JPS62127099A - 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 [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a washing machine that automatically determines the amount of laundry and sets the amount of water supplied into the washing tub.

[Technical Background of the Invention] Conventionally, in a washing machine equipped with, for example, a water level switch to control the supply of water into the washing tub, the washing water level can be adjusted to three levels, for example, high, medium, and low, using the water level switch. It is configured so that settings can be operated.

When water is supplied, the user determines the amount of laundry to be washed and operates a water level switch to set the washing water level.

[Problems with the Background Art] However, there are many users of the above-mentioned washing machines who are not familiar with washing, and such persons operate the water level switch based on the wrong judgment based on the amount of washing they are washing. The washing water level is often set at an inappropriate level for the amount of items to be washed, resulting in excessive water supply resulting in wasted water and detergent, and insufficient water supply resulting in insufficient washing and fabric damage.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and therefore, its purpose is to enable the user to accurately judge the amount of laundry regardless of the user's own amount, and to always keep the amount of laundry in check. To provide a washing machine capable of supplying water to an appropriate water level depending on the amount of washing.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention focuses on the fact that when a predetermined amount of water is supplied into a washing tub containing laundry, the water level becomes extra high by an amount corresponding to the size of the laundry, and the present invention aims to reduce the flow rate of water supplied into the washing tub. and a water level measuring device that measures the water level of the water stored in the washing tub, and based on the water supply flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring device into the washing tub in which laundry is accommodated. The amount of laundry is determined by measuring the level of the water stored in the washing tub with the water level measuring device when a predetermined amount of water is supplied, and the amount of water corresponding to the amount of laundry is dispensed into the laundry tub. This feature is characterized in that additional water is supplied into the washing tub.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a two-tub washing machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 2 showing the overall configuration, 1 is an outer box of a two-tub washing machine. Inside this outer box 1, a washing tub 2 and a dehydration tub 3 are installed. The inner bottom of the washing tub 2 has a motor. A pulsator 5 driven by the dehydrator 4 is provided, and a dehydrator 6 is rotatably provided inside the dehydrator tank 3.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an outer box 1, (1) provided at the rear of the -L end of the outer box 1, and inside this, a water supply channel 8 leading to the washing tub 2 and a water supply channel 9 leading to the dehydration Ai 6 are arranged. These two water supply channels 8
．． The upstream side of 9 is an electromagnetic water supply valve 10. ] 1 to a water hose 12. In this case, the electromagnetic water supply valve 1
0.11 has an inflow port 13 and an outflow port 14 that communicate with the connection port 12a of the water hose 12, as shown in FIG.
The outlet 14 is closed and water supply is stopped, and when the solenoid 17 is energized, the plunger 16 is sucked and the outlet 14 is opened. Reference numeral 18 denotes a flow rate measuring device that determines the water supply flow rate into the washing tub 2, that is, the amount of water per unit time passing through the water supply channel 8 on the washing tub 2 side. Water supply pressure outlet pipe 19
and a water supply pressure sensor 20, such as a piezoelectric element, provided at the tip of the water supply pressure derivation pipe 19. In this case, the water supply pressure corresponding to the water supply flow rate to the washing tub 2 acts on the water supply pressure sensor 20 through the water supply pressure derivation pipe 19, and as a result, the output voltage from the water supply pressure sensor 20 according to the water supply pressure and thus the water supply flow rate increases. It is output to the control device 21 in the operation box 7 as a flow rate signal. On the other hand, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 denotes a recess formed in the side wall of the washing tub 2 so as to extend in the vertical direction.
is installed. 24 is an air trap provided at the lower part of the four parts 22, 25 is an air pressure outlet pipe led out from the upper part of the air trap 24 into the operation box 7, and 26 is an air pressure sensor, such as a piezoelectric element, provided at the upper end of the air pressure outlet pipe 25. The air trap 24, the air pressure outlet pipe 25, and the air pressure sensor 26 constitute a water level/1lll constant device η27. In this case, the air pressure in the air trap 24 corresponding to the level of the water stored in the washing tub 2 is adjusted to the air pressure outlet pipe 2.
5 to the air pressure sensor 26, and as a result, the air pressure sensor 26 outputs an output voltage corresponding to the air pressure and thus the water level to the control device 21 as a water level signal, and the water level is measured. The control device 21 includes a microcomputer that executes a control program shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, and includes a driver circuit 28.2.
9 (see Figure 3) to the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 and the motor 4.
It is configured to control.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. When washing, laundry is first placed in the washing tub 2. Then, when a switch (not shown) for automatic washing operation is turned on, control is thereafter performed as shown in FIG. 5 according to the control program stored in the control device 21. That is, first, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 on the side of the washing tub 2 is opened to start supplying water into the washing tub 2. Immediately after the water supply starts, the flow measurement device 18 starts measuring the water supply flow rate. Thereafter, the water supply pressure sensor 20 receives the water supply pressure corresponding to the water supply flow rate into the washing tub 2, and outputs an output voltage corresponding to the water supply pressure (water supply flow rate) from the water supply pressure sensor 20 to the control device 21. ! Continuously measure the water supply flow rate. At the same time, by integrating the measured water supply flow rate over time from the beginning of the Mj constant, the amount of water supply from the start of water supply to that point is calculated.

