JPH04319392A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a proper amount of water and detergent to be supplied via the operation of a single weight detection sensor having the capability of accurately detecting the weight of a wash, regardless of the position of the wash in a dehydrating drum. CONSTITUTION:The weight of a wash thrown into a dehydrating drum 3 inside an outer drum 1 is detected by a weight detection sensor 5a fitted to a single support member 6. The magnet 20 of the dehydrating drum 3 and the position detection sensors 21a to 21d fitted at four positions of the support member 6 cause the rotation of the dehydrating drum 3, together with the outer drum 1, by corresponding 1/4 turn. According to this construction, even if the wash is eccentrically placed in the dehydrating drum 3, the weight of the wash is computed by the sensor 5a at every 1/4 turn of the drum 3, and the weight so computed is summed up to obtain the total weight of the wash. The supply amount of water, detergent or the like is controlled on the basis of the total weight.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine that allows the weight of laundry loaded into a washing tub inside an outer tub to be directly detected.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the overall structure of a conventional electric washing machine.

The structure of a conventional fully automatic washing machine will be explained based on FIGS. 4 and 5. 1 is an outer tub of the fully automatic washing machine;
A washing tub 2 and a dehydration tub 3 are arranged concentrically inside this outer tub 1. The washing tub 2 has weight detection sensors 5a, 5
It is suspended from the outer tank 1 by a wire-like support member 6 having a diameter of 100 mm, 5 c, and 5 d. An electric motor 7 is installed at the bottom of the dehydration tank 3.
A pulsator 10 rotates through a pulley 8 to wash the clothes. 11 is a spring that absorbs shock during operation of the tank. On the other hand, the upper part of the outer tub 1 is provided with a water inlet 12 for supplying water into the washing tub 2, and an ON switch 13 and an OFF switch 14 that are linked to a circuit board equipped with an electronic circuit for controlling operation. .

In the above-mentioned conventional fully automatic washing machine, when washing the laundry, the user first puts the laundry into the dehydration tank 3, detects the weight with the weight detection sensors 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, and then Based on the weight, a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU) inside a circuit board with electronic circuits
The amount of water and detergent programmed in the machine is automatically added and washing begins.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the fully automatic washing machine equipped with the conventional weight detection sensor described above,
Since the weight is detected by three weight detection sensors 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, four of the same weight detection sensors are required. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the laundry 15 is placed toward the edge of the dehydration tank 3, it must be detected by a plurality of weight detection sensors (four are required in this case).
Detecting the weight of individual pieces has problems such as errors in detection and increased cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to accurately detect the weight of laundry regardless of where it is placed in the spin-drying tank, and to detect the optimum amount of water with a single weight detection sensor. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can also supply the amount of detergent, etc.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The means for solving the problems according to claim 1 of the present invention is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Dehydration tank 3
, a drive device 22 that rotationally drives the dehydration tub 3, and a plurality of support members 6 that elastically suspends the washing tub 2 from the outer tub 1.
A washing machine equipped with a single weight detection sensor 5a disposed on one of the plurality of support members 6, and a single weight detection sensor 5a disposed on one of the plurality of support members 6;
A drive control means 23 controls the drive device 22 to repeat driving and stopping at an angle divided by the number of spindles, and a drive control means 23 which inputs a weight signal from a weight detection sensor 5a each time the rotation of the dehydration tank 3 is stopped. A weight calculation means 24 for calculating the total weight value during rotation, and a supply amount control means 25 for controlling the amount of water to be supplied to the dehydration tank 3, the amount of detergent to be supplied, etc. based on the calculation result by the weight calculation means 24 are provided. It is something that

The problem solving means according to claim 2 of the present invention is that the dehydration tank 3 is provided with a rotational position detection object 20, each support member 6 is provided with rotational position detection sensors 21a to 21d, and a dehydration tank rotation drive device 22 is provided. The drive control means 22 that controls
The detected object 20 is a rotational position detection sensor 21a to 21d.
When the drive device 22 rotates to a position corresponding to , the drive device 22 is controlled to stop based on a signal output from the rotational position detection sensor.

[0009]

[Operation] In the above problem solving means, the weight of the laundry put into the dehydration tank 3 inside the outer tub 1 is transferred to one support member 6.
The weight is directly detected by the weight detection sensor 5a attached to the. Magnet 20 as a detected object provided in the dehydration tank 3
and position detection sensors 21a provided on the support member 6 (4 locations).
~ 21d, rotate the dehydration tank 3 by 1/4 rotation (90
°) (finish by turning 360°).

[0010] At this time, even if the laundry is placed in the dehydration tank 3 on one side, the weight is calculated and detected by the weight detection sensor 5a of the support member 6 every 1/4 rotation of the dehydration tank 3. , these weights are added up to calculate the total weight. Also, based on the detected total weight, the supply of water, detergent, etc. is controlled according to the detected total weight.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the washing machine viewed from directly above, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram.

Components with the same functions as those of the prior art shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals. Additionally, these components have been described in the prior art and their operation is known. Therefore, the details of these parts will be omitted here, and the other parts will be explained.

That is, the difference from the prior art shown in FIG. 4 is that the weight detection sensors 5b, 5c, and 5d attached to the wire-like support member 6 in FIG. 4 are eliminated;
As shown in FIG. 1, there is only 5a. This weight detection sensor 5a is configured to output an electrical signal depending on the amount of mechanical strain, for example.

The other is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnet 2 is placed next to the dehydration tank 3 as an object to be detected for position detection.
0 is installed, and four wire-shaped support members 6 are provided with position detection sensors 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d. The position detection sensors 21a to 21d are, for example,
It is a reed switch and is configured to be turned on when the magnet 20 approaches.

In this embodiment, the weight detection sensor 5a and position detection sensors 21a to 21d are used to detect the dehydration tank 3.
It detects the weight of laundry placed inside. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the detected object 20 rotates to a position corresponding to the rotational position detection sensor, the dehydration tank rotation drive device 22 is activated based on the signals output from the rotational position detection sensors 21a to 21d. The drive control means 23 that stops, the weight calculation means 24 that inputs the weight signal from the weight detection sensor 5a every time the rotation of the dehydration tank 3 stops and calculates the total weight value, and the calculation result by the weight calculation means 24. A supply amount control means 25 is provided for controlling the amount of water supplied to the dehydration tank 3, the amount of detergent supplied, etc. based on the above. In addition, in Figure 3, 2
6 is a water supply valve driving device such as a solenoid, and the amount of water supply is determined by the opening time of the water supply valve by the solenoid. Also, 27
is a detergent supply valve driving device such as a solenoid, and the amount of detergent supplied is determined by the opening time of the supply valve. Further, the dewatering tank rotation drive device 22 is composed of an electric motor 7 and the like fixed to the bottom of the washing tub 2. The weight calculation means 24, the drive control means 23, and the supply amount control means 25 are composed of a CPU in a microcomputer and the like.

In the above structure, when starting washing, the laundry 15 is put in and the lid is closed. Then, when the start switch 13 is turned on, the dehydration tank 3 inside the outer tub 1 rotates 1/4 rotation at a time, and when the dehydration tank 3 has completed one rotation (360°), the detection of the weight of the laundry ends. Now, in FIG. 2, the magnet 20 attached to the side of the dehydration tank 3 is in front of the position detection sensor 21c also attached to the third support member 6, and at this time the weight detection sensor 5a measures the weight. There is. Let the weight at this time be F3. Next, dehydration tank 3 is 1
/4 rotation (90 degrees), the magnet 20 of the dehydration tank 3 stops in front of the position detection sensor 21d of the fourth support member 6, and the weight detection sensor 5a attached to the first support member 6 detects the weight. are being measured. Let the weight at this time be F4. Further, the dehydration tank 3 rotates 1/4 (90°) and stops in front of the position detection sensor 21b of the second support member 6, and the weight detection sensor 5a attached to the first support member 6 detects the weight. are being measured. Let the weight at this time be F2. Furthermore, the dehydration tank 3 rotates 1/4 (90°) again and stops in front of the position detection sensor 21a which is also attached to the first support member 6. The detection sensor 5a measures weight. Let the weight at this time be F1.

As described above, the dehydration tank 3 rotates once and the sum of the detected weights F3, F4, F2, and F1 becomes the total weight of the laundry. The weight detected by the weight detection sensor 5a is stored as F1 to F4 by the weight calculating means 24, and the total sum thereof is added. Further, the rotation of the dehydration tank 3 is controlled by 1/4 rotation (90°) by the drive control means 23 of the CPU.
The rotation control ends when the dehydration tank 3 has rotated 360°, and the total weight of the laundry can be determined. Based on this total weight, the water supply valve and the detergent supply valve are controlled, and the amount of water and detergent supplied is controlled.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment described above, the amount of water supplied and the amount of detergent supplied are controlled based on the total weight of the laundry, but in addition to this, the rotational speed of the electric motor 7 may also be controlled.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rotation of the dehydration tank 3 is controlled in 1/4 rotation increments by the position detection sensors 21a to 21d, but the electric motor 7 can be controlled without using the position detection sensors. It may also be configured to stop every 1/4 rotation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the washing tub 2 is suspended by four supporting members 6, but it may be suspended by three or five or more. In this case, the support member 6
Accurate weight detection becomes possible by stopping the rotation of the dehydration tank 3 according to the number of .

[0021]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a weight detection sensor for detecting the weight of the laundry put into the dehydration tank is installed only at one location on the support member that suspends the washing tub. Since it is equipped with one weight detection sensor, only one weight detection sensor is required.
Even if four reed switches or the like are added as position detection sensors, it is better to eliminate three weight detection sensors to reduce costs, and the optimum amount of water and detergent can be supplied into the washing tub according to the detected weight.

[0022] Also, when loading laundry into the washing tub, even if the laundry is placed on one side, a single sensor can accurately detect the weight regardless of where the laundry is placed, so that the laundry can be loaded with peace of mind. It has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the washing machine viewed from directly above.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional electric washing machine.

FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof as well.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Outer tank 2 Washing tub 3 Dehydration tank 5a-5d Weight detection sensor 6 Support member 10 Pulsator 15 Laundry 20 Magnet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub built into an outer tub, a rotatable spin-drying tub built into the washing tub, a drive device for rotationally driving the spin-drying tub, and a washing tub elastically attached to the outer tub. In a washing machine equipped with a plurality of suspended support members, a single weight detection sensor disposed on one of the plurality of support members, and a weight detection sensor disposed on one of the plurality of support members; A drive control means that controls the drive device to repeat driving and stopping at an angle divided by the number of supporting members, and a drive control means that inputs a weight signal from a weight detection sensor each time the rotation of the dehydration tank stops, and controls the speed of rotation of the dehydration tank in one rotation. A washing machine characterized by being provided with a weight calculation means for calculating a total weight value, and a supply amount control means for controlling the amount of water supplied to the dehydration tank, the amount of detergent, etc. supplied to the dehydration tank based on the calculation result by the weight calculation means. Machine. 2. The dehydration tank according to claim 1 is provided with a rotational position detection object, each support member according to claim 1 is provided with a rotational position detection sensor, and the drive control means according to claim 1 is configured to A washing machine characterized in that the drive device according to claim 1 is controlled to stop based on a signal output from the rotational position detection sensor when the detected object rotates to a position corresponding to the rotational position detection sensor. Machine.