JPH0639183A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute washing with proper water stream at all times and preclude insufficient washing or damage of the cloths by sensing the water level and the quantity of laundry in the washing trough during the washing process at specified intervals, setting thereupon the washing water stream, and executing the washing in accordance with this set water stream. CONSTITUTION:A water receiving trough 2 is installed inside of the outer box 1 of a washing machine concerned with the aid of a resilient suspension mechanism 3. A chamber 4 for laundering and centrifuging is installed inside of this trough 2, and an agitator 5 for washing is arranged inside of the chamber 4, and further outside, a drive mechanism 7 consisting chiefly of a motor 6 is installed. A water level sensor 12 and a control means 13 for the trough 2 and chamber 4 are furnished inside of a top cover 10 which is set in the over-part of the outer box 1. The revolving speed of the motor 6 is sensed, and the quantity of the laundry is determined. During the washing process, the water level and the quantity of laundry are sensed at certain respectively specified intervals, and thereupon the washing water stream is set, and the washing is executed in accordance with this set water stream.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing by setting a washing water flow based on the washing water level and the amount of laundry.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a washing machine, at the beginning of operation, washing is performed based on the detection result obtained by detecting the amount of laundry in the washing tub or the operation result obtained by manual operation by the user. A water level is set and a wash water flow is set according to the set water level, and washing is performed based on the set wash water flow. According to this, there is an advantage that the laundry can be effectively washed with a water flow according to the set water level.

[0003]

However, in the case of this one, when the user performs washing by setting the washing water level to "high" despite the small amount of laundry, the washing water flow is Is set to “Strong” accordingly,
This "strong" wash water flow causes a small amount of laundry to be agitated in a large amount of wash water, which causes a problem of violent water splashing.

Further, during washing, additional laundry may be added or additional washing water may be supplied. In any case, the washing water flow initially set at the start of operation does not match thereafter, and as a result, However, problems such as insufficient washing, the above-mentioned splashing of water, and damage to the cloth occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and therefore an object thereof is to provide a washing machine capable of washing with a water flow which matches the washing water level and the amount of laundry at the time of washing as much as possible. There is.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in the washing machine of the present invention, the detection of the water level by the water level detecting means and the detection of the laundry amount by the laundry amount detecting means are predetermined during the washing process. Do it every other hour, every time,
It is characterized in that a wash water flow is set based on each of the detection results, and control is performed so that washing is performed with the set water flow.

[0007]

According to the above means, the water level and the amount of laundry are monitored at any time during the washing process, and washing is performed with the water flow according to the occasion.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 2 shows the overall structure of the washing machine. A water receiving tub 2 is supported and disposed in an outer box 1 by an elastic suspension mechanism 3, and a tub 2 is a washing tub and a dehydrating tub. The porous tub 4 is also provided, and the stirring member 5 for washing is arranged in the tub 4. In addition, a drive mechanism 7 having a motor 6 as a main component is disposed on the outer lower portion of the tub 2, and the drive mechanism 7 stops the tub 4 to rotate the agitator 5 at the time of washing, and at the time of dehydration. The tank 4 is rotated together with the stirring body 5. In addition, a drain valve 8 and a drain hose 9 for discharging the water in the tub 2 (in the tub 4) to the outside of the machine are also provided in the outer lower portion of the tub 2.

On the other hand, a top cover 10 is mounted on the outer box 1, and a tank 4 is provided inside the rear portion of the top cover 10.
The water supply valve 11 for supplying water to the inside (the tub 2) and the inside of the tub 2 (the tank 4)
Water level sensor 1 which is a water level detecting means for detecting the water level
2 and a microcomputer 13 functioning as a control means is provided inside the front part.

As shown in FIG. 3, various switch signals are input to the microcomputer 13 from the switch input section 14 including various operation switches including a start switch of the operation panel and a washing water level setting switch (not shown). At the same time, a water level detection signal is input from the water level sensor 12, and is also a laundry amount detecting means and a cloth quality detecting means. In this case, a rotation speed sensor 15 for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 6 of the drive mechanism 7 Further, the rotation speed detection signal is input.

Then, based on those inputs and the control program stored in advance, the microcomputer 13 causes the display unit 16 including various display elements of the operation panel, the water supply valve 11, the motor 6, and the drain valve 8 to be provided. A drive control signal is supplied to the drive circuits 17 to 20 for respectively driving the drive circuits.

Therefore, the control contents of the microcomputer 13 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the microcomputer 13 receives the operation of the switch input unit 14 by the user at the beginning (start) of its operation (step S1), and then the start switch during the operation. If it is determined that the operation has been performed (step S2), then it is determined whether the washing water level setting switch has been operated (step S3).

If it is determined in step S3 that the washing water level setting switch has been operated, the washing water level is set according to the operation (step S4). If it is determined that there is not, in this case, next, the motor 6 of the drive mechanism 7 is activated to rotate the stirring body 5 in the tank 4, and the rotation speed of the motor 6 at this time is detected by the rotation speed sensor 15 The amount of laundry is detected by detecting (step S
5). In this case, the larger the amount of laundry put in the tub 4, the larger the load, and thus the lower the rotation speed of the motor 6, and conversely, the smaller the amount of laundry, the smaller the load. The rotation speed of is high. Therefore, by detecting the rotation speed of the motor 6,
The amount of laundry in the tub 4 can be detected. Then,
After the detection of the laundry amount, the required washing water level is set based on the detection result (step S6).

