JP2007319251A - Washer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure user's safety at an occurrence of a breakdown of a brake mechanism 24 in spin-drying with no increase in manufacturing costs. <P>SOLUTION: The washer 30 includes a spin-drying tub 4, a cover 16, a cover lock mechanism 22, a motor 7, a clutch 12, the brake mechanism 24, a sensor 25 and a control circuit 21. The cover lock mechanism 22 locks the cover 16 for closing an opening of the tub 4. The motor 7 rotates the tub 4. The clutch 12 intermittently transfers torque between the tub 4 and the motor 7. The control circuit 21 controls the clutch 12 to transfer the torque from the tub 4 to the motor 7 after the circuit 21 controls the motor 7 to halt it from driving and the brake mechanism 24 starts to brake the tub 4. When the number of rotations sensed by the sensor 25 is a threshold value or smaller, the circuit 21 so controls the cover lock mechanism 22 as to unlock the cover 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine including mechanical control.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a washing machine including a motor, a brake mechanism, a rotation speed detection device, a lock mechanism, and a control device. The motor rotates the dewatering tank. The brake mechanism brakes the rotation of the dewatering tank. The rotation speed detection device detects the rotation speed of the dehydration tank. The lock mechanism locks the dehydration tank lid so that it does not open during the dehydration operation. The control device drives the brake mechanism to reduce the rotation of the dehydration tank when a certain time has elapsed during inertial rotation after the motor is deenergized during the dehydration operation in the rinsing process. When the set value is reached, the dehydration operation is terminated and the motor and brake mechanism are driven and controlled to execute the next process. When the rotation of the dehydration tank falls below the set value during the dehydration operation, the lid is locked. Is released.

According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operating time can be shortened by positively using the brake during inertial rotation during the dehydrating operation. Furthermore, according to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to ensure safety when the lid of the dewatering tank is opened during the inertial rotation or an abnormality such as a brake failure occurs.
JP 2005-304980 A

  However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the cost can be high. This is because, for the following reasons, in addition to a device for measuring the number of rotations of a motor and a center pulley such as a hall sensor and a reed switch, a device for measuring the number of rotations of a dewatering tank may be required.

  Conventionally, a washing machine that performs inverter control using a DC (Direct Current) brushless motor equipped with a hall sensor that measures the rotation speed of the motor, or a reed switch that is used to measure the rotation speed of the center pulley and measure the rotation speed of the clothing A washing machine for determining the quantity was provided. In these washing machines, a device for measuring the rotational speed of the motor or the rotational speed of the center pulley is indispensable. When these washing machines satisfy the following requirements, there is a risk that the user may touch the clothes in the dehydration tank and get injured. The 1st requirement is that the apparatus for measuring the rotation speed of a dewatering tank is not mounted in these washing machines. The second requirement is to include a structure in which the dewatering tank and the stirring blade are separated by switching the clutch in conjunction with the brake operation. The third requirement is that the lid lock is released when the motor or the center pulley stops. If these requirements are satisfied, even if the brake is applied during dehydration due to a brake failure, if the dewatering tank and the stirring blade continue to rotate due to inertia, only the dehydration tank will remain even if the motor or center pulley stops rotating first. This is because the rotation can continue.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of ensuring the safety of a user when a brake failure occurs during a dehydrating operation without causing an increase in cost. It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, a washing machine includes a dewatering tub, a lid, a lock unit, a motor, a clutch, a brake, a first measurement unit, and a control unit. Including. The dewatering tank accommodates clothing inside. The lid closes the mouth of the dehydration tank. The locking means locks the lid. The motor rotates the dewatering tank. The clutch intermittently transmits the rotation between the dehydrating tank and the motor. The brake brakes the rotation of the dewatering tank. The first measuring means measures a value corresponding to the rotation speed of the motor. The control means controls the lock means and the clutch. The control means includes a first means, a second means, a third means, and a fourth means. The first means controls the motor so as to stop driving. The second means controls the brake so as to start the braking of the dewatering tank. The third means controls the clutch so that rotation is transmitted from the dehydrating tank to the motor after the first means controls the motor to stop driving and the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank. The fourth means is to release the lock of the lid when the value measured by the first measuring means becomes equal to or less than the first threshold after the third means controls the clutch so as to transmit the rotation. Control the locking means.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the control means described above further includes a second measurement means and a storage means. The second measuring means measures the elapsed time. The storage means is information on values measured by the first measuring means when the brake starts braking the dewatering tank and when the time after the brake starts braking the dewatering tank exceeds the second threshold. Save. In addition, the third means includes means for controlling the clutch so that the dewatering tank transmits the rotation to the motor when the difference between the values represented by the information stored by the storage means is less than the third threshold value. It is desirable to include.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the washing machine described above further includes blinking means for blinking. In addition, the control means preferably further includes fifth means for controlling the blinking means to blink when the third means controls the clutch so as to transmit the rotation to the motor.

