JP2013188287A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine capable of improving the washing performance by efficiently circulating the washing liquid without waste without greatly changing the structure.
A water intake port 5 connected to the lower part of the outer tub, into which washing liquid enters, a discharge port 11 for discharging the washing liquid into a drum 3 (washing tub), and the water intake port 5 and the discharge port 11 are communicated with each other. A circulation path 12, a circulation pump 13 provided in the circulation path 12 for circulating the washing liquid to the drum 3 through the circulation path 12, a water level sensor 8 for detecting the water level of the washing liquid, and a control for controlling the washing process. Means 16 for rotating the drum 3 after water supply, and controlling the drive time of the circulation pump 13 according to the water level detected by the water level sensor 8 immediately before the circulation pump 13 is driven.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention comprises a washing tub that can accommodate and rotate laundry in an elastically supported outer tub, and is a washing machine that performs washing, rinsing and dehydration of the laundry in the washing tub, in particular a drum-type washing machine or The present invention relates to a washing dryer having a drying function.

  In a drum-type washing machine, in order to improve the washing power and rinsing performance at the time of washing, as well as water saving, the washing liquid collected at the bottom of the washing machine water tank is circulated in the rotating drum to provide a washing liquid. And clothes are brought into contact with each other quickly, dirt is separated by the jet power of circulating water, and the laundry can be wetted even with a small amount of water.

  However, in a drum-type washing machine having a small amount of water compared to a vertical washing machine, if the washing liquid is circulated, the liquid level of the washing liquid may be lowered, and the washing liquid may not be circulated sufficiently. If the washing process is carried out in this state, the laundry will not be sufficiently immersed in the washing liquid, resulting in a decrease in the washing performance of the laundry, and air stains will be generated when a circulation pump is used for circulation of the washing liquid. Doing so can cause noise and pump pain.

  In order to prevent this, a water level detection means is usually provided to detect the washing liquid level height from the bottom of the outer tub, and it is detected that the washing liquid level is too low when circulating the washing liquid Measures have been taken to stop the circulation of the washing liquid (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-87466

  However, in such a conventional configuration, when the washing liquid is circulated, the liquid level greatly fluctuates, so the detection of the water level is not stable, so that it is difficult to stably perform the stop timing. was there.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems described above, and to provide a washing machine capable of improving the washing performance by efficiently circulating the washing liquid without waste without greatly changing the structure. To do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a washing tub that accommodates and rotates laundry, an outer tub that accommodates the washing tub, a motor that drives the washing tub, and water supplied from the outside. A water supply unit, a water intake port connected to a lower part of the outer tub, and a washing liquid entering the discharge tank, a discharge port for discharging the washing liquid into the washing tub, and a circulation path for communicating the water intake port and the discharge port; A circulation pump that is provided in the circulation path and circulates the washing liquid to the washing tub through the circulation path; a water level sensor that detects a water level of the washing liquid; and a control unit that controls a washing process. The control means rotates the washing tub after water supply, and sets the drive time of the circulation pump according to the water level detected by the water level sensor immediately before driving the circulation pump. is there. As a result, the driving time of the circulation pump is determined based on the water level at which the liquid level does not fluctuate substantially immediately before the washing liquid is circulated, so that an appropriate driving time can be set. The circulation pump can be stopped before the water level becomes insufficient.

  In the washing machine of the present invention, immediately before the washing liquid is circulated, the driving time of the circulation pump is determined according to the water level where the liquid level does not vary greatly, so that an appropriate driving time can be set. The circulation pump can be stopped before the water level becomes low due to a drop in the water level. For this reason, the laundry can be efficiently circulated without waste without improving the washing performance without the laundry being immersed in the washing liquid.

Schematic configuration diagram of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows the control at the time of the circulation pump operation | movement of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows control of the washing process of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart which shows the control at the time of the circulation pump operation | movement of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  A washing machine according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a laundry tub that accommodates and rotates laundry, an outer tub that accommodates the laundry tub, a motor that drives the laundry tub, and a water supply unit that supplies water from the outside. A water intake port that is connected to the lower part of the outer tub and into which the washing liquid enters, a discharge port that discharges the washing liquid into the laundry tub, a circulation path that communicates the water intake and the discharge port, and the circulation path A circulation pump that circulates the washing liquid to the washing tub through the circulation path, a water level sensor that detects a water level of the washing liquid, and a control means that controls a washing process, The means rotates the washing tub after water supply, and sets the drive time of the circulation pump according to the water level detected by the water level sensor immediately before driving the circulation pump. As a result, the driving time of the circulation pump is determined based on the water level at which the liquid level does not fluctuate substantially immediately before the washing liquid is circulated, so that an appropriate driving time can be set. The circulation pump can be stopped before the water level becomes insufficient.

