WO2018121596A1

WO2018121596A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2018121596A1
Application number: PCT/CN2017/118953
Authority: WO
Inventors: 西野雅文; 松下丈也
Original assignee: 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司; Aqua株式会社
Priority date: 2016-12-27
Filing date: 2017-12-27
Publication date: 2018-07-05
Also published as: CN110100054B; JP7061754B2; JP2018102645A; CN110100054A

Abstract

A front-loading washing machine (1): during dehydration, enabling a drum (2) to rotate to the number of revolutions that can support an acceleration sensor (12) to detect an amount of eccentricity (M); calculating a time difference (t1) between any time point in information indicating acceleration variation in time in at least one revolution of the drum (2) and a pulse signal (ps), calculating an eccentric position in the drum (2) according to a relationship between the time difference (t1) and the number of revolutions of the drum (2), and when the amount of eccentricity (M) calculated based on the acceleration is greater than a threshold for detection, controlling the amount of eccentricity (M) to be reduced at the calculated eccentric position. The washing machine (1) can not only accurately detect an eccentric position of laundry in the washing drum, but also reliably detect the amount of eccentricity of the drum in a wide rotation area during dehydration, to perform dehydration without any delay, so that the washing time is shortened.

Description

washing machine

Technical field

The present invention relates to a washing machine having a dehydrating function.

Background technique

The washing machine installed in an ordinary household or a laundromat has a washing and dehydrating function, a washing and dehydrating drying function.

A washing machine having a dehydrating function generates vibration and noise in the drum due to the bias of the laundry. Further, if the deviation of the laundry is severe, the amount of eccentricity of the drum during the rotation becomes large, and the rotation requires a large torque, so that the dehydration operation cannot be started.

Further, in the conventional washing machine, a structure in which the amount of eccentricity of the drum is mechanically detected by a micro switch located in the vicinity of the washing tub is adopted. In the case where the structure of the micro switch is provided, it is necessary to precisely adjust the movement distance of the micro switch at the time of manufacture so that the micro switch can operate.

Further, depending on the installation state of the washing machine, the position of the washing tub may deviate from a predetermined position, which may cause a deviation of the operating distance of the micro switch, and may cause a vibration detection, that is, a defect in which the eccentric amount of the washing tub cannot be accurately detected. Happening.

Further, as a detection method that does not depend on the amount of eccentricity of the micro switch, a method of using a motor control circuit called a drum inverter that controls a motor that drives the drum has been proposed. In the detection method, the fluctuation of the torque applied to the motor is detected by the motor control circuit, and the eccentric amount of the deviation of the laundry is detected based on the fluctuation of the torque (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the washing machine of Patent Document 1, when it is determined that the eccentric amount as the deviation of the laundry is larger than a predetermined value, the drum is decelerated to a rotational speed less than the gravity by the output timing of the position detecting unit, thereby eliminating the bias of the laundry. That is, reduce the amount of eccentricity of the drum.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3332769

Summary of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the detection of the eccentric amount by the motor control circuit disclosed in the above Patent Document 1 must be carried out by mounting a high-performance motor control circuit. Further, by the detection of the eccentric amount of the motor control circuit, the eccentric amount of the drum can be detected only in the low speed region where the number of revolutions before the predetermined maximum number of revolutions in the dehydration process is low. However, when the number of revolutions by the detection of the eccentric amount of the motor control circuit cannot be performed during the dehydration process, the amount of eccentricity of the drum may increase or the position of the eccentricity may change. Thus, if it is desired to detect the eccentric amount of the washing tub in the state in which the number of revolutions is high, the detection of the eccentric amount by the motor control circuit must be performed once the number of revolutions is lowered. That is, once the number of revolutions is lowered and then raised again, it means that the dehydration process takes longer.

The present invention is an invention that solves the problems as described above. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drum type washing machine which can not only accurately detect the deviation of the laundry in the washing tub, but also reliably detect the eccentric amount of the drum in the wide rotation region during the dehydration process without delay The dehydration process is carried out, whereby the washing time can be shortened.

Solution to solve the problem

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine having a bottomed cylindrical drum configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in a horizontal direction or an oblique direction, an acceleration sensor for detecting vibration of the drum, and a drum position detecting device according to The rotation of the drum emits a pulse signal; and an eccentricity detecting unit that detects an eccentric amount and an eccentricity in the drum based on a vibration of the drum detected by the acceleration sensor and a pulse signal emitted from the drum position detecting device a position characterized by rotating the drum to a detected number of revolutions at which an eccentric amount can be detected by the acceleration sensor during dehydration, and calculating a time variation indicating an acceleration in at least one rotation of the drum The time difference between the arbitrary time point and the pulse signal in the information, and the eccentric position in the drum is calculated according to the relationship between the time difference and the number of revolutions of the drum, and when the eccentric amount calculated according to the acceleration is greater than the detection threshold The control for reducing the amount of eccentricity is performed based on the calculated eccentric position.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control for lowering the eccentric amount is to rotate the drum at a control rotation number lower than the detection rotation number, and then to reduce the number of revolutions of the drum to a brake whose centrifugal force is smaller than gravity The brake control of the number of revolutions.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the number of revolutions for control is a number of revolutions in the vicinity of the number of revolutions in which the centrifugal force and the gravity are balanced, and is about 100 rpm as an example.

Further, according to the present invention, after the control for lowering the eccentricity is performed, when the eccentric amount exceeds a threshold for the rotation increase that cannot increase the number of revolutions of the drum, the number of revolutions of the drum is not increased. The rotation of the drum is continued until a predetermined time in the dehydration process, and the dehydration process is ended.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the detection rotation number is the lowest number of revolutions at which the acceleration sensor can detect the detection threshold, and is about 200 rpm as an example.

Further, according to the present invention, after the control for lowering the eccentricity is performed, when the eccentric amount exceeds a threshold for the rotation increase that cannot increase the number of revolutions of the drum, the number of revolutions of the drum is not increased. The rotation of the drum is continued until a predetermined time during the dehydration process, and when the eccentric amount is lower than the threshold for re-rising before the predetermined time elapses, the number of revolutions of the drum is increased.

Effect of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drum type washing machine which can not only accurately detect the deviation of the laundry in the washing tub, but also reliably detect the eccentric amount of the drum in the wide rotation region during the dehydration process without delay The dehydration process is carried out, whereby the washing time can be shortened.

The washing machine of the present invention can provide a washing machine capable of more accurately reducing the amount of eccentricity of the drum.

The washing machine of the present invention can provide a washing machine capable of more reliably performing the above-described brake control.

The washing machine of the present invention can provide a washing machine capable of more reliably reducing the amount of eccentricity of the drum.

The washing machine of the present invention can provide a washing machine capable of more accurately performing detection of an eccentric amount by means of an acceleration sensor.

The washing machine of the present invention can provide a washing machine capable of performing a more efficient dehydration process.

DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of an electrical system of the washing machine 1.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing detection values of the acceleration sensor 12 and the proximity sensor 14 of the washing machine 1.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing a control flow of the dehydration process of the embodiment.

detailed description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical arrangement of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a so-called drum type washing machine which can be applied to, for example, a laundromat or a house, and includes a washing machine main body 1a, an outer cylinder 3 including an axis S1 extending substantially horizontally, and a washing machine 2 The cylinder 1b, the drive unit 40, and only the control unit 30 shown in Fig. 2 .

The washing machine body 1a shown in Fig. 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An opening 11 for taking in and taking out the laundry to the drum 2 is formed on the front surface 10a of the washing machine main body 1a, and an opening and closing cover (not shown) that can open and close the opening 11 is attached. The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment is a washing machine called a drum type fully automatic washing machine in which the washing tub 1b is assembled in a substantially horizontal direction.

The outer cylinder 3 is a bottomed cylindrical member disposed inside the washing machine main body 1a, and can store washing water inside. As shown in FIG. 1, an acceleration sensor 12 capable of detecting accelerations in three directions of the left-right direction, the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction is attached to the outer peripheral surface 3a of the outer cylinder 3. In the present embodiment, as an example, the acceleration sensor 12 can detect accelerations in the left-right direction, the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction, and is a three-axis sensor. Further, a discharge path 3b capable of discharging the washing water to the outside is connected to the outer cylinder 3. A discharge valve 32 that is openable and closable is provided in the discharge path 3b.

The drum 2 is a bottomed cylindrical member that is disposed coaxially with the outer cylinder 3 in the outer cylinder 3 and that is rotatably supported in the outer cylinder 3. The drum 2 can accommodate laundry inside, and its wall has a plurality of water holes.

As shown in Fig. 1, the driving device 40 rotates the pulley 15 and the belt 15b by the motor 10, and rotates the drive shaft 17 that extends toward the bottom portion 2c of the drum 2, thereby applying a driving force to the drum 2 to rotate the drum 2. Further, a proximity switch 14 capable of detecting the passage of the mark 15a formed on the pulley 15 is provided in the vicinity of one of the pulleys 15. Then, in the present embodiment, the proximity switch 14 corresponds to a drum position detecting device.

