JP2014183890A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a washing machine low in cost and high in reliability which can save energy and prevent a fabric wear while ensuring a washing performance.SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: a washing and dewatering tub 21 for housing clothing; a water tub 23 containing the washing and dewatering tub 21; a water supply valve 33 for supplying water to the water tub 23; a water supply part 34 for guiding water supplied from the water supply valve 33 to the water tub 23; temperature detection means 36 provided at the water supply part 34; clothing amount determination means 50 for determining an amount of clothing housed in the washing and dewatering tub 21; water level detection means 49 for detecting a water level in the water tub 23; and control means 44 for sequentially controlling respective steps of washing, rinsing and dewatering. The control means 44 sets a time for the step of washing on the basis of a water level corresponding to an amount of clothing determined by the clothing amount determination means 50 and a detected temperature after the start of water supply. Thus, cost is reduced and reliability is improved. Since the step is controlled according to a temperature of supplied water in addition to the amount of clothing, it is possible to save energy and prevent a clothing wear while washing performance is ensured.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that automatically performs washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes.

  Conventionally, in this type of washing machine, a configuration has been proposed in which the amount of cloth is determined by detecting the number of rotations of the motor and the operation is controlled by determining the amount and time of washing according to the result. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of a conventional washing machine.

  In FIG. 4, the encoder (rotation angle detecting means) 15 detects the rotation angle of the motor 5 that drives a pulsator (not shown) rotatably disposed in a washing and dewatering tub (not shown). . The encoder 15 outputs six pulses for each rotation of the motor 5 and inputs the output to the control device 14.

  The control device 14 includes a pulse counter 16 that counts the number of output pulses of the encoder 15, a cloth amount determination means 17 that determines a cloth amount based on the output of the pulse counter 16, a control means 18 that includes a microcomputer, and a control means 18. A power switching means 19 for controlling the motor 5, the drain valve 6, the water supply valve 12 and the like by signals from the operation display means 4 including a key switch and a display device disposed in an operation panel (not shown). , Water level detection means 8, storage means 3, dirt detection means 7, and the like.

  With the above configuration, the laundry is first put in the washing and dewatering tub, and when the operation is started by the operation of the operation display means 4, the motor 5 performs a predetermined left-right rotation, and the rotation angle of the motor 5 is set by the encoder 15. The number of pulses detected and counted from the encoder 15 is counted by the pulse counter 16, and the cloth amount input by the cloth amount determination means 17 is determined. After determining the amount of cloth, the operation display means 4 displays the amount of detergent and water level corresponding to the amount of cloth and the operation details (water flow, washing time, number of rinses, dehydration time, etc.) to inform the user, When the user puts the displayed amount of detergent, water is supplied to a predetermined water level, and stirring of washing is started and the process proceeds.

  As another conventional technique, as shown in FIG. 5, a temperature detecting means 71 is provided in a water tank 72, the water temperature in the water tank 72 is measured, and the control means 73 changes the washing time according to the water temperature. Proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP-A-5-96079 JP 2005-52286 A

  However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the amount of washing water, time, etc. are determined according to the determined amount of cloth so that the amount of cloth can be determined by detecting the number of rotations of the motor and appropriate washing performance can be exhibited. Although it is operated, the cleaning performance is greatly influenced by the temperature of the supplied water. For this reason, when the water temperature is high, there is a problem in that wasteful power is consumed and the cloth is easily damaged by operating for an unnecessarily long time even though the cleaning performance is improved.

  Further, in the conventional configuration in which the temperature detection means is provided in the water tank, a long signal line is required to connect the control means disposed in the upper part of the washing machine and the temperature detection means provided in the water tank, and the wiring becomes long. Cost. In addition, since the water tank vibrates during dehydration, the signal line may be disconnected by vibration, resulting in a problem that reliability is lowered.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and shortens the signal line connecting the control means and the temperature detection means to improve cost reduction and reliability, and in addition to the amount of cloth, water to be supplied is supplied. The purpose of this invention is to provide a washing machine that can efficiently and appropriately detect the temperature of the machine and control the stroke to ensure energy saving and prevent fabric damage while ensuring washing performance.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a washing / dehydrating tub for storing clothes, a water tank containing the washing / dehydrating tub, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tub, and the water supply A water supply section for introducing water supplied from the valve to the water tank, a temperature detection means provided in the water supply section, a cloth amount determination means for determining the amount of cloth stored in the washing and dewatering tank, and the inside of the water tank A water level detecting means for detecting the water level of the water, and a control means for sequentially controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration, the control means, the water level corresponding to the cloth amount determined by the cloth amount determining means, The washing process time is set based on the detected temperature after the start of water supply.

  As a result, the signal line connecting the control means and the temperature detection means is shortened to reduce cost and improve reliability, and by controlling the stroke according to the temperature of the supplied water in addition to the amount of cloth. It can save energy and prevent fabric damage while ensuring cleaning performance.

  The washing machine of the present invention can realize an inexpensive and highly reliable washing machine while ensuring washing performance and preventing energy saving and fabric damage.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the washing machine in embodiment of this invention Block diagram of the washing machine Graph showing the relationship between water temperature detection and water supply time of the washing machine Block diagram of a conventional washing machine Vertical section of a conventional washing machine

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing / dehydrating tub for storing clothes, a water tank containing the washing / dehydrating tub, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tub, and water supplied from the water supply valve to the water tub. A water supply unit that performs temperature detection, a temperature detection unit provided in the water supply unit, a cloth amount determination unit that determines the amount of cloth contained in the washing and dewatering tub, a water level detection unit that detects a water level in the water tub, and a washing Control means for sequentially controlling each process of rinsing and dehydration, the control means washing based on the water level corresponding to the cloth amount determined by the cloth amount determining means and the detected temperature after the start of water supply. By setting the time of the stroke, the signal line connecting the control means and the temperature detection means is shortened to improve the cost reduction and reliability, and according to the temperature of the water supplied in addition to the amount of cloth Since the process is controlled, energy savings are achieved while ensuring cleaning performance. It is possible to prevent the damage.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Further, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a pulsator 22 is rotatably disposed at the center bottom portion of a washing / dehydrating tub 21 for storing clothing, and the washing / dehydrating tub 21 is rotatably included in a water tub 23. A substrate 24 is fixed to an outer bottom portion of the water tank 23, and an outer edge portion of the substrate 24 is supported from an upper corner of the outer frame 25 through a vibration isolator 26.

  The motor 28 provided at the bottom of the substrate 24 transmits the rotational force to the rotating shaft 27 via the belt 29 and the mechanism driving unit 30 to drive the pulsator 22 or the washing / dehydrating tub 21 to rotate. Further, a flange 31 is fixed to the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 21, and the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 21 and the rotary shaft 27 are connected and supported.

  A drain valve 40 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 23, and water in the water tank 23 is drained to the outside through the drain hose 51 by opening and closing the drain valve 40.

  A water supply valve 33 is provided inside the rear portion of the upper frame 39 provided at the upper part of the outer frame 25, and the washing / dehydrating tub 21 and the water tub 23 are supplied from the water injection section 35 via the water supply section 34 connected to the water supply valve 33. Supply water. In this manner, the water supply unit 34 guides the water supplied from the water supply valve 33 to the water tank 23. Further, the water supply unit 34 is provided with a temperature detection means 36 to detect the temperature of water supplied from the water supply valve 33.

  A lid 38 for loading and unloading laundry is provided in a substantially central portion of the upper frame 39 so that it can be opened and closed, and an input setting means 46 for allowing the user to set a driving course and the like at the front (see FIG. 2) and an operation display unit 41 having a display means 47 (see FIG. 2) for displaying input and set information and the like, and a control unit 37 is provided inside the operation display unit 41. The control unit 37 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the control means 44 of the control part 37 is comprised with a microcomputer. The control means 44 starts operation when power is supplied from the commercial power supply 43 when the power switch 42 is turned on, and a water level detection means 49 for detecting the water level in the washing and dewatering tub 21 and a temperature detection means 36 for detecting the water supply temperature. Outputs from the cloth amount determination means 50 for determining the amount of cloth accommodated in the washing and dewatering tub 21 and the rotation speed detection means 52 for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 28 are input. Further, the control unit 44 displays the setting content set by the input setting unit 46 on the display unit 47. In addition to these, the control means 44 controls the operation of the motor 28, the water supply valve 33, the drain valve 40, etc. via the power switching means 45 constituted by a bidirectional thyristor, a relay, etc., and performs washing, rinsing and dehydration. Control each stroke.

  Thus, the temperature detection means 36 and the control means 44 are located in the upper part of the washing machine body, and the signal line (not shown) connecting the temperature detection means 36 and the control means 44 is shortened, so that the cost can be reduced. Further, since the water supply unit 34 does not vibrate, the temperature detection unit 36 and the signal line connecting the temperature detection unit 36 and the control unit 44 do not vibrate, and a failure such as disconnection hardly occurs and reliability is improved.

  Further, the notification means 48 notifies the user of the end notification at the end of the process and the abnormality notification when an abnormality occurs. When an abnormality occurs, the abnormality content is also displayed on the display means 47.

  The operation and effect of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

  Before starting the washing, first, the clothes to be washed are put into the washing and dewatering tank 21. Then, when the input setting means 46 of the operation display unit 41 is operated to turn on the power, select a course, and start the operation, the motor 28 repeats predetermined left and right rotations, and the number of rotations when the motor 28 is turned off is determined. Detected by the rotational speed detection means 52, the cloth amount determination means 50 determines the cloth amount. This cloth amount judgment is performed by pulsing the back electromotive force of the motor 28 generated by the number of rotations of the cloth when the motor 28 is turned off (the number of rotations at the time of turning off is higher when the cloth is small) by a filter circuit. To measure.

  After the cloth amount is determined, the water is supplied to the water level corresponding to the cloth amount, and the temperature of the water supplied is detected by the temperature detecting means 36 simultaneously with the start of the water supply.

  In order to ensure the cleaning performance, it is preferable to control the washing process based on the water temperature in the water tank 23. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the water temperature in the water tank 23 based on the water temperature passing through the water supply unit 34. .

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the water temperature detection of the washing machine and the water supply time in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, when water supply is started, the water temperature is detected by the temperature detection means 36. Let temperature at the time of water supply start be detection temperature Ts. The detected temperature Ts is the initial temperature of the temperature detecting means 36, that is, the ambient temperature around the temperature detecting means 36. As the water supply progresses, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 36 approaches the water temperature, and if the water supply continues, the actual water temperature Tr is finally obtained. For example, if the detected temperature at the start of water supply is Ts1, the detected temperature is Ta1 at the time T1 when the water supply ends, and if water supply continues, the actual water temperature Tr is finally obtained.

  However, when the ambient temperature around the temperature detecting means 36 is high and the detected temperature at the start of water supply is relatively high, such as Ts2, the detected temperature Ta2 at the time T1 when the water supply ends is higher than the detected temperature Ta1. . Further, when the ambient temperature around the temperature detection means 36 is low and the detected temperature at the start of water supply is as low as Ts3, the detected temperature Ta3 at the time T1 when the water supply ends is lower than the detected temperature Ta1.

  The time T1 at which the water supply ends varies depending on the amount of cloth determined by the cloth amount determination means 50. For example, when it is determined that the amount of cloth is small, the water level in the water tank 23 is low, and when it is determined that the amount of cloth is large, the water level in the water tank 23 is set high, so the cloth amount is small. In this case, the water supply time is shortened, and when the amount of cloth is large, the water supply time is increased.

  Therefore, in order to estimate the actual water temperature Tr in the water tank 23 within the water supply time, the time T1 at which the water supply ends, the detected temperature Ts at the start of the water supply, the time at which the water supply ends, corresponding to the amount of cloth is experimentally conducted The detected temperature Ta and the actual water temperature Tr in the water tank are obtained, and the water temperature is detected based on the concept of FIG.

  As described above, when the operation of the washing machine is started, the control unit 44 determines the amount of cloth and determines the water level, and then in the water tank 23 based on the detection temperature Ts at the start of water supply and the detection temperature Ta at the end of water supply. The actual water temperature Tr is detected. Then, the operation is controlled by optimizing the time of the washing process, the time of the rinsing process, the manner of stirring by the pulsator 22 and the like according to the amount of cloth and the water temperature. Therefore, since the control means sets the time of the washing process based on the water level corresponding to the cloth amount determined by the cloth amount determining means and the detected temperature after the start of water supply, the operation is optimized and the washing performance is improved. While ensuring, energy saving and fabric damage can be prevented.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can prevent energy saving and fabric damage while ensuring washing performance, and can be inexpensive and highly reliable. Applicable to.

21 Washing / Dehydration Tank 23 Water Tank 33 Water Supply Valve 34 Water Supply Unit 36 Temperature Detection Means 44 Control Means 49 Water Level Detection Means 50 Cloth Quantity Determination Means

Claims (1)

A washing and dewatering tub for storing clothes, a water tank for enclosing the washing and dewatering tub, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tank, a water supply unit for introducing water supplied from the water supply valve to the water tank, Temperature detection means provided in the water supply unit, cloth amount determination means for determining the amount of cloth accommodated in the washing and dewatering tub, water level detection means for detecting the water level in the water tub, washing, rinsing and dehydration Control means for sequentially controlling the stroke, and the control means sets the time of the washing stroke based on the water level corresponding to the cloth amount determined by the cloth amount determining means and the detected temperature after the start of water supply. A washing machine characterized by that.

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