JPH11169584A - Washing machine control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a control device of a washing machine for automatically operating a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating steps, the laundry is loosened in an agitating step, and the laundry is intermittently dehydrated in the dehydrating step. To the washing and dewatering tub uniformly, and start the dehydration smoothly. SOLUTION: A water level detected by a water level detecting means 8 is supplied to a washing and dewatering tub by a water supply valve 6, and a stirring blade and a washing and dewatering tub arranged at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub are driven by a motor 4. Then, the power transmission of the motor 4 is switched between the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub by the clutch switching geared motor 5, and the water in the washing and dewatering tub is drained by the drain valve 9. A series of washing, rinsing, and dewatering steps are automatically operated by the control means 12, and the drainage valve 9 is driven and the clutch switching geared motor 5 is switched to the washing / dewatering tub side in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. If the water level is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level, the motor 4 is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub for a predetermined time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a washing machine for automatically operating a series of washing, rinsing and dehydrating steps.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a control device for a washing machine of this type is constructed so that a series of washing steps 54, a rinsing rinsing step 55 and a dehydrating step 56 are automatically operated as shown in FIG. The sequence operation at 54 consists of a water supply stroke and a stirring stroke, and the sequence operation at the rinsing stroke 55 is the same as the drain stroke, the intermittent dehydration stroke, the dehydration stroke, the brake stroke, the water supply stroke and the stirring stroke. Is repeated once or twice. The sequence operation in the dehydration step 56 includes operations of a drain step, an intermittent dehydration step, a dehydration step, and a brake step.

[0003] Among them, a cloth loosening process 54a, 55a, 55b is set especially in the stirring process. As shown in FIG. 7, in the cloth loosening process, a fine agitation inversion shorter than a normal agitation inversion time is performed for a predetermined time before the end of the agitation process. The reason for performing the cloth loosening process is to loosen the laundry entangled during the stirring process, and to uniformly attach the laundry to the washing and dewatering tub in the next rinsing or dehydrating intermittent dehydrating process and the dehydrating process. This was done to ensure a smooth dehydration startup.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional control device, the bath ratio of the washing and dewatering tub (the ratio of water to laundry) by increasing the capacity of the washing machine and saving water in recent years.
Due to the decrease in the washing, only a part of the laundry is loosened in the cloth loosening process, and in the intermittent dewatering process and the dewatering process, the washing and dewatering tub tends to become unbalanced, the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub is eccentric, and noise is generated Or the number of revolutions does not increase easily, and the dewatering performance is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. In the present invention, laundry is entangled during a stirring process, and an intermittent dehydration process and a dehydration process in a rinsing or dehydrating process are performed.
The purpose is to spread the laundry evenly in the washing and dewatering tub so that the dewatering can be started smoothly.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, water is supplied into a washing and dewatering tub by a water supply means, the level of the supplied water is detected by a water level detecting means, and A stirring blade is arranged at the bottom, and the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub are driven by a motor, and the power transmission of the motor is switched between the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub by a clutch switching means, and the water in the washing and dewatering tub is changed. Is drained by drainage means. After a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydration steps are automatically operated by the control means, the drainage means of the rinsing or dehydration step is driven and the clutch switching means is switched to the washing and dehydration tub side together with the drainage means. If so, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub for a predetermined time.

[0007] Thus, the laundry can be uniformly adhered to the washing and dewatering tub in the draining process, and the smooth dehydration start-up can be performed in the next intermittent dewatering process and the dewatering process.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a water supply means for supplying water into a washing and dewatering tub, a water level detecting means for detecting the level of the supplied water, and a washing and dewatering tub. A stirring blade disposed at the bottom, a motor for driving the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub, clutch switching means for switching power transmission of the motor between the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub, and the washing and dewatering tub Draining means for draining water from the inside, and control means for automatically operating a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating steps, wherein the control means switches the clutch together with driving of the draining means in a draining step of the rinsing or dehydrating step. After switching the means to the washing and dewatering tub side, if the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level at the start of drainage, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub for a predetermined time. The washing and spin-drying tub is rotated while draining water with sufficient water, so that the laundry can be stuck uniformly to the washing and spin-drying tub. Can be raised.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means switches the clutch switching means to the side of the washing and dewatering tub together with the driving of the drainage means in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. Then, if the water level is equal to or more than a predetermined level at the start of drainage, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub, and the driving time at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage. Rotate the washing and dewatering tub while draining with enough water in the dehydration tub,
And since the driving time of the washing and dewatering tub is changed according to the washing water level, even when the washing capacity is large, the laundry can be stuck uniformly on the washing and dewatering tub, and in the next intermittent dewatering process and dehydration process. , Smooth start-up of dehydration can be performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motor rotation speed detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor, and the control means is configured to control the drainage in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. After the clutch switching means is switched to the washing and dewatering tub side together with the driving of the means, if the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level at the start of drainage, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub, and the rotation speed at this time is set to The washing and dewatering tub is rotated while draining with sufficient water in the washing and dewatering tub, and the rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tub according to the washing water level. This allows the laundry to be evenly stuck to the washing and dewatering tub even when the washing capacity is large, enabling smooth dehydration startup in the next intermittent dewatering process and dewatering process. Kill.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 2, a washing and spin-drying tub 1 has a stirring blade 2 rotatably provided at the bottom thereof. The clutch switching mechanism 3 includes a speed reduction mechanism, and transmits the power of the motor 4 to the agitating blade 2 at a reduced speed during washing, and to the washing and dewatering tub 1 during dehydration. At this time, switching from the stirring blade 2 to the washing / dewatering tub 1 is performed by driving a clutch switching geared motor (clutch switching means) 5. A water supply valve (water supply means) 6 supplies water to the washing / dewatering tub 1 and the water tub 7. The water level detecting means 8 detects the water level by converting the water pressure at a connection portion below the water tank 7 into an electric frequency.

A drain valve (drain means) 9 drains water in the water tub 7 out of the washing machine. The lid 10 covers the washing and dewatering tub 1 so that it can be opened and closed.
0 opening / closing is detected. Here, the control device 12a receives the water level detecting means 8 and the lid opening / closing detecting means 11 as inputs, controls the operations of the motor 4, the clutch switching geared motor 5, the water supply valve 6, and the drain valve 9, and performs a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating operations. The process is operated automatically.

The control device 12a is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. The control means 12 is usually composed of a one-chip microcomputer or the like, and includes a timer for measuring time as a part of a program and a storage means (RAM). Is provided inside. Also, the clutch switching geared motor 5,
Loads such as the water supply valve 6 and the drain valve 9 are driven by supplying a commercial AC power supply 14 with power switching means 13 composed of a bidirectional thyristor. Reference numeral 15 denotes a power switch.

In this embodiment, a DC brushless motor is used because the rotation speed of the motor 4 can be easily controlled and a large torque can be obtained at the time of startup and in a low speed region. In order to drive the motor 4, the commercial AC power supply 14 is converted to DC by a DC power supply conversion circuit 16 including a rectifier diode bridge 16 a, a noise prevention choke coil 16 b, and a smoothing capacitor 16 c, and supplied to an inverter circuit 17. I do.

The inverter circuit 17 is constituted by a switching element of a DC power supply comprising a parallel circuit of a power transistor and a reverse conducting diode, and is connected to the motor 4.
The motor 4 has three-phase windings 4a (U-phase), 4b (V-phase),
c (W phase) and a ring-shaped 2n pole (n
Is a natural number) and a rotor (not shown) having permanent magnets disposed therein. The stator has a rotor position detector 18 (U phase = 18a,
V-phase = 18b, W-phase = 18c) are disposed so as to face the permanent magnets of the rotor. Reference numeral 19 denotes a current detecting means constituted by a resistor for detecting a current flowing through the motor 4.

Here, the motor 4 is driven by the control means 12 in the inverter circuit 17 by switching the three-phase winding 4a (U phase) of the motor 4 by the power transistors 17a and 17b, and similarly in the power transistors 17c and 17b.
d, the three-phase winding 4b (V phase) is connected to the power transistor 17
The three-phase winding 4c (W phase) is sequentially switched at e and 17f.
This is performed in accordance with the output signals of the rotor position detectors 18a, 18b, 18c of each phase.

As for the motor rotation speed control, the rotation speed of the motor 4 is detected by the pulse period of the rotor position detector 18a, and the power of the inverter circuit 17 is determined based on the rotation speed data and the data of the current detection means 19. By controlling the current-carrying ratio of the transistor, control is performed so as to reach the set (target) rotational speed.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control means 12 enters the rinsing step or the draining step of the dehydration step, the control means 12 executes step 20.
To drive the drain valve 9 to drain the water in the washing and dewatering tub 1, and in step 21, the clutch switching geared motor 5 is driven to transmit the power of the motor 4 from the stirring blade 2 side to the washing and dewatering tub 1 side. Switch to.

Next, at step 22, it is determined from the data of the water level detecting means 8 whether the water level is at a predetermined level (for example, a low level or higher). If the water level is lower than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 26 and the conventional drainage operation is performed. If the water level is equal to or higher than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 23, in which the motor 4 is driven at a low speed (for example, 200 r / min or less), the low speed rotation operation is continued until one minute elapses in step 24, and the motor 4 is stopped in step 25 Let it.

