JPH02209191A - Operation control method for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the operation time and to improve the use convenience by stopping a washing operation, when the time of duration for opening a dehydration cover exceeds a set time, discontinuing temporarily the washing operation, when the time of duration is within the set time and restarting the operation after the cover is closed. CONSTITUTION:When a dehydration cover 9 is opened in the course of a washing operation, damping is applied to a dehydrating tank 7 by a brake mechanism 12 and an operating wire 13 and a rotating speed is decelerated, a contact of a cover switch 10 is opened, and in a state that driving elements 32a, 32b remain ON, an electric conduction to a dehydrating motor 5 is stopped. When the rotating speed of the dehydrating tank 7 and the dehydrating motor 5 is decelerated and becomes <=5 rotations/min, a count of a washing operation time is stopped temporarily. When the time of duration of opening of the dehydration cover 9 passes through a decision reference time of an operation stoppage, the electric conduction to the driving elements 32a, 32b is stopped and the washing operation is stopped, and a display part 24 informs a stoppage of the washing operation by an alarm. In this state, even if the dehydration cover 9 is closed, the washing operation is not restarted. On the other hand, when the dehydration cover 9 is closed again within the decision reference time, since the driving element 32a, 32b are in an ON-state, the dehydration cover switch 10 is closed, the dehydrating motor 5 is brought to electric conduction and the dehydrating tank 7 rotates.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine that performs washing by driving a washing and dehydrating tub in forward and reverse directions.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a two-tub washing machine that has both a washing mechanism and a dehydrating mechanism has a washing tub with rotary blades and a dehydrating tank adjacent to each other inside the outer box, and a dehydrating tank inside the dehydrating tank. Washing and rinsing are performed in the washing tub, and dehydration and, in some cases, rinsing are performed in the spin-drying tub.

By the way, current two-tub washing machines are becoming larger and can wash a large amount of clothes at once in the washing tub, and the operating time limit, the shape of the rotor blades, the rotational force of the rotor blades, etc. Designed based on capacity. Therefore, even if the amount of washing water used to wash a small amount of clothing is kept to a low level, more water and therefore detergent will still be used than necessary. In addition, because the rotation is too violent, there are problems such as damaging the clothing or causing it to lose its shape, and this tendency is particularly noticeable in the case of delicate fibers.

Therefore, conventional washing machines that can not only rinse clothes but also wash small amounts of clothes in the dehydration tank have been developed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-2
There is a washing machine as shown in Japanese Patent No. 00187, and a washing machine as shown in FIG. 5 was proposed as this type of washing machine.

As in the conventional case, a washing tub (not shown) having a rotating shaft and a dewatering tank (3) are provided adjacent to each other inside the outer box (1), and a dehydrating tank is further provided inside the dehydrating tank (3). (7) is installed, and this dehydration tank (7) is connected to the dehydration motor (5) installed in the bottom frame (2) by the dehydration shaft (6).
), the structure of the dehydration tank (7) is such that dehydration holes (8) are formed only in the upper part of the peripheral side wall. The lower part is a completely closed gutter-like water storage part without forming not only a dewatering hole but also a drainage hole, and a plurality of vertical blades extending to the bottom surface are protruded at appropriate intervals on the inner peripheral surface of this water storage part. Set up

The blade body may be attached as a separate body to the dehydration tank (7), or may be integrally molded with the dehydration tank (7).

A mounting bracket (16) is provided on the outer surface of the bottom of the dehydration tank (7) with a pole (14) and a nut (15).
6) and attach the dehydration shaft (6). In the figure, (17) is a cover placed inside the bottom of the dehydration tank (7), which covers the top of the mounting bracket (16) (15), and (4) is the cover installed on the inside of the bottom of the dehydration tank (7). This is a drainage hose installed at the bottom of the tank.

In addition, in the figure (11) is the dehydration receiver cover (9) provided on the top opening of the dehydration receiving tank (3) is the dehydration lid above it, and the dehydration lid (9) is installed in the middle of the dehydration shaft (6). In conjunction with the operation wire (13) of the brake mechanism (12), the dehydration lid (
9) is opened, a brake mechanism (12) is activated to stop the rotation of the dehydration tank (7) to ensure safety.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional electric circuit diagram for controlling the dehydration motor (5). The dehydration timer (36) in the energizing circuit for the dehydration motor (5) is a cam type, and the contacts T are a, b, and The dehydration tank (7) has a neutral point C, and the dehydration tank (7) is continuously rotationally driven by the dehydration motor (5) by turning the contact T1 on and off to either position ab or c.
There are two types: one is driven intermittently and the other is driven intermittently. In the figure, (10) shows a lid switch that is activated by opening and closing the dehydration lid (9).

Next, a conventional method of washing and rinsing in such a two-tub washing machine will be explained.

The knob of the dehydration timer (36) has instructions divided into "washing/rinsing course" and "dehydrating/draining course."

When the amount of laundry is normal, washing and rinsing are performed in the washing tub, and dehydration rinsing or only dehydration is performed in the dehydration tub (7). In this case, if you set the operation knob of the timer (36) to the dehydration process shown in FIG.
) is closed to the a side, and the dehydration tank (7) is continuously rotated at high speed by the dehydration motor (5). As a result, rotational force is applied to the laundry, and the dewatered water is discharged from the top opening of the dehydration tank (7) and the dehydration hole (8) to the dehydration receiving tank (3), and then The water is drained out of the machine through the drain hose (4). When the set time has elapsed, contact T
1 is located on the a side, power supply to the dehydration motor (5) is stopped, and the dehydration process is completed. Also, during the dehydration process, the dehydration lid (
9) is opened, the lid switch (lO) is opened and the dehydration operation is stopped.

Next, a case will be described in which the amount of laundry is small and the washing is carried out in the spin-drying tub without using the washing tub.

First, open the dehydration lid (9), put the clothes in the dehydration tank (7), set the water supply selector cock (not shown) to the "dehydration tank side", and move the water flow selection switch (not shown) to remove the clothes from the dehydration tank. (
7) When water is supplied into the water storage section and the specified water level is reached, the water supply is stopped and detergent is added.

Next, set the knob of the dehydration timer (36) to the "wash/rinse course" of the program shown in Figure 7, and then
Close the dehydration lid (9).

Now, the contact T of the timer (36) will intermittently repeat the movement between a, b, and c at the preset time, and when the contact T1 is on the a side, the dewatering motor (5) will rotate normally. When it is on the b side, it reverses, and when it is on the a side, it stops. In this way, the dehydration motor (5) is driven intermittently, and as a result, the dehydration tank (7) is also rotated by repeating normal rotation, stop, and reverse rotation, and the impeller inside the dehydration tank (7) stirs the clothes and water. Washing is performed.

When the set time has passed and the washing is finished, the process moves to the dehydration process, and the contact T of the timer (36) closes to the a side.
The dewatering motor (5) rotates normally. As a result, the dehydration tank (7
) continuously rotates in one direction at high speed, and water is drained from the dehydration hole (8) at the top of the opening and the top of the side of the dehydration tank (7), and then dewatering is further performed.

Further, when rinsing is performed in the dehydration tank (7), the process is the same as the case of washing except that no detergent is added.

When washing, rinsing, or dehydrating in the dehydration tank (1) as described above, set the knob of the timer (36) to one of the programs shown in Figure 7. is activated and can be operated.

When the dehydration tank lid (9) is opened during washing/rinsing operation or dehydration operation, the lid switch (10) is turned off in conjunction with this, and as a result, the dehydration motor (5)
At the same time, the brake mechanism (12) is activated and the operation is stopped. However, in this case, the timer (
35) continues to operate.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

For this reason, if you open the dehydration lid during operation and it remains open for a long time and exceeds the time set on the timer, even if you close the dehydration lid again and try to continue operation, the timer will not work and you will have to start the timer again. It is cumbersome to operate as it is necessary to reconfigure the settings.

Furthermore, when the dehydration lid was closed again, it was often difficult to tell whether the dehydration operation was in progress or had ended, which made it inconvenient to use.

Furthermore, the timer will continue to run while the dehydration lid is open, so even if you close the dehydration lid again within the set time of the timer, unless you reset the operating time, the time that the dehydration lid was open will continue to run. However, the operating time will be substantially shortened, and there is a risk that sufficient washing, rinsing, and dehydration will not be possible.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned failure of the conventional example, and when the dehydration lid is opened during operation, if the opening time is shorter than a predetermined time, a timer is set when the dehydration lid is closed again. We have developed an easy-to-use washing machine operation control method that eliminates the need to restart the washing machine, and also uniformly stops operation if the time is longer than a predetermined time. It is about providing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a washing machine that performs washing by rotating the washing and dehydrating tub in forward and reverse directions, and is provided with means for detecting the rotational speed of the washing and dehydrating tub, and detects whether or not the dehydrating lid is opened or closed during operation. It is detected by the rotation speed detected by the rotation speed detection means, and when the duration of the dehydration lid opening exceeds a set time, the washing operation is stopped, and when it is within the set time, the washing operation is temporarily interrupted and the lid is closed. The purpose of this is to restart operations.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, when the dehydration lid is opened during operation in the dehydration tank, the rotation of the dehydration tank is braked and decelerated by the operation of the brake mechanism. This change in rotational speed is detected by the rotational speed detection means, and thereby the opening of the dehydration lid is detected. If the lid opening time exceeds a predetermined setting value, the operation will uniformly end, and if the lid opening time is within the predetermined setting value, the operation will resume when the lid is closed again. The time the lid is opened is not included in the operating time initially set on the timer.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the washing machine operation control method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an example of a washing machine used in the method of the present invention. Figure 4 is a waveform diagram of the rotational speed detection circuit, and the components of the washing machine shown in Figure 3 that are the same as those of the conventional example shown in Figure 5 are given the same reference numerals. ,
In the present invention, a washing tub (not shown) and a dehydration tank (3) are provided adjacent to each other inside the outer box (1) as in the conventional case, and a dehydration tank (7) is further provided inside the dehydration tank (3). It is installed.

This dehydration tank (7) has dehydration holes (8) only in the upper part of the surrounding side wall.
), and the lower part is a completely closed gutter-like water storage part (7a) without forming a dewatering hole or a drainage hole.
a) A vertical blade body (3
5) are provided protrudingly in multiple rows at appropriate intervals.

In the washing machine having such a configuration, the present invention further provides a speed generator comprising a coil (18a) and a magnet (18b) as means for detecting the rotational speed of the dehydration tank (7) on the opposite load side of the dehydration motor (5). (18) was installed, and the output of the speed generator (18) was introduced into the controller (19).

The controller (19) uses a microcomputer (20) as shown in the control block diagram in Figure 2, and includes a power source (21), an operation switch section (22) attached to the operation panel of the washing machine, and a water level controller. Some other sensors such as sensors (23) and the output from the lid switch (10) which is activated by opening and closing of the dehydration lid (9) are sent to the microcomputer.
(20) and the microcomputer-(20)
a display device (24) that displays the output from the process progress;
It was introduced into an amplifier (25) containing a drive circuit for controlling the dehydration motor (5).

In addition, the speed generator generated voltage (33), which has a sine waveform as shown in FIG.
9), capacitor (28), transistor (30),
It is converted into a waveform shaped voltage (34) which is a 5cm square wave through a resistor C (31) and its period T is controlled by a microcomputer.
Introduced in (20).

