CN109563671B - Control method of drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A control method of a drum washing machine (1) can suppress the generation of vibration and noise caused by the eccentricity of a drum (2) and can effectively avoid the delay of the operation time. The control method of the washing machine has the following steps: a simultaneous water injection step of simultaneously injecting water to the two lifting ribs except when the eccentric position (N) is located at a substantially opposite position of the lifting rib (7); a water injection switching step of continuously calculating the eccentric amount (M) and the eccentric position in parallel with the simultaneous water injection step, and switching to water injection to one of the lifting ribs on the substantially opposite side when the eccentric position changes to a substantially opposite position of any one of the lifting ribs; and a rotation speed increasing step of stopping the water injection to the lifting rib and increasing the rotation speed of the drum when the eccentricity amount is less than or equal to a rotation increasing threshold (mc) that changes according to the rotation speed of the drum in the water injection switching step.

Description

Control method of drum washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a control method of a washing machine having a dehydration function.

Background

Some of the washing machines installed in ordinary households or self-service laundry rooms have a washing and dehydrating function and a washing, dehydrating and drying function.

The washing machine having the dehydration function generates vibration and noise in the drum due to the bias of laundry. Further, if the laundry is highly biased, the eccentricity of the drum during rotation becomes large, and a large torque is required for rotation, so that the dehydration operation cannot be started.

In order to eliminate such a bias, the user stops the operation of the washing machine and manually removes the bias of the laundry.

In order to eliminate such troublesome work, the following proposals are made: when it is determined that the magnitude of the imbalance, which is the bias of the laundry, is larger than a predetermined value, the drum is decelerated according to the output timing of the position detection unit to cancel the bias of the laundry until the drum reaches a rotation speed at which the centrifugal force is smaller than the gravity (see patent document 1).

Further, in order to prevent the laundry from being unbalanced toward the front of the drum during the dehydration, the difference in the detected vibration amount is calculated by the acceleration sensors disposed at the front and rear of the drum, and the unbalanced state of the laundry toward the front of the drum is detected (see patent document 2).

Recently, as described in patent document 3, a technique is proposed in which water is injected into a plurality of balancers uniformly provided in the circumferential direction of the drum to actively eliminate the unbalanced state of the drum.

The technique disclosed in patent document 1 reduces the centrifugal force by decelerating the rotation of the drum, and drops the laundry stacked on each other by gravity. However, in this conventional technique, the laundry entangled with each other into a lump falls directly, and therefore the lump cannot be disentangled. When the drum is rotated in such a state, the unbalance is not removed, and thus the unbalance is detected again and the deceleration of the drum is repeated.

On the other hand, the technique disclosed in patent document 2 calculates the difference between the vibration value detected by the front vibration detecting unit and the vibration value detected by the rear vibration detecting unit when the drum is rotated. When the difference in the vibration values exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the rotation of the drum is decelerated or stopped.

However, even with this prior art, the laundry entangled into lumps is still left in the drum in an undeployed state, and is not a fundamental solution to eliminate the unbalance.

Therefore, if the technique described in patent document 3 is used, it is expected to solve the problem that cannot be solved by the above two patent documents. Further, it is now desirable to provide a further specific control procedure, a specific solution for actively solving the above-mentioned problems.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 9-290089

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2009-82558

Patent document 3: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-197

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention is an invention that solves such existing problems. The present invention can provide a control method of a drum washing machine, which can reliably reduce unbalance of a washing drum during a dehydration process and rapidly perform the dehydration process to shorten the washing time even in the case that the deviation of the washing exists in the washing drum.

Means for solving the problems

The invention is a control method of a drum washing machine, the drum washing machine comprises: a bottomed cylindrical drum configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in a horizontal direction or an oblique direction; three or more hollow lifting ribs are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the roller along the axial direction of the roller; the water receiving unit is used for injecting water to each lifting rib; an acceleration sensor detecting vibration of the drum; and an eccentricity detecting unit for detecting an eccentricity amount and an eccentricity position in the drum based on the vibration of the drum detected by the acceleration sensor, wherein when the eccentricity amount reaches a predetermined eccentricity amount threshold value for water injection during the spin-drying process, the eccentricity amount is reduced by injecting water into the lifting rib corresponding to the eccentricity position, and thereafter the rotational speed of the drum is made to reach a predetermined stable spin-drying rotational speed, the method for controlling a drum washing machine comprising: a simultaneous water injection step of simultaneously injecting water to two or more lifting ribs except when the eccentric position is located at a substantially opposite position of the lifting rib with respect to the axis; a water injection switching step of continuously calculating the eccentric amount and the eccentric position in parallel with the simultaneous water injection step, and switching to water injection to one of the lifting ribs on the substantially opposite side when the eccentric position changes to a substantially opposite position of any one of the lifting ribs; and a rotation speed increasing step of stopping the water injection to the lifting rib and increasing the rotation speed of the drum when the eccentricity amount is less than or equal to a rotation increasing threshold value that varies according to the rotation speed of the drum.

The present invention is characterized in that the cumulative amount of the amount of water injected into the lifting rib is stored for each lifting rib, and water injection exceeding the internal capacity of each lifting rib is not performed.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that when the eccentricity amount when the water injection amount of the lifting rib reaches the inner capacity of the lifting rib is smaller than the eccentricity amount allowable threshold set to a value larger than the rotation increasing threshold, the dehydration rotation speed is increased,

and when the eccentricity when the water injection amount of the lifting rib reaches the internal volume of the lifting rib is more than the allowable threshold of the eccentricity, stopping the dehydration process.

In the present invention, the acceleration sensor is a sensor capable of detecting acceleration in a left-right direction, a vertical direction, and a front-rear direction, and the eccentricity amount and the eccentricity position are calculated from a signal of acceleration in any one direction, and when the eccentricity amount increases after a predetermined time from the start of water injection into the lifting rib corresponding to the eccentricity position, water injection into the lifting rib is performed based on the eccentricity position calculated from a signal of acceleration in a direction different from the one direction.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that when the eccentric amount is not decreased even after the signal for calculating the acceleration of the eccentric position is changed a plurality of times, the water supply to the lift ribs is stopped and the rotation speed of the drum is decreased or the rotation of the drum is stopped, thereby agitating the laundry in the drum up and down in the drum.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, by introducing the simultaneous water injection step and the water injection switching step, the eccentricity amount can be reduced with high accuracy in a short time. As a result, the time for the dehydration process can be made shorter.

The control method of the washing machine of the invention can further shorten the time of the dehydration process by preventing the water injection from being wasted.

The control method of the washing machine of the invention can effectively avoid the delay of the dehydration time caused by the interruption and the repetition of the dehydration process by maintaining the allowable eccentric amount to continue the dehydration process.

The control method of the washing machine of the invention can effectively avoid delay by rapidly avoiding the waste of water injection time based on the wrong eccentric position.

The control method of the washing machine of the invention can effectively reduce the delay of the dehydration process by rapidly avoiding the waste of the water injection time based on the wrong eccentric position.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view schematically showing a cross section of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the electrical system of the same washing machine 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a control flow in the dehydration process of the same washing machine 1.

Fig. 4 is a parameter table showing the opened water supply valve 62.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing an eccentric position in the drum 2.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which the inside of the drum 2 is under an opposing load.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing an outline of the dehydration process of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow in the spin-drying process of the same washing machine 1.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the eccentric position adjustment process.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow chart showing a main dehydration process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a main dehydration process.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the acceleration obtained by the acceleration sensor 12 and the pulse signal ps obtained by the proximity switch 14.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of measuring the eccentric amount/the assumed eccentric position.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a process of maximum/minimum determination.

Fig. 15 is a schematic flowchart showing a process of the start judgment.

Fig. 16 is a specific flowchart showing the process of the activation determination.

FIG. 17 is a schematic flowchart showing a process of water filling.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the water filling process.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing a process of the actual determination of the eccentric position.

