CN113748238A

CN113748238A - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN113748238A
Application number: CN202080030242.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 间宫春夫; 萩生田康一
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-25
Filing date: 2020-04-22
Publication date: 2021-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-22
Also published as: WO2020216252A1; JP7350252B2; CN113748238B; JP2020178913A

Abstract

A washing machine capable of sustaining the effect obtained by a multifunctional detergent in laundry. The microcomputer of the washing machine performs a washing operation in a standard mode or a special mode. In order to rinse the laundry in the washing operation of the standard mode, the microcomputer performs at least a water storing rinsing process of rinsing the laundry in a state of storing water to a predetermined water level in the washing tub. In order to rinse the laundry in the special mode washing operation, the microcomputer does not perform a water-storing rinsing process but performs a spray rinsing process of rotating the washing tub while supplying water to the washing tub a plurality of times. The cumulative water supply amount, which is the amount of water supplied to the washing tub to rinse the laundry in the washing operation in the special mode, is smaller than the cumulative water supply amount, which is the amount of water supplied to the washing tub to rinse the laundry in the washing operation in the standard mode.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

Background

The washing machine described in patent document 1 has a standard mode and a water saving mode during a washing operation. In the standard mode, a washing process, a dehydrating rinsing process, a water storing rinsing process, and a final dehydrating process are sequentially performed. The spin-rinsing process includes a water supply process of supplying water to the washing and dehydrating tub to the extent that the laundry is soaked with water and a dehydration process following the water supply process. During the dehydration process, the motor rotates the washing dehydration tub at a high speed. In the water storage rinsing process, the washings are rinsed under the condition that water is stored in the washing and dewatering barrel to reach a specified water level. In the water saving mode, the cleaning process and the plurality of dewatering rinsing processes are sequentially performed, and the dewatering process in the last dewatering rinsing process is also used as the final dewatering process.

By the multifunctionalization, recent detergents have an original cleaning function of decomposing dirt, an aromatic function of giving fragrance to laundry, an antibacterial function of antibacterial the laundry, and the like. In the washing operation of the washing machine of patent document 1, since the rinsing performance is emphasized in both the standard mode and the water saving mode, additional components such as aromatic components and antibacterial components in the multipurpose detergent are rinsed off even if the multipurpose detergent is used. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the fragrance effect and the antibacterial effect of the laundry after washing with the additional component.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-123538

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine capable of sustaining an effect obtained by a multifunctional detergent in laundry.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention is a washing machine comprising: a washing tub for accommodating laundry; a motor rotating the washing tub; and an execution unit that supplies water to the tub, discharges water from the tub, or controls rotation of the motor to rotate the tub to perform a standard mode or special mode washing operation, wherein in order to rinse laundry in the standard mode washing operation, the execution unit performs at least a water-storing rinsing process of rinsing the laundry in a state of storing water in the tub to a predetermined water level, and in order to rinse the laundry in the special mode washing operation, the execution unit does not perform the water-storing rinsing process and performs a spray rinsing process of rotating the tub while supplying water to the tub a plurality of times, and an accumulated water supply amount as an amount of water to be supplied to the tub in order to rinse the laundry in the special mode washing operation is compared with an accumulated water supply amount as an amount of water to be supplied to the tub in order to rinse the laundry in the standard mode washing operation The water supply amount is small.

In the present invention, the individual water supply amount, which is an amount of water supplied to the washing tub in each of the plurality of spray rinsing courses in the special mode washing operation, is smaller in the second and subsequent spray rinsing courses than in the first spray rinsing course.

In the present invention, the execution means executes the spin-drying process immediately before each of the plurality of spray rinsing processes in the special mode washing operation, and the maximum rotation speed of the motor in the spin-drying process is lower in the spin-drying process immediately before the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes than in the spin-drying process immediately before the first spray rinsing process.

In the present invention, the execution means executes the spin-drying process immediately before each of the plurality of spray rinsing processes in the special mode washing operation, and the execution means executes the spin-drying process at a timing before the accumulated water rinsing process in the standard mode washing operation, wherein the accumulated time in the special mode is equal to or less than the accumulated time in the standard mode with respect to an accumulated time which is a value obtained by accumulating a time from when the rotation speed of the motor exceeds a predetermined value until the rotation speed of the motor starts to decrease after reaching a maximum rotation speed in the spin-drying process in the entire washing operation.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the washing machine has a normal mode and a special mode in a washing operation. In the case of rinsing the laundry in the standard mode, a water storage rinsing process of rinsing the laundry in a state of storing water in the washing tub to a predetermined water level is performed. In the case of using the multipurpose detergent, the additional components of the multipurpose detergent are diluted by the water stored in the washing tub during the rinsing with the stored water, and thus the effect of the additional components in the laundry is not easily sustained.

On the other hand, in the case of rinsing the laundry in the special mode, a spray rinsing process of rotating the washing tub while supplying water to the washing tub is performed a plurality of times without performing a water holding rinsing process. In the spray rinsing process, water is not accumulated in the washing tub compared to the water accumulation rinsing process, and thus additional components of the multifunctional detergent are not easily diluted. In addition, the cumulative water supply amount related to the rinsing of the laundry is smaller in the special mode than in the standard mode, and therefore, the additional components of the multipurpose detergent are less likely to be diluted in the special mode than in the standard mode. Therefore, in the case of using the multifunctional detergent, by performing the washing operation in the special mode, the effect obtained by the additional components of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry can be maintained.

