Drum-type washing machine

Abstract

To provide a drum-type washing machine that is less likely to be left unattended if a malfunction occurs in the door opening / closing detection unit. [Solution] The drum-type washing machine 1 comprises a drum rotatably arranged around a horizontal axis inside the outer tub, an opening provided on the front of the housing and connected to the front end of the outer tub via a door gasket, a door covering the opening, a door opening / closing detection unit 206 for detecting the open / closed state of the door, an air trap connected to the bottom of the outer tub, a water level sensor 62 for detecting the air pressure inside the air trap which changes according to the water level inside the outer tub, a display unit 204, and a control unit 201. The control unit 201 determines whether there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206 based on the open / closed state of the door detected by the door opening / closing detection unit 206 and the state of the air pressure inside the air trap detected by the water level sensor 62, and if there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, it causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drum washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a drum washing machine provided with a door opening / closing detection unit that detects the open / closed state of a door provided on the front surface of a housing and covering an inlet is known. An example of such a drum washing machine is described in, for example, Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] [[ID=三十五]]In the above drum washing machine, when an abnormality such as a failure occurs in the door opening / closing detection unit, there is a risk that the washing operation cannot be started because the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is open even though the door is closed. Alternatively, there is a risk that the washing operation is started with the door open because the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed even though the door is open. Therefore, it is not desirable to leave the door opening / closing detection unit in an abnormal state.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a drum washing machine in which it is difficult to leave the door opening / closing detection unit in an abnormal state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A drum-type washing machine according to the main embodiment of the present invention comprises: an outer tub disposed within a housing; a drum rotatably disposed within the outer tub around a horizontal axis or a rotation axis inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and which holds laundry; a loading opening provided on the front of the housing and connected to the front end of the outer tub via a door gasket; a door covering the loading opening; a door opening / closing detection unit for detecting the open / closed state of the door; an air trap connected to the bottom of the outer tub; a water level sensor for detecting the air pressure in the air trap, which changes according to the water level in the outer tub; a notification unit; and a control unit. Here, the control unit determines whether there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit based on the open / closed state of the door detected by the door opening / closing detection unit and the air pressure state detected by the water level sensor, and if there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit, it causes the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification.

[0007] According to the configuration of the drum-type washing machine in this embodiment, the user can become aware of the occurrence of an abnormality, making it less likely that an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit will be left unattended. Moreover, by using a water level sensor, abnormality detection in the door opening / closing detection unit can be achieved inexpensively.

[0008] In the drum-type washing machine according to this embodiment, the control unit may be configured to cause the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification based on the detection of a change in air pressure in the air trap by the water level sensor when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed.

[0009] According to the above configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door is closed, it is possible to determine that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit by detecting fluctuations in the air pressure inside the air trap, which are unlikely to occur when the door is closed, and based on this determination, an abnormality notification can be issued.

[0010] In the drum-type washing machine according to this embodiment, the control unit may be configured to cause the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has changed from a closed state to an open state, and the water level sensor does not detect a change in the air pressure inside the air trap.

[0011] With the above configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has changed from a closed state to an open state, it can determine that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit because it does not detect the change in air pressure inside the air trap that normally occurs when the door is opened, and based on this determination, it can issue an abnormality notification.

[0012] In the drum-type washing machine according to this embodiment, the control unit may be configured to cause the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has changed from an open state to a closed state, and the water level sensor does not detect a change in the air pressure inside the air trap.

[0013] With the above configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit detects that the door has changed from an open state to a closed state, the failure to detect the air pressure fluctuation in the air trap that normally occurs when the door closes can lead to a determination that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit, and an abnormality notification can be issued based on this determination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drum-type washing machine that is less likely to be left unattended when a malfunction occurs in the door opening / closing detection unit.

[0015] The effects and significance of the present invention will become even clearer from the following description of embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the present invention is not limited in any way to those described in the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing an outer tub to which a water level detection unit is attached according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an abnormality monitoring process executed by a control unit to monitor an abnormality of a door opening / closing detection unit according to an embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the drum washing machine 1. Figure 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing the outer tub 20 to which the water level detection unit 60 is attached.

