JP2002292182A - Method for controlling washing machine operation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a method for controlling a washing machine operation not storing water inside a washing-spin-drying tub even when a child comes into contact with a starting switch by mistake at an on-state of a power supply switch and preventing an occurrence of an accident even when a child falls into the inside of the washing-spin-drying tub by mistake. SOLUTION: In the method for controlling the washing machine, water is supplied and washing automatically proceeds according to a content of an arrangement after the power supply switch is on and the content of washing is arranged and the starting switch is on. And a child lock arranging means is provided. In the case of the arrangement of a child lock a drain valve is allowed to remain in an opening state even when the power supply switch is off after the end of previous washing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a fully automatic washing machine suspends a water tank 2 in an outer box 1 via a vibration isolator so as to swing freely. A washing and dewatering tub 4 provided with a rotary wing 3 is rotatably disposed, and the washing and dewatering tub 4 is provided.
Is opened and closed by a lid 5 so as to be openable and closable, and on the front side of a top cover 6 attached to the upper part of the outer box 1,
An operation panel 7 provided with a power switch, a start switch, switches for setting various washing contents, and the like is attached. A drain valve 8 is provided in the middle of a drain pipe opening at the bottom of the water tank 2, and a drain hose 9 is connected to the drain pipe.

In order to perform washing, a washing and dewatering tub 4 is provided.
Put laundry and detergent inside, first turn on the power switch, and then turn on the start switch in this state,
When the water supply is automatically started and the water is supplied to the set water level in the washing and dewatering tub 4, the washing operation is automatically started, and then the drainage, water supply, rinsing, and dehydration steps are performed. The washing operation is completed by automatically proceeding.

In the dewatering process, the drain valve 8 is opened, and the water contained in the laundry is discharged out of the machine via the drain pipe and the drain hose 9. As described in JP-A-79093, the drain valve is closed to prepare for the next washing start.

[0005]

When the drain valve is in a closed state after washing, if the power switch is turned on, water supply starts immediately by simply turning on the start switch, and washing and dewatering are performed. Water accumulates in the tub, and the washing operation starts to proceed. In addition, the switches are set so that they can be turned on with only a short press for a short time in order to improve operability, so if the power switch is on, for example, a child accidentally touches the start switch. But
Water supply starts, water accumulates in the washing and dewatering tub, and the washing operation starts.

[0006] If a child accidentally falls into the washing and dewatering tub in such a state, an accident may occur.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. Even if a child accidentally touches the start switch when the power switch is on, water does not accumulate in the washing and dewatering tub, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling the operation of a washing machine capable of preventing occurrence of an accident even when the washing machine falls into the washing and dewatering tub by mistake.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, first, after turning on a power switch and setting washing operation contents, when a start switch is turned on, water supply starts and the set contents are set. Therefore, in the operation control method of the washing machine in which the washing operation automatically proceeds, the child lock setting means is provided, and if the child lock is set, the drain valve is provided even after the previous washing operation is completed and the power switch is off. When the washing is started next time, the child is in the child lock state as it is, so even if the power switch is turned on and the start switch is turned on to start water supply, the drain valve is opened. Yes,
Water does not accumulate in the washing and spin-drying tub, and it is possible to prevent an accident from occurring when a child falls into the washing and spin-drying tub.

Since the drain valve is kept open even when the power is off, the drain valve is kept open even if the power is turned off after the previous washing, so that the drain valve must be opened at the next start of washing. The drain valve is open.

Second, the child lock can be set or released by turning on a specific switch for setting the laundry content provided on the operation panel in a special combination not used during normal use. In addition, there is no need to provide a special member for setting or canceling, and the structure does not become complicated. Further, since the child lock cannot be easily released, the child lock is not released by accidentally touching the operation panel, and the effectiveness can be ensured.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the operation of starting the operation showing the embodiment of the operation control method of the washing machine of the present invention. The washing machine in which the method of the present invention is implemented is as described above with reference to FIG. The detailed description of is omitted.

FIG. 3 shows an opening / closing mechanism of a drain valve 8 of a washing machine in which the method of the present invention is carried out.
No. 93, the drain valve 8
Is composed of a valve case 10 with a built-in valve portion and a motor case 11 with a built-in drive unit. The valve chamber of the valve case 10 contains a valve 12, a valve shaft 13 and a push spring 14, and the valve 12 The washing water is prevented from leaking out of the machine by being pushed by the extension force of the pushing spring 14.

The motor case 11 has a synchronous motor 15 which rotates in synchronization with the power supply frequency and a switch 16 for detecting the position of the valve 12. A cam 17 for position detection is inserted into the output shaft of the synchronous motor 15, and the switch 16 is opened and closed by the unevenness formed on the outer periphery thereof.

In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a middle base.
From 8, a lever 18 a for locking the hook portion of the valve shaft 13 is integrally formed. The upper base 19 is provided with a long hole 19a through which the lever 18a passes.

