WO2020105549A1

WO2020105549A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2020105549A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/044816
Authority: WO
Inventors: 領家　英之; 敬彦林
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2018-11-21
Filing date: 2019-11-15
Publication date: 2020-05-28
Also published as: TW202020262A; CN113056582A; JPWO2020105549A1; CN113056582B

Abstract

This washing machine (10) is configured such that a water tank (12) is disposed inside an outer tank (11) that is a washing machine case, and a rotary tank (13) is disposed inside the water tank (12). The water tank (12) has a ranging sensor (15) attached to an outer circumferential lateral surface thereof, and the ranging sensor (15) measures the distance between the ranging sensor (15) and the inner wall of the outer tank (11) in a prescribed direction. The washing machine (10) detects unusual vibration of the water tank (12) on the basis of a measurement value obtained by the ranging sensor (15), and halts the operation thereof upon detection of unusual vibration of the water tank (12).

Description

Washing machine

The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a safety device that prevents abnormal vibration of an aquarium.

During dehydration in a washing machine, the shaking of the rotating tub and water tub may increase due to uneven distribution of laundry in the rotating tub, which may cause abnormal vibration. Conventionally, in order to prevent such an abnormal vibration, a washing machine is provided with a safety device that detects when the shaking of the water tank exceeds a prescribed amount and stops the operation.

Patent Document 1 discloses a safety device in which a mechanical switch lever is provided outside the water tank, and when the shaking of the water tank exceeds a specified amount, the water tank abuts the switch lever to determine abnormal vibration. ..

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-28981

The mechanical switch lever contacts the outer peripheral surface of the water tank where shaking occurs and determines abnormal vibration. However, since the mechanical switch lever naturally requires an operation range from the initial position to the vibration detection position, it cannot be detected unless it is a shake that causes a certain amount of displacement. In addition, the mechanical switch lever may move its mounting position to the outer peripheral side with respect to the water tub by repeating contact with the water tub as the washing machine ages. When the mounting position of the switch lever moves in this way, the displacement of the water tank that can be detected becomes larger (the vibration detection accuracy decreases).

Furthermore, in order to save space in the washing machine, it is desirable to make the space between the aquarium and the outer tub (the washing machine housing) as small as possible. If the space between the water tank and the outer tank is small, a safety device using a mechanical switch lever will cause the shaking water tank to move to the outer tank before the operation is stopped due to abnormal vibration of the water tank being detected. The vehicle may collide and generate a loud noise, or the outer tank may be deformed in some cases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can reliably detect abnormal vibration of a water tank before a collision occurs between the water tank and the outer tank.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a washing machine in which a water tank is arranged inside an outer tank, and a rotating tank is arranged inside the water tank, wherein at least one distance measuring device attached to the water tank is provided. Having a sensor, the distance measuring sensor measures the distance between the inner wall of the outer tub and the distance measuring sensor in a predetermined direction, and detects abnormal vibration of the water tank based on the measurement value of the distance measuring sensor. The operation is stopped when abnormal vibration of the water tank is detected.

According to the above configuration, the distance sensor is attached to the water tank, and the abnormal vibration of the water tank is detected based on the measurement value of the distance sensor (the distance between the inner wall of the outer tank and the distance sensor). In this case, by using a distance measuring sensor that measures the distance in a non-contact manner, it is possible to detect shaking of the aquarium with a small displacement and reliably detect abnormal vibration of the aquarium before the collision between the aquarium and the outer aquarium. However, it is possible to prevent a collision between the water tank and the outer tank. Further, the distance measuring sensor that measures the distance in a non-contact manner basically does not cause contact with the outer tank. Therefore, the mounting position of the distance measuring sensor does not change as the washing machine ages, and high detection accuracy can be maintained.

Also, the washing machine may include two distance measuring sensors, and the two distance measuring sensors may be configured such that their measuring directions are orthogonal to each other in a plan view.

According to the above configuration, since it is possible to detect the shaking in two directions orthogonal to each other by the two distance measuring sensors, the shaking is detected no matter which direction the shaking of the water tank occurs, and the abnormal vibration of the water tank is detected. Can be prevented more reliably.