[0019] The drum washing machine 1 includes a rectangular housing 10. A circular inlet 11 for loading laundry is formed on the front surface of the housing 10. The inlet 11 is covered by a door 12 that can be opened and closed.

[0020] An outer tub 20 having a substantially cylindrical shape is disposed inside the housing 10. The outer tub 20 is elastically supported by a plurality of dampers 21 and springs 22. A horizontal-axis drum 23 is rotatably disposed inside the outer tub 20. The drum 23 rotates around a horizontal axis. The drum 23 has a circular opening 23a on the front surface. The drum 23 may rotate around a rotation axis that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0021] The outer tub 20 has a circular opening 20a in front of the opening 23a of the drum 23. The peripheral edge of the opening 20a of the outer tub 20 and the peripheral edge of the inlet 11 of the housing 10 are connected by an annular door packing 24 made of an elastic material. Thereby, the inlet 11 is connected to the front end portion of the outer tub 20 via the door packing 24. Further, the peripheral surface of the closed door 12 contacts the door packing 24, and the space between the inlet 11 and the door 12 is sealed against water. Although the outer tub 20 is provided with, for example, small air vent holes, the airtightness inside the outer tub 20 is enhanced when the door 12 is closed.

[0022] A number of dehydration holes 23b are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23. Further, a plurality of baffles 25 having a substantially triangular prism shape are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0023] A drive motor 30 for generating a torque for rotating the drum 23 is disposed behind the outer tub 20. The drive motor 30 is, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. During the washing and rinsing processes, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a rotational speed at which the centrifugal force applied to the laundry in the drum 23 is smaller than the gravitational force and the laundry tumbles. On the other hand, during the dehydration process, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a rotational speed at which the centrifugal force applied to the laundry in the drum 23 is much larger than the gravitational force and the laundry adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23.

[0024] A tubular drain port 20b is provided at the bottom of the outer tank 20. A drain section 40 for draining water from inside the outer tank 20 is connected to the drain port 20b. The drain section 40 consists of a drain valve 41, a drain hose 42, and a drain filter 43. The drain filter 43 is connected to the lower end of the drain port 20b. The drain valve 41 is located downstream of the drain filter 43 and includes, for example, a valve and a torque motor for opening and closing the valve. The drain hose 42 is connected to the drain valve 41. When the drain valve 41 is opened, the water stored in the outer tank 20 is discharged outside the machine through the drain port 20b, the drain filter 43, and the drain hose 42. Foreign matter such as lint is captured by the drain filter 43.

[0025] A water supply device 50 is located at the top of the housing 10. The water supply device 50 supplies water to the outer tank 20. The water supply device 50 also functions as an automatic detergent dispenser, automatically dispensing liquid detergent and liquid fabric softener into the outer tank 20.

[0026] The water supply device 50 includes a water supply valve unit 51, a water injection unit 52, and a nozzle unit 53.

[0027] The water supply valve unit 51 includes a water supply valve 110, a first water supply hose 120, and a second water supply hose 130. The water supply valve 110 has a first valve 111 and a second valve 112. The water inlet 113 of the water supply valve 110 is connected to a water tap via a connecting hose (not shown).

[0028] The inlet of the first water supply hose 120 is connected to the first valve 111, and the inlet of the second water supply hose 130 is connected to the second valve 112. When the first valve 111 is opened, water flows into the first water supply hose 120, and when the second valve 112 is opened, water flows into the second water supply hose 130.

[0029] The water injection unit 52 includes a water inlet member 140 with an open front, a liquid tank section 150 housed in the water inlet member 140 in a retractable manner, a water channel forming member 160 positioned on the upper surface of the water inlet member 140, and a pump unit 170 positioned on the rear surface of the water inlet member 140.

[0030] A water inlet 141 is formed at the bottom of the water inlet member 140. A water inlet pipe 54 extending from the water inlet 141 is connected to the outer tank 20.

[0031] The liquid tank section 150 includes a detergent tank 151 for storing liquid detergent and a fabric softener tank 152 for storing liquid fabric softener. The liquid tank section 150 is housed in the water inlet member 140 through a receiving opening 13 provided on the front of the housing 10. A lid 153 is provided on the front of the liquid tank section 150 to close the receiving opening 13.

[0032] Inside the water channel forming member 160, a first water channel is formed to which the outlet of the first water supply hose 120 is connected, and a second water channel is formed to which the outlet of the second water supply hose 130 is connected.

[0033] The pump unit 170 includes a detergent pump 171 that supplies liquid detergent from the detergent tank 151 into the first water channel, and a fabric softener pump 172 that supplies fabric softener from the fabric softener tank 152 into the first water channel (see Figure 3).

[0034] The water supplied from the first water supply hose 120 to the water channel forming member 160 flows through the first water channel and is discharged to the bottom of the water inlet member 140, and is supplied into the outer tank 20 via the water inlet 141 and the water inlet pipe 54.

[0035] When liquid detergent or liquid fabric softener is automatically dispensed into the outer tank 20, the liquid detergent or liquid fabric softener is introduced into the first water channel from the liquid tank section 150 by the pump unit 170 before the first valve 111 is opened. The liquid detergent or liquid fabric softener is mixed with the water flowing through the first water channel and supplied into the outer tank 20.

[0036] The water supplied from the second water supply hose 130 to the water channel forming member 160 flows through the second water channel and is sent to the nozzle unit 53.

[0037] The nozzle unit 53 includes a shower nozzle 180 positioned inside the upper part of the door packing 24, and a water supply hose 181 extending from the second water channel of the water channel forming member 160 and connected to the shower nozzle 180.

[0038] The outlet of the shower nozzle 180 is pointed downwards and rearwards, that is, towards the bottom of the drum 23. Water flowing out from the second water channel travels through the water supply hose 181 to the shower nozzle 180 and is discharged in a shower-like manner from the outlet of the shower nozzle 180 into the drum 23. This causes water to hit the laundry inside the drum 23, making it easier for the water to penetrate the inside of the laundry.

[0039] The drum-type washing machine 1 is equipped with a water level detection unit 60 for detecting the water level in the outer tub 20. The water level detection unit 60 includes an air trap 61 connected to the drain port 20b at the bottom of the outer tub 20, a water level sensor 62 positioned at the top of the outer tub 20, and a hose 63 connecting the air trap 61 and the water level sensor 62. The hose 63 is made of resin, its lower end is connected to the connection port 61a at the top of the air trap 61, it extends upward from the air trap 61, and its upper end is connected to the inlet 62a of the water level sensor 62. The water level sensor 62 is a pressure-type water level sensor that detects the water level in the outer tub 20 by detecting the air pressure in the air trap 61, and outputs a frequency signal to the control unit 201 as a detection signal corresponding to the detected air pressure, i.e., the water level.

[0040] Furthermore, because the drum-type washing machine 1 has high airtightness inside the outer tub 20, even when there is no water inside the outer tub 20, if air is forced into the outer tub 20 from the outside, the air pressure inside the outer tub 20 will rise, causing the air pressure inside the air trap 61 to fluctuate accordingly. Also, if air escapes from the outer tub 20 to the outside, causing the air pressure inside the outer tub 20 to decrease, the air pressure inside the air trap 61 will fluctuate accordingly.

[0041] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drum-type washing machine 1.

[0042] In addition to the above-described configuration, the drum-type washing machine 1 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, an operation unit 203, a display unit 204, a sound output unit 205, a door opening / closing detection unit 206, a door lock device 207, a motor drive unit 208, a water supply drive unit 209, a drainage drive unit 210, and a pump drive unit 211.

[0043] The control unit 203 includes a power button for turning the power on and off, a course selection button for selecting a desired washing course from multiple washing courses, and a start button for starting and pausing the washing operation. The control unit 203 outputs an input signal to the control unit 201 corresponding to the button pressed by the user.

[0044] The display unit 204 includes light-emitting elements such as LEDs and a display such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays the selected operating course, the progress of the washing operation, and notifies of abnormalities according to the control signal from the control unit 201. As will be described later, the display unit 204 also functions as a notification unit that notifies of abnormalities when an abnormality occurs in the door opening / closing detection unit 206.