In any case, after the washing water level is set, the water supply valve 11 is opened to start the water supply into the tub 4 (step S7), and whether or not the set water level has been reached thereafter. In the determination (step S8), the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 12 continues until it is determined that the water level has been reached.

Thereafter, the motor 6 of the drive mechanism 7 is activated again to rotate the stirring body 5, and the rotation speed sensor 15 detects the rotation speed of the motor 6 at this time to detect the amount of laundry (step). S9). Then, the basic wash water flow is set based on the detected laundry amount and the previously set wash water level (step S10).

FIG. 4 shows the standard contents of the wash water flow set according to the above-mentioned detected amount of laundry for each of the "high", "medium", and "low" wash water levels. For the time being, set the standard flush water flow. Therefore, if the detected laundry amount exceeds 3 [kg] at the "high" wash water level (3-4 [kg] and 4
[More than [kg]), the motor 6 is energized for 1.5 [seconds],
It is set so as to generate a wash water flow by repeating power interruption for 7 [seconds], and if the amount of laundry is 2 to 3 [kg], the motor 6 is energized for 1.0 [second], and 0.9 It is set to generate a wash water flow by repeating power interruption for [seconds], and if the amount of laundry is less than 2 [kg],
The motor 6 is energized for 0.8 [seconds] and is disconnected for 0.8 [seconds] so that a washing water flow is generated repeatedly. In short, the energization time of the motor 6 is shortened sequentially. , Set the flow of washing water to be weaker by lengthening the disconnection time. Hereinafter, the "medium" wash water level and the "low" wash water level are as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 13 further activates the motor 6 of the drive mechanism 7 to drive the stirring member 5 in the tank 4.
Is rotated and the rotation speed of the motor 6 at this time is detected by the rotation speed sensor 15 to detect the quality of the laundry (step S11). In this case, the stiffer the quality of the laundry, the greater the variation in the rotation speed of the motor 6, and the more supple the variation in the rotation speed of the motor 6. Therefore, the quality of the laundry can be detected by detecting the rotation speed of the motor 6 and checking the variation. Then, after the cloth quality of the laundry is detected, the washing water flow is corrected and set based on the detection result (step S12).

If the wash water flow correction setting is detected to be "standard" for the quality of the laundry, it remains as shown in FIG. 4, but it is detected to be "stiff". If so, the energization time of the motor 6 is set to 0.1 second longer than the "standard" water flow time period so that the water flow becomes stronger, and if "flexible" is detected, the "standard" The energization time of the motor 6 is shortened by 0.1 seconds with respect to the water flow time limit so that the water flow is weakened.

After that, the microcomputer 13
Determines whether the time has passed a predetermined even number [minutes], for example, 2 [minutes] (step S13). If it is determined that the time has not passed, then the motor 6 generates a set water flow. Wash by turning off the power according to the contents (step S
14) After that, it is determined whether or not the washing time is over (step S15), and when it is determined that the washing time is not over, the process returns to step S13.

In addition, in this returned step S13, 2
If it is determined that [minutes] have elapsed, then in this case, the water level in the tank 4 is detected by the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 12 (step S16), and then the process returns to the previous step S9. Therefore, after this, the same amount of laundry as described above, basic wash water flow setting, laundry cloth quality detection, wash water flow correction setting, and washing with the set water flow are performed every 2 [minutes] and repeated. Then, if it is determined in step S15 that the washing time is over, the process proceeds to the next step (not shown).

As described above, in this structure, during the washing process, the water level in the tub 4, the amount of laundry, and the quality of the cloth are detected every 2 [minutes], and each time they are detected. The washing water flow is set from each detection result of, and the washing is executed by this set water flow.Unlike the conventional one in which the washing flow was set only at the beginning of the operation, for example, Even if the amount of laundry is small, even if the user performs a manual operation to set the washing water level to "high", the washing water flow will remain "strong" by detecting the amount of laundry thereafter. No, it can be set properly and can be washed without causing severe water splash.

Further, even if additional laundry is added during washing or additional washing water is supplied, the washing water flow is detected by detecting the amount of laundry and the water level in the tub 4 thereafter. Since the content can be set again according to the quantity and the water level, the washing can be performed without causing problems such as insufficient washing, the above-mentioned water splash, and damage to the cloth.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings.
It is not always necessary to detect the cloth quality and to correct the washing water flow therewith, and in addition, it is possible to carry out appropriate modification within a range not departing from the gist.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the washing machine of the present invention detects the water level by the water level detecting means and the laundry amount by the laundry amount detecting means at predetermined time intervals during the washing process. Each time, the wash water flow is set from each of those detection results, and the control is performed so that the wash is performed with this set water flow. Washing can be performed with a water flow that matches the washing water level and the amount of laundry as much as possible, and the washing can be performed without causing problems such as insufficient washing, splashing of water, and damage to the cloth.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an operation showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Side view of the entire fracture

FIG. 3 is a schematic electrical configuration diagram.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the content of the wash water flow determined by the wash water level and the laundry amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 is a tub (washing tub), 6 is a motor, 12 is a water level sensor (water level detecting means), 13 is a microcomputer (controlling means), and 15 is a rotation speed sensor (laundry amount detecting means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the washing tub and a laundry amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry in the washing tub, and detecting the water level by the water level detecting means during the washing process. And detecting the amount of laundry by the laundry amount detecting means at predetermined time intervals, and each time, the washing water flow is set from each of the detection results, and the control means for controlling the execution of the washing with the set water flow is provided. A washing machine characterized by being provided.