JP2003053085A - Ultrasonic washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ultrasonic washer which normally optimally and maximally keep vibration of an ultrasonic vibrator. SOLUTION: A vibration detecting signal of a vibration detecting circuit 1 is given to an A/D converting circuit 2, converted into a digital signal and given to a microcomputer 3. The microcomputer 3 calculates a frequency to permit the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrator X to be maximum based on the vibration detecting signal, outputs a voltage signal consisting of a plurality of bits and gives it to a buffer 7. Output of the buffer 7 is converted into an analog voltage by a D/A converting circuit 8 and the analog voltage is given to a VCO(voltage control oscillator) 9. The VCO 9 outputs a rectangular wave signal and gives it to a driver 11 via a waveform converting circuit 10. The driver 11 performs control to turn on/off transistors TR1 and TR2 and, then, drives the ultrasonic vibrator X.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaning device, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic cleaning device for performing partial cleaning by applying ultrasonic vibration to laundry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric washing machine normally puts laundry into a washing tub and forms a swirl in the washing tub together with water in which detergent is dissolved, or agitating the washing tub. Do it by rotating or washing. As a result, the laundry put in the washing tub is washed all at once, and a uniform washing effect is exerted on each part of the laundry.

However, in the case of heavily soiled laundry, such as a collar or cuff, or a spot having stains, the above-mentioned simultaneous washing may not sufficiently remove the dirt. In some cases, it was necessary to wash only the relevant part.

Therefore, a method of performing partial washing using ultrasonic vibration is proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-24362. A vibrating circuit configuration using an ultrasonic vibrator is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-80361. In this method, the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer is detected by the vibration detection circuit,
The result is converted into an electric signal, the phase of the electric signal and the phase of the output voltage are maintained at 90 °, and the signal is driven at the optimum resonance frequency, thereby performing automatic tracking. At that time, the power supply voltage control circuit controls the voltage so that the current becomes constant based on the current detection value of the current detection circuit.

[0005]

However, in the conventional ultrasonic control, no consideration is given so that the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer can be maintained at the maximum and optimum.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic cleaning device which can always maintain the optimum and maximum vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an ultrasonic cleaning device for cleaning dirt by ultrasonic vibration, which ultrasonic vibration means vibrates ultrasonically and vibration detection means for detecting vibration of ultrasonic vibration. And a control means for controlling the drive frequency given to the ultrasonic vibration means so that the ultrasonic vibration detected by the vibration detection means becomes maximum.

As a result, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator can always be kept optimal and maximum. Further, the control means switches the drive frequency to a plurality of stages in accordance with the temporal change rate of the detection signal of the vibration detection means and outputs the drive frequency.

Further, the control means includes storage means for storing the maximum amplitude value of the ultrasonic transducer, and the control means controls the ultrasonic transducer to vibrate at the maximum amplitude value based on the maximum amplitude value stored in the storage means. Control the drive frequency.

Further, the control means includes storage means for storing in advance the vibration initial characteristics of the ultrasonic vibrator, and the control means sets an optimum driving frequency based on the vibration initial characteristics stored in the storage means when the ultrasonic vibrator is driven. Set.

Further, the control means issues an alarm if the detection signal of the vibration detection means is less than a predetermined value.

If the detection signal of the vibration detecting means is less than a predetermined value, the control means discriminates the detection signal of the vibration detecting means again, and if the detection signal is less than the predetermined value, an alarm is issued from the notifying means. Emit.

Further, when the maximum value of the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration detected by the vibration detecting means deviates from the optimum driving frequency, the control means sets the driving start frequency higher or lower by a predetermined frequency and sets the optimum driving frequency again. Control.

The control means includes a voltage output means for outputting a voltage signal according to the detection signal of the vibration detection means, and an oscillating means for outputting a drive signal having a frequency according to the voltage signal output from the voltage output means. Drive means for driving the ultrasonic vibrating means in response to the drive signal from the oscillating means.

Further, the driving means drives the ultrasonic vibrator with a rectangular wave signal and changes the pulse width of the rectangular wave signal to control the output of the ultrasonic vibrator.

[0016]

1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the ultrasonic oscillator X is made of a ceramic oscillator, and when a drive signal is applied, the ultrasonic oscillator X vibrates to generate an ultrasonic signal to clean dirt and the like. The ultrasonic oscillator X needs to control the drive signal according to the temperature and the load. For this purpose, a vibration detecting circuit 1 is provided as a vibration detecting means. Vibration detection circuit 1
Is to output a DC voltage according to the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrator X, capacitors C1, C2 and C3 bridge-connected to the ultrasonic vibrator X, and a detection transformer T1 for detecting the amplitude voltage. A rectifying diode D for rectifying the detected amplitude voltage, a smoothing resistor R2 for smoothing the rectified amplitude voltage and outputting a DC voltage as a vibration detection signal, and a capacitor C5.

The vibration detection signal of the vibration detection circuit 1 is A / D.
The signal is supplied to the conversion circuit 2 and converted into a digital signal, which is then supplied to a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 3 as control means. E ² R in connection with microcomputer 3
A memory 4 as a storage means including an OM and a display 5
And an alarm device 6 as a notification means. Based on the vibration detection signal converted into a digital signal, the microcomputer 3 calculates a frequency at which the amplitude of the ultrasonic transducer X is maximized, and a plurality of voltage signals having a plurality of bits for obtaining such frequency are calculated. And outputs to the buffer 7. The buffer 7 is provided to eliminate variations caused by voltage drops of the output ports output from the microcomputer 3.

The output of the buffer 7 is connected to a D / A conversion circuit 8 in which resistance elements are combined, and the D / A conversion circuit 8 converts an 8-bit voltage signal into an analog voltage. For example, the D / A conversion circuit 8 converts 8-bit output 00000000-11111111 to a voltage in the range of 0-5V. For example, if the 8-bit output of the microcomputer 3 is 00000111, 0.137V (5
X7 / 255) voltage is output. This analog voltage is applied to VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) 9.

The VCO 9 has an upper limit frequency (34.5 kHz)
Between the lower limit frequency (33.0 kHz), a rectangular wave signal having a frequency corresponding to the range of 0 to 5 V is output from the D / A conversion circuit 8 and given to the waveform conversion circuit 10. The upper limit frequency and the lower limit frequency are determined by two unillustrated external resistors and capacitors connected to the VCO 9.

The waveform conversion circuit 10 converts the waveform of the rectangular wave signal so that the pulse width has a pulse width corresponding to the output. The converted rectangular wave signal is given to the driver 11, and the driver 11
Therefore, the transistors (FET) TR1 and TR2 are turned on,
Driven to turn off. The microcomputer 3 gives a control signal to the driver 11 in order to control whether the driver 11 can operate.

The transistors TR1 and TR2 are connected in series, a power supply voltage + V is applied to one end thereof, and the other end thereof is grounded via a resistor R1. Transistor TR1
The primary side of the drive transformer T2 is connected to the connection point of TR2 and TR2 via the capacitor C4, and the secondary side is connected to the bridge circuit via the coil L1. The resistor R1 is connected to detect an overcurrent, the voltage across the resistor R1 is detected by the overcurrent detection circuit 12, and the overcurrent detection signal is given to the microcomputer 3.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining an operation of detecting that the ultrasonic transducer is vibrating with maximum amplitude.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. When a drive signal is applied to the ultrasonic transducer X shown in FIG. 1, ultrasonic vibration occurs,
In the vibration detection circuit 1, the ultrasonic transducer X and the condenser C1
2 (g) of the bridge circuit connecting C3 to C3 is detected by the detecting transformer T1, the AC voltage of the transformer output shown in FIG. 2 (h) is rectified by the rectifying diode D, and the capacitor C5 is The smoothed DC voltage that does not include the phase component shown in FIG. 2I is applied to the A / D conversion circuit 2. A
The / D conversion circuit 2 converts the DC voltage into a digital signal and gives it to the microcomputer 3.

In step SP 1 (abbreviated as SP in the figure) 1 shown in FIG. 3, the microcomputer 3 sets n = 256, V1 = 0, V2 = 0 in the built-in register.
Here, n is a voltage value set in the VCO 9, and n = 2
When set to 56, the set voltage to VCO 9 is, for example, 5
It is set to V, and the frequency at that time is a1 in FIG.
V1 is the voltage when the waveform is downhill, and V2 is the voltage when the waveform is uphill. In step SP2, the microcomputer 3 substitutes V2 for V1 to set V1 = V2, and outputs n with 8 bits in step SP3. The n bits are converted into an analog voltage by the D / A converter 8 and given to the VCO 9.

The VCO 9 oscillates in response to the analog voltage, and supplies the oscillation signal having the output waveform shown in FIG. The waveform conversion circuit 10 causes the driver 11 to output the output waveform of the VCO 9 to the transistors TR1 and T.
In order to drive R2, it is converted into a vertically symmetrical rectangular wave shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c). Here, the pulse width is set to, for example, a duty of 50% as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C at full power, but when the power is 50%, as shown in FIG.
The pulse width is narrowed as shown in (d) and (e). The driver 11 drives the transistors TR1 and TR2 based on the output signal of the waveform conversion circuit 10. At this time, the drive waveforms of the transistors TR1 and TR2 are as shown in FIG.

The microcomputer 3 measures the detection voltage V of the vibration detection circuit 1 based on the output of the A / D conversion circuit 2 and substitutes the detection voltage V into V2 (V2 = V). Step SP4
, It is determined whether or not V2 ≧ V1, and V2 is V
If it is determined that it is greater than 1, after returning to step SP2 and substituting V2 for V1 (V1 = V2), the frequency is lowered by setting n = n−1, the detection voltage of the vibration detection circuit 1 is measured, and V2 is set. It is determined whether or not ≧ V1. By repeating this operation, the voltage V1 for setting the frequency oscillated by the VCO 9 is set. As shown in FIG. 4, when the value of n is lowered in this way, the output waveform is downhill and the frequency is a1,
a2 ... an, an−1, and the output waveform goes uphill and the frequency becomes bn, it is determined in step SP4 that V2 <V1 holds, and step SP5
Substituting V2 for V1 again in step SP this time
In step 6, n = n + 1 is set to increase the frequency and the detection voltage of the vibration detection circuit 1 is measured. In step SP7, it is determined whether or not V2 ≧ V1, and when it is determined that V2 is larger than V1, the process returns to step SP5 and V1 =
After setting to V2, n = n + 1 is set to increase the frequency and the detection voltage of the vibration detection circuit 1 is measured to determine whether or not V2 ≧ V1. By repeating this operation, the voltage V1 for setting the frequency oscillated by the VCO 9 is set.
When V2 <V1, V2 is substituted for V1 and the process returns to step SP2. In this way, the voltage for oscillating the frequency at which the vibration of the ultrasonic oscillator X becomes maximum can be set.

5 and 6 are flow charts for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the inclination of the level of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit.

In FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the maximum value of the vibration detection circuit 1 is stored, and when the optimum drive frequency of the ultrasonic transducer X is detected, the detection signal of the vibration detection circuit 1 has a constant level. If it does not exceed, an error is notified, or the optimum drive frequency is detected again, and if the detection signal of the vibration detection circuit 1 still does not exceed a certain level, an error is notified and the maximum amplitude of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 is detected. When the value deviates from the optimum frequency due to temperature characteristics or the like, the drive frequency is shifted to the + side or − side by a predetermined frequency.

At step SP11 shown in FIG. 5, the microcomputer 3 stores n = 256, V1 = in the built-in register.
0, V2 = 0, Ef = 0, Vmax = 0, and F1 = 0 are set. In step SP12, V1 = V2 is set, and in step SP13, it is determined whether or not V2 ≧ 204. Here, the value of “204” is a predetermined detection level stored in the memory 4, and if the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 is less than or equal to this predetermined detection level, the level of the vibration detection circuit 1 is determined again. And make an error.

The detection output V2 of the vibration detection circuit 1 is "20".
If not larger than 4 ”, in step SP14,
The voltage V of the vibration detection circuit 1 is measured by outputting n = n-2 with 8 bits. Substituting the measured voltage V into V2, it is determined in step SP15 whether or not n = 0, and n =
If it is not 0, the process returns to step SP12 and step SP1.
The processing of 2 to step SP15 is repeated. That is, n
= 256 to 0, and it is determined whether or not the maximum level of the mountain-shaped waveform shown in FIG. 4 is equal to or lower than the level of "204". Then, when n = 0, n = 256 is set again and the error flag Ef is set to 1 (Ef = Ef + 1).
Set to. In step SP17, it is determined whether or not Ef ≧ 2, and if Ef ≧ 2, an error is issued from the alarm device 6.

In the above description, when it is determined twice that the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 is below the predetermined level, an error is notified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to determine once. You can make an error.

In step SP13, if the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 exceeds the predetermined level "204", as shown in FIG. 7, if the output of the vibration detection circuit 1 changes, that is, if the inclination is gentle, , N is changed to a large degree (n is changed by 2 and n +
2 and n-2 if the slope is downhill, decrease the degree of change of n if the change is steep (change n by one, n + 1 if the slope is up, and n + 1 if the slope is downhill). n-1
And), speed up the detection of the maximum value of the level.

Therefore, in step SP18,
| V2-V1 | ≦ 4 is discriminated, and | V2-V
If 1 | ≦ 4, n is set to −2 in step SP19.
If | V2-V1 | ≤4, n is decremented by 1. | V
2-V1 | ≦ 4 is a value for determining whether the slope is steep or gentle, and is not limited to this value. In step SP21, V1 = V2
Then, in step SP22, the detection voltage V of the vibration detection circuit 1 is measured. Then, the measured voltage V is V2
To. In step SP23, V2 ≧ Vma
It is determined whether or not x, and if V2 ≧ Vmax, Vmax is substituted as V2 in step SP24 (V
max = V2) and N = n are set. Where Vmax
Is a predetermined maximum value of the output of the vibration detection circuit 1.

In step SP25, it is determined whether or not the flag F1 is set (F1 ≧ 1). If not set, V2 ≧ 2 in step SP26.
It is determined whether it is 50 or not. The value of V2 ≧ 250 is a predetermined value near Vmax. V2 ≧
If it is 250, a flag F1 is set in step SP27 to specify that the value is close to Vmax, and if V2 ≧ 250, V2 ≧ V1 is not set in step SP28 without setting the flag F1. To determine. If V2 ≧ V1, step SP18
Return to. Then, step SP18 to step SP25
When it is determined in step SP25 that the flag F1 is set, it is determined in step SP29 whether V2 ≧ 200. V2 ≧ 20
If not 0, the process proceeds to step SP42 and sets n = N + 10.

This is because when the maximum value of the amplitude of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 deviates from the optimum frequency due to temperature characteristics or the like, the drive frequency is shifted by a predetermined frequency to the + side or − side to detect the optimum drive frequency. To do. The above-mentioned steps SP18 to SP29 show the detection operation of the vibration detection circuit 1 when the waveform is downhill, and when the waveform is uphill, steps SP30 to.
The processing of step SP41 is performed.

That is, in step SP28, V
If not 2 ≧ V1, | V2 in step SP30
−V1 | ≦ 4 is discriminated, and | V2-V1 | ≦
If not 4, n = n + 1 in step SP31,
If | V2−V1 | ≦ 4, n = n + 2 is set in step SP32, and it is determined whether the waveform is an uphill slope with a gentle slope or a steep slope. Step SP
In step 33, V1 is substituted as V2, and step SP
At 34, n is output as 8 bits, and the vibration voltage of the vibration detection circuit 1 is detected. In step SP35,
It is determined whether V2 ≧ Vmax, Vmax is substituted as V2 (Vmax = V2), and N = n is set.

