CN112189065A

CN112189065A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN112189065A
Application number: CN201980034839.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 米田智亮; 堀部泰之
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-08
Filing date: 2019-07-05
Publication date: 2021-01-05
Also published as: TW202012730A; JP7329723B2; WO2020031581A1; JP2020022647A

Abstract

The washing machine of the present invention comprises: a washing tank; a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the washing water; and a control part for executing a washing process including a weak washing process and a main washing process in which the object to be washed is subjected to a washing mechanical force larger than that in the weak washing process and the washing is promoted. The control unit changes the time of the weak washing step based on the washing water temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, and controls the integrated value of the washing mechanical force in the weak washing step to be constant regardless of the length of the time of the weak washing step.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing machine for performing immersion washing of laundry and the like.

Background

In a conventional washing machine, in a washing step, a stirring time is set in a plurality of stages according to a temperature range based on a temperature of washing water supplied from a water supply unit and an amount of cloth put into a washing tub (for example, see patent document 1). When the temperature of the washing water in the washing tub is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the washing machine energizes the hot water heater to raise the temperature of the washing water. If the temperature of the washing water exceeds the predetermined temperature, the washing machine stops the energization of the hot water heater. A plurality of levels of agitation time are preset according to the temperature of the washing water, and the washing machine agitates for the time set according to the temperature of the washing water.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2012 and 170687

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the temperature of the washing water is low, the washing tank is rotated while the washing water is heated by the hot water heater. In this structure, it takes time for the washing water to rise to a predetermined temperature as the temperature of the washing water is lower. Therefore, if the agitation time is long and delicate laundry is washed, the mechanical force applied to the laundry due to the rotation of the washing tub is increased, and there is a possibility that the fabric is damaged.

The present invention provides a washing machine which can suppress damage to cloth of laundry and realize a high washing effect by making a washing mechanical force applied to the laundry constant regardless of a condition of a washing water temperature (i.e., by fixing the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry to a predetermined value).

The washing machine of the present invention can realize stable washing mechanical force regardless of washing conditions.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drum type washing machine according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the drum type washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a delicate washing process of the drum type washing machine.

Fig. 4 is a timing chart of the swing agitation of the drum type washing machine.

Fig. 5 is a timing chart of a washing process of the drum type washing machine.

Detailed Description

The washing machine of claim 1 includes: a washing tank; a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the washing water; and a control part for executing a washing process including a weak washing process and a main washing process in which the object to be washed is subjected to a washing mechanical force larger than that in the weak washing process and the washing is promoted. The control unit changes the time of the weak washing step based on the washing water temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, and controls the integrated value of the washing mechanical force in the weak washing step to be constant regardless of the length of the time of the weak washing step. Here, the constant includes not only a case of being completely constant but also a case of being substantially constant.

Thereby, a stable washing mechanical force can be realized regardless of washing conditions.

The washing machine according to claim 2 further includes a cloth amount detection unit that detects a cloth amount of the object to be washed, and the control unit changes the time of the weak washing step based on the cloth amount of the object to be washed and the washing water temperature.

In the washing machine according to claim 3, the weak washing step includes an agitation step of oscillating the washing tub in forward and reverse directions, and the time of the weak washing step is changed depending on the length of time of the agitation step.

In the washing machine according to claim 4, the control unit performs the weak washing step before the main washing step.

This enables a high cleaning effect to be achieved.

The washing machine according to claim 5 further includes a heating unit that heats the washing water, and the control unit controls the heating unit to heat the washing water in the weak washing step.

This enables a high cleaning effect to be achieved.

In the washing machine according to claim 6, the control unit shifts from the weak washing step to the main washing step when the washing water temperature in the weak washing step becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

This enables a high cleaning effect to be achieved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

(embodiment mode 1)

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drum type washing machine according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the drum type washing machine.

In fig. 1 and 2, a water tank 3 is elastically supported by a damper 2 and the like in a housing 1. A bottomed cylindrical drum 4 is rotatably provided in the water tank 3. The rotary shaft 4a of the drum 4 is supported to be inclined upward toward the front side at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal plane. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is set to 5 to 20 degrees, for example. A hot water heater 18 for heating the washing water is disposed at the bottom of the water tub 3.

