JPH06327882A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent useless introduction of a detergent so as to save the same and to enhance the degree of efficiency of dirt removal by determining a degree of dirt of laundry in a water tank in accordance with a variation in the activity of the detergent in washing water, and by charging a quantity of the detergent suitable in accordance with a degree of dirt of the laundry. CONSTITUTION:When washing operation is started after laundry is introduced into a washing spin cage 4, volume sensing for detecting a quantity of the laundry is carried out in accordance with a load current generated in the drive part 6 when a pulsator 5 is driven by a short time, a water feed valve is opened and closed in accordance with a water level set in accordance with he detected quantity. Further, a detergent charge device 11 is driven so as to charge a quantity of a detergent (about one-half of a necessary quantity) which is set in accordance with the water level, into the washing spin cage 4. An activity of the detergent in washing water, which varies in accordance with a degree of dirt of laundry, is detected, and a suitable quantity of the detergent is obtained from the result thereof. After additional charge of detergent, a main washing process is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine that controls the amount of detergent to be added automatically depending on the degree of soiling of the laundry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the conventional washing machines, the detergent was put in by hand by the user, judging from the experience and intuition based on the amount of laundry and the degree of soiling. Also, when using a detergent dispenser that automatically dispenses detergent, the amount of detergent to be dispensed is set only according to the water level in the aquarium, and washing water of a constant concentration is produced regardless of the degree of contamination. .

When such a detergent is added, the detergent may be added more than necessary depending on the degree of soiling of the laundry, so that not only the detergent is wasted but also the rinsing performance is deteriorated. It was

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 4-17077, a pre-washing step in which laundry and water are stirred in a washing tub is carried out before the detergent is added, and the water in the pre-washing step is washed. When the turbidity reaches a certain value, the pre-washing process is terminated, water is once drained, and then water is re-supplied, and a pre-washing time, that is, a detergent amount according to the amount of cloth and the degree of dirt of the laundry is added. As a result, the waste of detergent can be eliminated and the rinsing performance can be improved.

[0005]

However, in the prior art, since the pre-washing process was completed and the water was once drained and then water was supplied again, there was a problem that the water saving was lacking and the washing time was long. . In addition, since no detergent is added to the water, oil stains that are difficult to dissolve in water are not reflected in the turbidity detection of water. Therefore, the pre-washing time that is different from the actual one, that is, the amount of laundry and the degree of dirt, is determined,
The wrong amount of detergent was sometimes added.

[0006] The present invention provides a washing machine in which an appropriate amount of detergent according to the degree of soiling of laundry can be added.

[0007]

The problem solving means according to claim 1 of the present invention determines the stain degree of the laundry in the aquarium 2 by the change of the detergent activity of the detergent in the wash water, and determines the stain degree of the laundry. Add the appropriate amount of detergent.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a means for solving the problem is initially charged with an amount of detergent according to the water level in the water tank 2, the detergent activity is detected during the washing process, and the initial amount of detergent added is subtracted from the appropriate amount of detergent. Add an additional amount of detergent.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the means for solving a problem is to add an appropriate amount of detergent after adding an appropriate amount of detergent, correct the amount of appropriate detergent by judging the degree of soiling of the laundry in the water tub 2, and add an additional amount of correction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount does not increase after the detergent charging operation, the washing step is stopped to notify.

The problem solving means according to claim 5 adjusts the proper detergent amount or the corrected proper detergent amount according to the temperature of the washing water.

[0012]

In the means for solving the problems according to the above claims 1 and 2, when the washing operation is started, capacity sensing is performed to detect the amount of laundry, and water is supplied up to the water level set according to the detected amount of laundry. To do. At the same time, the detergent feeding device 11 is driven to initially feed the amount of detergent according to the water level. When the water supply and the initial addition are completed, the washing process is started, and the detergent activity detection device 13 detects the detergent activity of the detergent in the wash water in time series. Here, the soiling degree of the laundry is judged from the change in detergent activity, the proper detergent amount required for washing is determined from the soiling degree, and the detergent amount of the proper detergent amount minus the initial detergent amount is additionally added. .

