JPH05154276A - Automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic washing machine which is unlikely to generate abnormal vibration by correctly detecting imbalance during washing and rinsing processes. CONSTITUTION:During a washing process or rinsing process, the lateral difference or longitudinal difference is detected from the standstill position of an outer tank 20 by a sensor 30 and a control circuit 31, and the operation of an sgitating blade 24 is brought into stop, at the state where the above-described difference is small, and the transfer to the dehydration process is performed after drainage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a washing process-dehydration process-
The present invention relates to an automatic washing machine capable of continuously and automatically performing all processes including a rinsing process and a dehydrating process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of automatic washing machine has a structure as shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, 1 is an outer frame, and 2 is an outer tub that encloses the dehydration tub 3. A large number of dehydration holes 4 are provided on the side surface of the dehydration tank 3, and a stirring blade 5 is provided at the center of the bottom. A transmission 6 and a motor 7 are fixed to the lower surface of the outer tub 2 together with the transmission 6. Pulleys 8 and 9 transmit the rotation of the motor 7 to the transmission 6 via the V-belt 10. In addition, the outer tub 2 is mounted on the outer frame 1 via the suspension 11.
Anti-vibration is supported from above. Reference numeral 12 denotes an amplitude detection sensor that detects vibration of the outer tub 2, and is provided inside the upper side of the outer frame 1 so as to face the outer periphery of the outer tub 2.

In the dehydration after the washing and rinsing steps, the washing operation is stopped near the end of the washing and rinsing steps, where the vibration of the outer tub 2 continues to be small, and it is judged that the unevenness of the laundry is small. Then, the dehydration process was started.

[0004]

However, in such a structure, the presence or absence of imbalance in the cloth is determined by the amplitude of the outer tub 2 in the washing and rinsing steps.
The unbalance detection accuracy is poor. Therefore, even if the vibration of the outer tank 2 is small, abnormal vibration may occur during dehydration.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and automatically detects a place where there is no deviation of the cloth, which is a cause of unbalanced vibration at the time of dehydration, so that abnormal vibration at the time of dehydration is less likely to occur. The first purpose is to provide a washing machine.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic washing machine in which an abnormal vibration during spin-drying is less likely to occur by accurately detecting the size of one side of the cloth even when the amount of laundry is small and the vibration of the outer tub is small. To provide.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an automatic washing machine that more accurately detects an imbalance that cannot be detected by shaking in one direction and is less likely to cause abnormal vibration during dehydration.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above first object, the present invention provides a dehydration tank having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tank enclosing the dehydration tank, and an outer tank. It has an outer frame supported via a suspension, a sensor that detects shake of the outer tub that occurs during a washing process or a rinsing process, and a control circuit that processes an output signal of this sensor. This is an automatic washing machine in which the difference between left and right or front and rear runouts from the stationary position of the tub is detected, and when the difference is small, the operation of the stirring blades is stopped and the dehydration process is started.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention has a dehydration tank having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tank enclosing the dehydration tank, and an outer frame for supporting the outer tank via a suspension. And a sensor that detects shake of the outer tub that occurs during the washing process or the rinsing process, and a control circuit that processes the output signal of this sensor. An automatic washing machine that determines the product of the time from the start of shaking to the return to the rest position on the left or right or front and back and detects the difference, stops the operation of the stirring blade and catches the place where the difference is small, and shifts to the dehydration process It is what

In order to achieve the third object, the present invention provides a dehydration tank having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tank enclosing the dehydration tank, and an outer frame for supporting the outer tank via a suspension. And a sensor provided at two different positions in the front, rear, left and right directions of the outer frame for detecting the shake of the outer tub that occurs during the washing process or the rinsing process, and a control circuit for processing the output signal of this sensor. By the sensor and control circuit, the product of the amplitude from the rest position of the outer tub and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the rest position is obtained on the left and right and front and back, and the difference is detected and the place where the difference is small is caught. This is an automatic washing machine in which the operation of the stirring blades is stopped and the dehydration process is started.

[0011]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the sensor detects the shake of the outer tub from left and right or front and back during the washing process or the rinsing process. When the cloth unbalance is small, the left and right or front and back amplitudes are almost equal,
On the contrary, when the imbalance is large, the amplitude on the side where the imbalance exists becomes large and the amplitude on the opposite side of the imbalance becomes small. When the difference between the above two amplitudes is detected and the place where the difference is small is detected and the operation of the stirring blade is stopped, the unbalance at that time is small. Therefore, since the drainage is performed and the process proceeds to the dehydration step, good dehydration with small vibration can be performed.

Further, the swing of the outer tank on the side where the imbalance exists has a large amplitude and it takes time to return to the stationary position, but on the opposite side of the imbalance, the amplitude is small and necessary for returning to the stationary position. It takes less time. If the product of the amplitude from the rest position of the outer tub and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the rest position during the washing process is calculated on the left or right or front and back, and the difference is detected, the amount of cloth is small and the outer tub amplitude is generally small. Even in this case, the magnitude of the imbalance can be accurately detected. If the operation of the stirring blade is stopped by catching the place where the difference is small, the imbalance at that time is small. Therefore, since the drainage is performed and the dehydration process is performed, good dehydration with small vibration can be performed.

Further, sensors for detecting the shake of the outer tub occurring in the washing process or the rinsing process are provided at two different positions in the front, rear, left and right directions of the outer frame, and the amplitude and the shake from the stationary position of the outer tub during the washing process. When the product of the time from the beginning to returning to the stationary position is obtained on the left and right and front and back, and the difference between them is detected,
It is also possible to detect an imbalance that exists at a position that cannot be detected by one sensor. If the operation of the stirring blade is stopped by catching a place where the difference is small, the imbalance at that time is small. Therefore, since the drainage is performed and the process proceeds to the dehydration step, good dehydration with small vibration can be performed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, a power transmission mechanism 21 is fixed to the bottom of the outer tub 20 for receiving water during dehydration, and the power transmission mechanism 21 is connected to a motor 22 fixed to the bottom of the outer tub 20 by a belt. ing. A stirring blade 24 is fixed to the stirring blade shaft 23 inside the power transmission mechanism 21, and a dehydration tank 26 is fixed to the outside shaft 25 by being enclosed by the outer tank 20. A fluid balancer 27 is provided above the dehydration tank 26. The outer tank 20 is elastically suspended and supported from the upper end of the outer frame 28 via a suspension 29. Reference numeral 30 denotes an amplitude detection sensor that detects vibration of the outer tub 20 that occurs during a washing process or a rinsing process, and is provided on the upper inside of the outer frame 28 so as to face the outer periphery of the outer tub 20. Reference numeral 31 is a control circuit for processing the output signal of the sensor 30. The sensor 30 uses, for example, a magnetoresistive element, an optical element, or the like. The sensor 30 has a linear output as shown in FIG. That is, it is output according to the magnitude of the vibration of the outer tub 20.

FIG. 3 shows the sensor 3 during the washing and rinsing processes.
The output waveform is 0. The shake A in the forward direction and the shake B in the backward direction from the stationary position of the outer tub 20 are detected. When the cloth unbalance W is small, the amplitude A and the amplitude B are substantially equal to each other. For example, when the unbalance exists ahead, the amplitude A becomes large and the amplitude B on the opposite side of the unbalance becomes small. When the difference C between the above two amplitudes is detected and the place where the difference C is small is stopped and the operation of the stirring blades 24 is stopped, the imbalance at that time is small, and if the drainage is performed and the process proceeds to the dehydration step, vibration is small and good. Dehydration can be performed.
Such an operation is performed by the sensor 30 and the control circuit 31.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows output waveforms of the sensor 30 during the washing and rinsing steps. For example, when the cloth unbalance W exists in the front,
Time t1 until the amplitude D in the forward direction is large and the amplitude returns to the stationary position
On the opposite side of the cloth unbalance W, the amplitude E is small and the time t2 required to return to the stationary position is small. If the product S1 and S2 of the amplitude from the rest position of the outer tub 20 and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the rest position during the washing process are obtained and the difference S is detected, the amount of cloth is small and the outer tub 20 has the entire amplitude. Even if it is very small, the size of the cloth imbalance can be accurately detected. If the operation of the stirring blades 24 is stopped by catching the place where S is small, the unbalance at that time is small and drainage is carried out to the dehydration process. If it shifts, good dehydration with little vibration can be performed. Such an operation is performed by the sensor 30 and the control circuit 31.

A third embodiment will be described. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 32 denotes a second sensor for amplitude detection that detects the vibration of the outer tub 20.
Is provided so as to face the outer periphery of the. That is, the sensors are provided at two locations in the front, rear, left, and right directions of the outer frame 28 that differ in direction. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows the sensor 30 during the washing and rinsing processes.
And 32 are output waveforms. For example, cloth unbalance W
Is present to the left front, the amplitude F in the front direction and the amplitude G in the left direction are large, and the times t3 and t4 until returning to the stationary position are long. On the opposite side of the cloth unbalance W, the amplitudes H and I are small and stationary. The time t5 and t6 required to return to the position can be reduced. The product S3 and S4 of the amplitude from the rest position of the outer tub 20 and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the rest position during the washing process.
If S5 and S6 are obtained and the difference X between S3 and S4 and the difference Y between S5 and S6 are detected, the size of the cloth unbalance can be accurately detected regardless of the position, and X and Y can be detected.
When the operation of the stirring blades 24 is stopped by catching a small area, the cloth unbalance at that time is small, and good drainage with small vibration can be performed by draining and moving to the dehydration step. Such an operation is performed by the sensor 30 and the control circuit 31.

[0019]

As described above, the present invention is provided with the sensor for detecting the shake of the outer tub that occurs during the washing process or the rinsing process, and detects the left, right, front or back shake from the stationary position of the outer tub during the washing process. However, the difference between the two amplitudes was calculated, and the operation of the stirring blade was stopped by catching the small difference, so it is possible to detect the cloth imbalance that cannot be detected only by the size of the runout of the outer tub. By selecting a time when the imbalance is small, draining the water, and proceeding to the dehydration step, good dehydration with less vibration can be performed.

Further, during the washing process, the product of the amplitude from the stationary position of the outer tub and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the stationary position is obtained on the left or right or front and back, and the difference is detected to reduce the amount of cloth Even if the amplitude of the tank is small as a whole, the magnitude of the cloth imbalance can be accurately detected, and good dewatering can be performed.

Further, sensors for detecting the shake of the outer tub occurring in the washing process or the rinsing process are provided at two positions in the front, rear, left and right directions of the outer frame which are different in direction, and the amplitude and the shake from the stationary position of the outer tub during the washing process. By obtaining the product of the time from the beginning to returning to the rest position on the left and right and the front and back, and detecting the difference between them, it is possible to detect the cloth imbalance that exists at a position that cannot be detected by one sensor, and it is possible to achieve better dehydration. Is what you can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between the displacement of the outer tub of the automatic washing machine and the output of the sensor.

FIG. 3 is an output diagram of a sensor during a washing process of the automatic washing machine.

FIG. 4 is an output diagram of a sensor during a washing process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an automatic washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an output diagram of a sensor during a washing process of the automatic washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional automatic washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Outer Tank 24 Stirring Blade 26 Dehydration Tank 28 Outer Frame 29 Suspension 30 Sensor 31 Control Circuit 32 Second Sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A dehydration tub having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tub for enclosing the dehydration tub, an outer frame for supporting the outer tub via a suspension, and an outer tub generated during a washing process or a rinsing process. It has a sensor for detecting the shake and a control circuit for processing the output signal of this sensor, and by the sensor and the control circuit, the difference between the left and right or front and back shake from the stationary position of the outer tank is detected, and the difference is An automatic washing machine that catches a small area and stops the operation of the stirring blade to shift to the dehydration process. 2. A dehydration tub having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tub for enclosing the dehydration tub, an outer frame for supporting the outer tub via a suspension, and an outer tub generated during a washing process or a rinsing process. It has a sensor for detecting the shake of the, and a control circuit for processing the output signal of this sensor, the sensor and the control circuit, the amplitude from the rest position of the outer tank and the time from the start of shake to return to the rest position An automatic washing machine in which the product is calculated on the left or right or front and back, the difference is detected, and when the difference is small, the operation of the stirring blades is stopped and the dehydration process is started. 3. A dehydration tub having a stirring blade at the center of the bottom, an outer tub for enclosing the dehydration tub, an outer frame for supporting the outer tub via a suspension, and an outer tub generated during a washing process or a rinsing process. And a control circuit for processing an output signal of the sensor, the sensor being provided for detecting the shake of the outer frame, the sensor being provided at two different positions in the front, rear, left, and right directions of the outer frame. The product of the amplitude from the stationary position and the time from the start of shaking to the return to the stationary position is calculated on the left and right and front and back, and the difference between them is detected.The place where the difference is small is stopped and the stirring blade operation is stopped, and the process proceeds to the dehydration process. Automatic washing machine to do.