JP2008183122A - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drum washing machine capable of performing a main washing process according to the weight of laundry even when the laundry is additionally fed after the end of a prewashing process. <P>SOLUTION: The moisture amount of the laundry is calculated from the detected weight of the second weight detection (step S6) and the detected weight of the first weight detection (step S1), and the calculated moisture amount is subtracted from the detected weight of the third weight detection (step S10) to attain corrected weight (step S11). The washing condition of the main washing step (step S15) of additionally feeding the laundry into a drum after the end of the prewashing step (step S5), supplying water and then performing washing, water discharge and spin-drying, etc., is set on the basis of the corrected weight for which the moisture amount contained in the laundry is subtracted from the detected weight in the state before the water supply of the main washing step, that is the state where wet laundry and dry laundry coexist. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine configured such that after a pre-washing process is completed, laundry is additionally input so that a main washing process can be performed.

  In a fully automatic washing machine equipped with a rotary tub that is a vertical washing / dehydrating tub, for example, after the pre-washing process of washing heavily dirty laundry, a book that is washed with additional lightly washed laundry The thing which comprised the washing process so that execution was possible is considered. In this case, it is desirable to detect the weight of the laundry before executing the pre-washing process and the main washing process, and set the washing conditions (wash water level, amount of detergent, etc.) for each process based on the detected weight. .

However, before the main washing process, the wet laundry after the end of the pre-washing process and the newly added dry laundry are mixed, so even if weight detection is performed in this state, An error due to the amount of moisture in the laundry occurs, and accurate weight detection cannot be performed. Therefore, conventionally, the laundry added to the rotating tub is also filled with moisture, and the laundry after the pre-washing process and the additional added laundry are immersed in water in a uniform state. It is made to detect (for example, refer patent document 1).
JP-A-7-116381

  In recent years, a drum-type washing machine using a horizontal-axis drum as a washing and dewatering tub is becoming the mainstream instead of the vertical automatic washing machine as described above. In such a drum-type washing machine, In addition, it is desired to enable the pre-washing process and the main washing process as described above.

  In this drum type washing machine, for example, the entire drum can be rotated, and the weight of the laundry can be detected from the amount of load acting on the drum motor. However, when the weight detection for rotating the entire drum is performed in a state where the laundry is immersed in water as in the fully automatic washing machine described in Patent Document 1, the washing including moisture is performed with the rotation of the drum. Things and the water in the tank will be lifted. Therefore, in the weight detection when the laundry is additionally input after the end of the pre-washing process, the influence of the water resistance becomes large, and the accurate weight detection cannot be performed. There is a problem that the main washing process cannot be performed.

  In particular, in a drum-type washing machine, since washing is performed by tapping and washing the laundry by rotating the drum, the water level at the time of washing is not set to the optimum water level according to the weight of the laundry If you do this, you won't be able to perform the scouring effectively. Therefore, in the drum type washing machine, there is also a situation that the water level has to be set more strictly than the vertical type fully automatic washing machine.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to perform a main washing process according to the weight of the laundry even when the laundry is additionally charged after the prewashing process is completed. An object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type washing machine that can be used.

  The drum-type washing machine of the present invention is a drum-type washing machine using a horizontal axis type drum as a washing and dewatering tub. A pre-washing process in which washing, draining, and dehydration are performed after water supply, and after completion of the pre-washing process, The control means for performing the main washing process of washing, draining, dewatering, etc. after the water supply after the laundry is additionally charged in the drum, and before the water supply in the pre-washing process based on the command of the control means A weight detecting means for performing first, second and third weight detection of the laundry in the drum after dehydration in the prewashing process and before water supply in the main washing process, respectively. The moisture content of the laundry is calculated from the detected weight of the twice weight detection and the detected weight of the first weight detection, and the calculated moisture amount is subtracted from the detected weight of the third weight detection. Correction means for making a correction weight, and the control means includes the first time. Setting the pre-wash had stroke of the washing conditions based on the detection weight of the weight detection, characterized in the setting the washing conditions of the wash step on the basis of the correction weight.

  According to the drum type washing machine of the present invention, after the pre-washing process is completed, the laundry condition in the main washing process in which the laundry is additionally charged into the drum and washed after the water supply, draining, dewatering, etc. is performed. It is set based on a corrected weight obtained by subtracting the amount of water contained in the laundry from the detected weight before water supply, that is, in a state where wet laundry and dry laundry are mixed. As a result, the washing conditions for the main washing process can be set to conditions corresponding to the state of only dry laundry that does not contain moisture, even if the laundry is additionally input after the prewash process, The main washing process according to the weight of the laundry can be performed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 2 which shows the whole structure of the drum type washing machine 1, a door 3 is provided in the center part on the front part of the outer box 2 forming the outer shell of the drum type washing machine 1, and an operation panel 4 ( 3) is provided. The door 3 opens and closes the laundry entrance / exit 5 formed in the center part of the front part of the outer box 2.

  A cylindrical water tank 6 is disposed inside the outer box 2. The water tank 6 is disposed in a horizontal axis shape in which the axial direction is the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) and in an upwardly inclined shape, and is elastically supported by an elastic support device 7. Inside the water tank 6, a cylindrical drum 8 is arranged in a horizontal axis like the water tank 6. This drum 8 functions as a tank shared for dehydration and drying in addition to washing (rinsing), and a large number of small holes 9 are formed in almost the entire region of the barrel (only a part is shown in FIG. 2). Are provided with a plurality of baffles 10 (only one is shown in FIG. 2).

  The water tub 6 and the drum 8 have openings 11 and 12 for loading and unloading the laundry on the front surface, respectively, and the opening 11 of the water tub 6 is connected to the laundry loading and unloading opening 5 in a watertight manner by a bellows 13. The opening 12 faces the opening 11 of the water tank 6. A balance ring 14 is provided around the opening 12 of the drum 8. A water supply valve 16 serving as a water supply means is connected to the water tank 6 through a water supply pipe 15. When the water supply valve 16 is opened, water is supplied into the water tank 6.

  A washing machine motor 17 that rotationally drives the drum 8 is disposed on the back surface of the water tank 6. The washing machine motor 17 is an outer rotor type DC brushless motor, and a stator 18 is attached to an outer peripheral portion of a bearing housing 19 attached to a central portion of the back portion of the water tank 6. The rotor 20 is disposed so as to cover the stator 18 from the outside, and a rotating shaft 21 attached to the center is rotatably supported by the bearing housing 19 via a bearing 22. The front end portion of the rotating shaft 21 protruding from the bearing housing 19 is connected to the central portion of the back portion of the drum 8. That is, when the rotor 20 of the washing machine motor 17 rotates, the drum 8 also rotates integrally with the rotor 20.

  A hot air generator 23 is provided at the top of the water tank 6, and a heat exchanger 24 is provided at the back. The hot air generator 23 includes a hot air heater 26 disposed in a case 25, a hot air fan 28 disposed in a casing 27, and a fan motor 29 that rotationally drives the hot air fan 28. The case 25 and the casing 27 are in communication. A duct 30 is connected to the front portion of the case 25, and the front end portion of the duct 30 projects to the front portion in the water tank 6 and faces the opening 12 of the drum 8. Hot air is generated by the hot air heater 26 and the hot air fan 28, and the hot air is supplied into the drum 8 through the duct 30. The warm air supplied into the drum 8 heats the laundry in the drum 8 and removes moisture, and is discharged to the heat exchanger 24 side.

The heat exchanger 24 has an upper portion communicating with the casing 27 and a lower portion communicating with the water tank 6. Further, a water spout 31 is provided in the upper part of the heat exchanger 24, and a sprinkler valve 33 serving as a sprinkling means is connected to the sprinkler 31 via a sprinkler pipe 32. When the water spray valve 33 is opened, water is poured into the heat exchanger 24 from the water spout 31, thereby cooling and condensing water vapor in the air passing through the heat exchanger 24 to dehumidify. The air that has passed through the heat exchanger 24 is returned to the hot air generator 23 again, and is warmed and circulated.
A drain valve 35 serving as a drain means is connected to the rear surface of the lower surface of the water tank 6 via a drain hose 34. When the drain valve 35 is opened, water in the water tank 6 is discharged. .

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 4 is provided with a driving course display unit 36, an operation unit 37, a display unit 38, a door lock display unit 39, and the like.
In the driving course display section 36, characters ([standard], [speedy], [soft finish],... [Pre-washing], [deposition], etc.) indicating each driving course are written. The operation unit 37 includes a start / pause button 40 provided so as to be pressed, and a dial 41 provided so as to be rotatable around the start / pause button 40. When operated, the driving courses displayed on the driving course display unit 36 are sequentially selected according to the amount of rotation. When the start / pause button 40 is pressed, the selected driving course is started and the running course is paused.

  The display unit 38 displays information such as the amount of detergent, remaining time, reserved time, and current time. Further, the door lock display unit 39 is turned on when the door 3 is locked in a closed state by a door lock mechanism (not shown). In addition, the operation panel 4 is provided with a power button, a washing operation button, a washing / drying operation button, a drying operation button, and the like. In addition, each driving course can be selected in turn by the number of times of pressing the washing operation button, the washing / drying operation button, and the drying operation button.

  Among the driving courses displayed on the driving course display unit 36, the “prewashing course” includes a prewashing process and a pause period after the prewashing process, as shown in FIG. This is a driving course that performs the main washing process. The pre-washing process consists of “water supply”, “washing”, “drainage”, “dehydration”, and “unwinding”. “Unraveling” is performed for about 1 minute, and during this time, the drum 8 is reversed at a low speed (for example, 50 rpm) about every 20 seconds. Further, in the “hogushi”, hot air is supplied from the hot air generating device 23 described above. Thereby, the tangled laundry after dehydration can be loosened. The main washing process includes “water supply”, “washing”, “drainage”, “dehydration”, “water supply”, “rinse”, “drainage”, and “dehydration”. As shown in Fig. 4 (b), the "Take-up course" is a "Take-up course" that is left in the same state after "Washing" in the pre-washing process. This is a driving course.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the drum type washing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit 51 (corresponding to a control means, a weight detection means and a correction means) has a function of controlling the overall operation of the drum type washing machine 1, and includes a CPU 52, a RAM 53, a ROM 54, etc. mainly with a microcomputer. ing. In addition to the operation panel 4 described above, a water level sensor 55, a door switch 56, a hot air temperature sensor 57, and the like are connected to the control circuit 51. Further, the washing machine motor 17 is connected to the control circuit 51 via an inverter circuit 58, and the water supply valve 16, the warm air heater 26, the fan motor 29, and the like are connected via drive circuits 59, 60, 61, 62, 63. A watering valve 33, a drain valve 35, and the like are connected to each other.

  The operation panel 4 inputs various operation signals to the control circuit 51. The water level sensor 55 detects the water level in the water tank 6 in, for example, three stages of high, medium, and low, and inputs the detection result to the control circuit 51. The door switch 56 detects the opening / closing of the door 3 and inputs it to the control circuit 51. The hot air temperature sensor 57 detects the temperature of the hot air generated by the hot air generator 23 and inputs the detection result to the control circuit 51.

  The control circuit 51 is based on these input various signals and the control program stored in the ROM 54, the washing machine motor 17, the water supply valve 16, the warm air heater 26, the fan motor 29, the water spray valve 33, and the drain valve 35. As is well known, “water supply”, “washing (rinsing)”, “drainage”, “dehydration” and “drying” are executed by controlling the above.

  In this case, the inverter circuit 58 is configured by connecting six IGBTs 64 (only two are shown in FIG. 5) in a three-phase bridge connection (only one phase is shown in FIG. 5), and a DC voltage ( For example, 282 V) is applied, and the three-phase AC output terminal is connected to the three-phase input terminal of the washing machine motor 17. The emitters of the three-phase IGBTs 64 in the lower arm of the inverter circuit 58 are connected to the ground via shunt resistors 65 as current detection means. The three-phase motor current data detected by the shunt resistor 65 is input to the control circuit 51.

