JP2574281B2 - Washing machine load detection device - Google Patents

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 産業上の利用分野 本発明は、洗濯槽あるいは洗濯兼脱水槽内に投入され
た衣類等の量を検知する洗濯機の負荷量検知装置に関す
るものである。Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a load detecting device for a washing machine for detecting an amount of clothes or the like put in a washing tub or a washing and dewatering tub.

従来の技術 従来から負荷量を検知する洗濯機の負荷量検知装置は
数多く提供されている。たとえば特公昭61−22598号公
報に示される負荷量検知装置がある。この負荷量検知装
置は第７図に示すように、撹拌翼および洗濯兼脱水槽を
選択的に駆動する洗濯モータ２をスイッチング手段4a,4
bを介して交流電源１に接続し、さらに洗濯モータ２の
巻線間にはコンデンサ３を接続している。スイッチング
手段4a,4bは制御回路５からゲートG₁,G₂へ信号が送ら
れ、その信号に基づいてオン，オフする。また、モータ
２にはカレントトランス６が接続されており、このカレ
ントトランス６の出力は制御回路５に入力されるように
なっている。そして制御回路５はスイッチング手段4a,4
bを制御して洗濯モータ２を始動し、その後の一定時間
後の洗濯モータ２の電流値を検知してその電流値により
負荷量を判定していた。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many load amount detecting devices of a washing machine for detecting a load amount have been provided. For example, there is a load detection device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-22598. As shown in FIG. 7, this load amount detecting device includes a washing motor 2 for selectively driving a stirring blade and a washing / dewatering tub, and switching means 4a, 4
The washing machine 2 is connected to an AC power supply 1 via a b, and a capacitor 3 is connected between the windings of the washing motor 2. Switching means 4a, 4b is a signal is sent from the control circuit 5 to the gate G _1, G _2, on based on the signal to turn off. A current transformer 6 is connected to the motor 2, and the output of the current transformer 6 is input to the control circuit 5. The control circuit 5 includes switching means 4a, 4
b, the washing motor 2 is started, a current value of the washing motor 2 after a certain period of time is detected, and the load amount is determined based on the current value.

発明が解決しようとする問題点 しかし従来の構成では、モータ２の電流値がモータの
特性ばらつきあるいは交流電源１の電圧変動により影響
を受けるため、負荷量の検知ばらつきが大きくなる問題
を有していた。Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional configuration, the current value of the motor 2 is affected by the variation in the characteristics of the motor or the variation in the voltage of the AC power supply 1, so that the variation in the detection of the load amount is increased. Was.

また、従来の負荷量検知方法では、同一の負荷量であ
っても、布質、たとえば、スリップ等の化繊類とタオル
等の木綿類ではモータ電流特性が違ってくるため、布質
によるばらつきが極めて大きいという問題点があった。In addition, in the conventional load amount detection method, even if the load amount is the same, the motor current characteristics are different between fabrics, for example, synthetic fibers such as slips and cottons such as towels, so that the variation due to the fabric quality may vary. There was a problem that it was extremely large.

本発明は上記問題点を解決するもので、布類等の負荷
量を布の材質に関係なく精度よく検知することを目的と
するものである。The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to accurately detect the load of a cloth or the like regardless of the material of the cloth.

問題点を解決するための手段 上記目的を達成するために本発明は、撹拌翼を駆動す
るモータと、このモータへの通電制御を行う制御手段
と、前記洗濯兼脱水槽内の水位を検知する水位検知手段
を備え、前記制御手段は前記洗濯兼脱水槽内に所定水位
を給水してから、前記モータに所定時間通電し、その直
後のオフ期間内における前記モータの回転数の減少率あ
るいはその減少率に相関した値を検知し、その値を前記
水位検知手段にもとづく前記モータによる撹拌翼の回転
前と回転後との水位変動量により補正して負荷量を判定
するものである。Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a motor for driving a stirring blade, a control unit for controlling power supply to the motor, and detecting a water level in the washing and dewatering tank. Water level detection means, the control means supplies a predetermined water level in the washing and dewatering tub, and then energizes the motor for a predetermined time, and a reduction rate of the rotation speed of the motor in an off period immediately thereafter, or A value correlated with the decrease rate is detected, and the load is determined by correcting the value based on a water level fluctuation amount before and after rotation of the stirring blade by the motor based on the water level detection means.

上記構成によれば、モータの減衰率、たとえば減衰時
間あるいは変動量等の負荷量と相関関係のある情報にも
とづいて負荷量を判定するとともに、水位検知手段によ
り布の材質で生じる水位の変動量の情報も合わせて負荷
量を判定するため、布の材質による負荷量検知のばらつ
きを防止でき、また、モータの非通電時に検知を行うた
め電源電圧の変動あるいはモータ特性のばらつきを除外
した信号を検知でき、検知精度を高めることができる。According to the above configuration, the load amount is determined based on information that is correlated with the load amount such as the damping rate of the motor, for example, the decay time or the fluctuation amount, and the water level fluctuation amount of the water level generated by the cloth material by the water level detection means. The load amount is also determined based on the information of the load, so it is possible to prevent variations in load amount detection due to the material of the cloth, and to detect when the motor is not energized, a signal that excludes fluctuations in power supply voltage or variations in motor characteristics is used. Detection can be performed, and detection accuracy can be improved.

実施例 以下、本発明の実施例について、第１図〜第６図を参
照して説明する。Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG.

本実施例における全自動洗濯機の構成は第３図に示す
ように、外槽11内に回転自在に配した洗濯兼脱水槽10
は、その内底部に撹拌翼12を回転自在に配している。こ
の撹拌翼12と洗濯兼脱水槽10とはメカケース13により選
択的に切換えられ、モータ２の回転力が伝達される。As shown in FIG. 3, the configuration of the fully automatic washing machine in the present embodiment is a washing and spin-drying tub 10 rotatably arranged in an outer tub 11.
Has a stirring blade 12 rotatably arranged at the inner bottom thereof. The stirring blade 12 and the washing / dewatering tub 10 are selectively switched by the mechanical case 13, and the rotational force of the motor 2 is transmitted.

次に上記全自動洗濯機の制御部を第１図により説明す
る。すなわち、交流電源１に接続されたモータ２の主コ
イルと補助コイル間にコンデンサ３を接続している。こ
のコンデンサ３の端子と交流電源１間にスイッチング装
置の１つである双方向性３端子サイリスタ（以下トライ
アックと称す）4a,4bを接続している。トライアック4a
が導通するとモータ２は正回転し、トライアック4aをオ
フさせてトライアック4bをオンさせるとモータ２は逆転
する。制御回路5Aは操作キーからの指示、蓋スイッチ5
0、水位検知装置5B等からの信号によりモータ２を駆動
するトライアック4a,4bおよび排水弁用マグネット7,給
水弁８を駆動するトライアック4c,4dのスイッチングを
制御する。コンデンサ電圧検知回路９はモータ２のコン
デンサ３の端子電圧を検知するものである。コンデンサ
３の端子電圧はモータ回転数と相関があり、トライアッ
ク4aまたは4bを導通せしめ、その後回転を逆転せしめる
前の休止期間中にコンデンサ電圧は回転数に応じて減衰
する。Next, a control section of the above-described fully automatic washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the capacitor 3 is connected between the main coil and the auxiliary coil of the motor 2 connected to the AC power supply 1. A bidirectional three-terminal thyristor (hereinafter referred to as a triac) 4a, 4b, which is one of the switching devices, is connected between the terminal of the capacitor 3 and the AC power supply 1. Triac 4a
Is conducted, the motor 2 rotates forward, and when the triac 4a is turned off and the triac 4b is turned on, the motor 2 rotates in the reverse direction. The control circuit 5A is operated by the instruction from the operation key, the lid switch 5
0, switching of the triacs 4a and 4b for driving the motor 2 and the triacs 4c and 4d for driving the water supply valve 8 and the triacs 4a and 4b for driving the motor 2 are controlled by signals from the water level detection device 5B and the like. The capacitor voltage detecting circuit 9 detects the terminal voltage of the capacitor 3 of the motor 2. The terminal voltage of the capacitor 3 is correlated with the motor speed, and the capacitor voltage is attenuated according to the speed during a rest period before the triac 4a or 4b is turned on and the rotation is reversed.

第２図にモータ２を駆動するトライアック4aまたは4b
をオフせしめたときのコンデンサ３の端子電圧の変化を
示す。図中Ａは負荷量が少なくモータ回転数の減少量が
少ない場合であり、Ｂは逆に負荷量が多くモータ回転数
が急速に減少する場合である。モータ２の正転，逆転の
休止期間においては、トライアック4a,4bともオフ状態
のため、コンデンサ３の端子電圧は０となるが、休止期
間前にモータ２を回転させ撹拌翼を駆動しているため、
モータ２は慣性により回転し続け、主コイル，補助コイ
ルに誘起電圧が発生し、回転数の減少とともに誘起電圧
は減少し、第２図のような波形となる。負荷量が大きい
場合にはモータ回転数は急速に減少し、コンデンサ電圧
も減少するので布量等の負荷量を検知することができ
る。すなわち、コンデンサ電圧の減衰時間（第２図中の
T_1a,T_1b）、あるいはコンデンサ電圧の変化率、あるい
は電圧波形数等の減衰率を測定して負荷量を判定してい
る。FIG. 2 shows a triac 4a or 4b for driving the motor 2.
Shows the change in the terminal voltage of the capacitor 3 when is turned off. In the figure, A shows the case where the load is small and the decrease of the motor speed is small, and B shows the case where the load is large and the motor speed rapidly decreases. During the pause period of the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of the motor 2, the terminal voltage of the capacitor 3 becomes 0 because both the triacs 4a and 4b are in the OFF state, but the motor 2 is rotated and the stirring blade is driven before the pause period. For,
The motor 2 continues to rotate due to inertia, and an induced voltage is generated in the main coil and the auxiliary coil. The induced voltage decreases with a decrease in the number of revolutions, resulting in a waveform as shown in FIG. When the load amount is large, the motor speed rapidly decreases and the capacitor voltage also decreases, so that the load amount such as the cloth amount can be detected. That is, the decay time of the capacitor voltage (see FIG. 2)
T _1a , T _1b ), the rate of change of the capacitor voltage, or the decay rate of the number of voltage waveforms is measured to determine the load amount.

しかしながら、同一の負荷量でも布の種類によって第
４図のようにコンデンサ電圧の波形数が異なるため布種
も判別する必要がある。また、布種はコンデンサ電圧の
波形数のみならず、減衰時間，電圧の変化率にも影響を
及ぼす。However, even with the same load, the number of waveforms of the capacitor voltage differs depending on the type of the cloth as shown in FIG. 4, so that it is necessary to determine the type of the cloth. Further, the type of cloth affects not only the number of waveforms of the capacitor voltage but also the decay time and the rate of change of the voltage.

一般的に化繊類の布は布内への含水量が少なく、それ
に対して木綿類は含水量が多いため、洗濯開始時の給水
終了後に水位検出装置5Bによって水位を検知し、その
後、布を洗濯撹拌して布内に洗濯水を含水させると、そ
の分だけ洗濯槽兼脱水槽10を含む外槽11内の水位が減少
する。布の含水量と水位変動量はほぼ比例関係にあるた
め、この水位変動量を検出することにより布の種類を判
別することができる。このようにして布の種類を判別
し、その布種に応じてコンデンサ電圧波形数における負
荷量判別基準値を変更設定し、その基準値と波形数によ
って負荷量を判別する。In general, synthetic fiber cloth has a low water content in the cloth, whereas cotton has a high water content, so the water level is detected by the water level detection device 5B after the water supply at the start of washing, and then the cloth is removed. When the laundry is agitated and the washing water is contained in the cloth, the water level in the outer tub 11 including the washing tub and the dewatering tub 10 is reduced by that amount. Since the water content of the cloth and the water level fluctuation amount are substantially in a proportional relationship, the type of the cloth can be determined by detecting the water level fluctuation amount. Thus, the type of the cloth is determined, the load amount determination reference value in the number of capacitor voltage waveforms is changed and set according to the type of the cloth, and the load amount is determined based on the reference value and the number of waveforms.

次に布量判定の概略を第５図により説明する。すなわ
ち、初期設定における水位設定の後、給水をスタート
し、設定水位になると給水を止め、撹拌を開始する。モ
ータを20〜30回、正逆反転の撹拌を行ない、その間のモ
ータ出力OFF時のコンデンサ端子電圧波形数を測定す
る。撹拌が終了した後、再度水位を測定し前記設定水位
との差を水位検知装置を介して検出する。このときに、
水位差が大きい時は木綿類、少ない時は化繊類と判別す
る。この布種を判別すると第６図に示すように、布種に
よって設定した負荷量判別基準値（例えば化繊類であれ
ばａ、木綿類であればｂ）と電圧波形数とを比較し、負
荷量が極少，少量，中量，多量の４段階に分けて負荷量
を判定する。Next, an outline of the cloth amount determination will be described with reference to FIG. That is, water supply is started after setting the water level in the initial setting, and when the set water level is reached, water supply is stopped and stirring is started. Stir the motor 20 times to 30 times, and measure the number of capacitor terminal voltage waveforms when the motor output is OFF during that time. After the stirring is completed, the water level is measured again, and a difference from the set water level is detected via a water level detection device. At this time,
When the water level difference is large, it is judged as cotton, and when it is small, it is judged as synthetic fiber. When this cloth type is determined, as shown in FIG. 6, the load amount determination reference value (for example, a for synthetic fiber, b for cotton) is compared with the number of voltage waveforms, and the load is determined. The load amount is determined in four stages of minimum, small, medium and large.

