JPH0576688A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To complete washing at a reserved time at all times by reading out the previous washing time from a memory means and calculating a wash starting time after the reservation of wash completing time to start automatically the wash at the starting time and store the washing time at that time. CONSTITUTION:In starting reserved running, a control section 19 calculates the present time from a reserved time through a calculating means 25 to obtain the remaining time T2 and reads out the previous washing time T1 from a memory means 23. If the time T1 is larger than the time T2, the wash cannot be completed at the reserved completion time so that an error indication is shown on a liquid crystal 16 and the washing operation is stopped. If the time T1 is smaller than the time T2, the wash starting time is obtained to provide the stand-by condition until the wash is started. When a timer means 26 counts the wash starting time, the wash is carried out on the basis of the determined washing requirements. After the completion of the wash the washing time counted by the timer means 26 is memorized for the completion of the wash. Thus, the wash is neither completed at the reservation completing time, nor completed too earlier than the reservation completing time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine which automatically calculates a washing start time when a washing operation end time is reserved and starts the washing operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a washing machine of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-22.
No. 74797. This product makes fuzzy inference based on the information obtained by the sensor that detects the state of laundry and the manual input, determines the washing conditions such as washing time and rinsing time, and based on the conditions, the load of the motor etc. To control the washing process.

[0003]

In the control as in the above-mentioned conventional example, the washing time does not change and is not determined depending on the atmospheric conditions such as the air temperature and the water temperature during operation. Could not be calculated. Then, washing because the time is not determined, while it is conceivable to reserve set the end time with a certain degree prospect, or have continued to be still washing operation is in that time, also was dehydrated too end early If so, the laundry may be wrinkled.

[0006] By the way, when a laundry is scheduled to be washed at a general home, the laundry is not specially washed such as washing with only one sweater. Since the laundry operation is set around this time so that the laundry is set and operated, and when the user wakes up in the morning, the laundry is simply dried, so the amount of laundry is relatively constant. Further, since the air temperature, the water temperature, etc. do not change so much between the day before and the day before, the washing process as obtained by the fuzzy inference of the conventional example executes almost the same operation contents as the previous day.

The present invention solves this problem based on the above.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The means for solving the problems according to the present invention include a time measuring means for measuring time, a laundry amount,
A sensor for detecting the water temperature and the like, a step determining means for determining the washing conditions of the step such as washing time and rinsing time based on the output of the sensor, and a control means for executing the step determined by the step determining means, Storage means for storing the washing time executed by the control means, reservation means for arbitrarily setting the end time of the process executed by the control means, reservation end time set by the reservation means, and the storage means Calculating means for calculating a washing start time based on the washing time stored in the washing start time, and start of execution of the control means when the time counted by the time counting means reaches the time calculated by the calculating means Composed of means.

[0007]

That is, when the user reserves the end time by the reservation means, first, the calculation means calculates the laundry start time from the previous washing time read from the storage means and the reserved end time. Then, when it is determined that the time counted by the time counting means by the washing start means has reached the washing start time, the washing operation is started by the control means. In this washing operation, the amount of laundry, the water temperature, etc. are first detected by the sensor, the process determining means determines the washing conditions of the process based on the detected values, and the controlling means sequentially executes the process of the determined washing conditions. It is something to do.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, 1 is a washing / dewatering motor (hereinafter referred to as a motor), 2 is a water supply solenoid for opening and closing a water supply valve, 3 is a drainage solenoid for opening and closing a drainage valve, and 4 and 5 are terminals of the motor 1. 6 connected in series to
Is a triac connected in series with the water supply solenoid 2, 7
Is a triac connected in series to the drain solenoid 3, 8
Is a commercial power source, and 9 is a triac drive circuit for driving the triacs 4, 5, 6, and 7. The motor 1 is
When the triac 4 is turned on, it rotates normally, and when the triac 5 is turned on, it rotates counterclockwise.

