JP3152597B2 - 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. In particular, the present invention relates to a washing machine having a drain pump for draining washing water in a washing tub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned drain pump is driven by a drain motor when draining washing water from a washing tub or during a dehydrating operation. The heat generated in the drain motor at the time of driving is radiated through a member to which the drain motor is attached, such as a drain pump of a dishwasher described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-244432.

[0003]

By the way, it has been found that the temperature rise of a drain motor driving a drain pump in a no-load state for some reason may be large. If the drain motor is continuously driven at a high temperature, the life of the drain motor and the drain pump may be shortened, which is not preferable.

It is considered that the reason for the above-mentioned temperature rise is that the heat radiation state of the drainage motor also differs depending on the load state of the drainage pump. For example, when the washing water is flowing through the drain pump, the heat generated in the drain motor is also radiated through the drained washing water. Therefore, when the heat radiation through the above members is not sufficient, or when the heat generated by the drain motor is large due to a change with time, the temperature rise becomes large.

In order to suppress the rise in temperature, it is conceivable to add a member having good heat radiation to the drain motor or to select the drain motor to generate less heat, but this increases the cost. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of preventing a rise in temperature of a drain motor when a drain pump is not loaded.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine for supplying washing water into a washing tub and draining washing water from the washing tub. In a washing machine provided with a drainage pump including a drainage pump and a drainage motor that drives the drainage pump, a current detection unit that detects a current for driving the drainage motor, a detection result of the current detection unit, and a predetermined value. Determining means for comparing the current value with the current to determine whether or not the current value is within an appropriate range; based on the determination means determining that the current value is out of the appropriate range,
The water supply means is operated for a certain period of time, and the water supply control means for adding the washing water for draining by the drain pump into the washing tub, and the current of the drain motor operating to drain the added washing water, the current is Abnormality detecting means for detecting whether or not there is an abnormality in the drainage means based on a result of the detection by the detecting means.

According to the above configuration, the current detecting means detects the current flowing through the drain motor, and the determining means can determine the degree of heat generation of the drain motor based on the detection result. When it is determined that the heat generated by the drain motor is large, the washing water is additionally supplied into the washing tub by operating the water supply means. If there is no load for some reason,
The added washing water flows from the washing tub to the drain pump, and the drain pump is loaded, and the load state of the drain pump changes. Since the drainage pump can make the heat radiation of the drainage motor better in the load state than in the no-load state, the temperature rise of the drainage motor can be suppressed.

However, if there is any abnormality in the drainage means, for example, if there is water leakage and the added washing water does not sufficiently flow into the drainage pump, or if there is an abnormality in the drainage motor, the drainage motor may be damaged. The flowing current does not decrease.
Then, the current of the drain motor operating at this time is detected by the abnormality detecting means by the current detecting means, and it is determined whether or not the drain means is abnormal based on the detection result. Can be performed to suppress a rise in temperature of the battery.

A washing machine according to a second aspect of the present invention provides a washing machine according to the first aspect.
The above described washing machine is characterized in that the washing machine further comprises a stopping means for stopping the drainage motor based on the determination by the abnormality determining means that there is an abnormality. According to the above configuration, when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the drainage unit, the drainage motor is stopped by the stop unit, thereby preventing heat generation of the drainage motor. Can be prevented from being damaged.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a washing machine according to the first aspect.
Or the washing machine according to item 2, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying an abnormality when the water supply control unit operates. According to the above configuration, it is possible to easily know the occurrence of the abnormal condition that causes the heat generation of the drain motor by the notification of the notification unit.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of a schematic configuration of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a box-shaped housing 1 having an opening on an upper surface,
The housing 1 includes a washing dehydration tub 5 attached to the inside of the housing 1 by a plurality of hanging bars (not shown) and capable of storing laundry and washing water. The washing and dewatering tub 5 includes an outer tub 5b capable of storing washing water therein, and an inner tub 5c rotatably provided in the outer tub 5b and having a number of small holes 5a formed on a surface thereof. . The laundry is stored in the inner tub 5c.

As a means for stirring the stored laundry and washing water, a pulsator 7 having a disc shape and having irregularities on the upper surface thereof is provided at the bottom of the inner tub 5c, and the pulsator 7 and the inner tub 5c are provided. Bearing 6 that rotatably supports the motor, a motor 12 that rotationally drives the bearing 6, and a pulley 1 that constitutes a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the motor 12 to the bearing 6.
1, a belt 15 and a pulley 14 are provided. The bearing unit 6 switches transmission of rotation by a built-in clutch, rotates only the pulsator 7 during washing and rinsing,
During dehydration, both the inner tank 5c and the pulsator 7 rotate in one direction at high speed.

A pipe 21 having one end connected to an external water supply facility (not shown) as a water supply means for supplying washing water to the washing and dewatering tub 5 is provided at an upper portion in the housing 1.
Water supply valve 22 composed of a solenoid valve connected to the other end of pipe 21
And a pipe 23 having one end connected to a hot water supply facility (not shown) such as an external water heater, a hot water supply valve 24 including an electromagnetic valve connected to the other end of the pipe 23, a hot water supply valve 24 and a water supply valve 22. And a branch pipe 25 whose merging end is introduced into the upper part of the washing and dewatering tub 5. By opening the water supply valve 22, water can be supplied into the washing and dewatering tub 5 by opening the hot water supply valve 24. Note that the water supply means may be configured to supply either water or hot water.