Fig. 20 is a diagram for explaining a control flow in the spin-drying process of the same washing machine 1.

Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing a process of water supply in the same washing machine 1.

Fig. 22 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the water supply valve driving.

Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing a specific process of water supply amount determination.

Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing a process of the eccentricity amount increase determination.

Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing a process of determining whether or not acceleration is possible.

Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing a process of acceleration determination change.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a washing machine; 2: a drum; 7: lifting the ribs; n: an eccentric position; m: eccentricity amount; mb: an eccentricity threshold value for water injection; mc: a threshold value for increasing the rotation speed; md: allowing for an eccentricity threshold.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of a washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a washing machine applicable to, for example, a laundromat or a home, and includes: a washing machine main body 1 a; a washing drum 1b including an outer drum 3 having an axis S1 extending substantially horizontally and a drum 2; a water injection device 1c having a water receiving unit 5 and a nozzle unit 6; a drive device 40; and a control section 30 shown only in fig. 2.

The washing machine main body 1a shown in fig. 1 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped. An opening 11 for putting in and taking out laundry into and from the drum 2 is formed in the front surface 10a of the washing machine main body 1a, and an opening/closing cover 11a capable of opening and closing the opening 11 is attached. As shown in the same drawing, an opening 11 for loading and unloading laundry into and from the drum 2 is formed to be directed obliquely upward by a front surface 10a of the washing machine main body 1a being slightly upward, and a user opens and closes an opening/closing cover 11a that can open and close the opening 11 from obliquely upward. That is, the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a washing machine called a so-called diagonal drum full-automatic washing machine in which the washing tub 1b is installed in an inclined direction.

The outer tub 3 is a bottomed cylindrical member disposed inside the washing machine main body 1a, and can store washing water therein. As shown in fig. 1, an acceleration sensor 12 capable of detecting accelerations in three directions, i.e., the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction, is attached to the outer circumferential surface 3a of the outer tube 3.

The drum 2 is a bottomed cylindrical member disposed coaxially with the outer cylinder 3 in the outer cylinder 3 and rotatably supported in the outer cylinder 3. The drum 2 can accommodate laundry therein, and has a wall surface 2a having a large number of water flow holes 2b (see fig. 1).

As shown in fig. 1, the driving device 40 rotates the pulleys 15 and the belt 15b by the motor 10, and also rotates the driving shaft 17 protruding toward the bottom portion 2c of the drum 2, thereby applying a driving force to the drum 2 and rotating the drum 2. A proximity switch 14 is provided near one of the pulleys 15, and the proximity switch 14 can detect passage of a mark 15a formed on the pulley 15. In the present embodiment, the proximity switch 14 corresponds to a drum position detecting device.

As shown in fig. 1, three lifting ribs 7 as hollow balancers are provided at equal intervals (at equal angles) in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface 2a1 of the drum 2. Each of the lift ribs 7 extends in the axial direction of the drum 2 from the base end portion 2c to the top end portion of the drum 2, and is formed to protrude from the inner circumferential surface 2a1 of the drum 2 toward the axis S1. Further, each lifting rib 7 is hollow.

The water receiving unit 5 is a member formed by stacking three water guide grooves 5a in the radial direction along the axis S1 of the drum 2, for example, and is fixed to the inner circumferential surface 2a1 of the drum 2 as shown in fig. 3. The water guide grooves 5a are provided in the same number as the number of the lift ribs 7, and a water passage for allowing the conditioning water W to flow to any one of the lift ribs 7 alone is formed therein. As shown in fig. 1, a communication member 5a1 is connected to the inside of the lifting rib 7, and the conditioned water W is supplied from the water receiving unit 5.

The water receiving unit 5 and the lifting rib 7 are connected by a communication member 5a 1.

The nozzle unit 6 is a member for injecting the conditioning water W into the water guide duct 5a alone. The nozzle unit 6 has three water injection nozzles 6a and water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62c connected to the water injection nozzles 6a, respectively. The water injection nozzles 6a are provided in the same number as the water guide grooves 5a, and are disposed at positions where water can be injected into the water guide grooves 5 a. In the present embodiment, tap water is used as the conditioning water W. As the water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62c, a water supply valve of a change-over type may be used.

In the dewatering process in which the drain valve 50a is opened and the washing water in the outer tub 3 is discharged from the drain port 50, the conditioning water W poured into the water guide duct 5a of the water receiving unit 5 from any of the water pouring nozzles 6a of the nozzle unit 6 flows into the lift rib 7 through the communication member 5a 1. For example, when the conditioned water W is injected from any one of the water injection nozzles 6a, the conditioned water W flows from the water guide duct 5a into the lift rib 7 through the communication member 5a1 as indicated by an arrow in fig. 2.

The lifting rib 7 has: a retention part 71 for retaining the conditioning water W injected from the top end 1d side of the washing cylinder 1b by the water injection device 1c by the centrifugal force during the dehydration process; and an outlet portion 72 for discharging the supplied conditioning water W from the base end 1e side of the washing tub 1 b. When the drum 2 is rotated at a high speed, the conditioned water W flowing into the lifter 7 is retained by centrifugal force against the inner circumferential surface 2a1 of the drum 2. This increases the weight of the lifting rib 7, and changes the eccentricity (M) of the drum 2. Thus, the lifting rib 7 is a box-type lifting rib structure capable of retaining the conditioning water W by centrifugal force. When the rotation speed of the drum 2 is reduced near the end of the dehydration process, the centrifugal force in the lifting rib 7 is gradually attenuated, and the conditioned water W flows out of the outlet portion 72 by gravity and is discharged to the outside of the outer tub 3. At this time, the conditioned water W flows downward and outward outside the drum 2 through the outlet portion 72. Therefore, the conditioning water W is discharged so as not to wet the laundry in the drum 2.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The operation of the washing machine 1 is controlled by a control unit 30 including a microcomputer. The control unit 30 includes a central control unit (CPU)31 for controlling the entire system, and the control unit 30 is connected to a memory 32, and the memory 32 stores values described in detail below: a first rotation speed (N1) which is a predetermined rotation speed lower than the resonance point CP of the drum 2, a first eccentricity threshold (ma), a water injection eccentricity threshold (mb), a rotation speed increase threshold (mc), an eccentricity allowable threshold (md), and a dehydration stable rotation speed. The control unit 30 can perform a predetermined operation by executing the program stored in the memory 32 by the microcomputer, and the memory 32 temporarily stores data used when the program is executed.

The central control unit 31 outputs a control signal to the rotational speed control unit 33, and further outputs the control signal to a motor control unit (motor control circuit) 34 to control the rotation of the motor 10. The rotation speed control unit 33 receives a signal indicating the rotation speed of the motor 10 from the motor control unit 34 in real time, and constitutes a control element.

The acceleration sensor 12 is connected to the unbalance amount detection unit 35. The acceleration sensor 12 and the proximity switch 14 are connected to the unbalance position detection unit 36. The unbalance amount detection unit 35 and the unbalance position detection unit 36 constitute an eccentricity detection unit.

Thus, when the proximity switch 14 detects the mark 15a (see fig. 1), the unbalance amount detection unit 35 calculates the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 based on the magnitudes of the accelerations in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction obtained by the acceleration sensor 12, and the eccentric amount (M) is output to the unbalance amount determination unit 37.

The unbalance position detection unit 36 calculates an angle in the unbalance direction from the signal indicating the position of the mark 15a input from the proximity switch 14, and outputs an unbalance position signal as an eccentric position (N) to the water injection control unit 38. Here, the angle of the unbalance direction refers to a relative angle of the axis S1 with respect to the lift rib 7 in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, as an example thereof, the intermediate position of the lift ribs 7(B) and 7(C) for indicating the relative angle between the eccentric position and the three lift ribs 7(a), 7(B), and 7(C) disposed at equal angular intervals with the axis S1 as the center is set to 0 °.

