JP3205664B2 - 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 control of a washing machine when performing a water rinsing in a rinsing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional water-injection rinsing by a fully automatic washing machine is an operation in which a pulsator is rotated while water is supplied for a predetermined time, and is performed while overflowing when a water level in a water tank reaches a full water level.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application No. 3-23307 proposed by the present applicant.
Also in No. 5, as shown in FIG. 7, after performing intermediate dewatering in the rinsing step, two break-in streams (flush rinsing) are performed at different water levels, and then water rinsing is performed while overflowing at the full water level. I was going.

[0004]

In the conventional fully automatic washing machine, the water is rinsed at the full water level regardless of the set water level set according to the load of the laundry or the like. When the load is small and the load is light, unnecessary tap water is used, and water may be scattered from the water tank. On the other hand, considering that the water from the water tank is not scattered, the strength of the water flow at the time of pouring and rinsing is restricted, and the load of the laundry is heavy when the load is large (for example, at the time of full load). However, there is a problem that the laundry is difficult to rotate and the rinsing performance is deteriorated.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of performing water-injection rinsing at a water level according to the load of laundry, and saving water and rinsing performance.

[0006]

According to item (1) above SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION are, as in FIG. 1, 5, provided with a water supply and drainage capabilities, the water level detection function of detecting the level of the water tank <br/>, the washing process and
Settings for the rinsing process in a washing machine that performs the rinsing process
The water level is set in advance according to the load before the washing process.
Set the same water level as the set water level during the process, and
Rinse while supplying water from the low water level to the set water level.
Operation, and when it is detected that the set water level has been reached,
Stop water and rinse operation, then lower than set water level
Water rinsing means is provided for draining to a water level and performing a rinsing operation while supplying water again from the water level .

[0007] The water supply and drainage functions and the water tank
A water tank equipped with a pulsator for stirring the load,
Load amount detection function to detect the load amount and water level in the tank
Washing process and rinsing process with water level detection function
In the washing machine that performs
Before the washing process, the load amount detection function
The same set water level as that set during the washing process
When the water level in the water tank is lower than the set water level,
Driving the pulsator while supplying water to the fixed water level
Operation, and reaches the set water level with the water level detection function.
Is detected, the rinsing operation is stopped, and the
Drain to a water level lower than the fixed water level,
While supplying water, the pulsator is driven to perform a rinsing operation.
Cormorant Ru der those water injection rinse means is provided.

[0008]

[0009]

In the above means for solving the problems, in the rinsing step,
After a predetermined time or a predetermined amount of drainage is performed, the water level in the water tank 2 is set to a level lower than the set level. Thereafter, a rinsing operation, i.e., a water injection rinse is performed while supplying water, and when it is detected that the set water level has been reached, the water injection rinse is stopped. If the rinsing step time has not ended, the water is drained to a water level lower than the set water level, and the water injection rinsing is repeatedly performed within the rinsing step time.

[0010]

[0011]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A fully automatic washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, 1 is a washing machine main body, 2 is a water tub, 3 is a washing and dewatering tub, 4 is a pulsator rotatably mounted at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 3, and 5 is a hard disk mounted on the outer bottom of the water tub 2. It is a drive motor provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drive pulley 10 integrally formed by connecting a pulley piece 7 and a cooling fan 8 by screws 9 is directly connected to the motor shaft 6 of the drive motor 5. A driven pulley 13 is directly connected to a washing shaft 12 connected to the pulsator 4 via a speed reduction mechanism 11, and a V belt 14 is wound between the driving pulley 10 and the driven pulley 13. .

Below the water tub 2, a clutch mechanism 15 for selectively transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor 5 to the washing and dewatering tub 3 and the pulsator 4 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the clutch mechanism 15 has a clutch lever 17 which is engaged with a dehydrating shaft 16 directly connected to the washing and dewatering tub 3 so as to prevent rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 3 during the washing and rinsing steps.
A solenoid 18 for driving a clutch lever 17;
A spring clutch 1 that transmits the rotational force of the washing shaft 12 to the spinning shaft 16 during the spinning process to rotate the washing and spinning tub 3 at high speed.
9 is provided.

Thus, when the dehydrating operation is performed, the clutch lever 17 is released by the driving of the solenoid 18, that is, the engagement with the dehydrating shaft 16 is released, and the driving force of the driving motor 5 is reduced by the spring clutch 19. To rotate the driven pulley 13 and the washing and dewatering tub 3 at the same rotation speed.

The washing machine body 1 has a water supply valve 20 for supplying water into the water tub 2 and a drain valve 2 for draining the washing water from the water tub 2.
1. Operation switches 2 for performing various settings and operations
2. Display panel 2 for displaying various settings and various operations
3. Safety switch 2 for detecting the opening and closing of the top cover (not shown)
4. A water level sensor 25, which is a water level detecting unit for detecting the water level in the water tank 2, a control unit 26 for sequentially executing washing, rinsing, and dehydrating steps and executing a washing operation are provided. In addition,
As the safety switch 24, a push button type sensor or the like which is turned on / off in accordance with opening / closing of the upper lid is used.
Uses an air trap (not shown) formed in the water tank 2 and a pressure sensor for detecting the water level from the air pressure in the pressure guiding pipe. The drain valve 21 is mechanically connected to the clutch mechanism 15. Solenoid 18 during dehydration operation
It is configured to be operated by the drive of.

The control unit 26 comprises a microcomputer as shown in FIG.
2, a safety switch 24, a water level sensor 25, a reset circuit 30, a clock circuit 31 and the like are connected, and the drive motor 5 via a motor rotation drive circuit 32 as an output unit, the solenoid 18 via a solenoid drive circuit 33, and a display circuit 34
The water supply valve 20 is connected to the display panel 23 via a water supply valve drive circuit 35, respectively.

The control unit 26 includes a load amount detecting function for detecting the load amount of the laundry and a plurality of stages (for example, high,
A water level setting function for selecting and setting the water level of the water tank 2 suitable for the load amount from the standard water level of three stages (medium and low), and a rinsing function for performing a water flow (for rinsing) at the set water level after the intermediate dehydration in the rinsing process. A predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) drainage function after the end of the rinsing, a water rinsing function of performing a rinsing operation while supplying water to a set water level after draining, and a predetermined time after the water rinsing by the water rinsing function. A continuous execution function is provided for repeatedly executing drainage and water injection rinsing within the rinsing process time. The load amount detecting function is to stop the washing and dewatering tub 3 into which the laundry is put by rotating the washing and dewatering tub 3. This function detects the load of an object. Further, the predetermined time for draining in the predetermined time drainage function may be such a time that the water level of the water tank 2 decreases to a lower water level, and when the set water level is low, the water is drained for a predetermined time.
The water level is set so as not to reach the minimum water level (the minimum water level required for performing the rinsing operation).

In the above configuration, when the laundry is put into the washing and dewatering tub 3 and the washing operation is started, the load of the laundry is detected, the water level of the water tub 2 is set according to the load, and the set water level is set. After washing the water, start the washing process. When the washing step is completed, a rinsing step as shown in FIG. 1 is started.

In this rinsing step, the water level sensor 25 detects the water level in the water tub 2, and if there is washing water in the water tub 2, the solenoid 18 is driven (on) to open (on) the drain valve 21. Drain. After the drainage is completed and the intermediate dehydration is performed, the water supply valve 20 is opened (turned on) to supply the water to the set water level, and the flow of the water is performed (flush rinse). After the running water flow has been performed for a certain period of time, the drain valve 21 is turned on by turning on the solenoid 18, and the water is drained for a predetermined period of 15 seconds. After a lapse of 15 seconds, the solenoid 18 is turned off to turn off the drain valve 21 and the water supply valve 20 is turned on to drive the drive motor 5 while supplying water, thereby driving the pulsator 4.
(Rinsing operation), i.e., water rinsing. When the water level sensor 25 detects that the set water level has been reached, the water supply valve 20 is turned off, the drive of the drive motor 5 is stopped, and the agitation by the pulsator 4 is stopped. Then, if the rinsing step time has not ended, drainage and water rinsing for a predetermined time as described above is repeatedly executed within the rinsing step time.

