CN1160102A

CN1160102A - Method of controlling automatic door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN1160102A
Application number: CN96123316A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 崔氏哲
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-08
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Also published as: JPH09164289A; JP2895453B2; TW324036B; KR0160413B1; KR970027499A

Abstract

The invention discloses a control method of automatic door opening/closing device for washing machine, the method comprises the following steps: whether washing machine is executing dehydration step or not is determined after a request for opening door is sent out, if the dehydration step is in execution process, the request for opening door is not considered, if the dehydration step is in no execution process, automatic door-opening operation is executed. The dehydration step comprises a transitional dehydration step, a dehydration step, and a stop step, the dehydration step occurs in rising phase and dehydration phase, therefore by the method that door can not be opened automatically during dehydration steps, the potential accidents and reliability reduction in automatic opening/closing operations can be prevented.

Description

The control method of the automatic door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine

The present invention relates to a kind of control method of automatic door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine.Particularly relate to a kind of during drain step the control method of the control gate washing machine automatic door opening/closing apparatus opening automatically and close effectively.

Usually, the whole washing process of automatic washing machine comprises that one stirs about lentamente by pulsator and to make foul from the washed washing stage of removing, one removes the water smoking that remains in the moisture in washed by inject rinse stage and that clear water removes the washing agent that remains in washed and foul to wash bucket by the high speed rotating wash bucket.

Washing stage comprises a water filling step, and one soaks a step and a main washing step.Rinse stage also comprises drain step, the dehydration of transition, and dehydration stops step, water filling step, and rinse step.And the number of repetition of rinse stage can be selected by the user.Water smoking comprises a drain step, the dehydration of a transition, dehydration and stop step.

As mentioned above, in the whole washing process, rinse stage and water smoking include dehydration, and because wash bucket is with rotation at a high speed during dehydration, this causes actual bodily harm to the user easily.Therefore, the washing machine of prior art has a sensor that is used for detecting its closed condition; When described door section was opened, the washing motor stopped to drive immediately, and by the arrestment mechanism that is fit to wash bucket is stopped the rotation like this.

Recent years, big capacity domestic electric appliance becomes the popular focus that the consumer makes earnest efforts.According to this trend, washing machine also is designed to big capacity, so its massiveness.So the user may be difficult to strike with the hand open the door of washing machine.

In order to solve above-mentioned two problems, the applicant has proposed a kind of device, it is characterized in that opening and closing described door (below with detailed description) automatically by simple key operation.This device comprise one be used for producing out/close request signal open/run jointly the pass, a sensor that is used for the detecting gate open mode, one sensor that is used for the detecting gate closed condition, a door motor that is used for opening and closing door, and one by analyzing the information that two sensors provide, if suitable, comprise also that the information of door motor responds out/close the microprocessor of request signal.Two sensors preferably are made up of reed switch.

In described device, when the request of door is closed in existence,, open door sensor opening and the sensor of closing the door is gone out and do not closed if detecting to go out to be in, close door with regard to the driving gate motor so, under reverse situation, open door with regard to the driving gate motor.

Have in the washing machine of an automatic opening/closing apparatus in prior art, because can carry out opening automatically/closing operation of door during dehydration, the instability that microprocessor may produce the sensor contact owing to the vibration of washing machine breaks down.

And after the command execution that door is opened finished, door can be before wash bucket stops fully and makes under the situation that user's both hands sky closes half-open using foot-operated holding/run jointly to close.Under this state, the user may inject wash bucket with hand, oneself is subject to potential actual bodily harm and make.

In order to solve the problems referred to above that exist in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of control method of automatic door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine, it can open the accident of preventing automatically and promote and to open automatically/reliability of closing operation by INHIBITORY-gate during dehydration.

In order to achieve the above object and advantage, the invention provides a kind of control method of automatic door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine, the step of this method includes in the washing stage and automatically closes door and prevent the operation that door is opened automatically in the water smoking.

The step of the control method of described device comprises determines that whether washing machine is carrying out dehydration after sending the request of opening, and if dehydration carrying out then do not considering that door opens request, perhaps when dehydration is not carried out, then open door.

This accompanying drawing is beneficial to further to be understood the present invention, and constitutes the part of specification, its diagram and embodiments of the invention have been described, and combine with specification and to be used for the principle of description of the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents to have the sectional view of the washing machine of the applied automatically-controlled door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 A to 2E describes door of washing machine according to the present invention successively and opens automatically/zoomed-in view of closing operation;

Fig. 3 represents to have the block diagram of electric control system of the washing machine of the applied automatic door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 4 represents the flow chart according to the control method of automatic door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention; And

Fig. 5 represents to control the time control chart of washing motor operation.

Describe most preferred embodiment of the present invention now in detail; Accompanying drawing is used for illustrated example.

Fig. 1 represents to have the sectional view of the washing machine of the applied automatically-controlled door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention.

It comprises that one is placed on the tubular steel ladle 2 of main body 1 inside, wash bucket 3 and door 20, wash bucket 3 is rotatably installed in the steel ladle 2 and has many holes 4 so that allow water to be communicated with between wash bucket 3 and steel ladle 2, and door 20 is arranged in the main body top so that open and close the inlet of steel ladle 2 and wash bucket 3.This 20 comprises that a first half spare 21 and that hides the front, top of main body 1 hides the later half parts 22 of the back, top of main body machine 1.Door 20 is set as around first hinge 23 that is fixed on main body 1 rear end and rotates, and the rear end of first half spare 21 links to each other with the front end of later half parts 22 by second hinge 24.

When door 20 was opened, first half spare 21 rotated around the bottom surface of second hinge 24 to later half parts 22, and later half parts rotate up around first hinge 23.

At a position, there is a driving/whirligig 30 that makes door 20 Unscrews or close near first hinge 23.This driving/whirligig 30 comprises that one provides energy to open/close the door motor 31 of action with side door for door 20, and a revolving part 33 that is connected with the rotating shaft 32 of door motor 31.Revolving part 33 comprises a wedge shape swivel plate 34 and first and

second projectioies

35 and 36 of giving prominence to from the anterior periphery of swivel plate 34.

On the rear portion of the later half parts 22 of door 20, be provided with a cam member 50 near first hinge 23, this cam member comprises first tooth, 51, the second teeth 52 and the 3rd tooth 53.When revolving part 33 rotates forward or backwards with door motor and when rotating (movement definition of opening door is a forward rotation), first and

second projectioies

35 and 36 are with tooth 51 to 53 interlocks and to these teeth transmission revolving forces.

On a precalculated position at the rear portion of main body 1, the open door sensor of a detecting gate 20 open modes is arranged, this open door sensor is the reed switch 28 of a hard-wired waterproof preferably.One permanent magnet 27 is fixed on the bar 26 that is outwards stretched by later half parts 22.When door 20 was opened fully, the magnetic force that is produced by permanent magnet 27 closed up the contact of reed switch 28.

On a precalculated position of the front portion of main body 1, the pass door sensor of a detecting gate 20 closed conditions is arranged, this closes the preferably reed switch 65 of a hard-wired waterproof of door sensor.One permanent magnet 66 is fixed on door and goes up the position relative with reed switch 65.When door 20 was closed fully, the magnetic force that is produced by permanent magnet 66 closed up the contact of reed switch 28.

On a precalculated position of the preceding bottom of main body 1 floor push is arranged, this floor push produces the order that opens or closes door 20, its preferably hard-wired waterproof reed switch 61.The contact of reed switch 61 is by the magnetic force control that is located at the permanent magnet 62 on the pedal 60; Pedal stays open by leaf spring 63 usually.The user presses pedal 60 with pin, thereby thereby permanent magnet 62 closes near reed switch 61 and closes its contact.

Other Reference numeral is represented following elements: the 25th, and be used for manual unlocking or close door 20 handle; The 80th, be used for making the on/off operation of door 20 to roll smoothly; And 6 is washing motors.

Open door sensor 28 closes door sensor 65 and reed switch 61 and is not limited to the foregoing description description, and their position and structure can have various modifications and variations.For example, reed switch 61 can be arranged on the correct position on top of washing machine so that manual operation.In this case, reed switch 61 is arranged in (not shown) on the anterior control panel that forms in top of main body 1 with other operating key.

Although its contact design becomes to adopt the switch of the common pattern of mechanical operating of contacts to can be used to replace reed switch of the present invention, but according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the moisture that produces inevitably when considering the washing machine normal running, open door sensor 28 closes door sensor 65 and drives/close sensor 61 and still utilized the waterproof reed switch.

Fig. 2 A to 2E represents to describe door of washing machine according to the present invention successively respectively and opens automatically/zoomed-in view of closing operation.

Shown in Fig. 2 A, when door is closed fully, first and

second projectioies

35 and 36 not in the range of turn radius of first, second and the 3rd tooth 51 to 53 so that door 20 can manually open or close.In this position, if a button input (being pedal 60) that door is opened is automatically arranged, swivel plate 34 forward rotation, and shown in Fig. 2 B, make first tooth 51 and first protruding 35 interlocks.And the continuous rotation of door motor 31 has been lifted later half parts 23 and has been made 52 interlocks of second projection, 36 and second tooth shown in Fig. 2 C and 2D, and first projection, 35 and first tooth 51 breaks away from simultaneously.

When second tooth 52 goes to door 20 when opening fully, second projection 36 produces from second tooth 52.Almost during this time, door motor 31 is out of service, and this is illustrated among Fig. 2 E, because the inertia force effect of door motor 31, swivel plate 34 is rotated further one section preset time.

In a word, when the door 20 of washing machine was opened fully, the user also can manually close door 20.

For door 20 is closed automatically, automatic door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention is carried out the step that aforementioned door is opened with reverse order.

Particularly, when user's pedal 60, door motor 31 makes swivel plate 34 backward rotation.Therefore, shown in Fig. 2 D, 53 interlocks of second projection the 36 and the 3rd tooth.When door motor continuously during backward rotation, it little by little makes the later half parts 22 of door 20 descend, and first projection 35 rotates, and with 52 interlocks of second tooth, shown in Fig. 2 B and Fig. 2 C.

When second tooth 52 goes to door 20 when closing fully continuously, 52 disengagings of first projection, 35 and second tooth.Almost during this time, door motor 31 is out of service, and because the inertia force effect of door motor 31, swivel plate 34 is rotated further one period scheduled time, and this is shown in Fig. 2 A.As a result, automatic door opening/closing apparatus returns the state of Fig. 2 A.

Figure (3) expression has the block diagram of electric control system of the washing machine of the applied automatic door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention.

Electric control system of the present invention comprises: the microprocessor 100 of the whole operation of a control washing machine; One is used for selecting the menu unit 102 about the various functions of laundry, and described function comprises opening automatically/closing operation of door 20; One open door sensor 104 that is used for the detecting gate open mode; One is used for the pass door sensor 106 that detecting gate closes; One is used for detecting the level sensor 108 of the water level of slurry; One is used for showing the display 110 of the various modes of operation of washing machine; One is used for driving the feed water valve drive circuit 112 of feed water valve 113; One is used for driving the draining valve drive circuit 114 of draining valve 115; One is used for driving the washing motor drive circuit 116 of washing motor 6; The one door motor drive circuit 118 that is used for driving gate motor 31; One drive circuit of indicator 120 that is used for switch indicator lamp 145; And open when door occurring/buzzer 122 that is used for giving the alarm during the operation abnormal conditions of closing operation or washing machine.

Open door sensor 104 and pass door sensor 106 are made up of reed switch 28 and 65 respectively.

Describe the control method of automatic door opening/closing apparatus of the present invention below in detail.

Fig. 4 represents the flow process detail drawing of the control method of the present invention of automatic door opening/closing apparatus, and Fig. 5 is illustrated in the time plot of washing motor control operation in the dehydration of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, when connecting the washing machine power supply, begin to carry out initial preparation step S10.At step S12, can receive door 20 requests of opening automatically (being user's pedal 60).In this case, do not consider opening/close state and carrying out the operation of opening door 20 automatically yet of power switch as long as attaching plug inserts socket, but have only the basic operational functions that when power switch is connected, could carry out washing machine.

In step S12, if do not open the request of door 20 automatically, program is returned step S10.

Whether if there is the request of opening door 20 automatically, operation proceeds to step S14, carrying out so that detect dehydration.In this case, claim that dehydration is the fast rotational step of wash bucket 3, include dehydration at rinse stage and water smoking as mentioned above, particularly, dehydration comprises a cambic dehydration (b), dehydration (c) and stop step (d).In the whole washing process, can comprise rinsing and two stages of dehydration, also can only comprise rinse stage or water smoking.

Have in the dehydration, the concrete control of washing motor 6 as shown in Figure 5.Draining valve 115 was opened before dehydration, so that carry out the drain step (a) of the water in the discharging steel ladle 2.During drain step (a), the washing motor is not driven.

After level sensor 108 detected water level reduction predetermined altitude, microprocessor 100 control drain step (a) finished through one section preset time.

After drain step (a) finishes, carry out the dehydration (b) of transition, this dehydration is for preventing that it is necessary washing motor 6 damages.The rotating speed of washing motor 6 is improved gradually until reaching a predetermined RPM (revolutions per minute).

After the speed of washing motor 6 reaches a stationary value, carry out main dehydration (c) through this step (b), the speed of this moment at the uniform velocity.This step (c) is controlled according to the time fully.

If main dehydration (c) finishes in this manner, washing motor 6 so stops to drive, although wash bucket 3 does not stop, process stops can to stop after the step (d), and wash bucket 3 during stopping step (d) is because the effect of inertia force also can be rotated one period scheduled time at once.The end of this step (d) is by segment base washing amount and definite stipulated time is decided in washing machine.

In the step S14 of Fig. 4, if just carrying out dehydration then do not considering the request of opening the door automatically,, operation proceeds to step S16 to returning.

The reason of Kao Lving is like this: because the high rotating speed during dehydration makes the wash bucket vibration, thus the contact instability of reed switch.If microprocessor receives the error message from reed switch 65, this will cause the microcomputer maloperation.

In the step S14 of Fig. 4, if do not carry out dehydration, operation sequence proceeds to the step S18 that opens door 20 so.In other words, microprocessor 100 is according to open door sensor 104 and close information that door sensor 106 provides to determine the state of door, rotates forward or backwards thereby order about door motor 31 when the automatic opening operation of door 20 execution.

In the dehydration (b) of transition, main dehydration (c) with during stopping step (d), if user's manual unlocking door, close door sensor and can detect this situation, and therefore microprocessor 100 drives arrestment mechanism by force wash bucket 3 is stopped operating.

According to the control method of the automatically-controlled door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine of the present invention, can prevent from by the method that door can not be opened to open automatically/the potential accident that exists in the closing operation and the reduction of reliability.

Although described the present invention in conjunction with specific embodiment, obviously with reference to the front embodiment that can obtain many replacements, modifications and variations is described for those of ordinary skills.Therefore, wish that present embodiment comprises essence and interior all various replacements, variation and the modification of maximum protection scope that belongs to appended claims.

Claims

1. the control method of the automatic door opening/closing apparatus of a washing machine, self-closing doors when it comprises the following steps: the washing stage; And during the water smoking, stop an automatic opening operation.

2. the control method of the automatic door opening/closing apparatus of a washing machine, it comprises the following steps: that sending the back in a request of opening the door determines whether described washing machine is carrying out dehydration; If being in the execution, described dehydration do not consider the described request of opening the door; And if described dehydration is not in the implementation then carries out the operation of opening door automatically.

3. method as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described dehydration comprises that the dehydration of a transition, a dehydration and one stop step.

4. method as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that described dehydration is present in rinse stage and among the water smoking.

5. as claim 3 or 4 described methods, it is characterized in that the described step that stops to be defined as from the washing revolution and to stop to rotate a period of time between stopping to wash bucket, the end that stops step determining according to a stipulated time.

6. method as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that the described described stipulated time that stops the described end of step is to be decided by the washing loads in the washing machine.