WO2016135792A1

WO2016135792A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2016135792A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/005899
Authority: WO
Inventors: 安井　利彦; 尾関　祐仁
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2015-02-27
Filing date: 2015-11-27
Publication date: 2016-09-01
Also published as: DE112015006237T5; JP2016158732A; CN106574419A; CN106574419B

Abstract

This washing machine comprises: a wash tub that holds laundry and rotates; an outer tank that holds the wash tub; a detergent receiver into which a detergent is introduced; a dirt sensor that detects an amount of dirt of a washing liquid; and a control unit that sequentially controls a water supplying step, a washing step, a rinsing step, and a spinning step. The control unit is configured so as to control the sensitivity of the dirt sensor on the basis of output from the dirt sensor when a water level of the outer tank reaches a predetermined water level or when a predetermined time has passed since the start of the supply of water in the water supplying step. Consequently, turbidity of the washing liquid can be accurately measured using a range of better resolving power of the dirt sensor.

Description

Washing machine

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry such as clothes.

Conventionally, in this type of washing machine, the laundry is first put into the washing tub. Thereafter, tap water is supplied from the outside to the outer tub that accommodates the washing tub by the water supply unit in accordance with the set operation. The tap water is supplied as a washing liquid together with the detergent through a detergent container in which a predetermined amount of detergent has been put in advance. After the water supply, the laundry is sufficiently wetted with the washing liquid while rotating the washing tub at a low speed. Thereafter, for example, in the case of a drum-type washing machine, the laundry tub is rotated at a low speed such that the laundry does not stick to the wall surface of the laundry tub for a certain period of time. Then, washing is performed by removing dirt by impact when wet laundry falls from the upper part of the washing tub with rotation.

Furthermore, a washing machine has been proposed in which the turbidity sensor detects a change in the turbidity of the washing liquid, determines the amount and quality of the laundry, and controls the washing time and heater heating time. Thus, it has been proposed that the cleaning performance is stabilized. However, some detergents, such as powder detergents and liquid detergents, have high turbidity when the detergent is dissolved in water. Thus, when the turbidity is high, the amount of transmitted light is reduced and the accuracy of the turbidity sensor is deteriorated. Therefore, a washing machine has been proposed that switches the amount of emitted light so as not to reduce the accuracy of the sensor when the turbidity at the beginning of washing is high (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In particular, the synthetic powder detergent is blended with zeolite or the like as a water softening agent in order to prevent deterioration in washing performance due to hard water. Since the components of this water softener are white and insoluble in water, the higher the blending ratio, the more white the mixture becomes cloudy.

However, in such a conventional configuration, if the turbidity is low at the initial stage of washing, the amount of luminescence is not switched. Therefore, when the turbidity becomes very high after that, the accuracy of the sensor may be deteriorated.

JP 59-141992

The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a washing machine capable of more accurately measuring the turbidity of a washing liquid by controlling the sensitivity of the turbidity sensor according to the turbidity of the detergent itself. The purpose is to provide.

That is, the washing machine according to the present invention has a stain on the basis of a value based on the output of the dirt sensor when the water level of the outer tub reaches a predetermined water level or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of water supply. Change the sensitivity of the sensor.

This makes it possible to measure the turbidity of the washing liquid more accurately by using the range with good resolution of the dirt sensor.

The washing machine according to the present invention detects the turbidity of the washing liquid detergent itself and controls the sensitivity of a dirt sensor such as a turbidity sensor. Thereby, even when the turbidity of the detergent itself becomes high, the turbidity during washing can be measured more accurately.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the water supply process of the washing machine in the first embodiment of the present invention.

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)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a washing machine in the present embodiment. An outer tub 2 having an opening on the front surface is disposed inside the outer box 1 of the washing machine. Further, a drum 3 as a washing tub is disposed inside the outer tub 2 so as to be rotatable by a rotating shaft slightly inclined from the horizontal direction or the horizontal direction. The drum 3 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a motor 4 is connected to the back surface on the bottom side. The drum 3 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 4. The drum 3 has a large number of water holes on the outer peripheral surface. The drum 3 also functions as a washing tub, a dewatering tub, and a drying tub by allowing the washing liquid or air to pass through the water passage holes.

A water supply valve 10 is provided in the upper part of the outer tub 2. The water supply port 9 is connected to the water supply. The water supply valve 10 supplies water to the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 according to the operation process. A detergent receiver 19 is provided between the water supply valve 10 and the outer tub 2 in order to put a predetermined amount of detergent in advance. Thus, the detergent and the supplied water are mixed with each other and supplied as washing liquid in the outer tub 2.

The intake pipe 5 is connected to the lowest part of the lower part of the outer tub 2. The intake pipe 5 is connected to a drain valve 6, and the drain valve 6 is connected to a drain pipe 7 that drains to the outside.

The water intake pipe 5 is provided with a water level sensor 8 for detecting the water level of the washing liquid supplied to the outer tub 2. The water level sensor 8 is installed at a position that reacts immediately after the start of water supply. The water level sensor 8 detects the water level by detecting, for example, the pressure applied to the diaphragm (diaphragm) as the deformation of the membrane. As a method for detecting the deformation of the diaphragm, a change in capacitance or a strain gauge is used.

Further, one end of the circulation path 12 communicates with the intake pipe 5, and the other end of the circulation path 12 is connected to the discharge port 11 provided in the vicinity of the opening of the outer tub 2. The discharge port 11 opens toward the inside of the drum 3, and discharges the washing liquid taken in from the water intake pipe 5 into the drum 3. The washing liquid filling the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 circulates in the circulation path 12 and is applied to the laundry from the discharge port 11 and penetrates into the laundry to exert a cleaning power. A circulation pump 13 is provided in the circulation path 12 and circulates the washing liquid in the circulation path 12. The control unit 16 can circulate the washing liquid irrespective of the cleaning control for controlling the normal cleaning power such as the water flow caused by the rotation of the drum 3.

In the circulation path 12, a dirt sensor constituted by a turbidity sensor 17 is installed. The turbidity sensor 17 can determine the amount of dirt in the laundry liquid according to the turbidity based on the light transmittance of the laundry liquid. In the present embodiment, a case where light transmittance is measured as turbidity will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even a sensor for measuring conductivity can be applied as a dirt sensor when there is a difference in conductivity.

The turbidity sensor 17 includes, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged with a circulation path 12 made of a light-transmitting material interposed therebetween. The turbidity sensor 17 receives light emitted from the light emitting element through the washing liquid flowing through the circulation path 12 by the light receiving element, converts the light into a voltage, and outputs the voltage. Turbidity indicates the degree of contamination of the washing liquid, and is obtained by conversion from the output voltage of the light receiving element of the turbidity sensor 17. The higher the turbidity, the lower the output voltage. Specifically, when a large amount of laundry dirt is dissolved in the washing liquid passing through the circulation path 12 and the turbidity increases, the turbidity sensor 17 outputs a low voltage. The amount of light emitted from the initial light emitting element is set in advance so that, for example, the output voltage of the light receiving element becomes 1 V in a state where clean water that is not contaminated passes.

A heating unit 14 made of a sheathed heater or the like is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 2. The control unit 16 controls the heating unit 14 to heat the washing liquid and to wash the laundry inside the drum 3 with warm water. Furthermore, a water temperature sensor 18 for detecting the water temperature is provided in the outer tub 2 below the heating unit 14.

A filter 15 is installed in the vicinity of the intake pipe 5. If the washing liquid circulates and contains a lot of foreign matter such as laundry fibers or hair, the circulation pump 13 or the drain pipe 7 may be clogged. In order to prevent this, the filter 15 removes foreign matters such as laundry fibers and hair.

The control unit 16 includes a microcomputer and controls all processes such as a water supply process, a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process in the operation of the washing machine. For example, the control unit 16 receives signals from the water level sensor 8 and the water temperature sensor 18, and controls the opening and closing of the drain valve 6 and the water supply valve 10, the motor 4, the circulation pump 13, the heating unit 14, and the like. In addition, the control unit 16 has a function as a cloth amount detection unit that detects a current signal flowing through the motor 4 and a rotation angle and determines the amount of laundry from the weight of the entire drum 3. Further, the control unit 16 has a function of controlling the washing process and the rinsing process based on the output from the turbidity sensor 17.

Next, the operation of the washing machine of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the control flowchart of the water supply process in FIG.

The laundry is put into the washing machine by the user and the laundry is started. The control part 16 starts a water supply process, and first determines the quantity of the laundry (step S1). This determination of the amount of laundry relates to at least one motor operation such as a magnitude of current of the motor 4, a current change amount, and a change in rotation angle when the motor 4 is driven to rotate the drum 3 together with the laundry. This is done by detecting information.

