JP3015399B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for automatically controlling a washing operation according to the amount of laundry.

(Prior Art) In recent years, washing machines have been provided that automatically control a washing operation in accordance with the amount of laundry.

In this case, the amount of laundry is detected by detecting a load applied to the drive motor, and the detection result is compared with a predetermined determination reference value to set washing conditions such as a water supply level and a washing time. The washing operation is performed under the set conditions.

Therefore, regarding the above-mentioned determination reference value in this case, the manufacturer applies a pseudo load to a control device such as a microcomputer in a single item state during assembly,
I try to do that.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of setting the determination reference value as described above, the load applied to the drive motor differs for each machine due to variations in assembly of the drive mechanism and the transmission belt. May not match the set criterion value. In addition, the criterion values set as described above may not gradually match with respect to the wear of the drive mechanism and the loosening of the transmission belt due to long-term use.

In these cases, it is impossible to accurately detect the amount of laundry and, consequently, automatically control the washing operation.Moreover, depending on the user, the water supply level, the washing time, etc. are set by the manufacturer. In some cases, it may be desired to wash under different conditions. In response to this, the necessary change of the criterion value is performed by applying a pseudo load to the control device in a single item state as described above. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be easily performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an excellent washing machine capable of easily changing a determination reference value.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A washing machine according to the present invention has a laundry amount detecting means for detecting an amount of laundry by detecting a load amount applied to a drive motor, and a laundry amount detecting means. Condition setting means for setting a washing condition by receiving a detection result by the method and comparing it with a determination reference value, an operation control means for executing a washing operation under the set condition, and an operation related to the washing operation. And a control panel having a display device for displaying a display related to the washing operation.When a special operation is performed using the switch of the control panel, the control mode is changed to a reference value change mode. In the mode, when a predetermined switch of the operation panel is operated, the determination reference value is changed to a higher direction, and when a different predetermined switch is operated, Together so as to change in a direction to lower the serial determination reference value is the level determination reference value for changing their respective ones characterized by was to be displayed on the display device.

(Operation) According to the above means, the determination reference value can be set freely for each machine in the entire assembled state and according to the user's desire.

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

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer box 1 of the entire washing machine includes:
Inside, the outer tub 2 is disposed so as to be supported only by a partly illustrated elastic suspension mechanism 3. A drive motor 4, a transmission belt 5, a drive mechanism 6, a drain valve 7, and the like are provided below the outer tub 2. On the other hand, a dehydration hole (not shown) is provided inside the outer tub 2. An inner tub 8 communicating with the inside of the outer tub 2 is disposed, and a dehydrating shaft 9 protruding into the outer tub 2 from the driving mechanism 5.
The inner tub 8 is attached to the inner tub 8 and the inner tub 8 is rotated by a dehydrating shaft 9 during dehydration to perform dehydration. Further, in the inner tub 8, a stirrer 10 is disposed at a lower portion, and the stirrer 10 is attached to a washing shaft 11 protruding into the inner tub 8 from the dehydrating shaft 9, so that the stirrer 10 is Is rotated by the washing shaft 11,
I try to do the laundry.

On the other hand, a top cover 12 is mounted on the outer box 1, a control device 13 is disposed inside a front portion of the top cover 12, and an operation panel 14 shown in FIG. .

The operation panel 14 has switches 15 to 18 for setting the current time and the reserved time, and a numeric display device 19 which is a display device for displaying those times and a criterion change index value (level) described later. And a switch 20 for setting the strength of the "water flow", a switch 21 for setting the height of the "water level", a switch 22 for setting the time of the "wash", and the number of times of the "rinse". Switch 23 for setting and switch for setting the time of "dehydration"
24, and LEDs 25 to 29 for displaying the respective setting contents, and switches 30 to 33 for setting each of "auto course", "speed course", "hand washing course" and "big game course", and the LEDs 34 to 37 for displaying the set course, a "start" switch 38, and a "power" switch 39 are provided. Of these, switches
15-18, 20-24, 30-33, 38, and 39 are switches for performing operations related to the washing operation.
Reference numeral 19 denotes a display device for displaying a message related to the washing operation.

