JP2005177090A - Drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further reduce the vibration and noise at the time of dewatering in a noise reduction mode than in a normal mode in a drum type washing machine with the normal mode and the noise reduction mode selected when a user requires noise reduction. <P>SOLUTION: The rotation speed of a drum is gradually raised from 0 to 100, 500, and X2 rpm in a night mode (the noise reduction mode). The quantity of an eccentric load in the drum in each stage of the speed is detected, and when the quantity of the eccentric load is a prescribed threshold or lower, the rotation speed of the drum is raised to the next stage. The threshold in the night mode is set lower than the threshold in the normal mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine.

In a drum-type washing machine, a drum having a substantially cylindrical shape with a large number of dewatering holes around it is rotated at a high speed around a rotating shaft that extends substantially horizontally, and the drum-type washing machine is stored in the drum. Dehydration is performed by squeezing out water contained in wet laundry with centrifugal force. During this centrifugal dehydration, vibrations of the outer tub and noise associated with the vibrations may be generated due to an eccentric load (mass imbalance) caused by uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-137872

  Reduction of vibration and noise during dehydration is one of the major problems in a drum type washing machine. Especially in a drum-type washing machine that can perform low noise operation (night mode operation) with less noise than normal washing operation so that it does not disturb neighbors even when washing at quiet nights etc. Therefore, it is desired to further reduce the vibration and noise during dehydration during low noise operation than during dehydration during normal operation.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a drum-type washing machine that can selectively perform normal operation and low-noise operation with lower operation noise than that during normal operation. It aims at further reduction.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a drum type washing machine capable of selectively performing normal operation and low noise operation with a lower operation noise than during normal operation, and is substantially horizontal or A drum (13) which is provided rotatably about an axis inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and accommodates laundry, drum rotation driving means (20) for rotationally driving the drum, and rotation of the drum Eccentric load detection means (30, 20c) for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum, and the eccentric load detection with the drum rotating at a predetermined rotational speed The drum rotation speed is increased from the predetermined rotation speed to a higher rotation speed on condition that the eccentric load detected by the means is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable value. The predetermined allowable value used by the rotational speed increasing means during low noise operation is lower than the predetermined allowable value used by the rotational speed increasing means during normal operation. It is a drum type washing machine characterized by being set.

In addition, the alphanumeric characters in parentheses represent corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
Low noise operation is a low noise mode that is selected when the user requires low noise. The standard course, the fast course (a course that can complete the washing operation in a shorter time than the standard course) and the careful course (severe dirt) A washing operation when executing each driving course such as a course for washing laundry) or a washing operation when executing a low noise course prepared as the driving course may be used.

Low-noise operation is performed under conditions that require low noise, such as during quiet nights. For example, even when starting up dehydration, noise (when starting up dehydration during normal operation) ( It is desirable that driving noise) be suppressed.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, during the low noise operation, the allowable value serving as a reference for determining whether or not to increase the drum rotation speed from the predetermined rotation speed is the drum rotation speed from the predetermined rotation speed during normal operation. It is set to a value lower than an allowable value that serves as a reference for determining whether to increase the vibration level, and the vibration level that is permitted when the rotational speed of the drum is increased from a predetermined rotational speed is made stricter. Thereby, during low noise operation, vibration when the drum rotation speed is increased to a predetermined rotation speed can be suppressed to be smaller than during normal operation, and noise associated with the vibration can be suppressed low.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the drum type washing machine, the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum is rotating at a predetermined rotational speed has a predetermined allowable value. When the rotation is greater than the value, the apparatus further includes restarting means (30) for temporarily stopping the rotation of the drum and then restarting the rotation of the drum. The rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed for the first time, and the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed is a first allowable value. The first rotational speed increasing means for increasing the rotational speed of the drum from the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed larger than the first rotational speed on condition that of The rotational speed of the drum is increased to the second rotational speed by the rotational speed increasing means, and the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum is rotating at the second rotational speed. A second rotation speed increase that increases the rotation speed of the drum from the second rotation speed to a third rotation speed larger than the second rotation speed on the condition that the rotation speed is equal to or less than a second allowable value. The rotation of the drum is restarted by the means and the restarting means, the rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed again, and the drum is rotating at the first rotation speed. Third, the rotational speed of the drum is increased from the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed on condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a third allowable value. And a second permissible value used by the second rotational speed increasing means when the low-noise operation is provided. The value (B2) and the third permissible value (C2) used by the third rotational speed increasing means are the first permissible value (A1) used by the first rotational speed increasing means during normal operation, respectively. It is preferable that the second allowable value (B1) used by the second rotational speed increasing means and the third allowable value (C1) used by the third rotational speed increasing means are set to lower values.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum-type washing machine capable of selectively executing normal operation and low noise operation with a lower operation sound than that during normal operation, and an axis inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally. A drum (13) that is rotatably provided around the drum, and a drum rotation driving means (20) for rotating the drum; and the laundry in the drum when the drum rotates. The eccentric load detecting means (30, 20c) for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution, and the rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed for the first time after the drum starts rotating, and the first rotation The rotational speed of the drum is on condition that the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a first allowable value while the drum is rotating at a speed. The first rotational speed increasing means (30) for increasing the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed larger than the first rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the drum is increased by the first rotational speed increasing means. The eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in the state where the drum is rotated at the second rotational speed and the drum is rotating at the second rotational speed is less than or equal to a second allowable value. The condition includes second rotation speed increasing means (30) for increasing the rotation speed of the drum from the second rotation speed to a third rotation speed larger than the second rotation speed, and during low noise operation. Is set to be lower than the third rotation speed (X1) during the normal operation, and the first allowable speed used by the first rotation speed increasing means during the low noise operation. The value (A2) is A second allowable value (B2) set lower than the first allowable value (A1) used by the first rotational speed increasing means during normal operation and used by the second rotational speed increase means during low noise operation. ) And the second permissible value (B1) used by the second rotational speed increasing means during normal operation are set to the same value.

