ITUB20154819A1 - System for the treatment of garments in textile material. - Google Patents

Description

TÌTOLO: “System for the treatment of garments in textile material”.

DESCRIPTION

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a system for treating garments made of textile material.

In particular, the present invention relates to a system capable of identifying the type of garments to be treated and selecting a treatment program for an appliance such as a washing machine, a dryer or a washer-dryer.

Technique stage

The state of the art shows devices and washing machines capable of identifying the type of garments to be washed so as to determine the most suitable washing program. DE 4309914 describes the coupling between a micro-computer and an optical scanner. The fabric, equipped with an optically readable label containing an identification code (barcode), is automatically recognized by the optical scanner, which in turn sends the information relating to the fabric to the microcomputer. The latter automatically identifies the optimal washing program for that specific fabric. However, this technical solution does not allow direct detection of the type of fabric without a label with barcode.

EP 612996 describes a method and an instrument for the optical detection of the typology of a tissue, by means of spectroscopy with diffused infrared reflected radiation, and the consequent classification of tissues. In particular, in the case of an iron, the instrument allows to identify the characteristics of the fabric in order to modify the surface temperature of the iron.

WO 2004053220 describes a method for identifying the parameters of the fabrics (type, color) being washed by means of spectrometric analysis of the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the fabric and comparison with the characteristic spectra of the reference materials. This document also describes the automatic choice of the optimal type of treatment for the dirty fabric.

WO 2001046509 describes the identification of the type c of the color of the fabrics by analyzing the reflected infrared radiation (IR). In the specific case of a washing machine, there is an instant assessment of the fabrics in the washing machine so as to allow the choice of the optimal washing program in order to avoid damage and discoloration of the garments.

The systems described above use complex algorithms which process the spectrum of the reflected electromagnetic radiation to allow the recognition of the analyzed tissue. These algorithms require a processing unit with a considerable calculation capacity that determines an increase in the overall cost of the household appliance, often considered by users to be unjustified in the face of the improvement introduced especially in medium-low range appliances. Up to now this has limited the spread of such systems.

Purpose of the present invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a system which allows to overcome the drawbacks of the known art, reducing the costs of the system and making it usable even for users equipped with household appliances without electronics with the necessary computing power.

The object is achieved with a system which is characterized in accordance with claim 1 which follows.

Advantages of the present invention

The present invention in one of its embodiments allows a user to analyze a garment of textile material by means of a single portable device having all the necessary functions to identify the treatment program to be selected for the garment analyzed.

The present invention allows, in a second embodiment thereof, a user to analyze a garment of textile material by means of a portable device and, by means of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and an evaluation unit, to identify the readjustment program. to be selected for the garment analyzed.

The present invention also applies to household appliances without apparel analysis devices and related electronics for recognizing the spectrum of the analyzed fabrics.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be better described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof given only as an indication and not as a limitation and illustrated on the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the system of the present invention,

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the system of the present invention,

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the system of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The system illustrated in the accompanying figures must be understood as represented schematically, not necessarily to scale and not necessarily with the proportions shown between the various constituent elements.

Even if not explicitly highlighted, the individual characteristics described with reference to the specific embodiments must be understood as accessory and / or interchangeable with other characteristics, described with reference to other embodiments.

With reference to Figure 1, a first embodiment of the system 1 for treating garments made of textile material 2 is shown. In this first embodiment, the system comprises a household appliance 10 and a portable apparatus 100. This apparatus 100 comprises a frame inside which the means 20, 30 and 40 necessary to analyze the fabric 2 are located, Advantageously, in the first embodiment the portable apparatus 100 integrates all those functions for analyzing the fabric 2 so that a user 3 does not need to have a plurality of devices. .

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, on the other hand, a second embodiment of the system 1 is shown, in which the means 20, 30 and 40, necessary to analyze the tissue 2, can be independent of each other and / or incorporated into the fabric. 'one into the other as explained in more detail below. In this second embodiment, the user 3 has several devices available so as to have a lower access cost than the single device 100 incorporating all the functions.