A door 27 is provided on the front surface of the casing 1 to be openable and closable, and a user can take laundry in or out through an opening 7 provided on the front surface side of the drum 4 by opening the door 27.

A plurality of baffles 5 protruding inward toward the rotation center of the drum 4 and a plurality of small holes 6 communicating with the inside of the water tank 3 are provided on the circumferential side surface of the drum 4. An opening 7 for taking out and putting in laundry such as laundry (hereinafter, referred to as laundry) is provided on the front surface side of the drum 4. Around the opening 7, a balancer 8 is formed in a ring shape so as to surround the opening 7. The balancer 8 reduces vibration generated by offset of laundry when the drum 4 rotates.

A motor 9 for driving and rotating the drum 4 is disposed on the rear surface of the water tub 3. The motor 9 is a brushless dc motor, and can freely change the rotation speed by inverter control. The motor 9 may be connected to the drum 4 through a belt.

A water supply valve 10 as a water supply unit is provided in a water supply pipe 11. The washing water supplied from the water supply valve 10 passes through a water supply path 13 via a detergent box 12 provided in a water supply pipe 11 and into which detergent is introduced. Then, the washing water is supplied from the water supply port 14 into the water tub 3. The washing water supplied into water tub 3 flows into drum 4 through small hole 6.

A drain port 17 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 3. A drain passage 16 is connected to the drain port 17. The drain path 16 is provided with a drain valve 15 as a drain portion. The washing water in the water tub 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine through the water discharge path 16 by the water discharge valve 15.

When the washing process is performed, the drain valve 15 is closed, and the circulation path 20 and the drain path 16 are communicated by the circulation pump 19. Then, circulation pump 19 is operated to discharge the washing water from discharge port 21 into drum 4. A plurality of discharge ports 21 are formed in the circumferential direction of the water tank 3.

The control unit 22 is provided in the casing 1, and the control unit 22 drives the motor 9, the water supply valve 10, the drain valve 15, the circulation pump 19, the hot water heater 18, and the like to sequentially control the respective steps such as washing, rinsing, and dewatering.

The control unit 22 is inputted with an output of a cloth amount detection unit 23 for detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum 4, an output of a water level detection unit 24 for detecting the amount of washing water supplied into the tub 3, an output of a rotation detection unit 25 for detecting the driving of the drum 4, an output of a water temperature detection unit 26 for detecting the temperature of washing water supplied into the tub 3, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the water temperature detector 26 is a thermistor and is provided in the vicinity of the drain port 17 provided in the bottom of the water tank 3. The water temperature detector 26 detects the temperature of the washing water supplied at the start of the washing process, and outputs the temperature of the washing water to the controller 22 as an electric signal.

The control of the delicate laundry washing program of the drum-type washing machine configured as described above will be described below. The delicate laundry washing process can suppress cloth damage of laundry regardless of washing conditions and can realize a high washing effect.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the delicate laundry washing process according to the embodiment of the present invention, which mainly describes the washing process. Fig. 4 is a timing chart of the pulsator-type washing machine, fig. 5 (a) is a timing chart of a washing process of the drum-type washing machine, and fig. 5 (b) is another timing chart of the washing process.

In fig. 3, the user first puts laundry into the drum 4, thereby starting the flowchart (step S1). The cloth amount in drum 4 is detected by cloth amount detector 23 (step S2), and the water level corresponding to the cloth amount, the amount of detergent with respect to the amount of water at the water level, and the remaining washing time are displayed on operation display unit 28 (step S3).

When the displayed amount of detergent is put into the detergent box 12 (step S4), the water supply valve 10 is actuated to start water supply and tap water is supplied into the water tank 3 together with the detergent in the detergent box 12 (step S5).

In step S5, the temperature of the supplied tap water is detected by the water temperature detector 26. The control unit 22 sets the operation time of the weak washing step based on the temperature of the tap water and the amount of water corresponding to the amount of cloth detected in step S2. The more the amount of cloth is, the more washing water is supplied, and the more time is required to raise the temperature of the washing water to a predetermined temperature. Therefore, the operation time of the weak washing step is set to be longer as the cloth amount is larger, and is set to be shorter as the cloth amount is smaller. Further, since it takes time to raise the temperature of the washing water to a predetermined temperature when the temperature of the tap water is low, the operation time of the weak washing step is set to be longer as the temperature of the tap water is lower, and is set to be shorter as the temperature of the tap water is higher. In this way, the operation time of the weak washing step can be determined by a combination of the cloth amount and the temperature of the tap water.

In the present embodiment, the operation time of the weak washing step is set based on the temperature of the tap water and the amount of water corresponding to the amount of cloth. However, the operation time of the weak washing step may be set based on the temperature in the tank, the amount of water corresponding to the amount of cloth, and the temperature of the tap water by detecting the temperature in the tank by the water temperature detector 26 before the water supply. In this configuration, since it takes time to raise the temperature of the washing water to a predetermined temperature when the temperature in the tank is low, the operation time of the weak washing step is longer as the temperature in the tank is lower. On the other hand, the higher the temperature in the tank, the shorter the operation time of the weak washing step is set. In this way, the operation time of the weak washing step is determined by a combination of the temperature in the tank, the amount of water corresponding to the amount of cloth, and the temperature of the tap water.

In the water supply step, the foam washing is performed by rotating drum 4 at a low speed in order to improve the balance of the laundry in drum 4 and to promote the dissolution of the detergent (step S6). Thereafter, water supply for compensating for the lowered water level of the washing water by infiltrating the washing water into the laundry is performed (step S7). At the same time, circulation pump 19 is intermittently driven to discharge the washing water in water tub 3 as circulating water from discharge port 21 of water tub 3 toward the laundry in drum 4. The circulation pump 19 is appropriately driven in the washing step and the rinsing step. When the predetermined amount of water supply is finished, the process shifts to the weak washing process (step S8).

In the weak washing process (step S8), the control unit 22 turns on the hot water heater 18 when a predetermined water level set for turning on the hot water heater 18 is reached. In the weak washing step, agitation is performed by swinging the drum 4 at an angle of less than 150 degrees (including less than approximately 150 degrees). In the weak washing step, tumbling stirring may be intermittently performed by rotating drum 4 for 1 or more revolutions.

Here, tumbling agitation is performed at a rotation speed at which the laundry does not stick to the inner wall of drum 4. That is, the tumbling agitation is performed at a rotation speed at which the beating washing is performed, in which the laundry is lifted by the flapper 5 by rotating the drum 4 and the laundry is dropped from the upper portion to the lower portion.

The agitation by swinging is agitation in which the drum 4 is swung at an angle to such an extent that beating washing of laundry is not performed, and in the present embodiment, the control unit 22 swings the drum 4 at an angle of less than 150 degrees (including less than substantially 150 degrees).

Fig. 4 is a timing chart showing an example of the oscillating agitation according to the present embodiment. As shown in fig. 4, control unit 22 rotates drum 4 in one direction (time a in the figure), stops motor 9, and rotates drum 4 to a position where the laundry is at a lower position due to the weight of the laundry that becomes unbalanced weight. After a predetermined time (time b in the figure), the control unit 22 rotates the drum 4 in the reverse direction (time a in the figure) to stop the motor 9, and rotates the drum 4 to a position where the laundry is at a lower position by the weight of the laundry which becomes an unbalanced weight. That is, the oscillating agitation is a process of oscillating the drum 4 in the forward and reverse directions.

The swing agitation is an operation of repeating the above operation, and the laundry can be kneaded and washed with the washing water in contact with the laundry by swinging the drum 4. Thereby, the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the swing time a of the drum 4 and the number of times the drum 4 swings in fig. 4 are constant regardless of the length of the weak washing process time. That is, the control unit 22 does not change the swing time a and the number of swings (the time is not long, and the number of swings is not large) regardless of the length of the operation time of the weak washing step. Here, the constant includes not only a case of being completely constant but also a case of being substantially constant.