In the problem solving means according to claim 3,
After the proper amount of detergent has been added, the degree of soiling of the laundry in the water tank 2 is judged based on the change in detergent activity to correct the proper amount of detergent. When it is necessary to add additional detergent to prevent recontamination due to washing water, the detergent adding device 11 is driven to perform additional correction addition of detergent until the corrected appropriate detergent amount is reached.

In the problem solving means according to claim 4,
The detergent activity detected by the detergent activity detection device 13 before and after the detergent is added or the amount of change in the detergent activity is compared before and after the addition of the detergent. If the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount after the detergent is added is equal to or smaller than the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount before the detergent is added, it means that the detergent has not been added. To notify the user of the occurrence of an abnormality.

In the problem solving means according to claim 5,
Since the degree of detergent melting varies depending on the water temperature of the washing water, and there is some error in the change in detergent activity, the appropriate detergent amount or the appropriate detergent amount that is corrected according to the temperature of the washing water detected by the water temperature detection device. Adjust.

[0016]

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a fully automatic washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1 is a washing machine body, 2 is a water tank suspended and supported in the washing machine body 1 by an anti-vibration mechanism 3, 4 is a rotatably arranged inside the water tank 2, and has a large number of small holes on the wall surface. A dehydrating tub 5, a pulsator rotatably and reversely arranged on the inner bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 4, 6 a driving part arranged on the bottom of the water tub 2 for rotating the washing / dehydrating tub 4 and the pulsator 5, and 7 A drainage pipe connected to the bottom of the aquarium 2,
8 is a drain valve connected to the end of the drain pipe 7, 9 is a drain valve 8
A drainage hose connected to the outside to guide the washing water from the drainage pipe 7 to the outside of the machine, 10 is a water supply valve connected to the tap, 11 is an upper part of the washing machine body 1, and the stored detergent is automatically washed and removed. Detergent charging device to be put into the water tank 4, 12 is a thermistor which is a water temperature detecting device mounted to the inner bottom of the water tank 2, 13 is a detergent activity which is mounted to the drain pipe 7 and detects the detergent activity of the detergent in the washing water. The detection device 14 is a control unit that determines the amount of detergent to be added based on the outputs of the thermistor 12, the detergent activity detection device 13, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detergent feeding device 11 includes a detergent storing portion 21 for storing the powder detergent formed in the feeding device body 20, and a detergent storing portion 21 formed at the center of the bottom of the feeding device body 20. Supply port 22 for introducing the detergent of the above into the washing and dehydrating tub 4, a detergent delivery part 23 disposed in the detergent storage part 21 for delivering the detergent in the detergent storage part 21 toward the supply port 22, and a detergent storage part A metering unit 24 which is disposed between the unit 21 and the supply port 22 to measure the detergent delivered by the detergent delivery unit 23 at a predetermined amount and guides it to the supply port 22, a shutter 25 for opening and closing the supply port 22, and a detergent delivery Part 23
A drive motor 26 capable of rotating the metering unit 24 and the shutter 25 in an interlocking manner, and a drive transmission mechanism 27 for transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 26 to the detergent delivery unit 23, the metering unit 24, and the shutter 25. Is equipped with.

The detergent activity detecting device 13 is a high-frequency conductivity sensor, and as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of electrodes 30 which are arranged to face the drainage pipe 7 so as to come into contact with the washing water and to penetrate through the drainage pipe 7 to face each other. A high frequency oscillating circuit 31 for applying a high frequency voltage between the electrodes 30 and a conductivity reading circuit 32 for detecting the conductivity as impedance between the electrodes 30. The high-frequency voltage applied between the electrodes 30 is insulated from the commercial power source (AC100V) by an insulating transformer, and the voltage is lowered.

Here, the principle of detecting the detergent activity of the detergent in the wash water by the detergent activity detector 13 will be described.
The cleaning effect of detergents is mainly due to their constituent surfactants, and the detergent activity depends on the amount of surfactants that can be involved in the cleaning.

Further, the detergent dissolved in water is ionized and dissociated into cations and anions, and the anions have surface activity and permeate into the laundry together with water, leading to dirt components such as oil. , Wrap and remove the dirt components. Therefore, it can be seen that the detergent activity depends on the amount of the surface-active anion that does not enclose the soil component.

