washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine that can improve washing performance. [Solution] The washing machine comprises a water tank, a rotating drum, a motor, a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, a microbubble generator that generates microbubble water by incorporating ultrafine bubbles, mainly ultrafine bubbles, into the water passing through it, a detergent tank, a dispensing pump, a mixing unit for mixing the microbubble water and detergent drawn out by the dispensing pump, a spray unit for spraying the mixed water of microbubble water and detergent into the rotating drum from above the rotating shaft, a circulation path, a circulation pump, a weight detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit can perform a spray operation in the washing process by controlling the water supply valve and the dispensing pump to spray the mixed water from the spray unit, classifies the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit into one of several weight categories, and executes the washing process based on the execution of the spray operation and the circulation period for driving the circulation pump and the agitation period for driving the motor in accordance with the weight category.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for improving washing performance by using fine bubble water containing fine bubbles such as microbubbles and ultrafine bubbles called fine bubbles in a washing machine is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a fine bubble generator is provided in the middle of a circulation path that circulates water in a water tank by driving a circulation pump, so that a large number of fine bubbles are contained in the washing water.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the prior art, after water is pre-supplied to a predetermined water level in the water tank, when the circulation pump is driven to circulate the washing water in the water tank and return the washing water to the water tank, the washing water containing fine bubbles is sprayed. In this way, since the cleaning effect by spraying the washing water containing fine bubbles cannot be obtained unless waiting until the water supply starts and reaches the predetermined water level and the circulation pump can be driven, it is difficult to obtain the cleaning effect by spraying the washing water from the early stage immediately after the water supply starts. In addition, since the amount of clothes in the rotating tub is not taken into account, it may not be possible to appropriately improve the cleaning performance by spraying the washing water.

[0005] Therefore, a washing machine capable of improving washing performance is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The washing machine of the embodiment includes a water tank, a rotating tub rotatably mounted within the water tank around a rotating shaft and capable of holding clothes, a motor that rotates the rotating tub, a water supply valve connected to an external water source and opening and closing a water supply path that supplies water from the external water source to the water tank, a microbubble generator located downstream of the water supply valve and generating microbubble water by incorporating ultrafine bubbles, mainly ultrafine bubbles, into the water passing through it, a detergent tank capable of storing detergent, a dispensing pump that pumps a predetermined amount of the detergent from the detergent tank onto the water supply path, a mixing unit that mixes the microbubble water and the detergent pumped out by the dispensing pump, and a device located downstream of the mixing unit that mixes the microbubble water and the detergent into the rotating tub from above the rotating shaft. The system comprises a spray unit that sprays mixed water, a circulation path provided outside the water tank for returning water that has flowed out of the water tank back into the water tank, a circulation pump that circulates the water in the water tank through the circulation path, a weight detection unit that detects the weight of the clothes contained in the rotating tub, and a control unit that performs a washing operation including a washing process. The control unit is capable of performing a spray operation in the washing process by controlling the water supply valve and the input pump to spray the mixed water from the spray unit, classifying the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit into one of several weight categories, and performing the washing process based on the execution of the spray operation and a circulation period in which the circulation pump is driven and an agitation period in which the motor is driven, corresponding to the weight category. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view showing an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic front view showing an example of the positional relationship between the water tank, rotating drum, and spray unit of a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of the water supply path from an external water source for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing an example of a microbubble generator for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 5]A cross-sectional view showing an example of a microbubble generator for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] Block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A flowchart illustrating an example of the entire washing process for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of multiple weight categories for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of the control content of the washing process when the weight category is Category 1 for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows another example of the control content of the washing process when the weight category is Category 1 for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of the control content of the washing process when the weight category is in the second weight category for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] This figure shows another example of the control content of the washing process when the weight category is Category 1 for a washing machine according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes one embodiment of a washing machine with reference to the drawings. The washing machine 1 shown in Figure 1 is, for example, a drum-type clothes dryer in which the rotation axis Ra of the rotating drum 14 is horizontal or inclined downward toward the rear. The washing machine 1 is equipped with a washing function and can perform a washing operation including the processes of washing, rinsing, and spinning. The washing machine 1 may also be equipped with a heater type or heat pump type drying function.

[0009] The washing machine 1 comprises an outer casing 11, a door 12, a water tank 13, a rotating drum 14, a motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, a circulation mechanism 17, an operation panel 18, and a water supply device 20. In Figure 1, the side of the washing machine 1 facing the installation surface, i.e., the vertically downward side, is considered the bottom of the washing machine 1, and the side opposite the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upward side, is considered the top of the washing machine 1. Also, the left side of Figure 1, i.e., the side of the door 12 relative to the outer casing 11, is considered the front of the washing machine 1, and the right side of Figure 1, i.e., the side opposite the door 12 relative to the outer casing 11, is considered the rear of the washing machine 1.

