JPH1057677A - Washing item setting method for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing item setting method for a washing machine in which a user-friendly control panel is obtained by reducing the number of switches to eliminate the complexity of the control panel and by which control boards are miniatured and cost is reduced. SOLUTION: In a washing machine in which washing items such as water level, washing time, rinsing frequency, dewatering time can be set as desired, one select switch 20 to select setting items and a change switch 21 to change select items are provided, respectively, and a setting item is selected according to the number of times the select switch 20 is pressed and selected items are changed according to the number of times the change switch 21 is pressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for setting washing contents of a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a fully automatic washing machine, a washing and dewatering tub 2 provided with a stirring blade 1 is rotatably disposed in an outer tub 3 as shown in FIG. 4 and reduction mechanism 5
Is installed, from the bottom of the outer tank 3, the water guide section 6 is started up,
A water level sensor 7 is provided at the tip thereof, and a drain valve 8 is provided in a drain pipe opened at the bottom of the outer tank 3.

An operation unit for setting washing contents is provided on a top cover or the like of the washing machine. As shown in a control block diagram of FIG. 6, the motor 4 is provided on the input side of a control device 9 using a microcomputer or the like. A pulse signal from a pulse generator 10 provided, and a lid / unbalance switch 1 for detecting an imbalance state when the lid is opened / closed or dehydrated.
1, an actuator signal from a drain valve 8, an on / off signal from a power switch 12, an input signal from various key switches 13 provided on an operation unit, an on / off signal from a water supply valve 14, water supply for a finishing agent. An on / off signal from the valve 15 and a water level signal from the water level sensor 7 are input.

Further, a control signal from the control device 9 is output to a display 16 for displaying the contents of washing, an oscillation circuit 17, a reset circuit 18, a buzzer 19, and the motor 4.

In such a washing machine, water level, washing time,
The washing contents such as the number of times of rinsing and dehydration time may be set in advance according to the assumed contents such as "standard", "saving", "jeans", etc. It is also possible to set.

Conventionally, as a configuration of an operation switch for performing such setting by the user, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a water level switch 30, a washing switch 31, a rinsing switch 32, Dehydration switch 3
3 as well as displaying the water level and water amount for each setting item, such as “High 58L”, “Medium 52L”, “Low 45L”,
Indication 34 such as "small 38L" and "extremely small 25L"; indication 35 such as "14 minutes", "10 minutes", "8 minutes" and "5 minutes" indicating washing time; "3 times" and "3 minutes" indicating the number of rinses Twice "
Indication 36 such as "once" and dehydration time "7 minutes"
An indication 37 such as "5 minutes" or "3 minutes" is provided, and these indications 34 to 37 are based on LED lamps.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8. When washing in a set course, the course switch 38 is pressed, and courses such as "standard", "saving", and "jeans" are sequentially selected according to the number of times of washing. [Steps (a) and (b)].

On the other hand, in order for the user to arbitrarily set the washing content for each item, the water level is set by pressing the water level switch 30 and the display corresponding to the desired one of the five water levels set. The 34 LED lamps are turned on [step (c) (d)]. The washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time are set in the same manner by pressing the corresponding switches 31 to 34 to turn on the LED lamps of the display 35 to 37 of the desired set value among the plurality of lamps [step (e). ) To (nu)). And finally, start switch 3
Press 9 [Step (L)].

[0009]

A switch is provided for each setting item such as a water level, a washing time, a number of times of rinsing, and a dehydration time. Therefore, the number of switches is increased, the operation surface of the operation panel is complicated, and where the switch is located. It was difficult to understand if there was, and it was not convenient.

In addition, the size of the control board must be increased in proportion to the number of switches, resulting in an increase in cost.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the conventional example, reduce the number of switches, and eliminate the complexity of the operation panel.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for setting washing contents of a washing machine, which is easy to use, can reduce the size of a control board, and can be inexpensive.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention firstly sets a washing machine in which setting items of washing contents such as water level, washing time, number of rinses, dehydration time and the like can be arbitrarily set. By providing one selection switch for selecting an item and a change switch for changing the setting content, selecting a setting item according to the number of times the selection switch is pressed, and changing the setting content according to the number of times the change switch is pressed,
Setting items are selected with a selection switch, and the number of setting switches provided for each item is reduced to one, thereby eliminating the complexity of the operation panel.