Further, according to the present invention, the amount of water supplied individually for each spray rinsing process in the special mode washing operation is smaller in the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes than in the first spray rinsing process. Thus, in the first spray rinsing process, the detergent component, which is a component to be removed by the rinsing principle in the multifunctional detergent, can be removed, and in the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes, the additive component of the multifunctional detergent can be prevented from being excessively diluted. Thus, the additional components of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry are easily left, and the effect obtained by the additional components of the multifunctional detergent can be sustained.

Further, according to the present invention, the maximum rotation speed of the motor for rotating the washing tub in the spin-drying process immediately before each spray rinsing process in the special mode washing operation is lower in the spin-drying process immediately before the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes than in the spin-drying process immediately before the first spray rinsing process. Thus, the additional component of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry is more likely to remain than in the case where the maximum rotation speed is not lowered in the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes, and therefore, the effect obtained by the additional component of the multifunctional detergent can be sustained.

Further, according to the present invention, the integrated time obtained by integrating the predetermined time during the spin-drying process during the entire washing operation is equal to or less than the integrated time in the standard mode in the special mode. In this way, in the special mode, the additional component of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry is likely to remain, and therefore, the effect obtained by the additional component of the multifunctional detergent can be sustained.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the washing operation in the standard mode.

Fig. 4 is a time chart showing a part of the washing operation in the standard mode.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation in the washing operation in the special mode.

Fig. 6 is a time chart showing a part of the washing operation in the special mode.

Fig. 7 is a time chart showing a part of the washing operation in the special mode of the first modification.

Fig. 8 is a time chart showing a part of the washing operation in the special mode of the second modification.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a washing machine; 4: a washing tub; 6: a motor; 30: a microcomputer; q: and (5) washing the articles.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical right side view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vertical direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a vertical direction Z of the washing machine 1, and the horizontal direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and first, an outline of the washing machine 1 will be described. Among the vertical directions Z, the upper side is referred to as an upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as a lower side Z2. Of the front-rear direction Y, the left side in fig. 1 is referred to as a front side Y1, and the right side in fig. 1 is referred to as a rear side Y2.

The washing machine 1 includes a washing and drying machine having a drying function, but the washing machine 1 will be described below by taking as an example a washing machine that omits the drying function and performs only a washing operation. The washing machine 1 includes: the washing machine includes a casing 2, an outer tub 3 accommodated in the casing 2, a washing tub 4 accommodated in the outer tub 3, a rotary wing 5 accommodated in the washing tub 4, an electric motor 6 generating a driving force for rotating the washing tub 4 or the rotary wing 5, and a transmission mechanism 7 switching a transmission target of the driving force generated by the motor 6.

The case 2 is made of, for example, metal and is formed in a box shape. The upper surface 2A of the casing 2 is formed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to extend upward Z1 toward the rear side Y2, for example. An opening 8 for communicating the inside and outside of the case 2 is formed in the upper surface 2A. A door 9 for opening and closing the opening 8 is provided on the upper surface 2A. In the upper surface 2A, an operation portion 10A formed of a switch or the like and a display portion 10B formed of a liquid crystal panel or the like are provided in a region on the front side Y1 with respect to the opening 8. The user can freely select washing conditions by operating the operation unit 10A, and instruct the washing machine 1 to start or stop the operation. Information relating to the washing operation is visually displayed on the display unit 10B. The operation unit 10A and the display unit 10B may be integrated by a touch panel or the like.

The outer tub 3 is made of, for example, resin and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The outer tub 3 has: a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 3A arranged along an inclination direction K inclined to the front side Y1 with respect to the vertical direction Z; a bottom wall 3B that blocks the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the lower side Z2; and an annular ring wall 3C that borders an end edge of the upper side Z1 of the circumferential wall 3A and protrudes toward the center of the circumferential wall 3A. The inclination direction K is inclined not only with respect to the vertical direction Z but also with respect to the horizontal direction H. The hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is exposed from the inner side of the annular wall 3C to the upper side Z1. The bottom wall 3B is formed in a disc shape orthogonal to the inclination direction K and extending obliquely to the horizontal direction H, and a through hole 3D penetrating the bottom wall 3B is formed at a center position of the bottom wall 3B.

For example, a box-shaped detergent storage unit 12 is disposed on an upper side Z1 of the outer tub 3 in the cabinet 2. A water supply port 12A is formed at a lower portion of the detergent containing part 12, the water supply port 12A communicating with the inside of the detergent containing part 12 and facing the inside of the tub 3 from an upper side Z1. Inside the detergent containing part 12, a detergent containing chamber 12B containing detergent and a softener containing chamber 12C containing softener are partitioned. A water supply path 13 connected to a faucet (not shown) is connected to the detergent storage chamber 12B from the rear side Y2. Water from the faucet flows through the water supply path 13, passes through the detergent containing chamber 12B, and is supplied into the outer tub 3 in a shower-like flow from the water supply port 12A as indicated by a dotted arrow. Thereby, the detergent in the detergent containing chamber 12B is supplied into the outer tub 3 along with the water. In the case where there is no detergent in the detergent containing chamber 12B, only water is supplied into the outer tub 3. A water supply valve 14 that opens and closes to start or stop water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply path 13.