[0010] The outer casing 11 is formed as a rectangular hollow box by a combination of materials such as stainless steel plates or resin. The outer casing 11 constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine 1. The outer casing 11 also has an opening 111 on its front side that connects the inside and outside of the outer casing 11. The door 12 is provided on the front side of the outer casing 11 and opens and closes the opening 111. With the door 12 open, the user can put clothes in and take them out of the rotating tub 14 through the opening 111.

[0011] Both the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14 are formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The water tank 13 is capable of storing water inside. The water tank 13 is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown) located within the outer casing 11. The water tank 13 has a drain port 131 and a water inlet 132. The drain port 131 and the water inlet 132 communicate the inside and outside of the water tank 13. The drain port 131 is located, for example, at the bottom of the water tank 13 and is the part that discharges water from the water tank 13 to the outside. The water inlet 132 is the part that supplies water into the water tank 13 from an external water source, such as a water supply source. The water inlet 132 is located, for example, in the upper rear part of the water tank 13, and is positioned to the left of the center of the water tank 13 in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 2, the water inlet 132 is positioned so that the water flowing out of the water inlet 132 strikes the outer surface of the rotating tank 14. In other words, the water that passes through the water inlet 132 is supplied between the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14.

[0012] The rotating tub 14 is capable of holding clothes inside and is rotatably positioned within the water tank 13 around a rotation axis Ra. The rotating tub 14 is rotationally driven by a motor 15. The rotating tub 14 also has baffles (not shown). Multiple baffles are provided on the inner circumferential wall of the rotating tub 14 and have the function of agitating and stirring the clothes contained inside the rotating tub 14 when the tub 14 rotates. The motor 15 is located on the outside of the bottom of the water tank 13 and has the function of rotationally driving the rotating tub 14 relative to the water tank 13. The motor 15 is, for example, a brushless direct-drive motor with a variable rotation speed. The center line between the water tank 13 and the rotating tub 14 coincides with the rotation axis Ra of the rotating tub 14. In this embodiment, the direction in which the rotation axis Ra extends coincides with the front-to-back direction of the washing machine 1.

[0013] The drainage mechanism 16 is for draining water from the water tank 13 to the outside of the washing machine 1. The drainage mechanism 16 can be configured with a drain valve 161 and a drain hose 162. The drain valve 161 is configured to be electromagnetically openable and closable. The inlet side of the drain valve 161 is connected to the drain port 131 of the water tank 13 via a connecting hose 191. One end of the drain hose 162 is connected to the drain valve 161, and the other end is led out of the washing machine 1. When the drain valve 161 is opened while water is stored in the water tank 13, the water stored in the water tank 13 is drained to the outside of the washing machine 1 through the drain hose 162. In other words, the drain valve 161 opens and closes a drainage path for draining water stored in the water tank 13 to the outside.

[0014] The circulation mechanism 17 has the function of refilling the water that has flowed out of the water tank 13 back into the water tank 13. The circulation mechanism 17 has a circulation pump 171, a circulation hose 172, and a water discharge part 173. The circulation pump 171 has the function of pumping up the water in the water tank 13. The inflow side of the circulation pump 171 is connected to the drain port 131 of the water tank 13 via connection hoses 191 and 192. The discharge side of the circulation pump 171 is connected to the water discharge part 173 via the circulation hose 172. The circulation hose 172 is composed of, for example, a flexible hose. The water discharge part 173 is provided, for example, at the upper part of the water tank 13 and discharges water toward the inside of the water tank 13.

[0015] When the circulation pump 171 is driven with the drain valve 161 closed, the circulation pump 171 pumps up the water in the water tank 13 through the drain port 131 and refills the water back into the water tank 13 from the water discharge part 173. A circulation path 174 is formed by the path from the drain port 131 of the water tank 13, passing through the circulation pump 171, and reaching the water tank 13 again from the water discharge part 173. The circulation path 174 is provided outside the water tank 13 and is a path for returning the water that has flowed out of the water tank 13 back into the water tank 13. And the circulation pump 171 circulates the water in the water tank 13 through the circulation path 174.

[0016] The operation panel 18 is provided, for example, at the front part of the upper surface of the outer box 11. The operation panel 18 has the function of receiving operation inputs from the user regarding the settings and operation of the washing machine 1 and presenting information regarding the settings and operation of the washing machine 1 to the user by means such as display and voice. The operation panel 18 is composed of, for example, a touch panel display.

[0017] The water supply device 20 is for injecting water from an external water source into the water tank 13. The water supply device 20 includes a water injection case 21, a water injection hose 22, a detergent tank 23, a dosing pump 24, a jetting part 25, a water supply valve unit 26, and a microbubble generator 30. The water injection case 21 is made of, for example, resin and has a space formed inside. The water injection case 21 can be formed in a hollow box shape extending along the front-rear direction of the washing machine 1. The water injection case 21 has a function of receiving water supplied from an external water source and supplying the water into the water tank 13 via the water injection hose 22.

[0018] The water injection hose 22 is composed of, for example, a flexible hose. The water injection hose 22 is a part connecting the water injection case 21 and the inside of the water tank 13. One end of the water injection hose 22 is connected to the water injection case 21, and the other end is connected to the water injection port 132. The water supplied into the water injection case 21 from an external water source is supplied into the water tank 13 through the water injection hose 22.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, a treatment agent case 211 is provided inside the water injection case 21. The treatment agent case 211 is composed of, for example, a resin container and is configured to be able to accommodate a washing treatment agent such as detergent or finishing agent in an amount used for one washing operation inside. The treatment agent case 211 is, for example, detachably accommodated in the water injection case 21. When a washing treatment agent is put into the treatment agent case 211 in a state where the treatment agent case 211 is accommodated in the water injection case 21, the water supplied from the external water source flowing into the water injection case 21 and the washing treatment agent are mixed inside the water injection case 21 and then supplied into the water tank 13 and the rotary tank 14.

[0020] The detergent tank 23 is made of, for example, resin and is configured to store the amount of liquid detergent needed for multiple wash cycles. The washing machine 1 may also be equipped with a finishing agent tank for storing the amount of liquid finishing agent needed for multiple wash cycles. The dispensing pump 24, together with the detergent tank 23, constitutes an automatic dispensing mechanism for automatically supplying detergent to the water tank 13 and the rotating drum 14 during operation. The dispensing pump 24 is, for example, a piston pump and has the function of individually pumping a predetermined amount of detergent from the detergent tank 23 and dispensing it into a mixing unit 201 provided inside or outside the water filling case 21. In this embodiment, the mixing unit 201 is provided inside the water filling case 21.

[0021] The mixing unit 201 is configured, for example, as a container capable of storing a certain amount of detergent internally. Water supplied from an external water source is also supplied to the mixing unit 201. Therefore, the detergent initially introduced into the mixing unit 201 from the input pump 24 is dissolved and mixed with the water supplied to the mixing unit 201 from the external water source, and then can be directly supplied to dry clothes in the water tank 13 and rotating tank 14 before water is supplied via the spray unit 25, which can spray widely in a shower-like manner using tap water pressure. The mixing unit 201 functions as a storage chamber where the detergent introduced by the input pump 24 temporarily remains until the next water supply begins. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a check valve 202 is provided between the input pump 24 and the mixing unit 201. The check valve 202 has the function of allowing liquid to pass from the input pump 24 to the mixing unit 201, but blocking liquid from the mixing unit 201 to the input pump 24. This prevents water supplied to the mixing unit 201 from flowing into the input pump 24 side when water pressure is applied to the water channel connected to the mixing unit 201.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the spray unit 25 is located downstream of the mixing unit 201 and is connected to the mixing unit 201 via a water supply hose 27. The spray unit 25 is configured either integrally with or separately from the water supply hose 27 by a nozzle having one or more small holes at its outlet that are sufficiently smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the water channel in the water supply hose 27. In other words, one end of the water supply hose 27 is connected to the mixing unit 201 and the other end is connected to the spray unit 25. The mixed water, which is a mixture of detergent introduced into the mixing unit 201 and water supplied to the mixing unit 201 from an external water source, is supplied to the spray unit 25 through the water supply hose 27.

[0023] The spray unit 25 is used to spray a mixture of detergent and water onto the clothes inside the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14 in a shower-like manner, using, for example, the water pressure from an external water source such as a tap water source. Shower-like is synonymous with spray-like, and refers to a state in which water, for example, water under water pressure from a tap water source, is dispersed and ejected. The spray unit 25 is located outside the rotating tank 14, in a position overlooking the inside of the rotating tank 14 from above. The spray unit 25 is located, for example, around the inner circumferential surface of the water tank 13, above the rotation axis Ra. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the spray unit 25 is located directly above the rotation axis Ra. In other words, the spray unit 25 is provided so as to be able to spray in a shower-like manner from a position that includes the center in the left-right direction of the water tank 13.

[0024] The water supply valve unit 26 has the function of individually opening and closing multiple water supply routes R1 and R2 that lead from an external water source to the water tank 13 via the water supply device 20. The water supply valve unit 26 is configured as a multi-unit type having, for example, multiple water supply valves 261 and 262, and includes a main water supply valve 261 and a shower water supply valve 262. Each water supply valve 261 and 262 is an electromagnetically operated on-off valve for liquids. As shown in Figure 1, the washing machine 1 is equipped with a main water supply route R1 and a shower water supply route R2. Both the main water supply route R1 and the shower water supply route R2 are routes that supply water from an external water source to the water tank 13. Each water supply route R1 and R2 flows into the water filling case 21 from the water supply valve unit 26 via different routes, and then passes through the water filling case 21 to reach the water tank 13. The main water supply valve 261 opens and closes the main water supply route R1. The shower water supply valve 262 opens and closes the shower water supply path R2. The shower water supply valve 262 functions as a water supply valve, and the shower water supply path R2 functions as a water supply path.