  According to the present invention, during the low noise operation, the first allowable value serving as a reference for determining whether to increase the drum rotation speed from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed is higher than that during the normal operation. It is set to a low value, and the vibration level allowed when the drum rotation speed is increased from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed is made stricter. As a result, during low noise operation, vibration when the drum rotation speed is increased from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed can be suppressed to be smaller than that during normal operation, and noise associated with the vibration can be reduced. It can be kept low.

  Further, the third rotation speed (for example, the final dehydration speed) during low noise operation is set lower than the third rotation speed during normal operation. For example, when the second rotation speed during low noise operation is set to 500 rpm, if the third rotation speed is set to about 650 rpm and a rotation speed close to the second rotation speed, the drum rotation speed is set to the first rotation speed. Even if the second allowable value, which is a reference for determining whether to increase from the rotational speed of 2 to the third rotational speed, is set to the same value during low noise operation and normal operation, The generated vibration and the noise accompanying this vibration can be kept smaller than those during normal operation. Since the second allowable value during low noise operation is set to the same value as the third allowable value during normal operation, the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means during low noise operation is large. Therefore, there is no possibility that the rotational speed of the drum cannot be increased from the second rotational speed to the third rotational speed for a long time.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the drum type washing machine according to the third aspect has a large eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum rotates at the second rotational speed. Is greater than a first allowable value, the rotation of the drum is temporarily stopped and then restarted (30) for restarting the rotation of the drum. When the drum is started up again, the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed again, and the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum is rotating at the first rotational speed. And a third rotational speed increasing means (30) for increasing the rotational speed of the drum from the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed on the condition that is less than or equal to a third allowable value, During low noise operation The third allowable value (C2) used by the third rotational speed increasing means is set to a value lower than the third allowable value (C1) used by the rotational speed increasing means during normal operation. Is preferred.

The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the third allowable value (C1, C2) is set to a value lower than the first allowable value (A1, A2). It is a drum type washing machine.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum (13) for storing laundry, and a drum for rotating the drum. A drum rotation driving means (20), an eccentric load detecting means (30, 20c) for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum when the drum rotates, and the drum When the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a predetermined allowable value while rotating at a rotational speed, the drum is temporarily stopped and then the drum is rotated. The restarting means (30) for starting up again, and the rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed for the first time after the drum starts rotating, and the drum rotates at the first rotation speed. On the condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is equal to or less than a first allowable value, the drum rotation speed is changed from the first rotation speed to the first rotation speed. The first rotational speed raising means (30) for raising the second rotational speed to a larger second rotational speed, and the first rotational speed raising means raises the rotational speed of the drum to the second rotational speed. On the condition that the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a second allowable value while the drum is rotating at a rotational speed of The rotation of the drum is restarted by the second rotation speed raising means (30) for raising the rotation speed to a third rotation speed larger than the second rotation speed, and the restarting means. The rotational speed reaches the first rotational speed again, and the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed is greater than the first allowable value. Third rotational speed increasing means (30) for increasing the rotational speed of the drum from the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed on condition that it is equal to or less than a third allowable value set to a low value. A drum-type washing machine.