When the signals indicating the eccentric amount (M) and the eccentric position (N) from the unbalance amount determination unit 37 and the unbalance position detection unit 36 are input, the water injection control unit 38 determines the lift rib 7 to be supplied with water and the amount of water to be supplied based on a control program stored in advance. Then, the water injection controller 38 opens the selected water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62c to start injecting the regulated water W. When the eccentricity (M) of the drum 2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference, the water injection control unit 38 starts the injection of the adjustment water W into the water guide duct 5a of the water receiving unit 5 from the water injection nozzle 6a selected based on the calculation of the eccentricity (M), and stops the injection of the adjustment water W when the eccentricity (M) is equal to or less than the predetermined reference.

For example, when the laundry lump ld (x) which is a factor causing the eccentricity is located between the lifter 7(B) and the lifter 7(C) of the drum 2 as shown in fig. 3, the water injection controller 38 controls the supply of the conditioning water W to the lifter 7 (a). When the laundry cake ld (y) is located near the lifting rib 7(a), the supply of the conditioning water W to both the lifting rib 7(B) and the lifting rib 7(C) is controlled.

In the present embodiment, when the laundry lump ld (y) is located near any of the lifting ribs 7, water needs to be injected into the plurality of lifting ribs 7 to reduce the eccentricity (M), and specific control in this case will be described in particular detail.

The central control unit 31 opens the water supply valves X and Z according to the description of the parameter table of fig. 4. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the determination of the eccentric position (N) is divided into, as the case may be, six equal divisions of the drum 2 in the circumferential direction: the eccentric position (N) to be supplied with water to one lifting rib 7 and the eccentric position (N) to be supplied with water to two lifting ribs 7 are determined. Here, the description of "eccentric position (N)" in the present embodiment is a concept representing either one or both of the assumed eccentric position θ 1 assumed to be calculated and the formal eccentric position θ 2 formally determined. The assumed eccentric position θ 1 and the formal eccentric position θ 2 will be described later in detail.

The regions Y for determining the eccentric position (N) to be injected into one lift bead 7 are regions p (a), p (b), and p (c). The region Y of the eccentric position (N) required for eliminating eccentricity is referred to as regions p (ab), p (bc), and p (ca). In addition, the angles of the regions p (a), (b), and (c) around the axis S1 were set to 20 °, and the angles of the regions p (ab), (bc), and (ca) around the axis S1 were set to 100 °.

In addition, the lift rib 7 corresponding to the character not described in ABC is the lift rib 7 closest to the eccentric position (N) in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 12 is a three-axis sensor capable of detecting accelerations in the lateral direction, the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction. Thus, even in a state where the laundry is located at positions facing the base end side and the top end side of the drum 2 (a state where the load is applied) as shown in fig. 6, the eccentric position (N) and the eccentric amount (M) can be accurately detected. The method of detecting the eccentric position (N) and the eccentric amount (M) in the state of the opposed load will be described later in detail.

The control method of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes: a first eccentricity detection step of detecting an eccentricity amount (M) and a presumed eccentricity position θ 1 at a time point when the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches a first rotation speed (N1) lower than the resonance point CP of the drum 2; and a laundry stirring step of stirring the laundry in the drum 2 up and down in the drum 2 by reducing the rotation speed of the drum 2 or stopping the rotation of the drum 2 when the eccentricity (M) detected by the first eccentricity detecting step is greater than a first eccentricity threshold (ma) set to a different value according to the assumed eccentricity position θ 1, and then increasing the rotation speed of the drum 2 to the first rotation speed (N1).

Fig. 7 is a graph showing an outline of the dehydration process of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. In fig. 7, the vertical axis represents the rotational speed of the drum 2, and the horizontal axis represents time. Fig. 8, 10, and 11 are flowcharts showing a main outline of the dehydration process. Fig. 8 shows a pre-dehydration process in the first half of the dehydration process, and fig. 10 and 11 show a main dehydration process as a process after the pre-dehydration process.

In the present embodiment, when the central control unit 31 receives an input signal from a not-shown spin button or receives a signal for starting the spin course in the washing mode operation, the flow proceeds to step SP1 to start the pre-spin course.

(step SP1)

At step SP1, central control unit 31 rotates drum 2 slowly in reverse, and then increases the rotation of drum 2 to a first rotation speed lower than resonance point CP of drum 2 (N1). When the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches the first rotation speed (N1), it moves to step SP 2. In the present embodiment, the first rotation speed (N1) is set to 180rpm which is 300rpm lower than the resonance point CP of the drum 2.

(step SP2)

In step SP2, the central control unit 31 executes control of the eccentric amount/assumed eccentric position measurement of the present embodiment in which the eccentric amount (M) and the assumed eccentric position θ 1 are calculated by the eccentric detection unit based on the acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor 12. Specifically, step SP2 in fig. 8, i.e., control of the eccentricity amount/assumed eccentric position measurement, corresponds to the first eccentricity detection step of the present invention. At this time, the central control unit 31 calculates the eccentricity amount (M) for each direction based on the acceleration signals in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction obtained by the acceleration sensor 12, for example. The value used in the present control is an eccentricity (M) calculated based on the eccentricity (M) in the front-rear direction and the acceleration signal in either the up-down direction or the left-right direction among the calculated values in the three directions.

(step SP3)

The central control unit 31 compares the calculated eccentric amount (M) with a first eccentric amount threshold (ma) stored in the memory 32, and performs an activation determination for determining whether M < ma is satisfied. When the central control unit 31 determines that M < ma is satisfied, the routine proceeds to step SP4, and when M < ma is not satisfied, the routine proceeds to step SP 5. Here, the first eccentricity threshold (ma) is a threshold that assumes that the laundry bias is so large that it is difficult to reduce the eccentricity (M) to such an extent that the rotation speed of the drum 2 can be increased to the dehydration-stable rotation speed even if the conditioning water W is supplied to the lift ribs 7. That is, when the flow proceeds to step SP5, the eccentricity amount (M) is large enough to make it difficult to complete the dehydration process even if the conditioned water W is supplied to the lift ribs 7.

The first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) is further explained. In the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 12 is an acceleration sensor capable of detecting acceleration in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the longitudinal direction. Then, different first eccentricity amount thresholds (ma _ x, ma _ z, ma _ y) are set for each acceleration signal in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction.

(step SP4)

In step SP4, when the eccentric amount (M) calculated in step SP2 is smaller than the first eccentric amount threshold value (ma) set for each eccentric position, the central control unit 31 increases the rotation speed of the drum 2. The central control unit 31 continues the control of the eccentric amount/assumed eccentric position measurement according to the present embodiment while increasing the rotation speed of the drum 2. Here, "continue" is not necessarily limited to a case where the process is continuously performed without interruption. Needless to say, when the rotation speed of the drum 2 is increased to any of a plurality of rotation speeds up to the dehydration stable rotation speed, the control of measuring the eccentric amount and the assumed eccentric position according to the present embodiment may be intermittently executed. This step SP4 corresponds to the second eccentricity detection step of the present invention.

In step SP5, central control unit 31 stops the rotation of drum 2 or reduces the rotation speed of drum 2 to a rotation speed at which the gravity is greater than the centrifugal force, thereby performing control of the eccentric position adjustment process of agitating the laundry in drum 2 in the vertical direction. Then, it returns to step SP 1. Step SP5 corresponds to the laundry stirring step of the present invention. Fig. 7 shows the evolution of the rotation speed when the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches the dehydration-stable rotation speed without injecting water to the lifter 7 by a solid line. In fig. 7, the upper virtual line shows the evolution of the rotational speed when the rotational speed reaches the dehydration stable rotational speed after the water is injected once into the lifting rib 7, and the lower virtual line shows the evolution of the rotational speed of the drum 2 in step SP 5.