[0025] The main water supply route R1 is a route from the main water supply valve 261 through the microbubble generator 30 and the treatment agent case 211 to the water tank 13. The water inlet 132 constitutes the outlet of the main water supply route R1. The shower water supply route R2 is a route from the shower water supply valve 262 through the microbubble generator 30, the mixing unit 201, and the spray unit 25 to the water tank 13. The spray unit 25 constitutes the outlet of the shower water supply route R2. The main water supply route R1 and the shower water supply route R2 have the function of supplying water containing microbubbles, mainly nano-order microbubbles, specifically ultrafine bubbles, generated by passing through the microbubble generator 30, to the water tank 13 using tap water pressure. That is, the mixed water supplied to the spray unit 25 contains detergent and water containing microbubbles. Furthermore, when the shower water supply valve 262 is opened while no detergent has been added to the mixing unit 201, the spray unit 25 sprays detergent-free fine-bubble water into the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14 in a shower-like manner using tap water pressure. Note that the main water supply path R1 may be configured without the fine-bubble generator 30.

[0026] The microbubble generator 30 has the function of generating microbubbles containing ultrafine bubbles in a liquid, such as water supplied from an external water source, as the liquid passes through the inside of the microbubble generator 30. Ultrafine bubbles are bubbles with a particle size of 50 nm to less than 1,000 nm. Because of their small particle size, ultrafine bubbles can penetrate even into intricate parts, such as deep within the fibers of clothing, and can exhibit a cleaning effect that can remove dirt from objects that cannot be completely removed by other microbubbles, such as microbubbles, which have a larger particle size than ultrafine bubbles and therefore have low penetration. In addition, ultrafine bubbles have the properties of having a nano-order particle size, low buoyancy, and high hydrophobicity, making them difficult to dissolve in water, resulting in a long residence time in liquids.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the microbubble generator 30 is located downstream of each water supply valve 261, 262 and outside the water injection case 21. The microbubble generator 30 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and has a diameter and overall length of several millimeters to several tens of millimeters, specifically a maximum diameter of about 15 mm and a length of about 10 mm. As shown in Figure 4, the microbubble generator 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a flange, for example. The microbubble generator 30 has a main body 40 and an impact part 50. The main body 40 is located on the upstream side of the microbubble generator 30.

[0028] The main body 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, with a step on its outer surface. The main body 40 has an inlet 41, an outlet 42, and a flow path 43. The inlet 41 and outlet 42 are formed in a cylindrical shape, for example. The inlet 41 is the part through which water flows into the main body 40 from the outside. Water that has passed through the water supply valves 261 and 262 from an external water source is introduced into the main body 40 through the inlet 41. The outlet 42 is the part through which water flows out of the main body 40 from the inside to the outside. The inner diameter of the outlet 42 is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet 41. The flow path 43 is provided inside the main body 40, connects the inlet 41 and the outlet 42, and allows liquid to pass through.

[0029] The flow path 43 is composed of a constricted section 431 and a straight section 432. The constricted section 431 and the straight section 432 are provided around the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the main body 40. The constricted section 431 is provided on the inlet side, i.e., the upstream side, of the main body 40. The constricted section 431 is connected to the inlet section 41 and is provided between the inlet section 41 and the outlet section 42. The constricted section 431 is formed so as to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area, i.e., the inner diameter, of the flow path 43 from the inlet section 41 to the middle portion in the direction extending from the main body 40. In this embodiment, the constricted section 431 is formed in the shape of a so-called truncated cone tapered tube, which continuously and gradually decreases the cross-sectional area, i.e., the inner diameter, of the flow path 43. The constricted section 431 may also be configured to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 43 in a step-like manner.

[0030] The straight section 432 is located downstream of the constricted section 431. The straight section 432 is connected to the outlet section 42. The straight section 432 is formed in a cylindrical, so-called straight tube shape, in which the inner diameter does not change, that is, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 43, i.e., the area through which liquid can pass, does not change. The inner diameter of the straight section 432 is set to be approximately the same as the minimum inner diameter of the constricted section 431.

[0031] The impact section 50 is designed to generate fine bubbles in the liquid passing through the flow path 43 by locally reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 43. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the impact section 50 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 43 can be set to approximately 25% to 45%. As shown in Figure 5, the impact section 50 is located near the downstream end of the main body 40, with at least a portion of it provided in the straight section 432. The impact section 50 is formed integrally with the main body 40, for example, by injection molding of a synthetic resin material. The impact section 50 is not limited to being integrated with the main body 40; it may also be constructed as a separate part.

