JP2003047795A - Washing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To optimize the control of the washing and rinsing processes based on measurement data of a water supply flow rate and a water temperature. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic measuring device 12 provided in a water supply pipe 11 for a washing tub 2 for measuring a flow rate, a water temperature measuring means provided in the water supply pipe 11, and a water supply means for supplying washing water to a predetermined water level. And control means for controlling the respective steps of water supply, washing and rinsing, and the control of each step is corrected based on the outputs of the ultrasonic measuring device 12 and the water temperature measuring means. This makes it possible to accurately grasp the flow rate and temperature of the water supply with a simple configuration, and based on this measurement data,
Optimum control of washing and rinsing is performed, so washing can be performed efficiently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to measuring the amount of water and the temperature of water to finely control the washing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional washing machine will be described with reference to FIG.

A dewatering tub 23 having a dewatering hole is rotatably provided inside the washing tub 22, and a stirring blade 24 is rotatably provided at the center of the bottom of the dewatering tub 23. The drive motor 25 drives the dehydration tank 23 and the stirring blades 24 via the power transmission mechanism 26. The water supply to the washing tub 22 is connected to the water faucet by a hose 27, and a water supply valve 29 for opening and closing is provided at the entrance of the water supply port 28. Further, a drain valve 31 for opening and closing is also provided on the drain port 30 side. A water level sensor 32 for detecting the water level and a water temperature detection sensor 33 for detecting the water temperature are provided in the washing tub.

In the washing machine having such a structure, the drain valve 3
After 1 is closed and water is supplied into the washing tub 22, the drive motor 25 starts driving, and the stirring blades 24 are driven through the power transmission mechanism 26, whereby washing and rinsing steps are performed. In addition, the drain valve 31 opens during dehydration, and the washing tub 2
After draining the rinse water in 2, the drive motor 2 is operated by the action of a clutch (not shown) installed in the power transmission mechanism 26.
The output of 5 is transmitted to the dehydration tank 23, the dehydration tank 23 rotates, and the dehydration process is performed.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned structure has the following problems.
In automating the above-mentioned steps of washing, rinsing, and dehydration, the washing capacity changes depending on the temperature of the washing water, and the optimum washing and rinsing time and the amount of detergent also change depending on the water temperature.
When the washing process is automated without detecting the water temperature, it is necessary to set the amount of detergent, the amount of water used, and the time to allow for changes in water temperature. Further, it is difficult for the water level sensor provided in the washing tub to determine the absolute amount of water due to the influence of clothes or the like, and there is a possibility that the amount of detergent, the amount of water used, the amount of electricity used by the washing machine, etc. will be wasted.

Further, an idea of providing a water temperature detecting means in the washing tub has been proposed as the above-mentioned solution, but since the water temperature cannot be detected unless the washing water is stored in the washing tub, the response time affects the effect immediately after the start of water supply or There is a problem that an accurate feed water temperature cannot be detected when the feed water temperature changes on the way. Further, when the water level sensor and the temperature detecting means are provided in the washing tub, there is a problem in reliability due to wiring and vibration. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. The purpose is to easily measure the flow rate and water temperature of the water supplied from the water supply pipe, and to optimize the washing and rinsing stroke control based on the measured data.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, the flow rate measuring means provided in the water supply path to the washing tub, the water temperature measuring means provided in the water supply path, and the wash water have a predetermined water level. The water supply means for supplying water and the control means for controlling each process of water supply, washing, and rinsing are provided to correct the control of each process based on the outputs of the flow rate measuring means and the water temperature measuring means.

That is, since the flow rate and the water temperature of the supplied water are accurately grasped with a simple structure and the optimum control of the supplied water, the washing and the rinsing are performed on the basis thereof, the washing can be efficiently performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A washing machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is a flow rate measuring means provided in a water supply path to a washing tub, a water temperature measuring means provided in the water supply path, and a predetermined level of washing water. It has a water supply means for supplying water up to and a control means for controlling each process of water supply, washing and rinsing, and corrects the control of each process based on the output of the flow rate measuring means and the water temperature measuring means to optimize the time and the amount of water used. The process can be controlled.

In the washing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means performs a series of operations such as the water supply amount, the washing time, the washing strength, the rinsing time, and the rinsing strength from the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means. Since it is corrected and controlled, it is possible to control the washing process suitable for the water temperature used.

Since the washing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention has the display means for displaying the water temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means, the water temperature can be visually confirmed and the washing can be prevented at an unintended temperature. it can.

In the washing machine according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means is out of the predetermined range, a warning sound is emitted and the water temperature is apologized because the water supply is automatically stopped. It is possible to prevent the clothes from being washed and damaged.

A washing machine according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has a detergent charging means, and an optimum detergent amount can be calculated by a calculation section of a control circuit based on the measured water supply temperature to correct the detergent charging amount. Since the amount of detergent suitable for the water temperature used is used, the waste of detergent can be eliminated.

A washing machine according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the flow rate measuring means comprises an ultrasonic flow meter, and can perform non-contact, highly reliable and highly accurate water amount detection.

In the washing apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the temperature measuring means also serves as the measuring section of the ultrasonic flowmeter of the flow rate measuring means, so that the structure is not complicated and the cost and the flow rate and temperature are measured. It is possible to configure the means.

The washing apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention has a detergent inlet on the water supply path and ultrasonic cleaning and dissolving means for dissolving the detergent flowing in the water supply path to dissolve the detergent in water. Since the process moves to the washing step, the washing power is improved and the washing time can be shortened.

In the washing apparatus according to claim 9 of the present invention, since the ultrasonic wave transmitting portion of the ultrasonic detergent dissolving means is also used as the ultrasonic wave transmitting portion of the ultrasonic flowmeter, the structure is simple and the cost can be kept low to dissolve the detergent. Means can be configured.

A washing machine according to claim 10 of the present invention comprises:
By circulating the washing water in the washing tub and returning it to the washing tub from the water supply port, the turbidity of the circulating water is measured by ultrasonic measuring means, and the rinsing process is controlled based on the measurement result. The completion of rinsing can be confirmed and the washing time can be shortened.

[0019]

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

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a washing machine of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an exterior main body of a washing machine, 2 is a washing tub, 3 is a dehydration tub, 4 is a stirring blade, 5
Is a drive motor, 6 is a power transmission mechanism, 7 is a water supply port 8, is a water supply valve, 9 is a drainage port, 10 is a drainage valve, 11 is a water supply pipe, 1
2 is an ultrasonic measuring device.

A dewatering tub having a dewatering hole is rotatably mounted inside the washing tub, and a stirring blade is rotatably provided at the center of the bottom of the dewatering tub. The drive motor drives the dehydration tank and the stirring blade via the power transmission mechanism. The drain valve also has a drain valve for opening and closing. The water supply to the washing tub is connected to the tap by a hose, and a water supply valve for opening and closing is provided at the water supply entrance. The water supply port is provided with an ultrasonic measuring device for measuring the water supply flow rate and the water supply temperature.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of ultrasonic measurement.
As shown in the figure, there are a transmitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the sound wave transmitted from the transmitting unit is received by the light receiving unit and the propagation time thereof is calculated.
Since the propagation time changes depending on the flow velocity and the temperature change, it is possible to measure the flow rate and the temperature by measuring the propagation time.

In FIG. 2, 13 is a receiver, 14 is a transmitter, and 15 is a pipe.

V: flow velocity in the pipe D: pipe diameter, C: Assuming the speed of sound in the fluid The propagation time difference Δt between transmitter and receiver is

[0025]

[Equation 1]

It is represented by The flow velocity can be obtained by measuring this propagation time difference Δt. In addition, since the speed of sound in the fluid changes due to the temperature change using the configuration of ultrasonic transmission / reception, the water temperature can be measured by observing the change in the propagation time. That is, it is possible to combine the measurement of the flow rate and the measurement of the water temperature with one measuring means.

In the washing machine having such a structure, the drive motor 5 starts to drive and the stirring blade 4 is driven through the power transmission mechanism 6 to perform the washing and rinsing steps. At the time of dehydration, the output of the drive motor 5 is transmitted to the dehydration tub 3 by the action of a clutch (not shown) incorporated in the power transmission mechanism section 6, and the dehydration tub 3 is rotated to perform the dehydration step.

When washing is started, first, the stirring blade 4 is rotated with the clothes in it before water is supplied, and the load resistance to the drive motor 5 at that time is used to detect the amount of clothes, and the calculation unit is based on the detected value. The amount of washing water is determined by calculation (not shown). The water supply valve 8 is opened to start water supply, the flow rate value is measured by the ultrasonic measuring device 12, the cumulative amount of water is calculated by the calculation unit based on the flow rate, and the water supply valve 8 is closed when the preset water amount is reached. Water supply ends. At the time of water supply, the water temperature is measured with the ultrasonic measuring device 12 three times at the beginning, middle, and end of water supply, and the average value is obtained. Based on the obtained water temperature and the amount of clothes, the necessary detergent amount and washing time are calculated by the arithmetic unit, and the information is transmitted to the control unit (not shown) and the washing is performed on the display unit of the operation panel as shown in FIG. A guide for time and amount of detergent is displayed. Here, the user of the washing machine can wash with the optimum amount of detergent according to this display.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a water temperature display portion is provided on the display portion of the operation panel so that the measured water temperature of the supplied water can be displayed and the water temperature can be visually confirmed to prevent washing at an unintended temperature. can do.

Further, the temperature of the water supply measured by the ultrasonic measuring device is compared with the temperature preset in the arithmetic unit, and if the temperature is higher than the set temperature, the controller emits a warning sound with a buzzer (not shown). By sounding, closing the water supply valve and stopping water supply, it is possible to prevent clothes from being damaged by washing with the apologized water temperature.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of a washing machine equipped with a detergent automatic charging device. The automatic detergent dispenser 16 includes a detergent storage room 17
And a connection part 18 connecting the detergent storage chamber 17 and the water supply pipe 7 and an opening / closing valve 19 provided in the connection part 18.
Determine the amount of detergent to add depending on the opening time. Although a basic set value is set for the detergent input amount, the calculation unit calculates the amount by reflecting the result of the water temperature measurement described above, and the amount is automatically corrected to prevent wasteful use of the detergent.

Further, by providing a detergent melting means on the downstream side of the detergent inlet, the detergent is sufficiently dissolved in the washing water and then water is supplied to the washing tub so that the detergent can be dissolved in the washing tub to increase the washing time. Becomes shorter. As the detergent dissolving means, the material dissolving means can be simply constructed by using the ultrasonic wave transmitting element of the ultrasonic measuring device described above and agitating by ultrasonic waves to accelerate the dissolution of the detergent.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the water in the washing tub 2 is pumped up from the drain port 9 side by the pump 20, and the water supply port 7
There is a washing machine that has a circulation mechanism that returns it to the inside of the washing tub 2. The purpose of this system is to improve the cleaning ability by circulating the wash water during washing.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic measuring device 21 described in the first embodiment is used as a turbidity measuring means for rinse water. As a measurement principle, the propagation time of ultrasonic waves is changed depending on the state (turbidity) of the passing fluid, similarly to the flow rate and temperature measurement described above. When rinsing, the rinsing water is circulated and the turbidity of the rinsing water is measured when passing through the ultrasonic measuring device provided at the water supply port.
It can be used for rinse determination. That is, the turbidity measurement is performed, and when the turbidity value is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the rinsing process is considered to be completed and the rinsing process is completed. Therefore, it is possible to perform rinsing with the minimum necessary water and time.

[0035]

As described above, according to the washing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the flow rate measuring means provided in the water supply path to the washing tub, the water temperature measuring means provided in the water supply path, and the laundry are washed. Water supply means and water supply for supplying water to a predetermined water level,
Equipped with control means for controlling each process of washing and rinsing, the control of each process can be corrected based on the outputs of the flow rate measuring means and the water temperature measuring means, and the washing process can be controlled by optimizing the time and the amount of water used. , Saves washing water and detergent, and shortens washing time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the amount of water supplied, the washing time, the washing strength, the rinsing time, the rinsing strength, etc. from the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means. Since a series of operations are corrected and controlled, it is possible to control the washing process suitable for the temperature of the water used, saving the washing water and detergent and shortening the washing time.

