JPH0251354B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a washing machine that can automatically control the strength of water flow.

<Prior Art> Although automation of single-tank fully automatic washing machines has progressed, the strength of water flow in the washing or rinsing process has been determined based on the user's experience. If the water flow is detected using a water flow detection device, it becomes possible to automate the determination of the water flow strength, but in a single-tank fully automatic washing machine, the drain that is fitted inside the washing tub and is stopped during the washing and rinsing processes. In order to detect the water flow inside the aquarium, there is a space between the washing tub and the spin tub, and the spin tub rotates during spin drying, so it is necessary to directly and accurately detect the strength of the water flow inside the spin tub. The water flow could not be controlled by the water flow control device.

<Objective> The purpose of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can directly and accurately detect the strength of water flow in a dehydration tank by installing a water flow detection device in the washing tub, for example, in the dehydration tank of a single-tank fully automatic washing machine. shall be.

<Example> Generally, in a fully automatic washing machine, the water flow in the dehydration tank depends on the shape of the stirring blades (the blades are not limited to the pulsator type but various shapes) and the dehydration tank, and the rotational operation time of the stirring blades. Basically determined by.
Here, if the angular velocity of the water flow due to the rotation of the stirring blade is ω, the distance from the center of the stirring blade to the wall of the dehydration tank is r, and the pressure of the water flow applied to the tank wall is P, then P =ρ・ω ² r ² /2+Po. Here, ρ is the density of water, Po is the pressure at r=0, and a pressure or force proportional to the square of the water flow speed is applied to the tank wall. Also, since this water flow is affected by the laundry that is put into the dehydration tank, by detecting the speed of the water flow in the dehydration tank, it is possible to determine the type and shape of the laundry. It becomes possible to automatically set the strength (speed) of water flow that matches the type and shape of the laundry.

Embodiments of the present invention based on the above technical idea will be described with reference to the drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a water flow detection device. As shown in these figures, the washing machine of the present invention includes a water flow detection device fixed to the outer wall (or inner wall) of the dehydration tank 2 in order to detect the strength (pressure) of the water flow in the dehydration tank 2 in the washing tub 1. 3, a transmitting/receiving device 4 fixed to the outer wall of the washing tub 1 at a position facing the water flow detecting device 3 in the washing process and the rinsing process; A water flow control device MC made by a microcomputer is provided to automatically control water flow, and information is transmitted and received between the water flow detection device 3 and the transmitting/receiving device 4 using wireless communication means.

Note that 5 is an outer box of the washing machine, 6 is an agitation blade installed at the bottom of the dehydration tank 2, and 7 is an electric motor for rotating the same.

Further, the wireless transmission means is a Helmholtz-type signal for receiving the acoustic wave W1 signal transmitted from the electric oscillator 8 and the ultrasonic oscillation element 9 of the transmitting/receiving device 4 to the water flow detecting device 3, and from the water flow detecting device 3 to the transmitting/receiving device 4. The water flow detection device 3 consists of a signal of an electromagnetic wave W2 transmitted to the coil 10, and a signal of an acoustic wave W1.
is an electrical signal (electromagnetic wave W) whose strength corresponds to the strength of the water flow.
2) A piezoelectric element 11 which is an active sensing element that converts
and a coil 12 for transmitting electromagnetic waves connected to the piezoelectric element 11, and the ultrasonic oscillation element 9 for transmitting acoustic waves of the transmitting/receiving device 4 and the Helmholtz type coil 10 for receiving electromagnetic waves are connected to a control line. It is controlled by the water flow control device M via the water flow control device M.

That is, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the electric energy of the power source is converted into acoustic energy (acoustic wave W1) by the oscillator 8 and the ultrasonic oscillation element 9,
Acoustic energy is transmitted in the water (or in the air) between the transmitting/receiving device 4 and the water flow detection device 3 shown in FIG. 1, and gives energy to the water flow detection device 3 on the wall surface of the dehydration tank 2. This acoustic energy is converted into electrical energy by the piezoelectric element 11 in the water flow detection device 3 shown in FIG. 3, and the coil 12 is energized from the electrodes 11a and 11b. In terms of signals, Figure 4 a,
As shown in b, an electric signal of fKHz from the oscillator 8 is converted into an acoustic signal (acoustic wave W1) of fKHz from the ultrasonic oscillation element 9 and propagated. If no water flow is generated in the dehydration tank 2, the piezoelectric element 11 has
Since almost no pressure is applied, the water flow detection device 3
The coil 12 inside is electrically connected to fKHz as shown in c in the same figure.
An excitation of fK is generated from the coil 12 as shown in d of the same figure.
An electromagnetic wave W2 of Hz is transmitted. As shown in figure e,
The fKHz electromagnetic wave W2 is received by the Helmholtz coil 10 of the transmitting/receiving device 4.