In detail, the control device 13 is configured to include the functions of a washing condition setting unit, an operation control unit, and a reference value changing unit by a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. Various switches 15-18, 20-2
A switch signal is input from a switch input unit 40 composed of 4, 30, 33, 38, and 39, and a water level is detected by a water level sensor 41 provided to detect the water level in the inner tank 8 via the outer tank 2. A signal is input, and further, in this case, a phase difference detection signal is input from the phase difference detection device 42 which is a laundry amount detection unit.

The phase difference detection device 42 electrically detects a load amount applied to the drive motor 4 and outputs the phase difference detection signal as a laundry amount detection signal. More specifically, as shown in FIG. The voltage applied to the drive motor 4 is detected to obtain a pulse that rises and falls at the zero cross point, and the current I flowing through the drive motor 4 is simultaneously detected to obtain a pulse that rises and falls at the zero cross point. A pulse corresponding to the phase difference θ is obtained from each of the pulse waveforms, and a voltage signal corresponding to the phase difference θ obtained by smoothing the pulse is further digitized to output a detection signal. Indeed, the detection signal becomes smaller.

The control device 13 is connected to the switch input unit 40 described above.
A drive circuit 43 for driving the drive motor 4 based on a switch signal from the controller, a water level detection signal from the water level sensor 41, and a phase difference detection signal from the phase difference detection device 42, and provided to supply water to the inner tank 8. A driving circuit 45 for driving the supplied water valve 44 and a driving circuit 46 for driving the drain valve 7
, And a control signal to the numerical display device 19 and a display unit 47 including LEDs 25 to 29, 34 to 37, etc. A reference value signal for determining the amount of laundry is exchanged with the non-volatile memory 48 backed up.

Therefore, the operation of the above configuration will be described below together with the function of the control device 13.

First, when determining the amount of laundry, the control device 13 causes the water supply valve 44 to be energized and opened, and water is supplied into the inner tub 8 to, for example, a "detection" water level one step lower than the "low" water level. 4 is energized to rotate the stirring body 10 for a certain time. At this time, the amount of load applied to the drive motor 4 via the drive mechanism 6 and the transmission belt 5 is detected by the phase difference detection device 42 as described above, thereby detecting the amount of laundry. The device 13 reads the detection signal (phase difference detection signal) and compares it with the determination reference value read from the memory 48 to determine the amount of laundry.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the detected value and the determined laundry amount. In FIG. 6, A indicates that the laundry amount is 1.5 kg or less and 1.5 to 3.
A detection value that is determined to be a boundary value between 0 [kg] and a basic determination reference value, and a detection value that determines that B is a boundary value between 1.5 to 3.0 [kg] and 3.0 [kg] or more. This is also a basic criterion value, A + 1, A + 2, A + 3 and B
It is determined that the amount of laundry is small as the detection value is increased to +1, B + 2, and B + 3. Conversely, A-1, A-2, A-3 and B-1, B-
This indicates that the laundry amount is determined to be large as the detection value decreases to 2, B-3. The control device 13 sets washing conditions such as a water supply level, a washing time, and a dehydration time in accordance with the results of these determinations, and then executes a washing operation under the set conditions.

On the other hand, when changing the determination reference value, the operation is different from the normal operation, for example, the “start” switch 38 and the “autocourse” switch 30 of the operation panel 14.
A special operation of pressing the "power" switch 39 while simultaneously pressing and. Then, the control device 13
As a result, the mode is changed to the reference value change mode shown in FIG. 1, and this reference value change mode is started by a subsequent pressing operation of the "start" switch 38.

In the reference value change mode, the control device 13 first determines whether or not the "wash" switch 22 has been pressed (step S1), and the user presses the "wash" switch 22. Accordingly, if it is determined that the operation has been performed, the determination reference values are increased by one from A and B, respectively, to A + 1 and B + 1 (step S2). Each time, the determination reference value is sequentially changed to A + 2, B + 2, A + 3, B + 3. Therefore, in this case, the "wash" switch 22 functions as a reference value increase change command switch, and the control device 13 sequentially increases the determination reference value in response to the change command signal from the reference value increase change command switch. To change.

On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S1 that the “wash” switch 22 has been operated, the control device 13 determines whether the “rinse” switch 23 has been pressed (step S3). Here, if the user presses the "rinse" switch 23 to determine that the operation has been performed, the determination reference values are reduced one by one from A and B in the opposite manner to A-1 and A-1. , B-1 (step S4), and these are repeated, and each time the "rinse" switch 23 is pressed, the determination reference value is sequentially changed to A-2, B-2, A-3, B-3. Let it. Therefore, in this case, the “rinse” switch 23
The controller 13 functions as a reference value down change command switch, and the control device 13 changes the determination reference value in the direction of sequentially decreasing in accordance with a change command signal by the reference value down change command switch.

In this case, the level of the changed judgment reference value is
The number display device 19 on the operation panel 14 indicates “0” to “1”,
"2", "3", or "-1", "-2", "-3" and the numerical contents are displayed together.

However, at this time, if the change for one stage is set to 200 [g] in the laundry amount, as shown in FIG.
1.5 kg or less and 1.5-3.0 kg and 3.0 kg at the time of
If the value is “1”, it is 1.3 [k
g] or less and 1.3 to 2.8 [kg] and 2.8 [kg] or more.
It can be divided into 2.6 [kg] and 2.6 [kg] or more, and when it is "3", it is 0.9 [kg] or less and 0.9 to 2.4 [k]
g] and 2.4 [kg] or more. Therefore, in this case, the washing condition at the time of "0" is gradually set with a smaller laundry amount, and the washing is performed with a larger amount of water and a longer time.

On the other hand, when it is “−1”, it is 1.7 [kg] or less, and 1.7 to 3.2
[Kg] and 3.2 [kg] or more,
In the case of "-2", it can be divided into 1.9 kg or less, 1.9 to 3.4 kg, and 3.4 kg or more.
In the case of "3", 2.1 kg or less, 2.1 to 3.6 kg, and 3.6
[Kg] or more. Accordingly, in this case, contrary to the above, the washing condition at "0" is gradually set with a larger amount of laundry, and the washing is performed with a smaller amount of water, a shorter time, and the like. .

If it is determined in step S3 that the “rinse” switch 23 is not pressed any more, the control device 13
Next, it is determined whether or not the "start" switch 38 has been pressed (step S5). When the "start" switch 38 has been operated, the determination reference value changed as described above is read and the memory 43 is read.
(Step S6), and the reference value change mode ends. Therefore, the laundry amount is determined as described above based on the stored new determination reference value, and the laundry conditions are set.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the change of the determination reference value
The control unit 13 can be performed for each body in the entire assembled state, not for a single unit.
It is possible to easily change the setting of this criterion value, which is likely to be unsuitable due to a variation in assembly such as abrasion of the drive mechanism unit 6 due to long-term use, a loosening of the transmission belt 5, and the like. Since the setting can be freely changed as desired, it is possible to sufficiently cope with differences in washing conditions that differ from person to person.

In addition, operating means for changing the setting include a "wash" switch 22 (reference value up change command switch) and a "rinse" switch 23 (reference value down change command switch). A change to increase and a change to lower can be made quickly using the respective switches. Therefore, the operability can be improved, and it is possible to more quickly respond to the user's request.

Further, the changed reference value level is displayed on the numerical display device 19 (display device) in accordance with the switch operation of each of the reference value up and reference value down change commands. The user can easily know the level of the reference value and the level of the reference value that is down, and can easily understand and change the reference value without any error.

In addition, in this case, the operation is performed by specially operating a switch provided on the operation panel to enter the reference value change mode. Changing the value can be avoided.

In addition, the “Start” switch 38 and the “Autocourse” switch 30 that are specially operated to enter the reference value change mode
The " power " switch 39 is originally for performing an operation related to the washing operation, and further includes a " wash " switch 22 for changing the judgment reference value to a higher value and a " rinse " switch 23 for changing it to a lower value. , Originally intended to perform operations related to the washing operation. In short, those
Since a switch provided on the operation panel 14 can be used as it is to perform the operation related to the washing operation and the operation for changing the determination reference value can be performed, a dedicated switch for changing the determination reference value is not required, The operation structure can be prevented from becoming complicated.

Further, the numeric display device 19 for displaying the changed level of the determination reference value is also originally for displaying the washing operation, and therefore, the operation panel 14 for displaying the washing operation is originally displayed. Since the number display device 19 provided in the device can be used as it is to display the changed level of the determination reference value, a dedicated display device for displaying the level of the determination reference value is not required, and the display structure is complicated. Can be avoided.

Note that the laundry amount detecting means is the same as the phase difference detecting device 42 described above.
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be such that the number of laundry is detected by detecting the rotation speed of the drive motor 4.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, according to the washing machine of the present invention, the laundry amount detecting means for detecting the amount of the laundry by detecting the load amount applied to the drive motor, and the laundry amount A washing condition setting means for setting a washing condition by receiving a detection result by the detection means and comparing it with a determination reference value; an operation control means for executing a washing operation under the set condition; and an operation related to the washing operation. And an operation panel having a display device for displaying a display related to the washing operation, and enters a reference value change mode when a special operation is performed using the switch of the operation panel. In this mode, when a predetermined switch of the operation panel is operated, the direction is changed to increase the determination reference value, and a different predetermined switch is operated. In the meantime, the judgment criterion is changed in a lowering direction, and the level of the respectively changed judgment criterion value is displayed on the display device, so that the judgment criterion value can be easily changed, and Depending on the user's wishes, it is possible to sufficiently cope with differences in laundry conditions that vary from person to person.

In addition, the change to increase and decrease the determination reference value can be performed quickly, the operability can be improved, and the user's request can be responded more quickly.

In addition, the level of the raised reference value and the level of the lowered reference value can be easily known and easily understood, and the reference value can be changed without error.

In addition, it is possible to avoid unintentionally changing the determination reference value by mistake, and to use the switch provided on the operation panel as it is to perform the operation related to the washing operation. Operation can be performed, and the operation structure can be prevented from becoming complicated. Furthermore, it is also possible to display the changed level of the determination reference value by using the display device provided on the operation panel as it is for displaying the washing operation, thereby avoiding a complicated display structure. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a judgment reference value change mode.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire washing machine, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an operation panel, FIG. 4 is a schematic electric configuration diagram, FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram for explaining the function contents of the phase difference detection device, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the detected value and the determined laundry amount, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the change index value of the determination criterion and the laundry amount determination category. In the drawing, 4 is a drive motor, 13 is a control device (washing condition setting means, operation control means, reference value changing means), 19 is a numeric display device (display device), 22 is a "wash" switch, and 23 is a "rinse" A switch, 25 is an "autocourse" switch, 33 is a "start" switch, 34 is a "power" switch, 42 is a phase difference detecting device (laundry amount detecting means), and 48 is a memory.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A laundry amount detecting means for detecting an amount of laundry by detecting a load amount applied to a drive motor, and receiving a detection result by the laundry amount detecting means and comparing the result with a determination reference value. Washing condition setting means for setting washing conditions, operation control means for executing a washing operation under the set conditions, and a display device having various switches for performing operations related to the washing operation and displaying a washing operation An operation panel having a reference value change mode when a special operation is performed using a switch of the operation panel, and when a predetermined switch of the operation panel is operated in the mode. When the change is made in a direction in which the determination reference value is increased, and the determination reference value is changed in a direction in which the determination reference value is reduced when a different predetermined switch is operated. In both cases, the level of the changed determination reference value is displayed on the display device.