Next, the operation will be described. First, a method of setting a child lock will be described. A specific combination of the various setting switches provided on the operation panel 7 for setting the washing contents is turned on in a special combination not used during normal use. For example, with the power switch turned on, while pressing the water level setting switch, simultaneously press the setting switch of the standard course among the course switches, and keep pressing this switch for 3 seconds.

Even if the power switch is turned off, the setting of the child lock is stored in the control device by the microcomputer for controlling the washing operation, so that the setting is not released.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of starting washing in the washing machine in which the child lock is set as described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1. First, a user turns on a power switch to start washing. In this state, if the child lock setting is made [Step (A)], since the drain valve 8 is open, an operation to close the drain valve 8 is performed separately, or the child lock is released to release the drain lock. After closing 8, the start switch is turned on to start the washing operation.

The washing process proceeds with washing, rinsing, and dehydration (steps (b), (c), and (d)). In the final dehydration process, the synchronous motor 15 is rotated by the output from the control device, and the lever 18a is turned on. After coming into contact with the hook of the shaft 13, the pressing spring 1
4, the output shaft of the synchronous motor 15 rotates counterclockwise to start pulling the valve 12, and the valve 12 opens. When the valve 12 is completely opened, the switch 16 is switched to stop the rotation of the synchronous motor 15.

In this way, even after the dehydration process is completed, the drain valve 8 is kept open, and even if the power switch is turned off during this period, the drain valve 8 is kept open unless there is an output from the control device. [Step (e)].

Therefore, when the water supply is started by turning on the power switch and the start switch at the start of the next washing, the water does not accumulate in the washing and dewatering tub 4 because the drain valve 8 is open. . Thus, even if the child accidentally presses the start switch while the power switch is on and the water supply is started, an accident when the child falls into the washing and dewatering tub 4 can be prevented.

If the child lock is not set (step (a)), the washing process proceeds with washing, rinsing, and dehydration (steps (f), (g), and (h)). Is the synchronous motor 1 output from the controller.
5 rotates, the lever 18a rotates and the valve 12 closes (step (i)). Thereafter, even if the power switch is turned off, this closed state is maintained to prepare for the next washing start.

The child lock setting can be arbitrarily released by the user. The releasing method is the same as the setting method. For example, while the power switch is turned on, the course is simultaneously depressed while pressing the water level setting switch. Press the setting switch of the standard course among the switches, press and hold this switch for 3 seconds, and turn off the power switch. Therefore, even if a child or the like accidentally touches the operation panel 7, the operation is not easily released, and the child lock setting can be made effective.

[0023]

As described above, the method for controlling the operation of a washing machine according to the present invention is as follows. First, after the power switch is turned on and the contents of the washing operation are set, the water supply starts when the start switch is turned on. In the operation control method of the washing machine in which the washing operation automatically proceeds according to the content, a child lock setting unit is provided, and if the child lock is set, after the end of the previous washing operation, even if the power switch is off. By holding the drain valve open, at the start of the next washing, the child lock state is maintained as it is, so even if the power switch is turned on and the start switch is turned on and water supply is started, the drain valve will be Since it is open, water does not accumulate in the washing and dewatering tub, and it is possible to prevent an accident from occurring when a child falls into the washing and dewatering tub.

Further, since the drain valve is kept open even when the power is off, the drain valve remains open even after the power is turned off after the end of the previous washing. The drain valve is open.

Second, the child lock can be set or released by turning on a specific switch for setting the washing contents provided on the operation panel in a special combination that is not used during normal use. In addition, there is no need to provide a special member for setting or canceling, and the structure does not become complicated. Further, since the child lock cannot be easily released, the child lock is not released by accidentally touching the operation panel, and the effectiveness can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an operation for starting operation showing an embodiment of a method for controlling operation of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of a drain valve which is a main part of the washing machine in which the operation control method of the washing machine according to the present invention is implemented.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer box 2 ... Water tank 3 ... Rotor blade 4 ... Washing and dewatering tank 5 ... Lid 6 ... Top cover 7 ... Operation panel 8 ... Drain valve 9 ... Drain hose 10 ... Valve case 11 ... Motor case 12 ...
Valve 13 ... Valve shaft 14 ... Push spring 15 ...
Synchronous motor 16 ... Switch 17 ... Cam 18 ...
Middle base 18a Lever 19 Upper base 19a
… A long hole

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B155 AA10 AA18 BA01 CB38 FC03 JA01 LA14 MA01 MA02 MA06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A child washing operation control method in which a power switch is turned on, a washing operation is set, and then a start switch is turned on to start water supply and a washing operation automatically proceeds in accordance with the set contents. A method for controlling the operation of a washing machine, comprising: a lock setting unit, wherein, when a child lock is set, a drain valve is kept open even after a power switch is turned off after a previous washing operation is completed. 2. The child lock is set or released by turning on a specific switch for setting the washing contents provided on the operation panel in a special combination not used during normal use. The operation control method for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein