JPH0824471A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To satisfactorily dissolve a detergent to improve washing effect. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit 34 opens a first feed valve 25 to feed water and detergent. Before the detected water level by a level sensor 19 reaches a prescribed level (for example, 'high' level), a motor 4 is intermittently driven to intermittently drive a stirrer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a detergent charging means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a washing machine,
After the water has been supplied to the set water level and the detergent has been introduced into the tank by the detergent introducing means, the washing step for driving the stirring body provided inside the vessel is executed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional ones, the detergent put in the tub is often placed on the laundry and is often not soluble in water. Even if the detergent is poured into the water in the tank, it dissolves in water very slowly. For this reason, even if the washing process is started, the detergent is not dissolved in water at the beginning, the effect of the washing effect is delayed, and as a result, the washing time becomes long.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to be able to satisfactorily dissolve the detergent at the start of the washing process, to improve the washing effect, It is to provide a washing machine that can contribute to the reduction of time.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first means is a stirring body provided inside a tank, a water supply means for supplying water into the tank, a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the tank, and a detergent for the tank. Detergent charging means to be supplied into the inside, and control so as to drive the stirring body before the water level detected by the water level detecting means reaches a predetermined water level during water supply by the water supply means, and before starting the driving of the stirring body or And a control means for controlling the detergent feeding means so as to feed the detergent into the tank during driving (the invention of claim 1).

A second means is the same as the first means, wherein the laundry amount determining means and the water level for setting the water supply water level to one of a plurality of predetermined water levels in accordance with the determination result of the laundry amount determining means. Setting means is provided, and the control means controls the drive of the stirring body and the detergent feeding means under the condition that the water level set by the water level setting means is the highest water level. (Invention of Claim 2).

A third means is provided with a water level setting means for setting the water supply water level to one of a plurality of predetermined water levels in the first means, and the control means uses the water level setting means for setting the water level. The present invention is characterized in that the drive control of the agitator is started from the water level lower by one or more steps (the invention of claim 3).

According to a fourth means, in the first means, the control means intermittently drives the stirring body and sets the intermittent driving cycle shorter than the intermittent driving cycle of the stirring body during the washing process. It has a feature (the invention of claim 4).

[0009]

In the first means, the control means drives and controls the stirring body before the water level detected by the water level detection means reaches a predetermined water level when water is supplied by the water supply means, and before or during the driving of the stirring body. Since the detergent charging means is controlled so that the detergent is charged into the tank, the detergent is charged until the inside of the tank reaches a predetermined water level, and the stirring body is driven to stir and dissolve the water. As a result, in the washing process executed at the predetermined water level, the washing effect is improved from the beginning, which contributes to shortening the washing time.

In the second means, the control means, on the condition that the water level set by the water level setting means is the highest water level, in other words, in the laundry quantity determination result, it is determined that the laundry quantity is large. Since the drive control of the stirrer and the control of the detergent charging means are performed under the conditions, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the degree of dissolution of the detergent. That is, when the amount of laundry is large, the laundry and water do not move well when the agitator is driven, and the detergent does not melt well. However, in the second means, when the water level is set to the highest water level according to the determination result of the laundry amount determination means, the above-mentioned drive control of the stirring body and control of the detergent charging means are performed. Therefore, it becomes possible to favorably dissolve the detergent.

In the third means, the control means starts the drive control of the agitator from a water level lower by one or more steps than the water level set by the water level setting means, so that the control can be reliably performed before reaching the set water level. Let the detergent stir to dissolve.

In the fourth means, the control means intermittently drives the stirring body and sets the intermittent driving cycle to be shorter than the intermittent driving cycle of the stirring body during the washing stroke, so that the water level is low. Even if agitated, the detergent can be dissolved without causing damage to the cloth.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a vertical section of the washing machine. In FIG. 2, a water receiving tank 3 elastically supported by a plurality of suspension mechanisms 2 is provided in an outer box 1.
A motor 4 and a transmission mechanism 5 are attached below the water receiving tank 3, and the rotational force of the motor 4 is transmitted to the transmission mechanism 5 via a pulley 6. This transmission mechanism 5 has a first shaft 7a and a cylindrical second shaft 7b that surrounds the first shaft 7a, and transfers the rotational force of the motor 4 to the first and second shafts 7a. , 7b. The stirring body 8 is attached to the first shaft 7a. In this case, the transmission mechanism 5 is the transmission mechanism switching device 5
It is controlled to be switched between the washing mode and the dehydration mode by a. In the washing mode, the rotational force of the motor 4 is decelerated and transmitted to the first shaft 7a to rotationally drive the agitator 8 and dehydration. In the mode, the rotational force of the motor 4 is directly transmitted to the first and second shafts 7a and 7b to rotate at high speed.

