JP4326320B2 - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine.

  In a drum-type washing machine, a drum having a substantially cylindrical shape with a large number of dewatering holes around it is rotated at a high speed around a rotating shaft that extends substantially horizontally, and the drum-type washing machine is stored in the drum. Dehydration is performed by squeezing out water contained in wet laundry with centrifugal force. During this centrifugal dehydration, vibrations of the outer tub and noise associated with the vibrations may be generated due to an eccentric load (mass imbalance) caused by uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum. Reducing vibration and noise during centrifugal dehydration is one of the major problems in drum-type washing machines, and various countermeasures have been taken and proposed in the past.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the magnitude of the eccentric load (eccentric load amount) generated in the drum at the time of dehydration startup (drum rotation startup) is detected, and the detected eccentric load amount is a predetermined value. If it is within the permissible value, the drum rotation speed is increased. If the eccentric load exceeds the permissible value, the drum rotation is reversed until the centrifugal force acting on the laundry in the drum is smaller than gravity. There has been proposed a technique for suppressing the occurrence of vibration during centrifugal dehydration by reducing the speed and dispersing the unevenly distributed laundry in the drum.
Japanese Patent No. 3188143

  The amount of eccentric load is obtained based on the amount of change in rotational speed during one rotation of the drum. That is, if an eccentric load is generated on the drum, the rotational speed fluctuates during one rotation of the drum due to the movement of the eccentric load accompanying the rotation of the drum. The amount of load can be determined. However, when the weight of the laundry contained in the drum (load amount) is large, the inertial force at the time of drum rotation is large, so even if a large eccentric load is generated, the fluctuation amount of the drum rotation speed appears small. It will be. Therefore, the eccentric load amount obtained based on the fluctuation amount of the drum rotation speed does not necessarily correspond to the magnitude of the eccentric load generated in the drum. Nevertheless, in the above prior art, the load amount is not taken into consideration, and depending on the load amount, there is a possibility that a large vibration is generated when the rotational speed of the drum is increased.

Further, in the above prior art, control for suppressing the occurrence of vibration is performed in the initial stage of dehydration start-up, that is, in the period until the drum rotation speed reaches a predetermined low-speed rotation speed (for example, 100 rpm). However, there was a risk of vibration occurring at the initial stage of the dehydration start-up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine that can further reduce vibrations and associated noise at the time of starting up rotation of the drum.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a drum type washing machine that executes a washing operation including a plurality of dehydration processes sandwiching a rinsing process, and is inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally. And a drum (13) for storing laundry, a drum rotation driving means (20) for rotationally driving the drum, and a dehydration process performed before the rinsing process. In an initial stage, when the drum rotation driving means raises the rotation speed of the drum to a first relatively low rotation speed, the weight of the wet laundry stored in the drum is increased. Inertia moment value detecting means for detecting the corresponding inertia moment value and the inertia moment holding the inertia moment value detected by the above inertia moment value detecting means A holding means, in the early stages of dehydrating operation performed after the above rinsing stroke, when launching the rotational speed of the drum to said first rotational speed, the eccentric load amount for determining whether launching Means for setting an appropriate threshold according to the load amount based on the inertia moment value before the rinsing process held in the inertia moment value holding means, and the dehydration process performed after the rinsing process. A drum type washing machine characterized by including, in an initial stage, start-up control means for causing the drum rotation driving means to raise the rotation speed of the drum to the first rotation speed in accordance with the set threshold value. It is.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, the moment of inertia value detected when the rotation of the drum is started in the first dewatering step (after the washing step and before the rinsing step) is the moment of inertia value. In the second dehydration process (dehydration process after the rinsing process) stored in the holding means, the inertia moment value held in the inertia moment value holding means is used to calculate the load acting on the drum. The corresponding drum rotation driving means is controlled. Thereby, the vibration generated when starting up the drum can be suppressed to a low level, and the noise accompanying the vibration can be suppressed to a low level.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the drum type washing machine, the eccentric load detecting means (30, E3, E7) detects the magnitude of the eccentric load generated by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum when the drum rotates. further comprises E11), the raising control means, the magnitude of the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is equal to or less than a predetermined tolerance value in the state in which the drum is rotating in the first rotational speed Rotational speed increasing means (30, E5, E9) for increasing the rotational speed of the drum from the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed larger than the first rotational speed, provided that 2. A permissible value setting means (30) for setting the predetermined permissible value in accordance with a moment of inertia value held in the moment of inertia value holding means. A drum-type washing machine.

  The amount of eccentric load detected based on the fluctuation amplitude of the rotational speed of the drum does not necessarily correspond to the magnitude of the eccentric load generated on the drum. That is, when the weight (load amount) of the laundry stored in the drum is small, the inertial force when the drum rotates is small, so even if the eccentric load generated on the drum is small, the amount of fluctuation in the rotation speed of the drum Appears greatly. On the contrary, when the load amount is large, the inertial force during drum rotation is large, so even if a large eccentric load occurs, the amount of fluctuation in the drum rotation speed appears small. For this reason, if the rotational speed of the drum is raised without considering the load amount, a large vibration may occur when the load amount is large.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the magnitude of the eccentric load (predetermined allowable value) allowed when the rotational speed of the drum is increased from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed is the moment of inertia value. It is set according to the moment of inertia value held by the holding means.
Thus, for example, if the predetermined allowable value is set to a smaller value as the inertia moment value is larger, that is, the load amount is larger, the eccentric load generated on the drum is very small when the load amount is large. Only in this case, the rotational speed of the drum is increased from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed. Therefore, the vibration generated when the drum is raised can be suppressed to a low level, and the noise accompanying the vibration can be suppressed to a low level.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the initial stage of the dewatering process performed before the rinsing process, when the rotational speed of the drum is increased to the first rotational speed, it is determined whether or not to start the drum. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a predetermined default value is used as a threshold value of the eccentric load amount.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid (3) that is opened and closed for putting laundry in and out of the drum, and the moment of inertia value holding means is held in response to the opening of the lid. The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising erasing means (30, S1) for erasing the moment of inertia value.
According to the present invention, when the lid that is opened and closed for putting in and out the laundry is opened, the inertia moment value held in the inertia moment value holding means is erased.

