JPH08299664A - How to determine the amount of laundry in the washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When the determined amount of cloth is lighter than the actual amount of cloth, that is, the measured data is lighter than the stored data, or the measured data is less than the actual amount of cloth due to long-term use. If there is a possibility that it is light, you can correct the measurement data and set the washing content that matches the amount of laundry. [Structure] After the start switch is turned on, driving / stopping is repeated multiple times, and inertial rotation after the motor is stopped is used to calculate the amount of cloth. Is less than the initial value of 0 Kg, the amount added with a correction value in units of about 0.1 Kg is determined as the amount of cloth, and the calculated weight data corresponding to this depends on the number of times the washing machine is used and the amount of time. Is selected, and the amount of cloth is determined by performing an operation based on the normalized data with the selected operation weight data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for determining the amount of cloth in a fully automatic washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The operation process of a fully automatic washing machine is, as shown in FIG. 4, a washing process and a rinsing process (for example, 2
), The dehydration process automatically proceeds, and before the washing process is started, the amount of clothes to be washed is determined as the load amount, and the amount of water used can be adjusted according to the load amount.
The washing time, the number of rinses, the dehydration time, and the strength of the stirring water are automatically set.

There are various methods for determining the amount of cloth, but as an example, there is a method shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, in which after the laundry is put into the washing / dehydrating tub, the motor is energized in this state. The rotor is rotated, and after a predetermined time, the power supply to the motor is stopped and the rotation speed of the rotor due to inertia after that, that is, the inertia rotation speed of the motor is detected from the pulse generator that is the rotation speed detector attached to the motor. Counts according to the number of output pulses.

It is assumed that this counting is performed 3 times,
First, as the first time, the motor is energized to rotate clockwise for 0.3 seconds, and after stopping, the number of pulses within 0.4 seconds is counted to store the motor rotation speed attenuation rate.

Next, as the second time, the motor is rotated counterclockwise for 0.2 seconds, and after stopping, the number of pulses within 0.4 seconds is counted to store the motor rotation speed attenuation rate. Furthermore, as the third time, the motor is rotated to the right for 0.2 seconds, and after stopping, 0.4
The number of pulses in a second is counted and the motor rotation speed attenuation rate is stored.

The data of the three times are averaged, the averaged data is normalized with the data of the first time as a reference, and the normalized data is arithmetically executed using a neural network to obtain the cloth amount as an output layer. In this case, the larger the amount of laundry, the larger the load applied to the rotary blade, and the rotary blade stops in a short time. Therefore, the smaller the number of inertial pulses, the larger the load, and the small load of 2 kg or less depending on the number of inertial pulses. ,
2-4Kg medium load, 4-6Kg heavy load,
After that, washing is performed by displaying the amount of water supply and the amount of detergent corresponding to this load amount, and rotating the motor and the rotor at an appropriate speed.

[0007]

When the washing machine is used for a long period of time, the mechanical part for judging the cloth amount may change over time, and the judged cloth amount may be lighter than the actual cloth amount. As a result, a small amount of water is set that does not match the amount of laundry put into the washing machine, a short washing time or dehydration time is set, and a small number of rinses is performed. The number of times and weak water flow are set. Therefore, a sufficient cleaning effect cannot be obtained.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and when the determined amount of cloth is lighter than the actual amount of cloth, that is, when the measured data is lighter than the stored data, or when the measured amount is used for a long time. If the data may be lighter than the actual amount of cloth, it is to provide a method for determining the amount of cloth in a washing machine, in which the measured data is corrected and the washing content suitable for the amount of cloth can be set.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention firstly utilizes the inertial rotation after the motor is stopped by repeating the driving and stopping a plurality of times after turning on the start switch. In the laundry amount determination method for calculating the laundry amount, when the calculated laundry amount is less than the initial value of 0 Kg, the amount plus a correction value of about 0.1 Kg unit is determined as the laundry amount. Is the gist.

Secondly, a method for determining the amount of cloth in a washing machine, in which the start / turn on is repeated, driving / stopping is repeated a plurality of times, and inertial rotation after the motor is stopped is used to calculate the amount of cloth. The calculation weight data corresponding to this is selected depending on the number of times of use integration, and calculation is performed based on the normalized data based on the selected calculation weight data to determine the cloth amount. .

Thirdly, in the method for determining the amount of cloth in a washing machine, which is a method for calculating the amount of cloth by utilizing the inertial rotation after stopping the motor by repeating driving / stopping a plurality of times after turning on the start switch, The calculation weight data corresponding to this is selected depending on the amount of accumulated use time, and the amount of cloth is determined based on the normalized data by the selected calculation weight data. .