The control of the eccentric position adjustment process will be further described with reference to fig. 9. First, when it is judged by the above-described step SP3 that the eccentric amount (M) is large to such an extent that it is difficult to decrease, the rotation of the drum 2 is stopped (step SP 51). Then, the drum 2 is rotated at a rotation speed lower than the centrifugal force, and the laundry in the drum 2 is agitated to change the eccentricity (M) (step SP 52).

Hereinafter, the control of the main dehydration process after step SP4 will be described schematically in fig. 10 and specifically shown in fig. 11.

(step SP6)

In step SP6, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentric amount (M) calculated in step SP2 shown in fig. 8 is greater than a water injection eccentric amount threshold value (mb) preset for each rotation speed of the drum 2. When the eccentricity (M) is lower than the eccentricity threshold for water injection (mb), the central control unit 31 moves to step SP7 without injecting water into the lift rib 7. When the eccentricity (M) is greater than the eccentricity threshold for water injection (mb), the central control unit 31 injects water to the lift rib 7 during the water injection process and then moves to SP 7.

(step SP7)

In step SP7, the central control unit 31 increases the rotation speed of the drum 2 at a predetermined acceleration.

(step SP8)

In step SP8, when the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches the dehydration stable rotation speed, the central control portion 31 maintains the rotation speed of the drum 2 as it is until the dehydration process is finished. In the present embodiment, the dehydration stabilization rotation speed is set to 800 rpm.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the main dehydration step in the present embodiment.

(step SP71)

In step SP71, the central control unit 31 gradually increases the rotation speed at 20rpm per second until the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches 400 rpm. The central control unit 31 executes step SP6 in parallel with step SP 71.

(step SP72)

In step SP72, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the rotation speed of the drum 2 has reached 400 rpm. If the rotation speed does not reach 400rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 71. When the rotation speed reaches 400rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 73.

(step SP73)

In step SP73, the central control unit 31 gradually increases the number of revolutions at 5rpm per second until the number of revolutions of the drum 2 reaches 600 rpm. The central control unit 31 executes step SP6 in parallel with step SP 73.

(step SP74)

In step SP74, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the rotation speed of the drum 2 has reached 600 rpm. If the rotation speed does not reach 600rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 73. When the rotation speed reaches 600rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 75. Here, the acceleration when the rotation speed of the drum 2 is increased to 400 to 600rpm is lower than that in other rotation regions in order to increase the amount of water dehydrated from the laundry in the rotation regions than in other rotation regions, thereby reducing unnecessary noise generated by the dehydrated water.

(step SP75)

In step SP75, the central control unit 31 gradually increases the rotation speed at 20rpm per second until the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches 800 rpm. The central control unit 31 executes step SP6 in parallel with step SP 75.

(step SP76)

In step SP76, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the rotation speed of the drum 2 has reached 800 rpm. If the rotation speed does not reach 800rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 75. When the rotation speed reaches 800rpm, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 8.

(step SP8)

In step SP8, when the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches 800rpm, which is the spin-drying stable rotation speed, the central control unit 31 continues the spin-drying process while maintaining the rotation speed, and after confirming that the predetermined time has elapsed, the washing is ended. In other words, the central control unit 31 rotates the drum 2 at the dehydration stable rotation speed for a predetermined time to perform the dehydration process, as in the dehydration process in the normal washing. Then, the dehydration treatment is ended. When the spin-drying is completed and the drum 2 starts decelerating and the centrifugal force becomes lower than the gravitational acceleration, the conditioned water W in the lift ribs 7 flows out and is discharged.

In the control method of the present embodiment, after step SP3 which is the second eccentricity detection step, the water injection step SP6 and the rotation speed increase step SP7 are repeated until the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches the dehydration stable rotation speed.

Next, a specific embodiment of the control method according to the present embodiment will be further described.

An algorithm assuming the eccentric position θ 1 in the present embodiment will be described. The present embodiment is characterized in that, during the spin-drying process, a time difference t1 between an arbitrary time among signals indicating the acceleration of at least one cycle t2 of the drum 2 from the acceleration sensor 12 and a timing at which the pulse signal ps is emitted from the proximity switch 14 is calculated, an assumed eccentric position θ 1 in the circumferential direction in the drum 2 is calculated from a relationship between the time difference t1 and the rotational speed of the drum 2, control for reducing the eccentric amount (M) is performed based on the calculated assumed eccentric position θ 1, and any one of signals in a plurality of directions including at least the front-rear direction from the acceleration sensor 12 is used for the calculation of the assumed eccentric position θ 1. Hereinafter, a specific algorithm for assuming the eccentric position θ 1 in the present embodiment will be described as shown in fig. 12 to 14.

Fig. 12 is a graph showing the relationship between information indicating the temporal change in acceleration calculated based on the acceleration and the pulse signal ps obtained by the proximity switch 14. In fig. 12, for convenience, the assumed eccentric position θ 1 is calculated from the time difference t1 between the maximum value (Ymax) of the acceleration in the front-rear direction obtained by the acceleration sensor 12 and the pulse signal ps. In the present embodiment shown in fig. 12, the assumed eccentric position θ 1 is calculated from the maximum value (Ymax) and the minimum value (Ymin) of the acceleration as an example, but the assumed eccentric position θ 1 may be calculated from one or more of the acceleration zero point, the maximum value (Ymax) of the acceleration, and the minimum value (Ymin) as another example of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of measuring the eccentric amount/the assumed eccentric position.

(step SP21)

In step SP21, the central control unit 31 detects the acceleration in the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction by the acceleration sensor 12 (X, Y, Z).

(step SP22)

In step SP22, the central control unit 31 performs a calculation process of determining the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, Zmax)/the minimum value (Xmin, Ymin, Zmin) of the acceleration (X, Y, Z) based on the acceleration (X, Y, Z) obtained by the acceleration sensor 12 and the pulse signal ps which is the interrupt signal from the proximity switch 14. The specific scheme will be explained later.

(step SP23)

In step SP23, the central control section 31 calculates and determines the value of one period t2, which is the time when the drum 2 makes one rotation, based on the intervals between the plurality of pulse signals ps as the interrupt signals from the proximity switch 14.

(step SP24)

In step SP24, the central control section 31 calculates and determines the time difference t1 thereof from the plurality of pulse signals ps as the interrupt signals from the proximity switch 14 and the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, Zmax) of the acceleration (X, Y, Z) obtained in step SP 22. In step SP24, the central control unit 31 calculates a time difference t1_ X, t1_ Z in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, in addition to the time difference t1_ Y, which is the time difference t1 in the front-back direction shown in fig. 12.

(step SP25)

In step SP25, the central control unit 31 calculates and determines the respective eccentric amounts Mx, My, Mz in the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction as the eccentric amount (M) from the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, max)/the minimum value (Xmin, Ymin, Zmin) of the acceleration (X, Y, Z) obtained in step SP 22. The eccentricity Mx, My, Mz is obtained from the difference between the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, Zmax) and the minimum value (Xmin, Ymin, Zmin) in the present embodiment.

(step SP26)

In step SP26, the central control unit 31 calculates and determines the assumed eccentric positions θ 1-X, θ 1-Y, and θ 1-Z in the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction by the following equations based on the one cycle t2 obtained in step SP23 and the time difference t1 obtained in step SP 24.

θ1-X＝t1_X×360÷t2

θ1-Y＝t1_Y×360÷t2

θ1-Z＝t1_Z×360÷t2

Fig. 14 is a flowchart specifically illustrating a calculation process of determining the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, Zmax)/minimum value (Xmin, Ymin, Zmin) of the acceleration (X, Y, Z). The value of the acceleration (X, Y, Z) actually input from the acceleration sensor is input every 1 millisecond, but tends to be as follows: while showing large fluctuation that repeats from extremely large to extremely small, fine fluctuation is repeated for each input value. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the central control unit 31 performs the calculation process using the moving average of the plurality of input values as the acceleration (X1, Y1, Z1) for the calculation process. This reduces the influence of the fine undulations on the calculation process of the central control unit 31.

