JP2002292184A - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust a balance by supplying water into a specified water reserving room among a group of vacant water reserving rooms in a drum washing machine. SOLUTION: A plurality of the water reserving rooms 4 are arranged at a regular interval in a circumferential direction in a drum 3 and a water supply- drain hole 41 is formed on each of the water reserving rooms 4. When an eccentrically loaded position caused by objects to be washed eccentrically loaded in the drum 3 is detected, based on detection of the position, jetting water W to supply the same from a water supply pipe 7 into the specified water reserving room cancels out an eccentric load.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine for washing and dewatering by rotating a drum having a horizontal or inclined rotation center axis.

2. Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention

As shown in FIG. 6, a conventional drum type washing machine is provided with a drum (3) which is rotated by a motor (51) about a rotating shaft (31) in a substantially horizontal posture in an outer tub (2). The laundry is stored in the drum, and washing, rinsing, and spin-drying are performed by rotation of the drum (3). In the above-mentioned drum type washing machine, an eccentric load is generated due to the uneven distribution of the laundry stored in the drum (3), and vibration and noise accompanying the vibration are generated. In particular, large vibrations and noise are generated during the spinning of the drum at high speed.

Therefore, conventionally, in order to reduce the vibration caused by such uneven distribution of the laundry, the outer tub (2) is connected to the frame (1) via the vibration damping damper (6) and the spring (61). Supporting and providing a plurality of water storage chambers (4) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the back of the drum (3) to adjust the amount of water in a specific water storage chamber (4) to offset the eccentric load of the drum. Is being done.

[0004] There are two methods of changing the amount of water in a specific water storage chamber into a balancer, a drainage type and a water supply type. In the drainage type, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), a drum (3) is rotated to supply a substantially uniform amount of water to all water storage chambers (4) in advance.
The state where the water from the water storage chamber (4) is prevented from spilling by centrifugal force is set.

The eccentric load of the drum (3) caused by the eccentric laundry C is detected by an eccentric load detecting means (not shown), and based on the detection signal, the water storage chamber (4) near the eccentric load position stores the eccentric load. The rotation of the drum is controlled so that the speed drops momentarily at the timing when the water in the room passes through the position where the water can fall and drain, and the water storage chamber is controlled.
The water of (4) falls naturally (FIG. 7 (b)). FIG.
As shown in (c), the eccentric load is offset by reducing the amount of water in the water storage chamber (4) near the eccentric load position.

[0006] On the other hand, the water supply type is used for all water storage rooms.
Leave (4) empty and rotate drum (3). When the eccentric load of the drum (3) is detected by the eccentric load detecting means, water is supplied to the water storage chamber on the opposite side of the water storage chamber near the eccentric load position with respect to the rotating shaft (31) of the drum (3). In the case of the former drainage type balancer, it is difficult to control the amount of water discharged and dropped, but in the case of the latter water supply type balancer, it is easy to control the amount of water supply.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional water supply system of a water supply type balancer.
(100) is shown, a water supply channel (40) opening backward is provided in each water storage chamber (4), and a water storage box (1) is provided at the tip of each water supply channel.
01) is slid and the box (101) is fixed to the outer tank (2).
The water storage box (101) has a water inlet (102) corresponding to the opening at the tip of each water supply channel (40). In the water storage box (101), a closing plate (103) is rotatably provided on the drum rotating shaft (31), and a rotation driving means (not shown) is connected to the closing plate (103). The blocking plate (103) has one hole (104) that can communicate with the water supply channel.
The water supply passage (40) and the water storage box (101) are normally shut off by the blocking plate (103). When the eccentric load of the drum (3) is detected by the eccentric load detecting means, the closing plate (103) is rotated by a predetermined angle to supply the water of the water storage box (101) to the corresponding water storage chamber, and the hole ( 104)
To the water inlet (102) to supply the water in the water storage box (101) to the water storage chamber (4).

The water supply device (100) has a structure in which the closing plate (103) is slidably contacted with the water storage box (101) in a liquid-tight manner. There is a problem that accuracy is required, the number of parts is increased, and the depth of the washing machine is increased. Also, the durability of the sliding part of each part is increased and the closing plate (10
There was a problem that the reliability of the rotation operation of 3) was reduced.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by directly injecting water from a water supply pipe arranged so as not to contact the water storage chamber into the water storage chamber, and can suppress the vibration during drum rotation. It is to reveal the machine.

[0010]

In the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the rotating shaft (31) is horizontal or inclined within a range of 45.degree. From the horizontal so as to store laundry and rotate for washing and spinning.
A plurality of water storage chambers (4) are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in (3), and a pouring and discharging port (41) is formed on the drum rotation center side of each water storage chamber (4),
The eccentric load detecting means for detecting the eccentric load position due to the uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum (3) detects the eccentric load position during rotation, and changes the amount of water in a specific water storage chamber based on this position detection. In a washing machine for suppressing vibration of a rotating drum (3), a water supply pipe (7) having a water supply valve (72) and a water inlet (71) at a tip thereof is directed to a water inlet (41) in the water storage chamber (4). ), The water supply valve (72) is connected to the control means, the control means, if the eccentric load detection means detects the eccentric load position, sandwich the rotation center of the drum with respect to the eccentric load position The water supply valve (72) is controlled so that water can be injected into the water storage chamber located on the substantially opposite side.

[0011]

[Operation and effect] The conventional water storage box (101), blocking plate (10
3) and the like are unnecessary, and there is an advantage that the number of parts can be reduced, and as a result, assembly can be simplified and the depth of the washing machine can be reduced.
Further, since water can be supplied by directly spraying water from the water supply pipe to the water storage chamber, there is no problem of durability of the sliding contact portion of the conventional component.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall structure of a drum type washing machine according to the present invention. Outer tub (2) in frame (1) via vibration damper (6) and spring (61)
Are supported, and a cylindrical drum (3) is rotatably supported in the outer tank (2). The rotating shaft (31) projecting outward from the center of the rear wall (30) of the drum (3) penetrates freely through the rear wall (20) of the outer tub (2) so as to rotate freely. Is connected to a DD (direct drive) motor. Drum (3) front wall (3
2) is provided with a laundry input port (33) with a door (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear wall of the drum (3)
(30) is provided with a plurality of water storage chambers (4) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each reservoir (4) is equidistant from the drum rotation axis (31). Each of the water storage chambers (4) is opened on the side of the rotating shaft (31), and the pouring and discharging port (4) is opened.
1) is formed. However, the rotating shaft (31) side of the water storage chamber (4) is not open over the entire surface, but about 1/3 to 1/2 on the rotation direction side of the water storage chamber (4) is closed. This is to prevent unexpected water from dropping and draining when the water storage chamber (4) rotates at a low speed.

A water supply pipe (7) having a water supply valve (72) is provided through the rear wall (20) of the outer tub (2). The water pipe (7)
The tip water inlet (71) of the rotary shaft is located below the rotary shaft (31).
It faces the water storage chamber (4) just below (31) and has a rotating shaft (31).
Water can be supplied without hitting the water and the water inlet (71) does not hit the water storage chamber (4). A water pipe (not shown) is connected to the supply water pipe (7). A drain port (81) is opened at the lower rear end of the outer tank (2), and a drain pipe (8) having a drain valve (82) is connected to the drain port (81).

A baffle (not shown) for lifting the laundry is provided at an appropriate position on the inner peripheral surface of the drum (3), and a large number of baffles are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the drum (3). Are provided with water passage holes (not shown). When washing and rinsing, the outer tub
The water stored in (2) flows into the drum (3) through the water hole. In addition, at the time of spin-drying, the water squeezed from the laundry C in the drum (3) is scattered to the outer tub (2) through the water passage hole by rotating the drum (3) at high speed.

One of the features of the present embodiment is that the drum rotation shaft (3) is arranged so that the laundry input port (33) of the drum (3) is slightly upward.
1) is inclined. Specifically, the rotation axis (31) is inclined within a range of 45 ° or less with respect to the horizontal direction. Preferably, it is inclined in the range of 10 to 20 degrees, more preferably about 15 degrees, with respect to the horizontal direction. As a result, the laundry inlet (33) is directed obliquely upward and has an effect that laundry can be easily taken in and out. Also, when draining the water accumulated in the water storage chamber (4), the water storage chamber passing above the rotating shaft (31).
The water W that has fallen from (4) does not fall into the lower water storage chamber (4) but is discharged directly to the bottom of the outer tank (2). Drum rotation axis (3
If 1) is horizontal, the water reservoir that passes above the rotation axis (31)
The water W that has fallen from (4) falls into the lower water storage chamber (4), and it is difficult to empty all the water storage chambers (4). The reason that the inclination of the drum (3) is set to 45 ° or less is that the drum (3)
This is to prevent the laundry C accommodated in (3) from being biased forward or backward in the direction of the rotation axis, that is, from being deviated back and forth in the drum (3).

According to an experiment by the inventor, when the drum (3) is tilted too much, the laundry C is biased backward (to the right in FIG. 1) in the drum (3). As a result, when washing the drum (3)
It was found that even if was rotated, the laundry C could not be sufficiently agitated, and the washing performance was reduced. However, it was also found that when the inclination of the drum (3) was set to 45 ° or less, the deviation of the laundry C in the direction of the rotation axis was within an acceptable range from the viewpoint of the washing performance. In the embodiment, the laundry is easily taken in and out of the drum (3), and the washing performance is not reduced.
The drum (3) was tilted by about 15 °.

One of the features of the present embodiment is that as a means for detecting the eccentric load position and the eccentric load amount of the drum due to the uneven distribution of the laundry C put on the drum (3), the rotation drive system of the drum rotating shaft (31) is used. In the embodiment, an encoder (9) is provided on the rotating shaft (31). As the encoder (9), an optical encoder, an electromagnetic encoder, or a known encoder thereof can be employed. As is well known, the encoder (9) can detect a change in speed during one rotation of the rotating shaft (31).

When there is no eccentric load on the drum (3),
It can be assumed that there is no speed change during one rotation of the rotating shaft (31). However, when the laundry C is put into the drum (3) and the drum is rotated, the laundry C is stuck on the inner peripheral surface of the drum (3) by centrifugal force. The eccentric load is applied to the drum 3 without unevenness and uneven distribution on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3. For this reason, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft (31) fluctuates during one rotation.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing a change in rotation speed when the drum (3) makes one rotation in 0.5 seconds. Axis of rotation
The maximum peak of the rotation speed of (31) is maximum when the laundry C, which is the cause of the eccentric load, is to be conveyed downward under gravity during one rotation of the drum (3). Therefore, normally, when the eccentric load exists in the angle range of about 90 ° on the near side from the lowest position (the position immediately below the rotation center) of the drum (3), the maximum peak appears. The minimum peak of the rotation speed of the rotating shaft (31) is minimized when the laundry C is to be transported upward against gravity. Therefore, normally, when the eccentric load exists in the angle range of about 90 ° on the near side from the highest position (the position directly above the rotation center) of the drum (3), the minimum peak appears. The fluctuation range of the rotation speed during one rotation of the rotation shaft (31), that is, the difference between the maximum peak and the minimum peak can be assumed to indicate the magnitude of the eccentric load.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the drum type washing machine of the embodiment. A microcomputer (100) that controls the entire system includes a CPU (101) and an A / D converter (1).
02), a RAM (103), and a ROM (104). The ROM (104) stores in advance an operation program for advancing each washing step. An operation unit (105), a display unit (106), a valve drive unit (107), an inverter control unit (108), and an encoder (9) are connected to the microcomputer (100). The operation unit (105) includes an operation panel (not shown) provided on the front surface of the frame (1), and provides an input signal corresponding to an operation by a user to the microcomputer (100). The display unit (106) also includes an operation panel provided on the front of the frame (1), and displays information corresponding to the operation and information related to the driving situation.

The microcomputer (100) functionally includes a rotation control unit (100a) and an eccentric load measurement unit (100b). The rotation control unit (100a) sends a rotation speed instruction signal to the inverter control unit (108), and the inverter control unit (108)
This instruction signal is converted into a PWM signal, and a drive voltage circuit corresponding to the PWM signal is applied to the motor (5). As a result, the motor (5) rotates at a desired rotation speed, and the drum (3)
Give rotation. The encoder (9) is connected to the eccentric load measuring section (100b).

FIG. 5 is an example of a schematic flow chart showing the control operation of the drum type washing machine in the spin-drying process. First, the drum (3) is rotated at 100 rpm, and the amount of eccentricity (the magnitude and the angular position of the eccentric load) is detected (step S1). If the detected amount of eccentricity is within the allowable range, the process proceeds to preliminary dewatering, and the drum (3) is rotated at 300 rpm (step S2). This permissible value is set in advance according to the amount of vibration (amplitude) that can be permitted during high-speed spinning to be described later. And 3
The eccentricity of the drum (3) rotating at 00 rpm is detected (step S3). Next, counter balance is performed to cancel the eccentricity detected in step S3.
(Step S4).

An outline of the counter balance will be described with reference to FIG. In counterbalance, first, multiple water reservoirs
Empty all of (4). Each water storage room (4)
When the drum (3) is rotating at a predetermined speed or less, in this embodiment, at 45 rpm or less, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation cannot store the water W, and the water is dropped and drained.
Therefore, all the water storage chambers (4) are emptied while rotating the drum (3) at 45 rpm (FIG. 3 (a)).

Next, the rotation of the drum (3) is adjusted to 45 to 100.
rpm to prevent falling water even if water W is supplied to the water storage chamber (4). Water is supplied to a specific water storage chamber (4) so as to cancel the eccentric load generated by the unevenness of the laundry C put in the drum (3). The water supply timing is determined immediately before the water storage chamber (4) at the angular position where the eccentric load exists passes the water inlet (71) of the water supply pipe (7), that is, the water discharged from the water inlet (71) is stored in the water storage chamber. It is time to inject water into room (4)
(FIG. 3 (b)). If the rotation of the drum (3) is instantaneously reduced to about 45 rpm in accordance with this timing, the accuracy of water injection increases. By performing the above processing once to several times, FIG.
The state where the counter balance adjustment is performed as shown in (c),
That is, it is possible to realize a state in which the eccentric load of the laundry C is offset by the load of the water in the water storage chamber (4).

Returning to FIG. 5, after the counter balance is performed in step S4, the drum (3) is rotated at, for example, 500 rpm to perform medium-speed dehydration (step S5). The amount of eccentricity is also detected during the medium-speed dehydration (step S
6). The counter balance performed in step S4 is performed to cancel the eccentric load when the drum (3) is rotating at 300 rpm. When the rotation speed of the drum (3) increases from 300 rpm to 500 rpm, the amount of eccentricity changes because the water content of the laundry is further squeezed out. Therefore, in step S6, the medium speed dehydration (drum (3) is 500 rpm)
Eccentricity is detected). Then, in order to cancel the eccentric amount, a counter balance is performed in step S7.

As a result, the drum in which the eccentric load is canceled
In (3), the rotation speed is further increased, and the rotation is performed at 700 rpm (step S8). In this case, too, the eccentric load may be changed by the moisture squeezed out from the laundry, so that the eccentric amount is detected (step S9). Then, counterbalance for canceling the eccentric amount is performed (step S10), and thereafter, the drum (3)
High-speed spinning at rpm is performed (step S1).
1).

If the amount of eccentricity detected in steps S3, S6 and S9 indicates that the amount of eccentricity does not hinder the next spin-drying operation, the counterbalance processing in steps S4, S7 and S10 is skipped. Then, the drum (3) is rotated at the next dehydration speed.

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, in which a washing and rinsing program other than the above-mentioned dehydration is incorporated so that it can be operated in a desired setting.

When the water pipe is connected to the water supply pipe (7), water is injected from the water injection port (71) by water pressure every time the water supply valve (72) is opened. ) Does not necessarily have to point directly below. The water storage chamber (4) on the opposite side to the water storage chamber (4) near the eccentric position with respect to the rotating shaft (31) is a water inlet.
The direction of the water inlet (71) is not limited as long as water can be supplied to the water storage chamber (4) at a timing opposed to (71).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the encoder (9)
Is not limited to being disposed on the drum rotating shaft (31), but uses a direct drive motor with a built-in encoder to drive the rotating shaft (31), or connects the motor and the rotating shaft via a pulley and a belt. When (31) is linked, an encoder can be attached to an arbitrary position of the rotary drive system if a change in the speed of the motor can be detected, such as disposing an encoder on a pulley on the motor side.

In implementing the present invention, an acceleration sensor is installed on the outer tub (2), and the eccentric load of the drum can be detected by detecting the acceleration of the vertical sway of the outer tub (2). The drum eccentric load detecting means is not limited to the encoder.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view including the axis of a rotating shaft of a drum type washing machine.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a waveform diagram showing a change in rotation speed of a drum rotation shaft and an eccentric load position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of water supply to a water storage chamber during a balance adjustment operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a dehydration step.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional drum type washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a water reduction step when the balance is adjusted by reducing the amount of water in a specific water storage chamber in a group of water storage chambers storing a fixed amount of water.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a conventional water supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Frame (2) Outer tub (3) Drum (31) Rotary shaft (4) Water storage chamber (41) Inlet / drain port (5) Motor (7) Water supply pipe (71) Inlet port

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Yokoi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka In-house Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuaki Sonoda 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. In-house F-term (reference) 3B155 AA06 BA03 BA04 CA02 DC07 FA02 FA18 FA29 KA07 KA35 LA03 LA14 LB27 LB31 MA01 MA02 MA06 MA07 MA08

Claims (1)

[Claims] A rotating shaft (31) is inclined horizontally or within a range of 45 ° from the horizontal to store laundry, and a plurality of water storage chambers (4) are mounted on a drum (3) which rotates for washing and dewatering. Are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and a pouring / draining port (41) is formed on the drum rotation center side of each water storage chamber (4) to detect an eccentric load position due to uneven distribution of the laundry in the drum (3). The rotating eccentric load position is detected by the load detecting means, and based on the detected position,
In a washing machine for suppressing the vibration of a rotating drum (3) by changing the amount of water in a specific water storage chamber, a water supply valve (72) is provided and a water injection port (71) at the tip is a water injection port in the water storage chamber (4). (41), the water supply valve (72) is connected to a control means, and the control means detects the eccentric load position by the eccentric load detection means. A drum type washing machine characterized in that a water supply valve (72) is controlled so as to be able to pour water into a water storage chamber located on a substantially opposite side with respect to a rotation center of a drum.