Further, according to the washing machine of the third aspect of the present invention, since it has the display means for displaying the water temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means, the water temperature can be visually confirmed and the washing can be performed at an unintended temperature. Can be prevented.

According to the washing machine of the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means is out of the predetermined range, a warning sound is emitted and the water supply is automatically stopped. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the clothes from being damaged by washing with the apologized water temperature.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the washing machine has the detergent feeding means, the optimum detergent amount is calculated by the arithmetic unit of the control circuit based on the measured water supply temperature, and the detergent feeding amount is calculated. It can be corrected and the amount of detergent suitable for the water temperature used is used, so that the detergent can be washed without waste.

Further, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the washing apparatus is characterized in that the flow rate measuring means is an ultrasonic flow rate meter, and the water quantity can be detected in a non-contact, highly reliable and highly accurate manner. it can.

Further, according to the washing apparatus of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the temperature measuring means also serves as the measuring section of the ultrasonic flowmeter of the flow rate measuring means, so that the structure is not complicated and the cost is suppressed. It is possible to configure flow rate and temperature measuring means.

Further, according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the washing apparatus has the detergent inlet on the water supply path and has the ultrasonic cleaning dissolution means for dissolving the detergent flowing in the water supply path. Since the process moves to the washing step after being dissolved, the washing power is increased and the washing time can be shortened.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the ultrasonic wave transmitter of the ultrasonic detergent dissolving means is also used as the ultrasonic wave transmitter of the ultrasonic flow meter, the structure is simple and the cost is low. The detergent dissolving means can be constituted while being suppressed.

Further, according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the washing device has a circulating means for circulating the washing water in the washing tub and returning it to the washing tub from the water supply port, and the turbidity of the circulating water is ultrasonically measured. By measuring with the measuring means and controlling the rinsing step based on the measurement result, the completion of rinsing can be confirmed and the washing time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a concept of flow rate measurement of the device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an operation panel of the device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an automatic detergent adding device section of the device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Washing machine exterior body 2 washing tubs 3 dehydration tank 4 stirring blades 5 drive motor 8 water valve 10 drain valve 12 Ultrasonic measuring device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) D06F 39/08 301 D06F 39/08 301H (72) Inventor Yukinori Ozaki 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fumikazu Shiba 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3B155 AA10 AA17 AA19 AA21 BB16 CA06 CA16 CB06 GB03 GB10 KA12 KA17 KB16 LB02 LB05 MA01 MA10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A flow rate measuring means provided in a water supply path to a washing tub, and a water temperature measuring means provided in the water supply path,
A washing machine including a water supply means for supplying washing water and a control means for controlling each process of water supply / washing / rinsing, and correcting the control of each step based on the outputs of the flow rate measuring means and the water temperature measuring means. . 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means corrects and controls a series of operations such as a water supply amount, a washing time, a washing strength, a rinsing time and a rinsing strength based on the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means. apparatus. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the water temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means. 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein when the water supply temperature measured by the water temperature measuring means is out of a predetermined range, a warning sound is emitted and the water supply is automatically stopped. 5. The detergent injection means is provided, and the optimum detergent amount is calculated by the arithmetic unit of the control circuit based on the measured supply water temperature, and the detergent injection amount is corrected. Washing machine. 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate measuring means comprises an ultrasonic flow meter. 7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring means also serves as a measuring section of the ultrasonic flowmeter of the flow rate measuring means. 8. The washing machine according to claim 6, further comprising an ultrasonic cleaning / dissolving means for dissolving the detergent flowing into the water supply path, the washing machine having a detergent inlet on the water supply path. 9. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitting section of the ultrasonic detergent dissolving means is also used as the ultrasonic wave transmitting section of the ultrasonic flowmeter. 10. A circulator for circulating the washing water in the washing tub and returning it to the washing tub from the water supply port, the turbidity of the circulating water is measured by ultrasonic measuring means, and the rinsing step is performed based on the measurement result. The washing machine according to claim 1, which is controlled.