JP3306306B2 - Fully automatic 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 fully automatic washing machine, and more particularly to a fully automatic washing machine provided with a bath water pump, which is capable of pumping bath water by the bath water pump and supplying the same to a washing / dehydrating tub.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fully automatic washing machine, dehydration rinsing is known as a method for performing effective rinsing with a small amount of water. Dehydration rinsing is a process in which water is poured into a laundry dehydration tub in which laundry has been put and the laundry is soaked in water, and then the laundry dehydration tub is rotated to dehydrate, and the detergent components contained in the laundry are removed. ,
Rinse with water.

[0003] Some automatic washing machines include a bath water pump. In such a washing machine, bath water can be pumped up by a bath water pump and used for washing for the purpose of saving water (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-131688).

[0004]

In a fully automatic washing machine provided with a conventional bath water pump and capable of performing dehydration rinsing, dehydration rinsing using bath water is not performed. This is because when the bath water runs out during the dehydration rinsing, it cannot be detected, and there is a possibility that satisfactory dehydration rinsing cannot be performed.

More specifically, in the dehydration rinsing, first, water is supplied to the washing and dewatering tub, and the laundry put in the washing and dewatering tub is made to contain water. When the water supply is performed with tap water, it can be reliably performed unless the water supply is cut off. However, when the bath water is pumped up by the bath water pump and water is included in the laundry, the bath water is running low,
When the bath water runs out, only the bath water pump is driven, no water is supplied, and the laundry cannot contain water.

[0006] On the other hand, during dehydration and rinsing, a drain valve is opened so that water does not accumulate in the washing dehydration tub. Thus, the supplied water wets the laundry sufficiently, and the excess water flows out of the laundry dewatering tub through the drain. Therefore, in the case of water supply using bath water, even if water supply is insufficient or water is not supplied, it cannot be detected by a water level sensor or the like, and the laundry contains sufficient water. In a state where the washing and dewatering tub is not rotated, a situation occurs in which the washing and dewatering tub is rotated to perform dehydration, and it is conceivable that rinsing is insufficient.

[0007] Since such a situation may occur, in the conventional fully automatic washing machine, rinsing using bath water is limited to pool rinsing or water rinsing. In the case of pool rinsing or water rinsing, it is necessary to store a predetermined amount of rinsing water in the washing and dewatering tub prior to rinsing. Whether or not water has accumulated in the washing and dewatering tub can be detected by a water level sensor provided in the washing and dewatering tub. If you monitor the output of the water level sensor,
Since it is possible to determine whether or not the bath water has run out, if the reservoir rinse or the water injection rinse is used, the rinse can be performed without any trouble even if the bath water is used.

However, when bath water is used,
If not only the pool rinsing and the water rinsing but also the dehydration rinsing can be performed, more water can be saved. In addition, in the dehydration rinsing, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to store water in the washing and dewatering tub as in the case of pool rinsing or the like, so that no time is required for storing water and the rinsing time can be reduced. The present invention has been made under such a background, and in a fully automatic washing machine having a bath water pump and capable of performing dehydration rinsing, even when using bath water, dehydration rinsing can be performed, and as a whole, It is an object of the present invention to provide a fully automatic washing machine capable of performing a rinsing process without delay.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Equipped with a bath water pump that can pump up the bath water and supply it to the laundry dehydration tub, after supplying bath water or tap water to the laundry dehydration tub in which the laundry is put and let the laundry contain water, In a fully automatic washing machine that can perform dehydration rinsing in which the washing and dehydrating tub is rotated to perform dehydration, it can be set to perform two or more rinsings, in which case, rinsing other than the last rinsing includes dehydration rinsing cage, at the time of dehydration rinsing, when the water supply for water free laundry there is a water supply has been stored by the bath water pump in the storage means and the storage means for storing that performed by the bath water pump, de
Dehydration if you do not use bath water for the next rinse
Pre-set in the washing and dewatering tub prior to the next rinse
Pooling water with tap water to a minimum water level at which the water level can be detected, and then driving a bath water pump to determine whether or not the water level of the washing dewatering tub reaches a predetermined water level within a predetermined time. In response to the determination that the determination unit determines that the water level does not reach the predetermined water level, in addition to the remaining rinse,
Rinsing control means for adding
Performed when it is determined that the water level does not reach the predetermined water level,
Tap water for remaining and additional rinses
Is supplied .

[0010] According to the above configuration, when dehydration rinsing is performed using bath water, bath water is used for the next rinse.
Even if not used , prior to this rinsing, it is determined whether or not a fixed amount of water is accumulated in the washing / dewatering tub within a predetermined time by driving the bath water pump. That is, it is determined whether or not the bath water can be pumped up by the bath water pump, and whether or not there is bath water during the dehydration and rinsing performed earlier. If the water level in the washing / dehydrating tub does not reach the predetermined level within a predetermined time, it is presumed that the bath water was not sufficiently supplied even in the previous dehydration rinse, and that the dehydration rinse was incomplete, and the remaining dehydration rinse was performed. in addition to rinsing, to <br/> too it is added further. Therefore, even if dehydration rinsing using bath water is incomplete, additional rinsing is added in that case, and when the fully automatic washing machine has finished operating,
The process from washing to dehydration is completed without delay, and there is no problem such as the detergent being attached to the laundry.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a simplified configuration of a fully automatic washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The washing machine main body 1 includes a box-shaped housing 2 having an opening on an upper surface, and a lid 3 that can be opened and closed is attached to the opening. On the upper surface of the housing 2, an operation panel 4 provided with a course setting key 53 to be described later is arranged. In the washing machine body 1,
Further, there are provided an outer tub 5 in which the housing 2 is suspended by a suspension bar with a spring (not shown), and an inner tub 6 (washing / dewatering tub) provided in the outer tub 5. Although not shown, the inner tub 6 is formed with a number of small holes, so that the washing water can freely pass through the inner tub 6 and the outside (the side surrounded by the outer tub 5). The washing water supplied to the inner tub 6 is stored by the outer tub 5 surrounding the washing water. On the other hand, laundry such as clothes is stored in the inner tub 6.

Above the outer tub 5, a water supply port 7 for supplying washing water to the inner tub 6 is formed, and the water supply port 7 is provided via a tap water supply pipe 8 and a bath water supply pipe 9. Tap water and bath water are supplied. The tap water supply pipe 8 is connected to a water supply pipe 11 via a water supply valve 10 formed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve. The other end of the water supply pipe 11 is connected to a tap faucet or the like (not shown). When the water supply valve 10 is opened, the tap water flows into the tap water supply pipe 8 and the tap water is supplied to the inner tank 6.

On the other hand, the bath water supply pipe 9 is connected to the bath water pump 1.
2 are connected. The bath water pump 12 is, for example, a self-priming pump for pumping bath water remaining in a bathtub (not shown) through a bath water hose 13. Bath water pumped by the bath water pump 12 is supplied to the inner tub 6 through the bath water supply pipe 9. Further, a priming water supply pipe 14 having one end connected to a middle part of the tap water supply pipe 8 is connected to the bath water pump 12.
A part of the tap water flowing through the tap water supply pipe 8 is taken into the bath water pump 12 through the priming water supply pipe 14 as priming water necessary for starting the pump.

At the bottom of the outer tub 5, a drain port 15 for discharging the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 5 to the outside of the housing 2 is formed. A drain pipe 16 extending outside the housing 2 is connected to the drain port 15. A drain valve 17 composed of, for example, a solenoid valve is disposed in the middle of the drain pipe 16. An air trap 18 is provided at one corner of the bottom of the outer tank 5. The air trap 18 is connected to a water level sensor 19 provided at an upper portion of the housing 2 by an air hose 2.
0. As the water level in the outer tub 5 rises, water also enters the air hose 20 and the air in the air hose 20 is compressed. The water level sensor 19 measures the air pressure in the air hose 20 so that the outer tank 5 can be measured.
To detect the water level in the inside.

The water level sensor 19 according to this embodiment is
The A level is the lowest detectable level. This A water level is set as one of the bath water presence determination water levels. Further, as will be described later, the B water level which is slightly higher than the A water level is set, and is another water level for judging the presence or absence of bath water. The inner tub 6 serves as both a washing tub and a dewatering tub as described above, and has a number of fine dewatering holes formed around the inner tub 6. At the bottom of the inner tub 6, a pulsator 21 for stirring the washing water to generate a water flow is provided. The inner tank 6 and the pulsator 21 are supported by an output shaft 23 of a bearing portion 22 provided below the outer tank 5 so as to be capable of rotating forward and backward.

On the other hand, a motor 24 for generating a driving force for rotating the inner tank 5 and the pulsator 21 and a transmission mechanism 25 for transmitting the rotating force of the motor 24 to the bearing portion 22 are provided at the bottom of the housing 2. Provided. The transmission mechanism 25 includes a motor pulley 27 fixed to an output shaft 26 of the motor 24, a pulley 29 fixed to a lower end of an input shaft 28 of the bearing 22, a motor pulley 27 and a pulley 2.
9 and a belt 30 stretched over the belt. The torque of the motor 24 is transmitted to the pulley 29 via the motor pulley 27 and the belt 30, and further transmitted to the bearing 22 via the input shaft 28.

Further, a clutch 32 described later is built in the bearing portion 22 so that the inner tank 26 and the pulsator 21 can be driven individually, and the output shaft 23 of the bearing portion 22 is constituted by a double shaft. I have. For example, at the time of washing and rinsing, the driving force of the motor 24 is transmitted to the pulsator 21 via the bearing 22, and the pulsator 21 is rotated forward and backward. At the time of dehydration, the driving force of the motor 24 is
The inner tub 6 and the pulsator 21 are both rotated at a high speed in one direction, and the laundry in the inner tub 6 is dehydrated by centrifugal force.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the fully automatic washing machine according to this embodiment. Control is
It is executed by the microcomputer 31. The microcomputer 31 receives a signal from the operation unit 4. The operation unit 4 is provided with a course setting key 53. The course setting key 53 is used, for example, to use a bath water full use course in which all the bath water is used from washing to the end of rinsing, and a bath from washing to the first rinsing. Use water, finish rinsing is bath water utilization course using tap water, washing only uses bath water, rinsing is bath water washing course using tap water, all washing is usually done using tap water Courses and the like can be selectively set. For the rinsing, whether to perform dehydration rinsing, pool rinsing, water injection rinsing, or the like can be set by using the course setting key 53.

In the microcomputer 31, according to the set course, washing,
Perform rinsing and dehydration control. Water level sensor 19 described above
Is also supplied to the microcomputer 31. The microcomputer 31 controls the water supply valve 10, the drain valve 17, the bath water pump 12, the motor 21, and the bearing 2 at the time of control.
2 and the like.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are flowcharts showing an example of control performed by the microcomputer 31.
Next, an operation that is a feature of the fully automatic washing machine according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the flow of FIGS. When the control is started, the microcomputer 31 determines a set course. For example, it is determined whether or not the course uses bath water until rinsing (step S1). If the course does not use the bath water until rinsing, another control is performed. The other controls are not related to the features of this embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

If the course uses bath water until rinsing, it is further determined whether or not the course is for dehydrating and rinsing (step S2). If not this course,
Become another control. In the course of performing the dehydration rinsing, the dehydration rinsing is performed (Step S6) after the washing (Step S3), drainage (Step S4), and intermediate dehydration (Step S5).

Here, the intermediate dewatering in step S5 means that the washing water used for washing is drained, and then dewatering is performed to remove the washing water contained in the laundry and to make the subsequent rinsing more efficient. This is the processing to be performed. After the completion of the dehydration rinsing, the microcomputer 31 determines whether or not to use bath water in the next rinsing (step S).
7). If, for example, a course using bath water is set by the course setting key 53, for example, from washing to ending of rinsing, the determination here is YES. However, if a course using tap water for finishing rinsing is set, the determination here is NO. For example, whether or not the bath water is used in the next rinse is stored by the flag indicating the set course, and the determination in step S7 is performed based on this storage.

If YES in step S7, the drain valve 17 is closed, the bath water pump 12 is turned on (step S8), and the water level of the water pumped up from the bath by the bath water pump 12 and supplied to the inner tub 6 is supplied. There whether the host vehicle has reached the a level (step S9) and whether the bath water pump 12 is time T ₁ after being turned on has elapsed (step S10)
Are respectively determined. If the level of the water supplied by the bath water pump 12 reaches the level A before the time T ₁ elapses, in the dehydration rinse of step S6,
It can be confirmed that the water necessary for the dehydration rinse has been supplied using the bath water, and the process proceeds to step S11. Then, in steps S11 and S12, the bath water pump 12 is driven until the water level in the inner tub 6 reaches the set water level. The state of water supply to the inner tank 6 can be determined based on the output of the water level sensor 19. If the water level does not rise halfway based on the output of the water level sensor 19, it can be estimated that the bath water has run out. So in that case the bath water pump 12 is turned off,
The water supply valve 10 is opened to supply tap water (step S12). When the set water level is reached, the bath water pump 12 is turned off (step S13), and rinsing, drainage, and intermediate dewatering are performed (step S1).
4-16).

Thereafter, a clean shower process is further performed (step S17). In the clean shower process, for example, one bucket of tap water is supplied to the inner tub 6 after the intermediate dehydration, and the bucket of tap water is included in the laundry. Thereafter, the inner tub 6 is rotated at a high speed to perform dehydration. Even when rinsing is performed with bath water, there is no particular problem in using the bath water for rinsing because the bath water has been cleaned of dust and dirt through a filter or the like (not shown). However, since some users feel that rinsing with bath water may not be very clean, such a clean shower process is added in this embodiment.

After the clean shower process, final dehydration is performed (step S27). On the other hand, in steps S9 and S10,
When the time T ₁ is passed, if the water level of the water supplied by the bath water pump 12 has not reached the A level, it is not without bath water at that point. In this case, there is a high possibility that even in the dehydration rinsing performed in the previous step S6, the bath water is not supplied sufficiently to make the laundry contain water. Therefore, in such a case, the storage rinsing stroke is added once. Thereby, even if the dehydration rinsing in step S6 is insufficient, the laundry is sufficiently rinsed by the additional rinsing, so that there is no problem in rinsing.

In step S18, the bath water pump 12 is turned off, and the water supply valve 10 is opened. As a result, tap water is supplied to the inner tank 6 (step S19), and after tap water is supplied to the set water level (step S20), rinsing is performed (step S21). Then, after drainage and intermediate dehydration (steps S22 and S23), tap water is supplied again (step S24), and the additional pool rinse is performed once again (step S25). After that, the water is drained (step S26), and the process ends after the final dehydration (step S27).

When it is determined in step S7 that the bath water is not used in the next rinse, first, the drain valve 17 is closed, the water supply valve 10 is opened, and tap water is supplied to the A level (step S28). ). And then the water supply valve 10 is turned off, it is turned on the bath water pump 12 simultaneously (step S29), whether the time T ₂ has elapsed, the water level B
It is determined whether the water level is reached (steps S30 and S31).
In other words, during the time T _2, the bath water is supplied by the bath water pump 12 is not level is a determination is made whether to increase the A level to B level.

Here, the bath water pump 12 is turned on from the beginning, and it is not determined whether or not the water level has reached the A level by the bath water. Is supplied, it is determined whether or not the water level changes from the A water level to the B water level, because there are the following advantages. That is, in order for water to accumulate to the A water level, it is necessary to accumulate water to some extent in the drain port 15 and the bottom of the outer tank 5. On the other hand, the processing from step S28 is a course that does not use bath water in the next rinse.
Therefore, the water to be stored in the outer tank 5 and the inner tank 6 is preferably tap water as much as possible.

Therefore, the water level is raised to the A level which is the lowest detectable level by tap water. Next, bath water pump 1
The water level supplied by 2 is only required to be able to determine whether or not bath water is supplied by the bath water pump 12.
Bath water is supplied until an arbitrary B water level (B water level is usually set slightly higher than A water level). Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the bath water pump 12 can supply the bath water while suppressing the amount of the bath water to be used to a small amount.

As a result of turning on the bath water pump 12, the time T
_When the water level rises from the A water level to the B water level before elapse of ₂ , the bath water pump 12 is turned off, and at the same time, the water supply valve 10 is opened to restart the supply of tap water (step S32). After the tap water reaches the set water level (step S33), the reservoir is rinsed (step S3).
4) Drainage is performed (step S35), and intermediate dehydration is performed (step S36). Finally, a clean shower process is performed (step S37).

In the course of steps S28 to S37, the last step of performing the clean shower process is to turn on the bath water pump 12 in step S29 and to switch from the A level to the B level.
Although it was up to the water level, it was considered that bath water was supplied. Of course, the clean shower process in step S37 may be omitted. Steps S30 and S
At 31, when the water level does not reach the B level even after the time T ₂ elapses, there is no bath water.

In such a case, there may be no bath water even in the dehydration rinsing performed in step S6.
Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to step S18, and the rinsing of steps S19 to S23 and the rinsing of additional steps S24 to S26 are performed as described above. In the above description, the dehydration rinsing performed before the step S7 is performed only once in step S6, but two or more dehydration rinsings may be performed using bath water.

In the rinsing performed in step S7 and subsequent steps, all the rinsings are taken up, but a water rinsing may be performed. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified within the scope described in the claims.

[0038]

According to the present invention, there is provided a fully automatic washing machine having a bath water pump and capable of pumping bath water and supplying the same to a washing / dewatering tub, wherein the bath water is used. However, it is possible to perform dehydration rinsing, use less tap water, and obtain a so-called energy-saving and easy-to-use fully automatic washing machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a fully automatic washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the fully automatic washing machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a characteristic control operation of the washing machine shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a characteristic control operation of the washing machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a characteristic control operation of the washing machine shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine main body 5 Outer tub 6 Inner tub (washing dehydration tub) 10 Water supply valve 12 Bath water pump 19 Water level sensor

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Eifuku 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-9-299686 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 33/02 D06F 39/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A bath water pump capable of pumping bath water and supplying it to a washing / dehydrating tub is provided, and bath water or tap water is supplied to a washing / dehydrating tub in which laundry is put, and water is supplied to the laundry. In a fully automatic washing machine that can perform dehydration rinsing by rotating the washing and dewatering tub after dehydrating, it can be set to perform two or more rinsings, in which case, dehydration is performed for rinsing other than the last rinsing. Includes rinsing,
At the time of the dehydration rinse, storage means for storing that water is supplied to the laundry by the bath water pump, and when the storage means has a memory supplied by the bath water pump , Do not use bath water for next rinse
If necessary, place it in the washing and dewatering tub before the next rinse.
Collect water with tap water to the predetermined minimum detectable water level.
Then, the bath water pump is driven thereafter, a determining means for determining whether or not the water level of the washing and dewatering tub reaches a predetermined water level within a predetermined time, and the determining means determines that the water level does not reach the predetermined water level. depending on, in addition to the remaining rinsing, further rinsed add
Rinsing control means to be added, when the determination means determines that the water level does not reach the predetermined water level.
The remaining and additional rinses
A fully automatic washing machine characterized by supplying tap water .