washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of suppressing an influence generated by regenerative electric power of a motor in a cloth amount detection step.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a drum for storing laundry and rotating; a motor for rotationally driving the drum by electric conduction; a current detection part for detecting a current conducted to the motor; a voltage detection part for detecting a voltage applied to the washing machine; and a control device for controlling the rotation of the motor. The control device is constituted so as to execute a cloth amount detection step of determining a cloth amount of laundry stored in the drum based on a current value detected by the current detection part, and executes the cloth amount detection step in the case where the value of the voltage detected by the voltage detection part is equal to or less than a first value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a washing machine having a cloth amount sensor for detecting the amount of laundry, which is the amount of laundry put into the drum.

[0003] The washing machine in Patent Document 1 includes a drum that accommodates laundry and performs a rotational movement, a water tank that encloses the drum and is elastically supported within the washing machine body, a fluid balancer provided in the water tank and on the drum, a motor that rotationally drives the drum, a current detection unit that detects the current supplied to the motor, and a control unit that controls the rotation of the motor. The control unit accelerates the rotation of the drum by generating an acceleration torque in the motor, and controls the motor torque so that the angular acceleration α1 during acceleration of the drum is constant in a predetermined acceleration section, and detects the acceleration current value Iq1' when the drum is energized to the motor in an integer multiple rotation section of at least one rotation or more. A first detection step; after the first detection step, the rotation of the drum is decelerated by generating a deceleration torque in the motor, and the motor torque is controlled so that the angular acceleration α2 during deceleration of the drum is constant in a predetermined deceleration section, and the drum is at least one rotation or more. A second detection step of detecting the deceleration current value Iq2' when the motor is energized in an integer multiple rotation section; and based on the acceleration current value Iq1' and the deceleration current value Iq2', it has a cloth amount detection means for detecting the cloth amount.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides a washing machine that can suppress the effects caused by regenerative power of the motor in the fabric quantity detection process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The washing machine in this disclosure includes a drum that holds and rotates laundry, a motor that rotates the drum by applying power, a current detection unit that detects the current supplied to the motor, and a current applied to the washing machine. Commercial power supply A voltage detection unit that detects voltage, and a control device that controls the rotation of the motor, The control device is configured to perform a fabric quantity detection process that determines the amount of laundry stored in the drum based on the current value detected by the current detection unit, and if the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is less than or equal to a first value, the fabric quantity detection process is executed. If the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit exceeds the first value, the fabric quantity determination step is executed to determine the amount of laundry without using the current value detected by the current detection unit. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The washing machine in this disclosure can suppress the effects caused by the regenerative power of the motor in the fabric load detection process. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Circuit diagram showing the schematic configuration of the washing machine control device in Embodiment 1 [Figure 3] Flowchart showing the operation of the washing machine's fabric load detection process in Embodiment 1 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, washing machines were known that controlled motor torque using a control means and detected the amount of laundry based on the current flowing through the motor. In the control board used in the control means, if the DC voltage applied to the control board, due to the voltage applied to the washing machine and the regenerative power generated when the motor rotates, exceeded the guaranteed voltage of the electronic components included in the control board, there was a risk of adverse effects on the electronic components.

[0010] The inventors of the present invention discovered that in areas where the AC voltage of the commercial power supply to homes and the like is unstable, the AC voltage value outside the washing machine fluctuates, making it difficult to suppress adverse effects on electronic components simply by controlling the motor and suppressing regenerative power. They also discovered that when selling the same washing machine to multiple areas with different AC voltage values ​​of the commercial power supply, it is difficult to suppress adverse effects on electronic components simply by controlling the motor and suppressing regenerative power. The subject matter of this disclosure was developed to solve these problems.

[0011] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0013] [1-1. Washing machine configuration] Figure 1 shows the structure of a drum-type washing machine according to this embodiment. Inside the washing machine body 1, a water tank 2 is suspended and supported by a suspension structure (not shown) that has a vibration-damping structure. Inside the water tank 2, a drum 3 formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder is supported with its axial direction inclined downward from the front side to the back side.