なお、本実施例では、撹拌翼の回転減衰率で説明した
が、洗濯兼脱水槽の回転減衰率に応じて負荷量を判定し
てもよく、この場合、負荷量が多いと減衰時間が長く、
負荷量が少ないと減衰時間は短い。逆に、電圧の変化率
は負荷量が多いと小さく、負荷量が少ないと大きくな
る。また、コンデンサ電圧を検知する方法で説明した
が、コンデンサの電流値を検知してもよく、要はモータ
の回転数あるいはそれに相関した値を検知すればよい。In the present embodiment, the rotation decay rate of the stirring blade has been described. However, the load may be determined in accordance with the rotation decay rate of the washing and dewatering tub. In this case, the decay time becomes longer when the load is large. ,
When the load is small, the decay time is short. Conversely, the rate of change of the voltage decreases when the load is large, and increases when the load is small. Although the method of detecting the capacitor voltage has been described, the current value of the capacitor may be detected. In short, it is only necessary to detect the rotation speed of the motor or a value correlated thereto.

発明の効果 以上の実施例から明らかなように本発明によれば、モ
ータを一定時間駆動し、オンからオフした直後のモータ
の回転数あるいはそれに相関する値の減衰率を測定して
負荷量を判定するため、モータ特性のばらつき等の影響
を受けず精度の高い負荷量検知を行うことができる。ま
た、水位検知手段により撹拌前後の水位変動を検知して
布量を判別し、その布種に応じて負荷量を補正するた
め、より負荷量検知精度を高めることができる。Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the motor is driven for a certain period of time, and the rotational speed of the motor immediately after the motor is turned off or the attenuation rate of a value correlated thereto is measured to reduce the load. Since the determination is made, a highly accurate load amount detection can be performed without being affected by variations in motor characteristics and the like. Further, the water level detecting means detects water level fluctuations before and after stirring to determine the amount of cloth, and corrects the load amount according to the type of the cloth. Therefore, the accuracy of load amount detection can be further improved.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of the drawings]

第１図は本発明の一実施例による全自動洗濯機の布量負
荷検知装置とその制御回路を示すブロック図、第２図は
モータを駆動してoffさせた直後のコンデンサ端子電圧
の波形図、第３図は同全自動洗濯機の主要部縦断面図、
第４図は布種別による電圧波形数と布量との関係を示す
グラフ、第５図は同布量検知の制御を示すフローチャー
ト、第６図は布種別による布量判別基準値の設定の説明
図、第７図は従来の布量負荷検知装置のブロック図であ
る。 １……交流電源、２……モータ、３……コンデンサ、4
a,4b……スイッチング装置、5A……制御回路、5B……水
位検出装置、10……洗濯兼脱水槽、11……外槽。FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a laundry load detecting device of a fully automatic washing machine and a control circuit thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of a capacitor terminal voltage immediately after a motor is driven to be turned off. , FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the fully automatic washing machine,
FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of voltage waveforms and the cloth amount according to the cloth type, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control of the cloth amount detection, and FIG. 6 is an explanation of the setting of the cloth amount determination reference value according to the cloth type. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional load detection device. 1 AC power supply 2 Motor 3 Capacitor 4
a, 4b: switching device, 5A: control circuit, 5B: water level detection device, 10: washing and dewatering tub, 11: outer tub.

Claims (1)

(57)【特許請求の範囲】(57) [Claims] 【請求項１】撹拌翼を駆動するモータと、このモータへ
の通電制御を行う制御手段と、前記洗濯兼脱水槽内の水
位を検知する水位検知手段を備え、前記制御手段は前記
洗濯兼脱水槽内に所定水位を給水してから、前記モータ
に所定時間通電し、その直後のオフ期間内における前記
モータの回転数の減少率あるいはその減少率に相関した
値を検知し、その値を前記水位検知手段にもとづく前記
モータによる撹拌翼の回転前と回転後との水位変動量に
より補正して負荷量を判定する洗濯機の負荷量検知装
置。1. A motor for driving a stirring blade, control means for controlling power supply to the motor, and water level detecting means for detecting a water level in the washing and dewatering tub, wherein the control means includes the washing and dehydrating means. After supplying a predetermined water level into the tank, the motor is energized for a predetermined time, and a reduction rate of the rotation speed of the motor or a value correlated with the reduction rate in the off period immediately thereafter is detected. A load amount detection device for a washing machine that determines a load amount by correcting the water amount before and after rotation of the stirring blade by the motor based on water level detection means.