JP2011193898A - Drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reuse washing water used in a washing or rinsing operation for rinsing for balance correction when the imbalance of a rotating drum is detected in a spin-drying operation.SOLUTION: A drum type washing machine includes: a rotating drum 4 rotatably attached inside an outer tab 3; a discharge valve 108 for discharging washing water (washing water or rinse water); a space 109 expanding a part of a discharge channel which connects a lint filter 109a for capturing lint floating in water in the outer tab 3 and the discharge valve 108; a vibration sensor 118 for detecting imbalance of the rotatinig drum 4 during the spin-drying operation; and a water level sensor 112 for detecting the water level in the outer tab 3. The discharge valve 108 discharges to a predetermined water level where the wash water is eliminated from the rotating drum 4 by the spin-drying operation, and the remaining water in the discharge channel including the space 109 is used for balance correction performed when the rotating drum 4 is unbalanced.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine that performs a series of washing steps of washing, rinsing and dewatering. In particular, a drum-type washing machine that loosens clothes in the rotating drum and performs rinsing (correction rinsing) to correct the balance of the rotating drum when instability (unbalance) of the rotating drum is detected in the dehydrating operation. It is about.

  Conventional drum-type washing machines of this type correct unstable (unbalance) even if a correction rinse is performed, such as when only one piece of relatively heavy clothing (such as jeans or judo clothes) is contained. I couldn't do it, and I tended to use a lot of water by making many correction rinses.

  Therefore, there is a proposal that the water used for washing and rinsing is purified and reused for the next washing or the like (for example, see Patent Document 1). Further, although not a drum-type washing machine, there is a proposal to reuse water used for washing and rinsing in the same manner in a vertical washing machine (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the drum type washing machine includes an outer tub 3 supported by a washing machine outer frame 1 by a suspension (not shown), and a washing and dehydrating tub that rotates around the horizontal axis in the outer tub 3. A rotating drum 4 and a driving means (motor) 5 for driving the rotating drum 4 are provided.

  The drum type washing machine is provided with a dissolving device 9 on both sides of the rear end of the outer tub, and a water storage tank 10 below the outer tub. When washing and rinsing is completed and draining, the drain valve 13 is controlled. Then, the water is switched from the drain pipe 12a to the water storage tank 10 via the water storage pipe 14, and the water used for washing and rinsing is stored in the water storage tank.

  In the same manner, the water supply valve 17 is controlled to switch to a state in which water flows from the water supply port 7 to the water supply pipe 18 for the dissolution apparatus, and water is supplied to the dissolution apparatus 9. The dissolving device 9 generates dissolved water in which aluminum ions are dissolved, supplies the dissolved water to the water storage tank 10 via the water supply pipe 19 for dissolved water, and purifies the water stored in the water storage tank 10. The purified water is used for the next washing through the water return pump 20.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the washing machine described in Patent Document 2. In this washing machine, a water storage tank 53 is provided in the washing machine main body 51 separately from the water tank 52, and the water in the outer tub 3 used for washing or rinsing operation is transferred to the water storage tank 53 by driving the drain valve 13 and the water storage pump 55. Water is stored temporarily, and the stored water is returned to the water tank 52 by the drive of the water return pump 20 and reused in the next washing or rinsing operation.

JP 2007-7155 A JP-A-11-276793

  However, the conventional configuration requires a separate water return pump in order to send the water stored in the water storage tank to the outer tank.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and when the instability (unbalance) of the rotating drum is detected in the dehydrating operation without using a separate water return pump by utilizing the original configuration to the maximum extent. Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type washing machine that can reuse the washing water used in the washing or rinsing operation by correcting the rinsing.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a drum-type washing machine of the present invention includes an outer tub elastically supported by a washing machine outer frame, a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the outer tub, and the rotating drum. A drive means for rotating, a drain means for draining washing water (wash water or rinse water) inside the outer tub, and a lint catch means for catching lint floating in the water in the outer tub are installed. A space in which a part of a drainage path connecting the outer tub and the drainage means is expanded, an unbalance detection means for detecting instability of the rotating drum by a dehydrating operation, and a water level in the outer tub. In a drum-type washing machine having a water level detection means for detecting, the drainage means drains the water to a predetermined water level at which the washing water disappears from the rotating drum in a dehydrating operation, and is performed when the rotating drum becomes unstable. Reims modification is obtained by the use of remaining water drainage path including the space.

  First, the purpose of the dehydrating operation is to remove the washing water from the clothes that are the laundry in the rotating drum. For this reason, the above configuration includes an extended space for draining the washing water to a water level where the washing water is not applied to the clothes (predetermined water level disappearing from the rotating drum) and installing a lint capturing means below the water level. Leave the remaining water in the drainage channel.

  By reusing this remaining water for correction rinsing when the instability of the rotating drum is detected by dewatering operation, the washing water used in the rinsing operation can be maximized by rectifying without using a water return pump or water storage tank. Limited reuse. In recent drum-type washing machines, water saving is sought, and the amount of water supplied into the rotating drum during washing is also reduced. Therefore, in the drum type washing machine, it can be considered that there is a water saving effect by reusing the water remaining in the drainage path.

  The drum-type washing machine of the present invention includes an outer tub elastically supported by an outer frame of the washing machine, a rotating drum that is rotatably mounted in the outer tub, a driving unit that rotates the rotating drum, and the outer drum. In order to install drainage means for draining washing water (washing water or rinsing water) inside the tank and waste thread capturing means for capturing waste thread floating in the water in the outer tank, A space in which a part of a drainage path connecting the drainage means is expanded, an unbalance detection means for detecting instability of the rotating drum in a dehydration operation, a water level detection means for detecting a water level in the outer tub, A water storage means provided in the outer frame, a circulation means attached to the drainage path and for feeding the washing water to the laundry in the rotating drum through the circulation path, and a path for the circulation means to feed the water Or said water storage means In a drum-type washing machine having a path switching means for switching to any one of the connected water storage paths, the path switching means switches the path to the water storage path in a dewatering operation, and the circulation means supplies water to the water storage means to store the washing water. The washing water stored in the water storage means is used in balance correction performed when the rotating drum becomes unstable.

  Thus, when the washing water drained by the dehydration operation is temporarily stored in the water storage means by the existing circulation means (circulation pump) and the instability of the rotating drum is detected by the dehydration operation. By reusing for the correction rinsing, the washing water used in the washing or rinsing operation can be reused as much as possible without the need for a water return pump.

  The drum-type washing machine of the present invention uses the original configuration to the maximum extent, and even if it does not have a separate water return pump, the washing machine used in the washing or rinsing operation when the instability of the rotating drum is detected in the dewatering operation. Water can be reused with a modified rinse.

Sectional drawing of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention The flowchart which shows the flow of the washing process of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine Cross section of a conventional washing machine

  1st invention exists in the said outer tub inside the outer tub elastically supported by the outer frame of the washing machine, the rotating drum rotatably attached in the said outer tub, the drive means to rotate the said rotating drum, In order to install drainage means for draining washing water (washing water or rinsing water) and waste thread capturing means for capturing waste thread floating in the water in the outer tub, the outer tub and the drainage means are provided. In a drum-type washing machine provided with a space in which a part of a drainage path to be connected is expanded, an unbalance detection means for detecting instability of the rotating drum in a dehydration operation, and a water level detection means for detecting a water level in the outer tub, The drainage means drains up to a predetermined water level at which the washing water disappears from the rotating drum in a dewatering operation, and remains in the drainage path including the space by balance correction performed when the rotating drum becomes unstable. Obtain the following effects by using the water.

  First of all, the purpose of the dehydrating operation is to remove the washing water from the clothes, which is the laundry in the rotating drum. For this reason, the above configuration includes an extended space for draining the washing water to a water level where the washing water is not applied to the clothes (predetermined water level disappearing from the rotating drum) and installing a lint capturing means below the water level. Leave the remaining water in the drainage channel.

  The remaining water is reused for correction rinsing when the instability of the rotating drum is detected in the dehydration operation, thereby rinsing the washing water used in the washing or rinsing operation without a water return pump or water storage tank. Can be reused as much as possible. In recent drum-type washing machines, water saving is sought, and the amount of water supplied into the rotating drum during washing is also reduced. Therefore, in the drum type washing machine, it can be considered that there is a water saving effect by reusing the water remaining in the drainage path.

  The second invention is provided in the outer tub, which is elastically supported by the outer frame of the washing machine, a rotating drum that is rotatably mounted in the outer tub, a driving means that rotates the rotating drum, and the outer tub. In order to install drainage means for draining washing water (washing water or rinsing water) and waste thread capturing means for capturing waste thread floating in the water in the outer tub, the outer tub and the drainage means are provided. A space in which a part of the drainage path to be connected is expanded, an unbalance detection means for detecting instability of the rotating drum by dehydration operation, a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the outer tub, and provided in the outer frame A water storage means, a circulation means attached to the drainage path, for sending the washing water to the laundry in the rotating drum through the circulation path, and a path for the water supply by the circulation means to be connected to the circulation path or the water storage means. Is it a water storage route? In a drum type washing machine provided with a path switching means for switching between the two, the path switching means switches the path to the water storage path in a dewatering operation, the circulating means feeds the water to the water storage means, and the washing water is used. By using the washing water stored in the water storage means by balance correction performed when it becomes unstable, the following operational effects are obtained.

  That is, when the washing water drained by the dehydration operation is temporarily stored in the water storage means by the circulation means (circulation pump), and the stored water is detected by the dewatering operation to detect the instability of the rotating drum. By reusing the modified rinsing, the washing water used in the washing or rinsing operation can be reused to the maximum extent by the modified rinsing without the need for a water return pump.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the drum-type washing machine according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention is a cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry put in the rotating drum, and the cloth amount detecting means. The unbalance predicting means for predicting whether or not the rotating drum becomes unstable in the dehydrating operation from the detection result of the above, and only when the unbalance predicting means predicts that the rotating drum becomes unstable in the dewatering operation. By performing drainage up to a predetermined water level or storing water in the water storage means, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, when the amount of laundry (cloth amount) that can be considered as a case where only one piece of clothing having relatively heavy specific gravity (for example, jeans or judo clothes) is accommodated as laundry is small, the unbalance detection means The imbalance prediction means predicts that the instability of the rotating drum will be detected, and it is possible to limit the time when the water is discharged to the predetermined water level or stored in the water storage means.

  In normal dehydration operation, the drainage means (drainage valve) keeps the valve open to drain all the washing water. However, in the present invention, the drainage is stopped when the water level drops to the predetermined water level. Perform valve control to close the valve. At this time, if the rotating drum does not become unstable in the dehydrating operation, the correction rinsing is not performed, so that the valve control is wasted (excess power is consumed).

  Therefore, by performing the limitation, the valve control can be performed only when there is a high possibility that the rotating drum becomes unstable in the dehydrating operation, and the consumption of the extra power can be prevented. Further, by performing the limitation, it is possible to store water in the water storage means only when there is a high possibility that the rotating drum becomes unstable in the dehydrating operation, and when there is little possibility to perform correction rinsing, the circulation means Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption related to the circulating means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the circulation means of the second aspect of the invention is as follows by adjusting the amount of water that the circulation means supplies to the water storage means according to the amount of laundry detected by the cloth amount detection means. To obtain a good effect.

  That is, since the amount of water required for the correction rinsing varies depending on the amount of cloth, the necessary amount of washing water can be stored in the water storage means without sending unnecessary water through the circulation means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the drum type washing machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention includes a soil detection means for detecting the turbidity of water, and when the washing water is below a predetermined turbidity. Only by draining up to the predetermined water level or storing water in the water storage means, the following operational effects are obtained.

  That is, in the case where rinsing is insufficient (the detergent component is left in the laundry clothes), the detergent component and dirt remain in the wash water, and the turbidity of the wash water is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. For this reason, it is necessary to use clean water such as tap water for correction rinsing, and rinse the clothes in the rotating drum and the detergent remaining in the clothes with the correction rinsing. Therefore, only when the washing water is below a predetermined turbidity, draining up to the predetermined water level or storing the water in the water storage means, so that when the rinse is insufficient, tap water is left in the clothing. You can rinse away the detergent.

