JP4674601B2 - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine that performs a washing, rinsing, and dewatering process by rotationally driving a rotating drum containing laundry.

  The drum-type washing machine is disposed in the water tank with the rotating drum centered in the horizontal direction or from the horizontal direction, and the water tank is supported by an anti-vibration damper via an anti-vibration rubber. For this reason, when the laundry is stored in the rotating drum and rotated, the laundry and water tend to be biased downward, and vibration is likely to occur. In particular, when performing a dehydration process in which the rotating drum is rotated at a high speed to dehydrate the laundry, the laundry containing water is stored in the rotating drum after the washing or rinsing process is completed. Depending on the type, fabric or shape, there is a state where the rotating drum tends to gather at the biased position during rotation of the dehydration process, and if the laundry is biased, a large vibration will occur in the water tank that houses the rotating drum, Abnormal noise is generated. When a large vibration occurs, a control operation for eliminating the bias of the laundry is performed by a drive control for temporarily stopping the rotation of the rotary drum and then a re-rotation or a drive control for reducing the rotation speed of the rotary drum. Yes.

As a method for detecting the imbalance in the rotating drum, the rotating drum is rotated at a predetermined number of rotations for a predetermined time, based on the fluctuation degree of the number of rotations, or when the vibration of the water tank resonance frequency unit becomes maximum, or An unbalance detection method for determining an unbalance in a drum from a motor current value at a predetermined rotation speed is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-212387

  However, since the unbalance detection with the vibration isolating damper configuration using the conventional anti-vibration rubber has a predetermined rotational speed near the aquarium resonance frequency or the aquarium resonance frequency itself, the rubber of the anti-vibration rubber Due to the temperature characteristic that rebound increases and decreases at high temperature, which is a characteristic low temperature, even if the imbalance is equal, the vibration of the aquarium changes and a different signal is output, resulting in incorrect determination, resulting in abnormal vibration and imbalance There were problems that the detection was repeated and the operation time was extended or the operation was stopped.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a motor that changes due to temperature characteristics when it detects imbalance, because it rebounds because it cures at a low temperature specific to rubber of vibration-proof rubber, and it rebounds because it softens at high temperatures. By properly correcting the rotation fluctuation and current value output, even if the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber changes, unbalance detection is repeated to extend the operation time, stop the operation, or cause abnormal vibration and noise. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drum type washing machine having a function of preventing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a drum type washing machine according to the present invention includes a water tank formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a bottomed cylindrical rotary drum disposed in the water tank, and a bottom center of the rotary drum. A water tank unit comprising a fixed rotating shaft, a bearing fixed to the back surface of the water tank and pivotally supporting the rotating shaft, and a drum drive motor connected to the rotating shaft to rotate the rotating drum; and the water tank unit. A washing machine housing disposed inside, a vibration isolating damper having one end fixed to the base of the washing machine housing via a vibration isolating rubber and the other end supporting the water tank unit from below via the vibration isolating rubber; A rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the rotating drum; a current detection means for detecting a drive current of the drum drive motor; a temperature detection means for detecting a temperature in the vicinity of the vibration isolating rubber; and the rotation speed detection. Means, said Control means for inputting signals from the flow detection means and the temperature detection means and controlling the drum drive motor to sequentially control each process such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration, and the control means performs a dehydration operation in each process. In the dehydration start-up process, the cloth balance determination process for determining whether the laundry is evenly adhered to the inner peripheral wall of the rotating drum can be executed. In the cloth balance determination process, the cloth balance determination is performed. When performing, a correction means is provided for correcting signals from the current detection means and the rotation speed detection means by a signal from the temperature detection means.

  As a result, the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber can be detected by the temperature detection means in the vicinity of the anti-vibration rubber, so that the unbalanced state of the laundry can be detected with high accuracy, so repeated imbalance detection, shutdown, vibration and noise are effective. The operation time can be made appropriate.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately and appropriately determine the laundry balance state in a short time regardless of the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber, and by controlling the rotation of the drum drive motor based on the determination result. It is possible to effectively reduce imbalance detection, operation stop, vibration and noise during the dehydration process.

  A first invention is a water tank formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a bottomed cylindrical rotating drum disposed in the water tank, a rotating shaft fixed at the center of the bottom surface of the rotating drum, and a rear surface of the water tank. A water tank unit comprising a fixed bearing that supports the rotary shaft, a drum drive motor that is connected to the rotary shaft and rotationally drives the rotary drum, a washing machine housing in which the water tank unit is disposed, and one end Is fixed to the base of the washing machine casing via a vibration isolating rubber, and the other end supports the water tank unit from below via the vibration isolating rubber, and a rotation detecting the rotational speed of the rotating drum. Number detection means, current detection means for detecting the drive current of the drum drive motor, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the anti-vibration rubber, the rotation speed detection means, the current detection means, and the temperature detection means from And a control means for sequentially controlling each process such as washing, rinsing, and dewatering by inputting a signal and controlling the drum drive motor, and the control means is configured to perform the rotation drum in the dewatering start-up process in the dewatering operation in each process. A cloth balance determining step for determining whether or not the laundry is evenly adhered to the inner peripheral wall of the cloth, and in the cloth balance determining step, when determining the cloth balance, By providing a correction means for correcting the signals from the current detection means and the rotation speed detection means by a signal, even if a temperature change of the anti-vibration rubber occurs due to a change in room temperature or the like, in a short time By detecting accurately and performing motor rotation control based on the detection results, it is possible to effectively reduce repeated imbalance detection, shutdown, vibration and noise. .

  In the second invention, the temperature detecting means is provided on the bottom surface of the water tank unit in the vicinity of the anti-vibration rubber, so that the temperature of the water tank can be detected and controlled by one temperature detecting means, and the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber can be controlled. Since changes can be detected, it is possible to detect accurately even if the temperature change of the anti-vibration rubber occurs due to changes in room temperature, water temperature, etc. without increasing costs, and by performing motor rotation control based on the detection results, it is repeated Unbalance detection, operation stop, vibration and noise can be effectively reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of a drum type washing machine 1 according to the embodiment. In the washing machine housing 6, the rotating drum 2 is accommodated in the water tub 3, and the rotating shaft 2 a of the rotating drum 2 is supported by a bearing 68 provided on the back surface of the water tub 3 and a drum drive motor is connected to the rotating shaft 2 a. The water tank unit 7 connected to 5 is inclined to the front-up state. Since this water tank unit 7 has heavy components such as the bearing 68 and the drum drive motor 5 attached to the back side thereof, the position of the center of gravity is in an unstable state because it is close to the back side. A first coil spring 71 is supported between the upper support fitting 75 fixed to the upper part of the water tank 3 and the upper surface of the washing machine housing 6 by supporting the water tank unit 7 below the front side from the center of gravity position by 70. The water tank unit 7 is urged toward the front side by the above, and a second coil spring 72 is installed between the back surface below the support height position by the vibration isolating damper 70 and the back surface of the washing machine housing 6. Thus, the water tank unit 7 supported by the anti-vibration damper 70 nearer to the front side than the center of gravity is corrected to fall to the back side, and the support structure having a high vibration damping effect is configured.

  The temperature detection means 40 is held by an elastic material such as a spring (not shown) on the bottom surface 7a of the water tank unit 7 so that one surface is in close contact with the vibration isolating damper 70, and the other is opened. It is provided so that the ambient atmosphere can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vibration damper 70 includes an oil damper mechanism 78 in which oil is sealed in a cylinder, and a coil spring mechanism 79 provided coaxially with the oil damper mechanism 78. A support shaft 84 fixed to the lower end of the mechanism 78 and having a coil spring mechanism 79 disposed on the outer periphery thereof is fixed to a support base 73 fixed to the base of the washing machine housing 6 via a vibration isolating rubber 77. Further, the piston rod 85 constituting the oil damper mechanism 78 is fixed to the lower support metal fitting 74 fixed to the lower part of the water tank 3 through the vibration isolating rubber 77.

  A rotating drum 2 formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom is rotatably supported in the water tank 3, and the rotating drum 2 is rotated by a drum drive motor 5 attached to the back surface of the water tank 3 so that the rotation speed can be changed and the rotation direction can be switched. Driven. Further, since the rotary drum 2 is inclined so that the rotation axis direction thereof is inclined downward from the front side to the back side as shown in the drawing, the inclination formed on the front side of the washing machine casing 6 When the door body 9 that can be opened and closed on the surface is opened, there is no need to bend in the operation of putting the laundry in and out of the rotating drum 2, and there is a space on the front side of the drum type washing machine 1. Since it is not necessary to ensure, it can be comprised in the drum type washing machine 1 which can be installed also in narrow spaces, such as a washroom.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the drum type washing machine has a drying function provided with a blower fan for blowing warm air in the rotating drum 2 and a heater for generating warm air, and heating for warming the washing water in the water tank 3. A control device is provided which has a hot water function provided with a device and the like and controls a series of operation operations including washing, rinsing, dehydration and drying based on an instruction input from a user and monitoring of an operation state of each part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control device rectifies AC power 31 by a rectifier 32, and drives the drum by an inverter circuit 26 using the DC power smoothed by a smoothing circuit including a choke coil 33 and a smoothing capacitor 34 as drive power. The motor 5 is driven to rotate, and the rotation of the drum drive motor 5 is controlled based on the driving instruction input from the input setting means 21 and the monitoring information of the driving state detected by each detecting means, and the load driving means 37 supplies water. The operation of the valve 14, the drain valve 13, the blower fan 17, the heater 18, the heating device 19 and the like is controlled.

  The drum drive motor 5 includes a stator having three-phase windings 5a, 5b, and 5c, and a rotor having a two-pole permanent magnet, and is configured as a DC brushless motor provided with three position detection elements 24a, 24b, and 24c. Then, the rotation is controlled by the PWM control inverter circuit 26 constituted by the switching elements 26a to 26f. The rotor position detection signals detected by the position detection elements 24a, 24b, and 24c are input to the control means 20, and on / off states of the switching elements 26a to 26f are PWM-controlled by the drive circuit 25 based on the rotor position detection signals. Thus, energization of the three-phase windings 5a, 5b, and 5c of the stator is controlled to rotate the rotor at a required rotational speed. The control means 20 detects the cycle each time the signal state of any of the three position detection means 24a, 24b, 24c changes, and calculates the rotational speed of the rotor from the period (rotational speed detection means 24). A correction means 41 is provided for inputting the signal of the temperature detection means 40 and correcting the signals of the rotation speed detection means 24 and the current detection means 27 based on this signal.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, between the lower support bracket 74 to which the anti-vibration damper 70 that supports the aquarium unit 7 from below is attached and the support base 73 fixed to the base of the washing machine housing 6, A displacement sensor (displacement detection means) 36 is attached.

  Further, the displacement sensor 36 can detect a displacement in the substantially same direction as the axial center direction of the vibration damping damper 70.

  Like the drum-type washing machine according to the present embodiment, the aquarium unit 7 is arranged in an obliquely upward direction, and a position closer to the front side than the center of gravity is supported by the anti-vibration damper 70 from below. In the case where the vibration damping structure in which the water tank unit 7 is elastically held at a predetermined position by the two coil springs 71 and 72 is applied, the action of the vibration damping damper 70 is particularly noticeable. By mounting the displacement sensor 36 in substantially the same direction as the vibration control direction, the displacement of the water tank unit 7 can be detected more reliably.

  The aquarium unit 7 generally has a plurality of resonance frequencies. For example, one of the rotation speeds corresponding to the resonance frequency is in the vicinity of 120 r / min (referred to as primary resonance rotation speed), and the other is in the vicinity of 250 r / min (referred to as secondary resonance rotation speed). It is in. Furthermore, it exists at 1000 r / min or more.

  The drum-type washing machine 1 configured as described above opens the door body 9, puts the laundry into the rotating drum 2, and selects the operation course from the input setting means 21 provided at the upper front side of the washing machine casing 6. By performing the input and the operation start input, the operation operation corresponding to the instructed operation course is started, and the required operation is executed under the control of the control means 20. The amount of laundry put into the rotary drum 2 is detected by the cloth amount detection means 30, and the control means 20 controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve 14 so that a water supply amount corresponding to the amount of laundry is obtained. The amount of water supplied into the water tank 3 is monitored by the detection means 16. In the cloth amount detection, since the current flowing through the inverter circuit 26 changes according to the load state received by the drum drive motor 5 when the rotary drum 2 is started up at a predetermined rotation speed, the resistor 28 connected in series with the current circuit. The amount of current is detected by the current detection circuit 29 from the both-end voltage, and the cloth amount detection means 30 detects the amount of laundry from the amount of current. Since the cloth amount can be detected by the displacement sensor 36 described above, the current detection means 27 constituted by the resistor 28 and the current detection circuit 29 is configured to be used for torque detection of the drum drive motor 5. You can also.

  Here, the operation in the dehydration process will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the dehydration process starts in step 100, a draining operation for draining the washing water in the water tank 3 is performed in step 101. Thereafter, after initialization of data (N = 1) in step 101, in order to loosen the clothes in step 102, the rotating drum 2 is rotated forward at a first predetermined rotational speed (for example, about 40 r / min), Reverse operation (unraveling process) is performed. Next, in step 103, the laundry is gradually raised to a second predetermined rotational speed (about 70 r / min) to such an extent that the laundry sticks to the inner surface of the rotary drum 2.

  Thereafter, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 2 is further increased, and the rotary drum 2 is maintained at a third predetermined rotational speed (for example, about 80 r / min) lower than the primary resonance rotational speed for a predetermined time in Step 104. I do. At this time, if it is detected that the signals from the rotational speed detection means 24 (position detection means 24a, 24b, 24c) are not output at a predetermined interval, the rotational drum 2 is in a state of uneven rotation, that is, the laundry. It can be determined that the cloth is poorly adhered to the inner peripheral wall and the cloth balance is poor. Therefore, the balance state of the laundry in the rotating drum 2 can be determined by setting the fluctuation range of the rotation speed of the drum drive motor 5 as the first determination value of the cloth balance. That is, the difference between the control target rotation speed and the actual rotation speed (rotation unevenness) is integrated by the rotation speed detection means in this section, and the laundry balance state is determined.

  If it is determined that the laundry is in a poor balance state, the rotary drum 2 is stopped at 106 through step 105, 1 is added to N at step 107, and the process returns to step 102. When the operations of Steps 103 to 107 are repeated a predetermined number of times, that is, when N = 4 in Step 106, the process proceeds to Step 108, and the laundry bias correction operation such as water supply is performed, and the process proceeds to the next step of Step 114. .

  If it is determined in step 104 that the rotation unevenness is small and the balance is good, the rotational speed is further increased, and in step 109, section (1): 91 to 140 r / min (near the primary resonant rotational speed). The vibration displacement of the water tank unit 7 is detected by the rotation speed detection means 24 comprising the position detection means 24a, 24b, 24c, and the current is detected by the current detection means 27 comprising the inverter circuit 26, and the vibration is detected. When the displacement is equal to or greater than the second determination value, it is determined that the cloth balance state is bad, and the operation of returning to step 102 through steps 105 to 107 is performed.

  At this time, the anti-vibration rubber 77 of the anti-vibration damper 70 has the same unbalance and the hardness becomes hard at low temperatures and the rebound becomes large, thereby increasing the vibration of the water tank. Has a vibration-proof temperature characteristic that reduces the vibration of the aquarium and reduces the rotation speed beyond the specified unbalance value, regardless of the ambient temperature level. The rotation speed is increased only when the temperature is less than the value. Especially, when the ambient temperature is high, the vibration is detected small even though the imbalance value is large, and the vibration is greatly vibrated after the high speed rotation. It is necessary to prevent problems from occurring.

  Therefore, the correction means 41 of the control means 20 is based on the value of the temperature detection means 40 provided so that one side is opened at a position in the vicinity of the vibration isolation damper 70 and the atmosphere near the vibration isolation damper 70 can be detected. As shown in FIG. 5, the signals of the rotation speed detection means 24 and the current detection means 27 are corrected so that the value of the temperature detection means 40 is small when the value is low and is large when the value is high.

  For example, when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 40 is less than T1 (5 ° C.), the output value correction coefficient of the rotation speed detection means is 1.15, the output value correction coefficient of the current detection means is 1.1, When T1 (5 ° C) or more and less than T2 (25 ° C), the output value correction coefficient of both the rotation speed detection means and the current detection means is 1, and when T2 (25 ° C) and more and less than T3 (30 ° C) The output value correction coefficient of the rotation speed detection means is 0.85, the output value correction coefficient of the current detection means is 0.9, and when T3 (30 ° C.) or more, the output value correction coefficient of the rotation speed detection means is The output value correction coefficient of the current detection means is 0.85, and the output value of the rotation speed detection means and the current detection means is divided and corrected.

  In this way, even when the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber changes due to a change in room temperature, a course for warming the washing water with the heating device 19 (hot water course), continuous use after the drying operation, etc., the output value varies depending on the temperature. Since it is possible to prevent excessive repetition and abnormal vibration, it is possible to achieve a proper operation time and to play a role as a barrier to prevent abnormal vibration. If the vibration displacement is less than the second determination value in step 109, it is determined that the cloth balance state is good, and the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, in the section (2): 141 to 330 r / min (near the secondary resonance rotational speed), the rotation unevenness is detected by the rotational speed detection means 24 including the position detection means 24a, 24b, and 24c as in the section (1). The current flowing through the inverter circuit 26 is detected by the current detection means 27. For example, when it is biased toward the front side of the rotating drum 2, a flourwood phenomenon in which only the front side swivels will occur. As a result, abnormal vibration and noise are generated. Therefore, when such a flourwood phenomenon occurs, the rotating drum 2 does not rotate smoothly. Therefore, an abnormal load is applied to the drum drive motor 5, causing large rotation unevenness, An overcurrent flows through the circuit 26. That is, in step 110, the rotation speed detection means 24 including the position detection means 24a, 24b, and 24c detects rotation unevenness and the current detection means 27 detects the current flowing through the inverter circuit 26, and a current greater than or equal to a third predetermined value. If it is a value, it determines with the cloth balance state being bad, and the operation | movement which returns to step 102 through steps 105-107 is performed.

  At this time, even when the temperature change of the anti-vibration rubber occurs due to a change in the room temperature, a hot water course, continuous use after the drying operation, etc., the temperature detection means 40 and the correction means, as in the section (1), are more than necessary. Repetition and abnormal vibration can be prevented. In step 110, if the rotation speed detection means 24 and the current flowing to the inverter circuit 26 by the current detection means 27 are rotation unevenness and current values less than the third predetermined value, the cloth balance state. And the process proceeds to step 111.

  In step 111, the rotating drum 2 is rotated for a first predetermined time at a fourth predetermined rotational speed (maximum rotational speed: for example, about 900 r / min), and then the rotation of the rotating drum 2 is stopped in step 112. In step 113, the process proceeds to the next process.

  In addition, since the vibration state of the water tank unit 7 in the vicinity of the primary resonance rotation speed to be determined, the vicinity of the secondary resonance rotation speed, the vibration convergence, and the stable rotation speed area is different depending on the resonance frequency of the water tank unit 7. By setting the determination value for each, it is possible to determine the cloth balance more appropriately and accurately.

  As described above, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention detects the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber that directly affects the vibration of the aquarium, so even if the temperature of the anti-vibration rubber changes at room temperature or under usage conditions, Based on the detection value of the detection means, the rotation unevenness representing the vibration of the aquarium and the current value are corrected, and the control means makes a determination to accurately detect the unbalanced state of the laundry and perform motor rotation control. As a result, it is possible to achieve an appropriate operation time and to effectively reduce vibration and noise, so that not only a drum type washing machine using an anti-vibration rubber equivalent product but also a drum type washing / drying function having a drying function. The present invention can also be applied to a machine, a fully automatic washing machine having a rotation axis in a substantially vertical direction, a fully automatic washing dryer, and the like.

Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the drum type washing machine in one embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the drum type washing machine vibration proof damper The circuit diagram which shows the structure of the control apparatus of the drum type washing machine Flow chart of dehydration process of the drum type washing machine The figure which shows the method of setting the rotation unevenness of a drum drive motor in each setting rotation speed and the correction value of an electric current in the spin-drying | dehydration process by the drum type washing machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum type washing machine 2 Rotating drum 3 Water tank 5 Drum drive motor 6 Washing machine housing (washing machine body)
20 Control means 24 Rotational speed detection means 27 Current detection means 40 Temperature detection means 41 Correction means 70 Anti-vibration damper 77 Anti-vibration rubber

Claims (2)

A water tank formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a bottomed cylindrical rotating drum disposed in the water tank, a rotating shaft fixed at the bottom center of the rotating drum, and a rotating shaft fixed to the back surface of the water tank. A water tank unit comprising a bearing that supports the shaft, and a drum drive motor that is connected to the rotary shaft to rotate the rotary drum, a washing machine housing in which the water tank unit is disposed, and one end of the water tank unit via a vibration-proof rubber An anti-vibration damper which is fixed to the base of the washing machine casing and has the other end supporting the water tank unit from below via an anti-vibration rubber, and a rotational speed detection means for detecting the rotational speed of the rotating drum, Current detection means for detecting the drive current of the drum drive motor, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the anti-vibration rubber, signals from the rotation speed detection means, the current detection means and the temperature detection means are input. in front And a control means for controlling the drum driving motor to sequentially control each process such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration. The control means performs washing on the inner peripheral wall of the rotating drum during the dehydration start-up process in the dehydration operation in each process. It is possible to execute a cloth balance determining step for determining whether or not an object is evenly adhered, and when the cloth balance is determined in the cloth balance determining step, the current is detected based on a signal from the temperature detecting unit. A drum-type washing machine comprising a detecting means and a correcting means for correcting a signal from the rotation speed detecting means. 2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detecting means is provided on the bottom surface of the water tank unit in the vicinity of the anti-vibration rubber.

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