[0014] In front of the water tank 2, a doughnut-shaped fluid balancer 15 having a plurality of storage chambers is provided and is directly connected to the drum 3. The fluid balancer 15 has a plurality of storage chambers filled with a liquid having a large specific gravity (for example, an aqueous calcium chloride solution), is separated into a plurality in the radial direction, and communication holes are provided in the partition plate. It detects the bias of the laundry and injects it into the storage chamber on the side opposite to the detected bias of the laundry. Thereby, when the eccentric load of the laundry in the drum 3 is on one side of the drum 3, the fluid is moved to the side opposite to the eccentric load to correct the bias and reduce the vibration noise during the rotation of the drum 3.

[0015] On the front side of the water tank 2, a clothing inlet / outlet 4 leading to the open end of the drum 3 is formed. By opening and closing a door 5 that can open and close an opening provided on the upward inclined surface on the front side of the washing machine main body 1, the laundry can be taken in and out of the drum 3 through the clothing inlet / outlet 4.

[0016] A large number of through holes 6 communicating with the inside of the water tank 2 are formed on the circumferential surface of the drum 3, and stirring protrusions 19 for stirring clothes are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner circumferential surface. This drum 3 is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions by a motor 7 attached to the lower part of the water tank 2. The rotation of the motor 7 is transmitted to a pulley 18 fixed to the rotation shaft 17 of the drum 3 via a belt 16.

[0017] Also, a water supply pipe 8 and a drain pipe 9 are pipe-connected to the water tank 2, and water supply and drainage into the water tank 2 are performed by controlling a water supply valve 27 and a drain valve 28.

[0018] When the door 5 is opened, laundry and detergent are put into the drum 3, and the operation is started by operating on an operation panel 10 provided at the upper front part of the washing machine main body 1. Then, the water supply valve 27 opens, and a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the water tank 2 from the water supply pipe 8. When the motor 7 rotates, the drum 3 is rotationally driven and the washing process is started.

[0019] Due to the rotation of the drum 3, the laundry contained in the drum 3 is lifted in the rotational direction by the stirring projections 19 provided on the inner peripheral wall of the drum 3, and the stirring operation of falling from an appropriately lifted height position is repeated. Therefore, the laundry is subjected to the action of beating washing and is washed.

[0020] After the required washing time, when the drain valve 28 opens, the dirty washing liquid is discharged from the drain pipe 9, and the washing liquid contained in the laundry is dehydrated by the dehydration operation of rotating the drum 3 at high speed. Then, water is supplied from the water supply pipe 8 into the water tank 2, and the rinsing process is carried out.

[0021] Also in this rinsing process, the laundry contained in the drum 3 is lifted by the stirring projections due to the rotation of the drum 3, and the stirring operation of falling is repeated, and rinsing is carried out.

[0022] Further, inside the motor 7, a rotation detection unit 14 composed of a position detection element or the like for detecting the position of the rotor of the motor is provided in order to detect its rotation state.

[0023] In addition, this drum washing machine is provided with a function of drying the laundry contained in the drum 3. By driving the blower fan 12, the air in the water tank 2 is exhausted to the circulation air path 11, and the heat pump 29 dehumidifies, heats, and dries the air, and then blows the dried air back into the water tank 2 through the lint filter 13.

[0024] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the schematic configuration of the control device of the washing machine in the present embodiment. In the control device shown in Figure 2, the control board 43 rectifies the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 20 from the rectifier 21, and uses the DC voltage smoothed by the smoothing circuit composed of the choke coil 22 and the smoothing capacitor 23 as the driving source to rotationally drive the motor 7 by the inverter circuit 24.

[0025] Furthermore, the motor 7's rotation is controlled based on the operation instructions input from the input setting unit 25 and the monitoring information of the operating state detected by each detection means, and the load drive unit 26 controls the operation of the water supply valve 27, drain valve 28, blower fan 12, and heat pump 29.

[0026] The motor 7 is configured as a DC brushless motor comprising a stator having three-phase windings 7a, 7b, and 7c, and a rotor having two pole permanent magnets, and is equipped with three position detection elements 30a, 30b, and 30c, and its rotation is controlled by an inverter circuit 24 with PWM control composed of switching elements 24a to 24f.

[0027] The rotor position detection signals detected by the position detection elements 30a, 30b, and 30c are input to a control unit 31 configured with a microcontroller (not shown). Based on these rotor position detection signals, the drive circuit 32 controls the on / off state of the switching elements 24a to 24f using PWM control, thereby controlling the energization to the stator's three-phase windings 7a, 7b, and 7c and rotating the rotor at the required rotational speed.

[0028] The control unit 31 has a rotation speed detection unit 33 to which the detection outputs of the three position detection elements 30a, 30b, and 30c are input. The rotation speed detection unit 33 detects the period each time the state of the signal of any of the three position detection elements 30a, 30b, and 30c changes, and calculates the rotation speed of the rotor from that period. The detection output of the rotation speed detection unit 33 is supplied to the fabric amount detection unit 34, and the amount of fabric is detected based on the detected rotation speed, as described below.

[0029] The voltage detection unit 36 ​​detects the voltage by, for example, dividing the voltage across the smoothing capacitor 23 using a resistor or the like, and inputting the divided voltage to the microcontroller. As a result, the motor 7 rotates. If not, the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 20 is detected indirectly.

[0030] The current detection unit 35 is composed of, for example, a shunt resistor and a circuit built into the microcontroller. The current detection unit 35 detects the current flowing through the motor 7.

[0031] Since the detection output of the rotational speed detection unit 33 corresponds to the rotational speed of the drum 3, the rotational speed of the drum 3 in the following explanation is obtained from the detection output of the rotational speed detection unit 33.

[0032] [1-2. Operation of Fabric Amount Detection Process] As shown in Figure 2, the control board 43 is configured as a board on which multiple electronic components with different guaranteed voltages are mounted, and a microcontroller and the like are mounted on it. An example of an electronic component is a smoothing capacitor 23. In order to avoid adversely affecting the electronic components, the DC voltage applied to the control board 43 should be made lower than the guaranteed voltage by the voltage applied to the washing machine and the regenerative power generated when the motor rotates. In this embodiment, when the DC voltage component of the control board 43 is greater than the guaranteed voltage during the fabric amount detection process, that is, when the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 23 is greater than a predetermined value when the commercial power supply 20 is applied and the motor 7 is not rotating, the fabric amount detection process that generates a large amount of regenerative power is not performed.

[0033] The fabric load detection process detects and determines the amount of laundry, such as clothes, placed in drum 3, and determines the washing time and other settings according to the amount of laundry. When clothes are placed in drum 3 and a command to start the washing operation is entered via the control panel 10, the fabric load detection process begins. The fabric load detection process will be explained below with reference to Figure 3.

[0034] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the washing machine's fabric load detection process in Embodiment 1.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, when the fabric load detection process starts (step S1), the control device uses the voltage detection unit 36 ​​built into the control unit 31 to detect the AC voltage applied to the washing machine (step 2). In step 2, since commercial power supply 20 is applied and the motor 7 is not rotating, the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 20 applied to the washing machine body 1 can be detected by detecting the voltage of the smoothing capacitor 23.

[0036] The control device determines whether the AC voltage applied to the washing machine is less than or equal to a first value (step S3).

[0037] The first value is a predetermined value that is greater than the washing machine's rated voltage; for example, it is set to 1.06 times the rated voltage. For example, if the washing machine's rated voltage is 100V, the first value is set to 106V.

[0038] If the AC voltage value exceeds the first value (Step 3, No), the fabric quantity detection process using motor torque is not performed, and a fabric quantity determination process is performed that determines the fabric quantity without using the current value (Step S4). In this embodiment, the washing machine performs a fabric quantity determination process that does not use the motor current value for determination, by assuming that the fabric quantity is a predetermined second value. In this embodiment, the second value is the maximum load, i.e., the maximum amount of fabric that can be washed in the washing machine. When the fabric quantity is determined to be the maximum amount of fabric that can be washed in the washing machine, the amount of detergent to be added, the amount of water, and the mechanical force are set to the maximum, so that washing performance can be ensured regardless of the actual amount of fabric. Note that the second value may be the average value of the amount of fabric that can be washed in the washing machine.

[0039] If the AC voltage value is less than or equal to the first value, a predetermined voltage is applied to the motor winding to detect the motor temperature (step S5), and a temperature correction coefficient is calculated.

[0040] Next, a low-speed rotation process is performed, followed by a fabric quantity detection process. In the low-speed rotation process, acceleration torque is generated in the motor 7 to start the drum 3 from a stationary state and accelerate it to a predetermined rotational speed N1 (for example, 440 r / min) of the motor 7 (step S6). Following the low-speed rotation process, the fabric quantity detection process is performed.

[0041] The fabric quantity detection process consists of a first detection process and a second detection process. When the fabric quantity detection process is started, after a predetermined time has elapsed or a predetermined rotational speed has been reached (step S7), the motor 7 performs vector control to accelerate the rotation of the drum 3 with a predetermined angular acceleration α1, and the first detection process is performed to accelerate the rotational speed from N1 to N2 (step S8).

[0042] In the first detection step, the current detection unit 35 detects the current supplied to the motor 7, and calculates the average or integrated value of the current value Iq1 for the interval in the first detection section in which the drum rotates at least one full rotation or more.

[0043] In this way, by using the average or cumulative value of the current value Iq1 during one rotation (360-degree rotation) of the drum 3, fluctuations in the current value due to uneven distribution of clothing can be offset. Therefore, by using the current value over an integer multiple rotation interval of at least one full rotation of the drum as the fabric quantity determination value, fluctuations in the current value due to uneven distribution of clothing can be offset, and variations in the fabric quantity determination value can be suppressed.

[0044] When the drum 3 reaches a rotational speed N2 (step S9), the current value Iq1 during one rotation of the drum 3 is calculated (step S10), and the first detection process is completed.

[0045] After the first detection step is completed, the rotational speed of the drum 3 is reduced, and then the motor 7 performs vector control to reduce the rotation of the drum 3 with a predetermined angular acceleration α2, thereby reducing the rotational speed from N3 to N4 (step S11).

[0046] When the rotational speed of the drum 3 reaches N4 (step S12), the current detection unit 35 detects the current supplied to the motor 7 and calculates the average or integrated value of the current value Iq2 for the rotational interval of at least one rotation of the drum 3 in the deceleration section (step S13), thus ending the second detection process.

[0047] Next, based on the difference between the calculated current values ​​Iq1 and Iq2, motor induced voltage correction (step S14) and temperature correction (step S15) are performed.

[0048] Finally, the amount of fabric is determined from the relationship between the difference in the calculated current values ​​(Iq1-Iq2) and a predetermined amount of fabric (step S16), and the fabric amount detection step and fabric amount detection process are terminated (step S17).

[0049] As described above, in this embodiment, the feasibility of executing the fabric load detection process is determined based on the value of the AC voltage input to the washing machine. If the fabric load detection process is not executed, a fabric load determination process that does not use motor torque is executed. This makes it possible to suppress the adverse effects of regenerative power on electronic components in the fabric load detection process, which is likely to generate a large amount of regenerative power. Furthermore, even in cases where a large amount of regenerative power is generated due to uneven distribution of clothing or the induced voltage constant of the motor 7, the fabric load detection process that uses motor torque is not executed, thus suppressing the adverse effects of regenerative power on electronic components.

[0050] [1-3. Effects, etc.] The washing machine comprises a drum 3 that holds and rotates the laundry, a motor 7 that rotates the drum 3 when energized, a current detection unit 35 that detects the current supplied to the motor 7, a voltage detection unit 36 ​​that detects the AC voltage of the small power supply 20 applied to the washing machine, and a control device that controls the rotation of the motor 7. The control device is configured to perform a fabric load detection process that determines the amount of laundry stored in the drum 3 based on the current value detected by the current detection unit 35, and if the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit 36 ​​is less than or equal to a first value, the fabric load detection process is executed.

[0051] This allows the fabric quantity detection process, in which regenerative power is generated, to be performed when the voltage applied to the control board 43 is at a value that does not adversely affect the electronic components mounted on the control board 43, due to the voltage applied to the washing machine and the regenerative power generated when the motor rotates.

[0052] As in this embodiment, if the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit 36 ​​exceeds the first value, the control device may perform a fabric quantity determination step to determine the amount of laundry without using the current value detected by the current detection unit 35.

[0053] As a result, if there is a risk that the AC voltage value may adversely affect the electronic components mounted on the control board 43, the amount of fabric is determined based on a pre-set correspondence without performing the fabric amount detection process, thus preventing the generation of regenerative power during the fabric amount detection process.

[0054] As in this embodiment, the control device determines in the fabric quantity determination step that the amount of laundry contained in the drum 3 is a second value.