A pipe 17 having one end connected to a drain port 5e provided on a side portion of a bottom surface of the outer tub 5b as a drainage means from the washing and dewatering tub 5 is provided at a lower portion in the housing 1.
A drain hose 33 described later connected to the pipe 17, a drain pump 30 connected to the other end of the pipe 17 and capable of pumping drain water, a drain motor 31 for driving the drain pump 30, and a discharge pump of the drain pump 30. A pipe 32 having one end connected to the outlet and the other end led out of the housing 1 is provided. The drainage pump 30 is driven by the rotation of the drainage motor 31, and the washing water in the washing and dewatering tub 5
It is sent out from 7 to a pipe 32 and drained out of the housing 1. In addition, when the drain pump 30 is not driven, it shuts off the communication between the pipe 17 and the pipe 32 and has a valve function.
Stored inside.

The drain hose 33 has one end connected to the middle of the pipe 17. Drain hose 3
The other end of 3 is located in the lower part in the housing 1 and is closed by a removable stopper 34. When it is necessary to completely drain the washing water in the pipe 17 or in the case of preventing freezing in winter, the stopper 34 can be removed to completely drain the washing water in the pipe 17. The drain hose 33 does not have to be provided.

At the rear of the housing 1, a water level sensor 9 fixed to the upper part of the housing 1 and a water level sensor 9 are provided as water level detecting means for detecting the level of the washing water stored in the washing and dewatering tub 5. Thus, a pressure hose 8 connected to an air trap 5d provided at one corner of the bottom of the outer tank 5b is provided. When the level of the washing water in the washing and dewatering tub 5 rises, the pressure in the air trap 5d rises. This pressure is applied to a water level sensor 9 via a pressure hose 8.
, The water level in the washing and dewatering tub 5 can be detected.

An operation key (not shown) that allows the user to give commands such as operation and stop, and a control unit 40 that performs control according to the commands are provided on the upper part of the housing 1.
An indicator 41 for displaying an operation status, notifying an abnormality, and the like is provided according to a command from the control unit 40. In the control unit 40, a microcomputer (not shown) serving as a control center, based on programs and data previously stored in a ROM, a RAM (not shown), etc., signals from operation keys, and the like, controls the drain motor 31, The water supply valve 22 and the like are driven to execute the control. Further, the control unit 40 includes a drive circuit such as the drain motor 31 described above, and the control unit 40 reads the drive current, the voltage, and the like at that time, as necessary, to thereby obtain those values. Can be detected.

Next, the control contents of the control unit 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following control is performed when the drain motor 31 is driven, for example, at the time of draining after washing and rinsing operations, or at the time of dehydration. The other control contents are the same as the control contents of the conventional washing machine. First,
The power supply of the drain motor 31 is started under predetermined conditions, and drainage is performed (step S1).

The value of the current flowing through the drain motor 31 is detected (step S2), and the detected current value is compared with a predetermined reference value to determine whether the current value is a normal value (step S3). . As a result of the determination in step S3, the current value is smaller than the reference value, and if the current value is normal, steps S2 to S4 are repeated as appropriate to satisfy a predetermined stop condition of the drainage motor 31, for example, elapse of a predetermined operation time or the like. When
Power supply to the drain motor 31 is stopped (steps S4 to S4).
5).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S3, the current value ≧ the reference value, and if the current value is abnormal, the water supply valve 22
The hot water supply valve 24 is opened for a predetermined time, for example, several seconds (steps S6 to S8), and water is supplied to the washing / dewatering tub 5 and hot water is supplied. Here, the above-mentioned predetermined time is set in consideration of the heat radiation effect by water supply and the timing of detection in step S9 described later. In addition, the water supply valve 22 and the hot water supply valve 2
Only one of the four may be opened. Then again
The value of the current flowing through the drain motor 31 is detected (step S
9) The detected current value is compared with a predetermined reference value, and it is determined whether the current value is a normal value in the same manner as in step S3 (step S10).

If the result of determination in step S10 is that the current value is normal, processing returns to step S2, and steps S2 to S4 are repeated as appropriate until the predetermined stop condition of the drainage motor 31 is satisfied. Then, the power supply to the drain motor 31 is stopped (steps S4 to S5). Step S10
If the current value is abnormal as a result of the determination in
1 is stopped (step S11), and an abnormality notification of a predetermined content is performed by the display 41 (step S11).
12). In this case, the operation of the washing machine is interrupted.

Next, the operation of the washing machine will be described. In a normal operation state, for example, when the heat generated by the drainage motor 31 does not increase even when the drainage pump 30 is not loaded, steps S2 to S5 are executed. Next, the case where the heat generation of the drain motor 31 increases when the drain pump 30 is in a no-load state will be described. The operation of the washing machine differs depending on the cause of the no-load state, and there are the following two cases. First, in normal operation, when the temperature of the drain motor 31 increases, the current for driving the drain motor 31 also increases. Accordingly, when the current exceeds the reference value in step S3, a water supply operation is performed in steps S6 to S8. As a result, the supplied washing water flows into the drain pump 30 from the pipe 17, and the no-load state of the drain pump 30 is eliminated, so that the cause of the rise in the temperature of the drain motor 31 is eliminated and the temperature drops. Therefore, in step S10, the operation returns to the normal operation in steps S2 to S5, and the use of the washing machine can be continued without any trouble.

Next, even if the pipe 17 or the drain hose 33 is damaged due to some kind of abnormality or water is leaked without the plug 34 being closed, the drain pump 30 is driven without load. Sometimes. In this case,
Even if water is supplied in Steps S6 to S8, the supplied washing water leaks and does not reach the drain pump 30 or does not reach the drain pump 30 at all. I can't. Therefore, in step S10,
It is determined to be abnormal, and in steps S11 to S12, the drain motor 3
1 is stopped and then notified of abnormality. The user will be notified of the leakage by the abnormality notification, so that the cause of the leakage can be easily removed by closing the stopper 34 or the like.

Incidentally, the temperature rise of the drain motor 31 is as follows.
This may occur even when a load is applied to the drain pump 30. In this case as well, the current of the drain motor 31 similarly increases, and the temperature also rises. However, even if water is supplied in steps S6 to S8, the cause of the temperature rise is not eliminated, and thus, in step S10, it is determined that there is an abnormality. Steps S11 to S1
After the drain motor 30 is stopped in 2, an abnormality is notified.

Although the water is supplied as described above, when the washing machine is continuously operated, there is no problem since the washing water is finally dehydrated from the laundry. According to the present embodiment as described above, when the no-load state of the drain pump 30 can be released by the water supply operation, the drain motor 31 is changed by changing the load state of the drain pump 30 in steps S6 to S8. Of the drain motor 31 can be suppressed. In addition, when the heat radiation of the drainage motor 31 cannot be satisfactorily performed, the temperature rise of the drainage motor 31 can be suppressed by stopping the drainage motor 31 in step S11. Accordingly, the heat generated by the drain motor 31 causes the drain motor 3
1 and the drainage pump 30 can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, by the abnormality notification in step S12, it is possible to easily know the occurrence of the abnormality that causes the drain motor 31 to generate heat. In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the stirring type fully automatic washing machine including the pulsator 7 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this washing machine. For example,
It can be applied to a drum type washing machine.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the indicator 41 is shown as the informing means, but it is not limited to this. For example, a buzzer or the like may be used. In the above embodiment, in steps S6 to S8, the water supply valve 22 and the hot water supply valve 24
However, when only the water supply valve 22 is opened and only water is supplied, the cooling effect of the drainage motor 31 can be further enhanced.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is determined that the heat generated by the drainage motor is large, the water supply means is operated to supply the washing water, and the drainage pump is changed from the no-load state to the load state. Let it. As a result, it is possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the drain motor that has better heat radiation in a load state than in a no-load state of the drain pump. Further, even when there is some abnormality in the drainage unit, the abnormality determination unit can determine whether there is an abnormality in the drainage unit, and can perform a measure to suppress a rise in the temperature of the drainage motor.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, heat generation can be suppressed by stopping the drain motor, and damage to the drain motor and the drain pump due to the heat generated by the drain motor can be prevented. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily know the occurrence of the abnormality that causes the drain motor to generate heat by the notification of the notification means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control contents of the washing machine of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 5 washing dehydration tub (washing tub) 17 pipe (drainage means) 22 water supply valve (water supply means) 24 hot water supply valve (water supply means) 30 drainage pump (drainage means) 31 drainage motor (drainage means) 40 control unit (current detection means) 41 Display (notification means) Step S3 Judgment means Steps S6 to 8 Water supply control means Step S10 Abnormality judgment means Step S11 Stopping means Step S12 Notification means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoya Kawaguchi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Nakagawa 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-249693 (JP, A) JP-A-62-16795 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 33 / 02,39 / 08 H02P 7/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A washing machine comprising: a water supply means for supplying washing water into a washing tub; and a drainage means for draining the washing water from the washing tub, the drainage means including a drainage pump and a drainage motor for driving the drainage pump. In the machine, current detection means for detecting a current for driving the drain motor, a detection means for comparing the detection result of the current detection means with a predetermined current to determine whether the current value is in an appropriate range, Water supply control means for operating the water supply means for a certain period of time based on the determination that the current value is out of the appropriate range and adding washing water for draining by the drain pump into the washing tub, Abnormality detecting means for detecting the current of the drain motor operating to drain the washing water with the current detecting means, and determining whether there is an abnormality in the drain means based on the detection result. It is characterized by That the washing machine. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a stop means for stopping the drainage motor based on the abnormality determination means determining that there is an abnormality. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying an abnormality when the water supply control means operates.