JPH0728981B2 - Washing machine laundry detection method and device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting laundry in a fully automatic washing machine, and more particularly, to automatically detect the water level and the course by recognizing the weight of laundry through a weight sensor device connected to an agitator. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting laundry in a washing machine, which is adapted to be adjusted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a technical configuration of a conventional fully automatic washing machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the power of the motor (10) is transmitted to the agitator (1) in the outer cylinder (5) through the buoy belt (V-belt) (11) and the clutch device (9). During dehydration, the drain magnet (6) operates to pull the clutch lever (7), and the clutch in the clutch device (9) is powered by the dehydration side shaft (12) connected to the dehydration tub and washing tub (16). Is transmitted to rotate and progress dehydration. At the time of washing, the drain magnet (6) is turned off, the clutch lever (7) is returned again (to the left side in the drawing) by the force of the spring, and the clutch boss (8) is fixed. )
Is fixed, and only the washing side shaft (13) is operated and the agitator (1) is rotated to proceed with washing.

Reference numeral 17 is an automatic fluid balancer. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a conventional washing machine having the above technical configuration. In FIG. 2, the microcomputer (100) includes a display unit (110), a key circuit unit (120), a buzzer driving unit (130), an interrupt circuit unit (140), an oscillation circuit unit (150), a reset circuit unit (160), The load drive circuit unit (170) and the power supply unit (180) are connected, and the pressure sensor (190) and the rotation sensor (200) are connected. The display unit (110) is a circuit that informs the user of the state information of various washing machines such as washing time, dehydration and rinsing through a light emitting diode (LED) and a segment.
The interrupt circuit section (140) is a common frequency (50/6
0 (Hz)) is a circuit for recognizing a zero point and used for time calculation and the like. The oscillation circuit section (150) is a circuit for supplying a clock to the microcomputer (100) and a reset circuit section (160). Is a microcomputer (10
0) is a circuit for providing a reset signal to super-evaporate, the pressure sensor (190) detects the water level, and the rotation sensor (200) detects the amount of laundry. Here, S1 is a safety switch. The operation state of the above technical configuration will be described below.

First, when the laundry is put into the dehydration tub and the washing tub (16) and the operation is started, the washing machine supplies water to the minimum water level by the microcomputer (100) and then the agitator (1)
Rotate for a second to select the water level of the laundry using the frictional force between the agitator (1) and the cloth (laundry). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the clutch pulley (1
The magnet (19) attached to 8) calculates how to cut the induction coil (20) attached to the clutch housing for 13 seconds to detect the amount of laundry and change the water level. At this time, if the amount of laundry is large, the number of times that the magnetic flux (φ) of the magnet (19) is cut is small, so select at a high water level and strongly select the washing course. ) Is more frequent than high water level, so select medium water level and change the washing course to standard.If the amount of laundry is small, select more low frequency because it cuts more often. select.

[0005] Then the transistor (Q4) operates and the microcomputer (10
0) terminal (PO2), the microcomputer (10
0) recognizes this signal and controls the load drive circuit unit (170). Pressure sensor (190) that senses the water level at this time
As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure of the air room (21) generated by the water level of the washing tub (16) is transmitted to the diaphragm (23) through the rubber hose (22), and the coil (L).
Reactance value (L) by moving the iron core (24) of 1)
(Because the low water surface pressure is small, the coil (L
Since the iron core movement in 1) is small, the reactance value is small, and when the pressure is large, the movement is large and the reactance value is large. Oscillation frequency (f) of the LC oscillation circuit composed of the coil (L1) and the capacitors (C1 to C3) When input to the terminal (INT1) of the icon (100), the microcomputer (100) recognizes the water level.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 25 denotes a spring, which acts to restore the iron core (24) moved upward by pressure.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional fully automatic washing machine, when the laundry sensing device is a rotation sensor (200), a magnet (19) and a coil () are provided on the clutch pulley (18) and the cooler housing. 20) is difficult to attach, and the change in electromotive force is not constant, so there is a drawback that precise adjustment is difficult.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The technical structure of a method and apparatus for detecting a laundry in a washing machine according to the present invention designed to eliminate the above problems will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 5 is a structural view of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, the primary drive shaft (2 ′) of the stirrer (1) is formed of an iron core material that can change the reactance property well, and the secondary drive shaft (15)
The reactance (L) of the sensor coil (4) is changed by moving up and down inside. The stirrer (1) is configured to have a large radius (R) to receive the weight of the laundry and increase the washing efficiency, and the reactance (L) can be largely changed by magnetic induction. The primary drive shaft (2 ') configured as above is connected to the agitator secondary drive shaft (15) by the springs (14, 14'). In the case of washing, the primary drive shaft (2 ') and the secondary drive shaft (15) are connected to the washing side shaft (1) of the clutch (9).
3) The power is transmitted by the stirrer (1) and the stirrer fixed holder (2) connected to the stirrer (1) receives the force and rotates the stirrer (1). In the case of spin-drying, the fixed shaft outer case (3) is connected to the washing tub (16) and receives power from the spin-drying shaft (12) of the clutch (9) to rotate the washing tub (16) for spin-drying. proceed. The dewatering side shaft (12) is rotated when the clutch magnet (7) is moved to the left by the force of the spring (14) and the clutch boss (8) is fixed when the drain magnet (6) is not supplied with power. First, power is supplied to the magnet (6) and the clutch lever (7) is driven by electromagnetic force.
Will rotate to the right and will rotate if the clutch boss (8) is not fixed. At this time, the secondary drive shaft (15) and the fixed shaft outer case (3) are made of a hard and flexible plastic material, and the washing side shaft (1) at the time of washing or dehydration.
3) or the dehydration side shaft (12) to receive sufficient power so that it will not be damaged even if it is used for a long period of time.
The magnetizing force between the secondary drive shaft (2 ') and the sensor coil (4) should not be disturbed.

Further, the sensor coil (4) is designed in a circular shape (in FIG. 5, the sensor coil is a cross-sectional view of a circular pattern viewed from the side). The power of the motor (10) is buoy belt (1
1) transmitted to the clutch (9). The shape of the primary drive shaft (2 '), the stirrer fixing holder (2) and the secondary drive shaft (15) is determined by the washing side shaft (13) as shown in FIG. ) Is installed so that it does not come into contact with () (friction does not occur during rotation), and the elastic coefficient of the spring (14) is adjusted to "500 g to 1 kg" so that the change width is constant depending on the capacity of the laundry.

Therefore, the primary drive shaft (2 ') moves up and down in the secondary drive shaft (15) depending on the amount of laundry,
As shown in FIG. 7, the reactance of the sensor coil (4) is changed by the oscillation unit (210) including the resistors (R1 to R4), the capacitors (C1 to C3), the transistor (Q1), and the sensor coil (4). Let by this Input to INT1). That is, the method and apparatus for detecting laundry in the washing machine according to the present invention uses the oscillating unit 210 instead of the conventional pressure sensor and rotation sensor, and operates according to the flow chart shown in FIG. The effects will be described in detail below.

First, in FIG. 5, when the laundry is put into the washing tub (16) in the outer cylinder (15) and the washing machine is operated to proceed with the washing, the agitator (1) receives a force depending on the weight of the laundry. Is added. At this time, the stirrer (1) and the primary drive shaft (2 ') move downward by a force proportional to the weight of the laundry to change the reactance (L) of the sensor coil (4). As a result, in FIG. 7, the oscillator (210) inputs the oscillation frequency (f) due to the reactance (L) change of the sensor coil (4) to the microcomputer (100) (INT1).
Then, the microcomputer (100) recognizes the change width of the oscillation frequency (f) due to the change of the reactance (L) and senses the amount of laundry. After that, the water supply is started and the course is selected according to the recognized laundry amount. As the water supply progresses, the increased change in water pressure is applied to the agitator (1), the reactance (L) changes depending on the width of this change, and the oscillation frequency (f) due to the change in the reactance (L) changes to the microcomputer (10).
0) recognizes and controls the amount of water supply.

When the water supply is completed, the washing is started, and when the washing is completed, the rinsing and the dehydration are started. At the time of dehydration, the microcomputer (100) operates the magnet (6) through the load drive circuit (170) to pull the clutch lever (7) to the right to progress drainage and separate it from the clutch boss (8). The dewatering-side shaft (12) rotates at the same time, and the dewatering-side shaft (12) rotates, so that the washing tub (that is, dewatering tub) (16) connected thereto rotates to perform dewatering.

[0013]

Therefore, the method and apparatus for detecting laundry in the washing machine according to the present invention can control the amount and level of laundry using a weight sensor (oscillation circuit) instead of the pressure sensor and the rotation sensor. It has an effect that it can be constructed at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a conventional fully automatic washing machine.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a conventional fully automatic washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of the rotation sensor of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional structural view of a conventional pressure sensor.

FIG. 5 is a structural view of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a connection state diagram of the primary drive shaft and the secondary drive shaft in the structure of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an operating state according to the laundry detection method of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Stirrer 2'Stirrer primary drive shaft 4 Sensor coil 9 Clutch device 10 Motor 13 Washing side shaft 14 Spring 15 Stirrer secondary drive shaft 100 Microcomputer 210 Oscillator

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A stirrer (1) for supplying power of a motor (10) through a clutch (9) and a washing side shaft (13).
A spring (14) is installed between the secondary drive shaft (15) and the primary drive shaft (2 ') that are transmitted to the primary drive shaft (2') to increase the amount of laundry and the pressure increase due to water supply. The reactance (L) of the oscillating part (210) is changed by the primary drive shaft (2 ') which is transmitted and received through the stirrer (1) and moves up and down.
The oscillating frequency (f) due to the change of the water temperature is recognized by the microcomputer (100) to recognize the laundry capacity during washing and the increase in water pressure due to water supply during water supply to adjust the water supply amount. Laundry detection device. 2. The oscillator (210) according to claim 1, wherein the primary drive shaft (2 ′) is made of an iron core material.
The secondary drive shaft (15) and the fixed shaft outer case (3) are made of a hard and flexible plastic material so as to change the reactance (L) of the sensor coil (4) and not interfere with the magnetizing force of the sensor coil (4). A laundry detection device for a washing machine, which is characterized by being used. 3. The laundry sensing device for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the spring (14) has an elastic coefficient of 500 g to 1 kg so that a change width thereof is constant according to a capacity of the laundry. 4. The oscillating part (210) according to claim 1, wherein the reactance of the oscillating part (210) is changed by the vertical movement of the primary drive shaft (2 ′), and the oscillating frequency due to the reactance change of the sensor coil (4) ( A laundry sensing device for a washing machine, comprising a transistor (Q1) for generating f), capacitors (C1 to C3) and resistors (R1 to R4). 5. In the washing process, the force received by the stirrer due to the weight of the laundry is recognized in the oscillation frequency (f) due to the change in the reactance of the sensor coil, and the water level is selectively supplied according to the weight of the laundry recognized by the oscillation frequency. The method for detecting laundry in a washing machine is characterized in that the washing process is performed according to the selected course. 6. The oscillating frequency (f) according to claim 5, wherein the combined capacitance (C) of the oscillating portion and the reactance change of the sensor coil are changed. Sensing method.