JPS61263487A - Cloth amount detector of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine that detects the amount of cloth by detecting the variation in motor current that occurs when the cloth hits an agitating blade. be.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, the amount of clothes in a washing machine has generally been determined based on the user's experience and intuition. A technique for automatic detection is also known, but this detects by the magnitude of the amplitude of the fluctuation of the motor current caused by the contact of the cloth with the stirring blade.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, if the amount of cloth to be washed is determined based on the user's experience and intuition, the amount of water and detergent cannot be set appropriately due to an error in the judgment. There were times when cloth damage and detergent were wasted. In addition, in the method of determining the amount of cloth by detecting the amplitude of the fluctuation of the motor current, even if the amount of cloth is the same, the magnitude of the amplitude of the motor current is different for different types of cloth (for example, cotton and synthetic fibers). There was a problem in that the amount was judged to be too large for cloth and too small for synthetic fiber cloth (Figure 4).

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device that detects the amount of cloth regardless of the type of cloth.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a stirring blade, a motor for driving the stirring blade, a motor current detection means for detecting the current of the motor, and a specific frequency of this current. It is composed of a filter that extracts only the components, a cloth amount determining means based on the output thereof, a water supply means operated by the output, a motor control means for the motor, and a water level detection means.

Effects According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the amount of cloth can be detected with high accuracy by utilizing the fact that the variation in the motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade is proportional to the amount of cloth regardless of the type of cloth.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a stirring blade driven by a motor 2, which is located at the inner bottom of the washing tub.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a motor current detection means for detecting the current of the motor 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a filter, which removes the frequency components of the commercial power source and extracts only the fluctuations in the motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1, that is, the specific frequency components. Therefore, in this embodiment, the passband of the filter 4 is defined as the frequency (Kx n ) /eo (Hz) where the number of blades of the stirring blade 1 is 1 and the rotational speed of the stirring blade 1 is n (rpm). is set as the center value (for example, if the number of blades of stirring blade 1 is set to 180 (rpm), frequency = (6X18
0)/60==18Hz).

This makes it possible to reliably extract the variation in motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1. Further, 6 is a cloth amount determining means, and in this embodiment, the filter 4
a level detection means 5a that detects the amplitude of the output pulse that has passed through the , and a pulse counter 5 that counts the pulse.
b, a motor lock detection means 6C that outputs a signal to the determination means 5q\-- when the output of the pulse counter 5b is 0, an integration means 6d that integrates the output of the pulse counter 6b, and a level detection means 5a. A first comparing means 6e compares the output with a predetermined value and outputs a signal to the determining means 6q when the output exceeds the predetermined value, and a first comparison means 6e compares the output of the integrating means 6d with the predetermined value and outputs a signal to the judgment means 6q when the output exceeds the predetermined value. In the sixth case, the second comparing means 6f outputs a signal to the determining means 6q. The determination means 6q operates the water supply means 8 to supply water to the washing tub 9 when a signal is output from any one of the first comparison means 6e, the second comparison means 5f, and the motor lock detection means 6C. Further, when the water level detection means 7 detects that the water level has reached a predetermined water level, the judgment means 5q stops the water supply and starts the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 via the motor control means 6. It is what drives it.

Note that a linear function relationship as shown in FIG. 3 holds between the pulse integrated value of the integrating means 6d and the amount of cloth. Therefore, the amount of cloth can be determined by counting the integrated value of the pulses.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. A cloth 10 is put into a washing tub 9 at the time of starting washing at Sl. In S2, the water supply means 8 starts supplying water. In S3, the water level is detected by the water level detection means 7. If the water level is less than the low water level, water supply is continued, and if the water level reaches the low water level, the process advances to S4 and the water supply is stopped via the water supply means 8. In S6, the determination means 6q operates the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 for a certain period of time via the motor control means 6, so that the cloth 10 is well adapted to the water. In S6, the stirring blade 1 connected to the motor 2 via the motor control means 6 is operated. In S7,
Detecting the remoter current by the motor current detection means 3,
The filter 4 extracts only the variation in motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade 1, and outputs it to the level detection means 6a and pulse counter 6b for 2 seconds.

The level detection means 6a detects the peak value of the output of the filter 4, and the pulse counter 5b counts the output of the filter 4. In S8, the motor 2 is stopped via the motor control means 6. In S9, if the count value counted by the pulse counter 6b is o pulse, that is, motor lock occurs, the process proceeds to 813, and if it is not 0, the process proceeds to S10. In S1o, if the peak value detected by the level detection means 5a is 5V or less, 813
If it is less than 6v, the process advances to S10. S11
Now, the output of the pulse counter 6b is integrated by the integrating means 5d. In 812, the operations from S6 to 811 are
The process is repeated several times, and when the process is completed, the process advances to S1s. In step 813, if the integrated value of the integrating means 6d is less than 90 pulses, it is determined that the amount of cloth is extremely small (the amount of cloth is 0.5 to less) and the process proceeds to the next washing process. If it is 90 pulses or more, the process proceeds to S14. S1
4 to 816 supply water until the water level becomes low. 817
to 823 are as explained in S6 to 812. At 324, the integrated value of the integrating means 6d is 10.
If the pulse is less than 0, the cloth is small (cloth amount o, sKf~
1. OKy) and proceed to the next washing process.

825 to 827 supply water until the water level reaches inside. 8
Steps 28 to S34 are as described in steps S6 to 812. In S32, if the integrated value of the integrating means 6d is less than 120 pulses, the cloth is medium (cloth amount 1.OKf~2
．． 0K9) and proceed to the next washing process. If it is 120 or more, the cloth is large (the amount of cloth is 2, 0 kg to 3
, 0Ky), water is supplied to the high water level at 538 to Saa, and the process proceeds to the next washing process.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of cloth can be detected with high accuracy with an extremely simple configuration, and the washing water level, washing time, driving cycle of the stirring blade, etc. can be appropriately determined. Cleaning performance can be improved. Sixth, if the water level at the time of judgment is too low for the amount of cloth, the cloth is stirred for a very short time and the water level is immediately raised to judge the amount of cloth, so there is less damage to the cloth and the cloth is well stirred. Therefore, detection accuracy is improved. Furthermore, since the passband of the filter is determined by the number of blades and rotation speed of the stirring blade, the effects of noise etc. are eliminated.
Only the variation in motor current caused by the cloth hitting the stirring blade can be extracted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of cloth and the integrated value of pulses, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amplitude of motor current fluctuation and the amount of cloth in a conventional example. 1... Stirring blade, 2... Motor, 3.
... Motor current detection means, 4 ... Filter, 6 ... Cloth amount determination means, 6 ...
Motor control means, 7...Water level detection means, 8.
...Water supply means, 9...Washing tub, 10...
····cloth. Figure 2 Figure 3 1 quantity (K7)

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A stirring blade at the bottom of the washing tub, a motor that drives this stirring blade, a motor current detection means that detects the current of this motor, a filter that extracts only a specific frequency component of this current, and a filter that extracts only a specific frequency component of this current. A cloth amount detection device for a washing machine, comprising a cloth amount determining means for determining the amount of cloth, and the output thereof drives a water supply means and a motor control means. (2) The passband of the filter is centered at (k×n)/6O (Hz), where K is the number of blades of the stirring blade and n (rpm) is the rotational speed of the stirring blade.Claim 1 Cloth amount detection device for the washing machine described. (3) The cloth amount determining means includes a level detecting means, a first comparing means for comparing its output with a predetermined level, a pulse counter, an integrating means for integrating the output, and an integrating means for integrating the output of the integrating means. 2. The cloth amount detection device for a washing machine according to claim 1, comprising a second comparing means for comparing the value with the value, a motor lock detecting means that operates when the output of the pulse counter is O, and a determining means.