JP2014104280A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of easily preventing clothing from wrinkling.SOLUTION: To provide a washing machine which temporarily stops a specific washing step by a temporary stop means (17) when a schedule determination means (16) has determined that a user will not be free at the time washing is finished based on a user's schedule information acquired by a schedule information acquisition means (14) of a control device (111).

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine.

  In the washing machine, there is a problem that after the clothes are dehydrated and the washing is completed, the clothes are wrinkled unless the clothes are taken out immediately.

  Conventionally, as a washing machine that solves this problem, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-315990 (Patent Document 1), a timer is reserved for the required time until the end of washing, and after that time has elapsed, In some cases, a waiting process is performed so that the laundry is finished, and the laundry is finished at a scheduled time so that clothes can be taken out immediately.

  However, the conventional washing machine has a problem that it is troublesome because the required time must be set every time based on the time when the clothes can be taken out.

JP 2002-315990 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that is not troublesome and can easily prevent wrinkles from occurring in clothing.

In order to solve the above problems, the washing machine of the present invention is:
The laundry department,
A communication department;
An operation unit;
A control device for controlling the washing unit based on an instruction from the operation unit;
The control device
Schedule information acquisition means for acquiring the user's schedule information via the communication unit;
Based on the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means, schedule determination means for determining whether or not the user's schedule is vacant at the time when the laundry ends,
When the schedule determination means determines that the user's schedule is not vacant, the schedule determination means has a temporary stop means for temporarily stopping a specific washing process.

One embodiment is:
In the state where the specific washing process is suspended by the temporary stop means, based on the schedule information, the specific washing process is resumed so that the laundry is finished at the time when the user's schedule is available. Have means.

In one embodiment,
The restart means is
When it is determined that the user's schedule is vacant based on the schedule information in a state where the specific laundry process is suspended, the specific laundry process is resumed.

One embodiment is:
At the time when all of the washing process is completed, when the schedule determination means determines that the user's schedule is no longer available, there is a transition means for shifting to a process for preventing wrinkles.

In one embodiment,
The specific washing process is a draining process or a dehydrating process.

In one embodiment,
The schedule information acquisition means includes a user's schedule information from a mobile terminal or a server on a network, or a TV having a function of acquiring schedule information indicating the end time of a TV program that the user is currently watching. Acquires schedule information indicating the end time.

One embodiment is:
It has an informing means for informing the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process via the communication unit.

In one embodiment,
The notification means displays the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process on a part of a television screen having a function of displaying a message.

In one embodiment,
The notification means displays and notifies the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process during the broadcast of a television commercial having a function of displaying a message during the broadcast of the commercial.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can easily prevent wrinkles from being generated without being troublesome.

It is a block diagram of the washing machine of a 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the said 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the washing machine of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the washing machine of the said 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the washing machine of 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 of the first embodiment includes a washing unit 10, a control device 111, an operation unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

  Although not shown, the washing unit 10 includes a well-known water tank, a washing / dehydrating tank, a motor, a water supply valve, a drain valve, and the like, and performs washing and dehydration.

  Although not shown, the operation unit 12 includes a power key, a start key, a washing key for selecting a washing course, a setting key for setting operation conditions such as a water amount, a washing time, a rinsing time, and a dehydrating time. As will be described later, based on the user's schedule information, there is a schedule information operation mode key 19 for setting a schedule information operation mode for controlling not to perform the drainage process when the schedule is not available. However, the schedule information operation mode key 19 may be omitted, and all the operations may be performed in the schedule information operation mode.

  The communication unit 13 is a wireless communication unit for performing communication via a local area network. The communication unit 13 which is this wireless communication unit uses a Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi: brand name) communication standard as an example of a communication standard, and via a base unit 20, for example, a smartphone (smartphone: multifunctional mobile phone). And the like are transmitted to and received from the portable terminal 30. A local area network is formed through the communication unit 13, the parent device 20, and the mobile terminal 30.

  The communication unit 13 may be a wired communication unit, and can communicate with the communication unit 13 and the parent device 20 by wire. In this case, the communication unit 13 transmits / receives information to / from the portable terminal 30 via the wireless communication unit of the parent device 20. When the portable terminal 30 is within the communication range of the parent device 20, the communication unit 13 can communicate with the portable terminal 30 via the parent device 20.

  The communication unit 13 transmits and receives information to and from the server 50 on the network via the parent device 20 and the Internet 40.

  The control device 111 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, receives a command signal from the operation unit 12, and transmits / receives information to / from the communication unit 13, and performs control as shown in FIG.

  The control device 111 includes a schedule information acquisition unit 14, a memory 15 that stores user schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition unit 14, control programs for each washing process, and information set by the operation unit 12, The schedule determination unit 16, the temporary stop unit 17, the resumption unit 18, and the notification unit 35 are included. The schedule information acquisition unit 14, the schedule determination unit 16, the temporary stop unit 17, the restart unit 18 and the notification unit 35 are configured by software.

  The schedule information acquisition unit 14 acquires and acquires user schedule information stored in a memory (not shown) of the user's portable terminal 30 through the communication unit 13 and the parent device 20. Or the said schedule information acquisition means 14 acquires the schedule information of the user accumulate | stored in the server 50 on a network via the communication part 13, the main | base station 20, and the internet 40. FIG. This schedule information is, for example, Google's schedule information.

  Note that the user's portable terminal 30 is specified in advance and registered in advance, for example, by inputting the identification ID of the portable terminal 30 from the operation unit 12.

  In addition, for example, after the rinsing process and before the draining process, the schedule determination unit 16 determines whether or not the user has a schedule at the time when the laundry is finished, based on the acquired schedule information. More specifically, the schedule discriminating means 16 predicts the time when the laundry ends, compares the predicted time with the time zone of the acquired schedule information, and determines the user's schedule at the time when the laundry ends. Whether or not is free.

  Moreover, the said temporary stop means 17 will stop the drainage process as an example of a specific washing process, if the schedule determination means 16 determines that a user's schedule is not vacant. In addition, this specific washing process may be a dehydration process or may be another process.

  The resuming means 18 resumes the draining process based on the schedule information so that the laundry is finished at the time when the user's schedule is vacant in a state where the draining process is temporarily stopped by the temporary stopping means 17. More specifically, for example, the drainage process is restarted at a time before the time when the user's schedule is available, from the start of the drainage process to the end of washing. Alternatively, the resuming unit 18 resumes the draining process as an example of a specific washing process when it is determined that the user's schedule is free based on the schedule information in a state where the draining process is temporarily stopped. You may make it do.

  The notification means 35 notifies the portable terminal 30 of the progress of the washing process with image information such as characters and voice information via the communication unit 13 and the parent device 20, and also the end time of the dehydration process is also notified to the portable terminal 30. Informs with image information and sound information.

  Thus, since the said notification means 35 alert | reports the progress status of a washing process, or the completion | finish time of a spin-drying | dehydration process to the portable terminal 30 via the communication part 13, a user is the progress status and completion | finish of a washing process on the go. We can grasp time and are convenient.

  The washing machine 1 can be remotely controlled from the portable terminal 30 via a communication path such as the master unit 20 and the Internet 40 to start, pause, and resume the washing process.

  The washing machine having the above configuration operates as follows.

  First, in step S <b> 1 of FIG. 2, the operation conditions and the like are set by the setting key of the operation unit 12, and the schedule information operation mode is set by the schedule information operation mode key 19. Then, clothes and detergent are put into the washing / dehydrating tub of the washing unit 10.

  Next, a washing process is performed in step S2, and then a rinsing process is performed in step S3.

  Next, in step S4, the user's schedule information is acquired from the portable terminal 30 or the server 50 via the parent device 20 and the communication unit 13, or via the Internet 40, the parent device 20 and the communication unit 13. And stored in the memory 15. And based on the said schedule information, it is discriminate | determined whether a user's schedule is vacant at the time which laundry ends. And if it determines with no, this step S4 will be repeated and a washing process will be suspended.

  As described above, when it is determined that the user's schedule is not available at the time when the laundry is finished based on the user's schedule information, the washed clothes cannot be immediately taken out from the washing machine 1. Before the process, the progress of the washing process is temporarily stopped. By doing so, it is possible to prevent clothes from being soaked in the water before drainage and causing clothes to wrinkle.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the user's schedule is vacant based on the user's schedule information, the process proceeds to the drainage process, and further proceeds to the dehydration process, thereby completing the washing. .

  When the washing is completed, the notification unit 35 of the control device 111 causes the portable terminal 30 to notify the completion of the washing via the communication unit 13.

  At this time, since the user's schedule is vacant and the completion of washing is notified, the dehydrated clothing can be taken out from the washing machine 1 immediately and the occurrence of wrinkles is prevented.

  In addition, since operations such as schedule information acquisition, schedule determination, pause, and restart are automatically performed, the user is not required to perform any troublesome operations. Therefore, in this washing machine 1, it is not necessary to set the required time corresponding to the time to take out the clothes every time, and it is not troublesome.

  The step S4 is configured using the schedule information acquisition unit 14, the memory 15, the schedule determination unit 16, the temporary stop unit 17, and the resume unit 18. That is, step S4 constitutes the schedule information acquisition means 14, the schedule determination means 16, the temporary stop means 17, and the resume means 18.

  In the first embodiment, step S4 for schedule information acquisition, schedule determination, suspension, and resumption is performed after the rinsing process and before the draining process. This step S4 is dehydrated after the draining process. It is also possible to do it before the process. The step S4 can also be performed before the rinsing process.

  In the first embodiment, the parent device 20 is used. However, instead of the parent device 20, a short-range wireless communication unit is used, and a wireless communication unit included in the concept of a communication unit of the washing machine and a specific mobile phone. The terminal 30 may be directly connected. As the short-range wireless communication means, Bluetooth (Bluetooth: one of short-range wireless communication standards) as an example of a short-range wireless communication standard is used.

(Second Embodiment)
The washing machine 101 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is different from the washing machine 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 only in the configuration of the control device 112. Therefore, in FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described below.

  In FIG. 3, the control device 112 has a transition means 25 configured by software. The shift means 25 is an example of a process for preventing the occurrence of wrinkles when the schedule determination means 16 determines that the user's schedule is no longer available based on the user's schedule information after the dehydration process. The process proceeds to the water injection process (see step S8 in FIG. 4), and further proceeds to step S4 in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, steps S1 to S6 are exactly the same as steps S1 to S6 in FIG. Further, in step S7 in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the user's schedule is vacant based on the user's schedule information in the same manner as in step S4. It progresses to a water injection process, and also returns to step S4.

  According to the washing machine 101 of the second embodiment, after the dehydration step (step S6) in FIG. 4, in step S7, if the user's schedule is not available, that is, clothes cannot be taken out from the washing machine 101. If there is, water is poured into the washing machine 101, and then the process returns to step S4.

  As described above, after the dehydration process, when the user's schedule is not available and the clothes cannot be taken out from the washing machine 101, the process proceeds to the water injection process (step S8), water is injected into the washing machine 101, and then the process returns to step S4. , Wait for the user's schedule to become available. If it is determined in step S4 that the schedule is vacant, the process proceeds to the draining process (step S5) and the dehydrating process (step S6). Further, in step S7, it is determined whether the user's schedule is vacant. I do. Therefore, after the clothes are dehydrated, the clothes are not left for a long time in this state, and the clothes can be prevented from wrinkling. When the washing is completed, the notification means 35 notifies the portable terminal 30 of the completion of the washing.

  Therefore, in this washing machine 101, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent the clothes from being wrinkled.

  In the said 2nd Embodiment, when a user's plan is not vacant in step S7, it is made to progress to the water injection process (step S8) as an example of the process for preventing generation | occurrence | production of soot, but a rinse process (step S3) ).

(Third embodiment)
The washing machine 102 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is different from the washing machine 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 only in the configuration of the control device 113. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described below.

  In FIG. 5, the communication unit 13 of the washing machine 102 transmits and receives information to and from a TV 60 such as a smart TV that also has a function as an information terminal via the parent device 20. The television 60 has a function of acquiring the end time of a television program that the user is currently viewing based on EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information. The television 60 also has a function of displaying a message during a CM (commercial) broadcast.

  In the control device 113, the constituent elements other than the schedule information acquisition means 54 and the notification means 55 for the television 60 are the same as the constituent elements of the control device 111 of FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG.

  The schedule information acquisition means 54 acquires schedule information representing the end time of the TV program that the user acquired by the TV 60 is currently watching via the communication unit 13 and the parent device 20.

  The notification means 55 causes the television 60 to notify the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process by display or voice via the communication unit 13 and the master unit 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process are displayed on a part of the screen of the television 60 or on the screen during the commercial broadcast. This is performed by a program in the television 60 or by information from the notification means 55 of the washing machine 102.

  In this way, since the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process are displayed on a part of the screen of the TV 60 and displayed on the screen during the commercial broadcast, it is ensured without giving the user a sense of incongruity, The progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process can be notified.

  Since the operations of the schedule discriminating means 16, the pause means 17 and the resume means 18 other than the schedule information acquiring means 54 and the notifying means 55 are exactly the same as those in the first embodiment, the explanation will be given with the aid of FIG. Omitted.

  The present invention and the embodiment are summarized as follows.

The washing machine of this invention
A washing section 10;
A communication unit 13;
An operation unit 12;
And control devices 111, 112, 113 for controlling the washing unit 10 based on instructions from the operation unit 12,
The control devices 111, 112, 113 are
Schedule information acquisition means 14 and 54 for acquiring user schedule information via the communication unit 13;
Based on the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means 14 and 54, the schedule determination means 16 for determining whether or not the user's schedule is vacant at the time when the laundry ends,
When the schedule discriminating unit 16 discriminates that the user's plan is not vacant, the plan discriminating unit 16 has a temporary stop unit 17 for pausing a specific washing process.

  According to the washing machine having the above-described configuration, based on the individual, that is, the user's schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means 14 and 54, if the user's schedule is not available at the time when the schedule determination means 16 finishes washing. If it discriminate | determines, since the specific washing process is suspended by the temporary stop means 17, washing does not go to the last. Therefore, when the user's schedule is not available, that is, when the clothes cannot be taken out from the washing machine, the clothes are not left for a long time in a dehydrated state, so that it is possible to easily prevent wrinkles from occurring in the clothes. .

  Therefore, in this washing machine, it is not necessary to set a required time each time corresponding to the time when the clothes are taken out, and it is possible to easily prevent wrinkles from occurring without being troublesome.

One embodiment is:
Based on the schedule information, the specific washing process is resumed so that the laundry is finished at the time when the user's schedule is vacant based on the schedule information in a state where the specific washing process is paused by the temporary stop unit 17. Resume means 18
Have

  According to the above embodiment, the resuming means 18 is configured so that the specific laundry process is temporarily stopped and the specific laundry process is finished based on the schedule information so that the laundry is finished at the time when the user's schedule is vacant. Since the washing process is resumed, washing can be completed when the user's schedule is available, and the washed clothes can be taken out of the washing machine immediately, so that the clothes can be prevented from wrinkling.

In one embodiment,
The resuming means 18
When it is determined that the user's schedule is vacant based on the schedule information in a state where the specific laundry process is suspended, the specific laundry process is resumed.

  According to the embodiment, when the resuming unit 18 determines that the user's schedule is vacant based on the schedule information in a state where the specific washing process is suspended, the specific washing process is performed. Since the process is resumed, the laundry can be easily finished when the schedule is vacant, and the washed clothes can be taken out of the washing machine immediately, so that the clothes can be prevented from wrinkling.

Also, one embodiment is
When all the washing steps are completed, when the schedule determination unit 16 determines that the user's schedule is no longer available, the transition unit 25 shifts to a step for preventing the occurrence of wrinkles.
Have

  According to the embodiment, when the schedule determining unit 16 determines that the user's schedule is no longer available at the time when all the washing steps are completed by the transition unit 25, the occurrence of wrinkles is prevented. Since the process is shifted to the process, the clothes after the dehydration process are not left, and wrinkles can be prevented from occurring in the clothes.

In one embodiment,
The specific washing process is a draining process or a dehydrating process.

  According to the above embodiment, since the specific washing process is a drainage process or a dehydration process, the progress of the washing process can be stopped before the start of the drainage process or before the start of the dehydration process. , Generation of wrinkles can be prevented.

In one embodiment,
The said schedule information acquisition means 14 and 54 is a function which acquires a user's schedule information from the portable terminal 30 or the server 50 on a network, or the schedule information showing the end time of the program of the television 60 which the user is watching now. Schedule information representing the end time is acquired from the TV 60 having

  According to the embodiment, the schedule information of the user is acquired from the mobile terminal 30 or the server 50 on the network, or the schedule information indicating the end time of the program of the TV 60 that the user is currently viewing is acquired from the TV 60. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain the user's schedule information.

In one embodiment,
It has informing means 35 and 55 for informing the progress of the washing process via the communication unit 13.

According to the above embodiment,
Since the notification means 35 and 55 notify the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process, it is convenient for the user to know the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process.

In one embodiment,
The notification means 55 notifies the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process by displaying them on a part of the screen of the television 60 having a function of displaying a message.

  According to the embodiment, since the progress of the washing process is notified to a part of the screen of the television 60, the progress of the washing process can be surely notified without giving the user a sense of incongruity.

In one embodiment,
The notification means 55 displays and notifies the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process during the broadcast of the television 60 having a function of displaying a message during the broadcast of the commercial.

  According to the above-described embodiment, since the progress of the washing process and the end time of the dehydration process are displayed and notified while the commercial of the TV 60 is being broadcast, the washing process is surely performed without giving a bad impression to the user. The progress status and the end time of the dehydration process can be notified.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,102 Washing machine 10 Washing part 111,112,113 Control apparatus 12 Operation part 13 Communication part 14,54 Schedule information acquisition means 16 Schedule discrimination means 17 Temporary stop means 18 Resume means 19 Schedule information operation mode key 20 Master machine 30 Mobile terminal 35, 55 Notification means 60 Television

Claims (5)

The laundry department,
A communication department;
An operation unit;
A control device for controlling the washing unit based on an instruction from the operation unit;
The control device
Schedule information acquisition means for acquiring the user's schedule information via the communication unit;
Based on the schedule information acquired by the schedule information acquisition means, schedule determination means for determining whether or not the user's schedule is vacant at the time when the laundry ends,
A washing machine comprising: a pause unit for pausing a specific washing process when the schedule discriminating unit discriminates that the user's plan is not available. The washing machine according to claim 1,
In the state where the specific washing process is suspended by the temporary stop means, based on the schedule information, the specific washing process is resumed so that the laundry is finished at the time when the user's schedule is available. A washing machine characterized by comprising means. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
Laundry means for shifting to a process for preventing wrinkles when the schedule determination means determines that the user's schedule is no longer available when all the washing steps are completed Machine. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The schedule information acquisition means is terminated from a portable terminal or a server on the network from a television having a function of acquiring the schedule information of the user or information indicating the end time of the television program that the user is currently watching. A washing machine characterized by acquiring schedule information representing time. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A washing machine comprising: a notifying means for displaying and notifying a progress of a washing process and an end time of a dehydrating process on a part of a television screen having a function of displaying a message.

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