JP2019058604A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a drum type washing machine which has achieved efficient water supply and improvement in washing performance.SOLUTION: In a water supply step, while supplying water to an outer tub 2 by opening a water supply valve 10, a drum 3 is operated by repeating a series of operations of rotation at a constant speed, deceleration at constant acceleration, rotation at a constant speed and acceleration at constant acceleration, and a circulation pump 13 is operated when a predetermine water level is reached. At the same time, in the case where a rotation torque of a motor 4 detected by motor torque detection means 23 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value, or in the case where the change in the fluctuation amount of the rotation torque from the last time or from the time before last during acceleration and deceleration at constant acceleration becomes a predetermined second threshold value or less, the water supply by the water supply valve 10 is finished. With this constitution, a water supply operation can be performed efficiently by saving time, and lowering of a water level due to laundry agitation after water supply can be prevented, so improvement in washing performance can be achieved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing an object to be washed.

  Heretofore, in this type of drum type washing machine, there has been proposed a configuration in which the circulation pump is operated at the time of water supply, and the laundry is sprinkled from above the drum so that the laundry absorbs water (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, an opening is provided in the front of the water receiving tank 123 containing the drum 121 so as to face the front opening of the drum 121, and a lid 131 is provided at the opening of the water receiving tank 123 openably and closably.

  And, a circulation pump 137 for sucking in water from the opening provided at the bottom of the water receiving tank 123, a circulation hose 138 connected to the discharge port side of the circulation pump 137, and one end side of the circulation hose 138 are connected. The circulation means is configured by the discharge port 139 facing the above. The discharge port 139 is disposed at a position facing the front opening of the drum 121 and above the drum 121, and discharges water toward the center of the drum 121.

  Further, the discharge port 139 is also connected to a water supply hose 141 for supplying tap water into the drum 121, and by opening the water supply valve 153 attached to the rear portion of the main body 132, the tap water is discharged from the discharge port 139 It is designed to discharge.

  As described above, when the laundry and the detergent are put into the drum 121 and the operation is started, the water supply valve 153 is opened and the tap water is discharged from the discharge port 139 into the drum 121. Then, when the predetermined water level B is reached, the circulation pump 137 is operated to discharge the water in the drum 121 from the discharge port 139 into the drum 121. At this time, the water level drops by the amount of water in the circulation hose 138, water being discharged into the drum 121, and water absorbed by the laundry, so check the water level and check the water supply valve 153 Perform water supply operation.

  While repeating the operation of the circulation pump 137, the water level check, and the operation of the water supply valve 153, the water is supplied to the set water level according to the amount of cloth.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 9-215893 gazette

  However, such a conventional washing machine is not efficient because the water absorption to the object to be washed and the water supply to the water receiving tank are alternately performed by the operation of the washing tank and the circulation pump.

  In addition, if all the washing water in the water receiving tank is scooped up by the circulation pump, it operates with no water in the circulation pump, and the operation noise of the circulation pump becomes large.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can perform the water supply operation efficiently.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of preventing the lowering of the water level due to the agitation of the laundry after water supply and improving the washing performance.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a washing tub for containing laundry, an outer tub for housing the washing tub, a motor for rotationally driving the washing tub, and water supply to the outer tub. A valve, a circulation path for circulating the washing water in the outer tub into the washing tub, a circulation pump for circulating the washing liquid in the circulation path, a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the outer tub, Rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the washing tank, motor torque detection means for detecting the rotation torque of the motor, time measurement means for measuring an elapsed time from an arbitrary time point, various setting contents and detection, The memory comprises: storage means for storing measurement results; and control means for controlling the motor, water supply valve, circulation pump, etc. to control each stroke such as washing, rinsing, dewatering, etc. Open the water supply valve to the outer tank The water circulation is performed after the water level is reached while repeatedly operating the series of operations of rotating the washing tub at a constant speed, decelerating at a constant acceleration, rotating at a constant speed, and accelerating at a constant acceleration while performing water. The pump is operated, and the rotational torque of the motor detected by the motor torque detection means becomes equal to or greater than a first threshold, or the rotational torque during acceleration and deceleration at the constant acceleration from the previous or second before. By stopping the water supply by the water supply valve when the change in the variation amount becomes equal to or less than the second threshold, the water supply operation can be performed efficiently and the water level decrease due to the laundry agitation after water supply can be prevented. Cleaning performance can be improved.

  The washing machine of the present invention can perform the water supply operation efficiently and can prevent the water level drop due to the agitation of the laundry after the water supply, so that the cleaning performance can also be improved.

Longitudinal sectional view of drum type washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of the drum type washing machine Flow chart showing the control of the water supply stroke of the washing machine Flow chart showing drum rotational speed control during the water supply stroke of the washing machine Flow chart showing circulation pump control during the water supply stroke of the washing machine Diagram showing drum rotation and circulation pump operation of the washing machine and change of motor torque at that time Longitudinal sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing tub for containing laundry, an outer tub for housing the washing tub, a motor for rotationally driving the washing tub, a water supply valve for supplying water to the outer tub, and A circulation path for circulating washing water in the washing tub, a circulation pump for circulating the washing liquid in the circulation path, a water level detection means for detecting the water level in the outer tub, and the number of revolutions of the washing tub Rotational speed detection means, motor torque detection means for detecting the rotational torque of the motor, time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time from an arbitrary time point, storage means for storing various setting contents, detection, and measurement results And control means for controlling the motor, water supply valve, circulation pump, etc. to control each stroke such as washing, rinsing, dewatering, etc., the control means opens the water supply valve in the water supply stroke, While supplying water to the tank, The circulating pump is operated after a predetermined water level is reached while repeatedly operating a series of rotation at constant speed, deceleration at constant acceleration, rotation at constant speed, and acceleration at constant acceleration, and the motor torque When the rotational torque of the motor detected by the detection means becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold, or the change in the amount of fluctuation from the previous or the second previous rotational torque during acceleration and deceleration with constant acceleration is the second threshold In the following cases, by terminating the water supply by the water supply valve, the water supply operation can be performed efficiently and the water level drop due to the agitation of the laundry after the water supply can be prevented, so that the cleaning performance can be improved.

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

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum-type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the drum-type washing machine.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, inside the outer case 1 of the washing machine, the outer tank 2 as a water receiving tank which has an opening part in the front surface is arrange | positioned. A drum 3 as a washing tub is disposed inside the outer tub 2 so as to be rotatable by a horizontal axis or a rotary shaft slightly inclined from the horizontal axis.

  The drum 3 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the motor 4 is connected to the back surface on the bottom side, and is rotated by the rotation of the motor 4. Further, the drum 3 is provided with a large number of water flow holes (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface, and allows the washing liquid and air to pass through the water flow holes.

  A water supply valve 10 is provided above the outer tank 2. The water supply port 9 is connected to the water supply, and the water supply valve 10 supplies water to the outer tank 2 and the drum 3 according to the operation stroke. A detergent receiver 19 is provided between the water supply valve 10 and the outer tank 2, and the detergent contained in the detergent receiver 19 is poured into the outer tank 2 together with water.

  An intake pipe 5 for drainage is connected to the lowermost part of the lower part of the outer tank 2. The intake pipe 5 is connected to the drainage valve 6, and the drainage valve 6 is connected to a drainage pipe (not shown) for draining to the outside. By opening the drainage valve 6, the water in the outer tank 2 goes outside the machine Drained.

  In the present embodiment, drainage from the outer tank 2 is performed by opening the drainage valve 6, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drainage pump may be disposed at the position of the drainage valve 6 and the water in the outer tank 2 may be drained by driving the drainage pump. In this configuration, the drainage destination can be a drainage port located at a high position.

  A water level sensor 8 is connected to the intake pipe 5 as a water level detection means for detecting the water level of the wash water supplied to the outer tank 2. The water level sensor 8 is installed at a position where it responds immediately after the start of water supply. The water level sensor 8 detects the water level by, for example, detecting the pressure applied to the diaphragm as a deformation of the film. As a method of detecting the deformation of the diaphragm, detection of a change in capacitance or a strain gauge is used.

  One end of the circulation path 12 is in communication between the intake pipe 5 and the drain valve 6, and the other end of the circulation path 12 is connected to the discharge port 11 provided in the vicinity of the opening of the outer tank 2 . The discharge port 11 opens toward the inside of the drum 3. A circulation pump 13 is provided in the circulation path 12.

  The washing water that fills the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 is taken in from the water intake pipe 5 by the circulation pump 13 and circulated through the circulation path 12 to be applied to the laundry from the discharge port 11 to permeate the laundry to wash it. Demonstrate.

  The bottom of the outer tank 2 is provided with a heating unit 14 composed of a sheathed heater or the like. The washing water can be heated by the heating unit 14 to wash the laundry in the drum 3 with warm water. A water temperature sensor 18 is provided to detect the water temperature.

  A filter 15 is installed near the downstream side of the intake pipe 5. When the washing liquid circulates and there is a possibility that the circulation pump 13 and the drainage valve 6 may be clogged if much foreign matter such as laundry fibers or hair is included, the filter 15 may be used to filter foreign matter such as laundry fibers or hair. remove.

  An operation display unit 20 is provided on the upper front of the outer box 1. By operating the operation display unit 20, modes such as a driving course and various functions are selected, and the selected input information is displayed on the operation display unit 20. To display to inform the user.

  In the block circuit diagram shown in FIG. 2, the rotational speed detection means 24 detects the rotational speed of the motor 4 to detect the rotational speed of the drum 3.

  The motor torque detection means 23 detects the rotational torque of the motor 4, and the cloth amount detection means 25 detects the amount of laundry.

  The storage unit 27 stores various setting contents, detections, and measurement results.

  The control means 16 receives signals from the water level detection means 8, the temperature sensor 18, the rotation speed detection means 24, the motor torque detection means 23, the cloth amount detection means 25, etc. The circulation pump 13, the heating means 14 and the like are controlled to sequentially control each stroke such as washing, rinsing and dewatering.

  Further, the control means 16 controls the time measuring means 26 to measure an elapsed time from an arbitrary time point.

  Next, the operation of the washing machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

  FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control of the water supply stroke of the drum type washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the drum rotational speed control during the water supply stroke of the washing machine, FIG. The flowchart which showed the circulation pump control in the water supply process of the washing machine, FIG. 6 is the figure which showed drum rotation of the washing machine, circulation pump operation | movement, and the change of the motor torque in that case.

  In FIG. 3, when the laundry and the detergent are put into the drum 3 and the washing process starts, the water supplying process starts first (step S300).

  First, in step S301, the control means 16 detects the amount of laundry detected and determined by the amount of laundry detection means 25 and performs the setting of the water level according to the detected amount of laundry. The determination of the amount of the laundry relates to the operation of at least one motor 4 such as the magnitude of the current of the motor 4, the amount of change in the current, and the change of the rotation angle when the motor 4 is driven to rotate the drum 3 together with the laundry. It does by detecting information.

  The control means 16 determines various control parameters in the washing operation based on the amount of the laundry detected by the laundry amount detecting means 25 in step S301. One example of the control parameter is a target water level for washing. If there is a lot of laundry, set the water level higher, and if there is little laundry, set the water level lower.

After the cloth amount detection (step S301), the water supply valve 10 operates to start water supply (step S302), and the water level detection means 8 has a predetermined water level lower than the set water level according to the cloth amount. It is detected whether the water level of the lowermost part of the drum 3 has been reached (step S303). In step S303, when the water level detection means 8 detects that the water level in the lowermost part of the drum 3 has been reached (YES in step S303), the drum rotation is performed in step S304 while the water supply valve 10 continues to operate. Implement number control.

  The drum rotational speed control will be described based on FIG. 4 and FIG.

  In FIGS. 4 and 6, the drum rotational speed control is control for periodically changing the rotational speed of the drum 3, and in the graph shown second from the bottom of FIG. 6, the rotational speed of the drum 3 fluctuates. Represents the situation.

  The fluctuation of the rotational speed is the constant rotation at a rotational speed lower than the initial rotational speed after a period of decelerating at a constant acceleration from the leftmost rotating state at the constant rotational speed in FIG. It shifts to the state of maintaining the number, and then shifts to the state of constant rotation at the first number of revolutions after a period of acceleration with constant acceleration.

  Thereafter, the operation of rotating at a constant number of revolutions between deceleration and acceleration is repeated. The period of time during which the constant rotational speed is maintained at the lower rotational speed is T1, the time of the period during which the constant rotational speed is maintained at the higher rotational speed is T2, and the time of the period during deceleration is T3. Assuming that the time of the accelerating period is T4 and all the periods are fixed times, the time measuring means 26 controls the number of rotations of the drum 3 so as to transition each period as time passes.

  FIG. 4 is a flow chart for controlling the rotational speed of the drum 3 in FIG.

When the drum rotation number control is started in step S400, it is determined by the time measuring means 26 whether or not it is a period in which the rotation of the drum 3 is maintained constant in step S401, and the period maintained constant (YES in step S401). If so, the process proceeds to step S402, and control is performed to maintain the target number of revolutions of the drum 3;
Although not specified, when the drum 3 is rotated while water is supplied after reaching the predetermined water level (step S303), the rotation of the drum 3 is started from the point where the rotation of the drum 3 is stopped. Control up to a predetermined number of revolutions is performed by the start-up process.

  If it is a period to accelerate or decelerate the drum rotation in step S401 (NO in step S401), the process proceeds to step S403 to determine whether it is an acceleration period or a deceleration period.

  If it is determined in step S403 that the period is an acceleration period (YES in step S403), the process proceeds to step S404, in which the rate of increase of the rotational speed of the drum 3 per unit time is increased while being kept constant. If it is determined in step S403 that the speed reduction period is determined (NO in step S403), the process proceeds to step S405, in which the descent rate of the rotational speed of the drum 3 per unit time is kept constant while being lowered.

  The control means 16 adjusts the torque for driving the motor 4 in order to realize the change from the current number of rotations of the drum 3 after the determination of the target number of rotations in step S402, step S404 and step S405. S406). That is, if the current number of revolutions falls below the target number of revolutions, the amount of current for driving the motor 4 is increased so as to increase the torque, otherwise the amount of current is reduced to reduce the torque. Perform feedback control.

  Then, in each step, when each of the predetermined times T1, T2, T3 and T4 has elapsed (YES in step S407) and the water supply stroke ends (YES in step S408), the drum rotational speed control proceeds to step S409. End.

In FIG. 3, after step S304 for performing drum rotation number control, the process proceeds to step S305 for performing circulation pump control. As an actual movement, the drum rotational speed control and the circulating pump control are performed in parallel. Circulation pump control will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the circulation pump control is a control that intermittently drives the circulation pump 13 to discharge the washing water in the outer tub 2 from the upper discharge port 11 toward the laundry in the drum 3. The graph at the bottom of FIG. 6 is a chart of the operation of the circulation pump 13.

  The circulation pump 13 is driven at a position on the chart of FIG. 6 periodically at a rectangular wave high level, and the washing liquid flows into the drum 3 via the circulation path 12.

  Here, the time when the circulation pump 13 is driven is T5, which is the time obtained by dividing the amount of water collected in the outer tank 2 below the lowermost part of the drum 3 by the flow rate of the circulation pump 13. Thus, by driving the circulation pump 13, the amount of water accumulated in the outer tub 2 below the lowermost portion of the drum 3 can be applied to the laundry in the drum 3.

  When the time T5 for driving the circulation pump 13 is longer than the above-mentioned set time, all the water remaining in the outer tank 2 is sent from the circulation path 12 to the discharge port 11 and there is no water in the circulation pump 13 It will turn around in the state. In this case, the air is entrained to operate in the air entrained state, and the flow rate decreases and the operation noise increases. If the length is shorter than the above, the driving time of the circulation pump for water absorption to the clothes is shortened, and as a result, the time taken for the water supply process is extended.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the drive timing of the circulation pump 13 is synchronized with the control of the rotational speed of the drum 3, and the circulation pump 13 is driven only in a section where the rotational speed of the drum 3 is constant. ing. This can be easily realized by combining the control of the rotational speed of the drum 3 with periodic control determined by the fixed time of T1, T2, T3 and T4, and the timer function of the control means 16, etc. it can.

  The control of the circulation pump 13 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When control of the circulation pump 13 is started in step S500, it is determined in step S501 whether it is an ON period of the circulation pump 13. As described above, this determination is made by the time measuring means 26, the values of T1 to T4 for determining the control period of the drum rotational speed control, and T5 of the circulation pump driving time.

  If it is determined in step S501 that the circulation pump 13 is in the on period (YES in step S501), the circulation pump 13 is turned on (step S502), and it is not the on period of the circulation pump 13 (step S501). NO), the circulation pump 13 is turned off (S503).

  When the predetermined time T5 has elapsed (YES in step S504) and the water supply stroke is not completed (NO in step S505), the circulation pump 13 is intermittently driven by the above control. When the water supply stroke ends (YES in step S505), the circulating pump control ends in step S506.

  In FIG. 3, after circulating pump control, rotational torque detection for driving the motor 4 is performed in step S306, and motor drive control is performed thereafter.

The torque detection of the motor 4 is obtained by detecting the current flowing through the motor 4 by the motor torque detection means 23 and calculating the component generating the torque. The torque of the motor 4 repeats fluctuation instantaneously, but is illustrated as the torque amount of the motor for drum rotation at the third stage from the bottom of FIG. 6 by the averaging method such as using the value of the moving average. A signal equivalent can be obtained. Furthermore, in order to use the torque amount of the motor in the post-stroke, the control means 16 stores the calculated torque amount in the storage means 27.

  The torque of the motor 4 will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a period in which the number of rotations of the drum 3 is kept constant, and a period in which the number of rotations of the drum 3 is periodically accelerated and decelerated at constant acceleration. Are alternately driven, and the circulation pump 13 is periodically driven to scrape the washing water from under the drum 3 through the circulation path 12 and sprinkle it on the laundry in the drum 3.

  As a result, the washing water penetrates the laundry in the drum 3 and the load applied to rotate the drum 3 is that the laundry absorbs water from the state of only the drum 3 itself and the laundry just before the start of the water supply process. The weight of the washing water will increase. This increase in load appears as a change in torque required to drive the motor 4 for rotating the drum 3.

  The torque of the rotating body is obtained by adding the term obtained by the product of the acceleration of rotation and the inertia force (inertia) of the rotating body and the term corresponding to the friction applied to the rotation.

  In the former term of torque, the inertial force of the rotating body generally increases with the weight of the rotating body. That is, when acceleration or deceleration of the rotation of the drum 3 is performed, a change in the weight of the load in the drum 3 appears as a change in torque necessary for driving the motor 4. When accelerating the drum 3, the torque increases according to the inertial force, and when decelerating, the torque decreases according to the inertial force.

  The latter term of the torque, that is, the term corresponding to the friction applied to the rotation, increases as the water supply progresses and the level of the washing liquid in the outer tub 2 rises.

  The graph shown in the third stage from the bottom of FIG. 6 shows the change of the torque of the motor 4 as the amount of torque of the drum rotating motor.

  In a period in which the number of revolutions of the drum 3 is constant, only the torque corresponding to the friction applied to the rotation is a torque, so it is almost constant halfway through the stroke, but the stroke proceeds from left to right in the figure, When the water absorption of the laundry ends, the water level of the washing liquid in the outer tub 2 rises, and the torque gradually rises.

  What this item equivalent is extracted and illustrated is a point plotted by the second triangle from the top in FIG. Further, in the deceleration period of the rotational speed of the drum 3, the torque decreases in comparison with the period in which the drum rotational speed is constant before and after that, and in the acceleration period, the torque increases.

  The absolute value of the amount of change in torque is plotted at the top of FIG. The absolute value of the amount of change in torque increases as the load in the drum 3 increases, and when the water absorption of the laundry is finished, the rate of change is small and it is saturated.

  As described above, the rotational speed of the drum 3 is determined by the centrifugal force of the laundry on the wall surface of the drum 3 because the torque necessary for rotating the drum 3 reflects the weight of the load in the drum 3. It is necessary to have a high rotation speed enough to stick. In addition, if the rotation speed of the drum 3 is too high, there is a possibility that unnecessary vibration may occur due to the unbalance of the laundry inside the drum 3, so the rotation speed of the drum 3 is the resonance frequency of the outer tub 2 You need to set it to a lower speed. The rotational speed of the drum 3 may be set to about 80 r / min or more and 130 r / min or less, and within the range of the rotational speed, the drum rotational speed to be implemented in FIG.

  In the flow chart of the water supply stroke of FIG. 3, after torque detection is performed in step S306, it is determined whether or not the rotation of the drum 3 is a period of constant rotation number (step S307). If the rotation of the drum 3 is a fixed rotation number period (YES at step S307), at step S308, the torque amount stored in the storage unit 27 by the torque detection at step S306 described above is defined. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or higher than the threshold. The value of this torque amount is the value of the point plotted with triangles second from the top of FIG.

  That is, the torque amount at the point plotted by the second triangle from the top in FIG. 6 is a value that rises as the water level rises after the water absorption of the laundry ends, and the threshold value is the water absorption of this laundry Set to a value that will be reached when the

  If the torque amount does not exceed the first threshold value in step S308 (NO in step S308), the process returns to step S302 to continue a series of water supply strokes such as water supply, drum rotational speed control, circulation pump control, etc. . If the first threshold value is exceeded in step S308 (YES in step S308), the water supply process is ended (step S310), and the process proceeds to the next process of the washing operation.

  If it is determined in step S308 that the rotation of the drum 3 is not constant but in a period during which acceleration and deceleration are performed (NO in step S307), the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, with respect to the torque amount stored in the storage unit 27 by the torque detection in step S306 described above, the torque amount in the period in which the rotation of the drum 3 immediately before is a constant rotational speed and the current rotation of the drum 3 The amount of fluctuation with the amount of torque during acceleration / deceleration is calculated, and the amount of torque for the period when the number of revolutions of the drum 2 two more immediately before is constant rotation speed and the amount of torque during the period The amount of fluctuation with the amount is further calculated, and it is determined whether or not the change in both amounts of fluctuation is equal to or less than a prescribed threshold.

  In this determination, it is determined how much the value plotted by the circle mark at the top of FIG. 6 has changed from the value of the circle mark immediately before. That is, it is confirmed that the inertial force driven by the motor 4 changes as a result of the water absorption of the laundry, and it is possible to determine that the water absorption of the laundry is finished by reducing this change.

  In step S309, when the change in torque amount is large and exceeds the second threshold (NO in step S309), the process returns to step S302, and a series of water supply, drum rotation speed control, circulation pump control, etc. is performed. Continue the water supply process. If the change in the torque amount is small in step S309 and is less than the second threshold (YES in step S309), the water supply stroke is ended (step S310), and the process proceeds to the next stroke of the washing operation.

  In the present embodiment, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the condition for ending the water supply stroke is determined from the amount of torque of the motor 4 that rotates the drum 3. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

  For example, the maximum water supply amount may be defined, and the water supply step may be ended even when the water supply amount from the start of the water supply process exceeds the specified maximum water supply amount.

  By adding the above-described configuration to the end determination of the present embodiment shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, it is possible to avoid supplying an abnormally large amount of water to a laundry that absorbs water extremely. .

In the embodiment for measuring the amount of water supplied from the start of water supply, for example, a flow meter passing through the water supply valve 10 is added between the water supply port 9 and the water supply valve 10, and the control means 16 starts the water supply process. It can be obtained by accumulating the flow meter information. The maximum water supply amount can be set more appropriately by setting based on the cloth amount detected in step S301.

  As another embodiment for obtaining the water supply amount from the water supply start, at the initial stage of the water supply process, the water supply valve 10 is driven to supply water without driving the circulation pump 13, and the water level to the lowermost part of the drum 3 is equivalent. The time until the detected water pressure is detected by the signal from the water level sensor 8 is measured, and the flow rate is estimated by dividing the water volume when the water is supplied until it corresponds to the water level up to the lowermost part of the predetermined drum 3 It can also be realized by multiplying the drive time of the water supply valve 10 by the above estimated flow rate.

  In the present embodiment, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the control of the rotational speed of the drum 3 and the control of the circulation pump 13 are performed after the execution of the cloth amount detection in step S301. Absent.

  For example, after the cloth amount detection in step S301, water is supplied while monitoring the displacement of the water level from the water level information of the water level sensor 8 while rotating the drum 3 at a constant rotation number such as 45 r / min. The control after step S302 of the present embodiment may be performed only when the speed of change changes before and after the water level at which the displacement of the water level corresponds to the lowermost part of the drum 3.

  If a large amount of laundry absorbs water, the laundry absorbs water at the water level above the lowermost portion of the drum 3 as the drum 3 rotates, so that the speed at which the water level changes becomes slower than before. In such a case, the water supply stroke in the present embodiment is additionally performed. In order to carry out the water supply process in the present embodiment, the laundry needs to stick to the drum 3 and rotate along with the rotation of the drum 3. Therefore, the drum rotation number needs to be high, but The accuracy of the information of the water level sensor 8 may deteriorate.

  If it is the above-mentioned composition, when there is little laundry, or in the case of the kind of laundry with a small water absorption, it is better to supply water while checking the water level with the water level sensor 8 while rotating the drum 3 at lower rotation speed. Water supply can be controlled with high accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the control of the number of revolutions of the drum 3 repeats the fixed period of the number of revolutions, and along with that, the control of the circulation pump 13 is also repeated in a constant cycle. Absent.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the period during which the rotational speed of the drum 3 is kept constant is fixed as T1 and T2, and the operation of the circulation pump 13 is synchronized with the period during which the drum rotational speed is kept constant. The constant period obtained from the values of T1 to T4. This means that the driving time T5 of the circulation pump 13 is shorter than the time period during which the rotational speed of the drum 3 is kept constant, and the driving of the circulation pump 13 during the constant cycle by the water supply by the water supply valve 10 drive. This is because it is assumed that water is accumulated inside the outer tank 2 to a water level higher than that of the lower part.

  In another embodiment, the period for keeping the rotational speed of the drum 3 constant is usually shorter than the circulation pump drive time T5, and it is determined whether the circulation pump 13 is driven (step S501). Adding a condition that the water level of the water level sensor 8 is higher than the water level at the lowermost position of the drum 3, in which case the period for keeping the rotational speed of the drum 3 constant is longer than the circulation pump drive time T5. It may be extended to

With this configuration, it is possible to properly drive the circulation pump 13 according to the flow rate of the water supply, and further monitor the torque fluctuation in synchronization with the control of the rotation speed of the drum 3 in a finer cycle. Since the present invention can be implemented, it is possible to more accurately determine the end of the water supply stroke.

  Further, in the present embodiment, whether the water absorption of the laundry has ended due to the change of the torque fluctuation amount in the two sections in which the rotation of the drum 3 is accelerated or decelerated in the determinations of step S307 to step S309 shown in the flowchart of FIG. Although it is set as the structure which determines no, it is not limited to this.

  Since it is only necessary to detect that the change in the torque fluctuation has saturated, it is sufficient to determine whether the water absorption of the laundry has ended, for example, linear approximation is performed on the torque fluctuation in a plurality of sections, and the change in inclination is Alternatively, it may be configured to detect that the change is saturated.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the water supply valve 10 is kept open in the water supply valve control of step S302 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the monitoring of the water level is continued by the water level detection means 8, and the water supply valve 10 is closed to temporarily stop the water supply if the water level becomes high until the confirmation of the water absorption of the laundry is completed. good.

  In the present embodiment, the drum type washing machine has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the drum type washing machine, and may be used for a vertical washing machine.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by monitoring the amount of torque necessary for the rotation of the drum 3 while controlling the rotation of the drum 3, it is confirmed that the amount of water absorption to the laundry fluctuates. At the same time, it is possible to simultaneously perform water supply to the laundry by the water supply and the circulation pump, so it is possible to perform water supply suitable for washing at an early stage. In addition, only the amount of the washing liquid accumulated below the lowermost part of the drum 3 from the state where the washing liquid exists above the lowermost part of the drum 3 is applied to the laundry through the circulation path 12 to circulate Since the pump 13 does not operate in a state where it does not get stuck in the washing liquid, the operation noise of the circulation pump 13 can be prevented from becoming large.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can perform the water supply operation efficiently by saving time, and can prevent the water level lowering due to the agitation of the laundry after the water supply, and can also improve the cleaning performance. It can be applied to other washing machine applications including vertical type.

Reference Signs List 2 outer tank 3 drum 4 motor 8 water level detection means 9 water supply port 10 water supply valve 11 outlet 12 circulation path 13 circulation pump 16 control means 23 motor torque detection means 24 rotation speed detection means 26 time measurement means 27 storage means

Claims (1)

A washing tub for containing laundry, an outer tub for housing the washing tub, a motor for rotatably driving the washing tub, a water supply valve for supplying water to the outer tub, and a washing water in the outer tub A circulation path that circulates inside, a circulation pump that circulates the washing liquid in the circulation path, a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the outer tank, and a rotation speed detection unit that detects the rotation speed of the washing tank. Motor torque detection means for detecting the rotational torque of the motor, time measurement means for measuring the elapsed time from an arbitrary time point, storage means for storing various setting contents and detections, measurement results, the motor, water supply valve Control means for controlling the circulation pump and the like to control each stroke such as washing, rinsing, dewatering, etc., and the control means opens the water supply valve in the water supply stroke to supply water to the outer tank. While the washing tub is run at a constant speed The circulating pump is operated after reaching a predetermined water level while repeatedly operating a series of operations of deceleration at a constant acceleration, rotation at a constant velocity, and acceleration at a constant acceleration, and the motor torque detection means detects When the rotational torque of the motor becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold, or when the change in the amount of fluctuation from the previous or last time of the rotational torque during acceleration and deceleration with constant acceleration becomes equal to or less than the second threshold The washing machine which ends the water supply by the water supply valve.

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