  In a sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the drum type washing machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention has a plurality of dehydration operations, and the unbalance detection means detects instability of the rotating drum. In this case, in the subsequent dehydration operation, the following operation and effect can be obtained by draining to the predetermined water level or storing water in the water storage means.

  It is possible to prevent the consumption of extra power by performing valve control of the drainage means (drainage valve) only when there is a high possibility that the rotating drum becomes unstable during the dehydration operation. Further, by storing water in the water storage means only when there is a high possibility that the rotating drum will become unstable in the dehydrating operation, the circulation means is not driven when there is a low possibility of performing correction rinsing. It is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption related to the power consumption.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in particular, the drum type washing machine according to any one of the first to sixth aspects includes a softener water supply valve for administering a softener to the laundry in the drum, Only when the washing water is water supplied from the water supply valve for the softener, the following effects are obtained by draining to the predetermined water level or storing water in the water storage means.

  It involves diluting the softener component remaining on the laundry garment when a correction rinse is performed using tap water after the softener is administered. Therefore, by reusing the water containing the softener component, the softener component remaining in the clothing will not be diluted, or the softener component is diluted rather than performing a correction rinse only with tap water. It is possible to perform a modified rinse that does not turn into

  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 section of a drum type washing machine in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the drum type washing machine includes an outer tub 3 supported on a washing machine outer frame 1 by a suspension (not shown), and a washing and dehydrating tub that rotates around the horizontal axis in the outer tub 3. A rotating drum 4 and a driving means (motor) 5 for driving the rotating drum 4 are provided.

  The drum type washing machine is provided with a water supply port 7 on the upper surface of the washing machine outer frame 1 to which a water supply facility 6 can be connected. One end of a main water supply pipe 8 is connected to the water supply port 7, and the other end of the main water supply pipe 8 branches into two and is connected to a detergent water supply valve 101 a and a softener water supply valve 101 b. The detergent water supply valve 101a and the softener water supply valve 101b are connected to the detergent container 102. When the detergent water supply valve 101a is opened, tap water is sent to the detergent space 102a and the detergent placed in the detergent space 102a. Washing water is stored in the outer tub 3 through the water supply pipe 103 as washing water. Further, when the softener water supply valve 101b is opened, the tap water is sent to the softener space 102b and melted into the softener space 102b while passing through the water supply pipe 103 to the outer tub 3 while dissolving the softener. Stored as washing water.

  A water supply switching valve 104 for switching the water supply direction is provided in the middle of the main water supply pipe 8. The water supply switching valve 104 is connected to a state where the tap water supplied from the water supply port 7 is supplied to the detergent water supply valve 101a or the softener water supply valve 101b side (water supply state), and a water storage tank 10 which is a water storage means. The state in which tap water is sent to the auxiliary water supply pipe 105 (water tank washing state) is switched. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the water storage tank 10 is higher than the outer tub 3.

  A drainage port 106 is formed at the lowest position in the outer tub 3, and a drainage pipe 107 serving as a drainage path when draining washing water is connected. The drain pipe 107 extends outside the outer frame 1 of the washing machine, but is provided with a drain valve 108 as a drain means on the way. When washing water is accumulated in the outer tub 3, when the drain valve 108 is opened, the washing water is drained from the drain port 106 to the outside of the washing machine outer frame 1 through the drain pipe 107.

  Further, a space 109 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 107 by extending the drainage path, and a waste thread filter 109a which is a waste thread capturing means that can capture waste thread and take it out from the outside in the space 109. Is provided. When the drain valve 108 is opened and the washing water is drained, the washing water always passes through the waste thread filter 109a. In addition, a dirt detecting means 110 for detecting the degree of dirt of the washing water is provided.

  The dirt detection means (dirt sensor) 110 is composed of a pair of light emitting elements and light receiving elements, and the amount of light reaching the light receiving side from the light emitting side is determined by arranging wash water between the light emitting side and the light receiving side. It detects the amount of dust in the washing water. It is also possible to immerse a pair of electrodes in the washing water and detect the degree of contamination of the washing water based on the magnitude of the current flowing between the electrodes.

  Further, in order to detect the level of the washing water stored in the outer tub 3, a water level detection water pipe 111 is connected from the drain pipe 107, and a water level sensor 112, which is a water level detection means, is connected to the water level detection water pipe 111. Yes. Since the pressure applied to the water level sensor changes when the level of the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 3 changes, the water level sensor 112 detects the level of the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 3 according to the magnitude of the pressure.

  A circulation pump 113 serving as a circulation means is provided below the washing machine outer frame 1 and below the waste thread filter 109a. The circulation pump 113 is connected to an inflow path (inflow water pipe) 114a and a discharge path (discharge water pipe) 114b. The inflow path 114a and the discharge path 114b are collectively referred to as a circulation path.

  In the washing operation and the rinsing operation, the circulation pump 113 supplies the washing water to the clothes as the laundry in the rotating drum 4 through the circulation path. The reason why the circulation pump 113 is below the waste thread filter 109a is to supply the washing water, from which the waste thread has been removed by the waste thread filter 109a, to the clothes that are the laundry in the rotary drum 4. .

  A water supply switching valve 115 as a path switching means is provided in the middle of the discharge path 114b of the circulation path. The water supply switching valve 115 has a state in which the circulation pump 113 supplies the washing water to the rotating drum 4 via the circulation path, and a state in which the washing water is supplied to the water storage path (water storage pipe) 116 connected to the water storage tank 10. Is to switch. The water storage path 116 is provided with a second drain valve 117, and water (washing water) in the water storage path and the water storage tank is drained via the drain path 107 when the second drain valve 117 is open. It can be done.

  The outer tub 3 is provided with a vibration sensor 118 that is an imbalance detection means for detecting instability of the rotating drum 4 during the dehydration operation, and the magnitude of vibration detected by the vibration sensor 118 is greater than a predetermined value. In this case, instability of the rotating drum 4 is detected. The drum type washing machine of the present embodiment receives information detected by sensors such as the dirt sensor 110 and the water level sensor 112 by a control means (not shown), and the driving means 5, the drain valve 108, the detergent. The device such as the water supply valve 101a is controlled.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a series of washing steps of the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment. The washing process is roughly divided into a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process. In this example, rinsing is performed twice. After the washing and the first rinsing, intermediate dehydration is performed, and the laundry, which is the laundry, is dehydrated to disperse the permeated detergent and improve the rinsing performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, final dehydration and two intermediate dehydrations (three dehydration operations) are performed during the washing process.

  The correction rinsing is performed when the vibration sensor 118 detects the instability of the rotating drum 4 more than a predetermined number of times before the rotating drum 4 rotates more than the predetermined number of rotations in the dehydrating operation. However, correction rinsing (correction rinsing (1)) performed when instability of the rotating drum 4 is detected during intermediate dehydration (dehydration failed) and instability of the rotating drum 4 is detected during final dehydration (dehydration failed). This is different from the modified rinse (modified rinse (2)) performed in this case.

  That is, if the correct rinse (1) is performed, the failed intermediate dehydration is not retried and the next operation rinse operation is performed, whereas if the correct rinse (2) is performed, the failed final dehydration is retried, and the rotation is retried again. When instability of the drum 4 is detected, the correction rinse (2) and the final dewatering retry are repeated. This repetition has an upper limit, and an error is displayed when the upper limit is exceeded.

  Before performing the dehydration operation, the drain valve 108 is opened to drain the washing water in the outer tub 3. There are two types of drainage: the case where the clothes in the rotating drum are washed up to a level where no washing water is applied to the clothes, and the case where all the washing water is drained. The water level is the lowest position of the rotating drum 4 (a point indicated by 120).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment. In the drum type washing machine, when the dewatering operation is started, first, in order to determine whether or not the final dewatering is performed, the water supply valve that supplies the washing water to the outer tub 3 by the last washing or rinsing operation is the water supply valve 101a for the detergent. It is checked whether the water supply valve 101b is softener (S301). When water is supplied by the softener water supply valve 101b, the water level at which the clothes, which are the laundry in the rotating drum, do not irrigate the water in order to leave the softener component in the wash water, at least as compared with the case where the correction rinsing is performed only with tap water. (S302). Further, when water is supplied by the detergent water supply valve 101a, all the washing water is drained (S303).

  And the drive means 5 rotates the rotating drum 4 in order to scatter washing water from clothing (S304). In the dehydrating operation, the rotary drum 4 is finally rotated to the target of about 1000 rpm, but is not changed at a stretch to the target rotational speed, but gradually increased over a little time. At this time, since the washing water scatters from the clothes and falls into the outer tub 3, the water level may rise to a state of being applied to the clothes that are the laundry. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 is detected (S305). The drain valve is opened and closed so as to keep the water level free from washing water (S306).

  Next, in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the rotating drum 4 to the target rotational speed, when the vibration sensor 118 detects instability of the rotating drum 4 during the dehydrating operation (S307), the rotating drum 4 is stopped (S308). ) After rotating the rotating drum 4 at a low speed of 100 rpm or the like to loosen the clothes that are the laundry, the process of step S304 is performed again (retry). At this time, when the number of retries is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (three in the present embodiment), correction rinsing is performed (S309). As for the amount of tap water supplied at the time of the correction rinsing, since the wash water is already left in the drainage path, the amount of tap water supplied is smaller than when the correction rinsing is performed only with the tap water.

  When the correction rinsing is performed, it is determined whether the dehydration operation being performed is final dehydration or intermediate dehydration (S310). If final dehydration is performed, the process returns to step S301 to perform final dehydration again. In the case of intermediate dehydration, the operation proceeds to a water supply operation for the next rinsing.

  In addition, when the instability of the rotating drum 4 is not detected in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the rotating drum 4 to the target rotational speed, including during the retry operation, the retry count is cleared, If the drain valve 108 is closed (S311), the drain valve 108 is opened to drain all the washing water (S312). Then, the rotating drum 4 is rotated at a target rotational speed for a predetermined time (S313), and when the dewatering operation being performed is intermediate dewatering, the operation proceeds to a water supply operation for performing the next rinsing. If it is final dehydration, the washing process is terminated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the correction rinsing is performed in the final dehydration, the washing water containing the softener component is supplied in a state of remaining in the drainage path, so at least the correction rinsing is performed only with tap water. In this case, it is possible to carry out the correction rinsing with the water in which the softener component remains as in the conventional configuration. In addition, there is an effect of saving water because the amount of tap water supplied when performing the correction rinsing is reduced.

  It should be noted that the operation of draining water to a level at which washing water is not applied to the clothes by the dehydration operation and leaving the washing water remaining in the drainage path requires the opening and closing operation of the drain valve 108 several times. Power consumption. Therefore, in the case of final dewatering, if this drainage control is performed only when the instability of the rotating drum 4 has already been detected in intermediate dewatering, the correction rinsing is not performed (the rotating drum 4 is in the dewatering operation). Since this drainage control is not performed when it does not become unstable, it is possible to prevent the consumption of excess power.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment. The configuration of the drum type washing machine is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the drum type washing machine, when the dewatering operation is started, first, in order to determine whether or not the final dewatering is performed, the water supply valve that supplies the washing water to the outer tub 3 by the last washing or rinsing operation is the water supply valve 101a for the detergent. It is checked whether the water supply valve 101b is softener (S401).

  When water is supplied by the softener water supply valve 101b, the water level at which the clothes, which are the laundry in the rotating drum, do not irrigate the water in order to leave the softener component in the wash water, at least as compared with the case where the correction rinsing is performed only with tap water. Until the water is stored (S402). In the water storage operation, the state of the water supply switching valve 115 is switched from a state in which washing water flows to the circulation path 114 to a state in which washing water flows to the water storage path 120, and the circulation pump 113 is operated to store the washing water in the water storage tank 10. That means.

  The amount of water sent from the circulation pump 113 to the water storage tank 10 does not exceed an amount in which the sum of the amount of water sent and the amount of water remaining in the drainage path is equal to the amount of water required for the correction rinse. In addition, the amount of water required for the correction rinse varies depending on the amount of laundry. If the water level in the outer tub 3 does not reach the level at which the clothes do not get washed water even after the water is supplied, the drain valve 108 is opened and the water is drained.

  In addition, when water is supplied by the detergent water supply valve 101a, the degree of dirt (turbidity) of the washing water detected by the dirt sensor 110 and the amount of laundry detected at the start of washing are checked (S401a, S401b), and the washing water is sufficiently clean. When it is predicted that the rotating drum 4 becomes unstable during the dehydrating operation, a water storage operation is performed (S402).

  The reason why the turbidity is not more than the predetermined turbidity is to detect insufficient rinsing because the turbidity increases when the rinsing is insufficient. If rinsing is not enough, correct rinsing is done with tap water only. This is to further dilute the detergent content from clothing. Therefore, when the washing water is larger than the predetermined turbidity, all the washing water is drained (S403).

  The cloth amount detection determination is realized by the control unit and the driving unit 5. The control unit controls the driving means 5 at the start of washing (before the water supply operation in the washing process) to rotate the rotating drum 4, and receives the magnitude of the torque detected by the driving means 5 to determine the amount of laundry. . Then, when the amount of laundry is small, it is considered that only one piece of clothing with relatively heavy specific gravity (for example, jeans or judo clothes) is stored as laundry, and it is predicted that the rotating drum will become unstable during the dehydration operation at that time. The control unit to judge. Therefore, when there is a low possibility that the rotating drum 4 becomes unstable during dehydration, all the washing water is drained (S403).

  And the drive means 5 rotates the rotating drum 4 in order to disperse washing water from clothing (S404). In the dehydrating operation, the rotary drum 4 is finally rotated to the target of about 1000 rpm, but is not changed at a stretch to the target rotational speed, but gradually increased over a little time. At this time, since washing water scatters from the clothes and accumulates in the outer tub 3, the water level may rise to a state of being applied to the clothes that are the laundry, so the water level in the outer tub 3 is detected (S405). The drain valve is opened and closed so as to keep the water level free from washing water (S406).

  Next, in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the rotating drum 4 to the target rotational speed, when the vibration sensor 118 detects instability of the rotating drum 4 during the dehydrating operation (S407), the rotating drum 4 is stopped (S408). ) After rotating the rotating drum 4 at a low speed of 100 rpm or the like to loosen the clothes that are the laundry, the process of step S404 is performed again (retry). At this time, if the number of retries is greater than or equal to a predetermined number (three in the present embodiment), correction rinsing is performed (S409). In the correction rinse, the second drain valve 117 is changed from the normal closed state to the open state, and water is supplied by utilizing the fact that the water storage tank 10 is located higher than the outer tub 3. When the correction rinsing is performed, it is determined whether the dehydration operation being performed is final dehydration or intermediate dehydration (S410). If final dehydration is performed, the process returns to step S401 to perform final dehydration again. In the case of intermediate dehydration, the operation proceeds to a water supply operation for the next rinsing.

  In addition, when the instability of the rotating drum 4 is not detected in the process of increasing the rotational speed of the rotating drum 4 to the target rotational speed, including during the retry operation, the retry count is cleared, If the drain valve 108 is closed (S411), the drain valve 108 is opened to drain all the washing water (S412). Then, the rotating drum 4 is rotated at a target rotation speed for a predetermined time (S413), and when the dewatering operation being performed is intermediate dewatering, the operation proceeds to a water supply operation for performing the next rinsing. If it is final dehydration, the washing process is terminated.

  As described above, in the intermediate dehydration, not all the washing water is drained, but by storing the washing water in the water storage tank 10 by the existing circulation pump 113 and leaving the washing water remaining in the drainage path, The water-saving effect of washing water can be obtained. However, it can be avoided that the detergent component remains in the garment by determining whether the dirt sensor 110 is sufficiently rinsed and limiting the series of operations when the rinse is sufficient. Further, by restricting this series of operations only to a high possibility that the rotating drum 4 becomes unstable at the time of dewatering, when the correction rinsing is not performed (when the rotating drum 4 does not become unstable at the time of the dewatering operation). Since this drainage control and the circulation pump 113 are not performed, it is possible to prevent the consumption of extra power.

  In the present embodiment, the drain valve 108 is closed when the circulation pump 113 supplies water to the water storage tank 10, but the drainage time may be reduced by opening the drain valve 108 in reverse. Even if the water is drained, some water can be stored in the water storage tank 10, so that there is not only a water-saving effect of water for correction rinsing, but also the time for draining is shortened.

  At the end of washing, the second drain valve 117 is closed, the water supply switching valve 104 is switched from the normal water supply state to the water tank washing state, tap water is supplied to the water supply tank 10 to store some tap water, and then the second The water storage tank 10 can be washed by opening the drain valve 117 and the drain valve 108.

  As described above, the drum-type washing machine according to the present invention uses the original configuration to the maximum extent and does not include a water return pump separately. Since the washing water used in the rinsing operation can be reused by correcting the rinsing, it can be applied to the rinsing of a non-drum type washing machine (vertical washing machine) that performs the same rectifying rinsing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine outer frame 3 Outer tub 4 Rotating drum 5 Driving means 10 Water storage tank 101b Softener water supply valve 107 Drain pipe 108 Drain valve 109 Space 109a Waste thread filter 110 Dirt detection sensor 112 Water level sensor 113 Circulation pump 114 Circulation path 115 Water supply Switching valve 116 Water storage path 118 Vibration sensor

Claims (7)

An outer tub elastically supported by the outer frame of the washing machine, a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the outer tub, a driving means for rotating the rotating drum, and washing water (washing water or A part of the drainage path connecting the outer tub and the drainage means in order to install the drainage means for draining (rinse water) and the lint catching means for catching the lint floating in the water in the outer tub A drum-type washing machine comprising: an expanded space; an unbalance detecting means for detecting instability of the rotating drum by a dehydrating operation; and a water level detecting means for detecting a water level in the outer tub. The drainage means drains up to a predetermined water level that disappears from the rotating drum, and uses the water remaining in the drainage path including the space by the balance correction performed when the rotating drum becomes unstable. Drum-type washing machine. An outer tub elastically supported by the outer frame of the washing machine, a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the outer tub, a driving means for rotating the rotating drum, and washing water (washing water or A part of the drainage path connecting the outer tub and the drainage means in order to install the drainage means for draining (rinse water) and the lint catching means for catching the lint floating in the water in the outer tub An expanded space, an unbalance detecting means for detecting instability of the rotating drum in a dehydrating operation, a water level detecting means for detecting a water level in the outer tub, a water storage means provided in the outer frame, A circulation means attached to the drainage path and supplying the washing water to the laundry in the rotating drum through the circulation path, and a path for water supply by the circulation means to either the circulation path or the water storage path connected to the water storage means Cut In the drum-type washing machine having a path switching means, the path switching means switches the path to the water storage path in a dehydrating operation, and the circulating means feeds the water to the water storage means to supply the washing water, so that the rotating drum is unstable. A drum-type washing machine that uses the washing water stored in the water storage means by balance correction performed at the time of becoming. The drum type washing machine has a cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry put in the rotating drum, and whether or not the rotating drum becomes unstable due to a dehydrating operation based on a detection result of the cloth amount detecting means. An unbalance predicting means for predicting whether or not the rotating drum becomes unstable in a dewatering operation, and draining up to the predetermined water level or storing water in the water storing means is performed only when the unbalance predicting means predicts. Item 3. The drum type washing machine according to Item 1 or 2. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the circulation means adjusts the amount of water that the circulation means supplies to the water storage means according to the amount of laundry detected by the cloth amount detection means. The drum-type washing machine includes a dirt detection unit that detects turbidity of water, and drains water up to the predetermined water level or stores water in the water storage unit only when the washing water is below a predetermined turbidity. The drum type washing machine according to any one of 1 to 4. The drum type washing machine has a plurality of dehydration operations, and when the imbalance detection means detects instability of the rotating drum, in the subsequent dehydration operation, drainage to the predetermined water level, or the The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein water is stored in a water storage means. The drum type washing machine includes a softener water supply valve for administering a softener to the laundry in the drum, and only when the wash water is water supplied from the softener water supply valve, The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein drainage up to the predetermined water level or water storage in the water storage means is performed.

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