  A washing machine according to a second aspect of the invention includes, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, a cloth quality detecting means for detecting the cloth quality of the laundry, and the control means is configured to detect the cloth quality detected by the cloth quality detecting means. Accordingly, the driving time set in accordance with the water level detected by the water level sensor is increased or decreased. Since the speed of reduction is also different, for example, when it is determined that the water level is slow, the circulation pump drive time can be extended as much as possible.

  In the washing machine according to the third aspect of the invention, the driving time of the circulation pump is set to be not more than a predetermined maximum value above a predetermined water level, and the circulation pump is driven by setting an upper limit on the driving time of the circulation pump. Since the non-working time is secured for a certain time or more, the time during which the water level does not decrease can be increased to make the contact time with the laundry liquid as long as possible.

  In the washing machine according to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the water level falls below a predetermined water level while the circulation pump is being driven, the circulation pump is stopped and water is supplied to the predetermined water level. Furthermore, since water supply is performed, water can be supplied until the laundry sufficiently absorbs water and the water level is stabilized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a drum type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an outer tub 2 is arranged inside an outer box 1 of a washing machine, and a drum 3 as a washing tub is arranged inside the outer tub 2 so as to be rotatable by a rotating shaft slightly inclined from the horizontal direction. It is installed. The drum 3 is connected to the motor 4 on the back surface, and the drum 3 is rotated by driving the motor 4. The drum 3 is provided with a plurality of water passage holes on the outer peripheral surface, and functions as a washing tub, a dewatering tub, and a drying tub.

  A water intake port 5 into which the washing liquid enters is connected to the lowest part of the outer tub 2 and is connected to a drain pipe 7 having a drain valve 6.

  In the vicinity of the water intake 5, a water level sensor 8, which is a water level detecting means for detecting the water level supplied to the outer tub 2 and the drum 3, is installed. The water level sensor 8 is installed at a position that reacts immediately after the start of water supply, and detects the water level by detecting, for example, the pressure applied to the diaphragm as a deformation of the membrane. As a method for detecting the deformation of the diaphragm, a change in capacitance or a strain gauge is used. A water supply port 9 and a water supply valve 10 are provided as a water supply unit for supplying water to the outer tub 2 from the outside. The water supply port 9 is connected to a water supply, and the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 are sequentially filled with water through the water supply valve 10. Go.

  Further, a discharge port 11 for discharging the washing liquid to the drum 3 is provided in the lower front portion of the outer tub 2, and a circulation path branched from the intake port 5 and the drain valve 6 to the discharge port 11. 12 communicates so that the washing liquid accumulated in the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 can be circulated. A circulation pump 13 is provided in the circulation path 12, and the washing liquid is taken into the circulation path 12 using the circulation pump 13. Thereby, since the washing liquid can be circulated to the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 through the circulation path 12 only by the control of the circulation pump 13, the washing control for controlling the normal washing power such as the water flow by the rotation of the drum 3 is. It can be circulated regardless.

  The bottom of the outer tub 2 is provided with a hot water heater 14 made of a sheathed heater or the like as a heating means, and has a function of heating the washing liquid and washing the laundry inside the drum 3 with hot water.

  If the washing liquid that circulates contains a lot of foreign matter such as fibers or hair of the laundry, the circulation pump 13 and the drain pipe 7 may be clogged. Therefore, a filter 15 is installed after the water intake 5 to wash the laundry. Try to get rid of foreign objects such as fiber and hair.

  The control means 16 is composed of a microcomputer or the like and controls all washing processes. The washing process is performed in the order of a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process. Specifically, the water level detection signal from the water level sensor 8 is inputted, and the washing process is controlled by opening / closing the drain valve 6 and the water supply valve 10 and controlling the motor 4, the circulation pump 13 and the hot water heater 14. Do. Further, it has a function as a cloth amount detecting means for detecting a current signal flowing through the motor 4 and a rotation angle to determine the weight of the drum 3, that is, the weight of the laundry.

  Next, the operation of the washing machine of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the control flowcharts of FIGS.

  When the user puts the laundry into the washing machine and starts washing, the control means 16 detects the amount of laundry (S1). The detection of the amount of laundry relates to at least one motor operation such as the magnitude of the current signal of the motor 4 when the drum 3 is rotated together with the laundry by controlling the motor 4, and the change in the amount of current and the rotation angle. This is done by detecting information.

The basic water supply is determined based on the amount of laundry. For example, when it is determined that the amount of laundry is “small”, WL1 at the “low” water level is set as the set water level. The amount of laundry is "medium"
Is determined, the WL2 of the “medium” water level is set as the set water level. When it is determined that the amount of laundry is “large”, WL3 having a “high” water level is set as the set water level (S2). Based on this, the control means 16 opens the water supply valve 10 (S3), and supplies water to the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 until the set water level is reached (S4).

