JP3066208B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing using hot water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-35690 discloses that a water temperature, a hot water temperature, a water supply flow rate, and a hot water supply flow rate are respectively detected. There is disclosed a washing machine that determines the opening time of a water supply valve and a hot water supply valve, opens each valve during this time, and supplies hot water obtained by mixing water and hot water in a washing tub.

[0003]

In the above washing machine,
The water supply flow rate and the hot water supply flow rate are detected by flow rate detection means provided near a supply port for supplying hot water into the washing tub. In this case, the flow rate detection means is separately required, and the washing machine is expensive. Become.

The flow rate of hot water is detected by temporarily opening a hot water supply valve and flowing only hot water. Therefore,
Although temporary, hot water is supplied directly into the washing tub and hangs on the laundry, causing partial discoloration.

[0005] Further, when the opening time of the hot water supply valve is longer than the opening time of the water supply valve, only the supply of hot water is performed last, and similarly, the discoloration of the laundry occurs.

According to the present invention, in a washing machine for supplying hot water obtained by mixing water and hot water into a washing tub, detection of the flow rate of hot water and the flow rate of hot water for opening the hot water supply valve and hot water supply valve is expensive. And the hot water supply flow rate detection for the same opening control can be performed without causing discoloration of the laundry.Furthermore, only hot water is supplied at the end of the hot water supply, and the laundry is supplied. Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that does not discolor.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a water supply valve for controlling water supply to a washing tub; a water supply valve for controlling hot water supply to the washing tub; Water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature, hot water temperature detecting means for detecting the hot water temperature,
A water level sensor that detects a water level in the washing tub, and a mixed water amount detecting unit that detects a mixed water amount per unit time based on a change amount of the detected water level of the water level sensor due to opening of the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve, Based on the amount of change in the detected water level of the water level sensor due to the opening of the water supply valve, a water supply amount detecting means for detecting a water supply amount per unit time, and subtracting the water supply amount from the detected mixed water amount per unit time. Hot water supply amount calculating means for calculating a hot water supply amount per unit time, and based on each of the detected water temperature, hot water temperature, water supply amount, and hot water supply amount such that the amount and temperature of water in the washing tub become set values. And a valve drive control means for driving and controlling the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve.

A washing machine according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the washing tub, a water supply valve for controlling hot water supply to the washing tub, a water temperature detecting means for detecting water temperature, Hot water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature, water supply amount per unit time and water amount detection means for detecting the hot water supply amount, and the water temperature and hot water detected so that the water amount and the temperature in the washing tub become set values. Opening time determining means for determining the opening time of the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve based on each of the temperature, the water supply amount, and the hot water supply amount, and if the determined hot water supply valve opening time is longer than the water supply valve opening time, the water supply valve Water supply amount adjusting means for controlling the operation of the water supply valve so as to reduce the amount of water supply per unit time so that the opening time is equal to or longer than the hot water valve opening time.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

According to the first and second aspects, the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount are measured by also using a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the washing tub, so that it is not necessary to provide a separate flow rate detecting means. And
The water supply valve and the hot water supply valve are set so that the water amount and the temperature in the washing tub are set to the set values based on the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount thus measured also as the water level sensor and the water temperature and the hot water temperature detected separately. The opening time and the like are determined, the valves are driven and controlled, and hot water is supplied into the washing tub.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the amount of mixed water per unit time is detected from the change in water level in a situation where mixed water, which is hot water obtained by mixing water and hot water, is supplied into the washing tub. The amount of water supply per unit time is detected from the amount of change in the water level in a situation where water is supplied into the washing tub, and the amount of water supply per unit time is calculated by subtracting the amount of water supply from the amount of mixed water. Thereby, when detecting the amount of hot water supply, it is not necessary to perform only hot water supply, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of discoloration due to hot water applied to the laundry.

According to the present invention, when the determined hot water valve opening time is longer than the hot water valve opening time, the water supply valve is drive-controlled to reduce the amount of water supply per unit time, and the hot water valve opening time is reduced. It is longer than time. This eliminates the need to supply only hot water at the end of hot water supply, and similarly suppresses color fading.

