JPH0549784A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a washing machine capable of performing accurate weight control regardless of the distribution state of laundry in a washing tub. [Structure] Since the weight is detected at all points supporting the washing tub and the sum of the detected values is used as data, for example, the distribution of laundry is non-uniform and a large load is applied to one detection means. Therefore, even if a large detection value is output, the other detection means have a small load and a small detection value is output, so the total sum of the detection values is canceled out, and the average data is canceled out. -You can get data. Then, based on this data, for example, each operating state of the washing program is determined.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example, a washing tub is elastically supported by four hanging bars in a machine frame, and a detecting mechanism for detecting the displacement of one hanging bar is provided. A washing machine which uses the detected value as weight data is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-37115 (D06F39 / 08).

[0003]

In the conventional example, the detection value of the detection mechanism may differ depending on the distribution state of the laundry in the washing tub. This is because the load applied to the detection mechanism is larger in the former case when the laundry is located near the hanging bar provided with the detection mechanism and when it is located far away. There was a problem that accurate weight control could not be performed.

The present invention relates to an improvement of a washing machine and solves such a problem.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an outer tub suspended and supported by a plurality of suspension rods in a machine frame and a washing tub in the machine frame are supported through a plurality of supporting members. Weight detection means is provided in the route from the machine frame to the washing tub, and the amount of data detected by this detection means is converted into a weight display, and the amount of data is used to determine the content of the washing program. A washing machine which is provided with the weight detecting means in each of the plurality of paths, and which is provided with control means for utilizing the sum of the detection values from each weight detecting means as the data amount. Is.

The sum total may be used as the amount of data, and the sum total may be used as it is, or may be a value obtained by appropriately multiplying or dividing the sum total.

[0007]

In other words, since the weight is detected at all points supporting the washing tub and the sum of the detected values is used as data,
For example, even if the laundry is unevenly distributed and a large load is applied to one detection unit to output a large detection value, the other detection units have a small load and a small detection value is output. After all, the magnitude of each detected value is canceled out as a total, and average data can be obtained.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 1 is a machine frame, 2 is an outer tank suspended and supported by four hanging bars 3 in the machine frame 1, 4 is each hanging bar 3 and a lower side wall of the outer tank 2. An anti-vibration device 5 interposed between and is a dehydrating and washing tub which is rotatably supported in the outer tub 2, and has a large number of dewatering holes in the periphery although not shown. Reference numeral 6 denotes a rotary blade rotatably arranged at the bottom of the washing tub 5, and 7 denotes a drive motor connected to the washing tub 5 and the rotary blade 6 via a power transmission mechanism 8. Only 6 is rotated, and at the time of spin-drying, both the washing tub 5 and the rotary blade 6 are rotated in one direction at high speed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vibration isolator 4 includes a lower spherical body 9 into which the hanging rod 3 is inserted, a receiving body 10 attached to the lower end of the hanging rod 3, and a lower spherical body 9. The upper surface of the lower spherical body 9, which is composed of a spring A11 disposed between the lower spherical body 9 and the receiving body 10, is hooked from below onto a spherical receiver 12 formed on the lower side wall of the outer tub 2. Outer tank 2
When the load is applied to the lower spherical body 12 via the spherical receiver 9, the spring A11 expands and contracts and absorbs it.

A detection mechanism 13 for detecting the amount of movement of the suspension bars 3 is provided above the four suspension bars 3, which will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 14 is a support member fixed to the upper end of the suspension rod 3, 15 is a core fixed to the upper end of the support member 14,
Reference numeral 16 is an upper spherical body that encloses the support body 14, and incorporates a spring B17, and the spring body B17 urges the support body 14 upward. Therefore, the load of the outer tub 2 depends on the spring A11 and the receiving body 10.
It acts to move the suspension rod 3 downwards via the, so that the support 14 moves downward against the bias of the spring B17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a coil fixed inside the upper spherical body 16 so as to be located around the core 15, and the core 15 is moved as the support 14 moves downward.
Moves in the coil 18, which changes the inductance of the coil 18.

FIG. 5 shows conversion circuits 20 to 23 for converting an inductance change of the coil 18 into an electric signal. The coil 18 constitutes an oscillation circuit 26 together with capacitors 24 and 25, and the inductance of the coil 18 is shown. The oscillation frequency changes due to the change. This signal is shaped and amplified by the buffer amplifier 27, and is input as a pulse signal to the microcomputer described later. The microcomputer determines the movement amount of the suspension rod 3 based on the cycle of this pulse signal.

FIG. 6 shows a control mechanism centering on a microcomputer 28 (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) in this embodiment. The microcomputer 28 has an input key circuit 29 composed of various input key groups and a water level sensor. 30, a water supply solenoid valve 31, based on information from the conversion circuits 20 to 23, which output signals corresponding to the movement amounts of the four suspension rods 3, respectively.
The operation of the drainage electromagnetic valve 32, the buzzer device 33, the display device 34, the drive motor 7, etc. is controlled. 35 is the microcomputer 2
It is a driver circuit that controls the operation of these loads in accordance with the signal from 8.

Since the structure of the microcomputer 28 is well known, it will be described with reference to FIG.

The microcomputer 28 has a CPU 36 (cen).
tral processing unit), RAM3
7 (random access memory), R
OM38 (read only memory), timer-39, system bus 40 and input / output port 41, 4
It consists of 2.

The CPU 36 includes a control unit 43 and an arithmetic unit 4
4, the control unit 43 fetches and executes an instruction, and the arithmetic unit 44 receives data from an input device or a memory in response to a control signal from the control unit 43 at the instruction execution stage. On the other hand, arithmetic processing such as binary addition, logical operation, increase / decrease and comparison is performed. RAM 37
Is for storing data about the device,
The ROM 38 is preliminarily loaded with means for operating the device, setting conditions for determination, rules for processing various information, and the like.

The principle of the water level sensor 30 is the same as that of the detection mechanism 13 and the conversion circuits 20 to 23. In short, in response to the pressure change in the air trap due to the water level change in the outer tub 2, The core is moved in and out of the coil to change the inductance of the coil, and the change in the inductance of the coil is extracted as a change in the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit and input to the microcomputer 28.

The operation based on this structure will be described with reference to FIG.

In the washing machine of the present invention, the washing step-intermediate dehydration-
Rinsing process-laundry program consisting of final dehydration process,
It is sequentially executed under the control of the microcomputer 12. The rotary blade 6 (driving motor 7) is reversed at a low speed in the washing or rinsing step with a rest period, and is rotated in one direction at a high speed in the dehydration step.

When the start key of the washing program is operated, the microcomputer 28 causes the conversion circuits 20 to operate.
The data from 23 to 23 are checked (S1), and the sum of each data is calculated (S2). Further, the sum is compared with a reference value stored in the ROM 38 and ranked, and the washing operation states such as the amount of washing water, the water flow intensity, the washing time and the dehydration time are determined according to the rank (S3 ). Then, the laundry program is executed in this determined operating state (S
4).

As another example, the rank-divided data is converted into a weight value and digitally displayed so that the user can understand, and the user performs each operation of the washing program based on this display. You may make it set a state.

Further, as a means for obtaining the sum of the respective data in S2, the data values individually input to the microcomputer 28 may be added by the arithmetic unit 44, or each of the conversion circuits 20 to 20.
23 may be connected in series so that the total sum of data is automatically input to the microcomputer 28.

[0024]

According to the constitution of the washing machine of the present invention, accurate weight control can be performed regardless of the distribution state of the laundry in the washing tub, and the commercial value of the washing machine can be increased. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a supported state of an outer tank.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same main portion.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a detection mechanism and a vibration isolation device.

FIG. 5 is a conversion circuit diagram for converting the movement amount of the suspension rod into an electric signal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control mechanism of the washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the same microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine frame 2 Outer tub 3 Suspension rod 4 Anti-vibration device 5 Dehydration and washing tub 6 Rotor blade 7 Drive motor 13 Detection mechanism (detection means) 20-23 Conversion circuit (detection means) 28 Microcomputer (control means) )

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takao Kuraseko 2-18 Keihan Hon-dori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub is supported in a machine frame through a plurality of supports, and a weight detection means is provided in a path from the machine frame to the washing tub through the supports, and the weight detection means detects the weight. -To convert the amount of data into a weight display or to use the amount of data to determine the content of the laundry program,
The weight detection means is provided in each of the plurality of paths,
A washing machine characterized by comprising control means for utilizing the sum of the detection values from the respective weight detection means as the data amount.