(step SP221)

In step SP221, the central control unit 31 performs calculation of 16 moving averages of the inputted acceleration (X, Y, Z) twice in parallel, recognizes the moving averages obtained every 16 milliseconds as the accelerations (X1, Y1, Z1), and continues the input. Specifically, as an example, the central control unit 31 calculates and inputs the moving average value from the 1 st to 16 th and 17 th to 32 th input values, and in parallel with this, calculates the moving average value as the second value from the 2 nd to 17 th and 18 th to 32 th input values. Thus, any of the 1 st and 2 nd moving average values can be used in the calculation processing. Specifically, for example, even if the moving average obtained from the 1 st to 16 th input values cannot be calculated for any reason, the moving average may be calculated from the 2 nd to 17 th input values and supplied to the calculation process.

(step SP222)

In step SP222, the central control section 31 receives the input of the pulse signal ps obtained by the proximity switch 14.

(step SP223)

In step SP223, the central control unit 31 updates the acceleration (X1, Y1, Z1) continuously input in step SP221 to a temporary maximum value/minimum value as needed.

(step SP224)

In step SP224, the central control section 31 receives the next pulse signal ps of the pulse signals ps obtained in step SP222 obtained by the proximity switch 14.

(step SP225)

In step SP225, the central control unit 31 sets the maximum value/minimum value of the acceleration (X1, Y1, Z1) obtained between the pulse signals ps of step SP222 and SP224 to the maximum value (Xmax, Ymax, Zmax)/minimum value (Xmin, Ymin, Zmin) of the specified acceleration (X, Y, Z).

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the activation determination, and fig. 16 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the activation determination. The start-up determination will be described below.

(step SP31)

In step SP31, the central control unit 31 selects the eccentric amount (M) that exhibits the larger of the horizontal eccentric amount Mx and the vertical eccentric amount Mz determined in step SP 25. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the selected eccentricity amount (M) is referred to as an eccentricity amount Mxz.

(step SP32)

In step SP32, the central control section 31 determines whether the eccentric amount Mxz is higher than a threshold value M _ xz that is a first eccentric amount threshold value (ma). If the eccentricity Mxz is less than the threshold value M _ xz, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 33. When the eccentric amount Mxz is higher than the threshold value M _ xz, the central control unit 31 determines that the activation is not possible, and proceeds to step SP5 to perform the eccentric amount adjustment process.

(step SP33)

In step SP33, the central control portion 31 determines whether the eccentric amount My in the front-rear direction is higher than a threshold M _ y that is a first eccentric amount threshold (ma). If the eccentric amount My is lower than the threshold value M _ y, the central control unit 31 determines that activation is possible. In this case, the rotation speed of the drum 2 is increased. If the eccentric amount My is higher than the threshold value M _ y, the central control unit 31 determines that the activation is not possible, and proceeds to step SP5 to perform the eccentric amount adjustment process.

Next, another embodiment of the activation determination will be described with reference to fig. 16. In the present embodiment, the central control unit 31 performs the start determination by appropriately changing the threshold value M _ xz and the threshold value M _ y for the start determination in accordance with the eccentric state of the drum 2.

In the present embodiment, in step SP3 as the first eccentricity detection step, when the vehicle is in the state of the opposing load as shown in fig. 6, the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) is set to a value smaller than that in the state of not being in the opposing load. In the present embodiment, when the load is not in the opposite load state, the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) is set differently depending on the assumed eccentric position θ 1.

The central control unit 31 selectively reads the threshold value M _ xz1, the threshold value M _ y1, the threshold value M _ xz2, the threshold value M _ y2, the threshold value M _ xz3, and the threshold value M _ y3 stored in the memory 32, as the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) used in the present embodiment. Of these thresholds, the threshold M _ xz1 and the threshold M _ y1 are the largest values, and the threshold M _ xz3 and the threshold M _ y3 are the lowest values.

The start-up determination shown in fig. 16 will be described. The central control unit 31 performs the processing of step SP31 described above. Then, it moves to step SP 34.

(step SP34)

In step SP34, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the value of the eccentric amount Mxz selected in step SP31 is smaller than the eccentric amount My in the front-rear direction. If the value of the eccentricity Mxz is small, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 35. If the value of the eccentricity Mxz is large, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 36.

(step SP35)

In step SP35, the central control unit 31 reads out the threshold value M _ xz3 and the threshold value M _ y3 from the memory 32 and uses them as the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) used in the following steps SP32 and SP 33. That is, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the drum 2 is in the state of the opposing load, the central control portion 31 sets the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) to a lower value than when it is set when it is not the opposing load. Accordingly, when the drum 2 is in a state of being subjected to the opposite load, the process is most easily shifted to the eccentric position adjustment process also called tumbling.

(step SP36)

In step SP36, the central control unit 31 reads out which area Y among the areas Y indicated in the parameter table of fig. 5 the assumed eccentric position θ 1 stored in the memory 32 is. When it is determined that the eccentric position θ 1 is the region p (a), p (b), or p (c) which is the region Y where the water supply valve Z is not set, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 38. When it is determined that the assumed eccentric position θ 1 is the region p (ab), p (bc), or p (ca) which is the region Y where the water supply valve Z is set, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 37.

(step SP37)

In step SP37, the central control unit 31 reads out the threshold value M _ xz2 and the threshold value M _ y2 from the memory 32 and adopts them as the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) used in the following steps SP32 and SP 33.

(step SP38)

In step SP38, the central control unit 31 reads out the threshold value M _ xz1 and the threshold value M _ y1 from the memory 32 and adopts them as the first eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) used in the following steps SP32 and SP 33. In the present embodiment, in step SP3, which is the first eccentricity detection step, different first eccentricity amount thresholds (ma) are set in accordance with the assumed eccentricity position θ 1. Specifically, the eccentricity amount threshold value (ma) is set to be small when the eccentric position θ 1 is assumed to be located in the region p (a), p (b), or p (c), and is set to be large when the eccentric position θ 1 is assumed to be located in the region p (ab), p (bc), or p (ca).

Then, the central control unit 31 performs step SP32 and step SP33 in the same manner as in fig. 15, using the thresholds used in step SP35, step SP37, and step SP 38.

The above description ends the processing of the pre-dehydration step in the dehydration step. Hereinafter, the processing of the main dehydration process after the above-described step SP6 will be described. Here, since the processing of steps SP7 and SP8 has been described above, the specific processing of step SP6, i.e., the water filling process, will be mainly described.

Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing an outline of the water filling process. As described above, in the water filling process of the present embodiment, the process of determining the eccentric position in step SP61 and the process of filling water in step SP62 are mainly performed after the process of measuring the eccentric amount/assumed eccentric position in step SP2, which is performed after the rotational speed of the drum 2 reaches 180rpm as described above.

(step SP61)

In step SP61, the central control unit 31 determines the actual eccentric position θ 2 from the assumed eccentric position θ 1. The processing for the eccentric position determination will be described later.

(step SP62)

In step SP62, the central control unit 31 injects water into the lift rib 7 based on the eccentric amount (M) and the actual eccentric position θ 2 obtained in step SP 61. The treatment performed for water injection will be described later.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the water filling process according to the present embodiment. An example of the flow from step SP2, i.e., the process of measuring the eccentric amount/assumed eccentric position, which is continued after the rotation speed of the drum 2 reaches 180rpm, to step 61 is described.

In step 63, the central control unit 31 selects, as the eccentric amount (M), the larger one of the horizontal eccentric amount Mx and the vertical eccentric amount Mz determined in step SP 2. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the selected eccentricity amount (M) is referred to as an eccentricity amount Mxz.

(step SP64)

In step SP64, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentric amount Mxz is higher than a threshold value M _ xz4 that is an eccentric amount threshold value (mb) for water injection. If the eccentricity Mxz is lower than the threshold value M _ xz4, the process proceeds to step SP 65. If the selected eccentricity Mxz is higher than the threshold value M _ xz4, the process proceeds to step SP 66.