[0032] The impact section 50 is composed of, for example, three rod-shaped protrusions 51, which protrude into the flow path 43 from the inner circumferential surface of the outlet section 42 and the straight section 432. In this case, the impact section 50 divides the flow path 43 into multiple sections, in this case three, radially with respect to the center of the flow path 43 along the direction in which the liquid flows. Each protrusion 51 is connected at its tip and integrated into a roughly Y-shape. The area of ​​the gap formed between each protrusion 51 becomes the minimum cross-sectional area through which water can pass in the microbubble generator 30. Note that there can be four or more protrusions 51.

[0033] When water flows upstream of the microbubble generator 30, the flow path cross-sectional area is narrowed in the throttling section 431, which is formed to gradually decrease its inner diameter. Based on Bernoulli's principle of fluid dynamics, this increases the flow velocity and generates cavitation due to the reduced pressure. As this high-speed flow collides with the impact section 50, the shear force acting on it and the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure region, for example, below -1.0 MPa, formed near the downstream end face of the impact section 50, subdivide the flow into microbubbles. As a result, the microbubble generator 30 generates a large amount of microbubbles, specifically ultrafine bubbles, from the air dissolved in the water passing through it, and can supply microbubble water containing a larger amount of microbubbles than before it passed through the microbubble generator 30.

[0034] In this embodiment, the microbubble generator 30 is installed on the shower water supply path R2. Therefore, using the water that has passed through the shower water supply path R2, microbubble water containing ultrafine bubbles can be sprayed onto the clothes in the rotating tub 14 at an appropriate time during the washing operation. This is expected to improve the washing effect, such as removing relatively small dirt particles attached to intricately interwoven fibers of the laundry.

[0035] The operation of the washing machine 1 is controlled by the control unit 60 shown in Figure 6. The control unit 60 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having memory areas such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and rewritable flash memory, and controls the operation of the entire washing machine 1. The washing machine 1 also includes a weight detection unit 61, a rotation speed detection unit 62, and a water level detection unit 63. The weight detection unit 61 has the function of detecting the weight of the clothes contained in the rotating tub 14. The weight detection unit 61 can measure the load acting on the motor 15 by measuring the current flowing to the motor 15 when the rotating tub 14 is rotated, and can detect the weight of the clothes contained in the rotating tub 14 based on that load.

[0036] The rotation speed detection unit 62 has the function of detecting the rotation speed of the rotating tank 14. The rotation speed detection unit 62 is composed of, for example, an encoder, and detects the rotation speed of the rotating tank 14 by measuring the rotation speed of the motor 15. The water level detection unit 63 has the function of detecting the water level in the water tank 13. The water level detection unit 63 is composed of, for example, a water level sensor or a pressure sensor. Detection signals from the weight detection unit 61, the rotation speed detection unit 62, and the water level detection unit 63 are input to the control unit 60.

[0037] The motor 15, drain valve 161, circulation pump 171, operation panel 18, input pump 24, main water supply valve 261, and shower water supply valve 262 are electrically connected to the control unit 60 and operate under control from the control unit 60. The memory area of ​​the control unit 60 stores a control program for controlling the washing machine 1 and executing its operation. Each process of the control unit 60 is realized by the CPU executing the control program. The control unit 60 receives detection signals from various detection units 61 to 63 and, based on the control program, controls the operation of the motor 15, drain valve 161, circulation pump 171, operation panel 18, input pump 24, main water supply valve 261, and shower water supply valve 262 to execute the operation.

[0038] When the user initiates an input operation on the control panel 18 to start the washing operation, the control unit 60 starts the flow shown in Figure 7 (start). First, the control unit 60 detects the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14 (step S11). Upon detecting the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14, the control unit 60 classifies the detected weight of the clothes into one of several weight categories. As shown in Figure 8, there are two weight categories: the first category and the second category. The first category is for clothes weighing less than a predetermined weight, for example, 7 kg, i.e., for standard or light weight clothes, and for cases where the load on the motor 15 is relatively low. The second category is for clothes weighing 7 kg or more, i.e., for heavy weight clothes, and for cases where the load on the motor 15 is relatively high.

[0039] Next, the control unit 60 uses the operation panel 18 to display information about the operation, such as the amount of water supplied and the amount of detergent added during the washing process (step S12). The amount of water supplied and the amount of detergent added during the washing process are determined, for example, based on the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit 61. After that, the control unit 60 sequentially executes the washing process (step S13) to wash the clothes, the rinsing process (step S14) to rinse the clothes, and the dewatering process (step S15) to dewater the clothes. As shown in Figure 9, the washing process involves a water supply period, a washing period, and drainage. In Figure 9, etc., the parts driven by the control unit 60, i.e., the parts that are operating, are shown in black, and the parts not driven by the control unit 60, i.e., the parts that are stopped, are shown in white.

