JPH1015289A - Electric washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely open a drainage valve in the necessary least time to enable to shift to dehydration, by simultaneously rotating a washing and dehydrating tub and a pulsator to make dehydration action after a drainage motor action detecting circuit went into an output condition to show the completion of motion of the drainage motor. SOLUTION: When this washing machine comes into a dehydrating process (S1), a microcomputer recognized this and outputs a drainage motor drive signal to drive the drainage motor (S2). When the drainage motor started to drive, pulses from a transistor are checked (S4) detecting the condition of the drainage motor. When pulse input is detected to be finished, whether there is remained water in the washing and dehydrating tub or not is checked (S5). When remained water went out of existence, dehydration motion is performed (S6) by driving the drive motor to rotate the washing and dehydrating tub together with a pulsator. Since an output to show the completion of the motion to open the drainage valve by the drainage motor is outputted, the drainage valve can securely be opened in the necessary least time to shift to the dehydrating motion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved electric washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electric washing machine, a washing process is generally performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided horizontally rotatable in a water tub, and the dewatering process is performed by draining water from the bottom of the water tub. After the drainage valve in the middle of the path is opened by the drainage motor to drain water, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. Particularly, in the conventional electric washing machine, the flow chart in FIG. As shown, when the dehydration process starts (S1), the drain motor is turned on, and at the same time, a timer is started (S2 to S3), and it is determined whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed (S4). If 10 seconds have elapsed, it is determined that the operation of the drain motor has been completed, and it is next determined whether or not there is residual water (S5).

[0003]

However, in such a conventional electric washing machine, after the drain motor is turned on, dewatering is started after the assumed maximum operation time of the drain motor is maintained. For this reason, even during normal use, a maximum electric and mechanical time such as low voltage and heavy rotation is required as the operation time of the drainage motor. Therefore, the user wasted time.

In addition, since there is no function for detecting a malfunction of a circuit, a drain motor or a clutch mechanism, a circuit failure,
Even when the electric washing machine does not operate normally due to defective wiring (breakage) or the like, the operation is continued, and the user may be exposed to a dangerous state as well as waste of electricity and water.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the drainage motor is opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve is surely opened in a required minimum time, and the operation shifts to the next operation, the dehydration operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric washing machine that can perform the operation.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional electric washing machine,
In the electric washing machine according to the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is a drainage path derived from the bottom of the water tub. The drainage motor is opened by a drainage motor to drain the water, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to execute the operation. The operation state of the drainage motor is detected, and the drainage motor is driven to drive the drainage. When the predetermined operation of opening the valve is completed, a drain motor operation detection circuit that is in an output state indicating the operation is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit is in an output state indicating the completion of the operation of the drain motor. Thereafter, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform a dewatering operation.

According to this configuration, the drainage motor operation detection circuit detects the operating state of the drainage motor, and when the drainage motor is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drainage valve, an output indicating the operation is output. Become like

As a result, the drainage motor can be opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be reliably opened in the required minimum time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, ie, the dehydration operation. Further, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, the circuit can be executed with a very simple configuration.

In the electric washing machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating the pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is led out from the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path is opened by a drainage motor to drain water, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. In this case, the operation state of the drainage motor is detected, and the drainage motor is driven. A drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs an output state when the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is completed is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit outputs an output state indicating the completion of the operation of the drain motor. After that, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dewatering operation, and the drainage motor operation detection circuit discharges when the drainage motor is not driven. Either stop operation when it detects the operation of the motor, or an abnormality is characterized in that so as to notification.

According to this configuration, the drain motor operation detecting circuit detects the operating state of the drain motor, and when the drain motor is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve, an output indicating the operation is output. Become like In addition, when the operation of the drain motor is detected when the drain motor is not driven, the operation is stopped or an abnormality is notified.

As a result, the drainage motor can be opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be reliably opened in the required minimum time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, ie, the dehydration operation. Further, when the operation of the drainage motor is detected while the drainage motor is not driven, the operation is stopped or an abnormality is notified, so that an extremely safe electric washing machine can be provided. Moreover, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, the circuit can be executed with an extremely simple configuration.

In the electric washing machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating the pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is led out from the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path is opened by a drainage motor to drain water, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. In this case, the operation state of the drainage motor is detected, and the drainage motor is driven. When a predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is not completed within a predetermined time after the start, a drain motor operation detection circuit which is in an output state indicating the operation is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit is provided with the drain motor. When the output state indicates that the predetermined operation is not completed within the predetermined time, the power supply to the drain motor is stopped.