[0014]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A washing tub 2 is arranged in an exterior 1 of a washing machine, and a rotating body 3 having many holes in the washing tub 2 and containing laundry.
, And a rotary wing 4 is further disposed in the rotating body 3. The driving of the rotating body 3 and the rotating blades 4 is performed by a motor 5. This motor 5 intermittently rotates only the rotor 4 at a low speed during the washing and rinsing steps, and rotates both the rotor 3 and the rotor 4 at a high speed during the spin-drying step. A well-known water level sensor 7 having a built-in diaphragm is connected to a lower portion of the washing tub 2 via an air hose 6. The pressure in the air hose 6 changes according to the water level in the washing tub 2 and the diaphragm moves, and the water level sensor 7 detects the water level in the washing tub 2 based on the amount of movement.

A water supply channel 8 and a hot water supply channel 9 are disposed above the washing tub 2, and the outlets of the water supply channel 8 and the hot water supply channel 9 are connected to each other. The hot water flowing through the water supply passage 8 and the hot water flowing through the hot water supply passage 9 are joined and mixed at the outlet to become warm hot water and supplied into the washing tub 2. And
A water supply valve 10 for controlling water supply and a water temperature detection sensor 11 for detecting water temperature are provided in the middle of the water supply passage 8. A hot water supply valve 12 for controlling hot water supply and a hot water temperature detection sensor 13 for detecting hot water temperature are provided in the middle of the hot water supply passage 9. Drainage from the washing tub 2 is performed via a drain valve 14 and a drain passage 15.

FIG. 2 shows a block circuit of the washing machine.
The control unit 16 includes a microcomputer and controls the washing machine. The control unit 16 includes the motor 5, the water level sensor 7, the water supply valve 10, the water temperature detection sensor 11, and the hot water supply valve 1.
2. The hot water temperature sensor 13 and the drain valve 14 are connected. The control unit 16 includes a water level sensor 7, a water temperature detection sensor 1,
1. Drive control of the motor 5, the water supply valve 10, the hot water supply valve 12, the drainage valve 14, etc., based on information from the hot water temperature detection sensor 13 and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of a control program incorporated in the control section 16 for a hot water supply step prior to the washing step. The control unit 16 first opens the water supply valve 10 and the hot water supply valve 12 to start supplying hot water obtained by mixing water and hot water into the washing tub 2 (Step S1). Then, the amount of change in the water level in the washing tub 2 per unit time is measured using the water level sensor 7, and the amount of hot water supplied per unit time is calculated from the amount of change (Step S2). Next, the controller 16 controls the hot water supply valve 12
Is closed and only the water supply valve 10 is opened to start supplying only water into the washing tub 2 (step S3), and the amount of change in the water level in the washing tub 2 per unit time at this time is similarly determined using the water level sensor 7. The amount of water supply per unit time is calculated from the amount of change (step S4). After calculating the hot water supply amount and the water supply amount per unit time in this way, the control unit 16 calculates the hot water supply amount per unit time by subtracting the water supply amount from the hot water supply amount (S5 step). However, in steps S4 and S5, the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount are calculated so as to be larger than the original ones.

Here, since the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount are measured by using the conventional water level sensor 7 for detecting the water level in the washing tub, there is no need to provide a separate flow rate detecting means. Is simplified. In addition, when calculating the amount of hot water supply, only hot water supply is not performed, no hot water is directly applied to the laundry, and the laundry does not discolor.

The controller 16 starts supplying hot water in the same manner as in step S1 (step S6), and measures the water temperature and the hot water temperature using the water temperature detection sensor 11 and the hot water temperature detection sensor 13 (step S7). ), It is determined whether or not the hot water temperature is equal to or higher than a preset temperature (S8 step).