Then, it is determined whether the calculated amount of water supply has reached a predetermined amount (for example, the minimum amount of water for washing), and if it is still less than the predetermined amount, water supply is continued. At this time, as the amount of water supplied to the washing tub 2 increases, the laundry in the washing tub 2 gradually forms a film in the stored water.

Thereafter, when it is determined that the water supply port calculated based on the water supply flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement device 18 has reached a predetermined amount, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 is closed to stop water supply.

Therefore, since the laundry in the laundry I62 receives water poured from the water inlet 8a (see Fig. 2) during the above-mentioned water supply period, it has become fully accustomed to the water by the time the water supply is stopped. Almost the entire body is submerged in water. Therefore, the water level of the stored water in the washing tub 2 after the water supply is stopped is higher by an amount corresponding to the amount of laundry compared to when only a predetermined amount of water is supplied without putting any laundry into the washing tub 2. It will become.

After the water supply is stopped, the water level is measured by the water level measuring device 27. In this case, pressurized air according to the water level (the air pressure inside the wrap 24 is received by the air pressure sensor 26,
The water level is measured by outputting an output voltage corresponding to the air pressure (water level) from the air pressure sensor 26 to the control device 21. Since the water level at this time has a depth corresponding to the size of the laundry as described above, the amount of laundry can be indirectly determined by measuring the water level. Then, based on the measured water level (amount of laundry), an appropriate washing water level is set according to the amount of laundry, for example, in the following manner. That is, the relationship between the measured water level (amount of laundry) after supplying a predetermined amount of water and the appropriate washing water level is converted into a function through experiments or the like in advance, and the functional formula is stored in the control device 21, and the water level is adjusted after supplying a predetermined amount of water. The washing water level is set in accordance with the amount of laundry by causing the control device 21 to perform an operation of substituting the water level measured by the measuring device 27 into the above-mentioned functional equation. After setting the washing water level, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 is opened again to resume water supply. After the water supply is resumed, the water level measurement device 27 continues to measure the water level, and it is determined whether the measured water level has reached the set water level described above. If the water level is still below the set water level, the water supply continues. Then, when it is determined that the measured water level has reached the set water level, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 is closed to stop water supply. As a result, an amount of water corresponding to the size of the laundry is additionally supplied into the washing tub 2. Thereafter, the motor 4 is energized to perform a washing operation.

If overflow rinsing is to be performed after the washing operation, a rinsing degree selection switch (not shown) is operated to select the rinsing degree, and thereafter the controller 21 controls the rinsing degree as shown in the flowchart of FIG. . That is, after first setting the amount of rinsing water required for the selected rinsing degree, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 is opened to start water supply. Thereafter, water level measurement by the water level M1 fixing device 27 is started, and it is determined whether the measured water level or the overflow water level has been reached.

