JP2010213743A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that noise and vibrations are increased when dehydration operations or the like are performed without properly installing a washing machine body of a drum type washing machine so that it may be horizontal with respect to the floor because a clearance between the washing machine body and a water receiving tub becomes small and the balance of the washing machine itself is lost. <P>SOLUTION: The washing machine includes an acceleration detecting means 15 which can detect acceleration of perpendicular two axes or three axes and is attached to the water receiving tub including a rotary drum or to the washing machine body. It also performs special operations for confirming whether the washing machine is properly set. Then, it is detected whether the washing machine is horizontally installed by a detection value detected by the acceleration detecting means 15. If it is detected, an installation person or a user is informed accordingly before starting washing operations and is prompted to set the washing machine horizontally. In this manner, generation of large noise or vibrations during dehydration can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that performs washing, rinsing, and dewatering in a rotating drum having a rotation center axis in a substantially horizontal direction or a substantially inclined direction.

Conventionally, this type of washing machine includes a rotating drum that can store laundry and can rotate about a horizontal axis in a water receiving tub, and the water receiving tub can be opened and closed by a door on the front side thereof. The washing, rinsing, and dewatering processes are performed by putting the laundry into the rotating drum from the clothing doorway and controlling the water injection and drainage into the water receiving tub and the rotation of the rotating drum. ing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-212393 (pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1)

  However, in such a conventional configuration, when the washing machine is installed in a tilted state where the floor on which the washing machine is installed is not horizontal, vibration and noise during dehydration are large even if the laundry is slightly biased. There was a problem of becoming.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and by detecting the inclination of the floor surface on which the washing machine is installed only by a simple operation and notifying the installer or user of this fact, the washing machine body The purpose is to reduce vibration and noise during dehydration by urging the operator to correct the inclination and operating in a horizontal state.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating drum having a rotating shaft in a substantially horizontal direction or a direction inclined from the horizontal direction, a water tub containing the rotating drum elastically supported in a washing machine body, and a rotating drum. A drum drive motor for rotating the motor, an acceleration of two or three axes orthogonal to each other, an acceleration detection means attached to the aquarium or the washing machine body, an input setting means for setting an operation course, etc. Control means for controlling the washing operation, wherein the control means allows the input setting means to set a special operation operation for confirming whether the washing machine is correctly installed, and the input setting means to perform the special operation. When the operation is set, it is detected whether the washing machine body is installed horizontally based on the detection values of the three axes or two axes detected by the acceleration detection means, and the detection result and It is obtained so as to store in the storage means whether the special running operation has been performed.

  As a result, when performing normal operation, the user can be informed of the detection result and whether the special operation operation has been performed to check whether the washing machine is set correctly before starting the washing operation. The person can determine whether the washing machine needs to be leveled. And the vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying | dehydration can be reduced by adjusting a washing machine horizontally.

  The washing machine of the present invention can inform the installer or the user of the inclination of the floor on which the washing machine is installed, and the washing machine body can be operated without inclination, Vibration and noise can be reduced.

The first invention is a rotating drum having a rotating shaft in a substantially horizontal direction or a direction inclined from the horizontal direction, a water tank containing the rotating drum elastically supported in the washing machine body, and a drum for rotationally driving the rotating drum. The drive motor can detect the acceleration of two or three axes orthogonal to each other, the acceleration detection means attached to the aquarium or the washing machine body, the input setting means for setting the driving course, the detection value of the acceleration detection means, etc. Storage means and control means for controlling a series of washing operations, and a control means for controlling a series of washing operations, wherein the control means is configured so that the washing machine is correctly installed by the input setting means. When the special setting operation is set by the input setting means, the three-axis or two-axis detection detected by the acceleration detecting means is set. By detecting whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally according to the value and storing the result of detection and whether this special operation operation was performed in the storage means, the next time the washing operation is performed The contents can be notified to the user, and the washing machine body can be urged to be leveled. And the vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying | dehydration can be reduced by adjusting a washing machine horizontally.

  According to a second invention, there is provided display means for displaying a driving course or the like in the first invention, and the control means is a special driving operation for confirming whether the washing machine is set correctly before starting the washing operation. When the normal operation is performed by reading out the detection result from the storage means and displaying it on the display means, it is confirmed whether the washing machine is set correctly before starting the washing operation. Therefore, the user can be notified of whether or not the special driving operation has been performed, and the user can determine whether or not the washing machine needs to be leveled. And the vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying | dehydration can be reduced by adjusting a washing machine horizontally.