[0045] The operation unit 203 and the display unit 204 may be configured as an operation display unit such as a touch panel.

[0046] The sound output unit 205 includes a speaker, and outputs sounds such as voice and alarm sounds from the speaker.

[0047] The door open / close detection unit 206 detects the open / closed state of the door 12. The door open / close detection unit 206 can be configured, for example, with a magnetic sensor such as a reed switch or a Hall element. In this case, a magnet is attached to the door 12. When the magnet approaches the magnetic sensor, it is detected that the door 12 has closed. The door open / close detection unit 206 can also be configured, for example, with a microswitch. In this case, when the door 12 is closed, a contact portion provided on the door 12 presses the microswitch. The door open / close detection unit 206 continuously outputs an open signal to the control unit 201 when the door 12 is open, and continuously outputs a closed signal to the control unit 201 when the door 12 is closed.

[0048] The door lock device 207 locks the door 12 in the closed position. The door lock device 207 includes, for example, an insertion part into which a door hook provided on the rear surface of the door 12 is inserted, an engagement part that engages with the door hook inserted into the insertion part to prevent the door hook from coming out of the insertion part, and a solenoid that moves the engagement part between an engaged position and a released position.

[0049] The door opening / closing detection unit 206 may also be provided in the door lock device 207. In this case, for example, the door opening / closing detection unit 206 is configured to detect that the door 12 has been closed by detecting that the door hook has been inserted into the insertion part.

[0050] The motor drive unit 208 drives the drive motor 30 according to a control signal from the control unit 201. The motor drive unit 208 includes a rotation sensor for detecting the rotational speed of the drive motor 30, an inverter circuit, etc., and adjusts the drive power so that the drive motor 30 rotates at the rotational speed set by the control unit 201. Furthermore, the motor drive unit 208 includes a current sensor for detecting the current flowing through the drive motor 30.

[0051] The water supply drive unit 209 drives the first valve 111 and the second valve 112 of the water supply valve 110 according to the control signal from the control unit 201. The drainage drive unit 210 drives the drainage valve 41 according to the control signal from the control unit 201. The pump drive unit 211 drives the detergent pump 171 and the fabric softener pump 172 of the pump unit 170 according to the control signal from the control unit 201.

[0052] The memory unit 202 includes EEPROM, RAM, etc. The memory unit 202 stores programs for executing various washing cycles. The memory unit 202 also stores various parameters and control flags used for executing these programs.

[0053] The control unit 201, which includes a CPU and the like, controls the display unit 204, sound output unit 205, door lock device 207, motor drive unit 208, water supply drive unit 209, drainage drive unit 210, pump drive unit 211, etc., according to a program stored in the memory unit 202, based on signals from the operation unit 203, water level sensor 62, door open / close detection unit 206, etc.

[0054] In the drum-type washing machine 1, based on the user's operation of the control unit 203, the control unit 201 controls the washing operation for various cycles. The washing operation consists of a washing cycle, an intermediate spin-drying cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a final spin-drying cycle, performed in sequence. Depending on the cycle, the rinsing cycle and the intermediate spin-drying cycle may be performed two or more times.

[0055] During the washing process, water containing detergent is filled into the outer tub 20 up to a washing water level set according to the load of laundry in the drum 23. Then, as the drum 23 rotates repeatedly in the forward and reverse directions, the laundry immersed in the detergent-containing water tumbles. The detergent-containing water penetrates deep into the laundry, and the combined force of the detergent and the mechanical force from tumbling removes dirt attached to the surface and interior of the laundry.

[0056] During the rinsing process, the drum 23 repeatedly rotates forward and backward with water accumulated in the outer tub 20 up to the rinsing water level corresponding to the load, causing the laundry to tumble. This process removes the detergent contained in the laundry along with the water, rinsing the clothes.

[0057] In the intermediate and final dewatering processes, the drive motor 30 rotates at high speed in one direction, causing the drum 23 to rotate in one direction at a speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum 23 is much greater than that of gravity. Due to the action of centrifugal force, the laundry is pressed against the inner surface of the drum 23 and dewatered. In the final dewatering process, the drum 23 rotates at a higher speed than in the intermediate dewatering process.

[0058] Before the washing process, a load detection process is performed to detect the load of laundry. The drum 23 rotates at a speed that causes the laundry inside to tumble, and the load applied to the drum 23 during rotation is detected by the current value flowing to the drive motor 30. The greater the load of laundry, the greater the load applied to the drum 23 and the greater the current value flowing to the drive motor 30. The control unit 201 determines the load based on the magnitude of the current value. Based on the load, the amount of detergent to be added in the washing process and the amount of fabric softener to be added in the rinsing process are determined. The greater the load, the greater the amount to be added.

[0059] When the start button on the control unit 203 is pressed, the control unit 201 confirms that the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 is closed, then locks the door 12 with the door lock device 207 and starts the washing cycle. When the washing cycle is finished, the door lock device 207 releases the lock on the door 12, and the door 12 becomes open.

[0060] It is possible that a malfunction or other abnormality may occur in the door open / close detection unit 206. If an abnormality occurs in the door open / close detection unit 206, the washing operation may not start because the door open / close detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 is open even though the door 12 is closed. Alternatively, the washing operation may start with the door 12 open because the door open / close detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 is closed even though the door 12 is open. Therefore, it is undesirable to leave the door open / close detection unit 206 in an abnormal state.

[0061] Therefore, in the drum-type washing machine 1 of this embodiment, as described below, before the start of the washing operation, the water level detection unit 60, i.e., the water level sensor 62, is used to monitor whether there is any abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, and if there is a possibility that there is an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, an abnormality notification is issued.

[0062] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the abnormality monitoring process performed by the control unit 201 to monitor for abnormalities in the door opening / closing detection unit 206.

[0063] When the power button on the control unit 203 is pressed and power is turned on to the drum-type washing machine 1, abnormality monitoring processing is initiated.

[0064] Referring to Figure 4, the control unit 201 determines whether the door 12 is detected as closed or open by the door opening / closing detection unit 206 (S101).

[0065] If the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 is closed (S101: YES), the control unit 201 monitors whether the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state (S102). Furthermore, the control unit 201 determines whether the water level sensor 62 has detected a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 (S103), and whether the washing operation has started (S104). Note that the change in air pressure inside the air trap 61 is of a magnitude that would not normally occur when the door 12 is closed before the start of the washing operation.

[0066] If the air pressure inside the air trap 61 fluctuates while the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 is closed, it is highly likely that the door 12 was actually open, and that air was forced into the outer tub 20 when laundry was put into the drum 23 or when the door 12 was closed afterward, causing the air pressure inside the air trap 61 to fluctuate. This strongly suggests that there is a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit 206.

[0067] Therefore, if the control unit 201 detects a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 via the water level sensor 62 (S103: YES), it causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification (S105). The display unit 204 displays, for example, an error code indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the door opening / closing detection unit 206. At this time, the control unit 201 prohibits the washing operation and prevents the washing operation from starting even if the start button on the operation unit 203 is pressed. After that, the control unit 201 terminates the abnormality monitoring process.

[0068] On the other hand, if the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state (S102: YES), the control unit 201 determines whether or not there was a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at the time of opening detection (S106). For example, if the water level sensor 62 detects a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at approximately the same time (for example, within 1 second before or after) that the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects the opening of the door 12, it can be considered that there was a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at the time of opening detection. When the door 12 is opened, air escapes from inside the outer tank 20 as if being pulled by the door 12, causing the air pressure inside the air trap 61 to fluctuate and decrease.

[0069] If there is a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when opening is detected (S106: YES), the control unit 201 monitors whether the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 has changed from an open state to a closed state, since there is no abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206 (S107).

[0070] On the other hand, if there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when opening is detected, it is possible that the signal from the door opening / closing detection unit 206 switched from a closed signal to an open signal even though the door 12 is not open, and that a malfunction has occurred in the door opening / closing detection unit 206. Therefore, if there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when opening is detected (S106: NO), the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification (S105).

[0071] Furthermore, one possible reason why fluctuations in air pressure within the air trap 61 are not detected when the door is opened is that there is a malfunction or other abnormality in the water level sensor 62. Therefore, the display unit 204 will display an error code that does not specify the location of the abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206.

