JPH04166195A - Detecting device for load quantity of drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect a load quantity bearing on a motor, exactly, and enable the quantity of laundry to be correctly grasped by rotating a drum in the directions of forward rotation and reverse rotation at the time of operation, to detect the solution level of the drum with a solution level detecting means, and by computing an average motor current value with a motor current value computing means. CONSTITUTION:Between an external tank 9 and a drain valve 18, an air trap 20 is set, and by a pressure sensor 21, a solution (water) level in the external tank 9 is detected through pressure. On the discrimination of a load quantity, after feeding water, till a water level comes to 3 degrees (water level of 3/10 in the case of drum diameter divided equally into 10), the drum is operated with previously set rotational frequency and reverse rotation period, and after the water level comes to 3 degrees, the rotational frequency of the drum 12 is turned into 8-15rpm, and the reverse rotation period is turned ON for 3 seconds and is turned OFF for 3 seconds. After that it is turned ON every time the drum 12 is rotated forward and reversely and after that, the lapse of 2 seconds for a motor current value to be almost stabilized is checked, and a value after the lapse of 2 seconds is converted to the voltage of 0 volt (stop)-10 volts (rating time) and is read in a micro-computer. In order to eliminate the influence of the ununiformity of data, the process is repeated ten times, and by averaging, data according to motor current is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a drum-type washing machine, and more particularly to a load amount detection device for a drum-type washing machine.

(B) Conventional technology This type of conventional load amount detection device detects the motor current value after a certain period of time after the washing machine motor is started in a load state such as washing, and generates a laundry amount signal. A laundry amount detection device is known (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-22598).

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, if the washing machine is a commercial washing machine in which water level, drum reversal cycle, etc. can be arbitrarily set, the motor current after a certain period of time after the motor starts is When detected, there is a problem in that the error is large depending on the timing. Also, it is necessary to consider the case where the door is opened and clothing is added during the process.

This invention was made taking these circumstances into consideration, and involves detecting the motor current multiple times under certain conditions, that is, at a certain water level, and after a certain period of time after each rotation of the drum. To provide a load amount detection device for a drum-type washing machine that can accurately detect the amount of load applied to a motor and accurately grasp the amount of laundry.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present invention includes a main body 101 and a drum 102 and drum 102
The drum type has a motor 103 that rotates the drum in forward and reverse directions, and a liquid level detection means 104 that detects the liquid level of the drum 102, and the reversal period of the forward and reverse rotation of the drum 102 can be arbitrarily set. In the washing machine, there is provided a determining means 105 for determining whether the liquid level detected by the liquid level detecting means 104 is a predetermined liquid level, and a determining means 105 determines whether the predetermined liquid level is determined when the motor is started in a loaded state. motor current detection means 1 which obtains a motor current value at each time after a certain period of time from the start of rotation each time the drum 102 rotates forward or reverse.
06, a motor current value calculation means 107 that calculates an average motor current value from the obtained plurality of motor current values, and a motor current value calculation means 107 that calculates the load amount of the washing machine from a preset motor current setting value and the average motor current value. This is a load amount detection device for a drum-type washing machine, which includes a load amount calculation means 108 for calculating the load amount.

(E) Function According to the present invention, the drum 102 performs the following operations during the washing operation:
The drum 102 is rotated in forward and reverse directions by a motor 103, and the liquid level of the drum 102 is detected by a liquid level detection means 104.

When the determination means 105 determines that the liquid level is at a predetermined level, the motor current detection means 106 detects that the drum 102 is at a predetermined level.
The value of the motor current is obtained at each time after a certain period of time after the start of rotation for each forward and reverse rotation, and then the average motor current is calculated from the plurality of obtained motor current values by the motor current value calculating means 107. The load amount calculation means 108 calculates the load amount of the washing machine from the preset motor current setting value and the average motor current value.

Therefore, the motor current is detected multiple times under certain conditions and the detected values are averaged to calculate the load amount on the motor, so that the load amount on the washing machine can be accurately determined.

(f) Examples Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an embodiment of a drum-type washing machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing the same configuration.

In these figures, ■ is a top plate, 2 is an exterior frame, and a door 3 is pivotally supported on the front side of the washing machine so that it can be opened and closed by a hinge 4 so that items to be washed can be taken in and taken out. 5 is a door lock, 6 is an operating section, 7 is a select switch section for starting, operating programs, etc., and 8 is a display section for each content.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an outer tank, which is suspended by a suspension spring lO from the upper part of the outer frame 2 and a shock absorber 11 from the lower part. Inside the outer tank 9, a drum 12 is mounted with a bearing 1.
It is pivoted by 3.

A motor 14 is attached to the lower part of the outer tub 9, and during washing, rinsing, and dewatering, the drum 12 is driven via pulleys 15, 16 and a belt 17 by a variable means such as an inverter. A drain valve 18 is provided at the bottom of the outer tank 9 and is connected to the outside of the machine via a hose 19. An air trap 20 is provided between the outer tank 9 and the drain valve 18, and a pressure sensor 21 detects the liquid (water) level in the outer tank 9 by pressure.

A water supply (hot water) valve 22 is connected to the outer tank 9, and the water supply is controlled by a signal from a pressure sensor 21.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing a control circuit of the drum type washing machine. As shown in the figure, a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) 3 consists of a CPU, ROM, and RAM.
1 to the display section 8 via the I10 boat 32.33.
A signal is output to the display device 34 of the drum 12.
A forward rotation signal 35, a reverse rotation signal 36, and an instruction signal 37 indicating the rotational speed of the drum 12 are output.

Further, a water level detection signal 38 from the pressure sensor 21, a current detection signal 39 from the motor 14, and a signal from the door switch 40 of the door 3 are input to the microcomputer 31 via the I10 ports 32 and 33. Then, signals are input/output to/from the key fob 41 of the operation unit 6 via the I10 port 32.

Next, the contents of the processing operation of the microcomputer 31 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
This will be explained according to the flowchart shown in the figure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents during the washing operation.

As shown in this figure, when washing or rinsing operation is started, the setting conditions are read into the microcomputer 31 and determined (
Step 51), the set water level is 2 degrees or less (2710 water level when the diameter of the drum is divided into 10 equal parts), the reversal on time is 2 seconds or less (for stabilizing the motor current), the reversal off time is 16 seconds or more (load amount determination) If either of the following setting conditions is satisfied: there is a glue setting (because the time required for step 52), otherwise the load amount is determined (step 53).

Then, water is supplied to the set water level, and the drum 12 is rotated at the set rotation speed and set reversal period (step 54).
, confirm whether the door 3 is opened or closed (step 55). here,
When the door 3 is opened or closed, it is assumed that laundry has been added, and the load amount discrimination data is changed to the full load, that is, the maximum load when the maximum amount of laundry is accommodated in the drum 12 (step 56). The elapse of the set time is checked (step 57), and if the set time has not elapsed, the process returns to step 54, and if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next step.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the content of the load amount determination process shown in FIG.

To determine the load amount, after water is supplied, run at the preset rotation speed and reversal period until the water level reaches 3 degrees.Step 6
■) After the water level reaches 3 degrees (step 62), the rotation speed of the drum 12 is set to 8 to 15 rpm (step 63).
), the inversion period is changed to 3 seconds on-3 seconds off (step 64). After that, each time the drum 12 rotates forward and reverse, check the elapse of 2 seconds during which the motor current value becomes almost stable after turning on (step 65), and calculate the value after 2 seconds by O volts (stop).
~ Converted to a voltage of 10 volts (at rated time) Microcomputer 31
(step 66). This process is repeated 10 times (step 67) to eliminate the influence of data variations, and then averaged to obtain data corresponding to the motor current (step 68).

At this time, if the average value data D is 5.9V or less (step 69), the load is assumed to be 174 or less of the full load (step 71), and 5.9V to 7. If it is OV (step 70), the load is 172 to 1/4 of the full load.
Step 72), 7. If it is greater than or equal to OV, the load is assumed to be greater than or equal to the total load of 172 (step 73).

After determining the load, dehydration is started according to the load.

Generally, the motor current increases as the load increases, but in drum-type washing machines, the weight of the drum, balance weight, and water volume are large compared to the weight of the clothes that are the load.
In addition, we considered the impact if the baffle stirred up clothing.
Through experiments, the motor rotation speed was set to 8 to 8 to make it easier to distinguish.
15 rpm, load amount <174 or less load>, <172 ~
There were three classifications: 1/4 load and 1/2 or more load.

In this way, by adjusting the detection timing of the motor current to certain conditions, it is possible to accurately determine the amount of load on the washing machine.

Then, in order to start dehydration according to the determined load amount,
There is no cloth entanglement, and startup time is shortened when the load is small.

In addition, in this case, after determining the load amount, the load changes from a small amount to a full load due to the addition of clothes.Even in this case, the opening/closing of the door is detected in advance and the determined load amount is changed to a full load, so when dehydrating There is no problem with starting.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the motor current is detected multiple times under certain conditions such as at a predetermined liquid level and after a certain period of time from the start of each forward and reverse rotation of the drum. Since the amount of load on the washing machine is calculated by averaging the amount of laundry, it is possible to accurately determine the amount of laundry.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of a drum-type washing machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a drum-type washing machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing the control circuit of the drum-type washing machine, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the operation of the embodiment. 1...Top plate, 2...Exterior frame, 3
...Door, 6...Operation unit, 7...
...Select switch section, 8...Display section, 9.
...Outer tank, 12...Drum, 13...
...Bearing, 14...Motor, 18...
・Drain valve, 21...Pressure sensor, 22...
・Valve, 31...Microcomputer, 3
2.33...I10 port, 34...
Display device, 35...Drum forward rotation signal, 36...Drum reverse rotation signal, 37...Drum rotation speed instruction signal, 38...
...Water level detection signal, 39...Motor current detection signal, 40...
Door switch signal, 41...keyboard. 2nd Ily 4th wJ 5m; 2nd to Chiku Katsura

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main body, a drum rotatably disposed within the main body,
A drum-type washing machine that has a motor that rotates the drum in forward and reverse directions and a liquid level detection means that detects the liquid level of the drum, and that can arbitrarily set the reversal cycle of the forward and reverse rotation of the drum. , a determining means for determining whether or not the liquid level detected by the liquid level detecting means is a predetermined liquid level; Motor current detection means that obtains a motor current value at each time a certain period of time after the start of rotation for each forward and reverse rotation, and motor current value calculation means that calculates an average motor current value from the plurality of obtained motor current values. A load amount detection device for a drum type washing machine, comprising: a load amount calculation means for calculating a load amount of the washing machine from a preset motor current setting value and the average motor current value.