JP2011055926A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to determine the degree of dirt reflecting the usage environment of each household.
A housing, an outer tub 2 disposed inside the housing 1, a drum (washing tub) rotatably disposed within the outer tub 2 and having a plurality of water passage holes on a peripheral wall. 3, the washing liquid state detecting means 10 for detecting the state of the washing liquid in the outer tub 2, and the washing liquid state comparing the output signal of the washing liquid state detecting means 10 with a threshold value stored in advance. The liquid state determination means 18 and the control means 19 that changes and executes the sequence of the washing process according to the determination value of the state of the washing liquid determined by the washing liquid state determination means 18 are provided, and the threshold value can be changed. Thus, it is possible to determine the degree of contamination reflecting the usage environment of each household.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine including a washing liquid stain detection device for controlling a washing operation in accordance with the degree of stain of laundry.

  Conventionally, as a laundry contamination detection device, a turbidity detection means and a conductivity detection means are installed in the inner low part of an outer tub (water receiving tub), etc., and the output value at the initial stage of the washing process by the detection means and a predetermined time The amount of dirt was estimated from the difference from the output value after the lapse, and the cleaning time and the like were controlled (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is one that determines whether or not the washing process needs to be extended by the output signal from the conductivity detecting means after the washing process is once ended by the output signal from the turbidity detecting means (transmittance detecting means). It is considered (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP-A-6-218183 JP-A-63-154196

  However, in the above-described conventional washing machine, when the stain state of the washing liquid is determined from the output signal from the turbidity detecting means or the conductivity detecting means, it is compared with a set value (threshold value) stored in advance by an arithmetic circuit or the like. In order to do so, there was a problem that it was difficult to determine according to the situation of each household using the washing machine.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine capable of changing a threshold value to be compared with an output signal from a washing liquid state detection unit in accordance with each household situation.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a housing, an outer tub disposed in the housing, a rotatable hole disposed in the outer tub, and a water passage hole in the peripheral wall. The washing liquid state is detected by comparing a plurality of washing tubs, a washing liquid state detecting means for detecting the state of the washing liquid in the outer tub, an output signal of the washing liquid state detecting means and a threshold value stored in advance. A washing liquid state determining means for determining, and a control means for changing and executing a washing process sequence according to a determination value of the state of the washing liquid determined by the washing liquid state determining means, wherein the threshold value is changeable. It is characterized by that.

  As a result, it is possible to change the threshold value according to the situation of each household instead of determining the stain level of the washing liquid with a preset single threshold value. realizable.

  The washing machine of the present invention does not determine the degree of stain of the washing liquid with a single threshold, but can be changed to a threshold according to the situation of each household, so that the washing machine performs a stain determination with higher user satisfaction Can be realized.

Overall configuration diagram of washing machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of washing liquid state detection means of the washing machine

  The first invention includes a housing, an outer tub disposed inside the housing, a washing tub rotatably disposed within the outer tub, and having a plurality of water passage holes on a peripheral wall; Washing liquid state detecting means for detecting the state of the washing liquid in the outer tub, and washing liquid state determining means for comparing the output signal from the washing liquid state detecting means with a prestored threshold value. And a washing liquid state determination unit that determines the state of the washing liquid by comparing the output signal of the washing liquid state detection unit with a threshold value stored in advance, and the determination of the state of the washing liquid determined by the washing liquid state determination unit And a control means for executing the washing process by changing the sequence of the washing process according to the value, and the threshold value is configured to be changeable. Without changing to a threshold according to the situation of each household Since the kill, it is possible to realize a washing machine to perform more high dirt judgment of user satisfaction.

  The second invention is characterized in that, in particular, in the first invention, an input unit that can be input from the outside is provided, and the threshold value can be changed from the input unit. Since a threshold value can be set according to usage conditions and preferences, a more satisfactory washing machine is realized.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the washing liquid state detection means is a turbidity detection means for measuring the turbidity of the washing liquid. Visible particulate stains such as soot and dust stains can be detected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the washing liquid state detection means is a conductivity detection means for measuring the conductivity of the washing liquid. In addition, it is possible to detect ionic stains that are not visible to the body, such as sweat and other body fluids and stains of drinking water, but contribute to conductivity.

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the control means stores the output signal value from the washing liquid state detection means at the time of the washing process, and the stored output signal value is based on the stored output signal value. In addition, by calculating and resetting the threshold, the washing machine automatically sets the threshold according to the situation of each household by changing the criteria for determining the state of the washing liquid. A threshold value corresponding to the situation of each household is set without the user's troublesome work.

  In particular, in a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, a water intake port provided in a lower portion of the outer tub into which the washing liquid enters, a circulation path in which one end of the water intake port communicates, and the circulation path A discharge port that communicates with the other end of the washing tank and discharges the washing liquid into the washing tub; and a circulation pump that takes the washing liquid into the circulation path and discharges the washing liquid into the washing tub from the discharge opening. The state detecting means is provided in the middle of the circulation path, so that the washing liquid is transferred from the washing tub to the circulation path by the operation of the circulation pump regardless of the operation such as rotation or stop of the washing tub. Since it can be made to flow in, the washing liquid state detecting means can be operated without affecting the washing performance.

  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 is an overall configuration diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a washing liquid state detection unit of the washing machine.

  In FIG. 1, an outer tub 2 is arranged inside a casing 1 of a washing machine, and a drum (washing tub) 3 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 has a motor 4 connected to the back surface, and the drum 3 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 4. The drum 3 is provided with a plurality of water passage holes (not shown) on the peripheral wall, and functions as a dehydrating tub or a drying tub in addition to the washing tub.

  A water intake 5 is provided at the lowest part of the outer tub 2 and is connected to a drain valve 6. The drain valve 6 is connected to a drain pipe 7 for draining outside the apparatus.

  Further, a filter 11 for removing suspended waste is provided between the water intake 5 and the drain valve 6, and a circulation path 9 connected to the discharge port 8 for discharging the washing liquid taken from the water intake 5 to the drum 3 is communicated. In addition, the washing liquid and the rinsing liquid in the outer tub 2 can be circulated by the circulation pump 12.

  In the circulation path 9, a washing liquid state detecting means 10 for detecting the state of the washing liquid is installed, and then a circulation pump 12 for circulating the washing liquid in the circulation path 9 is installed. If circulation of the washing liquid in the circulation path 9 is performed using the circulation pump 12, the washing liquid can be circulated to the circulation path 9 only by the control of the circulation pump 12. Without changing the washing control for controlling the washing liquid, the washing liquid state detecting means 10 can measure the washing liquid state in a more stable state of the washing liquid without affecting the washing effect.

  The control means 19 inputs the output of the washing liquid state detection means 10 and outputs it to the washing liquid state determination means 18.

  The washing liquid state determination means 18 receives the output signal from the washing liquid state detection means 10 output from the control means 19 and determines the state of the washing liquid by comparing with a previously stored threshold value. Then, the determination value of the state of the washing liquid determined by the washing liquid state determination unit 18 is sent to the control unit 19, and the control unit 19 changes and executes the sequence of the washing process according to the determination value of the state of the washing liquid. Is configured to do.

  In addition, an input unit 20 that can be input from the outside is provided at the upper front of the casing 1 of the washing machine, and the input unit 20 is controlled so that input data is output and input to the control means 19. It is electrically connected to the means 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the washing liquid state detection means 10 includes a conductivity sensor 13 and a turbidity sensor 14.

  The conductivity sensor 13 has a shape in which a pair of electrodes 15a and 15b are inserted into the circulation path 9, and measures conductivity. The conductivity is measured by, for example, forming an RC oscillation circuit with the impedance of the washing liquid between the electrodes 15a and 15b and the capacitor on the control means 19, and outputting the change in the impedance of the washing liquid as a frequency change. May be converted into a voltage value.

  The conductivity value converted into a voltage value or the like is compared with the first threshold value stored beforehand in the washing liquid state determination means 18 to determine whether it is greater than or less than the first threshold value. Then, the degree of dirt on the laundry is judged, and the washing time is controlled.

Further, the turbidity sensor 14 provided on the upstream side is composed of a light emitting element 16 such as an LED and a light receiving element 17 such as a phototransistor, and the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 face each other across the circulation path 9. The portion of the circulation path 9 sandwiched between these elements is made of a light-transmitting material, and the light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the washing liquid in the circulation path 9 and is received by the light-receiving element. Light is received, converted into voltage, and output. It is desirable that the turbidity sensor portion of the washing liquid state detecting means 10 has a light-shielded sealed structure so that the light receiving element receives light from the outside and does not cause erroneous detection.

  The light emission control of the light emitting element 16 and the capture of the output voltage of the light receiving element 17 are performed by the control means 19, and the washing liquid state determination means 18 compares the voltage output value of the light receiving element 17 with the second threshold value stored in advance, As in the case of the conductivity value, it is determined whether it is greater than or less than the second threshold value, the degree of soiling of the laundry is determined, and the cleaning time is controlled.

  Next, in the washing machine of the present embodiment, the washing liquid state determination means 18 estimates the amount of dirt by comparing the turbidity detected by the washing liquid state detection means 10 and the threshold value stored in advance from the conductivity value. An operation for resetting the threshold will be described.

  After starting the washing process, the turbidity value X1 and the conductivity value Y1 after the first predetermined time T1 have passed, and further the turbidity value X2 and the conductivity value Y2 after the second predetermined time T2 have passed are determined as the washing liquid state determining means. 18 stores. Then, ΔX (= X2−X1) and ΔY (= Y2−Y1), which are the difference between the value at T2 and the value at T1, are stored in advance as a second threshold value X0 and a first threshold value Y0, respectively. In comparison, if ΔX is equal to or greater than the second threshold value X0, or ΔY is equal to or greater than the first threshold value Y0, it is determined that dirt more than the assumed dirt has adhered to the laundry, and the washing time is extended. To do. When ΔX is less than the second threshold value X0 or ΔY is less than the first threshold value Y0, it is determined that a smaller amount of dirt than the assumed dirt has adhered to the laundry, and the cleaning time is shortened. To do.

  The washing liquid state determination means 18 stores ΔX and ΔY in each washing process, calculates, for example, average values ΔX ′ and ΔY ′ after washing 10 times, and sets these values as new values. Stored as the fourth threshold value X0 ′ and the third threshold value Y0 ′. In the washing process for 10 times from the next time, the fourth threshold value X0 ′ and the third threshold value Y0 ′, which are new threshold values, are used as the comparison values of ΔX and ΔY, respectively, and at the same time, 10 The ΔX and ΔY for the batch are stored, and the average value thereof is calculated in the same manner as the previous 10 times, and is used as a new threshold for the next 10 times.

  As in the present embodiment, by adjusting and resetting the threshold according to the usage state of the washing machine, the cleaning time can be controlled according to the usage state of each household.

  Moreover, the washing liquid state determination means 18 performs correction and resetting of the threshold value, so that the user is not bothered.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 1, an input unit 20 provided in the upper front portion of the casing 1 of the washing machine includes a threshold adjustment input unit (not shown) that can adjust the threshold stored in the washing liquid state determination means 18. ing.

  In the washing machine of the second embodiment, the washing liquid state determination means 18 estimates the amount of dirt by comparing the turbidity detected by the washing liquid state detection means 10 with a threshold value stored in advance from the conductivity value, and The operation of resetting the threshold performed by the user will be described.

After the washing process is started, the turbidity value X1 and the conductivity value Y1 after the first predetermined time T1 have elapsed, and further the turbidity value X2 and the conductivity value Y2 after the second predetermined time T2 have elapsed are determined as the washing liquid state determining means. 18 stores. Then, ΔX (= X2−X1) and ΔY (= Y2−Y1), which are the difference between the value at T2 and the value at T1, are stored in advance as a second threshold value X0 and a first threshold value Y0, respectively. In comparison, if ΔX is equal to or greater than the second threshold value X0, or ΔY is equal to or greater than the first threshold value Y0, it is determined that dirt more than the assumed dirt has adhered to the laundry, and the washing time is extended. To do. Further, when ΔX is less than the second threshold value X0 or ΔY is less than the first threshold value Y0, it is determined that a smaller amount of dirt is attached to the laundry than expected, and the cleaning time is shortened. To do.

  When the user feels that the washing performance is poor and the washing time determined by the washing machine is short due to the finish after the washing process of the laundry, the washing liquid state determination means 18 compares it with ΔX or ΔY. Since the second threshold value X0 and the first threshold value Y0 are large, the user inputs a multiplier less than 1 with respect to the threshold value X0 or the first threshold value Y0 with the threshold adjustment input unit. . For example, when the user inputs 0.8 to the threshold adjustment input unit, a value obtained by multiplying the second threshold X0 and the first threshold Y0 by the input value 0.8 (0.8 × X0, 0.8 (XY0) is adopted as the sixth threshold value X0 ″ and the fifth threshold value Y0 ″, which are new threshold values, and the washing liquid state determination means 18 adopts this. As a result, as the threshold value decreases, the cleaning time determined by the washing liquid state determination means 18 becomes longer on average.

  As in the present embodiment, the user corrects the threshold value according to the use state of the washing machine, whereby the control of the washing process according to each use state can be realized.

  Since the washing machine of the present invention can accurately detect the amount of dirt by both the turbidity detecting means and the conductivity detecting means, it can be applied to general uses of a device that removes dirt using a detergent such as an automatic dishwasher.

1 housing 2 outer tub 3 drum (washing tub)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Washing liquid state detection means 18 Washing liquid state determination means 19 Control means

Claims (6)

A housing, an outer tub disposed in the housing, a laundry tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub and having a plurality of water passage holes in a peripheral wall, and a washing liquid in the outer tub A washing liquid state detecting means for detecting the state of the washing liquid, a washing liquid state determining means for comparing the output signal of the washing liquid state detecting means with a threshold value stored in advance, and a state of the washing liquid, and the washing liquid state determination The washing machine is characterized in that it comprises control means for changing and executing the sequence of the washing process according to the judgment value of the state of the washing liquid determined by the means, and the threshold value is changeable. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit that can be input from the outside, wherein the threshold value can be changed from the input unit. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing liquid state detection means is a turbidity detection means for measuring the turbidity of the washing liquid. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the washing liquid state detection means is conductivity detection means for measuring the conductivity of the washing liquid. The control means stores the output signal value from the washing liquid state detection means at the time of the washing process, and based on the stored output signal value, calculates and resets the threshold value, thereby determining the condition of the washing liquid state The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the washing machine is changed. A water intake port provided in a lower part of the outer tub, into which the washing liquid enters, a circulation path communicating with the one end of the water intake, a discharge port communicating with the other end of the circulation path and discharging the washing liquid into the washing tub; A circulation pump for taking the washing liquid into the circulation path and discharging the washing liquid into the washing tub from the discharge port, and the washing liquid state detecting means is provided in the middle of the circulation path. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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