If the overflow water level is still not reached, only water supply and water level measurement will continue. Then, when it is determined that the measured water level or the overflow water level has been reached,
At the same time as the motor 4 is energized to perform the rinsing operation, the flow measurement device 18 starts measuring the water supply flow rate. Then, the rinsing water supply amount (overflow water amount) up to that point is calculated by integrating the measured water supply flow rate over time from the beginning of the measurement. Next, it is determined whether the calculated rinsing water supply amount has reached the set amount described above, and if it is still less than the set amount, the rinsing operation is continued. Thereafter, when it is determined that the calculated rinse water supply amount has reached the set amount, the electromagnetic water supply valve 10 is closed 11 to stop the water supply, and at the same time, the motor 4 and flow rate measuring device 18 are stopped, and the rinsing water supply is stopped. Stop driving. If overflow rinsing is performed in this way, the amount of water supplied for rinsing will always be the set amount regardless of the water supply pressure, so unlike the conventional configuration in which the rinsing time is set, there will be no shortage of water supplied for rinsing. There is no risk of over-rinsing, and it is possible to eliminate insufficient rinsing and waste of water.

According to the above configuration, it is noted that when a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the washing tub 2 in which laundry is stored, the water level becomes higher by an amount corresponding to the amount of laundry. The second condition of the laundry was determined by measuring the water level with the water level measuring device 27 when a predetermined amount of water was supplied into the housed washing tub 2 based on the water supply flow rate measured by the measuring device 18. Since water is additionally supplied into the washing tub 2 in an amount corresponding to the amount of laundry, it is possible to objectively judge the amount of laundry regardless of the basis weight of the user. This allows water to be supplied at an appropriate washing water level depending on the amount of laundry. Therefore, even if the user is not familiar with washing, it is possible to reliably prevent wastage of water and detergent due to excessive water supply, or insufficient washing and fabric damage due to insufficient water supply.

In the above embodiment, when additionally supplying water in an amount corresponding to the amount of laundry into the washing tub 2, the water level is measured by the water level measuring device 27 to determine when to stop the water supply. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the water supply flow rate may be fixed by i11+1 using the flow rate measurement device 18, and the water supply flow rate may be integrated over time to calculate the amount of water supply added up to that point to determine when to stop the water supply. Also good. Further, the flow rate measuring device 18 and the water level 71+11 fixing device 27 are not necessarily limited to those equipped with a water supply pressure sensor 29 made of a piezoelectric element as in the second embodiment, an air pressure sensor 26, etc. Any other configuration may be used as long as it is capable of continuously outputting an output signal corresponding to the water level to the control device 21. In addition, the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention, such as being applicable not only to the two-tub type washing machine as in the above-mentioned embodiments but also to a washing machine with a dehydrating function.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides for water stored in a washing tub containing laundry when a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the washing tub containing laundry based on a water supply flow rate determined by M1 using a flow rate measuring device. The volume of the laundry is determined by measuring the water level of the laundry with a water level measuring device, and an amount of water corresponding to the amount of laundry is additionally supplied into the washing tub. It has the excellent effect of being able to accurately judge the basis weight of the user and always supplying water to the appropriate washing water level according to the amount of laundry.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of the main parts, Fig. 2 is a broken pressure surface view of the whole, and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the electromagnetic water supply valve and flow rate measuring device. 4 is a block diagram, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control method for the water supply process, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control method for the overflow rinsing process. In the drawing, 2 is a washing tub, 10 is an electromagnetic water supply valve, 18 is a flow rate measuring device, and 27 is a water level measuring device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate measuring device that measures the flow rate of water supplied into the washing tub;
and a water level measuring device for measuring the level of water stored in the washing tub, wherein a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the washing tub in which laundry is stored based on the water flow rate measured by the flow rate measuring device. The amount of laundry is determined by measuring the level of stored water in the washing tub with the water level measuring device when water is supplied, and the amount of water corresponding to the amount of laundry is poured into the washing tub. A washing machine characterized in that an additional supply is provided inside the washing machine.