JPS62290497A - 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 3. Detailed Description of the Invention Industrial Application Field The present invention measures the distance to the water surface or laundry using ultrasonic waves, determines the amount of laundry based on the distance, and calculates the amount of laundry. This invention relates to a washing machine that sets an optimal washing water level and performs washing based on that water level.

Conventional technology The technology of measuring distance using ultrasonic waves has been known for a long time, and various methods have been proposed for using ultrasonic waves in washing machines to detect the amount of laundry and automatically set the water supply amount, etc. There is.

For example, there is a known system in which the laundry is loaded, the distance to the top of the laundry is measured before water is supplied, the amount of laundry is determined based on the measured value, and the washing water level is set.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Generally, it is known that when cloth is wet with water, its reflectance to ultrasonic waves is higher. In the conventional method, the distance to the laundry was measured using ultrasonic waves without wetting the cloth, and it was difficult to obtain accurate distances.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can accurately set the washing water level.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve these problems, the washing machine of the present invention includes an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver provided above the washing tub, and a reflection point for the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver. and a water supply means for supplying water to the tank.

Function: With the above-described configuration, the laundry at the location where the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver are reflected is completely wet after water supply is completed, and the distance to the laundry can be accurately measured. Therefore, the amount of laundry can be determined with high accuracy and an appropriate water level can be set.

Example DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver that transmits ultrasonic waves toward the inner bottom of the washing tub 5 and receives ultrasonic echoes that return after hitting the laundry 7 or the water surface in the washing tub 6. 1o1
is an ultrasonic transducer, which transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. 102
is a horn that amplifies and sends out the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer 101, and efficiently collects the ultrasonic echoes that return from the laundry or water surface in the washing tub 6 and guides them to the ultrasonic transducer 101. . A reflecting plate 103 reflects the ultrasonic waves output from the horn 102 toward the laundry 7 in the washing tub 6 and the water surface, and guides the ultrasonic echoes that hit them and return toward the horn 102. Reference numeral 2 denotes water supply means, which is installed near the ultrasonic transceiver 1 and supplies water to the reflection points of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transceiver 1 to wet the laundry 7. 201 is a water supply valve. A water supply hose 202 is located on the left and right sides of the ultrasonic transceiver 1 in the embodiment, and guides water to the vicinity of the ultrasonic transceiver 1. A is a water level detection means that detects the water level in the washing tub 6. 4 is a control means which controls the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 1, water supply means 2, . Stirring means 6
make it work.

Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, when the washing tub 5 is viewed from above, the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 1 and the water supply means 2 are located behind the center of the washing tub 6.

The operation of the washing machine constructed in this manner will be described below. After loading laundry into the washing tub 6, the control means 4 (for example, a microcomputer) operates the water supply means 2 to supply water. The water level in the washing tub 6 is detected by the water level detection means 3, and when it reaches a "low" water level, a control signal is output to the control means 4, and the control means 4 operates the water supply means 2 to stop the water supply. The control means 4 operates the stirring means 6 to rotate the laundry for a certain period of time. The control means 4 then operates the water supply means 2 to supply water for a short period of time. This is to wet the laundry 7 immediately below the water supply means 2, that is, the area where the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 1 are reflected. Next, the control means 4 operates the ultrasonic transceiver 1 to output ultrasonic waves toward the water surface. The control means 4 counts the time from when the ultrasound is output until the ultrasound transmitter/receiver 2 receives the echo. This time is shorter when there is laundry underneath than when it is reflected on the water surface.

Figure 3 shows the voltage level of ultrasound echoes. A is the voltage level of the ultrasonic echo when the laundry gets wet, and B is the voltage level of the ultrasonic echo when the laundry gets wet.
indicates what happens when the laundry does not get wet. OB is the percentage of A.
It is at a level that the ultrasonic transceiver 1 cannot receive.

After that, the control means 4 rotates the laundry for a certain period of time,
Thereafter, the above operation of supplying water for a short time, transmitting ultrasonic waves, and counting the time until receiving the echoes is repeated, for example, eight times.

Ultrasonic waves are transmitted after the laundry is watered, so when measuring using ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic waves are not reflected by laundry that is not wet, making it possible to accurately measure the distance to the laundry. can.

In FIG. 2, the shaded area indicates that the cloth is above the water surface, and the dotted line area indicates that the cloth is submerged below the water surface. The cloth rises at angle ■, and the water surface is at all other angles ■ to ■. For example, the control means 4 determines that the water surface is on the water surface 6 times or more out of the 8 counted values (second
In the figure, the water surface is "6" and the cloth surface is "2")
In this case, the water level is determined to be optimal and the process proceeds to the next washing process. If it is determined that the water level is not the optimum level, a signal is output to the control means 4. Then, supply water to the "low" water level and repeat the same operation as when the water level was "low". If the optimal water level is not reached at the "low" water level, add more water and repeat the same operation until the optimal water level is reached at the "medium" or "high" water level. Table 1 shows the relationship between the optimum water level and the amount of laundry. The flow of the above operation is shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3a and 3b.

Table 1 Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, since the laundry on which the ultrasonic waves are reflected when transmitting ultrasonic waves is reliably wet with water by the water supply means, the ultrasonic transmitter can reliably echo the It is possible to receive water and set the optimal water level.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of the washing tub, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the voltage level of ultrasonic echoes. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ultrasonic transmitter/receiver, 2... Water supply means, 3... Water level detection means, 4... Control means, 6... Washing tub, 6... Stirring means, 7... Laundry, 1o1... Ultrasonic vibrator. Name of agent Patent attorney Satoshi Nakao and one other person Time viewing angle V skin echo voltage Figure 4<Q) 'ill g'

Claims (1)

[Claims] A washing machine equipped with an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver provided above a washing tub, and a water supply means for supplying water to areas where ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter/receiver are reflected.