The rest time b in fig. 4 is changed according to the operating time of the weak washing step set based on the temperature and the cloth amount of the tap water. That is, when the operation time of the weak washing step is long, the control unit 22 sets the rest time b to be long according to the operation time. When the operation time of the weak washing step is short, the control unit 22 sets the rest time b to be short according to the operation time.

Accordingly, since the number of times the drum 4 is oscillated is constant regardless of the length of the operation time of the weak washing step, the integrated value of the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry in the weak washing step can be made constant (that is, the integrated value of the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry in the weak washing step is fixed to a predetermined value). This can keep the damage to the clothes constant.

Fig. 5 (a) is a timing chart showing an example of the washing step of the present embodiment, and shows a washing step in which only the oscillating agitation is performed in the weak washing step. Since only the agitation by swinging is performed, the washing mechanical force acting on the laundry can be reduced, and damage to the laundry can be suppressed. The washing machine can make the clothes in a rubbing washing state and set the washing mechanical force applied to the clothes to be approximately constant regardless of the length of the operation time of the washing process. This can keep the damage to the clothes constant. In the present embodiment, the washing step includes a detergent dissolution step, a weak washing step, and a main washing step. As described above, the weak washing step is a step of suppressing the washing mechanical force, and the main washing step is a step of accelerating the washing. The washing mechanical force of the main washing step is larger than that of the weak washing step.

Fig. 5 (b) is a timing chart showing another example of the washing step of the present embodiment, which shows the washing step in which tumble stirring is performed in the first half of the weak washing step and swing stirring is performed in the second half. In the weak washing step of the present embodiment, the time of the first half of the tumbling agitation is set to be constant, and the length of the washing step is adjusted by the length of the second half of the weak washing step. The detergent is agitated by tumbling in the first half of the weak washing step, whereby the solubility of the detergent is improved, and the permeability of the detergent components into the laundry is improved, thereby improving the cleaning performance. In this washing step, tumbling agitation is performed in the first half of the weak washing step. Since the tumbling agitation is performed only a few times, damage to the laundry can be suppressed. In this washing step, the accumulated value of the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry can be made constant regardless of the length of the operation time of the washing step (i.e., the accumulated value of the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry is fixed to a predetermined value), and damage to the laundry can be made constant.

The timing charts shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing examples of the washing step of the present embodiment, and they do not limit the present invention.

Here, the washing mechanical force refers to a mechanical or physical force applied to the laundry during washing. Specifically, the washing machine is a washing machine prescribed in JIS L1930 based on a processing icon label of the laundry to be treated in the delicate laundry washing program according to the present embodiment. The predetermined value of the washing mechanical force is, for example, a mechanical force specified by processing the icon label.

In the present embodiment shown in fig. 5 (a), the number of times the drum 4 is oscillated and the rotation time a are set to be constant regardless of the length of the operation time, but the rotation time a and the stationary time b may be set to be constant to change the length of the operation time. Even with this configuration, since the laundry is washed by the wash water by the oscillation of drum 4, the mechanical force applied to the laundry can be reduced, and damage to the laundry can be suppressed. In addition, when the operation time is long, both the number of times the drum 4 is swung and the stationary time b may be increased. This structure can provide the same effect.

Instead of the oscillating stirring, circulation pump 19 may be driven intermittently while drum 4 is stopped. In this configuration, since the laundry is kneaded and washed by the circulating washing water, the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry can be reduced in the same manner as the swing agitation, and damage to the laundry can be suppressed. The oscillating agitation and the driving of the circulation pump 19 may be combined.

In the above washing step, the accumulated value of the washing mechanical force applied to the laundry can be made substantially constant regardless of the length of the operation time of the weak washing step, and damage to the laundry can be made constant.

When the water temperature detector 26 detects that the temperature of the washing water is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (step S10), the flow proceeds to the main washing process (step S11). In the present embodiment, the predetermined temperature is set to 37 ℃. For example, 90% of sebum melts to become liquid at about 37 ℃ and detergent enzymes activate at about 37 ℃. Therefore, the mechanical force of washing can be suppressed and a high washing effect can be expected by shifting from the weak washing step to the main washing step at about 37 ℃.

