JP2014054403A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To predict a foam generation state at the end of a washing process and prevent an activation defective during intermediate dewatering.SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: cloth amount detection means 23 for detecting an amount of laundry; dirt detection means 21 for detecting dirt of laundry; foam prediction means 24 for predicting a foam generation state at the end of a washing process; a water pouring port 17 for pouring water to an outer peripheral surface of a drum 4; and control means 22 for successively controlling the respective processes of washing, rinsing and dewatering. The control means 22 lets water be poured from the water pouring port 17 while rotating the drum 4 at a low speed in a process of draining washing water in a water tub 3 after a washing process is finished in the case where a degree of dirt of the washing water is detected by the dirt detection means 21 after the washing process is started, the degree of dirt is lower for the amount of detergent inputted based on the clothes amount detected by the cloth amount detection means 23, and it is predicted by the foam prediction means 24 that much foam will be generated in the washing process.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing clothes and the like.

  Conventionally, this type of washing machine detects the amount of laundry such as clothes at the start of washing, and a predetermined amount of washing water is supplied according to the amount of laundry, and the appropriate amount displayed is displayed. In general, the amount of detergent is introduced so that washing can be performed optimally.

  The amount of detergent is set on the assumption of standard stains on clothes. When there is little stain on the put clothes, the amount of detergent becomes excessive, and the amount of foam generated during the washing process increases. In such a state, there was a problem that the effect of tapping was reduced by the foam, the cleaning performance was lowered, and the operation at the start of dehydration performed after the washing process could not be performed smoothly.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such excessive foaming, it is considered that foam detection means is provided in the water tank, and when foaming is detected during the washing process, water supply and drainage are performed to eliminate bubbles (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  When excessive generation of bubbles in the water tank is detected, the drainage means is closed, a predetermined amount of water is stored in the water tank, the drum is stopped for a predetermined time, and then the drum is rotated while rotating the drum at a predetermined rotation speed. It is considered to open the means and discharge the bubbles (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 5 shows the operation of the defoaming process in the conventional drum type washing machine described in Patent Document 2. In the washing process, when the occurrence of excessive foam is detected, the drain cock is closed, and then the water supply valve is opened to collect water in the water tank. At this time, water supply is continued until it reaches a preset water level (D = 160 mm), and the drum is in a stopped state without rotating.

  After reaching the predetermined water level, T1 is maintained for a predetermined time with the water supply valve and the drain cock closed. After the predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the drain cock is opened, and during the time T2, the drum is rotated to promote drainage, and drainage is completed (D = 0). By repeating this operation, excessively generated bubbles are discharged out of the machine.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-73194 JP 2008-55016 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, since excess foam is detected during the washing process and water is poured and drained, the washing water in which the detergent is dissolved is drained, and the detergent is diluted and washed. There has been a problem of lowering.

  Also, by temporarily stopping the washing process, the washing time becomes longer than the set time, and by adding the injected water, the foam on the water surface rises as the water level rises, and the foam in the upper part of the water tank There was a problem that the water tank would become dirty due to adhesion.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the washing machine which estimated the generation | occurrence | production state of the foam at the time of completion | finish of a washing process, and eliminated the malfunction by abnormal foaming.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the washing machine of the present invention detects cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum, and detects dirt on the laundry put into the drum. Contamination detection means, foam prediction means for predicting the generation state of foam at the end of the washing process, a water injection port for pouring water on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and a control means for sequentially controlling each of the washing, rinsing and dewatering processes. The control means, after the washing process is started, detects the degree of dirt of the washing water by the dirt detection means, for the amount of detergent introduced based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detection means, When the degree of soiling of the clothing is small and it is predicted by the foam predicting means that a lot of foam is generated during the washing process, in the process of draining the washing water in the water tank, water is poured from the water inlet while rotating the drum. One in which the.

  As a result, it is possible to predict the generation of foam from the degree of dirt on the clothes. At the end of the washing process, the foam between the water tank and the drum is washed away by water injection, and the drum is driven at high speed rotation in the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process. It can be started smoothly.

  The washing machine of the present invention can predict the generation state of bubbles at the end of the washing process, and can smoothly start high-speed rotation driving of the drum in the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Control block diagram of the washing machine Flow chart showing the operation of the washing process of the washing machine Operation explanatory diagram of defoaming process of the washing machine Time chart showing the operation of the defoaming process of a conventional washing machine

  1st invention, the water tank elastically supported in the housing | casing, the drum rotatably provided in the said water tank, the motor which rotationally drives the said drum, the water supply means which supplies washing water in the said water tank, Drainage means for draining the wash water in the aquarium, cloth amount detection means for detecting the amount of laundry put in the drum, and dirt detection means for detecting dirt on the laundry put in the drum And foam predicting means for predicting the generation state of foam at the end of the washing process, a water injection port for pouring water on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and a control means for sequentially controlling each of the washing, rinsing and dewatering steps, After the washing process is started, the control means detects the degree of dirt of the washing water by the dirt detection means, and the dirt on the clothes with respect to the amount of detergent supplied based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth quantity detection means. The degree of foam prediction is low When it is predicted that a lot of bubbles will be generated during the washing process due to the step, the amount of detergent introduced by pouring water from the water inlet while rotating the drum in the step of draining the washing water in the water tank The amount of foam generated at the end of the washing process, more specifically, the presence or absence of abnormal foaming can be predicted in advance, the amount of dirt is small, and foam is unexpected In the case where it occurs, the drainage process can be performed while washing off the foam adhering to the water tank and the drum by pouring water, and the high-speed rotation drive of the drum in the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process can be started smoothly, Operation in the set time is possible without temporarily stopping the washing process.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the dirt detection means includes a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the washing water and a turbidity sensor that detects the transmittance of the light that passes through the washing water. The foam predicting means predicts the amount of foam generated during the washing process based on the degree of dirt on the clothes detected by the dirt detecting means and the amount of detergent added, so that the attribute of dirt on the laundry clothes is improved. Whether it is non-electrolyte dirt such as mud, sebum or ionic dirt substances, the amount of dirt can be detected. From this relationship, it is possible to accurately predict the amount of foam generated, and it is possible to smoothly start the high-speed rotation drive of the drum in the intermediate dewatering process, and to set the time without pausing the washing process It is possible to drive in That.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the water injection port of the first or second aspect of the invention is arranged so as to inject water at a position deviated from the vertical plane passing through the rotation axis of the drum to the right or left direction of the outer peripheral surface of the drum. As a result, it is possible to wash the foam from the upper surface of the drum without causing the foam present between the water tank and the drum, which causes the start-up failure in the intermediate dehydration process, to adhere to a new location. Can be started smoothly.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the water injection port of any one of the first to third aspects has a resistance when the drum is rotationally driven by water injection because the water injection direction is set in the same direction as the rotation direction of the drum. Without causing force, bubbles existing between the water tank and the drum can be washed away smoothly in the rotation direction of the drum.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the step of draining the washing water in the water tank of any one of the first to fourth inventions outside the machine, water is poured from the water inlet so that the water level in the water tank is lowered. By doing so, it is possible to wash away the foam present between the water tank and the drum without increasing the water level in the water tank due to water injection from the water inlet, and it is possible to prevent the upper part in the water tank from being contaminated with foam. .

  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)
1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the washing machine, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of a washing process of the washing machine, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of a defoaming step of the washing machine.

  1 to 4, a water tank 3 elastically supported by a damper 2 or the like is provided in a housing 1. A cylindrical drum 4 with a bottom is rotatably provided in the water tank 3, and the rotation shaft 4a is inclined upward at an angle θ (for example, 5 to 20 degrees).

  A plurality of baffles 5 projecting inward toward the rotation center of the drum 4 in the direction of the rotation axis 4a and a large number of small holes 6 communicating with the inside of the water tank 3 are provided on the inner peripheral side surface of the drum 4. On the side, an opening 7 for taking in and out laundry such as clothes is provided. A balancer 8 is provided around the opening 7 to reduce vibrations caused by the bias of the laundry when the drum 4 rotates. The balancer 8 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the opening 7.

  A motor 9 that rotationally drives the drum 4 is attached to the rear surface of the water tank 3. The motor 9 is constituted by a brushless DC motor, and the rotation speed can be freely changed by inverter control.

  A water supply valve 10 as water supply means for supplying washing water into the water tank 3 is provided in the water supply pipe 11. The washing water passes through the first water supply path 13 through the detergent case 12 in which the detergent provided in the water supply pipe 11 is introduced, and is supplied into the water tank 3 from the first water inlet 14. Washing water supplied into the water tank 3 flows into the drum 4 through the small holes 6. The first water injection port 14 is provided at an outlet portion where one end of the first water supply path 13 is connected to the rear upper surface of the water tank 3, and communicates with the inside of the water tank 3 at the rear part of the drum 4.

  The switching valve 15 is provided in the 1st water supply path 13 which connected the detergent case 12 and the rear part of the water tank 3 in communication. The washing water supplied from the water supply valve 10 to the water tank 3 through the water supply pipe 11 is connected to the water tank 3 by the switching valve 15 provided on the downstream side of the detergent case 12, and the first water supply path 13 and the second water supply path. It switches so that it may be supplied in the water tank 3 through one of 16.

  The outlet side of the second water supply path 16 is connected to the front upper portion of the water tank 3 and is provided with a second water inlet 17 and communicates with the inside of the water tank 3 at the front portion of the drum 4. The water passing through the switching valve 15 is supplied into the water tank 3 from one of the first water supply path 13 and the second water supply path 16.

  The second water injection port 17 is disposed so as to inject water to a position that is biased to the right or left of the outer peripheral surface of the drum 4 from the vertical surface A passing through the rotation shaft 4 a of the drum 4. The water is poured in the same direction as the rotation direction A of the drum 4.

  A drain valve 18 as a drain means for draining the washing water in the water tank 3 is provided in the drain path 19. The drainage passage 19 is connected to a drainage port 20 provided at the bottom of the water tank 3 so that the washing water in the water tank 3 is discharged to the outside through the drainage valve 18.

  The drainage path 19 near the drainage port 20 is provided with a dirt detection means 21 for detecting the dirt of the laundry put into the drum 4. The dirt detection means 21 has an electric conductivity sensor 21a for detecting the electric conductivity of the washing water and a turbidity sensor 21b for detecting the permeability of the light passing through the washing water. Detect dirt on the surface.

  The conductivity sensor 21a is configured to detect the conductivity of the washing water by installing electrodes at two places where the washing water is submerged and sensing the resistance value of the water between the electrodes. As a result, the degree of conductive contamination can be detected.

  The turbidity sensor 21b is composed of, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor, and a path between the elements is formed of a translucent material, and emits light from the light emitting element. The received light is received by the light receiving element through the washing water, converted into a voltage and output. Turbidity is converted from the output voltage of the light receiving element, and the higher the turbidity, the lower the voltage. That is, when a large amount of laundry stains in the washing water and the turbidity increases, a low voltage is output.

  The control means 22 provided in the housing 1 drives the motor 9, the water supply valve 10, the switching valve 15, the drain valve 18, etc., and sequentially controls each process such as washing, rinsing and dehydration. The control means 22 is based on the output of the cloth amount detection means 23 for detecting the amount of the laundry put in the drum 4 and the output of the dirt detection means 21 for detecting the dirt of the laundry put in the drum 4. Foam predicting means 24 for predicting the state of foam generation at the end of the washing process is provided.

  Note that the laundry can be taken in and out through the opening 7 provided on the front side of the drum 4 by opening the openable door 25 provided on the front surface of the housing 1.

  About the washing machine comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. Laundry is sequentially performed in the order of a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step. First, the door 25 that can be freely opened and closed is opened on the front side of the housing 1, the laundry is put into the drum 4 through the opening 7, and the power switch of the operation display unit 26 that is provided in the upper front portion of the housing 1. (Not shown) is turned on, and a start switch (not shown) is operated to start operation.

  In FIG. 3, the amount of laundry put into the drum 4 is detected by the cloth amount detection means 23 at the start of operation (S1). The amount of laundry can be detected from the amount of torque applied to the motor 9 when the drum 4 rotates and the current value of the motor 9 when the drum 4 rotates.

  The control means 22 sets the time for each step of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating according to the detected amount of laundry, and determines the amount of detergent set according to the amount of laundry (S2). Is displayed on the operation display unit 26. The user puts the detergent into the detergent case 12 according to the displayed guideline for the amount of detergent. The amount of detergent to be added is, for example, about 45 g to about 30 g, and the detergent concentration is substantially the same.

  Further, a set amount of water corresponding to the detected amount of laundry is supplied (S3). The washing water that has entered the detergent case 12 from the water supply valve 10 through the water supply pipe 11 passes through the switching valve 15 that has melted the detergent in the detergent case 12 and has been switched from the water supply pipe 11 to the first water inlet 14 side. The water is supplied into the water tank 3 from a first water inlet 14 provided on the rear side of the drum 4. Washing water collected at the bottom of the water tank 3 flows into the drum 4 through the small holes 6. At this time, the drain valve 18 is closed.

  At the time of water injection, for example, the drum 4 is rotationally driven at a low speed of about 20 rpm, and the thrown-in laundry is wetted with washing water. When a predetermined amount of washing water is supplied, the water supply valve 10 and the switching valve 15 are closed. The drum 4 is driven to rotate forward and reverse alternately every predetermined time at a rotational speed at which the laundry is beaten and washed by the motor 9, for example, 45 rpm, and executes a washing process (S4).

  After the washing process has progressed and a predetermined time (for example, 2 to 5 minutes) has elapsed, the turbidity and conductivity of the washing water in which the dirt of the laundry has melted are measured (S5). The amount is detected (S6). When detecting dirt, it is preferable to stop the rotation of the drum 4 temporarily.

  When it is determined that the amount of dirt detected by the dirt detection means 21 is small and the detergent input amount is large, it is determined that the foaming amount is large at the end of the washing process. In addition, it is preferable that the stain | pollution | contamination detection means 21 has little influence at the time of drum 4 rotation, and when the drum 4 stops, a detection part is always in the bottom part of the water tank 3 in washing water.

  Foam generation prediction by the foam predicting unit 24 is performed based on the amount of detergent supplied based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detecting unit 23 and the output of the dirt detecting unit 21 including the conductivity sensor and the turbidity sensor. Enter and compare.

  If it is determined that the set amount of dirt has not been reached, the control means 22 determines that the amount of dirt is small, and determines that the amount of foam generated is large. Further, when the set amount of dirt has been reached, it is determined that the amount of generated foam is within an appropriate range. Table 1 shows a determination table for predicting the amount of bubbles generated.

  Prediction of the amount of foam generated during the washing process by the foam predicting means 24 is predicted based on the degree of dirt on the clothes detected by the dirt detecting means 21 and the amount of detergent put in. When the amount of dirt is small, the amount of detergent is somewhat Regardless of the number of bubbles, it is predicted that many bubbles are generated, and when the amount of dirt is large, the amount of bubbles is predicted to be appropriate.

  When it is determined that a large amount of foam is generated (YES in S7), the washing process ends, the drain valve 18 is opened, and the washing water in the water tank 3 is drained from the drainage path 19 to the outside of the machine. The switching valve 15 is switched to the second water supply path 16 side, and city water from the water supply valve 10 passes through the switching valve 15 and passes through the second water supply path 16 to the upper part of the drum 4 from the second water inlet 17. Water is poured.

  During drainage, water is poured while rotating the drum 4 in a fixed direction at a low speed of, for example, 30 rpm. The bubbles present between the drum 4 and the water tank 3 are washed away by the fresh water poured into the upper part of the drum 4, drained while pouring, and discharged outside the machine (S 8).

  When it is determined that the amount of foam generated is appropriate (NO in S7), the drain valve 18 is opened without water from the second water inlet 17, and the washing water in the water tank 3 is discharged from the drain path 19 to the outside of the machine. (S9), and the draining process is terminated (S10).

  As described above, when it is predicted that the degree of soiling of the clothes is small with respect to the amount of detergent put in based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detecting means 23 and the foam predicting means 24 predicts that a lot of bubbles are generated during the washing process. In the step of draining the washing water in the aquarium 3, the drain valve 18 is opened, the drum 4 is rotated at a low speed, water is injected from the second water inlet 17, and the defoaming step of discharging the foam together with the washing water is executed. Then, the process proceeds to the intermediate dehydration process, and the high-speed rotation drive of the drum 4 in the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process can be smoothly started. On the other hand, when it is predicted that the amount of foam generated during the washing process is appropriate, the washing water in the water tank 3 is drained without water injection, and the intermediate dehydration process is executed.

  Further, the second water injection port 17 is disposed so as to inject water to a position that is biased to the right or left of the outer peripheral surface of the drum 4 from the vertical surface A passing through the rotation shaft 4 a of the drum 4. Water is poured into a. Thereby, the foam 27 existing between the water tank 3 and the drum 4 that causes the start-up failure in the intermediate dehydration step is diffused and attached to a new location in the upper part of the water tank 3, and the upper surface portion of the drum 4 Thus, the foam 27 can be washed downward in the rotation direction, and the high-speed rotation drive of the drum in the intermediate dehydration process can be started smoothly.

  Further, when the washing water in the water tank 3 is drained outside the apparatus, water is injected from the second water inlet 17 so that the water level in the water tank 3 is lowered. Specifically, the amount of water injected per unit time for water injection from the second water inlet 17 can be realized by making it smaller than the amount of water discharged per unit time discharged from the drainage channel 19.

  In addition, water may be injected from the second water injection port 17 after a predetermined time since the drain valve 18 is opened. That is, a large amount of foam can be discharged outside the apparatus without raising the water level in the water tank 3 depending on the timing of pouring and draining and the amount of pouring and draining.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the water tank 3 elastically supported in the housing 1, the drum 4 rotatably provided in the water tank 3, the motor 9 that rotationally drives the drum 4, and the water tank 3 A water supply means 10 for supplying washing water therein, a drain means 18 for draining the washing water in the aquarium 3, a cloth amount detection means 23 for detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum 4, The soil detection means 21 for detecting the dirt of the laundry put into the laundry, the foam prediction means 24 for predicting the state of foam generation at the end of the washing process, the water inlet 17 for pouring water into the outer peripheral surface of the drum 4, And a control means 22 for sequentially controlling each process of rinsing and dehydration. After the washing process is started, the control means 22 detects the degree of stain of the washing water by the dirt detection means 21 and the cloth amount detection means 23. Detergent amount introduced based on the detected fabric amount On the other hand, when it is predicted that the degree of soiling of the clothing is small and a large amount of foam is generated during the washing process by the foam predicting means 24, the washing process is finished, and the drum 4 is slowed down in the process of draining the washing water in the water tank 3. It is designed to pour water from the water filling port 17 while rotating it, and it is possible to predict the amount of foam generated at the end of the washing process by judging the relationship between the amount of detergent introduced and the amount of dirt on the clothes. Even when the amount of dirt is small and bubbles are generated unexpectedly, it is possible to carry out the draining process while washing off the bubbles adhering between the water tank 3 and the drum 4 by pouring water into the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process. The high-speed rotation drive of the drum 4 can be started smoothly, and operation for a set time is possible without temporarily stopping the washing process.

  The foam generation prediction by the foam predicting unit 24 may be output before the washing process ends and the draining process for draining the washing water used in the washing process is started.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can predict the generation state of bubbles at the end of the washing process, and can smoothly start the high-speed rotation driving of the drum in the intermediate dehydration process after the washing process. So it is useful as a washing machine.

1 Housing 3 Water Tank 4 Drum 9 Motor 10 Water Supply Valve (Water Supply Means)
17 Second water inlet (water inlet)
18 Drain valve (Drain means)
21 Dirty detection means 22 Control means 23 Cloth amount detection means 24 Foam prediction means

Claims (5)

A water tank elastically supported in the housing;
A drum rotatably provided in the water tank;
A motor for rotating the drum;
Water supply means for supplying washing water into the water tank;
Drainage means for draining the wash water in the water tank;
Cloth amount detection means for detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum;
A dirt detecting means for detecting dirt of the laundry put in the drum;
Foam prediction means for predicting the state of foam generation at the end of the washing process;
A water inlet for pouring water into the outer peripheral surface of the drum;
Control means for sequentially controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration,
The control means detects the degree of dirt of the washing water by the dirt detection means after the washing process is started,
When it is predicted that the degree of soiling of the clothes is small with respect to the amount of detergent introduced based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detection means, and a lot of bubbles are generated during the washing process by the foam prediction means,
A washing machine configured to pour water from the water filling port while rotating the drum in the step of draining the washing water in the water tank. The dirt detection means has a conductivity sensor for detecting the conductivity of the washing water and a turbidity sensor for detecting the transmittance of the light passing through the washing water,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the foam predicting means predicts the amount of foam generated during the washing process based on the degree of dirt on the clothes detected by the dirt detecting means and the amount of detergent introduced. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water injection port is arranged so as to inject water at a position deviated from a vertical plane passing through the rotation axis of the drum to the right or left of the outer peripheral surface of the drum. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the water injection port has a water injection direction set in the same direction as the rotation direction of the drum. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the step of draining washing water in the water tank to the outside of the machine, water is poured from a water inlet so that a water level in the water tank is lowered.

Images