  When the drum rotation is started immediately after washing or rinsing, the laundry in the drum contains a large amount of water, and in the process of increasing the rotation speed of the drum, the water contained in the laundry is dehydrated, Since the eccentric load generated on the drum is reduced, if the drum rotational speed is equal to or less than the first allowable value set appropriately at the first rotational speed (for example, 100 rpm), the drum rotation is performed. It is considered that such a large vibration does not occur in the process of increasing the speed beyond the first rotational speed.

  However, when the rotation speed of the drum has been increased to a certain rotation speed (for example, 500 rpm) before the rotation of the drum is restarted by the restarting means, and the laundry has been dewatered halfway. When the rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed again, the laundry in the drum may be hardened and decentered in a state that hardly contains water. In such a case, since the amount of water dehydrated from the laundry in the drum is small in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the drum thereafter, the eccentric load generated on the drum is not reduced. Conceivable. Therefore, the third allowable value is set to the same value as the first allowable value, and the eccentric load amount is equal to or smaller than the third allowable value, so that a relatively large eccentric load is generated. When the rotation speed is increased from the first rotation speed to the third rotation speed at a stretch, there is a possibility that a large vibration is caused due to the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum.

  Therefore, in the inventions of claims 5 and 6, the rotational speed of the drum is set only when the third allowable value is set to a value lower than the first allowable value and the eccentric load generated on the drum is very small. The speed is increased from the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed. Therefore, even if the rotational speed of the drum is increased to the third rotational speed, there is no possibility of generating large vibration due to the eccentric load.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing machine obtained in an embodiment of the present invention. The outer box 1 that forms the exterior of the drum type washing machine has a front upper portion that is gently curved with its front lowered, and a laundry input port 2 is formed at that portion.
In relation to the laundry input port 2, an upper lid 3 for opening and closing the laundry input port 2 is provided. The upper lid 3 forms the upper surface of the outer box 1 with the laundry input port 2 closed, grasps the handle 4 provided at the center in the front-rear direction, and pushes the handle 4 backward while lifting the handle 4 upward. The laundry input port 2 can be opened by folding it in two and raising it. On the left side of the laundry input port 2, a detergent input port that is exposed when the upper lid 3 is opened is formed. An operation panel 6 is provided on the right side of the upper lid 3. The operation panel 6 is provided with operation keys for performing various settings such as a driving course, and a display for displaying various information such as driving conditions.

  This drum type washing machine has a normal mode, a standard course, a fast course (a course that can complete a washing operation in a shorter time than the standard course), and a careful course (a course for washing dirty laundry). A night mode (low noise mode) is provided that allows the course to be executed with less noise than in the normal mode, and by pressing a night mode key that is one of the operation keys arranged on the operation panel 6, In the driving course, the normal mode and the night mode can be selected and set.

FIG. 2 is a front longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of the drum type washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a left side view of the essential part of the drum type washing machine. 2 and 3, the outer box 1 is not shown.
On the pedestal portion 7, an outer tub 10 whose peripheral surface is substantially cylindrical and whose both end surfaces are closed has a pair of springs 11 that are connected from left and right obliquely upwards, with both end surfaces left and right, and obliquely below the front and rear. Are elastically supported by the damper 12 connected from the outside. Inside the outer tub 10, a drum 13 having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface in which a large number of water passage holes are perforated is provided with both end surfaces on the left and right. Both end surfaces (left and right end surfaces) of the drum 13 are closed, and a main shaft 14 and an auxiliary shaft 15 extending almost horizontally outward are respectively connected to the centers of the closed left and right end surfaces.

The main shaft 14 is rotatably received by a bearing 17 held in a bearing case 16 made of aluminum die casting that is fixed to the left end surface of the outer tub 10. On the other hand, the auxiliary shaft 15 is rotatably received by a bearing 19 held by a bearing case 18 fixed to the right end surface of the outer tub 10, whereby the drum 13 rotates about a substantially horizontal axis. Supported as possible.
A rotor 20b of a drum motor 20 that is an outer rotor type DC motor is fixed to the tip of the main shaft 14, and a stator 20a of the drum motor 20 is fixed to a bearing case 16 that also serves as a motor base. When a drive current is supplied to the stator 20a, the rotor 20b rotates accordingly, and the drum 13 is rotationally driven through the main shaft 14 at the same rotational speed as the rotor 20b.

