JP2020000403A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which allows additional feed of a detergent as needed.SOLUTION: The washing machine comprises a washing tub to accommodate laundry, a detergent feeder to automatically feed a detergent into the washing tub, a control unit to control the detergent feeder, and a contamination degree detector to detect the contamination degree of washing water in the washing tub and input a detection signal to the control unit. The control unit monitoring the detection signal during washing operation calculates the rate of change in the contamination degree at least two times and lets the detergent feeder make an additional feed of the detergent when the difference in the rate of change exceeds a specified value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine having a device for automatically dispensing detergent.

  Conventionally, in a washing machine having an automatic detergent dispenser, the user has determined the dispensing amount according to the amount of laundry presented by weight sensing or the like before the start of the washing operation.

Japanese Patent No. 4345553 Japanese Patent No. 5161502

However, since the actual degree of soiling of the laundry varies, it is assumed that the detergent amount determined according to the amount of the laundry is insufficient.
Accordingly, a washing machine capable of additionally adding a detergent as needed is provided.

  The washing machine of the embodiment includes a washing tub for storing laundry, a detergent dispenser for automatically dispensing a detergent into the washing tub, a control unit for controlling the detergent dispenser, and a washing water stain in the washing tub. And a dirt degree detecting unit for detecting the degree and inputting a detection signal to the control unit. The control unit monitors the detection signal during the washing operation and obtains a change rate of the degree of dirt at least two times. When the difference in the change rate exceeds a predetermined value, the detergent is added to the detergent dispenser.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment. Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the washing machine for a portion related to the gist Flow chart showing the steps of the entire washing operation Flow chart showing the washing process Flowchart showing detergent input amount determination process (part 1) Flow chart showing detergent input amount determination process (part 2) Diagram showing the change in the degree of contamination of washing water over time FIG. 1 shows an example in which a change rate of the degree of contamination changes (part 1). FIG. 2 shows an example in which the change rate of the degree of contamination changes (part 2). Flow chart showing the detergent addition / time addition determination process The figure which shows an example of the setting of the dosage determination time in a detergent dosage determination process The figure which shows an example of the setting of the initial detergent supply amount in the detergent supply amount determination process The figure which shows an example which determines the additional detergent amount according to the relative level of the rate of change of the degree of contamination. Diagram showing an example of setting the change rate level in the normal course The figure which shows the example of the setting of the rate of change in the detergent saving course The figure which shows an example which changes the predetermined value set with respect to the difference of the change rate of a dirt degree in a detergent addition / time addition determination process according to a course.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment applied to a drum type washing and drying machine will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the entire configuration of a washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The washing machine 1 has a main body 2 having a substantially rectangular box shape, and a cylindrical water tub 3 is supported in the main body 2 via an elastic support mechanism 6 only partially shown in a state of being slightly inclined backward and downward. Have been. In the water tub 3, a cylindrical drum 4, which is a washing tub in which clothes as laundry are stored, is rotatably supported. The drum 4 is configured so as to extend in the front-rear direction and rotate around a tilt axis slightly inclined downward.

  A large number of holes 5 for water passage and ventilation, only a part of which is shown, are formed in the peripheral wall of the drum 4. A plurality of baffles 7 for agitating the laundry are provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the drum 4. A plurality of vents (not shown) are provided in the rear wall of the drum 4. An opening 8 through which clothes are taken in and out is provided on the front surface of the drum 4. In the front part of the water tank 3, an inlet 9 connected to the opening 8 is formed. On the front surface of the main body 2, a door 10 for opening and closing the insertion port 9 is provided.

  A washing machine motor 11 composed of, for example, an outer rotor type brushless motor is disposed behind the water tub 3. The tip of the rotating shaft 11 a of the washing machine motor 11 penetrates through the back of the water tub 3 and protrudes into the water tub 3, and is connected and fixed to the center of the rear part of the drum 4. Thus, the drum 4 is directly driven to rotate by the washing machine motor 11. The washing machine motor 11 is provided with a rotation sensor (not shown) for detecting the rotation of the rotor and thus the drum 4.

  A drain pipe 13 is connected to a lower portion of the water tank 3, and a drain valve 14 is provided at an intermediate portion of the drain pipe 13. Although not shown in detail, the drain pipe 13 extends to the outside of the main body 2, and water in the water tank 3 is drained to a predetermined drain place such as a washroom. Although not shown, an air trap communicating with the inside of the water tank 3 is provided at a lower portion of a rear surface of the water tank 3, and this air trap is provided at a water level sensor (not shown) disposed at an upper part of the main body 2 through an air tube. It is connected.

  In the main body 2, a drying unit 16 and an air circulation duct 17 for supplying hot air into the water tank 3 during a drying process are provided. As a whole, the air circulation duct 17 extends upward from the inlet 17a at the lower end of the back of the water tank 3 to the back of the water tank 3 and then forwards to the upper part of the water tank 3, and the outlet at the upper front end of the water tank 3 17b. The drying unit 16 includes a blower fan 18 and a heater 19, and is disposed in a middle part of the air circulation duct 17, for example, above the water tank 3.

  In the drying process, the blower fan 18 is driven so that the air in the water tank 3 and the drum 4 is sucked into the air circulation duct 17 from the inlet 17a, heated by the heater 19, and then supplied into the water tank 3 from the outlet 17b. A circulation is performed such as being performed. Note that a dehumidifier may be provided in the middle of the air circulation duct 17. Further, instead of the heater-type drying unit 16, a drying unit including a heat pump having a well-known configuration may be provided.

  An operation panel 20 is provided on the upper front surface of the main body 2. The operation panel 20 is provided with, for example, various keys for selecting various driving courses and starting driving, a display unit for performing necessary display for a user, and the like. The control unit 21 shown in FIG. 2 is provided on the back side of the operation panel 20. The control unit 21 is mainly configured by a microcomputer, and controls the overall operation of the washing machine 1 based on various input signals and a control program stored in advance. As will be described in detail later, the control unit 21 controls operations of water supply and automatic introduction of the liquid detergent.

  A water supply mechanism 22 for supplying water from a tap to the water tank 3 and the drum 4 is provided at an upper portion of the main body 2. A mechanism for automatically pouring the liquid detergent into the water tank 3 is incorporated in the water supply mechanism 22. A water injection case 23 is provided at an upper part in the main body 2 at a front portion. The water injection case 23 is connected to the upper front part of the water tank 3 via a water supply hose 23a. Although not shown, the water injection case 23 is provided with a drawer-type detergent charging section, and the detergents such as a powder detergent, a finishing agent, and a bleaching agent are previously charged in the detergent charging section. The detergents are supplied into the water tank 3 together with tap water.

  A hose connection portion 24 is provided on the rear end side of the upper portion of the main body 2. Although not shown, the other end of the hose having one end connected to a water tap is connected to the hose connection portion 24. A water supply path 25 extending from the hose connection part 24 to the water injection case 23 is provided in the main body 2. The water supply path 25 is provided with an electromagnetic water injection valve 26. An aspirator 27 made of, for example, a plastic is inserted in a part of the water supply path 25 downstream of the water injection valve 26.

  As is well known, the aspirator 27 creates a decompressed state by using the Venturi effect, and has an integral straight pipe portion extending in the left-right direction in the figure and a branch pipe extending perpendicularly from the center and upward in the figure. It is T-shaped. A check valve (not shown) for preventing backflow is provided in the branch pipe. The aspirator 27 has an inlet 27a on the right side, an outlet 27b on the left side, a suction portion 27c on the left side, an inlet 27c extending upward, an inlet 27a having an upstream water supply source side in the water supply path 25, and an outlet 27b having a downstream side. It is on the water injection case 23 side. When the water injection valve 26 is opened and the water flows in the water supply path 25, the water flows from the inlet 27a to the outlet 27b, the flow velocity increases at the outlet of the throttle pipe 28, and the pressure in the suction part 27c is reduced. State.

  On the rear side of the upper part of the main body 2, there is provided a detergent automatic dispenser 30 which stores a liquid detergent and serves as a liquid detergent supply source. In the present embodiment, the detergent automatic dispenser 30 is configured such that a commercially available liquid detergent bottle 31 is directly connectable, the bottle connection port 32 to which the bottle 31 is connected in a downward state, and a bottle in that state. And a bottle holding portion 33 that supports the bottle 31. Note that a configuration in which the bottle 31 is housed in the main body 2 may be adopted.

  In the main body 2, there is provided a liquid detergent storage section 34 for temporarily storing the liquid detergent flowing down from the bottle 31 connected to the bottle connection port 32, and a base end portion is provided in the liquid detergent storage section 34. A connected detergent supply path 35 is provided. The tip of the detergent supply path 35 is connected to the suction part 27 c of the aspirator 27, and an opening / closing valve 36 for opening and closing the detergent supply path 35 is provided in the middle of the detergent supply path 35.

  In a state where the bottle 31 is connected to the bottle connection port 32 and the liquid detergent is stored in the liquid detergent reservoir 34, the water injection valve 26 is opened and the on-off valve 36 is opened when water flows through the water supply path 25. Then, the liquid detergent is sucked into the aspirator 27 from the suction part 27c through the detergent supply path 35. The sucked liquid detergent flows out of the outlet 27b while being mixed with water, and is automatically charged into the water tank 3 through the water injection case 23. The water injection valve 26 and the on-off valve 36 are controlled to open and close by the control unit 21. A water temperature detector 37 shown in FIG. 2 for detecting the temperature of tap water is provided in the water supply path 25. Note that, instead of the aspirator 27, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-509264, a mechanism for introducing a detergent using a pump or an electromagnetic valve may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation signal of the operation panel 20 is input to the control unit 21. Further, the control unit 21 controls display on the display unit of the operation panel 20. Control unit 21 receives detection signals from water temperature detection unit 37, weight detection unit 38, and contamination degree detection unit 39. And the control part 21 controls the washing machine motor 11, the drain valve 14, the water injection valve 26, the opening / closing valve 36, etc.

  The weight detection unit 38 detects the amount of the cloth stored in the drum 4 according to the time from when the drum 4 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed to when the rotation is stopped before the control unit 21 supplies water at the start of the washing operation, for example. This is a functional block in which the function of detecting weight is externalized. The dirt degree detector 39 includes a transmittance sensor for detecting the transmittance of the washing water and / or a conductivity sensor for detecting the conductivity of the washing water. The transmittance sensor has strength in detecting mud stains, and the conductivity sensor has strength in detecting sweat stains. The dirt degree detection unit 39 is disposed at a position which is the lowest point of the water tank 3 as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

  With the above configuration, the control unit 21 controls each mechanism of the washing machine 1 based on an input signal from each sensor or a control program stored in advance according to a driving course set by a user on the operation panel 20. The washing operation including the well-known washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes and the subsequent drying operation are automatically executed. Then, the control unit 21 controls the on-off valve 36 at the time of water supply so that a predetermined amount of detergent according to the amount of cloth in the drum 4 is automatically supplied at the time of the first water supply during the washing operation.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a main routine showing the procedure of the washing operation. When the weight detection unit 38 detects the weight of the cloth (S1), the control unit 21 performs a washing process (S2). Then, after determining the number of times of rinsing (S3), the rinsing step is performed (S4), and finally the dewatering step is performed (S5).

<S2: Washing process>
As shown in FIG. 4, in the washing process of step S2, first, the time of the intermediate process, which is the washing time, is determined according to the weight of the cloth detected in step S1, and then (S11) the detergent input amount determining process is performed. Perform (S12). Subsequently, an intermediate step (S13) and a detergent addition / time addition determination step are performed (S14).

<S12: Detergent input amount determination process>
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the detergent input amount determination step of step S12, water is injected into the water tank 3 so that the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level (S21), and the water temperature is detected by the water temperature detector 37 (S22). . Here, the predetermined water level means a water level determined during the washing operation or a water level slightly lower than the water level determined during the washing operation. The significance of setting the water level of the water tank 3 to be equal to or higher than a predetermined value is to prevent the water level from greatly changing in the subsequent washing process and to stably detect the degree of contamination. Then, the input amount determination time is determined (S23). Here, the input amount determination time is a time for performing pre-washing in the present process, and for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the weight N [kg] of the laundry and the setting of the normal / detergent saving course. Determined accordingly. For example, the weight N is 3 kg or more and less than 6 kg, and is set to 150 seconds for a normal course and 120 seconds for a detergent-saving course.

  Next, an initial detergent is introduced (S24). The initial detergent input amount is set in accordance with, for example, a water injection amount based on the weight of the laundry. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the normal course is set to 100% of the set amount, and the detergent saving course is set to 100% of the set amount. 80%. For example, if 10 g of the detergent A is injected per 20 L of water injected in the normal course, the amount is 8 g in the detergent saving course.

  Next, when the first detection of the degree of contamination of the washing water is performed by the contamination degree detector 39 (S25), washing is started (S26), and after a predetermined time elapses (S27; YES), the second detection of the degree of contamination is performed. Is performed (S28). The predetermined time is, for example, about several tens seconds to one minute. When the predetermined time further elapses (S29; YES), the third detection of the dirt degree is performed (S30). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the input amount determination time has elapsed (S31). If the time has not elapsed (NO), the difference between the second detection result and the first detection result of the contamination degree is determined for a predetermined time. That is, the change rate (1) of the degree of contamination is obtained by dividing by the detection interval time. Similarly, the change rate (2) is obtained by dividing the difference between the third detection result and the second detection result of the contamination degree by the detection interval time. Then, it is determined whether or not the change rate (2) is equal to or less than a predetermined value, for example, “0.5” (S32).

  If the change rate (2) is equal to or less than the predetermined value (S32; YES), the process returns to step S29, and if it exceeds the predetermined value (NO), the process proceeds to step S33. Here, a difference between the change rate (2) and the change rate (1) is obtained. Then, it is determined whether or not the difference exceeds a predetermined value, for example, “0”. In this embodiment, the predetermined value includes “0”. If the difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value (NO), the process returns to step S29, and if it exceeds the predetermined value (YES), the process shifts to step S34.

  In step S34, it is determined whether or not the amount of the detergent added at that time is less than the saturation amount. If the amount is less than the saturation amount (YES), additional detergent is added (S35), and the process returns to step S29. On the other hand, if it is not less than the saturation amount (NO), the process returns to the main routine. When water is injected when the detergent is additionally added, the amount of water injected in step S21 may be reduced by that amount.

  FIG. 7 shows images of the first to third detection results of the degree of contamination, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of changes in the change rates (1) and (2). In the example shown in FIG. 8, the change rate (1) is "1.0" and exceeds the predetermined value "0.5", the change rate (2) is "1.2", and the difference between the two is the predetermined value "0.5". 0 ”. In this case, since "YES" is determined in the step S33, if the amount is less than the saturation amount at that time, the detergent is added in the step S35. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the change rate (1) is “0.2” and is equal to or less than the predetermined value “0.5”, “YES” is determined in step S32, and thus no additional detergent is added.

Further, the additional amount of the detergent to be added in step S35 is changed according to the relative level of the latest change rate, for example, as shown in FIG. For example, assuming that the change rate level is three levels, each level is set as follows, and the additional input amount is changed.
Change rate level Change rate CF range Additional detergent input
2 2.0 <CF 10% of initial input
1 0.5 <CF ≦ 2.0 5% of initial charge
0 CF ≦ 0.5 0% of initial input amount
The level “0” is a case where “YES” is determined in step S32. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the change rate level may be changed over time, or the range of each change rate level may be changed between the normal course and the detergent saving course.

<S14: Detergent addition / time addition decision process>
As shown in FIG. 10, in the detergent addition / time addition determination step of step S14, it is determined that the n-th detection has been performed in the detergent input amount determination step, and the (n + 1) th detection of the degree of contamination is performed (S41). . When the predetermined time has elapsed (S42; YES), the (n + 2) th detection is performed (S43). In subsequent steps S44 and S45, similarly to steps S32 and S33, whether the change rate (n + 1) based on the difference between the (n + 2) th detection and the (n + 1) th detection is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value (S44), It is determined whether the difference between (n + 1) and the rate of change n exceeds a predetermined value (S45). If "NO" is determined here, the process returns to the step S43, and if "YES" is determined, the process shifts to the step S46 to perform the same determination and processing as the steps S34 and S35.

  When returning to step S43 and repeating the detection of the degree of dirt, the current time is replaced by the (n + 2) th detection and the previous time is detected by the (n + 1) th detection. Ask.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, in the present process, the predetermined value regarding the difference in the change rate used in step S45 is changed to “0” in the normal course and to “0.2” in the detergent saving course. As a result, the cleaning power is secured while suppressing the additional introduction of the detergent.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the washing machine 1 includes the detergent dispenser 30 that automatically dispenses the detergent into the water tub 3, the control unit 21 that controls the detergent dispenser 30, and the washing in the water tub 3. And a contamination level detection unit 39 for detecting the degree of contamination of water and inputting a detection signal to the control unit. The control unit 21 monitors the detection signal during the washing operation and obtains the change rate of the degree of contamination at least twice, and when the difference between the obtained change rates exceeds a predetermined value, causes the detergent dispenser 30 to additionally supply the detergent. Therefore, even if a clogging or the like occurs in a path where the liquid detergent is supplied, and even if the amount of the supplied detergent does not reach an expected value, the detergent can be additionally supplied to compensate for the contamination. Can be dropped.

  In addition, the control unit 21 does not perform the additional injection of the detergent if the latest change rate of the degree of contamination is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In addition, by configuring the dirt degree detection unit 39 with a transmittance sensor that detects the transmittance of the washing water and / or a conductivity sensor that detects the conductivity of the washing water, the degree of dirt can be accurately detected.

  Furthermore, since the control unit 21 determines whether or not to add the detergent within a period in which the water level in the water tank 3 is equal to or more than a predetermined period, the control unit 21 performs the determination in an appropriate period in which the change rate of the contamination degree can be stably detected. be able to. In addition, since the control unit 21 changes the amount of detergent to be additionally supplied according to the change rate of the degree of contamination, and changes the time of the washing operation, the amount of detergent to be additionally supplied according to the degree of contamination of the laundry is changed. By properly changing or changing the washing time, it is possible to surely remove dirt from the laundry.

(Other embodiments)
Specific numerical values such as the amount of water, the amount of detergent, the time, and each predetermined value are merely examples, and may be appropriately changed according to individual designs.
The determination in step S32 may be made as needed.
As shown in FIG. 13, the amount of additional input is not limited to being changed, and the amount of additional input may be always constant.
The present invention is not limited to a liquid detergent, and may be applied to a configuration in which a powder detergent is automatically supplied.
The invention is not limited to the drum type washing machine, but may be applied to a vertical washing machine.
When a circulation channel for circulating the washing liquid stored in the water tub 3 with a circulation pump or the like is provided, the dirt degree detection unit 39 may be provided at an intermediate portion of the circulation channel.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawing, 1 is a washing machine, 3 is a water tub, 4 is a drum, 21 is a control unit, 30 is a detergent automatic dispenser, and 39 is a stain degree detection unit.

Claims (6)

A washing tub for storing laundry,
A detergent input device for automatically inputting a detergent into the washing tub,
A control unit for controlling the detergent dispenser;
A dirt level detection unit that detects a dirt level of the washing water in the washing tub and inputs a detection signal to the control unit;
The control unit monitors the detection signal during the washing operation and obtains the change rate of the degree of contamination at least twice, and when the difference between the obtained change rates exceeds a predetermined value, the detergent is added to the detergent dispenser. Let washing machine.   2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not perform the additional charging when the latest change rate of the dirt degree is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 3.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the dirt degree detection unit is a transmittance sensor that detects a transmittance of the washing water and / or a conductivity sensor that detects a conductivity of the washing water.   4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not the detergent is to be additionally supplied within a period in which the water level in the water tub is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. 5.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit changes an amount of the detergent to be additionally input according to the change rate.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit is configured to control a washing operation, and changes a time of the washing operation according to the change rate.

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