A rotary tank 9 is arranged in the water receiving tank 3, and the bottom surface of the rotary tank 9 is fixed to the second shaft 7b through a mounting member 10. The side wall of the rotary tank 9 is formed in a tapered shape whose diameter becomes larger toward the upper part, and a plurality of holes 11 are formed in the uppermost part of the side wall. A balance ring 12 is attached to the upper part of the rotary tank 9. An inner basket 13 is fixed in the rotary tank 9. The inner basket 13 is made of stainless steel and has a large number of holes (not shown) formed in its side wall.

Here, a drainage space 14 that is watertightly separated from the bottom surface of the water receiving tank 3 is formed around the second shaft 7b of the transmission mechanism 5. The drainage space 14 communicates with the inside of the rotary tank 9 through a hole 10a formed in the mounting member 10 and a hole 9a formed in the bottom surface of the rotary tank 9, and the drainage port 1
It communicates with 5. The drain port 15 is connected to a drain hose 17 via a drain valve 16. An air trap 18 is formed in communication with the drain port 15, and a water level sensor 19 (see FIG. 1) is provided as a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the rotary tank 9 according to the air pressure of the air trap 18. Has been.

A drain port 20 is formed on the bottom surface of the water receiving tank 3, and the drain port 20 is directly connected to the drain hose 17 without the drain valve 16. With the above configuration, when water is supplied to the rotary tub 9 with the drain valve 16 closed, water can be stored in the rotary tub 9 and stored in the rotary tub 9 by opening the drain valve 16. The water that has been drained can be drained to the drain hose 17 through the drain port 15. Further, the water drained into the water receiving tank 3 can be directly drained to the drain hose 17 through the drain port 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the washing machine. In FIG. 3, an upper cover 21 is attached to the upper part of the outer box 1, and an opening 22 of the upper cover 21 is closed by a lid 23. In addition, the upper cover 21
An operation panel 24 is provided in the.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the washing machine with the upper cover 21 broken. In FIG. 4, a water supply valve device 27 including a first water supply valve 25 as a water supply means and a second water supply valve 26 for introducing a finishing agent is provided inside the upper cover 21, and a water supply case is provided. 28 is provided. A pouring case 29 is rotatably provided inside the water injection case 28. The turning-on of the charging case 29 changes between the state shown in FIG. 3 and the state shown in FIG.

The input case 29 has a detergent storage section 30.
The bleaching agent storage section 31 and the finishing agent storage section 32 are formed as partitions, and the detergent, the bleaching agent and the finishing agent can be stored in the respective storage sections 30, 31 and 32 in the state of FIG. 5 described above. Has become. Then, the water discharged from the first water supply valve 25 reaches the detergent storage section 30 and the bleaching agent storage section 31 through the connection hose 25a and the first water injection section 28a of the water injection case 28, and this detergent storage section From 30 and the bleaching agent storage part 31, it flows in into the rotary tank 9 from the water outlet 28b in the lower part of the water injection case 28. In this case, when the detergent is stored in the detergent storage section 30, the detergent is stored in the first water supply valve 2 described above.
It is poured into the rotary tank 9 by water supply from 5. Thus, the first water supply valve 25 and the detergent storage section 30 constitute the detergent feeding means 33. Therefore, the first water supply valve 2
Reference numeral 5 serves as both the water supply means and a part of the detergent feeding means described above.

The second water supply valve 26 is driven at the time of adding the finishing agent, and the water discharged from the second water supply valve 26 is the second one of the connecting hose 26a and the water injection case 28.
After reaching the finishing agent storage section 32 through the water pouring section 28 c, the water pouring case 2 together with the finishing agent stored in the finishing agent storage section 32.
8 flows into the rotary tank 9 from the water outlet 28b at the bottom.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an electrical configuration.
In FIG. 1, the control circuit 34 is configured to include a microcomputer and an A / D converter, which is provided with a signal indicating the operation state of each switch of the operation panel 24 and from the water level sensor 19. The water level detection signal of is supplied. This control circuit 34
Appropriately drives the motor 4, the first and second water supply valves 25 and 26, the drain valve 16, and the transmission mechanism switching device 5a through the drive circuit 35 in accordance with the operation course set by the operation panel 24, while the operation panel 24 A buzzer 37 is driven while displaying on a display unit 36 provided in the. The control circuit 34 functions as a control unit, a laundry amount detecting unit, and a water level setting unit.

Now, the control contents of the control circuit 34 will be described with reference to FIG. The control content of FIG. 8 is, for example, when the “standard” course is selected from the laundry operation courses. Then, when the start switch is operated in a state where the detergent is stored in the detergent storage unit 30 in advance and the laundry is stored in the rotary tub 9, first, as shown in step S1, the laundry amount determination operation is performed. To do. That is, the motor 4 is energized for a certain period of time to rotate the stirring body 8 and the change state of the rotation is detected to determine the load laundry amount.

Next, in step S2, the water level in the washing process is set based on the result of the laundry amount determination.
In this case, a plurality of water levels are set in advance as water levels to be set, that is, as shown in FIG. 6, there are three types of “high”, “medium”, and “low” from the highest. One of them is selected and set. After that, in step S3, the set water level is "high", which is the highest water level.
Judge whether it is the water level or not. Then, when the water level is "high", as shown in step S4, the first water supply valve 25 is opened to start water supply in the rotary tank 9 and to add detergent.

Then, in step S5, the water level sensor 1
It is determined whether or not the water level detected by 9 reaches the "medium" water level, which is one level lower than the "high" water level, and if it reaches, the timing of the motor 4 shown in FIG. 7 is set as shown in step S6. Forward rotation (0.6 seconds), pause (0.5 seconds)
The stirring member 8 is intermittently driven for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) by controlling so as to rotate in the reverse direction (0.6 seconds). In addition, the intermittent drive mode of the stirring body 8 in the washing process is a normal rotation (1.2
Seconds) ・ Pause (0.7 seconds) ・ Reverse rotation (1.2 seconds).

After that, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is determined whether or not the set water level has been reached. When the set water level is reached, the process proceeds to step S8, the first water supply valve 25 is closed, and the water supply is completed. After that, the process proceeds to the washing process control.

When it is determined that the water level set in step S3 is not the "high" water level, steps S4 to S6 are not executed and step S4 is executed.
9, the first water supply valve 25 is opened, and water supply and detergent injection are executed. After this, the process proceeds to step S7.

According to this embodiment as described above, the agitator 8 is supplied before the water level detected by the water level sensor 19 reaches a predetermined water level (for example, "high" water level among the set water levels) during water supply.
Since the detergent is preliminarily put into the rotary tank 9 before the driving of the stirring body 8 is started, the detergent is thrown in until the inside of the rotary tank 9 reaches a predetermined water level. 8
Is driven to dissolve with stirring with water. As a result, the washing effect is improved from the beginning in the washing process executed at the predetermined water level, which can contribute to the reduction of the washing time.

In particular, according to this embodiment, on condition that the set water level is the "high" water level, which is the highest water level,
In other words, since the drive control of the agitator 8 and the detergent input control are performed on the condition that the laundry amount determination result indicates that the laundry amount is large, it is possible to eliminate a decrease in the degree of dissolution of the detergent. That is, when the amount of laundry is large, the movement of the laundry and water is poor when the agitator 8 is driven, and the degree of dissolution of the detergent is poor as compared with the case where the amount of laundry is not large. However, in the present embodiment, when the water level is set to the “high” water level according to the laundry amount determination result, the drive control of the agitator 8 and the detergent injection control described above are performed. Can be satisfactorily dissolved, which can contribute to shortening the washing time.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drive control of the stirring body 8 is started from a water level one step lower than the set water level, so that the detergent can be surely stirred and dissolved before the set water level is reached. Further, according to the present embodiment, the stirring member 8
Is intermittently driven and the intermittent driving cycle is set to be shorter than the intermittent driving cycle of the stirring body 8 during the washing process, so that the detergent can be dissolved without causing cloth damage even if the stirring is performed while the water level is low. .

9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. Detergent charging means 41 shown in FIG.
Has a screw member (not shown) on the inner bottom of the detergent storage container 42, and the detergent is put into the tank by rotating the screw member by a motor. Further, in this embodiment, the detergent supply timing is determined by supplying water (step G) as can be seen from step G3 in the flowchart of FIG.
Regardless of 5), it is said to be before this.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may be modified as follows. The detergent may be charged during the driving of the agitator instead of before the driving. Furthermore, the drive start time of the agitator is not at the time when the set water level is one step lower than the set water level, but the set water level is 3 steps (“high”, “medium”, “low”).
In the case where there are more stages than that (for example, in the case of FIG. 11 shown as the third embodiment of the present invention), it may be a time point when the water level reaches a plurality of stages lower than the set water level. Also,
The water level is not limited to being set according to the laundry amount determination result, but may be set by, for example, a manual switch or the like.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can obtain the following effects. According to the invention of claim 1, the control means drives and controls the stirring body before the water level detected by the water level detection means reaches a predetermined water level during water supply by the water supply means, and before or during the driving of the stirring body. Since the detergent feeding means is controlled so as to put the detergent into the tank, the detergent can be dissolved until the inside of the tank reaches the predetermined water level, and as a result, the washing process is performed from the beginning in the washing process executed at the predetermined water level. The effect is enhanced, which can contribute to shortening the washing time.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the control means controls the drive of the agitator and the detergent feeding means when the water level is set to the highest water level according to the result of the laundry amount determination means. As a result, the detergent can be satisfactorily dissolved when it is predicted that the degree of dissolution of the detergent will be poor.

According to the invention of claim 3, the control means starts the drive control of the stirring body from a water level lower by one or more steps than the water level set by the water level setting means. Make sure that the detergent can be stirred and dissolved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means intermittently drives the stirring body and sets the intermittent driving cycle to be shorter than the intermittent driving cycle of the stirring body during the washing process. Even if it is agitated, the detergent can be dissolved without damaging the cloth.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

[Figure 2] Vertical side view of the washing machine

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a washing machine

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway plan view.

5 is a perspective view of a washing machine in which the turning state of the loading case is different from that in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a tank for indicating a predetermined water level.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a driving state of a motor.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing control contents.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a detergent charging means portion showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing control contents.

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 is a motor, 8 is an agitator, 9 is a rotary tank, 19 is a water level sensor (water level detection means), 25 is a first water supply valve (water supply means), 26 is a second water supply valve, 29 is a charging case, 30 Is a detergent storage unit, 33 is a detergent charging means, 34 is a control circuit (control means, laundry amount determination means, water level setting means), 41 is a detergent charging means, and 42 is a detergent storage container.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An agitator provided inside the tank, a water supply means for supplying water into the tank, a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the tank, and a detergent charging means for supplying detergent into the tank, When water is supplied by the water supply means, the stirring body is controlled to be driven before the water level detected by the water level detection means reaches a predetermined water level, and the detergent is put into the tank before or during the driving of the stirring body. And a control means for controlling the detergent charging means. 2. A laundry amount determining means, and a water level setting means for setting the water supply water level to one of a plurality of predetermined water levels according to the determination result of the laundry amount determining means, the control means comprising: 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein drive control of the stirring body and control of the detergent feeding means are performed under the condition that the water level set by the water level setting means is the highest water level. 3. A water level setting means for setting the water supply water level to one of a plurality of predetermined water levels is provided, and the control means is
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive control of the agitator is started from a water level lower by one or more steps than the water level set by the water level setting means. 4. The control means drives the stirrer intermittently and sets the intermittent drive cycle shorter than the intermittent drive cycle of the stirrer during the washing process.
The described washing machine.