Further, in the above washing machine, at least one of the distance measuring sensors has a measuring direction facing the outer peripheral direction of the water tub, and measures a distance from an inner wall of the outer tub located closest to the distance measuring sensor. It can be configured to.

According to the above configuration, since the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor becomes short, an inexpensive sensor such as a triangulation type can be used as the distance measuring sensor.

Further, in the above washing machine, at least one of the distance measuring sensors is attached to an upper surface of the water tub, and a measuring direction thereof is an inner circumferential direction of the water tub, and the distance measuring sensor is the farthest from the distance measuring sensor. It may be configured to measure the distance from the inner wall of the outer tank at a different position.

According to the above configuration, in addition to detecting abnormal vibration of the water tank by the distance measuring sensor, it is also possible to detect jumping out of laundry from the rotating tank.

The washing machine of the present invention can detect the shaking of the aquarium with a small displacement by using the distance measuring sensor that measures the distance in a non-contact manner, and the aquarium of the aquarium can be reliably detected before a collision occurs between the aquarium and the outer tub. This has the effect of being able to detect abnormal vibration. Further, the distance-measuring sensor that measures the distance in a non-contact manner also has an effect that the mounting position of the distance-measuring sensor does not change over the years of use of the washing machine and high detection accuracy can be maintained.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the washing machine which concerns on Embodiment 1, (a) is a schematic cross section which looked at the washing machine from the side, (b) is a schematic cross section which looked at the washing machine from the front, FIG. 3C is a schematic view of the inside of the washing machine viewed from the upper surface side. It is a figure which shows the measuring direction of the distance measurement sensor in the washing machine of Embodiment 1, and is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside of a washing machine from the upper surface side. It is a figure which shows the modification of the washing machine of Embodiment 1, (a) is the schematic cross section which looked at the washing machine from the front side, (b) is the schematic figure which looked at the inside of the washing machine from the upper surface side. .. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the washing machine which concerns on Embodiment 2, and is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside of a washing machine from the upper surface side. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the washing machine which concerns on Embodiment 3, and is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside of a washing machine from the upper surface side. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the state which the laundry jumped out of the rotating tub in the washing machine which concerns on Embodiment 3, and is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside of a washing machine from the upper surface side. It is a figure which shows the shape example of the distance measurement sensor in the washing machine which concerns on Embodiment 3, and is a schematic cross section which looked at the water tank upper part from the side surface side.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine 10 according to the first embodiment, (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washing machine 10 seen from a side surface, and (b) is a front side of the washing machine 10. FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inside of the washing machine 10 (a state in which the lid portion 16 is removed) as viewed from the top side.

The washing machine 10 is configured such that a water tub 12 is arranged inside an outer tub 11 which is a casing of a washing machine, and a rotating tub 13 is arranged inside the water tub 12. The water tank 12 is a tank that stores water during washing or dehydration and receives water discharged from the rotary tank 13. The rotating tub 13 functions as a washing tub during washing and as a dehydrating tub during dehydration, and is rotatably provided inside the water tub 12.

A ring-shaped water tank cover 121 is provided on the upper surface of the water tank 12. A ring-shaped balancer 14 for stably rotating the rotary tank 13 is attached to the upper edge of the rotary tank 13. A lid 16 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper portion of the washing machine 10.

In the washing machine 10, when the rotary tub 13 is rotated during a spin-drying operation or the like, swaying occurs in the rotary tub 13 and the water tub 12 depending on the uneven distribution of the laundry in the rotary tub 13. When this shaking becomes large, it causes abnormal vibration in which the water tank 12 may collide with the inner wall of the outer tank 11. Therefore, the washing machine 10 is provided with a safety device that detects such abnormal vibration and stops the operation (stops the rotation of the rotary tub 13) when the abnormal vibration is detected.

