JP2010088761A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance safety when power interruption occurs and also a brake is out of order during a process. <P>SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a lid 19 for covering the upper part of a spin-drying tub 3 of a rotary body; a lid opening/closing detecting means 20 for detecting the opening/closing of the lid 19; a lid lock means 35 for restricting the lid 19 in a closed state; a control means 26 for successively controlling the respective steps of washing, rinsing, and spin-drying; and a power source supply means 31. When a power source is supplied by the power source supply means 31, the lid opening/closing detecting means 20 detects the opening/closing state of the lid 19. When the lid is locked in a closing state, the control means 26 releases the lid lock after a prescribed time elapses, which is longer than the longest time to be required for stopping the spin-drying tub 3. Consequently, when an operation is performed again after the power interruption where the brake is out of order, the lid lock in the closing state is not released before the prescribed time elapses, which is required to stop the spin-drying tub 3. Thus, the lid 19 is opened only after the reliable stop of rotation in the spin-drying tub 3, so that the safe washing machine is provided to a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of restraining an openable / closable lid in a closed state for safety.

  Conventionally, for the sake of safety, this type of washing machine employs a structure in which the rotating structure is restrained (locked) so that the lid cannot be opened so that the rotating structure is not touched during operation (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

  FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the water receiving tank 51 includes a washing / dehydrating tank (hereinafter referred to as a dehydrating tank) 53 in which a pulsator 52 is rotatably arranged at the bottom, and is attached to the washing machine outer frame 55 by a suspension bar 54. It is suspended and supported for vibration isolation.

  The rotation of the motor 56 fixed to the outer bottom portion of the water receiving tank 51 is transmitted to the rotation of the pulsator 52 or the dewatering tank 53 via the clutch mechanism 57 provided with a brake structure, and driving for washing, dewatering and the like is performed. The clutch mechanism 57 provided with the brake structure performs switching between braking and release of rotation of the dewatering tank 53 and switching between washing and dewatering operation by the operation of the geared motor 67 disposed on the lower surface of the water receiving tank 51.

  The drainage valve 58 drains the washing liquid in the water receiving tub 51, and the water supply valve 59 inside the panel unit 60 at the upper part of the washing machine outer frame 55 is a valve for supplying water into the dehydration tank 53.

  The lid 61 covers the upper part of the dewatering tank 53 and is pivotally supported by the panel portion 60 so as to be openable and closable around the lid shaft 62. The lid 61 is configured such that a lock pin 65 is engaged with a lock portion 63 formed on the lower surface of the lid by operating a solenoid 64 that is a lid lock means disposed on the panel portion 60, so that the lid 61 is closed and cannot be opened. It becomes a safety mechanism during operation.

  The control device 66 drives the motor 56, the geared motor 67, the drain valve 58, the water supply valve 59, etc., and controls a series of processes such as washing, rinsing and dehydration.

  As a general configuration, the control device 66, except for a momentary power failure in a micro time period, resets the progress of the stroke once the power is turned off due to a power failure or the like. do not do.

  In the above configuration, at the beginning of use, the control device 66 confirms the state of the solenoid 64 as the lid locking means when energized, and if it is in the locked state, it drives the solenoid 64 as the lid locking means. By releasing the lid lock, the lid 61 can be freely opened and closed, and preparations for washing such as putting laundry clothes and detergent into the dewatering tank 53 can be advanced.

The control device 66 drives the solenoid 64 that is a lid lock means for safety at the start of operation, and restrains (locks) the lid 61 in the closed state. Thereafter, when the washing and rinsing are completed, the drain valve 58 is opened, and the washing liquid in the water receiving tank 51 is drained. When drainage is completed, the brake in the clutch mechanism 57 is released by driving the geared motor 67 so that the dewatering tank 53 can be rotated.

Next, the motor 56 is energized to enter a dehydration process in which the dehydration tank 53 is rotated at a high speed. After performing the dehydration process, the dewatering tank 53 is stopped by the braking force of the brake structure by reverse driving of the geared motor 67, and when the dewatering tank 53 stops, the solenoid 64 is driven to release the lid lock.
JP 2004-81648 A

  However, in the conventional washing machine, when a power failure occurs in the middle of the dehydration process and the power is turned on again, the control device 66 resets the initial state of use, so the control device 66 releases the lid lock. Since the lid can be opened, in the unlikely event that the brake structure is broken, there is a risk that the user may put his hand into the dewatering tank 53 that is rotating in inertia.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems. When the lid 61 is locked when the power is turned on, the lid lock is released after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the dehydration tank 53 is used when the inertial rotation is performed. It aims at providing the washing machine which avoids the danger that a person will put a hand.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a washing / dehydrating tub that is rotatably disposed in a water receiving tub, a lid that covers an upper portion of the washing / dehydrating tub, and the washing / demounting tub. A motor for driving the water tank, a lid opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the lid, a lid locking means for restraining the lid in a closed state, a control means for sequentially controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration, A power-on means for turning on power to the control means, wherein the control means detects the open / closed state of the lid when the power is turned on from the power-on means, and the lid lock means When the lid is locked in the closed state, the lid locking means is driven to change to the lid unlocked state after a predetermined time longer than the longest time necessary for the washing and dewatering tub to stop. It is what I did.

  As a result, when the brake is broken and restarted after a power failure, the control means releases the lid lock after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing and dewatering tub to stop. Since the lid can be opened after the rotation of the dewatering tank has stopped reliably, a safe washing machine can be provided to the user.

  According to the washing machine of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the risk of putting a hand into the rotating dewatering tank even if the brake is broken and restarted after a power failure.

A first invention includes a washing and dewatering tub that is rotatably disposed in a water receiving tub, a lid that covers an upper portion of the washing and dehydrating tub, a motor that drives the washing and dehydrating tub, and opening and closing of the lid A lid opening / closing detection means for detecting the lid, a lid locking means for restraining the lid in a closed state, a control means for sequentially controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration, and a power-on means for turning on the control means And when the power is turned on from the power-on means, the control means detects the open / closed state of the lid, and the lid lock means is locked in the closed state. A state where the brake is broken by driving the lid locking means to change to the lid unlocking state after the elapse of a predetermined time longer than the longest time necessary for the washing and dewatering tub to stop. In addition, the washing and dewatering tank is fast Even if the power is turned on in the inertial rotation state, the control means only releases the lid lock after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing / dehydrating tub to stop. Since the lid can be opened only when it is securely stopped, safety can be improved.

  In particular, the second invention includes a power failure detection means for detecting that a power failure has occurred and a storage means for storing that a power failure has occurred in the first invention, and the control means stores the memory in the storage means. Only when a power failure is detected depending on the contents, when the power is turned on from the power-on means, the lid open / close detection means detects the lid open / closed state, and the lid lock means is locked to the lid closed. After a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing / dehydrating tank to stop, the lid lock means is driven to change to the lid unlocked state. When the vehicle is restarted later, an abnormal state of power failure is detected, and the control means releases the lid lock only after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing and dehydrating tub to stop. Dehydration tank times So can not open the lid only in the state of being surely stopped, it is possible to increase the safety.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the control means of the first or second aspect of the invention is configured such that when the power is turned on from the power-on means only when a power failure that occurs during the dehydration operation is detected by the storage means, When the lid open / close detection means detects the lid open / closed state and the lid lock means is locked to the lid closed, a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing and dewatering tub to stop After the elapse of time, the control means is allowed to change to the lid unlocking state by driving the lid locking means. Since the lid lock is released only after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the dehydration tank to stop, the lid cannot be opened when the washing / dehydration tank is rotating, and the washing / dehydration tank Is rotating Since it to be opened immediately the lid is in the absence, to increase the safety, wasteful wait time is also avoided to occur.

  According to a fourth invention, the control means according to any one of the first to third inventions is provided with a display means, and after the power is turned on, the lid lock means is driven and the lid is closed for a predetermined time. Since the lid lock state is displayed on the display means while the operation is continued, the user knows that the control means has delayed the lid lock release for safety. Can be avoided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a control circuit block diagram of the washing machine, and FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the washing machine.

  The rotation of the motor 12 fixed to the outer bottom of the water receiving tank 1 is transmitted to the rotation of the pulsator 2 for washing and stirring or the dehydrating tank 3 during dehydration through the belt 13 and the clutch mechanism 14.

  The clutch mechanism 14 is provided with a clutch structure (not shown) for switching between rotation of the pulsator 2 and high-speed rotation of the dewatering tank 3, and a brake 15 for braking the rotation of the dewatering tank 3. It is driven by a motor 16.

  A lid 19 is configured to be openable and closable on the upper surface of the panel unit 6 disposed above the washing machine outer frame 5, and has a display means 27 for controlling the entire washing machine process inside the panel unit 6. A control device 22 is provided.

A magnet 24 is provided at the front end portion of the lid 19, and is arranged so as to face the magnetosensitive element 21 attached to the panel portion 6. The magnetic sensing element 21 is constituted by a Hall IC or the like, and detects the opening / closing of the lid 19 by the magnetic force lines of the magnet 24 provided on the lid 19. The magnetic sensing element 21 and the magnet 24 function as the lid opening / closing detection means 20. To do.

  Further, the lid 19 has a ring-shaped lock portion 37 at the front end portion, and constitutes a lid lock means 35 for fitting the lock pin 36 into the ring-shaped lock portion 37 with the lid 19 closed. 19 can be restrained in the closed state. The lid lock means 35 is composed of a solenoid, a heart cam, and the like. The lid lock means 35 can be switched between lock and unlock each time power is supplied, and the current state can be maintained even when the power is turned off.

  In the control circuit block diagram of FIG. 2, the control device 22 has a control means 26 constituted by a microprocessor or the like, a display means 27, an input setting means 28, a power switching means 25, etc., and each of washing, rinsing and dewatering. Control the process sequentially.

  The power switching means 25 controls energization of the motor 12, the geared motor 16, the drain valve 17, the water supply valve 18, etc. according to the output of the control means 26.

  The display means 27 is composed of a light emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and is disposed on the upper part of the washing machine main body, and can display a driving state by letters and numbers.

  The input setting means 28 is a function that is directly operated by the user, and performs a desired input operation such as start of washing machine operation or selection of a washing course.

  The lid opening / closing detection means 20 detects the opening / closing of the lid 19 by the magnetic lines of the magnet 24 provided on the lid 19, and inputs the output of the magnetosensitive element 21 to the control means 26.

  When the power switch 31 is turned on, the control means 26 is energized to start control, and when the power switch 31 is turned off, all loads can be powered off.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the operation is started by the input setting unit 28 (step S101), the control unit 26 detects the opening / closing of the lid 19 by the lid opening / closing detection unit 20 (step S102), and controls the standby until it is closed.

  When the lid 19 is detected to be closed by the lid opening / closing detection means 20 (closed), the lid locking means 35 is driven to lock the lid 19 in a closed state so as not to open (step S103). In step S120, the display means informs that the lid is closed, and the process starts (step S104).

  Next, when the process is stopped for some reason (for example, a power failure or the end of the process) in (Step S105), all the controls are reset (Step S106).

  If a power failure occurs during operation, energization of the motor 12 is stopped, the energization of the geared motor 16 is also stopped, the brake 15 is operated, the rotation of the dewatering tank 3 is braked, and the stroke control is performed. Has also reset.

In this state, when the user turns on the power switch 31 (step S107), the control means 26 confirms the state of the lid locking means 35 (step S108). If the lid is not in the closed locked state (NO), the user directly waits for an input instruction (step S109).
.

  In the case of the lid closed lock state (YES) in (Step S108), a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) set longer than the longest time required for the dehydration tank 3 to stop in (Step S110) has elapsed. The lid lock is continued until it is done (step S110), and in step S111, the display means informs that the lid is in the locked state, and if the predetermined time has elapsed (YES), the lid lock means 35 is driven and closed. The state lock is released (step S112).

  About the washing machine comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  When the product is in normal condition, the dehydration tank stops rotating to activate the brake. However, when the brake is broken, the braking force does not act and the dewatering tank rotates by inertia.

  Therefore, the control means is necessary for stopping the dehydration tank when the lid is in the locked state when the power switch is turned on as shown in (Step S107) to (Step S110) in FIG. It is configured to wait until a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) set longer than the longest time elapses, and then drive the lid lock means 35 to release the lock. During this time, the display unit 27 displays a display indicating that the lock release is awaited, thereby informing the user that the user is waiting for the lock release.

  The time until the dewatering tank 3 is stopped is the moment of inertia of the rotating system such as the dewatering tank, the amount of cloth in the dewatering tank 3, the rotation speed of the dewatering, the fluctuation of the belt tension, the bias of the cloth in the dewatering tank 3, etc. Varies depending on Accordingly, the time required for the dehydration tank 3 to stop when the brake 15 is broken is set to a time longer than the longest time among these times. In a general washing machine, since it is empirically known that the predetermined time is about 80 to 180 seconds, the predetermined time can be set.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the event of a power failure, even if the brake is in a broken state and the power is turned on while the washing and dewatering tub is in inertial rotation, the control means is the inertial rotation of the washing and dewatering tub. Since the lid lock is released only after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for stopping the machine, it is possible to open the lid only when the washing and dehydrating tub is reliably stopped. A washing machine can be provided. In addition, by notifying that the lock is not released until the safety state is entered, the user can grasp the cause of the lid being in the locked state, so there is no misunderstanding such as a failure and the usability is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a control circuit block diagram of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the washing machine.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 22 comprises a power failure detection means 33 and a storage means 34 together with a control means 26 that sequentially controls each process of washing, rinsing, and dehydration. The power failure information can be input from the power failure detection means 33 to the control means 26 and can be stored.

  The storage means 34 is constituted by a nonvolatile storage element such as an EEPROM which is a semiconductor memory, and the storage contents are held even when power is not supplied.

  Therefore, the control means 26 detects the information at the time of the power outage, stores it in the storage means 34, records the situation where the power outage occurred, and knows whether the power outage occurred during the dehydration process. it can.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. When the operation is started by the input setting unit 28 (step S201), the control unit 26 detects the opening / closing of the lid 19 by the lid opening / closing detection unit 20 ( In step S202), standby control is performed until it is closed.

  When the lid 19 detects the closed state by the lid opening / closing detection means 20 (closed), the lid locking means 35 is driven to lock the lid 19 so that the lid 19 does not open (step S203) (step S220). ), The display means informs that the lid is in the locked state, and the process starts (step S204).

  Next, when the process is stopped for some reason in (Step S205), the reason for the process stop is detected (Step S206), and when a series of processes of washing, rinsing, and dehydration is completed, or temporarily stopped by the input setting means 28 Is input, the lid locking means 35 is driven in the normal state to release the lid closing lock (step S207).

  As a result, the lid 19 can be freely opened (step S208), and for example, work such as addition or removal of clothing can be performed.

  If a power failure occurs during operation, the power failure detection means 33 records the occurrence of the power failure in the storage means 34 (step S211). If a power failure occurs during the dehydration operation, the power failure is dehydrated in the recording means 34. Also record what happened while driving.

  At the same time, it is input to the control means 26 and immediately controls the power switching means 25 to stop the energization of the motor 12 and the geared motor 16 (step S209). A brake is applied to the rotation (step S210).

  When the user turns on the power switch 31 (step S212), the control means 26 confirms the state of the lid lock means 35 with the lid open / close detection means 20 (step S213). Waits for an input instruction from (step S214).

  If the lid is closed (step S213) and locked (YES), the power failure state is confirmed from the information stored in the storage means 34, and the memory of (step S211) is checked for power failure during the dehydration process (step S215). If NO is not the dehydration process (NO), the lid lock is released in (Step S216) (S216).

  If there is a power failure during the dehydration process (YES), a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) set longer than the longest time required for the dehydration tank 3 to stop from inertial rotation assuming a brake failure has elapsed. Until it is closed (step S217), and (step S219) informs the display means that the lid is in the locked state, and if the predetermined time has elapsed (YES), the lid lock means 35 is driven. The lock is released (step S218).

  About the washing machine in Embodiment 2 comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  The control device 22 includes a power failure detection means 33 and a storage means 34. When a power failure occurs, the power failure detection means 33 inputs the power failure information to the control means 26 and stores (memory) the power failure information. .

Therefore, since the process stop described in (step S205) to (step S206) in FIG. 5 is a stop in normal use or an abnormal stop due to a power failure, the subsequent control measures are dealt with. In a normal case other than a power failure (step S207), the lid lock is quickly released so that the next operation can be started.

  If it is a power failure state, the steps to unlock the lid described after (Step 211) are promoted.

  Further, even if the control of the stroke operation is reset when a power failure occurs, the power failure detection means and the storage means recognize in which step the power failure occurred in (step S211) in FIG. In this case, the lid is kept locked for a predetermined time, and the lid can be opened immediately in a power failure state in which the dehydrating tank does not rotate by inertia, so that it is possible to avoid useless waiting time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, only when the dewatering tub is rotating, the control means locks the lid only after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing and dewatering tub to stop. Since it is not released, the lid lock can be released as soon as the power switch is turned on when the dehydrating tank is not rotating, which increases safety and improves usability.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention has a configuration in which the lid lock is not released until the rotating body in a state where the brake is broken is in a coasting rotation until it is in a safe state when restarting after a power failure. It can also be applied to applications such as centrifuges and dehydrators.

Sectional drawing of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Control circuit block diagram of washing machine Operation flowchart of the washing machine Control circuit block diagram of washing machine in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Operation flowchart of the washing machine Cross section of a conventional washing machine

Explanation of symbols

1 Water receiving tank 3 Washing / dehydration tank (dehydration tank)
12 Motor 19 Lid 20 Lid Open / Close Detection Unit 26 Control Unit 27 Display Unit 31 Power Switch (Power-On Unit)
33 Power failure detection means 34 Storage means 35 Lid lock means 37 Lock part

Claims (4)

A washing / dehydrating tub rotatably disposed in the water receiving tub, a lid that covers the upper portion of the washing / dehydrating tub, a motor that drives the washing / dehydrating tub, and a lid opening / closing detection that detects opening / closing of the lid Means, lid locking means for restraining the lid in the closed state, control means for sequentially controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration, and power-on means for turning on power to the control means, the control means When the power is turned on from the power-on means, the lid open / close detection means detects the open / closed state of the lid, and when the lid lock means is locked to the lid closed, the washing and dewatering tub A washing machine in which the lid locking means is driven to change to a lid unlocking state after a predetermined time longer than the longest time necessary for the machine to stop. A power failure detection means for detecting that a power failure has occurred and a storage means for storing that a power failure has occurred, and the control means is a power-on means only when a power failure is detected by the storage contents of the storage means When the power is turned on, the lid open / close detection means detects the open / closed state of the lid, and if the lid lock means is locked to the lid closed, the longest necessary for stopping the washing / dehydrating tub The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein after a predetermined time longer than the time elapses, the lid locking means is driven to change to a lid unlocking state. The control means detects the open / closed state of the lid when the power is turned on from the power-on means only when a power failure that occurs during the dehydration operation is detected by the storage means. When the lock means is locked in the lid closed state, the lid lock means is driven to release the lid lock after a predetermined time longer than the longest time required for the washing and dewatering tub to stop. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing machine is changed to. The control means includes a display means, and after the power is turned on, the lid lock means is driven to display the lid lock state on the display means while the lid lock state continues for a predetermined time. Item 4. The washing machine according to any one of Items 1 to 3.