In the main washing step (step S11), when sebum tends to efficiently fall due to the effect of hot water, tumbling agitation is intermittently performed. When the temperature of the washing water reaches about 40 ℃, the control part 22 intermittently turns on the hot water heater to maintain about 40 ℃ (step S12).

When the predetermined time elapses in the main washing process (step S11), the control unit 22 ends the washing process.

In the rinsing (1) step (step S13), which is the next step, the drain valve 15 is opened to drain the water in the water tank 3, and then intermediate dewatering is performed. The laundry is subjected to centrifugal force to separate moisture from the laundry, and then water is supplied to drive the motor 9 to start rinsing agitation for discharging the washing liquid from the laundry.

After rinsing and stirring are performed for a predetermined time, the controller 22 drains the water in the water tank 3 to perform dehydration, and ends the rinsing (1) step.

In the final rinsing step, which is the rinsing (2) step (step S14), drainage and intermediate dewatering are performed in the same manner as in the rinsing (1) step, and after completion of these steps, rinsing agitation is started.

After the rinsing (2) step (step S14), the controller 22 proceeds to the spin-drying step (step S15).

In the spin-drying step (step S15), after the rinsing (2) step, the drain valve 15 is opened to drain the water in the water tank 3. Thereafter, the control unit 22 drives the motor 9 to rotate the drum 4 at a high speed to apply a centrifugal force to the laundry, thereby performing an operation of separating the moisture from the laundry for a predetermined time, and finishing the delicate laundry washing process.

The present embodiment described above is explained based on a drum-type washing machine, but the present invention can also be applied to a vertical-type washing machine. In a vertical washing machine, when a delicate laundry washing program is performed, soaking washing is performed instead of swing agitation or penetration washing is performed by rotating a washing tub at a high speed in one direction. Alternatively, instead of the tumbling agitation, the tumbling agitation may be performed by reversing the washing tank.

Further, although a heater is used as the heating portion for the washing water, another heating portion such as IH may be used instead of the heater.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can suppress the washing mechanical force within a predetermined range regardless of the washing conditions such as the washing water temperature and the cloth amount and realize stable washing, and thus can be applied to other washing machines having a delicate laundry process and a soaking process.

Description of the reference numerals

1. A housing; 2. a shock absorber; 3. a water tank; 4. a drum; 5. a baffle plate; 6. a small hole; 7. an opening part; 8. a balancer; 9. an electric motor; 10. a water supply valve (water supply part); 11. a water supply pipe; 12. a detergent box; 13. a water supply path; 14. a water supply port; 15. a drain valve (drain unit); 16. a drainage path; 17. a water outlet; 18. a hot water heater; 19. a circulation pump; 20. a circulation path; 21. an outlet port; 22. a control unit; 23. a cloth amount detection unit; 26. a water temperature detecting part.

Claims

1. A washing machine, wherein,

the washing machine has:

a washing tank;

a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the washing water; and

a control part for executing a washing process including a weak washing process and a main washing process for promoting washing when the washing mechanical force applied to the object to be washed is larger than that applied to the weak washing process,

the control part changes the time of the weak washing process based on the temperature of the washing water detected by the temperature detection part, and changes the time of the weak washing process

The control unit controls the integrated value of the washing mechanical force in the weak washing step to be constant regardless of the length of the time in the weak washing step.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the washing machine further comprises a cloth amount detecting part for detecting the cloth amount of the object to be washed,

the control unit changes the time of the weak washing step based on the cloth amount of the object to be washed and the washing water temperature.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the weak washing step includes a swing agitation step of swinging the washing tub in forward and reverse directions, and the time of the weak washing step is changed according to the length of the time of the swing agitation step.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the control unit performs the weak washing step before the main washing step.

5. The washing machine according to claim 3 or 4,

the washing machine further has a heating part heating the washing water,

the control unit controls the heating unit to heat the washing water in the weak washing step.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5,

the control unit controls to shift from the weak washing step to the main washing step when the temperature of the washing water in the weak washing step is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.