JPH01146579A - washing machine control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce time for washing and to detect a precise water level by executing agitating operation for a fixed time in a state of keeping water supply when the water level reaches a water level lower than a selected value by a fixed quantity after operation is started and water supply is started, and stopping agitation at the time of detecting the water level. CONSTITUTION: An optional water level is selected from among N-pieces of water levels V1 -Vn by a water level selecting means 3 and an operation starting and temporarily stopping operation part 9 is operated. A control part 1 drives a feed valve driving means 6 to open a feed valve 5 to start water supply. When a water level detecting means 4 discriminates that the water level reaches a water level Vn-1 lower than the previously selected water level Vn by a fixed quantity, an agitation driving means 8 is driven to drive an agitation means 7 to start agitation. Water supply is continuously executed and when it comes to the fixed time (t) fixed in advance, agitation operation and water supply are stopped. It is discriminated whether the water level reaches the previously selected water level Vn or not. When it does not, water is supplied again and at the time of discriminating reaching to Vn , water supply is stopped and the means 8 drives the means 7 to restart agitating operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine control device having water level selection means for selecting the water level in the tub and water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tub.

Conventional technology In recent years, in addition to the use of microcomputers, advances in various sensor technologies have made it possible to use washing machine agitation times more frequently and to easily determine water levels, etc., making it possible to operate in various combinations. Ta.

111. However, as laundry becomes more multi-functional, the washing time tends to become longer, which is contrary to the trend towards shorter washing times, and if agitation is started before the predetermined water level, water level detection may be inaccurate. There was also the inconvenience of becoming
The water supply was controlled only by detecting the water level, as shown in Figure 3.

That is, the water supply valve is opened at the start of water supply, and the water supply valve is closed after detecting that the set water level has been reached, and after the water supply reaches the set water level, the agitation operation for washing and rinsing is performed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with conventional water supply control, if stirring is performed simultaneously during water supply, the water level will fluctuate, making highly accurate detection impossible, and because stirring is not performed during water supply. The problem was that it required a lot of time.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to reasonably shorten the time while making use of sensor technology.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides water level selection means for selecting the height of the water level in the tank, water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank, and water supply to the tank. a water supply valve driving means for driving a water supply valve that performs the water supply, an agitation drive means for driving a stirring means for stirring water in the tank, and a control means for controlling these, and the control means controls the water supply valve driving means. The water supply valve is operated to supply water to a certain amount lower than the water level set by the water level selection means, and when the water level is detected by the water level detection means, the water supply valve is kept open and the agitation means is driven for a certain period of time and then stopped. When it is determined that the water level is the value set by the water level selection means, the water supply valve is closed and the stirring means is driven again.

When the user selects a water level and starts operation, water supply begins and when the control means determines that the water level has reached a certain amount lower than the selected value, water continues to be supplied and stirring operation is performed for a certain period of time. It also has a function to stop stirring when the water level is detected.

With the above configuration, it is possible to shorten the actual washing time by stirring for a certain period of time according to the water level without damaging the laundry, and also to accurately detect the water level by stopping stirring when the specified water level is detected. is detected.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a control unit that controls the operation of the washing machine;
Reference numeral 2 denotes an operating section of the washing machine which is controlled by the control section 1. 3
4 is a water level selection means for selecting one of a plurality of water levels; 4 is a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank; 5 is a water supply valve for supplying water into the tank; 6 is a water supply valve driving means. be.

7 is a stirring means for stirring the water in the tank; 8 is a stirring driving means;
Reference numeral 9 is an operation unit for starting and stopping the operation. The operation of the washing machine having the main parts described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

When operating the washing machine, use the water level selection means 3 in Figure 1 to select N.
By selecting an arbitrary water level among the water levels v1-vn and operating the operation start/stop operation section 9, the control section 1 drives the water supply valve driving means 6, opens the water supply valve 6, and starts water supply. . This step is referred to as step 1, in which the water supply progresses and the water level detecting means 4 determines whether or not the water level has reached a water level vn-1 that is lower by a certain amount than the water level of the previously selected vn. In the next step 2, when it is determined that the water level has reached, the agitation drive means 8 is driven, the agitation means 7 is driven, and agitation operation is started. In this step, the water supply continues, and the agitation operation is performed for a predetermined period t, and waits until the specified period t is reached. Stirring drive means 8 to stop the stirring operation and water supply when a certain time t has elapsed. The water supply valve driving means 6 is driven and the process moves to the next step 3. The predetermined time t is set to be shorter than the water supply time required to reach the selected water level vn from the water level vn-1 lower by a predetermined amount. In this step 3,
It is determined whether the water level has reached the previously selected water level of ■U. If it has not reached the water supply valve driving means 6
, resupply water, and wait for it to reach vn. When it is determined that the water has reached vn, the water supply is stopped and the water supply valve 6 is closed through the water supply valve driving means 6 to perform stirring operation. At the same time, the stirring drive means 8 drives 7 to restart the stirring operation.

In this way, in this embodiment, the washing agitation operation is started at a water level that is a certain amount lower than the pre-selected water level, and the washing is carried out after starting agitation earlier by a certain time t, thereby shortening the overall washing time. Furthermore, since this time is limited to a certain period of time and stirring is stopped when determining the water level, the water level can be set more accurately.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, agitation is started when the water level reaches a certain step lower than the water level selected by the water level selection means, and agitation is continued while water is supplied for a certain period of time, thereby maintaining a constant washing time. It can save time and
By detecting the water level while stopping water supply and stirring, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detection of the set water level.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control device for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional washing machine. be. 1...Control unit, 3...Water level selection means,
4... Water level detection means, 5... Water supply valve,
6... Water supply valve driving means, 7... Stirring means, 8... Stirring driving means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and one other name
1 Figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A water level selection means for selecting the height of the water level in the tank, a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank, a water supply valve driving means for driving a water supply valve that supplies water into the tank, and a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank; It has a stirring drive means for driving a stirring means for stirring the water, and a control means for controlling these, and the control means operates the water supply valve drive means until the water level reaches a certain amount lower than the water level set by the water level selection means. When water is supplied and the water level is detected by the water level detection means, the water supply valve is left open and the agitation means is driven for a certain period of time and then stopped, and when it is determined that the water level is the value set by the water level selection means. A washing machine control device characterized in that the water supply valve is closed and the stirring means is driven again. (2) The washing machine control device according to claim 1, wherein the certain period of stirring is shorter than the time from when the water level due to water supply is first detected to the selected water level.