JP3226592B2 - 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 capable of dehydrating laundry to a desired target dehydration rate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Dehydration processing in a washing machine is the last step of the laundry processing, but it is not necessary to simply dehydrate the clothes until the water is completely or almost completely removed, and it depends on the type of clothing. It is necessary to perform appropriate dehydration.
That is, depending on the type of clothing, there is a case in which excessive dehydration causes wrinkles. Therefore, it is important to appropriately perform dehydration processing according to the type of clothing.

In recent years, a washing machine has automatically detected the amount of laundry and the quality of laundry put in a washing tub, and based on the detected amount of laundry and the quality of the laundry, the amount of washing water and the flow of washing water. A fully automatic washing machine that automatically performs the washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes appears, which makes washing clothes easier and more convenient, and the user simply presses the washing start button. Just getting better.

[0004] Even in such advanced fully automatic washing machines, there are few devices devised so as to appropriately perform the dehydration process. For example, a plurality of buttons corresponding to the dehydration time are provided, and the operation of these buttons is performed. Dehydration is simply performed only for the dehydration time.

[0005]

In the conventional dehydration treatment, for example, a plurality of buttons corresponding to the dehydration time are provided, and the dehydration is simply performed only for the dehydration time corresponding to the operation of the button. In addition, since there are few devices devised to perform appropriate dehydration processing, there is a problem that clothes are wrinkled due to excessive dehydration or the like.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of performing an appropriate dehydration process according to the type of clothing.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a washing machine of the present invention comprises a cloth quantity cloth quality detecting means for detecting a cloth quantity and a cloth quality of laundry, and a laundry cloth dewatering apparatus for dehydrating the laundry. The change in moment of inertia with respect to time and the dehydration rate corresponding to the time when the spin-drying tub containing is rotated at a constant rotation speed are determined in advance in accordance with the laundry amount and the cloth quality of the laundry,
Storage means for storing in accordance with the cloth amount and the cloth; dehydration rate setting means for setting the target dewatering rate; and a moment of inertia corresponding to the cloth amount and the cloth detected by the cloth amount and the cloth detecting means. Reading means for reading out the dehydration rate corresponding to the time change from the storage means, and comparing the dehydration rate corresponding to the time change of the read moment of inertia with the target dehydration rate, and corresponding to the target dehydration rate. Time determining means for determining a dehydrating time to be performed, a dehydrating time determined by the time determining means, a dehydrating means for rotating the dehydrating tub at the constant rotation speed to dehydrate the laundry, and a time determining means after the start of the dehydrating. Dehydration time determined in
Based on the dehydration state after a shorter predetermined time elapses,
The present invention has a dewatering time correcting means for correcting the dewatering time thus set.

[0008] Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that the dehydration time is supplemented.
Positive means, a torque detection means for detecting the load torque in the case where the drying tub containing the laundry in order to dehydrate the laundry is rotated at a constant rotational speed, the change in the load torque detected by said torque detecting means The gist of the present invention is to have a change rate calculating means for calculating a rate, and a dehydration state detecting means for detecting a dehydration state based on the change rate of the load torque calculated by the change rate calculation means.

[0009]

According to the washing machine of the present invention, the change of the moment of inertia with respect to time when the spin-drying tub containing the laundry is rotated at a constant rotational speed and the spin-drying rate corresponding to the time are determined by the laundry amount and the cloth. The dehydration rate corresponding to the time change of the moment of inertia corresponding to the amount of cloth and the cloth is read out in advance, and the dehydration rate is read in accordance with the amount of cloth and the cloth. The dehydration rate corresponding to the time change of the moment is compared with the target dehydration rate, a dehydration time corresponding to the target dehydration rate is determined, and the determined dehydration time,
Spin the dehydration tub at the constant rotation speed to dehydrate the laundry
Start, and then, based on the dehydration state after the start of dehydration,
Correct the spin-drying time.

Further, in the washing machine of the present invention, the load torque when the dewatering tub is rotated at a constant rotation speed is detected, the rate of change of the detected load torque is calculated, and the rate of change of the load torque is calculated. The dehydration state is detected based on this.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing the internal structure of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The washing machine shown in this embodiment has a small but large-capacity washing tub by performing direct drive using a brushless DC motor, and uses the characteristics of the brushless DC motor to change the amount of laundry and the amount of cloth. Detection of quality and water level, setting of washing time and water flow, detection of cloth cling and loosening of cloth, prevention of damage to cloth, and achievement of the dehydration rate set according to clothing can all be performed automatically, For example, put the laundry in the washing tub and simply press the start button to automatically wash, drain, and dehydrate the laundry while preventing the cloth from being entangled or damaged by the water flow that is appropriate for the laundry. be able to.

First, a direct drive mechanism using a brushless DC motor will be described with reference to FIG. The washing machine is housed in an outer box 1 having an open top, and an openable / closable lid 14 is attached to the upper part of the outer box 1 so that the upper part can be closed. A washing tub 2 is provided inside the outer box 1, and a dehydration tub 3 is provided inside the washing tub 2. Washing tub 2
Is supported on the outer box 1 by four suspension rods 10 and suspensions 11 provided at appropriate intervals around the periphery. Under the bottom of the washing tub 2, a brushless DC is provided via a mechanism 9 for rotating the washing tub 2 and the dehydrating tub 3.
The motor 5 is attached.

A drain hose 12 for draining water in the washing tub 2 is attached to the bottom of the washing tub 2, and the drain hose 12 can be pulled out of the outer box 1. Although not shown, a drain valve is provided between the bottom of the washing tub 2 to which the drain hose 12 is attached and the drain hose 12, and the drain valve is opened and closed to drain the washing water in the washing tub 2. It is possible to do. Furthermore, on the upper part of the washing tub 2 to which the lid 14 is attached,
Although not shown, a water supply valve is appropriately provided, and water can be supplied into the washing tub 2 by controlling the opening and closing of the water supply valve.

At the bottom of the dewatering tub 3, there is provided a pulsator 4 as a water flow generating means for generating a water flow in the water put in the dewatering tub 3. (Not shown))
Extends through the mechanism 9, the washing tub 2 and the bottom of the dehydration tub 3 to the pulsator 4 provided at the bottom of the dehydration tub 3, and the upper end of the first conduction shaft 37 is The spline is fitted to the center part, so that the brushless D
The pulsator 4 can be directly rotated by the C motor 5.

The mechanism 9 provided between the brushless DC motor 5 and the bottom of the washing tub 2 is
The clutch disk is a clutch means for transmitting or disconnecting the rotation of the dehydration tub 3 to or from the dehydration tub 3 and a brake for forcibly stopping the dehydration tub 3. Further, an actuator 16 is provided on the side of the mechanism section 9. The actuator 16 operates a flat clutch disc 57 provided in the mechanism section 9 as described below. Switching control for transmitting the rotation of the DC motor 5 not only to the pulsator 4 but also to the spin-drying tub 3 via the flat clutch disc 57 to rotate the spin-drying tub 3 or apply a brake to the spin-drying tub 3 to stop it. Is used for When the dewatering tub 3 rotates, a balancer 13 is provided on an upper peripheral portion of the dewatering tub 3 so that the rotation is stably performed.

Next, the internal structure of the mechanism section 9 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, a cylindrical second conductive shaft 43 rotatable relative to the first conductive shaft 37 is fitted into a small-diameter portion 37 a of the first conductive shaft 37 on a part of an outer peripheral portion of the first conductive shaft 37. Have been. The upper end of the second conduction shaft 43 is connected to the flange 4 shown in FIG.
5 is attached. A cutout surface 51 having a predetermined length in the axial direction is formed from the lower end 47 to the upper end 49 on the outer periphery of the second conductive shaft 43. On the other hand, a rectangular portion 55 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the large-diameter portion 37b of the first conductive shaft 37 with which the lower end 47 of the second conductive shaft 43 contacts. A flat clutch disc 5 as a moving body that can be engaged with the cutout surface 51 and the rectangular portion 55 and that transmits and blocks the driving force from the first transmission shaft 37 to the second transmission shaft 43.
7 is provided so as to be able to move on the second conduction shaft 43 by about several mm.

The flat clutch disc 57 has a lower disk portion 57a and an upper cylindrical portion 57b, through which the second conductive shaft 43 passes. The through hole 59 is formed in the cutout surface 51 of the second conductive shaft 43.
The second conduction shaft connecting portion 59a that matches the first conduction shaft 37
And a first conductive shaft connecting portion 59b which matches the rectangular portion 55 of the first embodiment. Disc portion 5 of flat clutch disc 57
A plurality of projections 61 are provided on the upper surface of 7a upward at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, an annular groove 6 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 57b of the flat clutch disc 57.
3 are provided.

Around the flat clutch disk 57, there is provided a brake disk 65 as a sliding body for applying a braking force to the spinning dewatering tub 3. The brake disk 65 includes a turntable 67 and the turntable 67.
Lining material 73 attached to the upper and lower surfaces on the outer peripheral side
It is composed of

The brake disk 65 is made of a lining material 7
3 is supported from both upper and lower surfaces by pressurizing springs 75 provided at four places on the outer peripheral portion through brake pads 69 and 71 serving as fixed portions of the washing tub 2.

The brake pads 69 and 71 are fixed inside the cover 41 of the mechanism section 9 as shown in FIG. First
The conduction shaft 37 and the second conduction shaft 43 are rotatable with respect to a separately provided bearing (not shown).

On the inner peripheral side of the turntable 67, a concave portion 83 engageable with the projection 61 of the flat clutch disc 57 is provided.
The same number is formed.

The annular groove 63 of the flat clutch disc 57
Is engaged with an operation lever 77 having a projection at a front end, and a shaft 81 rotated by the actuator 16 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a rear end of the operation lever 77. When the tip of the operation lever 77 is moved upward, the flat clutch disc 57
The plurality of protrusions 61 are engaged with the concave portions 83 of the turntable 67.

The operation of the mechanism of the washing machine having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, in the washing operation, when the flat clutch disc 57 is set to the upper position by the operation lever 77 as shown in FIG. 3A, the flat clutch disc 57 has the second conductive shaft connecting portion 59a notched. The state is aligned with the surface 51 and connected to only the second conduction shaft 43. Thereby, the first conduction shaft 3
7 is disconnected from the second conduction shaft 43,
The rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is transmitted only to the first transmission shaft 37 connected to the pulsator 4.

Next, in the dehydrating operation, the operation lever 77 is operated.
Is moved downward, and the state shown in FIG. 3C is changed from FIG. 3A through FIG. 3B. As a result, the flat clutch disc 57 is connected to the second transmission shaft connecting portion 59.
a is connected to the cutout surface 51 of the second conductive shaft 43 and the first conductive shaft connecting portion 59b is connected to the rectangular portion 55 of the first conductive shaft 37, respectively.
Is connected through the flat clutch disc 57. When the brushless DC motor 5 is operated in this state, the spin-drying tub 3 connected to the second conductive shaft 43 rotates.

Further, in order to stop the rotating dewatering tub 31, the drive of the motor 5 connected to the first transmission shaft 37 is stopped, and the flat clutch disc 57 is moved by the operation lever 77 as shown in FIG. Set to the same state as above. As a result, the flat clutch disc 57 is connected only to the second transmission shaft 43, and at the same time, the projection 61 engages with the recess 83 of the brake disc 65, and the second transmission shaft 4
3 rotates the brake disk 65 via the flat clutch disk 57. The brake disc 65 receives a braking force from the brake pads 69 and 71 by rotating, and the rotation of the spin-drying tub 3 connected to the second conductive shaft 43 stops.

As described above, the slight movement of the flat clutch disc 57 in the vertical direction causes the second clutch connected to the dewatering tank 3 to move.
Switching between driving and braking of the transmission shaft 43 can be performed, so that the axial lengths of the clutch mechanism and the brake mechanism are reduced, and the dehydration tub can be performed without increasing the size of the outer box 1 of the conventional washing machine body. 3 can be increased, and the ratio of the washing capacity to the size of the outer box 1 can be increased.

The mechanism 9 of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 is constructed and operates as described above.
The operation of the C motor 5, the water supply / drainage section and other parts is shown in FIG.
Is controlled by the circuit section shown in FIG.

The circuit section shown in FIG. 4 comprises, for example, a microprocessor, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, and an interface. The operation of the brushless DC motor 5 and the whole, that is, the detection of the laundry amount, the cloth quality and the water level, It has a microcomputer 26 that controls all operations such as setting time and water flow, detecting cloth loosening and loosening cloth, preventing cloth damage, and achieving a dehydration rate set according to clothing. This microcomputer 26
Controls the brushless DC motor 5 via the drive circuit 80, receives information such as the drive voltage or current of the brushless DC motor 5 from the brushless DC motor 5 via the filter 30 and the A / D converter 29,
In addition, as described below, the rotation speed information of the brushless DC motor 5 is also received.

Further, the microcomputer 26 includes a clutch mechanism 82 including the above-mentioned flat clutch disk 57, the actuator 16, etc., a water supply valve 84, and a drain valve 8.
6 is controlled.

Next, a driving circuit 80 for driving the brushless DC motor 5 under the control of the microcomputer 26 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 showing the driving circuit 80 includes a brushless DC motor 5, a microcomputer 26, a filter 30, an A / D converter 2
9 is also shown for the sake of explanation, but a portion excluding these circuit elements corresponds to the drive circuit 80.

As shown in FIG. 5, a brushless DC motor 5 having three-phase armatures U, V, W is used, and the brushless DC motor 5 is driven by a three-phase full-wave bridge type inverter circuit 17. Have been. In this inverter circuit 17, 92 is a rectifying diode bridge, 93 is a smoothing capacitor, and
Is rectified by a diode bridge 92 and then smoothed by a smoothing capacitor 93 to obtain a DC voltage. And this input DC voltage is 3
In the phase full-wave bridge section, conversion into three-phase alternating current is performed. That is, in the part of the three-phase full-wave bridge,
The three transistors U1, U2, V1, V2, W1, W1 as switching elements are connected to three pairs of arms corresponding to the phases.
W2 is connected. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the three arms on the side to which the transistors U1, V1, and W1 are connected are referred to as an upper arm, and the three arms on the other side to which the other transistors U2, V2, and W2 are connected are referred to as a lower arm. A free wheel diode 94 is connected in parallel to each of the six transistors U1 to W2.
The three connection points are connected to the three-phase armature windings U, V, W in the brushless DC motor 5.