When it is determined that the hot water temperature is lower than the set temperature, the control unit 16 determines that there is residual water in the hot water supply passage 9, closes the water supply valve 10 and opens only the hot water supply valve 12 (step S9), Wait for the hot water temperature to rise above the set temperature (S10
Steps). During this waiting, when the water level detected by the water level sensor 7 reaches a preset water level corresponding to the amount of hot water (step S11), the control unit 16 closes the hot water supply valve 12 (step S12), and The supply step ends. If the hot water temperature rises to the set temperature before the water level detected by the water level sensor 7 reaches the set water level, the control unit 16 executes steps S6 and S7 again, and measures the water temperature and the hot water temperature again in step S7.

If it is determined in step S8 that the hot water temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature, whether or not the steps S9 and S10 have been executed, the control unit 16 then determines the amount and temperature of the hot water in the washing tub 2. Based on each of the detected water temperature and hot water temperature, the amount of water supply per unit time, and the amount of hot water supply per unit time, the opening times H1 and H2 of the water supply valve 10 and the hot water supply valve 12 are calculated so that the set hot water amount and the set temperature are obtained. Determined (S13 step). In this case, since the amount of water supply and the amount of hot water supply per unit time are relatively large, the opening time of each valve is determined to be short.

Thereafter, the control unit 16 controls the water temperature detection sensor 1
1 and the hot water temperature detection sensor 13 to measure the water temperature and hot water temperature, and determine whether or not these have continuously changed, for example, for 4 seconds (step S14). For example, it is determined whether there is no change for four seconds continuously (step S15), and it is determined whether the water supply valve opening time H1 or the hot water valve opening time H2 determined in step S13 has elapsed (step S16). .

If a negative determination is made in step S14, the control unit 16 returns to step S7 and starts over from measuring the water temperature and the hot water temperature. If a negative determination is made in step S15 (when water or hot water is used in the kitchen, bath, or the like, and the amount of water used increases or decreases), the process returns to step S2 and starts again from the measurement of the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount per unit time.

When the water supply valve opening time H1 or the hot water supply valve opening time H2 elapses, the control unit 16 multiplies each of the already calculated water supply amount per unit time and the hot water supply amount by the elapsed time. The result of the multiplication is added to calculate and calculate the hot water supply amount A, while the water level sensor 7 is used to measure the actual hot water supply amount B. After obtaining the hot water supply amounts A and B, the control unit 16 calculates and corrects the water supply valve open time H1 and the hot water supply valve open time H2 based on the equation (1) (step S17). Thereby, the calculation errors of the water supply amount and the hot water supply amount per unit time are corrected.

[0025]

(Equation 1)

Here, if the error is small, it is difficult to perform the correction, or if the release time after the correction is shorter than the original one, a release time longer than the correction has already passed. It becomes possible. However, in the above embodiment, since the calculated hot water supply amount A is based on a large amount of water supply and hot water supply per unit time,
The opening time is always somewhat longer than the actual hot water supply amount B to some extent. Therefore, the correction is easy to make, and the correction is practically possible.

After such correction, the control unit 16 continues to open the water supply valve 10 and the hot water supply valve 12 by subtracting the elapsed time determined in step S16 from each of the corrected open times H1 and H2. To supply hot water (S18
Steps).

After the opening times after the correction have elapsed, the water supply valve 10
After the water supply valve 12 is closed, the control unit 16 performs the following control as necessary, in order to correct a decrease in the water level due to the subsequent absorption of the laundry by water. That is, when the corrected water supply valve opening time H1 is shorter than the corrected water supply valve opening time H2, the hot water supply valve 12 is opened and only the hot water supply is performed until the set water level is obtained, and in the opposite case, the water supply valve 10 is opened. And only supply water until the set water level is obtained. Thus, the hot water supply step is completed, and thereafter, the washing step and the like are sequentially executed.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment near the water supply valve 10. The water supply passage 8 is branched into two parts after the water supply valve 10 and before the water supply passage 9 is connected to the hot water supply passage 9.
Is switched so that water flows to either the first branch 17 or the second branch 18. The first branch 17 has a large supply water flow rate, and the second branch 18 has a small flow. Normal first branch 17
The water supply valve 10 switches to supply water through.

If the hot water supply valve opening time H2 is longer than the water supply valve opening time H1 in the determination in step S13, the water supply valve 10 is switched to the second branch 18 when water is supplied, and is opened. Water supply is carried out.
Based on this, the control unit 16 of course recalculates the water supply amount per unit time, and again calculates and determines the water supply valve open time H1 and the hot water supply valve open time H2. In this case, the water supply valve opening time H1 is longer than the hot water supply valve opening time H2, so that only hot water is supplied at the end of hot water supply, that is, hot water is not applied to the laundry, and the color of the laundry is discolored. Is suppressed.

[0031]

According to the washing machine of the first and second aspects of the present invention, in a configuration in which hot water obtained by mixing water and hot water is supplied into the washing tub to perform washing, the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve are provided. In calculating the amount of water supply and the amount of hot water supply per unit time in order to determine the opening time, etc., the water level sensor for detecting the water level in the washing tub is also used, so there is no need to provide a separate flow rate detection means, It is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the amount of mixed water per unit time is detected from the change in water level in a situation where the mixed water, which is a mixture of hot water and hot water, is supplied into the washing tub. The amount of water supply per unit time is detected from the change in water level in a situation where only water is supplied into the washing tub, and the amount of hot water supplied per unit time is calculated by subtracting the amount of water supply from the amount of mixed water. When detecting the amount, it is not necessary to supply only hot water, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of discoloration due to hot water applied to the laundry.

Further, according to the second aspect, if the determined hot water supply valve opening time is longer than the water supply valve opening time, the water supply valve is drive-controlled to reduce the amount of hot water supply per unit time, thereby reducing the water supply valve opening time. Since the hot water supply valve opening time is set to be equal to or longer than the time, only hot water is not supplied at the end of hot water supply, and similarly, color fading can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a control program of a hot water supply step incorporated in a control unit of the washing machine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing another embodiment near a water supply valve of the washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Washing tub 7 Water level sensor 8 Water supply path 9 Hot water supply path 10 Water supply valve 11 Water temperature detection sensor 12 Hot water supply valve 13 Hot water temperature detection sensor 16 Control unit 17 First branch path 18 Second branch path

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 39/08 301 D06F 33/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply valve for controlling water supply to a washing tub, a water supply valve for controlling hot water supply to the washing tub, a water temperature detecting means for detecting a water temperature, and a water temperature for detecting a water temperature. Detecting means, a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the washing tub,
Based on the amount of change in the detected water level of the water level sensor due to the opening of the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve, mixed water amount detection means for detecting the amount of mixed water per unit time, and the detection water level of the water level sensor by opening the water supply valve. Water supply amount detection means for detecting the water supply amount per unit time based on the change amount, and hot water supply amount calculation means for calculating the hot water supply amount per unit time by subtracting the water supply amount from the detected mixed water amount per unit time And, based on each of the detected water temperature, hot water temperature, water supply amount, hot water supply amount, so that the amount and temperature of water in the washing tub become set values,
A washing machine comprising: a valve drive control unit that drives and controls the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve. 2. A water supply valve for controlling water supply to a washing tub, a water supply valve for controlling hot water supply to the washing tub, a water temperature detection means for detecting a water temperature, and a water temperature for detecting a water temperature. Detecting means, an amount detecting means for detecting a water supply amount and a hot water supply amount per unit time, and the detected water temperature, hot water temperature, water supply amount, hot water supply so that the water amount and the temperature in the washing tub become set values. Opening time determining means for determining the opening time of the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve based on each of the amounts, and when the determined hot water supply valve opening time is longer than the water supply valve opening time, the water supply valve opening time is set to the time when the hot water supply valve is opened. A washing machine comprising: a water supply amount adjustment unit that controls the operation of the water supply valve to reduce the amount of water supply per unit time so that the time is equal to or longer than the time.