The operations of steps 23, 24 and 25 are as follows:
The washing and dewatering tub 1 is rotated at a low speed while draining in a state where there is sufficient water, and the cloth is uniformly stuck to the washing and dewatering tub 1. Subsequent operations are conventional drainage operations. In step 26, the drainage operation is continued until the water level falls below the reset water level (minimum water level). If the water level falls below the reset water level, the process proceeds to step 27, where 30
Seconds further delay the draining action. After 30 seconds, the draining process is completed and the process proceeds to the next intermittent dewatering process.

In this embodiment, the control means 12 drives the clutch switching geared motor 5 from the start to the end of the drainage stroke, but the clutch switching geared motor 5 is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub 1. Therefore, the motor 4 may be driven and stopped in conjunction with driving and stopping.

(Embodiment 2) The control means 12 in FIG. 1 drives the drain valve 9 and switches the clutch switching geared motor 5 to the side of the washing and dewatering tub 1 in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step, and then starts draining. If the water level is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level, the motor 4 is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub 1, and the driving time at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control means 12 enters the draining step of the rinsing step or the dewatering step, the control means 12 drives the drain valve 9 in step 28 to drain the water in the washing and dewatering tub 1 and in step 29 the clutch switching geared motor 5. The motor 4 is driven to switch the power transmission from the stirring blade 2 side to the washing and dewatering tub 1 side.

Next, at step 30, it is determined from the data of the water level detecting means 8 whether the water level is at a predetermined level (for example, a low level or higher). If the water level is lower than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 39 and the conventional drain operation is performed. If the water level is equal to or higher than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 31, and it is determined whether the water level is equal to or higher than the middle water level. If less than the middle water level, the motor drive time t is set to 3 in step 32.
Set to 0 seconds.

If the water level is equal to or higher than the middle water level, the process proceeds to step 33, and it is determined whether the water level is higher than the high water level. If it is less than the high water level, the motor driving time t is set to 60 seconds in step 34. If the water level is equal to or higher than the high water level, the motor drive time t is set to 90 seconds in step 35. That is, since high water level> medium water level> low water level, the driving time t of the motor 4 is set longer as the water level becomes higher.

Next, in step 36, the motor 4 is driven at a low speed (for example, 200 r / min or less), and in step 37, this low-speed rotation operation is continued until the drive time t seconds set in steps 32, 34 and 35 elapse. Thereafter, in step 38, the motor 4 is stopped. These steps 36, 37, 38
Until the washing and dewatering tub 1 is drained with sufficient water, the washing and dewatering tub 1 is rotated at a low speed, and the cloth is uniformly washed.
It is to stick to.

The subsequent operation is a conventional drainage operation. In step 39, the drainage operation is continued until the water level falls below the reset water level. Step 4 if the water level falls below the reset water level
0 to drain the residual water for a certain period of time (for example, 30
Sec) Further delay the draining operation. After 30 seconds, the draining process is completed and the process proceeds to the next intermittent dewatering process.

In this embodiment, the control means 12 drives the clutch switching geared motor 5 from the start to the end of the drainage stroke, but the clutch switching geared motor 5 is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub 1. Therefore, the motor 4 may be driven and stopped in conjunction with driving and stopping.

(Embodiment 3) In the draining process of the rinsing or dehydrating process, the control means 12 of FIG. 1 starts draining after driving the drain valve 9 and switching the clutch switching geared motor 5 to the washing and dehydrating tub 1 side. If the water level is higher than a predetermined level, the motor 4 is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub 1, and the rotation speed at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control means 12 enters the draining step of the rinsing step or the dewatering step, the drain valve 9 is driven in step 41 to drain the water in the washing and dewatering tub 1 and the clutch switching geared motor 5 is turned on in step 42. The motor 4 is driven to switch the power transmission from the stirring blade 2 side to the washing and dewatering tub 1 side.

Next, at step 43, it is determined from the data of the water level detecting means 8 whether or not the water level is at a predetermined level (for example, a low level or higher). If the water level is lower than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 52 and the conventional drainage operation is performed. If the water level is equal to or higher than the low water level, the process proceeds to step 44, and it is determined whether the water level is equal to or higher than the middle water level. If it is lower than the middle water level, the rotational speed n of the motor 4 is set to 120 r / min in step 45.

If the water level is equal to or higher than the middle water level, the process proceeds to step 46, and it is determined whether the water level is higher than the high water level. If it is lower than the high water level, the motor rotation speed n is set to 140r / in step 47.
Set to min. If the water level is equal to or higher than the high water level, the motor speed n is set to 160 r / min in step 48. That is, since high water level> medium water level> low water level, the motor rotation speed n is set higher as the water level becomes higher.

Next, at step 49, the motor 4 is driven at the set number of revolutions n. At step 50, this rotation operation is continued until one minute elapses, and then at step 51, the motor 4 is stopped. The operations up to steps 49, 50 and 51 are as follows:
The washing and dewatering tub 1 is rotated at a low speed while draining in a state where there is sufficient water, and the cloth is uniformly stuck to the washing and dewatering tub 1.

The subsequent operation is a conventional draining operation. In step 52, the draining operation is continued until the water level falls below the reset water level. If the water level falls below the reset water level, step 5
3 and a certain time (for example, 30
Sec) Further delay the draining operation. After 30 seconds, the drainage process is considered to be completed, and the process proceeds to the next intermittent dewatering process.

[0036]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the water supply means for supplying water into the washing and dewatering tub, the water level detecting means for detecting the water level supplied, and the washing means A stirring blade disposed at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub; a motor for driving the stirring blade and the washing and dewatering tub; clutch switching means for switching power transmission of the motor between the stirring wing and the washing and dewatering tub; Drainage means for draining water in the washing and dewatering tub, and control means for automatically operating a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydration steps, wherein the control means drives the drainage means in a drainage step of the rinsing or dehydration step. Also, after the clutch switching means is switched to the washing and dewatering tub side, if the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level at the start of drainage, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub for a predetermined time. In the above, the laundry can be uniformly stuck to the washing and dewatering tub, and in the next intermittent dewatering process and the dewatering process, the dehydration can be started smoothly, and the washing and dewatering tub can be performed during the draining process. In order to rotate the water, a water circulation path is created. If a drain port is provided on this path, the drain flow rate increases, and the entire drain time can be shortened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means switches the clutch switching means to the washing and dewatering tub side together with the driving of the water discharging means in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step, and thereafter, at the start of the water discharging. If the water level is equal to or higher than the predetermined water level, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub, and the driving time at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage. Since the driving time of the washing and dewatering tub is changed, even when the washing capacity is large, the laundry can be stuck uniformly on the washing and dewatering tub,
In the next intermittent dehydration step and dehydration step, a smooth dehydration start-up can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a motor rotation number detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor, and the control means switches the clutch together with the driving of the draining means in the draining step of the rinsing or dehydrating step. After switching the means to the washing and dewatering tub side, if the predetermined water level at the start of drainage, drive the motor to rotate the washing and dewatering tub,
Since the rotation speed at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage, the rotation speed of the washing and dewatering tub is changed according to the washing water level in the drainage process, so that even if the laundry capacity is large, Can be uniformly stuck on the washing and dewatering tub, and a smooth dewatering start-up can be performed in the next intermittent dewatering step and the dewatering step.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a control device of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine provided with the control device of the washing machine.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a control device of the washing machine.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a control device for a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a control device for a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence of a conventional control device for a washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing a motor reversal cycle of a stirring process of the control device of the washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing and dewatering tank 2 Stirring blade 4 Motor 5 Clutch switching geared motor (Clutch switching means) 6 Water supply valve (Water supply means) 8 Water level detection means 9 Drain valve (Drainage means) 12 Control means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI D06F 39/08 301 D06F 39/08 301R (72) Inventor Miyo Sato 1006 Kazuma, Kazuma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A water supply means for supplying water into a washing and dewatering tub, a water level detecting means for detecting a level of the supplied water, a stirring blade disposed at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub, the stirring blade and the washing A motor for driving a combined spin-drying tub, a clutch switching means for switching the power transmission of the motor to the stirring blade and the washing and spin-drying tub, a draining means for draining water in the washing and spin-drying tub, Control means for automatically operating the rinsing or dewatering step, wherein the control means switches the clutch switching means to the washing and dewatering tub side together with the driving of the drainage means in a draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. If the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined water level at the start, the control device of the washing machine drives the motor to rotate the washing and dewatering tub for a predetermined time. 2. The control means switches the clutch switching means to the washing and dewatering tub side together with the driving of the drainage means in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. 2. The control device for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing and dewatering tub is rotated, and a driving time at this time is changed according to a water level at the start of drainage. 3. A motor rotation speed detecting means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor, wherein the control means switches the clutch switching means to the washing and dewatering tub side together with the driving of the water discharging means in the draining step of the rinsing or dewatering step. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein if the water level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level at the start of drainage, the motor is driven to rotate the washing and dewatering tub, and the rotation speed at this time is changed according to the water level at the start of drainage. Control device.