  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)
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating drum 1 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a large number of water passage holes 2 are provided on the entire surface of the rotating drum 1. The rotating drum 1 is rotatably disposed in the water receiving tank 3. A rotation axis (rotation center axis) 4 is provided at the rotation center of the rotary drum 1 in a substantially inclined direction, and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 1 is inclined downward from the front side toward the back side. A motor 5 attached to the back surface of the water receiving tank 3 is connected to the rotating shaft 4 to drive the rotating drum 1 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. Several protruding plates 6 are provided on the inner wall surface of the rotating drum 1.

  The opening provided in the upward inclined surface on the front side of the water receiving tub 3 is covered with a lid 7 so that it can be opened and closed. By opening the lid 7, the laundry can be taken in and out of the rotary drum 1 through the clothing entrance 8. ing. Since the lid 7 is provided on the upward inclined surface, the laundry can be taken out without bending the waist.

  The water receiving tub 3 is suspended from the washing machine main body 9 by a spring body (not shown) so as to be swingable. One end of the drainage passage 10 is connected to the lower portion of the water receiving tub 3 and the other end of the drainage passage 10 is connected to the water receiving tub 3. The washing water in the water receiving tank 3 is drained by connecting to the drain valve 11. The water supply valve 12 supplies water into the water receiving tank 3 through the water supply path 13.

  Two height adjusting functions 14 are attached to both ends of the washing machine main body 9 so that the main body height can be adjusted. The height adjusting function 14 has a screw attached to the object itself, and is attached to the washing machine main body 9 via the screw. When turned clockwise, the height is reduced, and when turned counterclockwise, the height is lowered, whereby the height of the washing machine body 9 can be adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the acceleration sensor 15 is configured to detect acceleration in the three axes directions of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis that are orthogonal to each other, and is attached to the upper part of the water receiving tank 3, mainly during dehydration. The vibration of the water receiving tub 3 or the washing machine main body 9 is detected. The X axis detects the longitudinal direction of the water receiving tank 3, the Y axis detects the lateral direction of the water receiving tank 3, and the Z axis detects the acceleration in the direction perpendicular to the water receiving tank 3. When the washing machine main body is installed horizontally with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), the acceleration as shown in FIG. 7 is applied to the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, and the acceleration sensor 15 applies the acceleration of each of the three axes. Detect. Since gravitational acceleration 9.8 m / s ² works in the vertical direction, when the rotating drum 1 is inclined by 20 °, it is 9.8 × cos 20 ° m / s ^{2 in} the Z-axis direction. An acceleration of 9.8 × sin 20 ° m / s ² works in the acceleration and the X-axis direction. Since the Y axis is perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration, the acceleration is zero.

That is, when the washing machine body is installed to be tilted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), acceleration different from that described above acts on each of the three axes. Can be detected. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the angle is α ° in the front-rear direction (when the front side is higher than the back side and is inclined α °), and the angle is β ° in the left-right direction (the right side is the left side when viewed from the front side). In contrast, when tilted, the tilts α ° and β ° can be detected from the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis accelerations detected respectively gx1, gy1, and gz1. . Since the relationship of (α + 20) ° = tan ⁻¹ (gx1 / gz1) and β ° = tan ⁻¹ (gy1 / gz1) holds, the acceleration gx1, gy1, and gz1 detected by the acceleration sensor 14 determine the front and rear of the washing machine body. The direction inclination α ° and the left-right direction inclination β ° can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 4 is provided in a substantially inclined direction at the rotation center of the rotary drum 1 and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 1 is inclined downward from the front side to the back side. However, the rotating shaft 4 may be provided in the substantially horizontal direction at the center of rotation of the rotating drum 1 and the axial center direction of the rotating drum 1 may be disposed in the substantially horizontal direction.

  The control device 16 is configured as shown in FIG. 1 and includes a microcomputer that controls operations of the motor 5, the drain valve 11, the water supply valve 12, and the like, and sequentially controls a series of steps of washing, rinsing, and dewatering. Control means 17 is provided. The control means 17 inputs information from the input setting means 18 for setting the driving course and the like, and displays the information on the display means 19 based on the information to notify the user, and starts the operation by the input setting means 18. Is set, the switching means 21 is controlled via the switching means drive circuit 20, the operations of the drain valve 11, the water supply valve 12, etc. are controlled, and the washing operation is performed.

  At this time, the control means 17 controls the rotation of the motor 5 by controlling the inverter 24 via the inverter drive circuit 23 based on the information from the position detection means 22 for detecting the position of the rotor of the motor 5. ing. Although the motor 5 is a direct current brushless motor, although not shown, it is composed of a stator having a three-phase winding and a rotor having a two-pole permanent magnet disposed on the ring, and the stator has a three-phase winding. The first winding 5a, the second winding 5b, and the third winding 5c to be configured are wound around an iron core provided in a slot.

  The inverter 24 is constituted by a switching element composed of a parallel circuit of a power transistor (IGBT) and a reverse conducting diode. A series circuit of a first switching element 24a and a second switching element 24b, a series circuit of a third switching element 24c and a fourth switching element 24d, and a fifth switching element 24e and a sixth switching element 24f A series circuit is configured, and the series circuit of each switching element is connected in parallel.

Here, both ends of the series circuit of the switching elements are input terminals, connected to a DC power source, and output terminals are respectively connected to connection points of two switching elements constituting the series circuit of the switching elements. The output terminal is connected to the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal of the three-phase winding, and the U terminal, V terminal, and W terminal are connected by the on / off combination of two switching elements constituting the series circuit of the switching element. The three states are positive voltage, zero voltage, and release, respectively.

  On / off of the switching element is controlled by the control means 17 on the basis of information from the three position detection means 22a, 22b, and 22c comprising Hall ICs. The position detection means 22a, 22b, and 22c are arranged on the stator so as to face the permanent magnets of the rotor at an electrical angle of 120 degrees.

  During one rotation of the rotor, the three position detecting means 22a, 22b, and 22c each output a pulse at an electrical angle of 120 degrees. The control unit 17 detects when the signal state of any of the three position detection units 22a, 22b, and 22c changes, and based on the signals of the position detection units 22a, 22b, and 22c, the switching elements 24a to 24f. By changing the on / off state, the U terminal, the V terminal, and the W terminal are brought into three states of positive voltage, zero voltage, and release, and the first winding 5a, the second winding 5b, and the third winding of the stator. The coil 5c is energized to create a magnetic field and rotate the rotor.

  The switching elements 24a, 24c, and 24e are each controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM). For example, the rotational speed of the rotor is controlled by controlling the energization ratio of high and low at a repetition frequency of 10 kHz. The control means 17 detects the cycle each time the signal state of any of the three position detection means 22a, 22b, 22c changes, calculates the rotational speed of the rotor from that period, and sets it to the set rotational speed. The switching elements 24a, 24c, and 24e are PWM-controlled.

  The commercial power supply 25 is connected to the inverter 24 via a DC power supply conversion device including a diode bridge 26, a choke coil 27, and a smoothing capacitor 28. However, this is an example, and the configuration of the DC brushless motor 5, the configuration of the inverter 24, and the like are not limited thereto.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the input setting means 18 includes a washing time setting switch 18a for setting the washing time, a rinsing frequency setting switch 18b for setting the rinsing frequency, a dehydration time setting switch 18c for setting the dehydration time, and a course setting switch 18d. , A start / pause switch 18e, a power-on switch 18f, and a power-off switch 18g. If the other switch (washing time setting switch 18a) is pressed when the power switch 18f is turned on, the control unit 17 has correctly installed the washing machine in the installation work when the washing machine is purchased. Is set to a special operation mode for confirming the installation state and a special operation mode for product inspection in the factory.

  The display means 19 includes a washing time display section 19a, a rinse count display section 19b, a dehydration time display section 19c, a course setting display section 19d, a remaining time display section 19e, a number display section 19f, an installation confirmed display section 19g, and an installation failure display. Part 19h and the like.

  The storage means 30 is composed of a non-volatile memory or the like in which the stored contents are not lost even if power is not supplied, and can store the operation setting contents, the number of operations, and the like.

  The position detecting means 22 detects the position of the rotor of the motor 5 and outputs four pulses while the rotating drum 1 rotates once by the rotation of the rotor (in this embodiment, the rotation of the rotating drum 1). Since the number of rotations of the motor 5 is the same, four pulses are output while the motor 5 rotates once), and the rotation of the motor 5 can be detected by this output pulse. Alternatively, it can function as a rotation detection means for detecting the rotation state of the motor 5.

  The control means 17 determines the special operation mode for checking the installation state or the product in the factory according to the setting state of the input setting means 18 (for example, the power-on switch 18g is turned on while the washing time setting switch 18a is turned on). The special operation mode for inspection is set.

  The special operation mode for checking the installation state is that tap water is supplied to the water supply valve 12 from the water tap (whether the water supply valve 12 to the water tap is correctly connected via the water supply hose, In this state, the washing tap is mainly used in the operation for confirming whether the water tap is open) and for confirming whether the drain valve 11 is properly drained through the drain hose. This is a special operation mode that is performed when purchasing the first installation.

  In addition, in this special operation mode, an operation mode for confirming whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally is also provided. In this operation mode, it is detected whether the washing machine body is placed horizontally by the acceleration in the triaxial direction detected by the acceleration sensor 15, and if it is detected that the washing machine body is not placed horizontally, the display means 19 or the like is used. , So that it is displayed.

  The special operation mode for product inspection in a factory is an operation motor provided so that it can be easily confirmed in a short time whether the product has been assembled correctly after the product is assembled in the factory.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The operation starts at step 60 in FIG. 5, and the power-on switch 18g is turned on at step 61. At this time, if the washing switch (washing time setting switch) 18a is turned on at step 62, the process proceeds to step 63. Set the operation mode for installation confirmation. The operation mode for checking the installation is to check whether tap water is supplied from the tap to the water supply valve 12, and the drain valve 11 can be drained correctly through the drain hose. This is a special operation mode that is performed when a washing machine is purchased and installed for the first time.

  As an operation, the water supply valve 12 is driven by the control means 17 for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) to supply washing water into the water receiving tub 3, and at this time, the water level in the water receiving tub 3 is detected (water level detection). The means is not shown), and it is determined whether the water has been supplied correctly depending on whether or not the predetermined water level has been reached.

  Further, after the water supply, all the operations are suspended for a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute), and it is detected whether the water level in the water receiving tank 3 has changed. This purpose is an operation for detecting whether or not water leakage has occurred for some reason. If the water level is lowered, it can be determined that water leakage has occurred.

  Then, the drain valve 11 is driven by the control means 17 to drain the washing water in the water receiving tub 3 out of the washing machine main body. After a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes), it is determined whether there is no problem in the drainage path based on whether all the washing water is drained outside the machine.

  In addition to such an operation mode, an operation mode for detecting whether the washing machine main body 9 is correctly installed on the floor surface is provided. As described above, the inclination is detected from the acceleration values of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis detected by the acceleration sensor 15.

  If it is determined in step 62 that the washing switch has not been pressed, the routine proceeds to step 74 where a normal washing operation is performed.

  After step 63, next, in step 64, it is set which operation in the operation mode for installation confirmation is performed. For example, the selection is made by pressing the rinse number setting switch 18b. In step 65, the start / pause switch 18e is pressed to start the operation in the selected operation mode.

  If it is determined in step 66 that the operation mode for confirming whether the washing machine main body is set to be horizontal is selected, the process proceeds to step 67 and the subsequent steps are performed. If it is determined in step 66 that the other operation mode has been selected, the process proceeds to step 75 to perform the operation for confirming water supply and the operation for confirming drainage as described above.

  In the operation mode for checking whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally, in step 67, the acceleration data g1x, g1y, g1z detected by the acceleration sensor 15 is input to the control means 17. . In step 68, it is determined from this acceleration data whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally.

As described above, when the washing machine main body is installed horizontally with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis act as shown in FIG. Each axis acceleration is detected. Since gravitational acceleration 9.8 m / s ² works in the vertical direction, when the rotating drum 1 is inclined by 20 °, it is 9.8 × cos 20 ° m / s ^{2 in} the Z-axis direction. In the acceleration and X-axis direction, an acceleration of 9.8 × sin 20 ° m / s ² works. Since the Y axis is perpendicular to the gravitational acceleration, the acceleration is zero.

  When the washing machine body is installed to be tilted in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction with respect to the ground (that is, the floor surface), the accelerations different from those described above are applied to each of the three axes. be able to. If the inclination in the front-rear direction is α ° and the inclination in the left-right direction is β °, if this angle is within the horizontal permissible range angle, it is determined that the object is placed horizontally. The allowable range angle is, for example, an angle that is ± 1 ° and does not affect dehydration vibration if the inclination is within the range. When the dehydration operation is performed in a state of being inclined more than the allowable range, the gap between the water receiving tub 3 and the washing machine main body 9 becomes narrow, and even with some vibrations, the water receiving tub 3 and the washing machine main body 9 collide, Abnormal noise may be generated. Further, the position of the center of gravity of the water receiving tank 3 or the like is shifted, the balance is deteriorated, and the dehydration vibration may be increased.

If it is determined in step 69 that the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are within the permissible angle, there is no problem, the process proceeds to step 70, and the installation status normal F is set. On the other hand, if the angle is outside the allowable angle, it is determined that the installation is not in a horizontal state, and the process advances to step 76 to set an installation status defect F.
In step 71, the installation operation completed F indicating whether or not the special operation mode for installation confirmation has been implemented is set. In step 72, the presence / absence of the installation status defect F and the installation operation completed F are stored. The information is stored in the means 30, and the operation is terminated in step 73.

(Embodiment 2)
The present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The operation starts at step 80 in FIG. 6, and the power switch 18g is turned on at step 81. At this time, if the washing switch (washing time setting switch) 18a is turned on at step 82, the process proceeds to step 89. Set the operation mode for installation confirmation. The operation mode for checking the installation is to check whether tap water is supplied from the tap to the water supply valve 12, and the drain valve 11 can be drained correctly through the drain hose. This is a special operation mode that is performed when a washing machine is purchased and installed for the first time.

  If it is determined in step 82 that the washing switch has not been pressed, the routine proceeds to step 83 where a normal washing operation is performed.

In step 83, the installation status failure F stored in the storage means 30 in step 72 of FIG.
And the presence / absence of horizontal setting confirmed F are read into the control means 17. In step 84, the presence / absence of the installation confirmed F read from the storage means 30 is determined. If there is, the installation confirmed display section 19g is turned on in step 89, and the user or installation contractor is notified in the past. Informs whether the installation confirmation operation has been performed. As a result, the execution of the special operation mode for checking the installation can be promoted, and the washing machine can be used in the correct state, so that the performance of the washing machine can be fully exhibited.

  In step 85, the presence / absence of the installation status failure F read from the storage means 30 is determined. If there is, the installation failure display unit 19h is turned on in step 90, and the washing machine is notified to the user or the installation contractor. Inform them that they are not installed horizontally. Thereby, it is possible to notify the user or the installation contractor whether the washing machine is correctly placed horizontally, and when it is not installed, it is possible to prompt correct installation. Proper installation can reduce vibration and noise during dehydration.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control means 17 enables the input setting means 18 to set a special driving operation for confirming whether the washing machine is correctly installed, and the input setting means 18 allows the special setting operation to be set. When the driving operation is set, whether the washing machine main body is installed horizontally is detected based on the detection values of the three or two axes detected by the acceleration detecting means 15, and the detection result and the special driving operation are performed. Since 30 is stored in the storage means, the next time the washing operation is performed, the user can be informed of this content and can be urged to level the washing machine body. And the vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying | dehydration can be reduced by adjusting a washing machine horizontally.

  Further, the control means 17 reads out the detection result from the storage means 30 and displays it on the display means 18 as to whether or not a special driving operation for confirming whether the washing machine is correctly set is performed before the washing operation is started. By doing so, when normal operation is performed, the user is informed of the detection result and whether the special operation operation has been performed to check whether the washing machine is set correctly before the start of the washing operation. And the user can determine whether the washing machine needs to be leveled. And the vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying | dehydration can be reduced by adjusting a washing machine horizontally.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can inform the installer or the user of the inclination of the floor on which the washing machine is installed, so that the washing machine body can be operated without inclination. Therefore, it is useful as a washing machine that can reduce vibration and noise during dehydration.

FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Longitudinal section of the washing machine Schematic of acceleration detection means of the washing machine Enlarged front view of input setting means and display means of the washing machine Operation flowchart of horizontal state detection of the washing machine Operation flowchart of horizontal state installation detection of embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic diagram of gravitational acceleration during horizontal installation by acceleration detection means of the present invention Schematic diagram of gravity acceleration at the time of β inclination installation by the acceleration detection means of the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotating drum 3 Water receiving tank 5 Motor 14 Height adjusting means 15 Acceleration detecting means 17 Control means 18 Input setting means 19 Display means 30 Storage means

Claims (2)

A rotating drum having a rotating shaft in a substantially horizontal direction or a direction inclined from the horizontal direction, a water tank containing the rotating drum elastically supported in the washing machine body, and a drum driving motor for rotating the rotating drum are orthogonal to each other. 2-axis or 3-axis acceleration can be detected, acceleration detection means attached to the water tub or washing machine body, input setting means for setting the driving course, etc., storage means for storing the detection value of the acceleration detection means, etc. A control means for controlling a series of washing operations, wherein the control means allows the input setting means to set a special driving operation for confirming whether the washing machine is correctly installed, and the input setting means When the special driving operation is set, the detection of the 3-axis or 2-axis detected by the acceleration detection means detects whether the washing machine body is installed horizontally. Detection result and a washing machine that whether the special running operation is performed to be stored in the storage means. Display means for displaying the driving course, etc., and the control means from the storage means whether or not a special driving operation for confirming whether the washing machine is correctly set has been performed before the washing operation is started. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is read out and displayed by the display means.

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