The control unit 16 determines a basic water supply amount based on the amount of laundry. The first water level is determined by this basic water supply amount. For example, when it is determined that the amount of laundry is “low”, the first water level is set to “low” water level. When it is determined that the amount of laundry is “medium”, the first water level is set to the “medium” water level. Further, when it is determined that the amount of laundry is “large”, the first water level is set to the “high” water level. The “first water level” can be rephrased as “standard set water level set according to the amount of laundry”. At the same time, the control unit 16 determines the set time for washing according to the amount of each laundry (step S2).

Next, the control unit 16 opens the water supply valve 10 and starts water supply from the water supply connected to the water supply port 9 (step S3). Thereby, tap water is supplied to the outer tub 2 through the detergent receiver 19. In the detergent receiver 19, detergent is put in advance. Accordingly, the tap water flows into the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 as a washing liquid in which the detergent is dissolved.

When the water level of the outer tub 2 reaches a predetermined second water level lower than the first water level (step S4), the control unit 16 measures the turbidity of the washing liquid at that time from the output of the turbidity sensor 17. And stored as turbidity D0 (step S5).

The control unit 16 can determine the type of detergent used by the turbidity D0. If the turbidity D0 is equal to or less than the predetermined value K0 (D0 ≦ K0) (YES in step S6), the control unit 16 determines that the detergent used is a liquid detergent. Then, a threshold value corresponding to the liquid detergent is set and used for determination of the amount of dirt (step S7). If the turbidity D0 is greater than the predetermined value K0 (D0> K0) (NO in step S6), the control unit 16 determines that the detergent used is a powder detergent. Then, the control unit 16 increases the light emission amount of the light emitting element of the turbidity sensor 17 by, for example, 1.5 times (step S8). Further, a threshold value corresponding to the powder detergent is set and used for determination of the amount of dirt (step S9).

∙ Powder detergent has much higher turbidity when dissolved in water than liquid detergent. Therefore, it is possible to easily distinguish between powder detergent and liquid detergent based on turbidity when the detergent is dissolved in water. In particular, if the determination is made during water supply with a smaller amount of water than during normal washing, the detergent concentration is high, so that the difference between the turbidity of the powder detergent and the turbidity of the liquid detergent becomes larger. Thereby, discrimination can be performed more easily. Furthermore, since water is filled from the water intake pipe 5 and the circulation path 12 connected to the bottom of the outer tub 2 at the time of water supply, the laundry in the drum 3 and the washing liquid do not contact much. Therefore, dirt is difficult to dissolve in the washing liquid, and the turbidity of the detergent itself can be measured.

When the water level of the outer tub reaches the first water level (YES in step S10), the control unit 16 closes the water supply valve 10 (step S11). And a water supply process is complete | finished.

When the first water supply is completed in this way, the output of the turbidity sensor 17 is measured as the initial value of the turbidity of the washing liquid, and the initial value T1 of the output is determined. This value is the value of the laundry liquid itself in which only the detergent that has not yet been contaminated with the laundry is dissolved.

Next, the control unit 16 performs a washing process. The controller 16 controls the motor 4 to rotate the drum 3 at a low speed and starts stirring the laundry. The laundry is lifted in the drum 3 and falls from the upper part of the drum 3 by gravity, and the drum 3 is rotated so that the kinetic energy at the time of dropping is effectively applied. The rotational speed of the drum 3 at this time is preferably a rotational speed that does not stick to the drum 3 wall surface by centrifugal force. Although depending on the amount of laundry, 60 rpm or less is preferable as an example. The rotation direction of the drum 3 may be the same direction continuously or may be switched periodically.

The control unit 16 drives the circulation pump 13 during stirring by the rotation of the drum 3 to circulate the washing liquid in the circulation path 12. In this manner, the washing liquid is circulated from the discharge port 11 into the drum 3 through the circulation path 12, and the washing liquid in which the detergent is dissolved is applied to the laundry to improve the wettability. The initial rotational speed of the circulation pump 13 is set so that a sufficient amount of water is discharged from the discharge port 11 in order to obtain a circulation flow rate at which the washing liquid is evenly applied to the laundry.

The controller 16 stops the circulation of the washing liquid by stopping the circulation pump 13 when, for example, one minute has elapsed since the activation of the circulation pump 13. Further, for example, when one minute has passed since the circulation pump 13 was stopped, the circulation pump 13 is again driven for one minute.

When the circulation pump 13 is repeatedly driven and stopped as described above and stirring is performed by rotating the drum 3, the washing liquid sufficiently permeates into the laundry after a set interval of 3 minutes elapses. And the dirt of the laundry begins to melt into the washing liquid. And the control part 16 detects the dirt amount of a washing liquid by the turbidity sensor 17 in the circulation path 12, for example for every predetermined time.

Detecting the amount of dirt in the washing liquid is performed by calculating a difference from the initial value T1 of the turbidity sensor 17. That is, the output of the turbidity sensor 17 at this time point is the output value T2, and the difference between the output value T2 and the initial value T1 is the detected value of the amount of dirt in the turbidity sensor 17. The control unit 16 performs scale conversion for the difference in consideration of the maximum stain of the washing liquid, and expresses the detected value as a numerical value from 0 to 10, with the maximum value of the stain amount being 10. The control unit 16 sets an extension or reduction of the washing time, the number of times of rinsing, and the rinsing time depending on the amount of dirt. Since the threshold value is set according to the detergent type, the amount of dirt can be determined with high accuracy and the cleaning performance can be improved.

Thereafter, the stirring operation by the rotation of the drum 3 and the operation of the circulation pump 13 are repeated, and if the set time of the washing process has elapsed, the washing process is finished, and the process proceeds to the next rinsing process and further to the dehydrating process. The set time for the washing process may be a time fixed depending on the type of detergent, or may be a time set in several stages depending on the amount of laundry.

As described above, the turbidity value (D0) based on the output of the turbidity sensor 17 in the water supply is compared with a predetermined value (K0), and the sensitivity of the turbidity sensor 17 is changed according to the comparison result. In the present embodiment, for example, the luminescence amount of the light emitting element is changed as the turbidity increases. Thus, the amount of light reaching the light receiving element can be increased only by controlling the light emission amount. Therefore, it is possible to measure the turbidity of the washing liquid more accurately by using the range in which the light receiving element of the turbidity sensor 17 has a good resolution.

In this embodiment, the value to be compared is turbidity, but is not limited to this. For example, it goes without saying that the output value itself of the turbidity sensor 17 may be used, or another value calculated based on the output value. In addition, although the light emission amount of the light emitting element is changed so as to increase, the sensitivity of the light receiving element itself may be increased. Thereby, the sensitivity of the light receiving element can be increased only by controlling the light receiving sensitivity, and the resolution itself of the light receiving element can be improved. Therefore, the turbidity of the washing liquid can be measured more accurately.

In the present embodiment, the detergent is determined based on the output of the turbidity sensor 17 at the time when the second water level is reached, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detergent may be determined based on the output of the turbidity sensor 17 when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of water supply. In this case, since it is not necessary to use a sensor for detecting the water level, it is possible to more easily determine the detergent type.

As still another method, the output of the turbidity sensor 17 in the water supply may be monitored constantly or intermittently to determine the detergent based on whether the turbidity exceeds a predetermined value K0 in the water supply. Accordingly, the detergent type can be reliably determined even if the detergent is dissolved in different amounts depending on the type of detergent and the water supply speed.

In addition, you may make it the control part 16 control the circulation pump 13 and circulate washing liquid from the discharge outlet 11 to the outer tank 2 through the circulation path 12 during water supply. Thereby, the melt | dissolution to the water of a detergent can be accelerated | stimulated. In this case, if the washing liquid is discharged from the discharge port 11 into the drum 3, the clothing sucks water before the detergent dissolves in the water, so the circulation flow rate of the circulation pump 13 is such that the washing liquid is in the drum 3. It is necessary to control to the extent that it does not enter. In this control, the circulation pump 13 may be driven intermittently so that the washing liquid is not discharged into the drum 3 from the discharge port 11, or the circulation pump 13 may be driven at a low speed. Thereby, since a detergent mixes with water well during water supply, the initial value of the turbidity of a washing liquid can be set up more correctly.

Further, in this embodiment, when it is determined that the detergent used is a powder detergent, the light emission amount of the turbidity sensor is increased by 1.5 times, but the present invention is not limited to this. What is necessary is just to set arbitrarily by the relationship between the emitted light quantity of a turbidity sensor, and light reception sensitivity.

Furthermore, although the drum type washing machine has been described, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it is a washing machine that detects the state of the washing liquid and controls the washing operation, and may be, for example, a vertical washing machine.

As described above, the first aspect of the washing machine according to the present invention is the laundry tub 3 that accommodates and rotates the laundry, the outer tub 2 that accommodates the laundry tub 3, and the detergent receiver into which the detergent is introduced. 19, a dirt sensor 17 that detects the dirt amount of the washing liquid, and a control unit 16 that sequentially controls the water supply process, the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dewatering process. In the water supply process, the control unit 16 determines the sensitivity of the dirt sensor 17 based on the output of the dirt sensor 17 when the water level of the outer tub 2 reaches a predetermined water level or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of water supply. Is configured to control.

In the first aspect, the washing machine according to the second aspect is configured to increase the sensitivity of the dirt sensor 17 when the value based on the output of the dirt sensor 17 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. .

This will not exceed the measurement range of the dirt sensor.

In the washing machine according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the control unit 16 determines that the detergent is a powder detergent when the value based on the output of the dirt sensor 17 is a predetermined value or more. It is configured.

Thus, by setting the threshold value of the powder detergent and using it for the determination of the amount of dirt, it is possible to determine with high accuracy and improve the cleaning performance.

According to a fourth aspect, in the second or third aspect, the dirt sensor 17 includes a turbidity sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the control unit 16 increases the sensitivity of the turbidity sensor. It is configured to increase the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element or increase the sensitivity of the light receiving element.

This makes it possible to set the resolution of the turbidity sensor to a high state only by controlling the light emission amount or only by controlling the light receiving sensitivity.

The fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects. The intake pipe 5 is connected to the outer tub 2 and takes in the washing liquid, and one end of the intake pipe 5 communicates with the other end of the wash tub 3. A circulation path 12 connected to the circulation path 12 and a circulation pump 13 for circulating the washing liquid in the circulation path 12 are further provided. The controller 16 drives the circulation pump 13 during the water supply process to circulate the washing liquid in the circulation path 12 so that the washing liquid does not enter the washing tub 3.

This makes it possible to sufficiently mix the detergent with the water in the water supply, and more accurately measure the turbidity of the washing liquid due to the detergent itself.

The sixth aspect is the first aspect, wherein the predetermined water level is lower than the standard set water level set according to the amount of laundry.

Since the detergent concentration is higher when the amount of water is smaller than that during normal washing, the difference between the turbidity of the powder detergent and the turbidity of the liquid detergent becomes larger. This makes it possible to more easily determine the type of detergent.

A seventh aspect is the first aspect to the sixth aspect, in which the output value of the dirt sensor 17 at the end of the water supply process is compared with the output value of the dirt sensor 17 at the time of the washing process to compare the amount of dirt on the laundry Determine.

8th aspect WHEREIN: The control part 16 discriminate | determines the kind of detergent in a 1st aspect to a 7th aspect.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can accurately detect the turbidity of the washing liquid and always stably obtain the washing performance. Therefore, it is applicable also to uses, such as cleaning apparatuses, such as textiles.

1 Outer box 2 Outer tub 3 Drum (washing tub)
4 Motor 5 Water intake pipe 6 Drain valve 7 Drain pipe 8 Water level sensor 9 Water supply port 10 Water supply valve 11 Discharge port 12 Circulation path 13 Circulation pump 14 Heating unit 15 Filter 16 Control unit 17 Turbidity sensor (dirt sensor)
18 Water temperature sensor 19 Detergent receiver

Claims

A laundry tub that accommodates and rotates laundry;
An outer tub for accommodating the washing tub;
A detergent receiver into which the detergent is put,
A dirt sensor for detecting the amount of dirt in the washing liquid;
A controller that sequentially controls the water supply process, the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process;
With
The control unit, in the water supply step, based on a value based on the output of the dirt sensor when the water level of the outer tub reaches a predetermined water level, or when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of water supply, A washing machine configured to control the sensitivity of the dirt sensor.
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to increase sensitivity of the dirt sensor when a value based on an output of the dirt sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is configured to determine that the detergent is a powder detergent when a value based on an output of the dirt sensor is a predetermined value or more.
The dirt sensor is composed of a turbidity sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element or increase the sensitivity of the light receiving element in order to increase the sensitivity of the turbidity sensor.
A water intake pipe connected to the outer tub and taking in the washing liquid;
A circulation path having one end communicating with the water intake pipe and the other end connected to the washing tub;
A circulation pump for circulating the washing liquid in the circulation path,
The said control part drives the said circulation pump at the time of the said water supply process, The said washing | cleaning liquid is circulated in the said circulation path so that the said washing | cleaning liquid may not enter the inside of the said washing tub. The washing machine according to item 1.
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined water level is lower than a standard set water level set in accordance with the amount of the laundry.
The amount of dirt of the laundry is determined by comparing the output value of the dirt sensor at the end of the water supply process with the output value of the dirt sensor at the time of the washing process. The washing machine described.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit determines a type of the detergent.