According to this configuration, when the drainage motor operation detection circuit enters an output state indicating that the drainage motor has not completed the predetermined operation within the predetermined time, the power supply to the drainage motor is stopped. .

As a result, the drainage motor can be opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be surely opened in the required minimum time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, the dehydration operation. Moreover, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, the circuit can be executed with an extremely simple configuration.

In the electric washing machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating the pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is derived from the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path is opened by a drainage motor to drain water, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. In this case, the operation state of the drainage motor is detected, and the drainage motor is driven. A drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs a pulse when the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is performed is provided in the control circuit, and the interval of the pulse output from the drain motor operation detection circuit is less than a predetermined time. If so, the operation of the drain motor is completed, and the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dewatering operation.

According to this configuration, if the interval between the pulses output from the drainage motor operation detection circuit is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the operation of the drainage motor is completed, and the washing and spinning tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the spinning operation. Will do it. As a result, only by checking the pulse interval, it is possible to check whether or not the drain motor has performed a predetermined operation, that is, whether or not the drain valve has been opened. Moreover, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, the circuit can be executed with an extremely simple configuration.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electric washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electric washing machine embodying the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a washing machine main body, and 2 is a washing and dewatering tub rotatably provided in a water tub (not shown) suspended in the washing machine main body 1 via a vibration isolating mechanism. A pulsator 6 is provided on the bottom surface of the washing and dewatering tub 4. The washing and dewatering tub 2 and the pulsator 6 are vertically rotating through a bottom central portion of the water tub. (Not shown) so that both can rotate simultaneously and only the pulsator 6 can rotate independently.

An upper surface plate 3 having an operation panel 4 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the washing machine main body 1, and a lid 5 is pivotally supported on the rear side to cover the water tank without covering the operation panel 4. It opens and closes. 7 is a drain hose, and 8 is a power cord.

FIG. 2 shows the operation panel 4.
A power key 10 for turning on / off the power, a start key 11 also serving as a pause key, a course key 12 for washing a standard, speed, elaborate and wool washing course, a soaking, washing, rinsing and dehydrating selection. A washing process setting unit 9 having an event key 13, an end reservation key 14 for setting an end time for setting a reservation time, and a water level key 15 for setting a water level, and the contents selected by the washing process setting unit 9. A display unit 16 for displaying is provided.

FIG. 5 shows a drain valve 17 installed in the drain path of the water tank, and a drain motor 1 for driving and controlling the drain valve 17.
FIG. 5 schematically shows the relationship between the brake 8 and the brake / clutch mechanism 19, and FIG. 5A shows a state in which the drain valve 17 is closed. At this time, the brake is ON and the clutch mechanism is OFF. It shows that there is.

In this state, when the drain motor 18 is energized, the wire 20 is pulled in the direction of the drain motor, and the drain valve 17 is opened accordingly to open the drain path and drain the water in the water tank. Also, at this time, the engaging element 21 provided in the middle of the wire 20 is engaged with one end of the clutch lever 22, and the clutch lever 22 is rotated about the fulcrum shaft 23, as shown in FIG. Brake OF as shown
F, turn on the clutch.

When the brake is turned off (released), the washing and dewatering tub 2 and the pulsator 6 are connected, and both are simultaneously rotated by the driving of a drive motor (not shown) to be in a dewatering state.

FIG. 3 shows a control circuit for controlling the drain motor of the electric washing machine according to the present invention.
(Hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 24 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 27, a timer 28, a data write memory (RAM) 29, and a read-only memory (R).
OM) 30 and an input / output port 31 for receiving signals from a power key, a start key, a course key, a water level key, and the like via an input circuit 32, a water level sensor, a laundry capacity detection circuit, a lid switch, and a drainage switch. A signal from a motor operation detection circuit or the like is received via a detection circuit 33, and a course display, a water level display, an end time display, a washing process display, and the like are displayed on a display circuit 3.
4, and a washing motor (not shown), a water supply valve, a drainage motor, and the like are driven through a drive circuit 35.

In the control circuit, the microcomputer 24
When the drive signal of the drain motor 18 is output from the output terminal 25 of the bidirectional thyristor 36, the signal is input to the base terminal of the transistor Q1 to make the transistor Q1 conductive and amplified there. The signal is input to the gate terminal, and the thyristor 36 is turned on.

By the conduction of the thyristor 36, a commercial voltage is applied to the drain motor 18 via the connector 37 and the switch 38. The drain motor 18 is included in a drain motor circuit surrounded by a dotted line in the drawing, and the switch 38 is connected in series. The series circuit of the switch 38 and the drain motor 18 includes a solenoid L1 similarly included in the drain motor circuit. Each of the capacitors C1 is connected in parallel.

When the commercial voltage is applied to the drain motor 18 as described above, the drain motor 18 rotates,
When the operation is completed, the switch 38 is opened via a cam mechanism (not shown) as shown in FIG.

The diode D1 in the drain motor circuit,
The solenoid L1 and the capacitor C1 rectify the power supply voltage by half-wave and use it for maintaining the state when the drain motor 18 has completed its operation. The operating state of the drain motor is limited by the diode D2 to limit the current, and the transistor Q2 , And is input to the microcomputer 24 from the input terminal 26.

FIG. 6 shows a state where the drain motor 18 is energized and operating as shown in FIG.
1, the solenoid L1 and the capacitor C1 are functioning), (a) shows the waveform of the power supply 40, (b)
3 shows the waveform at the point P in the circuit of FIG. 3, and (c) shows the waveform of the signal at the point P, which is shaped by the transistor Q2 and input to the microcomputer 24 from the input terminal 26.

Here, the reason why the intermediate waveform in FIG. 6 has a shape as shown in FIG. 6B will be described. When the drain motor circuit (load) surrounded by a dotted line is connected to the connector 37 in the forward direction as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16A, a voltage V is generated across the resistor R1 in proportion to the current I flowing through the load. In the case where only the motor 18 is used as the load, the state becomes as shown in FIG. 16B. At this time, the phase of the motor current is delayed as compared with the power supply voltage (voltage of the power supply 40).

Therefore, the voltage at the point (A) in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17B, the phase is delayed with respect to the power supply voltage shown in FIG. Next, as a load as shown in FIG.
In the case of only the coil L1 and the capacitor C1, the current in the (α) direction in the figure flows due to the action of the diode D1,
No current flows in the (β) direction. At this time,
The voltage at the point (A) is as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 (b)
The intermediate voltage waveform shown in (a) is a composite of (b) and (c) in FIG. 16 described above, and shows a waveform in which the positive portion is cut by the action of the diode D2 in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows that the operation of the drain motor 18 is completed (the switch 38 is turned off, the diode D1 and the solenoid L are turned off).
1 and the capacitor C1 are functioning), or a waveform diagram when the wiring to the drain motor 18 is broken.
0, the waveform at point P in the circuit of FIG.
(C) shows the waveform of the signal input to the microcomputer 24. As can be seen from this figure, when the drain motor stops, no output appears at the intermediate point P as seen in the intermediate waveform (b).

As is clear from the above description, in the control circuit of FIG. 3, in particular, the bidirectional thyristor 36, the switch 38, the diode D1, the solenoid L1, the capacitor C1, the diode D2 and the transistor Q2 are connected to a cam mechanism (not shown). In cooperation, the operation state of the drainage motor 18 is detected, and when the drainage motor 18 is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drainage valve 17, an output state indicating the completion thereof (the output of the pulse is deactivated). And a drainage motor operation detection circuit.

The electric washing machine of the present invention is constructed as described above, and its operation will now be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the dehydrating step according to the first embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration, and the electric washing machine is operated in a series of washing steps or based on a user's special setting. In the dehydration step (S1), the microcomputer 24 recognizes that the dehydration step has been started, and outputs a drainage motor drive signal to the output terminal 25, and outputs this signal via the transistor Q1, the bidirectional thyristor 36 and the switch 38. To the drain motor 18 to drive the drain motor 18 (S2).

When the drive of the drain motor 18 is started, the state of the drain motor 18 is detected (S3) while the pulse from the transistor Q2 (input waveform (c) in FIG. 6).
(S4). If a pulse is detected in step S4, step S3
S4 is repeated.

When the absence of the pulse input is detected, the presence or absence of residual water in the washing and dewatering tub 2 is checked (S5). The pulsator 6 is rotated to execute a dehydration operation (S6). When the dehydration is completed, the next step (S7)
Step forward to. Here, the next step includes a rinsing step or notification of an end sound.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control state of the drain motor at the start of operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration. When the operation is started (S
1) First, the microcomputer 24 checks whether a pulse has not been input to the input terminal 26 through the diode Q2, that is, whether the drain motor 18 is OFF (S2, S).
3).

If the drainage motor 18 is in the ON state (the state in which a pulse is input), a circuit failure has occurred, and immediately an abnormality notification (sound notification, etc.) is made and the operation is stopped (S4).
Normally, since the drain motor 18 is not turned on, no abnormality of the drain motor is detected, and the process proceeds to the next step (S5).

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration.
It is a flowchart figure which shows the control state of the drainage motor at the time of the dehydration process concerning 3rd Embodiment. When the electric washing machine enters the spin-drying step (S1) in a series of washing steps or based on a user's special setting, the microcomputer 24 recognizes that the spin-drying step has been started, and outputs a drain motor to the output terminal 25. A drive signal is output and supplied to the drain motor 18 via the transistor Q1, the bidirectional thyristor 36 and the switch 38 to drive the drain motor 18 (S2).

At the same time, the timer 28 is started to measure the time from the start (ON) of the operation of the drain motor 18 (S3). If the completion of the operation of the drain motor is not detected even after 15 seconds from the ON of the drain motor 18 (the output of the pulse is continued: S4), it is determined that the drain motor 18 is in the mechanically restrained state. An abnormality notification is performed through (S6).

If the completion of the operation of the drainage motor 18 is detected in steps S5 and S7, and if the time from the turning on of the drainage motor 18 is within 5 seconds, it is abnormal because the state of occurrence of a defect such as insufficient wiring or disconnection of the wire has occurred. A notification is issued and the operation is stopped (S8, S10). In this example, the permissible time during which no abnormality is detected is 5 seconds <t ≦ 15 seconds.
Dewatering operation is performed by N, and the process proceeds to the next step such as rinsing (S
9, S11).

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a dehydration step according to the embodiment. In this embodiment, the drainage motor 18 is determined based on whether the pulse interval is 5 ms in step S4.
The operation is completely the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart for detecting the state of the drain motor 18 at a different timing with respect to the cycle of the power supply voltage in the embodiment of FIG. ), The time is divided (t ₁ ) by a built-in timer. In this example, the operation state (c) of the drain motor 18 is detected twice at the timings D and E within one power supply cycle. I have.

As can be seen from comparison with the waveform of FIG. 6, when there is no waveform (High) in the portion D, the drain motor 18
It can be detected that there is an insufficiency (disconnection) in the wiring, and if there is no waveform (High) in the portion E, it indicates that the operation of the drainage motor 18 is completed.

FIG. 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a dehydration step according to the third embodiment. Steps S1 to S3 in this embodiment are the same as those in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In step 4, it is checked whether or not there is residual water in the water tank via the water level sensor and the detecting circuit 33. If there is no residual water, the pulse interval is detected by the detecting means in step S5 (S6 to S8). Is determined, or whether pulse detection (S9 to S11) is performed.

If the pulse interval is "0" in step S6, the detection is changed to pulse presence detection, and the flow advances to step S9 to determine whether or not a pulse exists even after 15 seconds have elapsed. If a pulse still exists, change to pulse interval detection. In steps S8 and S11, the detecting means is stored for the next time. This is used for the determination in S5 at the next dehydration.

FIG. 14 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention based on the above configuration.
It is a flowchart figure explaining operation | movement of the spin-drying | dehydration process concerning 5th Embodiment, This embodiment is fundamentally the same as said 5th Embodiment, What differs is that after 5th Embodiment after step S7 in 5th Embodiment. And step S8 for storing that the detecting means has detected the pulse interval.
In contrast to step S11 in which the post-detection means of step 10 stores that the presence or absence of the pulse has been detected, in the present embodiment, as shown in step S8 and step S12, step S8 for turning off the bath water LED or step S8. Bath water LE
In step S9, which stores that the detection means has detected the pulse interval via step S12 of D blinking,
Further, the process shifts to step S13 for storing that the detection means has detected the presence or absence of the pulse.

In FIG. 3, when a pair of terminals of the drain motor circuit surrounded by a dotted line are connected to the connector 37 in a manner opposite to that shown in the figure, the connection is made in the reverse direction, and the waveform diagrams corresponding to FIGS. FIG. This is because the voltage waveform at the point (A) corresponding to the load is shown in FIG. 20 corresponding to FIG. In this case, FIG.
The action of the diode D2 is applied to the waveform obtained by combining the waveforms (b) and (c), resulting in the intermediate waveform (b) in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the microcomputer 24 detects the state of the drainage motor 18 at a plurality of timings (D) and (E) with respect to the cycle of the power supply waveform,
The intermediate waveform shown in each (b) of FIGS. 18 and 19 may be taken into the microcomputer 24 and detected without forming the intermediate waveform (accordingly, removing the transistor Q2). In this case, the microcomputer 24 does not check the input interval but checks the input level to determine the state.

For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the detection level is set to 2 V or 4 V, and the state is determined based on whether the input at timings D and E is lower than the level. Now, if the input is lower than the set level, it is set to H, and the other is set to L. In the case of FIG.
It becomes H and it is determined that the operation is in progress. FIG.
In (b), timings D and E become H and L, and it is determined that the operation is completed. Both D and E are L, L, OF
It is determined that the time is F.

[0052]

As described above, in the electric washing machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating the pulsator in the washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub. Detects the operating state of the drainage motor in the case where the drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path derived from the bottom of the water tank is opened by a drainage motor to drain water, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. When the drain motor is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve, a drain motor operation detection circuit that is in an output state indicating the operation is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit is provided with the drain motor. After the output state indicates the completion of the operation, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dewatering operation.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the drainage motor operation detecting circuit detects the operating state of the drainage motor, and when the drainage motor is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drainage valve, an output indicating the operation is output. As a result, the drainage motor can perform a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be reliably opened in the minimum necessary time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, ie, the dehydration operation. Also, the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is
Since it is provided in the control circuit, it can be executed with a very simple circuit configuration.

In the electric washing machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is performed at the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path derived from the drainage motor is opened by a drainage motor and drained, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. When the predetermined operation of driving and opening the drain valve is completed, a drain motor operation detecting circuit which is in an output state indicating the operation is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detecting circuit indicates the completion of the operation of the drain motor. After the output state, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dewatering operation, and the drainage motor operation detection circuit is configured to operate when the drainage motor is not driven. Either stop operation when it detects the operation of the drain motor, or a configuration which is adapted to notify the abnormality.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a circuit failure can be detected, and the safety is excellent. In the present invention, the drain motor operation detection circuit detects the operation state of the drain motor,
When the drain motor is driven to complete the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve, an output indicating the operation is output.
In addition, when the operation of the drain motor is detected when the drain motor is not driven, the operation is stopped or an abnormality is notified.

As a result, the drainage motor can be opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be reliably opened in the required minimum time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, ie, the dehydration operation. Further, when the operation of the drainage motor is detected while the drainage motor is not driven, the operation is stopped or an abnormality is notified, so that an extremely safe electric washing machine can be provided. Moreover, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, the circuit can be executed with an extremely simple configuration.

In the electric washing machine according to a third aspect of the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is performed at the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path derived from the drainage motor is opened by a drainage motor and drained, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. When the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is not completed within a predetermined time after the start of driving, a drain motor operation detection circuit that is in an output state indicating the drain motor operation detection circuit is provided in the control circuit. When the output state indicates that the drainage motor does not complete the predetermined operation within the predetermined time, the power supply to the drainage motor is stopped.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the drain motor operation detecting circuit enters an output state indicating that the drain motor does not complete the predetermined operation within the predetermined time, the power supply to the drain motor is stopped. Therefore, the drainage motor can be opened in a predetermined operation, that is, the drainage valve can be reliably opened in the required minimum time, and the operation can be shifted to the next operation, that is, the dehydration operation.
Moreover, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, it is possible to provide an electric washing machine that can be executed with a very simple circuit configuration. Further, the operation can be stopped in the case of a circuit failure, a mechanical failure, a defective wiring, etc., so that safety is excellent and useless operation can be avoided.

In the electric washing machine according to the present invention, the washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in the water tub, and the dewatering step is performed at the bottom of the water tub. The drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path derived from the drainage motor is opened by a drainage motor and drained, and then the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated and executed. A drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs a pulse when driving and performing a predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is provided in the control circuit,
If the interval between the pulses output by the drain motor operation detection circuit is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the operation of the drain motor is completed, and the spin-drying tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the spin operation.

According to the present invention, if the interval between the pulses output from the drainage motor operation detection circuit is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the operation of the drainage motor is determined to be complete. The operation, that is, whether the drain valve has been opened or not can be checked.

Further, since the circuit for detecting the operation state of the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, it can be executed with an extremely simple circuit configuration. Further, the operation can be stopped in the case of a circuit failure, a mechanical failure, a defective wiring, etc., so that safety is excellent and useless operation can be avoided. Further, since the failure is determined to be a failure, the user is not bothered, and the serviceability is improved. The invention of claim 5 has the same effect as the invention of claim 4.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a top panel of the electric washing machine main body.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram showing a drain motor control circuit of the electric washing machine according to the present invention.

4 is a block electric circuit diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer provided in the drain motor control circuit of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing an operation relationship among a drain motor, a drain valve, and a clutch mechanism of the electric washing machine of the present invention.

6 is a timing chart showing output waveforms of various parts of the drain motor control circuit shown in FIG. 3 when the drain motor is operating.

7 is a timing chart showing output waveforms of various parts of the drain motor control circuit of FIG. 3 when the operation of the drain motor is completed.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the first embodiment in the electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the second embodiment in the electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a flowchart provided for describing the operation of the third embodiment in the electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electric washing machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a timing chart in the case of detecting the state of the drain motor at a different timing with respect to the cycle of the power supply voltage in the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment in the electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment in the electric washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a flowchart provided for explaining the operation of the conventional electric washing machine.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory waveform diagram thereof.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory waveform diagram.

FIG. 19 is also an explanatory waveform diagram.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory waveform diagram.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory waveform diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine main body 2 Washing and dewatering tub 6 Pulsator 17 Drain valve 18 Drain motor 20 Wire 24 Microcomputer 25 Output terminal 26 Input terminal

Claims (5)

[Claims] The washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided horizontally rotatable in a water tub,
The dewatering step is performed by opening a drain valve in the middle of a drain path derived from the bottom of the water tank with a drain motor to perform draining, and then simultaneously rotating the washing and dewatering tank and the pulsator to execute the operation. When the drain motor is driven and the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is completed, a drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs an output state is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit detects An electric washing machine characterized in that the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform a dewatering operation after an output state indicating the completion of the operation of the drain motor. 2. The washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in a water tub.
The dewatering step is performed by opening a drain valve in the middle of a drain path derived from the bottom of the water tank with a drain motor to perform draining, and then simultaneously rotating the washing and dewatering tank and the pulsator to execute the operation. When the drain motor is driven and the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is completed, a drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs an output state is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detection circuit detects After the output state indicating the completion of the operation of the drainage motor, the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dehydration operation, and the drainage motor operation detection circuit operates in a state where the drainage motor is not driven. An electric washing machine characterized in that when the operation of a drain motor is detected, the operation is stopped or an abnormality is notified. 3. The washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in a water tub,
The dewatering step is performed by opening a drain valve in the middle of a drain path derived from the bottom of the water tank with a drain motor to perform draining, and then simultaneously rotating the washing and dewatering tank and the pulsator to execute the operation. When the drain motor starts driving and does not complete the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve within a predetermined time, a drain motor operation detection circuit that is in an output state indicating the drain motor is provided in the control circuit, When the drain motor operation detection circuit is in an output state indicating that the drain motor does not complete a predetermined operation within a predetermined time,
An electric washing machine characterized in that current supply to a drain motor is stopped. 4. The washing step is performed by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided rotatably in a water tub.
The dewatering step is performed by opening a drain valve in the middle of a drain path derived from the bottom of the water tank with a drain motor to perform draining, and then simultaneously rotating the washing and dewatering tank and the pulsator to execute the operation. And a drain motor operation detecting circuit for outputting a pulse when the drain motor is driven to perform the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is provided in the control circuit, and the drain motor operation detecting circuit outputs the pulse. An electric washing machine wherein the operation of the drainage motor is completed when the pulse interval is equal to or less than a predetermined time, and the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are simultaneously rotated to perform the dewatering operation. 5. The washing step is carried out by rotating a pulsator in a washing and dewatering tub provided horizontally rotatable in a water tub,
The dewatering step is performed by rotating the washing / dewatering tub and the pulsator simultaneously after opening the drainage valve in the middle of the drainage path derived from the bottom of the water tank with a drainage motor to perform drainage, and the drainage motor is driven. A drain motor operation detection circuit that outputs a voltage waveform when the predetermined operation of opening the drain valve is performed is provided in the control circuit, and the detection of the output of the drain motor operation detection circuit is performed at a different timing with respect to the power supply cycle. An electric washing machine characterized in that the operation state of the drain motor is detected by performing the operation multiple times.