The brushless DC motor 5 includes, in addition to the armature windings U, V, and W, a rotor (not shown) formed of a permanent magnet, and three Hall elements for detecting the rotational position of the rotor. 23a, 23b and 23c are provided.
The rotor position detection signals of the Hall elements 23a, 23b and 23c are given to the motor control circuit 24.

The motor control circuit 24 is connected to the microcomputer 26 and has the Hall elements 23a, 23b, 23
A rotation speed signal is generated from the rotor position detection signal from c and supplied to the microcomputer 26, and control signals such as a start / stop signal and a forward / reverse signal of the brushless DC motor 5 are received from the microcomputer 26.

Further, the motor control circuit 24 is connected to the upper arm transistors U1, V1,
W1 is driven to drive the lower arm transistors U2, V2, and W2 via the lower arm drive circuit 22. The rotor position detection signals from the Hall elements 23a, 23b, and 23c are supplied to a motor control circuit 24. The motor control circuit 24 uses the rotor rotation position detection signals to generate upper arm transistors U1 and V1 that constitute the inverter circuit 17. , W1 and lower arm transistor U
2, V2, and W2 switching timing is determined, and the upper arm drive circuit 21 and the lower arm drive circuit 22 are controlled to switch each transistor at this timing. Specifically, the Hall elements 23a, 23b, 23c
Are logically converted in the motor control circuit 24 and correspond to the rotor position of the brushless DC motor 5, for example, the upper arm transistor U1 and the lower arm transistor V2, similarly the transistors V1 and W2, the transistor It is output as a drive signal for sequentially turning on transistors of various combinations such as W1 and U2. The DC voltage is converted into a three-phase AC by switching on the transistor, and the brushless DC motor 5 is turned on.
Current sequentially flows through the armature windings UV, VW, and WU, and the brushless DC motor 5 rotates in one direction. The forward and reverse rotations of the brushless DC motor 5 are performed by armature windings U, V,
This is performed by reversing the order of the current flowing to W, and the control of the normal rotation and reversal is performed via the motor control circuit 24 by the normal rotation and reversal signals from the microcomputer 26.

The microcomputer 26 is supplied with a rotation speed signal of the brushless DC motor 5 created by the motor control circuit 24 based on the rotor position detection signals from the Hall elements 23a, 23b and 23c. Create an on-duty signal such that
It is supplied to the oscillator 25 to control the on-duty of the PWM signal from the PWM oscillator 25.

The rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 is varied by variably controlling the applied DC voltage. To vary the rotation speed, a microcomputer 26 is connected to a PWM oscillator 25, and the PWM oscillator 25 is connected to the microcomputer 26. The oscillator 25 is supplied with a PWM on-duty setting signal, which is a rotation control signal, from a microcomputer 26. The output of the PWM oscillator 25 is connected to the upper arm drive circuit 21 via a chopper circuit 27, whereby the PWM oscillator 25 is turned on and off at a repetition frequency of 15 KHz by a PWM on-duty setting signal from the microcomputer 26. A PWM signal having a variable off-on duty is output, and this PWM signal is chopped by a chopper circuit 27, and transmitted through an upper arm drive circuit 21 to upper arm transistors U 1, V 1, and W 1.
And the on-period thereof is varied according to the on-duty ratio of the PWM signal, whereby the DC voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 changes, and the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 varies. I have. That is, as the on-duty ratio of the upper arm transistors U1, V1, and W1 becomes smaller, for example, the brushless D
The DC voltage applied to the C motor 5 decreases, the rotation speed decreases, and as the on-duty ratio increases, the DC voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 increases, and the rotation speed increases. .

When the brushless DC motor 5 is stopped, a stop signal from the microcomputer 26 is output from the motor control circuit 2.
4 to the upper arm transistors U1, U1 of the inverter circuit 17 under the control of the motor control circuit 24.
V1, W1 and lower arm transistors U2, V2, W
2 is turned off.

One end of the smoothing capacitor 93 of the inverter circuit 17 and the lower arm transistors U2, V2, W2
A resistor 28 is connected between the common emitter and the common emitter. The resistor 28 detects an inverter current flowing through the inverter circuit 17 as a voltage value. Since the detected voltage value is a pulse wave turned on and off at an inverter frequency, for example, 15 KHz,
Averaging through the filter 30 and the A / D converter 29
As a digital signal through the microcomputer 2
6 so that the microcomputer 26 identifies the voltage value applied to the brushless DC motor 5.

Here, the characteristics of the brushless DC motor 5 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 64, the relationship between the torque generated by the brushless DC motor 5 and the number of rotations n is inversely proportional, as the number of rotations n increases, the torque decreases. 5 changes according to the voltage Vdc applied to the brushless motor 5, and the torque generated by the brushless DC motor 5 increases as the voltage Vdc increases at the same rotation speed. Therefore, when the rotation speed n is constant, the relationship between the load torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 and the voltage Vdc is proportional as shown in FIG. From this relationship, the laundry brushless D
The load on the C motor 5 can be obtained from the voltage Vdc at the time of the final rotation of the brushless DC motor 5.

When the supply voltage Vdc to the brushless DC motor 5 is constant, that is, when the capability of the brushless DC motor 5 is constant, the brushless DC motor 5
The energy required until the rotation speed reaches the predetermined target rotation speed depends on the load torque. Therefore, the time until the rotation speed reaches the target rotation speed depends on the load torque which is the laundry as shown in FIG. Is almost proportional to Therefore, the load, which is the laundry, can be obtained from the time required to reach the target rotation speed. In the characteristic of FIG. 66, the load torque tends to be saturated when the arrival time is extremely long.

FIG. 40 shows a brushless DC motor 5.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing torque and rotation speed applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when the motor is intermittently rotated forward and reverse. When the brushless DC motor 5 starts to rotate forward or reverse, the rotation speed gradually increases and finally reaches a constant target rotation speed ni at time tn. It varies depending on the load that is the laundry. The change dn in the rotation speed from the start of rotation to a predetermined time varies depending on the load that is the laundry. The torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 increases at the start of rotation, and when the rotation speed becomes constant, the voltage Vdc applied to the brushless DC motor 5 becomes constant. Time tr is the time for normal rotation and inversion, and time ts is the time between normal rotation and inversion.

Since the voltage Vdc applied to the brushless DC motor 5 is proportional to the inverter current Idc flowing through the brushless DC motor 5, the inverter current can be used instead of the voltage Vdc.
And the inverter current Idc is calculated by the microcomputer 26
Output from the PWM oscillator 25 under the control of
Is controlled by the on-duty ratio δ of the signal.
Can also be used.

FIG. 67 shows the relationship between the torque and the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 in which the axes of the torque and the rotation speed are reversed in FIG. Shows the change of the inverter current I with respect to the change of. The inverter current thus changes almost in proportion to the torque.

Next, an overall flow of the washing machine will be schematically described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the washing machine has a
10, washing processing 121, first dehydrating processing 130, first rinsing processing 140, second dehydrating processing 150, second rinsing processing 1
60 and a final dewatering process 170.

In the "pre-processing 110", after the laundry is put into the spin-drying tub 3 of the washing machine and the start button is pressed to start the operation (steps 101 and 105), the amount of laundry of the laundry first put in is started. Is detected (step 11)
1) A detergent amount corresponding to the detected cloth amount is displayed (step 112). In accordance with this display, the user inputs detergent or, if an automatic detergent input machine is attached, the detergent is automatically input (step 11).
3).

Then, the washing amount corresponding to the laundry amount, which is the reference water level according to the laundry amount detected in step 111, is determined (step 114), and the water supply to the low water level is performed while detecting the water level (step 115). The cloth quality is detected at this low water level (step 116). Then, the water level adjustment amount is determined according to the cloth quality (step 117), the reference water level is corrected by the water level adjustment amount, the final washing water level is determined, and the final washing water level and the cloth amount cloth are determined. The corresponding water flow, washing operation time, target dehydration rate and the like are determined (step 118). Then, the water supply to the determined final washing water level is performed while detecting the water level (step 119). When the water supply to the final washing water level is completed, the flow proceeds to the next washing process 120.

In the "washing process, that is, washing operation 120", the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is not transmitted to the dewatering tub 3 by the action of the flat clutch disc 57, and only the pulsator 4 is rotated. 2
A washing operation is performed for a predetermined operation time while a water flow is generated in the inside, and cloth debris detection, cloth loosening control, cloth damage detection control, and cloth damage prevention control for the detected cloth debris are appropriately performed (Step 121). When the washing operation is completed, the water in the spin tub 3 of the washing machine is drained (step 12).
3), proceed to the next first dehydration processing 130.

In the "first dewatering process 130", the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is transmitted to the dewatering tank 3 and the pulsator 4 by the action of the flat clutch disk 57, and both are rotated integrally to detect the dewatering rate. Step 1 while
Dehydration is performed up to the target dehydration rate set in 18, and when dehydration is completed to the target dehydration rate, the process proceeds to the next first rinsing process 140.

In the "first rinsing process 140", water supply up to the final washing water level determined in step 118 is performed while detecting the water level (step 141). When the water is supplied to the final washing water level, only the pulsator 4 is rotated by the action of the flat clutch disc 57, and the cloth is detected in the same manner as in the washing processing, the cloth is loosened, the cloth is prevented from being damaged,
The rinsing operation is performed for a predetermined time while appropriately detecting the cloth damage (step 143). When the rinsing operation for a predetermined time is completed, drainage is performed (step 145), and the process proceeds to the next second dehydration process 150.

In the "second dehydration process 150", similarly to the first dehydration process, the dehydration tank 3 and the pulsator 4 are integrally rotated to detect the dehydration rate and reach the target dehydration rate set in step 118. After the dehydration is performed and the dehydration is completed to the target dehydration rate, the process proceeds to the next second rinsing process 160.

In the "second rinsing process 160", similarly to the first rinsing process, water supply to the final washing water level is performed while detecting the water level (step 161). Then, the rinsing operation is performed for a predetermined period of time while rotating only the cloth, detecting cloth loosening, cloth loosening control, cloth damage prevention control, and cloth damage detection (step 163). When the rinsing operation is completed, drainage is performed (step 165), and the process proceeds to the next final dehydration process 171.

In the "final dehydration process 170", the dehydration tank 3 and the pulsator 4 are rotated integrally as in the first and second dehydration processes, and dehydration is performed to the target dehydration rate while detecting the dehydration rate (step 171). ), End all the steps (step 172).

Table 1 shown below shows a water supply valve 84, a brushless DC motor 5, a drain valve 86,
6 is a table showing the operation of each component such as a clutch mechanism 82. In this table, the bold line indicates the state in which each component operates. In addition, the brushless DC motor 5 is represented by normal rotation and reverse rotation. The clutch mechanism 8
2 operates as shown by the thick line, the brushless D
The rotation of the C motor 5 is also transmitted to the spin tub 3 via the clutch mechanism 82, and the spin tub 3 also rotates.

[0056]

[Table 1] Next, each process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11 and thereafter, while the overall operation of the washing machine is described in more detail according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 show a continuous operation of the washing machine as a whole, and each figure is continuous with jump symbols A, B, and C.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, when the laundry is put into the spin tub 3 of the washing machine, the power is turned on, and the start button or the like is pressed to start the operation of the washing machine (step 2).
10, 220), the microcomputer 26 detects the amount of laundry put in the laundry (step 230).

The microcomputer 26 controls the flat clutch disc 57 in the mechanism section 9 through the clutch mechanism 82 to transmit the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 to the dewatering tank 3 in order to detect the amount of cloth. The first conduction shaft 37 and the second conduction shaft 43 are connected to obtain the same, and the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated, whereby the dewatering tank 3 and the pulsator 4 are integrally rotated. In addition, this cloth amount detection operation is performed without putting water in the dehydration tank 3.

This cloth amount is detected in terms of the weight of the laundry. The change in torque of the brushless DC motor 5 at the start or during rotation of the spin tub 3 or the rotation of the spin tub 3 Load torque (Tj) of the dehydration tub 3 and the laundry from the electromotive force and the like generated in the brushless DC motor 5 when the brushless DC motor 5 is stopped.
Is detected, and the weight of the laundry is obtained as a cloth amount from the load torque, or the brushless DC motor 5 rotates the dehydration tub 3 containing the laundry at a constant speed and then applies an electric brake to the brushless DC motor 5. After the amount of laundry to be washed is detected from the electric power consumed by the electric brake, or the dehydrating tub 3 containing the laundry is rotated at a constant speed, the brushless DC motor 5
Is free-run, and the amount of cloth is detected by the magnitude of the moment of inertia of the dewatering tub 3.

Next, a specific method of detecting the cloth amount will be described in detail.

This first cloth amount detection method uses a brushless D
In this method, the amount of cloth is detected from the decrease rate of the rotation speed of the motor when the drive voltage to the motor is set to 0 after the C motor 5 reaches a constant rotation speed and the motor is free-run only with the moment of inertia.

More specifically, the first method for detecting the amount of cloth is such that the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when rotating the dewatering tub 3 containing the laundry is constant, that is, the brushless DC motor 5 Of the PWM signal from the PWM oscillator 25 to control the voltage Vdc applied to the brushless DC motor 5 so as to rotate at a constant rotation speed np. And brushless D
At a certain point in time after the rotation speed of the C motor 5 has become constant, the upper arm transistors U1, V1, W1 and the lower arm transistors U2, V2, W2 driving the brushless DC motor 5 are all turned off, and Is rotated only by inertia, and the state where the rotation speed is gradually reduced is monitored.

In this case, the decrease in the rotation speed depends on the amount of the laundry, which is the laundry in the dewatering tub 3. As the amount of the laundry increases due to the moment of inertia, the decrease in the rotation speed decreases and the amount of the laundry decreases. The lower the rotation speed, the faster the rotation speed. Accordingly, starting from the point in time when all of the upper arm transistors U1, V1, W1 and the lower arm transistors U2, V2, W2 are turned off, the rotation speed n becomes the predetermined rotation speed n1.
The microcomputer 26 counts the time required to decrease the load, and compares the count time T1 with preset data to detect the amount of cloth.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the time and the rotation speed in the first cloth amount detection method. At time t01 when the brushless DC motor 5 is rotating at a constant rotation speed np. Brushless DC motor 5
When the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is stopped and the free running is performed, the brushless DC motor 5
Continue rotating while lowering. In this case, when the cloth amount is small, the rotation speed rapidly decreases as shown by the curve 11a,
When the cloth amount is a medium amount, the rotation speed decreases to a medium level as shown by a curve 11b, and when the cloth amount is large, a curve 11c
Since the rotation speed decreases slowly as shown in FIG.
T1 and t2 until the rotation speed decreases to the predetermined rotation speed n1
, T3, the amount of cloth can be identified.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the procedure of the above-described first cloth amount detection method. In the figure, when the start switch of the washing machine is pressed as described above (step 220), the flat clutch disc 57 is connected (step 1210), and the spin-drying tub 3 rotates together with the pulsator 4 by the brushless DC motor 5 (step 220). 1220). It is checked whether or not the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5, that is, the angular speed ω has reached a predetermined angular speed ωp (step 1230). When the predetermined angular speed ωp has been reached, the upper arm transistors U1, V1, W1 and Lower arm transistor U
2, V2, and W2 are all turned off, and the brushless D
The supply of the drive voltage to the C motor 5 is stopped, and the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated by inertia, and at the same time, the soft timer in the microcomputer 26 is reset and timed (step 1240).

Then, it is checked whether or not the angular velocity ω of the brushless DC motor 5 that keeps rotating by the moment of inertia has reached a predetermined angular velocity ω1 (step 1250). When the angular velocity ω1 reaches the predetermined angular velocity ω1, the software in the microcomputer 26 The time T1 measured by the timer is fetched, and the size of the cloth amount is determined from a data table preset in the memory of the microcomputer 26 based on the count time T1 (step 1260).

As shown in the table of step 1260 in FIG.
Are determined to be many, medium, and small in proportion to large, medium, and small.

Next, a second method of detecting the amount of cloth will be described.

The second cloth amount detection method is based on the brushless DC motor 5 rotating only by inertia when the brushless DC motor 5 is free-run only by the moment of inertia after the brushless DC motor 5 reaches a constant rotation speed. This is a method of measuring a current flowing by a back electromotive force induced in a winding and detecting a cloth amount based on a time from a free run of the motor to a time when the current disappears.

In order to implement the second method of detecting the amount of cloth, as shown in the circuit of FIG. 13, a resistor 28a for measuring current is inserted between the emitters of the lower arm transistors V2 and W2 in the circuit of FIG. In addition, a filter 30a and an A / D converter 29a for supplying the voltage between both ends of the current measuring resistor 28a to the microcomputer 26 are newly provided separately from the filter 30 and the A / D converter 29 in the circuit of FIG.

In the circuit having such a configuration, when the brushless DC motor 5 is free-running, the current measuring resistor 28a is connected to the current measuring resistor 28a by the back electromotive force induced in the winding by the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 due to inertia. FIG.
At 4, an electric current flows as indicated by the arrow. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, this current decreases with time, that is, with a decrease in the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5, and finally becomes zero, so that the times t1, t2, t2, and t1 until this current becomes zero are obtained. By measuring t3 with a soft timer of the microcomputer 26, the amount of cloth can be detected.

In FIG. 15, the curve shown by the dotted line is a plot of the peak value of the pulsating current.
When the cloth amount indicated by 5a is small, the time is short, and the curve 15
When the cloth amount indicated by b is medium, the time is also medium, and when the cloth amount is large as shown by the curve 15c, the time is long.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing in detail the procedure of the above-described second cloth amount detection method. In the figure, the processing of steps 220 to 1230 is the same as the processing of the first laundry amount detection method shown in FIG. That is, the washing machine is started, and the flat clutch disc 57 is started.
Is connected to rotate the spin-drying tub 3 containing the laundry, and then it is determined that the angular velocity ω of the brushless DC motor 5 has reached the predetermined angular velocity ωp (steps 220 to 123).
0).

After the angular velocity ω of the brushless DC motor 5 reaches a predetermined angular velocity ωp, the inverter circuit 17
The upper arm transistors U1, V1, and W1 are all turned off, the lower arm transistors U2, V2, and W2 are all turned on, and the brushless DC motor 5, and hence the dewatering tank 3, are rotated by inertia. The soft timer in the computer 26 is reset to measure time (step 1640).

The voltage generated at both ends of the inverter current detecting resistor 28a by the back electromotive force induced in the winding of the motor by the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 which continues to rotate at the moment of inertia is converted to an A / D converter 29.
And output voltage V of A / D converter 29a
0 and V1 are read by the microcomputer 26, and the current Ia flowing through the inverter current detecting resistor 28a is calculated from the difference between the two voltages (step 1650).

The microcomputer 26 determines whether or not the current Ia has become zero, that is, whether or not the current pulse has disappeared (step 1660). When the brushless DC motor 5 enters the free-run state, The time T1 from the time when the current pulse disappears to the time when the current pulse disappears is counted by a soft timer in the microcomputer 26.
The size of the cloth amount is determined from the data table preset in the memory of the microcomputer 26 based on the size of 1 (step 1670).

The table of the amount of cloth with respect to the count time T1 shown in step 1670 is the same as that shown in step 1260 of FIG. 12, and the amount of cloth is large and medium in proportion to the large, medium and small count times T1. , Is determined to be small.

Next, a third method of detecting the amount of cloth will be described.

In the third cloth amount detecting method, the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated, for example, in the first direction, for example, clockwise, and after a constant rotational speed is reached, the brushless DC motor 5 is suddenly rotated in the same direction in the reverse direction. When voltage control is performed so that the motor rotates at the rotation speed, the brushless DC motor 5 tends to continue to rotate in the first direction due to inertia. Therefore, the brushless DC motor 5 generates a current due to the back electromotive force and a control current for the reverse rotation. In this method, the combined current is measured, and the amount of cloth is detected by measuring the time from when the brushless DC motor 5 is reversely rotated to when the combined current returns to the constant current.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the current flowing in the brushless DC motor 5 with respect to time when the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction at time t01 in the third cloth amount detection method. When the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction at time t01, an increased combined current of the current due to the back electromotive force and the control current for the reverse rotation flows as the initial current io as described above. Of these, the current due to the back electromotive force is a component that depends on the inertia of the brushless DC motor 5, so that it gradually decreases and eventually becomes zero, and the combined current becomes a constant current of only the control current for the reverse rotation. . Therefore, by measuring the point in time when the constant current is reached, the cloth amount is detected as described above.

The reverse rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is performed by changing the direction of the current flowing through the three-phase winding of the brushless DC motor 5 as follows: "1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 →
Assuming that the current was in the order of “6”, if a current of 3 was supplied and a current was applied in the opposite direction, an opposite force would be applied. → 2 → 1 → 6 →
This is achieved by flowing current in the order of “5 → 4”.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing in detail the procedure of the above-described third cloth amount detection method. In the figure, the processing of steps 220 to 1230 is the same as the processing of the first and second cloth amount detection methods. That is, after the washing machine is started, the flat clutch disc 57 is connected, and the spin-drying tub 3 containing the laundry is rotated, it is determined that the angular velocity ω of the brushless DC motor 5 has reached the predetermined angular velocity ωp. (Steps 220 to 1230).

After the angular velocity ω of the brushless DC motor 5 has reached the predetermined angular velocity ωp, the voltage across the inverter current detecting resistor 28 in the circuit of FIG.
The data is taken into the microcomputer 26 via the D converter 29, and the peak value of the inverter current flowing through the brushless DC motor 5 is stored as the voltage value V0 of the A / D converter 29 (step 1940). This voltage value V
0 is equivalent to the above-mentioned constant current, and is stored for use in determining the point in time at which the combined current decreases to this constant current.

When the peak value V0 is stored, the brushless D
The brushless D motor is driven via the inverter circuit 17 so that the C motor 5 and, consequently, the dewatering tub 3 have the same rotational speed in the reverse direction.
At the same time as controlling the voltage of the C motor 5, the soft timer of the microcomputer 26 is reset, and the clocking operation is started (step 1950).

When the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, the above-described combined current is generated. Therefore, a voltage corresponding to the combined current is taken into the microcomputer 26 via the filter 30 and the A / D converter 29.
The peak value V1 is detected (step 1960). Then, the peak value V1 is compared with the stored peak value V0 corresponding to the constant current (step 1970), and the time T1 until the two become equal is determined by the microcomputer 2.
6, and the amount of cloth is determined from a data table preset in the memory of the microcomputer 26 based on the count time T1 (step 1980).

The table of the amount of cloth with respect to the counting time T1 shown in step 1980 is the same as that shown in step 1260 of FIG. 12, and the amount of cloth is large, medium, and small in proportion to the large, medium, and small counting times. It is determined to be small.

As described above, when the cloth amount detecting operation is completed, in the cloth amount detecting step 230 (FIG. 7),
Wash amount LWs corresponding to the detected cloth amount corresponding to the cloth amount
Is determined from a data table stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26 in advance. Table 2 shown below is a table showing the relationship between the laundry amount corresponding to the above-described counting time T1 or the load torque Tj and the laundry level corresponding washing water level LWs.

[0088]

[Table 2] In the laundry amount detection step 230 of FIG. 7, when the laundry amount corresponding washing water level LWs corresponding to the detected laundry amount is determined, the microcomputer 26 determines whether the detergent dispenser is provided as an option in the washing machine, for example. Is determined (step 240), and if a detergent dispenser is provided, the amount of detergent corresponding to the cloth amount and the washing level LWs corresponding to the cloth amount is automatically introduced into the dewatering tank 3 (step 25).
0) In addition, when the detergent dispenser is not provided, the detergent amount corresponding to the cloth amount and the washing level LWs corresponding to the cloth amount is displayed (step 260). In this case, the user inputs the indicated amount of detergent.

When the detergent input amount is displayed or the detergent is input, the microcomputer 26 sets the water supply valve 84 to OFF.
(FIG. 4) is opened and the water supply process is started (step 27).
0). Even in this water supply, the dewatering tank 3 is a brushless D
The motor 26 is continuously or intermittently rotated at a low speed by the C motor 5, and the water supply time is counted by the soft timer of the microcomputer 26 while monitoring the motor torque from the start of water supply. The water starts to collect from the bottom of the washing tub 2 below the dewatering tub 3, and there is time until the water reaches the bottom of the dewatering tub 3. During this time, the load applied to the brushless DC motor 5, that is, the torque, Is relatively small, but when the water level in the washing tub 2 reaches the bottom of the dewatering tub 3, the torque acting on the brushless DC motor 5 suddenly increases. By
It can be detected that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 (step 280).

Instead of detecting that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3 by a sudden increase in torque, the microcomputer 26 controls P
The same is true even when the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal output from the WM oscillator 25 changes abruptly. That is, when the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tub 3, the load increases and the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 increases, but the microcomputer 26 maintains the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 constant. To operate, the microcomputer 26 changes the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5. This change in voltage is achieved by changing the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal. Therefore, when the point at which the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal changes rapidly is detected, the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tank 3. Sometimes it can be detected.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing the change in the on-duty ratio δ of the above-mentioned PWM signal. When the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tank 3 at time tb, the on-duty δ suddenly changes. It indicates that.

The counting time until the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tub 3 is obtained from the count value tb by the soft timer of the microcomputer 26. Since the water level Wb of the water level in the washing tub 2 up to the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3 is known in advance from the design data of the washing machine, the relationship between this water quantity Wb and the counting time tb is expressed by the following equation. The water supply speed Sw can be calculated.

Sw = Wb / tb When it is detected that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3, the rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is stopped, and the low water level L for detecting the fabric quality is determined.
Water supply up to W1 is performed. This finds a water amount difference dW between the low water level LW1 and the current water level up to the bottom of the dewatering tank 3,
As shown in the following equation, this water amount difference dW is calculated by the water supply speed Sw.
, The remaining water supply time Tr up to the low water level LW1 can be calculated.

Tr = dW / Sw Therefore, the water supply for the water supply time Tr is further performed to supply the water to the low water level LW1 for detecting the cloth quality (steps 280 and 29).
0).

In general, at the water level at which the cloth quality is to be detected, the cloth may be in a state of being immersed in water to some extent or completely. In this embodiment, the low water level LW1 for washing is used.

When the water supply up to the low water level LW1 is completed, the water supply valve is closed and the cloth quality detecting operation is started (step 3).
00).

[0097] The cloth quality is detected by rotating the dehydration tub 3 without rotating the dehydration tub 3 in a state where the laundry is put in the dehydration tub 3 supplied to the low water level.
By rotating only the pulsator 4, brushless D at that time
Load torque or brushless DC acting on C motor 5
This is performed by determining the fabric quality based on the relationship between the torque information that is the load torque obtained from the rotation speed of the motor 5 and the fabric amount obtained in step 230.

This torque information is the starting torque at the time of normal rotation or reversal, the torque at a certain point during normal reversal, or the average torque during a certain period during normal reversal. The rotation number information is supplied to the brushless DC motor 5. This is the motor rotation speed or the final rotation speed after a set time from the start of rotation when the applied voltage is kept constant, and both are means for measuring the load torque Tq in the washing tub 2. Then, the cloth amount obtained in the cloth amount detection processing and the load torque T obtained in the cloth quality detection are determined.
Based on q, the quality of the fabric is determined by the combinations shown in Table 3 below.

[0099]

[Table 3] Next, a specific method of fabric detection will be described in detail.

A first method for detecting the quality of the fabric will be described.

In the first cloth quality detection method, only the pulsator 4 is rotated by the brushless DC motor 5 without rotating the spin-drying tub 3 in a state where laundry is put in the spin-drying tub 3 supplied to the low water level. In this method, the starting voltage or the starting torque of the brushless DC motor 5 necessary for starting the operation is obtained, and the cloth quality is detected from the starting voltage or the starting torque and the cloth amount obtained previously.

The fabric can be represented by, for example, “flexible”, “standard”, “stiff”, etc., but when the fabric is “flexible”, the resistance to the pulsator 4 is small.
The pulsator 4 is easy to rotate, and the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 required for rotating the pulsator 4 may be small.
When the fabric is "stiff", the resistance to the pulsator 4 is large, the pulsator 4 is difficult to rotate, and the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 required to rotate the pulsator 4 is large.

FIG. 20 shows the relationship between such cloth and the resistance applied to the pulsator 4 and the torque of the brushless DC motor 5. The resistance in this case is a cloth,
Including the friction of the pulsator 4 and the dewatering tub 3 and the like, the more the fabric becomes "stiffer", the greater the resistance the pulsator 4 receives, and the larger the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 for rotating the pulsator 4 becomes. . And this resistance shows the maximum value at the moment when it starts to move from the stationary state. Therefore, using such a relationship, the cloth is distinguished by the resistance of the cloth, and the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 receiving the resistance is detected, or the current or voltage that changes with the torque based on the characteristics of the brushless DC motor 5. , Rotation speed, etc., and the cloth quality can be determined using these information.

The procedure of the first cloth detection method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described above, in order to rotate only the pulsator 4 without rotating the spin-drying tub 3 with the laundry in the spin-drying tub 3 supplied to the low water level, a brushless D
The voltage applied to the C motor 5 is gradually increased (step 2110), and in this case, when the brushless DC motor 5 rotates is detected from the motor rotation speed (step 2120). When the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is detected, the voltage at this time is measured, the starting torque corresponding to this voltage is obtained as described below, and the relationship between the starting torque, the amount of cloth and the cloth is set in advance. The cloth quality can be determined from the data table (step 213).
0).

FIG. 22 is a graph showing the relationship between the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 and the starting torque obtained from the characteristics of the brushless DC motor 5. By utilizing such characteristics, the starting torque with respect to the voltage measured as described above can be obtained.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the relationship between the cloth amount, the starting torque and the cloth quality detected by the cloth amount detection. As shown in the figure, when the fabric is “supple”, the starting torque is small, and when the fabric is “stiff,” the starting torque is large. I have.
In other words, even when the cloth quality is “supple” and the starting torque is small, the starting torque tends to be small when the cloth amount is small and the starting torque tends to be large when the cloth amount is large. Further, even when the cloth quality is "stiff" and the starting torque is large, the starting torque is small when the cloth amount is small, and the starting torque is further increased when the cloth amount is large.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a data table created from such a relationship between the cloth amount, the starting torque and the cloth quality. Note that T00 to T22 in this data table are starting torques.

By applying the starting torque obtained in step 2130 of FIG. 21 and the previously obtained cloth amount to the data table shown in FIG. 24, the cloth quality can be identified. For example, if the voltage of the brushless DC motor 5 is gradually increased and the voltage becomes Va, and if the brushless DC motor 5 starts rotating, the voltage Va
Since the starting torque Ta with respect to is obtained from FIG.
This starting torque Ta is searched for in the data table shown in FIG. 24, and it is assumed that the starting torque Ta is close to the starting torque T12.
If the amount of cloth is medium capacity, it can be understood that the cloth quality is "stiff".

FIG. 25 is similar to FIG. 24 showing the relationship between the amount of cloth, the voltage and the cloth based on FIGS. 22 and 23, using the voltage of the brushless DC motor 5 instead of the starting torque shown in FIG. It is a data table. By using this data table, it is possible to determine the cloth quality from the voltage at which the brushless DC motor 5 starts rotating and the previously detected cloth amount. For example, brushless DC
Assuming that the brushless DC motor 5 starts rotating when the voltage of the motor 5 is gradually increased and the voltage becomes Va, the voltage Va is searched from the data table shown in FIG. , And when the cloth amount is medium capacity, it can be understood that the cloth quality is "stiff".

Next, a second method of fabric detection will be described.

The second cloth detecting method is a method of obtaining a starting current of the brushless DC motor 5, and detecting the cloth from the starting current and the cloth amount obtained previously.

The starting current of the brushless DC motor 5 becomes maximum at the time of starting the motor where the motor torque becomes maximum from the characteristics of the motor. Therefore, while gradually increasing the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5, the motor current that is also increasing at this time is monitored, and by detecting the current at the time when this current decreases, the motor The peak current value that is the maximum value of the current, that is, the starting current can be obtained.

FIG. 26 shows the relationship between the starting current and the starting torque. Referring to FIG. 26, the starting torque can be obtained from the starting current obtained as described above. The cloth quality can be determined from the data table of the relation between the cloth quantity, the starting torque and the cloth shown in FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second cloth quality detection method. In FIG.
While gradually increasing the voltage applied to the C motor 5, the increasing motor current at this time is detected (step 2710), and the current at the time when the motor current decreases is determined by the maximum value of the motor current. It is determined as a certain peak current value, that is, a starting current (step 2720). Then, the starting torque for this motor starting current is obtained from FIG.
The obtained starting torque and the previously obtained cloth amount are applied to the data table shown in FIG. 24 to determine the cloth quality (step 2730).

FIG. 28 is a data table showing the relationship between the amount of cloth, the starting current Iij and the fabric from the data table shown in FIG. 24 and the diagram showing the relationship between the starting torque and the starting current shown in FIG. By using this data table, the cloth quality can be determined from the starting current of the brushless DC motor 5 and the cloth amount.

Next, a third method of fabric detection will be described.

The third cloth detection method utilizes the fact that the number of revolutions of the brushless DC motor 5 for driving the pulsator 4 after a certain period of time when a constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5 varies depending on the cloth. This is a method of judging cloth based on the rotation speed or a torque corresponding to the rotation speed.

The procedure of the third cloth detection method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 29,
A constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5 for driving the pulsator 4, and the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 is detected (step 2910). Then, the elapse of a certain time is monitored (step 2920), and the torque corresponding to the number of revolutions of the brushless DC motor 5 at the elapse of this certain time is shown in FIG. Then, the cloth quality is determined from the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 thus obtained, the previously detected cloth amount, and the data table as shown in FIG. 24 (step 2930).

For example, when it is detected that the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 after a certain period of time is Na, the torque corresponding to the rotation speed Na is calculated from the characteristic of FIG.
Therefore, this torque T12 and the cloth amount obtained earlier,
For example, referring to the data table shown in FIG. 24 based on the medium capacity, the cloth is determined to be "stiff".

Next, a fourth method of fabric detection will be described.

The fourth cloth detection method is based on the fact that when a constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5, the time required for the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 driving the pulsator 4 to reach a predetermined rotation speed depends on the cloth. Using different things,
This is a method of determining the cloth quality based on this time.

The procedure of the fourth fabric detection method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 31,
A constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5 for driving the pulsator 4 to rotate the brushless DC motor 5, and at the same time, the time measurement is started by the soft timer of the microcomputer 26. Then, the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 is monitored, and it is determined whether or not this rotation speed has reached a predetermined rotation speed (step 3110).

When it is determined that the number of revolutions of the brushless DC motor 5 has reached the predetermined number of revolutions, the time until the number of revolutions reaches the predetermined number of revolutions is read from the soft timer of the microcomputer 26 (step 3120).

Here, the relationship between the time, the amount of cloth and the quality of the cloth is obtained in advance by an experiment or the like, as shown in FIG. 32, and the time tij, the amount of cloth and the cloth are obtained from this relation as shown in FIG. A data table indicating the quality relationship is created and stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26.

Therefore, the time obtained in step 3120 and the already detected cloth amount are applied to the data table shown in FIG. 33 to determine the cloth quality (step 3130).

For example, if the time for the medium amount of cloth is t12, it is determined from the data table of FIG. 33 that the cloth quality is "stiff".

When the cloth quality is detected as described above, returning to FIG. 7, the routine proceeds to step 310, where the optimum water level at the time of washing is determined from the combination of the cloth quantity and the cloth quality, and the washing operation time and water quantity are determined. The target dehydration rate at the end of washing and at the end of rinsing is determined.

First, the washing level LWs corresponding to the laundry amount corresponding to the laundry amount is determined in step 230 described above. For this laundry amount corresponding to the laundry amount LWs, the correction water level LWa or the correction coefficient LWc is calculated from the fabric quality. Then, the washing water level LWs corresponding to the laundry amount is corrected by the correction water level LWa or the correction coefficient LWc, and the final washing water level LWo is determined.

The washing water level LWs and the correction water level L corresponding to the cloth amount
The equation for calculating the final washing water level LWo from Wa is given by the following equation.

LWo = LWs + LWa The equation for calculating the final washing water level LWo from the washing water level LWs and the correction coefficient LWc is given by the following equation.

LWo = LWs × LWc The following Tables 4 and 5 show the relationship between the corrected water level LWa for the cloth amount and the cloth, and the relation between the correction coefficient LWc for the cloth amount and the cloth, respectively.

[0133]

[Table 4]

[Table 5] Table 4 (a) shows that the corrected water level LWa increases as the cloth amount increases, and the corrected water level LWa increases as the cloth quality changes from "stiff" to "flexible".

Table 4 (b) was obtained by correcting the washing water level LWs corresponding to the cloth amount by the corrected water level LWa obtained from the relationship between the cloth amount, the cloth quality and the corrected water level LWa shown in Table 4 (a). The final washing water level LWo is shown with respect to the cloth amount and the cloth quality. In Table 4 (b), small, low, medium,
High is the final wash water amount Wo corresponding to the final wash water level LWo,
In other words, although the magnitude of the water volume is shown, the water volume in this expression is in a relationship of small <low <medium <high.

Table 5 shows that the correction coefficient LW increases as the cloth amount increases.
c becomes larger, and the fabric quality changes from “stiff” to “smooth”
Indicates that the correction coefficient LWc increases as

When the final washing water level LWo is determined as described above, water is supplied up to the final washing water level LWo (step 320). This water supply process is performed while detecting the water level in order to supply water accurately to the final washing water level LWo (steps 330 and 340).

The water level can be detected from the relationship between the water supply speed and the water supply amount, or from the load torque of the dewatering tub 3 that changes with the water level. The load torque in this case is the torque at the time of starting the brushless DC motor 5, the torque at the time of rotation at a constant rotation speed, the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 at the time of rotation at a constant torque, and the rotation speed at a constant rotation speed. When the brushless DC motor 5 is free-run from the state in which the brushless DC motor 5 is running, it can be detected as a time until the brushless DC motor 5 decreases to a predetermined rotation speed or a time until it stops.

As a first method of detecting the water level, a method of obtaining the water level from the relationship between the water supply speed and the water supply amount will be described.

Since water has already been supplied to the low water level LW1 in the dewatering tub 3 for detecting the quality of the cloth in step 290 described above, in the water supply detection processing in steps 320 to 340, the low water level is changed from the final washing water level LWo. The remaining water amount dWr after subtracting the water level LW1 (= final washing water amount Wo−low water amount W
It suffices to supply 1) water.

By the way, in step 290, since the water supply speed Sw when the water supply up to the low water level LW1 for detecting the cloth quality is calculated, the water supply for the remaining water amount dWr is also performed at this water supply speed Sw. Then, by dividing the remaining water amount dWr by the water supply speed Sw, the water supply time tro is calculated as shown in the following equation.

Tro = dWr / Sw Therefore, water can be supplied to the final washing water level LWo by performing the water supply time tro at the water supply speed Sw while monitoring the water supply time.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the procedure of water supply processing and water level detection for the water supply processing using the relationship between the water supply speed and the water supply amount as described above.

The flow chart shown in FIG. 35 continuously shows a series of operations of the above-described cloth amount detection, water supply up to the low water level LW1, cloth quality detection, and water supply up to the final washing water level LWo. The contents are substantially the same as those described above.

That is, in FIG.
10, 3520 is a cloth amount detection process, in which the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when the dewatering tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed is detected by detecting an inverter current, and the capacity of the cloth is determined from the inverter current. Detected.
Steps 3530 to 3620 indicate a water supply process up to the low water level LW1. When the rapid increase of the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal is detected (FIG. 34), the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tank 3. Then, the rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is stopped. Water is supplied to the low water level LW1 by supplying water for a time Tr at the water supply speed Sw, and the water supply valve is closed. Further, steps 3630 to 3650 correspond to the low water level LW1.
, The cloth quality is detected from the on-duty ratio δ when the brushless DC motor 5 is started. In steps 3660 to 3700, the final wash water level LWo is determined from the cloth amount and the cloth quality as described above, and water supply up to the final wash water level LWo is performed at the water supply speed Sw for the water supply time tro, and the final wash water level LWo is obtained. The water supply valve is closed.

Next, as a second method of detecting the water level, a method of detecting the water level from the load torque of the dewatering tank 3 will be described.

According to this method, the dehydration tank 3 is rotated continuously or intermittently at a constant speed in one direction or in both forward and reverse directions during water supply, and a change in load torque accompanying a rise in water level due to water supply is detected. By stopping water supply when a predetermined load torque corresponding to the final washing water level LWo is reached, water can be supplied up to the final washing water level LWo.

FIG. 36 is a graph showing the relationship between the water level in the dewatering tank 3 and the load torque. As shown in the figure, the load torque is small and constant until the water level reaches the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3, but above that, the load torque changes in proportion to the rise of the water level.

Instead of detecting the load torque, the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal supplied to the brushless DC motor 5 or the inverter current may be detected. That is, the load torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 increases due to a rise in the water level due to the supply of water into the dewatering tank 3, but the brushless DC motor 5 always attempts to maintain a constant rotation with respect to such an increase in the load torque. Therefore, it is necessary to change the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5. Since the microcomputer 26 responds by changing the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal, it is possible to detect a change in load torque by detecting the on-duty ratio δ. In addition, PWM
When the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 due to the on-duty ratio δ of the signal changes, the inverter current also changes. Therefore, the inverter current may be detected.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an on-duty ratio δ with respect to a change in water level. In this figure, a rapid change in the on-duty ratio δ in the middle indicates that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3. After the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tank 3, the on-duty ratio δ changes almost in proportion to the change in the water level.

The third water level detection method detects a motor start torque T required to start the dewatering tub 3 in water supply at regular time intervals Δt, and detects a water level from a change in the start torque T at this time. Is what you do.

Since the starting torque changes due to the resistance generated between the dewatering tub 3 and the water, the higher the water level, the larger the starting torque. This starting torque gradually increases the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 in the stopped state, detects the voltage at the moment when the brushless DC motor 5 rotates as a voltage corresponding to the starting torque T, and corresponds to this voltage. The water level can be detected from the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal or the inverter current.

In the fourth water level detection method, a constant voltage is always applied to the brushless DC motor 5 to supply water while rotating the dewatering tub 3, and the water level is determined from the change in the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 at this time. It is to detect. That is, although the load torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 increases as the water level rises, only a constant voltage is constantly applied to the brushless DC motor 5, so the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 decreases. Therefore, the water level can be detected by detecting the rotation speed n. The voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 can be kept constant by controlling the microcomputer 26 so that the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal is kept constant.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 with respect to a change in water level. In this figure, the rapid decrease of the rotation speed n in the middle indicates the time when the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tank 3. From this point on, it can be seen that the water level and the rotation speed n are in a substantially proportional relationship.

The fifth water level detection method is as follows. After the dewatering tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed n at every constant time Δt during the water supply, the brushless DC motor 5 is made to run free and the brushless D
The water level is detected from a change in the time tw until the rotation speed n of the C motor 5 decreases to the predetermined rotation speed.

While the dewatering tub 3 is being supplied with water, the dewatering tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed n at a constant time interval Δt, and then the brushless DC motor 5 is free-run. Thus, the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 decreases rapidly. Therefore, the time tw until the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 decreases to the predetermined rotation speed changes depending on the water level, and the water level can be detected from the time tw. FIG. 39 is a diagram showing such a relationship between the water level and the time tw.

The sixth water level detection method is a method of detecting water pressure using a diaphragm and detecting the water level from the water pressure.

When the water supply up to the final washing water level LWo is completed using the above-described water level detecting method, the washing operation time is determined next.

The washing operation time is the time for the entire washing process, and is determined from the amount of cloth and the quality of the cloth as shown in Table 6 below.

[0159]

[Table 6] As shown in this table, when the amount of cloth is small and the cloth is supple, the washing operation time is short, and when the amount of cloth is large and the cloth is rough, the washing operation time is set long. You.

Next, the water flow for washing the laundry put in the dewatering tub 3 will be described.

The water flow depends on the positive reversal time tr of the pulsator 4 by the brushless DC motor 5 and the brushless DC motor 5
Is determined by determining the number of rotations n, and the relationship between the cloth amount and the cloth quality is determined as shown in Table 7 below.

[0162]

[Table 7] As shown in this table, when the cloth amount is small and the cloth quality is flexible, the water flow is weak, and when the cloth amount is large and the cloth quality is rough, the water flow is set strong.

The above-mentioned forward reversal time tr of the pulsator 4 and the number of revolutions n of the brushless DC motor 5 for determining the water flow are determined as shown in Tables 8 and 9 below, depending on the amount and the quality of the cloth. .

[0164]

[Table 8]

[Table 9] The strength of the water flow depends on the forward reversal time tr and the rotation speed n.
Are as shown in Table 10 below.

[0165]

[Table 10] FIG. 40 is a diagram showing the above-described forward reversal time tr and the number of revolutions n together with the torque of the brushless DC motor 5.
Note that, in the figure, ts is a pause time during the normal inversion time tr.

In step 310 shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the above-mentioned final washing water level LWo, washing operation time, and water flow, a target dehydration rate in the dehydration processing performed at the end of washing and at the end of rinsing can be set. But
This allows the user to set a desired dehydration rate according to the type of clothing to be washed at this stage before the start of the washing process, thereby preventing, for example, excessive dehydration and wrinkling. It is possible to perform any dehydration, such as preventing or sufficiently dehydrating.

As described above, the final washing water level LWo,
The washing operation time, the water flow, and the target dehydration rate are determined, and when the water supply to the final washing water level LWo is completed (steps 310 to 340), the washing process starts under these conditions (step 350).

In this washing step, the microcomputer 26 controls the flat clutch disc 57 via the clutch mechanism 82 so that the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is not transmitted to the spin tub 3, that is, the spin tub 3 is not rotated. And the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated at the rotation speed n and the positive reversal time tr determined as described above via the motor control circuit 24, the upper arm drive circuit 21, the lower arm drive circuit 22, and the inverter circuit 17. Then, the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is transmitted only to the pulsator 4, and a water flow determined by the rotation speed n and the positive reversal time tr is generated in the dewatering tub 3, thereby washing the laundry in the dewatering tub 3. Wash for driving time.

This washing process is carried out while performing cloth tangling detection, cloth loosening control, cloth damage detection, and cloth damage prevention control as shown in step 121 of FIG. Note that these cloth sway detection, cloth loosening control, cloth damage detection, and cloth damage prevention control are similarly performed in the first rinsing process and the second rinsing process.

In FIG. 7, first, as shown in step 360, the cloth is detected, and when the cloth is detected, the cloth is loosened (step 37).
0).

[0171] The detection of cloth tangling is performed by the brushless DC motor 5.
Washing and rinsing of laundry while rotating at a constant number of revolutions n detects cloth tangling generated on clothes, that is, twisting. When the clothes are rotated by the pulsator 4 when the clothes are entangled in this way, the load applied to the brushless DC motor 5 depends on whether the clothes are further rotated in the twisting direction or in the direction in which the clothes are unwound. In contrast, a larger load is applied to the brushless DC motor 5 in a case where the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated than in a case where the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated in a direction in which the brushless DC motor 5 is rotated. Thereby, the cloth sway detection can be performed.

The microcomputer 26 controls the brushless DC motor 5 at a constant rotation speed n even if the load is different.
Therefore, the voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5, that is, the on-duty ratio of the PWM signal is changed according to the load, that is, the torque. Therefore, when the brushless DC motor 5 maintains a constant rotation speed n, the difference between the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 at the time of normal rotation and at the time of reverse rotation, that is, the difference of the voltage, the inverter current or the on-duty ratio is detected. By doing so, it is possible to detect the state and direction of the clothing cloth.

FIG. 41 shows a first method of detecting cloth entanglement.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that FIGS. 41 and 42 are connected by jump symbols A and B, and both figures show a series of cloth-entanglement detection processing.

The first cloth entanglement detecting method is performed when the brushless DC motor 5 rotates forward (CW) and reverses (CCW).
W) The difference ΔTmax between the maximum value Tmax (CW) and Tmax (CCW) of the torque T applied to the brushless DC motor 5 of FIG.
Is to detect the state and direction of cloth entanglement.
The torque maximum values Tmax (CW) and Tmax (CC
In order to detect (W), the microcomputer 26 performs the control such that the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 becomes a constant value n. CW) and δmax
(CCW). Further, the maximum value δmax (CW) of the maximum values δmax (CW) during the normal rotation and the reverse rotation
W) The maximum value δ in the max and the maximum value δmax (CCW)
The max (CCW) max is updated and maintained, and the state and direction of the cloth wrapping is detected based on these maximum values δmax (CW) max and δmax (CCW) max.

In FIG. 41 and FIG. 42, step 4
Reference numerals 110 to 4130 denote processing for detecting the cloth amount, supplying water up to the final washing water level LWo, and determining the rotation speed n for the determined water flow, as described above. Actually, in addition to these, as described above, the washing operation time, the normal reversal time tr of the water flow, and the like are also determined, but are omitted here to explain the detection of cloth entanglement.

In step 4140 of FIG. 41, the microcomputer 26 supplies a start signal and a normal rotation control signal to the motor control circuit 24, and the brushless D.
A PWM signal having an on-duty ratio δ such that the C motor 5 can rotate at a constant rotation speed n is supplied from the PWM oscillator 25 to the brushless DC motor 5 via the chopper circuit 27, the upper arm drive circuit 21, and the inverter circuit 17. Then, the brushless DC motor 5 is started to rotate forward.

When the brushless DC motor 5 starts normal rotation, it is checked whether or not the normal rotation period has ended (step 4150), and the rotation speed N of the brushless DC motor 5 is detected (step 4160). It is determined whether or not the rotation speed N has become equal to a certain rotation speed n (step 4170). If the rotation speed is not equal to the fixed rotation speed n, the microcomputer 26 changes the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal to control the PWM signal to be equal (step 4180). When the rotation speed N of the brushless DC motor 5 becomes equal to the fixed rotation speed n, it is checked whether or not the Δt time has elapsed (step 4190). If not, the process returns to step 4150. If so, it is checked whether the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal at this time is the maximum value (step 420).
0), if it is not the maximum value, the process returns to step 4150. If it is the maximum value, it is checked whether it is within the normal rotation period (step 4210).

If it is within the normal rotation period, step 42
The on-duty ratio δ detected at 00 is set to a maximum value δmax (C
W) (step 4220), and if it is not within the normal rotation period, it is within the reversal period, so step 420
The on-duty ratio δ detected at 0 is the maximum value δmax (CC
W) (step 4230), and step 41
Returning to 50, the above processing is repeated during the normal rotation period,
The maximum value δmax (CW) during this normal rotation period is detected.

In the above description, step 415
The processing of 0 to 4230 is the maximum value δmax in the normal rotation period.
(CW) is detected.
50 to 4230, when returning from step 4410 shown in FIG. 42, the maximum value δmax (C
CW).

Accordingly, in steps 4150 to 4230, the maximum value δmax (C
W) and δmax (CCW) are to be updated.

When the normal rotation period or the reversal period ends, the process proceeds from step 4150 to step 4240, where the brushless DC motor 5 is stopped, and it is checked again whether or not the normal rotation period has been reached (step 4250). In the case of the normal rotation period, the maximum value δ updated in step 4220
It is checked whether or not max (CW) is the maximum value (step 4260).
(CW) is set to the maximum value δmax (CW) max (step 4270). Also, in the case of the reversal period in the check in step 4250, it is checked whether or not the maximum value δmax (CCW) updated in step 4230 is the maximum value (step 4280). The value δmax (CCW) is set to the maximum value δmax (CCW) max (step 4290).

As described above, the maximum value δmax (CW)
Once max and δmax (CCW) max are determined, the difference Δδ between them is calculated as follows (step 430):
0).

Δδ = δmax (CW) max−δmax (CCW) max FIG. 45 shows the maximum values δmax (CW) max and δmax.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between (CCW) max and a difference Δδ between them, and showing a change in the on-duty ratio δ at the time of normal rotation and inversion.

Next, the routine proceeds to step 4310 in FIG. 42, where the absolute value of the difference Δδ shown in the above equation is set to a predetermined reference value Δδref.
Check if it is less than.

If the absolute value of the difference Δδ is smaller than the reference value Δδref, it is determined that the cloth is not involved, so the flow advances to step 4390 to check whether or not the cloth-related detection processing is completed. If not, it is checked whether the previous rotation is forward rotation (step 4400). If it is forward rotation, reversal is started (step 4410), and the process returns to step 4150 in FIG. The same processing is repeated.

If the absolute value of the difference Δδ is not smaller than the reference value Δδref, that is, if the absolute value is larger than the reference value Δδref, it is determined that the cloth is entangled. Whether or not the difference Δ
The sign of δ is checked (step 4320). Difference Δδ
Is large, that is, positive, it is considered that cloth is involved in the normal rotation direction.
Is set to be longer than the normal rotation period tcw so that the cloth is loosened (steps 4330, 43).
50).

If the difference Δδ is not larger than 0 in the check in step 4320, that is, if the difference is negative, it is considered that cloth is involved in the reverse direction, so that the normal rotation period tcw of the brushless DC motor 5 is reduced. Control is performed to make the length of the reversal period tccw longer so as to loosen the cloth (steps 4340 and 4350).

When the loosening of the cloth is completed in step 4350, it is checked whether the cloth detection processing is completed (step 4360). If not, the absolute value of the difference Δδ is set to the reference value Δδref. Until it becomes smaller, the loosening of step 4350 is continued (step 4370). When the absolute value of the difference Δδ is smaller than the reference value Δδref, the normal rotation or reversal cycle is returned to the standard (step 4380). If the cloth tangling detection process is not completed, it is checked whether the previous rotation is normal rotation. (Step 4400), in the case of normal rotation, inversion is started (Step 4410), and when it is not normal rotation, normal rotation is started (Step 4420), and the process returns to Step 4150 in FIG. The same processing as described above is repeated.

Next, a second method for detecting cloth entanglement will be described.

This second cloth fringing detecting method uses a brushless DC motor 5 instead of using the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal in the first cloth fringing detecting method.
This uses the inverter current flowing through the inverter.

FIGS. 43 and 44 are flow charts showing the procedure of the second cloth fringing detecting method. The processing shown in both figures is the same as that of the first cloth fringing detecting method shown in FIGS. The only difference is that the inverter current I is used in place of the on-duty ratio δ of the above, and all other processing is the same, so that the description is omitted.
43 and 44, the maximum values Imax (CW) and Imax (CCW) of the inverter current correspond to the maximum values δmax (CW) and δmax (CCW) of the torque T, and the maximum value Imax of the inverter current I (CW) and Imax (CCW), the maximum values Imax (CW) max and Imax (CCW) max are the maximum values δma of the torque T.
x (CW) max and δmax (CCW) max.

FIG. 46 is a graph showing the relationship between the maximum values Imax (CW) max and Imax (CCW) max and the difference ΔI between them, showing the change in the inverter current I during normal rotation and inversion.

The third method of detecting cloth crossing is based on the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal in the first cloth crossing detection method.
Δmax (CW) and δmax (CCW), the average values δave (CW) and δave (CCW) of the on-duty ratio δ during one normal rotation period or one inversion period.
The other is the same as the first method.

The fourth method of detecting the cloth sway is the maximum value Imax of the inverter current I in the second cloth sway detection method.
(CW) and Imax (CCW) instead of the average value I of the inverter current I during one normal rotation period or inversion period.
ave (CW) and Iave (CCW) are used, and the others are the same as the second method.

In the first to fourth cloth sway detection methods described above, loosening for loosening the cloth, ie, twisting, is performed by shortening the normal rotation or reversal time in the twisting direction. This can also be performed by changing the rotation speed. That is,
Set a small rotation speed in the twisted rotation direction,
Control is performed so as to increase the setting in the direction in which the cable is not twisted.

As another method, there is also a method of rotating the optical disc in a direction opposite to the twisting direction until it is loosened without repeating the normal inversion.

When the cloth entanglement detection processing and the cloth loosening processing (steps 360 and 370 in FIG. 7) are completed as described above, next, cloth damage is detected (step 380), and the water flow is reduced so as to reduce the cloth damage. Is changed (step 39
0).

In the cloth damage detection, for example, when the cloth quality is “supple”
When washing clothes with the same amount of cloth, if the water flow is low, that is, if the rotation speed is low, the clothes will not be damaged, but the strong water flow,
In other words, if performed at a high rotation speed, the clothes will be damaged, so it is performed by determining whether the laundry is washed at an appropriate rotation speed according to the cloth quality and the amount of cloth, and if it is not appropriate,
Control by changing the rotation speed and changing the water flow,
Prevents fabric damage.

FIG. 47 shows the first method of detecting a fabric damage.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 47, steps 4710 to 48
Up to 20 cloth amount detection, water level detection, cloth quality detection, determination of final washing water level LWo, determination of water flow based on rotation speed n of brushless DC motor 5 and forward reversal time tr, final washing water level LW
The water supply and washing steps up to o are the same as those described above, and will not be described.

When the washing process is started under the above-described conditions (step 4820), it is checked that a predetermined time has elapsed (step 4830), and the voltage Vdc corresponding to the load torque of the laundry is supplied from the resistor 28. The data is taken into the microcomputer 26 via the filter 30 and the A / D converter 29 (step 4840).

By the way, as shown in the following Table 11, the voltage Vdcij at the time of washing with the least amount of damage to the combination of the amount of cloth and the type of cloth is previously obtained by an experiment, and is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26. It is stored in advance as table data.

[0203]

[Table 11] More specifically, the laundry is washed by the pulsator 4 which rotates at a constant speed at a rotation speed n corresponding to the water flow determined as described above. As for the load torque, the load torque increases as the cloth amount increases, the load torque decreases as the cloth amount decreases, and the load torque increases as the cloth quality changes from “supple” to “stiff”. Conversely, as the fabric quality changes from "stiff" to "supple", the load torque decreases, depending on the amount and quality of the laundry.

Therefore, there is an optimum load torque depending on the cloth quality and the cloth amount. As described above, this load torque can be represented by a voltage, an inverter current, an on-duty ratio, and the like. Therefore, when the load torque is represented by a voltage, as shown in Table 11, the cloth and the cloth Depending on the quantity, there will be an optimal voltage Vdc. Therefore, as shown in step 4840 described above, the voltage Vdc is detected, and it is intended to check how the detected voltage changes with respect to the preset optimum voltage shown in Table 11.

That is, next, in step 4850, the optimum voltage Vdcij corresponding to the cloth amount and the cloth detected by the cloth amount detection and the cloth detection previously performed is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26 as shown in Table 11. And compares the read optimum voltage Vdcij with the voltage Vdc fetched in step 4840, and checks whether the difference between the two voltages is greater than a predetermined difference voltage dV as shown in the following equation.

Vdcij-Vdc> dV When the difference between the two voltages is larger than dV, that is, the optimum voltage V for the cloth amount and the cloth obtained by detecting the cloth amount and the cloth.
Although dcij is too large than the detection voltage Vdc, this means that the cloth amount and the cloth obtained by the cloth amount detection are not correctly detected. Since it can be determined that it has shifted toward "stiffness", the routine proceeds to step 4870, where control is performed so as to reduce the rotation speed n.

In other words, the fact that the fabric is shifted toward “stiff” in this way corresponds to “stiff” even though the actual fabric quality is closer to “smooth” than “stiff”. The clothes are more likely to be damaged because the clothes that are close to “supple” are washed at a strong water current, that is, at a high rotation speed. Therefore, in such a case, the rotation speed n is controlled to be small as described above, thereby preventing the clothes from being damaged.

If it is determined in step 4850 that the difference between the two voltages is not larger than the predetermined difference voltage dV,
It is checked whether the difference voltage obtained by subtracting the optimum voltage Vdcij from the detection voltage Vdc is larger than a predetermined difference voltage dV as shown in the following equation (step 4860).

Vdc-Vdcij> dV When the difference between the two voltages is larger than dV, that is, the optimum voltage V for the cloth amount and the cloth obtained by detecting the cloth amount and the cloth.
This means that dcij is too smaller than the detection voltage Vdc, which means that the cloth amount and the cloth determined by the cloth amount cloth detection are not correctly detected. It can be determined that it has shifted to the “flexible” direction, so the process proceeds to step 4880 to control the rotational speed n to be increased.

The above two equations are used to check whether or not the difference (Vdci (ij) −Vdc) between the two voltages is within a predetermined difference voltage dV. , The number of rotations n is controlled so that the washing is performed with the optimum number of rotations n that is suitable for the cloth, that is, the water flow.

-DV <Vdci (j-1) -Vdc <dV After controlling the increase / decrease of the rotation speed n as described above (steps 4870, 4880), it is checked whether or not the set washing operation time has elapsed. If it has not passed (Step 4890), the flow returns to Step 4830, and the same process is repeated after a certain period of time, washing is performed while changing the water flow to an optimum flow each time. (Step 4900) to end the washing process.

The second method of detecting the damage to the cloth is different from the first method of detecting the damage to the cloth in that the brushless DC motor 5 uses the time tω until the predetermined number of revolutions n is reached, instead of the voltage. Only.

Table 11 used in the second cloth damage detection method
Table 12 below shows a similar data table, and FIG. 48 shows the procedure of the second cloth damage detection method. 48 is different from FIG. 47 in that the times tω, tωij, and dtω are used instead of the voltages Vdc, Vdcij, and dV, and thus the description is omitted.

[0214]

[Table 12] A third method of detecting the damage to the cloth is that the change in the number of rotations dω from the start of rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 to a predetermined time is used instead of the voltage in the first method of detecting the damage to the cloth.
The only difference is that.

Table 11 used in the third cloth damage detection method
Table 13 below shows a similar data table, and FIG. 49 shows the procedure of the third cloth damage detection method. 49 is different from FIG. 47 in that changes in rotation speeds dω, dωij, and ddω are used instead of voltages Vdc, Vdcij, and dV, respectively, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0216]

[Table 13] As described above, cloth damage detection and cloth loosening processing (FIG. 7)
When the steps 380 and 390 are completed, it is next checked whether or not the washing operation time set in the step 310 has elapsed (step 400). If the washing operation time has elapsed, drainage processing is performed (step 410). ).

In the drainage processing, since it is necessary to detect that the water in the dewatering tub 3 and the washing tub 2 are completely depleted and then to perform the dewatering processing, the process proceeds from step 410 in FIG. 7 to step 420 in FIG. Then, a water level detection operation in the drainage is performed. Then, in this water level detection, first, it is checked whether or not the water level of the waste water has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 (step 430).

It is determined that the water level of the drainage water has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 by continuously or intermittently rotating the dewatering tank 3 in the forward or reverse direction at a low speed from the start of drainage, while determining the load of the brushless DC motor 5. By detecting the torque and detecting that the load torque of the brushless DC motor 5 greatly changes when the water level falls below the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3, it is detected that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3 It can be carried out.

In the drainage treatment to the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3, the final washing water level L supplied to the dewatering tub 3
Wo, that is, the final washing water amount Wo and the water level dW or the water amount W to the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3 are known as described above. Therefore, after the drain valve 86 is opened under the control of the microcomputer 26, the water level is increased as described above. Is a dewatering tank 3
The time th1 until the bottom of the dewatering tank 3 is counted by the microcomputer 26, and the amount of water (Wo-W) obtained by subtracting the amount of water W from the final washing water Wo to the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 is calculated as the time t1.
The drainage speed Sh can be obtained by dividing by h1 as follows.

Sh = (Wo-W) / th1 As described above, drainage is performed, but it is not possible to detect that the water level has reached the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 even after 3 minutes and 30 seconds, for example. In this case, for example, a drain valve or a drain hose may be clogged, so that an abnormal state is notified (step 4).
40, 450).

When it is detected that the water level of the drainage water has dropped to the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3, the water remaining below the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3 is drained (step 460). This is because the remaining water amount W below the bottom surface of the dewatering tub 3 is known from the design of the washing machine as described above. Therefore, as shown in the following equation, the remaining water amount W is divided by the above-described drainage speed Sh. , The drainage time trh of the remaining water amount is calculated.
Constant wastewater treatment is performed.

Trh = (W1 / Sh) × Ch Here, Ch is a drainage time correction coefficient.

At the time of drainage, the laundry is drained with the washing liquid contained therein, so that the amount of drainage is smaller than the amount of water determined at the time of water supply. However, at the water level below the bottom of the dewatering tub 3, the same amount of water as at the time of water supply is obtained. Therefore, the amount of drainage calculated based on the drainage speed Sh obtained from the time change of the water level causes insufficient drainage. It is corrected by the drainage time correction coefficient Ch as in the equation. Further, the drainage speed depends on the water level, and the drainage speed decreases at a low water level below the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 3, so that the correction for this amount is also included in the correction coefficient.

The washing tub 2 remaining below the bottom of the dewatering tub 3
When the water in the inside is drained, the first dehydration process is started (step 470).

In the dehydration process, vibration occurs due to the unevenness of the laundry at the end of drainage, and the rotation speed of the dehydration tub 3 does not increase, and a state in which dehydration cannot be performed, that is, a so-called unbalanced state occurs. The state is detected by detecting means using, for example, a mechanical switch (step 480). And if there is an unbalanced state,
For example, the imbalance is corrected by, for example, interrupting the dehydration process and re-watering and re-watering (step 500). If the imbalance cannot be corrected even after such imbalance correction has been performed three times, the state is notified as an abnormal state (steps 490 and 510).

If there is no imbalance or if the imbalance is no longer corrected, the dehydration rate is detected during the dehydration processing, and the dehydration processing is continued until the target dehydration rate set in step 310 is achieved. Do (Step 5
20, 530).

The dehydration rate detection is performed by utilizing the fact that the moisture contained in the clothes is reduced due to the dehydration and the moment of inertia of the dehydration tub 3 containing the wet clothes is reduced. Specifically, the dehydration time from the change in the moment of inertia to the target dehydration rate is determined in advance for the combination of the cloth amount and the cloth, and stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26 as a data table, By performing the dehydration process for this dehydration time, the target dehydration rate is achieved.

The moment of inertia is not directly detected, but the following first to fourth control variables controlled by the microcomputer 26 are detected as substitutes for the moment of inertia.

A first control variable is a voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when the brushless DC motor 5 rotates so as to maintain a constant rotation speed, that is, an on-duty ratio of a PWM signal, or a change in the on-duty ratio. This is the inverter current associated with.

The second control variable is the rotation speed when a constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5, that is, when the on-duty ratio of the PWM signal is constant.

The third control variable is that when a constant voltage is applied to the brushless DC motor 5, that is, when the brushless DC motor 5 is started with a constant on-duty ratio, the brushless DC motor 5 is started.
This is the time required for the C motor 5 to reach a certain rotation speed.

The fourth control variable is a voltage applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when the DC speed of the brushless DC motor 5 is changed from one constant rotation speed to another rotation speed, that is, an on-duty ratio of a PWM signal.

Next, various methods for detecting the dehydration rate will be described.

The first method of detecting the dehydration rate is to change the moment of inertia during dehydration while rotating at a constant rotation speed n, based on the cloth amount and cloth detected before the dehydration, The dehydration state is estimated, the dehydration time is determined, and the dehydration rate of the clothing is controlled. Comparing the method of reducing the moisture contained in clothing during the dehydration treatment under the condition that the amount of clothing of clothing is the same, the supple cloth such as synthetic fiber is replaced with the rugged cloth such as cotton. It turns out that it is faster than the one.

FIG. 50 is a graph showing the change in the moment of inertia with respect to the spin-drying time when the cloth is changed as a parameter. FIG. 51 shows the characteristics of the PWM signal which changes with the moment of inertia. 6 is a graph showing a change in an on-duty ratio δ with respect to a dehydration time.

FIG. 52 is a graph showing the change in the moment of inertia with respect to the spin-drying time when the amount of cloth is changed as a parameter in the case of the same cloth, and FIG.
PWM that changes the same characteristics with the moment of inertia
6 is a graph showing a change in an on-duty ratio δ of a signal with respect to a dehydration time.

From the graphs of FIGS. 50 to 53, it is understood that the moment of inertia or the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal decreases as the dewatering time increases. Therefore,
By storing such a curve of the moment of inertia, specifically, a curve of the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal, as a data table in advance in the memory of the microcomputer 26 with respect to the combination of the cloth amount and the cloth material, It is possible to know the moment of inertia after time, that is, the dehydration state. In other words, it is possible to know how much time t should be dehydrated and the degree of dehydration to be obtained from the cloth quality and the cloth amount of the clothes before dehydration.

Table 14 below is a table showing the magnitude of the time for the combination of the cloth amount and the cloth quality at the same dehydration rate.

[0239]

[Table 14] From Table 14, when the amount of cloth is small and the cloth quality is supple like synthetic fiber, the time until the same dehydration rate is short, the amount of cloth is large, and the cloth quality is rough like cotton. In that case, it turns out that the time is long.

Next, the procedure of the first dehydration rate detecting method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 54, the processing of steps 5410 to 5430, ie, the detection of the cloth amount, the detection of the cloth quality, and the determination of the dewatering rate, are the same as the above-described processing. Next step 544
At 0, a curve of the on-duty ratio of the PWM signal corresponding to the cloth amount and the cloth obtained by the cloth amount detection and the cloth detection is selected from the curves as shown in FIGS.

From the curve of the on-duty ratio thus selected, the target time t until the set target dehydration rate is determined from the data table (step 545).
0). Then, the spin-drying tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed n to perform spin-drying until the target time t has elapsed (step 546).
0,5470). After the dehydration time t has elapsed, the clothes in the dehydration tub 3 have been dehydrated to the target dehydration rate.
Is stopped (step 5480).

A second method of detecting dehydration is to pre-determine a dehydration time Δt shorter than the target dehydration time t by counting from the start of dehydration based on the cloth amount and the quality of the clothing, and The dehydration state is determined by examining the moment of inertia, and the subsequent dehydration time is corrected. Table 15 shown below is a table showing the short dehydration time for a combination of the cloth amount and the cloth quality. Note that the moment of inertia can be obtained as the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal when the rotational speed is constant n as in the case of the first control variable described above.

[0244]

[Table 15] Next, a procedure of the second dehydration rate detecting method will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 55, the detection of the cloth amount, the detection of the cloth quality, and the determination of the dewatering rate, which are the processing of steps 5510 to 5530, are the same as the above-described processing. Next step 554
0, the curve of the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal is detected from the curves as shown in FIGS. 50 to 53 based on the cloth amount and the cloth obtained by the cloth amount detection and the cloth detection,
The short dehydration time Δt is set.

Next, the on-duty ratio δt after the short dehydration time Δt is determined from the on-duty ratio curve (step 5550). Then, the spin-drying tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed n, and the spin-drying process is performed once until the short spin-drying time Δt has elapsed (steps 5560 and 5570). After the elapse of this short spin-dry time Δt, the on-duty ratio δ is detected (step 5580), and the difference Δδ between this on-duty ratio δ and the on-duty ratio δt determined in step 5550 is calculated (step 5590).

Then, it is checked whether or not the difference Δδ is larger than the reference value δref (step 5600). If it is larger, it can be determined that the water which has not been dehydrated is contained more than expected. Therefore, the dehydration end time t is set to be large (step 5610), and the dehydration end time t is set.
, The rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is stopped (step 563).
0,5640). If the difference Δδ is not larger than the reference value δref in the check in step 5600, the dehydration end time t is set short (step 562).
0), after the elapse of the dehydration ending time t, the rotation of the dehydration tub 3 is stopped (steps 5630 and 5640).

The third method of detecting the dehydration rate is the same as the second method, but after the short dehydration time Δt, the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal is set as described above as the second control variable.
Of the brushless DC motor 5 at this time and the rotation speed nt of the data table set in advance at this time to correct the subsequent dehydration time.

FIGS. 56A and 56B show the dehydration time and the on-duty ratio δ in the third dehydration rate detecting method described above.
It is a figure which shows the relationship of rotation speed n. As shown in the figure, if the on-duty ratio δ is controlled to be constant after the elapse of the time Δt, the number of revolutions is reduced. In this case, the reduction speed of the rotation speed decreases as the dehydration rate decreases as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 56B, and decreases as the dehydration rate increases as indicated by the solid line.

The fourth method for detecting the dehydration rate is as follows.
After the rotation of the C motor 5 is temporarily stopped, the brushless DC motor 5 is restarted when the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal is fixed and the brushless DC motor 5 is restarted, as shown as the third control variable described above. The time tc until the rotation speed of the motor reaches a predetermined rotation speed n is used.

FIG. 57 is a diagram showing the relationship between the spin-drying time and the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 in the above-described fourth method. As shown in FIG.
After temporarily stopping the C motor 5, the brushless DC motor 5 is restarted at a constant on-duty ratio, and the brushless DC motor 5 is restarted.
The time tc until the rotation speed of the motor 5 reaches a certain rotation speed n is measured. The time tc is longer when the dehydration rate is low as shown by a dotted line in the figure, and is shorter when the dehydration rate is high as shown by a solid line.

A fifth method of detecting the spin-drying ratio is to change the spin speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 during spin-drying from a spin speed n to a spin speed n + Δn at a certain time, and to determine a change Δδ of the on-duty ratio at this time. It is a method to use.

FIGS. 58 (a) and 58 (b) are diagrams showing the dewatering time, the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5, and the on-duty ratio in the fifth method, respectively. FIG.
As shown in (b), when the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5 is changed to the rotation speed n + Δn on the way, the on-duty ratio changes to Δδ as shown in FIG. Therefore, the dehydration rate can be detected by utilizing this change.

The sixth method for detecting the dehydration rate is to detect the moment of inertia immediately after the start of dehydration as the on-duty ratio δo, and to detect the moment of inertia as the on-duty ratio δt at regular intervals after dehydration. The ratio d
Is compared with a reference value dref, and the end of dehydration is determined from the comparison result.

The procedure of the sixth dehydration rate detecting method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 59, the processing shown in steps 5910 and 5920 is the same as the above-described cloth amount detection and cloth quality detection processing. In the next step 5930, the reference value d is obtained from the cloth amount, the cloth quality and the set target dehydration rate.
Determine the ref. Then, the rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is started at a constant rotation speed n, and the on-duty ratio δo immediately thereafter is detected as an inertia moment (steps 5940, 595).
0).

Next, after the short spin-drying time Δt has elapsed since the start of rotation of the spin-drying tub 3, the on-duty ratio δt is detected.
A ratio d between the on-duty ratio δt and the on-duty ratio δo immediately after the start of rotation is calculated (steps 5960 to 5960).
5980). Then, it is checked whether or not the ratio d is smaller than the reference value dref (step 5990). If it is not smaller, the process returns to step 5960, and the same processing is repeated. Is stopped (step 6000).

Although the sixth dehydration rate detecting method uses the first control variable as the moment of inertia, other control variables described above may be used.

The seventh method for detecting the dehydration rate is as follows.
The C motor 5 is started, and the microcomputer 26 controls the on-duty ratio of the PWM signal so that the number of revolutions becomes a constant number of revolutions n, and the number of revolutions of the brushless DC motor 5 becomes the constant number of revolutions n. This is a method in which the on-duty ratio δo immediately after reaching and the on-duty ratio δt for each fixed time Δt are compared, and a dehydration process is performed based on the ratio between the two as in the sixth dehydration rate detection method.

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing the relationship between the dehydration rate time and the on-duty ratio in the seventh dehydration rate detection method described above. In the figure, the on-duty ratio when the rotation speed of the brushless DC motor 5 reaches a certain rotation speed n at time t01 is δo, and the on-duty ratio at time t2 when a certain time Δt has elapsed from this time t01 is δo.
t. The ratio d = δt / δo of the two on-duty ratios is calculated, and dehydration is performed until the ratio d becomes smaller than the reference value dref.

The reference value dref is set differently depending on the required dehydration rate, that is, when a high dehydration rate is required, the reference value is set to a small value.
When a low dehydration rate is required, dehydration at various dehydration rates can be performed by setting a large value. Note that an inverter current may be used instead of the on-duty ratio δ.

In the eighth method of detecting the dehydration rate, the moment of inertia immediately after the start of dehydration is detected as the on-duty ratio δo, and the moment of inertia after a lapse of a predetermined time Δt from the dehydration is detected as the on-duty ratio δt. Then, the ratio d of the two is compared with a reference value dref, and the end of dehydration is determined from the comparison result.

The procedure of the eighth dehydration detecting method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 61, the processing shown in steps 6110 and 6120 is the same as the above-described cloth amount detection and cloth quality detection processing. In the next step 6130, the reference value d is obtained from the cloth amount, the cloth quality and the set target dehydration rate.
Determine the ref. Then, the rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is started at a constant rotation speed n, and the on-duty ratio δo immediately after this is detected as an inertia moment (steps 6140 and 615).
0).

Next, after the elapse of the short spin-drying time Δt from the start of rotation of the spin-drying tub 3, the on-duty ratio δt is detected.
The on-duty ratio δt is calculated as the ratio d of the on-duty ratio δo immediately after the start of the rotation (steps 6160 to 6160).
6180). Then, it is checked whether the ratio d is equal to or less than the reference value dref (step 6190). If not, the remaining dehydration time t is determined from the ratio d and the reference value dref (step 6200). This time t
After the lapse of time, the rotation of the dewatering tank 3 is stopped (step 621).
0,6230). If the ratio d is equal to or less than the reference value dref in the check in step 6190, the rotation of the dewatering tub 3 is stopped (step 6230).

In the setting of the remaining time in step 6200, the remaining time t is set to be small when the ratio d is close to the reference value dref, and is set to be large otherwise. As in the case of the sixth method, dehydration can be performed at various dehydration rates by setting the reference value dref differently depending on the required dehydration rate.

The moment of inertia immediately after the start of dehydration and Δ
It is needless to say that the above-described second to fourth control variables can be used instead of the above-described on-duty ratio or inverter current to detect the moment of inertia after the passage of the time t.

The eighth dewatering rate detecting method detects a time change of the torque of the brushless DC motor 5 during the dewatering process, and detects the change over time from a data table preset for a combination of the cloth amount and the cloth. This is a method of correcting a dehydration time for achieving an appropriate dehydration rate corresponding to a change in torque. In this case, the dehydration time to reach the target dehydration rate is obtained from the data table.

The ninth dewatering rate detecting method uses a brushless DC
When the motor 5 is controlled at a constant torque, that is, at a constant voltage or current, the load torque increases as the moisture content increases, so that the number of rotations of the brushless DC motor 5 increases. The dehydration rate is detected from the rotational speed difference Δn between the rotational speed immediately after the start of dehydration and the rotational speed after dehydration by utilizing the fact that the rotational torque of the brushless DC motor 5 decreases because the load torque decreases as the water content decreases. Is what you do.

Since the rotational speed difference Δn is substantially proportional to the amount of dehydrated water, the larger the rotational speed difference Δn, the higher the dewatering rate, and the smaller the rotational speed difference Δn, the lower the dewatering rate. Therefore, the dehydration rate can be estimated from the change in the rotational speed n when the same torque control is performed before and after the dehydration. By detecting the dehydration rate, it is possible to prevent dehydration of the garment from being excessively dehydrated by performing the dehydration treatment until the dehydration can be sufficiently performed or by excessively dehydrating.

The tenth dehydration rate detecting method is a method of detecting the dehydration rate by comparing the amount of cloth before washing and the weight of the amount of cloth after dehydration. The weight of the cloth after dehydration can be measured from the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5, and in this torque measurement, the rotation of the brushless DC motor 5 is stopped after dehydration, and And then the torque when trying to rotate in the opposite direction.

The eleventh method for detecting the dehydration rate is a method for detecting the dehydration rate by comparing the weight of the cloth before washing with the weight of the cloth during or after dehydration. The weight of the cloth amount during or after dehydration can be measured from the torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5, and in this torque measurement, the brushless DC
This is performed by detecting a torque fluctuation generated when the rotation speed of the motor 5 is changed.

The twelfth dehydration rate detecting method uses a brushless D
This is a method of detecting a dehydration rate based on a change in inertia moment when the C motor 5 is controlled at a constant torque, that is, at a constant current.

More specifically, the relationship between the torque T of the brushless DC motor 5 and the angular acceleration β is T = Iβ, where I is the moment of the object to be rotated. Therefore, assuming that the torque T is constant, if the moment I is large, the angular acceleration β is small, and if the moment I is small, the angular acceleration β is large. This is because the larger the moment I, the smaller the angular acceleration β becomes, and a certain angular velocity ω
Means that the time t until the time reaches.

Therefore, the moment Ie after dehydration of the dehydrated garment with reduced moisture is smaller than the moment Is before dehydration, and the change is proportional to the amount of dehydrated moisture.
That is, when Ie-Is is large, the amount of dehydrated water is large, and the dehydration rate is large.

Therefore, when the brushless DC motor 5 is started at a constant torque, that is, at a constant current, the time required to reach a preset number of revolutions is measured before and after dehydration, and the dehydration rate is estimated from the change. can do.

The thirteenth dewatering rate detecting method is a method for detecting the dewatering rate by utilizing the difference between the moments of inertia before and after dewatering. That is, since the moment of inertia of the garment after dehydration should be smaller than the moment of inertia of the garment after dehydration, the change in the moment of inertia is proportional to the amount of change in the moisture contained in the garment, that is, the angular change in the dehydration rate. Also,
Since the starting torque of the brushless DC motor 5 is proportional to the moment, a change in the moment, that is, a change in the dewatering rate is estimated from the difference between the starting torque before the dewatering and the starting torque after the dewatering. For example, the rotation speed n of the brushless DC motor 5
Compare the peak of the torque at the start when the constant is, the larger the difference between the two, the greater the dehydration rate, the greater the ratio of the starting torque before dehydration to the starting torque after dehydration, the smaller the dehydration rate Can be determined.

The fourteenth dehydration rate detecting method uses a brushless D
This is a method of detecting a dehydration rate from a change in torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 before dehydration when the C motor 5 is rotated at a constant rotation speed and a change in torque after dehydration. Brushless DC
When the motor 5 rotates at a constant rotation speed, the torque before dehydration is greater than the torque after dehydration, and the change in the torque increases as the amount of dehydrated water increases. That is, when the change in torque is large, the dehydration rate is large, and when the change in torque is small, the dehydration rate is small. Therefore, the dehydration rate can be estimated from the change in torque at the same rotation speed before and after dehydration.

The fifteenth dehydration rate detecting method is a method of obtaining a difference dI of the moment of inertia at a certain time interval, determining the remaining dehydration time from the difference dI, the amount of cloth and the cloth data, and achieving the target dehydration rate. It is.

More specifically, the difference d of the moment of inertia
I is compared with a predetermined reference value dI1. If the reference value is equal to or less than the reference value dI1, the remaining dehydration time for the combination of the cloth amount and the cloth is obtained from the following Table 16 which is obtained in advance and stored in the memory of the microcomputer 26. taij is determined, and dehydration is performed for the remaining dehydration time.

