JPS649040B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a washing machine that can automatically control the washing and/or rinsing process by detecting the turbidity of the washing liquid and/or rinsing liquid.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, a method of variable speed control of a washing motor has been adopted in fully automatic washing machines. However, variable speed control of the washing motor according to the progress of the washing and rinsing processes is technically difficult and has not been put to practical use.

<Purpose> Therefore, the present invention provides a washing process or (and)
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of reducing cloth staining and cloth tangles and saving power consumption by variable speed control so as to gradually reduce the number of revolutions of a washing motor according to the progress of a rinsing process.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of the electronic control circuit that controls the washing and rinsing processes of the present invention. In the figure, the control device C is composed of a program fixed data memory ROM 1, a temporary storage memory RAM 2, a timer 3, and a control section 4 composed of a CPU and an I/O section of a microcomputer. And this control device C has washing (rinsing)
A process start switch 5, a washing sensor 6 consisting of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor that detects the turbidity of the washing (rinsing) liquid from the amount of light transmitted through the liquid.
, a rotation speed sensor 7 that detects the driving rotation speed of the washing motor (three-phase AC motor) 13, and a washing motor 1.
A drive circuit 8 for washing motor 13 is connected to a frequency transmitter 9 that controls the washing motor 13 at variable speed.
The output side of is connected to an inverter 11 for continuously controlling the three-phase alternating current 10 from low frequency to high frequency, and the drive circuit 8 includes:
A relay is used that turns on and off the washing motor 13 through the connection point 12 in response to an output signal from the I/O section of the control device C.

That is, the washing machine of the present invention includes a washing sensor 6 that detects the turbidity of the washing liquid based on the amount of light passing therethrough and outputs a turbidity signal, and a washing motor (three-phase AC motor).
A rotation speed sensor 7 that detects the rotation speed of the washing motor 13 and outputs the signal, a frequency converter (inverter) 11 that controls the washing motor 13 at variable speed, and an execution program that controls the washing process or (and) the rinsing process. The control device C is equipped with a microcomputer-made control device C having a storage device that stores information in advance, and the control device C calculates the change over time in the turbidity of the washing liquid and/or the rinsing liquid, and calculates the magnitude of the value, that is, the washing process or ( and) variable speed control is performed to gradually reduce the number of rotations of the washing motor 13 as the rinsing process progresses.

Next, regarding the control of the washing process in the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the control device, FIG. 3 shows the output change of the washing sensor, and FIG. 4 shows the rotation speed and torque change of the washing motor under inverter control. The explanation will be based on.

For example, in the case of a washing process, after the process starts, that is, after the washing motor 13 is driven and the timer 3 starts, the washing sensor 6 starts reading the turbidity of the washing liquid as an output voltage Vt corresponding to the amount of transmitted light in the liquid. At the same time, the steady rotation speed RO of the washing motor 13 is read by the rotation speed sensor 7. The absolute value of the temporal change in output voltage Vt as the washing process progresses [V{tm}-V{t(m ₊₁ )}]/{t(m ₊₁ )-tm} (the line in Figure 3) When the absolute value of the slope of minute a-b) becomes smaller than a constant value K0, that is, when the degree of progress of turbidity of the washing liquid becomes smaller than K0, the AC frequency is changed by the inverter 11,
While keeping the rotational torque of the washing motor 13 constant, the rotational speed is gradually reduced to R1, and the washing process is continued. After that, when the change over time of the output voltage Vt of the washing sensor 6 [V{tn}-V{t(n ₊₁ )}]/{t(n ₊₁ )-tn} becomes smaller than the constant value K1, the washing process is started. The washing motor 13 is deemed to have ended and the washing motor 13 is stopped.

In addition, in the washing motor rotation speed/rotational torque diagram shown in Fig. 4 under inverter control, B1 is steady.
It is a rotation speed/torque diagram in the state of R0, and B2 is a diagram after the rotation speed is reduced to R1 by inverter control.

Next, the rinsing step will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the degree of rinsing in relation to the output V of the washing sensor (optical sensor) and time.
In FIG. 5, when water is supplied to the washing tub for rinsing, the washing sensor is surrounded by clear water, so the output V of the washing sensor is set to the maximum value. When the water is supplied to the specified water level in the washing tub and the water supply starts to be agitated, the washing liquid contained in the laundry begins to dissolve, and the rinsing liquid gradually becomes cloudy, becomes saturated at a certain point, and then gradually becomes cloudy. It fades into That is, the output V of the washing sensor changes from a sudden drop to a minimum point to a sudden increase to a slight increase. If the slight increase continues for a certain period of time, the rinsing process is continued by changing the AC frequency using the inverter and gradually decreasing the rotation speed while keeping the rotational torque of the washing motor constant. The washing motor is deemed to have finished and stopped.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

<Effects> As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a washing sensor that detects the turbidity of the washing liquid or (and) the rinsing liquid and outputs a turbidity signal, and a frequency conversion device that controls the washing motor at variable speed. and a control device having a storage device in which an execution program for controlling the washing process and/or the rinsing process is stored in advance, and the control device is configured to control the turbidity of the washing liquid and/or the rinsing liquid so that the change over time of the turbidity is constant. The present invention relates to a washing machine characterized in that variable speed control is performed so that the rotational speed of the washing motor is gradually decreased from the initial steady rotational speed of each step from the time when the rotational speed reaches a certain value.

Therefore, in the present invention, by gradually controlling the speed of the washing motor with variable speed, the rotation speed is gradually reduced while keeping the torque of the washing motor constant as the washing process and the rinsing process progress. It is possible to reduce cloth damage and cloth tangles, and it is also possible to save power consumption by reducing the number of rotations.

In addition, in the washing process or (and) rinsing process, when the change over time in the turbidity of the washing liquid and rinsing liquid becomes a constant value (in the washing process of the example, the absolute value of the change over time in the output voltage of the washing sensor is Constant value
(When the output voltage of the washing sensor in the rinsing process continues to increase slightly over time for a certain period of time), the rotation speed of the washing motor can be gradually reduced from the initial steady rotation speed of each process. Since variable speed control is used, the washing liquid can be quickly eluted from the laundry by constant rotation at the beginning of each process, reducing process time compared to constant low-speed rotation from the beginning of the washing and rinsing processes. can.

Furthermore, not only in the washing process, but also in the rinsing process, a washing sensor detects the turbidity of the rinsing liquid and determines the degree of rinsing, so rinsing is performed more reliably than when setting the rinsing time with a timer. It has excellent effects when applied.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of the electronic control circuit for controlling the washing and rinsing processes of the washing machine of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the control device for controlling the washing process, and Fig. 3 is a washing sensor sensor. Figure 4 is a diagram showing changes in the output of the washing motor under inverter control, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing changes in the output of the washing sensor for controlling the rinsing process. be. 6: Washing sensor, 13: Washing motor, 7: Rotation speed sensor, 11: Frequency converter (inverter),
C: Control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A washing sensor that detects the turbidity of the washing liquid or (and) the rinsing liquid and outputs a turbidity signal, a frequency converter that controls the washing motor at variable speed, and an execution device that controls the washing process or (and) the rinsing process. a control device having a storage device in which a program is stored in advance, and the control device controls the rotational speed of the washing motor from the time when the change in turbidity of the washing liquid or (and) the rinsing liquid over time reaches a constant value. A washing machine characterized by variable speed control so that the rotation speed gradually decreases from the steady rotation speed at the beginning of the process.