JPH05293300A - Laundry device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To organically tie up a washing function, a spin-drying function, and a drying function so as to get a more effective laundry device by making a washing machine, a spin-dryer, and a dryer share the data detected by sensors or the data related to the execution process that each is executing. CONSTITUTION:A washing machine 1 mounts a microcomputer 3, and controls a motor 4 for washing, a water-supply valve 5, and a drain valve 6, by taking in data on the quantity of cloth or the dehydration ratio by a weight sensor 7 and further on the quality of cloth by a quality-of-cloth sensor 8 according to the preprogrammed excecution process from washing to spin-drying. Moreover, a dryer 2 mounts a microcomputer 20, and controls the drying condition of clothes, in respect of a motor 23 for drying for driving a drum and a heater 24 for hot blast generation, in line with the heater output in the preprogrammed contents, while taking in the data on drying condition from a capacitive heater 25. And, a washing machine 1 doubling for spin-drying and washing and a dryer 2 are connected by a communication cable 30, and they are made to communicate with each other bidirectionally.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laundry machine having a washing machine and a dryer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a laundry machine including a washing function, a dewatering function, and a drying function, each function is independently grouped, or the laundry function and the dehydration function are grouped as one machine. It is known that the washing function and the drying function are integrated into one device. In addition, each of these devices is equipped with various sensors that are independently required, and the operation is automated for each device. Furthermore, even if the device has multiple functions combined into one,
They only execute a process according to a predetermined program, and each function is executed independently of each other without knowing the execution state of the other functions.

[0003]

Therefore, in the conventional laundry machine described above, for example, even when the process of the dryer is immediately started after the washing / dewatering process by the washing machine is completed, the dryer must be preliminarily prepared for the process. I couldn't preheat the drum. Therefore, it is an object of the laundry device of the present invention to provide a more effective laundry device by organically connecting a washing function, a dehydrating function and a drying function.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the laundry device of the present invention, execution means for performing at least two of washing, dehydration and drying of clothes, and execution means for these are predetermined respectively. The first control means for controlling according to its own execution process, the means for detecting the state of the clothes being executed by these execution means, and the data of at least one of the control means and the detection means A second execution step of executing a predetermined execution step different from the unique execution step of the execution means different from the selected execution means
It is a laundry machine comprising the control means of. That is, by sharing the data about the laundry detected by the washing machine, the dehydrator, and the dryer, or the data regarding the progress status of each device, the functions of washing, dehydration, and drying can be performed based on these data. It is a laundry device that can be executed in a separately defined execution process.

[0005]

With the above-mentioned structure, the washing machine, the dehydrator, and the dryer share the data detected by the sensors and the data relating to the execution process performed by each of the washing machines, the dehydrator, and the dryer. The data detected only by the machine is used for the stroke control of the dryer, or the other execution stroke is controlled by the data related to the stroke execution status of the washing machine or the dryer. To realize a laundry device that can

[0006]

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

First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a laundry machine controlled by the block diagram of FIG. That is, according to FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a washing machine having a conventional structure for dehydration / washing (not shown in detail) having a washing function and a dehydrating function, and 2 is a conventional drum type. The dryer has the same structure as the dryer (details are not shown). Such a washing machine 1 includes a first microcomputer 3 shown in FIG.
(Hereinafter, referred to as a first microcomputer), a washing motor 4, a water supply valve 5, and a drain valve 6 are programmed in advance according to an execution process from washing to completion of dehydration. Controls by fetching the data concerning the cloth quality by the cloth quality sensor 8 and the data concerning the condition of the clothes necessary for the respective stroke control at the time of washing or dehydrating. FIG. 3 shows an example of the weight sensor 7 for detecting the cloth amount and dehydration rate of the cloth, and FIG. 4 shows an example of the cloth quality sensor 8 for detecting the cloth quality.