[0040] The water supply period is a period set at the beginning of the washing process, during which water is supplied to the water tank 13 from the main water supply route R1 and the shower water supply route R2 until a predetermined water level is reached. During the water supply period, for example, the main water supply valve 261 is always open, and water is constantly supplied to the water tank 13 via the main water supply route R1. In addition, during the water supply period, the motor 15 can be driven continuously to agitate the clothes in the rotating tub 14. During the water supply period, the motor 15 is not limited to being driven continuously; it may also be driven intermittently, that is, the motor 15 alternates between operating and stopping. During the washing period, the circulation pump 171 and the motor 15 are driven, and water is supplied from the circulation route 174 and the clothes in the rotating tub 14 are agitated. The period during which the circulation pump 171 is driven corresponds to the circulation period, and the period during which the motor 15 is driven corresponds to the agitation period. When draining, the drain valve 161 is driven by the control unit 60 to open the drain route.

[0041] During the washing process, the control unit 60 controls the shower water supply valve 262 and the input pump 24 to perform a spraying operation in which a mixture of detergent and microbubble water containing ultrafine bubbles is sprayed from the spraying unit 25. In the spraying operation, the control unit 60 alternately performs the operation of driving the input pump 24 to supply detergent from the detergent tank 23 to the mixing unit 201 and the operation of opening the shower water supply valve 262 to supply microbubble water to the mixing unit 201 by tap water pressure. In other words, in the spraying operation, the control unit 60 does not perform the operation of supplying detergent to the mixing unit 201 and the operation of supplying microbubble water to the mixing unit 201 simultaneously. This control operation and the function of the check valve 202 prevent problems such as the detergent not being supplied from the detergent tank 23 via the input pump 24 due to being pushed back by the water pressure of the microbubble water supplied to the mixing unit 201, i.e., the tap water pressure.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9 and other figures, the control unit 60 performs the operation of adding detergent to the first mixing unit 201 in the washing process at the same time as displaying the detergent amount, which is the operation content, on the operation panel 18 before the washing process. This allows for early addition and mixing of detergent to the water supplied to the water tank 13 from the shower water supply path R2, which starts simultaneously with the start of water supply from the main water supply valve 261 when the washing process begins. In the early stages of the washing process, before the water supplied from the main water supply path R1 without detergent fills the depths of the clothing fibers, the mixed water containing ultrafine bubbles and detergent can be effectively delivered deep into the fibers by spraying it onto the clothing with high-speed water supply, combined with its mechanical force.

[0043] Furthermore, the control unit 60 can perform the spraying operation multiple times during the water supply period. That is, the control unit 60 divides a predetermined amount of detergent according to the weight of the clothes and puts it into the water tank 13 via the shower water supply path R2. In the example in Figure 9, the number of spraying operations is set to three, alternating between detergent injection by the injection pump 24 and water supply from the spraying unit 25, but it is not limited to this. Multiple spraying operations can reduce the amount injected each time, and the mixing unit 201 can be made smaller. In addition, by mixing a predetermined amount of detergent with fine-bubble water in the mixing unit 201 and dividing it before putting it into the water tank 13, the mixture of detergent and fine-bubble water can be applied more uniformly to the clothes in the agitated rotating tank 14. The control unit 60 may set the number of spraying operations to be higher when the weight category is the second category than when it is the first category. This makes it easier to distribute the detergent throughout the clothes by increasing the number of spraying operations when there are many clothes in the rotating tank 14. Furthermore, the time for which the shower water supply valve 262 is opened during multiple spraying operations may be the same or different for each operation.

[0044] The control unit 60 can perform the spraying operation only once during the water supply period. In this case, as shown in the example in Figure 10, the control unit 60 performs the spraying operation only once during the water supply period when the weight category is category 1. In other words, when the weight category is category 1, the control unit 60 may dispense a predetermined amount of detergent into the water tank 13 all at once via the shower water supply path R2. When there are relatively few clothes in the rotating tub 14, dispensing a predetermined amount of detergent into the water tank 13 all at once reduces the number of operations of the dispensing pump 24 and the shower water supply valve 262, thereby suppressing a decrease in durability. The control unit 60 may also be configured to perform the spraying operation only once during the water supply period when the weight category is category 2.

[0045] The control unit 60 can change the time the shower water supply valve 262 is open during the spraying operation, according to the weight category. In this case, the control unit 60 can set the time the shower water supply valve 262 is open to be longer when the weight category is the second category than when it is the first category. That is, the heavier the weight of the clothes contained in the rotating tub 14, the longer the time the shower water supply valve 262 is open during the spraying operation can be set to be. This allows the mixed water of detergent and fine bubbles to be effectively sprayed onto the clothes in a shower-like manner, according to the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14.