  In many cases, the lid is opened during the washing process or the rinsing process, so that additional laundry is put into the drum or a part of the laundry in the drum is taken out. If the amount of laundry in the drum changes, the amount of load acting on the drum will change in the subsequent dehydration process, so the drum rotation drive means was controlled using the inertia moment value acquired before that time. There is a risk of generating vibration and noise, and taking a long time to increase the rotation speed of the drum. Also, if the lid is opened during the dehydration process, it is unclear how much the laundry has been dehydrated when the lid is opened. If the dehydration startup is performed using the moment value, vibration and noise may be generated, and it may take a long time to increase the rotation speed of the drum.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the lid is opened during the washing operation, the inertia moment value held in the inertia moment value holding means is deleted. When the invention according to claim 4 is combined with the invention according to claim 3, the drum rotation driving means is controlled using the default value until a new moment of inertia value is detected. As a result, it is possible to prevent vibrations and noises from occurring and it takes a long time to increase the rotation speed of the drum.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing machine obtained in an embodiment of the present invention. The outer box 1 that forms the exterior of the drum type washing machine has a front upper portion that is gently curved with its front lowered, and a laundry input port 2 is formed at that portion.
In relation to the laundry input port 2, an upper lid 3 for opening and closing the laundry input port 2 is provided. The upper lid 3 forms the upper surface of the outer box 1 with the laundry input port 2 closed, grasps the handle 4 provided at the center in the front-rear direction, and pushes the handle 4 upward while pushing it upward. The laundry input port 2 can be opened by folding it in two and raising it. On the left side of the laundry input port 2, a detergent input port that is exposed when the upper lid 3 is opened is formed. An operation panel 6 is provided on the right side of the upper lid 3. The operation panel 6 is provided with operation keys for performing various settings such as a driving course, and a display for displaying various information such as driving conditions.

FIG. 2 is a front longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of the drum type washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a left side view of the essential part of the drum type washing machine. 2 and 3, the outer box 1 is not shown.
On the pedestal portion 7, an outer tub 10 whose peripheral surface is substantially cylindrical and whose both end surfaces are closed has a pair of springs 11 that are connected from left and right obliquely upwards, with both end surfaces left and right, and obliquely below the front and rear. Are elastically supported by the damper 12 connected from the outside. Inside the outer tub 10, a drum 13 having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface in which a large number of water passage holes are perforated is provided with both end surfaces on the left and right. Both end surfaces (left and right end surfaces) of the drum 13 are closed, and a main shaft 14 and an auxiliary shaft 15 extending almost horizontally outward are respectively connected to the centers of the closed left and right end surfaces.

The main shaft 14 is rotatably received by a bearing 17 held in a bearing case 16 made of aluminum die casting that is fixed to the left end surface of the outer tub 10. On the other hand, the auxiliary shaft 15 is rotatably received by a bearing 19 held by a bearing case 18 fixed to the right end surface of the outer tub 10, whereby the drum 13 rotates about a substantially horizontal axis. Supported as possible.
A rotor 20b of a drum motor 20 that is an outer rotor type DC motor is fixed to the tip of the main shaft 14, and a stator 20a of the drum motor 20 is fixed to a bearing case 16 that also serves as a motor base. When a drive current is supplied to the stator 20a, the rotor 20b rotates accordingly, and the drum 13 is rotationally driven through the main shaft 14 at the same rotational speed as the rotor 20b.

  An outer tub opening 101 for taking in and out the laundry is formed at a position corresponding to the laundry input port 2 formed in the outer box 1 from the upper part of the peripheral surface of the outer tub 10 to the oblique front. The outer tank opening 101 can be opened and closed by the outer tank door 102. A drum opening 131 for taking in and out the laundry is formed on the peripheral surface of the drum 13, and the drum opening 131 is opened and closed by a pair of drum doors 132 having front and rear opening structures. be able to. A drum lock mechanism 21 for stopping and holding the drum 13 is provided below the stator 20a at a position where the drum opening 131 coincides with the outer tank opening 101 in the radial direction. The drum lock mechanism 21 has an engagement pin P that fits into an engagement groove 22 formed in the outer edge of the rotor 20b. With the engagement pin P fitted into the engagement groove 22 and the drum 13 stopped, all of the upper lid 3, the outer tub door 102 and the drum door 132 are opened, and the drum 13 is washed obliquely from above. The laundry can be put in and taken out through the article insertion port 2, the outer tub opening 101 and the drum opening 131.

