JPH049189A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively reduce sounds produced by splashed water at the time of washing in a washing machine by actuating a draining means for a prescribed period of time when it is discriminated that sounds produced in the tank of the machine exceed a prescribed level from the sound detecting signal of a sound detecting means. CONSTITUTION:When a start switch is operated, a feed water valve 11 is energized and prewashing is performed. Thereafter, sound detecting signals inputted from a microphone 9 are read for a prescribed period of time while an agitating body continues rotation. Then, mean noise value (d) is calculated from the sound detecting signals. When the water quantity is too large to the quantity of laundry, the noise including sounds produced by splashed water exceeds a reference noise value D. When the noise is high, it is discriminated that the mean sound value (d) is equivalent to or over the reference noise value D. According to the discriminated result, the inner tank 3 is drained for a prescribed period of time by energizing a drain valve 7.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a washing machine that reduces washing noise.

(Prior Art) In recent years, various efforts have been made to reduce noise in washing machines. One of these is to prevent the motor from making humming noises, the other is to prevent the outer box from resonating, and the drain valve has been replaced with a conventional electromagnet. This includes ensuring that the gear case opens and closes in a manner that prevents noise from coming from inside the gear case.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, the loudest noise that a washing machine makes during washing is the water splashing sound produced when the water in the tank is stirred and splashed together with the laundry. Until now, no effective measures have been taken to reduce this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent washing machine that can effectively reduce water splashing noise generated during washing, thereby achieving sufficient noise reduction.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the washing machine of the present invention includes a sound detection means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing, and a sound detecting means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing, and a sound detecting means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing. control means to operate the drainage means for a predetermined period of time when it is determined that the sound emitted from inside the tub is equal to or higher than a predetermined level in response to a sound detection signal from the sound detection means during washing. It was equipped with control means.

(Function) The splashing sound that a washing machine makes when washing clothes is determined by the relationship between the amount of laundry and the amount of water. That is, when the amount of water is appropriate for the amount of laundry, there is little movement of water in the tub, and water splashing (water splashing noise) does not occur to the extent that it becomes a problem. However, when the amount of water is too large relative to the amount of laundry, the movement of water in the tub becomes active, causing a lot of water splashing (water splashing noise).

On the other hand, the amount of water is usually determined by the reservoir water level in the tank, which is set to "high,""medium," or "low," but the amount of laundry that corresponds to each set water level varies. . for example,
5 [kgl is "high" for washing machines with maximum laundry capacity.
The set water level corresponds to 3.5 to 5 kgl of laundry,
The setting water level for "Medium" is 1 to 3. It corresponds to 5 [)cg] of laundry, and when the water level is set to ``Large'' in the former case, 3.5 [kgl] of laundry is loaded.
[The amount of water will be larger when you put kgl of laundry,
In addition, when the water level is set to "medium" in the latter case, 3. 5 [
The amount of water is larger when 1 kgl of laundry is loaded than when 1 kgl of laundry is loaded, and a loud splashing sound is generated in each case.

Therefore, if the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing is detected by a sound detection means, and when the detected sound is judged to be at a predetermined level or higher, the water is drained by operating the drainage means for a predetermined period of time. As described above, the excessive amount of water is adjusted to an appropriate amount for the amount of laundry, and the occurrence of water splashing and, by extension, the sound of water splashing is suppressed. However,
If the generation of water splashing noise is suppressed in this way, the washing noise of the washing machine can be sufficiently reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, an outer box 1 of the washing machine as a whole has an outer tub 2 and an inner tub 3 disposed therein.

A stirring body 4 is disposed inside the inner tank 3, and this stirring body 4 is washed (washing and rinsing) by a drive mechanism 6 mainly including a motor 5 disposed exclusively at the outer lower part of the outer tank 2. The laundry is rotated at the same time, so that the laundry stored in the inner tub 3 is agitated together with the water stored in the inner tub 3 during washing. Further, the drive mechanism 6 rotates the inner tub 3 during dewatering, and uses the centrifugal force thereof to shake off and discharge water from the washed laundry through a dehydration hole (not shown) formed in the inner tub 3. ing. In addition, a drain valve 7 and a drain hose 8, which serve as drainage means, are provided at the outer lower part of the outer tank 2.

On the other hand, in the upper part of the outer box 1, a microphone 9, for example, is disposed as a sound detection means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing. The top cover 10 on the outer box 1 has a water supply valve 11 for supplying water to the inner tank 3 at the rear and a water level sensor 2 for detecting the water level stored in the inner tank 3 and the outer tank 2, and a water level sensor 2 for detecting the water level stored in the inner tank 3 and the outer tank 2. A control device 13 is installed inside, and an operation panel 14 is provided on the outer upper surface of the control device 13.

The control device 13 is a control means and is composed of a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG.
Operation unit 1 consisting of various switches provided on operation panel 14
An operation signal is input from 5, a water level detection signal is input from water level sensor 2, and a sound detection signal is input from microphone 9.Based on these inputs and a control program stored in advance, The water supply valve 1/1 drive mechanism6. A drive control signal is given to the drive circuit 6 for energizing and driving the drain valve 7.

Therefore, the operation based on the control of the control device 13 will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 13 accepts a switch operation at the beginning of operation (step S1).
Next, a course is set according to the operation contents (step S2), and it is determined whether the start switch has been operated (step S3). Here, if it is determined that the "start" switch has been operated, then the water supply valve 11
Water is supplied by energizing (step S4), and then the drive mechanism 6 is energized and the stirring body 4 is rotated to perform preliminary washing for, for example, 30 [seconds] to loosen the laundry. (Step S5). Thereafter, while continuing to rotate the stirring body 4, a sound detection signal manually inputted from the microphone 9 is read over a period of, for example, 1 [93] (step S6), and then the average value d of the noise due to the read sound detection signal is calculated. is calculated (step S7), and this average noise value d is the reference noise value D (here, 50 [dB
) is equal to or greater than (step S8).

Here, FIG. 4(a) shows the inventor's experimental results of how noise is generated when the amount of water is appropriate for the amount of laundry, and in this case, the movement of water in the inner tub 3 Since there is little water splashing (water splashing sound) and it does not occur to the extent that it becomes a problem, the noise does not include water splashing sound and has a low value of around 40 [dB] from beginning to end.

If the noise is low in this way, in step S8, it is determined that the average noise value d is neither equal to nor greater than the reference noise value, and the process proceeds to full-scale washing of the laundry. Then proceed to step S9) and proceed to the subsequent steps.

On the other hand, Fig. 4(b) shows how noise is generated when the amount of water is too large for the laundry base, based on the inventor's experimental results. As they move more actively, they generate a lot of water splashing (water splashing noise), so the noise level, including the water splashing noise, exceeds 50 [dB]. If the noise becomes large in this way, in step S8, it is determined that the average noise value d is equal to or greater than the reference noise value, and based on this, the drain valve 7 is then energized and driven. For example, drain water from the inner tank 3 (outer tank 2) for 3 seconds.
After an interval (step 510), the process returns to step S6.

Therefore, step S6 again. Steps S7 and S8 are performed sequentially, and in step S8, based on the result of reading the sound detection signal in step S6 over a period of, for example, 1 minute, step S7 is performed.
It is determined whether the average noise value d calculated in step 7 is equal to or greater than the reference noise value d. Here, if it is determined that the average noise value d is neither equal to nor greater than the reference noise value, the process advances to step S9, and if it is determined to be equal to or greater than the reference noise value, Proceeding to step 510, further steps S6, S7. S8
Repeat.

As described above, according to the present configuration, the sound emitted from inside the inner tub 3 during washing is detected by the microphone 9, which is the sound detection means, and when the detected sound is determined to be at a predetermined level or higher, the drain is discharged. The water is drained by opening the valve 7 for a predetermined period of time, and by draining the water, the excessive amount of water is adjusted to the appropriate amount for the amount of laundry, which reduces the occurrence of water splashing and the sound of water splashing. The generation of such noise is suppressed, and thus the washing noise of the washing machine can be sufficiently reduced.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the washing machine of the present invention includes a sound detection means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tub during washing, and controls the sound detection signal by the sound detection means. When it is determined that the sound emitted from inside the tank is above a predetermined level, the drainage means for draining water from the tank is activated for a predetermined period of time. This provides an excellent effect in that the noise can be effectively reduced and a sufficient reduction in noise can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the main functions, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the overall configuration, FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical configuration diagram, and FIG. ) and (b) are diagrams showing how noise is generated during washing in different cases based on the inventor's experimental results. In the drawing, 3 is the inner tank (tank), 7 is the drain valve (drainage means), 9
13 indicates a microphone (sound detection means), and 13 indicates a control device (control means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sound detection means for detecting the sound emitted from inside the tank during washing, a drainage means for draining water from the inside of the tank, and a sound emitted from inside the tank in response to a sound detection signal from the sound detection means during washing. control means for operating the drainage means for a predetermined period of time when it is determined that water is at a predetermined level or higher.