(step SP65)

In step SP65, the central control unit 31 determines whether the eccentric amount My in the front-rear direction is higher than a threshold M _ y4 that is an eccentric amount threshold (mb) for water injection. If the eccentric amount My is lower than the threshold value M _ y4, the central control unit 31 does not calculate the eccentric amount (M). In other words, the central control unit 31 determines that the eccentricity (M) in this case is a value to the extent that water injection into the lift rib 7 is not necessary. In this case, the central control unit 31 increases the rotation speed of the drum 2. If the eccentric amount My is higher than the threshold value M _ y, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 66.

(step SP66)

In step SP66, the central control unit 31 maintains the rotation speed of the drum 2 without increasing. Then, the central control unit 31 performs the process of determining the eccentric position at step SP61 and the process of injecting water at step SP 62.

(step SP67)

In step SP67, the central control unit 31 maintains the rotation speed of the drum 2 without increasing. Then, the central control unit 31 performs the process of determining the eccentric position at step SP61 and the process of injecting water at step SP 62.

As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the control method according to the present embodiment is characterized by calculating the eccentricity (M) based on signals from the acceleration sensor 12 in a plurality of directions including the front-rear direction, and performing a process of performing water injection based on the main eccentric position θ 2, which is determined based on a signal that the calculated eccentricity (M) is equal to or greater than the water injection eccentricity threshold value (mb).

The process of the actual determination of the eccentric position will be described with reference to fig. 19 and 20. Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a process for actually determining the eccentric position. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a relationship between the eccentricity amount (M) shown in fig. 19 and the first threshold value and the second threshold value. The memory 32 stores the data of fig. 20, and reads necessary data as appropriate according to the situation. In fig. 20, the units of the numbers of the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz as the eccentric load amounts are grams (g). In addition, the units of numbers of the first threshold values a1, b1, c1 and the second threshold values a2, b2, c2 in the same figure are rpm.

As shown in fig. 20, the assumed eccentric position θ 1 corresponds to the actual eccentric position θ 2, but the relationship between the assumed eccentric position θ 1 and the actual eccentric position θ 2 differs depending on the rotation speed of the drum 2. In the present embodiment, the flow for calculating the actual eccentric position θ 2 is changed according to the eccentric amount (M) and the rotation speed of the drum 2. Specifically, when the rotation speed of the drum 2 is lower than the first threshold values a1, b1, c 1; when the rotational speed of the drum 2 is above the first threshold values a1, b1, c1 and below the second threshold values a2, b2, c 2; and changing the equation for calculating the actual eccentric position θ 2 when the rotation speed of the drum 2 is equal to or higher than the second threshold values a2, b2, and c 2.

(step SP611)

In step SP611, the central control unit 31 determines the first threshold values a1, b1, c1 and the second threshold values a2, b2, c2 for the eccentric amounts Mx, My, Mz, as shown in fig. 20. In other words, the central control unit 31 reads the first thresholds a1, b1, c1 and the second thresholds a2, b2, c2 corresponding to the eccentric amounts Mx, My, Mz from the memory 32.

(step SP612)

In step SP612, the central control portion 31 determines whether the rotation speed of the drum 2 is lower than the first thresholds a1, b1, c 1. In case the rotation speed of the drum 2 is lower than the first threshold values a1, b1, c1, it moves to step 613. When the rotation speed of the drum 2 is equal to or higher than the first threshold values a1, b1, c1, the process proceeds to step 614.

(step SP613)

In step SP613, the central control unit 31 directly determines the value of the assumed eccentric position θ 1 as the value of the true eccentric position θ 2.

(step SP614)

In step SP614, the central control portion 31 determines whether the rotation speed of the drum 2 is lower than the second threshold values a2, b2, c 2. In the case where the rotation speed of the drum 2 is lower than the first threshold values a2, b2, c2, the central control portion 31 moves to step 615. When the rotation speed of the drum 2 is equal to or higher than the first thresholds a2, b2, and c2, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step 616.

(step SP615)

In step SP615, the central control unit 31 determines the value obtained by subtracting 90 ° from the assumed eccentric position θ 1 as the value of the true eccentric position θ 2. In this case, when the value of the main eccentric position θ 2 becomes lower than 0, the central control unit 31 sets the value of plus 360 ° as the main eccentric position θ 2.

(step SP616)

In step SP616, the central control unit 31 determines the value obtained by subtracting 180 ° from the assumed eccentric position θ 1 as the value of the true eccentric position θ 2. In this case, when the value of the main eccentric position θ 2 becomes lower than 0, the central control unit 31 sets the value of plus 360 ° as the main eccentric position θ 2.

The processing performed by water injection shown in step SP62 will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a treatment process for water injection.

(step SP621)

In step SP621, similarly to step SP31, the central control unit 31 sets the larger one of the horizontal eccentricity Mx and the vertical eccentricity Mz determined in step SP25 as the eccentricity Mxz. In addition, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the value of the eccentric amount Mxz is larger than the eccentric amount My. If the eccentric amount Mxz is large, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 622. If the eccentric amount Mxz is small, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 623.

(step SP622)

In step SP622, the central control unit 31 determines that the determined eccentric position θ 2 based on the eccentric amount (M) indicating the larger one of the eccentric amount Mx and the eccentric amount Mz is used for water injection.

(step SP623)

In step SP623, the central control unit 31 determines that the determined eccentric position θ 2 based on the eccentric amount My is used for water injection.

(step SP624)

In step SP624, the central control unit 31 executes the process of driving the water supply valve. The specific procedure of the process of driving the water supply valve will be described later.

(step SP625)

In step SP625, the central control unit 31 executes a process of determining whether or not the water supply amount to the lift rib 7 is appropriate. The specific procedure for this processing will be described later.

(step SP626)

In step SP626, if the central control unit 31 determines that any of the lifting ribs 7 is not full of water in the water supply amount determination process in step SP625, the process proceeds to step SP 627. When it is determined in the water supply amount determination process of step SP625 that any of the lifting ribs 7 is full of water, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 632.

(step SP627)

In step SP627, the central control unit 31 executes an eccentricity amount increase determination as to whether or not the eccentricity amount (M) has been increased, when water is injected to reduce the eccentricity amount (M) in the first place. The specific procedure for the eccentricity amount increase determination will be described later.

(step SP628)

In step SP628, the central control portion 31 determines whether or not M increase information (NG) as the eccentric amount increase information is present in the eccentric amount increase determination in step SP 627. In the case where there is no M addition information (NG), the central control portion 31 moves to step SP 631. If there is M addition information (NG), the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 629.

(step SP629)

In step SP629, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the M increase information (NG) is three times or less in step SP 628. If the M addition information (NG) is not more than three times, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 631. If the M addition information (NG) is not three times or less, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 632.

(step SP630)

In step SP630, the central control unit 31 changes the data specifying the eccentric position θ 2 calculated based on any one of the eccentric amounts Mx, My, Mz used in steps SP622 and SP623 to other data.

(step SP631)

In step SP631, the central control unit 31 performs an acceleration possibility determination as to whether or not to accelerate the rotation speed of the drum 2. The specific procedure for the acceleration possibility determination will be described later.

(step SP632)

In step SP632, the central control unit 31 executes a process of changing the acceleration determination for changing the criterion for determining whether or not to accelerate the drum 2. The specific procedure for this processing will be described later.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the data for specifying the eccentric position θ 2 is changed to another data in step SP630, but if the reduction of the eccentric amount (M) is not observed even when water is injected into the lifter 7 based on the changed data for specifying the eccentric position θ 2, although not shown, the arrangement of the laundry in the drum 2 is changed by performing the control of the eccentric position adjustment process in step SP5, and the spin-drying process is started again.

