JP2020156905A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To acquire weight of laundry in a washing machine with better accuracy.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a drum for storing laundry; a motor for rotating the drum; a controller for controlling the rotation of the motor; a detector for detecting the rotational speed of the drum; and a processing part for acquiring the weight of the laundry on the basis of the rotational speed in first and second acceleration sections. The controller controls the rotation of the motor in such a manner that the absolute values of the rotational speed are the same in a start point of the first and second acceleration sections, and the signs become opposite.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Regarding washing machines that determine the weight of laundry.

A technique for determining the weight of laundry in a washing machine is known. If the weight of the laundry can be known, the washing time, the amount of water, and the like can be changed accordingly. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that the weight of laundry is detected based on the rise time and fall time of the rotation speed of the motor.

JP-A-2002-126390

The inventors of the present application have noticed that conventional washing machines have reduced weight detection accuracy, especially when there is an imbalance in the laundry.

According to one embodiment, a drum for accommodating laundry, a motor for rotating the drum, a controller for controlling the rotation of the motor, a detector for detecting the rotation speed of the drum, and first and second acceleration sections. A washing machine including a processing unit for obtaining the weight of the laundry based on the rotation speed in the above, wherein the controller has the same absolute value of the rotation speed at the start points of the first and second acceleration sections. , A washing machine that controls the rotation of the motor so that the symbols are reversed is provided.

According to one embodiment, a drum for accommodating laundry, a motor for rotating the drum, a controller for controlling the rotation of the motor, a detector for detecting the rotation speed of the drum, and first and second acceleration sections. A washing machine including a processing unit for obtaining the weight of the laundry based on the rotation speed in the above, wherein the controller has a constant rotation speed before the first and second acceleration sections. A washing machine that controls the rotation of the motor is provided so as to provide a speed section and a second constant speed section, respectively.

The weight of the laundry in the washing machine can be determined with better accuracy.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the washing machine by a certain embodiment. It is a figure which shows the profile of the intermittent drive of the motor for determining the weight of the laundry. It is a figure which shows the profile of the intermittent drive of the motor for determining the weight of the laundry. It is a figure which shows the eccentric position caused by the bias in the drum of a laundry.

In the following description and drawings, the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference number. The size of the elements shown in the drawings is not always represented on an exact scale.

Hardware FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a washing machine 100 according to an embodiment. The washing machine 100 includes a drum 110 for accommodating laundry, a motor 120 for rotating the drum 110, a controller 130 for controlling the rotation of the motor 120, a detector 140 for detecting the rotation speed of the drum 110, and a processing unit 150. .. In one embodiment, the detector 140 detects the rotation angle of the drum 110 in addition to the rotation speed of the drum 110. The processing unit 150 determines the weight of the laundry based on the rotation speed in the first and second acceleration sections described later.

In various embodiments, the rotational speed of the drum 110 is utilized. The detector 140 is a position sensor that directly detects the rotational speed of the drum 110, but is not limited to this, and can be any suitable sensor.

The processing unit 150 typically includes a processor 152 and a memory 154. The processor 152 executes a computer program that realizes a process of controlling the rotation of the drum 110 and the motor 120, and a process of determining the weight of the laundry. Memory 154 typically stores such computer programs and associated data. The processor 152 outputs a signal for controlling the rotation of the motor 120 to the controller 130. The controller 130 drives the motor 120 based on the control signal from the processor 152. Although the controller 130 and the processing unit 150 are represented as separate functional blocks in FIG. 1, they may be realized as a single functional block.

Intermittent drive FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an intermittent drive profile 200 of the motor 120 for determining the weight of laundry. The horizontal axis of FIG. 2 represents time, and the vertical axis represents the rotation speed of the drum 110. The profile 200 includes a first constant speed section 211, a first acceleration section 212, a stop section 215, a second constant speed section 221 and a second acceleration section 222. The code of the rotation speed indicates the direction of rotation of the drum 110. Therefore, here, the drum 110 rotates in a certain direction from time 0 to the stop section 215, and then rotates in the opposite direction.