In step SP35, V2 ≧ Vma
When it is not x or after the processing of step SP36, it is determined in step SP37 whether or not F1 ≧ 1, and if the flag F1 is not set, step S
It is determined whether or not V2 ≧ 250 in P38, and V2
If 2 ≧ 250, flag F in step SP39
Set 1. This processing is similar to the above-described downhill processing, and when the maximum value of the amplitude of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 deviates from the optimum frequency due to temperature characteristics or the like, the drive frequency is increased by a predetermined frequency to the + side or − side. The optimum drive frequency is detected by shifting to.

When it is determined in step SP38 that V2 ≧ 250 or after the flag F1 is set, it is determined in step SP40 whether V2 ≧ V1. If not V2 ≧ V1, the process returns to step SP18. If the flag F1 is set in step SP37, it is determined in step SP41 whether or not V2 ≧ 200, and if V2 ≧ 200, step SP41.
40, and if V2 ≧ 200 is not satisfied, step SP42
In, the frequency is shifted by setting n = N + 10 and F1 = 0, and the process returns to step SP18.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the maximum value of the detection voltage of the vibration detection circuit 1 can be stored, and when the optimum drive frequency of the ultrasonic transducer X is set, An error can be notified when the detection signal does not exceed a certain level, or the optimum drive frequency can be set again, and an error can be notified when the detection signal of the vibration detection circuit 1 still does not exceed a certain level.

Further, when the maximum value of the amplitude of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit 1 deviates from the optimum frequency due to temperature characteristics or the like, the drive frequency is shifted by a predetermined frequency to the + side or − side to detect the optimum drive frequency. can do.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine equipped with the ultrasonic cleaning device of the present invention as a partial cleaning device.
Is a vertical cross-sectional view of the partial washing device and its base,
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic vibration device including the ultrasonic vibrator shown in FIG.

The washing machine shown in FIG. 8 has a partial washing device 1
Since the configuration other than 00 is the same as that of the conventional washing machine, a schematic configuration will be described.

The outer box 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, is made of metal or synthetic resin, and has a water tub 52 and a washing tub 53 arranged therein. The water tub 52 and the washing tub 53 are in the shape of a cylindrical cup having an open top surface, and are concentrically arranged with their axes being vertical, with the water tub 52 on the outside and the washing tub 53 on the inside. . Suspension 54
Connects the outer lower portion of the water tank 52 and the inner surface corner portion of the outer box 50 to support the water tank 52 swingably in a horizontal plane. An annular balancer 55 is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the washing tub 53 to suppress vibration when the washing tub 53 is rotated at a high speed in order to dehydrate the laundry, Is provided with a pulsator 56 for causing a flow of washing liquid or rinsing water.

A drive unit 60 is mounted below the water tank 52. The drive unit 60 includes a motor 61, a clutch mechanism 62, and a brake mechanism 63, and a dehydration shaft 64 and a pulsator shaft 65 project upward from the center of the drive unit 60. The dehydration shaft 64 is arranged outside, and the pulsator shaft 6
5 has a double shaft structure arranged inside, and the water tank 5
After entering into the 2, the dehydration shaft 64 enters into the washing layer 53 and is connected to and supports the pulsator 56. The clutch mechanism 62 selectively transmits the power of the motor 61 to the dehydration shaft 64 and the pulsator shaft 65.

The drain valve 71 is opened and closed electromagnetically, and the washing tub 53 is opened.
The water inside is drained to the drain hose 72. The pressure guiding pipe 73 extends upward from the air trap 74, and a water level sensor 75 is provided at the tip thereof.

As shown in FIG. 9, a water supply valve 43 that opens and closes electromagnetically is disposed below the back panel 42.
The water supply valve 43 has a connection pipe 44 penetrating the back panel 42 and protruding upward, and a water supply hose (not shown) for supplying tap water such as tap water is connected to the connection pipe 44.

