JP2001276472A - Method for controlling operation of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine ensuring that water can be fed up to a set level during a water feeding process, enabling washing at a predetermined detergent concentration, preventing a washing process from being started if air is trapped in laundry during the water feeding process, and preventing decrease in washing capability by dissolving a sufficient amount of detergent before the washing process is started. SOLUTION: A water tank is oscillatably hung within a casing and a washing/spin-drying basket having an agitator deposed at its bottom is rotatably arranged within the water tank. A mist supply device is disposed above the washing/spin-drying basket, and the water feeding process, the washing process, a rinsing process and a spin-drying process are effected automatically in sequence in the washing machine. The method for controlling the operation of the washing machine includes effecting main water feeding up to a level lower than the set level during the water feeding process, and then rotating the agitator for agitation while feeding water in the form of a mist from the mist supply device for a predetermined time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a one-tub type fully automatic washing machine is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a water tank 3 is swingably supported via an anti-vibration device 2 in an outer box 1 installed on a bottom frame 8, and a rotating blade 4 is provided in the water tank 3 at the bottom. A washing and spin-drying tub 5 is rotatably provided. A mechanism 7 such as a motor 6 and a reduction mechanism such as a clutch is attached to the bottom of the water tub 3 as a driving mechanism. , A top cover 9 is attached to a position above the water tank 3.
A lid 10 is attached to the door so that it can be opened and closed.

[0003] In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a water supply case which communicates with a water supply port 12 provided in the top cover 9, which is disposed in the top cover 9, and has a detergent / soft finish agent case 13 for reservation. Is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes a drainage hose for discharging water in the washing and dewatering tub 5 and the water tub 3 to the outside of the machine.

[0004] In such a washing machine, the entire process of water supply, washing, rinsing, and dehydration is automatically advanced by the operation of the control device. The amount of laundry is measured by the amount detecting means, and as a result of the measurement, the amount of detergent is displayed. Therefore, the user puts the indicated amount of detergent into the washing / dewatering tub 5, closes the lid 10, and connects the washing / dewatering tub to the water supply hose connected to the water supply port 12 directly to the water tap. When the water is supplied to the inside of the pump 5 and a water level sensor (not shown) detects that the water has been supplied to the set water level, the water supply is stopped, the motor 6 is energized and the rotor 4 rotates, and the washing process is performed. Starts.

When the washing operation is performed for a set time,
When the washing process is completed, the washing water is drained from the drain hose 14, and the process proceeds to the next rinsing process. In the rinsing process, the washing and dewatering tub 5 is first removed from the water supply case 11 as rinsing and dewatering.
Shower dewatering is performed by simultaneously rotating the washing and dewatering tub 5 at a low speed while water is supplied to the laundry therein, and after this shower dewatering is completed, the washing and dewatering tub 5 is rotated at a high speed to perform high-speed dehydration, and then the pool is rinsed. Do twice. The pool rinsing is to supply water to the washing and dewatering tub 5 and to rotate the rotary blade 4 in a state where water is stored. After the first pool rinsing is completed, drainage, dehydration and water supply are performed, and the second rinsing is performed. Move to pool rinsing.

After the end of the rinsing, the water is drained. Finally, the washing and dewatering tub 5 and the rotating blade 4 are rotated at a high speed, and the entire washing process is completed.

[0007]

In order to shift from the water supply step to the washing step, it is necessary that the water level sensor detect that the water level has reached the set water level. May be included, in which case,
When the laundry is agitated during the washing process, the air contained in the laundry escapes and the water level drops. For this reason, washing is performed with a smaller amount of water than the specified amount, and washing cannot be performed with a predetermined detergent concentration.

[0008] When the laundry contains air, the laundry is in a balloon-like state, and the inflated surface portion does not adjust to water and cannot be sufficiently washed.

[0009] Further, the detergent is stirred together with the laundry only after the washing process, so that it is difficult to sufficiently dissolve the detergent, and especially, the detergent is placed on the swollen laundry containing air. Detergents are difficult to dissolve and it is difficult to obtain the expected detergency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and to ensure that water can be reliably supplied to a set water level in a water supply process, that washing can be performed with a predetermined detergent concentration, and that the laundry contains air in the water supply process. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine which can prevent the washing machine from shifting to the washing process in this state, and can sufficiently dissolve the detergent before shifting to the washing process, thereby preventing the washing ability from decreasing.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention firstly hangs a water tank in an outer box so as to swing freely,
In the water tub, a washing and dewatering tub having a rotating blade at the bottom is rotatably disposed, and a mist supply device is provided above the washing and dewatering tub, and the processes of water supply, washing, rinsing, and dewatering are automatically performed. In the method of controlling the operation of a washing machine, the main water is supplied to a water level lower than a set water level in a water supply process, and then the rotating blades are rotated and agitated while mist is supplied from the mist supply device for a predetermined time.

By the mist water supply in such a water supply step, even if the laundry contains air, the laundry is adapted to water and the detergent adhering to the surface of the laundry is dissolved, and in the subsequent washing step. The cleaning ability of the is improved. Further, since the air contained in the laundry can be evacuated, the water can be reliably supplied to the set water level, and the laundry can be washed with a predetermined concentration of detergent during the washing process.

Second, after the mist supply in the water supply process is completed,
If the set water level has not been reached, additional water is supplied until the set water level is reached, so that the washing can be reliably performed at the specified water level in the washing step following the water supply step, and the amount of water corresponding to the detergent amount can be secured.

Thirdly, in the washing process following the water supply process, the mist is supplied intermittently while rotating the rotor, so that the laundry rises in the washing process despite the mist supply in the water supply process. In this case, the water can be further hit from above by mist water supply, so that the laundry can be prevented from rising and the washing ability can be improved.

Fourthly, a water tub is swingably suspended in an outer box, and a washing / dehydrating tub having a rotating blade provided on a bottom portion is rotatably disposed in the water tub. In the operation control method of the washing machine in which the steps of water supply, washing, rinsing, and dehydration automatically proceed, in the washing step following the water supply step, the mist supply is intermittently performed while rotating the rotor. I decided to do it.

By such mist water supply in the washing process, even when the mist water is not supplied in the water supply process, if the laundry comes up in the washing process, it can be hit from above. The cleaning ability can be improved by preventing the surface from rising.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a method of controlling the operation of a washing machine according to the present invention. Since the basic configuration of the washing machine has already been described, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the present invention, the mist supply device 15 is provided below the water supply case 11 provided inside the top cover 9 above the washing / dewatering tub 5 of the washing machine.

The mist supply device 15 is connected to a hose 16 for further introducing water supplied to a water supply case 11 having a water supply valve 11a as shown in FIGS. 3 to 9 as a first embodiment. It comprises a nozzle case 15b connected to the hose 16, and a nozzle 15a mounted below the nozzle case 15b.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the nozzle case 15b is formed in a horizontally long lid shape having an upper surface closed and an open lower surface. Part 15g, and the nozzle 15
a was attached.

In the nozzle 15a, the whole body is formed in a horizontally long saucer shape, and a water supply passage 15h is protruded from an inner bottom portion. This water supply channel 15h is formed in a gutter shape by a peripheral wall protruding from the inner bottom portion of the main body as shown in FIG.
The opening at the rear end communicates with the cylindrical connecting portion 15g, and a flat circular water conduit 15k is formed at the tip of the substantially linear water conduit 15j at the rear portion, and the center of the water conduit 15k is used for watering. A mist supply port 15i is formed.

In this case, the center of the planar circular water conduit 15k is eccentric so as not to be located on the linear extension of the substantially straight water conduit 15j, and is positioned on the back straight extension of the substantially straight water conduit 15j. Is positioned with respect to the substantially straight water conduit 15j so that the flat water conduit 15k is aligned with the tangent on the back side of the flat circular water passage 15k. The flow of water flowing into the water channel 15k is set to be counterclockwise (in the same direction as the rotation direction of the washing and dewatering tub 5).

As shown in FIG. 9, the mist supply port 15i has an inlet formed in a funnel-shaped part 15c, and a sprinkling port below the inlet formed in a divergent part 15d. The diameter of the supply port 15i is set so that the diameter of the water particles becomes a mist-like shape of, for example, 1.0 mm or less.

In the illustrated example, the diameter of the narrow portion of the mist supply port 15i is about 3 mm based on a normal water supply rate of 3 L / min and a water pressure of 0.3 MPa. Set.

The rear end of the nozzle 15a is inclined obliquely downward with respect to the nozzle case 15b, and the mist supply port 15i is inclined so as to project obliquely toward the washing and dewatering tub 5. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the inclination angle of the nozzle 15 a and the inclination angle of the nozzle 15 a are set so that the rear surface of the divergent portion 15 d is vertical, while the front surface is at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees, preferably 30 degrees. The spread angle of the divergent portion 15d is set.

In this case, the length of the mist supply port 15i is set to, for example, about 3 to 7 mm so as to easily perform angle control so that the discharge range of the mist falls within the washing and dewatering tub 5.

The injection range from the nozzle 15a can be made variable by appropriately setting the angle at which the mist supply port 15i is formed as described above. For example, the injection range is narrowed by separately attaching a horn or the like. Can also be done.

Then, a horizontally long band-shaped nozzle cover 17 having an L-shaped cross section and attached to the front end of the nozzle case 15b is positioned above the front part of the nozzle 15a. This nozzle cover 1
7 is formed of a transparent member so as to appeal to the user about the presence of the rear mist supply port 15i, and is colored in a color different from the color of the washing and dewatering tub 5 and the water supply case 11, which are separate members around the mist supply port 15i. .

Next, an operation control method using the washing machine will be described, particularly a water supply process and a subsequent washing process. When the laundry is put into the washing and spin-drying tub 5, the amount of the laundry is measured by the load amount detecting means, and as a result of the measurement, the detergent amount is displayed. Therefore, the user puts the detergent in the indicated amount of detergent into the washing and dewatering tub 5 and closes the lid 10,
The main water is supplied into the washing and dewatering tub 5 through the water supply case 11 from a water supply hose directly connected to the water tap, which is connected to the water supply port 12, and the water level is detected by a water level sensor (not shown). .

The detected water level is one step lower than the set water level corresponding to the amount of laundry (for example, 20 water levels lower than the set water level).
mm lower water level), the main water supply is stopped at this time (point A in FIG. 1) and the mist supply device 15 is stopped.
And water is sprayed into the mist in the washing and dewatering tub 5 by spraying the water in the form of mist with the nozzle 15a. Is stirred.

In this case, the water supplied from the mist supply device 15 is in the form of a mist as described above, and the water supply passage 15h
From the substantially straight water conduit 15j to the plane circular water conduit 15k
And flows along the peripheral wall of the planar circular water conduit 15k to form the funnel-shaped portion 15c and the divergent portion 15c.
Mist supply port 1 while scrolling counterclockwise inside d
5i, the mist spraying direction is opposite to the rotating direction of the washing and dewatering tub 5, and the mist-like supply water is not repelled when hitting the laundry, is efficiently absorbed by the laundry, and is washed and removed. Since the laundry in the water tub 5 is stirred by the rotation of the rotary wings 4, the mist supply water hits the laundry evenly.

A mist supply port 15 for ejecting mist is provided.
i has a front end formed in a divergent portion 15d, the rear side of which is perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the washing and dewatering tub 5 at the same angle, and the front surface has an angle of, for example, 45 degrees, preferably 30 degrees. Therefore, the mist can be reliably supplied from the mist supply port 15i into the washing and dewatering tub 5 in a stable state, and the mist can be prevented from scattering outside the washing and dewatering tub 5.

The air contained in the laundry is released by the mist water supply and stirring, and the laundry is adapted to the water, and the detergent adhering to the laundry is dissolved in the water.
The detergent that has fallen to the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 5 when the detergent is introduced is also dissolved by stirring. The mist supply and stirring are performed for a predetermined time, for example, one minute by timer control.

At the time when the mist water supply and stirring are completed (time point B), the water level detected by the water level sensor is determined again. If the water level does not reach the specified water level, additional water supply is performed, and if the water level reaches the set water level (time point C). ), Stop supplying water and move to the next washing operation. In this washing process, the laundry becomes familiar with water by mist water supply and agitation in the water supply process of the previous process,
Since the amount of water also reaches the specified amount and the detergent is sufficiently dissolved in the specified amount of water to have a predetermined detergent concentration, a predetermined cleaning ability can be obtained.

In the washing process, the rotor 4 is washed by the main stirring. However, for the laundry that has floated in the middle of washing due to the remaining air or cloth, the mist supply is intermittently performed again. Short time (eg 5 seconds per minute)
Then, the laundry is hit with a mist from above to prevent the laundry from floating, so that a predetermined cleaning effect can be obtained.

It should be noted that instead of the mist water supply performed in the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to use this as shower water having larger water particles than the mist water.

In the above-described embodiment, the mist is supplied in the water supply step, and when the laundry is lifted up in the subsequent washing step, the mist is supplied again. However, in the water supply step, the mist is supplied. Even if mist water is intermittently supplied for a short time only during the washing process in which the rotor is rotating without supplying water, floating can be prevented and a predetermined cleaning effect can be obtained.

[0037]

As described above, in the operation control method for a washing machine according to the present invention, first, a water tub is swingably supported in an outer box, and a rotary blade is provided at the bottom in the water tub. A washing and dewatering tub is rotatably arranged, a mist supply device is provided above the washing and dewatering tub, and a water supply process is performed in a washing machine operation control method in which a water supply, a washing, a rinsing, and a dehydration process automatically proceed. After the main water was supplied to a water level lower than the set water level, the rotary wing was rotated and stirred while the mist was supplied from the mist supply device for a predetermined time.

By the mist water supply in such a water supply process, even if the laundry contains air, the laundry is compatible with water, and the detergent adhering to the surface of the laundry is dissolved, and in the subsequent washing process, The cleaning ability of the is improved. Further, since the air contained in the laundry can be evacuated, the water can be reliably supplied to the set water level, and the laundry can be washed with a predetermined concentration of detergent during the washing process.

Second, after the mist supply in the water supply process is completed,
If the set water level has not been reached, additional water is supplied until the set water level is reached, so that the washing can be reliably performed at the specified water level in the washing step following the water supply step, and the amount of water corresponding to the detergent amount can be secured.

Third, in the washing process following the water supply process, the mist is supplied intermittently while rotating the rotor, so that when the laundry rises in the washing process, the laundry is hit from above by the mist water supply. So that you can
The washing ability can be improved by preventing the laundry from floating.

Fourth, a water tub is swingably hung in an outer box, and a washing and dewatering tub having a rotating blade at a bottom portion is rotatably disposed in the water tub, and is provided above the washing and dewatering tub. In the operation control method of the washing machine in which the steps of water supply, washing, rinsing, and dehydration automatically proceed, in the washing step following the water supply step, the mist supply is intermittently performed while rotating the rotor. I decided to do it.

By the mist water supply in the washing process, even if the mist water is not supplied in the water supply process, the laundry can be hit from above when the laundry comes up in the washing process. The cleaning ability can be improved by preventing the surface from rising.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation process diagram showing an embodiment of a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing an embodiment of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is carried out.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is carried out.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mist supply device of a main part showing an embodiment of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is performed.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of a mist supply device of a main part showing an embodiment of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention is carried out.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a mist supply device in which the operation control method for a washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a mist supply device in which the operation control method for a washing machine of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the mist supply device in which the operation control method of the washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view of a mist supply device in which the operation control method for a washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... outer box, 2 ... anti-vibration device, 3 ...
... water tank, 4 ... rotor blade, 5 ... washing and dewatering tank,
6 ... motor, 7 ... mechanical section, 8 ... bottom frame,
9 ... top cover, 10 ... lid,
11: water supply case, 11a: water supply valve, 12: water supply port, 13: detergent / finishing agent case for reservation, 1
4: drain hose, 15: mist supply device, 15a
... nozzle, 15b ... case, 15c ... funnel-shaped part,
15d: divergent portion, 15g: connection portion, 15
h ... water supply channel, 15i ... mist supply port, 15j ...
Substantially straight water conduit, 15k ... Plane circular water conduit, 16 ...
Hose, 17 ... Nozzle cover,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yumiko Kauchi 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Prefecture Inside Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Masanobu Yatsu 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Prefecture Nippon Steel Corporation (72) Inventor Takako Kato 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba F-term (reference) 3B155 AA10 AA17 BB08 BB14 CA06 CA16 CB06 FA03 FA07 FA22 KA19 KB27 LA11 LA14 LB02 LB15 LB25 LB31 LC07 LC08 MA01 MA02 MA07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A water tub is swingably suspended in an outer box, and a washing and dewatering tub having a rotating blade at a bottom portion is rotatably disposed in the water tub, and a mist is provided above the washing and dewatering tub. In a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine in which a water supply, washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes are provided automatically, a main water is supplied to a water level lower than a set water level in a water supply process, and then a predetermined time is supplied from the mist supply device. A method for controlling the operation of a washing machine, comprising rotating and stirring a rotary wing while supplying mist. 2. The operation control method for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein after the mist supply in the water supply process, if the set water level is not reached, additional water is supplied until the set water level is reached. 3. The operation control method for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the mist is supplied intermittently while rotating the rotating blades in a washing step following the water supply step. 4. A water tub is swingably suspended in an outer box, and a washing and dewatering tub having a rotating blade at a bottom portion is rotatably disposed in the water tub, and a mist is provided above the washing and dewatering tub. In the operation control method of a washing machine in which a water supply, washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes are provided automatically by providing a supply device, intermittent mist water supply is performed while rotating a rotating blade in a washing process following a water supply process. An operation control method for a washing machine, comprising: