JPH01320093A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change the setting of conditions for unfinished processes without interrupting the proceeding of processes by judging the presence of the setting change of conditions with the condition judging means of a control device automatically advancing the washing processes, changing the setting of conditions of the unfinished processes of the setting change judged by a process judging means with a processing means, then continuously implement the operation. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer sets and processes the standard set conditions in the washing operation action, in the washing process a water feed valve and a washing motor are driven and controlled and the washing time is counted. When the set time for the washing condition elapses, the microcomputer completes the washing process. In the next rinsing process, the microcomputer drives and controls a drain valve, the water feed valve and the washing motor under the set condition, the rinsing process proceeds. The microcomputer then drives and controls the drain valve and closes the drain valve. If the condition change is set and inputted during the proceeding of these processes, the microcomputer sets and processes the condition change at judgment steps S7, S10, S13 respectively while the process proceeds, thus the processes are continued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a washing machine having a control device that automatically advances each washing process based on set conditions.

(Prior art) Conventionally, for example, in a two-tank automatic washing machine, the washing process consists of a washing process in which water is supplied and washed, a rinsing process in which water is drained, water is supplied, and rinsed, and a draining process in which final drainage is performed. A microcomputer (t) is provided as a control device that controls the progress of a series of washing operations consisting of a washing machine, and controls the progress of a spin-drying operation on the spin-drying tank side. In this case, the microcomputer is programmed in advance to set the conditions for each process, such as water flow intensity, washing time, rinsing intensity (rinsing time, number of modes), presence or absence of drainage, and dewatering time, in advance when the power is turned on. Standard conditions are set, and when the settings are changed by the user, those conditions are set. In addition, while the process is in progress, the microcomputer accepts setting changes by interrupting the process based on the operation of the - hour stop switch, sets the conditions, and continues the process again based on the operation of the washing start switch. is now possible.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional configuration as described above, when changing the settings of the stroke conditions while the stroke is in progress, the user must operate the -time stop switch to interrupt the stroke progress. However, it is necessary to perform the troublesome operation of operating the washing start switch to restart the process after changing the settings of the conditions, resulting in a problem of poor usability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine that is easy to use and allows the setting of conditions to be changed while continuing the process.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The washing machine of the present invention is equipped with a control device that automatically advances each washing process based on set conditions, and the washing machine has the following features: , a condition determining means for determining whether or not there is a change in the setting of a condition while the process is in progress; a process determining means for determining whether the change in the setting of the condition has already been completed; The present invention is characterized in that it includes a processing means for executing the process under the conditions after the settings have been changed accordingly.

(Function) According to the washing machine of the present invention, when there is an input to change the setting of conditions while the washing process is in progress, the control device determines by the condition determining means that the setting of the condition has to be changed while continuing the process of washing. Then, the process determining means determines whether or not the process has already completed the change in the condition settings, and if it is determined that the process has ended, the process continues with the process invalidating the change in the condition settings; If it is determined that the process has not been completed, the processing means changes the settings of the conditions and continues the process according to the changed conditions.

(Example) An example in which the present invention is applied to a two-tub automatic washing machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 5 showing the overall appearance, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box placed and fixed on plywood 2, and a washing tank and a dewatering tank (not shown) are disposed inside this box. 3 is a power switch disposed in the operation box 4 at the top of the outer box l. Reference numeral 5 designates a control panel similarly arranged in the operation box 4, and as shown in FIG. Condition setting switches 6 to 10 for setting each condition are provided, and display sections 6a to 10a for displaying the respective settings are provided. In this case, the condition that can be set is "strong" for water flow.

4 conditions: "medium", "low", and "hand washing", and 4 conditions for washing: "10 minutes", "7 minutes", "5 minutes", and "3 minutes"
Condition: ``Strong'' for rinsing.

Three conditions: "medium" and "weak", two conditions: "with" and "no" for drainage, and "5 minutes", "3 minutes", "1 minute" and "1/2 minutes" for dehydration. There are four conditions: 3 minutes.
Each time the condition setting switches 6 to 10 are pressed, the light emitting diodes 6b to 10b of the respective display sections 6a to 10a light up in sequence, allowing selection. Reference numeral 11 denotes a washing start switch that also serves as a temporary stop switch for starting the washing operation in the washing inspection, and 12 indicates a dewatering start switch that also serves as a temporary stop switch that starts the dehydrating operation on the spin-drying tank side.

Next, the outline of the electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 13 denotes a microcomputer as a control device, which operates as described later and incorporates programs related to washing and dewatering operations. The input terminals of this microcomputer 13 include a power supply circuit 14° and an initialization circuit 15. Waveform shaping circuit 16. An operation circuit 17 and a clock circuit 18 are connected to the microcomputer 13. The microcomputer 13 is supplied with a power supply voltage by a power supply circuit 14, initialized by an initialization circuit 15, and controlled for timekeeping operation based on a commercial frequency by a waveform shaping circuit 16. A reference signal is applied, and the operation circuit 17 operates the condition setting switches 6 to 10. Washing start switch 1
1 and a dehydration start switch 12, and a clock circuit 18 provides a clock signal for advancing the process. Further, a drive circuit 19 is connected to the output terminal of the microcomputer 13, and the drive circuit 19 includes light emitting diodes 6b to 10b of the display sections 6a to 10H.

Washing motor 20. Dewatering motor 21. The water supply valve 22, the drain valve 23, and the buzzer 24 are connected to each other.
9 is designed to drive and control these devices.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, a case will be described in which there is no setting input for changing conditions during the progress of the main routine. That is, in FIG.
When the power switch 3 is turned on, the microcomputer 13
When the microcomputer 13 starts operating, the microcomputer 13 proceeds with the following steps based on the installed program. That is, first, the "initial setting" processing step S1 is started, and the standard setting conditions are water flow "medium", washing "rlO", rinsing "medium", and drainage "
Then, the dehydration is set to "3 minutes" and the light emitting diodes 6b to 10b of the display sections 6a to 10a are energized via the drive circuit 19 to light up the corresponding ones.

Next comes the judgment step S2 of “Is the setting human power high?”
Before starting operation, it is determined whether there is a setting input for changing conditions. Here, if there is no setting input for changing conditions, rNO
J is determined, and the next step S is to determine whether a washing operation start command has been issued. This judgment step S3 is to judge whether or not the washing start switch 11 is turned on, that is, whether or not a washing operation start command has been generated.If not, it is judged as rNOJ, and the question ``Is the setting manual power available?'' is made. Return to judgment step S2. Hereinafter, judgment steps S2 and S are performed until the washing start switch 11 is turned on.
This is a standby state where the process repeats. In this case, when any of the condition setting switches 6 to 10 is operated and an electrical signal is given to the microcomputer 13 via the operation circuit 17, rYEsJ is determined in the judgment step S2 of "Is there a setting input?" Then, the process goes to step S4 of "setting process", and the microcomputer 13 performs a setting process for changing conditions based on the applied electric signal, and also changes the light emitting diodes 6b of the display units 6a to 10a.
Light up the corresponding ones among 10b to 10b, and then,
The process then goes to step S3 for determining whether a washing operation start command has been issued.

Then, when the washing start switch 11 is turned on and a washing operation start command is issued, "YES" is determined in the judgment step S3, and the process proceeds to the output step S of the "washing process". The washing process in this output step S5 is a water supply and washing operation, and the microcomputer 13 controls the drive circuit 1.
9, the water supply valve 22 and the washing motor 20 are driven and controlled based on the set conditions, and at the same time, the washing time is also timed. The next judgment step S6 of "Is the washing process over?" is to judge whether the elapsed time due to the timing operation has reached the set time of the washing conditions and the washing process has ended. , rNOJ, and then goes to step S7, which is a condition determining means and determines whether there is a setting input. This judgment step S7 is to judge whether or not there is a setting input for changing the conditions during the progress of the washing process. If there is no setting input, the judgment is "NO" and the process returns to the output step S. Thereafter, step S9. until the washing process is completed. S6 and S
You will start repeating step 7. Then, when the elapsed time reaches the set time of the washing condition, it is judged as "YESJ" in the judgment step S7, and the microcomputer 13 ends the washing process, turns off the light emitting diode 7b of the wash display section 7a, and starts the next "rinsing". The output step S8 of "stroke" is reached. The rinsing process in this output step S8 involves draining the washing water,
The operation consists of water supply and rinsing operations, and depending on the set conditions, the number of times of rinsing water draining, water supply, and rinsing may be added.The microcomputer 13 controls the drain valve 23. The water supply valve 22 and the washing motor 20 are operated under set conditions such as pre-rinsing,
Drive control is performed based on the rinsing mode of water injection rinsing and its execution time to advance the rinsing process. Then, until the rinsing process is completed, the same process as the washing process is carried out, and the judgment S is made as to "Is the rinsing process complete?"

In the determination step SIO of "Is there a setting input?" which is the condition determination means, rNOJ is determined, and steps SS and S are thereafter repeated.

After that, when it is determined rYESJ in the determination step S9 and the rinsing process is completed, the microcomputer 13 turns off the light emitting diode 8b of the rinsing display section 8a, and the next "
This becomes output steps S and I of the "drainage process". The draining process in this output step Sl+ is the final rinse water draining operation, and if the condition setting is set to drain, the microcomputer 13 drives and controls the drain valve 23 via the drive circuit 19. do. In this draining process, in the same way as described above, until the draining process is completed, rNOJ is determined in the judgment step S1□ of "Is the draining process finished?" and the judgment step S13 of "Is the setting manual available?" which is the condition judgment means. Then, step S l l+
Repeat S l 2 and S13. When rYESJ is determined in the determination step S+□ and the draining process is completed, the microcomputer 13 closes the drain valve 23 via the drive circuit 9 and then energizes the buzzer 24, thereby indicating the end of the washing operation. It will be notified. When the washing operation is completed as described above, the process returns to the "initial setting" processing step S1, and the microcomputer 13 performs the same initial setting as described above, and then repeats steps S2 and S3 to return to the standby state for the washing operation. It is what it is.

Incidentally, when the condition setting switch 9 is used to set the condition "no drainage F", although not shown in FIG. 1, steps SI+ and SI2 are jumped and the process returns to step S1.

Next, when you have the manpower to change the conditions during the process,
That is, when any of the condition setting switches 6 to 10 is operated, the determination step S? , r in SIO or Slj
If it is determined to be YESJ, the microcomputer 13 advances the steps according to the subroutine flowchart shown in FIG. 2 while proceeding with the process.

First, if rYEsJ is determined in the washing process judgment step S7, the process judgment means ``Are you in the δ process?
” is determined to be rYEsJ in the determination step SI4, and the processing step srs of the “setting processing” which is the next processing means is entered. Here, the microcomputer 13 performs a setting process for changing the conditions, lights up the corresponding ones of the light emitting diodes 6b to 10b of the display sections 6a to 10a, and then returns to the output step S of the main routine. will continue.

Next, if the determination step SIO of the rinsing process makes a determination of ``rYES'', the determination step S14 determines rNOJ, and then the process determination means ``Are you in the rinsing process?
” is determined as “YESJ” in the judgment step S+6, and the next process judgment step, “Is the setting input for washing?” is carried out in the judgment step S17. Here, it is determined whether the manual setting of the condition change is for a washing process that has already been completed, that is, whether the washing condition setting switch 7 has been operated. The microcomputer 13 is rYE here.
If it is determined to be SJ, this manual setting is disabled in the next "key manual power prohibition" processing step SI8, and if it is determined to be rNOJ, the same setting processing and display as described above is performed in processing step S19 of "setting processing" which is the processing means. Let's do it. Thereafter, the process returns to the output step S8 of the main routine to continue the main routine.

Furthermore, if rYESJ is determined in the determination step S+3 of the drainage process, "NO" is determined in the determination steps S+4 and S16, and the next process determination means, ``Is the setting input washing or rinsing?'' is determined. The process advances to step S20. Here, in the same manner as described above, it is determined whether the condition change setting input is for a washing or rinsing process that has already been completed, that is, whether the washing or rinsing condition setting switch 7 or 8 has been operated. If the microcomputer 13 determines that it is rYEsJ, it disables the setting manual power in the next "prohibition of key manual power" processing step S21, and if it determines that it is rNOJ, it disables the setting manual power in the processing step S22 of the "setting process" that is the processing means. Setting processing and display are performed in the same manner as described above. Thereafter, the process returns to the output step Sl+ of the main routine and continues the main routine.

Although the above description has been made regarding the operation of the washing operation, it is also possible to change the setting of the time during the dehydration operation in the same manner, for example, if the dehydration operation is in progress.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is, as the process progresses, the microcomputer 13 determines whether or not there is a change in the setting of the conditions, and if there is a change in the setting of the conditions, it determines whether it is for a process that has already been completed, and If it is for the end stroke, it is set and processed, and the stroke continues to progress under the conditions after the setting change.Unlike before, the stroke progress can be interrupted by operating the - hour stop switch, and the condition can be changed. It is not necessary to perform a troublesome operation such as operating the washing start switch +1 degree after changing the settings, and therefore the device is easy to use for the user.

The above embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a two-tank automatic washing machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention, such as being applicable to a washing machine that also performs dehydration and dehydration. It's something you get.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the washing machine of the present invention, the control device that automatically advances each washing process based on the set conditions is configured to automatically perform each washing process based on the set conditions. determining whether there is a change in the setting of the condition, and determining whether the change in the setting of the condition has already been completed for the process using the process determining means;
If it is an unfinished process, the processing means changes the settings and continues executing the process under those conditions.
Unlike the conventional method, it is now possible to change the setting of conditions for unfinished strokes without interrupting the progress of the stroke, and therefore, it has an excellent effect of being easy to use for the user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and include Fig. 1 and m2.
3 is a block diagram showing the outline of the electrical configuration, FIG. 4 is a front view of the control panel, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance. In the drawing, 3 is a power switch, 5 is a control panel, 6 to 1
0 is a condition setting switch, 6a to 10a are display parts, 6b
10b to 10b are light emitting diodes, 11 is a washing start switch, 13 is a microcomputer (control device), 19 is a drive circuit, S7+S10 and S13 are judgment steps (condition judgment means), S+4+316+31
7 and S20 are judgment steps (process judgment means), 51
51 8I9 and S2□ indicate processing steps (processing means). Applicant Toshiba Corporation Toshiba Audio Video Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a device equipped with a control device that automatically advances each washing process based on set conditions, the control device has a condition judgment that determines whether or not there is a change in the setting of conditions during the process. A process determining means for determining whether or not the process has already been changed in the setting of the condition, and a processing means for executing the process under the conditions after the setting change according to the judgment of these determining means. A washing machine with special features.