JPS6340596A - Cloth amount detector of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine that is used in a general household and automatically performs a series of processes such as washing, draining, covering, and dehydrating. .

Conventional technology Traditionally, washing machines that automatically perform a series of processes such as washing, draining, rinsing, and dehydrating are operated by the user setting the water supply amount to high, medium, or low depending on the amount of cloth loaded. If the amount of water supplied was insufficient, water was supplied again and the system was operated.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the conventional washing machines as described above have problems in that it takes a long time to complete the entire washing cycle and that water is wasted. In addition, if a method is adopted in which the current consumption during the washing process is detected, the load amount is determined, and the blade is automatically controlled to the optimum water amount, the device for detecting the current consumption during the washing process is expensive, so it is not practical. There was a problem of lack of understanding.

The present invention solves these conventional problems by automatically controlling the amount of water to the optimum amount according to the amount of loaded cloth, and finishing the entire process in a short time without using wasted water. The object of the present invention is to provide a cloth amount detection device for a washing machine that is capable of detecting the amount of cloth in a washing machine.

Means for Solving the Problem In order to solve this problem, the cloth amount detection device for a washing machine of the present invention detects the water level in the washing and dehydration tank at the bottom of the side wall of the outer tank in which the washing and dehydration tank is installed. An air trap is provided in which the air inside is compressed according to the pressure, and an air pressure detection means is provided to detect the air pressure in the air trap.The air pressure at the beginning of the washing process is measured, and the load is calculated based on the amount of air pressure reduction when the pulsator rotates. It is equipped with a means to detect and judge the presence of cloth and automatically control the amount of water to the optimum level for the washing process.

Effect With the above configuration, during the washing process, taking into consideration that the amount of air pressure in the air trap that is reduced when the pulsator rotates is different depending on the amount of water supplied and the loaded load cloth, On the other hand, rotate the pulsator with a small amount of water supply, measure the amount of pressure reduction at that time, increase the amount of water supplied again, rotate the pulsator again, measure the amount of pressure reduction, and repeat this process to bring the amount of pressure reduction close to a constant value. It is designed to allow washing with the optimum water supply amount corresponding to the load.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. Fig. 1 shows the overall construction of a washing machine. In Fig. 1, an outer tub 2 is attached to the outer box 1 of the washing machine with a cloth rod (not shown), and the outer tub 2 has many holes 3a. There is a washing and dehydration tank 3 inside, which has a washing and dehydration capacity of 4 tons! A pulsator 4 is installed at the center of the bottom of f3. The pulsator 4 and the washing/dehydration tank 3 are rotated by a drive motor 5 via a bearing case 6 and transmitted by a belt. The bearing case 6 incorporates a brake device that applies a brake to the washing/dehydration tank 3 and a crutch device that controls the transmission of rotational force.

A drainage lower is installed at the bottom of the outer tank 2, and drainage of residual water in the outer tank 2 is controlled by a drainage solenoid valve 8.

An air mill wrap 9 that communicates with the inside of the outer tank 2 is provided on the outer wall of the outer m2, and the air therein is compressed according to the water level in the washing and dehydrating tank 3, and the pressure is applied via a pressure hose 10. It is detected by a connected semiconductor pressure sensor 4)-11 as an air pressure detection means. Further, a water supply valve 12 for controlling the amount of washing water to the outer tub 2 is installed in the upper part of the outer box 1.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the semiconductor pressure roller 4) 11. In FIG. 2, the semiconductor pressure sensor 11 is installed with four diffused resistors 13 to 16 bridge-coupled on a silicon pellet diaphragm, and is driven by a constant current from a constant current source 17 to, for example, 11'n. As a result, an output voltage corresponding to the air pressure in the air trap 9 is output to the output terminals 18a and 18b.