A branch line 15 branching from a portion of the water supply line 13 on the upstream side of the faucet from the water supply valve 14 is connected to the softener storage chamber 12C. A softener supply valve 16 that opens and closes to start or stop water supply is provided in the middle of the branch line 15. When the softener supply valve 16 is opened in a state where the water supply valve 14 is closed, water from the faucet flows down in a shower-like flow from the water supply port 12A into the outer tub 3 through the softener storage chamber 12C by flowing into the branch passage 15 from the water supply passage 13. Thereby, the softener in the softener-containing chamber 12C is supplied into the outer tub 3 with water. The water in the softener storage chamber 12C may reach the water supply port 12A directly without passing through the detergent storage chamber 12B, or may reach the water supply port 12A through the detergent storage chamber 12B.

A drain path 18 is connected to the tub 3 from the lower side Z2, and water in the tub 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine from the drain path 18. A drain valve 19 that opens and closes to start or stop drainage is provided in the middle of the drain passage 18. When the water supply valve 14 is opened in a state where the drain valve 19 is closed, water is stored into the outer tub 3.

The washing tub 4 is made of, for example, metal, has a central axis 20 extending in the tilt direction K, is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape one turn smaller than the outer tub 3, and can accommodate the laundry Q therein. The washing tub 4 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 4A arranged along the inclination direction K, and a bottom wall 4B closing a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A from a lower side Z2.

The inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A is the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub 4. The upper end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A is the inlet/outlet 21 that exposes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A to the upper side Z1. The inlet/outlet 21 faces an inner region of the annular wall 3C of the tub 3 from the lower side Z2 and communicates with the opening 8 of the casing 2 from the lower side Z2. The user of the washing machine 1 takes out or puts the laundry Q into the washing tub 4 through the opened opening 8 and the access opening 21.

The washing tub 4 is coaxially accommodated in the outer tub 3, and is disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction H. The washing tub 4 accommodated in the outer tub 3 is rotatable about a central axis 20. A plurality of through holes, not shown, are formed in the circumferential wall 4A and the bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4, and water in the outer tub 3 can flow between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4 through the through holes. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 is identical to the water level in the washing tub 4. The water flowing out of water supply port 12A of detergent container 12 passes through inlet/outlet 21 of washing tub 4, and is directly supplied into washing tub 4 from upper side Z1.

The bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4 is formed in a disc shape extending substantially in parallel with the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3 at an interval from the upper side Z1, and a through hole 4C penetrating the bottom wall 4B is formed in the bottom wall 4B at a center point position coinciding with the central axis 20. The bottom wall 4B is provided with a tubular support shaft 22 that surrounds the through hole 4C and extends downward Z2 along the center axis 20. The support shaft 22 is inserted through the through hole 3D of the bottom wall 3B of the tub 3, and the lower end of the support shaft 22 is positioned below the bottom wall 3B at Z2.

The rotary blade 5 is a so-called pulsator, is formed in a disk shape with the center axis 20 as the center, and is disposed concentrically with the washing tub 4 along the bottom wall 4B in the washing tub 4. The rotary vane 5 has a plurality of blades 5A arranged radially on the upper surface facing the inlet 21 of the washing tub 4 from the lower side Z2. The rotary wing 5 is provided with a rotary shaft 23 extending from the center thereof along the center axis 20 to the lower side Z2. The rotation shaft 23 is inserted through the hollow portion of the support shaft 22, and the lower end portion of the rotation shaft 23 is located below the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3 at Z2.

In the present embodiment, the motor 6 is implemented by an inverter motor. The motor 6 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the tub 3 in the casing 2. The motor 6 has an output shaft 24 that rotates about the central axis 20. The transmission mechanism 7 is interposed between the lower end portions of the support shaft 22 and the rotary shaft 23 and the upper end portion of the output shaft 24. The transmission mechanism 7 selectively transmits the driving force output from the output shaft 24 of the motor 6 to one or both of the support shaft 22 and the rotary shaft 23. As the transmission mechanism 7, a known transmission mechanism can be used.

When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the support shaft 22, the washing tub 4 rotates about the central axis 20. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 23, the rotary wing 5 rotates about the central axis 20. The rotation direction of the washing tub 4 and the rotary wing 5 coincides with the circumferential direction X of the washing tub 4. Since the rotation direction of the output shaft 24 of the motor 6 can be changed, the washing tub 4 and the rotary blade 5 can be rotated not only in one direction of the circumferential direction X but also in the other direction opposite to the one direction.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the washing machine 1. Referring to fig. 2, the washing machine 1 includes a microcomputer 30 as an execution unit. The microcomputer 30 is configured by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and is disposed in the casing 2 (see fig. 1).

The washing machine 1 further includes a water level sensor 31, a rotation sensor 32, and a buzzer 33. The water level sensor 31, the rotation sensor 32, the buzzer 33, the operation unit 10A, and the display unit 10B are electrically connected to the microcomputer 30. The motor 6, the transfer mechanism 7, the water supply valve 14, the softener supply valve 16, and the drain valve 19 are electrically connected to the microcomputer 30 via a drive circuit 34, respectively.

The water level sensor 31 is a sensor for detecting the water levels of the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4, and the detection result of the water level sensor 31 is inputted to the microcomputer 30 in real time.