  At the time of washing and rinsing the laundry, water is supplied into the outer tub 10, and the water supplied into the outer tub 10 flows into the drum 13 through a water passage hole on the peripheral surface of the drum 13. Further, a baffle B for lifting the laundry accommodated in the drum 13 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 13 at every equal angle (for example, 120 degrees). When washing and rinsing, the drum 13 is rotated while water is stored in the outer tub 10, so that the laundry in the drum 13 is lifted by the baffle B and dropped from a certain height to enter the drum 13. It can be struck against the surface of the running water. At the time of dehydration, the drum 13 is rotated at a high speed (for example, 300 to 1000 rpm) to squeeze the washing water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 by centrifugal force, and the squeezed washing water is passed through the water passage hole. It can be scattered to the outer tank 10 side.

  Furthermore, both end surfaces of the drum 13 have a hollow ring shape in order to suppress the vibration of the drum 13 due to the eccentric load caused by the deviation of the laundry when the drum 13 is rotated at a high speed during the dehydrating operation. A liquid enclosure type balance adjusting member 24 in which a liquid (for example, water) is enclosed is attached. On the inner peripheral surface of the balance adjusting member 24, a plurality of partition plates are erected at equiangular intervals with the rotation axis of the drum as the center, and a liquid storage chamber in which liquid can be stored between adjacent partition plates It has become. By rotating the drum 13 at a constant rotational speed or higher at which the centrifugal force acting on the liquid in the balance adjusting member 24 and the gravity are balanced, it is possible to prevent the liquid from moving between the liquid storage chambers. Is rotated at a speed lower than the above-mentioned constant rotational speed, it is possible to cause liquid movement between the liquid storage liquids.

  By providing the balance adjusting member 24, if the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 due to the uneven distribution of the laundry is small to some extent, when the eccentric load reaches the vicinity of the highest position as the drum 13 rotates, Control (G) in which the rotational speed of the drum 13 is rapidly decelerated to allow the liquid to flow out from the liquid storage chamber near the position of the eccentric load and to flow into the liquid storage chamber near the position facing the eccentric load. -Fall control) allows the liquid in the balance adjusting member 24 to be unevenly distributed according to the eccentric load generated in the drum 13, and cancels the eccentric load generated due to the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum 13. be able to.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the drum type washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a control unit 30 including a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a timer, and the like. The control unit 30 performs washing operations including washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes. It is designed to control the operation.
A key input signal is given to the control unit 30 from the operation keys 6 a arranged on the operation panel 6. Further, a water level sensor 33 for detecting the water level of the water stored in the outer tub 10, a lid opening / closing switch 34 for detecting opening / closing of the upper lid 3, and a drum lock mechanism portion 21 are built in. Detection signals are input from the drum lock detection unit 21b and the like, respectively.

  Furthermore, an inverter drive unit 32 is connected to the control unit 30, and the control unit 30 is synchronized with the rotation of the drum motor 20 (for example, 72 pulse signals for one rotation of the drum motor 20). The drum motor 20 is controlled via the inverter drive unit 32 on the basis of a signal from the rotation sensor 20c that generates. That is, the control unit 30 detects the rotation speed of the drum 13 (drum motor 20) based on the interval between the pulse signals output from the rotation sensor 20c, and controls the drum motor 20 based on the detected rotation speed of the drum 13. Control.

  Further, a load driving unit 31 is connected to the control unit 30, and a water supply valve 38 that controls the water supply into the outer tub 10 and the drainage from the outer tub 10 are controlled via the load driving unit 31. The drain valve 39 and the drum lock mechanism 21 are incorporated in the drum lock mechanism 21 and control the operation of the drum motor and the torque motor 21a that is a drive source for releasing the drum lock. In addition, the control unit 30 sends a display signal to the display devices 6b arranged on the operation panel 6 in order to perform display according to the operation of the operation keys 6a and display for notifying the driving progress status.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of the washing operation. Depending on the washing operation course, the dehydration process may be performed a plurality of times. For example, following the washing process, a dehydration process is performed to blow water containing detergent from the laundry. Further, following the dehydration process after the washing process, after the first rinsing process is performed, the second dehydration process is performed in order to blow water from the laundry. Further, when the second rinsing process is performed, the third dehydration process (final dehydration process) is performed following the second rinsing process.

  In each dehydration process, the rotation speed of the drum 13 (drum rotation speed) is raised in steps of 0 → 80 → 90 → 100 → 500 → 800 rpm. At each speed step, the magnitude of the eccentric load (eccentric load amount) generated on the drum 13 is detected, and if the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the drum rotation speed increases to the next step. If the eccentric load amount exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the drum rotation speed is raised again after the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the vibration by rotating the drum 13 in the state in which the big eccentric load has arisen in the drum 13 can be suppressed.

  The eccentric load amount is obtained based on the amount of change in the drum rotation speed during one rotation of the drum 13 at each speed stage. In the state where the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at a substantially constant rotational speed, if an eccentric load is generated on the drum 13 due to the uneven distribution of the laundry, the eccentric rotational load reaches the lowest position. When this occurs, the value becomes a maximum value, and when the eccentric load reaches the uppermost position, the value changes to a sine wave shape that becomes a minimum value. The amplitude of the fluctuation of the drum rotation speed is substantially proportional to the eccentric load amount. Therefore, at each speed stage, the rotation speed of the drum 13 is maintained at a substantially constant rotation speed, and the amplitude of the fluctuation of the drum rotation speed at this time is detected. In the ROM of the control unit 30, the relationship between the eccentric load amount and the fluctuation amplitude (variation amount) of the drum rotation speed is obtained in advance and stored, and in accordance with this relationship, the drum 13 is generated from the detected fluctuation amplitude. The amount of eccentric load is calculated.