Reference numeral 10 is a thermistor for detecting the water temperature of the washing water in the washing tub, 11 is a thermistor for detecting the temperature, 12 is a load sensor for measuring the weight of the laundry to detect the amount of the laundry, and 13 is laundry. It is a water level sensor that detects the water level in the tank.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a key input circuit operated by the user, 1
5 is an LED group that lights up corresponding to the item washed when setting the manual program, 16 is an LCD panel that displays an error display, current time, or reserved time, and 17 is a reserved LED that indicates that reserved operation is in progress Is. The key input circuit 14, the LED group 15, the liquid crystal panel 16,
The reservation LED 17 is arranged on the operation panel 18 provided in the washing machine as shown in FIG. The key input circuit 14 includes a start key 14a for starting a washing operation, a time setting key 14b for pressing the current time, a reservation key 14c for pressing the end time, and a time setting key 14d for setting the time. , Minute setting key 1 to set the minute
It also has 4e.

Reference numeral 19 is a control section for controlling the washing operation of the washing machine, and 20 is a power supply circuit for stepping down the commercial power supply 8 to supply DC power to the control section. The control unit 19, based on the detection values of the thermistors 10 and 11, the load sensor 12, or the water level sensor 13, determines the conditions of the washing process such as washing time and rinsing time by fuzzy inference. A timer 22 for counting, a storage means 23 for storing the washing time T1 counted by the timer 22 or an end time reserved by the operation of the reservation key 14c, and a control means 24 for sequentially executing the steps determined by the step determination means 21. , Booked end time and washing time T
The control means for calculating the washing start time based on 1; the time counting means 26 for counting the current time; and the control means if the time of the time counting means 26 reaches the laundry start time calculated by the computing means 25. It comprises a washing start means 27 for starting the execution of 24.

In such a washing machine, when the start key 14a is normally pressed without operating any key of the operation panel 18, the amount of laundry, the ambient temperature and the washing water are first detected by the thermistors 10 and 11 and the load sensor 12. Detects the water temperature of
Based on this detection value, the process determination means 21 of the control unit 19
Uses fuzzy inference to determine operating conditions such as washing time, rinsing time, etc. for washing, rinsing, and dehydration. And
The control means 24 controls the motor 1, the water supply solenoid 2, via the triac drive circuit 9 based on the determined operating conditions.
The drainage solenoid 3 is sequentially operated to execute washing. After that, when the dehydration operation ends, the washing operation automatically ends,
Wait until next instruction.

The process determining means 21 is not limited to fuzzy inference, and may be any one that automatically sets and executes an optimum program from washing to dehydration based on washing conditions.

In the method of reserving the laundry end time, first, the time setting key 14b is pressed to adjust the current time. After that, the current time is set by the time setting key 14d and the minute setting key 14e, and the time setting key 14b is pressed again to start the operation of the time measuring means 26. Next, after pressing the reservation key 14c to reserve the end time, the end time is input by the time setting key 14d and the minute setting key 14e, and the end time is set by pressing the reservation key 14c again. At this time, the reservation LED 17 is turned on to display that the reservation operation at the end time is in progress. This completes the reservation operation for the end time.

Next, the operation of the reserved driving will be described with reference to FIG. When the reserved operation is started by the user pressing the start key 14a (S-1), the control section 19 subtracts the present time from the reserved time by the calculating means 25 to obtain the remaining time T2 (S- Along with 2), the previous washing time T1 is read from the storage means 23 (S-3). And
The washing time T1 is compared with the remaining time T2 (S-4). If the washing time T2 is large, the remaining time T2 from the present time to the reservation end time is shorter than the washing time T1, so the washing operation ends at the reservation end time. When it is determined that the washing operation cannot be performed, an error message is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 (S-5), and the washing operation is stopped. If the washing time T1 is shorter than the remaining time T2, the washing time T1 is subtracted from the reserved time to obtain the washing start time T3 (S-6). After that, the timekeeping means 26 is in a standby state until it measures the washing start time T3 (S-
7).

When the time counting means 26 counts the washing start time T3, the washing start means 27 starts the operation of the control means 24, and the motor 1, the water supply solenoid 2, based on the washing conditions determined by the process determining means 21. The drainage solenoid 3 is sequentially operated to perform washing. (S-8). At this time, the timer 22 starts counting the washing time T at the same time.

When the washing operation of the washing machine is completed, the washing time T counted by the time counting means 26 is stored in the storage device 23.
(S-10) and ends.

From the above, the washing start time is calculated based on the previous washing time which does not change much, so the washing has not ended even at the reserved end time.
Or it will not end too soon before the reservation end time.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, for example, when the temperature suddenly becomes cold in winter, the data obtained from the thermistors 10 and 11 changes, and the washing content changes significantly, which changes the washing time, so the end time is reserved. But it may not finish at that time. In order to solve this, in addition to the previous washing time T1, the water temperature of the previous washing water is detected and stored in the storage means 23, and the margin time is added according to the detected temperature. The operation will be described below.

Steps (S-20) and (S-21) are the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiments (S-1) and (S-2). After the start operation is started by pressing the start key 14a, the remaining time T2 is reached. Is calculated by the calculating means 25.

Thereafter, the previous washing water temperature is read from the storage means 23 (S-22). If the temperature read is 10 degrees or less (S-23), 20 minutes is set as the margin time T4 (S-24), and if it is 10 degrees to 25 degrees (S-2).
5) Set the allowance time T4 to 10 minutes (S-26), and if it is 25 degrees or more, set the allowance time T4 to 5 minutes (S-).
27).

When the margin time T4 is set, the previous washing time T1 is read from the storage means 23 (S-2
8), the remaining time T2 obtained in step (S-21),
The sum of the washing time T1 and the allowance time T4 is compared (S-
29). As a result, if the remaining time T2 is small, the washing operation cannot be completed at the reservation end time, so that is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 16 (S-30), and the operation of the washing machine is stopped. Further, if the remaining time T2 is large, the computing means 25 causes the previous washing time T1 and the spare time T from the reserved time.
4 is subtracted to obtain the washing start time T3 (S-3
1).

After that, the time counting means 26 causes the washing start time T3.
When the time is counted, the washing start means 27 starts the operation of the control means 24, and the motor 1, the water supply solenoid 2 and the drainage solenoid 3 are sequentially operated based on the washing condition determined by the process determination means 21 to execute washing. (S-32). At this time, the timer 22 starts counting the washing time T at the same time. Further, the thermistor 10 detects the temperature of the washing water in the washing tub and stores it in the storage means 23 (S-3).
3).

When the washing operation of the washing machine is completed, the washing time T counted by the time counting means 26 is stored in the storage device 23.
(S-34) and ends.

From the above, since the extra time T4 is added to the washing time T1 in accordance with the water temperature of the previous washing water, the washing operation is finished at the reservation end time even if the situation changes such as a slight temperature change. it can.

The washing time counted in the above embodiment does not include the time taken to correct the deviation of the laundry due to the deviation of the laundry in the washing tub, that is, the unbalance correction time. ..

Further, the washing time is stored for a plurality of times as storage means 23.
The average time or the minimum time may be used as the time for determining the laundry time determination time.

Further, if there are a plurality of washing courses, the washing time may be stored in the storage means 23 for each course, and the washing time may be read out according to the selected course to determine the washing start time.

[0029]

According to the present invention, since the washing operation does not end too early, the laundry is not left unattended, the laundry does not wrinkle, and the washing operation does not end even at the reservation end time. Since the situation does not occur, the time waiting in front of the washing machine until the user is finished can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation panel diagram of the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a continuation of the operation flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thermistor 12 Load sensor (forming a sensor with a thermistor) 19 Control part 21 Process determination means 23 Storage means 24 Control means 25 Computing means 26 Timing means 27 Washing start means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A time measuring means for measuring time, a laundry amount,
A sensor for detecting the water temperature and the like, a step determining means for determining the washing conditions of the step such as washing time and rinsing time based on the output of the sensor, and a control means for executing the step determined by the step determining means, Storage means for storing the washing time executed by the control means, reservation means for arbitrarily setting the end time of the process executed by the control means, reservation end time set by the reservation means, and the storage means Calculating means for calculating a washing start time based on the washing time stored in the washing start time, and start of execution of the control means when the time counted by the time counting means reaches the time calculated by the calculating means A washing machine characterized by comprising: