KR19980021482A - Imbalance detection device of the washing machine and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an imbalance detection device and a control method of the washing machine for detecting an open state of the door when the door is opened or closed, or a method of controlling the unbalance due to the one-way bias of the laundry in the washing tank. It is possible to improve the reliability and quality of the washing machine by arranging and installing the blocking membrane filled with the door to detect the opening and closing of the door as well as detecting the imbalance of the washing tank when dewatering.

Description

Imbalance detection device of the washing machine and its control method

The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting an imbalance of a washing machine and a control method thereof, and in particular, an imbalance of a washing machine capable of detecting an open state of a door when the door is opened or closed, or an unbalanced state due to one-way bias of laundry in a washing tank when dewatering. It relates to a sensing device and a control method thereof.

In general, a washing machine includes a washing tank in which a pulsator is installed on a bottom surface of a washing machine, laundry and detergent and water are put in place, and a driving motor for rotating a pulsator installed on the bottom of the washing tank, and a rotation speed of the driving motor. And a control unit for controlling the progress of various strokes. Here, the various strokes proceed in the order of laundry, rinsing stroke, and dehydration stroke after laundry is put in. The role of the safety device according to opening and closing of the door during the stroke is very important, and in order to reduce vibration noise during dehydration stroke, Detecting and controlling it is also very important.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an imbalance detection device of a conventional fully automatic washing machine, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating main parts of the imbalance detection device of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional imbalance detection device for a fully automatic washing machine includes a power supply unit 22 for converting AC power of 220V into DC 5V and supplying power to the microcomputer 11 and various peripheral circuits, and an operation state of the washing machine. Buzzer drive unit 21 to inform the user, display unit 12 and key input unit 13 for displaying the operating state of the washing machine to the outside and manipulating proper key input, and the operating time of the microcomputer 11 according to the commercial frequency. The external interrupt unit 20 for determining the power supply and controlling other time-related operations, the reset unit 19 for stabilizing the operation of the microcomputer 11 when the power is turned on and off, and the operation of the microcomputer 11. The oscillation unit 18 for supplying the required clock signal, the external signal input unit 15 for inputting the signal sensed by the dip switch SW1, and the amount of the laundry are sensed to determine the water level supplied to the washing machine. With a dose detection unit (17) It is.

In addition, the power supply unit 22 includes a bridge diode BR for rectifying 220V AC power, a capacitor C2 and C3 for smoothing the rectified voltage of the bridge diode BR, and the DC smoothed voltage. And a constant voltage IC 23 for outputting a constant voltage, and a capacitor C4 and C5 for removing noise from the output voltage of the constant voltage IC 23, and the power input terminal Vcc of the microcomputer 11; Apply a voltage of DC 5V at (Vss).

In addition, the external signal input unit 15 is connected to the signal input terminal P of the microcomputer 11 and the voltage divider resistor R1 and R2 connected in parallel to the power input voltage supply terminal, and the one side voltage divider resistor R1 and the ground terminal. Consists of a connected dip switch (SW1).

As shown in FIG. 2, in the conventional apparatus for detecting an imbalance in the conventional all-dong washing machine, the dip switch SW1 is mounted in a predetermined region of the rear part 30 of the outer tub 31. The position SW1 detects an operating state of the washing machine according to the interworking of the imbalance detection unit S1 and the door detection unit S2.

Accordingly, as the dip switch SW1 is turned on when the door is opened or dewatered, a low level is input to the signal input terminal P of the microcomputer 11 to stop the current stroke and to take safety measures to the user. Here, even when the door is closed, the door detection unit SS2 detects an unbalanced state of the washing tank during dehydration by interlocking left and right, and stops dehydration, and corrects the imbalance in the order of water supply → rinsing → draining → dehydration.

However, since the imbalance detection device of the conventional automatic washing machine is integrally formed with the imbalance detection unit and the door detection unit in the dip switch, it is difficult to detect the imbalance of the washing tank when the dip switch is defective due to careless handling.

