until the dehydration process of the first washing drum is completed, and then drains. 
 
     
     
         10 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 1  wherein: when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum is operating at this time,
 if yes, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum is in the dehydration process or is about to execute the dehydration process, 
 if no, the first washing drum directly executes the drainage process. 
 
     
     
         11 . A drainage control method of a multi-drum washing machine which at least comprises a first washing drum and a second washing drum, wherein:
 when the first washing drum reaches a drainage process, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum is in a drainage process or in a dehydration process,   if the second washing drum is in the drainage process or in the dehydration process, the first washing drum waits until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains;   if the second washing drum is not in the drainage process or in the dehydration process, it is determined whether or not the first washing drum needs to wait until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains.   
     
     
         12 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: a process for determining whether or not the first washing drum needs to wait until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains, comprises,
 determining T 31  a time for reaching the drainage process of the second washing drum, a time T 34  taken for the second washing drum to drain, a time T 33  taken for the second washing drum to dehydrate, and a time T 5  for reaching a next drainage process of the first washing drum,   if T 5 <T 31 +T 34 , the water in the first washing drum being drained directly,   otherwise, continuing to be determined whether or not the first washing drum needs to wait until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains.   
     
     
         13 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: a process for determining whether or not the first washing drum needs to wait until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then drains, comprises
 determining the time T 31  for reaching the drainage process of the second washing drum, the time T 34  taken for the second washing drum to drain, and the time T 33  taken for the second washing drum to dehydrate,   setting an allowable waiting time T 3 ,   if T 31 +T 34 +T 33 <T 3 , the first washing drum waiting until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, and then draining,   otherwise, the water in the first washing drum being drained directly.   
     
     
         14 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is firstly determined whether or not the second washing drum is operating,
 if no, the first washing drum directly executes the drainage process,   if yes, it is continued to be determined whether or not the second washing drum is in the drainage process or in the dehydration process.   
     
     
         15 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: if it is determined the first washing drums waits until the dehydration process of the second washing drum is completed, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum needs to supply water after the dehydration process is completed,
 if water supply is not required, the water in the first washing drum is drained directly,   if water supply is required, it is determined whether or not the water in the first washing drum can be reused,   if the water can be reused, the water in the first washing drum is drained into the second washing drum.   
     
     
         16 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: when the first washing drum reaches the drainage process and if the second washing drum is supplying water, it is determined whether or not the water in the first washing drum can be reused,
 if the water can be reused, the water in the first washing drum is drained into the second washing drum.   
     
     
         17 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein: if the process which second washing drum is in or is about to perform is a water supply for a last rinse, the water in the first washing drum cannot be reused. 
     
     
         18 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein: if the first washing drum is in a drainage of a last rinse, the water in the first washing drum cannot be reused. 
     
     
         19 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein: the water in the first washing drum cannot be reused,
 if the first washing drum is in a washing process when it drains, and the second washing drum is in a rinse process when it supplies water; or   if the first and second washing drums are both in the washing process when the first washing drum drains and the second washing drum supplies water, and washing times of the first washing drum is less than washing times of the second washing drum; or   if the first and second washing drums are both in the rinse process when the first washing drum drains and the second washing drum supplies water, and rinsing times of the first washing drum is less than rinsing times of the second washing drum; or   if a turbidity of the water in the first washing drum exceeds a set value.   
     
     
         20 . The drainage control method of the multi-drum washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein: when the second washing drum reaches the drainage process, it is determined whether or not the first washing drum is in the drainage process or in the dehydration process at this time,
 if the first washing drum is in the drainage process or in the dehydration process, the second washing drum waits until the dehydration of the first washing drum is completed, and then drains,   if the first washing drum is not in the drainage process or in the dehydration process, it is determined whether or not the second washing drum needs to wait until the dehydration process of the first washing drum is completed, and then drains.