The rotation sensor 32 is a device for reading the rotation speed of the motor 6, more precisely, the rotation speed of the output shaft 24 of the motor 6, and is configured by, for example, a plurality of hall ICs (not shown). The rotation speed read by the rotation sensor 32 is input to the microcomputer 30 in real time. The microcomputer 30 controls the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the motor 6 based on the input rotation speed, and controls the rotation of the motor 6 so that the motor 6 rotates at a desired rotation speed. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the motor 6 is the same as the rotation speed of the washing tub 4. Further, the microcomputer 30 switches the rotation direction of the output shaft 24 of the motor 6.

As described above, when the user operates the operation unit 10A to select the washing condition of the laundry Q, the microcomputer 30 receives the selection. The microcomputer 30 displays necessary information on the display unit 10B so as to be visible to the user. The microcomputer 30 notifies the user of the start and end of the washing operation by causing the buzzer 33 to generate a predetermined sound.

The microcomputer 30 controls the transmission mechanism 7 to switch the transmission destination of the driving force of the motor 6 to one or both of the support shaft 22 and the rotary shaft 23. The microcomputer 30 controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve 14, the softener supply valve 16, and the drain valve 19. Therefore, the microcomputer 30 can supply water to the washing tub 4 by opening the water supply valve 14, can supply softener to the washing tub 4 by opening the softener supply valve 16, and can perform draining of the washing tub 4 by opening the drain valve 19.

In washing machine 1, microcomputer 30 supplies water to washing tub 4, drains washing tub 4, or controls rotation of motor 6 to rotate washing tub 4, thereby performing a washing operation. The washing operation has a standard mode and a special mode, and the user can select which of the standard mode and the special mode is selected by operating the operation unit 10A. The special mode is a mode suitable for using a multifunctional detergent having a fragrance function, an antibacterial function, and the like in addition to a washing function. The multifunctional detergent may be in a powder or liquid form and placed in the detergent storage chamber 12B of the detergent storage portion 12 at the start of the washing operation, or may be in a ball form, for example, in which a detergent component in a slurry form, an aromatic component, and an antibacterial component are enclosed, and directly put into the washing tub 4 instead of the detergent storage chamber 12B.

The washing operation in each mode includes: a cleaning process of cleaning the washings Q in the washing tub 4; a rinsing process of rinsing the laundry Q after the washing process; and a dehydration step of dehydrating the laundry Q. The dehydration process is divided into a final dehydration process performed at the last of the washing operation and one or more intermediate dehydration processes performed before the final dehydration process. In the washing operation, only tap water may be used, or bath water may be used as needed. Further, whether or not the softener is supplied during the washing operation can be selected in advance by the operation of the operation unit 10A by the user.

The washing operation in the standard mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 3 and the time chart of fig. 4. In the time chart of fig. 4, the horizontal axis represents elapsed time, and the vertical axis represents the rotation speed (unit: rpm) of the motor 6, the on/off state of the water supply valve 14, and the on/off state of the drain valve 19 in this order from top to bottom. The same applies to the horizontal and vertical axes in the respective timing charts of fig. 6 and later.

With the start of the washing operation, the microcomputer 30 detects the amount of the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 as the load amount (step S1). Specifically, the microcomputer 30 detects the load amount from the fluctuation in the rotation speed of the motor 6 when the rotary blade 5 on which the laundry Q is placed is rotated. The microcomputer 30 displays the time length of the washing operation, the required amount of the detergent, and the like corresponding to the detected load amount on the display unit 10B.

Next, the microcomputer 30 executes the washing process (step S2). In the washing process, the microcomputer 30 opens the water supply valve 14 in a state where the drain valve 19 is closed, and supplies water to the washing tub 4. When the water is stored in washing tub 4 to a predetermined water level corresponding to the load amount, microcomputer 30 closes water supply valve 14, stops the supply of water, and drives motor 6 for a predetermined time to rotate washing tub 4 and rotary wing 5. The laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is agitated by the rotating washing tub 4 and the blades 5A of the rotary vane 5, and the dirt is decomposed by the detergent put into the washing tub 4, thereby cleaning the laundry. After that, the microcomputer 30 stops the driving of the motor 6 and opens the drain valve 19. Thereby, the water stored in the washing tub 4 is discharged from the drain passage 18 of the outer tub 3 to the outside of the washing machine. At the stage after the completion of the washing process, the laundry Q is in a state of being permeated with detergent water, which is water in which detergent is dissolved.

The microcomputer 30 performs the first dehydrating process immediately after the washing process (step S3). The first dehydration process is referred to as a first dehydration process. In the first dehydration process, the microcomputer 30 drives the motor 6 for a predetermined time while keeping the drain valve 19 open, and rotates the washing tub 4 and the rotary wing 5 integrally.