According to one aspect, the household appliance 10 comprises a basket 11 to hold one or more items of textile material. This household appliance 10 can be a washing machine, a dryer or a washer-dryer for washing, drying or washing and drying, respectively, the garments made of textile material housed in the drum 11. The household appliance 10 is therefore equipped with an electric motor for rotation of the drum and with members (not shown in the figures) for treating the garments made of textile material housed in the drum 11, in particular members for washing and / or drying.

The household appliance 10 also includes a program selection unit 12 which allows you to select a garment treatment program from a plurality of selectable treatment programs. This selection can be manual, i.e. it can be set by the user using a knob or a touch screen, or automatic. The automatic selection mode will be described in detail in the rest of the description with reference to an embodiment of the present invention.

The first means 20 are configured to analyze a garment made of textile material 2, in particular to detect the spectrum of the garment 2 subjected to analysis.

The first means 20, which with reference to Figures 2 and 3 take the form of a portable device 20 separate from the apparatus 100, comprise a generation element 21 for generating electromagnetic radiation and directing the electromagnetic radiation towards an end 2 made of material textile to be analyzed, a receiving element 22 for receiving the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the garment 2 made of textile material towards which the electromagnetic radiation has been directed and generating a first signal SI representative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation and a transmitting element 23 for transmitting to said second means 30 the first signal YES received by the receiving element 22.

In the continuation of the present description, the term portable means a device that can be gripped by the hand of a user 3 without particular efforts.

In accordance with one embodiment, the generation element 21 is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the IR frequency range, in particular the near IR (N1R), ie from 800 mn to 2,500 nm. In particular, the generation element 21 is configured to generate an optical beam, preferably an IR optical beam, and direct this optical beam on the head 2 made of textile material to be analyzed.

In use, the garment 2 in textile material irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the generation element 21 reflects a part of the incident electromagnetic radiation. This reflected electromagnetic radiation is detected by the receiving element 22, for example a photodiode, and converted into the first signal SI representative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. The receiving element 22 is connected with the transmitting element 23 which is configured to receive the first signal SI from the receiving element 22 and transmit it to said second means 30 by means of a wireless transmission channel, for example via Wifi , NFC, bluetooth.

The second means 30, which with reference to Figures 2 and 3 take the form of a portable apparatus separate from the apparatus 100, comprise a receiving element 31 for receiving the first signal SI transmitted by the first means 20, in particular from the element transmission 23, cd a sending element 32 for sending the first signal S 1 to the evaluation unit 40.

The second means 30 therefore act as an interface between the first means 20 and the evaluation unit 40 arranged to detect the nature of the garment 2 made of analyzed textile material.

The second means 30, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, can be a smartphone, a tablet or another type of mobile terminal equipped with wireless communication means which allow said second means 30 to communicate wirelessly with the first means 20.

The evaluation unit 40 is in signal communication with the second means 30 and is configured to detect the nature of the garment 2 made of analyzed textile material, by means of the first means 20, such as for example the nature of the fabric, the color, but also the quantity and nature of the dirt on the garment.

The evaluation unit 40 is therefore configured to process the first signal SI received by the second means 30 to generate, as a function of the first signal SI, a second signal S2 representative of a program of the household appliance 10 to be selected for the item 2 in material textile analyzed.

In particular, the evaluation limit 40 comprises a receiving element 41 which receives the first signal S1 from the sending element 32 from the second means 30, a processing element 42 which processes the first signal S1 to generate the second signal S2 and a sending element 43 which sends the second signal S2 to the second means 30.

