JPH06225986A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use bath water for not only washing but also rinsing by providing a controller which stops the operation before water supply in the first rinsing process by means of a specified procedure, a informs of the halt and starts again the operation by the specified procedure thereafter. CONSTITUTION:In an automatic washing machine making use of the residual water in a bath tub, when the washing and spin-drying processes have completed, the operation is discontinued by a controller 22 to bring it to the waiting state of the supply of the residual bath water. Before the time elapses and a specified time interval is over, whether the start switch 17 is operated or not is judged. In case of 'no', whether the water level in the outer tank 2 has reached a specified preset water level or not is judged by the detected signal of water level from the water sensor 24. Users manipulate to conduct the bath water in the outer tank 2. When the water reaches a preset level, it is transferred to the rinsing process. On the other hand, when the bath water is forced not to conduct to the inner tank 4 and a specified time has elapsed, water is fed by a water supply valve 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called automatic washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine suitable for washing and rinsing by using the remaining water in a bath.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a so-called automatic washing machine, when washing is performed by using remaining water in a bath, a user sets a desired course by, for example, tightening a water tap connected to a water supply valve. After that, operate the start switch,
In this state, the remaining water in the bath is put into the washing tub with a bucket or a water supply pump. Then, when water is filled up to a predetermined water level, the stirring body in the washing tub starts to rotate and washing is started. Therefore, stop adding water and open the tap of the tap. By doing this, the rest is rinsed,
Dehydration is done automatically.

[0003]

However, in the above case, since the process immediately shifts to the rinsing process as soon as the washing process is completed, even when there is a lot of water remaining in the bath and it is desired to use it not only for washing but also for rinsing. The tap water is automatically supplied at the time of shifting to the rinsing process, and the operation proceeds.

In this case, it has been attempted to close the faucet of the water supply so that the tap water is not supplied even when the rinsing stroke is started, but the user is notified when the rinsing stroke is started. I didn't understand, and it was inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and therefore, the purpose thereof is not only washing but also rinsing can be performed by using the remaining water in the bath as desired. When the remaining water cannot be supplied, tap water can be automatically supplied to continue the operation.
(EN) Provided is a washing machine capable of distinctly setting a course using remaining water in a bath from settings of other courses.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the washing machine of the present invention, at least the operation from the washing step to the rinsing step is automatically executed, and the operation is first performed by a predetermined operation. It is characterized in that the operation is stopped before water supply in the rinsing stroke, the stop is informed, and the operation is restarted by a predetermined operation thereafter.

In this case, it is advisable to perform control so that the operation is automatically restarted when a predetermined operation is not performed within a predetermined time after stopping the operation before supplying water in the first rinsing stroke.

Further, it is preferable that the setting of the course in which the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke is performed by a switch operation of a combination which cannot normally occur.

[0009]

According to the above means, the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke on the basis of the predetermined operation, and when the stop is notified, the user can wash the remaining water in the bath in the washing tub. You can put it in. Thus, not only washing but also rinsing can be performed using the remaining water in the bath as desired.

Further, in this case, when the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke and the predetermined operation is not performed within a predetermined time, the operation is automatically restarted. , When the user is out of the house or cannot hold the hand for other business and cannot supply the remaining water in the bath after washing, the tap water can be automatically supplied to continue the operation.

Further, in the case where the course setting for stopping the operation before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke is set by a switch operation of a combination which cannot normally occur,
The setting operation of the course using the remaining water in the bath can be clearly distinguished from the setting operation of the other courses.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 2 shows an outer box 1 of the entire washing machine. Inside, an outer tub 2 for storing water is elastically supported and arranged by a plurality of (only one is shown) hanging bar mechanisms 3. . Inside the outer tub 2, a porous inner tub 4 which is a washing tub and a dewatering tub is provided, and a stirring member 5 for washing is provided at the bottom of the inner tub 4.

On the other hand, a drain valve 6 and a drain hose 7 for draining from the inside of the outer tub 2 (inside of the inner tub 4) are provided at the outer lower portion of the outer tub 2, and a drive mainly composed of a motor 8 is provided. A mechanism 9 is provided, and the drive mechanism 9 stops the inner tub 4 to rotate the agitator 5 at the time of laundry amount detection and washing described later, and rotates the agitator 5 together with the agitator 5 at the time of dehydration. I am trying.

A top cover 10 is provided on the outer box 1, and an operation panel 11 shown in FIG. 3 is provided on the front upper surface of the top cover 10. In addition to the water level selection switch 12, the operation panel 11 includes a wash stroke selection switch 13, a rinse stroke selection switch 14, a dehydration stroke selection switch 15, a course selection switch 16, a start switch 17 and a power switch 18. There are a display unit 19 for displaying the set water level, a display unit 20 for displaying the time and the number of times of each process of washing, rinsing and dehydration, and a display unit 21 for displaying the set course.

A microcomputer 22 is arranged inside the front portion of the top cover 10. The microcomputer 22 functions as a control means, and as shown in FIG. 4, a lid opening / closing detection signal is input from a lid switch 23 provided on the top cover 10 for detecting opening / closing of a lid, and Various operation signals are input from various operation switches 12 to 18 of the operation panel 11, and a water level detection signal from a water level sensor 24 that detects the water level in the outer tub 2 detects the rotation speed of the motor 8 of the drive mechanism 9. A rotation speed detection signal is input from each rotation speed sensor 25.

Then, based on the various inputs and the control program stored in advance, the microcomputer 22 causes the various display sections 19 to 19 of the operation panel 11 to operate.
21 to the drive circuit 27 for driving the buzzer 26 and the drive circuit 29 for driving the motor 8 of the drive mechanism 9, the water supply valve 28 for supplying water into the inner tank 4, and the drain valve 6. A drive control signal is given.

Therefore, the operation based on the function of the microcomputer 22 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer 22 receives the operation input by the various operation switches 12 to 17 at the beginning when the necessary power is supplied and starts the operation (start) (step S1), and thereafter. Then, it is judged whether or not there is a combination of switch operations that cannot normally occur as the predetermined operation (step S2).

Here, the combination of switch operations that cannot normally occur refers to, for example, operating the power switch 18 while operating the water level selection switch 12, and this combination of switch operations that cannot normally occur. If it is determined that there is not, another course is appropriately set (step S3), but if it is determined that there is, a course for using the remaining water in the bath is set (step S4).

Then, after that, the start switch 17
Is determined (step S5), and when it is determined to be operated, the amount of laundry is detected (step S6). The amount of laundry is detected, for example, by detecting the number of rotations of the motor 8 when the stirring mechanism 5 is rotated by energizing the motor 8 of the drive mechanism 9 for a predetermined time by the rotation speed sensor 25. Is larger, the load amount of the motor 8 is larger and the number of rotations is smaller. Therefore, the amount of laundry can be detected by detecting this number of rotations.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 22 sets the washing water level according to the detected laundry amount (step S
7) Further, the display of the set water level is displayed on the display unit 19 (step S8), and the state of waiting for the supply of the remaining water in the bath is entered.

Then, while waiting for the supply of the remaining water in the bath, the microcomputer 22 judges whether or not a predetermined time has passed (step S9). Then, it is judged whether or not the start switch 17 has been operated (step S10). If it is judged that the start switch 17 has not been operated, the water level in the outer tub 2 is further set to a predetermined value by the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 24. It is determined whether or not the water level has been reached (step S11).

Here, assuming that the user has put the remaining water in the bath into the inner tank 4 and then the outer tank 2, if the water level in the outer tank 2 reaches the set water level, the above step S1 is performed.
In No. 1, it is determined that the set water level has been reached, so the washing process proceeds based on this (step S12).

On the other hand, if the user does not put the remaining water in the bath into the inner tank 4, it is determined in step S11 that the set water level has not been reached, and the step S11 is performed.
9. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed even in step S9 after returning to step 9, the process proceeds to step S10,
If it is determined in step S10 that the start switch 17 has been operated, automatic water supply to the inner tub 4 by the water supply valve 28 is performed until it is determined that the set water level has been reached (step S13), and then, step Proceed to S12.
If it is determined that the start switch 17 has not been operated in step S10, the set water level has not been reached in step S11, and the predetermined time has elapsed in step S9, the process proceeds to step S13. , Further proceeds to step S12.

After proceeding to step S12,
Dehydration is performed (step S14), the operation is stopped and the buzzer 26 is activated to notify the stop (step S15), and the state of waiting for the supply of the remaining water in the bath is resumed.

Even while waiting for the supply of the remaining water in the bath here,
The microcomputer 22 first determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S16), and if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, then determines whether or not the start switch 17 has been operated ( If it is determined that the operation has not been performed (step S17), it is further determined whether or not the water level in the outer tub 2 has reached a predetermined set water level based on the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 24 (step S18). .