  In addition, the third means described above is configured such that when the value measured by the first measuring means satisfies the requirement, the first means controls the motor to stop driving and the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank. Afterwards, it is desirable to include means for controlling the clutch so that the dewatering tank transmits rotation to the motor.

  Alternatively, the above-described means for controlling the clutch may be configured such that when the value measured by the first measuring means exceeds the fourth threshold when the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank, the dehydrating tank rotates to the motor. It is desirable to include means for controlling the clutch so as to transmit.

  The washing machine according to the present invention can ensure the safety of the user when a brake failure occurs during the dehydrating operation without causing an increase in cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

<First Embodiment>
The washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a washing machine 30 according to the present embodiment. The washing machine 30 is covered with an outer box 1 that is a casing, and a water tank 2 is supported by being suspended by an anti-vibration mechanism 3 inside the outer box 1, and a dewatering tank 4 is provided inside the water tank 2. Yes. The dewatering tub 4 also serves as a washing tub for storing clothes inside. A motor 7 is provided in the lower part of the water tank 2, and a sensor 25 for measuring the number of rotations of the motor 7 is incorporated inside the housing of the motor 7. The sensor 25 may be a sensor that measures a value corresponding to the rotation speed of the center pulley 11 or other rotation speed of the motor 7 if necessary. The rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted to the center pulley 11 through the motor pulley 9 and the V belt 10. The tip of the speed reduction mechanism 8 connected to the center pulley 11 protrudes into the water tank 2, and the dewatering tank 4 and the stirring blade 5 are attached thereto. With this mechanism, the dehydration tank 4 is provided so as to be rotatable in the water tank 2. With this mechanism, the motor 7 operates as a device for rotating the dewatering tank 4. The dewatering tank 4 and the stirring blade 5 are rotated by the clutch 12 by turning on the drain motor 27 during the dehydration process, and the stirring blade by the clutch 12 and the speed reduction mechanism 8 by turning off the drain motor 27 during the washing process or the rinsing process. Only 5 is designed to rotate. As is apparent from these descriptions, the speed reduction mechanism 8, the motor pulley 9, the V belt 10, the center pulley 11, and the clutch 12 operate as a mechanism that intermittently transmits rotation between the dewatering tank 4 and the motor 7. Incidentally, the specific configuration of the mechanism for intermittently transmitting the rotation between the dehydrating tank 4 and the motor 7 corresponds to the structure of the washing machine. If the washing machine 30 has a structure in which the rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted to the dehydration tank 4 and the like without passing through the motor pulley 9, the V belt 10, and the center pulley 11, the rotation is intermittently performed between the dehydration tank 4 and the motor 7. The specific structure of the mechanism that transmits the motor 7 includes the motor pulley 9, the V-belt 10, and the center pulley 11, and newly includes some member for transmitting the rotation of the motor 7 to the dehydration tank 4 and the like. The speed reduction mechanism 8 includes a brake mechanism 24 that brakes the rotation of the dewatering tank 4. A drain port 202 is provided at the lower end of the water tank 2, and a drain valve 13 and a drain hose 14 are attached. The case of the speed reduction mechanism 8 has a double structure. Of these cases, the inner case is rotated by the power supplied by the motor 7. A brake band of the brake mechanism 24 is wound around the outer periphery of the inner case. Since the brake band is wound, the inner case functions as a brake drum. These structures operate the brake mechanism 24 as a brake for braking the rotation of the dewatering tank 4. The brake band of the brake mechanism 24 is connected to the brake lever. This brake lever is connected to the drain motor 27. A drain valve 13 is connected to the drain motor 27. Thus, the drain motor 27 functions as a device that drives the brake mechanism 24 and the drain valve 13 simultaneously. When the drain motor 27 is turned on, the brake mechanism 24 is opened, and when the drain motor 27 is turned off, the brake mechanism 24 is activated. The upper part of the outer box 1 is covered with an upper surface plate 19. A water level sensor 17 connected to the water tank 2 is provided behind the upper surface plate 19. A water supply valve 18 for supplying water to the water tank 2 is also provided behind the upper surface plate 19. A lid 16 is provided at the center of the top plate 19. Since it is provided at the center of the upper surface plate 19, the lid 16 closes the mouth of the dehydration tank 4. An operation unit 20 is provided in front of the top plate 19. A control circuit 21 and a lid lock mechanism 22 are attached to the back surface of the operation unit 20. The lid lock mechanism 22 is a mechanism for locking the lid 16. The lid lock mechanism 22 includes a lid lock solenoid and a lid switch that detects the open / closed state of the lid 16. The lid lock mechanism 22 has a latch structure that switches between locking and unlocking each time the lid lock solenoid is turned on.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating details of the operation unit 20. The operation unit 20 includes a start switch 117, a power switch 118, an error LED (Light Emitting Diode) 124, a lid lock LED 132, and other switches. The start switch 117 is a switch for the user to input a command. The power switch 118 is a switch for turning on or off the power of the washing machine 30. The error LED 124 is an element for outputting an error display and other information. The lid lock LED 132 is an element indicating whether or not the lid 16 is locked by blinking.

  FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the control circuit 21. A microcomputer 41 is the center of the control circuit 21. This is composed of a central processing unit (CPU) 42, a random access memory (RAM) 43, a read only memory (ROM) 44, a timer 45, a bus 46, and a plurality of input / output (I / O) ports 47. . The microcomputer 41 operates when a constant voltage is supplied from the power supply circuit 50 to the power supply terminals Vdd and Vss, and a signal can be input from the reset circuit 51 to the RESET terminal.

  The CPU 42 includes a control unit 48 and a calculation unit 49. The control unit 48 takes out the command stored in the ROM 44 and executes it. The arithmetic unit 49 performs operations such as binary addition, logical operation, increase / decrease, and comparison with respect to data input from various input devices and the RAM 43 based on a control signal given from the control unit 48 at the execution stage of the instruction. Do. Therefore, the ROM 44 stores in advance information representing devices for operating various devices, information representing conditions set for various judgments, information representing rules for processing various information, and the like.

  Further, the microcomputer 41 outputs a first drive circuit 53 connected to the operation unit 20 having various display LEDs via a plurality of I / O ports 47, and various operation sounds and a warning sound at the time of abnormality processing. The second drive circuit 56 and the third drive circuit 57 connected to the buzzer 28 for notification are controlled. These circuits are connected to the signal input from the input key circuit 52 connected to the operation unit 20 having various operation buttons, the signal input from the first detection circuit 54 connected to the lid switch 26, and the sensor 25. Control is performed based on the signal input from the second detection circuit 55.

  The third drive circuit 57 is connected to the motor 7, the water supply valve 18, the lid lock mechanism 22, and the drain motor 27. In the washing machine 30, when the user turns on the power switch 118, a standard course is initially set (at this time, an LED described as “standard” in FIG. 2 is lit), and the user enters the dehydration tank 4. When clothes are put in and the start switch 117 is turned on, a washing process, a rinsing process, and a final dewatering process are sequentially executed. The washing process includes a water supply process for turning on the water supply valve 18 and a stirring process for rotating the stirring blade 5. The rinsing process includes a draining process for opening the drain valve 13 by turning on the drain motor 27, an intermediate dehydration process, a water supply process similar to the washing process, and a stirring process. The number of times to repeat the steps from the draining step to the stirring step is determined according to the washing course. In the intermediate dehydration process, the washing machine 30 is in the following three states. The first state is a state in which the dewatering tank 4 is rotated by a control for turning on or off the motor 7 or a control for continuously turning on the motor 7 with the drain motor 27 turned on. The second state is a state when a predetermined time has elapsed in the first state. In this state, when the motor 7 of the washing machine 30 is turned off, the motor 7 is rotating by inertia. The third state is a state after the second state has elapsed for a fixed time. In this state, when the drain motor 27 is turned off, the brake mechanism 24 is activated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to the water supply process. The final dehydration process is the same as the drainage process and the intermediate dehydration process of the rinsing process, but is different from those processes in that an operation end process such as an end sound notification is performed after the operation of the brake mechanism 24.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the program executed in washing machine 30 performs the following control regarding dehydration.

  In step S100, the control unit 48 determines whether or not there is a request to temporarily stop the dehydration process. The dehydration process to be determined may be an intermediate dehydration process or a final dehydration process. The control unit 48 determines whether or not the above request has been made based on whether or not the start switch 117 of the operation unit 20 has been operated during the dehydration process. A signal indicating that the start switch 117 has been pressed is transmitted to the control unit 48 via the input key circuit 52, the I / O port 47, and the bus 46. If it is determined that there is a request to temporarily stop the dehydration process (YES in step S100), the process proceeds to step S102. If not (NO in step S100), the process returns to step S100.

  In step S 102, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. The third drive circuit 57 turns off the power to the motor 7 according to the control signal. As a result, the control circuit 21 controls the motor 7 to stop driving. Thereafter, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal again to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. The third drive circuit 57 turns off the power of the drain motor 27 in accordance with the control signal. As a result, the brake mechanism 24 operates. Since the brake mechanism 24 operates, the control circuit 21 controls the brake mechanism 24 so as to start the braking of the dewatering tank 4. In conjunction with the operation of the brake mechanism 24, the drain valve 13 is closed. When the brake mechanism 24 is activated, the clutch 12 operates so that the rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted only to the stirring blade 5. By this operation, the connection between the dewatering tank 4 and the stirring blade 5 is disconnected.

  In step S104, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 15 seconds have elapsed since the braking of the dewatering tank 4 was started. The control unit 48 determines that based on the time measured by the timer 45. The value “15 seconds” is the maximum time required for the rotational speed per unit time of the dewatering tank 4 to sufficiently decrease when the brake mechanism 24 is not broken down. If the time varies depending on the performance of the brake mechanism 24, the control unit 48 determines whether or not another length of time has elapsed. If it is determined that 15 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S104), the process proceeds to step S106. If not (NO in step S104), the process returns to step S104.

  In step S <b> 106, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. The third drive circuit 57 turns on the power of the drain motor 27 when the control signal is output. Thereby, the brake mechanism 24 will be in an open state. The drain valve 13 is opened. The clutch 12 operates so that the rotation of the dewatering tank 4 and the stirring blade 5 is transmitted to the motor 7. As a result, the control circuit 21 controls the motor 7 so as to stop driving, and when the time after the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dewatering tank 4 exceeds the threshold of 15 seconds. The clutch 12 is controlled so that the dewatering tank 4 transmits the rotation to the motor 7. When the rotation of the motor 7 is stopped and the rotation of the dewatering tank 4 is continued, the motor 7 resumes the rotation via the motor pulley 9, the V belt 10 and the center pulley 11.

  In step S108, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed since the clutch 12 operated. The control unit 48 determines that based on the value measured by the timer 45. The value “10 seconds” is the time required for the clutch 12 in the present embodiment to complete its operation. Therefore, when the time required for the operation of the clutch is long or short, the value of “10 seconds” also changes. If it is determined that 10 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S108), the process proceeds to step S110. If not (NO in step S108), the process returns to step 108.

  In step S <b> 110, sensor 25 outputs a signal representing the rotation speed of motor 7 to second detection circuit 55. The second detection circuit 55 inputs information corresponding to the signal output from the sensor 25 to the microcomputer 41. When the information is input, the control unit 48 determines whether or not the rotational speed of the motor 7 is 10 rpm or less based on the value. “10 rpm” is a threshold value arbitrarily set by the designer of the washing machine 30. This value needs to be set based on a safe rotational speed that does not cause injury even if the user touches the clothes in the dewatering tank 4. In the present embodiment, when it is determined that the rotation speed is 10 rpm or less (YES in step S110), the process proceeds to step S112. If not (NO in step S110), the process returns to step S110.

  In step S 112, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. When the control signal is output, the third drive circuit 57 turns off the power of the drain motor 27.

  In step S <b> 114, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. When the control signal is output, the third drive circuit 57 turns on the power of the lid lock solenoid of the lid lock mechanism 22. Thus, after the control circuit 21 itself controls the clutch 12 so as to transmit the rotation, the control circuit 21 releases the lock of the lid 16 when the rotation speed measured by the sensor 25 is less than the threshold value of 10 rpm. In addition, the lid lock mechanism 22 is controlled. Since the lid lock mechanism 22 is controlled, the lid 16 can be opened and closed.

  The operation of the washing machine 30 based on the above structure and flowchart will be described. The controller 48 determines whether or not there has been a request to temporarily stop the dehydration process (step S100). While there is no such request (NO in step S100), control unit 48 repeats the determination periodically. Thereafter, if there is a request to temporarily stop (YES in step S100), third drive circuit 57 operates brake mechanism 24 by turning off drain motor 27 (step S102). At this time, the rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted only to the stirring blade 5.

  When the clutch 12 operates, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 15 seconds have elapsed since the braking of the dewatering tank 4 was started (step S104). Since 15 seconds has not elapsed at the beginning (NO in step S104), control unit 48 repeats the determination. Thereafter, when 15 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S104), third drive circuit 57 turns on the power to drain motor 27 (step S106). At this time, the clutch 12 operates so that the rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted to both the dewatering tank 4 and the stirring blade 5. If the rotation of the dewatering tank 4 is not stopped at this time, the rotation of the motor 7 is resumed via the motor pulley 9, the V belt 10 and the center pulley 11. At this time, since a waiting time of 10 seconds is required for the clutch 12 to complete the operation, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed since the operation of the clutch 12 (step S108). Initially, since 10 seconds has not elapsed (NO in step S108), control unit 48 repeats the same determination. Thereafter, when 10 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S108), control unit 48 determines whether the rotational speed of motor 7 is 10 rpm or less (step S110). Initially, the rotational speed of the motor 7 exceeds 10 rpm (YES in step S110), but the rotational speed becomes 10 rpm or less while the controller 48 repeats the same determination (YES in step S110). ), The third drive circuit 57 turns off the drain motor 27 (step S112). When the power is turned off, the third drive circuit 57 releases the lid lock mechanism 22 (step S114).

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present embodiment once operates the brake mechanism, and then opens the brake mechanism again to control the dehydrating tub and the motor to work together. Thus, if the dehydration tank is not stopped, this can be detected by a sensor that measures the number of rotations of the motor or a value corresponding thereto. It is not necessary to provide a device that directly detects the rotation speed of the dehydration tank. As a result, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can ensure the safety of the user when a brake failure occurs during the dehydrating operation without causing an increase in cost.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The hardware configuration of the washing machine according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. The function about them is the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the program executed in washing machine 30 performs the following control regarding dehydration. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the process shown in FIG. 4 is given the same step number. These processes are the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  In step S120, control unit 48 determines whether or not there has been a request to temporarily stop the dehydration process. The dehydration process to be determined may be an intermediate dehydration process or a final dehydration process. The control unit 48 determines this based on whether or not the start switch 117 of the operation unit 20 is pressed. If it is determined that a request has been made (YES in step S120), the process proceeds to step S122. If not (NO in step S120), the process returns to step S120.

  In step S <b> 122, the sensor 25 outputs a signal representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the second detection circuit 55. The second detection circuit 55 inputs information representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the microcomputer 41. The RAM 43 stores information on the rotational speed of the motor 7. In the following description, a value stored as information in the RAM 43 at this time is referred to as “MSA”. The control unit 48 controls the RAM 43 so as to store information on the value measured by the sensor 25 when the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dehydration tank 4.

  In step S124, based on the value measured by the timer 45, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 5 seconds have elapsed from the start of braking of the dewatering tank 4 by the brake mechanism 24. “5 seconds” is a value arbitrarily set by the designer of the washing machine 30. This value is desirably a time during which the rotational speed per unit time of the dehydration tank 4 is sufficiently reduced. However, the time may be a time when the brake mechanism 24 in the present embodiment is not malfunctioning. If it is determined that 5 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S124), the process proceeds to step S126. If not (NO in step S124), the process returns to step S124.

  In step S <b> 126, the sensor 25 inputs a signal representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the second detection circuit 55. The second detection circuit 55 inputs information representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the microcomputer 41. The RAM 43 stores information on the rotational speed of the motor 7. The control unit 48 controls the RAM 43 so as to save the information of the value measured by the sensor 25 when the time after the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dehydrating tank 4 exceeds the threshold of 5 seconds. Become. In the following description, the value of the rotational speed stored as information in the RAM 43 at this time is referred to as “MSB”.

  In step S128, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 15 seconds have elapsed since the braking of the dewatering tank 4 was started based on the value measured by the timer 45. “15 seconds” in this step is a value set by the designer of the washing machine 30 based on the same criteria as in step S104. If it is determined that 15 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S128), the process proceeds to step S130. If not (NO in step S128), the process returns to step S128.

  In step S130, control unit 48 determines whether MSA is 300 rpm or higher. The reason for determining whether MSA is 300 rpm or higher will be described later. If it is determined that the MSA is 300 rpm or more (YES in step S130), the process proceeds to step S132. If not (NO in step S130), the process proceeds to step S106. As a result, the control circuit 21 causes the clutch 12 to transmit the rotation to the motor 7 when the rotation speed at the time when the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dehydration tank 4 exceeds a threshold value of 300 rpm. Will be controlled.

  In step S132, control unit 48 determines whether or not the difference between MSA and MSB is greater than or equal to a threshold value. In the present embodiment, this threshold is referred to as “Dat”. The threshold value Dat is stored in the ROM 44 in advance. The value of the threshold value Dat is associated with the value of the rotation speed MSA. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the value of Dat stored in the ROM 44. In the present embodiment, Dat is associated with MSA. The threshold value Dat is a brake mechanism when the value of the rotational speed MSA is sufficiently large (in this embodiment, a “sufficiently large value” is 300 rpm or more) and the brake mechanism 24 operates normally. 24 represents the range of decrease in the rotational speed 5 seconds after the start of operation. If it is determined that the speed is equal to or higher than the threshold value (YES in step S132), the process proceeds to step S134. If not (NO in step S132), the process proceeds to step S106. The determination of whether or not the MSA is 300 rpm or higher in step S130 described above is for determining whether or not the determination in this step should be performed once. As a result, the control circuit 21 controls the clutch 12 so that the dewatering tank 4 transmits the rotation to the motor 7 when the difference between the values stored in the RAM 43 is less than the threshold value Dat.

  In step S <b> 134, the sensor 25 inputs a signal representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the second detection circuit 55. The second detection circuit 55 inputs information representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the microcomputer 41. The controller 48 determines whether or not the rotation speed of the motor 7 is 10 rpm or less. If it is determined that the rotation speed is 10 rpm or less (YES in step S134), the process proceeds to step S114. If not (NO in step S134), the process returns to step S134.

  The operation of the washing machine 30 based on the above structure and flowchart will be described.

  The control unit 48 determines whether or not there is a request for suspension (step S120). If there is no such request (NO in step S120), control unit 48 repeats the same determination. Thereafter, if there is a request to pause (YES in step S120), RAM 43 stores the MSA information (step S122).

  When the MSA information is stored, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 5 seconds have passed through the process of step S102 (step S124). If 5 seconds has not elapsed (NO in step S124), control unit 48 repeats the same processing. Thereafter, when 5 seconds elapse (YES in step S124), RAM 43 stores the MSB information (step S126).

  When the MSB information is stored, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 15 seconds have elapsed (step S128). Assuming that 15 seconds has not elapsed at the beginning (NO in step S128), control unit 48 repeats the same processing. Thereafter, when 15 seconds have elapsed (YES in step S128), control unit 48 determines whether or not the MSA is 300 rpm or more (step S130). In this case, if the MSA is less than 300 rpm (NO in step S130), the lid lock mechanism 22 is released through the processing in steps S106 to S112 (step S114). The process from step S106 to step S112 is performed when the MSA is less than 300 rpm. When the MSA is less than 300 rpm, the determination as to whether or not the decrease in the rotational speed of the motor 7 is due to normal braking operation is accurate. It is because it cannot be done.

  When MSA is 300 rpm or more (YES in step S130), control unit 48 determines whether or not the speed difference is greater than or equal to threshold value Dat (step S132). If the speed difference is less than the threshold value (NO in step S132), the lid lock mechanism 22 is released through the processing from step S106 to step S112 (step S114). The reason why the processing from step S106 to step S112 is performed when the speed difference is less than the threshold value is that the brake may not be operating normally.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present embodiment is controlled so that the dewatering tub and the motor are interlocked when there is a suspicion of a failure of the brake mechanism. Thereby, when there is no failure in the brake mechanism, the lid lock can be released on the premise that the dehydration tank is stopped using the brake, so that the convenience for the user is improved. As a result, it is possible to provide a washing machine that is easy to use and can ensure the safety of the user when a brake failure occurs during the dehydrating operation without causing an increase in cost.

  In addition, the process of step S130 and the process of step S132 may be a process in which either one is implemented. In this case, the other process is not performed.

<Third Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The hardware configuration of the washing machine according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. The function about them is the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the program executed in washing machine 30 performs the following control regarding dehydration. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the processing shown in FIG. 4 is given the same step number. These processes are the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  In step S 138, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the first drive circuit 53 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. When the control signal is output, the first drive circuit 53 causes the lid lock LED 132 of the operation unit 20 to blink. As a result, when the control circuit 21 controls the clutch 12 to transmit the rotation, the control circuit 21 controls the lid lock LED 132 so as to blink.

The operation of the washing machine 30 based on the structure and flowchart as described above will be described.
When the dewatering tank 4 and the motor 7 are connected again by the clutch 12 (step S106), the first drive circuit 53 blinks the lid lock LED 132 (step S138). When the lid lock LED 132 blinks, the control unit 48 determines whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed in order to wait for the operation of the clutch 12 to be completed (step S108).

  In the case of the present embodiment, the blinking of the lid lock LED 132 repeats turning on for 0.5 seconds and then turning off for 0.5 seconds. Such a blinking cycle is a matter that the designer of the washing machine 30 can arbitrarily set.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present embodiment can notify the user that the brake failure is being confirmed. The user may feel suspicious due to the time taken by reconnecting the motor and the dewatering basket and the sound generated at that time. When the user is notified that the brake failure is being confirmed, the user can be prevented from feeling suspicious. As a result, the user can be prevented from feeling suspicious, the cost can be increased, and the safety of the user when a brake failure occurs during the dehydrating operation can be ensured.

  In addition, it is desirable to describe the meaning that the lid lock LED 132 blinks in the instruction manual or the main body of the washing machine 30.

<Fourth embodiment>
Hereinafter, a washing machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The hardware configuration of the washing machine according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. The function about them is the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  Referring to FIG. 8, the program executed in washing machine 30 performs the following control regarding dehydration. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the processing shown in FIG. 4 is given the same step number. These processes are the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

  In step S140, based on the time measured by timer 45, control unit 48 determines whether one second has elapsed after the start of the dehydration process. The reason why the time of “1 second” is set will be described later. If it is determined that one second has elapsed (YES in step S140), the process proceeds to step S142. If not (NO in step S140), the process returns to step S140.

  In step S <b> 142, the sensor 25 inputs a signal representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the second detection circuit 55. The second detection circuit 55 inputs information representing the rotation speed of the motor 7 to the microcomputer 41. When the information is input, the control unit 48 determines whether or not the rotational speed of the motor 7 is 300 rpm or more. “1 second” in step S140 is a time for making this determination appropriately. This length of time is a value arbitrarily set by the designer of the washing machine 30. “300 rpm” is a value set to confirm whether or not the V-belt 10 is tensioned with a normal tension with respect to the motor pulley and the center pulley 11. This value is also a value arbitrarily set by the designer of the washing machine 30. In the case of the present embodiment, when the rotational speed of the motor 7 reaches 300 rpm or more within 3 seconds after the start of the dehydration operation, it is considered that the motor 7 is idle with respect to the dehydration tank 4. The reason why the motor 7 is idling with respect to the dewatering tank 4 may be that the V-belt 10 is loose. If it is determined that the rotational speed is 300 rpm or more (YES in step S142), the process proceeds to step S144. If not (NO in step S142), the process proceeds to step S146. By this process, the controller 48 and the third drive circuit 57 exceed the threshold of 1 second after the motor 7 is controlled to stop driving and the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dewatering tank 4. When the rotational speed measured by the sensor 25 is less than the threshold value of 300 rpm, the clutch 12 is controlled so that the dewatering tank 4 transmits the rotation to the motor 7.

  In step S144, the control unit 48 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 57 via the bus 46 and the I / O port 47. The third drive circuit 57 stops the rotation of the motor 7. The third drive circuit 57 does not release the lid lock mechanism 22 to ensure the safety of the user. The control unit 48 also outputs a control signal to the first drive circuit 53. The first drive circuit 53 turns on the error LED 124 of the operation unit 20 for error display.

  In step S146, based on the value measured by timer 45, control unit 48 determines whether or not the period during which the rotational speed of motor 7 is less than 300 rpm is 3 seconds or more. If it is determined that the time is 3 seconds or longer (YES in step S146), the process proceeds to step S100. If not (NO in step S146), the process proceeds to step S142.

  The operation of the washing machine 30 based on the above structure and flowchart will be described.

  The controller 48 determines whether 1 second has elapsed since the start of the dehydration process (step S140). Initially, control unit 48 repeats the same determination until one second has elapsed after the start of the dehydration process (NO in step S140). Thereafter, when 1 second has elapsed (YES in step S140), control unit 48 determines whether the rotational speed of motor 7 is 300 rpm or more (step S142). If it is determined that the rotation speed is 300 rpm or more (YES in step S142), control unit 48 stops motor 7 and lights error LED 124 of operation unit 20 without releasing lid lock mechanism 22 (step S144). ). This is because even if the clutch 12 is operated so that the dewatering tank 4 and the motor 7 rotate in conjunction with each other, the rotation of the motor 7 can be stopped while the dewatering tank 4 is rotating. The reason why the rotation of the motor 7 can be stopped while the dewatering tank 4 is rotating is that the V-belt 10 may slip with respect to the motor pulley 9 and the center pulley 11.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present embodiment can detect and display an error when the rotation state of the dewatering tub cannot be correctly measured due to the looseness of the V-belt. As a result, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can ensure the safety of the user without causing an increase in cost even if the brake mechanism and the mechanism from the V belt and other motors to the clutch are double-failed.