The partial washing apparatus 100 can be used to wash only the spot where the stain has not been removed even after washing, or when there is a serious stain that is known to be unclean in a normal washing course. To wash.

The partial washing apparatus 100, as shown in FIG.
It is attached to the upper surface of the back panel 42 as a unit 150 after being combined with the base 140. As shown in FIG. 10, the ultrasonic vibrating device 20 includes a vibrating section 21 including the ultrasonic transducer X shown in FIG. 1 and a T-shaped vibrating horn 22 attached to the vibrating section 21. Has been done. The vibrating horn 22 includes a shank portion 23 fixed to the vibrating portion 21 and a head portion 2 connected to the tip of the shank portion 23.
It consists of 4. The shank portion 23 has a T-shaped vertical bar, and the head portion 24 has a T-shaped horizontal bar. Head part 24
The projections 25 symmetrically project from both side surfaces of the. The protrusion 25 is provided at a location corresponding to a vibration-free area which is a branch point of vibration transmission.

The ultrasonic vibrating device 20 has a T-shaped vibrating horn 22 laid sideways and is supported in a case 101 of the partial washing apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. For this reason, an annular cushioning member 26 is fitted on the outside of the vibrating portion 21. The buffer member 26 is made of soft rubber or synthetic resin, and has an annular groove 26a in the outer peripheral portion.

The projection 25 is also covered with a cap-shaped cushioning member 27. These cushioning members 26, 27 are sandwiched by ribs 28a, 29a integrally formed on the inner surfaces of the shells 28, 29. The rib 2 on the shell 28 side in the vibrating portion 21
8a and the rib 29a on the side of the shell 29 sandwich the cushioning member 26 so that the rib tips are engaged with the groove 26a, thereby supporting the vibrating portion 21. On the vibration horn 22 side, the rib 28a on the shell 28 side and the rib 29a on the shell 29 side sandwich the cushioning member 27, and thus the vibration horn 22 is supported.

An opening 30 is formed in the shell 29, and the lower portion of the head portion 24 of the vibrating horn 22 extends from here to the case 1.
It is projected out of 01. The tip of this protruding portion contacts the laundry. This part is chrome plated 24a
Has become. The chrome plating is applied to prevent dirt from adhering and to smooth the surface so that the laundry is not scratched.

The horn cover 32 is made of synthetic resin and is attached to the opening 30. The horn cover 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top surface.
The bottom surface of 2 has a slit 33 exposing the vibrating horn 22.
Are formed.

The operation of the washing machine with a partial washing device constructed as described above using the washing tub 53 is the same as that of the conventional example, and therefore its description is omitted. The partial washing apparatus 100 is used when the stain is not removed even after washing is performed using the washing tub 53, or when there is severe stain that is known in advance that it cannot be cleaned in a normal washing course.

First, the valve portion 43a of the water supply valve 43 is opened,
A predetermined amount of water, for example, 50 to 3 in the purified water tube 48.
Water is supplied at 00 cc / min. Water is poured from the water injection part to both sides of the vibrating horn 22, and drips onto the tray 151 from the slit 33 and the washing liquid drop lower hole.

Subsequently, the ultrasonic device 20 starts ultrasonic vibration. Then, the laundry is inserted into the gap between the vibrating horn 22 and the cradle portion 152 and slowly reciprocated. Ultrasonic waves are concentrated on the laundry and the dirt components are peeled off. Applying a liquid detergent to the soiled area will further enhance the cleaning effect. The separated dirt component flows out from the drain port 153 together with the water, and the gutter 1
54, it is received by the gutter 154, passes through the drainage port 155 of the gutter 154, and falls into the gap between the water tub 52 and the washing tub 53.
2 is discharged to the outside of the main body.

When the partial washing is completed in this manner, the laundry is put into the washing tub 53 to start washing again, or the washing is omitted and the washing and the dehydration are performed. in this way,
By performing partial washing using ultrasonic vibration, it is possible to deal with stains that are difficult to remove without damaging the laundry and to wash only the stain portion.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic vibration by the ultrasonic vibrating means is amplified by the ultrasonic vibrating horn, the vibration of the ultrasonic vibration is detected, and the detected ultrasonic vibration is detected. Since the drive frequency is controlled so as to be maximized, the vibration of the ultrasonic transducer can always be optimally and maximally maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of detecting that the ultrasonic transducer is vibrating at the maximum amplitude.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the inclination of the level of the detection output of the vibration detection circuit.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a washing machine equipped with the ultrasonic cleaning device of the present invention as a partial cleaning device.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the partial washing device and its base.

10 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic vibration device including the ultrasonic vibrator shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 vibration detection circuit, 2 A / D conversion circuit, 3 microcomputer, 4 memory, 5 indicator, 6 alarm device, 7 buffer, 8 D / A conversion circuit, 9 VCO, 10 waveform conversion circuit, 11 driver, 12 overcurrent Detection circuit, 20
Ultrasonic device, 21 vibrating section, 22 vibrating horn, 2
3 shank part, 24 head part, 25 protrusions, 26, 2
7 cushioning member, 28, 29 shell, 30 opening, 3
2 Horn cover, 33 slits, 50 outer box, 52
Water tank, 53 washing tank, 55 balancer, 56 pulsator, 60 drive unit, 61 motor, 62 clutch mechanism, 63 brake mechanism, 64 dehydration shaft, 65
Pulsator shaft, 100 partial washing device, 101 case, 140 base, 150 units.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) D06L 1/20 D06L 1/20 F term (reference) 3B154 AB20 BA17 BB28 BB70 BC42 CA01 CA16 CA27 CA31 3B155 AA01 BB08 BB15 CA11 CB06 CB38 CD19 DA02 FA01 HC05 KA35 KB11 KB16 KB27 LB27 LC08 LC15 LC28 MA02 MA05 MA06 MA07 MA09 3B201 AA08 AB52 BB01 BB84 BB92 CD41 CD42 CD43

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic cleaning device for cleaning dirt by ultrasonic vibration, comprising: ultrasonic vibrating means that vibrates ultrasonically according to a drive frequency signal; and vibration detecting means that detects vibration of the ultrasonic vibration. An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a drive frequency signal applied to the ultrasonic vibration unit so that the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration detected by the vibration detection unit is maximized. 2. The ultrasonic wave according to claim 1, wherein the control means switches the driving frequency to a plurality of stages in accordance with a temporal change rate of the detection signal of the vibration detecting means and outputs the driving frequency. Cleaning device. 3. The ultrasonic transducer further comprises a storage unit for storing a maximum amplitude value of the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the control unit determines the maximum value of the ultrasonic transducer based on the maximum amplitude value stored in the storage unit. Characterized in that the drive frequency is controlled so as to vibrate at an amplitude value,
The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1. 4. The storage device further stores in advance the vibration initial characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer, and the control means stores the vibration initial characteristic stored in the storage means when the ultrasonic transducer is driven. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an optimum driving frequency is set based on the above. 5. The system further comprises a notification means for issuing an alarm, wherein the control means issues an alarm if the detection signal of the vibration detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. The control means, if the detection signal of the vibration detecting means is below a predetermined value, again determines the detection signal of the vibration detecting means, and if the detection signal is below the predetermined value. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein an alarm is issued from the notification unit. 7. The control means sets the drive start frequency higher or lower by a predetermined frequency when the maximum value of the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration detected by the vibration detection means deviates from the optimum drive frequency, and the optimum drive frequency is set. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency is controlled again. 8. The control means outputs a voltage output means for outputting a voltage signal according to a detection signal of the vibration detection means, and a drive signal having a frequency according to the voltage signal output from the voltage output means. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillating unit and a driving unit that drives the ultrasonic oscillating unit according to a drive signal from the oscillating unit. 9. The driving means drives the ultrasonic transducer with a rectangular wave signal and controls the output of the ultrasonic transducer by varying the pulse width of the rectangular wave signal.
The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 8.