Next, a specific procedure of the water supply valve driving process in step SP624 will be described with reference to fig. 22.

(step SP633)

In step SP633, the central control unit 31 obtains the actual eccentric position θ _ fix for driving the water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62 c. The actual eccentric position θ _ fix is any value of the actual eccentric position θ 2 obtained from the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is represented as a relative angle to an arbitrary virtual line extending in the circumferential direction from the axial center S1, as shown in fig. 5, and is shown in fig. 22 as any of values 0 to 359 representing 0 to 359 °.

(step SP634)

In step SP634, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value smaller than 10 or larger than 350 is satisfied. If the above conditions are satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 635. If the above condition is not satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 636.

(step SP635)

In step SP635, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (a) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valve 62a to supply water to the lift rib 7 (a).

(step SP636)

In step SP636, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value of 10 or more and 110 or less is satisfied.

If the above conditions are satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 637. If the above condition is not satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 638.

(step SP637)

In step SP636, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (ab) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valves 62a and 62B to supply water to the lift ribs 7(a) and 7 (B).

(step SP638)

In step SP638, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value of 110 or more and 130 or less is satisfied. If the above conditions are satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 639. If the above condition is not met, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 640.

(step SP639)

In step SP639, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (B) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valve 62B to supply water to the lift rib 7 (B).

(step SP640)

In step SP640, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value of 130 or more and 230 or less is satisfied. If the above conditions are satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 641. If the above condition is not satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 642.

(step SP641)

In step SP641, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (bc) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valves 62B and 62C to supply water to the lift ribs 7(B) and 7 (C).

(step SP642)

In step SP642, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value of 230 or more and 250 or less is satisfied. If the above conditions are satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 643. If the above condition is not satisfied, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 644.

(step SP643)

In step SP643, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (C) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valve 62C to supply water to the lift rib 7 (C).

(step SP644)

In step SP644, the central control unit 31 determines that the condition that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is a value of 250 or more and 350 or less is satisfied, and moves to step SP 645.

(step SP645)

In step SP645, the central control unit 31 determines that the actual eccentric position θ _ fix is within the region p (ca) shown in fig. 5, and drives the water supply valves 62C and 62a to supply water to the lift ribs 7(C) and 7 (a).

In the present embodiment, the process of driving the water supply valve shown in fig. 22 is performed, and the calculation and determination of the assumed eccentric position θ 1 and the actual eccentric position θ 2 are always performed. Therefore, it goes without saying that the step is shifted from steps SP637, SP641, and SP645 corresponding to the simultaneous water injection step of the present invention to steps SP635, SP639, and SP643 corresponding to the water injection switching step of the present invention for switching the lift rib 7 to inject water to the single lift rib 7(a), (B), or (C).

Next, a specific procedure of the water supply amount determination processing of step SP625 will be described with reference to fig. 23.

(step SP646)

In step SP646, central control unit 31 integrates the driving time of each of water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62 c.

(step SP647)

In step SP647, the central control unit 31 converts the driving time into the water supply amounts of the water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62c, respectively.

(step SP648)

In step SP648, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the cumulative water supply amount of the water supply valve 62a has reached 1000 g. When determining that the cumulative water supply amount reaches 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 649. When it is determined that the cumulative water supply amount has not reached 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 650.

(step SP649)

At step SP649, central control unit 31 determines that lifting rib 7(a) supplied with water through water supply valve 62a is full of water, and transmits information indicating "yes" at the time of the processing at step SP626 shown in fig. 21.

(step SP650)

In step SP650, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the cumulative water supply amount of the water supply valve 62b has reached 1000 g. When it is determined that the cumulative water supply amount reaches 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 651. When it is determined that the cumulative water supply amount has not reached 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 652.

(step SP651)

At step SP651, central control unit 31 determines that lift rib 7(B) supplied with water through water supply valve 62B is full of water, and transmits information indicating "yes" at the time of the processing at step SP626 shown in fig. 21.

(step SP652)

In step SP652, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the cumulative water supply amount of the water supply valve 62c has reached 1000 g. When determining that the cumulative water supply amount reaches 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 653. When it is determined that the cumulative water supply amount has not reached 1000g, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 654.

(step SP653)

At step SP653, central control unit 31 determines that lift rib 7(C) supplied with water through water supply valve 62C is full, and transmits information indicating "yes" at the time of the processing at step SP626 shown in fig. 21.

(step SP654)

At step SP654, the central control unit 31 determines that none of the lifting ribs 7(a), 7(B), and 7(C) supplied with water through the water supply valves 62a, 62B, and 62C is full of water, and transmits information indicating "no" at the time of the processing at step SP626 shown in fig. 21.

Next, the eccentricity amount increase determination shown in step SP627 will be described. Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the eccentric amount increase determination process.

(step SP655)

In step SP655, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz have decreased when the time for supplying water through the water supply valves 62a, 62b, and 62c has elapsed for 5 seconds. When determining that the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz have decreased, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 656. When determining that the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz are not decreased, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step SP 657. Here, the criterion for determining whether or not the eccentric amounts Mx, My, and Mz have decreased is not necessarily limited to the eccentric amount (M) used in the calculation of the actual eccentric position θ _ fix. For example, the determination may be made based on the sum (difference) of the eccentric amount Mx and the eccentric amount My, or the determination may be made based on the sum (difference) of the eccentric amount Mz and the eccentric amount My.

(step SP656)

In step SP656, the central control portion 31 determines that the eccentricity amount (M) has not increased. The central control section 31 transmits a signal indicating "no" or transmits nothing at step SP629 in fig. 21.

(step SP657)

In step SP657, the central control unit 31 determines that the eccentric amount (M) has increased, and proceeds to step SP 658.

(step SP658)

In step SP658, the central control unit 31 transmits M increase information (NG), which is eccentric amount increase information, as a predetermined signal, so as to determine yes in step SP628 in fig. 21.

Next, the acceleration availability determination shown in step SP631 will be described. Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the acceleration possibility determination process.

(step SP659)

In step SP659, the central control unit 31 determines whether the eccentric amount Mxz is smaller than a threshold value m _ xz5 which is a threshold value (mc) for increasing the rotation speed. When determining that the eccentricity Mxz is smaller than the threshold value m _ xz5, the central control unit 31 proceeds to step 660. When determining that the eccentric amount Mxz is not less than the threshold value m _ xz5, the central control unit 31 determines that acceleration is still not possible, and proceeds to step SP625 to continue supplying water to the lift ribs 7.

(step SP660)

In step SP660, the central control unit 31 determines whether the eccentric amount My is smaller than a threshold m _ y5, which is a threshold (mc) for increasing the rotation speed. In the case where it is determined that the eccentric amount My is smaller than the threshold value m _ y5, the central control portion 31 determines that the acceleration of the drum 2 can be accelerated and resumes. In the case where it is determined that the eccentric amount My is not less than the threshold value m _ y5, the central control portion 31 determines that acceleration is still not possible and moves to step SP625 to continue supplying water to the lift ribs 7.

Here, the relationship between the eccentric amount for water injection threshold value (mb) shown in fig. 18 and the rotational speed increase threshold value (mc) shown in fig. 25 will be described. In the present embodiment, as described above, the acceleration sensor 12 is a triaxial acceleration sensor 12 capable of detecting accelerations in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction, respectively. In the present embodiment, a different water injection eccentric amount threshold (mb) and a different rotation speed increase threshold (mc) are set for each of the three acceleration directions. In the present embodiment, the difference between the water injection eccentric amount threshold (mb) and the rotation speed increase threshold (mc) is set as follows: gradually or in stages as the rotational speed increases. In addition, in the present embodiment, the following are set: as the eccentricity (M) of the drum 2 increases, the difference between the water injection eccentricity threshold (mb) and the rotation speed increase threshold (mc) gradually or stepwise increases.

Next, the processing of the acceleration determination change shown in step SP632 will be described. Fig. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for acceleration determination change.

(step SP661)

In step SP661, the central control unit 31 changes the threshold value m _ xz5 and the threshold value m _ y5, which are the threshold value (mc) for increasing the rotation speed used for the acceleration possibility determination in step SP631, to the threshold value m _ xz6 and the threshold value m _ y6, which are the allowable threshold value (md) for the amount of eccentricity indicating a larger value, and moves to step SP 631. The central control unit 31 performs the acceleration availability determination of step SP631 using the threshold m _ xz6 and the threshold m _ y 6.

(step SP662)

In step SP662, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not acceleration is possible by determining whether or not acceleration is possible in step SP631 using the threshold m _ xz6 and the threshold m _ y6, which are the eccentricity amount allowable threshold (md) changed in step SP 661. When the acceleration is possible as a result of the acceleration possibility determination, the central control unit 31 accelerates the drum 2. If the acceleration is not possible as a result of the acceleration possibility determination, the central control unit 31 determines that the dehydration process is difficult to continue, and performs the eccentric position adjustment processing of step SP5 described above.

As described above, in step SP5, central control unit 31 causes drum 2 to stop rotating or causes drum 2 to rotate at a speed at which the gravity is higher than the centrifugal force, thereby agitating the laundry in drum 2 in the vertical direction. Then, the dehydration process is started again from step SP 1.

As described above, the control method of the drum washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment is a control method of the drum washing machine 1, which reduces the eccentricity (M) by supplying water to the lift rib 7 corresponding to the determined eccentric position θ 2 as the eccentric position (N) when the eccentricity (M) reaches the predetermined eccentric amount threshold value (mb) for water supply during the spin-drying process, and then brings the rotation speed of the drum 2 to a predetermined spin-drying stable rotation speed, the control method including: a simultaneous water injection step of simultaneously injecting water to the two lifting ribs 7 except when it is determined that the eccentric position θ 2 is located at a substantially opposite position of the lifting ribs 7 with respect to the axis S1; a water injection switching step of continuously calculating the eccentric amount (M) and determining the eccentric position θ 2 in parallel with the simultaneous water injection step, and switching to water injection to one of the lift ribs 7 on the substantially opposite side when it is determined that the eccentric position θ 2 changes to the substantially opposite position of any one of the lift ribs 7; and a rotation speed increasing step of stopping the water injection to the lifting rib 7 and increasing the rotation speed of the drum 2 when the eccentricity (M) is less than or equal to a rotation increasing threshold (mc) that changes according to the rotation speed of the drum.

That is, according to the present embodiment, by introducing the simultaneous water injection step and the water injection switching step, the eccentricity amount (M) can be reduced accurately in a short time. As a result, the dehydration process can be further shortened.

Further, since the integrated value of the amount of water injected into the lifting rib 7 is stored for each lifting rib 7 and water injection exceeding the internal volume of the lifting rib 7 is not performed, wasteful water injection is prevented, thereby further shortening the dehydration process.

In the present embodiment, when the amount of water injected into the lifting rib 7 reaches the internal amount of the lifting rib 7, the rotation speed is increased when the eccentricity (M) is less than the eccentricity amount allowable threshold (md) which is set to be greater than the rotation speed increase threshold (mc) which is set to a different value depending on the rotation speed of the drum 2, and the spin-drying process is stopped when the eccentricity (M) is equal to or greater than the eccentricity amount allowable threshold (md). Therefore, the dehydration process is continued in a state of being maintained as long as the eccentricity (M) is allowable, thereby effectively avoiding the delay of the dehydration time due to the interruption and repetition of the dehydration process.

In addition, in the present embodiment, when the eccentricity amount (M) increases after a certain time from the start of water injection into the lifting rib 7 corresponding to the eccentricity position, water injection into the lifting rib 7 is performed based on the eccentricity position (N) calculated from the signal of acceleration different from the one direction, so that wasteful consumption of water injection time based on erroneous determination of the eccentricity position θ 2 can be quickly avoided, and a more rapid dehydration process can be realized.

In the present embodiment, even when the eccentricity amount is not decreased even after the signal for determining the acceleration of the eccentric position θ 2 is changed by calculation a plurality of times, the water supply to the lifter 7 is stopped and the rotation speed of the drum 2 is decreased or the rotation of the drum 2 is stopped, so that the laundry in the drum 2 is agitated up and down in the drum 2, thereby quickly avoiding wasteful consumption of the water supply time based on the erroneous determination of the eccentric position θ 2 and effectively reducing the delay of the spin-drying process.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configuration of the present embodiment is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a so-called diagonal drum full-automatic washing machine that can be used in a home is disclosed as a washing machine, but needless to say, the control method of the present invention is applicable to even a horizontal washing and drying machine that is widely used in a laundromat shop.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lifting rib 7 is provided in three, but it goes without saying that a configuration including four or more lifting ribs 7 may be adopted. Needless to say, the lift ribs 7 do not necessarily need to be arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum 2, and do not need to have the same shape.

In the above embodiment, the acceleration sensor 12 is provided with one triaxial acceleration sensor capable of detecting accelerations in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-rear direction, but the acceleration sensor 12 may be configured by mounting a plurality of acceleration sensors capable of detecting only accelerations in any one of the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction.

Various modifications may be made to the other structures within the scope not departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. A control method of a drum washing machine, wherein,

the drum washing machine comprises: a bottomed cylindrical drum configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in a horizontal direction or an oblique direction; three or more hollow lifting ribs are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the roller along the axial direction of the roller; the water receiving unit is used for injecting water to each lifting rib; an acceleration sensor detecting vibration of the drum; and an eccentricity detecting unit for detecting an amount and a position of eccentricity in the drum based on the vibration of the drum detected by the acceleration sensor,

in the dehydration process, when the eccentricity reaches a predetermined eccentricity threshold value for water injection, the eccentricity is reduced by injecting water into the lifting rib corresponding to the eccentric position, and then the rotation speed of the drum reaches a predetermined stable dehydration rotation speed,

the control method of the drum washing machine is characterized by comprising the following steps:

a simultaneous water injection step of simultaneously injecting water to two or more lifting ribs except when the eccentric position is located at a substantially opposite position of the lifting rib with respect to the axis;

a water injection switching step of continuously calculating the eccentric amount and the eccentric position in parallel with the simultaneous water injection step, and switching to water injection to one of the lifting ribs on the substantially opposite side when the eccentric position changes to a substantially opposite position of any one of the lifting ribs; and

and a rotation speed increasing step of stopping the water supply to the lifting rib and increasing the rotation speed of the drum when the eccentricity amount is equal to or less than a rotation speed increasing threshold value that varies according to the rotation speed of the drum.

2. The control method of a drum washing machine according to claim 1,

increasing the dehydration rotation speed when the eccentricity when the water injection amount of the lifting rib reaches the internal amount of the lifting rib is smaller than an eccentricity allowable threshold set to a value larger than the rotation increasing threshold,

and when the eccentricity when the water injection amount of the lifting rib reaches the internal volume of the lifting rib is more than the allowable threshold of the eccentricity, stopping the dehydration process.

3. The control method of a drum washing machine according to claim 1,

the acceleration sensor is a sensor capable of detecting acceleration in the left-right direction, the up-down direction, and the front-back direction,

the eccentric amount and the eccentric position are calculated from a signal of acceleration in any one direction, and when the eccentric amount increases after a certain time from the start of water injection into the lifting rib corresponding to the eccentric position, water injection into the lifting rib is performed based on the eccentric position calculated from a signal of acceleration in a direction different from the one direction.

4. The control method of a drum washing machine according to claim 3,

when the eccentricity amount is not reduced even after the change of the signal for calculating the acceleration of the eccentric position is performed a plurality of times, the water injection to the lifting rib is stopped, and the rotation speed of the drum is reduced or the rotation of the drum is stopped, so that the washings in the drum are stirred up and down in the drum.

Images