To explain the dehydration process in detail, the microcomputer 30 accelerates the rotation speed of the motor 6 from 0rpm to a first rotation speed of 120rpm, and then rotates the motor 6 stably at a low speed of 120 rpm. The first rotation speed is higher than a rotation speed (e.g., 50rpm to 60rpm) at which the washing tub 4 generates lateral resonance and is lower than a rotation speed (e.g., 200rpm to 220rpm) at which the washing tub 4 generates longitudinal resonance. After the stable rotation at 120rpm, the microcomputer 30 accelerates the rotation speed of the motor 6 from 120rpm to a second rotation speed of 240rpm, and then stably rotates the motor 6 at a low speed of 240 rpm. The second rotational speed is slightly higher than the rotational speed at which the longitudinal resonance occurs. Then, the microcomputer 30 maintains the maximum rotation speed after accelerating the rotation speed of the motor 6 from 240rpm to 800rpm, which is the maximum rotation speed, thereby stably rotating the motor 6 at a high speed.

Since the motor 6 is accelerated in stages during the dehydration process, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the drainage state of the drainage channel 18 or the entrance of foam into the drainage channel 18 due to the leakage of a large amount of water from the laundry Q at one time. Then, the microcomputer 30 applies a brake to the rotation of the motor 6 at the end of the dehydration process to stop the rotation of the motor 6. The braking may be performed by emergency stop of the rotation of the motor 6 by controlling the duty ratio by the microcomputer 30, or by emergency stop of the rotation of the motor 6 by providing a separate braking device (not shown) and operating the braking device by the microcomputer 30.

The microcomputer 30 performs the spray rinsing process immediately after the first dehydrating process (step S4). In the spray rinsing process, microcomputer 30 alternately repeats turning on motor 6 to drive it and turning off motor 6 to stop it, thereby intermittently rotating washing tub 4 in one direction at a very low speed. Specifically, the rotation speed of the motor 6 is varied so as to alternately repeat an increase from 0rpm to 30rpm and a decrease from 30rpm to 0 rpm.

Here, 30rpm is an example, and it is important that the rotation speed of the motor 6 during the shower rinsing is lower than the lowest rotation speed at which the tub 4 resonates. The minimum rotation speed differs depending on the size of washing tub 4, but in the present embodiment, the rotation speed at which washing tub 4 generates lateral resonance is 50rpm to 60rpm as described above. Therefore, the washing tub 4 in the spray rinsing process rotates at a lower speed than the dehydrating process. Note that, during the spray rinsing, the washing tub 4 rotates but the rotary wing 5 is in a stationary state.

In addition, during the shower rinsing, microcomputer 30 alternately repeats turning on and turning off water supply valve 14 to open and water supply valve 14 to close, thereby intermittently supplying water to washing tub 4. The timing of on/off of the water supply valve 14 coincides with the timing of on/off of the motor 6. Therefore, water supply valve 14 is also turned on while motor 6 is turned on, and water supply valve 14 is also turned off while motor 6 is turned off. In the shower rinsing process, the intermittent rotation of the washing tub 4 and the intermittent water supply are performed at the same timing, and therefore, water is splashed from the water supply path 13 to the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 while the washing tub 4 is rotated at an extremely low speed. At this time, water from water supply channel 13 is supplied to laundry Q in the shower-like manner from water supply port 12A of detergent containing unit 12. Such supply of shower-like water is also referred to as "shower supply water". In the shower rinsing process, a small amount of water is supplied to the washing tub 4 to such an extent that the laundry Q is soaked with water, and the drain valve 19 is continuously turned on after the first spin-drying process to be in an open state, so that water is hardly accumulated in the washing tub 4. The first dehydrating process and the spray rinsing process immediately after the first dehydrating process constitute a first rinsing process in the standard mode. The first rinsing process is referred to as a first rinsing process. In the spray rinsing process, the washing tub 4 may be continuously rotated at a low speed of 30rpm by continuously rotating the motor 6 at a low speed of 30rpm instead of intermittently rotating the washing tub 4 by alternately repeating on/off of the motor 6, and water may be intermittently supplied during continuous rotation of the washing tub 4.

The microcomputer 30 performs substantially the same spinning process as the step S3 as the second spinning process immediately after the first rinsing process (step S5). Through the second dehydration process, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is centrifugally dehydrated. This makes it possible to remove the detergent water that has permeated into the laundry Q by being thrown off together with the water supplied in the immediately preceding first shower rinsing. The first dehydration process of step S3 is the same as the second dehydration process of step S5 in that the motor 6 is accelerated stepwise from 0rpm to 120rpm, 240rpm, 800 rpm. However, in the first and second dehydration processes, the time T from when the rotation speed of the motor 6 exceeds a predetermined value of 240rpm until it reaches a maximum rotation speed of 800rpm and then starts to decrease in the first dehydration process is different. Specifically, the time T1 corresponding to the first dehydration step is longer than the time T2 corresponding to the second dehydration step (see fig. 4). For example, time T1 is 120 seconds, while time T2 is 60 seconds.

Next, the microcomputer 30 performs a water supply process (step S6). Specifically, the microcomputer 30 opens the water supply valve 14 in a state where the drain valve 19 is closed, and supplies water to the washing tub 4. For example, when the water is stored in the washing tub 4 to a predetermined water level at which the laundry Q is located below the water surface Z2, the microcomputer 30 closes the water supply valve 14 to stop the water supply, thereby ending the water supply process.