As described above, in the rinsing step, the water is drained from the set water level corresponding to the load of the laundry for a predetermined time, and
The water level is lower than the set water level, and the rinsing operation is performed while supplying water to the set water level, so that water can be rinsed at a water level that matches the load of the laundry. It is possible to save the tap water without using the tap water more than necessary at a small light load.

In addition, the water tub 2 when the laundry is lightly loaded is
Since there is no need to worry about the scattering of water from the water, the strength of the water flow at the time of water injection rinsing as in the prior art is not restricted, and the strength of the water flow at the time of water rinsing (agitating force by the pulsator 4) is reduced. Can be stronger. Therefore, the rinsing performance can be ensured even when the laundry load is large and the laundry is full. Further, since the water rinsing is repeatedly performed within the rinsing process time, water saving and rinsing performance can be further ensured.

(Second Embodiment) The fully automatic washing machine of the second embodiment has the control unit 26, instead of the drainage function for a predetermined period of time of the first embodiment, instruct the control unit 26 from the set water level after the end of the rinsing water flow. A predetermined amount drainage function for draining to a lower water level is provided. The water level one step lower than the low water level is set to a position higher than the minimum water level (the minimum water level required for performing the rinsing operation). Have it run repeatedly in time.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, when the running-in water flow is completed, the drain valve 21 is turned on by turning on the solenoid 18, and the water is drained to a water level one step lower than the set water level. When the drainage is completed, the solenoid 18 is turned off to turn off the drainage valve 21 and the water supply valve 20 is turned on to drive the drive motor 5 while supplying water, thereby performing the rinsing operation by the pulsator 4, that is, the water injection rinse. When the water level sensor 25 detects that the set water level has been reached, the water supply valve 20 is turned off, the drive of the drive motor 5 is stopped, and the agitation by the pulsator 4 is stopped. If the rinsing step time has not ended, the same amount of drainage and water rinsing as described above is repeatedly executed within the rinsing step time. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and members having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As described above, in the rinsing step, the water is drained from the set water level corresponding to the load of the laundry to the next lower water level, and the rinsing operation is performed while supplying the water to the set water level. Water rinsing can be performed at the water level, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, as compared with the case of draining for a predetermined time as in the first embodiment, since it is possible to reliably drain the water to a level lower than the set water level, the rinsing performance due to the excessive drainage that can occur in the first embodiment. Can be reliably prevented from decreasing.

(Third Embodiment) The fully automatic washing machine of the third embodiment has the control unit 26 end the break-in water flow (flush rinse) instead of the predetermined time drainage function and the water injection rinse function of the first embodiment. A water injection rinsing function for performing a rinsing operation while supplying water from the set water level to a higher water level later, and a predetermined amount drainage function for discharging water to the set water level after the completion of the water rinsing by the water rinsing function are provided. The water level one step higher than the high water level is set to a position lower than the full water level, and the continuous execution function repeatedly executes the water injection rinsing and the drainage up to the set water level within the rinsing process time.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, when the running-in water flow ends, the water supply valve 20 is turned on to drive the drive motor 5 while supplying water to a water level one step higher than the set water level, and the pulsator 4 performs the rinsing operation. That is, water rinsing is performed. When the water level sensor 25 detects that the water level has reached one level higher than the set water level, the water supply valve 20 is turned off, the drive of the drive motor 5 is stopped, and the agitation by the pulsator 4 is stopped. When the water injection rinsing is completed, the drain valve 21 is turned on by turning on the solenoid 18, and the water is drained to the set water level. If the rinsing step time has not ended after the drainage, the same water injection rinsing and a predetermined amount of drainage as described above are repeatedly executed within the rinsing step time. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and members having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As described above, in the rinsing step, the rinsing operation is performed while supplying water from the set water level according to the load of the laundry to the next higher water level, so that the water is rinsed at a water level suitable for the load of the laundry. Thus, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, compared to the water injection rinsing that performs the rinsing operation while supplying water from the water level one step lower than the set water level to the set water level, the amount of water with respect to the load of the laundry is larger, and the water rinsing that is gentle to the laundry without damaging the laundry is performed. Can do it.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the washing machines of the first to third embodiments are not limited to a fully automatic washing machine that sequentially performs washing, rinsing, and dehydrating steps to execute a washing operation, and a two-tub type that separately performs a dehydrating step. Washing machine.

Further, the water level of the water tank is not only automatically set by detecting the load of the laundry and set in accordance with the load, but also depends on the cloth (eg, cotton, wool, chemical fiber, etc.) of the laundry. It may be set accordingly. Further, the user may arbitrarily set the water level using the operation switch. In this case,
It is assumed that the user determines the load of the laundry based on visual observation and experience, and sets a water level according to the determined load.

Further, the water level of the water tank can be set in a plurality of stages, but may be set arbitrarily. In the second embodiment, the water level at which the water injection is stopped (the water level one step lower than the set water level) or Water level at which water rinsing starts in the third embodiment (water level one step higher than the set water level)
May be more or less.

Furthermore, in the water rinsing, the rinsing operation may be performed while supplying water from a set water level according to the load of the laundry for a predetermined time.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the rinsing step, the rinsing operation is performed while supplying water from a water level lower than the set water level according to the load of the laundry to the set water level. Water rinsing can be performed at a water level appropriate for the load on the load, and tap water can be saved without using excess tap water at the time of light load with a small load on the laundry as in the related art.

Further, since there is no need to be concerned about the splashing of water from the water tank when the laundry is lightly loaded, there is no restriction on the strength of the water flow at the time of water rinsing as in the prior art. Can increase the strength of the water flow. Therefore, the rinsing performance can be ensured even when the laundry load is large and the laundry is full. Further, since the water rinsing is repeatedly performed within the rinsing process time, water saving and rinsing performance can be further ensured.

[0035]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a rinsing process in a fully automatic washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a fully automatic washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a drive unit of the fully automatic washing machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart at the time of water rinsing in the fully automatic washing machine of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart at the time of water rinsing in the fully automatic washing machine of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a rinsing process in a conventional fully automatic washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Water tank 20 Water supply valve 21 Drain valve 25 Water level sensor 26 Control unit

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

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A washing machine that has a water supply and drainage function and a water level detection function for detecting a water level in a water tank, and performs a washing step and a rinsing step. The same set water level as the set water level during the washing step set accordingly, performing a rinsing operation while supplying water from a water level lower than the set water level to the set water level, and when it is detected that the set water level has been reached, water supply and A washing machine comprising a water rinsing means for stopping a rinsing operation, thereafter draining the water to a water level lower than a set water level, and performing a rinsing operation while supplying water again from the water level. 2. A water supply and drainage function, a water tank provided with a pulsator for agitating a load in the water tank, a load amount detection function for detecting a load amount in the water tank, and a water level detection function for detecting a water level in the water tank. with the door, in a washing machine performing washing process及bis too process, be too step when the time set washing steps in accordance with the load in the water tank to set water level in advance before the washing process by the load detection function With the same set water level as the set water level, the water level in the water tank is driven from the water level lower than the set water level to the set water level while driving the pulsator to perform the rinsing operation, and the water level detection function has reached the set water level. When detecting, stop cedar operation referred before, drained to a lower level than the set water level, the water supply again from the water level
While water injection for driving to rinse operating the pulsator
A washing machine comprising rinsing means.