JPH119887A - Washing machine with improved dynamic balancing control of suspended assembly for washing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine with a means to secure the appropriate dynamic balancing of an oscillatory assembly which houses the rotating drum of a washing machine and to control the water level of wash water in the oscillatory assembly separately and simultaneously. SOLUTION: The oscillation displacements of an oscillatory assembly is monitored as the dynamic pressure in the second air chamber 32 through the use of a converter 28 to convert the displacements of the oscillatory assembly with respect to the outside fixed structure of a washing machine into corresponding pressure changes and a differential pressure detecting device 30 related to this. In addition, as the first pipe 34 extended from an extensible pipe 24 which discharges a wash liquid is connected to the first air chamber 31 of the differential pressure detecting device 30 to detect the water level of the wash liquid as the static pressure in the first air chamber 31, it is possible to control the water level of the wash liquid in the oscillatory assembly separately and simultaneously with its dynamic balancing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a washing machine, and more particularly to, but not limited to, a clothes washing apparatus for a house and an apparatus for simultaneously washing and drying clothes. A suspension laundry assembly including a rotating drum mounted inside an outer stationary structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A washing mode in which a rotating drum supported substantially horizontally and rotating at a speed of 50 to 60 rpm, and a significantly higher speed of 1800 to 2000 rpm are used.
There is an increasing demand for a washing machine having an operation program that includes a spinning dehydration mode that rotates at a speed that can reach the speed. However, especially in the spin-dry mode, in the unbalanced state where the laundry is unevenly distributed around the periphery of the rotating drum, the washing assembly of the washing machine is displaced or vibrated vertically with respect to its outer fixed structure. May be. Such vibrational displacement not only generates unpleasant noise, but also may damage parts of the washing machine due to impact or collision.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A vibrating washing assembly is required to ensure proper movement and balance under all circumstances and to ensure that the washing machine can operate normally. Numerous solutions have been proposed by those skilled in the art to solve various problems.

[0004] In order to solve such a technical problem, the present applicant has proposed one solution by Italian Patent Application No. PN97A0000030 filed on May 21, 1997. In this way, the displacement of the oscillating laundry assembly relative to the outer casing is directly converted into a corresponding pressure change. In addition to a device for controlling the level of the washing liquid in the oscillating washing assembly, a pressure detection type measuring and controlling means is provided, and the pressure change is input to these means. Then, when it is detected that the value exceeds the preset limit value, the operation parameter of the washing machine is changed accordingly. This eliminates the cause of the vibration displacement of the laundry assembly with respect to the outer casing or minimizes the negative effects caused by the displacement.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine having better performance than the washing machine according to the above-mentioned patent application by the present applicant.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a washing machine according to the present invention comprises an outer fixed structure having a front plate and a back plate, a washing tub and a rotary drum driven by an electric motor. A vibrating assembly coupled to the outer stationary structure via elastic coupling means, a transducer for converting a displacement of the vibrating assembly relative to the outer stationary structure of the washing machine into a corresponding pressure change, and the transducer And at least an associated pressure detection type measurement control device,
Means for ensuring proper balancing of the vibrating assembly, preferably having an electronic motion sequence control device, wherein the pressure sensing type measurement control device is a differential pressure switch or similar. The device is characterized in that a proper level of movement of the vibrating assembly is ensured, and at the same time, the level of the washing liquid in the washing tub of the vibrating assembly is reliably and separately controlled.

[0007] Preferably, the pressure detecting device is mounted on the uppermost portion of the outer fixing structure of the washing machine.

[0008] Also preferably, the pressure sensing device includes first and second chambers separated from each other by an impermeable diaphragm associated with an electrical signal generator, and a first and second chambers are located from the bottom of the washing tub. A tube is coupled to the first chamber, while a second tube, most of which extends horizontally, from the transducer is coupled to the second chamber.

The pressure detection type device is a piezoresistive type analog device, that is, a device which emits a voltage modulation signal transmitted to the operation sequence control device via a conducting wire to an output portion of the pressure detection type device. Preferably, there is. Alternatively, it may be an inductive analog device, that is, a device that emits a frequency modulation signal transmitted to the operation sequence control device via a conducting wire to an output portion of the pressure detection device.

[0010] Further, the converter is a washing machine in which the drum rotates around a substantially horizontal axis, the converter is formed in a bellows shape so as to be elastically deformable, and a vent hole is provided.
Preferably, the ends of the converter are respectively fixed to the back plate of the outer fixed structure and the rear flange of the washing tub.