The microcomputer 30 performs the sump rinsing process immediately after the water supply process (step S7). Specifically, the microcomputer 30 drives the motor 6 for a predetermined time to rotate the rotary wing 5 in a state where water is stored in the washing tub 4 to a predetermined water level through the immediately preceding water supply process. In such a water-retaining rinsing process, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is agitated by the blades 5A of the rotating rotary wing 5 in a state of being immersed in water, and thereby rinsed. The rotary vane 5 during the rinsing with the accumulated water may be rotated in the same direction as the one direction or the other direction, but in the present embodiment, the rotary vane 5 is rotated in the reverse direction by intermittent driving of the motor 6 so that the normal rotation and the reverse rotation are alternately repeated at intervals of 1 second to 2 seconds. Note that the washing tub 4 is in a stationary state during the water storage rinsing. The second dehydration process of step S5, the water supply process of step S6, and the water accumulation rinsing process of step S7 constitute a second rinsing process in the standard mode. The second rinsing process is referred to as a second rinsing process.

In the case where the input of the softener is selected in advance, the microcomputer 30 opens the softener supply valve 16 immediately before the impounded water rinsing process and inputs the softener into the washing tub 4. In this case, during the rinsing with the accumulated water, the softening agent permeates the laundry Q, and the laundry Q is imparted with flexibility and fragrance.

The microcomputer 30 stops the driving of the motor 6 at the end of the sump rinsing process, thereby ending the second rinsing process. At the end of the rinsing process, the laundry Q is completely rinsed, and there is substantially no detergent component in the laundry Q.

Next, the microcomputer 30 performs a final dehydration process (step S8). Specifically, the microcomputer 30 first opens the drain valve 19. Thereby, the water stored in the washing tub 4 is discharged to the outside of the washing machine from the water discharge path 18 of the outer tub 3. Then, the microcomputer 30 keeps the drain valve 19 open, and drives the motor 6 for a predetermined time to rotate the washing tub 4 and the rotary wing 5 integrally. The final dewatering process has substantially the same contents as the first and second dewatering processes, but the final dewatering process requires a longer time for the motor 6 to stably rotate at a maximum rotation speed of 800rpm than the first and second dewatering processes. As a result, in the final dehydration process, centrifugal force acts on the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 for a long time, and the laundry Q is dehydrated in order. The water seeped out of the laundry Q by the dehydration is discharged to the outside of the machine from the drain passage 18 of the tub 3. As the final dehydration process is finished, the washing operation of the standard mode is finished.

As described above, in order to rinse the laundry Q in the washing operation in the standard mode, the microcomputer 30 performs at least the water storing rinsing process. Further, the microcomputer 30 performs the spinning course at a timing before the sump rinsing course in the washing operation in the standard mode (steps S3, S5).

The individual water supply amount, which is the amount of water supplied by the microcomputer 30 to the washing tub 4 during each rinsing process, is shown below the horizontal axis in the time chart of fig. 4 in each case where the load amount of the laundry Q is large or small. As an example, the individual water supply amount (unit: L) in the case where the load amount of the laundry Q is equal to or more than a predetermined value, that is, in the case of a high water level is 7L in the first spray rinsing process of the first rinsing process and 48L in the water supply process of the second rinsing process. In this case, the cumulative water supply amount, which is the amount of water supplied to washing tub 4 by microcomputer 30 for rinsing laundry Q during the entire course of one washing operation, is 55L (═ 7+ 48). The individual water supply amount in the case where the load amount of the laundry Q is less than the predetermined value, that is, in the case of a low water level is 5L in the first shower rinsing process of the first rinsing process and 30L in the water supply process of the second rinsing process, and the cumulative water supply amount in this case is 35L (═ 5+ 30).

Next, the washing operation in the special mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of fig. 5 and the timing chart of fig. 6. The microcomputer 30 detects the load amount of the laundry Q in the same manner as in step S1 as the washing operation in the special mode is started (step S11), and then performs the same washing process as in step S2 (step S12).

Next, the microcomputer 30 performs the first dehydrating process (step S13) identical to step S3 and performs the spray rinsing process (step S14) identical to step S4. The spray rinsing process of step S14, i.e., the first spray rinsing process in the special mode, is referred to as a first spray rinsing process. The first spinning course of step S13 and the first spray rinsing course of step S14 immediately thereafter constitute the first rinsing course in the special mode.

After the first rinsing process, the microcomputer 30 then performs the same spinning process as step S13 (step S15) and performs the same spray rinsing process as step S14 (step S16). The dehydration process of step S15 is referred to as a second dehydration process, and the spray rinsing process of step S16, i.e., the second spray rinsing process in the special mode, is referred to as a second spray rinsing process. The second spinning course of step S15 and the second spray rinsing course of step S16 immediately thereafter constitute a second rinsing course in the special mode. The first dehydration process of step S13 is the same as the second dehydration process of step S15 in that the motor 6 is accelerated stepwise from 0rpm to 120rpm, 240rpm, 800 rpm. In the first and second dehydration processes, the time T from when the rotation speed of the motor 6 exceeds a predetermined value of 240rpm until the rotation speed reaches the maximum rotation speed of 800rpm and then starts to decrease in each dehydration process is the same. Specifically, the time T3 corresponding to the first dehydration process and the time T4 corresponding to the second dehydration process are both 60 seconds, for example (see fig. 6).

