JP5152240B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that performs operation control of stroke operation in accordance with the degree of contamination of the washing liquid.

Conventionally, this type of washing machine has a dirt sensor for detecting the state of the washing liquid such as a conductivity sensor installed in the water tank as a washing liquid state detecting means, and detects the state of the washing liquid by washing. It is considered to control the stroke (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example of the detection of the degree of dirt in the washing process of the conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1 and the washing process control for the degree of dirt.

  In FIG. 6, V1f is a value obtained by subtracting the conductivity Vf immediately before the end of the washing and stirring from the conductivity V1 at the initial stage of the washing and stirring detected by the conduction sensor provided in the lower part of the outer tub containing the washing and dewatering tub (V1− Vf = V1f), and the degree of contamination is determined based on the value of V1f at each water level, and control is performed to increase or decrease the washing time and change the strength of the water flow.

JP-A-4-187183

  However, in such a conventional configuration, the degree of soiling of the washing liquid is detected by measuring the electrical conductivity with an electrical sensor, but the electrical conductivity greatly varies depending on the type of soiling, and only the electrical conductivity. There was a problem in detecting the degree of contamination.

  The conductivity sensor has the feature that the conductivity increases in the case of water containing salt, and for laundry that is mainly sweat dirt, it is judged that the degree of dirt is large and it is sufficiently washed, but the mud dirt mainly In the case of the laundry, although the actual degree of dirt is large, the degree of dirt is judged to be small because the conductivity is low, and there is a problem that the washing is insufficient.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to appropriately control a washing process and an excessive process by appropriately determining the degree of contamination.

To achieve the above object, the washing machine of the present invention includes an outer bath elastically Tsu支in the housing, and the inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub, the inner bottom portion of the inner tub A pulsator provided, a driving means for rotationally driving the inner tank or the pulsator, a water supply valve provided at the upper part of the housing, a drainage duct communicating with the bottom of the outer tank, and the outer tank via the drainage duct Conductivity composed of a drain valve for draining, a turbidity detecting means for detecting the turbidity of the washing liquid based on the degree of light transmission provided in the drain duct, and a pair of electrodes provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the outer tub The detection means and the conductivity detection means are arranged higher than the lowermost part of the inner tank and lower than the upper surface of the pulsator, and the conductivity detection means includes a water detection circuit and a dirt detection circuit, and receives a signal from the electrode. The water detection circuit and the dirt detection circuit Thereby enabling switching in, said drive means to control the operation of such a water supply valve, the washing, rinsing, and control means for sequentially controlling a set of strokes of dewatering, wherein, in the washing step, the The turbidity detection means detects the turbidity of the washing liquid, the conductivity detection means detects the conductivity of the washing liquid, and based on the detection results of the turbidity detection means and the conductivity detection means. the degree of dirt garments to determine the constant, in which to carry out the subsequent process control.

  This makes it possible to determine the degree of contamination with high reliability and to set an appropriate time for the washing process or the rinsing process.

  The washing machine of the present invention can set an appropriate time for the washing process or the rinsing process by detecting the exact degree of contamination of the washing liquid.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Block diagram of the washing machine Diagram showing the sequence from washing to dehydration of the washing machine Flow chart from washing to dehydration of the washing machine A diagram showing a matrix of turbidity, electrical conductivity and soiling degree of the washing machine The figure which shows the detection result of the dirt degree in the washing process of the conventional washing machine, and control of the washing process with respect to the dirt degree

A first aspect of the present invention is an outer bath elastically Tsu支in the housing, and the inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub, a pulsator provided in the inner bottom portion of the inner tub, the inner tub Alternatively, driving means for rotationally driving the pulsator, a water supply valve provided at the upper part of the housing, a drainage duct communicating with the bottom of the outer tub, a drainage valve for draining from the outer tub via the drainage duct, and the drainage duct The turbidity detecting means for detecting the turbidity of the washing liquid by the light transmittance, the conductivity detecting means comprising a pair of electrodes provided near the bottom of the outer tub, and the conductivity detecting means Is disposed above the lowermost part of the inner tank and below the upper surface of the pulsator, and the conductivity detecting means includes a water detecting circuit and a dirt detecting circuit, and signals from the electrodes are sent to the water detecting circuit and the dirt detecting circuit. And can be switched with Said drive means to control the operation of such a water supply valve, the washing, rinsing, and control means for sequentially controlling a set of strokes of dehydration, the control means, in washing operation, the washing in the turbidity sensing means thereby detecting the turbidity of the liquid, detecting the conductivity of the washing water in the conductivity sensing means, based on the detection result of the turbidity sensing means and the conductivity sensing means, determine the degree of dirt clothing By setting the subsequent stroke control, it is possible to determine the degree of contamination with high reliability and to set an appropriate time for the washing stroke or the rinsing stroke.

Moreover , since the electrode configuration for water level detection and dirt detection is shared, the structure is simplified and a cost effect can be obtained.

  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 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the washing machine.

  In FIG. 1, a housing 41 is provided with an outer tub 43 that is elastically suspended by a plurality of suspensions 42 and absorbs vibration during dehydration by the suspensions 42. Inside the outer tub 43, an inner tub 44 for storing clothes and objects to be dried is disposed rotatably around a washing / dehydrating shaft 45 having a hollow and double structure. Further, a pulsator 46 that stirs the object to be dried is rotatably arranged.

In addition, the inner peripheral wall of the inner tank 44 is provided with a number of drain holes for dehydration and a plurality of vent holes 44a, and a fluid balancer 47 is provided above. A motor (driving means) 48 is attached to the outer bottom of the outer tub 43 and is connected to the inner tub 44 or pulsator via the clutch 49 and the washing / dehydrating shaft 45 for switching the transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 45 during washing or dehydrating. 46 is connected. The pulsator 46 has a substantially pan-like shape having an inclined surface 50 on the outer periphery, and forms a stirring protrusion 51. The clothes are stirred during the washing process, and the object to be dried is rotated by the pulsator 46 during the drying process. It is easy to soar upward along the inclined surface by centrifugal force. That is, the clothes are configured to move left and right (rotation direction) by agitation and also move up and down.

  The heat exchange duct 52 of the drying function dehumidifies the circulating hot warm air (circulating air), and once connected to the drainage passage port 54 provided in the lower part of the outer tub 43 through the connection duct 53, The other end is connected to the inlet side of the hot air blowing means 61 constituting the hot air circulation path 57.

  A first temperature detecting means 62 for detecting the temperature of the circulating air entering the hot air blowing means 61 is provided on the inlet side of the hot air circulation path 57, and the circulation heated by the heater is provided on the outlet side. Second temperature detecting means 63 for detecting the temperature of the wind is provided to detect the circulating wind temperature during the drying process.

  The outer tub 43 is provided with an outer tub cover 65 that hermetically covers the upper surface of the outer tub 43, and the outer tub cover 65 is provided with a hot air blowing hole 60 from the upper and lower bellows-like hose 58 that can be expanded and contracted. Yes. Further, an inner lid 66 is provided on the outer tank cover 65 so as to be freely opened and closed so that clothes can be taken in and out.

  An upper frame body 68 having a clothing insertion port 67 is attached to the upper portion of the housing 41 at a substantially central portion, and an outer lid 69 is provided so as to be able to open and close so as to cover the clothing insertion port 67.

  A support member 71 equipped with the hot air blowing means 61 for the drying function, the water supply valve 70, and the like is provided inside the rear part of the upper frame 68.

  The water supply valve 70 has a multi-valve configuration in which two or more water channels can be opened and closed, and is supplied from tap water or a bath water absorption mechanism (not shown) or the like. The structure is such that a small flow rate of water flows with the discharge port area reduced, and the cleaning hose 72 is connected to the cleaning pipe 77 formed in the drain duct 75 at the outer bottom of the outer tub 43, and the other water channel is the open area of the valve or The discharge port area on the water supply hose 73 side is increased to allow water to flow at a large flow rate, and washing water is supplied to the inner tub 44 via a water injection member (not shown) provided on the support member 71 by the water supply hose 73. Connected to allow water supply.

  The support member 71 inside the upper frame 68 can store an amount of liquid detergent that can be used for a plurality of washings, and automatically puts the liquid detergent into the outer tub 43. 64 is configured. A flexible detergent pouring hose 59 is connected between the liquid detergent automatic charging device 64 and the outer tank cover 65, and the liquid pumped from the liquid detergent automatic charging device 64 by an air pump or the like (not shown). The detergent is dropped between the outer tank 43 and the inner tank 44 through the detergent water injection hose 59. Since the detergent water supply hose 59 is flexible, even when the entire outer tub 43 that is a vibration system is swung during dehydration, there is almost no influence on the vibration system or the detergent water supply hose 59 itself.

  A drain valve 74 for draining the water in the outer tub 43 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 43 and connected to the heat exchange duct 52 and the connection duct 53 via the drain duct 75, and the connection duct 53 and the heat exchange duct are connected. The drainage from 52 is guided to the drainage duct 75 and the drainage valve 74 and drained from the drainage hose 76 to the outside of the machine. Further, as described above, the drain duct 75 is formed with a cleaning pipe 77 to which one end of the cleaning hose 72 piped to the water supply valve 70 is connected.

  A turbidity detecting means 92 for causing the drainage duct 75 to emit and receive a light beam upstream of the drainage valve 74, detect the turbidity of the washing water based on the transmission degree and change rate, and detect the degree of dirt on the clothes. Is attached. A third temperature detecting means 97 is provided on the outer surface of the drainage duct 75 to detect the temperature of the water in the drainage duct 75, that is, the temperature of the washing water supplied from the water supply valve 70 into the outer tank 43 that communicates. It is like that.

  In the vicinity of the bottom of the outer tub 43, a pair of electrodes 94 for detecting the conductivity of the washing water and detecting the degree of contamination from ions dissolved in the water and detecting the presence or absence of water from the change in resistance value. Is provided below the outer surface of the outer peripheral portion of the pulsator 46 at the lower part of the outer tub 43, so that it is not easily affected by the water flow caused by the rotation of the pulsator 46, and the conductivity is stably detected. be able to.

  An air trap 95 is formed on the outer peripheral side wall of the outer tub 43 at a position lower than the electrode 94 of the conductivity detecting means 78, and is connected to a water level detecting means 90 constituted by a pressure sensor or the like with an air pipe 96. In addition, the water level in a plurality of stages can be detected by the water pressure of the washing water supplied into the outer tub 43.

  The control device 80 is integrally formed, and is disposed substantially vertically on the back surface (back cover) 81 of the housing 41, and a cooling blower 79 is provided below the control device 80. The control device 80 is covered and protected by a cover 82.

  An operation display unit 85 including an input setting unit 83 and a display unit 84 (described later in FIG. 2) is provided on the front surface of the upper frame 68.

  In the block circuit diagram of FIG. 2, the control device 80 includes a motor (drive means) 48, a clutch 49, a drying fan 55 and a heater 56 that constitute the hot air blowing means 61, and a drain valve via a load drive means 86. 74, control means 87 for controlling the operation of the cooling fan (cooling means) 79, the water supply valve 70, etc., and controlling the steps of washing, rinsing, dehydration and drying, and the sterilization / deodorization process.

  The control means 87 is constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and starts operating when power is supplied from a commercial power supply 88 when the power switch 89 is turned on. The cloth amount detection means 93, the water level detection means 90, and the first temperature detection means 62 are started. The outputs of the second temperature detecting means 63 and the third temperature detecting means 97 are inputted, and the set contents are displayed on the display means 84 based on the contents set by the input by the input setting means 83. A motor 48, a clutch 49, a drying fan 55, a heater 56, a drain valve 74, a cooling fan 79, a water supply valve 70, a water absorption pump 91, and a load driving means 86 composed of a bidirectional thyristor, a relay, etc. The operation of the air pump 40 or the like is controlled, and the steps of washing, rinsing, dewatering and drying are controlled. The input setting unit 83 and the display unit 84 constitute an operation display unit 85.

  Further, the control means 87 determines the presence or absence of the washing water and the detergent based on the conductivity of the washing liquid obtained from the conductivity detection means 78, the infrared transmission degree obtained from the turbidity detection means 92, and the rate of change thereof. Detects the type and degree of dirt on clothing, and controls each process.

  The conductivity detection means 78 includes two circuits, a water detection circuit 98 and a dirt detection circuit 99, the pair of electrodes 94 described above, and the relay 100. The conductivity detected by the electrode 94 is determined by the water detection circuit 98. In addition to the function as a water level sensor for detecting the presence or absence of washing water, the dirt detection circuit 99 can exhibit a dirt sensor function for detecting the degree of dirt by switching the relay 100.

  Further, the control means 87 turns off the heater 56 when the temperature detected by the second temperature detection means 63 reaches a first predetermined temperature (for example, 110 ° C.) during the drying process, and the first time at that time. When the second predetermined temperature (for example, 2k) is lowered from the temperature by the temperature detecting means 62, the heater 56 is operated to adjust the temperature of the circulating air.

  In the above configuration, the contents of the operation control according to the degree of stain of the washing liquid referred to in the present application will be described with reference to basic operations up to washing, rinsing and dehydration processes.

  FIG. 3 shows a washing-dehydration sequence table of the fully automatic washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the washing-dehydration control.

  In the sequence table of FIG. 3, the basic process includes a washing process, a rinsing process (1), a rinsing process (2), and a dehydrating process.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, when the process starts (S101), the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting and fixing means 93 is detected (S102), and the control means 87 determines the water level and the detergent amount according to the cloth amount. Determination and provisional determination of the subsequent sequence are made and displayed on the display means 84 (S103). When the operation is started, the outer lid 69 is fixed by a lid locking device (not shown), and the outer lid 69 is opened and closed unless a temporary stop button (not shown) of the input setting means 83 is pressed. Can not be.

  At the same time, the water supply valve 70 with a small flow rate operates to start water supply to the cleaning hose 72 side (water supply b), and water is supplied from the cleaning pipe 77 into the drain duct 75 so as to fill the drain duct 75 ( S104). Then, D0 acquisition of turbidity detection by the turbidity detection means 92 (S105) is performed, the turbidity of the supplied tap water is detected by the turbidity detection means 92, and the data is input to the control means 87. . In addition, when the water supply valve 70 with a large flow rate is operated (water supply a) and tap water is supplied into the inner tank 44 via the water supply hose 73, the tap water passes through dirty clothes and accumulates in the drain duct 75. Although the exact turbidity of tap water is not detected, when a small flow rate water supply valve 70 is operated, a small amount of water is supplied from the washing pipe 77 side, so that an accurate turbidity without contamination of clothes or the like can be detected.

  The water level is set so that the water level increases from rank 1 to rank 9 in order, rank 3 is a lower water level than the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of pulsator 46, and rank 4 to rank 9 are cloths. Depending on the amount, the water level at which washing and stirring b, which will be described later, is performed, rank 9 is the highest water level. 3 and 4 show an example in which the amount of cloth is large and it is detected so as to set the high water level of rank 9.

  And a user throws in detergent according to the detergent amount display (S106). As for the detergent, there are a case where the user puts powder detergent or liquid detergent according to the detergent amount display, and a case where the liquid detergent is automatically thrown using the liquid detergent automatic throwing device 64. Now, a case where the user puts in powder detergent or liquid detergent according to the detergent amount display will be described.

  When the detergent is introduced, the water supply valve 70 with a small flow rate operates in the water supply b, passes through the drainage duct 75 and the connection duct 53 via the cleaning hose 72 and the cleaning pipe 77, and enters the tank from the lower side. Water is supplied to the water level rank 1 (S107). The water level rank 1 is a water level that is approximately 100 mm lower than the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the pulsator 46, and the conductivity detection means 78 is immersed in water. The water level is detected by the water detection circuit 98 of the conductivity detection means 78 (S108). The water supply is stopped (S109).

  The water level detection means 90 described above detects the water pressure received by the air trap 95 provided in the outer tub 43, but accurately detects the lowest rank water level that is approximately 100 mm lower than the upper surface of the outer periphery of the pulsator 46. It is difficult to do because the water pressure is very small. However, by detecting with the conductivity detection means 78, when the water touches the pair of electrodes 94 of the conductivity detection means 78, it is accurately determined that the water detection circuit 98 has reached the lowest water level. Can be detected.

  Next, with the drain valve 74 closed, the clutch 49 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side, and the power of the motor 48 is transmitted to the inner tank 44 through the dehydrating shaft and rotated, so that the inner tank 44 and the pulsator are rotated. 46 is rotated at a low speed of about 50 to 120 r / min at the same time, and the tank is rotated to dissolve the detergent (S110). As a result, the washing liquid in the tub slowly rotates between the inner tub 44 and the outer tub 43 by the action of centrifugal force, and the detergent is sufficiently dissolved and foamed without the washing liquid adhering to the dirt on the clothes. .

  Then, in order to stop the tank rotation and obtain the initial value of the turbidity due to the washing liquid detergent, the turbidity detecting means 92 obtains D1 for detecting the dirt due to the turbidity (S111), and at the same time, the conductivity. The relay 100 of the detection means 78 is switched, and the dirt detection circuit 99 performs the dirt detection E1 acquisition based on the conductivity (S112).

  The washing liquid data in which no dirt from the clothes has been extracted is input to the control means 87, and the turbidity of tap water detected in the previous step (D0 acquisition) is excluded, and S0 determination (S0 = D1-D0), the turbidity value is calculated, and the type of detergent is determined whether the detergent supplied is a powder detergent or a liquid detergent. Depending on the detergent type, the subsequent washing process and the rinsing process Time is controlled (S113).

  Next, while supplying water up to the water level rank 2, with the drain valve 74 closed, the clutch 49 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dewatering side, and the power of the motor 48 is transmitted to the inner tank 44 via the dewatering shaft. The inner tank 44 and the pulsator 46 are rotated together at a lower speed around 35 r / min (water supply & tank rotation) (S114). Then, after the tank rotation is stopped, water is supplied up to rank 3 (S115), and the power of the motor 48 is transmitted to the pulsator 46 through the washing shaft by the clutch 49 of the transmission mechanism, and the pulsator 46 rotates. a is performed (S116), water is further supplied up to rank 5 (S117), and stirring a is performed (S118). A plurality of water level detection of rank 2 or higher at the time of water supply is performed by the pressure type water level detection means 90.

  By these operations, at a water level lower than the rated water level (here, the water level of rank 9 set by detecting the amount of cloth), in this case, at a water level 4 ranks below the high water level, so-called detergent high concentration stirring with a high cleaning effect. And foaming is sufficiently performed, and dirt on clothes is also eluted in the washing liquid.

  Then, the stirring a is stopped, and the turbidity detecting means 92 acquires D2 for detecting dirt due to turbidity (S119). At the same time, the dirt detecting circuit 99 of the conductivity detecting means 78 detects dirt due to conductivity. E2 is acquired (S120). As a result, the turbidity data of the washing liquid at a water level lower than the high water level is input to the control means 87 and calculated (S121).

  Next, the water supply valve 70 with a large flow rate is operated to start water supply into the inner tub 44 through the water supply hose 73, and the water is supplied to the rated water level, and in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4, to the high water level (rank 9). (S122). When the water supply is finished, the washing and stirring b (S123) for the time determined by the calculation by the control means (S121), for example, 8 minutes for the powder detergent and 10 minutes for the liquid detergent starts.

  Washing and stirring b (S123) starts, and the pulsator 46 rotates, whereby the clothes are caught by the stirring protrusion 11 of the pulsator 46 and pulled to the center. The clothing at the center lower layer portion of the inner tub 44 is pushed up to the upper layer portion of the inner tub 44 by the drawn-in clothing. In this way, the clothes in the inner tub 44 are agitated, and the dirt contained in the garments is performed by the mechanical force acting by the contact between the clothes, or the inner wall of the inner tub 44 and the pulsator 46, and the hydrodynamic force. The turbidity of the washing water gradually changes as it elutes into the washing water.

  Even after the start of washing and stirring b in the washing process at a predetermined rated water level (ranks 6 to 9), the turbidity detecting means 92 obtains D3 for detecting dirt due to the turbidity of the washing liquid (S124), and at the same time, conducting The contamination detection circuit 99 of the rate detection means 78 acquires the contamination detection E3 based on the conductivity (S125).

  As a result, the S2 determination (S2 = D3-D2 or D3-D1) and the T2 determination (T2 = E3-E2 or E3-E1) together with the data detected in the D2 acquisition, and the calculation based on the result are performed. In step S126, the degree of soiling of the washing liquid, that is, the degree of soiling from the laundry is determined.

  Then, on the basis of the degree of dirt removal, process control such as correction of the subsequent washing time and shortening of the rinsing process time is performed.

  The determination of the degree of stain of the washing liquid, that is, the degree of stain removal from the clothing will be described in the description of FIG.

  In the next process, the rinse (1) process, the drain valve 74 is opened and the water in the inner tank 44 is drained, and then the clutch 49 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dewatering side to apply centrifugal force to the clothing. After the water is separated from the clothes, the water supply valve 70 is operated with the water supply a to supply water up to a high water level (rank 9), the motor 48 is driven again, and the detergent liquid is discharged from the clothes. The rinsing stirring c is started (S128).

  In the rinsing process (2), that is, the final rinsing process, drainage and dewatering are performed in the same manner as in the rinsing process (1), and after the rinsing is completed, the rinsing stirring c is started (S129).

  In the dehydration process, after rinsing is completed, the drain valve 74 is opened and the water in the inner tub 44 is drained from the drain hose 76, and then the clutch 49 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydration side to This is performed by separating the moisture from the garment by transmitting it to the inner tub 44 and rotating it to apply centrifugal force to the garment (S130).

  FIG. 5 is a matrix table of turbidity, electrical conductivity, and dirt level of the fully automatic washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  There are various types of stains such as sweat stains and mud stains on clothes. For example, in the case of sweat stains, the turbidity detection means 92 that detects stains by the degree of transmission of infrared rays has little washing solution turbidity. Even if it is very dirty, it is difficult to make an appropriate determination. However, the conductivity detecting means 78 for detecting dirt based on the conductivity of the washing liquid has a feature that the conductivity increases in the case of water containing salt, and the degree of dirt is large as in the actual degree of dirt. That is, it can be determined that the stain from the clothing is sufficient.

  However, in the case of mud dirt, the washing liquid is cloudy but the conductivity is small. Therefore, the turbidity detecting means 92 can determine that the dirt is properly removed, but the conductivity detecting means 78 can determine appropriately. It is difficult to do.

  FIG. 5 is a comprehensive view of the data obtained from these two dirt detection means, and is intended to determine the degree of dirt, that is, the degree of dirt removed from the clothing. In FIG. D-L4 represents the stain degree S2 determination based on the turbidity acquired by the turbidity detecting means 92, and the stain degree of the washing water increases from D-L1 to D-L4.

  E-L1 to E-L4 on the horizontal axis represent the degree of dirt T2 based on the conductivity acquired by the dirt detecting circuit 99 of the conductivity detecting means 78, and the degree of dirt on the washing water as it changes from E-L1 to E-L4. Increase.

  In the matrix table of FIG. 5, T-L1 to T-L4 comprehensively determine the degree of dirt obtained from the two dirt detecting means. When the washing water stain is detected by two detection means, for example, when the dirt degree due to turbidity is determined to be light dirt with D-L1, and the dirt degree due to conductivity is E-L4, and it is determined to be severe dirt The overall degree of dirt is determined to be T-L4, and it is determined that the dirt from the clothes having strong dirt such as sweat is detached.

  Alternatively, if the degree of dirt due to turbidity is determined to be medium dirt with D-L3, and the degree of dirt due to conductivity is determined to be E-L3 and the same medium dirt is determined, the overall dirt degree is set to T -It is determined that L3 is moderately dirty, and moderate sweat dirt or mud dirt is removed from clothing.

  Then, based on this comprehensive determination, the time of S2 determination whether the dirt from the clothes has sufficiently separated, the extension or shortening of the washing process (S127) after the T2 determination, and the rinsing process (S128, S129) Perform stroke control such as shortening. For example, the washing time is set to be longer in the order of T-L1, T-L2, T-L3, and T-L4. Alternatively, the rinse time is set to be longer in the order of T-L1, T-L2, T-L3, and T-L4.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the washing process, the washing liquid turbidity is detected by the turbidity detecting means to determine the degree of dirt, and the conductivity of the washing liquid is detected by the conductivity detecting means. Thus, the degree of dirt is determined, and based on the two determination results, the degree of dirt, that is, whether the dirt has sufficiently separated from the clothing is finally determined, and the subsequent stroke control is performed.

  In addition, the conductivity detection means detects the extremely low water level, which is difficult to detect with the pressure-type water level detection means received by a normal air trap, so that the electrode configuration for water level detection and dirt detection is shared. Further, it can be realized only by adding a part of the dirt detection circuit, the structure is simplified, and it can be realized at low cost.

  Thereby, since it is possible to determine the degree of dirt with high reliability, it is possible to achieve an appropriate time setting and performance improvement for the washing process and the rinsing process.

  Since the washing machine according to the present invention can efficiently control the stroke according to the dirt of the washing liquid, the washing machine can be applied to various washing machines and the like.

43 Outer tank 44 Inner tank 46 Pulsator 48 Motor (drive means)
53 Connection duct 68 Upper frame 70 Water supply valve 74 Drain valve 75 Drain duct 78 Conductivity detection means 87 Control means 92 Turbidity detection means 94 Electrode 98 Water detection circuit 99 Dirt detection circuit 100 Relay

Claims (1)

An outer tub which elastically Tsu支in the housing, and the inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub, a pulsator provided in the inner bottom portion of the tank, for rotating the inner tub or pulsator Drive means, a water supply valve provided at the upper part of the housing, a drainage duct communicating with the bottom of the outer tub, a drainage valve for draining from the outer tub via the drainage duct, and a light transmission provided in the drainage duct Turbidity detection means for detecting the turbidity of the washing liquid according to the degree, conductivity detection means comprising a pair of electrodes provided near the bottom of the outer tub, and the conductivity detection means at the bottom of the inner tub Arranged at a higher level and lower than the upper surface of the pulsator, the conductivity detection means includes a water detection circuit and a dirt detection circuit, and allows the signal from the electrode to be switched between the water detection circuit and the dirt detection circuit. together with the drive means Controls the operation of such a water supply valve, the washing, rinsing, and control means for sequentially controlling a set of strokes of dewatering, wherein, in the washing step, the turbidity of the washing water in the turbidity sensing means together with detecting, detects the conductivity of the washing water in the conductivity sensing means, based on the detection result of the turbidity sensing means and the conductivity sensing means, the degree of dirt garments to determine the constant, A washing machine characterized by performing subsequent stroke control.

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