  In the case of the washing machine according to the modification of the present embodiment, whether or not to perform the processing after step S100 in FIG. 8 may be determined according to requirements other than those described above. For example, the control circuit 21 determines that the rotation speed measured by the sensor 25 is 10 rpm when the driving time of the motor 7 is stopped and the time after the brake mechanism 24 starts braking the dehydrating tank 4 exceeds a threshold value of 15 seconds. The clutch 12 may be controlled so that the dewatering tank 4 transmits the rotation to the motor 7 when the threshold value is exceeded. Not limited to this example, the control unit 48 and the third drive circuit 57 are configured such that the motor 7 is controlled to stop driving and the brake mechanism 24 is connected to the dehydration tank 4 when the value measured by the sensor 25 satisfies a certain requirement. After starting the braking, the clutch 12 may be controlled so that the dewatering tank 4 transmits the rotation to the motor 7.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is sectional drawing of the washing machine which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the external appearance of the operation part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of a control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of control of the spin-drying | dehydration process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of control of the spin-drying | dehydration process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the example of the threshold value preserve | saved at ROM which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of control of the dehydration process which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of control of the spin-drying | dehydration process which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer box, 2 water tank, 3 anti-vibration mechanism, 4 dehydration tank, 5 stirring blade, 7 motor, 8 reduction mechanism, 9 motor pulley, 10 V belt, 11 center pulley, 12 clutch, 13 drain valve, 14 drain hose, 16 lid , 17 Water level sensor, 18 Water supply valve, 19 Top plate, 20 Operation part, 21 Control circuit, 22 Lid lock mechanism, 24 Brake mechanism, 25 Sensor, 26 Lid switch, 27 Drain motor, 28 Buzzer, 30 Washing machine, 41 micro Computer, 42 CPU, 43 RAM, 44 ROM, 45 timer, 46 bus, 47 I / O port, 48 control unit, 49 arithmetic unit, 50 power supply circuit, 51 reset circuit, 52 input key circuit, 53 first drive circuit, 54 1st detection circuit, 55 2nd detection circuit, 56 2nd drive circuit, 57 3rd drive circuit, 11 Start switch, 118 a power switch, 124 an error LED, 132 lid lock LED, 202 drain.

Claims (5)

A dewatering tank for storing clothes inside,
A lid for closing the mouth of the dehydration tank;
Locking means for locking the lid;
A motor for rotating the dehydration tank;
A clutch that intermittently transmits rotation between the dehydration tank and the motor;
A brake for braking the rotation of the dewatering tank;
First measuring means for measuring a value corresponding to the rotational speed of the motor;
Control means for controlling the locking means and the clutch,
The control means includes
First means for controlling the motor to stop driving;
Second means for controlling the brake to initiate braking of the dewatering tank;
The first means controls the motor to stop driving and the clutch is controlled to transmit rotation from the dewatering tank to the motor after the brake starts braking the dewatering tank. A third means for
After the third means controls the clutch so as to transmit rotation, if the value measured by the first measuring means falls below the first threshold value, the lid is unlocked. And a fourth means for controlling the locking means. The control means includes
A second measuring means for measuring the elapsed time;
The values measured by the first measuring means when the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank and when the time after the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank exceeds a second threshold value, respectively. Storage means for storing the information of
The third means is for controlling the clutch so that the dewatering tank transmits the rotation to the motor when the difference between the values represented by the information stored by the storage means is less than a third threshold value. The washing machine according to claim 1, comprising means. The washing machine further includes blinking means for blinking,
The control means further includes fifth means for controlling the blinking means to blink when the third means controls the clutch to transmit rotation to the motor. The washing machine described.   When the value measured by the first measuring means satisfies the requirement, the third means controls the motor so that the driving is stopped and the brake controls the dehydrating tank. The washing machine according to claim 1, comprising means for controlling the clutch so that the dewatering tub transmits rotation to the motor after being started.   The means for controlling the clutch is configured such that when the value measured by the first measuring means exceeds a fourth threshold when the brake starts braking the dehydrating tank, the dehydrating tank is moved to the motor. The washing machine according to claim 4, comprising means for controlling the clutch to transmit rotation to the machine.

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