[0011] The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a washing machine of the type described above generally comprises a parallelepiped-shaped outer fixing structure, which comprises a base 1, a top plate 2, It has a front plate 3 and a drawer-type detergent inlet (not shown). The front panel 3 comprises a control panel 4 including a microprocessor-based program sequence controller 5 which plays a particularly important role in controlling and regulating the components of the washing machine.
Is provided. Further, the outer fixing structure of the washing machine includes a rear plate 6.
And both side plates 7 (only the right side plate is shown in FIG. 1).
Is provided. The circular opening provided in the front plate 3 of the outer fixed structure is used for taking in and out of laundry, and is closed by a porthole-shaped door 9 which is attached to the front plate 3 so as to be openable and closable.
The outer securing structure of the washing machine incorporates a vibrating suspended laundry assembly. The assembly comprises a generally cylindrical washing tub 10 which is resiliently connected to the outer fixed structure via an upper suspension spring 11 as an elastic coupling member and a lower friction type cushioning compression material 12. The vibrating assembly further comprises a drum 13 supported inside the washing tub 10 by a rear flange 14 via a ball bearing (not shown) and a shaft 15. A pulley 16 is shrink-fitted onto the shaft 15, and the pulley 16 and the drum 13 fixed to the pulley 16 are driven via a drive belt 17 by a shaft 18 of an electric motor 19 attached to a lower portion of the washing tub 10. You.

As a result, the entire oscillating assembly of the washing machine enjoys some freedom of displacement with respect to the outer stationary structure, while the drum 13 rotates about a substantially horizontal axis X. The circular opening 8 provided in the front plate 3 of the outer fixed structure and the opening 21 provided in the front flange 22 of the washing tub 10 corresponding thereto correspond to the bellows-like gasket 2.
0 and sealingly connected. Thereby, the drum 13 provided at a position corresponding to the openings 8 and 21 is provided.
The laundry can be put into and taken out of the drum 13 through the front opening 23 of the drum.

The water introduction circuit for supplying water from the water supply to the vibrating assembly includes a supply pipe and a detergent inlet (not shown). On the other hand, the washing liquid passes through a drain pipe 25 associated with a lint filter 26 that can be handled from the front panel 3 of the washing machine through an extensible tube 24 provided below the washing tub 10, and further, a drain hose 27. (Only part of which is shown in FIG. 1) from the vibrating assembly.

The construction of a washing machine as described above is entirely conventional and well known to those skilled in the art,
No further explanation is needed. In any event, such detailed description will not be relevant in a manner that aids understanding of the invention.

The washing machine according to the present invention comprises a pressure transducer 28.
And a differential pressure detection type measurement control device 30 related to the above. The differential pressure detecting device 30 is preferably provided at the top of the washing machine, that is, directly below the top plate 2.

Pressure transducer 2 according to Italian Patent Application No. PN97A0000030 filed by the present applicant
Numeral 8 converts the vibration displacement of the assembly relative to the outer fixed structure of the washing machine into a corresponding pressure change. For this reason, the main body of the converter 28 is formed in a bellows shape that can be elastically deformed, and its ends are, as shown in FIG.
To be fixed. This converter 28 has a vent (not shown).
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the differential pressure detecting device 3
Reference numeral 0 is appropriately fixed to the side plate 7 behind the control panel 4 by a metal bracket or the like (not shown). This differential pressure detecting device 30 essentially comprises two chambers, a first air chamber 31 and a second air chamber 32, and a first small-diameter pipe 34 and a second small-diameter pipe 35 are provided in the respective air chambers. Communicated. The first air chamber 31 and the second air chamber 32 are isolated from each other by an impermeable diaphragm 33 associated with an analog electrical signal generator (not shown). An output part 36 is provided in a part of the differential pressure detecting device 30, and transmits the generated electric signal to the microprocessor-based program sequence control device 5 through the conducting wire 38. This will be described in detail later.

The differential pressure control device 30 can basically be formed as a piezoresistive pressure switch, ie, a pressure switch that generates a voltage modulated output signal. Such pressure switches include Motorola MPX2010 type or MPX2010.
There is an X2012 type (case 352-02).

As an alternative to the piezoresistive pressure switch, the differential pressure sensing device 30 may be formed as an inductive pressure switch, ie, a pressure switch that generates a frequency modulated output signal. One such pressure switch is similar to the Elbi model 764.

In any case, the first small-diameter pipe 34 communicated with the first air chamber 31 of the differential pressure detecting device 30 extends vertically over substantially the entire length thereof, and passes through the lower portion of the washing tub 10 for washing. Extensible tube 2 for discharging washing liquid from tub 10
4 Thereby, the water level of the washing liquid in the vibrating assembly, that is, the pressure in the first small-diameter pipe 34 and the first air chamber 31 can be reliably changed according to the static pressure at the bottom of the washing tub 10.

On the other hand, the second small diameter pipe 35 communicated with the second air chamber 32 of the differential pressure detecting device 30 extends from the converter 28 both vertically and horizontally. 2nd small diameter pipe 3
The pressure in the fifth and second air chambers 32 is equal to the dynamic pressure generated in the converter 28 during operation of the washing machine. Such dynamic pressure is correlated to the dynamic balance of the vibratory assembly, ie, the amplitude of the displacement of the vibratory assembly relative to the outer stationary structure of the washing machine.

According to the differential pressure detecting device 30 of the present invention, the static pressure due to the washing liquid and the dynamic pressure due to the displacement of the vibrating assembly with respect to the outer fixed structure of the washing machine are separately and simultaneously measured and controlled. Can be.

Needless to say, the change detection area of the differential pressure detecting device 30 is set to be sufficiently wide so as to be able to cope with the detection of both static pressure and dynamic pressure. Thus, a proper and clear signal can be ensured even when the washing machine is operated under any conditions.

A signal corresponding to the detected pressure is transmitted from the output section 36 of the differential pressure detecting device 30 and transmitted to the operation sequence control device 5 of the washing machine via the conducting wire 38. The signal detected by the control device 5 is continuously and in real time compared with a reference value appropriately stored in the memory of the microprocessor throughout the operating cycle of the washing machine. If a condition is detected that exceeds a preset limit value, using the method according to Italian Patent Application No. PN97A0000030 filed by the applicant,
The operating parameters of the washing machine can be changed appropriately.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

(1) Since the dynamic balance of the vibrating assembly can be directly and continuously controlled, the vibrating assembly excessively vibrates with respect to the outer fixed structure of the washing machine and damages the washing machine. Never.

(2) A characteristic member necessary for carrying out the present invention, that is, a pressure detection type measurement control device is known per se, is easy to use, and is relatively inexpensive and reliable.

(3) Since the measurement control device and the small-diameter pipe of the pressure detection type are small and take up little space, they can be applied to any washing machine, and the entire structure can be simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a household front-loading type washing machine,
FIG. 4 is a side view partially broken along a vertical plane including a rotation axis of the drum.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a member surrounded by a broken line shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 5 operation sequence control device 10 washing tub 13 drum 24 extensible tube 28 converter 30 differential pressure detection device (measurement control means of pressure detection system) 31 first air chamber (first chamber) 32 second air chamber (second 33) Impermeable diaphragm 34 First small diameter tube (first tube) 35 Second small diameter tube (second tube)

Claims (6)

[Claims] An elastic coupling means (11) including an outer fixing structure having a front plate (3) and a rear plate (6), a washing tub (10) and a rotating drum (13) driven by an electric motor. A vibrating assembly coupled to the outer stationary structure via a second, and a transducer (28) for converting a displacement of the vibrating assembly relative to the outer stationary structure of the washing machine into a corresponding pressure change.
And means for ensuring proper dynamic balancing of the oscillating assembly, including at least a pressure sensing measurement controller (30) associated with the transducer (28), preferably an electronic operating sequence A washing machine having a control device (5), wherein the pressure detection type measurement control device (30) is a differential pressure switch or a similar device, which ensures proper movement balance of the vibrating assembly, A washing machine for reliably and separately controlling the level of the washing liquid in the washing tub (10) of the vibrating assembly. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the pressure detecting device (30) is mounted on a top of the outer fixing structure of the washing machine. 3. The pressure sensing device (30) includes first and second chambers (31, 32) isolated from each other by an impermeable diaphragm (33) associated with an electrical signal generator. From the bottom of the washing tub (10), a first tube (34) is connected to the first chamber (31), while from the converter (28) a second part, most of which extends horizontally. Washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a tube (35) is connected to the second chamber (32). 4. The pressure sensing device (30) is a piezoresistive analog device, that is, a voltage modulation signal transmitted to the operation sequence control device (5) via a conducting wire (38) by the pressure detection device. 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it is a device emitting at an output (36) of a detection-type device (30). 5. The pressure detection type device (30) is an inductive analog device, that is, a frequency modulation signal transmitted to the operation sequence control device (5) via a conducting wire (38). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it is a device emitting at an output (36) of a device of the system (30).
A washing machine according to claim 1. 6. The converter (28) is formed in a bellows shape so as to be elastically deformable, and is provided with a ventilation hole, and each end of the converter (28) is provided on the back of the outer fixed structure. The drum (13) rotates about a substantially horizontal axis (X), characterized in that it is fixed to the face plate (6) and the rear flange (14) of the washing tub (10). The washing machine according to any one of the above.