  During the water supply, if the control means 16 controls the operation of the circulation pump 13 to circulate the washing liquid supplied together with the detergent from the discharge port 11 to the outer tub 2 via the circulation path 12, the water is supplied to the detergent. It is possible to promote the melting of. In this case, if the washing liquid is discharged from the discharge port 11 into the drum 3, the clothing sucks water before the detergent dissolves in the water. Therefore, the circulation flow rate of the circulation pump 13 is such that the washing liquid is not discharged into the drum 3. Need to control.

  When the set water level W is reached (YES in S4), the water supply valve 10 is closed (S5), and stirring is started while rotating the drum 3 at a low speed (S6). The laundry is lifted in the drum 3 and falls from the upper part of the drum 3 by gravity. The rotational speed of the drum 3 is preferably a rotational speed that does not stick to the drum 3 wall surface by centrifugal force so that the kinetic energy at the time of dropping is effectively applied. preferable. The rotation direction may be the same direction or periodically switched.

  Next, the control means 16 energizes the warm water heater 14 for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) to heat the washing liquid (S7).

  When the heating is completed, the control means 16 confirms the water level by the water level sensor 8 and operates the circulation pump 13 (S8). Although the water was supplied to the set water level W by the initial water supply, the water level detected by the water level sensor 8 is lower than the first set water level W because the laundry is sequentially absorbed by rotating the drum 3 and stirring the laundry together with the wash water. It has become.

  In FIG. 3, if the water level is higher than a predetermined water level A (for example, a position 30 mm higher than the drum lower end surface) (YES in S81), the operation time t of the circulation pump 13 is set to be relatively long, for example, 2 minutes (S82). . If the water level is lower than the predetermined water level A and higher than the predetermined water level B (for example, a position 10 mm higher than the drum lower end surface) (YES in S83), the operation time t of the circulation pump 13 is made shorter than the time set in S82, for example, 30 seconds. (S84). If the water level is equal to or lower than the predetermined water level B (NO in S83), the operation time t of the circulation pump 13 is set relatively short, for example, 15 seconds (S85).

  Next, the driving of the circulation pump 13 is started (S86), the washing liquid passes through the circulation path 12, and the washing liquid is circulated from the discharge port 11 into the drum 3 through the circulation path 12. When the time t has elapsed since the activation of the circulation pump 13 (YES in S87), the control means 16 stops the circulation pump 13 and stops the circulation of the washing liquid (S88).

  When a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) has elapsed since the circulation pump 13 was stopped (YES in S89), the sequence of one cycle of the circulation pump operation is terminated.

  Further, in FIG. 2, if the set time of the washing process has not elapsed (NO in S9), the sequence from S81 as the circulation pump operation is repeated again.

  If the set time of the washing process has elapsed (YES in S12), the washing process is terminated, and the next rinsing process and dehydration process are started. The setting time of the washing process may be fixed, but if it is set according to the detection of the amount of laundry at the start of washing, by performing the washing process in a time corresponding to the amount of laundry, The cleaning performance can be maintained regardless of the amount of laundry.

  As described above, an appropriate driving time can be set by determining the driving time of the circulation pump based on the water level at which the liquid level does not vary greatly immediately before the washing liquid is circulated. The circulation pump can be stopped before the water level becomes insufficient due to the decrease, and the laundry can be efficiently circulated without waste to improve the washing performance without the laundry getting stuck in the washing liquid. .

  In this embodiment, the driving time of the circulation pump 13 is determined based on the water level A and the water level B set in advance as the predetermined water level. However, the water level A and the water level B that determine the driving time of the circulation pump 13 based on the amount of laundry. It is also possible to change the value of. For example, if the amount of laundry is small, the amount of water is also small. Therefore, if the water level A and the water level B are set lower than when the amount of laundry is large, the circulation pump 13 generates air and generates noise even at a low water level. This can be avoided more reliably.

  Furthermore, not only the amount of laundry but also cloth quality detecting means (not shown) for detecting the cloth quality of the laundry is provided, and the control means 16 is adapted for the washing liquid according to the cloth quality detected by the cloth quality detecting means. It is good also as increasing / decreasing the drive time set according to the water level just before circulating. Since the method of sucking and removing water from the laundry differs depending on the quality of the laundry, the speed of decrease of the water level when the circulation pump 13 is driven is also different. Therefore, if the setting of the driving time is changed in this way, If it can be determined that the decrease in fabric quality is slow, the circulation pump can be driven as long as possible.

  As the cloth quality detection means, for example, the determination is made based on the time when the predetermined water level is reached when water is supplied for the first time. If all the laundry is a cotton towel, the time to reach the predetermined water level is very fast. Conversely, if only the polyester jersey of chemical fiber is used, the time to reach the predetermined water level is very slow. The fabric quality can be determined by checking the time.

  The drive time of the circulation pump 13 may be set to an upper limit for the drive time of the circulation pump 13 so that the drive time of the circulation pump 13 is not more than a predetermined maximum value above the predetermined water level A. As a result, the time during which the circulation pump 13 is not driven is secured for a certain time or more, so the time during which the water level does not decrease is increased to increase the contact time with the washing liquid as much as possible to improve the cleaning performance. can do.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the time for driving the circulation pump 13 at the two water levels before driving the circulation pump 13 is divided into three, but if further divided, it can be performed by finer control by the water level. It is possible to circulate as much washing liquid as possible, and if the circulation pump 13 is not driven if it is below a certain water level, the water level is too low and the circulation pump 13 generates air and makes noise. Can definitely be avoided.

(Embodiment 2)
In the second embodiment, the schematic configuration of the washing machine is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the water level sensor is driven when the circulation pump 13 is driven as shown in the flowchart showing the drive control of the circulation pump shown in FIG. 4. When the output of 8 falls below a predetermined value, the circulation pump 13 is stopped and water is supplied to the predetermined value.

  The operation of the washing machine of the second embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 4 with respect to the difference from the first embodiment. First, the steps from the water supply to the start of driving the circulation pump 13 (S1 to S86) are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  While the circulation pump 13 is driven so that the washing liquid passes through the circulation path 12 and the washing liquid is circulated from the discharge port 11 into the drum 3 through the circulation path 12, the water level is changed to the predetermined water level C ( For example, when the height is equal to or less than the lower end surface of the drum (NO in S90), the circulation pump 13 is stopped (S91), the water supply valve is opened, and makeup water is added (S92).

  When the water level reaches a predetermined water level D (for example, a position 20 mm higher than the lower surface of the drum) (YES in S93), the water supply valve is closed (S94) and waits until a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes) elapses after the circulation pump 13 is stopped ( YES in S89).

  If two minutes have passed after the water level is kept below D (S93: NO) while supplying makeup water (S95: YES), the water supply valve is closed (S96), and the sequence of one cycle of the circulation pump operation is completed. To do.

  As described above, if the water level falls below the predetermined water level C while the washing liquid is circulated, the washing liquid circulation is stopped and supplementary water is added, so the water level due to the washing liquid circulation decreases and the water level becomes insufficient. The circulation pump can be stopped before, and when the washing liquid is circulated next with makeup water, the circulation time can be longer, so the washing liquid can be efficiently circulated without waste to improve the washing performance. .

  In addition, although the structure of the washing machine in each of the above-described embodiments has been described with a drum-type washing machine having a rotating shaft in which the washing tub is inclined from the horizontal direction, the washing machine has a drum-type washing machine having a rotating shaft in the horizontal direction. Even if the washing tub is a vertical washing machine having a vertical rotation axis, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can always stably obtain the washing performance using the circulation path circulated from the washing tub to the washing tub. it can.

1 Outer box 2 Outer tub 3 Drum (washing tub)
4 Motor 5 Water intake 6 Drain valve 7 Drain pipe 8 Water level sensor 9 Water supply port (Water supply section)
10 Water supply valve (Water supply part)
11 Discharge port 12 Circulation path 13 Circulation pump 14 Hot water heater 15 Filter 16 Control means

Claims (4)

A laundry tub that accommodates and rotates laundry, an outer tub that accommodates the laundry tub, a motor that drives the laundry tub, a water supply unit that supplies water from the outside, and a lower portion of the outer tub A water intake port through which the washing liquid enters, a discharge port for discharging the laundry liquid into the washing tub, a circulation path for communicating the water intake port and the discharge port, and the circulation path, the washing liquid being provided in the circulation path A circulation pump that circulates to the washing tub via a water level, a water level sensor that detects the water level of the washing liquid, and a control means that controls the washing process, and the control means rotates the washing tub after water supply. And the driving time of the circulating pump is set according to the water level detected by the water level sensor immediately before driving the circulating pump. Cloth quality detecting means for detecting the cloth quality of the laundry is provided, and the control means increases or decreases the driving time set according to the water level detected by the water level sensor according to the cloth quality detected by the cloth quality detecting means. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a driving time of the circulation pump is set to be not more than a predetermined maximum time above a predetermined water level. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the water level falls below a predetermined water level during driving of the circulation pump, the circulation pump is stopped and water is supplied to the predetermined water level.

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