The weight sensor 7 is provided, for example, on a suspension rod 704 in which a tab 9 provided in a washing machine is elastically suspended in the gravity direction by springs 702 and 703. This hanging rod 70
A ferrite 705 is fixed to a part of No. 4, and this ferrite is loosely fitted in the electric coil 706. This electric coil 706 constitutes an oscillating circuit 709 with a capacitor 707 and a two-stage inverter 708, and when clothes are thrown into the tab 9, the weight of the clothes causes the springs 702.7.
Ferrite 7 loosely fitted in coil 706 when 03 shrinks
The position of 05 changes, the inductance changes, and the resonance frequency of the oscillation circuit 709 changes. This frequency
The first microcomputer 3 is supplied as an input to the first microcomputer 3 and is not shown.
The amount of the put-in clothes is judged from the change in the frequency measured by the counter built in the microcomputer 3. On the other hand, the dehydration rate is determined from the change in weight before dehydration and the change in weight after dehydration.

The cloth quality sensor 8 is a dehydration tank 701 shown in FIG.
It is detected by the motor 4 which drives the pulsator 10 provided inside. That is, this motor 4 is a brushless D
A C motor is used, and the drive of the motor 4 is controlled by the inverter circuit 11. At this time, a resistor 801 for detecting a DC current flowing in the motor 4 is provided in the inverter circuit 11, the current value is A / D converted, and the value is supplied to the first microcomputer 3. The cloth quality is judged from the change in the current at that time. That is, in a brushless DC motor, the load torque applied to the motor increases and the change in current increases as the cloth quality becomes stiffer when the water supply valve is opened on the tab 9 and the pulsator 11 is rotated after water supply. Further, the smoother the cloth material, the smaller the load torque and the smaller the current change. From this relationship, the cloth quality is determined by the load current of the motor.

On the other hand, the dryer is equipped with a second microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a second microcomputer) 20 shown in FIG. 2, and a dryer motor for driving a drum 22 housed in a main body 21 shown in FIG. 23 and the heater 24 for generating hot air, while taking in data on the dry state of the cloth from the capacity sensor 25, the dry state of the clothes is controlled in accordance with the output of the heater 24 having the contents programmed in advance.

As shown in FIG. 5, the capacitance sensor 25 includes a pair of electrodes 25 connected between the power source and the ground in the drum 22.
01 is exposed. When the drum is driven in this state, the electrodes intermittently contact the clothes. At this time, the resistance between the electrodes 2501 changes depending on the wet state of the clothes. Second microcomputer 2
0 counts the number of contact of the clothes per unit time at this time to judge the capacity of the wet clothes by the contact frequency.

In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional dehydrator / washing machine 1 and a dryer 2 are connected by a communication cable 30. That is, the well-known communication cable R is provided to the first microcomputer 3 and the second microcomputer 20, respectively.
A first controller 31 and a second controller 32 for S-232C are provided, and these controllers 31,
Reference numeral 32 sends data during the washing machine operation and data regarding the state of clothes to the dryer side through the communication cable during the operation of the washing machine, and transmits the data during the execution of the dryer to the washing machine side during the operation of the dryer. It is configured to be capable of bidirectional communication with each other so as to send. 1st, which captures the execution data of each other
And the second microcomputer can operate as described in detail below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of basic operations of the washing machine 1 and the dryer 2 when the data regarding the amount of cloth is taken in by the dryer.

First, when clothes are loaded into the washing machine 1, the first microcomputer 3 uses the weight sensor 7 shown in FIG.
The user is inquired in STEP 602 whether or not all clothes are dried after being washed and dehydrated after being detected in P601. If the clothes are not all dried, that is, if NO, the washing and rinsing STE of the washing machine is directly determined.
The execution process of P603 and dehydration STEP604 is executed according to the contents of the program, and the washing is completed in STEP605. At this time, the first and second microcomputers 3 and 20
Stops the communication function of the first and second controllers 31 and 32. Therefore, the dryer 2 is STEP60
The flow of No. 6 is selected, the drying STEP 607 is executed according to the content of the predetermined program of the dryer 2 without receiving the cloth amount data, and the drying STEP 608 ends.

If YES in STEP 602 of the washing machine 1, that is, if the user replies that all clothes are dried, the first microcomputer 3 and the second microcomputer 20 are
Data communication is performed between the controller 31 and the second controller 32. That is, the amount data of cloth is transmitted to the dryer 2 side from STEP609. ST on the dryer 2 side
The cloth amount data is received in EP610, and the dryer 2
In step 611, the second microcomputer 20 determines in STEP 611 whether the capacity is dryable, and when it is determined that the capacity is large, the dryable ratio of the cloth amount is displayed in STEP 612. As a result, even if the amount of clothes that exceeds the capacity of the dryer is put in the dryer, the drying time becomes longer than necessary,
Alternatively, the clothes can be prevented from being damaged.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining another usage of the data concerning the amount of cloth in the washing machine 1 in the dryer 2 as in FIG. The same parts as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. That is, when the second microcomputer 20 receives the cloth amount data in STEP 610 and determines that the data is large in STEP 713,
In STEP 714, the drying finish time is lengthened or the heater output is increased. On the contrary, when it is determined in STEP 715 that the cloth amount is small, in STEP 716 the drying finish time is shortened or the heater output is reduced. The contents of the execution program of the dryer 2 are automatically changed to shift to the control of STEP 607 for drying. This makes it possible to perform optimal drying control on clothes.

In FIG. 8, similarly to FIGS. 6 and 7, when clothes are put into the washing machine 1, the first microcomputer 3 asks the user whether all the clothes should be put into the dryer 2. The following control is performed when all are input.

In the washing machine 1, the cloth quality data detected by the cloth quality sensor 8 in STEP 801 is the first controller 31 and the second controller 31 when it is determined in STEP 802 that all the clothes are put in, as in FIGS. 32
The communication function of the first microcomputer 3 to the second microcomputer 20
Sent to. The clothes that have been washed and dehydrated in the washing machine 1 in STEPs 803 and 804 are taken out of the washing machine 1 and are all put into the dryer 2 to be dried. At this time, when the cloth quality is stiff in STEP 811, the second microcomputer 20 sets the output of the heater 24 in STEP 812 to be larger than the heater output of the drying operation that does not receive the cloth quality data in STEP 806. Set.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the cloth quality is smooth in STEP813, the heater output is reduced in STEP814. This makes it possible to dry stiff clothing quickly without damaging smooth clothing.

In FIG. 9, the first microcomputer 3 is STEP90.
When the washing / dewatering process is in the middle of execution of the washing / dehydrating process according to the predetermined program in step 1, when the washing / dehydrating process is completed after a certain time t1 in STEP902, the second microcomputer is started in STEP903. 20 is sent to that effect. The second microcomputer 20 is STE
When this is received in P904, the heater 2 is received in STEP905.
Instruct 4 to preheat the dryer body. This time t1 should be short in summer and long in winter. And S of washing machine 1
When the whole process is completed in TEP906, all the clothes are taken out and put into the dryer. In the dryer, the control of drying the clothes is started in STEP907. By such control, the drying time by the dryer is shortened. This control is shown in FIGS.
It is preferable to incorporate it into the washing and dehydrating process described in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 10, when clothes are put in the washing machine 1 as in FIG. 6, the first microcomputer 3 asks the user whether all the clothes are put in the dryer 2 and dried. The following controls are performed when all of them are turned on.

The dehydration rate is the difference between the weights of clothes before and after dehydration.
Calculated from the weight sensor shown in. That is, STEP10
In step 01, after washing is completed, the user is asked in step 1002 to determine whether or not everything should be dried, and when it is determined that it is dried, the weight before dehydration by the weight sensor 7 is detected in step 1003. After the detection, the process shifts to the dehydration operation, and then in STEP1005, the weight of the clothes after dehydration is detected. Then, in STEP 1006, data regarding the dehydration rate is calculated, and this data is transmitted to the dryer 1. At this time, the smaller the weight difference, the better the squeezing and the higher the degreasing rate. Second for clothes washed and dehydrated in washing machine 1
The microcomputer 20 performs control such that the lower the dehydration rate, the longer the finishing time after completion of drying and the larger the output of the heater 24, and when the dehydration rate is large, the shorter the finishing time and the smaller the output of the heater 24. As a result, the dehydration rate data that the dryer 1 does not have can be used in the drying process, and a product that is difficult to dry can be carefully dried.

In FIG. 11, when clothes are put into the washing machine 1 as in FIG. 6, the first microcomputer 3 asks the user whether to put all the clothes into the dryer 2. The following control is performed when all are input.

The first microcomputer 3 of the washing machine 1 is STEP1
101 detects the capacity data a of the clothing, and STEP 110
The second microcomputer 2 of the dryer 2 in STEP 1103 after 2
Send the drying data to 0, and this drying data
It is stored as 1104. STEP 110 in the washing machine 1
When all the steps of 5 and 1106 are completed and the clothes are transferred to the dryer 2, the second microcomputer 20 causes the capacitance sensor 2 shown in FIG.
At 501, the capacitance data b is detected at STEP 1107 from the contact frequency of the clothes. And the data b at this time
And a are compared in STEP 1108 for capacity comparison. In the second microcomputer 20, the weight sensor 7 has a capacitance b depending on the contact frequency.
If it is smaller than the capacity a, it is judged that the clothes are rough, and the finishing time after the drying is long,
In step 1109, control for increasing the output of No. 4 is executed. As a result, it is possible to control smooth clothing that is not easily damaged.

FIG. 12 relates to separate washing.
The clothes (first laundry) that have been washed and dehydrated first in STTEP 1201 are put into the dryer 2, and in STEP 1202, drying is started. At that time, in the washing machine 1, the next clothes (second laundry) is put in the washing machine 1 as shown in STEP1203.
Put it in and put it in the pickle. Then, the first microcomputer 3 sends to the second microcomputer 20 a time t3 required for the clothes dipped in the second microcomputer 20 to be washed and dehydrated. The second microcomputer 20 monitors the remaining time until the completion of the first drying of the dryer 2 in STEP 1204, and when the remaining time of drying reaches t3, transmits the data to the first microcomputer 3 of the washing machine 1 in STEP 1205. To do. As a result, when the first microcomputer 3 receives the remaining time data t3 of the dryer in STEP 1206, the first microcomputer 3 proceeds to STEP.
At 1209, the second washing and dehydration are started. This result 2
STEP1210 for the end of the first washing and S for the first drying
The TEP 1207 ends at the same time, and after that, the clothes that have been washed can be dried as STEP 1208.

The operation examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 12 described above can be combined to form an operation. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the present invention, and it is also possible to form a washing machine, a dehydrator and a dryer as a single device by combining them with a communication function. Furthermore, an integrated laundry device of washing-dewatering-drying can be formed by soft processing without using a communication cable or the like.

The gist of the present invention is characterized in that data, which is independently owned as washing, drying, and dehydrating devices, or execution steps are mutually shared, and various applications and modifications are made within the scope of the gist. It goes without saying that examples can be considered.

[0026]

As described above, in the laundry apparatus of the present invention, by using the data on the clothes detected by the washing machine in the dryer, more automated control according to the quality and quantity of clothes can be performed. .. Also, by sharing the process of movement with each other, efficient automated washing, dehydration,
Realization of the drying process becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of a configuration of a laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a cloth amount sensor of a washing machine of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a cloth quality sensor of the washing machine of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a cloth amount sensor of a dryer of a laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the laundry device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Washing machine, 2 ... Dryer, 3 ... First microcomputer, 4 ... Second
Microcomputer, 5 ... Water supply valve, 6 ... Drain valve, 7 ... Weight sensor,
8 ... cloth quality sensor, 20 ... second microcomputer, 23 ... motor,
24 ... Heater, 25 ... Capacitance sensor, 30 ... RS-232
C cable, 31 ... First controller, 32 ... Second controller.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Noguchi, 3-3-9 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Toshiba Abu E., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Execution means for performing at least two of washing, dehydration and drying of clothes, and a first control means for controlling these execution means in accordance with respective predetermined execution steps.
And a means for detecting the state of the clothes being executed by these executing means, and an executing means different from the executing means for which this data is selected by the data of at least one of the control means and the detecting means. A laundry machine comprising: second control means for executing an execution process defined separately from the original execution process.