JPH0546237B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine that detects the amount of cloth by detecting variations in the motor current generated when the cloth hits an agitating blade. be.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, the amount of cloth for a washing machine has generally been determined based on the user's experience and intuition. Also, automatic detection technology is known, but this detects based on the magnitude of the amplitude of the variation in motor current caused by the contact of the cloth with the stirring blade.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As described above, if the amount of cloth is determined by the user's experience and intuition, the user may make an error in the judgment and cannot set the appropriate amount of water or washing, resulting in damage to the cloth. There were cases where detergent was wasted. In addition, in a method that detects the amplitude of fluctuations in the motor current and determines the amount of cloth, even if the amount of cloth is the same, the magnitude of the amplitude of the motor current will be different if the type of cloth is different (for example, cotton and synthetic fibers).
There was a problem in which the amount was judged to be too large for cotton cloth and too small for synthetic fiber cloth (Figure 4).

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device that detects the amount of cloth regardless of the type of cloth.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a stirring blade at the bottom of the washing tub, a motor for driving the stirring blade, and a motor current detection means for detecting the current of the motor. , a filter that extracts only a specific frequency component of this current, and a cloth amount determining means that determines whether the water level is optimal for the amount of cloth based on the output from the filter, and the cloth amount determining means includes a filter that extracts only a specific frequency component of this current. a level detection means for detecting the output level of the filter, a first comparison means for comparing the output with a predetermined level, a pulse counter for counting output pulses from the filter, an integration means for integrating the output, and a first comparison means for comparing the output with a predetermined level; a second comparison means for comparing the output of the means with a predetermined value; a motor lock detection means that operates when the output of the pulse counter is 0; This is a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine, which comprises a determination means that determines that the amount of cloth is optimal for the water level and proceeds to the next step only when the output of the detection means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Effects According to the present invention, with the above configuration, the amount of cloth can be detected with high accuracy by utilizing the fact that the variation in the motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade is proportional to the amount of cloth regardless of the type of cloth. can.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine according to the present invention. In Figure 1, 1
is a stirring blade driven by the motor 2, and is located at the inner bottom of the washing tub.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a motor current detection means for detecting the current of the motor 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a filter, which removes the frequency components of the commercial power source and extracts only the fluctuations in the motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1, that is, the specific frequency components. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pass band of the filter 4 is expressed as K, the number of blades of the stirring blade 1 is K, and the rotation speed of the stirring blade 1 is n (rpm).
In this case, frequency (K x n) / 60 (Hz) is set as the center value (for example, if the number of blades of stirring blade 1 is 6 and the rotation speed is 180 (rpm), frequency =
(6×180)/60=18Hz).

This makes it possible to reliably extract the variation in motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1. Further, 5 is a cloth amount determining means, and in this embodiment, a level detecting means 5a for detecting the amplitude of the output pulse that has passed through the filter 4, a pulse counter 5b for counting the pulses, and an output of the pulse counter 5b is 0. In the case of , judgment means 5g
Motor lock detection means 5c outputs a signal to
an integrating means 5d for integrating the output of the pulse counter 5b; and a first comparing means 5e for comparing the output of the level detecting means 5a with a predetermined value and outputting a signal to the determining means 5g when the output exceeds the predetermined value. The second comparing means 5f compares the output of the integrating means 5d with a predetermined value, and outputs a signal to the determining means 5g when the output exceeds the predetermined value. The determining means 5g is the first comparing means 5e and the second comparing means 5.
When a signal is output from either the motor lock detecting means 5c, the water supply means 8 is operated to supply water to the washing tub 9. Also, judgment means 5
When the water level detection means 7 detects that the water level has reached a predetermined water level, the water supply g is stopped and the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 is driven via the motor control means 6. It is.

Note that a linear function relationship as shown in FIG. 3 holds between the pulse integrated value of the integrating means 5d and the amount of cloth. Therefore, the amount of cloth can be determined by counting the integrated value of the pulses.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. At S1, the cloth 10 is put into the washing tub 9 at the start of washing. S2
Now, the water supply means 8 starts supplying water. In S3, the water level is detected by the water level detection means 7. If the water level is less than the small water level, the water supply is interrupted, and if the water level reaches the small water level, the process proceeds to S4, and the water supply is stopped via the water supply means 8. In S5, the determination means 5g operates the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 for a certain period of time via the motor control means 6, so that the cloth 10 is well adapted to the water. In S6, the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 via the motor control means 6 is operated. In S7, the motor current detection means 3 detects the motor current, the filter 4 extracts only the variation of the motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1, and the level detection means 5 detects the motor current.
a. Output to pulse counter 5b for 2 seconds. The level detection means 5a detects the peak value of the output of the filter 4, and the pulse counter 5b counts the output of the filter 4. In S8, the motor 2 is stopped via the motor control means 6.
In S9, if the count value counted by the pulse counter 5b is 0 pulses, that is, motor lock has occurred, the process proceeds to S13, and if it is not 0, the process proceeds to S10. In S10, if the peak value detected by the level detection means 5a is 5v or less, S
Proceed to step 11, and if it is less than 5v, proceed to S13. In S11, the output of the pulse counter 5b is integrated by the integrating means 5d. In S12, the operations from S6 to S11 are repeated six times, and when they are completed, the process advances to S13. In S13, if the integrated value of the integrating means 5d is less than 90 pulses, the amount of cloth is extremely small (the amount of cloth is 0.5
It is determined that the weight is less than Kg, and the process proceeds to the next washing process. If it is 90 pulses or more, the process advances to S14. From S14 to S16, water is supplied until the water level becomes low. S1
Steps 7 to S23 are as described in steps S6 to S12. In S24, the integrating means 5d
If the integrated value is less than 100 pulses, it is determined that the cloth is small (cloth weight 0.5Kg to 1.0Kg) and the process proceeds to the next washing process.

From S25 to S27, water is supplied until the water level reaches inside. S28 to S34 are as described in S6 to S12. In S32, if the integrated value of the integrating means 5d is less than 120 pulses, it is determined that the fabric is medium (cloth weight 1.0 kg to 2.0 kg) and the process proceeds to the next washing process. If it is 120 or more, it is judged that the cloth is large (the amount of cloth is 2.0Kg to 3.0Kg), and S36 to S3
At step 8, supply water to the high water level and proceed to the next washing process.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of cloth can be detected with high accuracy with an extremely simple configuration, and the washing performance can be improved by appropriately determining the washing water level, washing time, driving cycle of the stirring blade, etc. can be increased. In addition, if the water level at the time of judgment is too low for the amount of fabric, the fabric is stirred for a very short period of time, the water level is immediately raised, and the amount of fabric is judged, so there is less fabric damage and the fabric is well agitated. Detection accuracy is improved. Furthermore, since the pass band of the filter is determined by the number of blades and rotation speed of the stirring blade, it is possible to eliminate the effects of noise and extract only the fluctuations in motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between cloth amount, pulse, and integrated value, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the amplitude of motor current fluctuation in the conventional example. , is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of cloth. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Stirring blade, 2... Motor, 3... Motor current detection means, 4... Filter, 5... Cloth amount determination means, 6... Motor control means, 7... Water level detection means, 8... Water supply Means, 9...Washing tub, 10
……cloth.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stirring blade at the bottom of the washing tub, a motor that drives the stirring blade, a motor current detection means that detects the current of this motor, a filter that extracts only a specific frequency component of this current, and an output from the filter. A cloth amount determining means for determining whether the water level is optimal for the amount of cloth; a first comparing means for comparing, a pulse counter for counting output pulses from the filter, an integrating means for integrating the output, a second comparing means for comparing the output of the integrating means with a predetermined value, and a pulse counter for counting the output pulses from the filter. The cloth amount is optimized for the water level only when the output of the motor lock detection means which operates when the output is 0, the first comparison means and the second comparison means is below a predetermined value, and the output of the motor lock detection means is above a predetermined value. A cloth amount detection device for a washing machine, which comprises a determination means for determining whether to proceed to the next process.