JP2000037590A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent bubble bounding caused by excess foam of detergent for a washing machine that supplies air bubble to a spin-dryer of the machine to conduct washing. SOLUTION: While water level set in spin-dryer 3 of a washing machine is high, air bubble pump 25 is not driven during washing operation. While the water level is not high, the air bubble pump 25 does not work in the first half of the washing operation, but the air bubble pump 25 is driven in halfway to send air bubbles from an air bubble release pipe 26 through water jet orifice 52. After that, an air bubble sensor 29 repeatedly detects if the bubble of detergent goes over the balance ring 22 and spills over, if the bubble is detected, the air bubble pump 25 is stopped. By this manner, it can be prevented that the bubble fills of the space between the spin-dryer 3 and the outer tank 2 of the washing machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine provided with an air bubble generating device for feeding air bubbles into a washing tub at the time of washing and rinsing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In washing and rinsing, in addition to a water flow generated in washing water (detergent water and rinsing water) in a washing tub by rotation of a pulsator, a large amount of small bubbles are sent into the washing water to perform washing. A washing machine for performing the washing is conventionally known (for example, see JP-A-7-47188). In such a washing machine, when small bubbles come into contact with the laundry and burst, an ultrasonic wave is generated, and the fine vibrations of the washing machine promote the separation of the dirt component adhering to the laundry, so that no bubbles are added. Higher cleaning performance can be obtained as compared with the case. In addition, since the air bubbles enter the gap between the laundry and other laundry to cause a buffering action and prevent excessive friction, an effect of reducing damage to the cloth can be expected.

[0003]

However, in a one-tank type fully automatic washing machine, when the foaming of the detergent water significantly increases due to the action of air bubbles, the detergent foam passes over the upper edge of the washing and dewatering tub and is washed. It may fill the narrow gap between the dewatering tub and the outer tub. In such a case, even if an attempt is made to increase the rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tub in order to perform intermediate dehydration after the washing operation, the speed does not increase due to the restraint of the foam, and there is a possibility that centrifugal dehydration cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that performs a washing operation while supplying air bubbles to a washing tub, and uses an excess amount of detergent water. An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of suppressing excessive foaming.

[0005]

A washing machine according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes: a) bubble generating means for supplying bubbles to washing water in a washing tub; and b) washing. Bubble generation control means for controlling the amount of bubbles generated by the bubble generation means according to the level of water stored in the tank,
It is characterized by having.

A washing machine according to a second aspect of the present invention has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems. The washing machine includes: a) bubble generating means for supplying bubbles to washing water in a washing tub; Bubble generation control means for stopping or reducing the generation of bubbles until a predetermined time has elapsed, and controlling the bubble generation means to generate a large amount of bubbles after the predetermined time has elapsed. .

A washing machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises: a) bubble generating means for supplying bubbles to the washing water in the washing tub; and b) washing in the washing tub. Bubble detection means for detecting the bubbling state of water, c) bubble generation control means for controlling the amount of bubbles generated by the bubble generation means according to the detection result by the bubble detection means,
It is characterized by having.

[0008] The foaming detecting means may detect that foam has overflowed from the upper edge of the washing tub, for example.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the washing machine according to the first invention, the bubble generation control means does not generate bubbles when the water level in the washing tub is equal to or higher than a predetermined water level, or the amount of generated bubbles is relatively small. The bubble generating means is controlled so as to reduce the number of bubbles.
When the water level is high, the space between the water level line and the upper edge of the washing tub is narrowed, and the detergent foam is easy to get over the upper edge of the washing tub, but the generation of bubbles is stopped or weakened, thereby suppressing the foaming of the detergent. So that bubbles can be prevented from overflowing.

In the washing machine according to the second invention, the bubble generation control means does not always generate bubbles during the period in which the pulsator is rotated for washing, and does not generate bubbles at the beginning of the period. The bubble generation means is controlled so as to generate bubbles from the middle. Therefore, since the bubble generation time is short, foaming of the detergent water does not become excessive, and overflow from the upper edge of the washing tub can be prevented. Also, even if the bubble generation time is short,
In the first half of the washing operation period, the water component generated by the pulsator causes the dirt component entangled with the fiber of the laundry to emerge, and thereafter the dirt component is separated from the fiber by air bubbles, so that high cleaning performance is obtained.

