JPH0975585A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To prevent water spills and the like on a floor even when a pump for supplying bath water is forgotten to be stopped. At the end of the washing process (determined in step S4), the process proceeds to step S5, the motor 17 is turned off to stop the stirring body, and the process proceeds to step S6 to detect the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 12. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the detected water level exceeds the above-described abnormality determination water level. If the water level is below the anomaly judgment level, move to the next stroke. If it exceeds the abnormality determination water level, the progress of the process is stopped in step S8. That is, the transition to the dehydration process is stopped. Along with this, the buzzer 50 is notified in step S9. After this, start switch 3
When 1 is turned on (determined in step S10), the process proceeds to the next step.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine capable of supplying bath water or the like into a tub.

[0002]

Conventionally, when using bath water or the like in a washing machine, the lid of the washing machine is opened, and a bath water supply hose with a pump is opened in a washing machine main body. Bath water is supplied into the bath by inserting the bath from the upper opening and driving the pump. In this case, after the bath water is supplied in an appropriate amount and the pump is stopped, the bath water supply hose is taken out of the tank, the door is closed, and the start switch is operated to start the washing operation. In this case, if the water level in the tank reaches the set water level,
Although the washing process is started, if the water level in the tank has not reached the set water level, the electromagnetic water supply valve is driven to automatically supply water, and when the set water level is reached, the wash process is started.

In recent washing machines, the main body of the washing machine is
Some have a water supply connection to which the bath water supply hose is connected. With this, the bath water supply hose is connected to the water supply connection and the pump is driven to supply the bath water into the tank. Is being done. With the water supply connection part to which the bath water supply hose with a pump is connected as described above, the bath water can be supplied with the lid closed, and the bath water with a pump can be used when starting the washing operation. It is convenient because there is no need to remove the supply hose from the tank.

By the way, when the user operates the start switch to start the washing operation, the washing process is started when the bath water reaches the set water level. Therefore, the user usually starts the washing process. Will stop the pump from. However, in this case, unlike the aforementioned washing machine,
Since the washing process is started without removing the bath water supply hose with a pump, there is a risk of starting the washing operation without forgetting to stop the pump. In this case, when the process proceeds as it is to the dehydration process, although there is a drainage process before the dehydration process, the bath water is supplied even during the dehydration process and the rotary tank is rotated at a high speed in a so-called residual water state. As a result, water splashes and wets the floor surface, or abnormal vibration occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine capable of preventing water spills or the like on the floor even when the pump for bath water supply is forgotten to be stopped. It is in.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a washing machine main body is provided with a water supply connecting portion to which a bath water supply hose with a pump is connected, and a washing process, a draining process and a dehydrating process are performed in sequence. In the one that includes a course that can be transferred, it has a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank, and an abnormality determination water level set higher than the maximum water level set in the wash stroke and lower than the overflow water level. At the end of the washing process, the water level in the tank is detected by the water level detection means, and it is determined whether or not the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level. It is characterized in that it comprises a control means for shifting the drainage process and the dehydration process in this order, and controlling so as to stop the transition to the dehydration process when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level.

With the above means, it is possible to detect that the pump has been forgotten to stop. That is, if the pump is forgotten to stop, the tank will be almost filled with water during the washing process, and will overflow. In this case, even at the end of the wash process, the water level is almost close to the overflow water level (higher than the maximum water level set in the wash process). From this, it becomes possible to detect the water level at the end of the washing process, and when this detected water level is higher than the maximum water level in the washing process, it is possible to recognize that the pump has forgotten to stop.

However, when the user notices that he has forgotten to stop the pump during the washing process and stops the pump, the detected water level at the end of the washing process becomes slightly lower than when the pump is still driven. In other words, in the washing process, the water flow becomes a mortar shape due to the rotation of the stirring body,
Since there is water outflow, the water level will drop accordingly. That is,
It is higher than the highest water level in the washing process but lower than the overflow water level.

However, if the pump is stopped at the end of the washing process, no water leakage will occur in the subsequent dewatering process, so it is higher than the maximum water level and lower than the overflow water level in the above-mentioned washing process. It is understood that the water level should be used as the abnormality determination water level.

According to the above means, however, the water level in the tank is detected by the water level detection means at the end of the washing process, and it is judged whether or not the detected water level exceeds the abnormality judgment water level. When the water level exceeds the judgment level, the pump is judged to have been forgotten to stop and the transition to the dehydration process is controlled so that the rotation tank is not rotated at high speed in the residual water state and the floor surface is not rotated. It will be possible to prevent water leakage to the. When the detected water level is below the abnormality determination water level, it is determined that the pump has not been forgotten to stop and the process is shifted to the drainage process and the dehydration process in this order, so that the washing operation can be performed as usual.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 2 showing a schematic overall configuration of a fully automatic washing machine, an outer tub 2 is swingably disposed in an outer box 1 via an elastic suspension mechanism 3. In the outer tub 2, a rotary tub 4 serving both as a washing tub and a dehydrating tub
Is rotatably provided, and an agitator 5 for washing is rotatably provided on the inner bottom portion of the rotary tub 4. The rotary tub 4 has a dewatering hole 4a formed only on the upper part of the peripheral wall, and no dehydration hole is formed on the other peripheral wall. The dehydration hole 4a serves as an overflow port.

A drain passage 6 is provided at the inner bottom of the outer tub 2 so as to extend from the center to the rear. The end of the drain passage 6 on the central portion side communicates with the inside of the rotary tank 4. The rear end of the drainage passage 6 serves as a drainage port 7, and the drainage port 7 is provided with an air trap 8 for water level detection. The drain port 7 is configured to be opened and closed by, for example, a motor-type drain valve 9. A drain hose 10 is connected to a lower portion of the drain valve 9. The stirring body 5 has a large number of water passage holes.

In this structure, when the drain valve 9 is opened, the water in the rotary tank 4 is discharged to the outside through the drain passage 6 and the drain hose 10. Also,
At the front part of the bottom of the outer tub 2, an overflow drain 11 for draining the water overflowing from the rotary tub 4 is formed. The overflow drainage port 11 is connected to the drainage hose 10 via a hose (not shown). In the case of this configuration, when the water in the rotary tub 4 is discharged into the outer tub 2 through the dehydration hole 4a during the dehydration operation, this drainage flows to the outside through the overflow drainage port 11 and the drainage hose 10. It is configured to be discharged. A water level sensor 12 (see FIG. 5), which is, for example, a pressure sensor as a water level detecting means, is connected to the air trap 8 via an air pipe 13, and the water level sensor 12 detects the water level in the rotary tank 4. Is configured to.

A balance ring 14 is arranged above the rotary tank 4. An inner basket 15 having a substantially drum shape is disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the rotating tub 4. The inner basket 15 is made of a stainless steel plate and has a large number of water holes formed in a peripheral wall portion. I have. A bottom cover 16 is provided below the inner peripheral portion of the rotary tub 4. A predetermined gap for water flow is provided between the inner basket 15 and the rotary tub 4 and between the bottom cover 16 and the rotary tub 4. In the case of this configuration, the water in the rotary tub 4 flows downward or upward through the predetermined gap for water passage during drainage or dehydration operation.

On the other hand, on the outer bottom portion of the outer tub 2, a motor 17 and a drive mechanism portion 18 for washing and dehydrating operations are arranged. The rotational force of the motor 17 is transmitted to a drive mechanism 18 via a belt transmission mechanism 19. The drive mechanism 18 has a well-known configuration, and includes a clutch mechanism, a speed reduction device, a brake device, and the like. The brake device of the drive mechanism 18 is a band brake device having a function of braking and stopping the rotary tank 4, and a brake drum provided on the tank shaft of the rotary tank 4 so as to rotate integrally therewith, And a brake band provided outside the brake drum. In addition, the clutch mechanism of the drive mechanism 18 has a function of switching between a state in which the rotational force of the motor 7 is transmitted to the agitator 5 only through the speed reduction device at a reduced speed, and a state in which the rotational force is transmitted to the rotary tank 4 and the agitator 5. doing. The brake device and the clutch mechanism are configured to be driven by a drive source of the drain valve 9 (a motor and a return spring or the like) in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the drain valve 9.

Specifically, during washing with the drain valve 9 closed, the drive mechanism section 18 uses a brake device to rotate the rotary tub 4
When the motor 7 is stopped by braking, the rotational force of the motor 7 is
And the stirrer 5 is rotated. Then, at the time of drainage and dehydration with the drain valve 9 opened, the drive mechanism 18 applies the rotational force of the motor 17 to the rotary tub 4 and the stirring body 5 in a state where the braking of the rotary tub 4 by the brake device is released.
And rotate both at high speed.

A top cover 2 is provided on the upper part of the outer box 1.
No. 0 is attached, and electromagnetic water supply valves 21 and 22 (see FIG. 3) are arranged in the rear portion of the top cover 20, and a water supply device 23 is also arranged. The water dispenser 23 includes a detergent dispenser and a softening agent dispenser. By storing the detergent in the detergent dispenser in advance,
When water is supplied by the water supply valve 21, the water is transferred into the tank. Further, by storing the softening agent in the softening agent feeder in advance, the softening agent can be transferred into the tank by the water supply by the water supply valve 22 during the rinsing process.