[0046] Here, when there are few clothes in the rotating tub 14, that is, when the weight of the clothes falls into the first category, the movement of the clothes tends to be vigorous when the rotating tub 14 is agitated. On the other hand, when there are many clothes in the rotating tub 14, that is, when the weight of the clothes falls into the second category, the movement of the clothes tends to be less when the rotating tub 14 is agitated. Therefore, when a spraying operation is performed during the washing process, the degree of contact between the sprayed mixed water and the clothes is affected by the amount of weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14. It is conceivable to increase the contact between the sprayed mixed water and the clothes by adjusting the number of spraying operations, but if the number of spraying operations is increased unnecessarily, the number of operations of the shower water supply valve 262 and the input pump 24 will increase, which may be undesirable from the standpoint of durability.

[0047] Therefore, the control unit 60 executes the washing process based on the circulation period for driving the circulation pump 171 corresponding to the weight category and the agitation period for driving the motor 15. By switching between the circulation period, the agitation period, or both depending on the weight category, washing performance by spraying can be ensured regardless of the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14. Thus, the washing performance by spraying during the washing process can be improved.

[0048] For example, as shown in Figure 9, the circulation period is set to a period that does not overlap with the water supply period when the weight category is Category 1. Specifically, when the weight category is Category 1, the circulation period is set to a period after the end of the water supply period. This allows the mixed water sprayed from the spray unit 25 to come into proper contact with the clothes in the rotating tub 14 when there are relatively few clothes in the rotating tub 14, by circulating the water in the water tank 13 after supplying water to the water tank 13 using the spraying operation.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 11, the circulation period is set during the water supply period when the weight category is the second category. In this case, the control unit 60 performs the spraying operation within the circulation period when the weight category is the second category. That is, the control unit 60 can perform the spraying operation simultaneously with the circulation period when the weight category is the second category. As a result, when there is a relatively large amount of clothing in the rotating tub 14, performing the spraying operation within the circulation period promotes the diffusion of detergent in the water in the water tank 13, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0050] The control unit 60 can set the stirring period in the first phase to be shorter than the stirring period in the second phase. In this case, as shown in Figure 12, the control unit 60 can set the stirring period during the water supply period to be intermittent when the weight category is the first phase. Furthermore, when the weight category is the first phase, the control unit 60 can set the stirring period to a period that does not overlap with the period when the shower water supply valve 262 is open, that is, the period when mixed water is being sprayed into the water tank 13 from the spray unit 25. In this way, when the weight category is the first phase, the mixed water, which is a mixture of detergent and fine-bubble water, is sprayed into the water tank 13 while the rotating tank 14 is stationary, making it easier for the mixed water to come into contact with the clothes in the rotating tank 14.

[0051] According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 1 comprises a water tank 13, a rotating drum 14, a motor 15, a shower water supply valve 262, a microbubble generator 30, a detergent tank 23, a dispensing pump 24, a mixing unit 201, a spray unit 25, a circulation path 174, a circulation pump 171, a weight sensing unit 61, and a control unit 60. The rotating drum 14 is rotatably installed in the water tank 13 around a rotation axis Ra and can accommodate clothes. The motor 15 rotates the rotating drum 14. The shower water supply valve 262 is connected to a water tap, which is an external water source, and opens and closes the shower water supply path R2 that supplies water from the external water source to the water tank 13. The microbubble generator 30 is installed downstream of the shower water supply valve 262 and generates microbubble water by incorporating microbubbles mainly consisting of ultrafine bubbles into the water passing through it. The detergent tank 23 can store detergent. The dispensing pump 24 pumps a predetermined amount of detergent from the detergent tank 23 onto the shower water supply path R2. The mixing unit 201 mixes the fine-bubble water with the detergent pumped out by the dispensing pump 24. The spraying unit 25 is located downstream of the mixing unit 201 and sprays the mixed water, which is a mixture of fine-bubble water and detergent, into the rotating tank 14 from above the rotating shaft Ra.

[0052] The circulation path 174 is located outside the water tank 13 and is used to return water that has flowed out of the water tank 13 back into the water tank 13. The circulation pump 171 circulates the water in the water tank 13 through the circulation path 174. The weight detection unit 61 detects the weight of the clothes contained in the rotating tub 14. The control unit 60 executes a washing operation, including a washing process. In the washing process, the control unit 60 can perform a spray operation by controlling the shower water supply valve 262 and the input pump 24 to spray mixed water from the spray unit 25. The control unit 60 classifies the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit 61 into one of several weight categories and executes the washing process based on the execution of the spray operation and the circulation period for driving the circulation pump 171 and the stirring period for driving the motor 15, corresponding to the weight category. This allows for the appropriate effect of the washing performance through the spray operation to be obtained according to the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 14. This improves washing performance.

[0053] The washing process includes a water supply period in which water is supplied to the water tank 13 until a predetermined water level is reached. Multiple weight categories include a first category in which the weight of the clothes is less than a predetermined weight, and a second category in which the weight of the clothes is equal to or greater than a predetermined weight. The control unit 60 performs a spray operation during the water supply period. The circulation period is set to occur after the end of the water supply period when the weight category is the first category. As a result, when there are relatively few clothes in the rotating tub 14, the water in the water tank 13 is circulated after the water is supplied to the water tank 13 using the spray operation, allowing the mixed water sprayed from the spray unit 25 and the detergent contained therein to come into proper contact with the clothes in the rotating tub 14 in a concentrated state without being obstructed by the circulating water. This ensures that the washing performance by the spray operation is properly maintained.

[0054] The control unit 60 sets the stirring period in the first phase to be shorter than the stirring period in the second phase. Here, when the weight phase is the first phase, the clothes in the rotating tank 14 are easily agitated, and the frequency of contact with the mixed water sprayed from the spray unit 25 tends to decrease. Therefore, when the weight phase is the first phase, shortening the stirring period and ensuring a longer period during which the rotating tank 14 is stationary makes it easier for the mixed water sprayed from the spray unit 25 to come into contact with the clothes in the rotating tank 14. This improves the washing performance.

[0055] When the weight category is category 2, the control unit 60 performs a spraying operation within the circulation period. In this case, when the weight category is category 2, the rotating tub 14 is filled with many clothes, so the movement of the clothes is reduced and some clothes may remain near the spraying unit 25. Even if only the spraying operation is performed in this state, the mixed water sprayed from the spraying unit 25 will concentrate on contacting some of the clothes, making it difficult to improve the cleaning effect on all the clothes in the rotating tub 14, and there is a risk of uneven washing. Therefore, by performing the spraying operation within the circulation period, the diffusion of detergent in the water in the water tank 13 can be promoted, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0056] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1...Washing machine, 13...Water tank, 14...Rotating drum, 15...Motor, 17...Circulation path, 171...Circulation pump, 201...Mixing unit, 23...Detergent tank, 24...Dispensing pump, 25...Spray unit, 262...Shower water supply valve (water supply valve), 30...Microbubble generator, 60...Control unit, 61...Weight detection unit, R2...Shower water supply path (water supply path)

Claims

1. A fish tank and A rotating tank is provided within the aforementioned water tank so as to be rotatable around a rotating shaft and capable of accommodating clothing, A motor that rotates the aforementioned rotating tank, A water supply valve that is connected to an external water source and opens and closes a water supply path that supplies water from the external water source to the water tank, A microbubble generator is provided downstream of the water supply valve and generates microbubbles by incorporating ultrafine bubbles, mainly ultrafine bubbles, into the water passing through it, thereby generating microbubble water. A detergent tank capable of storing detergent, An input pump that pumps a predetermined amount of the detergent from the detergent tank onto the water supply path, A mixing unit for mixing the aforementioned fine-bubble water and the detergent pumped out by the aforementioned pumping pump, A spray unit is provided downstream of the mixing unit and sprays the mixed water, which is a mixture of the fine bubble water and the detergent, into the inside of the rotating tank from above the rotating shaft. A circulation path provided outside the tank for returning water that has flowed out of the tank back into the tank, A circulation pump that circulates the water in the tank through the aforementioned circulation path, A weight detection unit for detecting the weight of the clothing contained in the rotating tank, It comprises a control unit that performs a washing operation including a washing process, The control unit, In the washing process, the water supply valve and the input pump are controlled to perform a spraying operation in which the mixed water is sprayed from the spraying unit. The weight of the clothing detected by the weight detection unit is classified into one of several weight categories, and the washing process is executed based on the execution of the spraying operation and the circulation period during which the circulation pump is driven and the agitation period during which the motor is driven, corresponding to the weight category. washing machine.

2. The washing process includes a water supply period during which water is supplied to the water tank until a predetermined water level is reached. The multiple weight categories include a first category in which the weight of the clothing is less than a predetermined weight, and a second category in which the weight of the clothing is equal to or greater than the predetermined weight. The control unit performs the injection operation during the water supply period. The aforementioned circulation period is set to the period after the end of the water supply period when the weight category is the first category. The washing machine according to claim 1.

3. The multiple weight categories include a first category in which the weight of the clothing is less than a predetermined weight, and a second category in which the weight of the clothing is equal to or greater than the predetermined weight. The control unit sets the stirring period in the first section to be shorter than the stirring period in the second section. The washing machine according to claim 1.

4. The multiple weight categories include a first category in which the weight of the clothing is less than a predetermined weight, and a second category in which the weight of the clothing is equal to or greater than the predetermined weight. The control unit, when the weight category is the second category, executes the injection operation within the circulation period. The washing machine according to claim 1.

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