In the washing machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, the bubble generation control means stops the generation of the bubbles when the generation of the excessive bubbles is detected by the foam detection means, or the generation amount of the bubbles is relatively small. The bubble generating means is controlled so as to reduce the number of bubbles. Therefore, generation of excessive bubbles is suppressed.

[0012]

In any of the washing machines according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the supply of air bubbles is stopped or reduced when the generation of detergent bubbles is likely or excessive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detergent foam from filling the gap between the washing and dewatering tub and the outer tub and preventing the rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tub from increasing due to the restraint of the foam.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the washing machine according to the first to third inventions will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the entire configuration of the washing machine of the present embodiment. An outer tub 2 is supported by four hanging rods (not shown) inside an outer box 1 of the washing machine, and a washing and dewatering tub 3 having a large number of dewatering holes in a peripheral wall is provided inside the outer tub 2. It is rotatably supported about a rotation shaft 4 provided on a wall. A pulsator 5 for stirring the laundry is arranged at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 3.
The rotational power of the motor 6 attached to the lower surface of the outer tub 2 is transmitted to the washing and dewatering tub 3 and the pulsator 5 via the motor pulley 7, the V-belt 8, the main pulley 9, and the power switching mechanism 10.

An air trap 11 is provided behind the bottom of the outer tank 2.
A water level sensor 13 for detecting the water level in the outer tub 2 by pressure is provided at the tip of a pressure hose 12 connected to the air trap 11. A water supply pipe 15 provided with a water supply valve 14 in the middle thereof is provided as a water supply mechanism at the upper rear of the outer box 1, and tap water supplied from outside through the water supply pipe 15 is supplied to a detergent container and a flexible finish container. The water is poured into the washing / dewatering tub 3 from a water inlet 16 having The water supply pipe 15 is connected to a tap, such as an external tap (not shown).

A drain port 17 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 2, and is connected to an upright drain hose 21 through a drain valve 18 and a drain passage 20. A solenoid 19 is attached to the drain valve 18. When the solenoid 19 is excited, the solenoid 19 opens the drain valve 18, and further drives a clutch (not shown) in the power switching mechanism 10 to communicate with the washing and dewatering tub 3. Connect the pulsator 5 and release the brake (not shown). Thus, when the drain valve 18 is closed, the power switching mechanism 10 rotates only the pulsator 5, and when the drain valve 18 is opened, the washing / dewatering tub 3 and the pulsator 5 are integrally rotated.

An annular balance ring 22 for preventing vibration is attached to the upper end of the washing and dewatering tub 3. A circulating water channel 23 extending vertically from the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 3 to immediately below the balance ring 22 has an inner wall. Are formed along. A lint filter 24 for collecting dust such as lint mixed in the washing water is detachably provided at an upper end opening of the circulation water channel 23. A bubble pump 25 for generating bubbles is installed at the bottom of the outer box 1.
The air discharge port of the pump 25 is connected to the outer tank 2 through a tube.
It is connected to a bubble discharge tube 26 arranged at the bottom.

A foam sensor 29 is provided on the lower surface of the outer tank cover 28 extending from the vicinity of the upper end of the outer tank 2 onto the balance ring 22. The foam sensor 29 detects conduction between two electrodes mounted in close proximity to each other, and foam from the detergent passes over the upper end of the balance ring 22 from inside the washing / dewatering tub 3 and the space between the outer tub cover 28 and the balance ring 22 is formed. When the gap between the electrodes is filled, a current flows between the electrodes via the bubbles. Thereby, the foam sensor 29 detects that the foam is excessive.

At the time of the washing operation or the rinsing operation, the pulsator 5 is rotated in a state in which water is stored up to a predetermined water level in the washing and dewatering tub 3 as shown in FIG. Then, the pumping action of the back blades 51 radially formed on the lower surface of the pulsator 5 causes the water between the bottom surface of the washing and dewatering tub 3 and the bottom surface of the outer tub 2 to pass through the water passage 27 opened on the bottom surface of the washing and dewatering tub 3. Is sucked up. The sucked water is pushed out to the outer periphery of the pulsator 5 by a strong pressure, rises in the circulation channel 23 from the lower end opening of the circulation channel 23, and is discharged into the washing and dewatering tub 3 from the upper end opening. In addition, washing dehydration tub 3
The water inside flows out to the outer tub 2 through the water hole in the side peripheral wall.
In this way, the washing water circulates as shown by the arrow in FIG.