[0281]

[Table 16] The remaining dehydration time varies depending on the target dehydration rate. In general, the target dehydration rates at the end of the washing process and at the end of the first rinsing process are lower than the target dehydration rates at the end of the second rinsing process. A plurality of tables are provided as shown in FIG.

[0282]

[Table 17]

[Table 18] Table 17 is used when the difference dI is between the reference values dI1 and dI2, and Table 18 is used when the difference dI is equal to or greater than the reference value dI2. For example, when the cloth amount is small, the cloth quality is standard, and the difference dI is between the reference values dI1 and dI2, the dehydration is continued for the remaining time tb12, thereby completing the dehydration to the target dehydration rate. .

According to the sixteenth dehydration rate detecting method, since the water contained in the clothes decreases as the dehydration proceeds, the brushless D is required to rotate the dehydration tank 3 at a constant rotation speed n.
The torque required by the C motor 5 is also reduced, but a change in the on-duty ratio δ that changes with the reduction of the torque is detected, and the change in the on-duty ratio δ is reduced to a predetermined reference value or less. This is a method for judging that the dehydration has been completed.

FIG. 62 shows the change of the on-duty ratio δ with respect to the spin-drying time.
Change gradually decreases as the dehydration time advances, and becomes substantially saturated, and it can be seen that this change Δδ is gradually reduced.

Next, the operation of the sixteenth dehydration rate detecting method will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 63, the microcomputer 2
Under the control of 6, the dehydration tub 3 is rotated at a constant rotation speed n via the brushless DC motor 5 to start dehydration processing (step 6310), and the rotation of the dehydration tub 3 is set to a constant rotation speed n. After that, the microcomputer 26 detects the on-duty ratio δ (t) at regular time intervals Δt (steps 6320 and 6330).

Then, a change Δδ of the on-duty ratio δ is calculated for each Δt time as shown in the following equation (step 6340).

Δδ = δ (t) −δ (t−1) The change Δδ of the on-duty ratio δ is determined by a predetermined reference value Δδ.
If the change Δδ is not less than or equal to the reference value Δδref, the flow returns to step 6320 to continue the dehydration process. Judging that the rate does not change,
The rotation of the spin-drying tub 3 is stopped to end the spin-drying process (step 6360).

In the sixteenth dehydration rate detecting method described above, the change in torque is detected by using the on-duty ratio δ. However, it is needless to say that an inverter current may be used instead. In the sixteenth dehydration rate detecting method, the reference value Δδref is fixed as a predetermined value. However, the reference value Δδref may be variable so that the degree of dehydration can be adjusted. In this case, it goes without saying that the degree of change of the reference value Δδref can be adjusted to the target dehydration rate.

As described above, when the dehydration processing up to the target dehydration rate is completed, the process proceeds to step 540 in FIG. 8, where water supply for the next first rinsing processing is started, and the water level is detected (step 540). 550), water is supplied to the final washing water level LWo determined from the cloth amount and the cloth quality in the same manner as in the washing processing (step 560).

When water is supplied to the final washing water level LWo, the first
The rinsing process is started (step 570). The first rinsing process is performed for the set time with the optimal water flow while performing the cloth sway detection, the cloth loosening control, the cloth damage detection, and the cloth damage prevention control, similarly to the washing processing (steps 580 to 620).

When the first rinsing process is completed, a drainage process is performed (step 630). This wastewater treatment is performed in step 4
This is performed while performing water level detection and the like as in steps 10 to 460 (steps 640 to 680 in FIG. 9).

When the first rinsing process is completed, a second dehydration process is started (step 690). Similarly to the first dehydration process, the second dehydration process is performed up to the target dehydration rate while performing unbalance detection and imbalance correction (Step 70).
0-750).

When the dehydration to the target dehydration rate is completed in the first dehydration processing, water supply for the next second rinsing processing is started (step 760), and while detecting the water level (step 770), the same as in the washing processing is performed. Water is supplied to the final washing water level LWo determined from the cloth amount and the cloth quality (step 78).
0).

When water is supplied to the final washing water level LWo, the second
The rinsing process is started (Step 790). Similarly to the washing process and the first rinsing process, the second rinsing process is performed for the set time with the optimum water flow while performing the detection of the cloth rag, the cloth loosening control, the cloth bruise detection, and the cloth bruise prevention control (step 80).
0-840).

Upon completion of the second rinsing process, a drainage process is performed (step 850). This wastewater treatment is performed in step 4
This is performed while performing water level detection and the like in the same manner as in steps 10 to 460 (steps 860 to 900 in FIG. 10).

[0297] When the second rinsing process is completed, a final dehydration process is started (step 910). Similar to the first and second dehydration processes, the final dehydration process is performed up to the target dehydration rate while performing unbalance detection and imbalance correction, thereby completing all processes (steps 920 to 97).
0).

[0298]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A change in moment of inertia with respect to time and a dehydration rate corresponding to the time when the dehydration tub containing the laundry is rotated at a constant rotation speed are determined in advance in accordance with the amount and quality of the laundry. And, it is stored in correspondence with the cloth, and the dehydration rate corresponding to the time change of the moment of inertia corresponding to the amount of the laundry and the cloth is read out, and the dehydration rate corresponding to the time change of the read inertia moment is read. The dehydration time corresponding to the target dehydration rate is determined in comparison with the target dehydration rate, and the determined dehydration time, the dehydration tub is rotated at the constant rotation speed to start dehydrating the laundry , and further dehydration is started. Later, an example
Example, if detecting a load torque when the drying tub is rotated at a constant rotational speed, calculates a rate of change of the detected load torque, detecting binding of dehydrated state based on the change rate of the load torque
Since the subsequent dehydration time is corrected based on the result, the dehydration process is performed so as to appropriately achieve the target dehydration rate that can be set according to the clothing, for example, in the case of flexible clothing, the target dehydration is performed. By setting the rate to be low, it is possible to perform appropriate dehydration processing such that it is possible to prevent the clothes from being excessively dehydrated and becoming wrinkled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a mechanism used in the washing machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a circuit unit that controls an operation of the washing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a drive circuit used in the circuit section shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an overall schematic operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a first part of a flowchart showing the overall operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 in further detail;

FIG. 8 is a part of the flowchart following FIG. 7 showing the overall operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 in further detail;

9 is a part of the flowchart following FIG. 8 of the flowchart showing the overall operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 in further detail;

FIG. 10 is a last part following the flowchart of FIG. 9 of the flowchart showing the overall operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 in further detail;

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between time and rotation speed in the first cloth amount detection method.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a first cloth amount detection method in detail.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram in which the drive circuit shown in FIG. 5 is partially modified so that it can be used to carry out the second cloth amount detection method.

FIG. 14 shows a brushless DC in the second cloth amount detection method.
FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a part of the circuit of FIG. 13 in which a current flowing by an electromotive force induced in a winding of the motor is indicated by an arrow.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing changes in time and current in the second cloth amount detection method.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing in detail a procedure of a second cloth amount detection method.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the current flowing through the brushless DC motor 5 with respect to time when the brushless DC motor is rotated in the reverse direction at time t01 in the third cloth amount detection method.

FIG. 18 shows a brushless DC in the third cloth amount detection method.
It is a figure for explaining the direction and the order of the electric current which flows into the winding of the brushless DC motor when rotating a motor reversely.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a third cloth amount detection method in detail.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a relationship among cloth, resistance applied to a pulsator, and torque of a brushless DC motor.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a first cloth quality detection method.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a relationship between a voltage applied to a brushless DC motor and a starting torque.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a cloth amount, a starting torque, and a cloth quality detected by the cloth amount detection.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a data table created from the relationship between the amount of cloth, the starting torque, and the cloth in the first cloth detection method.

25 is a data table similar to FIG. 24 showing the relationship between the amount of cloth, the voltage, and the cloth based on FIGS. 22 and 23, using the voltage of the brushless DC motor instead of the starting torque shown in FIG. 24; .

FIG. 26 is a graph showing a relationship between a starting current and a starting torque in the second cloth material detection method.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a second cloth quality detection method.

28 is a data table showing the relationship between the amount of cloth, the starting current, and the material from the data table shown in FIG. 24 and the diagram showing the relationship between the starting torque and the starting current shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a third cloth detection method.

FIG. 30 is a graph showing the relationship between the torque and the rotation speed in the third cloth quality detection method.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a fourth cloth quality detection method.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a relationship among time, cloth amount, and cloth in the fourth cloth detection method.

FIG. 33 is a data table showing a relationship among time, cloth amount, and cloth in the fourth cloth detecting method.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an on-duty ratio δ that sharply increases when the water level reaches the bottom of the dewatering tub.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a water supply process and a water level detection procedure for the water supply process using a relationship between a water supply speed and a water supply amount.

FIG. 36 is a graph showing the relationship between the water level of the dewatering tank and the load torque.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an on-duty ratio δ with respect to a change in water level.

FIG. 38: Brushless DC motor 5 with respect to change in water level
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a rotation speed n of FIG.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a relationship between water level and time in a fifth water level detection method.

FIG. 40 shows torque, rotation speed, and torque applied to the brushless DC motor 5 when the brushless DC motor is rotated forward and reverse.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positive and negative reversal time.

FIG. 41 is a part of the first half of a flowchart showing the procedure of the first cloth sway detection method;

FIG. 42 is a part of the latter half of the flowchart showing the procedure of the first cloth sway detection method.

FIG. 43 is a part of the first half of a flowchart showing the procedure of the second cloth fringing detection method.

FIG. 44 is a part of the second half of the flowchart showing the procedure of the second cloth sway detection method;

FIG. 45 shows the maximum value δma in the first cloth tangling detection method.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between x (CW) max and δmax (CCW) max and their difference Δδ, showing the change of the on-duty ratio δ at the time of normal rotation and inversion.

FIG. 46 shows the maximum value Ima in the second cloth sway detection method.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between x (CW) max and Imax (CCW) max and a difference ΔI between them, showing changes in the inverter current I at the time of forward rotation and inversion.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a first method of detecting a fabric damage.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a second method of detecting a fabric damage.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a third method of detecting a fabric damage.

FIG. 50 is a graph showing a change in moment of inertia with respect to dehydration time when cloth is changed as a parameter.

FIG. 51 is a graph showing a change in the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal, which changes the characteristic similar to that of FIG.

FIG. 52 is a graph showing a change in moment of inertia with respect to dehydration time when the cloth amount is changed as a parameter in the case of the same cloth quality.

FIG. 53 is a graph showing a change in the on-duty ratio δ of the PWM signal, which changes the characteristic similar to that of FIG. 52 according to the moment of inertia, with respect to the dehydration time;

FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a first dehydration rate detecting method.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a second dehydration rate detecting method.

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing a relationship between a dehydration time, an on-duty ratio δ, and a rotation speed n in a third dehydration rate detection method.

FIG. 57 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a dehydration time and a rotation speed of a brushless DC motor in a fourth dehydration detection method.

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing a dehydration time, a rotation speed of a brushless DC motor 5, and an on-duty ratio in a fifth dehydration detection method.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a sixth dehydration detection method.

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a dehydration rate time and an on-duty ratio in a seventh dehydration rate detection method.

FIG. 61 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a seventh dehydration detection method.

FIG. 62 is a diagram illustrating an on-duty ratio δ with respect to a dehydration time for describing a sixteenth dehydration rate detection method.

FIG. 63 is a flow chart showing a procedure of a sixteenth dehydration rate detecting method.

FIG. 64 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between torque and rotation speed of a brushless DC motor using voltage as a parameter.

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a relationship between load torque and voltage applied to the brushless DC motor.

FIG. 66 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a time required to reach a target rotation speed of the brushless DC motor and a load torque when the performance of the brushless DC motor 5 is fixed.

FIG. 67 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between torque and rotation speed of the brushless DC motor with respect to a voltage parameter, and illustrating a change in inverter current with respect to a change in torque.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Washing tub 3 Dehydration tub 4 Pulsator 5 Brushless DC motor 9 Mechanism 17 Inverter circuit 21 Upper arm drive circuit 22 Lower arm drive circuit 24 Motor control circuit 25 PWM oscillator 26 Microcomputer 37 First conduction axis 43 Second conduction axis 57 Flat Clutch disk U1, V1, W1 Upper arm transistor U2, V2, W2 Lower arm transistor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-154279 (JP, A) JP-A-3-251295 (JP, A) JP-A-60-29196 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 44800 (JP, A) JP-A-4-67894 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 33/02 D06F 49/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cloth quantity detecting means for detecting a cloth quantity and a cloth quality of a laundry, and a moment of inertia when a dewatering tub containing the laundry is rotated at a constant rotation speed to dehydrate the laundry. The storage means for previously obtaining the change with respect to the time and the dehydration rate corresponding to the time corresponding to the cloth amount and the cloth of the laundry, and storing them in accordance with the cloth amount and the cloth, and setting the target dehydration rate A dehydration rate setting means, a reading means for reading out from the storage means a dehydration rate corresponding to a time change of the moment of inertia corresponding to the cloth amount and the cloth detected by the cloth amount cloth quality detecting means, and The dehydration rate corresponding to the time change is compared with the target dehydration rate, the time determining means for determining the dehydration time corresponding to the target dehydration rate, the dehydration time determined by the time determining means, the dehydration tub is fixed. Rotate at the rotation speed Dehydration means for dehydrating laundry and dehydration
A place shorter than the dehydration time determined by the time determination means after the start
Dehydration left based on dehydration state after a fixed time
A washing machine comprising: a dehydration time correction unit for correcting time . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dehydrating time correcting means rotates the dehydrating tub containing the laundry at a constant rotational speed in order to dehydrate the laundry.
A torque detection means for detecting a load torque when allowed, the change rate calculating means for calculating a rate of change in the load torque detected by said torque detecting means, based on the rate of change of the load torque calculated by said change rate calculating means The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a dehydration state detecting unit that detects a dehydration state by using the dehydration state.