[0055] This allows for easy setting of the amount of detergent, water volume, and mechanical force to be added, even when there is a risk that the AC voltage value may adversely affect the electronic components mounted on the control board 43, without generating regenerative power.

[0056] As in this embodiment, the second value may be the maximum amount of fabric that can be washed in a washing machine.

[0057] As a result, the amount of fabric is considered to be the maximum load, so the amount of detergent, water, and mechanical force added are set to the maximum, ensuring cleaning performance regardless of the actual amount of fabric.

[0058] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been explained as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiment 1 above.

[0059] Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0060] In Embodiment 1, as an example of a motor, a configuration was described in which the rotation of motor 7 is transmitted via belt 16 to a pulley fixed to the rotating shaft 17 of drum 3. The motor is not limited to this configuration, as it only needs to rotate the drum. The motor may also be configured to be directly connected to and driven by the rotating shaft of the drum.

[0061] In Embodiment 1, a drum-type washing machine was described as an example of a washing machine. The washing machine is not limited to the drum-type washing machine of Embodiment 1, and may also be a washer-dryer with a drying function or a top-loading washing machine.

[0062] In Embodiment 1, a voltage detection unit 36 ​​was described as an example of a voltage detection unit. The voltage detection unit only needs to detect the voltage applied to the washing machine when driving the motor, so it is not limited to a configuration that indirectly detects the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 20. The voltage detection unit may also be configured to directly detect the AC voltage of the commercial power supply 20.

[0063] In Embodiment 1, as an example of a washing machine, a process for determining the amount of fabric by assuming it is a predetermined amount was described. The process for determining the amount of fabric that does not use the motor current value for determination is not limited to the process for determining the amount of fabric by assuming it is a predetermined amount, as it does not have to be a process for detecting the amount of fabric using motor torque. The process for determining the amount of fabric that does not use the motor current value for determination may be a process for determining the amount of fabric by detecting the vibration of the water tank 2 using vibration detection means. For example, a larger vibration value may indicate a larger amount of fabric. The vibration detection means may be, for example, a 3D sensor that detects vibration in three axes, or a spring scale that detects displacement due to the expansion and contraction of a spring.

[0064] In Embodiment 1, a fabric quantity detection process for detecting the amount of laundry was described as an example of a process for suppressing the generation of regenerative power. Since similar problems arise in any process in which regenerative power is generated by the energization of the motor, the present invention can be applied to processes other than fabric quantity detection. [Industrial applicability]

[0065] This disclosure is applicable to washing machines. Specifically, it is applicable to household washing machines, household washer-dryers, commercial washing machines, and commercial washer-dryers, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1. Washing machine unit 2 Aquariums 3 Drums 4. Clothing entrance 5 doors 6. Through-holes 7 Motor 7a, 7b, 7c three-phase winding 8 Water supply pipeline 9 Drainage line 10. Control Panel 11 Circulation path 12. Blower fan 13 Lint filter 14. Rotation detection unit 15 Fluid Balancer 16 belts 17 Rotation axis 18 Pulley 19 Stirring projection 20 Commercial power supply 21 Rectifier 22 Choke coil 23 Smoothing Capacitor 24 Inverter Circuit 25 Input setting section 26 Load drive unit 27 Water supply valve 28 Drain valve 29 Heat pump 30a, 30b, 30c Position detection elements 31 Control Unit 32 Drive Circuit 33 Rotation speed detection unit 34 Fabric quantity detection unit 35 Current detection unit 36 Voltage detection unit 43 Control board

Claims

1. A drum that holds the laundry and rotates, A motor that rotates the drum when power is applied, A current detection unit that detects the current supplied to the motor, A voltage detection unit that detects the voltage of the commercial power supply applied to the washing machine, The system includes a control device for controlling the rotation of the motor, The control device is The system is configured to perform a fabric quantity detection process that determines the amount of laundry stored in the drum based on the current value detected by the current detection unit. If the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is less than or equal to the first value, the fabric quantity detection step is executed. If the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit exceeds the first value, the fabric quantity determination step is executed to determine the amount of laundry without using the current value detected by the current detection unit. washing machine.

2. The control device determines in the fabric quantity determination step that the amount of laundry contained in the drum is a second value. The washing machine according to claim 1.

3. The second value is the maximum amount of fabric that can be washed in the washing machine. The washing machine according to claim 2.

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