In addition, since the door opening and closing is detected according to the correct opening angle of the door, it may cause a safety accident to the user when the door is not loose or coupled to the correct position.

In addition, when the washing machine is installed in a state where the horizontal adjustment is not at all, the imbalance correction is frequently generated, and the cost of washing is high, and the noise level is very severe when dewatering.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to install a blocking film filled with an opaque liquid in a predetermined area of the door of the washing machine to detect the opening and closing of the door, as well as The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting an imbalance of a washing machine and a method of controlling the same, by detecting an imbalance of a washing tank when dewatering and controlling it appropriately.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an imbalance detection device of a conventional fully automatic washing machine;

2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating main parts of the imbalance detection device of FIG. 1;

3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an imbalance detection device of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention;

4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating main parts of the imbalance detection device of FIG. 3;

5A to 5D are cross-sectional views sequentially listing the imbalance detection operation of FIG. 4 and waveform diagrams of detection signals;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting an imbalance of the automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

11: microcomputer 12: display unit

13 key input unit 14 sensor unit

15, 25: imbalance detection unit 16: load driving unit

17: quantity detection unit 18: oscillation unit

19: reset section 20: interrupt section

21: buzzer driving unit 22: power supply unit

30: rear part 31: outer tube

32: door part 41: blocking film

42: recessed part PC: photocoupler

PT: Phototransistor PD: Photodiode

An imbalance detection apparatus for a washing machine according to the present invention includes: sensing means disposed in a predetermined area of a door part of a washing machine to form a passage for a detection signal; Detection means operating in association with the detection means and applying a detection signal to the microcomputer according to door opening and closing and imbalance; The control means for controlling the overall stroke of the washing machine in accordance with the detection signal of the sensing means.

In addition, the imbalance control method of the washing machine according to the present invention comprises the steps of: detecting whether or not the door closed and whether or not the imbalance occurs by the blocking film after the power is turned on; If the door is closed in the detection step, a predetermined stroke is performed, and if an imbalance occurs, it consists of steps of performing a correction stroke according to the imbalance.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment according to the imbalance detection device of the washing machine and the control method according to the present invention will be described in detail.

3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an imbalance detection device of the fully automatic washing machine of the present invention, Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the main portion showing the imbalance detection device of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus for detecting the balance imbalance of the automatic washing machine of the present invention is the same as that of FIG. 1, which is connected to the periphery of the microcomputer 11, and only the configuration of the imbalance detector 25 is different.

The imbalance detection unit 25 is connected to the load resistors R15 and R16 of the power supply terminal Vcc and includes a port coupler PC including a photodiode PD and a photo transistor PT, and the photo coupler The first and second transistors Q1 and Q2 connected to the Darlington output terminal of the PC), the divided resistors R17 and R18 connected in parallel to the collector and the base of the transistor, and the second transistor Q2. The resistor R19 is connected to the collector.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the apparatus for detecting an imbalance in the automatic washing machine according to the present invention, a photo coupler PC is mounted in a predetermined region of the recess 42 of the outer tub 31. The blocking film 41 protrudes from the predetermined area of the door in correspondence with the recess 42.

In addition, an opaque liquid is filled in the blocking film 41 to control the detection and blocking of the detection signal according to the operating state of the washing machine.

5A to 5D are cross-sectional views sequentially showing the imbalance detection operation of FIG. 4 and waveform diagrams of a detection signal, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting a bobble balance of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the blocking film 41 is positioned in the recess 42, that is, when the door is closed, the opaque liquid 43 filled in the blocking film 41 is filled with a photodiode ( The photo transistor PT is turned off because the light beam emitted from the PD) is blocked. When the photo transistor PT is in the off state, the imbalance detection unit 25 applies a high level to the microcomputer 11, and thus the microcomputer 11 recognizes the closed state of the door.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 5D, when the barrier layer 41 is opened in the recess 42, that is, when the door is opened, the opaque liquid 43 filled in the barrier layer 41 is photodiode. Since the light beam emitted from PD is not blocked, the photo transistor PT is turned on. When the photo transistor PT is in an on state, the imbalance detection unit 25 applies a low level to the microcomputer 11, and thus the microcomputer 11 recognizes the open state of the door.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, during dehydration, the blocking film 41 is always located in the recess 42, and thus operates in the same manner as the sensing operation of the door, except that the opaque liquid 43 is used. Control the dehydration according to the shaking condition.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, since the high level is always applied to the microcomputer 11 for the minute imbalance of the washing tank during the dehydration, the microcomputer 11 recognizes the normal dehydration operation.

However, when the opaque liquid 43 filled in the blocking film 41 vibrates due to the imbalance of the washing tank, the microcomputer 11 is applied with a high level or a low level at a predetermined cycle, so that the microcomputer 11 has an abnormal dehydration operation. To be recognized.

As the microcomputer 11 recognizes an abnormal dehydration operation, an imbalance control of the dehydration stroke is performed as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the imbalance control method of the washing machine of the present invention, after determining whether the door is closed when the power is turned on, if the door is not closed, the microcomputer detects the door open and stops the progress of the predetermined washing administration. If the door is closed, the dehydration stroke and the washing tank imbalance are judged continuously.

If it is determined that the dehydration administration is not at this stage, another administration is performed, and if it is determined that the dehydration administration is performed, an imbalance of the washing tank is determined. Therefore, when an imbalance of the washing tank occurs in the above step, the normal dewatering operation is performed after performing the correction step of the unevenness leading to the water supply → rinse → drainage → dehydration.

As described above, the imbalance detection device and the control method of the automatic washing machine according to the present invention improve the quality of the washing machine by accurately detecting the door opening and closing and the imbalance of the washing tank regardless of the careless handling of the user.

As described in detail above, according to the imbalance detection device and control method of the washing machine according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the inaccurate detection operation of the conventional dip switch is fundamentally solved, thereby improving the reliability of the washing machine according to the door opening and closing detection.

Second, door opening and closing is detected according to the correct opening angle of the door, thereby preventing a safety accident that may occur to the user.

Third, even when the washing machine is installed in a state where the horizontal adjustment is not performed, continuous pulses are not generated by the opaque liquid, so that imbalance correction of the washing tank does not occur frequently, thereby reducing the noise of the washing machine due to dehydration.

Therefore, the imbalance detection device and control method thereof of the washing machine of the present invention can adjust the sensitivity according to the opening and closing of the door and the detection of the imbalance according to the material of the opaque liquid filled in the blocking film, the installation position of the imbalance detection device also changes the structure Since this is possible, it is obvious that various modulation variations are possible without departing from the embodiments of the present invention and without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

Claims (6)

Sensing means disposed in a predetermined area of a door of the washing machine to form a passage of a sensing signal; Detection means operating in association with the detection means and applying a detection signal to the microcomputer according to door opening and closing and imbalance; Imbalance detection device of the washing machine consisting of a control means for controlling the overall stroke of the washing machine in accordance with the detection signal of the sensing means. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing means comprises a blocking film mounted on a predetermined area of the door part, a recess formed in a predetermined area on the front surface of the outer tub corresponding to the blocking film, and a sensing part provided in the recess part. Unbalance detector in the washing machine. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an opaque liquid is filled in the blocking film to control detection and blocking of the detection signal according to an operating state of the washing machine. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the detector comprises a photo diode and a photo transistor. Detecting whether or not the door is closed and whether or not an imbalance has occurred by the blocking film after the power is turned on; Performing a predetermined stroke when the door is closed in the detecting step, and performing a correction stroke according to the imbalance if an imbalance occurs. The method of claim 5, wherein the correction stroke corrects the imbalance in the order of water supply → rinse → drainage → dehydration.