JPH0663277A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of models to be manufactured by making it possible to use one model commonly to export objective countries in which power source voltages are different. CONSTITUTION:A load quantity sensor 18 which detects a load quantity applied to a motor 5 to rotate-drive an agitator in a vessel, and at the same time, a microcomputer 16 which judges the quantity of laundry based on a motor load quantity detecting signal from the load quantity sensor 18 is provided for the washing machine. For such a washing machine, it is constituted to correct the laundry quantity judging data stored in the microcomputer 16 or the output level of the motor load quantity detecting signal from the load quantity sensor 18, in response to a detecting signal from a power source voltage detecting circuit 17 which detects the power source voltage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a motor for rotationally driving an agitator, and is configured to detect the amount of load acting on the motor to determine the amount of laundry put in a tub. Regarding the machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a washing machine of this type, for example, a combined washing machine for dehydration, a load amount sensor is provided as a motor load amount detecting means for detecting a load amount acting on a motor, and the load amount sensor from the motor load amount detecting means is used. A microcomputer is provided as a laundry amount determination means for determining the amount of laundry loaded into the tub based on the motor load amount detection signal. In this combined washing and dehydration machine, after determining the amount of laundry,
According to the determination result, the washing operation conditions such as the water level and the washing time are set, and the washing operation is automatically executed. An export washing machine among such dehydrating washing machines is usually designed to be driven by a power supply voltage of 200V, and has a motor for driving 200V.

On the other hand, in the countries of export destinations such as Southeast Asian countries, the power supply voltage is 200V, 220V, 23.
Although different from 0V and 240V, the motor for driving 200V can be driven by any voltage, so that the same motor itself can be used.

However, the motor load amount detection signal for determining the amount of laundry varies considerably even if the amount of laundry is the same as the magnitude of the power supply voltage changes. Therefore, when the power source voltage is used in a region other than 200V, it is necessary to correct the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor so as to correspond to the power source voltage of 200V.

Therefore, conventionally, a correction resistor for correcting the output level of the motor load amount detection signal output from the load amount sensor is provided in the load amount sensor and the microcomputer in accordance with the power supply voltage of the export destination. It was arranged between.

[0006]

However, in the above conventional configuration, since it is necessary to provide the correction resistors corresponding to the power supply voltage of the export destination, it is equal to the number of kinds of the power supply voltage of the export destination for one model. Since it is necessary to manufacture several models, the management of the models becomes very troublesome and the manufacturing cost becomes high.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable one model to be commonly used for a plurality of export destinations having different power supply voltages, to reduce the number of models to be manufactured, and to manage the models. It is to provide a washing machine that can be simplified and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0008]

A washing machine of the present invention comprises a motor for rotationally driving an agitator in a tub, and a motor load amount detecting means for detecting a load amount acting on the motor.
In a washing machine comprising a laundry amount determination means for determining the laundry amount put into the tub based on a motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detection means, a power supply voltage detection means for detecting a power supply voltage is provided. A correction for correcting the output level of the laundry amount determination data of the laundry amount determination means or the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detection means according to the detection signal from the power supply voltage detection means. It is characterized by having a means.

In this case, instead of the power supply voltage detecting means, a power supply voltage designating means for manually designating the power supply voltage may be provided.

[0010]

According to the above means, the laundry amount determination data of the laundry amount determination means or the motor load amount detection from the motor load amount detection means is detected according to the detection signal from the power supply voltage detection means for detecting the power supply voltage. Since the signal output level is automatically corrected, one model can be commonly used for a plurality of export destinations having different power supply voltages.
Therefore, unlike the conventional configuration, the number of models to be manufactured can be reduced.

If the power supply voltage specifying means for manually specifying the power supply voltage is provided instead of the power supply voltage detecting means for detecting the power supply voltage, the power supply voltage can be specified by manually specifying the power supply voltage. It is possible to use one model in common for multiple export destinations.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a washing machine combined with dehydration will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 2 showing the entire structure of a washing machine for combined use of dehydration, a water receiving tank 2 is elastically supported in an outer box 1, and in this water receiving tank 2, a washing tank and a basket for dehydration are formed. A rotary tank 3 is provided. An agitator 4 for washing is disposed on the inner bottom of the rotary tub 3.

On the outer bottom of the water receiving tank 2, a motor 5 for washing and dehydrating operations and a drive mechanism section 6 are provided. The drive mechanism portion 6 decelerates the rotation of the motor 5 during washing and transmits it to only the stirring body 4 to rotate it, and transmits the rotation of the motor 5 to the stirring body 4 and the rotary tub 3 during dehydration. Then, both are integrally rotated at high speed.

A drain valve 8 and a drain hose 9 are provided at the drain port 7 formed at the bottom of the water receiving tank 2.
An air trap 10 is provided adjacent to the drainage port 7. A water level sensor 11 is connected to the air trap 10 via an air tube 12. The water level sensor 11 is arranged in the rear portion of the upper cover 13 of the outer box 1. A water supply valve 14 is arranged at the rear of the upper cover 13. The upper cover 13
An operation panel (not shown) provided with various switches 15 (see FIG. 1) is provided at the front part of the.

In FIG. 1 showing the electrical configuration, a control circuit, for example, a microcomputer 16 stores in its internal memory a control program for controlling overall washing and dehydrating operations. In this case, the microcomputer 16 has the functions of the laundry amount determination means and the correction means. The microcomputer 16 is provided with various switch signals from various switches 15 and a water level sensor 11
To detect the water level, the voltage detection signal from the power supply voltage detection circuit 17 which is the power supply voltage detection means, and the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 which is the motor load amount detection means.

The power supply voltage detection circuit 17 detects the magnitude of the supplied power supply voltage and outputs a voltage detection signal. In addition, the load sensor 18
Is configured to detect the load amount acting on the motor 5 by detecting the phase difference of the motor currents flowing in the motor 5, for example. The internal memory of the microcomputer 16 stores the laundry amount determination data for determining the amount of laundry loaded into the rotary tub 3 based on the motor load amount detection signal from the load sensor 18. There is. The stored laundry amount determination data is, for example, data for a power supply voltage of 200V.

Then, the microcomputer 16 drives and controls the display 19 provided on the operation panel, and drives and controls the motor 5, the water supply valve 14 and the drain valve 8 via drive circuits 20, 21 and 22, respectively. It is like this.

Next, the operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial control of the control program stored in the microcomputer 16, that is, the laundry amount determination data is corrected according to the detected power supply voltage, and the laundry is loaded into the rotary tub 3. The amount of laundry is detected, the optimum water level is set for the detected amount of laundry, and the contents of the partial control until water is supplied to the set water level are shown.

When carrying out the washing operation, the laundry is put into the rotary tub 3 and, after setting the sensor course (step A1), the start switch is turned on. As a result, in step A2, the process proceeds to “YES” and the rotary tank 3
Water supply to the (water receiving tank 2) is started (step A
3). Here, water is supplied up to a predetermined water level for detecting the amount of laundry.

Subsequently, the motor 5 is energized to drive the agitator 4
Is rotated, and the motor load amount is detected by the load amount sensor 18 (step A4). Then, the power supply voltage detection circuit 1
7, the power supply voltage is detected, the detected power supply voltage is read (step A5), and the laundry amount determination data is corrected based on the read power supply voltage (step A6).
The control (subroutine) for correcting the laundry amount determination data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, it is judged whether the detected power supply voltage is 170 V or higher (step B1), and the power supply voltage is 17 V.
If the voltage is 0 V or more, the process proceeds to “YES” in step B1. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the detected power supply voltage is 250V or less (step B2), and the power supply voltage is 250V.
In the case of the following, proceed to "YES" in step B2. If the power supply voltage is not 170 V or higher,
If not less than V, steps B1 and B2, respectively.
Then, the process proceeds to "NO" to display an error on the display unit 19 to inform the user that the power supply voltage is not suitable (step B3).

After advancing to "YES" in step B2, it is judged whether or not the detected power supply voltage is 236V or higher (step B4). When the power supply voltage is 236V or higher, the process proceeds to step B4. Then, proceed to “YES”, and use the previously stored 200V laundry quantity determination data
It is corrected for 0 V and stored (step B5). If the power supply voltage is not 236V or higher, the process proceeds to “NO” in step B4 to determine whether the detected power supply voltage is 226V or higher (step B6), and the power supply voltage is 226V.
If it is equal to or higher than V, the process proceeds to “YES” in step B6, and the 200V laundry amount determination data is corrected and stored for 230V (step B7).

If the power supply voltage is not 226V or higher, the process proceeds to "NO" in step B6 to judge whether the detected power supply voltage is 211V or higher (step B).
8) If the power supply voltage is 211V or higher, the process proceeds to “YES” in step B8, and the 200V laundry amount determination data is corrected to 220V and stored (step B).
9). On the other hand, if the power supply voltage is not 211 V or higher, the process proceeds to “NO” in step B8 and the stored 200 V
It is set that the laundry amount determination data for use is used as it is (step B10).

After that, the process proceeds to step A7 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and the amount of laundry put into the rotary tub 3 is determined based on the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18. In this case, the laundry amount determination is performed using the laundry amount determination data corrected according to the magnitude of the power supply voltage as described above. Then, the optimum washing conditions (water level, washing time, strength of water flow, etc.) are set for the determined laundry amount (step A8). Subsequently, after supplying water up to the set water level (step A9), the process returns to the main routine (not shown), and thereafter, the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process are sequentially performed.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, 2 stored in advance in the microcomputer 16 according to the detection signal from the power supply voltage detection circuit 17 for detecting the power supply voltage.
Since the configuration is such that the laundry amount determination data for 00V is corrected, even if the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 fluctuates considerably depending on the magnitude of the power supply voltage, it is possible to cope with the fluctuation. As a result, the laundry amount determination data is corrected, and one model can be commonly used for export destinations having different power supply voltages. Therefore, unlike the conventional configuration, the number of models to be manufactured can be reduced, the management of the models can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the laundry amount determination data is corrected according to the power supply voltage, but instead of this, the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 is received according to the power supply voltage. It may be configured to correct the output level. Specifically, a correction resistor (a plurality of correction resistors corresponding to a plurality of power supply voltages) for correcting the output level of the motor load amount detection signal according to the power supply voltage is provided between the load amount sensor and the microcomputer. A configuration may be provided in which the correction resistors are switched and connected according to the detection signal from the power supply voltage detection circuit 17, and thus the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 is corrected according to the power supply voltage. good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the load sensor 18
As the sensor, a sensor of the type that detects the phase difference of the motor currents flowing through the motor 5 is used, but the invention is not limited to this. You may use the sensor of the type.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and a portion different from the first embodiment will be described (note that the configuration of the portion not explained is the first embodiment). The same configuration as the embodiment). First, in FIG. 5, various switches 15 such as a switch for setting various washing conditions and a start switch are arranged on the operation panel 23, and the set washing conditions and operating conditions are displayed. A display 19 made up of a large number of light emitting diodes is provided for this purpose.

At the right end of the operation panel 23, a power supply voltage designating means such as a power supply voltage designating switch 24 is provided.
And a power supply voltage display unit 25 for displaying the specified power supply voltage. The power supply voltage display unit 25 is composed of four light emitting diodes 25a to 25d that display power supply voltages of 200V to 240V, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the microcomputer 16 receives the switch signal from the power supply voltage designating switch 24 and also receives the power supply voltage display section 25.
The display is controlled.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 is a partial control of the control program stored in the microcomputer 16, that is, after the power is turned on, the power supply voltage is designated, the washing operation is started, and the washing operation is performed according to the power supply voltage. It shows the content of partial control until the amount of laundry put in the rotary tub 3 is detected, the optimum water level is set for the detected amount of laundry, and water is supplied up to the set water level. Is.

First, when the power switch is turned on with the power plug (not shown) of the washing machine body inserted in the power outlet, the process proceeds to "YES" in step C1.
It is determined whether the power supply voltage has already been designated (step C2). Here, it is determined whether or not the power supply voltage designation data is stored in the memory (for example, RAM) in the microcomputer 16.

If it is assumed that the power plug has just been inserted into the power outlet, the power supply voltage designation data is not stored, so the process proceeds to "NO" in step C2. Then, the four light emitting diodes 25a to 25d of the power supply voltage display unit 25 are displayed in blinking (step C3).
This prompts the user to specify the power supply voltage. After this,
The power supply voltage is designated by operating the power supply voltage designation switch 24 (steps C4 and C5).

Specifically, when the power supply voltage designating switch 24 is pressed once, the light emitting diode 25a of the power supply voltage display section 25 is turned on to specify 200V as the power supply voltage, and the power supply voltage designating data of 200V is stored. It Hereinafter, each time the power supply voltage designating switch 24 is pressed, the light emitting diodes 25b to 25d of the power supply voltage display unit 25 are switched and lighted in order from the top, and 220V to 2 as the power supply voltage.
40V is designated, and the power supply voltage designation data of 220V to 240V is switched and stored. When the power supply voltage designating switch 24 is further operated after the light emitting diode 25d indicating 240V is turned on, the light emitting diode 25a indicating 200V is turned on, and the above-described processing is repeated. .

After that, after the laundry is put into the rotary tub 3 and the sensor course is set (step C6), when the start switch is turned on, the process proceeds to "YES" at step C7, and the rotary tub is rotated. Water supply to the inside of 3 (water receiving tank 2) is started (step C8). Here, water is supplied up to a predetermined water level for detecting the amount of laundry. continue,
The motor 5 is energized to rotate the agitator 4, and the load sensor 18 detects the motor load (step C).
9).

Then, the stored power supply voltage designating data is read (step C10), and based on the read power supply voltage designating data, that is, the designated power supply voltage, data for laundry amount judgment (for example, stored in advance). Data for 200 V) is corrected and stored so as to correspond to each designated power supply voltage (step C11).

Thereafter, the amount of laundry put into the rotary tub 3 is determined based on the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 (step C12). In this case, the laundry amount determination is performed using the laundry amount determination data corrected according to the power supply voltage as described above. Then, optimum washing conditions (water level, washing time, water flow intensity, etc.) are set for the determined laundry amount (step C13), and after the water is supplied to the set water level (step C14), the process returns to the main routine (not shown). After that, the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process are sequentially performed.

Therefore, also in the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment. still,
After inserting the power plug into the power outlet, when performing the second and subsequent washing operations, the power voltage specification data is 1
Since it is stored in the washing operation for the second time, the process proceeds to "YES" in step C2. In this case, the light emitting diodes 25a to 25d of the power supply voltage display unit 25 are configured to be turned on based on the stored power supply voltage designation data. That is, when performing the second and subsequent washing operations, the operation of designating the power supply voltage is unnecessary.

In the second embodiment, the laundry amount determination data is corrected in accordance with the designated power supply voltage, but instead of this, the load amount sensor and the microcomputer are arranged. A configuration may be adopted in which the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 is corrected according to the designated power supply voltage by switchingly connecting a plurality of provided correction resistors.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention, and a portion different from the second embodiment will be described (note that the configuration of the portion not explained is the same as that of the second embodiment). Is the same configuration). First, in FIG. 8, at the right end of the operation panel 23, a power supply voltage changeover switch 26, which is a power supply voltage designating means, is provided. As shown in FIG. 9, this power supply voltage changeover switch 26 has a common contact c connected to the load amount sensor 18 and four changeover contacts a,
b, d, and e are connected to the microcomputer 16 via the correction resistors 27 to 30, respectively.

The correction resistors 27 to 30 are resistors for correcting the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the load amount sensor 18 so as to correspond to the power supply voltage 200V to 240V, respectively. The power supply voltage changeover switch 26
Is rotated to fit the 200V scale,
The contact points (c-a) are closed, and in the same manner, when the contact points (c-a) are rotated to match the scales of 220V, 230V, and 240V, the contact points (c-b) are closed. The contact points (c-d) and the contact points (c-e) are closed. In this case, the power supply voltage changeover switch 26 and the correction resistors 27 to 30 constitute the correction means 31.

In the third embodiment described above, the power supply voltage may be specified by rotating the power supply voltage changeover switch 26 in accordance with the power supply voltage at the installation location before the washing operation. As a result, also in the third embodiment, it is possible to obtain substantially the same operational effects as those of the first and second embodiments.

[0042]

Since the present invention is as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

In the washing machine according to the first aspect, the laundry amount determination data of the laundry amount determination means or the motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detection means is generated according to the detection signal from the power supply voltage detection means. Since it is configured to automatically correct the output level of, it is possible to commonly use one model for export destinations with different power supply voltages, and it is possible to reduce the number of models to be manufactured. The model management can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the washing machine according to the second aspect, the power supply voltage designating means for manually designating the power supply voltage is provided, and the laundry quantity judging data of the laundry quantity judging means is provided in accordance with the designating operation by the power supply voltage designating means. Alternatively, since the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detecting means is corrected, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as the washing machine according to the first aspect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Vertical side view of the entire washing machine

FIG. 3 Flow chart

[Fig. 4] Flow chart

FIG. 5 is a top view of an operation panel showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram.

FIG. 7: Flow chart

FIG. 8 is a top view of an operation panel showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial electric circuit diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an outer box, 2 is a water receiving tank, 3 is a rotating tank, 4 is a stirrer, 5 is a motor, 15 is various switches, 16 is a microcomputer (laundry amount determination means, correction means), 17 is a power supply voltage detection circuit ( Power supply voltage detecting means), 18 is a load amount sensor (motor load amount detecting means), 23 is an operation panel, 24 is a power supply voltage designating switch (power supply voltage designating means), 25 is a power supply voltage display section, and 26 is a power supply voltage changeover switch. (Power supply voltage designation means), 27 to 30 are correction resistors, and 31 is a correction means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A motor for rotationally driving an agitator in a tank, and a motor load amount detecting means for detecting a load amount acting on the motor. A motor load amount detecting signal from the motor load amount detecting means is provided. In a washing machine provided with a laundry amount judging means for judging the amount of laundry put into the tub based on a power source voltage detecting means for detecting a power source voltage, and a detection signal from the power source voltage detecting means, A washing machine, comprising: laundry amount determination data of the laundry amount determination means, or correction means for correcting an output level of a motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detection means. 2. A motor for rotating and driving an agitator in a tank, and a motor load amount detecting means for detecting a load amount acting on the motor. A motor load amount detecting signal from the motor load amount detecting means is provided. A washing machine comprising a laundry amount determining means for determining the amount of laundry put into the tub based on a power source voltage designating means for manually designating a power source voltage and a power source voltage designating means The washing machine is provided with a laundry amount determination data of the laundry amount determination means or a correction means for correcting the output level of the motor load amount detection signal from the motor load amount detection means.