JPH03141996A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an amount of water suppliable in accordance with preference of a user by providing an automatic water level setting means, water level correcting means and a supply water control means. CONSTITUTION:An operation control circuit 24 for controlling washing operation is constituted by containing a microcomputer, and in addition to a washing operation control function, the circuit 24 has each function of an automatic water level setting means, water level correcting means and a supply water control means. In the automatic water level setting means, based on a detecting result of the amount of a wash, a supply water level in a tank is automatically set. Now when a water level trend switch 22 is operated, an automatically set water level is corrected by the water level correcting means with water supplied to the corrected water level by the supply water control deice. While in the case of not operating the water level trend switch 22, water is supplied to the automatic preset water level by the supply water control means. Accordingly, the water level is automatically set roughly in accordance with the amount of the wash and with the water level can be corrected and set to a desired water level as necessary, and an amount of water in accordance with preference of a user can be supplied.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a washing machine that automatically sets the water supply level in the tub based on the detection result by a laundry amount correction means. .

(Prior Art) A washing machine, for example, a fully automatic washing machine, is equipped with a laundry amount correction means, and automatically sets the water level to be supplied to the tank based on the detection result of the laundry correction means, and supplies water up to this set water level. There is something like this.

The above-mentioned laundry correction means involves placing laundry in a tank that stores a certain amount of water, driving an agitator by a motor, detecting the amount of laundry based on the load current flowing through the motor or the terminal voltage, and detecting the amount of laundry. Based on the results, the water supply level is automatically set to one of four levels, eg, "high,""medium,""low," and "small amount."

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) Incidentally, although the load current flowing through the motor and the terminal voltage have a certain degree of correlation with the amount (weight) of laundry, they have little correlation with the volume of laundry. Therefore, depending on the type of fiber in the laundry, the volume of the laundry may be larger than the water level automatically set based on the laundry amount correction means, and the upper part of the laundry may not be submerged in water. In such a case, a user who uses the volume of the laundry as a criterion for determining the water level may judge that the amount of water is low.

Conversely, if the laundry floats too much on the water, it may be determined that there is too much water. Further, some users feel that the automatically set water level tends to be too high or too low.

In this way, when the water supply level in the tank is automatically set based on the detection result of the laundry amount correction means, there is an advantage that the water level can be automatically set roughly according to the amount of laundry, but the water supply level that the user expects is There may be a difference between the water level and the automatically set water level, and in this case, there is a problem that the user cannot set the desired water level. Note that the difference between the water supply level that the user expects and the automatically set water level is something that the user can know from experience. It is known from experience whether either is the case.

The present invention was made in view of the two circumstances, and its purpose is not only to be able to automatically set the water level roughly corresponding to the amount of laundry, but also to be able to correct the water level to a desired level and to respond to the user's preference. To provide a washing machine that can supply a large amount of water.

[Structure of invention b! i, ] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a water supply valve, a water level correction means for detecting the water level in the tank, a laundry amount correction means for detecting the amount of laundry, and a detection method by the laundry amount correction means. water level automatic setting means for setting the water supply water level in the tank based on the result; a water level trend switch; water level correction means for adjusting the set water level in accordance with input from the water level trend switch; When the set water level is corrected, the water supply valve is controlled so as to supply water up to this Mfi positive water level, and when the set water level is not corrected, the water supply valve is controlled so as to supply water up to the set water level. .

(Function) The automatic water level setting means automatically sets the water supply level in the tank based on the detection result of the amount of laundry. In this case, when the water level trend switch is operated, the automatically set water level is corrected by the water level correction means, and water is supplied to the corrected water level by the water supply control device.

Further, if the water level trend switch is not operated, the water supply control means supplies water up to the automatically set water level. Therefore, the water level is automatically set roughly according to the amount of laundry, and if necessary, the water level can be corrected to a desired level, so that water can be supplied in an amount according to the user's preference.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention in bone≦mall will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, in Fig. 3 showing the overall configuration of a washing machine, for example, a washing machine with dehydration function, 1 is an outer box, 2 is a water tank, 3 is a rotating tank, 4 is a container-shaped agitator, and 5 is a washing machine motor. This washing machine motor 5 consists of a capacitor induction motor.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a mechanism section including a speed reduction mechanism, etc., and 7 an electromagnetically driven water supply valve for supplying water into the four-wheeler 3, which opens when energized. 8 is rotation! ! This is an electromagnetically driven drain valve that drains water from the tank. Reference numeral 9 denotes an air trap provided at the bottom of the water receiver Ffj2, to the top of which is connected via a pressure vibrator 10 a water level correction means such as a water level sensor 11. This water level sensor 11 is designed to detect the water level in the co-rotating tank 3. In addition, 12 is an operation panel, and the fourth
As shown in the figure, this operation panel 12 includes a power switch 13, a start switch 14 that also serves as a - time and stop, course changeover switches 15 to 18, a water level manual setting switch, a stroke selection switch 20. In addition to a water injection rinsing setting switch 21 and a water level trend switch 22, LEDs for various indications are provided. Codes 23-29 especially for LEDs related to water level
is attached.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1 showing the electrical configuration, 24 is an operation control circuit for controlling the washing operation, which includes a microcomputer, and in addition to the washing operation control function, water level automatic setting means, water level correction It has the functions of a means and a water supply control means.

This operation control circuit 24 includes each of the switches 14 to 22 described above.
It is designed to receive each switch signal from , a detection signal from the water level sensor 11 , and a detection signal from the laundry amount correction means 25 .

The above-mentioned laundry correction means 25 detects the load current flowing through the motor 5, uses a negative GI current detection value that is correlated with the amount of laundry as a laundry correction means, and outputs the result as a detection signal. The operation control circuit 24 also includes a triac 2
The water supply valve 7 is cut off via the triac 27, the drain valve 8 is cut off via the triac 27, and the water washer motor 5 is cut off via the triacs 28 and 2Q, and the motor 5 is switched to the IF. It is designed to drive in reverse and synchronous rotation. 30 is a DC power supply circuit that applies DC power supply voltage to the operating 111J# circuit 24. 31 is a display circuit which receives a control signal from the operation control circuit 24 and displays the LEDs 23 to 29 and other L
Make the ED emit light as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 as well. This FIG. 2 shows the contents of the "standard (sensor)" course of the control program stored in the operation control circuit 24, and the contents up to the time when water is supplied into the rotary tank 3.

First, initialization is performed (step Sl). In this initialization, the corrected water level set by the water level trend switch 22 is initially set to "standard". Then the parameter K
is set to "0" (step S2). This parameter is used to specify the water level content according to the number of times the water level trend switch 22 is turned on. Thereafter, the LED 28 for displaying the corrected water level "standard" is made to emit light (step S3).

Then, it waits for a switch input (step S4), and when there is an input, it is determined whether or not the water level trend switch 22 has been turned on (step S5), and if it has been turned on, the parameter K is incremented (step S6), the contents of this K. Depending on the value, one of the LEDs 27 to 29 is changed and displayed (step S7). For example, if K is "1", the supplement ■
E The LED 29 for indicating the water level is "low" is lit instead of the LED 28, and if K is "2", the LED 27 for indicating the corrected water level is "high" is lit instead of the LED 29. Next, it is determined whether this K exceeds "2" (step S8). The purpose of this determination is to return K to "0" every third time the water level trend switch 22 is operated.

Here, if the switch operated in step S4 is the start switch 14 (determined in step S9), it is determined in step 510 whether or not the "marker 1g! (sensor)" course has been previously set. ), if the course is set, the detection result from the laundry correction means 25 is read (step 511), and the water supply level is set to "high", "medium", "low" and "based on this detection result". A small amount”
(Step 512).

Next, it is determined whether K is "0", "1" or "2" (step 813). If K is "1", the water level will be slightly lower ("lower") than the automatically set water level at that time. If K is r2J, the water level is corrected so that it is slightly higher than the automatically set water level at that time (step 515). In addition, the water level range of "low" and "high" is the specified water level "high",
When the water level width between "mountain", "low", and "small amount" is defined as L (see FIG. 5), it is set to about rL/2J, for example. When K is "1" or "2", the water supply valve 7 is driven and controlled so as to supply water up to each corrected water level (steps S16 and 17.18 or step S
19, 20. 18) If K is rOJ, the above correction is not performed and the water supply valve 7 is driven and controlled so as to supply water up to the automatically set water level (step S21.22).

Note that if the switch operated in step S4 is other than the water level trend switch 22 and the start switch 14 (determined in step 323), processing is performed accordingly (step 523).

Further, if a course other than "Mark 1 (sensor)" is set and the start switch 14 is turned on (step 310
control according to the set course (step 525).

Here, while the user is using the washing machine in the "Standard (sensor)" course, the water level automatically set in the "Standard (sensor)" course will roughly correspond to the water level according to the amount of laundry. However, users may feel that the water level tends to be higher or lower than they expect. In such a case, as understood from the above, if the automatically set water level tends to be high, by specifying "low" using the water level trend switch 22 in advance, the water supply water level will be slightly lower than the automatically set water level. Water is supplied after being compensated for. Furthermore, when the automatically set water level is in a tendency to change, if "high j" is specified in advance by the water level trend switch 22, the water supply water level is corrected to a water level slightly higher than the automatically set water level and water is supplied.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the correction water level width was set to 1/2 of the water level width between the specified water levels, but this is different from Li2 or L.
It may be changed as appropriate, such as i4, or in the case where there are many specified water levels and the water level width is finely set, the correction width may be set to the water level width.

Further, in the above embodiment, a method of detecting the load current of the motor was exemplified as the laundry amount correction means, but a method of detecting the terminal voltage ratio of the motor may also be used.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention includes a water supply valve, a water level correction means for detecting the water level in the tank, a laundry amount correction means for detecting the amount of laundry, and a laundry ffi correction means. water level automatic setting means for setting the water supply water level in the tank based on the detection result of the water level, a water level trend switch, water level correction means for correcting the set water level according to human power from the water level trend switch, The water supply control means controls the water supply valve to supply water up to the corrected water level when the set water level is corrected, and controls the water supply valve to supply water up to the set water level when the set water level is not corrected. This has the excellent effect of automatically setting the water level roughly according to the amount of laundry, as well as being able to correct the water level to the desired level and supply the amount of water according to the user's preference. play.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an electrical configuration diagram, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control details, and FIG.
The figure is a vertical side view of the entire washing machine, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation panel. In the drawing, 2 is a water receiving tank, 3 is a rotating tank, 7 is a water supply valve, 11 is a water level sensor (water level correction means), 22 is a water level tendency switch, 24 is an operation control circuit (water level automatic setting means, water level correction means, water supply control means), 25 indicates laundry amount correction means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water supply valve, a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank,
laundry amount detection means for detecting the amount of laundry; water level automatic setting means for setting the water supply level in the tank based on the detection result by the laundry amount detection means; a water level trend switch; a water level correction means for correcting the set water level by adjusting the set water level; A washing machine comprising a water supply control means for controlling a water supply valve.