[001] The present invention relates to a washer/dryer and a control method thereof wherein the laundry is dried effectively without being damaged.

[002] In washer/dryers the laundry is dried by utilizing various heaters. One of the most efficient methods utilized for removing the moisture in the laundry is performing the drying process by using microwave energy. The microwave energy generated via a magnetron, radiating energy with a suitable wave length provides for removing the moisture without heating the laundry.

[003] The most important problem encountered in applications using the microwave energy as the heat source is the formation of an arc damaging the laundry when drying laundry with metal accessories like zippers, buttons etc., as the microwave energy interacts with the metal accessories. In the current state-of-the-art, there are various applications devised in order to overcome this adversity and to carry out an effective drying process.

[004] Another problem encountered in drying applications utilizing microwave energy as the heat source, is turning off the microwave energy when the drum stops in order to prevent the laundry from being damaged. In this case, the drying process is prolonged. In the case when the microwave energy is not turned off, utilizing constant and high powered microwave energy when the drum stops, the region around the metal accessories turn yellow due to overheating or burn completely damaging the cloth.

[005] In the state-of-the-art British Patent Application no. GB2217824, a dryer is described wherein microwave irradiation means are used for the drying process. In this embodiment, the intensity of the microwave irradiation in the drum is changed in proportion to the amount of moisture contained within the clothes. As the amount of moisture in the clothes decreases, the level of microwave irradiation is also decreased.

[006] In the state of the art British Patent Application no. GB2375811, the power of the magnetron can be decreased incrementally by monitoring the temperature and pressure within the dryer.

[007] In the state-of-the-art United States Patent no. US5321897, the energy output from the magnetrons is cut when the drum stops rotating, preventing the generation of microwave energy.

[008] In the state-of-the-art United States Patent no. US5555641, a description is given of a dryer wherein the microwave energy source and the auxiliary heaters are switched on and off according to the temperature variations inside the drum.

[009] The state-of-the-art Turkish Patent Application no. TR200301241 describes a washer/dryer (1), comprising a microwave energy source, wherein the moisture content

of the laundry in the drying cycle is detected by utilizing a gas sensor, a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor, whereby the possible conditions of burning or melting of the laundry are detected ahead of time.

[010] The object of the present invention is to design a washer/dryer comprising a microwave energy source, wherein the clothes having metal accessories are dried effectively without being yellowed or burnt.

[011] The washer/dryer designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where :

[012] Figure 1 - is perspective view of a washer/dryer.

[013] Figure 2 - is the graph showing the change in the power of the microwave energy source, motion of the drum and the moisture content of the laundry in time.

[014] Elements shown in the figures are numbered as follows:

[015] 1. Washer/dryer

[016] 2. Drum

[017] 3. Microwave energy source

[018] 4. Heater

[019] The washer/dryer (1) comprises a drum (2) into which the laundry is placed and rotating around an axis, a microwave energy source (3) utilized as a heat source, generating microwave energy and radiating it inside the drum (2), which is actuated at a lower power level, when the drum (2) is motionless and the metal accessories on the clothes are overheated, than when the drum (2) is rotating, so that the laundry, especially the laundry with metal accessories, can be dried utilizing a microwave energy source (3) without being damaged (Figure 1).

[020] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power

(Pdrum_motionless) applied by the microwave energy source (3) when the drum is motionless and the power (Pdrum_rotating) applied by the microwave energy source (3) when the drum is rotating is changed according to the change in the moisture content inside the laundry during the drying process (Figure 2).

[021] In this embodiment of the present invention, the microwave energy source (3) is controlled by the method explained below :

[022] At the start of the drying process, the power values (Pdrum_motionless) to be applied by the microwave energy source (3) when the drum (2) is motionless and the power values (Pdrum_rotating) to be applied by the microwave energy source (3) when the drum (2) is rotating are assigned, as determined by the producer, according to the moisture content of the laundry. Simultaneously the motion of the drum (2) is controlled, if the drum (2) is rotating, the microwave energy source (3) is being actuated with the power (Pdrum_rotating) to be applied when the drum (2) is rotating, according to the moisture content of the laundry. If the drum (2) is motionless, the

microwave energy source (3) is actuated with the power (Pdrum_motionless) to be applied when the drum (2) is motionless, which is less than the power (Pdrum_rotating) to be applied when the drum (2) is rotating, according to the moisture content of the laundry. As the drying process goes on, the moisture content of the laundry decreases and relatively the power (Pdrum_motionless) to be applied when the drum is motionless, and the power (Pdrum_rotating) to be applied when the drum (2) is rotating, by the microwave energy source (3) decreases incrementally as compared to the previous power levels (Pdrum_motionless, Pdrum_rotating).

[023] At different moisture content levels, the difference between the power to be applied by the microwave energy source (3) when the drum (2) is motionless and when the drum is rotating (Pdrum_motionless and Pdrum_rotating) is preferably constant.

[024] The table for drying values of, for example, 5 kg. of cotton laundry is given below : [025]

[026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises one or more heaters (4) that are utilized in addition to the microwave energy source (4). [027] In this embodiment, the heater (4) is turned on or off during certain periods of time, in accordance with certain moisture values, providing effective drying and conservation of energy at the same time.

[028] With the washer/dryer (1) of the present invention, the damage incurred to the laundry, especially to those with metal accessories, by yellowing, burning as a result of metal heating during the drying process, is reduced to a minimum level and a most efficient drying of the laundry with metal accessories is accomplished avoiding damages.