[0072] The control unit 201 proceeds to S107 not only when there is a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when opening is detected, but also when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected in S101 that the door 12 is open (S101: NO), and monitors whether the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 has changed from an open state to a closed state.

[0073] While the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 is open, the water level sensor 62 does not detect fluctuations in the air pressure inside the air trap 61. This is because, while the door 12 is open, air can enter and exit the outer tank 20, so the air pressure inside the air trap 61 may or may not fluctuate, and the door opening / closing detection unit 206 cannot make an abnormality determination based on whether or not there is a fluctuation in air pressure.

[0074] When the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has closed from an open state (S107: YES), the control unit 201 determines whether or not there was a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at the time of closing detection (S108). For example, if the water level sensor 62 detects a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at approximately the same time (for example, within 1 second before or after) that the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects the closing of the door 12, it can be considered that there was a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 at the time of closing detection. When the door 12 is closed, air is pushed into the outer tank 20 as if pushed by the door 12, causing the air pressure inside the air trap 61 to fluctuate and increase.

[0075] If the control unit 201 detects a change in air pressure inside the air trap 61 when closing is detected (S106: YES), it returns to S102 because there is no abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, and monitors whether the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state.

[0076] On the other hand, if there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when the door is detected closed, it is possible that the signal from the door opening / closing detection unit 206 switched from an open signal to a closed signal even though the door 12 is not closed, and there is a possibility that a malfunction has occurred in the door opening / closing detection unit 206. Therefore, if there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when the door is detected closed (S108: NO), the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification (S105).

[0077] Furthermore, one possible reason why fluctuations in air pressure within the air trap 61 are not detected when the door is closed is that there is a malfunction or other abnormality in the water level sensor 62. Therefore, the display unit 204 will display an error code that does not specify the location of the abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206.

[0078] If the control unit 201 determines in S104 that the washing operation has started while the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 is closed (S104: YES), it terminates the abnormality monitoring process.

[0079] The drum-type washing machine 1 of this embodiment may also be equipped with a drying device for drying laundry. In this case, the drying device includes, for example, a circulation path connected to the outer tub 20. A blower fan, a cooler, and a heater are arranged within the circulation path. Air heated by the heater circulates between the outer tub 20 and the circulation path by the operation of the blower fan, drying the laundry in the drum 23. The air returning from the outer tub 20 to the circulation path is cooled and dehumidified by the cooler before being heated by the heater. In this configuration, the airtightness of the outer tub 20, including the circulation path, is enhanced.

[0080] <Effects of the Embodiment> According to this embodiment, the control unit 201 determines whether there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206 based on the opening / closing state of the door 12 detected by the door opening / closing detection unit 206 and the state of air pressure in the air trap 61 detected by the water level sensor 62. If there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204, which is the notification unit, to issue an abnormality notification.

[0081] This configuration allows the user to become aware of any abnormalities, preventing the door opening / closing detection unit 206 from being left unattended. Furthermore, by utilizing the water level sensor 62, abnormality detection in the door opening / closing detection unit 206 can be achieved inexpensively.

[0082] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification based on the fact that the water level sensor 62 has detected a change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 has detected that the door 12 is closed.

[0083] With this configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 is closed, it is possible to determine that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit 206 by detecting fluctuations in the air pressure inside the air trap 61, which are unlikely to occur when the door 12 is closed, and based on this determination, an abnormality notification can be issued.

[0084] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state, the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification based on the fact that the water level sensor 62 does not detect any change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61.

[0085] With this configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has changed from a closed state to an open state, the failure to detect the air pressure fluctuation in the air trap 61 that normally occurs when the door 12 is opened can lead to a determination that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, and an abnormality notification can be issued based on this determination.

[0086] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has changed from an open state to a closed state, the control unit 201 causes the display unit 204 to issue an abnormality notification based on the fact that the water level sensor 62 does not detect any change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61.

[0087] With this configuration, when the door opening / closing detection unit 206 detects that the door 12 has changed from an open state to a closed state, the failure to detect the air pressure fluctuation in the air trap 61 that normally occurs when the door 12 is closed can lead to a determination that there may be a malfunction in the door opening / closing detection unit 206, and an abnormality notification can be issued based on this determination.

[0088] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited in any way by the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible to the embodiments of the present invention other than those described above.

[0089] For example, in the above embodiment, the door lock device 207 may be configured such that it cannot lock the door 12 unless the door 12 is closed. For instance, if the door hook is not inserted into the insertion part, the engaging part will not move to the engaging position, and the door will not be locked.

[0090] In this case, if the control unit 201 determines in S106 of the abnormality monitoring process in Figure 4 that there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 (S106: NO), it causes the door lock device 207 to perform a locking operation. If the locking operation is performed, the control unit 201 determines that the door 12 is in a closed state, and therefore an abnormality has occurred in the door open / close detection unit 206, and causes the display unit 204 to notify the display unit 204 of the abnormality in the door open / close detection unit 206. On the other hand, if the locking operation is not performed, the control unit 201 determines that the door 12 is in an open state, and therefore an abnormality has occurred in the water level sensor 62, and causes the display unit 204 to notify the display unit 204 of the abnormality in the water level sensor 62.

[0091] Similarly, if the control unit 201 determines in S108 of the abnormality monitoring process in Figure 4 that there is no change in the air pressure inside the air trap 61 (S108: NO), it causes the door lock device 207 to perform a locking operation. If the locking operation cannot be performed, the control unit 201 determines that the door 12 is in an open state and that there is an abnormality in the door open / close detection unit 206, and causes the display unit 204 to notify the display unit 204 of the abnormality in the door open / close detection unit 206. On the other hand, if the locking operation can be performed, the control unit 201 determines that the door 12 is in a closed state and that there is an abnormality in the water level sensor 62, and causes the display unit 204 to notify the display unit 204 of the abnormality in the water level sensor 62.

[0092] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the air trap 61 of the water level detection unit 60 is connected to the drain port 20b at the bottom of the outer tank 20. However, the air trap 61 may be connected to any position at the bottom of the outer tank 20, as long as the water level inside the outer tank 20 can be detected.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an abnormality is notified by the display unit 204 at S105 of the abnormality monitoring process shown in Figure 4. However, in addition to the display unit 204, an abnormality may also be notified by sound, such as voice from the sound output unit 205.

[0094] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1. Drum-type washing machine 10 cabinets 11 Inlet 12 doors 20 Outer tank 23 Drums 24 Door gasket 60 Water level detection unit 61 Air Trap 62 Water level sensor 201 Control Unit 204 Display Unit (Notification Unit) 206 Door Open / Close Detection Unit

Claims

1. An outer tank located inside the enclosure, The outer tub contains a drum that is rotatable around a horizontal axis or around a rotation axis inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and which holds the laundry. An input port is provided on the front of the housing and connected to the front end of the outer tank via a door gasket, A door covering the aforementioned input opening, A door opening / closing detection unit for detecting the opening / closing state of the aforementioned door, An air trap connected to the bottom of the outer tank, A water level sensor detects the air pressure in the air trap, which changes according to the water level in the outer tank. The news department and, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, Based on the door opening / closing state detected by the door opening / closing detection unit and the air pressure state detected by the water level sensor, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit. If there is a possibility of an abnormality in the door opening / closing detection unit, the notification unit will issue an abnormality notification. A drum-type washing machine characterized by the following features.

2. In the drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, The control unit, based on the detection by the door opening / closing detection unit that the door is closed and the detection by the water level sensor that a change in air pressure in the air trap has been detected, causes the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification. A drum-type washing machine characterized by the following features.

3. In the drum-type washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, When the control unit detects that the door has changed from a closed state to an open state, it causes the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification based on the fact that the water level sensor does not detect a change in the air pressure inside the air trap. A drum-type washing machine characterized by the following features.

4. In the drum-type washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, When the control unit detects that the door has changed from an open state to a closed state, it causes the notification unit to issue an abnormality notification based on the fact that the water level sensor does not detect a change in the air pressure inside the air trap. A drum-type washing machine characterized by the following features.

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