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the calculated cloth amount is less than the initial value of 0 Kg, the negative load amount is determined even if the laundry is loaded. Since this is an impossible result, about 0.1 kg
The amount obtained by adding the unit correction value is determined as the amount of cloth.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the calculation weight data corresponding to the accumulated number of times the washing machine is used is selected, and the selected calculation weight data is used as a basis for normalizing the data. By calculating and determining the amount of cloth,
Even if the measured damping rate is less than the actual load due to the aging of the measuring mechanism, the correct cloth amount can be determined.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the calculation weight data corresponding to the accumulated use time of the washing machine is selected, and based on the selected calculation weight data, the calculated calculation weight data is selected. By calculating and determining the amount of cloth,
Even if the measured damping rate is less than the actual load due to the aging of the measuring mechanism, the correct cloth amount can be determined.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first method for determining the amount of laundry in a washing machine according to the present invention.
Referring to a flow chart of the operation of the embodiment, the washing machine in which the method of the present invention is carried out will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Inside the water receiving tub 1, a washing / dehydrating tub 3 having rotary blades 2 at the bottom is arranged. An air trap 5 was communicated with a gap 4 between the water receiving tank 1 and the washing / dehydrating tank 3, and a water level sensor 6 was provided at the upper end of the air trap.

A motor 7 is arranged below the water receiving tub 1, a pulse generator is attached to the motor 7 as a rotation speed detector 8, and a washing shaft and a dehydrating shaft of the rotary blade 2 and the washing / dehydrating tub 3 respectively. Via the clutch mechanism, V belt,
Connect to the motor 7 with a pulley.

Further, a drain valve 9 is provided at a drain port formed at the bottom of the water receiving tank 1, and the drain valve 9 and the clutch mechanism are respectively provided with a drain valve 9 and an actuator 10 using a torque motor for driving and controlling the clutch mechanism. 11 is provided.

Then, the water level sensor 6, the motor 7, the rotation speed detector 8, the actuators 10 and 11, the power switch 1
2. The lid / unbalance switch 13, the water supply valve 14, and the water supply valve 15 dedicated to the finishing agent are connected to a control device 16 using a microcomputer or the like.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the controller 16.
The control device 16 has an operation switch 1 connected to the control unit 17.
8, display device 19, oscillation circuit 20, reset circuit 21, zero-cross detection circuit 22, data storage circuit 23, buzzer 2
4, equipped with a DC level 25, a rotation speed detector 8, a lid
Unbalance switch 13, actuators 10 and 11
The position detector 27 of the actuator for detecting the position of the actuator, the power switch 12, and the water level sensor 6 are connected, and the actuators 10 and 11, the water supply valve 14, the water supply valve 15 dedicated to the finishing agent, the motor are connected to the output terminal side via the connector 26. 7 is connected. The actuators 10 and 11 form a drain valve drive unit 28.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment. After the laundry is put into the washing / dehydrating tub 3, the start switch, which is one of the operation switches 18, is turned on to energize the motor 7 and turn it off. ．
After rotating for 3 seconds to the right and then stopping, the motor 7 then rotates inertially, but the inertial rotation speed of the motor 7 within this 0.4 second is counted by counting the number of pulses from the rotation speed detector 8 and attenuated. The rate is stored in the control unit 17 [step (a)]. This is the first data acquisition.

Next, as the second data acquisition,
Rotate the motor 7 in the opposite left direction for 0.2 seconds, and after stopping, count the inertial rotation speed of the motor 7 within 0.4 seconds by the number of pulses from the rotation speed detector 8 in the same way as the first time. Then, the attenuation rate is stored in the controller 17 [step (b)].

Further, as the third data acquisition,
The motor 7 is rotated in the opposite right direction for 0.2 seconds, and after stopping, the inertial rotation speed of the motor 7 within 0.4 seconds from the rotation speed detector 8 is measured in the same manner as the first and second times. The number of pulses is counted and counted, and the attenuation rate is stored in the control unit 17 [step (c)].

Next, the data obtained three times as described above is averaged [step (d)] to obtain the averaged rate of change. Further, the averaged data is normalized by using the first data as a reference, the averaged data is normalized [step (e)], and the neural network is used based on the normalized data to change rate and amount of cloth. Lead to the relationship [Step (f)]. The output amount is the cloth amount.

When the outputted amount of cloth is less than 0 kg [step (g)], it is judged that the amount of cloth is lighter than 0 kg even though the laundry is actually put in. Is impossible, the initial value is 0K
When g is set, a correction value of 0.1 Kg is set [step (h)], and the value obtained by adding the correction value to the load amount of the result of the neuro calculation is determined as the load amount of clothing [step (re)]. .

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the laundry amount determination method for a washing machine. The attenuation rate of the number of revolutions of the motor 7 is measured three times, averaged, and further normalized to the first embodiment. Is the same as. In the second embodiment, when the normalized data is neuro-calculated, the neuro-calculation weight data for that is selected [step (nu)].

This neuro-calculation weight data is provided separately corresponding to the cumulative number of times the washing machine is used.
As shown in FIG. 2B, for example, if the number of times of use is less than 50 times, “weight data 1” is selected, and if the number of times of use is 50 times or more and less than 100 times, “weight data 2” is selected,
If the number of uses is 100 or more and less than 300, "weight data 3" is selected, and if the number of uses is 300 or more, "weight data 4" is selected [step (wo)].

This is because correction data is set in advance based on the fact that the measured data becomes lighter than the actual data due to the secular change of the measuring mechanism as the accumulated number of times of use increases as a result of using the washing machine for many years. It's something to put
A neuro operation is executed based on the normalized data based on the selected weight data [step (l)], and the output value is determined as the load amount, that is, the cloth amount.

FIG. 2 shows a third embodiment of the laundry amount determination method for a washing machine. The attenuation rate of the number of revolutions of the motor 7 is measured three times, averaged, and further normalized. This is similar to the second embodiment. In the third embodiment, when a neuro operation is performed on the normalized data, the neuro operation weight data for that is selected [step (nu)].

This neuro-calculation weight data is provided separately in correspondence with the accumulated use time of the washing machine.
As shown in FIG. 2B, if the usage time is less than 10 hours, "weight data 1" is selected, and if the usage time is 10 hours or more and less than 20 hours, "weight data 2" is selected,
If the usage time is 20 hours or more and less than 60 hours, "weight data 3" is selected, and if the usage time is 60 hours or more, "weight data 4" is selected [step (yes)].

This is because correction data is set in advance based on the fact that the measured data becomes lighter than the actual data due to the secular change of the measuring mechanism as the number of times of cumulative use increases as a result of using the washing machine for many years. It's something to put
A neuro operation is executed based on the normalized data based on the selected weight data [step (l)], and the output value is determined as the load amount, that is, the cloth amount.

[0031]

As described above, according to the laundry amount determining method of the present invention, firstly, after the start switch is turned on, driving / stopping is repeated a plurality of times, and inertial rotation or the like after the motor is stopped. In the method for determining the amount of laundry in a washing machine that calculates the amount of laundry, when the calculated amount of laundry is less than the initial value of 0 kg, a negative load amount is generated even if the laundry is loaded. Since the result cannot be judged, it is possible to prevent the setting of a lighter amount of cloth than the actual value by judging the amount by adding a correction value in units of about 0.1 Kg as the amount of cloth. it can.

Secondly, the calculation weight data corresponding to the accumulated number of times the washing machine is used is selected, and the calculated calculation weight data is calculated based on the normalized data to determine the cloth amount. By doing so, even if the measured attenuation rate is smaller than the actual load amount due to secular change of the measuring mechanism, the correct cloth amount can be determined.

Thirdly, the calculation weight data corresponding to the accumulated use time of the washing machine is selected, and the calculated calculation weight data is calculated based on the normalized data to determine the cloth amount. By doing so, even if the measured attenuation rate is smaller than the actual load amount due to the secular change of the measuring mechanism, the correct cloth amount can be determined.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a determination operation of a first embodiment of a laundry amount determination method for a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a determination operation of a second embodiment of the laundry amount determination method for the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a determination operation of a third embodiment of the laundry amount determination method for the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps of a washing operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a determination operation of a conventional laundry amount determination method for a washing machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is implemented.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Water receiving tank 2 ... Rotor blade 3 ... Washing / dehydrating tank 4 ... Gap 5 ... Air trap 6 ... Water level sensor 7 ... Motor 8 ... Rotation speed detector 9 ... Drain valve 10 ... Actuator 11 ... Actuator 12 ... Power switch 13 ... Lid / unbalance switch 14 ... Water supply valve 15 ... Water supply valve for finishing agent 16 ... Controller 17 ... Control unit 18 ... Operation switch 19 ... Indicator 20 ... Oscillation circuit 21 ... Reset circuit 22 ... Zero cross detection circuit 23 ... Data Memory circuit 24 ... Buzzer 25 ... DC level 26 ... Connector 27 ... Actuator position detector 28 ... Drain valve drive unit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuo Inada 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Nihon Kenketsu Co., Ltd. Funabashi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (72) Toshihiro Asai 1-1-1, Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba No.Nippon-Kentsu Funabashi Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cloth amount judging method for a washing machine, wherein a cloth amount is calculated by repeating driving / stopping a plurality of times after turning on a start switch and utilizing inertial rotation after the motor is stopped. When the amount is less than the initial value of 0 Kg, a laundry amount determination method for a washing machine is characterized in that an amount obtained by adding a correction value in units of about 0.1 Kg is determined as the amount of laundry. 2. A method for determining the amount of laundry in a washing machine, which comprises repeating the driving and stopping a plurality of times after the start switch is turned on and utilizing inertial rotation after stopping the motor to use the washing machine. The amount of laundry in a washing machine characterized by selecting the corresponding calculation weight data depending on the number of times of integration and calculating the amount of laundry based on the normalized data by the selected calculation weight data. Judgment method. 3. A method for determining the amount of cloth in a washing machine, which comprises repeating the driving and stopping a plurality of times after turning on a start switch and utilizing the inertial rotation after stopping the motor to use the washing machine. The amount of laundry in a washing machine characterized by selecting the corresponding calculation weight data depending on the integration time and calculating the amount of laundry based on the normalized data based on the selected calculation weight data. Judgment method.