JP2778752B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a high-end machine.

(Prior art) In washing, it is necessary to set a washing time, a detergent amount, a water supply amount, and the like according to an amount of laundry and a degree of dirt. There is an urgent need for improvement in the automation of the system.

From such a viewpoint, it is conceivable that the washing process is automatically controlled based on the light transmittance, focusing on the fact that the light transmittance of the washing liquid changes with the progress of washing. In particular,
For example, the light transmittance of the washing liquid in a state in which a clean product is washed in a washing liquid in which the detergent is completely dissolved and uniformly mixed and distributed is set as a reference transmittance, and the reference transmittance is set. The degree of dirt is determined based on the difference between the rate and the light transmittance of the washing liquid in actual washing, and the subsequent washing process is controlled (eg, washing time). Therefore, since accurate determination of the degree of soiling of the laundry is important for control, it is important to determine at what point the light transmittance is to be used as comparison data with the reference transmittance. Simply adopting the light transmittance at the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of washing,
The data may include not only the stain removal component but also the influence of the difference in the dissolution state of the detergent and the non-uniformity of the detergent component in the washing liquid.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The point at which the light transmittance is to be adopted is an important but difficult task for accurate determination of the degree of dirt and proper automation of washing. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of accurately determining the degree of soiling of laundry and contributing to proper automation of washing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of automatically controlling a washing process, wherein light transmission of a washing liquid into which a detergent has been introduced is provided. A light transmittance detecting means for detecting the light transmittance, and detecting that the rate of change of the light transmittance falls within a set range based on the light transmittance detected in the washing process, and setting the light transmittance of the washing liquid to the reference transmittance. As a result of comparison by the comparing means and the comparing means, when the light transmittance exceeds the reference transmittance, the light of the washing liquid after a lapse of a predetermined time after the light transmittance of the washing liquid becomes substantially equal to the reference transmittance. A transmittance data extracting unit that outputs a transmittance and outputs a light transmittance at a time when a change rate of the light transmittance falls within the set range after a lapse of a predetermined time when the light transmittance is lower than the reference transmittance; Transmission data extraction means And summarized in that a control means for controlling the washing process based on the output light transmittance.

(Operation) In the washing machine according to the present invention, in order to determine the degree of dirt, the following processing is performed to adopt the light transmittance of the washing liquid in which the detergent is completely dissolved and uniformly mixed and distributed. Extract data.

The light transmittance of the washing liquid when the rate of change of the light transmittance in the washing liquid after the start of washing falls within the set range is compared with the reference transmittance. When the light transmittance exceeds the reference transmittance, the light of the washing liquid is compared with the reference transmittance. The light transmittance of the washing liquid at the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmittance is substantially equal to the reference transmittance is adopted. When the light transmittance is lower than the reference transmittance, the rate of change of the light transmittance after the elapse of a predetermined time is the aforementioned. The light transmittance at the time when the light transmittance falls within the set range is adopted.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a sectional configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the advanced machine, 2 denotes a washing tub (outer tub) elastically suspended by a suspension 4, and 3 denotes a washing tub (inner tub) for washing and dewatering laundry, and a large number of water drains are provided on the side surface of the peripheral wall. Hole 6 for Pulsator at the bottom of inner tank 3
13 is provided, and is rotatably driven by a drive motor 8 via a mechanical case 7 having a built-in brake and clutch mechanism. A pair of a light emitting device 11 and a light receiving device 12 are provided at the bottom of the outer tank 2 so as to face each other as shown in FIG.
It detects the light transmittance of the washing liquid in which the water and the detergent supplied from the water supply hose 14 are mixed and outputs the light transmittance to the arithmetic and control unit 16, and constitutes a light transmittance detecting means. A drain hose 10 is controlled to communicate with the outer tub 2 via a drain valve 9. Reference numeral 5 denotes a balancer provided above the inner tank 3.

In FIG. 1, the arithmetic and control unit 16 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the entire washing machine. In particular, the arithmetic and control unit 16 performs a washing process based on the light transmittance of the washing liquid detected by the light receiver 12. Has the function of controlling In addition,
The arithmetic control unit 16 constitutes comparison means, transmittance data extraction means, and control means.

Next, the control operation of the washing process of this embodiment will be described with reference to the processing flowchart in the arithmetic control unit 16 shown in FIG.

After water is supplied from the water supply hose 14 and detergent is charged,
When a predetermined start switch is operated, washing is started.
The arithmetic control unit 16 starts monitoring the light transmittance of the washing liquid at the start of the washing, and calculates the change rate ΔT of the light transmittance per unit time (step 100).

When detecting that the calculated change rate ΔT falls within the range of the set value (± a) (step 110), the arithmetic and control unit 16 dissolves the detergent almost completely in the washing liquid,
Determining that there is a possibility that light transmittance data including only a stain removal component that is not affected by the dissolution of a detergent or the like to accurately determine the degree of soiling of the laundry necessary for controlling the subsequent washing process may be obtained, The confirmation is performed in the processing after step 120.

In step 120, the arithmetic and control unit 16 compares the light transmittance T at this time with the reference transmittance K. Here, the reference transmittance K is a light transmittance of the washing liquid in a state in which a clean thing is washed in a washing liquid in which the detergent is completely dissolved and uniformly mixed and distributed.

Result of the comparison, when the light transmittance T is greater than the reference transmission rate K, the arithmetic control unit 16 continues to monitor the light transmittance T from substantially equal to the reference transmittance K of the predetermined time T ₁ elapses point light The transmittance T is adopted as data for determining the degree of dirt (steps 130, 140, 170). That is, in this case, although the dissolution of the detergent has progressed considerably, it is not complete yet, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light transmittance T further decreases with the dissolution and becomes lower than the reference transmittance K as shown in FIGS. After a certain period of time from the completion of the dissolution, the decrease in the light transmittance T becomes saturated due to the completion of the dissolution, so that the light transmittance T at the elapse of the predetermined time T ₁ after the light transmittance T has decreased to the reference transmittance K. Is adopted.

Conversely, if the light transmittance T is equal to or less than the reference transmittance K, the arithmetic control unit 16 monitors the change rate ΔT of the light transmittance again after the predetermined time T ₂ (≠ T ₁ ) elapses, and sets the set value. The light transmittance T when re-detecting that the value falls within the range of (± a) is adopted (steps 150, 160, 170). That is, in this case, in step 110, the rate of change ΔT is equal to the set value (± a).
Regarding the occurrence of the state falling within the range, washing tubs 2, 3 because undissolved detergent is present between the light emitting device 11 and the light receiving device 12 or the dissolved component of the detergent is large in its specific gravity with respect to water. It is considered that K ≧ T was established because the light transmittance T and the reference transmittance K were compared in this state due to the precipitation at the bottom of. Therefore, thereafter, the rate of change ΔT in light transmittance fluctuates drastically with the dissolution of the detergent existing between the light emitting device 11 and the light receiving device 12 or the uniformity of the dissolved components of the detergent in the washing liquid, and the detergent Since it is expected that saturation will gradually occur as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 due to the achievement of complete dissolution or homogenization, the light transmittance when the rate of change ΔT falls within the set value (± a) range again T is adopted.

In FIGS. 4 to 7, the solid line indicates the case where a clean item is washed, and the broken line indicates the case where the dirty item is washed.

Thereafter, the arithmetic and control unit 16 determines the degree of dirt based on the magnitude of the difference between the light transmittance T adopted in step 170 and the reference transmittance K, and determines the washing end time and the like. Is controlled.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the degree of dirt is determined based on the light transmittance of the washing liquid which does not include the effects of the dissolved components of the detergent and the unevenness of the dissolved components in the washing liquid. The condition can be accurately determined, and the washing can be appropriately performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, in order to determine the degree of soiling, the light transmittance of the washing liquid in which the detergent is completely dissolved and uniformly mixed and distributed is employed in order to determine the degree of contamination. Compare the light transmittance of the washing liquid with the reference transmittance when the change rate of the light transmittance of the washing liquid after starting is within the set range, and when the light transmittance exceeds the reference transmittance, the light transmission of the washing liquid. The light transmittance of the washing liquid at the time when a predetermined time elapses after the rate becomes substantially equal to the reference transmittance is adopted, and when the light transmittance falls below the reference transmittance, the rate of change of the light transmittance after the elapse of a certain time is set as described above. Since the light transmittance at the time when the light transmittance falls within the range is adopted, it is possible to accurately determine the degree of soiling of the laundry, and to contribute to appropriate automation of washing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of FIG. 1, FIG. FIG. 7 to FIG. 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washing machine main body, 2 ... Washing tub (outer tub) 3 ... Washing tub (inner tub), 4 ... Suspension 5 ... Balancer, 6 ... Hole 7 ... Mechanical case, 8 ... Drive motor 9 …… Drain valve, 10… Drain hose 11 …… Light emitter, 12 …… Receiver 13 …… Pulsator, 14 …… Water supply hose 16 …… Calculation control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) D06F 33/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A washing machine having a function of automatically controlling a washing process, comprising: a light transmittance detecting means for detecting a light transmittance of a washing liquid into which a detergent has been put; and a light transmittance detected in the washing process. A comparison means for detecting that the rate of change of the light transmittance falls within the set range based on the comparison, and comparing the light transmittance of the washing liquid with the reference transmittance; When the light transmittance exceeds the rate, the light transmittance of the washing liquid at the time when a predetermined time elapses after the light transmittance of the washing liquid becomes substantially equal to the reference transmittance is output, and when the light transmittance falls below the reference transmittance, after a certain time elapses Transmittance data extracting means for outputting the light transmittance when the change rate of the light transmittance falls within the set range; and controlling the washing process based on the light transmittance output from the transmittance data extracting means. Having control means Washing machine and wherein the door.