JP2014140505A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine with high convenience that can respond to a dewatering condition that a user wishes for even in operation.SOLUTION: A washing machine comprises: an outer frame; an outer tank supported in the outer frame and pooling washing water; an inner tub supported in the outer tub rotatably and containing the laundry; drive means for rotation-driving the inner tub; water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub; and a control device for controlling the drive means and the water supply means. The washing machine has a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dewatering step. The washing machine is provided with an operation unit for changing the maximum rotation speed of the inner tub which is a washing and dewatering tub in a final dewatering operation while operating the final dewatering of the dewatering step.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine and a washing / drying machine that can perform continuously from washing to drying.

  In conventional washing machines, generally, the maximum rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tank in the dehydration process is fixed, and it has not been assumed that the user appropriately changes the maximum rotation speed.

  However, in the following Patent Document 1, the clothes are weakly dehydrated so as to suppress the pain of clothes due to wrinkles, etc., or depending on the type of clothes, the user can change the maximum rotation speed of dehydration according to preference. The point is disclosed.

JP 2000-14962 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the change of the dehydration rotation speed by the user must be set before starting the actual operation. For this reason, even if the user wants to thoroughly dehydrate thick clothes that are difficult to dry after waking up the washing machine or is worried about wrinkles due to dehydration, it is not possible to change the setting on the way Can not.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a highly convenient washing machine that can cope with the degree of dehydration desired by the user even during operation.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer frame, an outer tub that is supported in the outer frame and stores washing water, and an inner tub that is rotatably supported in the outer tub and stores laundry. A washing machine having a washing step, a rinsing step and a dehydrating step, comprising: a driving means for rotationally driving the inner tub; a water supplying means for supplying water into the outer tub; and a control device for controlling the driving means and the water supplying means. The operation unit for changing the maximum rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tank in the final dewatering operation is provided during the final dewatering operation of the dewatering step.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the highly convenient washing machine which can respond to the dehydration condition which a user desires even in the middle of a driving | operation can be provided.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the outline of the washing-drying machine in the Example of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the control system of the washing and drying machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the display part of the washing-drying machine in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the washing sequence in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the change method of the maximum dehydration rotation speed before the start of a washing process. It is a flowchart which shows the change method of the maximum dehydration rotational speed at the time of the intermediate dehydration of a rinse process. It is a flowchart which shows the change method of the maximum dehydration rotation speed at the time of the final dehydration of a dehydration process.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the outline of the washing / drying machine will be described with reference to FIG.

  The outer frame 1 of the washing / drying machine is provided with an outer tub 2 for storing washing water. The outer tub 2 is supported by the outer frame 1 in a vibration-proof manner. A washing and dewatering tub (inner tub) 3 for storing laundry to be washed or dried is rotatably supported in the outer tub 2.

  A stirring blade 4 for stirring and washing the laundry is rotatably installed at the bottom of the inner tub 3. During the washing operation and the drying operation, the agitating blade 4 is rotated forward / reversely. During the dehydration operation, the stirring blade 4 rotates at a high speed together with the inner tub 3, and the water contained in the laundry in the inner tub 3 is dehydrated.

  A drive motor 10 as a drive means rotates the stirring blade 4 and the inner tank 3. The dehydration rotation sensor detects the dehydration rotation number, and the rotation number is detected. The drive motor 10 uses a DC brushless motor.

  The outer lid 5 is provided on a top cover 6 provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. An inner lid 34 is provided on the upper part of the outer tub 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. The outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 are opened, and the laundry is taken in and out of the inner tub 3.

  The top cover 6 has a water supply box (not shown) on the front side. The water supply box supplies tap water and bath water to the outer tub 2. A detergent and finish charging device 35 is provided on the front side of the top cover 6. The detergent and the finishing agent are poured between the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3 by the charging hose 36.

  The tap water supply valve 7 is provided at the rear part of the top cover 6. The inflow connection portion 8 of the tap water supply valve 7 passes through the top cover 6 and protrudes upward. A water hose (not shown) is connected to the protruding inflow connection portion 8. The outlet side of the tap water supply valve 7 is connected to the previous water supply box via a water supply hose 30 connected thereto. The outlet of the water supply box is directed between the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3.

  The drying mechanism 9 performs circulation ventilation and dehumidification of drying air for drying the laundry in the inner tub 3. Most of the drying mechanism 9 is occupied by a drying air circulation path.

  The drying air circulation path is connected so as to communicate with the bottom circulation path 20 connected so as to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2, the dehumidification vertical path 21 rising from the bottom circulation path 20, and the dehumidification vertical path 21. The warm air unit 22 is provided. The hot air unit 22 includes a blower fan and a heater 24. The suction side of the hot air unit 22 is connected to the upper side of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21, and the discharge side is connected so that the return connection circuit 25 communicates.

  The return connection circuit 25 has an upper bellows hose 23 and is connected to communicate with the upper part of the outer tub 2 via the upper bellows hose 23. The bottom circulation path 20 also has a lower bellows hose 26 and is connected to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2 via the lower bellows hose 26.

  The dehumidifying vertical passage 21 has a dehumidifying area to be described later. The dehumidifying region exists in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 so as to extend vertically. The drying air rising through the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 is cooled by bath water or tap water supplied to the dehumidifying region, and moisture contained in the drying air is taken away.

  By the blower fan 29 of the hot air unit 22, the drying air passing through the drying air circulation path circulates in the inner tub 3 and dries the laundry in the inner tub 3. The drying air from which moisture has been removed in the dehumidifying region is reheated by the heater of the warm air unit 22 and flows through the inner tub 3, so that moisture in the laundry is removed. By repeating this moisture removal with circulation of drying air, the laundry is dried well.

  The bottom depression 31 of the outer tub 2 to which the lower bellows hose 26 is connected communicates with the washing water drainage channel 42 and the washing water circulation channel 43 through the lower communication pipe 41. A lower communication pipe 41 communicates with the washing water drainage path 42 via a drain valve 44, and a lower communication pipe 41 communicates with the washing water circulation water path 43 via a circulation pump 45 and a foreign matter removal trap 32.

  The drain valve 44 is closed during the washing operation and the drying operation. At the time of draining the washing water or during the drying operation, the drain valve 44 is opened, and the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are discharged to the outside of the washing dryer.

  The suction side of the circulation pump 45 is connected so as to communicate with the foreign matter removal trap 32. The discharge side of the circulation pump 45 is connected to communicate with the washing water circulation channel 43. The washing water circulation water vertical channel 46 connected to the tip of the washing water circulation channel 43 rises along the outer surface of the outer tub 2, extends to the upper side of the inner tub 3, and is provided on the upper side of the inner tub 3 to provide the washing thread waste removing device 33. Is connected to communicate with.

  Washing water and rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are sucked up by the circulation pump 45, flown through the washing water circulation water longitudinal water channel 46, and poured into the inner tub 3 from the washing thread waste removing device 33. Since the spraying water injection by the circulation pump 45 continues, the washing process and the rinsing process are performed, so that efficient washing and rinsing can be performed with a small amount of water.

  The water level sensor 47 detects the water level of the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2. An air trap 50 is provided near the bottom of the outer tub 2, and an air tube 49 connected so as to communicate with the air trap is provided. A water level sensor 47 is connected to the upper end of the air tube 49 so as to communicate therewith. The water level sensor 47 detects the water level fluctuation in the outer tub 2 to detect the water level.

  The outline of the control circuit, operation panel, and washing operation of the washing / drying machine will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control circuit shown in FIG. 2 includes a main control circuit 600 whose main part is a microcomputer, a load drive control circuit 601, a power supply circuit 602, and an auto-off relay 603, and is supplied with power from a commercial AC power supply 604.

  Power is supplied to the main control circuit 600, the load drive control circuit 601, and the power supply circuit 602 through an auto-off relay 603. The power supply circuit 602 converts alternating current into direct current and supplies it to the main control circuit 600.

  The load drive control circuit 601 includes a tap water supply valve 7, a soft finish valve 605, a detergent melt valve 606, a cooling water valve 607, a drain valve 44, a drive motor 10, a clutch 608, a lid lock mechanism 609, an electric blower 610, Various devices such as a circulation pump 45 and a heater 24 are connected. The load drive control circuit 601 controls energization of various devices under the instruction of the main control circuit 600.

  Connected to the main control circuit 600 are various operation switches 612, a water level sensor 47, a dehydration rotation fluctuation sensor 613, a vibration sensor 614, a non-volatile storage means 615, a voice utterance IC 616, a liquid crystal display 617, and an error notification buzzer 618. Is done.

  The main control circuit 600 communicates information with various operation switches 612, various sensors, and nonvolatile storage means 615, and controls the load drive control circuit 601 and the sound generation IC 616. The main control circuit 600 instructs the display unit 617 to display various information including an error and to sound the buzzer 618.

  The operation panel unit 611 is provided with a display unit 617 and various operation switches 612 near the center. Various operation switches 612 are arranged on the front side and both sides of the display unit 617.

  Here, the various operation switches 612 are used to input operation information related to washing and drying. The course setting switch 620, the washing switch 621, the rinsing switch 622, and the dehydration switch 623 are arranged on the operation panel 611. A drying switch 624, a dehydration rotation switch 625, a voice switch 626, a start / pause switch 627, a power (off) switch 628, and a power (on) switch 629. In addition, light emitting components such as LEDs are arranged inside various operation switches.

  For example, on the right side of the operation panel 611, a course setting switch 670 that can select any course of washing, washing (drying and drying), and drying is provided, and washing and rinsing are performed on the front side of the operation panel 611. Operation switches 680 for individual modes such as dehydration, drying, and dehydration rotation are provided. A start / pause switch 627 for starting, restarting and stopping the washing / drying machine, a voice switch 626 for starting voice guidance, and the like are also provided. These operation switches are exemplarily shown, and there is no problem even if various operation switches are added or changed.

  The display unit 617 is read from the character conversion table stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 615 connected to the main control circuit 600 and displayed.

  In FIG. 3, the washing course is selected and the washing time is set to 15 minutes (631), one rinse (632), 5 minutes of dehydration (633), and a maximum dewatering rotation speed of 1200 rotations (634, 635). This is a state where characters are displayed on the display unit 617 of the operation panel 611.

  FIG. 4 shows a driving operation when a washing course is set in the washing and drying machine of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the washing course is composed of three steps: a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydrating step.

  The washing process includes “sensing” in which the inner tub 3 is rotated to calculate the amount of laundry before pouring, and the inner tub 3 and the stirring blade 4 are rotated (if necessary) Then, the detergent pump dissolves the detergent with a circulation pump 45) and the "pre-wash" wash the laundry with high-concentration detergent solution. It consists of “main wash” for washing laundry. The rinsing process includes “drainage” in which the drain valve 44 is opened to discharge the washing water, “intermediate dehydration” in which the inner tub 3 is rotated at a high speed to squeeze out water contained in the laundry, and the drain valve 44 is closed to supply water again. “Rinsing water supply” to be performed, and “rinse stirring” to rinse the laundry while rotating the inner tub 3. The dehydration step is configured by “drainage” in which the drain valve 44 is opened to discharge the rinse water, and “final dehydration” in which the water contained in the laundry is squeezed by rotating the inner tub 3 at a high speed.

  Here, a method in which the user changes the maximum rotation speed of the inner tank 3 during the intermediate dehydration operation or the final dehydration operation during various settings before the actual operation starts will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the power “ON” switch 629 is pressed in step 11 (hereinafter, “step” is abbreviated as “S”), the power supplied from the outlet is transformed and rectified by the rectifier circuit, and is supplied to the main control circuit 600. Energized and turned on. If it is determined that the power has been turned on, the process proceeds to S12; otherwise, the process returns to S11 and the state of the power is monitored. If it is determined that the power is turned on, the process proceeds to S12, where the user sets the washing course by the washing course switch 620, and then sets the washing time by the washing switch 621. Similarly, the number of times of rinsing is set by the rinse switch 622, and the dehydration time is set by the dehydration switch 623.

  If the rinse switch 622 is pressed for a long time in S13, the process proceeds to S131, and the rinse count display 632 blinks. Here, the maximum rotation speed in the intermediate dewatering operation is set by the dewatering rotation switch 625 (S132). When the rinsing switch 622 is pressed again after this setting is completed, the maximum rotation speed in the intermediate dewatering operation is determined (S133).

  Similarly, when the dehydration switch 623 is pressed and held in S14, the process proceeds to S141, and the dehydration time display 113 blinks. Here, the maximum rotation speed in the final dewatering operation is set by the dewatering rotation switch 625 (S142). When the dehydration switch 623 is pressed again after this setting is completed, the maximum dehydration rotation speed in the final dehydration operation is determined (S143).

  The information set in each is displayed on the display unit 617 of FIG. 3 (S15). The display unit 617 can display large characters and pictures that are easy to see, such as setting values for each process.

  Next, a method in which the user changes the maximum rotation speed of the inner tank 3 during the intermediate dehydration operation or the final dehydration operation after the operation has actually started will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to improve the rinsing performance during the operation of the intermediate dewatering S201 in the rinsing process, when the user depresses the dewatering rotation switch 625 in S202, the maximum rotation speed in this intermediate dewatering operation is changed. The Specifically, when the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed once, the rotation speed is increased from 700 rpm, which is the initial setting of the maximum rotation speed, to 900 rpm, which is the highest setting value. Next, when the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed for the second time, the maximum rotation speed is not rapidly reduced to the lowest setting value of 500 rpm, but 700 rpm which is lower by one step is selected again. When the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed for the third time, the maximum rotation speed is changed to the lowest 500 rpm. Furthermore, when the fourth operation is performed, 700 rpm which is higher by one step is selected again, and this is repeated thereafter.

  Temporarily, the maximum dehydrating rotation speed is suddenly changed from the highest setting value (900 rpm) to the lowest setting value (500 rpm), or from the lowest setting value (700 rpm) to the highest setting value (900 rpm). If the change can be made, the load on the drive motor 10 becomes excessive. For this reason, in this embodiment, every time the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed, it is gradually increased or decreased step by step to suppress a rapid change in the maximum dehydration rotation speed.

  Each time the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed in S202, the setting of the maximum rotation speed is changed, and the set information is notified by voice such as “the maximum rotation speed has been changed to XX rotation” by the speaker 630. (S203).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, after the rinsing process is finished, even when the final dehydration S301 of the dehydration process is in operation, when it is desired to dehydrate cotton or thick clothes that are difficult to dry, the dehydration rotation switch 625 is used. Highest dehydration rotation speed can be changed. In addition, when wrinkles due to dehydration are concerned, the maximum dehydration rotation speed can be changed to a low value by the dehydration rotation switch 625.

  When the maximum rotation speed of the inner tank 3 in the final dehydration operation is changed during the final dehydration operation in the dehydration process, the maximum rotation speed is increased or decreased stepwise in order to suppress a sudden change. It has become. However, the maximum rotation speed can be set up to 1400 rpm, which is higher than 900 rpm, which is the highest setting value in the intermediate dehydration operation, and the number of maximum rotation speeds that can be set is larger than that in the intermediate dehydration operation. Yes. Each time the dehydration rotation switch 625 is pressed once, the maximum rotation speed increases or decreases at every 100 rpm, which is smaller than the interval during the intermediate dehydration operation. This is because the final dehydration operation is longer in time than the intermediate dehydration operation and has a margin for finely setting the rotation speed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, even after the operation in the washing course or the washing / drying course is started, when the user wants to change the maximum dehydration rotation speed, the rotation speed can be appropriately changed to a desired rotation speed.

  In addition, although the present Example demonstrated the washing-drying machine which has a drying function, the washing machine which does not have a drying function may be sufficient. Moreover, the rotating shaft of the inner tub 3 is not limited to a vertical type washing machine having a substantially vertical direction, and may be a drum type washing machine.

600 ... main control circuit 617 ... display unit 621 ... washing switch 622 ... rinse switch 623 ... dehydration switch 625 ... dehydration rotation switch 627 ... start / pause switch 630 ... audio speaker

Claims (5)

An outer frame, an outer tub that is supported in the outer frame and stores washing water, an inner tub that is rotatably supported in the outer tub and accommodates laundry, and a driving means that rotationally drives the inner tub. In the washing machine having a water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub, a control device for controlling the drive means and the water supply means, and having a washing step, a rinsing step and a dehydration step,
A washing machine comprising: an operation unit that changes a maximum rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tank in the final dehydration operation during the final dehydration operation of the dehydration step. In claim 1,
The operation unit changes the maximum number of rotations of the washing and dewatering tank in the intermediate dehydration operation during the intermediate dehydration operation of the rinsing process.   3. The operation unit according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit selects a desired maximum rotation speed from among three or more preset maximum rotation speeds, and each time the operation unit is operated. The washing machine is characterized in that the maximum rotational speed is increased or decreased stepwise.   4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the number of maximum rotation speeds that can be set during the intermediate dewatering operation is smaller than the number of maximum rotation speeds that can be set during the final dewatering operation.   3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein when the maximum rotation speed is changed by the operation unit, a notification is given by voice.