  An outer tub opening 101 for taking in and out the laundry is formed at a position corresponding to the laundry input port 2 formed in the outer box 1 from the upper part of the peripheral surface of the outer tub 10 to the diagonally forward direction. The outer tank opening 101 can be opened and closed by the outer tank door 102. A drum opening 131 for taking in and out the laundry is formed on the peripheral surface of the drum 13, and the drum opening 131 is opened and closed by a pair of drum doors 132 having front and rear opening structures. be able to. A drum lock mechanism 21 for stopping and holding the drum 13 is provided below the stator 20a at a position where the drum opening 131 coincides with the outer tank opening 101 in the radial direction. The drum lock mechanism 21 has an engagement pin P that fits into an engagement groove 22 formed in the outer edge of the rotor 20b. With the engagement pin P fitted into the engagement groove 22 and the drum 13 stopped, all of the upper lid 3, the outer tub door 102 and the drum door 132 are opened, and the drum 13 is washed obliquely from above. The laundry can be put in and taken out through the article insertion port 2, the outer tub opening 101 and the drum opening 131.

  At the time of washing and rinsing the laundry, water is supplied into the outer tub 10, and the water supplied into the outer tub 10 flows into the drum 13 through a water passage hole on the peripheral surface of the drum 13. Further, a baffle B for lifting the laundry accommodated in the drum 13 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 13 at every equal angle (for example, 120 degrees). When washing and rinsing, the drum 13 is rotated while water is stored in the outer tub 10, so that the laundry in the drum 13 is lifted by the baffle B and dropped from a certain height to enter the drum 13. It can be struck against the surface of the running water. Further, at the time of dehydration, the drum 13 is rotated at a high speed (for example, 300 to 1000 rpm) to squeeze the washing water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 by centrifugal force, and the squeezed washing water is passed through the water passage hole. It can be scattered to the outer tank 10 side.

  Furthermore, both end surfaces of the drum 13 have a hollow ring shape in order to suppress the vibration of the drum 13 due to the eccentric load caused by the deviation of the laundry when the drum 13 is rotated at a high speed during the dehydrating operation. A liquid enclosure type balance adjusting member 24 in which a liquid (for example, water) is enclosed is attached. On the inner peripheral surface of the balance adjusting member 24, a plurality of partition plates are erected at equiangular intervals with the rotation axis of the drum as the center, and a liquid storage chamber in which liquid can be stored between adjacent partition plates It has become. By rotating the drum 13 at a constant rotational speed or higher at which the centrifugal force acting on the liquid in the balance adjusting member 24 and the gravity are balanced, it is possible to prevent the liquid from moving between the liquid storage chambers. Is rotated at a speed lower than the above-mentioned constant rotational speed, it is possible to cause liquid movement between the liquid storage liquids.

  By providing the balance adjusting member 24, if the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 due to the uneven distribution of the laundry is small to some extent, when the eccentric load reaches the vicinity of the highest position as the drum 13 rotates, Control (G) in which the rotational speed of the drum 13 is rapidly decelerated to allow the liquid to flow out from the liquid storage chamber near the position of the eccentric load and to flow into the liquid storage chamber near the position facing the eccentric load. -Fall control) allows the liquid in the balance adjusting member 24 to be unevenly distributed according to the eccentric load generated in the drum 13, and cancels the eccentric load generated due to the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum 13. be able to.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the drum type washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a control unit 30 including a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a timer, and the like. The control unit 30 performs washing operations including washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes. It is designed to control the operation.
A key input signal is given to the control unit 30 from the operation keys 6 a arranged on the operation panel 6. Further, a water level sensor 33 for detecting the water level of the water stored in the outer tub 10, a lid opening / closing switch 34 for detecting opening / closing of the upper lid 3, and a drum lock mechanism portion 21 are built in. Detection signals are input from the drum lock detection unit 21b and the like, respectively.

  Furthermore, an inverter drive unit 32 is connected to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 is synchronized with the rotation of the drum motor 20 (for example, 72 pulse signals for one rotation of the drum motor 20). The drum motor 20 is controlled via the inverter drive unit 32 on the basis of a signal from the rotation sensor 20c that generates. That is, the control unit 30 detects the rotation speed of the drum 13 (drum motor 20) based on the interval between the pulse signals output from the rotation sensor 20c, and controls the drum motor 20 based on the detected rotation speed of the drum 13. Control.

  Further, a load driving unit 31 is connected to the control unit 30, and a water supply valve 38 that controls the water supply into the outer tub 10 and the drainage from the outer tub 10 are controlled via the load driving unit 31. The drain valve 39 and the drum lock mechanism 21 are incorporated in the drum lock mechanism 21 and control the operation of the drum motor and the torque motor 21a that is a drive source for releasing the drum lock. In addition, the control unit 30 sends a display signal to the display devices 6b arranged on the operation panel 6 in order to perform display according to the operation of the operation keys 6a and display for notifying the driving progress status.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. The laundry is dehydrated, for example, after the washing and rinsing of the laundry is completed.
When dehydration is started, the drum motor 20 is controlled, and the rotational speed of the drum 13 is gradually increased to 100 rpm. During this time, the laundry containing water in the drum 13 is stuck to the peripheral surface of the drum 13 while being gradually loosened. When the rotation speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm, the laundry is in a state of being dispersed and stuck to the peripheral surface of the drum 13 to some extent.