In one embodiment, the controller 130 controls the rotation of the motor 120 so that the absolute values of the rotational speeds of the drums 110 at the start points of the first acceleration section 212 and the second acceleration section 222 are the same and the signs are opposite. ..

Continuous drive FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a profile 300 of continuous drive of the motor 120 for determining the weight of laundry. The horizontal axis of FIG. 3 represents time, and the vertical axis represents the rotation speed of the drum 110. The profile 300 includes a first constant speed section 311, a first acceleration section 312, a second constant speed section 321 and a second acceleration section 322. The profile 300, unlike the profile 200, has no stop section.

In certain embodiments, a constant speed section, an acceleration section, and a deceleration section may be provided before the first constant speed section 311. As a result, the position of the laundry in the drum 110 can be fixed in advance.

In one embodiment, the controller 130 is provided with a first constant speed section 311 and a second constant speed section 321 in which the rotation speed of the drum 110 is constant before the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322, respectively. Controls the rotation of the motor 120.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an eccentric position caused by the bias of the laundry in the drum 110. The drum 110 rotates about a rotation shaft 410. The laundry 420 in the drum 110 may be unevenly present as shown in FIG. At this time, the center of gravity 430 of the drum 110 also deviates from the rotation shaft 410 due to the bias of the laundry 420. Assuming that the line where the plane passing through the rotation axis 410 and the vertical plane intersects the opening of the drum 110 is the reference line 440, the angle of the center of gravity 430 measured from the reference line 440 is eccentric due to the bias in the drum 110 of the laundry. The position is 450. The eccentric position 450 can range from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. In the present disclosure, the position of the drum 110 is represented by the eccentric position 450, which is also referred to as a phase.

Start points of the first and second acceleration sections In the embodiment using profile 200 (intermittent drive) or profile 300 (continuous drive), the start points of the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section are in the drum 110 of the laundry 420. Corresponds to two points where the eccentric position 450 due to the bias in is shifted by 180 degrees. In one embodiment using profile 300 (continuous drive), the eccentric position 450 at the start point of the first acceleration section 312 is 270 degrees and the eccentric position at the start point of the second acceleration section 322, as shown in FIG. 450 is 90 degrees. Therefore, the starting points of the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322 correspond to two points where the eccentric position 450 due to the deviation of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 is displaced by 180 degrees. In another embodiment using the profile 200 (intermittent drive), the starting points of the first acceleration section 212 and the second acceleration section 222 have an eccentric position 450 of 180 degrees due to the bias of the laundry 420 in the drum 110. Corresponds to two points that are out of alignment.

In the embodiment using profile 200 (intermittent drive) or profile 300 (continuous drive), the drum 110 rotates n (n: natural number) in the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section. For example, in one embodiment, the drum 110 makes one revolution in the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322. Not limited to this, if the rotation speeds of the drum 110 in the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322 are the same, the drum 110 rotates by an arbitrary rotation speed n (n: natural number) other than one rotation. You may. Here, the "rotation speed" of the drum represents the number of rotations of the drum. For example, the drum 110 may rotate twice in the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322.

In the embodiment using the weight detection profile 200 (intermittent drive) or profile 300 (continuous drive), the processing unit 150 determines the weight based on the weight detected in the first and second acceleration sections. If the torque of the motor 120 is constant, the acceleration in the first and second acceleration sections depends on the weight of the laundry 420. For example, if the weight of the laundry 420 is heavy, the increase in the rotation speed is small even if it accelerates in the acceleration section, but if the weight of the laundry 420 is light, the increase in the rotation speed becomes large if it accelerates in the acceleration section. Therefore, the processing unit 150 can determine the weight of the laundry 420 from the amount of increase in the two rotational speeds obtained in the first and second acceleration sections.

In the embodiment using the profile 200 and the profile 300, the angle formed by the rotation axis of the drum 110 of the washing machine 100 of the present disclosure in the horizontal direction is 0 to 45 degrees. Within this range, the weight of the laundry 420 can be more effectively obtained from the two weight values based on the acceleration in the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section. Washing machines in such a range include what is generally called a drum-type washing machine. In the drum type washing machine, the rotation axis of the drum 110 is relatively close to the horizontal direction. Therefore, due to the influence of gravity, the rotation speed tends to decrease when the eccentric position 450 moves upward, and increases when the eccentric position 450 moves downward. Even if such a fluctuation in the rotation speed occurs, as described below, the true value of the laundry 420 is based on the two weight values of the laundry 420 separately obtained in the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section. A value closer to the weight of can be obtained.

Considering the example of FIG. 3, the starting points of the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322 correspond to two points where the eccentric position 450 due to the bias of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 is shifted by 180 degrees. Therefore, there is an effect that an error when detecting the weight of the laundry 420 can be reduced. This effect can also be obtained in the example of FIG. More preferably, the weight of the laundry 420 is determined by averaging the two weights detected in the first and second acceleration sections. As a result, the error when detecting the weight of the laundry 420 can be further reduced.

By the continuous operation of the profile 300, the weight detection can be performed twice while maintaining the arrangement of the laundry 420 in the drum 110, that is, maintaining the eccentric position and the imbalance amount. Here, the unbalanced amount is a parameter determined by the weight corresponding to the bias of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 and the distance of the laundry 420 from the rotating shaft 410, and the larger the weight, the more the distance. The larger the value, the larger the amount of imbalance. When the rotation direction changes as in the profile 200, a stop section of the motor 120 occurs, and in this section, the centrifugal force disappears and the laundry 420 stuck to the side surface of the drum 110 falls vertically downward. Therefore, the arrangement of the laundry 420 may change. At this time, the eccentric position and the amount of imbalance will change. Even if the eccentric position can be corrected by monitoring the phase of the rotation speed or the like, the imbalance amount cannot be completely corrected, so that the profile 200 has a larger variation than the profile 300. Therefore, the profile 300 is preferable to the profile 200.

In the embodiment using the profile 300, the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322 are carried out during the continuous operation of the drum, and the rotation speed of the drum is 30 rotations between the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322. Maintained above / minute. This can reduce the movement of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 between the first acceleration section 312 and the second acceleration section 322. As a result, an error in detecting the weight of the laundry 420 can be reduced.

Start point phase detection (rotation angle)
As described above, the starting points of the first acceleration section (for example, 312) and the second acceleration section (for example, 322) are two points where the eccentric position 450 due to the deviation of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 is shifted by 180 degrees. Correspond. Therefore, it is necessary to detect that the phase of the eccentric position 450 is 180 degrees out of phase at the start points of the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section.

In one embodiment, the processing unit 150 obtains two points whose phases are 180 degrees out of phase based on the rotation angle of the drum 110. The rotation angle of the drum 110 can be detected by the detector 140. More specifically, the difference in the rotation angles of two points whose phases are 180 degrees out of phase corresponds to (n + 0.5) rotation (n: natural number). For phase detection of the start point based on the rotation angle, the angle of the start point of the first acceleration section may be stored, and the second acceleration section may be started at a timing when the rotation angle deviates from the stored angle by 180 degrees. .. In the phase detection of the starting point based on the rotation angle, the accuracy of the phase detection becomes higher in the embodiment using the profile 300 (continuous drive).

Phase detection of starting point (rotation speed, current, voltage)
In one embodiment, the processing unit 150 makes these two points 180 degrees out of phase based on at least one of the rotational speed of the drum 110, the current flowing through the motor 120, and the voltage applied to the motor 120. Ask. More specifically, at two points that are 180 degrees out of phase, the phase difference of one of the rotational speed of the drum 110, the current flowing through the motor 120, and the voltage applied to the motor 120 is 180 degrees.

Due to the influence of the eccentric position 450 caused by the bias of the laundry 420 in the drum 110, the rotation speed of the drum fluctuates even in the constant speed section. When this fluctuation of the rotation speed is plotted on the time axis, it becomes a sinusoidal shape. There is a correlation between the phase of this waveform and the eccentric position 450. Therefore, the eccentric position 450 can be known from the phase of the sinusoidal waveform representing the fluctuation of the rotation speed. When the bias of the laundry 420 in the drum 110 becomes small, the amplitude of the waveform becomes small, and it becomes difficult to detect the phase. However, when the bias is small, the influence on the weight detection is small in the first place, so even if the phase cannot be detected, there is almost no influence on the difference (that is, variation) in the weight detected in the two acceleration sections. In any case, by detecting the phase of the fluctuation waveform of the rotation speed, the second acceleration section can be started at a timing shifted by 180 degrees from the start point of the first acceleration section.

Similar to the fluctuation of the rotation speed of the drum described above, the current flowing through the motor 120 and the voltage applied to the motor 120 also fluctuate in the constant speed section. Therefore, the phase of the starting point can be similarly detected by using either the current flowing through the motor 120 or the voltage applied to the motor 120. The current flowing through the motor 120 and the voltage applied to the motor 120 can be detected by, for example, the controller 130.

As described above, the weight of the laundry 420 can be determined based on the acceleration in the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section. In the embodiment using the profile 200 (intermittent drive) and the profile 300 (continuous drive), the rotation speed of the drum 110 at the end points of the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section from the point of load of the motor 120 and the like is 300 rotations / It is preferably less than a minute. Within this range, the weight of the laundry 420 can be more effectively determined based on the acceleration in the first acceleration section and the second acceleration section.

Each of the various functions in the present disclosure may be realized by a single element or by a plurality of elements. On the contrary, a plurality of functions may be realized by a single element. Each function may be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The flow chart in the present disclosure includes a plurality of blocks. The processing of these blocks may be serial or parallel. Also, the order of some blocks may be changed.

The subject of the device and method in the present disclosure comprises a computer. By executing the program by this computer, the main functions of the devices and methods in the present disclosure are realized. A computer has a processor that operates according to a program as a main hardware configuration. The type of processor does not matter as long as the function can be realized by executing the program. The processor is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or an LSI (large scale integration). The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated on one chip or may be provided on a plurality of chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or may be provided in a plurality of devices.

The ones described above include various examples of the present invention. For the purposes of describing the present invention, it is of course impossible to describe any possible combination of elements or procedures, but one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many additional combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. right. The present invention is therefore intended to include all such modifications, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.

100 Washing machine 110 Drum 120 Motor 130 Controller 140 Detector 150 Processing unit 152 Processor 154 Memory

Claims (13)

Drums for storing laundry,
A motor that rotates the drum,
A controller that controls the rotation of the motor,
A washing machine including a detector that detects the rotation speed of the drum and a processing unit that determines the weight of the laundry based on the rotation speed in the first and second acceleration sections.
The controller is a washing machine that controls the rotation of the motor so that the absolute values of the rotation speeds at the start points of the first and second acceleration sections are the same and the signs are opposite. Drums for storing laundry,
A motor that rotates the drum,
A controller that controls the rotation of the motor,
A washing machine including a detector that detects the rotation speed of the drum and a processing unit that determines the weight of the laundry based on the rotation speed in the first and second acceleration sections.
The controller is a washing machine that controls the rotation of the motor so as to provide a first constant speed section and a second constant speed section in which the rotation speed is constant before the first and second acceleration sections. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the starting points of the first and second acceleration sections correspond to two points where the eccentric position is shifted by 180 degrees due to the deviation of the laundry in the drum. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two points are obtained based on the rotation angle of the drum. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the difference between the two points of rotation angles corresponds to (n + 0.5) rotation (n: natural number). The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two points are obtained based on at least one of the rotation speed, the current flowing through the motor, and the voltage applied to the motor. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the difference in phase of one of the rotation speed, the current flowing through the motor, and the voltage applied to the motor at the two points is 180 degrees. The first and second acceleration sections are carried out during continuous operation of the drum.
The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the rotation speed is maintained at 30 rotations / minute or more between the first and second acceleration sections. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation speed at the end points of the first and second acceleration sections is 300 rotations / minute or less. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the angle formed by the rotation axis of the drum in the horizontal direction is 0 degrees to 45 degrees. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the drum rotates n (n: natural number) in the first and second acceleration sections. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the weight is obtained based on the weight detected in the first and second acceleration sections. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the weight is calculated based on the average of the weights detected in the first and second acceleration sections.

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