KR0127664Y1 - Control apparatus of a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with an ion exchange resin for softening the wash water supplied to the washing tank, and more particularly, to a control device for a washing machine capable of automatically recycling the ion exchange resin to improve washing efficiency. The ion exchange resin means 8 for converting the wash water supplied through the valves 7a and 7b into soft water and the amount of the wash water softened by the ion exchange resin means 8 are controlled by the control means 30. It characterized in that the ion exchange resin regeneration means 10 for introducing a regeneration liquid to the ion exchange resin means 8 for a predetermined time to regenerate the ion exchange resin, if the specified amount is higher than the set amount, If it falls, since the salt used as the regeneration agent of the ion exchange resin can be dissolved automatically to exchange the ion exchange resin, there is an effect that it is convenient to use.

Description

Washing machine control

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a detailed structural diagram of a main component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a control block diagram of a control device of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5a and 5b is a flowchart showing the control operation of the washing machine according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

8 ion exchange resin means 10 ion exchange resin regeneration means

20: DC power supply means 25: operation operation means

30: control means 40: salt injection valve driving means

50: motor driving means 60: quantity detection means

70: water supply valve driving means 80: regeneration liquid drain valve driving means

90: soft water supply valve drive means 100: water level detection means

110: washing motor driving means 120: drain valve driving means

The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with an ion exchange resin for softening the wash water supplied to the washing tank, and more particularly, to a control device for a washing machine capable of automatically regenerating the ion exchange resin to improve washing efficiency.

In general, in the conventional washing machine, as shown in FIG. 1, when a user inserts laundry into a washing / dehydration tank 4 (hereinafter, referred to as a dehydration tank) and turns on an operation switch (not shown), The washing water supplied from 6) is supplied into the washing tank 5 through the water supply hose 6a as the water supply valves 7a and 7b are opened.

At this time, the wash water supplied through the water supply valves (7a, 7b) is converted into soft water while passing through the ion exchange resin means (8) containing the ion exchange resin is supplied to the washing tank (5), the washing tank (5) When the water supplied to the washing water is completed by an amount suitable for the laundry to which the water is supplied, the amount of detergent suitable for the supplied washing water level is introduced into the washing tank 5.

As such, when the amount of washing water and detergent suitable for the laundry put into the washing tank 5 is completed, the pulsator 16 is inverted in the left and right directions according to the driving of the washing motor 15, thereby flowing water into the washing water. To form a wash and rinse stroke.

When the washing and rinsing is completed, a series of operations for opening the drain valve 14 mounted on the rear portion of the washing tank 5 to drain the contaminated water in the washing tank 5 to the outside through the drain hose 14a. Repeat to complete the entire laundry administration.

On the other hand, the ion exchange resin means (8) for changing the wash water supplied through the water supply hose (6a) to soft water, when the water corresponding to the specified capacity of the ion exchange resin mounted therein, soft water production capacity Since the loss of the ion exchange resin has a structure that can be removed so that it can be recycled to a certain concentration of brine.

However, in such a conventional washing machine, when the ion exchange resin loses soft water generation capacity by treating water corresponding to the designated capacity, the ion exchange resin means is separated from the main body to regenerate the ion exchange resin. Not only is it inconvenient to use because it has to be re-installed in the main body, and there is a problem in that an optimal washing effect cannot be expected because the user cannot easily determine an appropriate regeneration time of the ion exchange resin.

Therefore, the present invention is made to solve the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to automatically regenerate the ion exchange resin by dissolving the salt used as the regeneration agent of the ion exchange resin when the soft water production capacity of the ion exchange resin is reduced It is possible to provide a control device for a washing machine that is convenient to use.

Another object of the present invention is that if the ion exchange resin is treated (softened) with water of a specified capacity, it is possible to regenerate the ion exchange resin at an appropriate time by judging the regeneration time of the ion exchange resin by software. And to improve the rinsing performance while preventing the excessive use of the detergent to provide a control device of the washing machine that can prevent water pollution.

In order to achieve the above object, a control apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention includes a driving operation means for inputting a washing condition, a control means for controlling an entire washing operation according to the driving condition input by the driving operation means, and the control means. In a washing machine comprising a water supply valve driving means for driving and controlling the water supply valve to supply the wash water under control of the control unit, and a drain valve driving means for driving the drain valve to discharge the washing water in the washing tank under the control of the control means. And ion exchange resin means for changing the wash water supplied through the water supply valve to soft water, and regenerating the ion exchange resin if the amount of the wash water softened by the ion exchange resin means is higher than a predetermined amount set in the control means. It is characterized by consisting of the ion exchange resin regeneration means for injecting the brine for a predetermined time to the ion exchange resin means Gong.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a detailed structural diagram of the main components according to an embodiment of the present invention, the same name and the same reference numerals for the same parts as the conventional configuration. In this case, redundant descriptions are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, a door 2 hinged at one side is freely opened and closed at an upper end of the main body 1, and a cylindrical shape is formed in the main body 1 to wash and dewater laundry. Spin tub 4 (hereinafter, referred to as a dehydration tank) is rotatably installed, and a cylindrical outer support for supporting the dehydration tank 4 at regular intervals from the dehydration tank 4 on the outer circumference of the dehydration tank 4. A bar 5 (hereinafter referred to as a washing tank) is provided.

In addition, water supply valves 7a and 7b are installed on the rear surface of the main body 1 to supply the washing water supplied from the faucet 6 to the washing tank 5 through the water supply hose 6a. The lower end of the water supply valves 7a and 7b is equipped with ion exchange resin means 8 incorporating an ion exchange resin for converting the wash water supplied through the water supply valve 6a into soft water.

When the ion exchange resin embedded in the ion exchange resin means 8 softens the amount of water between the water supply valves 7a and 7b and the ion exchange resin means 8 to lose soft water producing ability, An ion exchange resin regeneration means 10 for regenerating the ion exchange resin is mounted, and a regeneration solution drainage hose 12a is provided with a regeneration solution for regenerating the ion exchange resin at the lower right end of the ion exchange resin means 8. The regeneration liquid drain valve 12 is installed to drain to the outside through the water.

Further, a soft water supply valve 13 is installed at the lower left end of the ion exchange resin means 8 so as to feed wash water changed into soft water into the washing tank 5 while passing through the ion exchange resin means 8, At one lower end of the main body 1, a drain valve 14 is installed to drain the washing water in the washing tank 5 to the outside through the drain hose 14a.

In addition, a washing motor 15 which is rotated forward and backward to wash and dehydrate the laundry in the dehydration tank 4 is installed at an outer bottom of the washing tank 5, and at one lower end of the washing motor 15, a washing motor ( A belt 18 which transmits the rotational force of 15 to the speed reducer 17 is connected to the pulleys 15a and 17a disposed on the shafts of the washing motor 15 and the speed reducer 17.

In addition, in the drawing, the driving force of the washing motor 15 is received through the belt 18 and the reducer 17 inside the dehydration tank 4 to form a stream of water in the wash water while the left and right sides are reversed. The pulsator 16 which wash | cleans the laundry in the tank 4 is provided.

On the other hand, the ion exchange resin regeneration means 10 as shown in Figure 3, the salt automatic injector 101 is mounted on the front of the main body 1 to store the salt used as the regeneration agent of the ion exchange resin ), And between the water supply valve (7a, 7b) and the ion exchange resin means (8) to dissolve the salt stored in the salt automatic feeder 101 into the wash water supplied through the water supply valve (7a, 7b) Between the salt dissolving unit 102 and the salt dispensing machine 102 and the salt dissolving machine 102 so that the salt stored in the salt dispensing machine 101 is added to the salt dissolving machine 102. It consists of the salt inlet valve 103 attached.

In addition, the salt dispenser 101 is a screw 101a that rotates so that a predetermined amount of salt is automatically injected into the salt dissolving machine 102, and a motor 101b that generates power so that the screw 101a rotates. Equipped with.

The washing control circuit of the washing machine configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the DC power supply unit 20 converts the power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the AC power input terminal into a predetermined DC voltage required for driving the washing machine, and outputs the same. Is equipped with a plurality of function keys at a predetermined position of the door 2 to input a washing condition (type of washing, washing time, water supply selection, etc.) desired by the user.

And, the control means 30 is initialized the washing machine by receiving the DC voltage supplied from the DC power supply means 20, as well as detergent input, in accordance with the operation command signal input by the operation operation means 25, A microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the washing machine, such as washing and rinsing strokes, wherein the control means 30 is provided with a designated water that can be treated (softened) by the ion exchange resin built into the ion exchange resin means (8). In addition to storing the data on the amount of water, the data on the amount of water softened by the ion exchange resin is stored and compared to determine the soft water production capacity of the ion exchange resin.

When the salt input valve driving means 40 loses the soft water producing ability by treating the water as much as the designated capacity of the ion exchange resin, the salt stored in the automatic salt injector 101 is controlled by the control means 30. When the salt inlet valve 103 is driven and controlled to be introduced into the salt dissolving machine 102, and the motor driving means 50 loses the soft water producing ability by treating the water as much as the designated capacity of the ion exchange resin. Under the control of the means 30, the motor 101b provided in the salt dispenser 101 is controlled to drive the salt stored in the salt dispenser 101 automatically into the salt dissolver 102.

In addition, the quantity detecting means 60 detects the amount of laundry put into the dehydration tank 4 and outputs it to the control means 30, and the water supply valve driving means 70 controls the control means 30. Accordingly, the water supply valves 7a and 7b are driven to control the washing water supplied from the faucet 6 through the water supply hose 6a.

The regeneration liquid drain valve driving means 80 controls the regeneration liquid drain valve so that the salt water (regeneration liquid) regenerating the ion exchange resin is discharged to the outside through the regeneration liquid drain hose 12a under the control of the control means 30. (12) is drive controlled, and the soft water feed valve driving means (90) is supplied from the tap water (6) under the control of the control means (30) and is changed into soft water while passing through the ion exchange resin means (8). The soft water feed valve 13 is driven to control the washing water to be supplied to the washing tank 5.

In addition, the water level detecting means 100 is a washing tank 5 in an amount suitable for the amount of laundry put into the dewatering tank 4 when the water supply valves 7a and 7b are opened by the water supply valve driving means 70. It is a water level sensor for detecting whether there is water supply, washing motor drive means 110 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 to drive control the washing motor 15 to wash and dehydrate the laundry.

In addition, in the drawing, the drain valve driving means 120 drives the drain valve 14 to discharge the washing water in the washing tank 5 to the outside through the drain hose 14a under the control of the control means 30. To control.

Hereinafter, the effect of the control device of the washing machine configured as described above will be described.

5A and 5B are flowcharts showing the control operation procedure of the washing machine according to the present invention. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, S denotes a step.

First, when power is supplied to the washing machine, the DC power supply unit 20 converts the power supply voltage of the commercial AC power input from the AC power input terminal (not shown) into a predetermined DC voltage required for driving the washing machine, thereby controlling each driving means and control. Output to the means 30.

Therefore, in step S1, the washing machine is initialized by receiving the DC voltage output from the DC power supply means 20 from the control means 30.

Subsequently, in step S2, the user inputs laundry into the dewatering tank 4, inputs the desired washing conditions (type of washing, washing time, water supply selection, etc.) by the operating operation means 25, and then turns on the power switch (not shown). Then, the amount of laundry put into the dehydration tank (4) is detected by the quantity detection means 60 and outputs the detection data to the control means (30).

Therefore, the control means 30 receives the sensing data sensed by the quantity detecting means 60 and determines the washing level according to the preset laundry amount.

Subsequently, in step S3, the laundry softened by the ion exchange resin means 8 at the time of the washing operation of the washing machine before water is supplied to the washing tank 5 according to the washing water level determined by the control means 30. The amount of water (that is, the amount of water treated in the ion exchange resin that removes metal ions contained in the wash water supplied from the tap water 6 through the feed hose 6a and converts the wash water into soft water) is The control means 30 determines whether or not the designated amount of water that can be treated by the ion exchange resin means 8 (that is, the maximum amount that can change the wash water to soft water in the ion exchange resin).

As a result of the discrimination in step S3, when the amount of water treated by the ion exchange resin means 8 is higher than the designated amount (YES), the control means in step S4 because the ion exchange resin has lost the soft water producing ability. 30 outputs a control signal to the salt inlet valve driving means 40 to inject salt used as a regenerant of the ion exchange resin into the salt dissolving unit 102 to regenerate the ion exchange resin.

Therefore, the salt inlet valve driving unit 40 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 and drives the salt inlet valve 103 to open the salt inlet valve 103.

When the salt input valve 103 is opened, in step S5 the control means 30 to the motor driving means 50 so that the salt stored in the automatic salt injector 101 is automatically introduced into the salt dissolving machine 102. Output a control signal.

Therefore, the motor driving means 50 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 and drives the motor 101b so that the screw 101a integrally formed on the shaft of the motor 101b starts to rotate.

When the screw 101a rotates, the salt stored in the automatic salt injector 101 starts to be automatically introduced into the salt dissolvers 102 through the salt inlet valve 103 according to the rotation of the screw 101a. .

When salt is introduced into the salt dissolving unit 102 according to the rotation of the screw 101a by the driving of the motor 101b when the salt inlet valve 103 is opened, in step S6, the salt dissolving unit ( At 102, salt is started to be input and it is determined whether a predetermined time (time for adding enough salt to regenerate the ion exchange resin) has elapsed.

In the case where the determination at step S6 is determined, if the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO), the process returns to the step S5 and repeats the operation of step S5 or less, and when the predetermined time has elapsed (YES), Since the amount of salt sufficient to regenerate the ion exchange resin is added to the salt dissolving unit 102, the control means 30 in step S7 so that no more salt is added to the salt dissolving unit 102. ) And a salt input valve driving means 40 to output a control signal.

Accordingly, in the motor driving means 50, the motor 101b is stopped by turning off the motor 101b according to the control of the control means 30, and in the salt injection valve driving means 40, the control means 30 The salt inlet valve 103 is closed by turning off the salt inlet valve 103 according to the control of the salt in the automatic salt injector 101 so that it is no longer introduced into the salt dissolvers 102.

Subsequently, in step S8, the control means 30 dissolves the salt introduced into the salt dissolvers 102 and regenerates the water supply valve driving means 70 and the regeneration liquid drain valve driving means 80 to regenerate the ion exchange resin. Outputs a control signal.

Therefore, the water supply valve driving means 70 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 to open the water supply valves 7a and 7b, and the regeneration solution drain valve driving means 80 controls the control means 30. The regeneration liquid drain valve 12 is opened by receiving a control signal output from the controller.

According to the opening of the water supply valves 7a and 7b, when the wash water supplied from the tap water 6 is supplied to the salt dissolving unit 102 through the water supply hose 6a, the salt is introduced into the salt dissolving unit 102. Is dissolved by the wash water supplied through the water supply valves 7a and 7b and flows into the ion exchange resin means 8 mounted at the bottom of the salt dissolvers 102 to recover the ion exchange resin that has lost its soft water producing ability. Let's do it.

At this time, the salt water (regeneration liquid) regenerating the ion exchange resin is discharged to the outside through the regeneration liquid drain hose (12a) in accordance with the opening of the regeneration liquid drain valve (12).

Subsequently, in step S9, the salt added to the salt dissolving machine 102 is dissolved by washing water to start regenerating the ion exchange resin embedded in the ion exchange resin means 8, and then a predetermined time (salt added to the salt dissolving agent) If it is completely dissolved and the salt water administration time required for regenerating the ion exchange resin has elapsed, and the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO), the process returns to the step S8 and the operation of the step S8 or less is repeated.

As a result of the determination in step S9, when a predetermined time has elapsed (YES), the salt added to the salt dissolvers 102 is completely dissolved to regenerate the ion exchange resin. 30 outputs a control signal to the regeneration liquid drain valve driving means 80 such that the washing water supplied through the water supply valves 7a and 7b is not discharged to the outside through the regeneration liquid drain hose 12a.

Therefore, in the regeneration liquid drain valve driving means 80, the regeneration liquid drain valve 12 is closed by turning off the regeneration liquid drain valve 12 under the control of the control means 30.

Then, in step S11, the control means 30 sends a control signal to the soft water feed valve driving means 90 so that the washing water supplied from the tap water 6 through the water supply valves 7a and 7b is supplied to the washing tank 5. Output

Therefore, the soft water feed valve driving means 90 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 to open the soft water feed valve 13.

Accordingly, the washing water supplied from the faucet 6 passes through the salt dissolvers 102 through the water supply valves 7a and 7b and passes through the ion exchange resin means 8 while the metal ions contained in the washing water. It is removed and changed to soft water.

The wash water changed into soft water while passing through the ion exchange resin means 8 is supplied to the washing tank 5 through the soft water supply valve 13.

At this time, in step S12 the amount of wash water supplied through the soft water supply valve 13 is detected in the water level detecting means 100 and output to the control means 30, the control means 30 in the water level detecting means ( The water supply valves 7a and 7b are opened until the washing water level sensed by 100) reaches the determined washing water level to continue water supply.

When the washing water level supplied to the washing tank 5 reaches the determined washing water level, the soft water supply valve driving means 90 stops the water supply operation by blocking the soft water supply valve 13 under the control of the control means 30. do.

At this time, in step S13, the control means 30 outputs a right turn or left turn control signal to the washing motor driving means 110 to perform the washing stroke.

Therefore, the washing motor driving means 110 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 and drives the washing motor 15 to the right or left rotation.

According to the right turn or left turn drive of the washing motor 15, the pulsator 16 performs left and right inversion to form a stream of water in the wash water to start the washing operation.

When the washing operation is completed during the washing time determined in the step S2, the contaminated water in the washing tank 5 should be discharged to the outside, so the control means 30 sends a control signal to the drain valve driving means 120 in step S14. Output

Therefore, the drain valve driving means 120 discharges the contaminated water in the washing tank 5 to the outside by opening the drain valve 14 under the control of the control means 30.

When the drainage stroke in the step S14 is completed, the rinsing stroke should be performed, so in step S15, the soft water supply valve driving means to supply the washing water for performing the rinsing stroke in the washing tank 5 in the control means 30 ( A control signal is output to 90).

Therefore, the soft water feed valve driving means 90 receives the control signal output from the control means 30 and opens the soft water feed valve 13 to wash the hot water or cold water supplied from the tap water 6. Water is supplied into the washing tub 5 through the valves 7a and 7b.

When the water supply operation at step S15 is completed, the flow proceeds to step S16 to drive the washing motor 15 to the right or to the left while closing the water supply valves 7a and 7b under the control of the control means 30 to perform a rinsing stroke. Perform.

When the rinsing stroke is completed after a predetermined time, the control means 30 outputs a control signal to the drain valve driving means 120 in step S17 because the water in the washing tank 5 should be discharged to the outside.

Accordingly, the drain valve driving means 120 discharges the rinsed water in the washing tank 5 to the outside by opening the drain valve under the control of the control means 30.

When the drainage stroke in step S17 is completed, in step S18 to perform the dehydration stroke, the washing motor driving means 110 rotates the washing motor 15 at high speed according to the control of the control means 30 to perform a pulsator. 16 and the dehydration tank 4 rotate at high speed.

According to the high speed rotation of the pulsator 16 and the dehydration tank 4, the washing water absorbed in the laundry is discharged to the outside of the dehydration tank 4 so that high speed dehydration is performed.

After a certain time has elapsed after the high speed dehydration, the washing motor 15 stops and the entire washing process ends by ringing a buzzer (not shown) for a predetermined number of times to inform the user that the entire washing process is completed.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S3 that the amount of water treated by the ion exchange resin means 8 is not higher than the designated amount set in the control means 30 (NO), the ion exchange resin is Since it is in a state of producing soft water, it is not necessary to perform the operation of regenerating the ion exchange resin, and the flow proceeds to the step S12, and the operation of the step S12 or less is repeated.

As described above, according to the control device of the washing machine according to the present invention, when the soft water producing ability of the ion exchange resin is reduced, the salt used as the regenerant of the ion exchange resin can be dissolved to automatically regenerate the ion exchange resin. The ion exchange resin can be regenerated at an appropriate time by software determination of the regeneration time of the ion exchange resin when the ion exchange resin is treated (softened) with a predetermined amount of water. Therefore, it is possible to improve the washing and rinsing performance, but also has an excellent effect of preventing water pollution by preventing excessive use of detergent.

Claims (5)

Driving operation means 25 for inputting washing conditions, control means 30 for controlling the overall washing operation in accordance with the operating conditions input by the driving operation means 25, and control of the control means 30. Water supply valve driving means 70 for driving and controlling the water supply valves 7a and 7b to supply the wash water, and a drain valve 14 to discharge the wash water in the washing tank 5 under the control of the control means 30. In the washing machine composed of a drain valve driving means 120 for controlling the drive), the ion exchange resin means (8) for changing the wash water supplied through the water supply valves (7a, 7b) to soft water, and the ion exchange resin If the amount of the wash water softened by the means 8 is higher than the designated amount set in the control means 30, ion exchange to inject the regeneration solution into the ion exchange resin means 8 for a predetermined time so as to regenerate the ion exchange resin. Washing, characterized in that consisting of the resin recycling means (10) Control device of the machine. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control means (30) determines the soft water producing ability of the ion exchange resin according to the amount of wash water softened by the ion exchange resin means (8) to regenerate the ion exchange resin. Control device for a washing machine, characterized in that. The control means (30) according to claim 1, wherein the control means (30) controls the driving of the regeneration liquid drain valve (12) so that the regeneration liquid passing through the ion exchange resin means (8) is discharged to the outside during the regeneration of the ion exchange resin. The controller of the washing machine characterized in that. The method of claim 1, wherein the ion exchange resin regeneration means 10 is supplied to the salt automatic dosing device 101 for storing salt, and the salt stored in the salt automatic dosing machine 101 through the water supply valve (7a, 7b) The salt dissolving valve 102 to be dissolved in the washing water to be, and the salt inlet valve is driven under the control of the control means 30 so that the salt stored in the automatic salt injector 101 is introduced into the salt dissolving machine 102. The control apparatus of the washing machine characterized by consisting of (103). According to claim 2, wherein the automatic salt injector 101 is a screw 101a for rotating a predetermined amount of salt to the salt dissolving machine 102, and the control means 30 to rotate the screw 101a The control apparatus of the washing machine characterized by including a motor (101b) for driving under the control of.