Here again, assuming that the user has put the remaining water in the bath into the inner tank 4 and then the outer tank 2,
When the water level in the outer tub 2 reaches the set water level, it is determined in step S18 that the set water level has been reached, and accordingly, the rinsing process is performed (step S19).

On the other hand, if the user does not put the remaining water in the bath into the inner tank 4, it is determined in step S18 that the set water level has not been reached, and step S18 is performed.
Returning to step S16, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed even in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17. If it is determined in step S17 that the start switch 17 has been operated, the water supply valve 28 is used. The automatic water supply to the inner tank 4 is performed until it is determined that the set water level has been reached (step S20), and then the process proceeds to step S19. If it is determined in step S17 that the start switch 17 has not been operated, and that the set water level has not been reached in step S18, and a predetermined time has elapsed in step S16, the operation is automatically restarted. Then, the process proceeds to step S20, and further to step S12,
Proceed to the subsequent steps.

As described above, in this structure, the remaining water use course of the bath is set by a predetermined operation, the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke, and the stop is notified. Therefore, based on this, the user may perform the operation of putting the remaining water in the bath into the inner tank 4. Thus, not only washing but also rinsing can be performed using the remaining water in the bath as desired.

Further, in this case, the operation of adding the remaining water in the bath or the predetermined operation of operating the start switch 17 is not performed within a predetermined time after the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke. In this case, the system automatically restarts the operation, so even if the user is out of the house or cannot hold the hand for other work and cannot supply the remaining water in the bath after washing, The operation can be automatically carried out by using water, which is convenient for the user.

Further, the course for stopping the operation before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke is set by operating the power switch 18 while operating the water level selection switch 12, for example, which is a combination of switch operations that cannot normally occur. By doing so, the setting operation of the course using the remaining water in the bath can be clearly distinguished from the setting operation of the other course only by operating the course selection switch 16, and there is no risk of erroneous operation. be able to.

The setting of the course using the remaining water in the bath is considered to be permanently effective once the switch operation of the above-mentioned unusual combination is performed once. If you do, it shall be canceled. In this case, if you have a non-volatile memory and store the settings of the same course,
Unless the user performs a cancel operation, the setting cannot be canceled even if the outlet is unplugged or a power failure occurs.

Further, as to the setting of the course using the remaining water in the bath, as shown in FIG. 5, a part 20a of the 7-segment light emitting diode of the display section 20 may be made to emit light for display. As shown in FIG. 6, a dedicated display unit 30 may be provided to display. Further, the setting of the course may be performed by a dedicated switch 31 as shown in FIG.

In addition, the process executed by the microcomputer 22 may be from rinsing to final rinsing instead of rinsing, that is, the same applies to the washing function side of the two-tub type washing machine. It can be carried out.

[0034]

The washing machine of the present invention is as described above, and has the following effects. In the washing machine of claim 1, the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke by a predetermined operation, the stop is notified, and the operation is restarted by a predetermined operation thereafter. Thus, not only washing but also rinsing can be performed using the remaining water in the bath as desired.

In the washing machine according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above construction, the operation is automatically restarted when a predetermined operation is not performed within a predetermined time after stopping the operation before supplying water in the first rinsing stroke. By performing the control so that the remaining water in the bath cannot be supplied after washing, tap water can be automatically supplied to continue the operation.

In the washing machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the course for stopping the operation before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke is set by a switch operation of a combination that cannot normally occur. The setting of the course that uses the remaining water can be clearly distinguished from the setting of other courses.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an operation showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Side view of the entire fracture

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel

FIG. 4 is a schematic electrical configuration diagram.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing another different embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 is a water level selection switch, 17 is a start switch, 1
Reference numeral 8 is a power switch, 22 is a microcomputer (control means), 24 is a water level sensor, 26 is a buzzer, 28 is a water supply valve, and 31 is a switch for setting a bath water course.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system for automatically performing at least the operation from the washing process to the rinsing process, wherein the operation is stopped before the water supply in the first rinsing process by a predetermined operation and the stop is informed, and then the predetermined operation is performed. A washing machine characterized by comprising control means for controlling to restart the operation by the operation of. 2. The control means controls to automatically restart the operation when a predetermined operation is not performed within a predetermined time after stopping the operation before supplying water in the first rinsing stroke. The washing machine according to claim 1. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means sets the course for stopping the operation before the water supply in the first rinsing stroke by a switch operation of a combination that cannot normally occur.