WO2014199627A1

WO2014199627A1 - Drum-type washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2014199627A1
Application number: PCT/JP2014/003079
Authority: WO
Inventors: 友弘藤井; 明宏細川; 健蒲生; 内山　亘
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2013-06-12
Filing date: 2014-06-10
Publication date: 2014-12-18
Also published as: DE112014002821T5; JP6064148B2; CN105308229A; JPWO2014199627A1; CN105308229B

Abstract

A drum-type washing machine has a configuration such that, by detecting any biaxial displacement of a vibration detector (10) provided in the top front of a washing machine tub (22) while a rotating tub (3) operates at or below the resonance frequency, and correcting the vibrational displacement in accordance with the clothing volume from a clothing volume detector, the amount of unbalance and the unbalance position (in the front-rear direction) of the clothing being washed (18) are precisely identified and a rotational body controlling device (8) is driven under optimized conditions when starting spin-dry. Thus, a drum-type washing machine can be achieved that keeps vibrations generated when the rotational frequency of the rotating tub (3) passes the resonance frequency to a minimum.

Description

Drum washing machine

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine provided with a rotating body control device (ball balancer). In particular, the present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine that grasps an unbalanced state due to a bias in a drum such as laundry clothes, shifts to a dehydration step by an activation method corresponding to the grasped state, and suppresses vibration at the time of activation.

Conventionally, in this type of drum type washing machine, when wet clothes are stored in the drum, the clothes are unevenly distributed in the drum. Therefore, when the drum is rotated at high speed around the horizontal axis, the clothes in the drum rotate in an unbalanced state. Usually, the rotation speed of the drum has a maximum resonance point from about 200 rpm to about 400 rpm from the start. As a result, vibration, noise, and increase in power consumption due to vibration occur. Therefore, the drum cannot be easily rotated at a high speed.

Therefore, the conventional drum type washing machine is provided with a rotating body control device (ball balancer). When the rotational speed of the drum reaches a rotational speed higher than the natural frequency of the drum, the ball in the ball balancer moves to a position opposite to the clothing bias. By this action, the ball in the ball balancer moves in the direction opposite to the bias of the clothing in the drum, and the unbalanced state due to the clothing is eliminated.

Generally, when the drum rotates at a low speed, the ball in the ball balancer is located at the bottom of the ball balancer and does not move upward due to gravity. On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the drum reaches a constant rotational speed that adds rotational acceleration exceeding the gravity of the ball, the ball in the ball balancer moves upward. That is, by controlling the movement of the ball in the ball balancer and arranging the ball at an appropriate position with respect to the bias of the clothing, the drum vibration generated in the unbalanced state is suppressed.

In addition to the balls, fluid such as silicone oil is enclosed in the ball balancer. This prevents ball collision noise and stabilizes the movement of the ball in the ball balancer.

However, unless it is possible to grasp how the laundry clothes are biased in the drum, it is not possible to place the ball at an optimal position according to the bias. In view of this, a method of detecting the vibration displacement by the vibration detection unit provided in the washing tub and grasping the bias of the clothing is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Hereinafter, as an example of a conventional drum-type washing machine, a washing machine described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional drum-type washing machine. FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a conventional drum type washing machine.

11 and 12, in the conventional drum type washing machine, a washing tub 20A is elastically fixed to a drum type washing machine body 10A. The washing tub 20A accommodates the drum 30A, and a motor 40A for driving the drum 30A is provided at a position on the back surface of the washing tub 20A. On the front surface of the drum 30 </ b> A, a door 70 </ b> A provided at a clothing input port is disposed. The washing tub 20A is supported by a damper 220 from the bottom of the drum type washing machine main body 10A, and is supported by

suspension springs

180 and 190 disposed on the top of the drum type washing machine main body 10A.

Further, for example, a vibration detection unit 50A configured from an acceleration sensor 501 or the like is provided on the bottom of the rear part of the washing tub 20A and detects vibration of the washing tub 20A.

Control device 60A controls the driving of drum 30A based on the detection signal of vibration detection unit 50A.

As shown in FIG. 12, the control device 60A includes at least a microcomputer 503, a motor control circuit 504, a display panel circuit 505, a power supply circuit 507, and the like. The microcomputer 503 further includes an unbalance amount detection unit 508, an unbalance position detection unit 509, and the like that calculate clothing bias and the like. The microcomputer 503 calculates the signal from the vibration detection unit 50A that detects the vibration of the washing tub 20A by taking only the signal component through the filter circuit 502. At this time, the unbalance amount detector 508 calculates the unbalance amount, and the unbalance position detector 509 calculates the unbalance position. The motor control circuit 504 drives and controls the motor 40A based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detector 50A. Thereby, the rotation of the drum 30A is controlled so as to eliminate the unbalanced state of the uneven clothing and the like.

More specifically, in the conventional drum type washing machine, the vibration detection unit 50A detects the vibration displacement while maintaining the rotation speed of the drum 30A at 300 rpm. Then, the ratio of each signal value is calculated | required with respect to the detected detection signal of 3 axial directions. Then, an unbalance position is specified by the unbalance position detection unit 509 from the obtained ratio and its rank. Further, the unbalance amount detection unit 508 calculates the unbalance amount from the unbalance amount for each unbalance position. Thereby, 60 A of control apparatuses control rotation of the motor 40A, and cancel the clothing unbalanced state.

However, in the configuration of the conventional drum type washing machine, the vibration detection unit 50A detects the unbalance position and the unbalance amount due to the bias of the laundry in the drum 30A while maintaining the rotation speed of the drum 30A at 300 rpm. It is detected from vibration displacement. As described above, the resonance rotational speed of a drum type washing machine is usually about 200 rpm to 400 rpm. Therefore, when the dehydration step is started, vibration of the drum 30A is detected in the vicinity of the resonance point (resonance rotation speed).

Therefore, when the dehydration step is started, the drum 30A may not be able to start rotating because the vibration of the drum 30A at the resonance point increases. Therefore, the unbalance amount and unbalance position may not be specified. At this time, when the drum 30A starts rotating, the vibration displacement can be detected if the vibration displacement of the drum 30A at the resonance point is not more than a certain value. However, the vibration displacement of the drum 30A at the resonance point is not always below a certain level. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be accurately detected whether or not the dehydration step can be started. Therefore, in the dehydration step, if the unbalance amount and the unbalance position cannot be specified in an attempt to increase the number of rotations to 300 rpm, the rotation of the drum 30A is temporarily stopped and the dehydration step is started again. It was supported by restarting the startup.

Further, in the conventional drum type washing machine, even if the amount of unbalance is 400 g, for example, in the unbalanced state of the clothes, the capacity of the clothes is, for example, 1 kg, 3 kg, 6 kg, 9 kg, etc. However, re-startup can occur. That is, the weight at the time of rotation of drum 30A changes by changing the capacity of clothes. For this reason, there is a problem that even in the same unbalanced state, the degree of vibration changes and reactivation is generated.

JP 2011-030972 A

The present invention provides a drum-type washing machine that can reduce the occurrence of re-starting of the dewatering step by suppressing the vibration of the drum and smoothly starting when dehydration is started.

Therefore, the drum type washing machine of the present invention includes a housing, a washing tub supported inside the housing, a rotating tub rotatably accommodated in the washing tub, and a drive unit that rotationally drives the rotating tub. The rotating body control device provided in the rotating tub, the vibration detecting unit provided in the washing tub, the cloth amount detecting unit for calculating the amount of cloth in the rotating tub, and the drive unit based on the output from the vibration detecting unit A control unit. The control unit has a configuration for controlling the rotating body control device at the start of dehydration based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit and the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit.

As a result, even if the unbalanced state (unbalanced position and unbalance amount, etc.) of the laundry in the drum constituting the rotating tub is the same and the cloth amount in the rotating tub is different, the cloth amount and the vibration detection unit Measure the vibration with, and accurately grasp the unbalanced state before the resonance speed. And the vibration of a washing tub can be suppressed by controlling a rotating body control apparatus according to the imbalance state (unbalance amount and unbalance position) of clothing. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of an operation that repeats the restarting of the activation, and a stable operation at the time of dehydration activation can be achieved.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a drum-type washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3A is a front view showing an unbalanced state of the laundry in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3B is a side view showing an unbalanced state on the front side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3C is a side view showing an unbalanced state of the rear side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3D is a side view showing an unbalanced state on the center side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3E is a side view showing a diagonally unbalanced state in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change in the current value of the motor when the laundry in the drum type washing machine is in an unbalanced state. FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalance amount of the drum type washing machine and the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the clothing capacity as a parameter. FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalance position of the drum type washing machine and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the unbalance amount as a parameter. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an output waveform of left-right vibration displacement when a drum of a drum type washing machine provided with a conventional fluid balancer is rotated. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an output waveform of the left-right vibration displacement when the drum of the drum type washing machine equipped with the rotating body control device (ball balancer) according to the embodiment of the present invention is rotated. FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the drum type washing machine in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalanced amount of the drum type washing machine and the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit using temperature as a parameter. FIG. 10 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalanced position of the drum type washing machine and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the unbalance amount as a parameter. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional drum-type washing machine. FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a conventional drum type washing machine.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
Below, the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. 1 and FIG.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a drum-type washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the drum type washing machine.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment includes at least a drum type washing machine body 1 constituting a housing, a washing tub 22 accommodated in the drum type washing machine body 1, It comprises a drum 3, which constitutes a rotating tub, a motor 12, a ball balancer 8 which constitutes a rotating body control device, a vibration detection unit 10 comprising a vibration sensor, a control unit 13, and the like.

The washing tub 22 accommodates the drum 3 constituting the rotating tub inside, and is supported by the drum type washing machine main body 1 constituting the housing by the damper 19. The drum 3 stores the laundry 18. On the inner peripheral wall of the drum 3, for example, a baffle 7 composed of three pieces is provided, and the laundry 18 is lifted and stirred when the drum 3 rotates. The drum 3 has, for example, a horizontal axis or an inclined rotation axis and is rotatably accommodated in the washing tub 22.

Also, the ball balancer 8 constituting the rotating body control device is provided on the laundry input side on the front side of the drum 3. The ball balancer 8 contains therein a plurality of balls 9 (for example, iron balls) and oil of a predetermined viscosity (for example, silicone oil) having a temperature characteristic of, for example, a viscosity of 100 cs. The ball balancer 8 rotates together with the drum 3, and the ball balancer 8 has a configuration in which, for example, the balls 9 arranged in a row can freely move in the rotation direction due to the viscosity of the internal oil.

Further, the vibration detection unit 10 is provided on the front side (front side) upper portion of the washing tub 22 and detects vibrations in multi-axis directions such as three axes. Specifically, the vibration detection unit 10 detects the vibration displacement in the left-right direction (left-right vibration displacement), the vibration displacement in the front-rear direction (front-rear vibration displacement), and the vibration displacement in the vertical direction (vertical vibration displacement) in the upper part of the washing tub 22. Detect. Based on the magnitude of the vibration displacement in each direction detected by the vibration detector 10, the controller 13 determines whether to increase, stop, or maintain the rotational speed of the drum 3.

Further, a drum pulley 4 provided on the same axis as the drum 3 is provided on the back side of the drum 3. The drum 3 rotates when the drive of the motor 12 is transmitted from the motor pulley 5 to the drum pulley 4 via the belt 6.

The motor 12 includes a rotor position detector 15 that detects the rotor position of the motor 12. The rotor position detector 15 detects the rotor position of the motor 12 and transmits a signal to the rotation controller 132 of the controller 13. The rotation control unit 132 controls the rotation drive of the motor 12 via the drive unit 133 based on the rotor position signal. In addition, the motor 12 is comprised with a permanent magnet synchronous motor, for example. Then, the rotor position of the motor 12 is detected by the rotor position detector 15 and input to the rotation controller 132 of the controller 13. Thus, the rotation of the motor 12 is controlled without stepping out.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the control part 13 which performs drive control of the drum-type washing machine main body 1 has the starting determination part 131, the rotation control part 132 mentioned above, etc. The activation determination unit 131 includes a current detection unit 101, a cloth amount detection unit 102, a rotational position detection unit 103, a cloth amount correction unit 104, an unbalance position calculation unit 30, an unbalance amount calculation unit 31, and the like. Has been. The current detection unit 101 detects a current flowing through the motor 12. The rotation position detection unit 103 detects an unbalance position in the circumferential direction in the drum 3 due to the bias of the laundry 18 from the change in current detected by the current detection unit 101. The unbalance amount calculation unit 31 detects the unbalance amount of the laundry 18 in the drum 3 from the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10. The unbalance position calculation unit 30 calculates the unbalance position of the laundry 18 in the depth direction of the drum 3 from the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 based on the unbalance amount calculated by the unbalance amount calculation unit 31. To do. The cloth amount detection unit 102 detects the amount of cloth such as the capacity of the laundry 18 in the drum 3. The cloth amount correction unit 104 corrects the value of the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 from the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102.

Moreover, the rotation control part 132 of the control part 13 is provided with the drive part 133 which drives the motor 12 inside as mentioned above. The drive unit 133 drives the motor 12 in synchronization with the rotor position signal of the motor 12 detected by the rotor position detection unit 15.

The motor 12 rotates the drum 3 via the motor pulley 5, the belt 6 and the drum pulley 4 that constitute the speed reduction mechanism shown in FIG. At this time, the vibration detector 10 detects the vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 generated by the rotation of the drum 3.

Hereinafter, the unbalanced state of the laundry 18 generated as the drum 3 rotates in the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing an unbalanced state of the laundry in the circumferential direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3B is a side view showing an unbalanced state on the front side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3C is a side view showing an unbalanced state of the rear side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3D is a side view showing an unbalanced state on the center side in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine. FIG. 3E is a side view showing a diagonally unbalanced state in the depth direction of the rotating tub of the drum type washing machine.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing a state where the unbalanced position A is generated with the laundry 18 sticking to the inner wall of the drum 3. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 is generated on the front side (front side). FIG. 3C shows a state in which the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 has occurred on the rear side. FIG. 3D shows a state in which the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 occurs on the center side of the drum 3. FIG. 3E shows a state in which the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 is generated at the diagonal of the drum.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in the current value of the motor when the laundry in the drum type washing machine is in an unbalanced state. Specifically, when the unbalance position A is in the lower side in the rotating drum 3, it is lifted upward against the unbalanced weight. Therefore, a large amount of current is consumed, and the current value detected by the current detection unit 101 increases. On the contrary, when the unbalance position A is at the upper part of the drum 3, the current consumption is minimized because the unbalance weight is taken downward according to gravity. Therefore, the current value detected by the current detection unit 101 decreases. Thus, when the drum 3 is unbalanced, the current value of the motor 12 fluctuates, and the current change is linked to the rotation of the unbalance position A. Further, the current value increases in proportion to the amount of unbalance.

3A, the unbalanced position A of the laundry 18 rotates in the circumferential direction of the drum 3 indicated by the arrow, and the balls in the ball balancer 8 constituting the rotating body control device provided on the outer periphery of the drum 3 are shown. 9 has shown the state biased to the bottom part. FIG. 4 shows a change in the current value of the motor 12 in the rotating state. This is a state in which the drum 3 is rotating at a rotational speed equal to or higher than the minimum rotational speed at which the laundry 18 sticks to the inner wall of the drum 3 and below the maximum rotational speed at which the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 does not rotate with the rotation of the drum 3. Show. Specifically, the minimum rotational speed is, for example, about 60 rpm to 70 rpm, and corresponds to the rotational speed at which the gravity applied to the laundry 18 and the centrifugal force of the drum 3 are balanced. On the other hand, the maximum rotation speed usually depends on the viscosity of the oil and the weight of the ball 9, but the ball 9 is biased toward the bottom by the oil having a predetermined viscosity contained in the ball balancer 8, for example, the rotation speed of about 80 rpm. It corresponds to. Therefore, in the above state, when the drum 3 rotates at 80 rpm or more, the ball 9 rotates and moves in the ball balancer 8 with a delay from the rotation of the drum 3.

In the state shown in FIG. 3A, when the laundry 18 in the drum 3 rotates, only the unbalanced position A is set to the unbalanced state, and the current detection unit 101 sets the current value of the motor 12 as shown in FIG. Detected as a change. That is, in FIG. 4, when the unbalanced position A of the laundry 18 moves from the bottom to the top of the drum 3, the current value for driving the motor 12 is changed from the minimum current value b in synchronization with the rotation period of the drum 3. It shows that it can be detected as a change to the maximum current value a (current difference d). As a result, while the drum 3 is being driven at the same rotation speed, the current detection unit 101 detects the change in the current value of the motor 12 at a repetition period c synchronized with the rotation speed.

However, normally, the unbalance position A varies in a complex manner depending on the actual position of the laundry 18. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B to FIG. 3E, it can be roughly classified into four. For example, when the unbalance position A is in front of the drum 3 in the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the drum 3 as shown in FIG. 3B, or when the unbalance position A is at the rear side as shown in FIG. 3C. and so on. 3D, when the unbalance position A is on the center side (intermediate position) of the drum 3, or as shown in FIG. 3E, the unbalance position A is a diagonal position between the front side and the rear side of the drum 3. (For example, 180 degrees).

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, when the clothing capacity (cloth amount) in the drum 3 changes, the following is obtained from the experimental values. For example, when the clothing capacity increases, the inertia increases due to the increase in the mass of the drum 3, so that the vibration displacement value of the drum 3 is stabilized. On the other hand, since the mass of the drum 3 decreases as the clothing capacity decreases, the vibration displacement value of the drum 3 increases. That is, the experimental value indicates that the vibration displacement generated with the rotation of the drum 3 changes depending on the clothing capacity.

Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp and control various unbalanced states such as an unbalanced position and an unbalanced amount due to a change in clothing capacity only by changing the current value for driving the motor 12 described in FIG. Have difficulty.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the vibration detection unit 10 detects and controls various unbalanced states such as an unbalanced position and an unbalanced amount due to a change in clothing capacity. In this control, first, the relationship between the vibration displacement due to the change in clothing capacity and the unbalanced state (unbalance amount and unbalance position) is experimentally measured as shown in FIGS. Then, using an experimentally measured result, the unbalanced state is detected and controlled more accurately according to the clothing capacity during actual driving.

Hereinafter, a method for detecting an unbalanced state in the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalanced amount of the drum type washing machine and the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the clothing capacity as a parameter. Specifically, S1 in the figure indicates the relationship between the unbalance amount and the lateral vibration displacement when the clothing capacity is small. Similarly, S2 shows the relationship when the clothing capacity is medium, and S3 shows the relationship when the clothing capacity is large. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the small capacity is 20% of the large capacity, the medium capacity is 60% of the large capacity, and the large capacity is the rated capacity. Further, the capacity classification is not limited to three, and the more the classification, the more accurately the unbalanced state can be grasped.

Furthermore, S11 in the figure indicates the left-right vibration displacement on S1 when the unbalance amount is 500 g and the clothing capacity is small. Similarly, S21 indicates the left-right vibration displacement on S2 and S3 when the clothing capacity is medium, and S31 indicates when the clothing capacity is large.

FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalance position of the drum type washing machine and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the unbalance amount as a parameter. Specifically, Z1 to Z7 in the figure indicate the respective unbalance amounts corresponding to 100 g to 2000 g when the clothing capacity is small. C1 in the figure indicates the relationship between the unbalance position and the longitudinal vibration displacement when the unbalance amount is 500 g when the clothing capacity is small. Similarly, C2 indicates the relationship between the unbalanced position and the longitudinal vibration displacement when the unbalanced amount is 500 g when the clothing capacity is medium, and C3 when the clothing capacity is large. In addition, the correlation diagram other than the case where the clothing capacity is medium capacity and large capacity and the unbalance amount is 500 g is not shown.

Furthermore, C11 in the figure indicates the longitudinal vibration displacement on C1 when the unbalance amount is 500 g, the clothing capacity is small, and the unbalance position is “front middle”. Similarly, C21 indicates the longitudinal vibration displacement when the unbalanced position on C2 and C3 is “front middle” when the clothing capacity is medium, and C31 is when the clothing capacity is large.

At this time, FIG. 5 shows that the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detector 10 and the unbalance amount is the position shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E when the drum 3 is driven under the following conditions. It shows that there is a correlation regardless of the relationship. The condition is a case where the left-right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount are detected in a state in which the rotation speed of the drum 3 rotating without the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 being fixed to the bottom is maintained within a range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm, for example. . This rotational speed is lower than the resonant rotational speed of the drum 3, which is convenient for detecting an unbalanced state.

In the present embodiment, FIG. 5 shows the result of experimental measurement of the relationship between the left-right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount for each clothing capacity with the rotation speed maintained at 120 rpm. Similarly, FIG. 6 shows the results of experimental measurement of the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount with the clothing capacity being small and the rotation speed maintained at 120 rpm.

Here, a specific measurement method for obtaining FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described. First, for example, weights corresponding to clothing capacities are evenly arranged on the inner wall surface of the drum 3. Next, the drum 3 is rotationally driven in a state where a weight (for example, 500 g) corresponding to the unbalance amount is disposed at a predetermined unbalance position. And the left-right vibration displacement and the front-back vibration displacement generated when the drum 3 is rotated in the above state are detected and plotted in FIG. 5 and FIG.

Hereinafter, the reason why the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount in FIG. 5 is correlated regardless of the unbalance position A regardless of the positional relationship in the depth direction shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E will be described.

First, the rotating shaft of the drum 3 is supported and fixed with the back side of the washing tub 22 as a shaft, and the vibration detecting unit 10 is provided at the upper part on the front side at a distance away from the shaft. Therefore, although the longitudinal vibration displacement and the vertical vibration displacement are affected by the unbalanced position of the drum 3 in the depth direction, the influence on the lateral vibration displacement is small. That is, the left / right vibration displacement is not affected by the unbalanced position in the depth direction. Thereby, the relationship between the unbalance amount and the left-right vibration displacement can be obtained with high accuracy.

On the other hand, the left-right vibration displacement is affected by the increase or decrease of the clothing capacity accommodated in the drum 3 as described above. That is, when the weight of the entire drum 3 increases due to an increase in the clothing capacity, inertia due to the weight acts in a direction to suppress the vibration at the beginning of the vibration. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount at the time of a small capacity is shown by S1 from the clothing capacity detected before washing (for example, before supplying washing water) by the cloth amount detection unit 102. Similarly, the relationship at medium capacity is indicated by S2, and the relationship at large capacity is indicated by S3.

Specifically, for example, when the clothing capacity is small and the left-right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 is 3.0 mm, the unbalance amount is 500 g from S11 on S1. On the other hand, if the unbalance amount is the same at 500 g, the left-right vibration displacement is as small as 1.0 mm from S21 on S2 in the middle capacity, and left and right from S31 on S3 in the large capacity. The vibration displacement is further reduced to 0.8 mm. Therefore, if the clothing capacity is a small capacity, when the left-right vibration displacement is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount is 400 g from S1. Furthermore, when the left-right vibration displacement is 0.8 mm, the unbalance amount is 300 g from S1. That is, even when the unbalance amount is the same, as described above, the left-right vibration displacement differs depending on the clothing capacity. As a result, if the unbalance amount is determined only by the left-right vibration displacement, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 illustrated in FIG. 2 may erroneously determine the unbalance amount and may erroneously activate the activation method.

Further, from the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position shown in FIG. 6, the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 can be calculated using the characteristics for each unbalance amount indicated by Z1 to Z7 in the figure. it can. The relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount shown in FIG. 6 is data obtained experimentally as described above.

That is, when the drum 3 is driven under the following conditions, the longitudinal displacement of the vibration detection unit 10 can be detected as the longitudinal vibration displacement from the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 for each unbalance amount. The condition is that the drum 3 is rotated while maintaining the number of rotations of the drum 3 without the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 being fixed to the bottom, for example, a range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm. In this embodiment, the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position is experimentally measured with the rotation speed maintained at 120 rpm. In FIG. 6, as described above, the unbalance amount is Except for the case of 500 g, only the case where the clothing capacity is small is shown.

Here, the reason why the longitudinal vibration displacement can be detected is that the rotating shaft of the drum 3 is first supported with the rear part of the washing tub 22 as an axis, and the vibration detecting unit 10 is provided at the front upper position away from the axis. Thereby, the left-right vibration indicating the unbalance amount appears clearly. The longitudinal vibration indicating the difference in the unbalance position is small when the unbalance position is on the shaft side in the drum 3, and is large when the unbalance position is on the front side. Therefore, a characteristic indicating the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 appears in the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10. That is, the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 can be determined using FIG. 6 obtained from the experimental results.

Specifically, for example, when the clothing volume detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102 is a small volume, if the lateral vibration displacement is 3.0 mm and the longitudinal vibration displacement is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount from S11 in FIG. Can be read as 500 g. Then, by applying the read unbalance amount to C11 in FIG. 6, it is possible to detect that the unbalance position is “front middle”.

Thus, for example, when the amount of unbalance is 500 g and the clothing capacity is medium capacity, when the front-rear displacement is measured as 0.9 mm, the front-rear unbalance position is C21 from C2 indicating the characteristics at medium capacity. Indicated. Furthermore, when the clothing capacity is large, when the longitudinal vibration displacement is measured as 0.8 mm, the front and rear unbalanced position from C3 indicating the characteristic at the time of large capacity is represented as C31. That is, even if the clothing capacity and the value of the longitudinal vibration displacement change, the unbalance position can be determined to be “in front”.

Thus, the relationship as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is grasped by the cloth amount correction unit 104 as a correction expression (approximate expression) from values obtained by experiments. As a result, the unbalance amount and the unbalance position are accurately calculated from the clothing volume detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102, the left and right vibration displacements and the front and rear vibration displacements detected by the vibration detection unit 10, and appropriate activation is performed. Control can be performed. It should be noted that detailed values not obtained in the experiment of the fabric capacity and the unbalance amount can be complemented by the correction formula of the fabric amount correction unit 104 and calculated.

Also, in the case of obtaining FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, for example, an experiment is performed only when the clothing capacity is a small capacity to grasp the correlation diagram. For medium capacity and large capacity, the cloth amount correction unit 104 may perform correction based on the cloth amount on the basis of the correlation diagram of the small capacity. Of course, the reference clothing capacity is not particularly limited. Here, a case where FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram in which an experiment is performed only when the capacity is small is shown.

For example, when the clothing capacity detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102 is large, if the lateral vibration displacement is 0.8 mm and the longitudinal vibration displacement is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount from S31 in FIG. It can be read as 500 g. Then, the read unbalance amount is applied to Z4 (500 g) as the unbalance amount of the small-capacity clothing in FIG. In this case, it is possible to detect that the unbalanced position is “front / middle” as it is, but this is a result of detection based on an experimental value of a small capacity. Therefore, for example, it is assumed that the correction value is determined so as to be C3 indicating the characteristic at the time of large capacity from related experimental values. The fact that the longitudinal vibration displacement is 1.0 mm at C3 is indicated by C32, and it can be detected that the unbalance position is substantially “front”. However, under the same conditions as described above, when the garment capacity is not corrected, if the garment capacity is determined with a small capacity according to the vibration displacement value of the vibration detection unit 10, the unbalance position is determined from C1 in FIG. become. As a result, the unbalance position is erroneous.

In this way, in the present embodiment, for each clothing capacity detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102, for example, C1 in the case of an unbalance amount 500g shown in Z4 is changed to cloth amounts like C2 and C3 shown in FIG. Correction is performed by the correction unit 104. Thereby, for example, when the clothing capacity is a small capacity, when the vibration detecting unit 10 measures the longitudinal vibration displacement as 1.0 mm, the front-rear position is indicated as C11 from C1 indicating the characteristics at the time of the small capacity. Further, when the clothing capacity is medium capacity and the longitudinal displacement is measured as 0.9 mm, the front and rear unbalanced position from C2 indicating the characteristic at the time of middle capacity is represented as C21. Furthermore, when the clothing capacity is large, when the longitudinal vibration displacement is measured as 0.8 mm, the front and rear unbalanced position from C3 indicating the characteristic at the time of large capacity is represented as C31. In other words, by correcting the clothing capacity by the cloth amount correcting unit 104, even if the value of the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit 10 is changed, the unbalanced position can be determined to be “front middle”. it can. In addition, it has been confirmed from experimental values that the characteristic that suppresses vibration as the clothing capacity increases appears similarly in accordance with the amount of unbalance of each clothing.

Hereinafter, the characteristics of the ball balancer, which is a rotating body control device used in the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment, and the conventional fluid balancer will be described in comparison with FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing an output waveform of left-right vibration displacement when a drum of a drum type washing machine provided with a conventional fluid balancer is rotated. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an output waveform of the left-right vibration displacement when the drum of the drum type washing machine equipped with the rotating body control device (ball balancer) according to the embodiment of the present invention is rotated. Note that TH1 and TH2 shown in the figure indicate the time for which the drum 3 rotating at 120 rpm rotates four times.

First, as shown in FIG. 7A, a conventional drum-type washing machine uses a fluid balancer (with a liquid enclosed in the balancer) provided on the circumference in front of the drum as a balancer function. At this time, when the drum is rotated in a state where the rotation speed is maintained at 120 rpm (for example, in the range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm), the liquid in the fluid balancer always moves and causes diffusion and bias with time. Therefore, the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit is not constant with respect to the rotation of the drum and the bias is not constant, as shown by the waveform H1, and the left and right vibration displacement rises non-constantly, and the left and right vibration displacement always changes. Indicates. That is, in the conventional fluid balancer, the left and right vibration displacement is not always determined in the same state, and the left and right vibration displacement is detected in a state where the fluctuation range and the degree of change cannot be determined. As a result, it is difficult for the control unit to calculate the true left-right vibration displacement of the washing tub.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment is equipped with a ball balancer 8. In this case, the left-right vibration displacement of the vibration detection unit 10 provided in the upper front portion of the washing tub 22 has a predetermined viscosity when the drum 3 is rotated at a rotation speed of 120 rpm (for example, within a range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm). With the oil having the, the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is biased to a substantially constant position. As a result, the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 rotates at a rotational speed that is substantially constant behind the rotational speed of the drum 3. Therefore, as shown by the waveform H2 in FIG. 7B, the left-right vibration displacement fluctuates in synchronization with the rotation period of the drum 3 within a certain amplitude range.

Therefore, when the ball balancer 8 is used, the rotation speed of the drum 3 and the rotation speed of the ball 9 are rotated in a state of being delayed by a certain rotation speed. Therefore, the horizontal vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 repeats the state where the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 and the bias of the balls 9 cancel each other and the state where they overlap each other at a constant cycle. Thereby, the left-right vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 is detected with a constant fluctuation cycle and a constant amplitude fluctuation. As a result, when the ball balancer 8 is used, the vibration detection unit 10 can easily detect the value of the left-right vibration displacement from the range of the constant vibration period and the constant amplitude fluctuation.

At this time, as described above, when the clothing capacity is increased, the amplitude value of the left-right vibration displacement is small at the time of large capacity and large at the time of small capacity because of the characteristic of suppressing the vibration due to the inertia of the clothing. However, the repeated operation of the left-right vibration displacement shows the same operation as described above. That is, it is possible to accurately detect the left-right vibration displacement even when the clothing capacity changes. Here, generally, the left-right vibration displacement is calculated by, for example, averaging the difference between the maximum displacement and the minimum displacement. At this time, when the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 moves to a position overlapping the unbalanced circumferential position, the vibration displacement becomes larger, and when moved to a position opposite to the unbalanced circumferential position, the vibration displacement is further increased. It works to make it smaller. Therefore, the influence of the ball 9 on the difference between the maximum displacement and the minimum displacement is offset and there is no problem. In the present embodiment, the average value of the left and right vibration displacement detected during the rotation period of the drum 3 rotating at 120 rpm is calculated to calculate the true value of the left and right vibration displacement. This rotational speed is not a problem as long as it is within the range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm away from the resonant rotational speed. In particular, in the vicinity of 120 rpm, the behavior of the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is more stable, and the detection accuracy of the lateral vibration displacement can be improved.

In the present embodiment, a vibration sensor that detects vibration displacement in multi-axis directions such as three axes has been described as an example of the vibration detection unit 10, but is not limited thereto. For example, you may comprise with an acceleration sensor. That is, even when the displacement is calculated from the acceleration, the left-right vibration displacement can be detected in the same manner. The acceleration sensor may be a semiconductor acceleration sensor, a piezoelectric acceleration sensor, or the like. Further, in addition to the triaxial sensor, it is also possible to detect by combining a biaxial sensor or a uniaxial sensor.

As described above, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment is configured.

Hereinafter, the operation and action of the drum type washing machine in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7B.

First, the drum-type washing machine main body 1 according to the present embodiment operates the drum 3 before the washing step, for example, before supplying the washing water, and distributes the amount of the laundry 18 accommodated in the drum 3. The amount detection unit 102 makes the determination. Accordingly, the control unit 13 calculates and displays the washing time and the detergent amount based on the measured cloth amount. At the same time, before the dehydration step, the unbalanced state (unbalance amount and unbalance position) of the laundry 18 is grasped. The grasped unbalanced state is used for correction in clothing capacity.

Next, after the washing step and the rinsing step are completed, the washing water in the washing tub 22 is drained. And the dehydration step which dehydrates the laundry 18 is performed. However, when performing the dehydration step, the laundry 18 is rarely located in a uniform state inside the drum 3. That is, the laundry 18 is arranged in an almost unbalanced state, for example, biased toward the bottom of the drum 3.

Therefore, usually, in order to eliminate the unbalanced state, the drum 3 is slowly rotated after draining the washing water. Thereby, the unbalanced state of the laundry 18 is loosened as much as possible. However, even if the loosening operation is performed, the laundry 18 containing moisture always tends to be biased toward the bottom of the drum 3 due to gravity. Therefore, the dehydration step is started with the unbalanced state remaining.

In the dehydration step, the washing tub 22 of the drum-type washing machine main body 1 vibrates greatly when the drum 3 passes the resonance rotation speed (for example, between 200 rpm and 400 rpm), and exceeds a predetermined vibration displacement. First, the control unit 13 stops the rotation of the drum 3. Thereafter, the control unit 13 performs the loosening step of the laundry 18 by rotating the drum 3 slowly in order to eliminate the unevenness of the laundry 18 again. Then, the control unit 13 activates the dehydration step again.

However, since the drum 3 is normally in a state other than at least zero (no load) due to the bias (unbalanced state) of the laundry 18 at the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3, the washing tub 22 always vibrates. .

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to suppress the vibration and succeed in the dehydration start, first, the drum 3 is rotated at a rotational speed lower than the resonant rotational speed (for example, 120 rpm). In this state, the vibration detection unit 10 provided in the washing tub 22 at the upper front of the drum 3 measures the left-right vibration displacement and the front-back vibration displacement. Then, the unbalance amount of the laundry 18 and the unbalance position in the depth direction are determined from each detected vibration displacement. Further, based on the determined unbalance amount and the unbalanced state of the unbalance position, a method for starting up the drum 3 up to the resonance rotational speed is determined, and the ball balancer 8 is controlled. Thereby, the ball 9 is disposed at an optimal position in the ball balancer 8 to suppress vibration when the drum 3 passes through the resonance rotational speed.

Here, the optimal arrangement of the balls 9 in the ball balancer 8 is, for example, when the unbalanced amount in the unbalanced state is large or when the laundry 18 is positioned in front of the drum 3. It is set as the opposing state arrange | positioned so that the ball | bowl 9 may be biased in the position which opposes. Alternatively, when the unbalance amount is small or the laundry 18 is positioned behind the drum 3, the number of rotations and acceleration of the drum 3 are increased or decreased, and the balls 9 are substantially even in the circumferential direction of the ball balancer 8. (Including equality) is a dispersion state in which the balls 9 are arranged with a small bias corresponding to a small unbalance amount. As a result, the balls 9 in the ball balancer 8 are optimally arranged against the bias of the laundry 18 in the drum 3. And the vibration which generate | occur | produces when the drum 3 passes resonant rotation speed is suppressed, and the stable starting operation | movement is implement | achieved.

Further, an example of how to increase the number of revolutions of the drum 3 will be described below for the opposite activation for controlling the opposite state and the distributed activation for controlling the dispersion state.

When the opposite activation is performed, for example, the rotational speed of the drum 3 is reduced from 120 rpm to 70 rpm, and the current value of the motor 12 at that time is confirmed. In this case, the current value fluctuates regularly as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the rotation speed of the drum 3 is increased at a stroke and the resonance rotation speed is allowed to pass by looking for the minimum value of the current that causes the ball 9 to face the unbalanced position. In addition, since the timing to increase at a time changes with conditions, the optimal timing is determined by experiment.

Also, when performing distributed startup, for example, 120 rpm and 90 rpm are repeated for a fixed time. Or, acceleration and deceleration are repeated within the range of the rotation speed. As a result, the balls 9 are non-uniformly moved and dispersed. The change in the rotational speed may be determined by experiment, or may be controlled while checking the change in the current value of the motor 12. Then, while confirming that the current value does not increase, the rotational speed of the drum 3 is increased and the resonant rotational speed is passed.

Hereinafter, the starting operation at the time of dehydration for suppressing the vibration generated when the drum 3 in the present embodiment passes the resonance rotational speed will be described.

In the dehydration step, the control unit 13 applies a drive voltage to the motor 12 via the drive unit 133 according to a command from the rotation control unit 132. Thereby, the motor 12 is gradually operated from the low speed rotation to the high speed rotation, and the rotation speed of the drum 3 is gradually increased.

Next, the rotation control unit 132 of the control unit 13 controls the motor 12 so that the number of rotations of the drum 3 is about 120 rpm, and maintains that state. In the state where the drum 3 rotates at about 120 rpm, the vibration detection unit 10 provided in the washing tub 22 at the upper front of the drum 3 detects the left-right vibration displacement and the front-back vibration displacement of the washing tub 22. At this time, since the rotation speed of the drum 3 is equal to or less than the resonance rotation speed, it can be detected with stable vibration displacement. Further, the ball 9 inside the ball balancer 8 rotates in a state where it is biased to one place due to the viscosity of the oil, asynchronously with the rotational speed of the drum 3 and delayed by a constant rotational speed. As a result, the left-right vibration displacement is detected with a constant vibration period and a constant amplitude fluctuation as shown by the waveform H2 in FIG. 7B. As a result, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 can easily calculate the true value of the lateral vibration displacement by averaging the lateral vibration displacement values of the washing tub 22.

However, as described above, the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 is affected by the clothing capacity accommodated in the drum 3. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the clothing capacity is large, the vibration displacement exhibits the characteristics of S3 and C3. Further, the vibration displacement is affected by the characteristics of S2 and C2 when the capacity is medium, and the vibration displacement is affected by the characteristics of S1 and C1 when the capacity is small.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, first, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 detects the capacity of the laundry 18 before the start of the washing step (before water supply) by the cloth amount detection unit 102, and based on the detected capacity. The cloth amount correction unit 104 corrects, for example, vibration displacement. Specifically, the cloth amount correction unit 104 that grasps the relationship shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 as a correction formula (approximation formula) from values obtained by experiments, detects the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10. The vibration value at the time of small capacity (S1 in FIG. 5 and C1 in FIG. 6) is corrected from S3 and C3 at the time of large capacity and S2 and C2 at the time of medium capacity. Then, the activation determination unit 131 detects the unbalanced state of the clothing using the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30. It is assumed that the correction by the cloth amount correction unit 104 for the capacities other than the small capacity, the large capacity, and the medium capacity is proportional, for example, from the values of the vibration displacement at the small capacity, the large capacity, and the medium capacity obtained from the experimental values. Using the corrected equation, the calculation is complemented. Thereby, the workability can be improved by reducing the number of experimental values to be measured.

Next, from the true value of the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10, a correlation diagram between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount shown in FIG. 5 (specifically, S1 indicating a small capacity obtained from an experimental value). The unbalance amount is calculated using S2 indicating medium capacity and S3 indicating large capacity. For example, when the clothing capacity is medium capacity and the true value of the left-right vibration displacement is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount at that time is 500 g. Moreover, if the left-right vibration displacement is 10 mm, the unbalance amount can be calculated to be 1000 g. In the present embodiment, the unbalance amount is calculated by the above method, but a method of calculating the unbalance amount by the vibration displacement value itself is also possible.

As described above, when the amount of cloth changes, if the unbalance amount is determined only by the lateral vibration displacement, the unbalance amount is erroneously determined. As a result, there is a possibility that the drum 3 is rotated by an erroneous dehydration start method. However, the unbalance amount can be accurately determined by correcting the S1 at the time of small capacity, S3 at the time of large capacity, or S2 at the time of medium capacity according to the clothing capacity detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102. Can be determined.

As described above, the amount of unbalance is generated at the place where the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 is generated even before, after, in the center, diagonally unbalanced state shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E. Regardless, it has been found from experimental results that the left-right vibration displacement exhibits the same characteristics if the unbalance amount is the same. That is, the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount is maintained as shown in FIG. Therefore, the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 can easily calculate the unbalance amount from the value of the left-right vibration displacement.

Next, when the rotation of the drum 3 is maintained at the same 120 rpm, the vibration detection unit 10 detects the longitudinal vibration displacement and the vertical vibration displacement in addition to the left and right vibration displacement at the front upper part of the washing tub 22. Then, the detected longitudinal vibration displacement is input to the unbalance position calculation unit 30. As a result, the unbalance position calculation unit 30 is based on the unbalance amount calculated by the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 based on the correlation diagram between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount shown in FIG. Calculate the position.

For example, when the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 calculates the unbalance amount to be 500 g, first, the unbalance position calculation unit 30 selects Z4 (when the clothing capacity is a small capacity) shown in FIG. Then, the unbalance position shown on the horizontal axis in FIG. 6 is specified depending on where the longitudinal vibration displacement is located in Z4. As a result, an unbalance position is calculated. Specifically, when the clothing volume is small, the unbalance amount is 500 g, and the longitudinal vibration displacement is detected to be 1.0 mm, the unbalance position is located in the “front middle” between the front and the middle from FIG. Can be calculated.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, when the unbalance amount is 500 g, when the clothing capacity is large, the vibration is C3 indicating a large capacity, and when the clothes capacity is medium, the vibration is C2 indicating the medium capacity characteristic. Detection characteristics are indicated. For this reason, the clothing amount of the cloth amount detection unit 102 is corrected by the cloth amount correction unit 104 from C3 indicating a large capacity or C2 indicating a medium capacity to C1 indicating a small capacity. On the other hand, when the clothing capacity is a small capacity, the correction is not performed, and the determination is made with C1 indicating the small capacity characteristics. Further, even in the case of a small value or less which is a constant value, similarly, the correction is not performed and the determination is made based on the small capacity characteristic C1. That is, in the case of a certain value or less, the left and right vibration displacement and the front and rear vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 are hardly affected by the clothing capacity. Therefore, when the clothing capacity is equal to or less than a certain value (small capacity), correction is performed with C1 of the small capacity characteristic. As a result, the number of experimental values obtained for each capacity can be reduced, and productivity and workability can be improved.

Specifically, when the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 is 0.8 mm for a large capacity and 0.9 mm for a medium capacity, the cloth amount correction unit 104 uses the cloth amount of the cloth amount detection unit 102. Correction is performed to C1 indicating the small capacity. In other words, based on the clothing capacity detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102, the cloth amount correction unit 104 corrects to C1 indicating a small capacity. This prevents erroneous unbalance position determination. As a result, no erroneous determination is made at the start of dehydration.

That is, by the above-described method, the unbalanced state calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30 of the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 rotate the laundry 18 in an unbalanced state lower than the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3. It can be specified by a number (in this embodiment, about 120 rpm).

The correlation diagram between the left and right vibration displacement and the front and rear vibration displacement, the unbalance amount and the unbalance position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a diagram obtained from experimental values when the drum 3 is rotated at about 120 rpm. is there. Therefore, when the number of rotations of the drum 3 is changed, the correlation changes. The correlation also changes when the depth size and diameter of the drum 3 and the method for supporting the washing tub 22 in the drum-type washing machine body 1 are changed. Even in this case, it is possible to easily cope with this by obtaining a correlation experimentally below the resonance rotational speed.

Next, on the basis of the detected unbalanced state, a method for starting up the drum 3 up to the resonance rotational speed is determined, and the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is controlled. The details of the control will be described later. For example, if the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 is the front side, the ball 9 is activated in the facing state, and if it is on the shaft side, the ball 9 is dispersed and activated. I do. As a result, the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 can be passed in an optimal unbalanced state between the ball 9 and the clothing. As a result, the vibration at the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 can be minimized and activated.

Hereinafter, the operation for minimizing the vibration at the resonance speed of the drum 3 will be described in detail.

First, the drum 3 is rotated at about 120 rpm, the vibration detection unit 10 detects the unbalance amount and the unbalance position, and grasps the unbalanced state of the laundry 18 in the drum 3.

Next, the drum 3 is operated at a rotational speed lower than the rotational speed at which the vibration detection unit 10 detects the vibration displacement. That is, the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is operated at a rotation speed in a state where the ball 9 is not rotated while the ball 9 is biased toward the bottom with respect to the rotation of the drum 3. The rotation speed is the rotation speed at which the drum 3 rotates under the condition that the gravity of the ball 9 is larger than the centrifugal force caused by the rotation. Therefore, since it is also influenced by the viscosity of the oil inside the ball balancer 8, in this embodiment, the rotational speed is determined by an experimental value.

In addition, when the drum 3 is rotating at 120 rpm, whether the ball 9 rotates or is biased at the bottom of the ball balancer 8 depends on a constant vibration cycle and a constant amplitude fluctuation as shown in FIG. 7B. Is detected by the left and right vibration displacement of the vibration detection unit 10. On the other hand, when the ball 9 is biased toward the bottom of the ball balancer 8, the left-right vibration displacement does not fluctuate periodically and can be easily confirmed and determined from a state where it is stable at a constant value.

On the other hand, when the drum 3 is at a rotational speed lower than about 120 rpm and the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is at the position shown in FIG. 3A where the unbalanced amount is greater than a certain value (for example, 100 g). Detects the unbalance position in the circumferential direction by the following method. That is, first, when the drum 3 is rotated, the current detection unit 101 detects the current value flowing from the drive unit 133 driving the motor 12. At this time, the unbalanced position A of the laundry 18 in the drum 3 can be grasped by the change in the current value shown in FIG.

However, when the unbalance amount is equal to or less than a certain value, the change in the current value shown in FIG. 4 is small. Therefore, the activation method may be determined based on the magnitude of the current value instead of the change in the current value. For example, in the case of an amplitude fluctuation that is equal to or less than a certain current value, since the amount of unbalance is small, it is determined that the ball 9 is activated due to the dispersed state, and the ball 9 is activated. On the other hand, in the case of amplitude fluctuations of a certain current value or more, since the amount of unbalance is large, it is determined that the ball 9 is activated due to the opposing state of the ball 9 and is activated. Thereby, you may determine the starting method from the magnitude | size of the electric current value which drives the motor 12. FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the unbalanced position A is at the bottom as viewed from the front of the drum type washing machine body 1, the current value for driving the motor 12 is at the position of current b shown in FIG. Then, as the unbalance position A moves clockwise and moves upward, the current value changes from the current b to the current a1. Thereafter, as the current value rotates, the unbalanced position A returns to the bottom, and the current value also decreases. That is, when the above state is repeatedly detected by the current detection unit 101, the unbalance position A in the circumferential direction of the drum 3 can be easily grasped.

In addition, it is preferable to measure the clothing capacity of the cloth amount detection unit 102 in a state before water supply in the washing step. Thereby, when determining the amount of cloth in the water supply state before the dehydration step, it is not necessary to determine the amount of cloth in consideration of the amount of water contained in the cloth during the washing step. As a result, an accurate cloth amount can be determined, and the cloth amount can be accurately corrected at the start of dehydration. Moreover, it is not limited to this, It is also possible to determine the amount of cloth in consideration of the amount of moisture contained in the cloth.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the correction of the cloth amount correction unit 104 is always performed in a state immediately before the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30 calculate the unbalance state. Thereby, the clothing capacity can be corrected with the highest accuracy. That is, the clothing capacity is corrected immediately before the start of dehydration or immediately before dehydration at the time of rinsing after the washing step. Thereby, the clothing capacity can be corrected with high accuracy.

Then, as described above, in the state where the drum 3 is rotated at about 120 rpm, based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10, the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30 An unbalance position and an unbalance amount in the depth direction are calculated. For this reason, the drum 3 can be arranged in such a manner that the position of the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 and the relative position of the unbalance position A in the circumferential direction are arranged for each condition of the calculated unbalance position and unbalance amount. It has been obtained from experimental results whether vibration can be suppressed most when the resonance rotational speed is passed. Specifically, for example, when the unbalanced position in the depth direction of the drum 3 is equal to or greater than a certain value (for example, 300 g) on the front side or the shaft side, the opposite activation is performed. Start.

Therefore, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 increases the rotational speed of the drum 3 in a state where the ball 9 is biased toward the bottom to the resonance rotational speed within a predetermined time under the above conditions. Then, the activation determination unit 131 further controls the motor 12 so as to rotate the drum 3 to, for example, about 500 rpm.

As described above, the drum 3 can be started with the vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 at the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 being minimized.

In the present embodiment, the ball balancer 8 is disposed on the laundry inlet side of the drum 3, and the relative position between the ball 9 and the unbalanced position A of the laundry 18 when dehydration is started is approximately the same as in FIG. 3B or FIG. 3D. In FIG. 3C, the example in which the balls 9 are arranged almost uniformly (including evenly) in the ball balancer 8 has been described as a basic arrangement in FIG. 3C, but this is not restrictive. For example, the arrangement of the balls 9 may be further divided and arranged according to the size of the unbalance amount. Thereby, the ball 9 can be optimally arranged in the ball balancer 8 according to a complicated unbalance position. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the vibration of the drum 3 that occurs when passing through the resonance rotational speed at the time of dehydration activation.

Further, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3E, the example has been described in which the unbalance position A is generated at the diagonal positions of the front side and the rear side, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the center of gravity position of the unbalance position A is biased toward the front side or the rear side, the placement of the balls 9 in the ball balancer 8 may be further divided and controlled. Thereby, according to the unbalance position, the ball 9 can be optimally arranged in the ball balancer 8, and vibration can be further reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the left and right vibrations and the longitudinal vibration displacement of the vibration detection unit 10 are accurately detected in a state where the drum 3 is rotated at a rotation speed of about 120 rpm. Then, based on the detected vibration displacement, an unbalance amount and an unbalance position are determined. Thereby, the arrangement of the balls 9 in the ball balancer 8 and the relative position of the unbalance position A can be grasped in advance from the condition of the unbalanced state so that the vibration at the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 can be minimized. As a result, the ball 9 can be optimally arranged corresponding to the unbalanced position A, the drum 3 can be driven, and stable dehydration activation can be performed.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the vibration displacement is detected by the vibration detection unit 10 while the drum 3 is rotated at about 120 rpm. Therefore, the vibration displacement can be detected with a certain size or more. At this time, the balls 9 in the ball balancer 8 are rotated in a stable arrangement without being repeatedly moved and dispersed due to the viscosity of the oil. As a result, the vibration detection unit 10 can accurately detect the left-right vibration displacement and the front-rear vibration displacement, and can accurately detect the unbalance amount and the unbalance position.

In other words, the conventional fluid balancer is viscous only with water, so that it moves frequently even when the vibration displacement is below a certain level. Therefore, the relative arrangement of the water in the fluid balancer and the unbalanced position A always changes, and it is difficult to detect an accurate vibration displacement. However, the configuration of the ball balancer of the present embodiment can accurately detect the vibration displacement and start the dehydration step stably.

(Embodiment 2)
Below, the structure of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. 8, referring FIG.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the drum type washing machine in the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment is provided with a temperature detection unit 23 that detects the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8 that constitutes the rotating body control device, and a temperature correction unit 106. This is different from the first embodiment. Based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 described in the first embodiment, the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit 102, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 23, the ball balancer is activated at the time of dehydration activation. 8 is controlled.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment includes at least a drum type washing machine body 1 constituting a housing and a washing tub accommodated in the drum type washing machine body 1. 22, the drum 3 constituting the rotating tub, the motor 12, the ball balancer 8 constituting the rotating body control device, the vibration detecting unit 10 including a vibration sensor, the control unit 13, the temperature detecting unit 23, and the like. . Since the configuration and operation other than the temperature detection unit 23 shown below are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The temperature detection unit 23 is composed of a temperature sensor such as a thermistor, for example, and is provided in a lower part of the washing tub 22 near the ball balancer 8. The temperature detector 23 detects the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8.

Generally, the viscosity of the oil in the ball balancer 8 changes with changes in temperature. Therefore, the movement of the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is influenced by the change in the viscosity of the oil. Therefore, in order to detect the temperature of the oil more accurately, a temperature detection unit 23 is provided below the washing tub 22 in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8. This arrangement also has an effect that the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8 can be accurately detected by mitigating the influence of the temperature that changes due to the washing water in the washing tub 22 or the laundry 18. The temperature detector 23 may be provided on the front surface of the washing tub 22 in addition to the lower portion of the washing tub 22 and may be disposed at any position as long as the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8 can be accurately detected. May be.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 13 of the drum type washing machine according to the present embodiment includes an activation determination unit 131, a rotation control unit 132, and the like as in the first embodiment. The activation determination unit 131 includes a current detection unit 101, a cloth amount detection unit 102, a rotational position detection unit 103, a cloth amount correction unit 104, a temperature correction unit 106, an unbalance position calculation unit 30, and an unbalance amount. It is comprised from the calculation part 31 grade | etc.,. The current detection unit 101 detects a current flowing through the motor 12. The rotation position detection unit 103 detects an unbalance position in the circumferential direction in the drum 3 due to the bias of the laundry 18 from the change in current detected by the current detection unit 101. The unbalance amount calculation unit 31 detects the unbalance amount of the laundry 18 in the drum 3 from the left and right vibration displacement of the vibration detection unit 10. The unbalance position calculation unit 30 calculates the unbalance position of the laundry 18 in the depth direction of the drum 3 from the longitudinal vibration displacement of the vibration detection unit 10 based on the unbalance amount calculated by the unbalance amount calculation unit 31. The cloth amount detection unit 102 detects the capacity (clothing capacity) of the laundry 18 in the drum 3. The cloth amount correcting unit 104 corrects the value of the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit 10 from the clothing capacity detected by the cloth amount detecting unit 102. The temperature correction unit 106 calculates a correction value for correcting the temperature of the vibration displacement value detected by the vibration detection unit 10 from the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit 23.

In Embodiment 1, as described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4, when dehydration is started, the unbalanced state (unbalance amount and unbalance position) of the laundry 18 changes according to the clothing capacity. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the unbalanced state is obtained from the left / right vibration displacement and the front / rear vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 in consideration of the clothing capacity, and the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 corresponds to the unbalanced state. And controlled to suppress vibration.

However, as described in the first embodiment, the viscosity of the oil in the ball balancer 8 has a temperature characteristic. That is, the viscous resistance of oil varies greatly with temperature, and is small at high temperatures and large at low temperatures. Such a temperature change may occur due to a change in the outside air temperature due to a change in season, use of hot water for washing water in the washing step or the rinsing step, and the like. As a result, the operation of the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 also changes greatly.

Specifically, the operation of the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 moves faster than at normal temperature due to a decrease in the viscous resistance of the oil at high temperature. On the other hand, at low temperatures, the oil moves more slowly than at normal temperatures due to an increase in the viscous resistance of the oil. Therefore, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 provided in the washing tub 22 is larger at the high temperature than at the normal temperature. On the other hand, at a low temperature, it becomes smaller than at a normal temperature.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the vibration detection unit 10 detects various unbalanced states such as an unbalanced position and an unbalanced amount in addition to a change in clothing capacity and a temperature change. Then, based on the detected vibration displacement, the ball balancer 8 is controlled to suppress vibrations generated at the time of dehydration activation.

Hereinafter, a method for detecting an unbalanced state in consideration of a temperature change in the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalanced amount of the drum type washing machine and the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit using temperature as a parameter. Specifically, SS1 in the figure indicates the relationship between the unbalance amount and the left-right vibration displacement when the temperature is normal temperature (for example, about 25 ° C.). Similarly, SS2 indicates a relationship when the temperature is low (for example, about 5 ° C), and SS3 indicates a relationship when the temperature is high (for example, about 60 ° C). Furthermore, SS11 in the figure indicates the left-right vibration displacement on SS1 when the temperature is room temperature when the unbalance amount is 500 g. Similarly, SS21 indicates the left-right vibration displacement on SS2 and SS3 when the temperature is low, and SS31 indicates when the temperature is high.

FIG. 10 is a correlation diagram showing the relationship between the unbalance position of the drum type washing machine and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, using the unbalance amount as a parameter. Specifically, ZZ1 to ZZ7 in the figure indicate the respective unbalance amounts corresponding to 100 g to 2000 g when the temperature is normal temperature. CC1 in the figure indicates the relationship between the unbalance position and the longitudinal vibration displacement when the unbalance amount is 500 g when the temperature is normal temperature. Similarly, CC2 shows the relationship between the unbalance amount and the longitudinal vibration displacement when the temperature is low and CC3 when the temperature is high and the unbalance amount is 500 g. In addition, the correlation diagram except when the temperature is low and high and the unbalance amount is 500 g is not shown.

Furthermore, CC11 in the figure indicates the longitudinal vibration displacement on CC1 when the unbalance amount is 500 g, the temperature is normal temperature, and the unbalance position is “front middle”. Similarly, CC21 indicates the longitudinal vibration displacement when the unbalanced position on CC2 and CC3 is “front middle” when the temperature is low and CC31 is high.

At this time, as described with reference to FIG. 5 in the first embodiment, FIG. 9 shows that the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 and the unbalance amount is driven on the drum 3 under the following conditions. In this case, the unbalanced position A is correlated regardless of the positional relationships shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E. The condition is a case where the left-right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount are detected in a state in which the rotation speed of the drum 3 rotating without the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 being fixed to the bottom is maintained within a range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm, for example. . This rotational speed is lower than the resonant rotational speed of the drum 3, which is convenient for detecting an unbalanced state.

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the left-right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount is experimentally measured by the method described in the first embodiment for each temperature change with the rotation speed of the drum 3 maintained at 120 rpm. The results are shown in FIG. Similarly, FIG. 10 shows the result of experimentally measuring the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount at a normal temperature while maintaining the rotation speed at 120 rpm.

Here, a specific measurement method for obtaining FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described. First, for example, corresponding weights are evenly arranged on the inner wall surface of the drum 3 according to the settings of the large capacity, medium capacity, and small capacity. Next, the ball balancer 8 is maintained at a predetermined temperature such as normal temperature, low temperature and high temperature in a state where a weight (for example, 500 g) corresponding to the unbalance amount is disposed at a predetermined unbalance position, and the drum 3 is driven to rotate. And the left-right vibration displacement and the front-back vibration displacement generated when the drum 3 is rotated in the above state are detected and plotted in FIG. 9 and FIG.

Hereinafter, the reason why the relationship between the left-right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount in FIG. 9 is correlated regardless of the unbalance position A in the depth direction shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E will be described.

First, the rotating shaft of the drum 3 is supported and fixed with the back side of the washing tub 22 as a shaft, and the vibration detecting unit 10 is provided at the upper part on the front side at a distance away from the shaft. Therefore, although the longitudinal vibration displacement and the vertical vibration displacement are affected by the unbalanced position of the drum 3 in the depth direction, the influence on the lateral vibration displacement is small. That is, the left-right vibration displacement is not affected by the position of the unbalanced position in the depth direction. Thereby, the relationship between the unbalance amount and the left-right vibration displacement can be obtained with high accuracy.

On the other hand, the left-right vibration displacement is influenced by the temperature change of the viscosity of the oil in the ball balancer 8 together with the clothing capacity described in the first embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the ball balancer detected by the temperature detector 23. For the temperature in the vicinity of 8, the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement at the normal temperature and the unbalance amount is indicated by SS1, and similarly, the relationship at the high temperature is indicated by SS3 and the relationship at the low temperature is indicated by SS2.

Specifically, for example, when the temperature is normal temperature and the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount is 500 g from SS11 on SS1. On the other hand, if the unbalance amount is the same at 500 g, when the temperature is low, the lateral vibration displacement is as small as 0.8 mm from SS21 on SS2. At this time, if the temperature is determined to be normal temperature, the unbalance amount is indicated as 400 g from SS1. Further, when the temperature is high, as shown in SS3, the lateral vibration displacement increases, and when the unbalance amount is 500 g, 2.0 mm is indicated. At this time, if the temperature is determined to be normal temperature, the unbalance amount is indicated as 600 g from SS1. That is, even when the unbalance amount is the same, the left-right vibration displacement changes due to the temperature change. As a result, if the unbalance amount is determined only by the left and right vibration displacement, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 illustrated in FIG.

Further, from the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position shown in FIG. 10, the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 is calculated using the characteristics for each unbalance amount indicated by ZZ1 to ZZ7 in the figure. Can do. The relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount shown in FIG. 10 is experimentally obtained data.

That is, when the drum 3 is driven under the following conditions, the longitudinal displacement of the vibration detection unit 10 can be detected as the longitudinal vibration displacement from the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 for each unbalance amount. The condition is that the drum 3 is rotated while maintaining the number of rotations of the drum 3 without the ball 9 of the ball balancer 8 being fixed to the bottom, for example, a range of 90 rpm to 150 rpm. In this embodiment, the relationship between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position is experimentally measured with the rotation speed maintained at 120 rpm. In FIG. 10, as described above, the unbalance amount is Except for the case of 500 g, only the case where the temperature is normal temperature is shown.

Here, the reason why the longitudinal vibration displacement can be detected is that the rotation axis of the drum 3 is first supported by the rear part of the washing tub 22 as an axis, and the vibration detection part 10 is provided at the front upper position away from the axis. Thereby, the left-right vibration indicating the unbalance amount appears clearly. The longitudinal vibration indicating the difference in the unbalance position is small when the unbalance position is on the shaft side in the drum 3, and is large when the unbalance position is on the front side. Therefore, a characteristic indicating the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 appears in the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10. That is, the unbalance position in the depth direction of the drum 3 can be determined using FIG. 10 obtained from the experimental results.

Specifically, FIG. 10 shows, for example, when the clothing imbalance amount is 500 g, the longitudinal vibration displacement indicates CC1 when the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8 is normal temperature, CC3 when the temperature is high, and CC2 when the temperature is low.

In addition, it has been confirmed from experimental values that the temperature characteristics are the same according to the unbalance amount of each clothing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the unbalance amount is 500 g and the temperature is normal temperature and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 is 1.0 mm, the unbalance position from CC11 on CC1 to the front and back. Is determined to be “previous”. When the longitudinal vibration displacement indicates 0.8 mm when the temperature is low, the front / rear unbalanced position from CC 21 on CC 2 is determined as “front middle”. Further, when the temperature is high and the longitudinal vibration indicates 1.1 mm, the front / rear unbalanced position from CC31 on CC3 is determined as “front middle”.

Thus, the relationship as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 is grasped as a correction formula (approximation formula) from the values obtained by experiments. As a result, the unbalance amount and the unbalance position are accurately calculated from the temperature detected by the temperature detector 23, the left and right vibration displacement and the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detector 10, and appropriate start-up control is performed. It can be carried out.

Also, in the case of obtaining FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, for example, an experiment is performed only when the temperature is room temperature to grasp the correlation diagram. And about low temperature and high temperature, you may make it perform the correction | amendment by temperature with the temperature correction part 106 on the basis of the correlation diagram of normal temperature. Of course, the reference temperature is not particularly limited.

That is, the longitudinal vibration displacement changes due to temperature change. For this reason, even in the same unbalanced position, the longitudinal vibration displacement varies depending on the temperature change. Therefore, when temperature correction is not performed, there is a possibility that the unbalanced position before and after is erroneously determined and the activation method is incorrect. As a result, for example, when the unbalance position is positioned forward from the “front middle” position, the ball balancer 8 is activated oppositely. However, erroneous determination causes the ball balancer 8 to be erroneously activated at low temperatures. There is a possibility of judging.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 7B in the first embodiment, the drum type washing machine of the present embodiment is equipped with the ball balancer 8. When the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 rotates with the drum 3 maintained at a rotational speed of 120 rpm (for example, in the range of 90 to 150 rpm), the ball 9 is biased to a substantially constant position by oil having a predetermined viscosity. It becomes. As a result, the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 rotates at a rotational speed that is substantially constant behind the rotational speed of the drum 3. Therefore, as shown by the waveform H2 in FIG. 7B, the left-right vibration displacement fluctuates in synchronization with the rotation period of the drum 3 within a certain amplitude range.

Therefore, when the ball balancer 8 is used, the rotation speed of the drum 3 and the rotation speed of the ball 9 are rotated in a state of being delayed by a certain rotation speed. Therefore, the horizontal vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 repeats the state where the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 and the bias of the balls 9 cancel each other and the state where they overlap each other at a constant cycle. Thereby, the left-right vibration displacement of the washing tub 22 is detected with a constant fluctuation cycle and a constant amplitude fluctuation. As a result, when the ball balancer 8 is used, the vibration detection unit 10 can easily calculate the value of the left-right vibration displacement from the range of the constant vibration period and the constant amplitude fluctuation.

At this time, if the viscosity of the oil changes depending on the temperature characteristics, the amplitude value of the left-right vibration displacement is large at high temperature and small at low temperature. However, the repeated operation of the left-right vibration displacement shows the same operation as described above. That is, even when there is a temperature change, it is possible to accurately detect the left-right vibration displacement. Here, the left-right vibration displacement is calculated by averaging the difference between the maximum displacement and the minimum displacement, for example, as in the first embodiment. At this time, when the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 moves to a position overlapping the unbalanced circumferential position, the vibration displacement becomes larger, and when moved to a position opposite to the unbalanced circumferential position, the vibration displacement is further increased. It works to make it smaller. Therefore, the influence of the ball 9 on the difference between the maximum displacement and the minimum displacement is offset and there is no problem. The true value of the left-right vibration displacement may be calculated by calculating the average of the left-right vibration displacement detected during the rotation period of the drum 3 rotating at 120 rpm. Thereby, the detection accuracy of the left-right vibration displacement can be improved.

Note that the operation and action of the drum-type washing machine in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Next, a start-up operation during dehydration that suppresses vibrations that occur when the drum 3 in the present embodiment passes through the resonance rotational speed will be described.

At this time, as described in the first embodiment, the ball 9 is arranged at an optimum position in the ball balancer 8 with respect to the bias of the laundry 18, and the rotation of the drum 3 passes the resonance rotational speed. As described above, the startup method described below is realized.

That is, in the dehydration step, the control unit 13 applies a drive voltage to the motor 12 via the drive unit 133 according to a command from the rotation control unit 132. Thereby, the motor 12 is gradually operated from the low speed rotation to the high speed rotation, and the rotation speed of the drum 3 is gradually increased.

Next, the rotation control unit 132 of the control unit 13 controls the motor 12 so that the number of rotations of the drum 3 is about 120 rpm, and maintains that state. In the state where the drum 3 rotates at about 120 rpm, the vibration detection unit 10 provided in the washing tub 22 at the upper front of the drum 3 detects the left-right vibration displacement and the front-back vibration displacement of the washing tub 22. At this time, since the rotation speed of the drum 3 is equal to or less than the resonance rotation speed, it can be detected with stable vibration displacement. Further, the ball 9 inside the ball balancer 8 rotates in a state where it is biased to one place due to the viscosity of the oil, asynchronously with the rotational speed of the drum 3 and delayed by a constant rotational speed. As a result, the left-right vibration displacement is detected with a constant vibration period and a constant amplitude fluctuation as shown by the waveform H2 in FIG. 7B. As a result, the activation determination unit 131 of the control unit 13 can easily calculate the true value by averaging the values of the left and right vibration displacements of the washing tub 22.

However, as explained above, the viscosity of the oil in the ball balancer 8 changes due to the influence of the ambient temperature. As a result, the movement such as the moving speed of the ball 9 inside the ball balancer 8 changes, and the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detector 10 is affected. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the vibration displacement is large when the temperature is high, and the characteristics of SS3 are exhibited. Similarly, the vibration displacement is affected by the SS1 characteristic at normal temperature and the SS2 characteristic at low temperature.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, first, the temperature detection unit 23 provided in the washing tub 22 detects the temperature in the vicinity of the ball balancer 8, and the temperature correction unit 106 corrects, for example, vibration displacement based on the detected temperature. To do. Specifically, by grasping the relationship as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 as a correction equation (approximate equation) from values obtained by experiments, the temperature correction unit 106 detects the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10. The vibration value at normal temperature (SS1 in FIG. 9) is corrected from SS2 at low temperature and SS3 at high temperature. Then, the activation determination unit 131 detects the unbalanced state of the clothing using the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30. The correction by the temperature correction unit 106 for temperatures other than normal temperature, low temperature, and high temperature is, for example, from the values of vibration displacement at normal temperature, low temperature, and high temperature obtained as experimental values, using a correction formula that is assumed to be proportional, for example, Complementary calculation. This reduces the number of experimental values to measure. Workability can be improved.

Next, from the true value of the left and right vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10, a correlation diagram between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount shown in FIG. 9 (specifically, SS1 indicating normal temperature obtained from experimental values, The unbalance amount is calculated using SS2 indicating low temperature and SS3) indicating high temperature. For example, when the temperature is normal temperature and the true value of the left and right vibration displacement is 1.0 mm, the unbalance amount at that time is 500 g. Moreover, if the left-right vibration displacement is 10 mm, the unbalance amount can be calculated to be 1000 g. In the present embodiment, the unbalance amount is calculated by the above method, but a method of calculating the unbalance amount by the vibration displacement value itself is also possible.

As described above, when the temperature changes, if the unbalance amount is determined only by the lateral vibration displacement, the unbalance amount is erroneously determined. As a result, there is a possibility that the drum 3 is rotated by an erroneous dehydration start method. However, the unbalance amount is accurately determined by correcting the temperature correction unit 106 to SS1 at normal temperature, SS3 at high temperature, or SS2 at high temperature based on the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit 23. be able to.

Note that, as described in the first embodiment, the unbalance amount can be obtained even when the unbalance position A of the laundry 18 is in an unbalanced state before, after, in the middle, and diagonally, as shown in FIGS. 3B to 3E. It has been found from experimental results that the left-right vibration displacement exhibits the same characteristics if the unbalance amount is the same regardless of where it is generated. That is, the relationship between the left and right vibration displacement and the unbalance amount is maintained as shown in FIG. Therefore, the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 can easily calculate the unbalance amount from the value of the left-right vibration displacement.

Next, when the rotation of the drum 3 is maintained at the same 120 rpm, the vibration detection unit 10 detects the longitudinal vibration displacement and the vertical vibration displacement in addition to the left and right vibration displacement at the front upper part of the washing tub 22. Then, the detected longitudinal vibration displacement is input to the unbalance position calculation unit 30. Thereby, the unbalance position calculation unit 30 is based on the unbalance amount calculated by the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 from the correlation diagram between the longitudinal vibration displacement and the unbalance position for each unbalance amount shown in FIG. Calculate the position.

For example, when the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 calculates the unbalance amount as 500 g, first, the unbalance position calculation unit 30 selects ZZ4 (at room temperature, for example, 25 ° C.) shown in FIG. Then, the unbalance position shown on the horizontal axis in FIG. 10 is specified depending on where the longitudinal vibration displacement is located in ZZ4. As a result, an unbalance position is calculated. Specifically, at room temperature, when the unbalance amount is 500 g and the longitudinal vibration displacement is detected as 1.0 mm, it is calculated from FIG. 10 that the unbalance position is located in the “front middle” between the front and the middle. it can.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the unbalance amount is 500 g, the vibration detection characteristic is indicated by CC3 indicating the high temperature characteristic at high temperature and CC2 indicating the low temperature characteristic at low temperature. It is. Therefore, the temperature correction unit 106 corrects from the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit 23 to CC1 indicating normal temperature characteristics from CC3 indicating high temperature characteristics or CC2 indicating low temperature characteristics at low temperatures. On the other hand, when the detected temperature is normal temperature, the correction is not performed and the determination is performed based on CC1 indicating the normal temperature characteristic.

For example, when the longitudinal vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 detects 0.8 mm at a low temperature and 1.1 mm at a high temperature, the temperature correction unit 106 shows normal temperature characteristics from the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit 23. Correction to CC1. That is, even when there is a temperature change, it is corrected to CC1 indicating normal temperature characteristics. This prevents erroneous unbalance position determination. As a result, no erroneous determination is made at the start of dehydration.

Note that the correlation diagram between the left and right vibration displacement and the front and rear vibration displacement, the unbalance amount and the unbalance position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is a diagram obtained from experimental values when the drum 3 is rotated at about 120 rpm. is there. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the drum 3 is changed, the correlation changes. The correlation also changes when the depth size and diameter of the drum 3 and the method for supporting the washing tub 22 in the drum-type washing machine body 1 are changed. Even in this case, it is possible to easily cope with this by obtaining a correlation experimentally below the resonance rotational speed.

Next, the ball 9 in the ball balancer 8 is controlled based on the detected unbalanced state. Specifically, for example, when the unbalanced position in the depth direction of the drum 3 is equal to or greater than a certain value (for example, 300 g) on the front side or the shaft side, the opposite activation is performed. Start. As a result, the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 can be passed in an optimal unbalanced state between the ball 9 and the clothing. As a result, the vibration at the resonance rotational speed of the drum 3 can be minimized and activated.

In the present embodiment, the method of correcting the temperature by the temperature correction unit 106 when the number of rotations of the drum 3 is maintained at 120 rpm is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the oil viscosity changes, the rotation speed of the drum 3 may be changed. That is, the number of rotations of the drum 3 is set according to the temperature change of the viscosity of the oil so that the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit 10 becomes the same value as that at normal temperature based on the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit 23. It may be changed.

In the present embodiment, the temperature measurement of the temperature detection unit 23 and the correction of the temperature correction unit 106 are always the states immediately before the unbalance amount calculation unit 31 and the unbalance position calculation unit 30 calculate the unbalance state. Is preferably performed. Thereby, temperature correction can be performed with the highest accuracy. That is, temperature correction is performed immediately before the start of dehydration or immediately before dehydration at the time of rinsing after the washing step. Thereby, temperature correction can be performed accurately.

Further, in the present embodiment, the temperature detection unit 23 has been described as an example provided in the lower part of the washing tub 22 near the ball balancer 8, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in a drum-type washing machine, a temperature sensor provided at a position where temperature detection is necessary may be used as the temperature detection unit 23. At this time, the temperature of the ball balancer 8 may not be accurately measured. In that case, it is preferable to provide the temperature correction unit with a temperature complement unit that estimates the temperature of the ball balancer from the detected temperature sensor temperature. Thereby, irrespective of the installation position of the temperature detection part 23, the temperature of the ball balancer 8 can be estimated and an unbalanced state can be determined.

As described above, the drum type washing machine of the present invention includes a housing, a washing tub supported inside the housing, a rotating tub rotatably accommodated in the washing tub, and a rotating tub. Based on the output from the drive unit, the rotating body control device provided in the rotating tub, the vibration detecting unit provided in the washing tub, the cloth amount detecting unit for calculating the cloth amount in the rotating tub, and the vibration detecting unit And a control unit for controlling the drive unit. The control unit may control the rotating body control device at the time of dehydration activation based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit and the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit.

As a result, even when the unbalanced state (unbalanced position and unbalance amount, etc.) of the laundry in the drum constituting the rotating tub is the same and the amount of cloth in the rotating tub is different, the cloth amount detecting unit The vibration can be measured by the amount and vibration detection unit, and the unbalanced state can be accurately grasped before the resonance rotational speed. And the vibration of a washing tub can be suppressed by controlling a rotating body control apparatus based on the imbalance state (unbalance amount and unbalance position) of clothing. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of an operation that repeats the restarting of the activation, and a stable operation at the time of dehydration activation can be achieved.

Further, in the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the rotating body control device is provided in accordance with the circumference of the rotating tub, and is configured by a ball balancer having a plurality of balls inside. Then, the control unit grasps the unbalanced state including the unbalance amount of the rotating tub and the unbalanced position in the circumferential direction from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit, and the ball is unbalanced based on the unbalanced state. You may control so that it may be the opposite starting which deviates to the position which opposes a position, or the dispersion | distribution starting which a ball disperses in a ball balance.

This makes it possible to suppress the vibration when the drum passes through the resonance rotational speed by arranging the ball at an optimum position in the ball balancer.

In the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the control unit keeps the rotating tub at a predetermined rotation speed equal to or lower than the resonance rotation speed, and the vibration of the rotation tank is detected at the resonance rotation speed from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection section. An activation determination unit that controls the rotating body control device so as to suppress, and a cloth amount correction unit that corrects and converts the value of the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit from the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit. .

According to this configuration, the activation determination unit of the control unit first maintains the rotational speed of the rotating tub at a predetermined rotational speed that is equal to or lower than the resonant rotational speed. The cloth amount correction unit detects the vibration displacement in an arbitrary uniaxial output direction (left-right direction) detected by the vibration detection unit that detects an unbalanced state from the laundry cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit before the washing step. Correct the value. Then, based on the unbalance amount calculated according to the cloth amount, the vibration amount value in another arbitrary one-axis output direction (front-rear direction) detected by the vibration detection unit is further corrected by the cloth amount correction unit. . Thereby, based on the amount of cloth, it is possible to accurately calculate the unbalanced position and accurately grasp the unbalanced state of the laundry in the rotating tub. Then, depending on the bias situation, the rotating body control device (ball balancer) is set so as to be in an opposing state (the ball is biased to one position) or in a dispersed state (the balls are evenly arranged in the rotating body control device). ) Control the position of the ball. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the vibration of the washing tub when the rotation of the drum passes the resonance rotational speed.

Further, in the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the cloth amount correction unit may perform control so that the cloth amount correction unit does not perform correction when the amount of cloth in the rotating tub is equal to or less than a predetermined value. As a result, when the amount of cloth corresponding to a certain value is less than or equal to the small capacity, the unbalance amount and the unbalance position can be determined using the small volume of vibration displacement. As a result, since it is not necessary to experimentally obtain the vibration displacement in advance, productivity and workability are improved.

Further, in the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the cloth amount correction unit may correct the cloth amount with the amount of cloth that has been put in a state before water supply in the washing step. Thereby, when determining the amount of cloth in the water supply state before the dehydration step, it is not necessary to determine the amount of cloth in consideration of the amount of water contained in the cloth during the washing step. As a result, an accurate cloth amount can be determined, and the cloth amount can be accurately corrected at the start of dehydration.

The drum type washing machine of the present invention further includes a temperature detection unit that measures the temperature in the vicinity of the rotating body control device, and the control unit detects the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit and the cloth detected by the cloth amount detection unit. It is good also as a structure which controls a rotary body control apparatus at the time of dehydration starting based on quantity and the temperature detected by the temperature detection part.

According to this configuration, when the unbalanced state of the clothes in the rotating tub is determined from the value of the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit, the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting unit and the vicinity of the washing tub are measured. Accurately grasp by temperature. Then, the rotation control device is controlled according to the grasped unbalanced state. Thereby, at the time of spin-drying | dehydration, a suitable starting method can be selected and generation | occurrence | production of a vibration of a rotary tank can be suppressed effectively.

In the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the control unit keeps the rotating tub at a predetermined rotation speed equal to or lower than the resonance rotation speed, and the vibration of the rotation tank is detected at the resonance rotation speed from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection section. You may provide the starting determination part which controls a rotary body control apparatus so that it may suppress, and the temperature correction part which carries out correction conversion of the value of the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection part from the temperature detected by the temperature detection part.

According to this configuration, the activation determination unit of the control unit first maintains the rotational speed of the rotating tub at a predetermined rotational speed that is equal to or lower than the resonant rotational speed. The temperature correction unit corrects the vibration displacement value in any one-axis output direction (left-right direction) detected by the vibration detection unit that detects the unbalanced state from the temperature in the vicinity of the rotating body control device measured by the temperature detection unit. Do. Then, based on the unbalance amount calculated according to the temperature, another arbitrary uniaxial output direction (front-rear direction) vibration displacement value is further corrected by the temperature correction unit. Thereby, based on the detected temperature, an unbalance position can be calculated accurately and the biased state of the laundry in the rotating tub can be accurately grasped. Then, depending on the situation of the bias, the rotating body control device (the ball is biased to one position) or the dispersed state (the balls are dispersed and arranged in the rotating body control device) The ball position of the ball balancer is controlled. As a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the vibration of the washing tub when the rotation of the drum passes the resonance rotational speed.

Further, the drum type washing machine of the present invention may further include a temperature complementing unit that estimates the temperature of the rotating body control unit device from the temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit by the temperature correction unit. Thereby, a temperature detection part can be installed in arbitrary positions. Further, it is not necessary to provide a temperature detection unit that directly detects the temperature of the rotating body control device. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified.

Also, in the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the temperature correction unit may measure the temperature before the dehydration step, and correct the measured temperature value. As a result, the temperature in the vicinity of the washing tub is measured in consideration of the temperature rise before the dehydration step even when the washing machine is operated several times in the state before the dehydration step or when it is operated for the first time. be able to. As a result, accurate temperature correction can be performed according to the state of the dehydration step.

In the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the vibration detection unit may be provided in the upper front part of the washing tub. Thereby, a vibration detection part can be provided in the position with the largest vibration at the time of an unbalanced state generating in front of a rotation tank. As a result, it becomes easier to detect the value of the vibration displacement, so that the detection accuracy can be improved.

The present invention is a drum-type washing machine and a drum-type washing and drying machine for home use and business use that require a stable drive by greatly suppressing vibration when the drum passes the resonance rotational speed at the start of dehydration. Useful for.

1,10A Drum-type washing machine (housing)
3,30A drum (rotating tank)
4 Drum pulley 5 Motor pulley 6 Belt 7 Baffle 8 Ball balancer (Rotating body control device)
9

ball

10, 50A

vibration detection unit

12, 40A motor 13 control unit 15 rotor position detection unit 18

laundry

19, 220 damper 20A, 22 washing tub 23 temperature detection unit (temperature sensor)
30 unbalance position calculation unit 31 unbalance amount calculation unit 60A control device 70A door 101 current detection unit 102 cloth amount detection unit 103 rotational position detection unit 104 cloth amount correction unit 106 temperature correction unit 131 activation determination unit 132 rotation control unit 133 drive Unit 180 suspension spring 501 acceleration sensor 502 filter circuit 503 microcomputer 504 motor control circuit 505 display panel circuit 507 power supply circuit 508 unbalance amount detection unit 509 unbalance position detection unit A unbalance position

Claims

A housing,
A washing tub supported within the housing;
A rotating tub rotatably accommodated in the washing tub;
A drive unit for rotationally driving the rotary tank;
A rotating body control device provided in the rotating tank;
A vibration detector provided in the washing tub;
A cloth amount detector for calculating the amount of cloth in the rotating tub;
A control unit that controls the drive unit based on an output from the vibration detection unit,
The said control part is a drum type washing machine which controls the said rotary body control apparatus at the time of dehydration starting based on the vibration displacement detected by the said vibration detection part, and the cloth amount detected by the said cloth amount detection part.
The rotating body control device is provided in accordance with the circumference of the rotating tank, and includes a ball balancer having a plurality of balls inside,
The control unit grasps an unbalanced state including an unbalanced amount of the rotating tub and an unbalanced position in a circumferential direction from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit, and based on the unbalanced state, the ball 2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to be opposed activation that is biased toward a position that opposes the unbalanced position, or distributed activation in which the balls are dispersed in the ball balance.
The controller is
The rotating body control device is controlled so as to suppress the vibration of the rotating tub at the resonance rotational speed from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit while maintaining the rotating tub at a predetermined rotational speed equal to or lower than the resonance rotational speed. An activation determination unit to perform,
The drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a cloth amount correcting unit that corrects and converts a value of vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit from a cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting unit.
The drum-type washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the cloth amount correction unit does not perform correction of the cloth amount correction unit when the amount of cloth in the rotating tub is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
The drum-type washing machine according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the cloth amount correcting unit corrects the cloth amount using a cloth amount that is in a state before water supply in a washing step.
A temperature detector for measuring the temperature in the vicinity of the rotating body control device,
The control unit controls the rotating body control device at the start of dehydration based on the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detection unit, the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detection unit, and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1.
The controller is
The rotating body control device is controlled so as to suppress the vibration of the rotating tub at the resonance rotational speed from the vibration displacement detected by the vibration detecting unit in a state where the rotating tub is maintained at a predetermined rotational speed equal to or lower than the resonance rotational speed. An activation determination unit;
The drum type washing machine according to claim 6, further comprising: a temperature correction unit that corrects and converts a vibration displacement value detected by the vibration detection unit from a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.
The drum type washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the temperature correction unit further includes a temperature complement unit that estimates a temperature of the rotating body control device from a temperature value detected by the temperature detection unit.
The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the temperature correction unit performs temperature measurement before the dehydration step, and performs correction from the measured temperature measurement value.
The drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the vibration detection unit is provided at an upper front portion of the washing tub.