  The control circuit 51 converts the three-phase motor current data into two-axis current data in an orthogonal coordinate system, and further converts these two-axis current data into a d-axis current and a q-axis current in a rotating coordinate system. The control circuit 51 estimates the rotational position and rotational speed of the rotor 20 of the washing machine motor 17 on the basis of the d-axis current and the q-axis current, and compares the q-axis current value with the q-axis current command value to thereby generate an inverter. The circuit 58 is PWM-controlled, and thus the washing machine motor 17 is controlled to the set rotational speed by vector control (refer to JP 2004-267334 A for details of the above vector control).

  The motor current value of the washing machine motor 17, for example, the q-axis current value in the vector control, is closely related to the weight of the laundry put into the drum 8 (see FIG. 6). Accordingly, the weight of the laundry can be detected by detecting such a motor current value when the washing machine motor 17 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, 75 rpm) (JP 2004-267334 A). reference).

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the control circuit 51 when a pre-wash course is selected.
When the “pre-washing course” is selected and the start / pause button 40 is operated, the control circuit 51 starts this control and performs the first weight detection (weight detection before water supply in the pre-washing process). (Step S1). Then, the control circuit 51 sets the water level and the washing time as washing conditions for the pre-washing process based on the detected weight of the first weight detection (step S2), and further sets the amount of detergent as the washing conditions. The information is displayed on the display unit 38 (step S3). When the amount of detergent is displayed, control circuit 51 waits until a predetermined time elapses so that the detergent can be put in (NO in step S4). When the predetermined time elapses (YES), the pre-washing process is executed. (Step S5). The control circuit 51 locks the opening and closing of the door 3 during the pre-washing water supply. Further, at the time of dehydration in the pre-washing process, the control circuit 51 lowers the rotational speed of the drum 8 or sets the dehydration time shorter than at the time of dehydration in the main washing process (see step S15) to be executed later. During the dehydration, the control circuit 51 rotates the drum 8 in one direction.

  When the prewash process is completed, the control circuit 51 performs the second weight detection (weight detection after dehydration in the prewash process) (step S6). When the second weight detection is completed, the control circuit 51 enters a pause period. During this suspension period, the control circuit 51 notifies that the pre-washing process has been completed (for example, displayed on the display unit 38), and unlocks the door 3 in order to make it possible to add the laundry (step). S7). Then, based on the signal from the door switch 56, it is monitored whether or not the door 3 is opened and closed again (step S8). When no signal is input from the door switch 56 (NO), the control circuit 51 monitors the opening and closing of the door 3 until a set time (for example, 10 minutes) elapses (NO in step S9).

  When the user opens the door 3 to add the laundry into the drum 8 and closes the door 3 again (YES in step S8), the control circuit 51 detects the third weight detection (main book). (Weight detection before water supply in the washing process) is performed (step S10), and then the detected weight is corrected (step S11). In this detected weight correction process, the control circuit 51 calculates the moisture content of the laundry after the pre-washing process from the detected weight of the second weight detection and the detected weight of the first weight detection. The calculated amount of water is subtracted from the detected weight of the third weight detection to obtain a corrected weight.

  Then, the control circuit 51 sets the water level and the washing time as washing conditions for the main washing process based on the corrected weight (step S12), and further sets the detergent amount as the washing conditions and displays it on the display unit 38 ( Step S13). When the amount of detergent is displayed, control circuit 51 waits until a predetermined time has elapsed in order to allow the detergent to be charged (NO in step S14), and when the predetermined time has elapsed (YES), executes the main washing process. (Step S15). During the water supply in the main washing process, the control circuit 51 locks the opening and closing of the door 3.

  When the laundry is not additionally put into the drum 8 after the pre-washing process is completed, that is, when the set time has elapsed in the above step S9 (YES), the control circuit 51 detects the third weight detection. After performing steps S12 and S13 based on the detected weight of the first weight detection (step S1) without performing (step S10) and the detected weight correction process (step S11), the main washing process is executed ( Steps S14 and S15).

  The “pre-wash course” has been described above. However, when the “replacement course” is selected and the start / pause button 40 is operated, the control circuit 51 performs the same steps as the “pre-wash course”. Execute in order and perform the pre-washing process and the main washing process. In this case, the control circuit 51 executes a pre-washing (replacement) process in step S5, and the “washing” in this pre-washing (replacement) process is performed with a low speed that allows the laundry to be stirred. Also good.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the pre-washing process is completed, the laundry is additionally charged into the drum 8 and washed after the water supply, and the water level and washing as the washing conditions of the main washing process in which draining, dehydration, and the like are performed. The time and the amount of detergent are based on the corrected weight obtained by subtracting the amount of water contained in the laundry from the detected weight before water supply in the main washing process, that is, in a state where wet laundry and dry laundry are mixed. Is set. As a result, the washing conditions for the main washing process can be set to conditions corresponding to the state of only dry laundry that does not contain moisture, even if the laundry is additionally input after the prewash process, The main washing process according to the weight of the laundry can be performed.

  Further, since the rotation speed of the drum 8 is reduced or the dehydration time is set shorter during the dewatering in the prewash process than in the main wash process, the laundry is less likely to be entangled during the dewatering in the prewash process. It is possible to easily loosen the laundry in “Feeling”. Accordingly, the second and third weight detections can be accurately performed in a state where the laundry is sufficiently loosened.

  In addition, when no additional laundry is put into the drum after the pre-washing process is completed, the third weight detection is omitted, thereby shortening the time until the main washing process is started. it can.

  In addition, the “pre-washing course” and the “replacement course” can be selectively executed. Thus, for example, when “Pre-washing course” is selected, after washing heavily soiled laundry in the pre-washing process, additional lightly-washed laundry can be added and washed in the main washing process. , If you choose “reservation course”, laundry that may be left on is washed in the pre-washing (replacement) process, and then unsuitable for washing (for example, clothing that shrinks or discolors) It can be washed by the main washing process.

In addition, this invention is not limited to one Embodiment mentioned above, It can deform | transform or expand as follows.
You may make it perform a drying process as needed after the completion | finish of the main washing process of a "pre-washing course" and a "post-wash course".

  The weight detection method is not limited to that based on the motor current value of the washing machine motor 17 in vector control. For example, the weight may be detected based on the phase difference between the voltage (terminal voltage) applied to the washing machine motor 17 and the current flowing through the washing machine motor 17. Further, the weight may be detected based on the time until the rotational speed of the drum 8 rises to a predetermined speed, or the time until the drum 8 falls, or the weight of the drum 8 into which the laundry is put can be measured by a weigh scale or the like. You may make it measure directly.

1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a flowchart showing the control contents of a control circuit. Longitudinal side view schematically showing the internal structure of the drum type washing machine Front view of the operation panel The figure which shows the contents of pre-washing course (a) and extraordinary course (b) Block diagram showing electrical configuration of drum-type washing machine The figure which shows the relationship between the weight of the laundry and the motor current value

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a drum type washing machine, 8 is a drum, and 51 is a control circuit (control means, weight detection means, correction means).

Claims (4)

In a drum type washing machine using a horizontal axis type drum as a washing and dewatering tank,
A pre-washing process for washing, draining and dewatering after water supply and a main washing process for washing, draining, dewatering, etc. after water supply after the pre-washing process is completed, with additional laundry in the drum. Control means to
Based on the command of the control means, before the water supply in the prewashing process, after the dehydration in the prewashing process, and before the water supply in the main washing process, the first and second times of the laundry in the drum, respectively. A weight detection means for performing the first and third weight detection;
The moisture amount of the laundry is calculated from the detected weight of the second weight detection and the detected weight of the first weight detection, and the calculated moisture amount is subtracted from the detected weight of the third weight detection. And correction means for making a correction weight,
The control means sets washing conditions for the pre-washing process based on the detected weight of the first weight detection, and sets washing conditions for the main washing process based on the corrected weight. Drum type washing machine.   2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means lowers the rotational speed of the drum or sets the dehydration time shorter when dehydrating the prewashing process than when dehydrating the main washing process.   When the laundry is not additionally put into the drum after the prewashing process is completed, the control means does not perform the third weight detection and sets the washing condition based on the detected weight of the first weight detection. 2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum washing machine is set to execute a main washing process.   The drum-type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means selectively performs leaving-behind in the pre-washing process after being washed.

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