JPH01259898A - Washing machine with diagnosing function for washing operation process time - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To return a device to normal operation in a short time, by indicating an overtime process after a set time, when washing operation is not completed within the longest operation time, and by contriving its cause to be found out as to which process is of the cause. CONSTITUTION:In case of overtime operation after the longest operation time on the way of the respective processes of feed water, drain, and the like, at the time points, an actual feed water time, drain time, and cover opening time are respectively compared with a regular feed water time, drain time, and cover opening time, and it is discriminated which process time is longer than a regular time, and overtime processes after the regular time are indicated by the lighting of display lamps 1a, 1b, 1c. Then, by users, the lit lamp 1a for example is recognized, and it can be found out that the actual feed water time is beyond the regular time, and the inspection of the overtightening or the like of the tap of a waterworks on the small quantity of feed water per unit time can be executed, and the display lamp 1b is watched, and inspection as to whether a drainage port is clogged or not can be executed, otherwise, the display lamp 1c is watched, and inspection whether a lid is perfectly closed or not, or the like can be executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a function for diagnosing the washing operation process time in a washing machine that can be operated under automatic control using an electronic control circuit such as a microcomputer.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, washing machines have been used whose operation is controlled using an electronic control circuit such as a microcomputer instead of a mechanical timer. These microcomputer-type washing machines can use push-button switches for the operation part, so they can be operated with a lighter touch compared to conventional knob-type or lever-type ones, and by selecting and combining switches, fewer switches can be used. It has the advantage of allowing a wide variety of detailed operations.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of such a microcomputer-type washing machine. In the figure, (18) is a hollow cylindrical body with a large number of through holes, and vertically long stirring blades are provided radially around the circumference of the body. The agitator (8) is a washing/dehydrating tank with the agitator (18) placed in the center and a through hole (10) in the side wall, and a balancer (9) using a hollow transporter is installed in the upper opening. There is an opening/closing lid on the top for dehydration (not shown).
will be provided. (7) is a water receiving tank provided outside the dewatering tank (8), and the bottom thereof is provided with a drain port to which a pipe is connected, and a drain valve (24) is provided here.

In the figure (11) is the motor and this is the small pulley (12).
It is connected to a rotation transmission section (16) via a V-belt (13) and a deceleration transmission mechanism of a large pulley (14). This rotation transmission part (16) has a double drive shaft (17a) (17b) that is switched by a spring clutch mechanism (15).The outer drive shaft (17a) is connected to the dehydration tank (8), and the inner drive shaft The shafts (17b) are each coupled to an agitator (18).

A water guide part (25) rises from the bottom of the water receiving tank (7), and a water level sensor (21) is installed here.A water supply solenoid valve (19) is installed above the washing and dewatering tank (8), and the washing machine Each operation panel at the top of the outer box (not shown) is provided with a production switch section (5).

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, this operation switch section (5) includes a power switch (2), a wash switch (4a) for appropriately setting the time and number of washing operations, and a rinse switch (4a). 4b), dehydration switch (4
C), all washing processes are preset in the control device (a fully automatic switch (4d) is provided to select the desired one from a few courses), and these switches (4a)
) to (4c) are provided with display lamps (3) using LEDs or the like to indicate the selected contents and the washing progress status.

Then, various push button switches (2), (4a), (
4b), (4C), and (4d) and water level sensor (2).
The output of 1) is introduced, and the control circuit (6) controls the opening and closing of the water supply solenoid valve (19) and drain valve (20), as well as the motor (11) for driving the pulsator or agitator (18) and dewatering tank (8). An output is issued to control energization.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4. First, the push button switch of the operation switch section (5) is pressed to set the washing process.
Suppose that you press d) to set the fully automatic speedy course as shown in the operating process diagram in Figure 7 (Stepy).
.

As shown in the figure, this speedy course has 3 minutes of water supply and 6 minutes of washing as the washing operation process, and 2 minutes of draining, 2 minutes of dehydration, 3 minutes of water supply, and 2 minutes of rinsing as the rinsing operation process. is set, and the final dewatering process is set in order of 2 minutes of drainage and 1 minute of dehydration.

When the output from the fully automatic switch (4d) enters the control circuit (6), the water supply solenoid valve (19) is opened by the output from here to start water supply for the washing operation (step port).

When water is supplied to a predetermined water level, the water level sensor (
21) detects this (step C), and the water supply solenoid valve (19) is closed by the control circuit (6) based on the output from the water level sensor (21), water supply is stopped, and the motor (1
1) is energized and the washing process begins (Step 2).

The motor (11) rotates left and right for a preset time, and this rotational force is applied to the small pulley (12) and the V-belt (
13), large pulley (14), spring clutch mechanism (
15), rotation transmission part (1G), drive shaft (17a) (
17b) to the agitator (18), and the agitator (18) rotates from side to side to open the washing and dewatering tank (8).
) Wash the clothes inside.

When the washing operation is completed for a predetermined period of time, that is, 6 minutes (snap photo), the rinsing process begins, and the drain valve (20) is opened by the output from the control circuit (6) (to the step), and the washing and removal process begins. The detergent water after washing in the water tank (8) is discharged.

When the water level sensor (21) determines that drainage is complete (snap), the spring clutch mechanism (15) connects the drive shaft (17a) to the washing and dewatering tank (8).
are connected and enter the dehydration process (stepchi). In this dewatering process, the motor (11) continuously rotates in one direction by the output of the control circuit (6), and this rotational force is transferred to the small pulley (12).
, V-belt (13), large pulley (14), spring clutch mechanism (15), rotation transmission section (16), and drive shafts (17a) and (17b) to connect the washing and dewatering tank (8) to the agitator (18). ), and the washing and dehydration tank (8) and the agitator (18) rotate at high speed in one direction, thereby dehydrating the clothes in the washing and dehydration tank (8).

By the way, during this dehydration process, for example, the washing and dehydration tank (8)
When the awn is opened to correct the misalignment of the clothes inside (Sterapuri), the rotation of the washing and dehydration tank (8) and the agitator (18) is stopped to prevent danger, and the dehydration operation is temporarily stopped (
stepnu). When the lid is closed, the dehydration operation will resume.

In this way, dehydration is carried out for a predetermined period of time, and when the dehydration is completed (STAPLE PULL), a water supply process is started and water is supplied to a predetermined water level in the same manner as described above (STAPLE PULL, WA). Next, the rinsing process begins, and the agitator (18
) to the left and right and rinse for the prescribed time of 2 minutes (Stetsopka, Yo).

When the rinsing process is completed, the dewatering operation starts, and the water is drained in the same manner as above (stepta, shi), and then the dehydration is performed (sterapuri, tsu, ne, na). Of each dewatering operation process, the water supply and drainage operation time is actually the time from when the water supply solenoid valve or drain valve opens until the specified water level is detected by the water level sensor. If the amount of water supplied per unit time is small, or if the drain is clogged and does not drain smoothly, the actual water supply and drainage times may be longer than the preset water supply and drainage times. There is.

Further, regarding the dehydration operation time, if the lid is opened during the dehydration operation, the operation will be stopped during this time, so the dehydration operation will not be completed within the set time.

In conventional washing machines, when all the operating processes were not completed within the set time, there was no way to display which process was the cause of the problem, so it took time and effort to investigate the cause, and the process was not completed normally. It took some time to get back to driving.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the inconveniences of the conventional example, and when all the washing operation steps are not completed within a set time, it is possible to display which process caused the problem, so that the cause can be quickly investigated. To provide a washing machine with a washing process time diagnostic function that can restore normal operation in a short time.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention sets the operation time of each washing operation process such as water supply, drainage, and dehydration in advance in a control device for each process, and in a washing machine that can automatically control operation according to this content, each set time is set in advance in a control device. a setting means for presetting the maximum time of all washing operation times based on the operation time of the process; a calculation means for calculating the actual operation time of each process for each process; A comparison means is provided in the control device, and if the washing operation is not completed within the set maximum time, an output from the comparison means indicates that the actual operating time is longer than the set time. The gist is to provide a display means for displaying.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the comparison means compares the set time for each process such as water supply and drainage with the actual operating time, and when the washing operation is not completed within the longest set total washing operation time, is based on the output from the comparison means,
Processes whose actual operation time was longer than the set time are displayed on the display.

Therefore, the user can see this display and know which process is causing the problem, so the user can investigate the cause in a short time.

〔Example〕

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

Fig. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the control system of the control circuit using a microcomputer showing the main parts of the washing machine of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the operation switch part of the operation panel, and the basic structure of the washing machine is shown in Fig. 6. Since it is similar to what has already been explained for the figure,
Detailed explanation here will be omitted.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a power switch (2) provided as an operation switch part (5) on the operation panel, a wash switch (4a), a rinse switch (4b), and a rinse switch (4b) as various pusher operation switch parts. Along with the dewatering switch (4c), fully automatic switch (4d), and display lamp (3), there is also an abnormal process display section that indicates processes where the actual operating time is longer than the specified time. Lid open”
Indicator lamps (la), (lb), and (lc) using LEDs and the like are provided with the letters .

As shown in the block circuit diagram in Figure 1, there is a wash switch (4a), a rinse switch (4b), a dehydration switch (4c), a fully automatic switch (4d), a water level sensor (
21) The outputs of the power switch (22) and the power switch (2), which detect the opening and closing of the washing and dewatering tank (8), are introduced into the control circuit (6), and from the control circuit (6), the water supply electromagnetic Opening/closing the valve (19) and drain valve (20), and opening/closing the agitator (
18) and the drive motor (11) of the dehydration tank (8) are output to the driver (24), and the indicator lamps (la), (lb), (Ic) and (3
) is introduced. In the figure, (23) indicates a power supply circuit.

The control circuit (6) includes the switches (4a) to (4d).
The maximum time of all washing operation times for the washing process set in is set, and an arithmetic circuit that calculates the actual operation time for each process and the set operation time and actual operation time for each process are set. A comparison circuit for comparison is formed.

Next, usage and operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, press the power switch (2) to turn on the power.
The power supply circuit (23) operates and the control circuit (6) starts operating. Then, when the various operation switches (4a) to (4d) are pressed to set a washing operation course (step 1), the display lamp (3) lights up according to the contents. At the same time, the control circuit (6) sets the maximum operating time, specified water supply time, specified drainage time, and specified lid opening time (step opening) according to the set washing operation details. The following description will be made assuming that the washing process shown in FIG. 7 is set as in the case of the conventional example described above.

When each process of washing operation is set, the water supply solenoid valve (19)
is opened and water starts to be supplied into the washing and dewatering tank (8) (Step C), and water is supplied until the water level sensor (21) detects that the specified water level has been reached (Step Port). The actual water supply time during this period is counted by the control circuit (6) (Step E), and if the water supply is completed within the maximum operating time set at the step port, the next washing step is started (Step E).

In the washing operation process, if the set washing time expires within the maximum operating time and the washing operation ends (Step 1)
, move on to the draining process of the next rinsing operation (Stesopnu).

In the drainage process, the actual drainage time is counted in the same way as in the water supply process, and if the drainage operation ends within the maximum operation time (
Steady, wo, wa), move on to the next dehydration process (step force).

During this dehydration process, if you open the lid during the dehydration process, the lid switch (
Based on the output from 22), the lid opening time is counted (step opening, evening, shi, so), and when the lid is closed within the longest operating time and the specified dehydration time is over (step opening, ne), the next Move to the water supply process (step na).

This water supply process is similar to the water supply process in the first washing operation, and the actual water supply time until the specified water level is reached and the water level sensor (21) detects this is counted, and this water supply time is equal to the water supply time in the first washing operation. added to the time. In this way, when the water supply is finished within the maximum operating time (step na,
Step 1), then move on to the next rinsing process (Step No.).

When the specified time for the rinsing process ends within the maximum operating time (step o, ri), the process moves on to the draining process of the final dewatering operation (step y).

In this draining step, the actual draining time is counted in the same way as the draining step in the rinsing operation, and this is added to the actual draining time in the draining step in the rinsing operation. Then, when the drainage is completed within the longest operating time (step ma, ke,)), the process moves to the next dewatering process (step port).

In this dehydration process, in the same way as the dehydration process during the rinse operation, when the lid is opened and the dehydration operation is temporarily stopped, the time during which the lid is opened is counted, and this time is added to the lid open time during the dehydration process during the rinse operation. (Step e, te, a,
vinegar). When the dewatering operation is completed within the maximum operating time (step yu), it is assumed that all processes have been completed within the maximum operating time, and the washing operation is normally completed.

By the way, if the maximum operating time is reached and exceeded during each process such as water supply, drainage, etc. (go to step
At that point, the actual water supply time, actual drain time, and actual lid opening time are the specified water supply time, specified drain time, and specified lid opening time, respectively. It is compared to determine which process took longer than the specified time, and the process that exceeded the specified time is displayed with an indicator lamp (la) (lb).
(Step Me, Mi, Shi, Work, Mo, Se, Su) is displayed when (lc) is lit.

Therefore, the user sees the illuminated indicator lamp (1a), knows that the actual water supply time is over the specified time, and checks whether the water supply volume per unit time is too low, such as turning off the tap too much. Or, when you see the indicator lamp (1b) and find out that the drainage time has exceeded the specified time, check to see if the drain is clogged, or check the indicator lamp (1c). You can check to see if the lid is closed completely.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the washing machine with the function of diagnosing the washing operation process time of the present invention is designed so that when the washing operation does not end within the maximum operating time, the process in which the specified time has been exceeded is displayed. You can find out if the cause is in the process,
It is easy to find a clue as to the cause, and normal operation can be restored in a short period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a control system of a control circuit using a microcomputer, which is a main part of a washing machine with a washing operation process time diagnostic function of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing an operation switch section of an operation panel. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation operation;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the conventional operation operation, Fig. 5 is a front view showing the conventional operation switch section, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the washing machine, and Fig. 7 is a process diagram showing an example of the washing operation process. be. (1a) (1b) (1c) -Indication lamp (2
)...Power switch (3)...Indication lamp (4a
)... Wash switch (4b)... Rinse switch (
4c)... Dehydration switch (4d)... Fully automatic switch (5)... Operation switch section (6)... Control circuit (
7)...Water tank (8)...Washing/dehydration tank (
9)... Balancer (10)... Through hole (11)
... Motor (12) ... Small pulley (13
)...■Bell! -(14)...Large pulley-(12)
... Spring clutch mechanism (I6) ... Rotation transmission part (7a) (7b) ...
Drive shaft (18)...Agitator (19)...Water supply solenoid valve (20)...Drain valve (21)...
Water level sensor (22)...Lid switch (23)...
...Power supply circuit (24)...Driver (25)...Introduction part Fig. 1 24 (F:"Bottle/Bottle Fig. 2 - Fig. S/

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a washing machine that is capable of automatic control operation, the operation time of each washing operation process such as water supply, drainage, dehydration, etc. is set in advance in the control device for each process, and the entire washing operation is performed based on the set operation time of each process according to this setting. The control device includes a setting means for presetting the maximum time of the time, a calculation means for calculating the actual operation time of each process for each process, and a comparison means for comparing the set time and the actual operation time of each process. and a display means for displaying the process in which the actual operating time was longer than the set time using the output from the comparing means when the washing operation is not completed within the set maximum time. A washing machine with a washing operation process time diagnostic function.