When the bubble pump 25 is driven, air is sent into the bubble discharge tube 26, and bubbles are generated one after another from small holes formed in the bubble discharge tube 26. The generated air bubbles ride on the circulating water flow as described above, pass through the water inlet 27, and accumulate on the lower surface of the pulsator 5. The pulsator 5 is provided with a plurality of water ejection holes 52 penetrating up and down at predetermined locations. Bubbles collected on the lower surface of the pulsator 5 pass through the water ejection holes 52 while being agitated by the back blades 51, thereby providing finer water. Floating as bubbles. Ultrasonic waves are generated when such air bubbles come into contact with the laundry and the air bubbles burst, and due to the minute vibrations, dirt components such as oils and fats entangled with the fibers of the laundry are easily separated from the fibers. Therefore, by the combination of the water flow generated by the pulsator 5 and the air bubbles, the cleaning performance and the rinsing performance are improved as compared with the case where cleaning or rinsing is performed only with the water flow.

FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of the washing machine.
The control unit 30 mainly includes a well-known microcomputer, and executes each operation process related to washing by executing an operation program stored in an internal memory in advance. An operation unit 32, a display unit 33, a water level sensor 13, a foam sensor 29, a load driving unit 31, and the like are connected to the control unit 30, and the motor 6, the water supply valve 14, the drain valve 18, The operation of the bubble pump 25 is controlled.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the control section 30 at the time of the washing process. When the user puts laundry into the washing / dehydrating tub 3 and gives an instruction to start washing through the operation unit 32, the control unit 30 first executes a load amount detection process (step S1). More specifically, the control unit 30 turns on the motor 6 for a short time via the load driving unit 31 to rotate the pulsator 5. Motor 6
Is turned off, the pulsator 5 stops for a while after rotating by inertia for a while. As the amount of laundry, that is, the load, increases, the pulsator 5 is less likely to rotate, and the inertial rotation does not last long. Therefore, for example, the total number of revolutions from when the motor 6 is turned on to when the motor 6 stops rotating is counted, and the load amount is determined based on the counted value. The method of detecting the load amount is not limited to this.

The control unit 30 determines the washing water level based on the detected load amount so that the water level increases as the load amount increases (step S2). Then, the water supply valve 14 is opened (step S3), and the water level sensor 1
When the water level detected by No. 3 reaches the washing water level ("Y" in step S4), the water supply valve 14 is closed to terminate the water supply (step S5). In such water supply,
The detergent previously stored in the detergent container of the water inlet 16 elutes into the water and is supplied into the washing and dewatering tub 3 as washing water containing the detergent.

Thereafter, the pulsator 5 is driven by driving the motor 6.
The washing operation is started by rotating (step S6). During the washing operation, the rotation of the motor 6 is controlled so that the pulsator 5 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed and, if necessary, while reversing the rotation direction. Immediately after the start of driving of the motor 6, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the washing water level is the highest “high water level” (Step S).
7) If the water level is not high, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the washing operation has reached a predetermined time T1 (step S8). This predetermined time T1 is the total washing operation time T2.
The time is appropriately set in a shorter range.

If the time T1 has not been reached in step S8, the process returns to step S6. Therefore, if the washing water level is not the high water level, step S is executed until time T1 elapses.
The processing of 6 to S8 is repeatedly executed, and the washing is performed only by stirring by the pulsator 5 without generating bubbles.

When the time T1 has passed in this way ("Y" in step S8), the control unit 30 determines whether or not the bubbles are excessive based on the detection signal from the bubble sensor 29 (step S9). If it is determined that the bubbles are not excessive, the bubble pump 25 is operated to start supplying bubbles into the washing and dewatering tub 3 (step S10). On the other hand, when it is determined that the amount of foam is excessive, if the bubble pump 25 is operating, it is stopped (step S11). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the washing operation has reached the total washing operation time T2 (step S12). If the time has not reached the time T2, the process returns to step S6. Also, when it is determined in step S7 that the water level is high, the process proceeds to step S12 to determine whether the total washing time T2 has elapsed.

When the bubble pump 25 is driven, the water flow and the bubbles by the pulsator 5 cause
Washing is advanced with high washing performance. When the total washing operation time T2 has elapsed ("Y" in step S12), the bubble pump 25 is turned off (step S1).
3), proceed to the next step. Specifically, for example, the drain valve 18 is opened to discharge the washing water in the washing and dewatering tub 3, and the washing and dewatering tub 3 is further rotated at a high speed so that the washing water soaked into the laundry is transferred to the outer tub 2. Splash. After performing such intermediate dehydration, the drain valve 18 is closed, and rinsing water is supplied to the washing and dewatering tub 3 to perform rinsing. When performing the rinsing operation, the bubble pump 25 may be driven to send bubbles into the washing and dewatering tub 3.

FIG. 4 schematically shows how the bubble pump 25 operates by a series of processes during the washing operation as described above. When the washing water level is high, as shown in FIG. 4B, the bubble pump 25 is always off during the washing operation. This is because if the washing water level is high, there is a risk that the detergent may overflow from the washing and dewatering tub 3 even if the amount of foam generated by the detergent is not so large.

Even when the washing water level is other than the high water level, for example, when foaming is excessive at the time T1 has elapsed due to the user putting too much detergent, the bubble pump 25 Will be kept off.

Normally, when the washing water level is other than the high water level,
When the time T1 has elapsed, the bubble pump 25 is turned on,
As long as the bubbles caused by the detergent do not overflow from the washing and dewatering tub 3, the bubble pump 25 is kept on until the total washing operation time T2 elapses after the elapse of the time T1 as shown in FIG. It is. In addition, when the bubbles of the detergent overflow from the washing and dewatering tub 3 after the bubbles are generated, as shown in FIG. 4D, the bubble pump 25 is turned off at that time.

In the case of FIGS. 4C and 4D, in the first half of the washing operation, the water generated by the pulsator 5 causes the detergent water to lift up dirt components entangled with the fibers of the laundry. Thereafter, by supplying air bubbles, the dirt component is separated from the fibers and taken out into the detergent water. Therefore, a sufficiently high cleaning performance can be exhibited even if the time of bubble generation is short.

The above embodiments are merely examples, and it is apparent that changes and modifications can be made within the spirit of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the entire configuration of an embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric configuration diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a washing process in the washing machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an operation state of the bubble pump during a washing operation period.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Outer tub 3 ... Washing dehydration tub 5 ... Pulsator 51 ... Back blade 52 ... Water ejection hole 6 ... Motor 13 ... Water level sensor 22 ... Balance ring 23 ... Circulation water channel 25 ... Bubble pump 26 ... Bubble discharge pipe 27 ... Water outlet 28 ... Outer tub cover 29 ... Foam sensor 30 ... Control unit 31 ... Load drive unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Seiwa Fujikawa 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tamotsu Kawamura 2-chome Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Inamoto 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3B155 AA10 BB08 BB12 CA05 CA08 CA16 CB06 CB48 DB13 DC22 DC23 EA06 EA12 FA30 FA37 FC03 FD04 FD08 HB03 HB09 HB12 HB26 KA02 KA19 KA20 KA25 KB02 KB03 LA12 LA14 LC02 LC07 LC28 LC30 MA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air bubble generating means for supplying air bubbles to washing water in a washing tub, and b) an amount of air bubbles generated by the air bubble generating means is controlled according to a water level of water stored in the washing tub. A washing machine comprising: air bubble generation control means. 2. a) bubble generating means for supplying bubbles to the washing water in the washing tub; b) stopping or reducing the generation of bubbles until a predetermined time elapses during the washing operation; And a bubble generation control means for controlling the bubble generation means so as to generate a large amount of air bubbles after elapse. 3. A bubble generating means for supplying bubbles to the washing water in the washing tub, b) a bubble detecting means for detecting a foaming state of the washing water in the washing tub, and c) a bubble detecting means. Bubble generation control means for controlling the amount of bubbles generated by the bubble generation means according to the detection result,
A washing machine comprising: 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the foaming detecting means detects that foam of the washing water overflows from the upper edge of the washing tub.