KR20040087521A - Apparatus and Method Sensing Washing Quantity/Eccentricity of Laundry in Drum Type Washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for sensing the washing amount and eccentricity of a drum-type washing machine and a sensing method thereof are provided to exactly detect the washing amount and eccentricity in various strokes. CONSTITUTION: A drum-type washing machine comprises a cabinet; a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet; a tub installed in a state of covering the outside of the drum; and dampers combined to the lower sides of the tub. The damper has a fixing part and a sliding part, and damps vibration of the tub. A device for sensing the washing amount and eccentricity of the drum-type washing machine comprises a motor drive part(120) driving a motor for rotating the drum; a water supply/drainage control part(110) controlling water supply and drainage; a sensing part(140) sensing the washing amount according to a length change of dampers caused by the weight of the laundry and sensing eccentricity according to a length difference of the dampers caused by imbalance of the laundry; and a system microcomputer(100) controlling the motor drive part and the water supply/drainage control part to execute a stroke according to a corresponding washing program if a user inputs an operation command and controlling the stroke execution according to the washing amount and eccentricity sensed by the sensing part.

Description

Quantity and Eccentricity Sensing Device for Drum Washing Machine and Method for Detection {Apparatus and Method Sensing Washing Quantity / Eccentricity of Laundry in Drum Type Washer}

The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting a quantity / eccentricity of a drum washing machine for improving washing performance.

In general, the drum washing method is a method of washing the laundry using the friction force of the rotating drum and the laundry by receiving the driving force of the motor in a state in which detergent, washing water and laundry are put in the drum, there is almost no damage to the laundry, laundry These don't get tangled with each other and can have a pounding and scrubbing wash effect.

A general drum washing machine using the drum washing method as described above will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a tub 2 is installed inside the cabinet 1, a drum 3 is rotatably installed in the center of the tub 2, and a lower portion of the tub 2 is provided. A motor 4 is installed at one side and a motor pulley 41 is axially connected to the motor 4.

In addition, a drum shaft 32 is installed at the rear of the drum 3, and a drum pulley 31 is installed at the drum shaft 32 so that the drum pulley 31 is driven by a belt 5 which is a power transmission element. It is linked with the motor pulley 41 connected to (4).

In addition, a door 6 is installed in front of the cabinet 1, and a gasket 7 is installed between the door 6 and the tub 2.

On the other hand, a spring 9 for supporting the tub 2 in a floating state is installed between both side portions inside the upper surface of the cabinet 1 and an upper portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tub 2, and both sides of the lower surface of the cabinet 1. A damper 8 is installed between the corner portion and both sides of the lower portion of the outer peripheral surface of the tub 2 to support the drum 3 and to absorb vibrations of the tub 2 generated by the rotation of the drum 3 when dewatering. To attenuate.

At this time, the dampers 8 are symmetrically installed on both sides of the lower part of the tub 2, and the lower end of each damper 8 is installed on the base surface 11 forming the lower surface of the cabinet 1 (not shown). Is omitted) and is fixed by fastening means such as bolts and nuts.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method of detecting a quantity of water in a conventional drum washing machine configured as described above, if a washing stroke is started, proceeds with water supply to a predetermined level (S11), and then controls the system microcomputer (not shown). By rotating the motor 4 in accordance with the acceleration of the drum 3 to proceed with dehydration (S12).

Subsequently, when the drum 3 is accelerated and the rotational RPM reaches the set RPM (RPM1) (S13), the motor 4 is stopped (S14).

At this time, the drum 3 is rotated by the rotational inertia force, the rotational time of the rotation of the drum 3 is measured (S15).

Then, by determining the amount of capacity according to the measured rotation speed of the rotation (S16), if the long rotation time is large, it is determined that the large amount, the short rotation time is determined that the small amount.

In this case, a criterion for determining the amount of capacity according to the rotation time is configured in the system microcomputer by constructing a look up table through repeated experiments in advance.

When the quantity of the drum washing machine is determined by the above-described process, the washing operation is performed by supplying water according to the determined quantity.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, a method of detecting an eccentricity in a conventional drum washing machine will be described. The washing process is performed at a washing speed (typically 45 to 50 RPM), and then the rotation speed is increased when dehydration enters the drum 3. The rotation speed is increased to about 100 RPM (S21 to S22).

At this time, the sensor (not shown) attached to one side of the motor 4 continuously detects the rotation speed of the motor 4 and transmits it to the system microcomputer. When the rotation speed of the motor 4 reaches 100 RPM, the laundry Eccentricity is detected.

In general, laundry is stuck to the inner wall of the drum 3 by centrifugal force when the number of revolutions increases during dehydration. When the laundry is evenly spread on the inner wall of the drum 3, a constant force is applied to the motor 4, If the laundry is not evenly spread and is swollen or agglomerated to one side, the load will be heavy on the part where the laundry is concentrated or agglomerated, and the load will be small on the other part.

In other words, when the laundry is eccentric, the rotation of the drum 3 is not constant and fluctuates because the load is not constantly applied to the motor.

Therefore, the change in the rotational speed of the motor 4, that is, the amount of eccentricity, is detected by the system microcomputer that controls the rotation of the motor 4 (S23).

At this time, the system microcomputer determines whether the detected eccentricity is within the preset range (S24), and if the detected eccentricity is within the setting range, the RPM is gradually increased to dehydrate at the set dehydration RPM (S25 to S26). ).

On the other hand, if the detected amount of eccentricity is greater than the set range, the drum 3 is stopped to perform a foaming stroke to spread the laundry evenly while washing 2-3 times (S27).

After performing the unfolding stroke, the process enters the above-described step S21 and again increases to a predetermined rotation speed (100 RPM) to detect the eccentricity again.

However, the above-mentioned conventional method for detecting a quantity / eccentricity of a drum washing machine has the following problems.

First, in the washing stroke, the drum is rotated for a certain time, that is, after dehydration, the motor is stopped and the quantity is detected through the rotation of the drum's free space. Unbalance occurred due to the condition and usage environment, so that it was impossible to detect the correct dose. And, there was a problem that waste washing water and energy due to inaccurate dose detection.

Second, the eccentric amount is detected only once at a predetermined rotation speed during the dehydration stroke, and the eccentric amount is changed in the drum in the process of increasing the rotational speed due to the difference in the water quality and quantity of the laundry. Due to insufficient consideration of the possibility of exceeding), this resulted in noise and vibration, resulting in a deterioration of the safety and reliability of the system.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to detect the amount and eccentricity of the drum washing machine to detect the amount and eccentricity of the various strokes in various strokes and the sensing method thereof To provide.

1 is a sectional view showing the main part of the structure of a conventional drum washing machine

2 and 3 is a flow chart showing a quantity / eccentricity detection method of the drum washing machine according to the prior art

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration for detecting the quantity / eccentricity of the drum washing machine according to the present invention

5 is a view showing the configuration of the detection unit of the present invention

6 to 8 is a flow chart showing a quantity / eccentricity detection method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

8: damper

8a: fixed part 8b: sliding part

100: system microcomputer 110: supply / drain control

120: motor drive unit 130: water level detection unit

140: detector 141: MR sensor

142: permanent magnet

A drum washing machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a combined amount of the cabinet, the drum rotatably installed in the cabinet, the tub installed to surround the outside of the drum, and the lower side of the tub A drum washing machine comprising a damper for damping vibration of a tub having a government part and a sliding part, comprising: a motor driving part for driving a motor for rotating the drum, a water supply / drainage control part for controlling water supply and drainage, and weight of laundry A sensing unit for detecting a quantity according to the change in the length of the both side dampers and sensing the eccentricity according to the difference in the length of the both side dampers due to the deflection of laundry, and when the user inputs an operation command, the stroke is executed according to the corresponding washing program. While controlling the motor driving unit and the supply / drainage control unit to perform Depending on the amount and the eccentric consists of a system including a microcomputer for controlling the stroke performed has its features.

At this time, the sensing unit is attached to the upper end of the permanent magnet and the fixed part of the damper corresponding to the position of the permanent magnet and the damper of the damper to output a voltage value according to the distance change with the permanent magnet It is composed of MR sensor.

In addition, the quantity of the drum washing machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object / eccentricity detection method, the drum is installed rotatably, the tub is installed to surround the outside of the drum, the lower side of the tub is coupled to the vibration of the tub A drum washing machine having a damper comprising a damping damper, a permanent magnet attached to a sliding part of the damper, and an MR sensor attached to a fixed part of the damper and outputting a voltage value corresponding to a distance from the permanent magnet. A dose detection step of detecting a dose according to the voltage value output from the detector of the damper; In addition, an eccentric detection step of detecting the eccentricity in accordance with the voltage difference output from the sensing unit of the both side dampers is characterized by.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a description will be made of the apparatus for detecting the quantity / eccentricity of the drum washing machine according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the quantity / eccentricity detection device of the drum washing machine according to the invention, Figure 5 is a view showing the configuration of the detection unit of the present invention, Figures 6 to 8 of the drum washing machine according to the present invention This is a flow chart showing the quantity / eccentricity detection method.

First, with reference to Figure 4 will be described in the drum / washing machine eccentricity detection device according to the present invention. In this case, the same components as in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drum washing machine according to the present invention includes a cabinet 1, a drum 3 rotatably installed in the cabinet 1, and a tub 2 installed to surround the outside of the drum 3. And a damper (8) coupled to both lower sides of the tub (2) to damp the vibration of the tub (2), the drum washing machine comprising: driving a motor (4) for rotating the drum (3); The motor drive unit 120, the water supply / drainage control unit 110 for controlling the water supply and drainage, and detects the quantity according to the change in the length of the two dampers (8) by the weight of the laundry and the dampers (8) by the bias of the laundry Detection unit 140 for detecting the eccentricity according to the difference in the length of the control unit, the user controls the motor drive unit 120 and the water supply / drainage control unit 110 to perform the stroke according to the washing program corresponding to the input operation command At the same time the amount and volume detected through the detection unit 140 Depending on the system is configured to include a microcomputer 100 for controlling the stroke performed.

At this time, the damper (8) is known, it is coupled to the lower both sides of the tub (2) consists of a fixed portion (8a) and the sliding portion (8b) as shown in Figure 5 tub 2 vibration and weight As the sliding part 8b slides along the inner surface of the fixing part 8a according to the change, the sliding part 8b supports the tub 2 and simultaneously absorbs the vibration of the tub 2.

In the present invention, the sensing unit 140 for detecting the amount and eccentricity of the drum washing machine, as shown in the permanent magnet 142 attached to the upper end of the sliding portion (8b) of the damper (8), and the permanent magnet Magnetic Resistive Sensor (141) attached to the upper end of the fixing part (8a) of the damper (8) corresponding to the position of (142) and outputs a voltage value according to the distance change with the permanent magnet (142) (141) It is composed of

Here, the MR sensor 141 is characterized in that the output voltage is increased when the distance (D) with the permanent magnet 142 is close to the characteristics of the sensor, the output voltage is lowered when the distance (D) with the permanent magnet 142 is far away . The MR sensor 141 of this principle outputs a voltage level corresponding to the distance D with the permanent magnet 142, and the voltage level output from the MR sensor 141 is an A / D converter (not shown). Is converted to be recognized by the system microcomputer 100.

In addition, the system microcomputer 100 reads the output voltage level of the MR sensor 141 corresponding to the length of both dampers 8, that is, the distance from the permanent magnet 142, through the sensing unit 140. The amount of laundry (weight of the laundry) or the eccentricity (biasing of the laundry) is sensed according to the output voltage level of the MR sensor 141 which is read by the input.

Here, the quantity is for detecting the weight of the laundry to determine the amount of capacity by detecting the change in the length of the damper 8 through the sensing unit 140, the eccentricity is the length of both dampers 8 through the sensing unit 140 Detect the difference in the laundry by detecting the car.

At this time, the dose determination criterion according to the output voltage level of the MR sensor 141 is programmed in the system microcomputer 100 by constructing a look up table through an iterative experiment in advance.

Referring to the quantity / eccentric detection method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, referring to FIG. 6, the quantity detection method of the present invention will be described. It is determined whether the user inputs laundry and inputs an administrative start command (S100).

As a result of the determination (S100), when a stroke start command is input from the user, water is supplied to a predetermined level for detecting a quantity of water and then the drum 3 is rotated (dehydration) (S110 to S120).

At this time, the output unit 140 reads the output voltage level of the MR sensor 141 and detects the amount of dose based on the read output voltage level based on the lookup table of the system microcomputer 100 (S130 to S140). ).

Subsequently, water supply corresponding to the detected amount of water is performed (S150) to start a full washing stroke.

And, with reference to Figure 7 describes an eccentric detection method of the present invention during washing or rinsing stroke.

When the washing or rinsing stroke is started, the motor 4 is driven at an RPM corresponding to each stroke (S200), and at this time, the output voltage level of each MR sensor 141 of the both dampers 8 is read (S210). The output voltage difference of each MR sensor 141, that is, the length difference of both dampers 8 is calculated.

Here, it is determined whether the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is greater than or equal to a preset value (acceptable range) (S220), and if the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is less than or equal to the set value, washing or rinsing stroke is performed in earnest. It performs (S230).

On the other hand, if the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is greater than or equal to the set value, and performs the unfolding stroke to evenly spread the laundry (S240) and feeds back to the step S200.

Finally, the eccentric detection method of the present invention during dehydration will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

First, when the dehydration stroke is started, the motor 4 is driven at a low speed RPM. At this time, the output voltage level of each MR sensor 141 of the both dampers 8 is read, and the output voltage difference of each MR sensor 141 is read. It calculates (S300-S310).

Subsequently, it is determined whether the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is greater than or equal to a preset value (S320), and if the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is greater than or equal to the set value, an inflation stroke is performed (S330).

On the other hand, when the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is less than or equal to the set value, the motor 4 rotation speed is increased to the medium speed RPM, and the output voltage difference of the MR sensor 141 is similarly calculated to determine the MR sensor 141. If the output voltage difference is greater than or equal to the set value, the expansion stroke is performed, and if it is less than or equal to, the motor 4 is increased to a high speed RPM, that is, the maximum spin speed (S340 to S380).

That is, during the dehydration stroke, the sensing unit 140 periodically detects the eccentricity, thereby gradually increasing the speed of the motor 4 and proceeding to the dehydration stroke in earnest up to the maximum dewatering speed.

Therefore, the present invention detects the change in the length of the damper 8 supporting the tub 2 or the difference in the length of both dampers 8 by using the MR sensor 141, and detects the amount or eccentricity.

As described above, the quantity / eccentricity detecting apparatus and the sensing method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, by accurately detecting the change in the length of the damper, that is, the quantity through the MR sensor, it is possible to improve washing performance and save washing water and energy.

Second, by accurately detecting the difference in the length of the two dampers, that is, the eccentricity through the MR sensor, it is possible to improve the system stability by reducing vibration and noise.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (5)

Drum washing machine including a cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet, a tub installed to surround the outside of the drum, and a damper coupled to both sides of the bottom of the tub and having a fixing part and a sliding part to damp vibration of the tub. To A motor driver for driving a motor for rotating the drum, Water supply and drainage control unit to control the water supply and drainage, Detecting unit for detecting the amount of load in accordance with the change in the length of the two dampers by the weight of the laundry and the eccentricity according to the difference in the length of the two dampers due to the bias of the laundry, When the user inputs an operation command, the system microcomputer controls the motor driving unit and the water supply / drainage control unit to perform the stroke according to the washing program corresponding to the washing program according to the amount and the eccentricity detected by the sensing unit. Capacity / eccentricity detection device of the drum washing machine, characterized in that configured to include. The method of claim 1, The sensing unit Permanent magnet attached to the upper end of the damping portion of the damper, And an MR sensor attached to an inner upper end of the fixing part of the damper corresponding to the position of the permanent magnet and outputting a voltage value according to a change in distance from the permanent magnet. A drum rotatably installed, a tub installed to surround the outside of the drum, a damper coupled to both sides of the tub and damping the vibration of the tub, a permanent magnet attached to the sliding part of the damper, and a fixed portion of the damper In a drum washing machine having a sensing unit consisting of an MR sensor for outputting a voltage value corresponding to the distance to the permanent magnet, A quantity detection step of detecting a quantity according to a voltage value output from the sensing units of both dampers; And, And an eccentricity detecting step of detecting an eccentricity according to the voltage difference output from the sensing parts of the both side dampers. The method of claim 3, wherein The quantity detection step When the user inputs an operation command and the water supply to a predetermined level and stirring the drum at a constant speed, Reading voltage values output from the sensing units of both dampers; Determining a quantity corresponding to a voltage value of the read unit; Determination of the amount / eccentricity of the drum washing machine, characterized in that for determining the water supply level of the washing stroke in accordance with the determined amount. The method of claim 3, wherein The eccentric detection step Reading the voltage values output from the sensing units of both dampers when performing washing, rinsing, and dehydration operations; Calculating a voltage difference output from the sensing units of both dampers; And if the calculated voltage difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, performing an unfolding stroke.