In the figure (32a) and (32b) are dehydration motors (5
) to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise. Further, the lid switch (10) is connected in series to the dehydration motor (5).

Furthermore, the microcomputer (20) stores, for example, 30 seconds as a criterion time, which is a criterion for determining whether or not to stop operation, based on the length of time that the dehydration lid (9) remains open during operation.
Memorize the minutes in advance.

Further, the indicator (24) is provided with an indicator lamp that indicates when the dehydration lid (9) remains open for longer than the determination reference time.

Next, the operation control method of the present invention will be explained.

First, to explain how to calculate the rotational speed of the dehydration tank (7), the speed generator 18 (18) uses 32 poles in the embodiment of the present invention, and is attached to the motor shaft when the dehydration motor (5) rotates once. The magnet (18b) rotates and outputs 16 sine waves. For example, the speed generator (
The period T per -sine wave in 18) is calculated using the following formula as shown in Figure 4: T= 1/f X l/16 = 1/(5X l/60) X 1/16X
1000=750 msec, and if the microcomputer (2o) detects this period T=750 m5ec, it is possible to determine the rotational speed of 5 revolutions/min. Resistance B
(27), diode (29), capacitor (
28), the transistor (3o), and the resistor C (31), it goes without saying that the sine wave is converted into a 5cm square wave.

Next, the operation during the washing process will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, put detergent and clothes in the dehydration tank (7), supply water, close the dehydration lid (9), and then turn on the power (21) using the operation switch section (18) provided on the controller (19). ,
For example, 10 minutes is set as the operating time of the washing process (step (a)).

As a result, the program in the microcomputer (2o) is activated, and the process details and operating time are displayed on the display section (24).At the same time, depending on the length of time the dehydration lid (9) remains open, the operation may be stopped. The criterion time, for example, 30 minutes, which is the criterion for determining whether or not the
B)).

In addition, the drive elements (32a) (32b
), the dehydration motor (5) rotates in forward and reverse directions, and as a result, the dehydration tank (7) rotates in forward and reverse directions, starting the washing operation (step (c)).

The washing operation progresses in this way, and when the dehydration lid (9) is closed, F5rpHl=O (step (d)
), and a speed generator (
The rotational speed of the dehydration tank (7) detected from step (18) repeats increases and decelerations due to the forward and reverse rotation of the dehydration tank (7).
As long as the rotation is normal, the speed is 5 rotations/minute or more (step (l)), so this washing operation time is counted as the washing operation in progress (step (l)).
fart)).

This method of detecting the rotational speed is based on the above-mentioned waveform shaping voltage (3
4), and detection of acceleration or deceleration is performed by comparing the periods T. If the period T becomes longer, it is determined that the speed is decelerating, and if the period T is shorter, it is determined that the speed is increasing.

When the preset operating time of the washing process reaches 10 minutes (step (g)), the drive element (32a) is activated by the output from the microcomputer (20).
(32b) The power supply to F is cut off (Step (H)), the washing process is completed, and the process moves to the next process (Step (S)).
.

By the way, if the dehydration lid (9) is opened during washing operation,
Braking is applied to the rotating dehydration tank (7) by the cooperation of the brake mechanism (12) and the operation wire (13), and the rotational speed is reduced. In addition, as shown in Figure 2, a dehydration lid (9
) opens, the contact of the lid switch (10) opens,
The drive elements (32a) and (32b) remain on and power to the dehydration motor (5) is stopped.

In this way, the rotational speed of the dehydration tank (7) and the dehydration motor (5) is reduced (step (e)), and the rotational speed of the dehydration tank (7) and dehydration motor (5) is reduced to 5 rotations/
When it becomes less than 1 minute (step), F 5rpa+=
1 (step (wo)), and the counting of the washing operation time is temporarily stopped (step (wa)).

Then, when the dehydration lid (9) remains open for 30 minutes, which is the criterion time for stopping operation, (step (force))
, drive elements (32a) (32b) of the dehydration motor (5)
The power was cut off and the washing operation stopped (step (ri)).
), the lamp on the display (24) blinks and steps (shi).
), gives an alarm that the washing operation has been cancelled. In this state, since the power to the drive elements (32a) (32b) is cut off, the washing operation will not resume even if the dehydration lid (9) is closed.

On the other hand, if the dehydration lid (9) is closed again within 30 minutes (step (force)), which is the standard time for determining the correct minute during operation, the drive elements (32a) (32b) are in the on state, so the dehydration lid (9) is closed again (step (force)). ) is closed, the dehydration lid switch (10) is closed, the dehydration motor (5) is energized again, and the dehydration tank (7) also starts rotating.

In this state, the washing operation is in progress and the washing time of 10 minutes has not yet been reached (step (g)), and F, rpm = 1 in step (wo) (step (d)).
), it is determined that the speed is increased in step (nu), and F 5r
pra=0 (Step (Y)), the washing operation time is restarted (Step (Y)), and the washing operation time is added to the washing operation time before the washing operation was temporarily interrupted by opening the dehydration lid (9). The washing operation time is continued until the washing operation time reaches 10 minutes (steps (g) (h)).

In the above embodiment, a 32-pole speed generator (18) was used to detect the rotational speed and angle, but the number of poles is not limited to this, and photointerrupters, Hall elements,
It is also possible to use a reed switch or the like.

Further, although an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to the dehydration tank side of a two-tub type washing machine, it is also applicable to a fully automatic type washing machine.

Even if the dehydration lid (9) is opened during the rinsing operation or the dehydration operation, the operation is similar to the case where the dehydration lid (9) is opened during the washing operation described above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the washing machine operation control method of the present invention, when the spin-drying lid is opened in the middle of washing/rinsing operation or spin-drying operation, depending on the length of time that the spin-drying lid continues to be open, it is possible to If it is longer, the operation will be uniformly stopped, so when you close the dehydration lid again, you will not have to wonder whether the dehydration lid is in the middle of operation or has finished. If it is shorter, you will need to set the timer again (you can secure the operating time set at the start of operation,
It is easy to use, and the washing power can be set at the default setting.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the washing machine operation control method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an example of a washing machine used in the method of the present invention. Figure 4 is a waveform diagram of the rotational speed detection circuit, Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of a washing machine used in the conventional operation control method, Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram for controlling the same dehydration motor, and Figure 7. is an explanatory diagram of the same operation as above. (1)...Outer box (2)...Bottom frame (3)
... Dewatering tank (4) ... Drain hose (5)
... Dehydration motor (6) ... Dehydration shaft (7) ...
・Dehydration tank (7a)...Water storage section (8)...
Dehydration hole (9)...Dehydration lid (10)...Lid switch (11)...Dehydration receiver cover (12)...
Brake mechanism (13)...operation wire (14)
... Bolt (15) ... Oak) (16
)...Mounting bracket (17)...Cover (1
) Speed generator (18a) Coil
(18b)... Magnet (19)... Controller (20)... Micro Combiator (21)...
Power supply (22)...Operation switch section (23
)...Part of the sensor (24)...Display part (25
)...Amplification section (27)...Resistance B (2B
)...Capacitor (29)...Diode (
30)...Transistor (31)...Resistor C(
32a) (32b)...Drive element...Speed generator generated voltage...Waveform shaping voltage (35)...Timer

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a washing machine that performs washing by rotating a washing and dehydrating tub forward and backward, a means for detecting the rotational speed of the washing and dehydrating tub is provided, and whether or not the dehydrating lid is opened or closed during operation is determined by the rotation detected by the rotational speed detecting means. This laundry is characterized by detecting the speed and stopping the washing operation when the duration of opening the dehydrating lid exceeds a set time, and when the duration of opening the dehydrating lid exceeds the set time, suspending the washing operation and restarting the operation after closing the lid. Machine operation control method.