JPH03168189A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform cleaning operation corresponding to sticky dirt on the collar or muddy stains by a method wherein after a long soak washing, the turbidity of washing water is detected during regular washing so as to control washing operation. CONSTITUTION:Water is supplied up to a set level corresponding to the cloth amount, and agitation step for soak washing follows. A detergent, liquid or powder detergent, is decided according to sensor output signals from a transmission degree detector at the beginning of agitation. It is judged whether or not soak washing is finished, and when completion is judged, regular washing takes place. The output signals from the transmission degree detector are periodically input to judge whether or not the hourly changes in the sensor output signals become lower than a set value and reach saturation. When changes in the voltages reach saturation, the magnitude of fouling is judged according to the transmission degree at that time, and when the fouling is large, additional washing time is extended to enhance the cleaning effect. When the fouling is small, washing time is shortened. It is judged whether or not washing finishes, and when washing is completed, drain process and intermediate dewatering step are executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine that controls washing or rinsing operations depending on the soiled state of the laundry.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional example of controlling washing or rinsing operation by providing an optical transmittance detection device to detect dirt in washing liquid is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6316157, for example. That is, a change in turbidity of the washing liquid is detected by a permeability detection device, and washing is terminated in accordance with the change in turbidity.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the conventional control method detects the completion of washing based on changes in sensor output, and basically the turbidity change remains constant and the turbidity does not change even if the washing is continued. The idea was to end it. In this method, the rate of change in turbidity becomes small and the washing time is shortened for laundry items such as caked-on dirt, collar stains, mud stains, etc., where the rate of change in turbidity becomes constant quickly over time. There was a problem that I couldn't solve.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a washing machine having a cleaning means that can deal with stubborn collar stains or mud stains.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention performs soaking for a long time and then controls the washing by detecting dirt in the washing liquid during the main washing operation.

In other words, it removes stains on collars or localized mud stains that are difficult to remove with long soaking and are difficult to detect with a permeability detection device, and then controls the washing according to the dirt in the washing solution in the subsequent main wash. It is something to do.

Local stains that cannot be detected by the sensor, such as stains on the collar, can be washed away by forced washing over a long period of time, and the water flow is very weak at that time, so there is no damage to the fabric. If the main wash after soaking is run with a standard water flow, the washing liquid will become cloudy depending on the dirt on the entire laundry, so if the washing liquid is only slightly soiled, either shorten the washing time or use a weaker water flow. This can reduce fabric damage. Therefore, in the case where there is little overall dirt and only local dirt, fabric damage can be reduced and the effect of soaking can be increased. In addition, in the case of muddy stains, soaking not only removes the stains, but also increases the turbidity of the washing liquid and strengthens the washing in accordance with the turbidity, thereby further enhancing the cleaning effect.

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

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a transmittance detection device according to the present invention. Reference numeral 8 denotes an optical sensor, in which a light emitting element 8a and a light receiving element 8b are disposed facing each other, and the light emitting output of the light emitting element 8a is kept constant, and an output signal of the light receiving element 8b is detected, thereby detecting dirt in the washing liquid. The light emitting output of the light emitting element 8a is determined by the microcomputer 1.
6 (pulse width control signal, hereinafter referred to as PWM signal), and controls the transmittance detection device 19 so that the optical sensor output signal becomes the reference value when the washing liquid is clean water.

That is, the PWM signal is converted by the D/A conversion circuit 19a,
The voltage is converted into a DC voltage, and the base voltage of the NPN l-transistor 19b whose collector terminal is connected to the light emitting element 8a is controlled to control the light emission output. An emitter resistor 19c is connected to the emitter terminal of the transistor 19b to provide a constant current effect. The output signal Ve of the emitter resistor 19d of the light receiving element 8b is applied to the A/D conversion input terminal of the microcomputer 16. The transmittance can be detected by controlling the light emission output so that the output signal Ve of the light receiving element 8b becomes the reference value Vs when the water is fresh, and by detecting the sensor voltage change from Vs. In other words, the output adjustment voltage Vs when using fresh water has a transmittance of 1
At 00%, the ratio of the sensor voltages Ve and Vs, V e / V
FIG. 2, where s is the transmittance, shows an embodiment of the construction of a washing machine according to the invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a washing and dehydrating tank, which is equipped with stirring blades 2 at the bottom and rotated during stirring during washing and rinsing. Further, during dehydration, the stirring blade 2 and the washing dehydration tank 1 are rotated simultaneously. 3 is a washing tank, which stores washing water during washing and rinsing. 4 is a suspension for hanging a washing tank, etc., and 5
is the casing that holds the whole thing. 6 is a motor and a reduction gear 7
The rotational force is transmitted to the stirring blade 2 or the washing and dehydrating tank via the stirring blade 2 or the washing and dehydrating tank. 9 is a drain port provided at the bottom of the washing tank, and a drain valve 10
An optical sensor 8 is disposed on a drainage vibrator 11 connected to the drain vibrator 11.

By detecting the turbidity of the washing liquid in the drain pipe connecting the bottom of the washing tank 3 and the drain valve 10, the dirt or dehydration state of the laundry is detected.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a block diagram of a washing machine control device according to the present invention. AC power is applied from the AC power supply 12 to the control device 13, and the control device 13 controls the motor 6, the drain valve 10, the water supply valve l4, etc. 6° is a capacitor for advancing the phase of the motor 6. 15 is washing tank 3
16 is a microcomputer, and 17 is a cloth amount sensor that detects the amount of laundry. The cloth amount sensor 17 detects the inertial rotation speed of the stirring blade when the motor is stopped during washing and agitation, and determines the amount of cloth. That is, if the amount of cloth is small, the inertia rotation speed of the stirring blade and motor when the motor is stopped during stirring control is large, and the number of attenuation pulses of the phase advance capacitor 6° becomes large.

Moreover, if the arrangement is large, the number of attenuation pulses of the phase advance capacitor 6 degrees when the motor is turned off becomes small, and the amount of cloth can be detected. Reference numeral 18 denotes a memory circuit for storing, reading and writing light emission output control data, reference setting values, etc. of the transmittance detection device 19. Reference numeral 20 denotes a power switching device, which controls power components such as the motor 6, drain valve 10, water supply 6 and valve 14 in response to control signals from the microcomputer 16. Reference numeral 21 denotes an operation display device, which is made up of various switches and display parts, and is used to give instructions or display notifications to the user.

FIG. 4 shows changes in output voltage of the permeability detection device during washing, rinsing, and dehydration according to the present invention. After supplying water in an amount corresponding to the amount of cloth, soaking begins at time T. The period from To to T1 is a washout period (Tw+), and the sensor voltage change is relatively small. During the initial period of soaking, the change in turbidity of the washing liquid differs greatly between powdered detergent and liquid detergent. Powdered detergents can be easily distinguished from liquids because their turbidity varies greatly. During the washing period, the stirring blades are rotated intermittently, so there is little damage to the cloth and relatively little change in turbidity.

After soaking, the main washing begins at time T and is operated with a standard water flow, so the permeability decreases and the difference v2 between the sensor voltage Ve and the reference voltage Vs increases. If the rate of change ΔV/Δt of the sensor voltage with respect to time decreases with time and the transmittance is low at time T2 when the voltage change is almost saturated, it can be determined that the laundry is heavily soiled. Machine oil stains take a long time to saturate (T2 Tl), but everyday stains or collar stains take a short time (T2 T+).

In addition, with cutter shirts and the like, there is little staining with the washing liquid and the permeability is high. The larger V2 (VSVe) at the time of saturation, the greater the dirt, and the subsequent additional washing time ΔT is increased. The period T3 to T4 is drainage, and the period T4T5 is an intermediate dehydration period, and the sensor voltage decreases. The period T5-T6 is water supply for rinsing, and during this period, the light emission output is controlled so that the output voltage of the transmittance detection device becomes the reference value Vs. After the rinsing agitation starts, the sensor output voltage decreases depending on the degree of dirt in the rinsing liquid. The subsequent rinsing operation is controlled based on the sensor voltage change after a certain period of rinsing stirring time has elapsed.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between dirt and additional washing time, and by increasing the washing additional time logarithmically with respect to dirt, the cleaning effect can be enhanced.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a control flowchart according to the present invention.

When washing is started in step 160, the light emitting output control data of the transmittance detection device is read out from the storage circuit in step 161, and the light emitting element is driven with a constant light emitting output. 162 is a subroutine for detecting the amount of cloth and setting the water level according to the amount of cloth, in which water is supplied to a very small water level, the stirring blade is rotated, and the amount of cloth is determined based on the inertial rotation speed when the motor is off. At steps 163 and 164, water is supplied to a set water level corresponding to the amount of cloth, and at step 165, the washing and stirring process begins. 66 determines whether the detergent is liquid or powder based on the sensor output signal of the permeability detection device at the initial stage of stirring.

167 It is judged that the brush washing is completed, and if it is completed, the main washing operation of 168 is started. The detergent detection subroutine of 166 is 168
It may be performed immediately after the main washing operation. Reference numeral 169 is for periodically inputting the output signal of the transmittance detection device, and it is determined at 17o whether or not the temporal change ΔV/Δt of the sensor output signal has become less than a set value and has reached saturation. When the voltage change reaches saturation, the size of the dirt is determined based on the transmittance at that time, and if the dirt is large, the additional washing time is increased by 9 times to enhance the cleaning action. If the dirt is small, reduce the washing time. Reference numeral 172 indicates the completion of washing, and when washing is completed, a drainage process of 173 and an intermediate dehydration process of 174 are executed. After 175, rinsing water is supplied, and in 176 it is determined whether the control water level for adjusting the light emission output has been reached. If the water level has exceeded the control water level, the light emission output adjustment subroutine of 178 is executed.

This is a loop that increases or decreases the light emitting output level, determines whether the sensor output signal is within the setting error of the reference voltage Vs through steps 179 and 180, and controls the sensor output signal to the reference value. If the reference voltage can be set, light emitting output control data or sensor setting data, etc. are written into the storage circuit in step 181, and thereafter the light emitting output is controlled to be constant based on this data.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention controls the subsequent washing or rinsing operation depending on the dirt during the main washing after a long soaking operation, and has the following effects.

(1) For washing items such as stains on the collar of cutter shirts, the change in stains detected by the permeability detection device is small, and cleaning power is ensured by soaking for a long time, and the main washing time is short, so there is less damage to the fabric. .

(2) In the case of muddy stains, the cleaning effect can be further increased by soaking, and if the stain is determined to be large even after main washing, the cleaning effect can be further increased by lengthening the washing time and strengthening the water flow. .

(3) The washing time of the main washing is controlled according to the magnitude of turbidity and the saturation time, instead of ending at the saturation detection of turbidity as in the conventional method, so the accuracy of stain detection is high.

(4) Since the permeability is comparatively detected based on the change from the fresh water in the water supply before adding the detergent or in the water supply for rinsing, dirt can be detected regardless of dirt on the drain pipe.

The dirt detection accuracy is improved because it determines whether it is a liquid or powder detergent and determines dirt according to the detergent based on the change in permeability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

(5) Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a transmittance detection device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the structure of a washing machine according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of a washing machine according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the control device of the washing machine, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the output signal of the permeability detection device during washing, rinsing, and spin-drying, Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between dirt and additional washing time, and Fig. FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of control according to the present invention. 8a... Light emitting element, 8b... Light receiving element, 13... Control device, 19... Transmittance detection device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It consists of a transmittance detection device consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a control device that sequentially controls soak washing, main washing, rinsing, and dehydration operation, and depending on the dirt detected by the transmittance detection device during the main washing operation, A washing machine characterized by controlling main washing, rinsing, etc.