The washing machine 10 according to the first embodiment has a distance measuring sensor 15 on the outer peripheral side surface of the water tank 12 as a main element of the safety device. That is, the safety device in the washing machine 10 detects the abnormal vibration based on the distance measuring sensor 15 and the measured value of the distance measuring sensor 15, and stops the operation of the washing machine 10 when the abnormal vibration is detected (not shown). )) And. As shown in FIG. 2, the distance measuring sensor 15 has a measuring direction (arrow A in the figure) facing the outer peripheral direction of the water tank 12. More specifically, the distance measuring sensor 15 is provided at a position facing any inner wall of the outer tub 11, and measures the distance L1 with the inner wall 111 at the position closest to the distance measuring sensor 15. It has become.

The washing machine 10 detects the abnormal vibration of the water tub 12 based on the measurement value of the distance measurement sensor 15 (the distance L1 between the distance measurement sensor 15 and the inner wall 111 of the outer tub 11), and the abnormal vibration of the water tub 12 is detected. If the operation is stopped. The specific method of detecting the abnormal vibration based on the distance L1 measured by the distance measuring sensor 15 is not particularly limited in the present invention, but the following two methods are exemplified.

(First example)
When the water tank 12 shakes, the measured value of the distance measuring sensor 15, that is, the distance L1 vibrates. In the first example, the distance L1 is compared with a predetermined threshold value Lth1 and abnormal vibration is detected when the distance L1 becomes a value smaller than the threshold value Lth1. The threshold value Lth1 in this case is a distance at which the water tank 12 is brought too close to the inner wall 111 of the outer tank 11. In the first example, the distance L1 that is the measured value of the distance measuring sensor 15 is compared with the threshold value Lth1 as it is, so that the load on the control unit that performs the determination is reduced.

(Second example)
In the second example, the control unit to which the distance L1 is input calculates the difference value between the maximum value Lmax and the minimum value Lmin of the vibrating distance L1 as the vibration width Lw of the water tank 12. Then, the calculated vibration width Lw is compared with a predetermined threshold value Lth2, and when the vibration width Lw becomes a value larger than the threshold value Lth2, abnormal vibration is detected. In the second example, the control unit needs a calculation process for calculating the vibration width Lw, but since the detection can be performed based on the displacement from the vibration center to both sides, the detection accuracy is high.

The shaking of the water tub 12 in the washing machine 10 is mainly caused by the unevenness of the laundry in the rotary tub 13. However, even if the start of rotation of the rotary tub 13 is biased, the rotation of the laundry will not occur to some extent. By continuing, the deviation may be leveled and the shaking of the water tank 12 may be reduced. Therefore, in the first example, the abnormal vibration is not immediately detected when the distance L1 becomes a value smaller than the threshold value Lth1, but the state in which the distance L1 becomes a value smaller than the threshold value Lth1 is equal to or greater than the specified number of times. Abnormal vibration may be detected when detected. Similarly, in the second example, the abnormal vibration may be detected when the state in which the vibration width Lw becomes a value larger than the threshold value Lth2 is detected a predetermined number of times or more.

As described above, in the washing machine 10 according to the first embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 15 is attached to the water tub 12, and the distance measuring sensor 15 separates the inner wall of the outer tub 11 and the distance measuring sensor 15 in a predetermined direction. The distance L1 is measured, and the abnormal vibration of the water tank 12 is detected based on the measured value of the distance measuring sensor 15. By using the distance measuring sensor 15 that measures the distance in a non-contact manner, the washing machine 10 can also detect shaking of the water tub 12 having a small displacement. Therefore, the washing machine 10 can reliably detect the abnormal vibration of the water tub 12 before the collision between the water tub 12 and the outer tub 11 and prevent the collision between the water tub 12 and the outer tub 11.

Also, the distance-measuring sensor 15 that measures the distance without contact basically does not cause contact with the outer tank 11. Therefore, the mounting position of the distance measuring sensor 15 does not change during the years of use of the washing machine 10, and high detection accuracy can be maintained.

Furthermore, since the measurement direction of the distance measuring sensor 15 is directed toward the outer peripheral direction of the water tank 12, and the distance measuring sensor 15 measures the distance L1 to the inner wall 111 at the closest position, the measured distance L1 is It will be a short distance. In this case, an inexpensive sensor such as a triangulation type sensor can be used as the distance measuring sensor 15. Of course, the type of sensor used for the distance measuring sensor 15 is not particularly limited, and an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor, or the like can also be used.

