JP2019176890A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which suppresses wrong detection of foaming by a washing operation, which does not perform unnecessary drainage of washing water and unnecessary water supply, and which has high foaming detection accuracy.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes; an outer tub; a washing and dewatering tub arranged rotatably in the outer tub, and for storing laundry; drive means including an electric motor for driving the washing and dewatering tub; a housing for supporting the outer tub and for constituting an exterior; means for detecting a water level in the outer tub; water supply means for supplying water to the outer tub; drainage means for draining the water in the outer tub; foaming detection means for detecting foaming in the housing; current detection means for detecting a current of the drive means; and control means for controlling the drive means, the water supply means, the drainage means and the water level detection means, and for performing a washing operation. In the case where foaming is detected by the foaming detection means, the control means detects presence/absence of foaming by the current detection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to control of a washing machine.

  The washing machine is equipped with a foam sensor using an electrode at an appropriate position to prevent bubbles generated in the washing tub from leaking out of the machine or into the drying circulation air passage at the time of foaming. It is controlled to drain a part of the washing water or to supply water for eliminating foam. In Patent Document 1, a method is adopted in which a foam sensor is installed in a dry circulation air passage and water is supplied to the dry circulation air passage when foaming is determined by the foam sensor. In Patent Document 2, one of a pair of electrodes is installed in a dry circulation air passage, and the other electrode is used by using an existing electrode for generating electrolyzed water installed at a position where the other electrode is always immersed in water. A method of reliably performing foaming determination with a foam sensor and realizing it at low cost has been adopted.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-33878 JP 2003-260290 A

  However, in the foam detection only by the foam sensor, in addition to the case where the foam has risen due to foaming, when the foam adheres between the electrodes of the foam sensor or the lint collected in the dry circulation air path is between the electrodes of the foam sensor. Even when the foam sensor is attached to the electrode or when the electrode is separated from the electrode, even if a long lint attached to the foam sensor is immersed in the washing water and becomes electrically conductive, Since the operation of draining part of the water and the water supply operation for eliminating the bubbles are performed, extra water is used and the operation time becomes longer.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a washing machine with high foaming detection accuracy that suppresses erroneous detection of foaming due to a washing operation and does not perform unnecessary drainage of wastewater or unnecessary water supply. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to the present invention includes an outer tub, a washing / dehydrating tub that is rotatably disposed in the outer tub and stores laundry, and an electric motor that drives the washing / dehydrating tub. A driving means including: a housing that supports the outer tub and that constitutes an exterior; a means that detects a water level in the outer tub; a water supply means that supplies water into the outer tub; and water in the outer tub Drainage means for draining water, foam detection means for detecting foam in the housing, current detection means for detecting current of the drive means, the drive means, the water supply means, the drainage means, and the water level detection means. Control means for controlling and performing a washing operation, wherein the control means detects presence or absence of foaming by the current detection means when foaming is detected by the foam detection means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the foam sensor and a motor electric current can suppress the misdetection of foaming at the time of a washing operation, and can implement | achieve the highly reliable washing machine without draining unnecessary washing water or performing unnecessary water supply.

It is a flowchart which shows the control content in one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the foaming determination in one Example of this invention. It is an operation panel figure which shows the form of one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the form of one Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the washing machine which shows the form of one Example of this invention. It is a rear view which removes the back cover of the washing machine which shows the form of one Example of this invention, and shows an internal structure.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the contents of control in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing contents of foaming determination in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an operation panel diagram showing the form of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a washing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view which removes the back cover of a washing machine and shows an internal structure.

  4, 5, and 6, the washing machine of this embodiment includes a microcomputer 13 having a nonvolatile storage means 14, a drive circuit 19, and output devices 6 to 10 and 21 such as a water supply valve 7 and a drain valve 8. , 22, 24, 25, input devices 15 to 18, 20, 23, a power source 4 and a relay 5. When the power “ON” switch 121 of the operation panel 1 is pressed, the power supplied from the outlet is transformed and rectified by the rectifier circuit, the microcomputer 13 is energized, and the relay 5 is turned on. The microcomputer 13 is given input signals from the lid lock detection 15, the water level sensor 16, the bubble sensor 17, the rotation sensor 18, the operation switch 20, the motor current sensor 23, etc., and the motor 6, according to a predetermined program. It controls the water supply valve 7, the drain valve 8, the circulation pump 10, the heater 9, the blower fan 25, and the like. The bubble sensor 17 is installed in the dry circulation air passage. When the foam rising from the lower part of the circulation air passage touches between the electrodes of the sensor, the electric resistance is reduced and the voltage entering the microcomputer 13 is lowered to cause foaming. Detect.

  The drive circuit 19 controls the conduction state according to an instruction from the microcomputer 13 to perform power supply control to the subordinate load, and executes washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes. During the operation of each process, the foam sensor 17 and the motor current sensor 23 perform foaming determination. When washing is completed, the relay 5 is turned off by a signal from the microcomputer 13 to cut off the power supply.

  The operation panel shown in FIG. 3 includes keys 107 to 110 for setting a washing time, the number of times of rinsing, a dehydration time, and a drying time, keys 103 to 105 for setting a washing course, a washing course, and a drying course, and start / pause. It comprises a key 106, 7-segment LEDs 111 to 114 for displaying the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, the dehydration time and the drying time, the 7-segment LED 115 for displaying the remaining time of the process, and the LED 116 for displaying the course.

  In the washing machine of the example, the driving course is a maximum of 12 courses (116), the washing time is 0 to 99 minutes (111), the number of rinses is 0 to 9 times (112), the dehydration time is 0 to 9 minutes (113), The drying time is 0 to 99 minutes (114).

  A series of operations of the embodiment is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  First, after the power is turned on, the initial setting course of the washing machine is displayed with an LED and a 7-segment LED (S101). Set the operation details such as washing course, washing time, number of rinses, dehydration time, drying time, presence / absence of bath water use (S102), and press the start / pause key (S103) to set the operation details Execute.

  In the washing step (S104), foaming determination (S105) is performed until the washing step is completed (S106). Similarly, in the rinsing step (S107), the foam determination (S108) is performed until the rinsing step is completed (S109). Similarly, in the dehydration step (S110), the foam determination (S111) is performed until the dehydration step is completed (S112).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, in the foam determination, when the foam sensor 17 determines that the foam is foamed (S201), motor foam determination control (S202) is performed. The foaming determination by the foam sensor 17 is determined as foaming, for example, when the input voltage of the foam sensor detects a foaming determination threshold value or less. In the motor foaming determination control (S202), after all the outputs have been stopped, the motor 6 is energized and started up at a rotational speed at which the clothes are pressed against the inner wall of the washing tub by centrifugal force without promoting foaming. In the foaming determination (S203) by the motor current sensor 23, when it is determined that the foaming is performed, the foam elimination control (S204) is performed. The foaming determination by the motor current sensor 23 is determined as foaming, for example, when the motor current value exceeds a threshold value that matches the condition being determined from a plurality of foaming determination threshold values corresponding to the amount of clothing and the amount of water. In the bubble erasing control (S204), the drain valve 8 is opened to drain a part of the washing water, and the water supply valve 7 is opened to perform the foam erasing water supply operation. When it is determined that foam is not foamed by either foaming determination by the foam sensor 17 (S201) or foaming determination by the motor current sensor 23 (S203), the washing operation is continued.

  The washing machine configured as described above can suppress erroneous detection of foaming due to a washing operation, and can perform unnecessary washing water drainage or washing operation without performing unnecessary water supply.

  In the above embodiment, the drum type washing machine has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a vertical type washing machine.

1: Operation panel
4: Power supply 5: Relay 6: Motor 7: Water supply valve 8: Drain valve 9: Heater
10: Circulation pump 11: Waste thread collection means 13: Microcomputer
14: Nonvolatile memory 15: Lid lock detection 16: Water level sensor 17: Bubble sensor
18: Rotation sensor 20: Operation switch 21: LED display circuit 22: Buzzer circuit
23: Motor current sensor 24: Lid lock 25: Blower fan
103: Washing course key 104: Washing course key 105: Drying course key
106: Start / Pause key
107: Wash key 108: Rinse key 109: Dehydration key 110: Drying key
111: Washing time display 112: Rinsing count display 113: Dehydration time display 114: Drying time display
115: Remaining time display 116: Course LED display
121: On key 122: Off key

Claims (1)

An outer tub, a washing / dehydrating tub that is rotatably disposed in the outer tub and stores laundry, a driving means including an electric motor that drives the washing / dehydrating tub, and supports the outer tub and constitutes an exterior A casing, means for detecting the water level in the outer tub, water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub, drainage means for draining water in the outer tub, and foaming in the casing Foam detection means, current detection means for detecting the current of the drive means, control means for controlling the drive means, the water supply means, the drainage means and the water level detection means to perform a washing operation,
The said control means detects the presence or absence of foaming by the said current detection means, when foaming is detected by the said foam detection means, The washing machine characterized by the above-mentioned.

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