On the other hand, the water in which the detergent is dissolved (washing water) has conductivity, and when the laundry with the dirt component attached thereto is put into this water, an anion is required to take out the dirt component, and The amount of anions that can move freely is reduced, and the conductivity between the electrodes 30 is reduced. Therefore, the electrode 3
The conductivity between 0 depends on the amount of anions that do not enclose the soil component in the wash water. Therefore, the detergent activity can be detected by the electrical conductivity between the electrodes 30.

The control unit 14 is composed of a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. 5, a cloth amount detecting means 39 for detecting the cloth amount of the laundry put in the washing / dehydrating tub 4, and a washing / dehydrating tub 4 inside. The water level setting means 40 for setting the water level in the aquarium 2 according to the amount of the laundry to be washed and the initial stage of driving the detergent introducing device 11 to introduce a smaller amount of detergent than the amount adapted to the set water level. The detergent feeding means 41, the first washing means 42 for executing the pre-washing step after the detergent is fed by the initial detergent feeding means 41, and the proper detergent concentration data for the tendency of the detergent activity change (the degree of soiling of the laundry) are stored. A storage unit 43, and a stain judging unit 44 for judging a change in detergent activity detected by the detergent activity detecting device 13 to judge the degree of soiling of the laundry in the pre-washing process in the water tank 2.
Detergent amount determining means 45 for determining an appropriate detergent amount required for washing from the degree of soiling of the laundry and the data stored in the storage means 43, and the detergent loading device 11 to drive the appropriate detergent amount to the initial detergent loading amount. The additional detergent charging means 46 for charging the amount of the detergent subtracted, the second washing means 47 for executing the main washing step after charging the appropriate detergent amount of the detergent, and the detergent activity during the main washing step are smaller than the constant value α. In this case, it is judged that there is a risk of re-contamination of the laundry, and a proper detergent amount correction means 48 for correcting the proper detergent amount and the detergent feeding device 11 for additional correction are driven, and the corrected detergent amount is corrected and additionally fed. Detergent replenishing means 49, comparing means 50 for comparing the detergent activity before or after the detergent is charged or the detergent activity change amount detected by the detergent activity detecting device 13, and the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount after the detergent is charged. Detergent input confirmation means 53 for the pre-wash have steps or the washing step when the same or smaller than, the detergent activity or detergent-active amount of change before detergent is stopped to notify the buzzer 51 and abnormal lamp 52
And a detergent input amount adjusting means 54 for adjusting an appropriate amount of detergent according to a temperature signal of the washing water of the thermistor 12.

The detergent feeding device 11, the washing / dehydrating tub 4 and the drive unit 6 for rotatably driving the pulsator 5, the water supply valve 10, the buzzer 51, and the abnormality lamp 52 are connected to the micro via a load drive means 60 such as an electric circuit. It is connected to the computer 14 and driven by a built-in program.

In the above structure, when the laundry is put into the washing / dehydrating tub 4 and the washing operation is started, as shown in FIG. 1, capacity sensing for detecting the amount of laundry is performed. This capacity sensing detects the amount of laundry by the load current in the drive unit 6 when the pulsator 5 is normally inverted for a short time. The water level in the water tank 2 is set according to the detected laundry amount, and the water supply valve 10 is opened to supply water.

At the same time, the drive motor 26 of the detergent feeding device 11 is driven to feed the detergent in the detergent storage portion 21 to the measuring portion 24 by the detergent delivery portion 23, and the measuring portion 24 is rotated to respond to the water level. Supplying a set amount of detergent 22
From the above, it is initially put into the washing and dehydrating tub 4. The amount of detergent added at this time is set to about half the amount adapted to the water level. When the water supply and the initial detergent addition are completed, the pulsator 5 rotates in the normal and reverse directions to start the pre-washing process, and the detergent activity detector 13 conducts the detergent activity of the detergent in the washing water in a time-series manner from the conductivity between the electrodes 30. To detect.

FIG. 6 shows changes in detergent activity.
In FIG. 6, a shows the case where the laundry has no stain, b shows the case where the laundry has little stain, and c shows the case where the laundry has lot of stain. According to this tendency of detergent activity change, when the amount of soil is large, the rate of increase in the detergent activity until the detergent is dissolved is smaller than when the amount of soil is less, and the detergent activity is not increased. Is also low, and the rate of decrease in detergent activity thereafter tends to increase. Therefore,
The degree of soiling of the laundry can be judged from the tendency of the detergent activity to change.

On the other hand, the tendency of change in detergent activity (dirt level)
The appropriate detergent concentration data for the above is stored in advance in the microcomputer 14, and it is determined whether or not additional detergent needs to be added based on the soiling degree of the laundry determined during the pre-washing process and the stored data. If additional input is required, determine the appropriate detergent concentration for the degree of soiling of the laundry,
The proper detergent amount is determined based on the volume of washing water in the water tank 2 obtained from the water level, and the detergent feeding device 11 is driven to additionally feed the detergent in an amount obtained by subtracting the initial detergent feeding amount from the proper detergent amount. Then, the detergent activity increases, and when the proper amount of detergent is dissolved, the detergent activity becomes maximum.

Further, the temperature of the washing water in the water tank 2 is detected by the thermistor 12, and the appropriate detergent concentration corresponding to the tendency of the detergent activity detected during the pre-washing process is corrected according to the output signal, and the detergent concentration is corrected. Adjust the proper amount of detergent in the additional feeding. This takes into consideration that the degree of dissolution of the detergent differs depending on the water temperature, causing some error in the change in detergent activity.

Then, at the same time when the detergent is additionally charged, the pulsator 5 is continuously rotated to start the main washing step. During the main washing step, the detergent activity of the detergent in the washing water is always detected, and from the changing tendency, the laundry activity is detected. Judge the degree of dirt. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, except for the case of a, the detergent activity decreases as the laundry stains.

If washing is continued with almost no detergent activity, stains once dropped from the laundry will be redeposited on the laundry, resulting in recontamination. Therefore, it is necessary to add additional detergent.

Therefore, the minimum detergent activity value at which re-contamination of laundry with wash water does not occur is set as a constant value α. When the detergent activity becomes equal to or lower than the constant value α, it is determined that the laundry may be re-contaminated by the washing water, and the detergent concentration, that is, the proper detergent amount is corrected, and the detergent feeding device 11 is driven to correct the detergent. Perform additional input.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the detergent activity is increased again and the detergency is improved, so that re-contamination of the laundry with the washing water can be prevented. Incidentally, also in the correction of the appropriate detergent amount, adjustment taking into consideration the water temperature of the washing water is performed. At the end of the washing process, the detergent activity does not change.

Here, the detergent reservoir 2 of the detergent feeding device 11
A method of coping with the case where the detergent is not thrown into the washing / dehydrating tank 4 even if the detergent throwing device 11 is driven due to running out of the detergent in 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. This is done at the initial addition of the detergent, additional addition, correction additional addition,
Before the introduction of the detergent, the detergent activity detected by the detergent activity detector 13 and the amount of change in the detergent activity are stored in the microcomputer 14. Then, the detergent is charged by the detergent charging device 11, and the detergent activity and the amount of change in the detergent activity detected after the detergent is stirred by the pulsator 5 for a certain period of time are similarly stored in the microcomputer 14.

When the stored detergent activity before and after the detergent is charged and the variation in the detergent activity are compared with each other, and the detergent activity after the detergent is injected or the variation in the detergent activity after the detergent is not increased, Determines that the detergent has not been added due to an abnormality such as running out of detergent. Therefore, the drive unit 6 is stopped to stop the pre-washing process or the main washing process, and the abnormality alarm is given by the buzzer 51 and the abnormality lamp 52 is turned on to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality. The increase in the amount of change in the detergent activity is a state in which the detergent activity tends to increase.

As described above, since an appropriate amount of detergent can be added depending on the degree of soiling of the laundry, it is possible to prevent wasteful addition of detergent and save detergent. In addition, since the detergent is used from the beginning to detect dirt that is hard to remove only with water such as oil stains, which is the criterion for judging the degree of dirt, the degree of dirt on laundry can be compared to the conventional method. The reliability of the judgment is increased, and the laundry can be washed with an appropriate amount of detergent.
In addition, it is possible to solve the problem of wasting water and increasing the washing time as in the past.

When the amount of stains on the laundry is large as compared with a detergent having an appropriate amount of detergent and the detergent activity is reduced and there is a risk of recontamination of the laundry, additional detergent is added to enhance the washing power.
For this reason, washing can be performed with a more appropriate amount of detergent according to the degree of dirt, and recontamination with washing water can be prevented.

In addition, it is possible to determine whether or not the detergent has been added by the detergent introduction device 11 in the initial addition, additional addition, and correction additional introduction of the detergent. If it is determined that the detergent has not been added, the washing process is stopped and a notification is given. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the washing operation from being performed without the detergent being added. Moreover, since the amount of detergent added is adjusted according to the temperature of the washing water in the water tank 2, washing can be performed with a more appropriate amount of detergent in consideration of the degree of dissolution of the detergent depending on the temperature of the washing water.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention. For example, the control of the detergent amount of this embodiment may be applied to a two-tub type washing machine. Further, the pre-washing process and the main washing process may be distinguished as the washing process.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention, an appropriate amount of detergent can be added according to the degree of soiling of the laundry, thus preventing wasteful addition of detergent. And detergent can be saved. In addition, since the detergent is used from the beginning to detect dirt that is hard to remove with only water such as oil stains while also removing dirt, which is the criterion for judging the degree of dirt, the degree of dirt on laundry can be compared to the conventional method. The reliability of the judgment is increased, and the laundry can be washed with an appropriate amount of detergent.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the proper detergent amount is corrected and the detergent is added as needed, washing can be performed with a more appropriate detergent amount according to the degree of dirt, and when the detergent input amount is small. Recontamination of laundry with water can be prevented.

According to the present invention, it is judged whether or not the detergent has been added, and if it is judged that the detergent has not been added, the washing process is stopped and an alarm is issued. Can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the amount of detergent added is adjusted according to the temperature of the washing water in the water tank, washing can be performed with a more appropriate amount of detergent in consideration of the degree of dissolution of the detergent depending on the temperature of the washing water. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a detergent injection in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Overall structure of the washing machine

[Fig. 3] Internal configuration diagram of the detergent charging device

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a detergent activity detector.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing changes in detergent activity during the washing process.

FIG. 7: Flow chart of confirmation operation of detergent addition

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 water tank 11 detergent feeding device 12 water temperature detecting device 13 detergent activity detecting device 40 water level setting means 41 initial detergent feeding means 42, 47 washing means 44 dirt determining means 45 detergent amount determining means 46 additional detergent feeding means 48 proper detergent amount correcting means 49 Detergent Replenishing Means 50 Comparing Means 53 Detergent Charge Checking Means 54 Detergent Charge Amount Adjusting Means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A detergent dispenser for automatically depositing detergent into a water tub, a detergent activity detector for detecting detergent activity of detergent in washing water, and laundry in the aquarium due to changes in detergent activity. The dirt determination means for determining the degree of dirtiness of the laundry, the detergent amount determination means for determining the appropriate amount of detergent required for washing based on the degree of soiling of the laundry, and the additional drive of the detergent loading device until the amount of detergent input reaches the appropriate amount of detergent. A washing machine provided with a detergent charging means. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water level setting means sets the water level in the water tub according to the amount of laundry in the water tub, and the water level set by driving the detergent throwing device. An initial detergent charging means for charging a large amount of detergent and a washing means for executing a washing step after the detergent is charged by the initial detergent charging means are provided, and the detergent charging amount by the additional detergent charging means is changed from the proper detergent amount to the initial detergent charging. A washing machine characterized in that the amount of detergent added by means is subtracted. 3. After the detergent is charged by the additional detergent charging means,
Proper detergent amount correction means that determines the degree of soiling of laundry in the aquarium based on changes in detergent activity and corrects the proper detergent amount, and if additional compensation is required, the detergent dispenser is driven to dispense the corrected amount of detergent. 3. A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a detergent replenishing means. 4. A comparing means for comparing the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount before and after the detergent application detected by the detergent activity detection device, and the detergent activity after the detergent application or the detergent activity change amount is the detergent application. 4. A detergent charging confirmation means for stopping and informing the washing process when the detergent activity or the detergent activity change amount before or equal to or smaller than the previous detergent activity is provided. Washing machine. 5. A water temperature detecting device for detecting the temperature of the washing water in the water tank, and a detergent input amount adjusting means for adjusting the proper detergent amount or the corrected proper detergent amount according to the detected temperature of the washing water. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is provided.