Further, in the present embodiment, as a component of the drive device 40, a motor control circuit 34, which is also referred to as a drum inverter, is connected to the motor 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical arrangement of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. The operation of the washing machine 1 is controlled by a control unit 30 including a microcomputer. The control unit 30 includes a central control unit (CPU) 31 that controls the entire system, and a memory (not shown) is connected to the control unit 30, and the memory stores a dispersion threshold (α) which is a value which will be described in detail below, The dehydration threshold (β) and the threshold for re-rising (γ). Further, the control unit 30 executes the program stored in the memory by the microcomputer, thereby performing a predetermined operation operation, and temporarily stores data and the like used when the program is executed in the memory.

The central control unit 31 outputs a control signal to the rotational speed control unit 33, and further outputs the control signal to the motor control circuit (drum inverter) 34 to rotationally control the motor 10. In addition, the rotation speed control unit 33 inputs a signal indicating the number of revolutions of the motor 10 from the motor control circuit 34 in real time, and constitutes a control element.

The acceleration sensor 12 is connected to the unbalance amount detecting unit 35. The acceleration sensor 12 and the proximity switch 14 are connected to the unbalanced position detecting unit 36. The unbalance amount detecting unit 35 and the unbalanced position detecting unit 36 constitute an eccentricity detecting unit. Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the unbalance amount detecting unit 35 and the unbalanced position detecting unit 36 are connected to the motor control circuit 34 is not denied. The method of detecting the eccentric position and the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 by the motor control circuit 34 is a method of calculating the eccentric position from the fluctuation of the torque applied to the motor 10 and the detected value from the proximity switch 14. The method of detecting the eccentricity position and the eccentric amount (M) of the motor control circuit 34 can be performed by a conventional method, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present embodiment.

Then, when the proximity switch 14 detects the mark 15a (refer to FIG. 1), the amount of eccentricity of the drum 2 is calculated by the unbalance amount detecting unit 35 based on the magnitudes of the accelerations in the left-right direction, the up-and-down direction, and the front-rear direction obtained from the acceleration sensor 12. (M), the eccentric amount (M) is output to the unbalance amount determining unit 37.

The unbalanced position detecting unit 36 calculates an eccentric position based on the signal indicating the position of the mark 15a input from the proximity switch 14, and outputs it to the central control unit 31. Here, the eccentric position means a relative angle based on any one of the circumferential directions of the axis S1.

Next, a specific embodiment of the control method of the present embodiment will be further described.

The calculation procedure of the eccentric position in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, during the dehydration process, the time difference t1 between any point in the signal indicating the acceleration of at least one period t2 of the drum 2 emitted from the acceleration sensor 12 and the timing at which the pulse signal ps is emitted from the proximity switch 14 is calculated, It is compared with the relationship between the signal of the eccentric position/acceleration sensor 12 as the prior information and the pulse signal ps of the proximity switch 14, whereby the circumferential direction in the drum 2 is calculated based on the relationship between the time difference t1 and the number of revolutions of the drum 2. The eccentric position performs control for lowering the eccentric amount (M) based on the calculated eccentric position. Hereinafter, in particular, a specific calculation procedure of the eccentric position of the present embodiment will be described. Then, the eccentric amount (M) is expressed in proportion to the amplitude of the signal emitted from the acceleration sensor 12, and therefore, the amplitude amount is expressed as the eccentric amount (M) in Fig. 3 .

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the information indicating the temporal change of the acceleration calculated based on the acceleration obtained from the acceleration sensor 12 and the pulse signal ps obtained from the proximity switch 14. In FIG. 3, for convenience, the eccentric position is calculated based on the time difference t1 between the maximum value (max) of the acceleration obtained from the acceleration sensor 12 and the pulse signal ps. In addition, in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, as an example, a scheme in which an eccentric position is calculated from a maximum value (max) and a minimum value (min) of acceleration is shown as an example of the present invention. Other embodiments may also calculate the eccentric position based on any one or more of the acceleration zero point, the maximum value (max), and the minimum value (min) of the acceleration.

That is, the eccentricity position is calculated from the relative value of one period t2 obtained from the pulse signal ps shown in FIG. 3 from the time difference t1. As an example, the range of the value of the time difference t1 is previously associated with each of the plurality of regions in the circumferential direction of the drum 2, and is stored in advance in the central control unit 31. Then, based on the value of t1 obtained, it is determined which region the eccentric position is located. Further, the association between the time difference t1 and the eccentric position does not hinder the change depending on the number of revolutions of the drum 2 and the number of resonance revolutions of the drum 2.

In the present embodiment, when the central control unit 31 receives an input signal from a dehydration button (not shown) or receives a signal intended to start the dehydration process during the washing mode operation, the process proceeds to step ST1 to start the dehydration process.

(Step ST1)

In step ST1, the central control unit 31 performs a process of raising the number of revolutions of the drum 2 to a number of revolutions sufficient to calculate the eccentric position of the drum 2 and the eccentric amount (M). In the present embodiment, the eccentric position and the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 are calculated by the acceleration sensor 12. Therefore, as an example, the number of revolutions of the drum 2 is raised to 200 rpm.

(Step ST2)

In step ST2, the central control unit 31 calculates the eccentricity position and the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2, and determines whether or not the eccentric amount (M) is smaller than the dispersion threshold (α) that cannot be accelerated to the highest dehydration number. When the eccentric amount (M) is smaller than the dispersion threshold (α), the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST6.

(Step ST3)

In step ST3, the central control unit 31 decelerates the number of revolutions of the drum 2 to, for example, 100 rpm. (Step ST4)

In step ST4, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentricity position calculated in the above-described step ST2 is at the timing of the upper portion of the drum 2. When the eccentric position is at the timing of the upper portion of the drum 2, the central control unit 3 shifts the step to step ST5.

(Step ST5)

In step ST5, the central control unit 31 performs so-called brake control that reduces the number of revolutions of the drum to a number of brake revolutions in which the centrifugal force is smaller than the gravity. After the brake control is performed, the process proceeds to step ST1.

(Step ST6)

In step ST6, the central control unit 31 accelerates the number of revolutions of the drum 2 to 800 rpm which is the highest number of spin-drying revolutions in the present embodiment.

(Step ST7)

In step ST7, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentric amount (M) is less than the acceleration until the eccentric amount (M) is continuously calculated even when the number of revolutions of the drum 2 exceeds the number of measured revolutions. The dehydration threshold β of the highest dehydration number. When the eccentric amount (M) is smaller than the dehydration threshold value β, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST10. When the eccentric amount (M) is equal to or higher than the dehydration threshold β, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST8.

(Step ST8)

In step ST8, the central control unit 31 starts the process of reducing the number of revolutions of the drum 2 by the number of revolutions at the step ST7 by 100 rpm.

(Step ST9)

In step ST9, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the drum 2 has decelerated to the number of revolutions set in step ST8. When the central control unit 31 determines that the number of revolutions of the drum 2 has decelerated to a number of revolutions lower than the number of revolutions when moving from step ST7 to step ST8 by 100 rpm, the process proceeds to step ST10.

(Step ST10)

In step ST10, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the number of revolutions of the drum 2 is the highest number of dehydration revolutions. When the number of revolutions of the drum 2 reaches the maximum number of spin-drying revolutions, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST13. When the number of revolutions of the drum 2 has not reached the maximum number of spin-drying revolutions, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST11.

(Step ST11)

In step ST11, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 is smaller than the threshold γ for re-raising as the number of revolutions that can increase the number of revolutions of the drum 2. When the number of revolutions of the drum 2 is smaller than the threshold value γ for re-raising, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST12. When the number of revolutions of the drum 2 is equal to or higher than the threshold value γ for re-raising, the central control unit 31 shifts the step to step ST13.

(Step ST12)

In step ST12, the central control unit 31 accelerates the number of revolutions of the drum 2 to 800 rpm which is the highest number of dehydration revolutions in the present embodiment.

(Step ST13)

In step ST13, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the elapsed time after the start of the dehydration process has passed the predetermined dehydration time. When the elapsed time after the start of the dehydration process has passed the predetermined dehydration time, the central control unit 31 ends the process of the dehydration process.

In the acceleration process of reaching the highest number of dehydration revolutions, the target number of revolutions becomes the number of revolutions lower than the highest number of dehydration revolutions even if the step ST8 has elapsed, and then, in the case where ST13 is reached in step ST12, the target is reached. The number of revolutions becomes the highest number of revolutions.

In other words, in the present embodiment, when the eccentric amount (M) exceeds the dehydration threshold value β which is a threshold for the rotation increase which cannot increase the number of revolutions of the drum 2, the rotation of the drum is continued without increasing the number of revolutions of the drum 2 until The dehydration process ends at a predetermined time during the dehydration process. Further, if the eccentric amount (M) is lower than the re-rising threshold γ before the predetermined time, the number of revolutions is increased to the highest number of dehydration revolutions, and then the dehydration process is ended. In either of these cases, with this step ST13, there is no difference in the time required for the dehydration process in the present embodiment.

As described above, the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment can not only accurately detect the deviation of the laundry in the washing tub 1b, but also reliably detect the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 in the wide rotation region during the dehydrating process. The dehydration process is carried out without delay, thereby substantially reducing the washing time compared to the prior art.

In the present embodiment, by the brake control in step ST5, the washing machine 1 capable of more accurately reducing the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 is realized.

In the present embodiment, the above-described brake control is performed by a series of control steps of step ST3, step ST4, and step ST5. Therefore, the washing machine 1 capable of more reliably reducing the eccentric amount (M) is realized.

In the present embodiment, by continuing the series of control in steps ST8, ST9, ST10, ST11, and ST13, it is possible to reliably detect that the eccentric amount (M) of the drum 2 cannot be reliably lowered by the control, even if In this case, the dehydration process is also carried out without delay, whereby an delay in the washing time can be effectively prevented.

In the present embodiment, the washing machine 1 capable of more accurately detecting the eccentric amount (M) by the acceleration sensor 12 is realized by the step ST1.

In the present embodiment, in step ST12, the washing machine 1 capable of performing a more efficient dehydration process is realized.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is a matter of course that the present invention is applied to a washing machine of a type that opens the drum in the horizontal direction, and a tilting drum type washing machine that opens the drum obliquely upward or a washing and drying machine that has a drying function may be used. The invention is applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the eccentric position and the eccentricity are detected by the acceleration sensor, but the following is not negated: It is used in combination with not only the acceleration sensor but also the conventional application. The scheme of the motor control circuit uses a scheme of mechanically detecting a microswitch of an eccentric position. Further, various modifications of the specific embodiment of the acceleration sensor, the specific calculation method of the eccentric position, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1: drum type washing machine (washing machine);

1b: washing tub;

12: acceleration sensor;

14: roller position detecting device (proximity sensor);

2: roller;

35: eccentricity detecting unit (unbalance detecting unit);

36: eccentricity detecting unit (unbalanced position detecting unit);

α: detection threshold (dispersion threshold);

β: detection threshold (dehydration threshold);

γ: a threshold for the rotation rise (a threshold for re-rising);

M: eccentricity;

ST5: control for reducing the amount of eccentricity (stop control);

T1: time difference;

Ps: pulse signal.

Claims

A drum type washing machine having: a bottomed cylindrical drum configured to rotate about an axis extending in a horizontal direction or an oblique direction; an acceleration sensor for detecting vibration of the drum; and a drum position detecting device according to the drum Rotating to emit a pulse signal; and an eccentricity detecting unit that detects an eccentric amount and an eccentric position in the drum based on vibration of the drum detected by the acceleration sensor and a pulse signal emitted from the drum position detecting device Characterized by

During the dehydration process,

Rotating the drum to a detected number of revolutions at which an eccentric amount can be detected by the acceleration sensor,

Calculating a time difference between the arbitrary time point in the information indicating the temporal change of the acceleration in at least one rotation of the drum and the pulse signal, and calculating the relationship according to the relationship between the time difference and the number of revolutions of the drum The eccentric position inside the drum,

When the eccentric amount calculated based on the acceleration is larger than the detection threshold, the control for lowering the eccentric amount is performed based on the calculated eccentricity position.
A drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein

The control for lowering the eccentricity is to rotate the drum at a control rotation number lower than the detected number of revolutions, and then to reduce the number of revolutions of the drum to a brake control in which the centrifugal force is smaller than the number of brake revolutions of gravity.
A drum type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein

The number of revolutions for control is near the number of revolutions in which the centrifugal force and the gravity are balanced and is a high number of revolutions.
The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

After the control for lowering the eccentricity is performed, when the eccentricity exceeds the threshold for the rotation increase that cannot increase the number of revolutions of the drum, the rotation of the drum is continued without increasing the number of revolutions of the drum until The dehydration process ends at a predetermined time in the dehydration process.
The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

The detection rotation number is the lowest number of revolutions at which the acceleration sensor can detect the detection threshold.
The drum type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

After the control for lowering the eccentricity is performed, when the eccentricity exceeds the threshold for the rotation increase that cannot increase the number of revolutions of the drum, the rotation of the drum is continued without increasing the number of revolutions of the drum until The predetermined time in the dehydration process increases the number of revolutions of the drum when the eccentric amount is lower than the threshold for re-rising before the predetermined time elapses.