  When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm, the magnitude (eccentric load amount) of the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 is detected in a state where the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at approximately 100 rpm. That is, in the state where the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at a substantially constant rotational speed, if an eccentric load is generated on the drum 13 due to the uneven distribution of the laundry, the rotational speed of the drum 13 (drum motor 20) is When the eccentric load reaches the lowest position, the maximum value is obtained, and when the eccentric load reaches the uppermost position, the value is changed to a sine wave having a minimum value. The amplitude of the fluctuation in the rotational speed of the drum 13 is substantially proportional to the amount of eccentric load. In the ROM of the control unit 30, the relationship between the eccentric load amount and the fluctuation amplitude (variation amount) of the rotational speed of the drum 13 is obtained in advance and stored, and according to this relation, the fluctuation of the rotational speed of the drum 13 at that time An eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is obtained from the amplitude.

  When the eccentric load amount is detected, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a first increase threshold value (allowable value) A1. This first increase threshold value A1 is a threshold value for determining whether or not to increase the rotational speed of the drum 13 from 100 rpm to 500 rpm, and if the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the first increase threshold value A1. Then, it is determined that no large vibration is generated even if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased to 500 rpm, and the target rotational speed of the drum 13 is set to 500 rpm. On the other hand, when the eccentric load amount is larger than the first increase threshold A1, the driving of the drum motor 20 is stopped, and for example, the dehydration of the laundry is forcibly terminated.

  When the target rotational speed of the drum 13 is set to 500 rpm and the drum motor 20 is controlled, the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is detected again when the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 500 rpm. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined second increase threshold value (allowable value) B1. The second increase threshold value B1 is a threshold value for determining whether to increase the rotational speed of the drum 13 from 500 rpm to a predetermined dehydration final speed X1 (for example, 800 rpm). If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the second increase threshold B1, it is determined that no significant vibration will occur even if the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to the final dewatering speed X1, and the rotation speed of the drum 13 is dewatered from 500 rpm. The final speed is increased to X1.

  On the other hand, when the eccentric load detected when the drum 13 is rotating at the rotation speed of 500 rpm is larger than the second increase threshold value B1, the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to the final dehydration speed X1. It is determined that there is a possibility that a large vibration may occur, and after the drive of the drum motor 20 is stopped and the rotation of the drum 13 is stopped, the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is started up again. It is done.

  When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm, the supply voltage to the drum motor 20 is maintained at a constant voltage so that the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at 100 rpm, and the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is reduced. Detected. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined third increase threshold value (allowable value) C1, and if the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the third increase threshold value C1. Even if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 100 rpm to the final dewatering speed X1, it is determined that no significant vibration occurs, and the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 500 rpm to the final dewatering speed X1. On the other hand, when the eccentric load amount is larger than the third increase threshold C1, the driving of the drum motor 20 is stopped, and for example, the dehydration of the laundry is forcibly terminated.

The third increase threshold C1 is a threshold for determining whether or not to increase the rotation speed of the drum 13 from 100 rpm to the dehydration final speed X1 when the drum motor 20 is restarted. It is set to a value lower than the first increase threshold A1.
When the rotation of the drum 13 is started immediately after washing or rinsing, the laundry in the drum 13 contains a large amount of water, and in the process of increasing the rotation speed of the drum 13, the water contained in the laundry is increased. Since the eccentric load generated in the drum 13 is reduced, the drum 13 rotates if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is equal to or less than the first rising threshold value A1 set appropriately at 100 rpm. It is considered that the vibration is not so great in the process of increasing the speed exceeding 100 rpm.

  However, when the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is restarted, the laundry is dehydrated when the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to 500 rpm before that, and the drum 13 When the rotational speed reaches 100 rpm again, there is a possibility that the laundry in the drum 13 is hardened and eccentric in a state of hardly containing water. In such a case, since the amount of water dehydrated from the laundry in the drum 13 is small in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the drum 13 beyond 100 rpm thereafter, the eccentric load generated in the drum 13 Is considered to be little smaller. Therefore, the third increase threshold C1 is set to the same value as the first increase threshold A1, and the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the third increase threshold C1 (= A1). If the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 100 rpm to the final dehydration speed X1 in a state where an eccentric load is generated, there is a possibility that a large vibration due to the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum 13 may occur.

  Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 13 is dehydrated from 100 rpm only when the third rising threshold C1 is set to a value lower than the first rising threshold A1 and the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 is very small. The speed is increased to the final speed X1. Therefore, even if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 100 rpm to the final dewatering speed X1, there is no possibility of generating large vibration due to the eccentric load.

After the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to the final dewatering speed X1, high-speed dewatering is performed over a predetermined time (for example, 6 minutes) by rotating the drum 13 at a high speed at the final dewatering speed X1. Thereby, the water contained in the laundry is sufficiently dehydrated.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining dehydration start-up control in the night mode. When the rotation of the drum 13 is started with the start of dehydration, and then the rotation speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm, the supply voltage to the drum motor 20 is maintained in a state where the rotation speed of the drum 13 is maintained at approximately 100 rpm. The eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is detected. In the dehydration start-up control in the night mode, the detected eccentric load amount is set to a first increase threshold (allowable) set lower than the first increase threshold A1 in the dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. It is determined whether or not (value) A2 or less. If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the first increase threshold value A2, the target rotational speed of the drum 13 is set to 500 rpm, and if the eccentric load amount is greater than the first increase threshold value A1, the drum motor 20 The driving is stopped and the dehydration of the laundry is forcibly terminated.

  Night mode is a mode that is set (selected) when washing is performed in situations where low noise is required, such as in quiet nights. It is desirable that noise (driving sound) is suppressed more than when raising. Therefore, in the dewatering start-up control in the night mode, the first increase threshold A2 for determining whether to increase the rotation speed of the drum 13 from 100 rpm to 500 rpm is the first dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. 1 is set lower than the threshold value A1, and the vibration level allowed when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 100 rpm to 500 rpm is made stricter. That is, since the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 100 rpm to 500 rpm only when the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the first increase threshold A2 that is lower than the first increase threshold A1, the drum 13 is activated in the night mode. The vibration when the rotation speed is increased to 500 rpm can be suppressed to be smaller than that in the normal mode, and the noise accompanying the vibration can be suppressed to a low level.

  When the target rotational speed of the drum 13 is set to 500 rpm and the drum motor 20 is controlled, the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is detected again when the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 500 rpm. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined second increase threshold value (allowable value) B2. This second rising threshold B2 is also in the normal mode for the same reason that the first rising threshold A2 is set lower than the first rising threshold A1 in the dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. Is set lower than the second rise threshold value B1 in the dehydration start-up control. If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the second increase threshold B2, the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased from 500 rpm to a predetermined dehydration final speed X2 (for example, 700 rpm). After the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased to the final dewatering speed X2, high speed dewatering is performed over a predetermined time (for example, 9 minutes) by rotating the drum 13 at a high speed at the final dewatering speed X2.

  Here, the final dehydration speed X2 is set lower than the final dehydration speed X1 in the normal mode. For example, when the final dewatering speed X1 in the normal mode is set to 800 rpm, the final dewatering speed X2 in the night mode is set to 700 rpm. Thereby, the noise generated by the high speed dewatering in the night mode can be suppressed lower than the noise generated by the high speed dewatering in the normal mode. Further, the duration of the high speed dewatering in the night mode (the predetermined time) is set longer than the duration of the high speed dehydration in the normal mode. Thereby, even if the final dehydration speed X2 in the night mode is set lower than the final dehydration speed X1 in the normal mode, the water contained in the laundry can be sufficiently dehydrated.

  In the night mode, not only dehydration but also other processes (washing, rinsing and drying) are devised to suppress noise generation compared to the normal mode. For example, in washing and rinsing, intermittent operation is performed in which turning on / off of the drum motor 20 is repeated at a constant cycle. In washing and rinsing in the night mode, the drum motor 20 is turned on rather than washing and rinsing in the normal mode. Time is shortened. Thereby, in each step of washing and rinsing in the night mode, the amount of rotation of the drum 13 is smaller than that in the normal mode, so that noise generated by the rotation of the drum 13 can be reduced. In addition, when the drum 13 has a function of feeding warm air into the drum 13 and drying the laundry, the number of revolutions of the warm air fan in the night mode is set lower than the number of revolutions of the warm air fan in the normal mode. Thus, in the drying process in the night mode, noise generated by the rotation of the hot air fan can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the eccentric load detected when the drum 13 is rotating at the rotation speed of 500 rpm is larger than the second increase threshold value B2, the driving of the drum motor 20 is temporarily stopped and the drum 13 is stopped. Is stopped, the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is started again.
When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm, the supply voltage to the drum motor 20 is maintained at a constant voltage so that the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at 100 rpm, and the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is reduced. Detected. Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined third increase threshold (allowable value) C2, and if the eccentric load is equal to or less than the third increase threshold C2. The rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased from 500 rpm to the final dehydration speed X2. After the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to the final dewatering speed X2, high speed dewatering is performed over the predetermined time by rotating the drum 13 at a high speed at the final dewatering speed X2. On the other hand, when the eccentric load amount is larger than the third increase threshold C2, the driving of the drum motor 20 is stopped, and for example, the dehydration of the laundry is forcibly terminated.

  The third rising threshold value C2 is the same as the reason why the first rising threshold value A2 is set lower than the first rising threshold value A1 in the dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. It is set lower than the third increase threshold C1 in the dehydration start-up control. The third increase threshold C2 is the same as the reason why the third increase threshold C1 in the dehydration start-up control in the normal mode is set lower than the first increase threshold A1. It is set to a value lower than the rising threshold A2. That is, when the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is restarted, the laundry is dehydrated before the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to 500 rpm, and washing or rinsing is performed. Immediately after that, the laundry state is different from when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased to 100 rpm for the first time. Therefore, if the third rising threshold C2 is set to the same value as the first rising threshold A2, There is a risk of large vibrations due to uneven distribution of objects. Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 13 is dehydrated from 100 rpm only when the third increase threshold C2 is set to a value lower than the first increase threshold A2 and the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 is very small. The speed is increased to the final speed X2.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form. For example, in the above embodiment, the final dewatering speed X2 in the night mode is lower than the final dewatering speed X1 in the normal mode. For example, when the final dewatering speed X1 in the normal mode is set to 800 rpm, the night mode The final dehydration speed X2 is set to 700 rpm, and the second increase threshold value B2 in the dehydration startup control in the night mode is set lower than the second increase threshold value B1 in the dehydration startup control in the normal mode. However, if the final dewatering speed X2 in the night mode is set lower, for example, when the final dewatering speed X1 in the normal mode is set to 800 rpm, the final dewatering speed X2 in the night mode is set. Is set to 650 rpm, the second rising threshold value B2 in the dehydration start-up control in the night mode is set to the dehydration in the normal mode. Be set to the same value as the second raised threshold position B1 in Chiage control, a noise caused by vibration and the vibration occurring in low noise operation can be made smaller than during normal operation. In this case, the second increase threshold value B2 in the dehydration start-up control in the night mode is set to the same value as the second increase threshold value B1 in the dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. Since the eccentric load detected at the rotation speed of 500 rpm does not become the second increase threshold B2 or less, the rotation of the drum 13 can be prevented from being stopped many times, and the washing operation (dehydration process) takes a long time. This can be prevented.

In addition, although the configuration including the drum 13 that can rotate around a substantially horizontal axis is taken up, the present invention is inclined at an angle within a predetermined angle range (for example, an angle range of 30 degrees or less) with respect to the horizontal. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration including a drum that can rotate around an axis.
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to a so-called top loading drum type washing machine that takes in and out laundry from an obliquely upward direction, and the drum is provided with its end faces in the front and rear directions. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called front-loading drum type washing machine that takes in and out laundry from an opening formed in the front end face.

  In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims.

1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing machine obtained in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the said drum type washing machine. It is a left view of the internal principal part of the said drum type washing machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electric part structure of the said drum type washing machine. It is a figure for demonstrating dehydration start-up control in the normal mode. It is a figure for demonstrating dehydration start-up control at the time of night mode.

Explanation of symbols

13 Drum 20 Drum Motor 20c Rotation Sensor 30 Control Unit

Claims (6)

