JP2000070586A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to set the water volume and operation program meeting the individuality of the user and applications by providing the washing machine with a correction means for determining the water volume and washing stage program according to the cloth quantity decided from the electromotive force pulse number of a motor and enabling the correction of the determination. SOLUTION: When the user manipulates a start switch 13 to on after feeding wash into the washing machine and turning a power source key 12 on, the motor is driven and agitating vanes are turned and, therefore, the electromotive force pulses of the motor of the time are detected and are inputted to a controller which compares the pulses with a standard value and temporally determines the cloth quantity from the result of the comparison. An LED 18 is flickered in the case of, for example, the small quantity according to the temporally determined contents. '30L, 5 minutes, 1 time, 3 minutes' are displayed in the sections 241 to 244 in a display section 24. To correct data according to a taste, the user manipulates a correction key 11, thereby lighting, for example, the LED 19. '35L, 7 minutes, 1 time, 3 minutes' are then displayed in the display sections 241 to 244 and the operation is executed.

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 having a correcting means for detecting a load and selecting a preset program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a washing machine disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2734097 having a function of correcting the amount of laundry. In FIG. A kind of A / D conversion means for converting the electromotive force of the motor 54, which changes according to the amount of cloth applied to the pulsator 55 when the state shifts to the OFF state, into a pulse number, is constituted by a photocoupler or the like, and the amount of cloth applied to the pulsator 55 Is large, the number of pulses is reduced.

A microcomputer 58 stores a cloth amount reference value for judging the amount of cloth, and a water supply valve 56,
By controlling the drain valve 57, the motor 54, etc., washing, rinsing,
A series of dehydration operations are performed, and an input unit 58 is provided inside.
a, an output unit 58b, and an arithmetic control unit 58c.

In the above-described configuration, as shown in an operation flowchart (control chart) shown in FIG. 6, the number of electromotive force pulses of the motor 54 that changes according to the amount of cloth applied to the pulsator 55 is integrated (step 61). The number of electromotive force pulses is corrected with correction data input in advance, and the corrected number of electromotive force pulses is compared with a laundry amount determination reference value to determine the amount of laundry, and the water level and the washing process are determined based on the determined amount of laundry. After that, the program is determined, and the program is automatically corrected at the start of washing and the washing program is executed.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional means for correcting the amount of laundry in a washing machine, the correction value once input is automatically called to execute even at the start of the subsequent washing, and the correction is performed. At the start of the operation, the details of the correction are not displayed at the start of the operation, and the user does not know whether the correction has been made or not, and it is unknown how much the correction has been made. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to change the correction value in response to a request to change the correction value in response to the request.

In addition, since the conventional correction means controls the number of electromotive force pulses of the motor, it is difficult for the user to understand even if the value before and after the correction is displayed.
It lacked the means of expression, such as a program, that displays it in easily understood words.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The washing machine of the present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems.
A water amount and a washing process program are determined based on the amount of cloth determined by the number of electromotive force pulses of the motor, and a correction means is provided to enable the determination to be corrected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the washing machine has input means for inputting the correction data for the correction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying a judgment result before correction and a result after correction.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, one display device is provided to display a judgment result before correction and a result after correction.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 displays the judgment result before correction and the result after correction in different display methods such as blinking and lighting.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 displays the judgment result before the correction for a predetermined time and then displays the result after the correction.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 displays at least one of a water amount, a water level, and a detergent amount in order to inform the user of the detergent amount.

The invention according to claim 8 is for displaying a judgment result before correction and a result after correction, or notifying by a notification sound when one of them is displayed.

Further, according to the present invention, the reference value for detecting the load amount by the cloth amount detecting means can be changed.

Further, according to the present invention, a nonvolatile memory is provided to store the input correction data.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an erasing means for clearing the input correction data, so that the correction data can be returned to the judgment reference value set by the manufacturer.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The same parts as those in the above-mentioned conventional example will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

<Embodiment 1> In the drawings, FIG. 1 is an operation chart according to an embodiment of a washing machine of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation chart for each correction, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an operation unit of the washing machine. is there.

The pulse number of the motor 54 is integrated by the cloth amount detecting means 51 and the microcomputer 58 in FIG. 5 (explanatory drawing of the conventional example), and the pulse is measured in step 2 in FIG. Is compared with the set cloth amount detection reference values K1 and K2, the cloth amount is provisionally determined in step 6, and an operation program such as a water amount and a washing time corresponding to the cloth amount is displayed in step 7. Here, if the number of pulses is 25 or less, a large amount, a value exceeding 25 to less than 30 is a medium amount, and a value of 30 or more is a small amount of the cloth amount detection reference value. Then, an operation program corresponding to the cloth amount is provisionally determined (step 6), a notification sound is notified, and displayed on the display device (step 7).

Next, when there is no correction data input to the correction data read in step 3 (α = 0), the operation program (step 6) of the provisional determination based on the cloth amount determined in step 5 is determined as the final determination. (Step 9) Informing the notification sound, displaying the operation program contents on the display device (Step 10), and executing the next step.

If there is correction data α (α = 1 or 2, 3), the operation program provisionally determined in step 6 is corrected according to correction data α (step 8), determined in step 9, and a notification sound is issued. Then, the operation program is displayed on the display device (step 10), and the next step is executed.

The correction data α is programmed in advance as several types of coefficients, and the correction data α is selected from the several types of coefficients. FIG. 2 shows an example of pre-programmed correction data. In the three types of correction coefficients, a indicates a program with no correction and a correction coefficient α = 0, and b, c, and d indicate α = 1, 2, For each correction coefficient of 3, an operation program such as the amount of water, the washing time, the number of rinses, the dehydration time, and the rotational force of the pulsator is shown.

The input of the correction coefficient α is performed by an expert on an external device according to the user's request. Alternatively, an input means may be provided in the washing machine so that the user can input each time.

Here, a washing machine provided with input means will be described.

First, a description will be given of a method of inputting correction data for changing the operation program determined based on the cloth amount criterion set by the manufacturer at the manufacturing stage. The input of the correction data is performed by setting a correction data input mode different from the normal operation.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation unit of the washing machine. When the power key 12 is turned on while pressing the correction key 11, the mode becomes the correction data input mode, and the LED 18 blinks to wait for correction data input.

LED18 has a correction coefficient α = 0, LED1
9, the correction coefficient α = 1, and the LED 20 has the correction coefficient α =
2, a correction coefficient α = 3 is assigned to the LED 21 and a water volume key 14 is allocated as a correction data input key, and each time the water volume key 14 is pressed, the LED blinks.
18 → 21 sequentially, and when the water volume key 14 is further pressed, L
It returns to the ED 18.

When the water volume key 14 is pressed once, the LED 18
Is turned off, the LED 19 blinks, indicating that the correction coefficient α = 1 has been selected. When the correction key 11 is pressed, α = 1 is determined and registered in the microcomputer, and the power is turned off after a predetermined time. The registered correction data α = 1 is stored in the microcomputer.
In step 3, the correction coefficient α = 1 is read.
Is corrected to the correction coefficient α = 1 (step 8), and determined in step 9 to execute the operation program.

Here, the correction function for determining the operation program will be described along with the operation.

When the laundry is put into the washing machine, the power key 12 is turned on, and the start switch 13 is turned on, the motor 54 is turned on.
Is driven (step 1), and the electromotive force pulse P
Is detected (step 2), compared with the reference values K1 and K2 (steps 4 and 5), and the cloth amount is temporarily determined (step 6). At this time, a notification sound notifying the display is provided. For example, if the determination is a small amount, the LED 18 is turned on and off, and 241 to 244 in the display unit 24 are respectively set to “30L, 5 minutes, once,“ a in FIG.
"3 minutes" is displayed (step 7).

If there is input of correction data, step 3
Correction value α =? In this case, correction is made with α = 1 (step 8), an operation program of “b, α = 1, small amount” in FIG. 2 is determined (step 9), and a notification sound is notified.
The LED 19 lights up, and the display units 241 to 244 respectively display 3
5 L, 7 minutes, once, 3 minutes are displayed, and the operation is executed.

Display of provisional decision of step 7 and step 1
The display of the operation program determined at 0 may be displayed together, or the display of the temporary determination may be displayed for a predetermined time, and then the display of the determination may be displayed. The display of the temporary determination (step 7) and the determination (step 10) May be displayed by different display methods such as blinking and lighting, or turning red and blue.

The notification sound for notifying the display includes a timbre,
Different notification sounds such as a period and a melody may be used.

The content displayed on the display unit 24 may be only the amount of water or the water level, or may be only the amount of detergent according to the amount of cloth. When the correction data input mode is set, the correction data that has already been input is deleted, and the cloth amount determination reference value set by the manufacturer is restored.

The LEDs 18, 20, and 22 are lit according to the amount of cloth when there is no correction input, and the LEDs 19, 21, and 23 are categorized so that the presence or absence of correction can be easily confirmed.

<Embodiment 2> In this embodiment, the cloth amount judgment value can be changed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the embodiment 2 in which the first judgment value of step 34 and The second determination value in step 35 can be changed.

In steps 34 and 35, a standard value for determining the cloth amount is set in advance at the time of manufacture.

The change of the cloth amount determination value is performed by the correction key 11 shown in FIG.
Pressing the power key 12 while pressing the key, the operation is performed in the cloth amount determination value change input mode. When the power key 12 is turned on while the correction key 11 is being pressed, the cloth quantity determination value change input mode is entered, and the first and second cloth quantity determination standard values are blinked on the display 241 and 242 of the display unit 24 to input the determination value. I will wait. When changing the first cloth amount determination value, the water amount key 14 is pressed to change the displayed cloth amount determination standard value.

Each time the water volume key 14 is depressed, the displayed standard value of the cloth amount is blinked by +1 (if the standard value is 25, it becomes 26 → 27 → 28 →...). When changing the second cloth amount determination value, the wash key 15 is pressed to change the displayed cloth amount determination standard value. Each time the wash key 15 is pressed, the displayed standard value of the cloth amount is blinked by +1 (31 → 3 if the standard value is 30).
2 → 33 → ...). Next, when the correction key 11 is pressed, the changed cloth amount determination value is determined and stored in the microcomputer 58 (see FIG. 5), and the display units 241 and 24 are displayed.
The determination value changed to 2 is lit, and the power is turned off after a predetermined time.

The changeable lower limit that can be input is a standard value set at the time of manufacture, and the upper limit is a predetermined value (for example, +10).
Restrictions may be given before.

Next, the actual operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, at step 32, the number of pulses of the motor 54 is integrated and pulse measurement is performed.
In step 36, the cloth amount is determined by comparing with the cloth amount determination values A and B, and a water level and an operation program corresponding to the cloth amount are determined.
In step 37, it is detected whether or not the standard value of the cloth amount determination has been changed.
Alternatively, the LEDs 20 and 22 are turned on, and if changed, L
The ED 19 or the LEDs 21 and 23 are turned on, the notification sound is notified, the operation program is displayed on the display units 24 to 27 (see FIG. 3), and the operation is started.

<Embodiment 3> By the way, Embodiment 1
In the method of storing the input data such as the correction data and the determination value in the microcomputer 58 according to the second embodiment, the correction is performed when the supply of the commercial power is turned off due to a power failure, a power plug of the washing machine being unplugged, or the like. Data storage is lost. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the nonvolatile memory 52
(See FIG. 5), the input data is stored in the non-volatile memory 52, and the storage of the input data is retained even when the commercial power supply is turned off. Other functions are the same as those of the first and second embodiments.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and many modifications and changes can be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, the method for entering the correction input mode includes the correction key 11 and the power key 1.
The correction data input key and the correction coefficient registration key are not limited to the water flow key 14 and the start key 13, respectively.

When the correction coefficient is registered, the start key 1
3 When pressed, the power may be turned off without turning off the power.

Further, the input value of the correction data in the first embodiment may be a direct numerical value instead of a coefficient.

[0048]

Since the washing machine of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of setting a water amount and an operation program according to the user's personality and application. That is, the amount of water depending on the use at each home depending on the type of household, depending on the type of detergent used, such as households with a lot of dirt, or households with a lot of oily dirt, households with a lot of thin clothing, households with a lot of heavy clothing, etc. Or the desire to change the operating program.

Also, before the driving, the display before and after the correction is displayed, and the level of the correction can be confirmed. Therefore, it can be confirmed every hour whether the driving program is suitable for the clothes to be washed.
It is possible to prevent inconveniences such as driving thin clothing with a program for thick clothing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of correction data of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation unit of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional washing machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Reference value for determining the amount of cloth 5 Reference value for determining the amount of cloth 6 Provisionally determined value of the amount of cloth 9 Determined value of the amount of cloth 11 Correction key 18 Display 24 Display

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B155 AA10 BB02 BB20 JB03 JB24 JB26 JC09 LA02 LA04 LA11 LA14 LB02 LB04 LB31 LC07 LC15 LC32 LC33 LC34 LC50 MA01 MA05 MA06 MA10

Claims (11)

[Claims] The present invention has a cloth amount detecting means for detecting an amount of laundry, and operates an operation program such as a water amount and a washing process based on information from the cloth amount detecting means and a predetermined cloth amount determination reference value. A washing machine having a determination means for determining, wherein the determination result determined by the determination means can be corrected. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting correction data for correcting the operation program determined by said determination means. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the determination result before correction and the determination result after correction determined by the determination unit are displayed on the display device. 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the determination result before correction and the determination result after correction determined by the determination unit are displayed on a single display device. 5. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the determination result before correction and the determination result after correction determined by the determination unit are displayed on a display device by different display methods. 6. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the determination result before correction determined by the determination means is displayed for a predetermined time, and the corrected determination result is displayed on a display device. 7. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the determination result before correction and the determination result after correction determined by the determination unit are displayed for at least one of a water amount, a water level, and a detergent amount. 8. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein when the determination result before the correction or the determination result after the correction determined by the determination means is displayed, a notification sound is issued. 9. A laundry amount detecting means for detecting an amount of laundry, and an operation program such as a water amount and a washing process is determined by information from the laundry amount detecting means and a preset laundry amount determination reference value. A washing machine having a determination means for determining, wherein the cloth amount determination reference value can be changed. 10. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a nonvolatile memory for storing the correction input data. 11. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising erasing means for clearing the input correction data.