In the washing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1, the distance measuring sensor 15 is attached to the outer peripheral side surface of the water tub 12. However, in the washing machine 10 according to the first embodiment, the mounting location of the distance measuring sensor 15 is not limited to this. For example, the distance measuring sensor 15 may be attached to the upper surface of the water tank 12 (that is, the upper surface of the water tank cover 121) as shown in FIG.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the washing machine 10A according to the second embodiment, and is a schematic view of the inside of the washing machine 10A (with the lid portion 16 removed) as seen from the upper surface side.

The washing machine 10A according to the second embodiment includes two

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b for the water tub 12, and the

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b are separated from each other by 90 ° along the outer circumferential direction of the water tub 12. It is installed. Further, each of the

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b has a measurement direction facing the outer peripheral direction of the water tank 12, similarly to the distance measuring sensor 15 in the first embodiment. Therefore, the distance measuring sensor 15a measures the distance to the inner wall 111 shown in FIG. 4, and the distance measuring sensor 15b measures the distance to the inner wall 112.

Since the

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b are attached to each other along the outer peripheral direction of the water tank 12 at 90 ° apart from each other, the measuring directions of the two

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b are orthogonal to each other in a plan view. Specifically, the distance measuring sensor 15a can detect horizontal shaking of the water tank 12, and the distance measuring sensor 15b can detect front and rear shaking of the water tank 12.

The washing machine 10A is configured to stop the operation (stop the rotation of the rotary tub 13) when any of the

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b detects an abnormal vibration.

The reason why the washing machine 10A according to the second embodiment is provided with the two

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b and detects the bidirectional shaking is as follows.

The shaking of the water tub 12 that occurs during dehydration operation is mainly caused by the centrifugal force of the rotary tub 13 when the laundry in the rotary tub 13 is uneven. However, due to the influence of a mechanism such as a drive unit and a drain hose attached to the water tub 12 and the inclination of the installation surface of the washing machine 10A, the water tub 12 does not always shake evenly in all directions. May be larger than the shaking in the other direction. For example, the sway in the front-back direction may be greater than the sway in the left-right direction.

Although only one distance measuring sensor 15 in the first embodiment can detect a shake in the left-right direction, a shake in the front-rear direction cannot be detected, and when the shake of the water tank 12 largely occurs in the front-rear direction, the operation is properly performed. It is impossible to stop the operation, and abnormal vibration of the water tank 12 may occur.

On the other hand, the washing machine 10A according to the second embodiment is provided with the two

distance measuring sensors

15a and 15b and can detect the shake in two orthogonal directions. Therefore, no matter which direction the shaking of the water tank 12 occurs, this can be detected and the abnormal vibration of the water tank 12 can be more reliably prevented.

In addition, the washing machine 10A according to the second embodiment uses the distance measuring sensor only for the shake detection in one direction when detecting the shake in two orthogonal directions, and the conventional technique for detecting the shake in the other direction. The mechanical switch lever used in the safety device of 1. may be used. In this case, by adding one distance measuring sensor to the conventional washing machine, the washing machine design can be easily changed. In this case, the conventional mechanical sensor is used in the direction in which the distance between the water tank 12 and the outer tank 11 is relatively large, and the measurement with high detection accuracy is performed in the direction in which the distance between the water tank 12 and the outer tank 11 is relatively small. It is preferable to use a distance sensor.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 5: is a figure which shows schematic structure of the washing machine 10B which concerns on this Embodiment 3, and is the schematic diagram which looked at the inside (state which removed the cover part 16) of the washing machine 10B from the upper surface side.

The washing machine 10B according to the third embodiment has the distance measuring sensor 15 on the upper surface of the water tank 12 (that is, the upper surface of the water tank cover 121). As shown in FIG. 5, the distance measuring sensor 15 has a measuring direction (arrow B in the drawing) directed toward the inner circumferential direction of the water tank 12. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 15 measures the distance L2 with the inner wall 113 located farthest from the distance measuring sensor 15.

The distance L2 measured by the distance measuring sensor 15 of the washing machine 10B is longer than the distance L1 in the first embodiment, but the displacement of the aquarium 12 depending on the shaking is similar to the distance L1. Therefore, the washing machine 10B according to the third embodiment can detect the abnormal vibration of the water tub 12 based on the distance L2 measured by the distance measuring sensor 15 according to the same principle as that of the first embodiment.

Further, the washing machine 10B according to the third embodiment has an advantage that the distance measuring sensor 15 can detect the jumping out of the laundry from the rotary tub 13. In a general washing machine, the laundry may fly out of the rotary tub at the time of starting a washing or dehydration operation, and a part of the washed-out laundry may be placed on the upper surface of the aquarium cover. Since such jumping out of the laundry does not particularly increase the shaking of the aquarium, it cannot be detected by the conventional safety device that detects the shaking of the aquarium. However, it can be easily imagined that if the washing machine continues to operate in a state where the laundry has jumped out of the rotary tub, the laundry that has jumped out may be damaged. Therefore, when the laundry jumps out of the rotary tub, it is desirable to detect this and stop the operation.

In the washing machine 10B according to the third embodiment, the measurement direction of the distance measuring sensor 15 faces the inner circumferential direction of the water tub 12. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C, when the popped-out laundry LD is on the measurement direction side of the distance measuring sensor 15, the distance measuring sensor 15 should measure the distance to the laundry LD. And the measured value becomes extremely short. As a result, the washing machine 10B can detect the jumping out of the laundry from the rotary tub 13 by the distance measuring sensor 15, and can stop the operation when detecting this.

As shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (d), when the popped-out laundry LD is not on the measurement direction side of the distance measuring sensor 15, the pop-out of the laundry from the rotary tub 13 cannot be detected at this point. However, also in this case, the popped-out laundry LD moves on the upper surface of the water tub cover 121 as the rotary tub 13 rotates, and eventually reaches the state shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (c). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the laundry from running for a long time in a state where the laundry is jumping out of the rotary tub 13.

Further, in the washing machine 10B according to the third embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 15 is arranged on the upper surface of the aquarium cover 121. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the distance measuring sensor 15 is covered with an inclined cover on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotary tank 13 (arrow C in the figure) at the location of the distance measuring sensor 15. .. Thereby, the laundry LD that has jumped out can be prevented from being caught by the distance measuring sensor 15.

In the first to third embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the vertical washing machine or the vertical washing and drying machine is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this and a drum type washing machine. It can also be applied to dryers.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example in all respects, and is not a basis for a limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed only by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined based on the claims. Also, the meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims and all modifications within the scope are included.

[Description of assistance]
This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-218365 filed with the Japan Patent Office on November 21, 2018, and all of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-218365 are claimed. The contents are incorporated into the present international application by reference.

10, 10A, 10B Washing machine 11

Outer tub

111, 112, 113 Inner wall 12 Water tub 121 Water tub cover 13 Rotating tub 14

Balancer

15, 15a, 15b Distance measuring sensor 16 Lid

Claims

A washing machine in which a water tank is arranged inside an outer tank, and a rotating tank is arranged inside the water tank,
Having at least one ranging sensor attached to the aquarium,
The distance measuring sensor measures the distance between the inner wall of the outer tank and the distance measuring sensor in a predetermined direction,
A washing machine which detects abnormal vibration of the water tub based on the measurement value of the distance measuring sensor and stops the operation when the abnormal vibration of the water tub is detected.
The washing machine according to claim 1,
It has two distance measuring sensors,
The washing machine, wherein the two distance measuring sensors have measurement directions orthogonal to each other in a plan view.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
At least one of the distance measuring sensors has a measuring direction facing the outer circumferential direction of the water tank, and measures a distance from an inner wall of the outer tub located at a position closest to the distance measuring sensor. Machine.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The at least one distance measuring sensor is attached to the upper surface of the water tank, and the measuring direction is directed to the inner circumferential direction of the water tank, and the outer tank at the farthest position from the distance measuring sensor. A washing machine characterized by measuring the distance from the inner wall of the washing machine.