A drum-type washing machine capable of selectively performing normal operation and low-noise operation with lower operation noise than during normal operation,
A drum provided to be rotatable about an axis inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally, and for storing laundry;
Drum rotation driving means for rotating the drum;
An eccentric load detecting means for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum during rotation of the drum;
On the condition that the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a predetermined allowable value while the drum is rotating at a predetermined rotation speed, the rotation speed of the drum is set to the predetermined rotation. Rotation speed increasing means for increasing the speed from the speed to a larger rotation speed,
The drum-type laundry characterized in that the predetermined allowable value used by the rotational speed increasing means during low noise operation is set to a value lower than the predetermined allowable value used by the rotational speed increasing means during normal operation Machine. The drum type washing machine rotates the drum when the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is larger than a predetermined allowable value while the drum is rotating at a predetermined rotational speed. Further including restarting means for once again stopping the rotation of the drum and restarting the rotation of the drum,
The rotation speed increasing means is
The rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed for the first time after the drum starts rotating, and the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in the state where the drum is rotating at the first rotation speed. First rotation speed increase that increases the rotation speed of the drum from the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed larger than the first rotation speed on the condition that the rotation speed is equal to or less than the first allowable value Means,
The rotational speed of the drum is increased to the second rotational speed by the first rotational speed increasing means, and the eccentricity detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum is rotating at the second rotational speed. On the condition that the magnitude of the load is less than or equal to the second allowable value, the second rotation speed is increased from the second rotation speed to a third rotation speed larger than the second rotation speed. Rotation speed increasing means;
The rotation of the drum is restarted by the restarting means, the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed again, and the eccentric load is rotated while the drum is rotating at the first rotational speed. A third rotation speed for increasing the rotation speed of the drum from the first rotation speed to the third rotation speed on condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the detection means is not more than a third allowable value. And rise means,
The first allowable value used by the first rotational speed increasing means during the low noise operation, the second allowable value used by the second rotational speed increasing means, and the third allowable value used by the third rotational speed increasing means. Are the first allowable value used by the first rotational speed increasing means, the second allowable value used by the second rotational speed increasing means, and the third rotational speed increasing means, respectively, during normal operation. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum-type washing machine is set to a value lower than a third allowable value used by the machine. A drum-type washing machine capable of selectively performing normal operation and low-noise operation with lower operation noise than during normal operation,
A drum provided to be rotatable about an axis inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally, and for storing laundry;
Drum rotation driving means for rotating the drum;
An eccentric load detecting means for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum during rotation of the drum;
The rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed for the first time after the drum starts rotating, and the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in the state where the drum is rotating at the first rotation speed. First rotation speed increase that increases the rotation speed of the drum from the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed larger than the first rotation speed on the condition that the rotation speed is equal to or less than the first allowable value Means,
The rotational speed of the drum is increased to the second rotational speed by the first rotational speed increasing means, and the eccentricity detected by the eccentric load detecting means in a state where the drum is rotating at the second rotational speed. On the condition that the magnitude of the load is less than or equal to the second allowable value, the second rotation speed is increased from the second rotation speed to a third rotation speed larger than the second rotation speed. Rotation speed increasing means,
The third rotation speed during low noise operation is set lower than the third rotation speed during normal operation,
The first allowable value used by the first rotational speed increasing means during low noise operation is set lower than the first allowable value used by the first rotational speed increasing means during normal operation,
The second allowable value used by the second rotational speed increasing means during low noise operation and the second allowable value used by the second rotational speed increasing means during normal operation are set to the same value. A drum-type washing machine characterized by that. The drum type washing machine
When the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is larger than the first allowable value while the drum is rotating at the second rotational speed, the rotation of the drum is temporarily stopped. After that, restarting means for restarting the rotation of the drum,
The rotation of the drum is restarted by the restarting means, the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed again, and the eccentric load is rotated while the drum is rotating at the first rotational speed. A third rotational speed for increasing the rotational speed of the drum from the first rotational speed to the third rotational speed on condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the detecting means is equal to or smaller than a third allowable value. And further includes a rising means,
The third allowable value used by the third rotation speed increasing means during low noise operation is set to a value lower than the third allowable value used by the rotation speed increasing means during normal operation. The drum type washing machine according to claim 3.   The drum type washing machine according to claim 2 or 4, wherein the third tolerance value is set to a value lower than the first tolerance value. A drum provided to be rotatable about an axis inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally, and for storing laundry;
Drum rotation driving means for rotating the drum;
An eccentric load detecting means for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum during rotation of the drum;
When the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is less than or equal to a predetermined allowable value while the drum is rotating at a predetermined rotation speed, the rotation of the drum is temporarily stopped, Restarting means for restarting the rotation of the drum;
The rotation speed of the drum reaches the first rotation speed for the first time after the drum starts rotating, and the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means in the state where the drum is rotating at the first rotation speed. First rotation speed increase that increases the rotation speed of the drum from the first rotation speed to a second rotation speed larger than the first rotation speed on the condition that the rotation speed is equal to or less than the first allowable value Means,
The rotation speed of the drum is increased to the second rotation speed by the first rotation speed increasing means, and is detected by the eccentric load detection means in a state where the drum is rotating at the second rotation speed. A second condition in which the rotational speed of the drum is increased from the second rotational speed to a third rotational speed larger than the second rotational speed on condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load is equal to or less than the second allowable value. Means for increasing the rotational speed of
The rotation of the drum is restarted by the restarting means, the rotational speed of the drum reaches the first rotational speed again, and the eccentric load is rotated while the drum is rotating at the first rotational speed. On the condition that the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the detecting means is equal to or less than a third allowable value set to a value lower than the first allowable value, the rotational speed of the drum is determined from the first rotational speed. A drum type washing machine comprising: a third rotation speed increasing means for increasing the rotation speed to a third rotation speed.

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