The semiconductor pressure sensor 4-no-zu 1 is one that outputs an output voltage linearly according to the air pressure, and the output terminal 18
As shown in the characteristic diagram of the semiconductor pressure sensor 11 in FIG. 3, output voltages are obtained from a and 18b in proportion to the air pressure in the air trap 9, that is, the water level in the outer tank 2, and the pressure switch is a contact output type pressure switch. Differently, the water level in the outer tank 2 is always checked.
a3 and control becomes possible.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the control tg+ device, which is controlled by a microcomputer 20. That is, the microcomputer 20 controls the drive motor 5, the drain electromagnetic valve 8, and the water supply valve 12 according to the information from the operation setting switch 21 and the semiconductor pressure sensor 11, thereby controlling the cloth amount detection operation and the operation of the entire washing machine. 22 to 26 indicate interfaces (1/F) with the microcomputer 20.

Next, the cloth amount detection operation will be explained based on flowchart 1 in FIG. In FIG. 5, after turning on the power, by operating the operation setting switch 21, the microcomputer 20 turns on the water supply valve 12 in step 31 to start water supply, and in step 32, the microcomputer 20 turns on the water supply valve 12 to start water supply.
The above operation is carried out until the output voltage reaches point A in FIG. 6, water is supplied to the minimum required amount, and water supply is stopped in step 33. Next, in order to judge whether the water supply amount is the optimum water φ according to the amount of cloth, the drive motor 5 is operated in step 34, and the semiconductor pressure sensor 11 at point B is operated again in step 35.
Check the output voltage of , calculate the difference between the voltage at point A and the voltage at point B, and judge whether this difference is within the specified value for the strategy at that time. If it is within the specified value, proceed to the next washing step. If it is outside the specified value, the drive motor 5 is stopped in step 36, the judgment value of the output voltage of the semiconductor pressure sensor 11 is set to the point A+1 in step 37, and the water supply valve 12 is turned back to O.
NL, Execute water supply operation. By repeating the above operations, the next washing process is carried out when the optimum amount of water for the amount of cloth thrown in, ie, the value A-B in FIG. 6, reaches a specified value. Figure 6 shows semiconductor pressure sensor 1 during cloth amount detection operation.
This is an example of the output voltage change in No. 1, and it shows that after the above operation was performed three times, the amount of water that was optimal for the amount of cloth thrown in was reached.

In this way, it is possible to set the optimum amount of water according to the amount of cloth without using unnecessary water and shortening the time required for the entire process.

Effects of explanation As described above, according to the present invention, the optimum amount of water can be set according to the amount of cloth thrown in during water supply, so unlike the conventional method, the water level can be manually adjusted according to the amount of cloth thrown in. It's not necessary, it saves time, and it also eliminates wasted water. Further, it is possible to provide an economically inexpensive cloth amount detection device for a washing machine, which is useful for preventing cloth damage due to insufficient water amount, and can be implemented using only a pressure sensor for checking the water level.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a semiconductor pressure sensor 1, and FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram of the semiconductor pressure sensor. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the control device t111, Fig. 5 is a flow chart of the control device, and Fig. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of the output voltage change of the semiconductor pressure sensor when detecting the amount of cloth. . 2... Outer tank, 3... Washing/dehydration tank, 4... Pulsator, 5... Drive motor, 6... Bearing case, 9...
...Air trap, 10...Pressure hose, 11...
- Semiconductor pressure sensor (air pressure detection means), 12... Water supply valve, 13-16... Diffusion resistor, 17... Constant current source, 20... Microamp coater, 21... Operation setting switch. Agent Yoshihiro Moriki Figure 2 Figure 3 Feet ■ Figure 4 Figure S

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air trap is provided at the lower part of the side wall of the outer tank containing the washing and dehydration tank, and the air inside is compressed according to the water level in the washing and dehydration tank, and an air pressure detection means for detecting the air pressure in the air trap. The washing machine is equipped with a means to measure the air pressure at the beginning of the washing process, detect and judge the loaded fabric amount based on the amount of air pressure reduction when the pulsator rotates, and automatically control the amount of water to the optimum amount for the washing process. Detection device.