JPS6327040B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to automatically setting water level settings and various related settings in a fully automatic washing machine, and particularly to temporarily storing the various settings within a computer. This invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine in which a so-called timer device is computerized to carry out automatic operation while utilizing the stored set values for calculations during the process.

The operation commands in current fully automatic washing machines are based on programs set by a group of cam switches, but the programs are therefore fixed, making it difficult to complicate applied operations and control.

On the other hand, if you use a computer such as a microcomputer to program and digitize the timer device, it will be possible to exchange information with the washing machine itself, making it easier to use and allowing you to create programs with optimal conditions. Therefore, efficient and smooth operation can be expected.

In the above-mentioned electronically controlled washing machines, if you want to use a microcomputer to instruct the conditions for setting the water level and completing rinsing, it is necessary to transmit the information that is the source of the instructions to the microcomputer. The following technical issues arose.

() Captures information from the sensor (sensing section),
In order to process accurately, it is necessary to understand the measured quantity as an absolute quantity, and in order to improve the accuracy of absolute quantity measurement, zero point adjustment is necessary. It is impossible for the user to make complicated adjustments every time, and there is an urgent need to develop software for a simple zero point adjustment system.

() There have already been several published examples of how information captured using sensors can be effectively utilized, but no concrete and realistic studies have been conducted on how to utilize sensor input. Therefore, there is a need to consider effective ways to use it.

() Efficiency will increase if a large amount of information can be obtained with a single sensor, but since no effort has been made to create an organic connection between them, it is difficult to absorb the cost increase due to the installation of new sensors, and the sensor Cost is a major obstacle to the commercialization of this product, and improvements are needed.

The present invention aims to improve efficiency by sharing sensors in response to demands under the above circumstances.

The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a control section using a computer such as a microcomputer, which controls the washing time or amount of washing water in response to detection by a weight detection device, and outputs an output signal to be taken into the control section. A strain sensor is used as a weight detection device, and this strain sensor is installed in the upper corner of the outer frame that is the support part of the hanging rod, and when a predetermined amount of water enters the outer tank, it outputs an output signal that is taken into the control part. It is equipped with a water quality sensor, and the electrode of this water quality sensor is provided so as to protrude from the inner bottom side of the outer tank. The output characteristics of the strain sensor per unit weight are taken into the control section, the output characteristics of the strain sensor per unit weight are determined, and the weight of the cloth to be washed is measured based on this output characteristic. Measure the resistance value D ₀ of fresh water before adding detergent with the water quality sensor that detects the resistance value of the washing water, and then measure the resistance value D ₁ of the washing water after adding washing cloth and detergent and thoroughly rinsing out the detergent. D ₁ -D ₀ /100 is set as a rinsing completion value, and the control unit controls the rinsing to be executed until the resistance value of the water quality sensor reaches the rinsing completion value.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the circuit of the strain sensor 100 shown in FIG. 4. In Figure 1, R ₁ is the resistance of the temperature correction strain meter, R ₂ is the resistance of the measuring strain meter that expands and contracts,
R ₃ and R ₄ are fixed resistances, and R ₅ is the internal resistance of the ammeter.

In this circuit, the amount of change ΔE in the voltage between B and D is used as information, but of course, the change in current (value flowing through _R5 ) may also be used as information.

The amount of change in potential ΔE is expressed by the following formula.

ΔE=E・R ₁・ΔR ₂ /(R ₁ +R ₂ ) ² (1) The amount of change ΔR ₂ in the resistance R ₂ of the measurement strain meter is obtained by the following formula. L is the length, and ΔL is the amount of change in length.

ΔR ₂ = ΔL/L×R ₂ …(2) Here, ΔL and Δδ have a relationship of ΔL/L=C×Δδ/δ δ……specific resistance Δδ……the rate of change of specific resistance, so ΔR ₂ =C×Δδ/δ× _R2 . Therefore, ΔE has the following formula:

ΔE=E・R ₁ / (R ₁ + R ₂ ) ² ×ΔL/L×R ₂ =E
・R ₁ / (R ₁ + R ₂ ) ² × C × Δδ / δ × R ₂ ...(3) In other words, ΔE is directly proportional to ΔL and Δδ, so the relationship in equation (3) above can be illustrated in the diagram. The result is as shown in Figure 2. The solid line and the broken line indicate the relationship between ΔL and Δδ, respectively.

In FIG. 3, 10 is an inner tank, and a pulsator 20 is located in the center.

30 is an outer tank, 40 is a pulsator 20 that rotates during washing, and an inner tank 10 and a pulsator 2 during dehydration.
This is a drive unit that rotates 0. The outer tank 30 is elastically supported by the outer frame 50 at four locations. The collar of the outer tank 30 is suspended via a vibration-proof spring 80 from a hanging rod 70 which is rotatably engaged with a corner plate 60 fixed to the four corners of the upper end of the outer frame 50.

Figure 4 shows strain sensor 10 as a weight detection device.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the corner plate 60 on which the 0 is installed. The corner plate 60 is fixed to the outer frame 50 by welding. A hanging rod 70 is fixed near the center of the corner plate 60 with a snap pin 90. Since the weight of the hanging portion including the outer tank 30 is added to the four hanging rods 70, the corner plate 6
0, distortion occurs, and this distortion is transmitted to the distortion sensor 100.
By detecting the change in weight within the inner tank 10, the change in weight within the inner tank 10 is utilized as information. With this configuration, a state in which cloth or water does not enter is detected, and the output ΔE at this time is assumed to be a relative zero level.
Preferable results can be obtained when the strain sensor 100 is located at the center of the corner plate 60 at the intersection of the corner of the outer frame 50 and a diagonal line connecting the corners.

When the strain sensor 100 is installed in the position shown in FIG. 4, an output as shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained. However, the absolute value of ΔE can be reduced by 1 because the slope of the straight line changes due to variations in the characteristics of the sensor itself, the gluing accuracy, and the characteristics due to environmental conditions such as moisture absorption and temperature, and there are parts that exhibit nonlinearity. In many cases, it was not possible to accurately determine the weight even if only one sample was sampled.

As a countermeasure in such a case, in order to reliably grasp the slope of the straight line, a water quality sensor 150, which is another detection device shown in FIG. 5, is installed.
The purpose is achieved. 110 is a solenoid valve for water supply. 120 is an auxiliary electromagnetic valve. The auxiliary solenoid valve 120 connects to the makeup water pipe 300 and the solenoid valve 110 connects to the main water supply pipe 140 . The outlet of the supply water pipe 130 is connected to the inner tank 10 and the outer tank 3.
0, and the outlet of the main water supply pipe 140 is the inner tank 10.
It is coming within. An electrode of a water quality sensor 150 is disposed on the inner bottom side of the outer tank 30 so as to protrude. The electrode is inserted and fixed into a cap 160 (shown in FIG. 6), and the cap 160 is adhesively fixed to a hole in the outer tank 30.

In the above configuration, weight measurement using the strain sensor 100 and the water quality sensor 150 will be explained mainly based on FIG. 7.

(1) Strain sensor 100 without cloth or water
Measure the output ΔE ₁ of

(2) Turn on the auxiliary solenoid valve 120.

(3) Water is supplied from the makeup water pipe 130.

(4) When the supplied water accumulates in the outer tank 30 and reaches the position of the electrode of the water quality sensor 150, the water supply is automatically interrupted.

(5) Output ΔE ₂ of the strain sensor 100 in this state
Measure.

(6) Assuming that the amount of water required to reach the electrode position of the water quality sensor 150 is a constant amount, for example 5, the relationship is (ΔE ₂ - ΔE ₁ )/5 [V/Kg], and per unit weight strain sensor 10
The output characteristics of 0 can be found (see Figure 7).

As shown in FIG. 7, the voltage change ΔE is directly proportional to the length change ΔL.

(7) Applying a load such as cloth.

(8) If the output of the strain sensor 100 in this state is ΔE ₃ , then (ΔE ₃ − ΔE ₂ )×5/(ΔE ₂ −
From ΔE ₁ ), it is possible to determine how many kilograms of load such as cloth was applied.

After steps (1) to (8) above, the electromagnetic valve 1
10 is turned on, water is supplied from the main water supply pipe 140, and automatic operation begins, but there are the following advantages.

(a) The determination of the load amount of the cloth, etc. is accurate because it is performed based on the output characteristics that match the variation in the characteristics of the strain sensor 100 itself, the gluing accuracy, and the environmental conditions such as moisture absorption and temperature.

(b) Since the microcomputer MPU 4 is set to supply water that matches a predetermined weight (load amount of cloth, etc.) classification, it supplies the specified amount of water according to the output of the cloth load amount determination from the strain sensor 100. is done automatically.

(c) Since the fabric load amount is accurately determined, an appropriate amount of water is supplied.

(d) Since the weight without laundry is known, changes in the weight of the drained water can be detected by the strain sensor 100, and based on this, the completion of draining can be detected. It is also possible to predict the completion time of drainage.

(E) The strain sensor 100 that detects strain is a hanging rod 70.
Since it is installed on the corner plate 60 to which the strain sensor 100 is attached, a large amount of strain can be obtained, and the output error of the strain sensor 100 is small.

(f) Since the electrodes of the water quality sensor 150 are provided so as to protrude from the inner bottom of the outer tank 30, the amount of water supplied to determine the output characteristics of the strain sensor 100 is limited to the upper or middle part of the outer tank 30. Compared to the case where the water quality sensor 150 is provided in the water quality sensor 150, the number of water quality sensors 150 is extremely small. Since the water supply time is short, the output characteristics can be determined quickly. Furthermore, since the amount of water supplied is small, the load on the cloth tends to make a difference even though the items to be washed are lighter than water, so the output of the strain sensor 100 is often detected.

Next, the rinsing determination by the water quality sensor 150 will be explained. The water quality sensor 150 measures the resistance value of the washing water between the electrodes by filling the space between the electrodes with washing water. This resistance value is
The data is stored inside the MPU 4 (microcomputer) through the processing shown in FIG. In Figure 8, the sensor output is amplified by operational amplifier 2, processed by analog to digital converter 3, and its value is converted to
This is an attempt to store it in the memory of MPU4. In FIG. 9, after being similarly amplified, the frequency is converted by the converter 5 as the oscillator frequency, and then converted into a digital quantity using the counter function of the MPU 4 and stored in the memory. Both sensor 1
The analog output of 50 is digitally converted for processing by MPU4.

FIG. 10 shows the internal processing from water supply to completion of rinsing. Before washing, supply water. Before adding detergent, the water quality sensor 150 measures the resistance value of the fresh water supplied, and this is set as the initial value D ₀
It is stored in MPU4 as . Next, add the washing cloth,
Additional water is supplied and detergent is added, and once the detergent has dissolved into the washing water, the water quality sensor 150 measures the resistance value (washing concentration value) of the washing water, and the MPU
Store in 4. Furthermore, the above two resistance values D ₀ ,
Determine the rinsing completion value from D ₁ , which is a guideline for rinsing completion. In other words, D ₀ − D ₁ /100 is the rinse completion value
D ₂ , this value D ₂ is stored in MPU 4, and when the concentration of the rinsing liquid decreases, the water quality sensor 1
Rinsing is performed until the resistance value by 50 reaches _D2 . This type of rinse completion control is
Changes in the resistance value of the water quality sensor 150 are taken into the MPU 4 based on timing, and the MPU 4 performs a process of determining whether rinsing is complete.

As described above, the present invention provides a washing machine comprising a control unit using a computer such as a microcomputer, which controls the washing time or amount of washing water in response to detection by a weight detection device. A strain sensor is used as a weight detection device that outputs a signal, and this strain sensor is installed in the upper corner of the outer frame that is the support part of the hanging rod, and when a predetermined amount of water enters the outer tank, it is taken into the control part. It is equipped with a water quality sensor that outputs an output signal, and the two electrodes of this water quality sensor are provided so as to protrude from the inner bottom side of the outer tank.
The output of the strain sensor when the cloth to be washed and no water is added, and the output of the strain sensor when a predetermined amount of water reaches the electrodes of the water quality sensor are input into the control section to calculate the output of the strain sensor per unit weight. Determine the characteristics, measure the weight of the cloth to be washed based on this output characteristic, and use the water quality sensor that detects the resistance value of water between two electrodes to calculate the resistance value D ₀ of fresh water before adding detergent. Add the washing cloth and detergent, rinse the detergent well, and then measure the resistance value D ₁ of the washing water. D ₁ - _{D 0} /100 is the rinsing completion value, and the resistance value of the water quality sensor is the rinsing completion value. The control unit controls the rinsing process until the rinsing reaches the desired level.

This configuration has the following advantages.

(1) The determination of the amount of load on cloth, etc. is accurate because it is based on the output characteristics that match the variation in the characteristics of the strain sensor itself, the gluing accuracy, and the environmental conditions such as moisture absorption and temperature.

(2) Since the fabric load amount is accurately determined, the appropriate amount of water is supplied.

(3) Since the electrode of the water quality sensor is provided so as to protrude from the inner bottom of the outer tank, the amount of water supplied to determine the output characteristics of the strain sensor is determined by connecting the water quality sensor to the top or middle of the outer tank. It is extremely small compared to what is provided. Since the water supply time is short, the output characteristics can be determined quickly. In addition, since the amount of water supplied is small, even though the items to be washed are lighter than water, there is a tendency for differences due to the weight of the cloth load to occur, so the output of strain sensors is often detected.

(4) Since rinsing is performed according to the output of the water quality sensor, there is no problem of insufficient rinsing or rinsing problems that occur with products that are rinsed for a set period of time.

(5) By using the strain sensor of the weight detection device and the water quality sensor, water supply amount, washing time, and rinsing are automatically performed. Moreover, since the water quality sensor also has the function of a water level switch that detects a small amount of supplied water when determining the output characteristics of the strain sensor, the number of sensors can be reduced. Furthermore, since the water quality sensor detects the change in resistance value between two electrodes, it can reliably detect a small amount of supplied water.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of the strain sensor section, Fig. 2 is a characteristic diagram, Fig. 3 is a structural diagram of the washing machine, Fig. 4 is an installation diagram of the strain sensor, and Fig. 5 is an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is an enlarged view of the water quality sensor, FIG. 7 is a strain sensor output characteristic diagram, FIGS. 8 and 9 are block diagrams, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart. 10...Inner tank, 30...Outer tank, 60...Corner plate, 70...Hanging rod, 100...Strain sensor, 110...Solenoid valve, 120...Auxiliary solenoid valve, 130...Supplementary water pipe, 140 ...Main water supply pipe, 150...Water quality sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An outer frame, an outer tank placed within the outer frame and elastically suspended and supported by the outer frame with a hanging rod, and attached to the outer bottom side of the outer tank. an inner tank placed in the outer tank and rotated by the drive unit; and a stirring blade such as a pulsator placed at the inner bottom of the inner tank and rotated by the drive unit. A weight detection device detects the weight of the cloth, etc. to be washed, and a series of washing processes consisting of rotation of stirring blades and an inner tank are carried out, and the washing time or amount of washing water is controlled according to the detection by the weight detection device. In a washing machine consisting of a control unit using a computer such as a microcomputer, a strain sensor is used as a weight detection device that outputs an output signal that is taken into the control unit, and this strain sensor is attached to an outer frame that is a support for the hanging rod. A water quality sensor is provided at the upper corner and outputs an output signal to be taken into the control unit when a predetermined amount of water enters the outer tank, and two electrodes of the water quality sensor are protruded toward the inner bottom side of the outer tank. The output of the strain sensor when there is no cloth to be washed and no water, and the output of the strain sensor when a predetermined amount of water reaches the electrodes of the water quality sensor are input into the control section, and the output is calculated per unit weight. Determine the output characteristics of the strain sensor,
Based on this output characteristic, the weight of the cloth to be washed is measured, and the resistance value of fresh water before adding detergent is measured by the water quality sensor, which detects the resistance value of water between two electrodes D ₀
Then, add the washing cloth and detergent, mix the detergent well, and then measure the resistance value D ₁ of the washing water. D ₁
- The washing machine is controlled by the control unit to take D ₀ /100 as a rinsing completion value and to execute rinsing until the resistance value of the water quality sensor reaches the rinsing completion value.