Next, in the washing process and the rinsing process, when water flow occurs in the dehydration tank 2, the piezoelectric element 11 of the water flow detection device 3 provided in the dehydration tank 2 as shown in FIG. However, at the same time, it also receives the pressure generated by the water flow in the dehydration tank 2, and the excitation signal input to the coil 12 is a fundamental wave as shown in c of the same figure.
The waveform becomes fKHz modulated and is transmitted from the coil 12 as an electromagnetic wave W2. As shown in FIG. 4E, the transmitting/receiving device 4 receives a signal from a Helmholtz coil 10, and has a receiving function and a function of detecting a modulated wave. Since the water flow in the dehydration tank 2 is proportional to the attenuation of the modulated wave signal, it can be detected by the voltage level of the signal detected by the transmitting/receiving device 4.

Here, FIG. 6 shows changes in the detection signal (voltage) in each of the water flows A, B, and C. Further, a time chart of ON/OFF of the stirring blade 6 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, by rotating the stirring blade 6 from side to side, three modes A, B, and C, that is, water flow strength, are selected by the water flow control device MC.

The data of the output signal of the piezoelectric element 11 shown in FIG. 6 shows attenuation characteristics because the pressure from the water flow is continuously applied to the piezoelectric element. This is because new pressure is applied before the piezoelectric element is restored, and the charge and discharge are repeated inside the piezoelectric element, and the discharging time is longer than the charging time.

Here, the attenuation characteristic, that is, the reference voltage V1 at a certain time t seconds after the stirring blade 6 starts rotating, is determined in advance from the data in FIG. ), the signal for t seconds once exceeds the reference voltage V1, and then V
If a value lower than 1 is included, water flow mode A is not appropriate, and the control device MC switches to the next water flow mode (B then C) in a predetermined order (A → B → C), and this new water flow mode If the signal for t seconds in the water flow mode once exceeds the reference voltage V1 and is always higher than V1, the washing and/or rinsing process is performed in that water flow mode. Note that if any of the water flow modes A, B, and C includes a value lower than the reference voltage V1, water flow mode C is executed.

Next, the operation of the washing machine will be explained. First, in the washing process, the user puts the laundry and detergent into the dehydration tank 2 and operates the start switch. Then, a predetermined amount of water is poured in, and the dehydration tub 2 is stopped at a fixed position relative to the washing tub 5, with only the stirring blades 6 rotating in accordance with the command from the water flow control device MC. That is, first, the stirring blade 6 rotates in water flow mode A, and the piezoelectric element 1
The output signal from 1 is detected by the transmitting/receiving device 4, and the water flow control device MC judges this. If it contains a value lower than the reference voltage V1, water flow mode A is stopped and a new water flow mode B (next In C), the stirring blade 6 rotates, and a new water flow mode is also determined in the same manner as above. If the voltage is higher than the reference voltage V1 in the water flow mode A, the washing process is immediately ended.

Next, in the rinsing step, the washing liquid is drained, and while fresh water is injected, the stirring blade 6 is rotated under the control of the controller MC in the same manner as in the washing step, thereby rinsing.

In the dehydration process, the rinsing liquid is drained, and the dehydration tank 2 is rotated at high speed with the stirring blade 6 in a stopped state, and the dehydration is scattered from the holes of the dehydration tank 2 by centrifugal force, thereby performing dehydration for a predetermined period of time.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments within the scope of the present invention. As the wireless transmission means for transmitting and receiving information between the two, not only acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves but also light waves and the like can be used.

<Effects> As is clear from the above description, the present invention includes a water flow detection device disposed inside a washing tub to detect the strength of water flow, a transmitting/receiving device attached to the outer wall of the washing tub, and A water flow control device that automatically controls the strength of the water flow in the washing tub based on a water flow signal from the transmission and reception device is provided, and information transmission and reception between the water flow detection device and the transmission and reception device is performed by wireless transmission means. The present invention relates to a washing machine characterized in that it is configured to

Therefore, according to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

(1) In a single-tank fully automatic washing machine, by placing a water flow detection device in the dehydration tank inside the washing tank,
It becomes possible to accurately detect water flow.

(2) The strength of the water flow during the washing and rinsing processes, which previously depended on the experience of the washing machine user, can be automatically determined.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a water flow detection device, and Figs. Waveform diagram of transmitted and received signals, Figure 5a
~f is a waveform diagram of the transmitted and received signals when there is water flow in the dehydration tank, Figure 6 is a waveform diagram of the detection signal of the transmitting and receiving device when the water flow mode of the stirring blade is changed, and Figure 7 is the water flow mode of the stirring blade. This is an ON/OFF time chart. MC: water flow control device, W1: acoustic wave, W2: electromagnetic wave, 1: washing tub, 3: water flow detection device, 4: transmission/reception device, 8: electric oscillator, 9: ultrasonic oscillation element,
10: Helmholtz coil, 11: piezoelectric element,
12: Coil.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water flow detection device disposed inside the washing tub to detect the strength of the water flow, a transmitting/receiving device attached to the outer wall of the washing tub, and a water flow within the washing tub based on the water flow signal of the transmitting/receiving device. What is claimed is: 1. A washing machine comprising: a water flow control device that automatically controls strength; and information transmission and reception between the water flow detection device and the transmitting/receiving device is performed by wireless transmission means.