Advantageously, the evaluation unit 40 comprises an evaluation algorithm or software program 44 which is resident in a portion of the memory area of the evaluation unit 40. The evaluation software 44 is configured to process the first signal SI with the reference spectra stored in a database of characteristic spectra of reference materials. This database is resident, for example, in another portion of the memory area of the evaluation unit 40. This evaluation software 44 is suitable for identifying the type of material of chapter 2 analyzed and identifying the treatment program associated with the material identified so as to generate the second signal S2.

According to one aspect, the evaluation unit 40 is therefore arranged to compare the first signal SI with the reference spectra stored in the storage unit through the evaluation software 44 to identify the type of material of the analyzed item 2 and identify the program treatment associated with the identified material so as to generate the second signal S2.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the evaluation unit 40 is incorporated in the second means 30.

In this scenario the evaluation unit 40 can exploit the processing unit of the second means 30 to process the first signal S1 and generate the second signal S2. Advantageously, the software program 44 is also incorporated in the second means 30.

Alternatively, the database of characteristic spectra of reference materials and the software that associates a treatment program to each type of textile material of the garment 2 analyzed can be stored in a portion of the memory of a remote computer to which the second means 30 can log in using your mobile network connection.

In accordance with an embodiment, be it that of Figure 1 or of Figures 2 and 3, associated with the manual selection mode of a program of the household appliance 10, the second means 30, whether incorporating or not incorporating the evaluation Trinity 40, they comprise a user interface 33 and an interface element 34 which controls the user interface 33 to provide a user, via the user interface 33, with information representative of the second signal S2.

For this purpose, the interface element 34 is configured to receive the second signal S2 from the evaluation unit 40, in particular from the sending element 43 of the evaluation unit 40, and to process this second signal S2 to control the user interface. 33. In order to receive the second signal S2, the second means 30 are provided with a receiving element, for example coinciding with the receiving element 31 or a distinct receiving element 35.

The user interface 33 is advantageously a graphical interface, for example a display. In particular, the graphic interface 33 can display the program to be selected.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous for users 3 who have a household appliance 10 without wireless communication systems for which the selection of the program must be carried out manually by the user through the second means 30.

According to another embodiment, associated with the automatic selection mode of a program of the household appliance 10, the program selection unit 12 of the household appliance 10 is connected to a receiving element 13 configured to receive the second signal S2 by the second means 30. The second means 30, whether incorporating or not incorporating the evaluation unit 40, therefore comprise a transmission element, represented by the sending element 32 or by a separate sending element, for transmitting the second signal S2 to the household appliance 10. Upon receipt of the second signal S2, the program selection unit 12 selects the program associated with the second signal S2 received and activates the operation of the household appliance with the selected program. Advantageously, the control of the selection unit 12 can be carried out by the second means 30 which can send to the selection unit 12 not only the second signal S2 but also a control signal of the household appliance 10.

This embodiment can therefore be used by a user 3 who has a household appliance 10 provided with wireless communication systems so that the second means 30 can communicate directly with the household appliance 10 and send the second signal S2 to the household appliance 10 to select the treatment program. leaders associated with it.

According to an alternative embodiment, the evaluation unit 40 can be a unit separate from the second means 30 and from the household appliance 10 or incorporated directly into the appliance 10.

In the embodiment in which the evaluation unit 40 is a separate unit from the second means 30 and from the household appliance 10, the evaluation unit 40 can be a processing unit of a remote computer.

The connection of the second means 30 with the evaluation unit 40, in the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, can take place via a network connection, for example a mobile network connection, or via a WIFL connection. evaluation unit 40 is incorporated in the household appliance 10, a processing unit must be provided in the household appliance 10 to process the first signal SI and generate the second signal S2.

Also in this case it is advantageous to incorporate the software program 44 in the processing unit of the household appliance 10 or to provide access to a remote computer in which to store the database of characteristic spectra of reference materials as well as the program 44 which associates a treatment to each type of textile material of the item 2 analyzed.

If the user 3 analyzes a group of garments made of textile material in order to select a single program of the household appliance 10, the evaluation unit 40 is arranged to generate respective second signals S2 representative of corresponding treatment programs and process these second signals S2 to identify a single treatment program suitable for the group of animals analyzed.

A person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific contingent needs, can make numerous modifications and variations to the system described above, all of which are however within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS 1. System (1) for the treatment of garments in textile material, comprising: - a household appliance (10) for treating garments made of textile material according to a treatment program that can be selected from a plurality of available programs, characterized in that it comprises: - a portable apparatus (100) comprising first means (20) for analyzing at least one garment (2) made of textile material; - second means (30) in signal communication with said first means (20); - an evaluation unit (40) in signal communication with second means (30) to detect the nature of said at least one garment (2) in textile material analyzed by said first means (20), - said first means (20) being configured for: - generate electromagnetic radiation and direct the generated electromagnetic radiation towards the garment (2) in the textile material to be analyzed, - receive the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the garment (2) made of textile material to be analyzed and generate a first signal (SI) representative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation, - transmitting the first signal (SI) to said second means (30), - said second means (30) being configured for: - receive the first signal (SI) transmitted by said first means (20) and send the first signal (SI) to the evaluation unit (40), - said evaluation unit (40) being configured for: - receiving and processing the first signal (SI) to generate, as a function of the first signal (SI), a second signal (S2) representative of a household appliance treatment program (10) to be selected for Γ at least one item (2) in analyzed textile material. System for treating garments made of textile material according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation unit (40) comprises an evaluation software program (44) which is configured to compare the first signal (SI) with the spectra references stored in a memory portion of said evaluation unit (40) to identify the type of textile material of the garment (2) analyzed and identify the treatment program associated with the textile material thus identified by generally the second signal (S2). System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein said evaluation unit (40) is incorporated in said second means (30). System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to claim 1, wherein said second means (30) comprise a user interface (33) arranged to provide a user with information representative of the treatment of the chemical electrode (10) to be selected associated with the second signal (S2). System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to claim 4, wherein said second means (30) comprise: - a receiving element (31) for receiving the first signal (SI) transmitted by said first means (20), - a sending element (32) to send the first signal (SI) to the evaluation unit (40). 6. System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation unit (40) comprises: - a receiving element (41) for receiving the first signal (SI) from said second means (30), - a processing element (42) for processing the first signal (SI) to generate the second signal (S2), - a sending element (43) for sending the second signal (S2) to said second means (30). System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first means (20) comprise: - a generating element (21) for generating an electromagnetic radiation and direct the electromagnetic radiation towards at least one garment (2) made of textile material to be analyzed, - a receiving element (22) for receiving the electromagnetic radiation reflected by the garment (2) made of textile material and generating a first signal SI representative of the reflected electromagnetic radiation, - my transmission element (23) for transmitting the first signal (SI) to said second means (30). 8. System (1) for the treatment of garments made of textile material according to claim 1, wherein: - the household appliance (10) includes a program selection unit (12) to select a garment treatment program from the plurality of treatment programs available, - the program selection unit (12) is connected to a receiving element (13) configured to receive the second signal (S2) from said second means (30), - upon receipt of the second signal (S2), the program selection unit (12) selects the program associated with the second signal (S2) received and activates the operation of the appliance (10) according to the selected program. System (1) for treating garments made of textile material according to claim 1, wherein said portable apparatus (100) comprises a frame within which said first means (20), said second means (30) are housed and said evaluation unit (40). 10. System (1) for the treatment of garments in textile material according to claim 2 or 9, in which: - Γ evaluation unit (40) is incorporated in said second means (30), - said second means (30) can be connected to a remote computer equipped with a storage unit in which a database of characteristic spectra of reference materials and a database that associates a treatment program to each type of textile material of the garment are stored (2) analyzed. System (1) for the treatment of garments made of textile material according to claim 2, wherein: - the evaluation unit (40) is a processing unit of a remote computer that can be connected to said second means (30) via a wireless connection.