JP2022001245A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve washing performance.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an outer case; a water tub; a rotary tub; a water supply path for supplying water to the water tub; a water supply valve; a drain path for draining water from the water tub; a drain valve for opening/closing the drain path; a treatment agent automatic input device for automatically inputting a washing treatment agent into the water tub; and a control device capable of executing a series of washing operations including a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dewatering step, by controlling the water supply valve, the drain valve and the treatment agent automatic input device. The control device can execute: prewashing treatment for, after performing input of the washing treatment agent into the water tub from the treatment agent automatic input device, water supply into the water tub by opening the water supply valve and a washing operation, draining washing water containing dirt from the drain path by opening the drain valve; and main washing treatment for performing the washing operation after performing input of the washing treatment agent from the treatment agent automatic input device into the water tub and water supply into the water tub by opening the water supply valve, after the execution of the prewashing treatment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Conventionally, for example, in order to prevent darkening of laundry, there is a method of efficiently improving the washing performance by performing a washing process including pre-washing. In this case, the washing water containing dirt by the pre-washing is drained before the main washing, so that the detergent is not insufficient at the time of the main washing, for example, twice the amount of the required detergent is put in the water tank at the time of the pre-washing. Put it in. In this way, even if the water is drained after the pre-washing, the detergent remains in the water tank during the main washing. However, depending on how dirty the laundry is, if a large amount of detergent is used during pre-washing, the residual amount of effective detergent during main washing will decrease, and as a result, a sufficient cleaning effect may not be obtained. be.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-75505

Therefore, a washing machine capable of improving the washing performance is provided.

The washing machine of the embodiment supplies water supplied from an outer box, a water tank provided in the outer box, a rotary tank rotatably provided in the water tank, and water supplied from an external water supply source to the water tank. A water supply path, a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply path, a drainage path for draining water from the water tank, a drain valve that opens and closes the drainage path, and a washing treatment agent automatically charged into the water tank. A control device capable of executing a series of washing operations including a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step by controlling the water supply valve, the drain valve, and the treatment agent automatic charging device. The control device is provided with the above-mentioned drainage after charging the washing treatment agent into the water tank from the automatic treatment agent charging device and opening the water supply valve to supply water and wash the water into the water tank. After the pre-washing treatment in which the valve is opened to drain the washing water containing dirt from the drainage path and the pre-washing treatment are executed, the washing treatment agent is charged into the water tank from the treatment agent automatic charging device and the washing treatment agent is charged. It is possible to carry out the main washing process in which the washing operation is performed after the water supply valve is opened to supply water into the water tank.

The figure which shows the example of the washing machine by 1st Embodiment schematicly. A block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of a control device for a washing machine according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the setting example of the detergent input amount about the washing machine by 1st Embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of the entire washing operation process of the washing machine according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the specific content of each process when the prewash process is executed and the case where the prewash process is not executed about the washing machine by 1st Embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of a washing process for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of control contents in the pre-washing process for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of control contents in the main washing process for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the setting example of the detergent input amount about the washing machine by 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of the setting example of the detergent input amount about the washing machine by 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the setting example of the pickling process about the washing machine by 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the washing machine by 3rd Embodiment schematicly. A flowchart showing an example of control contents in the pre-washing process for the washing machine according to the third embodiment. A flowchart showing an example of control contents in the pre-washing process for the washing machine according to the fourth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(First Embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The washing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a drum-type washing machine having a horizontal axis type in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 faces horizontally or an oblique axis type in which the rotation axis is inclined downward toward the rear. The washing machine 10 may be a vertical axis type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 faces in the vertical direction. The washing machine 10 of the present embodiment includes an outer box 11, a water tank 12, a rotary tank 13, a motor 14, a drainage path 15, a drainage valve 16, a circulation path 17, a circulation pump 18, and a heater 19. In FIG. 1, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, that is, the vertically lower side is the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the side opposite to the installation surface, that is, the vertically upper side is the upper side of the washing machine 10. Further, the front side of the washing machine 10 when viewed from the user is the front side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the user, that is, the back side of the washing machine 10 is the rear side of the washing machine 10.

The outer box 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape by, for example, a steel plate. The water tank 12 is arranged in the outer box 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotary tank 13 is rotatably arranged in the water tank 12. Both the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13 are formed in a so-called bottomed cylindrical shape in which one side, that is, the front side of the cylindrical shape in the axial direction is open, and the other side, that is, the rear side has a bottom.

Further, the rotary tank 13 has a baffle 131 and a large number of holes 132. A plurality, for example, three baffles 131 are provided on the inner peripheral wall of the rotary tub 13, and have a function of stirring and scraping up the laundry housed in the rotary tub 13. The hole 132 is formed over the entire inner peripheral wall of the rotary tank 13, and has a function as a water passage hole through which water enters and exits, for example, during a dehydration step.

The motor 14 is provided on the outside of the bottom of the water tank 12. The motor 14 is connected to the rotary tank 13 and has a function of directly driving the rotary tank 13 to rotate. Although details are not shown, the motor 14 is composed of, for example, a brushless direct drive motor whose rotation speed can be changed. The motor 14 is not limited to the direct drive motor, and may have a configuration including a clutch mechanism, a brake device, and the like.

The drainage route 15 is a route for discharging the water stored in the water tank 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drainage path 15 is composed of, for example, a flexible drainage hose, one end of which is connected to the drainage valve 16 and the other end of which is pulled out of the washing machine 10.

The drain valve 16 is an on-off valve for liquids that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain valve 16 is provided between the drain port 121 provided at the bottom of the water tank 12 and the drain path 15. The drain valve 16 opens and closes the drainage path 15 based on the control signal from the control device 50.

The circulation path 17 is provided outside the water tank 12. The circulation route 17 is a route for pumping up the water stored in the water tank 12 and supplying the pumped water from the upper part of the water tank 12 to the water tank 12 again. One end of the circulation path 17 is connected to the drain port 121 via the circulation pump 18, and the other end is connected to the nozzle portion 171 provided in the upper part of the water tank 12. Although the details of the nozzle unit 171 are not shown, the water discharged from the nozzle unit 171 is configured to be discharged in a shower shape toward the center side of the water tank 12.

The circulation pump 18 is provided on the circulation path 17. When the circulation pump 18 is driven with the drainage path 15 closed by the drain valve 16, the circulation pump 18 pumps water in the water tank 12 through the drain port 121 and injects water into the water tank 12 again from the nozzle portion 171. As a result, the circulation pump 18 circulates the water stored in the water tank 12 through the circulation path 17.