  The amount of eccentric load obtained in this way does not necessarily correspond to the magnitude of the eccentric load generated in the drum 13. That is, when the weight (load amount) of the laundry stored in the drum 13 is small, the inertial force at the time of drum rotation is small, so even if the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 is small, the drum rotation speed fluctuates. The quantity appears big. On the contrary, when the load amount is large, the inertial force at the time of drum rotation is large. Therefore, even if a large eccentric load occurs, the fluctuation amount of the drum rotation speed appears small. For this reason, if the drum rotation speed is increased without considering the load amount, a large vibration may occur when the load amount is large.

  One of the features of this embodiment is that the weight of the wet laundry contained in the drum 13 (load amount) with the drum rotation speed raised to 100 rpm and the drum 13 rotating at 100 rpm. Inertial moment value corresponding to the entire mass of the drum 13 including the above-mentioned ()), and various threshold values for determining whether or not to increase the drum rotation speed from 100 rpm are set using this inertial moment value. is there. Further, the moment of inertia value obtained while the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 and is used when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is raised to 100 rpm thereafter. is there.

  More specifically, since the value of moment of inertia has not yet been obtained in the first dehydration process immediately after washing, the threshold B for determining whether or not to increase the rotational speed of the drum 13 from 80 rpm to 90 rpm, Threshold C for determining whether or not to increase the drum rotation speed from 90 rpm to 100 rpm, and the next process from the process for raising the drum rotation speed to 100 rpm (the rotation speed of the drum 13 is higher than 100 rpm) The threshold value D when determining whether or not to proceed to (the process for increasing the speed) is set to a predetermined default value, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm and the eccentric load amount at this time is equal to or less than the threshold value D, the moment of inertia value M1 is acquired, and it is determined whether to increase the drum rotational speed from 100 rpm. When the eccentric load amount when the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm exceeds the dehydration start threshold value, it is determined whether or not the eccentric load amount executes the G-fall control. G-fall threshold when determining whether to increase the drum rotation speed from 260 rpm to 500 rpm, and determining whether to increase the drum rotation speed from 500 rpm to 800 rpm The 800 rpm threshold value is set to a value corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1.

  Obtaining the moment of inertia value is the same as obtaining the mass of the entire drum 13 including the weight of the wet laundry contained in the drum 13. Therefore, for example, when the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm, the energization to the drum motor 20 is cut off, and then the rotation speed of the drum 13 rotated by inertial force drops to a predetermined speed (for example, 90 rpm). The time required may be measured, and the moment of inertia value may be obtained based on the measurement time.

  In addition, after the rotational speed of the drum 13 is raised to 500 rpm, the eccentric load detected when the drum 13 is rotating at 500 rpm exceeds the 800 rpm threshold value, so that the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped. Then, when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is raised again, the threshold values B, C, D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 are not used, and the threshold values B, C, D are set to default values. The rotational speed of the drum 13 is raised to 100 rpm.

  When the rotational speed of the drum 13 is raised to 500 rpm, the water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 is dehydrated to some extent. Therefore, when the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm for the first time in the dehydration process, and after the drum rotation speed is raised to 500 rpm, the drum 13 is temporarily stopped and then the drum rotation speed is raised again to 100 rpm. The amount of water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 is different. That is, the load acting on the drum 13 when the drum rotation speed is raised again to 100 rpm is larger than the load acting on the drum 13 when the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm for the first time. The amount of eccentric load corresponding to the fluctuation amount of the drum rotation speed is considerably small and becomes a relatively large value. Nevertheless, when the threshold values B, C, and D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 are used, the eccentric load detected at each speed stage does not become the threshold values B, C, and D, respectively, and the drum rotational speed is reduced. It cannot be started up to 100 rpm, or it takes a long time to start up to 100 rpm. Therefore, in this embodiment, after the drum rotation speed is raised to 500 rpm, the drum 13 is temporarily stopped, and when the drum rotation speed is again raised to 100 rpm, the threshold values B, C, and D are set to the default values. It is set up.

  When the drum rotation speed reaches 100 rpm again, the moment of inertia value M2 is obtained. Then, a dewatering start-up threshold value and a counter eccentricity threshold value are set in accordance with the moment of inertia value M2, and the drum rotation speed is increased from 100 rpm using the dehydration start threshold value and the counter eccentricity threshold value. Each determination is made as to whether the pressure is increased from 260 rpm to 500 rpm. When the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm for the first time in the dehydration process, and after the drum rotation speed is raised to 500 rpm, the drum 13 is temporarily stopped, and then the drum rotation speed is raised again to 100 rpm. Since the load amount acting on the drum 13 is different, the eccentric load amount and drum rotation detected when the drum rotation speed is 100 rpm when the dehydration start threshold and the counter eccentricity threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 are used. The counter eccentricity detected while the speed exceeds 100 rpm (until the drum rotation speed reaches 260 rpm) does not fall below the dehydration start threshold and the counter eccentric threshold, respectively, and the drum rotation speed is increased to 800 rpm. When it is not long or it is too long to start up to 800 rpm The is because it takes.

  Inertia moment values M1 and M2 (initial values) initially acquired in the first dehydration process are written and stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 as inertia moment values MX and MY, respectively. When the rotation of the drum 13 is started for the first time in the dehydration process (second dehydration process) immediately after the first rinsing process, the inertia moment value MX stored in the RAM is used to set the threshold B , C, D are set to values corresponding to the moment of inertia value MX, respectively, and the rotation speed of the drum 13 is raised to 100 rpm using the threshold values B, C, D corresponding to the moment of inertia value MX. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the threshold values B, C, and D are set to smaller values as the inertia moment value is larger, that is, as the load amount is larger. Thus, when the load is large, the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased to the next stage only when the eccentric load generated on the drum 13 is very small. Therefore, in the second dehydration process, even when the load acting on the drum 13 is large, the vibration generated when the drum 13 is raised to 100 rpm can be suppressed to a small level, and the noise accompanying the vibration can be reduced. It can be kept low.

  In the second dehydration process, when the drum rotation speed reaches 100 rpm and it is confirmed that the eccentric load amount at this time is not more than the threshold value D, the inertia moment value M1 is acquired, and the acquired inertia moment value is obtained. M1 is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30. Then, a dehydration start threshold value, a G-fall threshold value, a counter eccentricity threshold value, and an 800 rpm threshold value are set in accordance with the moment of inertia value M1. Note that the inertia moment value M1 (initial value) acquired first in the second dehydration process is overwritten in the RAM of the control unit 30 as the inertia moment value MX.

  Further, in this second dehydration process, after the drum rotation speed is raised to 500 rpm, the eccentric load amount detected while the drum 13 is rotating at 500 rpm exceeds the 800 rpm threshold value. 13, once the drum rotation speed is raised again, the initial value of the inertia moment value M2 acquired in the first dehydration process is set as the inertia moment value MY. When stored in the RAM, the inertia moment value MY is used, threshold values B, C, and D corresponding to the inertia moment value MY are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm again. Thereby, in the second dehydration process, even when the load acting on the drum 13 is large, vibration generated when the drum 13 is started up again to 100 rpm can be suppressed to a small level. Noise can be kept low.

  Thereafter, when the drum rotation speed reaches 100 rpm again, the moment of inertia value M2 is acquired, and the acquired moment of inertia value M2 is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30. Then, a dewatering start-up threshold value and a counter eccentricity threshold value are set in accordance with the moment of inertia value M2, and the drum rotation speed is increased from 100 rpm using the dehydration start threshold value and the counter eccentricity threshold value. Each determination is made as to whether or not the pressure is increased from 260 rpm to 800 rpm. Note that the inertia moment value M2 (initial value) acquired first in the second dehydration process is overwritten in the RAM of the control unit 30 as the inertia moment value MY.

In the third dehydration process, the moment of inertia MX and MY written in the RAM of the control unit 30 in the first dehydration process is used in the second dehydration process, as in the second dehydration process. Inertia moment values MX and MY written in 30 RAMs are used.
In this way, at the first startup of the second and subsequent dehydration strokes (at the time of dehydration startup), the initial moments MX and MY of the inertia moment values M1 and M2 obtained in the previous dehydration stroke are used to The rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. As a result, in the second and subsequent dehydration strokes, various appropriate threshold values can be set according to the load acting on the drum 13, and the vibration and vibration generated when the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. Noise can be kept low.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a case where the moment of inertia value stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 is erased. In response to the start of the washing operation, the inertia moment values M1, M2, MX, and MY stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 are erased (cleared) (step S1).
Thereafter, based on the output of the lid opening / closing switch 34 for detecting the opening / closing of the upper lid 3, it is checked whether or not the upper lid 3 has been opened (step S2). If the upper lid 3 is not opened (NO in step S2), it is subsequently determined whether or not the washing operation is finished (step S3). If the washing operation is not finished (NO in step S3), the upper lid 3 is opened. Whether or not the upper lid 3 has been opened is repeatedly checked while the washing operation is being performed.

  The upper lid 3 is opened during the washing process or the rinsing process, in many cases, the laundry is additionally charged into the drum 13 or a part of the laundry in the drum 13 is taken out. When the amount of laundry in the drum 13 changes, the amount of load acting on the drum 13 changes in the subsequent dehydration process, so that the inertia moment values MX and MY written in the RAM in the previous dehydration process are used. If it is raised, vibration and noise are generated, and it takes a long time to raise the drum rotation speed to 100 rpm. Therefore, when the upper lid 3 is opened during the washing process or the rinsing process (YES in step S2), the inertia moment values MX and MY stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 are deleted (step S1). ).

  Further, when the upper lid 3 is opened during the dehydration process, it is unclear to what extent the laundry has been dehydrated when the upper lid 3 is opened. When dehydration startup is performed using the written inertia moment values MX and MY and the inertia moment values M1 and M2 acquired in the current dehydration process, vibration or noise is generated or the drum rotation speed is set to 100 rpm. It takes a long time to start up. Therefore, when the upper lid 3 is opened during the dehydration process, the inertia moment values M1, M2, MX, and MY stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 are erased, and the dehydration startup performed next time. Then, the threshold values B, C, and D are set to default values so that the rotation speed of the drum 13 is raised to 100 rpm. As a result, it is possible to prevent vibrations and noises from occurring and it takes a long time to raise the rotation speed of the drum 13 to 100 rpm.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts showing the flow of specific processing performed at the start of dehydration. At the start of the dehydration process, first, it is checked whether or not the moment of inertia value MX is stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step T1).
When the moment of inertia value MX is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 (YES in step T1), as described with reference to FIG. 5, the threshold values B, C, and B corresponding to the moment of inertia value MX are set. D is set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm (step T2). On the other hand, when the inertia moment value MX is not stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 (NO in step T1), the threshold values B, C, and D are set to default values, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. (Step T3).

  Thereafter, the moment of inertia value M1 is acquired while the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm (step T4), and the acquired moment of inertia value M1 is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30. Subsequently, it is determined whether the current drum rotation speed is raised immediately after the opposite eccentricity error described later (step T5), and is not immediately after the opposite eccentricity error (NO in step T5). The eccentric load generated in the drum 13 is detected (step T7). Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step T8).

  If the eccentric load amount detected in the state where the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm exceeds the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (NO in step T8), the detected eccentric load amount. Is less than or equal to the G-fall threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (step T12). If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the G-fall threshold (YES in step T12), it is determined that the eccentric load can be reduced by performing the G-fall control, and the G-fall control using the balance adjusting member 24 is performed. (Step T13). After the G-fall control, the eccentric load amount in the state where the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm is detected again (step T7), and the eccentric load amount is below the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1. It is determined again whether or not there is (step T8).

On the other hand, if the eccentric load amount detected when the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm is equal to or less than the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (YES in step T8), the target rotation speed is set to 500 rpm. Thus, the drum rotation speed is increased from 100 rpm (step T9).
Thereafter, until the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 260 rpm, the size of the opposing eccentricity (opposing eccentricity) generated by the opposing arrangement of the laundry at positions separated from each other in the axial direction of the drum 13 is repeatedly acquired. (Step T10).

  When the drum 13 is formed to have a certain length in the axial direction and the drum 13 is provided with the axis line disposed in the horizontal direction, the laundry may be unevenly distributed in the axial direction in the drum 13. For example, in both cases of FIGS. 10A-1 and 10B-1, when viewed in the circumferential direction of the drum 13, the two laundry lumps W 1, W 2 exist at opposite positions across the axis C. Considering only the centrifugal force acting on the lumps W1 and W2 on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 13, if the lumps W1 and W2 have substantially the same weight, the eccentric load on the entire drum 13 is balanced by the balance between them. Is almost zero. However, when the dispersion of the laundry in the axial direction of the drum 13 is viewed, in FIG. 10A-1, the two laundry lumps W1 and W2 are located at positions facing each other on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis C. On the other hand, in FIG. 10 (B-2), two lumps of laundry W1 and W2 exist at positions apart from both end surfaces of the drum 13, respectively. In the case of FIG. 10 (A-1), if the lumps W1 and W2 have substantially the same weight, the centrifugal forces acting on the lumps W1 and W2 are almost balanced and cancel each other, but in the case of FIG. 10 (B-2) The centrifugal force acting on the lumps W1 and W2 does not cancel out, but acts to greatly swing the drum 13. Therefore, in order to reduce the vibration of the drum 13 as much as possible, it is necessary to consider the eccentricity (opposite eccentricity) due to the axial distribution of the laundry in the drum 13.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the rotational acceleration component of the drum motor 20 is calculated, and the difference between the calculated maximum value and minimum value is acquired as the counter eccentricity amount. Specifically, first, each generation time interval of the pulse signal generated from the rotation sensor 20c with the rotation of the drum motor 20 is continuously acquired 120 times. Thereby, the data of each generation time interval of the pulse signal generated from the rotation sensor 20c while the drum 13 rotates about 1.7 times is acquired. Next, 105 moving average values are acquired by calculating a moving average of 15 data that are temporally adjacent to the 120 data. Furthermore, 90 second moving average values are obtained by calculating a moving average of 15 data that are temporally adjacent to the 105 moving average data. Then, the difference between the 90 moving average values adjacent to each other in time is calculated, and the maximum value and the minimum value are found in the difference, and the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is calculated. Acquired as the amount of opposite eccentricity.

  When the opposing eccentricity is acquired, it is determined whether the acquired opposing eccentricity is equal to or less than the opposing eccentricity threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (step T11). If the opposing eccentricity amount exceeds the opposing eccentricity threshold (NO in step T11), it is determined that the opposing eccentricity error has occurred in the drum 13, and the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped (step T14). Thereafter, threshold values B, C, and D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm (step T100). In this case, it is a start-up immediately after the opposite eccentricity error (YES in Step T5), and the water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 is dehydrated to some extent, and the moment of inertia value M1 stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 is obtained. Since the load amount acting on the drum 13 has changed since the acquisition of the inertia moment value M1, the inertia moment value M1 is acquired again, and the acquired inertia moment value M1 is overwritten in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step S1). T6). Then, the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is detected (step T7), and it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (step S7). T8).

  Also, when it is determined in step T12 that the eccentric load detected when the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm exceeds the G-fall threshold (NO in step T12), the drum 13 Is temporarily stopped (step T14), and then thresholds B, C, and D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. (Step T100). In this case, since it is not the start immediately after the opposed eccentricity error, the inertia moment value M1 is not acquired, and when the drum rotation speed is increased to 100 rpm, the eccentric load amount is detected (step T7). It is determined whether or not the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the dehydration start threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (step T8).

  On the other hand, if the counter eccentricity is equal to or less than the counter eccentric threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 (YES in step T11), it is determined whether the drum rotation speed has reached 500 rpm (step T15), and the drum rotation speed is determined. Reaches 500 rpm (YES in step T15), the eccentric load amount is detected while the drum 13 is rotating at 500 rpm (step T16). Then, it is determined whether or not it is equal to or less than the 800 rpm threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M1 stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step T17). If the eccentric load is equal to or less than the 800 rpm threshold (YES in step T17), the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 500 rpm to 800 rpm (step T18), and then the high speed dewatering is performed by the drum 13 rotating at a high speed of 800 rpm. Is performed for a predetermined time. Thereby, the water contained in the laundry is sufficiently dehydrated.

  If the eccentric load amount at the drum rotation speed of 500 rpm exceeds the 800 rpm threshold (NO in step T17), it is determined that the drum 13 may be vibrated if the rotation speed of the drum 13 is increased to 800 rpm. Thus, the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped (step T19). Then, it is checked whether or not the moment of inertia value MY is stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step T20). If the moment of inertia value MY is stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step T20). YES), threshold values B, C, D corresponding to the moment of inertia value Y2 are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm (step T21). On the other hand, when the moment of inertia value MY is not stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 (NO in step T20), the threshold values B, C, and D are set to default values, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm. (Step T22).

  Thereafter, the moment of inertia value M2 is acquired while the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm (step T23). Subsequently, it is determined whether the current drum rotation speed is raised immediately after the opposite eccentricity error described later (step T24), and is not immediately after the opposite eccentricity error (NO in step T24). The eccentric load generated in the drum 13 is detected (step T26). Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the dehydration startup threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 (step T27). If this determination is affirmative (YES in step T27). The drum rotation speed is increased from 100 rpm (step T28).

  On the other hand, when the eccentric load detected in the state where the drum 13 is rotating at 100 rpm exceeds the dehydration startup threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 (NO in step T27), the rotation of the drum 13 is not performed. Once stopped (step T31), thresholds B, C and D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm (step T101). ). In this case, the process of step T23 is skipped, and the inertia moment value M2 is not reacquired.

  After the drum rotation speed exceeds 100 rpm, the counter eccentricity is acquired until the rotation speed of the drum 13 reaches 260 rpm (step T29). Then, it is determined whether the detected counter eccentricity is equal to or less than a counter eccentric threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 (step T30). If the opposed eccentricity exceeds the opposed eccentricity threshold (NO in step T30), it is determined that the opposed eccentricity error has occurred in the drum 13, and the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped (step T31). Thereafter, threshold values B, C and D corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 are set, and the drum rotation speed is raised to 100 rpm (step T21). In this case, it is a start-up immediately after the opposing eccentricity error (YES in step T24), and the water contained in the laundry in the drum 13 is dehydrated to some extent, and the moment of inertia value M2 stored and held in the RAM of the control unit 30 is stored. Since the load amount acting on the drum 13 has changed since the acquisition of the inertia moment value M2, the inertia moment value M2 is acquired again, and the acquired inertia moment value M2 is overwritten in the RAM of the control unit 30 (step S1). T25). Then, the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 is detected (step T26), and it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the dehydration startup threshold corresponding to the moment of inertia value M2 (step T26). T27).

If the opposed eccentricity is equal to or smaller than the opposed eccentricity threshold (YES in step T30), the drum rotation speed is raised to 800 rpm at a stroke (step T18). At this time, since the eccentric load is not detected at the drum rotation speed of 500 rpm, the time required to start up the drum 13 to 800 rpm can be shortened accordingly.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a specific processing flow for raising the rotation speed of the drum 13 to 100 rpm. In the process for raising the drum rotation speed to 100 rpm, first, the target rotation speed of the drum 13 is set to 80 rpm, and the rotation speed of the drum 13 is raised (step E1). When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 80 rpm (YES in step E2), the magnitude of the eccentric load (eccentric load amount) generated in the drum 13 in a state where the rotational speed of the drum 13 is maintained at approximately 80 rpm. It is detected (step E3).

  When the eccentric load amount is detected, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold B (step E4). When the eccentric load amount exceeds the threshold B (NO in step E4), it is determined that there is a possibility that a large vibration may occur when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased, and the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped. After (step E13), the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is started again (step E1).

If the eccentric load amount is less than or equal to the threshold B (YES in step E4), it is determined that no significant vibration will occur even if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased, and the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 80 rpm to 90 rpm ( Step E5).
When the rotational speed of the drum 13 reaches 90 rpm (YES in step E6), the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 rotating at the rotational speed of 90 rpm is detected (step E7). Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold C (step E8). If the eccentric load amount exceeds the threshold C (NO in step E8), it is determined that there is a possibility that a large vibration may occur if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased, and the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped. After (step E13), the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is started again (step E1).

If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the threshold value C (YES in step E8), it is determined that no significant vibration occurs even if the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased, and the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased from 90 rpm to 100 rpm ( Step E9).
When the rotation speed of the drum 13 reaches 100 rpm (YES in step E10), the eccentric load amount generated in the drum 13 rotating at the rotation speed of 100 rpm is detected (step E11). Then, it is determined whether or not the detected eccentric load amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value D (step E12). When the eccentric load amount exceeds the threshold D (NO in step E12), it is determined that there is a possibility that a large vibration may occur when the rotational speed of the drum 13 is increased, and the rotation of the drum 13 is temporarily stopped. After (step E13), the drum motor 20 is restarted and the rotation of the drum 13 is started again (step E1).

If the eccentric load amount is equal to or less than the threshold value D, the process returns to step T4 shown in FIG. 5 or step T23 and subsequent steps shown in FIG.
Note that when the inertia moment values MX and MY are not stored in the RAM of the control unit 30 (for example, when the rotation of the drum 13 is started for the first time in the first dehydration process), the threshold values B, C, and D are set. Each of the default values may be one predetermined value, or a plurality of values may be prepared for each of the threshold values B, C, and D.

  For example, at the start of a series of washing operations, since the weight (initial load amount) of the laundry put in the drum 13 is detected, the first default value and the first value for each of the threshold values B, C, and D are detected. If a second default value larger than the default value is prepared and the initial load amount is larger than the predetermined load amount, the first default value is used, and the initial load amount is larger than the predetermined load amount. If it is smaller, the second default value may be used.

  The initial load amount is determined based on how the rotational speed of the drum motor 20 rises when the drum 13 is rotated after the washing operation is started and before the water is supplied to the drum 13 (for example, the rotational speed of the drum motor 20 is constant). The time required to increase the speed) can be obtained. Further, in the water supply stroke, after water is supplied to the drum 13 to a predetermined water level, the drum 13 is slowly swung to soak the water into the laundry, and replenishment occurs when the water level drops due to the water soaking into the laundry. The operation of watering is repeated, but the number of repetitions corresponds to the amount of laundry put into the drum 13, so that the initial load amount can also be obtained based on the number of times of replenishing water. Furthermore, the initial load amount can also be obtained based on both how the rotational speed of the drum motor 20 rises when the drum 13 is rotated before water supply and the number of times makeup water is supplied in the water supply stroke.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the drum 13 that is rotatable about the substantially horizontal axis line is taken up. However, the present invention is within a predetermined angle range with respect to the horizontal (for example, within an angle range of 30 degrees or less). It is also possible to apply to a configuration provided with a drum that can rotate around an axis inclined at an angle of).

In addition, the present invention is not limited to a so-called top loading drum type washing machine in which the laundry is taken in and out obliquely from above, and the drum is provided with its end surfaces at the front and rear sides. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called front-loading drum type washing machine in which laundry is taken in and out through an opening formed on the end face.
In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims.

1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing machine obtained in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the said drum type washing machine. It is a left view of the internal principal part of the said drum type washing machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electric part structure of the said drum type washing machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a washing operation. It is a figure which shows an example of the relationship between an inertia moment value and various threshold values. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the case where the inertia moment value memorize | stored in RAM of a control part is erase | eliminated. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the flow of the concrete process performed at the time of dehydration start-up. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows the flow of the concrete process performed at the time of dehydration start-up. It is a figure for demonstrating opposing eccentricity. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the specific process for raising the rotational speed of a drum to 100 rpm.

Explanation of symbols

3 Upper lid 13 Drum 20 Drum motor 20c Rotation sensor 30 Control unit

Claims (4)

A drum-type washing machine that performs a washing operation including a plurality of dehydration processes sandwiching a rinsing process ,
A drum provided to be rotatable about an axis inclined substantially horizontally or horizontally, and for storing laundry;
Drum rotation driving means for rotating the drum;
In the initial stage of the dehydration process performed before the rinsing process, the drum rotation driving means accommodates the drum in the drum when the rotation speed of the drum is raised to a predetermined relatively low first rotation speed. A moment of inertia value detecting means for detecting a moment of inertia value corresponding to the weight of the wet laundry that has been done;
Moment of inertia value holding means for holding the moment of inertia value detected by the moment of inertia value detecting means;
In the initial stage of the dehydration process performed after the rinsing process, when the rotational speed of the drum is raised to the first rotational speed, as a threshold value of the eccentric load amount for determining whether to start up, Means for setting an appropriate threshold according to the load amount based on the moment of inertia value before the rinsing process held in the moment of inertia value holding means;
In the initial stage of the dehydration process performed after the rinsing process, the drum rotation driving means causes the rotation speed of the drum to rise to the first rotation speed according to the set threshold value;
A drum-type washing machine comprising: The drum type washing machine further includes an eccentric load detecting means for detecting the magnitude of the eccentric load caused by the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum when the drum rotates.
The start-up control means is
The rotational speed of the drum is set on the condition that the eccentric load detected by the eccentric load detecting means is not more than a predetermined allowable value while the drum is rotating at the first rotational speed. Rotational speed increasing means for increasing the first rotational speed to a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed;
2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising tolerance value setting means for setting the predetermined tolerance value in accordance with the moment of inertia value held by the moment of inertia value holding means. In the initial stage of the dehydration process performed before the rinsing process, when the rotational speed of the drum is raised to the first rotational speed, as a threshold value for the eccentric load amount for determining whether to start up, 3. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined default value is used. A lid that is opened and closed to put laundry in and out of the drum;
4. An erasing unit for erasing the moment of inertia value held in the moment of inertia value holding unit in response to the opening of the lid. Drum-type washing machine.

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