After the second rinsing process, the microcomputer 30 then performs the same spinning process as step S15 (step S17) and performs the same spray rinsing process as step S14 (step S18). The dehydration process of step S17 is referred to as a third dehydration process, and the spray rinsing process of step S18, i.e., the third spray rinsing process in the special mode, is referred to as a third spray rinsing process. The third spinning course of step S17 and the third spray rinsing course of step S18 immediately thereafter constitute a third rinsing course in the special mode. The third dehydrating process of step S17 is the same as that in the second dehydrating process of step S15. Therefore, regarding the time T, the length of the time T4 corresponding to the second dehydration process and the length of the time T5 corresponding to the third dehydration process are the same, for example, 60 seconds (see fig. 6). In a special mode, the softener may be supplied, and in this case, the microcomputer 30 opens the softener supply valve 16 to supply the softener into the washing tub 4, for example, immediately before the second spray rinsing process.

After the third rinsing process, the microcomputer 30 then performs the same final spinning process as step S8 (step S19). The special mode washing operation is ended as the final dehydration process is ended.

As described above, in order to rinse the laundry Q in the washing operation in the special mode, the microcomputer 30 does not perform the water storage rinsing process in the standard mode (step S7) and performs the spray rinsing process a plurality of times (steps S14, S16, S18).

In the lower part of the horizontal axis in the time chart of fig. 6, the individual water supply amount in each rinsing process is shown in the same manner as in the time chart of fig. 4. The amount of the supplied water alone in the case of the high water level is, for example, 12L in the first spray rinsing process of the first rinsing process, 12L in the second spray rinsing process of the second rinsing process, and 12L in the third spray rinsing process of the third rinsing process. That is, the amount of water supplied individually in each spray rinsing process is the same. The amount of the supplied water alone in the case of the low water level is the same in each spray rinsing process, for example, 8L. The cumulative water supply amount at the high water level is 36L (═ 12+12), and the cumulative water supply amount at the low water level is 24L (═ 8+8+ 8).

When the integrated water supply amounts of the high water levels in the standard mode and the special mode are compared, 36L, which is the integrated water supply amount in the special mode, is smaller than 55L (see fig. 4), which is the integrated water supply amount in the standard mode. Similarly, when the cumulative water supply amounts of the low water levels in the standard mode and the special mode are compared, 24L (i.e., the cumulative water supply amount in the special mode) is smaller than 35L (see fig. 4) which is the cumulative water supply amount in the standard mode. The cumulative water supply amount in the special mode is set to about 60% to 70% of the cumulative water supply amount in the standard mode.

When the multifunctional detergent is used, additional components such as aromatic components and antibacterial components other than detergent components in the multifunctional detergent are diluted by the water stored in the washing tub 4 during the standard mode rinsing with the stored water, and thus the aromatic effect and the antibacterial effect of the additional components of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry Q are not maintained. On the other hand, each of the spray rinsing processes performed several times in the special mode does not accumulate water compared to the water accumulation rinsing process, and thus additional components of the multipurpose detergent are not easily diluted. Further, as described above, the cumulative water supply amount in the special mode is smaller than the cumulative water supply amount in the standard mode, and therefore, the additional component is less likely to be diluted in the special mode than in the standard mode. Therefore, when the multifunctional detergent is used, the additional components can be effectively permeated into the laundry Q and remain for a long time by performing the washing operation in the special mode, and the fragrance effect and the antibacterial effect obtained by the additional components in the laundry Q can be maintained. Thus, the special mode is a mode suitable for the washing operation of the multipurpose detergent.

If the value obtained by integrating the time T described above over the entire course of one washing operation is referred to as an integrated time, the integrated time in the standard mode can be obtained by adding the time T1 described above to the time T2 (see fig. 4), and the integrated time in the special mode can be obtained by adding the time T3 described above to the time T4 described above to the time T5 (see fig. 6). As described above, when the time T1 is 120 seconds and the time T2 is 60 seconds, the cumulative time in the standard mode is 180 seconds. As described above, when the times T3, T4, and T5 are 60 seconds, respectively, the cumulative time in the ad hoc mode is 180 seconds. The cumulative time in the special mode is the same as the cumulative time in the standard mode. Alternatively, the integrated time in the special mode may be set to be shorter than the integrated time in the standard mode. When the integrated time in the special mode is equal to or less than the integrated time in the standard mode, the additional component of the multifunctional detergent is more likely to remain in the laundry Q in the special mode than in the standard mode, and thus the fragrance effect and the antibacterial effect obtained by the additional component can be sustained.

As described above, on the assumption that the cumulative water supply amount in the special mode is smaller than that in the standard mode, the following first and second modifications can be given in the special mode. Fig. 7 is a time chart of the washing operation in the special mode of the first modification. Fig. 8 is a time chart of the washing operation in the special mode of the second modification. The differences between the main embodiment of the special mode and the first and second modifications described with reference to the timing chart of fig. 6 will be described below.

In the main embodiment, the amount of water supplied individually for each spray rinsing process is the same (see fig. 6). In contrast, in the first modification shown in fig. 7, the individual water supply amount in each of the second and third spray rinsing processes is smaller than that in the first spray rinsing process. Specifically, the individual water supply amount in the case of the high water level was 16L in the first spray rinsing process, 12L in the second spray rinsing process, and 8L in the third spray rinsing process, which were successively decreased. In addition, the individual water supply amount in the case of the low water level was 10L in the first spray rinsing process, 8L in the second spray rinsing process, and 6L in the third spray rinsing process, which were successively decreased.

