JPS5830078B2 - How to control an electric washing machine - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a washing machine, and more specifically, to automatic setting of the amount of water for washing, and by supplying additional water according to the average value of the current flowing through the motor for stirring the items to be washed. To provide a washing machine which washes and rinses with an appropriate amount of water according to the load on the cloth, does not damage the cloth, and has a large water-saving effect.

In conventional electric washing machines, the water flow setting is determined by the user supplying water according to the cloth load, and in automatic washing machines, the water level is set by the user operating the water level setting switch. There are methods in which water is automatically supplied to the water level according to the switch, and in either case, the user determines the amount of water to wash.

For this reason, depending on the user's handling, the washing may not be done with the optimal amount of water. If the amount of water is low, not only will the washing not be done enough, but the time the cloth will be in direct contact with the pulsator will be reduced. This caused the fabric to become longer and cause damage to the fabric.

Also, when the amount of water is too large, washing is not done sufficiently, resulting in water loss.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and embodiments thereof will be described below based on the drawings.

In the figure, 1 is a washing tank, 2 is a pulsator for stirring the items to be washed, and is driven by a motor 3.

4 is a water supply valve for supplying water to the washing tank 1, and is controlled on/off by a water supply valve control section 5.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a current detection section of the motor 3, which detects the current flowing through the motor 3.

The current level of this detected current is determined by the level determination section 7, and the water supply valve control section 5 operates based on this current level to adjust the amount of water supply.

Reference numeral 8 represents a water amount detection unit that detects the amount of water supplied to the washing tank 1, and reference numeral 9 represents a motor control unit that controls the motor 3.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained next.

When the washing start switch (not shown) is turned on, the water supply valve 4 is activated, and when water is supplied to the lowest water level for washing, the water amount detection section 8 activates the water supply valve control section 5, and the water supply valve 4 is turned off. The water supply will be stopped.

When water is supplied to the lowest water level, the motor is driven for a certain period of time.

The motor current at this time is detected by the motor current detector 6, and the level determiner 7 determines whether the current level of the motor 3 is below a predetermined current value.

At this time, if the amount of water is small compared to the cloth load, the cloth comes into contact with the pulsator 2, so the load on the motor 3 becomes large, and as a result, the motor current becomes large.

Therefore, if the motor current is below a predetermined level, washing is performed with the same amount of water for washing, and when it is above a predetermined level, the motor 3 is stopped, the water supply valve control unit 5 is driven, and the water supply valve 4 is turned on. state, add the specified amount of water,
Drive the motor 3 again for a certain period of time, determine the current level,
Continue washing or supply additional water, check the motor current level again, and repeat the above operation.

When additional water is repeatedly supplied and the amount of water in the washing tank 1 reaches the maximum water amount, washing continues regardless of the level of the motor current.

At this time, if the motor current value is higher than a predetermined level even though the amount of water is at its maximum, it is possible to notify with a buzzer or the like.

In addition, by installing a power supply voltage compensation circuit so that fluctuations in the power supply voltage are detected and the motor current judgment level changes according to the power supply voltage, operation with the appropriate amount of water is always possible without being affected by power supply voltage fluctuations. It becomes possible.

In addition, as described above, it is possible to wash the clothes with the appropriate amount of water, so by detecting the amount of water, it is possible to determine the amount of cloth, and the strength of stirring the items to be washed can be changed depending on the amount of water. This makes it possible to appropriately control the intensity of the amount of water used for washing.

In other words, when the water level is low, the machine is operated with a weak water flow, and as the water level rises, the water flow strength is increased, thereby making it possible to wash the items with the proper water flow without damaging the items to be washed and not wanting to wash them.

In addition, by controlling the dehydration time according to the amount of water when washing, it is possible to dehydrate in a short time when the amount of cloth is small, and in a long time as the amount of cloth increases, ensuring proper dehydration. can be done.

As described above, according to the present invention, since washing can be performed with an appropriate amount of water, there is no wastage of water, and washing can be performed with less damage to the cloth, and it is also possible to wash with an appropriate water flow.

It also has the advantage that the dehydration time can be adjusted depending on the amount of cloth.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a block diagram showing a control system of an electric washing machine in an embodiment of the present invention. 1...washing<tank, 2...pulsator,
3... Motor 4... Water supply valve, 5.
...Water supply failure control section, 6...Motor current detection section, T...Level judgment section, 8...
・Water amount detection unit, 9...Motor control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A motor for stirring the items to be washed, a control unit for driving this motor, a current detection unit for detecting the average value of the current flowing through the motor over a certain period of time, and a level of the average value of the detected current. a water supply valve for supplying water to the washing tub; a water amount detection section for detecting the amount of water in the washing tub; and a water supply valve turning on for driving the water supply valve. - off control means, which drives the motor after supplying water to the lowest water level to be washed, determines the average current level of the motor, and stops the motor when the average current level is higher than a predetermined level, and according to the average current level. A method for controlling an electric washing machine that repeatedly supplies water to a predetermined water level, drives the motor again, performs the washing process, and judges the current level.