Further, the water supply device 23 is provided with a water supply connection portion 24 for connecting a bath water supply hose with a pump. The pump part of the bath water supply hose with a pump is of a type that is immersed in the bath tub, and the pump can be arbitrarily driven and stopped separately from the washing machine by the user's on / off operation. .

The top cover 20 is provided with, for example, a half-foldable lid 20a for opening and closing the entrance of the laundry to be opened and closed. In addition, on the upper part of the outer tank 2, the tank cover 2
5 is attached, and an inner lid 26 is provided on the tank cover 25 so as to be openable and closable. A concave portion 27 having a large number of water passage holes 27a is formed at the rear side of the inner lid 26, and the water discharged from the water supply device 23 passes through the concave portion 27 and enters the tank. To be supplied to.

Further, an operation panel 28 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided on the front upper surface of the top cover 20. The operation panel 28 is provided with various key switches and various indicators. Specifically, the right end of the operation panel 28 is provided with an on switch 29 and a off switch 30 for turning the power on and off, and a start switch 31 for starting and temporarily stopping is provided on the left side thereof. Further, in the lower half of the operation panel 28, from the left to the right, a powder soap switch 32 for setting use of powder soap, a water level switch 3 for setting the water level
3, a reservation switch 34 for setting a reserved operation, a washing switch 35 for setting a washing operation time, a rinsing switch 36 for setting the number of times of rinsing, a dehydration switch 37 for setting a dehydration operation time, and a strength of each operation according to preference Favorite switch 38 to set, course switch 3 to set the washing course
9 are provided. In the above washing course, there is "bath water"
The course is included.

In the upper half of the operation panel 28, from the left to the right, a shower monitor 40 for displaying the execution state of the dehydration rinse operation, a water level indicator 41 for displaying the set water level, and a detergent amount. And three number indicators 42, 43, 4 composed of, for example, 7-segment type display elements for displaying the washing operation time, the number of rinsing operations, the dehydration operation time, etc.
4, a process indicator 45 for displaying the washing process, a course indicator 46 for displaying the set laundry course, etc. are provided.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5 showing the electrical configuration in combination of functional blocks, the control circuit 47 is composed of a microcomputer or the like and has a function of controlling the overall washing operation, and a control program therefor is provided. I remember. The control circuit 47 has a function as a control means. Then, the control circuit 47 is
Various switch signals from the switch input section 48 including various switches of the operation panel 28, the water level sensor 12
Is configured to receive a water level detection signal from the.

The control circuit 47 controls the display section 49 having various indicators of the operation panel 28 and the buzzer 50 as a notification means, and also supplies the water supply valves 21 and 22, the drain valve 9 and the motor 17. Is configured to be energized (driven) via the drive circuit 51.

The control circuit 47 has a course switch 39.
For example, when the "standard" course is selected and operation is started, as is well known, water supply, washing, drainage, dehydration (intermediate dehydration), dehydration rinse, dehydration (intermediate dehydration), water supply, rinse (trial rinse) , Drainage, and dehydration (final dehydration) are performed. In each of washing and rinsing,
The stirring body 5 is rotationally driven to stir the washing water and the laundry in the rotary tub 4. Further, the memory of the control circuit 47 stores an abnormality determination water level, and as shown in FIG. 2, this abnormality determination water level is higher than the “high” water level which is the maximum water level set in the washing process and overflow water. It is set slightly lower than the water level. Specifically, when the water supply by the pump of the bath water supply hose is stopped in the middle of the washing process, the water level at the end of the washing process is obtained by an experiment, and this water level is used as the abnormality determination water level.

When performing a washing operation using bath water, the user connects the bath water supply hose 52 with a pump (see FIG. 3) to the water supply connection portion 24, and the course selection switch 39 causes the "bath water" While selecting the "water" course, the water level is changed by the water level switch 33 to the "high" water level,
When the start switch 31 is turned on after the water level is set to "medium" water level, "low" water level, or "small amount" water level, the control circuit 47 controls the operation as shown in FIG. After turning on the start switch 31,
The user energizes and drives the pump (not shown) of the bath water supply hose 52 with a pump. As a result, bath water is supplied into the rotary tank 4.

In FIG. 1, in step S1,
The water level detection signal from the water level sensor 12 is read, and in step S2, it is determined whether or not the detected water level has reached the set water level, and if so, the process proceeds to step S3 and the motor 17 is energized to stir. The body 5 is rotationally driven to start the washing process. Then, when the execution time of the washing process reaches a predetermined time (determined in step S4), the process proceeds to step S5, the motor 17 is cut off to stop the stirring body 5, and then the process proceeds to step S6 to determine the water level. The water level detection signal from the sensor 12 is read, and in step S7, it is determined whether or not the detected water level exceeds the above-described abnormality determination water level.