Further, since the setting contents can be finely set by the change switch, the setting values are not limited to the setting values displayed on the operation panel as in the related art, but can be set closer to the desired setting values.

Second, there is one change switch for all the setting items, and the setting value is circulated in a predetermined range to increase or decrease according to the number of times the change switch is pressed, so that the setting switch can be set. Only two switches are needed.

Third, the change switch is constituted by an increase switch and a decrease switch, and the set value is circulated within a predetermined range according to the number of times the increase / decrease switch is pressed, thereby increasing or decreasing the set value. Are three in total, but by setting different switches for increasing and decreasing the set value from the currently displayed value, a desired set value can be set in a short time.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an operation unit of a washing machine in which a first embodiment of a washing content setting method according to the present invention is performed. Since the entire configuration of the washing machine is as already described with reference to FIG. Description is omitted.

In the present invention, as the switches for arbitrarily setting the washing contents provided on the operation unit, one selection switch 20 for selecting a setting item and one change switch 21 for changing the setting contents are provided. A display unit 23 for displaying the set values of the contents set by the selection switch 20 and the change switch 21 is provided.

The display unit 25 includes a display 22 for pressing the selection switch 20 to arbitrarily set washing contents, a water level display 22a by lighting an LED lamp or the like for displaying the selected setting item, a display 22b for washing time, and a rinse. A display 22c for the number of times, a display 22d for the dehydration time, and a display unit 23 for displaying a set value set by the change switch 21 are provided. A display 24 to be displayed is provided.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user arbitrarily sets the contents for each setting item such as the spin-drying time and performs washing, first press the selection switch 20 once [(Step (W) (F) (Y)]) to set the automatic course. In this case, the "automatic" display 24 when the automatic course is selected is turned on.

If the selection switch 20 is further pressed and pressed twice in total, the lamp of the water level display 22a is lit to indicate that the water level setting item has been selected [(step (t)).
(Re)]. Then, since the set value of the water level at the time of the previous washing is displayed on the display unit 23, looking at this, if the user wants to change the set value, he presses the change switch 21. Since the set value sequentially increases, for example, in units of 3 liters, the change switch 21 is pressed until the desired numerical value is reached.

After the desired water level is set in this way, the selection switch 20 is pressed once more once again for a total of three.
When the button is pressed twice, the lamp of the washing time display 22b is turned on to indicate that the setting item of the washing time has been selected ((step (S) (T))).

Then, since the set value of the washing time at the time of the previous washing is displayed on the display unit 23, the user can see this and press the change switch 21 to change the set value.
Each time the button is pressed, the setting value displayed here changes from 1 to 1, for example.
Since the value is sequentially increased in one-minute units during six minutes, the change switch 21 is pressed until the desired numerical value is reached. After pushing to the value of 16 minutes, it returns to 0 minutes and increases by 1 minute from here.

The number of times of rinsing can be set once more by pressing the selection switch 20 a total of four times, and the dehydration time can be set by one more time, by pressing the selection switch 20 a total of five times [(step (n)). (N) (a) (m)], when selected, the corresponding displays 22c and 22d are turned on.

The change of the set value of the number of rinses and the dehydration time is also performed by the number of times the change switch 21 is pressed in the same manner as in the case of the water level and the washing time. In this case, the number of times of rinsing is increased by one unit from the previous number displayed between 0 and 3 times, for example, and the dehydration time is increased by 1 minute between 0 and 7 minutes.

As described above, one selection switch 20
The user selects each setting item of the water level, the washing time, the number of rinses, and the dehydration time, and changes the setting value of the setting item selected by one change switch 21. Therefore, only one switch is required to select a setting item, and the number of switches provided on the operation unit can be reduced, and the operation board can be reduced. If there are no other items to be set after the change, the start switch 39 is pressed [Step (c)], and the process proceeds to the next step to start selection.

Further, since the set values may be set in the control device, as described above, for example, the washing time and the dehydrating time can be set in units of 1 minute, and the amount of water can be set in units of 3 liters. Can be set according to the wishes of the person.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation unit of the washing machine in which the second embodiment is implemented. In the first embodiment, when the set value is changed, the change is performed by only one change switch 21.
The numerical value is sequentially increased within the range of the set value, and when the numerical value is increased to the maximum value, the method returns to the minimum value and increases again from here. However, in the second embodiment, a change switch for changing is shown in FIG. As described above, the increase switch 26 and the decrease switch 27 are provided. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The operation of selecting the water level, the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the dehydration time from among the setting items by the selection switch 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Omitted.

When the user wants to change the set value after selecting a setting item with the selection switch 20 and wants to increase the value from the value currently displayed on the display unit 23, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Press 26 to add the set value one step at a time within the setting range [(Step (No), (Y)]. For example, in the case of the washing time, the displayed set value is 10 minutes, and the desired washing time is 11 minutes. In this case, the increase switch 26 is pressed once to set it to 11 minutes.

Conversely, if it is desired to decrease the set value currently displayed on the display section 2, the decrease switch 27 is pressed to decrement the set value by one step within the set range [(step (e)). (G)] For example, in the case of the washing time, when the displayed set value is 10 minutes and the desired washing time is 9 minutes, the decrease switch 27 is pressed once to set it to 9 minutes.

Thus, either the increase switch 26 or the decrease switch 27 is selected based on the currently displayed set value, and the numerical value can be increased or decreased. In this case, the number of times the switch is operated until the desired set value is reached can be reduced as compared with the case of (1).

[0032]

As described above, the method for setting the washing contents of the washing machine according to the present invention comprises firstly the water level, the washing time, the number of times of rinsing,
In a washing machine capable of arbitrarily setting a setting item of a washing content such as a spin-drying time, a selection switch for selecting a setting item and a change switch for changing the setting content are provided, and the setting item is set according to the number of times the selection switch is pressed. By selecting and changing the setting content according to the number of times the change switch is pressed, the setting items are selected by the selection switch, and the number of setting switches provided for each item is reduced to one. The complexity can be eliminated.

Further, since the setting contents can be finely set by the change switch, the setting values are not limited to the setting values displayed on the operation panel as in the related art, but can be set closer to the desired setting values.

Second, there is one change switch for all the setting items, and the setting value is circulated in a predetermined range to increase or decrease according to the number of times the change switch is pressed, so that the setting switch is set. Only two switches are needed.

Third, the change switch is constituted by an increase switch and a decrease switch, and the set value is circulated within a predetermined range according to the number of times the increase / decrease switch is pressed, thereby increasing or decreasing the set value. Is a total of three, but by increasing and decreasing the set value from the currently displayed value, the number of switches to be pressed before reaching the desired set value can be reduced by changing the switch, and the desired value can be reduced in a short time. Can be set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an operation unit in which a first embodiment of a washing content setting method for a washing machine according to the present invention is performed.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment of the washing content setting method of the washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation unit in which a second embodiment of a washing content setting method for a washing machine according to the present invention is performed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a second embodiment of a washing content setting method for a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view of the washing machine.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an operation unit of a conventional washing machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of a conventional washing content setting method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Stirrer blade 2 ... Washing and dewatering tub 3 ... Outer tub 4 ... Motor 5 ... Deceleration mechanism 6 ... Water guide part 7 ... Water level sensor 8 ... Drain valve 9 ... Control device 10 ... Pulse generator 11 ... Lid / unbalance switch 12 ... Power switch 13 ... Input key 14 ... Water supply valve 15 ... Water supply valve for finish agent 16 ... Display 17 ... Oscillation circuit 18 ... Reset circuit 19 ... Buzzer 20 ... Selection switch 21 ... Change switch 22,22a, 22b, 22c, 22d ... Display 23 ... Display 24 ... Display 25 ... Display 26 ... Increase switch 27 ... Decrease switch 30 ... Water level switch 31 ... Wash switch 32 ... Rinse switch 33 ... Dehydration switch 34,35,36,37 ... Display 38 ... Coarse switch 39 Start switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideyo Uchida 1-1-1 Yamate, Funabashi-shi, Chiba

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A washing machine capable of arbitrarily setting items such as water level, washing time, number of rinses, dehydration time, etc. in a washing machine, one selection switch for selecting a setting item and a change switch for changing the setting content. A setting item is selected according to the number of times the selection switch is pressed, and the setting content is changed according to the number of times the change switch is pressed. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein one change switch is provided for all setting items, and the set value is circulated within a predetermined range to increase or decrease according to the number of times the change switch is pressed. The washing content setting method of the described washing machine. 3. A change switch comprising an increase switch and a decrease switch, wherein a set value is circulated within a predetermined range according to the number of times the increase / decrease switch is pressed to increase or decrease, respectively. 1. The washing content setting method of the washing machine according to 1.