JPH10328483A - Fully automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To accurately judge the amount of clothes put into a fully automatic washing machine, to make the amount of water supplied to a washing and dewatering tub appropriate for actual clothes, and to perform cleaning and rinsing performance. And the like, and waste of water, detergent, etc. for clothes is eliminated. A motor is turned on and off at an early stage of a washing process.
The amount of clothing is determined from the width (attenuation waveform width) between each of the short-wave pulses generated at the time of F (cloth amount detection), and each attenuation waveform width between the pulses generated at the time of the cloth amount detection is measured. However, when the value of the attenuation waveform width between the predetermined pulses satisfies the condition of the predetermined value, the amount of clothing is determined by the set value of the attenuation waveform width between the pulses,
If the condition of the predetermined value is not satisfied, the interval between the pulses is determined according to the condition, and the amount of clothing is determined based on the value of the determined attenuation waveform width between the pulses and the set value between the pulses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine that detects the amount of clothes put into a washing machine and executes a washing process at a water level appropriate for the amount of clothes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as means for determining the amount of clothing, a motor is turned on and off several times at the beginning of a washing process, and a back electromotive force of a voltage between capacitor terminals generated when the motor is turned off is converted into a square wave pulse. In some cases, the amount of clothing is determined by comparing a measured value of a predetermined pulse width (attenuation waveform width) with a preset value.

[0003]

In the above prior art,
In the determination of the amount of clothing based on the attenuation waveform width between pulses immediately after the motor is turned off, it is relatively easy to determine the amount of clothing when the amount of clothing is large, but when the amount of clothing is small,
Since the attenuation waveform width almost equivalent to the power supply frequency is detected,
It is difficult to determine the cloth amount. Conversely, in the determination of the amount of clothing based on the attenuation waveform width between pulses after several pulses have elapsed since the motor was turned off, it is easy to determine the amount of clothing when the amount of clothing is small. If the amount is large, the agitation blade is braked by the clothing, and a rectangular wave pulse is not output, so that it is impossible to determine the amount of cloth.

[0004] When the amount of clothing cannot be accurately determined, the amount of water supplied to the washing and dewatering tub is inappropriate for actual clothing, and when the amount of water supplied is small relative to the amount of clothing, washing and rinsing performance is required. Etc., and the original function of the washing machine cannot be utilized. Conversely, if the amount of water supply is large relative to the amount of clothing,
Waste of water, detergent amount, etc. occurs.

An object of the present invention is to accurately determine the amount of clothes put into a washing and dewatering tub, and to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the amount of clothing is determined based on the width (attenuation waveform width) between short-wave pulses generated when the motor is turned on and off (cloth amount detection) at the beginning of the washing process. Is measured, and the width of each attenuation waveform between the pulses generated at the time of detecting the cloth amount is measured, and when the value of the attenuation waveform width between the predetermined pulses satisfies the condition of the predetermined value, the measurement is performed. The amount of clothing is determined based on the set value of the attenuation waveform width between the pulses, but if the predetermined value condition is not satisfied, the interval between the pulses is determined according to the condition, and the determined attenuation waveform width between the pulses is determined. The amount of clothing is determined based on the value and the set value between the pulses. Thereafter, water is supplied to the washing and dewatering tub, and the washing process is started.

According to the present invention, the amount of clothes put into the washing and dewatering tub is accurately determined, and the amount of water supplied to the washing and dewatering tub with respect to the actual garments is made appropriate, so that washing and rinsing are performed. It is possible to prevent a decrease in performance or the like and a waste of water, detergent, or the like for clothing.

[0008]

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

A fully automatic washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention has a configuration shown in FIG. In other words, the outer frame 1 made of steel plate
Inside, an outer tank 4 made of synthetic resin is suspended by a suspension rod 2 and a vibration isolator 3 made of a coil spring or elastic rubber. Four suspension rods 2 and four anti-vibration devices 3 are provided.

In the outer tub 4 for storing water for washing,
A washing and dewatering tub 5 made of metal or synthetic resin is rotatably provided. A large number of dewatering holes 5a are provided in the washing and dewatering tub 5, and a stirring blade 6 made of a pulsator or an agitator is rotatably provided at the center bottom. During the washing and rinsing steps, the washing and dewatering tub 5 is stopped, and the stirring blade 6 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise. At the time of spin-drying, the washing and spin-drying tub 5 is rotated in one direction. The rotation of the stirring blade 6 and the washing / dewatering tub 5 is performed by a driving device 7.

The driving device 7 includes a motor 8, a transmission means 9 including pulleys 9a, 9b and a belt 9c for transmitting the rotation of the motor 8 to the stirring blade 6 or the washing and dewatering tub 5, and a stirring device for washing and rinsing. A clutch device 10 for rotating only the wings 6 or rotating the washing and dewatering tub 5 during dewatering, and a solenoid 1 for switching between them.
1. It comprises a drainage device 15 that controls drainage.

The driving device 7 is fixed to the bottom surface of the outer tub 4 by using a support plate 12 made of a steel plate. The outer tank 4 transmits the pressure of the water in the outer tank 4 to a water level sensor 13. An inlet 4a for connecting the S tube 14 is provided.

In the upper part of the outer frame 1, there is an input port 17a for inputting laundry and an operation box 1 for storing electric components such as a controller.
7b is provided with a top cover 17 made of synthetic resin. A lid 18 made of synthetic resin is provided at the inlet 17a.

An operation panel 21 is mounted on the upper surface of the operation box 17b, and a water supply electromagnetic valve 24 is provided in the operation box 17b.

Water level sensor 1 arranged in operation box 17b
3 detects the pressure of the water in the outer tub 4 to determine whether or not water has accumulated up to a specified water level. Water level sensor 1
Reference numeral 3 includes a core, a coil, a spring, and the like.

A controller for controlling washing, rinsing, dehydration and the like is arranged in the storage box 31.

On the operation panel 21, a power switch button 29 and an external operation switch 30 are arranged.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the entire circuit of the washing machine.

The central processing circuit 32 and the driving circuit 33 are arranged as a controller section and are arranged in the storage section 31 of the main body of the washing machine shown in FIG. A water supply electromagnetic valve 24 for supplying water into the dewatering tub 5, a drainage device 15, a start / stop switch 35, a water level sensor 13 for measuring the amount of water in the washing and dewatering tub 5, and a cloth amount sensor 36 for detecting the amount of cloth. It is connected.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit of the cloth amount sensor 36 for determining the cloth amount.

The clothes are put into the washing and dewatering tub 5, the power switch button 29 is pressed, and the start / stop switch 34 is pressed, so that the motor 8 operates. The operation of the motor 8 causes the motor 8 to rotate forward and reverse by sending a signal alternately to the gates of the triacs 37a and 37b as required by a command from the central processing circuit 32. From the forward / reverse rotation of the motor 8, the stirring blade 6 is rotated forward / reverse by the rotation transmission method shown in FIG. At this time, the motor 8
The voltage between the terminals of the driving capacitor 8a of the back electromotive force generated at the time of F is converted into a DC square wave pulse by the photo-triac coupler 38, the DC square wave is inverted by the inverter 39, and the signal is processed by the central processing circuit. Send to 32. With these controls, the resistance applied to the stirring blade 6 changes depending on the size of the amount of clothing, and the degree of this change is detected to determine the amount of cloth.

FIG. 4 shows that the motor 8 is turned off by detecting the cloth amount.
This shows a voltage 41 between the terminals of the driving capacitor 8a of the back electromotive force generated when the voltage is converted, and a case where the voltage 41 between the terminals is converted into a DC short-wave pulse 42.

When the power supply to the motor 8 is stopped during the spin-drying process, the voltage 41 between the terminals of the driving capacitor 8a is attenuated as shown in FIG. This is converted into a DC square wave pulse 42, and the width between pulses (attenuation waveform width t) is measured. Conventionally, the measurement of the attenuation waveform width for detecting the amount of clothing is performed only at a fixed pulse interval t, and the water level is determined by comparing the measured value with a preset value.

A curve 43 in FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the attenuation waveform width of the conventional cloth amount detection and the washing capacity. From this figure, if the washing capacity in the range of M _2, since the change in decay waveform width is large, it is easy to distinguish the washing capacity only measurement of the interpulse t in FIG. However, in the range of M ₁ where the washing capacity is small, it is difficult to distinguish the washing capacity within M ₁ because the change value of the attenuation waveform width is small with respect to the value of the washing capacity. In the range of washing capacity is large M _3, for braking the stirring blade 6 is turned into the washing and dewatering tank 5 garment, it is not possible to distinguish between the washing capacity in the M _3.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the relationship between the width between measurement pulses and the washing capacity at each attenuation waveform width.

The interval t between the DC square wave pulses 45 in FIG.
Since ₁ to measure the time of initial the motor 8 is OFF, the attenuation waveform width is smaller than the conventional measurement width t _2, t ₁ and the relationship between the amount of clothing next curve 46 in FIG. 7, the conventional measurement width t
The change amount when the amount of clothing is large is larger than the curve 47 according to ₂ . Conversely, the pulse interval t ₃ of the DC square wave pulse 45
In FIG. 7, the relationship between t ₃ and the amount of clothing is represented by a curve 48 in FIG. 7 where the attenuation waveform width is larger than the conventional measurement width t.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, the advantage at each measurement point of the attenuation waveform width is utilized.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the attenuation waveform width (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ) between the pulses generated in FIG. 6, the washing capacity, and the detection of the laundry amount.

In FIG. 6, the width of each attenuated waveform (t ₁ , t ₂ , t ₃ ) between the generated pulses is measured. The decay waveform width t ₂ as a reference, the curve of the decay waveform width t ₁ 46
Or determining the amount of clothing from the relationship, or to determine whether to determine the amount of clothes from the relationship between the curve 48 in the attenuation waveform width t _3. When the value of the attenuation waveform width t ₂ is T
If the relationship of a ≦ t ₂ ≦ Tb is satisfied, the attenuation waveform width t
Several stages of set values are provided in the curve 47 by a value of ₂ (4
7a to 47d), the amount of clothing is determined. When the value of the attenuation waveform width t ₂ is satisfied a relationship of t ₂ <Ta In curve 47, the several steps of the set value is provided to the curve 48 by the value of the attenuation waveform width t ₃ (48a to 48d) Determine the amount of clothing. Further, the value of the attenuation waveform width t ₂ is represented by a curve 47.
When filled the relationship t _2> Tb in determines the amount of the clothes by several steps of setting values is provided in the curve 46 the value of the attenuation waveform width t ₁ (46a~46d).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the above detection.

The start / stop button 35 (step 51) is pressed, and the motor 8 repeats ON-OFF several times (step 52). The decay waveform widths t ₁ , t ₂ and t ₃ of the DC rectangular wave pulse 45 generated at this time are measured (step 53). Then compares the value Ta that is set on the decay waveform width t ₂ and the curve 47 as a reference (Step 5
4) determining if t ₂ is greater than Ta, reads the decay waveform width t ₁ (step 55), after comparison with the set value of several stages times provided the curve 48 (step 56), the amount of clothing (Step 57). If the condition of step 54 is not satisfied, when comparing the value Tb that is set on the decay waveform width t ₂ and the curve 47 (step 58), t ₂ is less than Tb, reads the decay waveform width t ₃ (Step 59) After comparing with the set values of several steps provided on the curve 46 (Step 60), the amount of clothing is determined (Step 61). If not satisfied comparison condition at step 54 and 57, compared with the set value of several stages times provided the decay waveform width t ₂ and the curve 47 (step 62), determining the amount of clothing (Step 63) I do. Then water supply solenoid valve 2
Water is supplied into the washing and dewatering tub 5 from 4, and water is supplied to a water level appropriate for the amount of clothing determined by the water level sensor 13.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of clothes put into the washing and dewatering tub can be accurately determined.
The amount of water supplied to the washing and dewatering tub is appropriate for the actual clothing, and the amount of water and detergent due to the increase in the amount of water, etc. Waste can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a fully automatic washing machine showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the entire washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of cloth amount detection.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional sensor output and a measurement position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a conventional measurement value and a washing capacity.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sensor output and a measurement position according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between a measured value and a washing capacity according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the detection of the washing capacity according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

5: washing and dewatering tub, 8: motor, 13: water level sensor,
24: water supply solenoid valve, 35: start / stop switch, 36: cloth amount sensor, 44: voltage between capacitor terminals, 45: attenuation waveform width.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasushi Shinko 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Pref.

Claims (2)

[Claims] A motor for driving a washing and dewatering tub or a stirring blade; a control device for automatically performing washing, rinsing, and dewatering processes; a water supply device for automatically supplying water to a set water level by the control device; A clutch device for switching between the dewatering tub and the stirring blade, and a function of detecting a back electromotive force of the voltage between the capacitor terminals generated when the motor is turned off, and converting the back electromotive force into a rectangular wave pulse; Fully automatic washing wherein the amount of clothes put into the tub is determined based on the width (attenuation waveform width) of the rectangular wave pulse, and several types of cloth amount determination criteria are provided based on the attenuation waveform width. Machine. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the attenuated waveform width is measured when the motor is turned off, and the value of the attenuated waveform width between the initially designated pulses satisfies a predetermined condition. The amount of clothing is determined based on the set value between pulses. If the condition is not satisfied, the amount of clothing is determined based on the value of the attenuated waveform width measured between other pulses and the set value between the pulses. Automatic washing machine.