The heater 19 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 12. The heater 19 has a function of heating the water supplied to the water tank 12 to warm the water. As a result, the washing machine 10 can perform a washing step or a rinsing step using warm water.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 includes a hot air supply path 61, a heating device 62, and a blower 63. The hot air supply path 61 is provided outside the water tank 12, and has a function of supplying hot air for drying into the water tank 12. In the case of the present embodiment, the warm air supply path 61 is configured as a circulating air passage that circulates between the inside and the outside of the water tank 12. In this case, the hot air supply path 61 sucks in the air in the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13, and supplies the sucked air into the water tank 12 again from the upper part of the water tank 12. One end of the hot air supply path 61 is connected to the vicinity of the lower end portion on the back surface side of the water tank 12, and the other end portion is connected to the vicinity of the upper front end portion on the front surface side of the water tank 12.

The heating device 62 and the blower 63 are provided in the middle of the hot air supply path 61. The heating device 62 has a function of warming the air in the hot air supply path 61 and generating hot air supplied from the hot air supply path 61 into the water tank 12. The warm air generated by the heating device 62 is supplied into the water tank 12 by the action of the blower 63. In this case, as the heating method of the heating device 62, for example, a heat pump type or a heater type can be adopted.

Further, the washing machine 10 has a connection port 21, a water supply path 22, a water supply valve 23, and an automatic treatment agent charging device 30. The connection port 21 is connected to an external water supply source such as a water faucet via a hose 100. The water supply route 22 is a route for supplying water supplied from an external water supply source into the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13. One end of the water supply path 22 is connected to the water supply valve 23, and the other end is connected to the water tank 12. The water supply valve 23 is an on-off valve for liquids that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The water supply valve 23 is provided between the connection port 21 and the water supply path 22. The water supply valve 23 opens and closes the water supply path 22 based on the control signal from the control device 50.

The treatment agent automatic charging device 30 has a function of storing a washing treatment agent such as a detergent required for a plurality of washing operations and automatically charging a required amount of the washing treatment agent into the water tank 12 as the washing operation progresses. Has. The treatment agent automatic charging device 30 is provided, for example, on the upper part of the outer box 11 and is connected to the water supply path 22. The water supplied from the external water supply source is directly mixed with the washing treatment agent supplied from the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 in the water supply path 22 and supplied into the water tank 12.

In this case, the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 is configured to be able to automatically supply the washing treatment agent previously stored in the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 into the water tank 12 by using, for example, a piston pump (not shown). The washing machine 10 includes a manual charging device in addition to the automatic processing agent charging device 30, and the user manually loads the washing processing agent required for one washing operation into the manual loading device before the start of the washing operation. It may be configured. In the present embodiment, the washing treatment agent is a concept including, for example, a detergent such as a powder detergent or a liquid detergent, and a finishing agent such as a softener or a fragrance. In this case, the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 corresponds to a liquid detergent and a liquid finishing agent, and the manual charging device corresponds to both a liquid detergent and a powder detergent, and a liquid finishing agent.

As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine 10 includes an operation panel 41, a current sensor 42, a water level sensor 43, a dirt detection unit 44, and a control device 50. The operation panel 41 has a display unit and an operation unit, receives input operations by the user, and displays the input operation contents, operating status, and the like. The current sensor 42 can detect the current flowing through the motor 14. The water level sensor 43 can detect the water level in the water tank 12.

The dirt detection unit 44 is provided, for example, in the water tank 12 or the circulation path 17. The stain detection unit 44 can measure the degree of contamination of the washing water. In this case, the dirt detection unit 44 can be configured by, for example, a turbidity sensor, although details are not shown. The turbidity sensor has a function of measuring the degree of turbidity of the washing water, that is, the turbidity by measuring, for example, the transmittance of light with respect to the washing water and the conductivity of the washing water.

The control device 50 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a storage area such as a CPU (not shown), a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, and controls the overall operation of the washing machine 10. The control device 50 includes a motor 14, a drain valve 16, a circulation pump 18, a heater 19, a water supply valve 23, an operation panel 41, a current sensor 42, a water level sensor 43, a dirt detection unit 44, a heating device 62, and a blower 63. Is connected. The motor 14, drain valve 16, circulation pump 18, heater 19, water supply valve 23, operation panel 41, current sensor 42, water level sensor 43, dirt detection unit 44, heating device 62, and blower 63 are controlled by the control device 50. Will be done.

Further, the control device 50 executes a control program on the CPU to execute a weight detection processing unit 51, a stain detection processing unit 52, a pre-washing processing unit 53, a pre-washing frequency adjusting processing unit 54, an allocation processing unit 55, and a main washing unit. The processing unit 56 and the setting processing unit 57 are virtually realized by software. The control device 50 may realize these processing units 51 to 57 by hardware such as an integrated circuit, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

The weight detection processing unit 51 can execute the weight detection processing. The weight detection process usually includes a process of detecting the weight of the laundry in the rotary tub 13 which is executed before the execution of the dehydration process. The weight detection processing unit 51 is executed at the initial stage of the washing operation, specifically before the water supply step, and detects the weight of the laundry in a dry state, that is, in a state of not containing water due to water supply. The weight detection processing unit 51, for example, rotates the rotary tub 13 at a low speed, and at that time, the current sensor 42 measures the q-axis current of the motor 14 to detect the weight of the laundry. The weight detection processing unit 51 may be configured to directly and physically measure the weight of the laundry in the rotary tub 13 with a gravimetric scale or the like.

The dirt detection processing unit 52 can execute the dirt detection processing. The stain detection process includes a process of detecting the degree of contamination of the washing water in the water tank 12 based on, for example, the turbidity of the washing water measured by the stain detecting unit 44.

The pre-washing process unit 53 can execute the pre-washing process. In the pre-washing process, the washing treatment agent is charged into the water tank 12 from the automatic treatment agent charging device 30, the water supply valve 23 is opened, water is supplied to the water tank 12, and the washing operation is performed, and then the drain valve 16 is opened. The process includes draining the washing water containing dirt from the drainage path 15, and then rotating the rotary tub 13 to dehydrate the laundry in the rotary tub 13. That is, the pre-washing treatment includes a washing operation using washing water in which a detergent is dissolved, and then drainage and dehydration.

Here, in the case of a drum-type washing machine, the washing operation is an operation in which the rotary tank 13 is alternately repeatedly rotated forward and inverted for a predetermined time, for example, 20 seconds at a predetermined rotation speed, for example, 50 rpm. On the other hand, in the case of a vertical axis type washing machine, the stirring blade (not shown) is operated to alternately repeat forward rotation and inversion for a predetermined time, for example, 20 seconds at a predetermined rotation speed, for example, 50 rpm. Further, the pre-washing process can be performed a plurality of times during the washing operation. As a result, by executing the pre-washing process a plurality of times, it is possible to appropriately remove stains from the laundry, and the washing efficiency can be improved. The pre-washing treatment is not limited to the configuration in which dehydration is performed after drainage, and may be a configuration in which the main washing treatment is performed without dehydration after drainage.

Further, the pre-washing process further includes a soaking operation in which the laundry is immersed in the washing water in the water tank 12 for a predetermined time, for example, 1 hour. As a result, the detergent can be sufficiently permeated between the fibers of the laundry, and the stains adhering to the laundry can be easily peeled off from the laundry.

The pre-wash count adjustment processing unit 54 can execute the pre-wash count adjustment process. The prewash count adjusting process includes a process of adjusting the number of executions of the prewash process based on the result of the stain detection process, that is, the degree of contamination of the washing water. As a result, the number of times the prewashing process is executed can be adjusted according to the degree of contamination of the washing water in the water tank 12, so that the prewashing process can be effectively executed.

The allocation processing unit 55 can execute the allocation process. When the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, the allocation process includes a process of including a soaking operation in the second and subsequent pre-washing processes. In this way, the first pre-washing treatment is performed to remove solid stains such as mud from the laundry, and then the solid stains are removed by performing the soaking operation in the second and subsequent pre-washing treatments. The detergent can be sufficiently penetrated between the fibers of the laundry in the state of the laundry. This makes it easier to remove dirt from the laundry.

The main wash processing unit 56 can execute the main wash process. In the main washing process, after the pre-washing process is executed, the washing agent is charged into the water tank 12 from the automatic treatment agent charging device 30, and the water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water into the water tank 12, and then the washing operation is performed. including. In this way, even in the main washing process, by charging the detergent into the water tank 12 from the treatment agent automatic charging device 30, an appropriate amount of detergent can be supplied into the water tank 12, and the cleaning performance can be improved. can. Further, since the detergent stored in the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 is automatically charged, the user does not need to manually additionally charge the detergent, and the convenience of the user is not impaired.

The setting processing unit 57 can execute the setting processing. The setting process includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process and the main washing process based on the content of the washing operation or the setting of the user. In this case, the setting process further includes a correction process for correcting the amount of the washing agent to be added in the main washing process according to the number of times the pre-washing process is executed during the execution of the washing process. Specifically, in the correction process, for example, when the weight of the laundry is constant, as shown in FIG. 3, as the number of executions of the prewash process increases according to the degree of dirt on the laundry, the inside of the water tank 12 in the main wash process. Reduce the amount of laundry treatment agent to be added to. As a result, even when the number of pre-washing treatments is increased, the amount of detergent used in the entire washing process can be suppressed as much as possible, and the increase in the amount of water during rinsing can be suppressed.

Further, the setting process further includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process and the main washing process to different amounts. Further, the setting process further includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process to be equal to or less than the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the main washing process. As a result, the detergent can be poured into the water tank 12 without excess or deficiency in the pre-washing process or the main washing process, so that the cleaning performance can be improved.

Further, if a large amount of detergent is used in the washing step, a large amount of water is required to remove the detergent remaining on the laundry in the rinsing step of the next step. On the other hand, by setting the amount of detergent used in the pre-washing process to be equal to or less than the amount of detergent used in the main washing process, the amount of detergent used in the entire washing process can be reduced even if the pre-washing process is performed. It can be suppressed as much as possible and the increase in the amount of water during rinsing can be prevented.

Hereinafter, an example of the amount of detergent added during the washing step will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the detergent input amount is set for the main washing process when the amount of dirt on the laundry, that is, the degree of dirt on the washing water is the standard degree of dirt, and the weight of the laundry is medium, for example, 5 kg to 6 kg. The amount of detergent added is set to 1, and the amount of detergent added under each condition is shown as a ratio. In this case, the minimum ratio of the amount of detergent added is 0.5, which means the minimum amount of detergent that needs to be added in order for the detergent to exert a cleaning effect. In this way, as the degree of contamination of the washing water increases, the number of pre-washing treatments is increased to efficiently improve the washing performance, and the amount of detergent used is kept to a minimum so that the water after drainage of the washing water is used. The load on the environment can be suppressed.

Further, when the pre-washing treatment is executed a plurality of times, the amount of detergent added during each pre-washing treatment can be the same amount, that is, the amount cannot be reduced. When the number of pre-washing treatments is increased, the stains in the washing water in the water tank 12 are relatively reduced, but the detergent component in the washing water is insufficient for the amount of stains, so that the stains are reattached to the laundry. May occur. On the other hand, by repeatedly performing the pre-washing treatment a plurality of times using the same amount of detergent, the amount of detergent supplied is constant even if the amount of stains in the washing water is reduced, so that the stains in the washing water are dirty. It is possible to prevent the amount of detergent from being insufficient with respect to the amount. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reattachment of dirt to the laundry.

Further, when the pre-washing treatment is executed a plurality of times, the amount of detergent added during each pre-washing treatment may be configured to increase as the number of pre-washing treatments increases, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example. That is, when the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, in the example of FIG. 9, the amount of the detergent added in the second and subsequent times is increased as compared with the amount of the detergent added in the first pre-washing process. In particular, in the example of FIG. 9, the amount of the detergent used in the first pre-washing treatment is set to be smaller than the amount of the detergent used in the subsequent pre-washing treatment. In this way, during the first pre-washing treatment, a small amount of detergent is used to remove relatively easy-to-remove stains and the like, and then the amount of detergent is increased in the second and subsequent pre-washing treatments. Can be thoroughly washed. As a result, it is possible to efficiently enhance the cleaning effect while suppressing the amount of detergent used when the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times. In this case, the amount of detergent in each of the second and subsequent times may be the same or different.

Further, for example, in the example of FIG. 10, when the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, the detergent is not added in the first pre-washing process. That is, in the example of FIG. 10, when the pre-washing treatment is performed a plurality of times, the first pre-washing is performed with water containing no detergent. Again, in the first pre-washing treatment, after removing relatively large stains such as mud and solid food with water without using detergent, the washing water containing detergent in the second and subsequent pre-washing treatments is used. Can be washed thoroughly. This also makes it possible to efficiently enhance the cleaning effect while suppressing the amount of detergent used when the pre-washing process is performed a plurality of times.

Here, when the pre-washing is performed a plurality of times, the shower water may be supplied at least in the first pre-washing treatment. In the present specification, the shower water supply means a water supply system in which shower-like water is supplied into the rotary tank 13 from the upper part in the rotary tank 13. By this shower water supply, the laundry in the rotary tub 13 is exposed to shower-like water, so that the dirt on the laundry can be efficiently removed. When the pre-washing is performed a plurality of times, the shower water may be supplied even after the second and subsequent pre-washing.

In the case of the present embodiment, in the shower water supply, the circulation pump 18 shown in FIG. 1 is operated to circulate the water collected in the water tank 12 between the water tank 12 and the circulation path 17, thereby showering from the nozzle portion 171. It uses a method of supplying water in the form of water. That is, the shower water supply in the present embodiment uses the water accumulated in the water tank 12 as a water source. The shower water supply is not limited to the one in which the water in the water tank 12 is used as the water source, that is, the water in the water tank 12 is circulated, and as described in the third embodiment described later, the water from the external water supply source is used. It may be the one used.

The control device 50 executes the washing operation in response to an operation from the user on the operation panel 41 or according to a preset reservation content. As shown in FIG. 4, when the washing operation is started, the control device 50 detects the weight of the laundry by the weight detection processing unit 51 (step S11), then the washing step (step S12), and then the rinsing step (step S12). Step S13) and the dehydration step (step S14) are performed in order, and the washing operation is completed (end).

An example of a specific embodiment of the washing operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the operation content without the pre-washing process shows a case where a so-called standard course, in other words, a well-known general course is set by the user. At this time, the content of the rotation control of the rotary tank 13 of the washing operation in the pre-washing process and the washing operation in the main washing process is the same, but the execution time of the washing operation is longer in the main washing process than in the pre-washing process. Is set to. The content of the rotation control of the rotary tank 13 between the washing operation performed in the pre-washing process and the washing operation performed in the main washing process may be different. For example, in the washing operation performed in the pre-washing process, the operation of rotating forward and reverse is performed at a rotation speed such that the laundry does not stick to the rotary tub 13, and in the washing operation performed in the main washing process, the laundry is rotated in the rotary tub 13. The operation of rotating the rotary tank 13 at a speed such that the rotary tank 13 can be struck from the vicinity of the apex of the above may be performed.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, there is no difference between the standard course and the washing operation including the pre-washing treatment except whether or not the pre-washing treatment is included, that is, there is a difference in the process after the pre-washing treatment. There is no. Therefore, the number of rinses in the rinse step is the same in the case where the prewash process is executed and in the case where the normal number of rinses is set in advance. As described above, even when the pre-washing process is performed, by setting the number of rinsing times of the standard course to be the same, it is possible to prevent the extension of the time required for the rinsing process and the increase in the amount of water.

The content of the rinsing process in the case of the washing operation including the pre-washing process may be different from the content of the rinsing process of the standard course. Specifically, in the rinsing step in the case of the washing operation including the pre-washing process, for example, the number of rinsings or the water level at the time of rinsing, that is, the amount of water may be increased as compared with the rinsing step of the standard course. As a result, although the time required for the rinsing process is extended or the amount of water is increased as compared with the standard course, it is possible to sufficiently rinse the detergent components remaining by the pre-washing treatment. In particular, if dehydration is not performed after the pre-washing process, more detergent components may remain in the laundry, so it is possible to obtain the effect of increasing the number of rinses or the amount of water, for example, as compared with the standard course rinsing process. can.

Hereinafter, the control contents in the washing process will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In the following description, the control device 50 is the main body for all the processes performed by the dirt detection processing unit 52, the pre-washing processing unit 53, the pre-washing frequency adjusting processing unit 54, the main washing processing unit 56, and the setting processing unit 57. It will be explained as if it is done.

When the washing step of step S12 of FIG. 4 is executed, the control device 50 first determines the water supply amount based on the weight of the laundry detected by the weight detection processing unit 51 in step A11 of FIG. After that, the control device 50 provisionally sets the amount of detergent input in the pre-washing process and the main washing process by the processing of the setting processing unit 57 in step A12. In this case, the amount of detergent added in both the pre-washing process and the main washing process is set to the amount of detergent added when the degree of contamination in FIG. 3 is considerably large. That is, it is set to the smallest amount of detergent among the set amounts of detergent input in each treatment. Next, the control device 50 executes the prewash process by the process of the prewash process unit 53 in step A13. After that, the control device 50 shifts the process to step A14, and executes the main wash process by the process of the main wash process unit 56. In this case, the control device 50 shifts from the pre-washing process to the main washing process without performing a rinsing step. After that, the control device 50 returns the process to the flow of FIG. 4 (return of FIG. 6), and executes the rinsing step of step S13 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the pre-washing process of step A13, the control device 50 supplies water to the water tank 12 in step B11 until a predetermined amount of water is reached. In this case, water from an external water source may be supplied into the water tank 12 using the water supply path 22, and the water collected in the water tank 12 may be circulated through the circulation path 17 by operating the circulation pump 18. good. As a result, so-called shower water can be supplied from the nozzle portion 171 and water can be efficiently poured onto the laundry in the water tank 12. Here, shower water can be supplied from the nozzle portion 171 even in the main washing process described later. In this case, the shower water supply in the pre-washing process has a longer water supply period than the shower water supply in the main washing process, for example, increasing the water pressure, increasing the amount of water sprayed per unit time, or executing the shower water supply. It has become more powerful by doing so.

After that, the control device 50 puts the detergent into the water tank 12 in step B12, and shifts the process to step B13. In this case, the amount of detergent added is the smallest amount in the amount of detergent added in the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment, specifically, the amount less than 0.5 in the ratio of the amount of detergent added shown in FIG. .. This makes it possible to prevent an excessive amount of detergent from being put into the water tank 12. That is, when the required amount of detergent fluctuates according to the degree of contamination of the washing water detected by the treatment of the stain detection processing unit 52 described later, the amount of detergent exceeding the lower limit of the required amount of detergent is already in the water tank 12. There is no such thing as being thrown in.

Next, the control device 50 executes the dirt detection process by the process of the dirt detection processing unit 52 in step B13. Then, in the next step B14, the control device 50 determines whether or not the degree of contamination of the washing water detected by the processing of the stain detection processing unit 52 is equal to or higher than a preset value. When the degree of contamination of the washing water is less than the set value (NO in step B14), the control device 50 shifts the process to step A14. Therefore, if the degree of contamination of the washing water is less than the set value, the pre-washing process is not executed and the main washing process is executed as it is (step A14).

On the other hand, when the degree of contamination of the washing water is equal to or higher than the set value (YES in step B14), the control device 50 shifts the process to step B15 and adjusts the number of prewashes by the process of the prewash count adjusting process unit 54. Execute the process. The control device 50 additionally adds the insufficient amount of detergent to the amount of detergent charged in the water tank 12 based on the predetermined number of prewash treatments determined by the prewash count adjustment process in the next step B16. The process is transferred to step B17.

The control device 50 executes a washing operation for a predetermined time, for example, 3 minutes in step B17. In the washing operation of step B17, the control device 50 may operate the circulation pump 18 to circulate the water in the water tank 12 through the circulation path 17. Thereby, the cleaning effect in the washing operation can be improved. After that, the control device 50 drains the washing water containing dirt in the water tank 12 (step B18). After that, the control device 50 dehydrates in step B19 for a predetermined time, for example, 1 minute, and shifts the process to step B20. Then, in step B20, the control device 50 determines whether or not the prewashing process has been completed a predetermined number of times. If the pre-washing process has not been completed a predetermined number of times (NO in step B20), the control device 50 shifts the process to step B11 and executes the process after step B11 again. When the pre-washing process is completed a predetermined number of times (YES in step B20), the control device 50 returns the process to the flow of FIG. 6 (return of FIG. 7), and executes the main washing process of step A14 shown in FIG. do.

When the main washing process is executed, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device 50 first determines in step C11 whether or not the prewashing process has been executed. If the pre-washing process has not been executed (NO in step C11), the control device 50 shifts the process to step C12, and the amount of detergent that is insufficient for the amount of detergent charged in the water tank 12 is added to the water tank 12. It is additionally input to the inside and the process is transferred to step C16.

On the other hand, when the pre-washing process has been executed (YES in step C11), the control device 50 shifts the process to step C13 and based on the number of pre-washing processes executed by the process of the setting processing unit 57. Correct the amount of detergent to be added. Then, the control device 50 puts the amount of the detergent corrected in the next step C14 into the water tank 12, and shifts the process to step C15. In step C15, the control device 50 supplies water to the water tank 12 until a predetermined amount of water is reached. After that, the control device 50 executes a washing operation for a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes in step C16. Then, the control device 50 ends the main washing process of FIG. 8 and returns the process to the flow of FIG. 6 (return of FIG. 8), and also ends the washing process of FIG. 6 and returns the process to the flow of FIG. (Return in FIG. 6), the process is transferred to the rinsing step of step S13.

In the case of the present embodiment, the necessity of the pre-washing process and the number of executions are set based on the degree of contamination of the washing water detected by the process of the stain detection processing unit 52, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user may input the necessity and the number of times of the pre-washing process to the operation panel 41 according to the degree of dirt on the laundry. According to this, since the user can intentionally select the execution of the pre-washing process, the convenience of the washing machine 10 can be improved.

According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes an outer box 11, a water tank 12, a rotary tank 13, a water supply path 22, a water supply valve 23, a drainage path 15, a drainage valve 16, a treatment agent automatic charging device 30, and a control. The device 50 is provided. The treatment agent automatic charging device 30 has a function of automatically charging the washing treatment agent into the water tank 12. By controlling the water supply valve 23, the drain valve 16, and the treatment agent automatic charging device 30, the control device 50 can execute a series of washing operations including a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step.

Further, the control device 50 can execute the pre-washing process and the main washing process. In the pre-washing process, the washing treatment agent is charged into the water tank 12 from the automatic treatment agent charging device 30, the water supply valve 23 is opened, water is supplied to the water tank 12, and the washing operation is performed, and then the drain valve 16 is opened. It includes a process of draining dirty washing water from the drainage route 15. In the main washing process, after the pre-washing process is executed, the washing agent is charged into the water tank 12 from the automatic treatment agent charging device 30, and the water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water into the water tank 12, and then the washing operation is performed. including.

According to this, by executing the pre-washing treatment before the main washing treatment, the pre-washing treatment removes the stains that are relatively easy to remove on the surface, and the main washing treatment is effective for the stains that have penetrated into the back of the laundry. Can be dropped. In addition, since the washing water used in the pre-washing process is drained before the main washing process, it is possible to prevent the dirt peeled off from the laundry in the pre-washing process from returning to the laundry during the main washing process. As a result, the cleaning efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the control device 50 charges the washing treatment agent into the water tank 12 from the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 in the main washing treatment after the pre-washing treatment, a fresh washing treatment agent that does not act on stains is dissolved. The main washing process can be performed with washing water. As a result, the washing action of the washing treatment agent can be effectively applied to the laundry in the main washing process, and as a result, the washing performance can be improved.

Further, the control device 50 automatically charges the washing treatment agent into the water tank 12 by using the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 in the main washing process. As a result, it is not necessary for the user to additionally add the washing treatment agent during the washing operation, that is, after the pre-washing treatment, so that the washing performance can be improved without increasing the labor of the user.

Further, the control device 50 can further execute the setting process. The setting process includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process and the main washing process based on the content of the washing operation or the setting of the user. Further, the setting process includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process and the main washing process to different amounts.

According to this, the amount of the washing treatment agent used in the pre-washing treatment or the main washing treatment can be changed. Therefore, since the amount of the washing treatment agent used in the entire washing process can be adjusted, the washing treatment agent is not excessively put into the water tank 12. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the laundry treatment agent from remaining in the laundry without being used. As a result, a large amount of water is not required to remove the detergent remaining on the laundry in the rinsing process, and even if the pre-washing process is performed, the amount of water required for the rinsing process is increased and the time is extended. It is possible to efficiently improve the cleaning performance without inviting.

Further, the setting process further includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process to be equal to or less than the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the main washing process. According to this, by setting the amount of detergent used in the pre-washing process to be equal to or less than the amount of detergent used in the main washing process, the amount of detergent used in the entire washing process even after the pre-washing process is performed. Can be suppressed as much as possible, and an increase in the amount of water and an extension of time during rinsing can be prevented. As a result, the cleaning performance can be efficiently improved.

Further, the number of rinses in the rinse step is the same in the case where the prewash process is executed and in the case where the normal number of rinses is set in advance. According to this, even when the pre-washing process is performed, the number of rinses performed is the same as the number of rinses of the standard course, thereby preventing the extension of the time required for the rinse process and the increase in the amount of water. Can be done.

Further, the pre-washing process can be performed a plurality of times during the washing operation. According to this, by executing the pre-washing process a plurality of times, it is possible to appropriately remove stains from the laundry, and the washing efficiency can be improved.

Further, the control device 50 can further execute the dirt detection process and the prewash count adjustment process. The stain detection process includes a process of detecting the degree of contamination of the washing water in the water tank 12. The prewash count adjusting process includes a process of adjusting the number of executions of the prewash process based on the result of the stain detection process. According to this, the number of executions of the pre-washing process can be adjusted according to the degree of contamination of the washing water in the water tank 12. Therefore, since the pre-washing process can be effectively performed, it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of water used in the washing step and an extension of time while improving the washing efficiency.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this second embodiment, the presence / absence of pre-washing, the number of pre-washes, and the specific contents of the pre-wash differ depending on how dirty the laundry is. In addition, in FIG. 11, the operation performed in each pre-washing process of the washing operation is indicated by a circle. Further, in the table of FIG. 11, those without a circle mean an operation that is not executed.

The configuration of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the control content of the prewash process. Specifically, when the pre-washing process is performed a plurality of times, the process of the allocation processing unit 55 is different in that the soaking operation is executed during the second and subsequent pre-washing processes. In this case, the allocation processing unit 55 can allocate the soaking operation to any of the second and subsequent pre-washing processes, for example, depending on the degree of contamination of the washing water in the water tank 12 detected by the stain detection processing unit 52. ..

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the control device 50 can execute the pre-washing operation, for example, a plurality of times, up to three times, depending on how dirty the laundry is. Then, the control device 50 can include a soaking operation in one of the prewashing processes executed a plurality of times. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the degree of contamination is “less”, the control device 50 does not execute the prewash process. Further, when the degree of contamination is "standard", the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process that does not include the soaking operation once. In the example of FIG. 11, the control device 50 executes only the “first prewash” out of the maximum three prewash operations.

Further, when the degree of contamination is "slightly large" and "large", the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process not including the pickling operation and the pre-washing process including the pickling operation once, respectively. In this case, the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process including the pickling operation after executing the pre-washing process not including the pickling operation. For example, in the example of FIG. 11, the control device 50 first executes the “first pre-washing” that does not include the soaking operation, and then executes the “second pre-washing” that includes the soaking operation.

Then, when the degree of dirt is "quite large", the control device 50 executes the maximum number of pre-washing processes, in this case, three pre-washing processes. In this case, the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process including the soaking operation once after executing the pre-washing process not including the pickling operation twice. For example, in the example of FIG. 11, the control device 50 executes the “first pre-washing” and the “second pre-washing” that do not include the soaking operation, and then executes the “third pre-washing” that includes the soaking operation. do.

In this way, when the laundry is heavily soiled, the prewashing process includes the soaking operation, so that the dirt can be efficiently removed from the laundry. Further, when the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process a plurality of times, the washing operation time is excessively extended by including the soaking operation in only one of the plurality of pre-washing processes. Can be suppressed.

Further, the control device 50 may drive the heater 19 to heat the washing water in the water tank 12 during the soaking operation. Thereby, by changing the washing water in the water tank 12 to hot water in the range of, for example, 30 ° C to 60 ° C, the effect of removing stains from the laundry can be improved as compared with the normal temperature. Further, the heating is not limited to the soaking operation, for example, the water supplied to the water tank 12 may be heated, or the water that comes out of the water tank 12 and passes through the circulation path 17 during the washing operation is heated. It may be supplied into the water tank 12. Further, the method of heating the water is not limited to the method of using the dedicated heater 19 as in the present embodiment, and a method of heating the water by using the heating device 62 used for the drying operation may be used. In this case, the control device 50 operates the heating device 62 and the blower 63 to apply warm air to the water stored in the water tank 12. As a result, the water in the water tank 12 is heated.

Further, the heating may be performed not only in the pre-washing process but also in the main washing process. In this case, the heating can be performed in one or both of the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment. Hereinafter, three types of modes will be described as an example of the proper use of heating between the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment.

The first aspect is a mode in which heating is performed in the main washing process without heating in the prewashing process. According to this, by using warm water in the main washing treatment, it is possible to improve the cleaning effect in the main washing treatment as compared with the case where water at room temperature is used. Further, in this first aspect, hot water is not used in the pre-washing treatment in which the washing operation period is short, and hot water is used only in the main washing treatment in which the washing operation period is long. Therefore, according to the first aspect, since the hot water is used only for the main washing treatment in which the hot water contributes longer than the pre-washing treatment, the hot water is efficiently used and the energy for heating the water is consumed. It can be suppressed.

The second aspect is an aspect in which heating is performed in both the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment. In this case, for example, the pre-washing process may be performed at a low temperature, and the main washing process may be performed at a high temperature. That is, in this case, in the main washing treatment, hot water having a higher water temperature than in the pre-washing treatment is used. Here, the low temperature means, for example, a water temperature of room temperature or higher and lower than 30 ° C., and the high temperature means, for example, a water temperature of 50 ° C. or higher.

As a result, the cleaning effect can be improved by using water warmer than normal temperature in both the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment. Furthermore, while suppressing the amount of heat used during the pre-washing process as much as possible, by continuing heating in the pre-washing process and the main washing process, the hot water state is prolonged and the effect of removing stains from the laundry is further enhanced. Can be improved. It should be noted that the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the water temperature of the hot water in the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment is different, and a configuration in which the same water temperature is used may be used.

The third aspect is an aspect in which heating is performed in the pre-washing process and no heating is performed in the main washing process. According to this, it is possible to improve the cleaning effect at the time of the main washing process. Further, since the temperature inside the rotary tank 13 rises due to the use of warm water in the pre-washing process, it is possible to improve the cleaning effect by utilizing the residual heat during the pre-washing process in the subsequent main washing process. can.

In the three embodiments described above, in the relatively early stage of the pre-washing treatment using the detergent and the main washing treatment, water is heated to improve the effect of the detergent, and then the pre-washing treatment or the pre-washing treatment is performed. In the middle of the main washing process, additional water may be supplied, or the rotation speed of the rotary tank 13 may be increased to increase the mechanical force applied to the laundry. As a result, the dirt is diluted with the additional water supply, and the dirt is easily peeled off due to the increase in the mechanical force, and the cleaning performance can be further improved.

Further, the inventor of the present application improves the function of the detergent component not only when the washing water containing the detergent itself is warmed but also when the washing water is in contact with the laundry and the laundry is warmed. It was found that the effect of floating the dirt adhering to the laundry from the surface of the laundry is enhanced. Therefore, when pre-washing with detergent, by raising the temperature of the laundry before it comes into contact with the washing water, the cleaning effect is compared with the case where the laundry when it comes into contact with the washing water is at room temperature. Can be improved. Here, as a method for heating the laundry in the rotary tub 12, the inventor of the present application has a method of indirectly heating the laundry through water and a method of directly heating the laundry by applying warm air for drying. I examined two ways.

For example, when the water is heated by using a dedicated heater 19 for heating the water and the laundry in the water tank 12 is to be heated through the heated water, the laundry is heated by the heater 19. It cannot be heated above the temperature of the water warmed by. Therefore, when trying to raise the laundry in the water tank 12 to a certain temperature, the water itself in the water tank 12 also needs to be raised to that temperature, which consumes a lot of energy.

On the other hand, when the warm air is supplied into the water tank 12 by using the heating device 62 used for the drying operation, the laundry itself can be directly warmed by applying the warm air to the laundry. In this case, since it is not necessary to raise the water itself in the water tank 12 to the temperature of the laundry, energy consumption can be reduced. In this way, the method of heating the water using the heating device 62 used for the drying operation is better than the method of heating the water using the dedicated heater 19 to heat the laundry in the rotary tub 13. It can be heated directly and efficiently.

Further, when the laundry is heated by the warm air generated by the heating device 62 used for the drying operation, the washing water itself in the water tank 12 is also heated to some extent by the warm air. As a result, it is possible to obtain the effect of improving the washing performance by warming the washing water itself as described above. Therefore, compared to the case where the water is heated by using the heater 19, the case where the warm air is supplied into the water tank 12 by using the heating device 62 used for the drying operation is to obtain the same cleaning effect. If this is the case, energy consumption will be low.

Further, when the water is heated by using the dedicated heater 19, most of the heat generated by the heater 19 is discharged together with the heated water at the time of drainage. On the other hand, when the heating device 62 used for the drying operation is utilized, the laundry is sufficiently heated by the warm air, but the temperature rise of the water is relatively small compared to the laundry, so that the laundry is discharged together with the drainage. The amount of heat that is stored is small. That is, when the method of heating water by using the heating device 62 used for the drying operation is adopted, it is possible to suppress the heat from being discharged by the drainage, and as a result, the energy consumption can be suppressed. ..

The supply of warm air into the water tank 12 is preferably performed before water supply in the pre-washing treatment using a detergent or the main washing treatment. According to this, the laundry can be smoothly warmed in advance in a state where the laundry is not immersed in water, and as a result, the effect of removing stains in the subsequent water supply and washing operation can be further improved. That is, when warm air is supplied to the water tank 12 to warm the laundry, the rotary tank 13 is used in the pre-washing when the pre-washing is performed only once, and in at least the first pre-washing when the pre-washing is performed a plurality of times. It is preferable to supply warm air before the laundry inside is completely submerged in water.

It should be noted that the heating by warm air is not limited to the third aspect in which the warm air is heated in the pre-washing process and not heated in the main washing process, but is not heated in the pre-washing process and is heated in the main washing process. It may be carried out in the first aspect to be carried out, or in the second aspect in which heating is carried out in both the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment. Further, when the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, the heating in the pre-washing process may be performed only at the final pre-washing process. This makes it possible to suppress the heat lost due to the wastewater in the prewash treatment.

Further, the heating is not limited to the soaking operation, but may be configured to be performed during the water supply or washing operation. The timing at which the warm air is started to be supplied to the water tank 12 is either before water supply, water supply, or after water supply if the laundry in the rotary tank 13 is not submerged, that is, is exposed from the water surface. But it's okay. In addition, in order to enhance the effect of heating the laundry with warm air, for example, the water level for pre-washing when heating with warm air is used, and the water level for pre-washing or main washing when heating with warm air is not performed. It may be set lower than the water level.

According to the second embodiment described above, the pre-washing process further includes a soaking operation in which the laundry is immersed in the washing water in the water tank 12 for a predetermined time. According to this, the detergent can be sufficiently permeated between the fibers of the laundry, and the stains adhering to the laundry can be easily peeled off from the laundry. Further, the control device 50 can further execute the allocation process. When the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, the allocation process includes a process of including a soaking operation in the second and subsequent pre-washing processes. According to this, by effectively performing the soaking operation during the pre-washing process, dirt can be easily peeled off from the laundry, and as a result, the washing performance can be further improved.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
In the present embodiment, the washing machine 10 further includes a second water supply path 24 and a second water supply valve 25, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, in order to clarify the distinction between the second water supply path 24 and the second water supply valve 25, the water supply path 22 and the water supply valve 23 in each of the above embodiments are conveniently used as the first water supply path. It is referred to as 22 and the first water supply valve 23. That is, the first water supply path 22 and the first water supply valve 23 in the present embodiment correspond to the water supply path 22 and the water supply valve 23 in each of the above embodiments, respectively.

The second water supply route 24 is a route for supplying water supplied from an external water supply source to the shower nozzle 26. Therefore, the second water supply path 24 can also be referred to as a shower water supply path. One end of the second water supply path 24 is connected to the second water supply valve 25, and the other end is connected to the shower nozzle 26. Like the first water supply valve 23, the second water supply valve 25 is an on-off valve for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The second water supply valve 25 is provided between the connection port 21 and the second water supply path 24. The second water supply valve 25 opens and closes the second water supply path 24 based on the control signal from the control device 50. The control device 50 opens one or both of the first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 25 to supply water from an external water source using one or both of the first water supply path 22 and the second water supply path 24. Water can be supplied into the water tank 12.

The shower nozzle 26 is configured so that the water discharged from the shower nozzle 26 is discharged in a shower shape toward the center side of the water tank 12. Although the details are not shown, the shower nozzle 26 is configured to be capable of generating fine water droplets of, for example, 500 μm or less, and has a function of injecting fine water droplets at high pressure by reducing the opening area at the tip of the shower nozzle 26. .. Here, the high pressure means that the water pressure is at least higher than the water pressure supplied from the first water supply path 22 into the water tank 12.

Further, in the configuration of this embodiment, the control content of the pre-washing process is different from that of each of the above-described embodiments. In the pre-washing process, the control device 50 of the present embodiment executes the control content shown in FIG. 13 instead of the control content shown in FIG. 7. The pre-washing process shown in FIG. 13 includes the processes of steps D11 to D13 instead of the processes of steps B11 to B12 shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, the processing after step B13 is the same as that of each of the above embodiments.

In the pre-washing process of the present embodiment, when the control device 50 starts the pre-washing process, first, the first water supply valve 23 is opened and the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 is operated, and the water tank 12 is operated from the first water supply path 22. Supply water containing detergent to. Then, after the laundry is moistened at a low water level, the control device 50 rotates the rotary tank 13 to start the washing operation, and opens the second water supply valve 25 to wash fine water droplets from the shower nozzle 26 at high pressure. It hits an object, which enhances the cleaning effect of tapping.

Specifically, when the control device 50 executes the pre-washing process, in step D11, the first water supply valve 23 is opened to a water level from the first water supply path 22 to a water level at which the laundry in the rotary tub 13 is moistened. Supply water. After that, the control device 50 operates the treatment agent automatic charging device 30 in step D12, puts the detergent on the water flowing through the first water supply path 22, and charges the detergent into the water tank 12. In this case, the amount of detergent added is the smallest amount in the amount of detergent added in the pre-washing treatment and the main washing treatment, specifically, the amount less than 0.5 in the ratio of the amount of detergent added shown in FIG. ..

Then, in step D13, the control device 50 opens the second water supply valve 25 to supply water from the shower nozzle 26 into the water tank 12 via the second water supply path 24, and drives the motor 14 to drive the rotary tank 13. It is rotated to perform a washing operation for a predetermined time, for example, 3 minutes. In this case, the control device 50 may be configured to drive the circulation pump 18 to supply water from the nozzle unit 171 in addition to or in place of the water supply from the second water supply path 24. As a result, the cleaning effect can be further enhanced by the synergistic effect of water injection between the shower nozzle 26 and the nozzle portion 171. After that, the control device 50 shifts the processing to step B13, and proceeds with the processing after step B13.

According to this, the pre-washing process further includes a process of opening the second water supply valve 25 to supply water into the water tank 12 from the second water supply path 24 and performing a washing operation. As a result, it is possible to easily remove dirt and the like adhering to the laundry by the water supplied from the second water supply path 24, and the cleaning effect can be further improved.

(Fourth Embodiment)
Next, the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the pre-washing process, the control device 50 of the present embodiment executes the control content shown in FIG. 14 instead of the control content shown in FIG. 13 of the third embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment except for the control content of the prewash process. The present embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the processes of steps E11 and E12 are added to the process contents shown in FIG. 13 of the third embodiment.

This embodiment is an example of a case where the detergent is not used for the first pre-washing treatment, that is, the first pre-washing treatment when the pre-washing treatment is performed once or a plurality of times. When the control device 50 starts the pre-washing process, first, the first water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water from the first water supply path 22 to the water tank 12, and the second water supply valve 25 is opened to supply water from the second water supply path 24. Water is supplied to the water tank 12. As a result, water is supplied from both the first water supply path 22 and the second water supply path 24, so that the laundry in the rotary tub 13 is efficiently wetted. At this time, since the control device 50 does not operate the treatment agent automatic charging device 30, water containing no detergent is supplied into the water tank 12.

Specifically, when the pre-washing process is executed, the control device 50 determines in step E11 whether or not the number of pre-washing executions is the second or later. When the number of times of pre-washing is executed is the second or later (YES in step E11), the control device 50 executes the processes after step D11 in the same manner as in the third embodiment. On the other hand, when the number of executions of the prewash is not the second or later, that is, the first time (NO in step E11), the control device 50 shifts the process to step E12. In step E12, the control device 50 opens the first water supply valve 23 to supply water from the water supply path 22 to a water level at which the laundry in the rotary tank 13 gets wet, and opens the second water supply valve 25. The second water supply path 24 is opened to supply water to the water tank 12 from the shower nozzle 26.

Further, the control device 50 executes a washing operation for a predetermined time, for example, 3 minutes in step E12. The control device 50 does not put the detergent into the water tank 12 in the first pre-washing process. After that, the control device 50 shifts the treatment to step B18, opens the drain valve 16 and discharges the water in the water tank 12 from the drainage path 15. As a result, the dirt removed from the laundry by the water supply from the second water supply path 24 and the washing operation can be efficiently removed from the water tank 12. In step E12, while the first water supply valve 23 is closed, the second water supply valve is opened to open the second water supply path 24 to supply water to the water tank 12 from the shower nozzle 26 and execute a washing operation. It may be configured to be used.

According to this, in the pre-washing process, the water supply valve 23 is opened to supply water into the water tank 12 without charging the washing treatment agent from the automatic treatment agent charging device 30 into the water tank 12, and then the second water supply valve is supplied. At the same time as water is supplied from the second water supply path 24 into the water tank 12 by opening 25, a washing operation and a process of opening the drain valve 16 to drain the water in the water tank 12 from the drainage path 15 are further included. As a result, since the detergent is not put into the water tank 12 in the pre-washing process, bubbles due to the detergent component are not generated. Therefore, the detergency due to the high-pressure spraying of water from the shower nozzle 26 and the mechanical force due to the washing operation can be directly acted on the dirt adhering to the laundry, and so-called foam elimination is not required. As a result, the time required for the washing process can be shortened, and the time required for the entire washing operation can be shortened.

In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment described above, water is supplied from the second water supply path 24 in the prewashing process, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the water supply from the second water supply path 24 is the present. It may be configured to be performed in the washing process. In this case, the detergency of the water ejected from the shower nozzle 26 in the pre-washing process can be higher than the detergency of the water ejected from the shower nozzle 26 in the main washing process. Here, increasing the detergency is realized by, for example, increasing the water pressure, increasing the amount of water jetted per unit time, and lengthening the spraying time.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the amount of detergent added, the number of times the prewashing process is executed, and the like have been described by giving specific numerical values, but these specific numerical values are merely examples and can be changed as appropriate. Of course there is. In addition, various changes can be made to the overall hardware configuration of the washing machine 10, the type of driving course, and the like. Further, it is also possible to carry out any combination of the plurality of embodiments described above.

Although a plurality of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

10 ... washing machine, 11 ... outer box, 12 ... water tank, 13 ... rotary tank, 22 ... water supply path, 23 ... water supply valve, 15 ... drainage path, 16 ... drainage valve, 30 ... treatment agent automatic charging device, 50 ... control Device, 52 ... Dirt detection processing unit, 53 ... Pre-washing processing unit, 54 ... Pre-washing frequency adjustment processing unit, 55 ... Allocation processing unit, 56 ... Main washing processing unit, 57 ... Setting processing unit

Claims (8)

With the outer box
The water tank provided in the outer box and
A rotary tank rotatably provided in the water tank and
A water supply route that supplies water supplied from an external water supply source to the aquarium, and
A water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply path,
A drainage route for draining water from the aquarium,
A drain valve that opens and closes the drainage path,
An automatic treatment agent charging device that automatically charges the washing treatment agent into the water tank,
A control device capable of executing a series of washing operations including a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step by controlling the water supply valve, the drain valve, and the treatment agent automatic charging device is provided.
The control device is
After charging the washing treatment agent into the water tank from the automatic treatment agent charging device and opening the water supply valve to supply water and wash the water into the water tank, the drain valve was opened to contain dirt. Pre-washing process to drain the washing water from the drainage route,
After the execution of the pre-washing treatment, the washing treatment agent is poured into the water tank from the automatic treatment agent charging device, the water supply valve is opened to supply water into the water tank, and then the washing operation is performed. And is feasible,
Washing machine. The control device can further execute a setting process for setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent in the pre-washing process and the main washing process based on the content of the washing operation or the setting of the user.
The setting process includes a process of setting the input amount of the washing treatment agent to a different amount in the pre-washing process and the main washing process.
The washing machine according to claim 1. The setting process further includes a process of setting the amount of the washing agent added in the pre-washing process to be equal to or less than the amount of the washing agent added in the main washing process.
The washing machine according to claim 2. The number of rinses in the rinse step is the same in the case where the pre-washing process is performed and in the preset normal number of rinses.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The pre-washing process can be performed a plurality of times during the washing operation.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control device is
A stain detection process that detects the degree of contamination of the washing water in the aquarium,
The prewash count adjustment process, which adjusts the number of executions of the prewash process based on the result of the stain detection process, can be further executed.
The washing machine according to claim 5. The pre-washing process further includes a soaking operation in which the laundry is immersed in the washing water in the water tank for a predetermined time.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6. When the pre-washing process is executed a plurality of times, the control device can further execute an allocation process in which the soaking operation is included in the second and subsequent pre-washing processes.
The washing machine according to claim 7.

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