That is, in the first modification, the amount of water supplied alone in the second and subsequent spray rinsing steps is set to be smaller than the amount of water supplied alone in the first spray rinsing step. In the first modification, the cumulative water supply amount in the special mode can be made smaller than the cumulative water supply amount in the standard mode. In the first modification, the cleaning component, which is a component to be removed by the rinsing process in the multi-functional detergent, can be removed in the first spray rinsing process, and the additional component of the multi-functional detergent can be prevented from being excessively diluted in the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes. As a result, the additional components of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry Q are likely to remain, and thus the fragrance effect and the antibacterial effect obtained by the additional components can be sustained. It should be noted that although the amount of water supplied alone during the third spray rinsing is smaller than the amount of water supplied alone during the second spray rinsing in the time chart of fig. 7, the amount of water supplied alone may be the same.

The microcomputer 30 performs the dehydration process immediately before each of the plurality of spray rinsing processes in the special mode washing operation. In the main embodiment and the first modification, the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in each dehydration is also 800 rpm. In contrast, in the second modification example shown in fig. 8, the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the first dehydration process is 800rpm, but the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the second dehydration process is lower than 600rpm of the first dehydration process, and the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the third dehydration process is lower than 400rpm of the second dehydration process.

That is, in the second modification, the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the spin-drying process is lower in the spin-drying process immediately before the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes, that is, the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the second and third spin-drying processes, than in the first spin-drying process immediately before the first spray rinsing process. Therefore, the additional component of the multifunctional detergent in the laundry Q is more likely to remain than in the case where the maximum rotation speed is not lowered in the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes, and therefore, the fragrance effect and the antibacterial effect obtained by the additional component can be sustained. Although the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the third dehydration process is lower than the maximum rotation speed of the motor 6 in the second dehydration process in the time chart of fig. 8, the maximum rotation speeds may be the same.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, the above-described main embodiment, first modification, and second modification may be combined as appropriate for the particular mode.

In the above embodiment, the spray rinsing process is performed three times in the special mode, but the number of times the spray rinsing process is performed in the special mode may be two or more, and may be changed arbitrarily. On the other hand, the spray rinsing process (step S4) may be omitted in the washing operation in the standard mode.

In each of the normal mode and the special mode, the microcomputer 30 may shorten the low-speed dewatering time in each of the intermediate dewatering processes after the second dewatering process to be shorter than the low-speed dewatering time in the first dewatering process. In each of the above time charts, the low-speed dewatering time, which is the rotation period of the motor 6 from 0rpm to 240rpm in each of the intermediate dewatering processes after the second dewatering process, is shortened to be shorter than the low-speed dewatering time in the first dewatering process.

In general, when the first dehydration process is normally started, the laundry Q is uniformly dispersed in the washing tub 4 in the spray rinsing process immediately after the first dehydration process, and therefore, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is less biased in the low-speed dehydration time of the subsequent intermediate dehydration process than in the low-speed dehydration time of the first dehydration process. Therefore, in the intermediate dehydration step after the second dehydration step, even if the low-speed dehydration time at the start of dehydration is shortened to be shorter than that in the first dehydration step, the rotation speed of the motor 6 is smoothly increased, so that the laundry Q can be efficiently dehydrated and the time of the whole washing operation step can be shortened.

In the washing machine 1, the central axes 20 of the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4 are arranged to extend in the inclined direction K, but may be arranged vertically so as to extend in the vertical direction Z.

Claims

A washing machine, characterized by comprising:

a washing tub for accommodating laundry;

a motor rotating the washing tub; and

an execution unit supplying water to the washing tub, or draining water from the washing tub, or controlling rotation of the motor to rotate the washing tub to perform a washing operation in a standard mode or a special mode,

in order to rinse the laundry in the standard mode washing operation, the execution unit performs at least a water storing rinsing process of rinsing the laundry in a state of storing water to a predetermined water level in the washing tub,

in order to rinse the laundry in the special mode washing operation, the execution unit does not execute the impounded water rinsing process but executes a spray rinsing process of supplying water to the washing tub and rotating the washing tub a plurality of times,

the cumulative water supply amount, which is an amount of water supplied to the tub to rinse the laundry in the special mode washing operation, is less than the cumulative water supply amount, which is an amount of water supplied to the tub to rinse the laundry in the standard mode washing operation.
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

the individual water supply amount, which is an amount of water supplied to the washing tub in each of the plurality of spray rinsing courses in the special mode washing operation, is smaller in the second and subsequent spray rinsing courses than in the first spray rinsing course.
A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the execution unit performs a dehydration process immediately before each of a plurality of the spray rinsing processes in the special mode washing operation,

the maximum rotation speed of the motor in the spin-drying process is lower in the spin-drying process immediately before the second and subsequent spray rinsing processes than in the spin-drying process immediately before the first spray rinsing process.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the execution unit performs a dehydration process immediately before each of a plurality of the spray rinsing processes in the special mode washing operation,

the execution unit executes the dehydration process at a timing before the sump rinsing process in the washing operation of the standard mode,

the integrated time in the special mode is equal to or less than the integrated time in the standard mode, in which the integrated time is a value obtained by integrating the time from when the rotational speed of the motor exceeds a predetermined value until the rotational speed reaches a maximum rotational speed and then starts to decrease during the entire washing operation.