If the water level is below the abnormality determination water level, the process proceeds to the next step. In this case, the steps of drainage, dehydration (intermediate dehydration), dehydration rinse, dehydration (intermediate dehydration), water supply, rinse (reserve rinse), drainage and dehydration (final dehydration) are sequentially performed. If the water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level, the progress of the stroke is stopped in step S8. That is,
Stop the transition to the dehydration process. At the same time, step S
At 9 the buzzer 50 is informed. After that, when the start switch 31 is turned on (determined in step S10), the process proceeds to the next step.

Here, when the water level in the rotary tank 4 reaches the water level set by the bath water supply, the washing process is automatically started. Normally, the user starts this washing process. However, the driving of the pump-equipped bath water supply hose 52 may be forgotten to be stopped. If the pump is left unstopped as it is, the detected water level at the end of the washing process will exceed the abnormality determination water level. In this case, since the process proceeds to step S8 according to "Y" in step S7, the transition to the dehydration process is stopped. As a result, in the remaining water state, the rotary tank 4
Does not rotate at high speed, water splashes can be prevented, and water spills on the floor can be prevented. Moreover, the occurrence of abnormal vibration can be prevented. Also, if you have not forgotten to stop the pump or if you stopped the pump during the washing process,
Since the detected water level at the end of the washing step becomes less than the abnormality determination water level and the steps are sequentially shifted according to "N" in step S7, the washing operation can be performed as it is.

In particular, according to this embodiment, the water level in the rotary tank 4 at the end of the washing process is detected with the motor 17 for driving the agitator 5 disconnected, so that the water level detection accuracy is improved. . That is, when the motor 17 is energized and the agitator 5 is rotated, a slight variation in water pressure occurs in the rotary tank 4, but if the agitator 5 is stopped, such a problem does not occur, and therefore water level detection is performed. Accuracy is improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the buzzer 50 is provided as an informing means, and the buzzer 50 is informed when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality judgment water level. It is convenient to inform the user. Furthermore, when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level, the transition to the dehydration process is stopped, and then the operation is restarted when the start switch 31 as a predetermined switch is operated. By closing the pump and operating the start switch 31, the washing operation can be restarted, which is convenient.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can obtain the following effects. According to the invention of claim 1, when the pump for supplying the bath water is forgotten to be stopped, the dehydration process is not executed in the residual water state, water splash can be prevented, and the water on the floor surface can be prevented. It is possible to prevent spills and the like, and also prevent abnormal vibrations from occurring. According to the invention of claim 2, the water level detection accuracy is improved, and the abnormality determination water level detection accuracy is improved. According to the invention of claim 3, it is convenient to inform the user that the pump has been forgotten to be stopped. According to the invention of claim 4, if the user closes the pump and operates a predetermined switch when the shift to the dehydration process is stopped, the washing operation can be restarted, which is convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of control contents of a “bath water” course showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Vertical side view of the washing machine

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a water supply unit in a broken manner.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an operation panel.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is an outer tank, 4 is a rotary tank, 4a is a dehydration hole, 5 is a stirrer, 1
2 is a water level sensor (water level detection means), 17 is a motor, 23
Is a water supply device, 24 is a water supply connection portion, 31 is a start switch (predetermined switch), 47 is a control circuit (control means), 5
Reference numeral 0 represents a buzzer (informing means), and 52 represents a bath water supply hose with a pump.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A washing machine main body is provided with a water supply connection portion to which a bath water supply hose with a pump is connected, and a course capable of sequentially shifting to a washing operation course, a washing operation step, a draining operation step and a dehydration operation step is provided. Including the above, it has a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the tank, and an abnormality determination water level set higher than the maximum water level set in the washing process and lower than the overflow water level, and at the end of the washing process The water level is detected by the water level detection means, and it is determined whether or not the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level.When the detected water level is equal to or lower than the abnormality determination water level, the process is changed to the drainage process and the dehydration process in this order. Then, when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level, the washing machine is provided with a control means for controlling so as to stop the transition to the dehydration process. 2. The control means is adapted to detect the water level in the tank at the end of the washing process with the motor for driving the agitator being de-energized. Washing machine. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit, wherein the control unit causes the notifying unit to perform a notifying operation when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level. . 4. The control means stops the transition to the dehydration process when the detected water level exceeds the abnormality determination water level, and restarts the operation when a predetermined switch is operated thereafter. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein: