Washing machine system

Abstract

To provide a washing machine system of which the user-friendliness can be improved.SOLUTION: A washing machine system includes a water tub, a washing tub, a motor, a load detection unit 51, and a cloth amount determination unit 53. The washing tub is arranged in the water tub and laundry is stored in the washing tub. The motor rotationally drives the washing tub. The load detection unit 51 detects a load amount of the motor. The cloth amount determination unit 53 determines the cloth amount of laundry based on: a first load amount of the motor which is detected by the load detection unit 51 when the washing tub is rotationally driven with water not stored in the water tub; and a second load amount of the motor which is detected by the load detection unit 51 when the washing tub is rotationally driven with the water stored in the water tub.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[[Technical Field]]

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

[0002] There is known a washing machine that measures the time for which the rotational speed of a motor decreases by a predetermined amount, and detects the amount of laundry based on angular acceleration obtained from the measurement result. Further improvements in the convenience of washing machines are expected. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-5722 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a washing machine system capable of improving convenience. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0005] The washing machine system of an embodiment includes a water tub, a washing tub, a motor, a load detection unit, a laundry amount determination unit, and a control unit. The washing tub is disposed in the water tub , has multiple baffles, and accommodates laundry. The motor rotationally drives the washing tub. The load detection unit detects a load amount of the motor. The laundry amount determination unit, in a state where no water is stored in the water tub , in a state where the load on the motor increases as the amount of laundry increases during acceleration or deceleration of the motor, detects a first load amount of the motor detected by the load detection unit when the washing tub is rotationally driven, and in a state where water is stored in the water tub When the motor is rotating at a constant speed, if the amount of fabric is in a range above a certain level, as the amount of fabric increases, the weight of the laundry acting on the multiple baffles becomes more uniform, and the load on the motor decreases.The amount of laundry can be determined based on the second load amount of the motor detected by the load detection unit when the washing tub is rotated. The control unit determines at least one operation to be included in the operation of the washing machine system based on the determination result of the amount of laundry determination unit. The amount of laundry determination unit makes a first determination regarding the amount of laundry based on the first load amount, and the amount of laundry is determined based on the result of the first determination. The aforementioned area above a certain level If it is determined that the fabric quantity falls into a predetermined rank, a second determination is made based on a comparison of the detection result of the second load quantity with a second threshold value to determine whether the fabric quantity falls into a first category within the predetermined rank or into a second category within the predetermined rank. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the washing machine and dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A block diagram showing the electrical circuit configuration for driving the drum motor in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A diagram showing the relationship between fabric weight and sensor value according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] A diagram showing the relationship between fabric weight and sensor value according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram showing the relationship between fabric weight and sensor value according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the relationship between fabric weight and sensor value according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] A flowchart showing the control flow of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device of the second embodiment. [Figure 10] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device of the third embodiment. [Figure 11] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] A flowchart showing the control flow of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 13]A diagram showing a washing machine system according to the sixth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The washing machine system of the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar function will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplication of these components may be omitted. “Based on XX” means “based on at least XX,” and may also include cases where it is based on another element in addition to XX. “Based on XX” is not limited to cases where XX is used directly, but may also include cases where XX has been calculated or processed. “XX or YY” is not limited to cases where either XX or YY is used, but may also include cases where both XX and YY are used. This is also true when there are three or more optional elements. “XX” and “YY” are arbitrary elements (e.g., arbitrary information). In this specification, “washing machine” may also include a washer-dryer with a drying function.

[0008] (First Embodiment) <1. Overall configuration of a washer-dryer> Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a washing machine 1 according to the first embodiment. The washing machine 1 is an example of a "washing machine system". The washing machine 1 is, for example, a drum-type washing machine. The washing machine 1 includes, for example, a housing (outer casing) 11, a door 12, a water tank (water receiving tank) 13, a drum 14, bellows 15, a drum motor 16, a water supply valve 17, a water filling case 18, a water filling pipe 19, an automatic dispensing device 21, a drain pipe 22, a drain valve 23, a hot air supply mechanism 30, and a control device 50 (see Figure 3). The washing machine body MB is formed by these components, excluding the control device 50.

[0009] The enclosure 11 has a front panel, a rear panel, a left panel, a right panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel, and is formed in a hollow shape. The front panel of the enclosure 11 is provided with an entrance / exit 11a, which is a through-hole. The door 12 is attached to the front panel of the enclosure 11. The door 12 is provided so that the entrance / exit 11a can be opened and closed.

[0010] The water tub 13 is provided inside the housing 11. The water tub 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a closed rear surface. The water tub 13 is supported by an elastic support mechanism in a state inclined rearwardly downward. The front surface of the water tub 13 has an opening. In a state where the door 12 closes the inlet / outlet 11a, the door 12 airtightly closes the opening in the front surface of the water tub 13. One or more (for example, a plurality of) acceleration sensors 61 (described later) configured to detect vibration of the drum 14 are provided on the water tub 13.

[0011] The drum 14 is disposed inside the water tub 13. The drum 14 is a storage chamber for storing laundry (such as clothing). The drum 14 is cylindrical and is rotatably supported in the water tub 13. The drum 14 is configured to rotate about an inclined axis (central axis CL) that extends in the front-rear direction and is inclined slightly rearwardly downward from the horizontal. The drum 14 is an example of a "washing tub". The drum 14 may also be referred to as a "rotary tub".

[0012] A large number of holes 14a for water passage and ventilation are provided in the peripheral wall portion and the rear wall portion of the drum 14. A plurality of baffles 14b for agitating laundry are provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion of the drum 14. The laundry inside the drum 14 is agitated by moving in the circumferential direction while being caught on the respective baffles 14b and then falling by gravity. A circular opening through which laundry is put in and taken out is provided in the front portion of the drum 14. A charging port 13a communicating with the opening of the drum 14 is provided in the front portion of the water tub 13. The charging port 13a of the water tub 13 and the inlet / outlet 11a of the housing 11 communicate with each other via a bellows 15.

[0013] The drum motor 16 is provided behind the water tub 13. The drum motor 16 constitutes the driving mechanism of the washer-dryer 1. The drum motor 16 is, for example, a three-phase AC motor. However, the drum motor 16 may also be a speed-controllable DC motor or the like. The tip of the rotating shaft of the drum motor 16 penetrates the rear surface of the water tub 13, protrudes into the water tub 13, and is connected and fixed to the central part of the rear portion of the drum 14. Accordingly, the drum 14 is directly rotationally driven by the drum motor 16. For example, in a dehydration operation, the drum 14 is continuously rotated in the forward rotation direction (for example, the clockwise direction when viewed from the front). For example, in a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a drying operation, the drum 14 repeats forward rotation and reverse rotation.

[0014] The water supply valve 17 is fixed inside the housing 11. The inlet of the water supply valve 17 is connected to a water tap via a hose not shown. The outlet of the water supply valve 17 is switched between an open state and a closed state by a water supply valve motor 71 (see FIG. 3). The outlet of the water supply valve 17 is connected to a water injection case 18. The water injection case 18 is connected to the inside of the water tub 13 via a cylindrical water injection pipe 19. When the water supply valve 17 is opened, water supplied from the water supply is fed into the water tub 13.

[0015] The automatic dispensing device 21 is provided above the water tub 13. For example, the automatic dispensing device 21 is provided integrally with the water injection case 18. The automatic dispensing device 21 includes one or more (for example, a plurality of) tanks 21a that individually store laundry treatment agents such as detergent and fabric softener, and a dispensing pump 21b capable of automatically dispensing the laundry treatment agent stored in the tank 21a. For example, the automatic dispensing device 21 automatically dispenses the laundry treatment agent into the inside of the water tub 13 (the inside of the drum 14) via the water injection case 18.

[0016] A drain port 13b is provided at the bottom of the water tub 13. The upper end of a drain pipe 22 is connected to the drain port 13b. A drain valve 23 is provided on the drain pipe 22. The drain valve 23 is switched between an open state and a closed state by a drain valve motor 72 (see FIG. 3). When the drain valve 23 is opened, the washing water in the water tub 13 is discharged from the drain pipe 22.

[0017] An exhaust port 13c for discharging air from inside the water tank 13 is provided at the top of the front of the water tank 13. An air intake port 13d for supplying drying air into the water tank 13 is provided at the top of the rear of the water tank 13. Inside the housing 11, a hot air supply mechanism 30 is provided to circulate and supply drying air (hot air) into the drum 14 to perform a laundry drying operation (drying operation).

[0018] The hot air supply mechanism 30 includes, for example, a circulating air passage 31, which is a duct located outside the water tank 13 within the housing 11. The circulating air passage 31 supplies drying air into the water tank 13. More specifically, the inlet of the circulating air passage 31 is connected to the exhaust port 13c of the water tank 13. The outlet of the circulating air passage 31 is connected to the air intake port 13d of the water tank 13.

[0019] The hot air supply mechanism 30 includes, for example, a heat pump 32 and a blower fan 33. The heat pump 32 constitutes a refrigeration cycle by cyclically connecting a compressor 41, a condenser 42, a throttling device (not shown), and an evaporator 43 via piping. The condenser 42 and evaporator 43 are located in the circulating air passage 31. The heat pump 32 generates dry air by dehumidifying and heating the air passing through the circulating air passage 31. The blower fan 33 circulates the air discharged from the exhaust port 13c through the circulating air passage 31 and supplies the dehumidified and heated air from the heat pump 32 into the drum 14 via the water tank 13 through the air intake port 13d. The heat pump 32 is an example of a "heating device" that heats the air passing through the circulating air passage 31. Note that the heating device may be a heater (such as an electric heater) instead of the heat pump 32.

[0020] <2. Electrical circuit configuration of the motor drive system> Figure 2 shows the electrical circuit configuration for driving the drum motor 16 of the washing machine 1. Figure 2 schematically shows the drive system (motor control unit 111) of the drum motor 16. The inverter circuit 132 is configured by connecting six IGBTs (semiconductor switching elements) 133a to 133f in a three-phase bridge configuration, and flywheel diodes 134a to 134f are connected between the collector and emitter of each IGBT 133a to 133f. The emitters of the IGBTs 133d, 133e, and 133f on the lower arm side are connected to ground via shunt resistors 135u, 135v, and 135w. Each connection point between the emitters of IGBTs 133d, 133e, and 133f and the shunt resistors 135u, 135v, and 135w is connected to the control circuit 111c via a level shift circuit 136. In this embodiment, an example of a current sensor 62 (see Figure 3) is configured by combining shunt resistors 135u, 135v, and 135w with a level shift circuit 136.

[0021] The level shift circuit 136 includes an operational amplifier and generates a signal by amplifying the terminal voltages of the shunt resistors 135u, 135v, and 135w, and applies a bias so that the output range of the generated signal falls within the positive side. The overcurrent comparison circuit 138 detects overcurrent if the upper and lower arms of the inverter circuit 132 are short-circuited.

[0022] A drive power supply circuit 139 is connected to the input side of the inverter circuit 132. The drive power supply circuit 139 performs voltage doubler full-wave rectification of a 100V AC power supply 140 using a full-wave rectifier circuit 141 composed of a diode bridge and two capacitors 142a and 142b connected in series, supplying a DC voltage of approximately 280V to the inverter circuit 132. Each phase output terminal of the inverter circuit 132 is connected to the respective phase windings 16u, 16v, and 16w of the drum motor 16.

[0023] The control circuit 111c operates using power supply 145 as its power source and controls the six IGBTs 133a to 133f via PWM (Pulse Wide Modulation) through the drive circuit 144 and the high-voltage driver circuit 146. The drive circuit 144 operates using power supply 143 as its power source and converts the drive signal output by the control circuit 111c into a drive signal with increased voltage and applies it to the gates of the IGBTs 133d, 133e, and 133f on the lower arm side. The high-voltage driver circuit 146 converts the output of the drive circuit 144 into a voltage higher than the voltage-doubled full-wave rectified voltage and applies it to the gates of the IGBTs 133a, 133b, and 133c on the upper arm side. The control circuit 111c receives the output signal from the rotor position sensor 161 provided on the drum motor 16. The control circuit 111c generates a drive signal to drive the drum motor 16 using the output signal from the rotor position sensor 161 as a reference.

[0024] The control circuit 111c detects the three-phase currents Iau~Iaw flowing through the motor windings 16u~16w obtained via the level shift circuit 136, estimates the phase θ and rotational angular velocity ω of the secondary rotating magnetic field based on the detected current values, and calculates the excitation current component Id and the torque current component Iq (hereinafter referred to as "q-axis current") by performing orthogonal coordinate transformation and dq (direct-quadrature) coordinate transformation on the three-phase currents Iau~Iaw. The q-axis current is a current component that increases in proportion to the motor torque acting on the drum motor 16. The q-axis current is an example of a "torque current". However, the term "torque current" as used herein is not limited to the q-axis current, but can be any current that increases in accordance with the motor load.

[0025] <3. Control device configuration> Next, the control device 50 will be described. The control device 50 is mainly composed of a computer consisting of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control device 50 comprehensively controls the entire washing machine 1 and executes the washing operation, which includes the washing, rinsing, and spinning operations, as well as the subsequent drying operation (drying operation).

[0026] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 50. In addition to the acceleration sensor 61 described above, a current sensor 62 is connected to the control device 50. The current sensor 62 detects the current flowing through the drum motor 16. In Figure 2, for the sake of explanation, the current sensor 62 and the motor control unit 111 are shown separately. However, the current sensor 62 may be included in the motor control unit 111.

[0027] The control device 50 includes, for example, a load detection unit 51, a fabric type determination unit 52, a fabric quantity determination unit 53, a control unit 54, a motor control unit 111, an automatic feeding device control unit 112, and a storage unit 59. All or part of these load detection unit 51, fabric type determination unit 52, fabric quantity determination unit 53, control unit 54, motor control unit 111, and automatic feeding device control unit 112 are realized by a hardware processor such as a CPU executing a program (software). However, all or part of these functional units may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), PLD (Programmable Logic Device), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or discrete circuit, or by the cooperation of software and hardware. The same applies to each functional unit (such as the characteristic estimation unit 55, update timing determination unit 56, and unbalance determination unit 57) described in the embodiments described later. The motor control unit 111 and the automatic feeding device control unit 112 may be provided as part of the control unit 54. The memory unit 59 is implemented by a combination of one or more of RAM, ROM, and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0028] <3.1 Load Detection Unit> The load detection unit 51 detects the load on the drum motor 16 based on the detection result of the current (e.g., torque current) flowing through the tram motor 16. In this embodiment, the load detection unit 51 detects the load on the drum motor 16 based on the current value of the q-axis current calculated by the motor control unit 111. The load on the drum motor 16 is determined by the magnitude of the q-axis current, for example, the average value (or integral value) of the q-axis current.

[0029] In this embodiment, the load detection unit 51 detects a first load amount, which is the load on the drum motor 16 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is empty, and a second load amount, which is the load on the drum motor 16 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is filled with water.

[0030] The first load is the load detected when the drum 14 is rotated by the drum motor 16, for example, after laundry has been placed in the washing tub 14 but before water is supplied (before the washing operation), or during or after the spin-drying operation but before the drying operation begins. The first load is the load detected when the drum motor 16 is accelerating or decelerating. In this embodiment, the first load is detected by increasing the drum motor 16 to 280 [rpm] at a constant acceleration and determining the average value (or integral value) of the q-axis current during that acceleration. For example, the first load is the load detected when the load on the drum motor 16 increases as the amount of fabric (weight of laundry) increases. This will be described in more detail later.

[0031] On the other hand, the second load is, for example, the load detected when the drum 14 is rotated by the drum motor 16 as part of the washing operation during the washing operation. The second load is, for example, the load detected when the drum motor 16 is rotating at a constant speed. In this embodiment, the second load is detected by rotating the drum motor 16 at a constant speed lower than 100 [rpm] and determining the average value (or integral value) of the q-axis current during rotation. For example, the second load is the load detected when the load on the drum motor 16 decreases as the amount of fabric increases. This will be described in more detail later.

[0032] <3.2 Fabric quality determination section> The fabric type determination unit 52 determines the fabric type by, for example, utilizing the fact that the load on the drum motor 16 changes depending on the difference in water absorption due to the fabric type. The fabric type determination unit 52 determines the fabric type by, for example, determining whether the laundry is mainly made of cotton or mainly of synthetic fibers.

[0033] The fabric quality determination unit 52 determines the fabric quality by combining two indicators, for example, (1) the average value (or integral value) of the q-axis current while the drum 14 is rotating at a constant speed during the washing operation, and (2) the average value of the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the q-axis current during one rotation of the drum 14 during the washing operation. The "q-axis current while the drum 14 is rotating at a constant speed during the washing operation" in (1) above is the q-axis current used to determine the second load amount as described above. In other words, in this embodiment, the magnitude of the q-axis current detected during the washing operation is used to determine the second load amount used for determining the amount of fabric, which will be described later, and to determine the fabric quality.

[0034] <3.3 Cloth amount determination section> The fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the amount of fabric (fabric weight) of the laundry based on the load amount detected by the load detection unit 51. In this embodiment, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the amount of fabric of the laundry based on, for example, a first load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is empty, and a second load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is filled with water. Hereinafter, the determination result of the amount of fabric based on the first load amount detected when the water tank 13 is empty will be referred to as the first determination result. Also, the determination result of the amount of fabric based on at least the second load amount detected when the water tank 13 is filled with water (for example, based only on the second load amount, or based on both the first and second load amounts) will be referred to as the second determination result.

[0035] The load detection unit 51 detects different load patterns depending on whether the water tank is empty or full, even if the amount of laundry is the same. Here, with reference to Figures 4 to 8, the relationship between the amount of fabric (fabric weight) and the sensor value (load of the torque motor 16; for example, the average value of the q-axis current) will be explained.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a typical example of the relationship between the amount of cloth and the sensor value when the water tank 13 is empty. The sensor values ​​shown in Figure 4 are the values ​​measured for each amount of cloth when the rotational speed of the drum motor 16 is increased at a constant acceleration. As shown in Figure 4, when the water tank 13 is empty, the sensor value (first load of the torque motor 16) increases monotonically with increasing cloth weight.

[0037] Here, when the water tank 13 is empty, the increase in the sensor value per unit amount of fabric (increase range) decreases (saturates) in the region where the amount of fabric exceeds a certain level (hereinafter referred to as the "first predetermined region R1"). In the example shown in Figure 4, the increase in the sensor value per unit amount of fabric decreases in the region where the amount of laundry is 6 kg or more. For this reason, the region where the amount of laundry is 6 kg or more is an example of a region where the accuracy of fabric amount determination based on the load amount of the torque motor 16 tends to decrease compared to the region where the amount of laundry is less than 6 kg.

[0038] On the other hand, Figure 5 shows a typical example of the relationship between the amount of cloth and the sensor value when the water tank 13 is filled with water. The sensor values ​​shown in Figure 5 are the sensor values ​​measured for each amount of cloth when the rotation speed of the drum motor 16 is kept constant. As shown in Figure 5, when the water tank 13 is filled with water, the sensor value increases with increasing cloth amount in the region where the amount of cloth is relatively small, but then begins to decrease once the amount of cloth exceeds a certain value. This is because, for example, when the water tank 13 is filled with water, if the amount of cloth is relatively small, the weight of the laundry tends to act on a specific baffle 14b, so the load on the baffle 14b to lift the laundry increases as the amount of laundry increases. For this reason, the sensor value increases with increasing cloth amount. On the other hand, if the amount of cloth is relatively large, the weight of the laundry tends to act more evenly on multiple baffles 14b as the amount of laundry increases, so the load decreases even if the amount of laundry increases. For this reason, the sensor value decreases with increasing cloth amount.

[0039] In other words, when water is stored in the water tank 13, in the region where the amount of laundry is above a certain amount (hereinafter referred to as the "second predetermined region R2"), the load on the torque motor 16 decreases as the amount of laundry increases. In the example shown in Figure 5, in the region where the amount of laundry is less than about 4.5 kg, the sensor value increases as the amount of laundry increases. On the other hand, in the region where the amount of laundry is more than about 4.5 kg, the sensor value decreases as the amount of laundry increases. For example, the second predetermined region R2 includes the first predetermined region R1.

[0040] Figure 6 shows the relationship between the amount of fabric and the sensor value when multiple detections are performed with different units of the same model (Unit A and Unit B) when the water tank 13 is empty. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the amount of fabric and the sensor value when multiple detections are performed with two units of the same model (Unit A and Unit B) when the water tank 13 is filled with water. In Figures 6 and 7, the sensor value of Unit A is shown as a white circle, and the sensor value of Unit B is shown as a black diamond.

[0041] In the state where the water tank 13 is empty (Figure 6), if a certain first threshold, shown by the dashed line, is set as the reference for the sensor values, then in machine A, the sensor values ​​are all below the first threshold whether the amount of fabric is 6 kg or 7 kg. On the other hand, in machine B, when the amount of fabric is 6 kg, the sensor values ​​are all below the first threshold, and when it is 7 kg, the sensor values ​​are all above the first threshold. In this case, for machine B, it is possible to distinguish between the cases where the fabric weight is 6 kg and 7 kg based on the comparison result between the sensor value (load amount of drum motor 16) detected when the water tank 13 is empty and the first threshold.

[0042] On the other hand, when water is stored in the tank 13 (Figure 7), if a certain second threshold, shown by a dashed line, is set as the reference for the sensor values, then in machine B, when the fabric weight is 6 kg, all sensor values ​​are below the second threshold, but when it is 7 kg, the sensor values ​​are distributed both above and below the second threshold. On the other hand, in machine A, when the fabric weight is 6 kg, all sensor values ​​are above the second threshold, and when it is 7 kg, all sensor values ​​are below the second threshold. In this case, for machine A, it is possible to distinguish between the cases where the fabric weight is 6 kg and 7 kg based on the comparison result between the sensor values ​​(load amount of the drum motor 16) detected when water is stored in the tank 13 and the second threshold.

[0043] Therefore, as described above, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the amount of laundry based on a first load amount when the water tank 13 is empty and a second load amount when the water tank 13 is filled with water, based on at least the load amount detected by the load detection unit 51. For example, when determining whether the laundry weighs 6 kg or 7 kg, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines whether the first load amount is less than or equal to a first threshold and whether the second load amount is greater than or equal to a second threshold. The fabric quantity determination unit 53 then determines that the laundry weighs 6 kg if the first load amount is less than or equal to the first threshold and the second load amount is greater than or equal to the second threshold. On the other hand, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines that the laundry weighs 7 kg if the first load amount is greater than the first threshold or the second load amount is less than the second threshold.

[0044] This type of determination process allows for accurate determination of the amount of fabric without being affected by variations due to differences between machines. Furthermore, the factors causing fluctuations in the load of the drum motor 16 are not limited to differences between machines. Therefore, by changing the threshold value in the fabric amount determination unit 53 according to other factors, such as the determination result of the fabric quality determination unit 52, the influence of other factors (in this case, changes in fabric quality) can be suppressed.

[0045] The first threshold, which is the comparison criterion for the first load, is stored in the storage unit 59 as first threshold information 59a. The second threshold, which is the comparison criterion for the second load, is stored in the storage unit 59 as second threshold information 59b. Multiple first and second thresholds are stored, each selectable, for example, in accordance with the fabric quality determination result.

[0046] As described above, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the amount of laundry based on a first load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 (washing tub) is rotated when the water tank 13 is empty, and a second load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is filled with water. At that time, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 can determine the amount of laundry based on a first determination result based on the first load amount and a first threshold, and a second determination result based on the second load amount and a second threshold.

[0047] As described above, the first load is, for example, the load detected while the drum motor 16 is accelerating or decelerating, and the second load is, for example, the load detected while the drum motor 16 is rotating at a constant speed. Here, the load detected during acceleration or deceleration is the result of detection with constant torque, and the load can be detected with high accuracy. In this case, it is necessary to change the rotation speed within a certain range, but if the water tank 13 is empty, the load is small and can be measured relatively easily and stably. On the other hand, if the water tank 13 is filled with water, the load is large, so it is relatively easier to measure if the rotation speed is kept constant.

[0048] The first threshold is set, for example, for each predetermined amount of fabric. For example, different first thresholds may be set for every 1 kg or every 2 kg. These multiple first thresholds are stored in the storage unit 59 as first threshold information 59a. Similarly, the second threshold can also be set for each predetermined amount of fabric. These multiple second thresholds are stored in the storage unit 59 as second threshold information 59b.

[0049] Furthermore, the first and second thresholds may be set differently for each result of the fabric type determination by the fabric type determination unit 52. That is, depending on the result of the fabric type determination (whether the laundry is cotton or synthetic fiber), the first threshold may be set separately for the case where the laundry is cotton and the case where the laundry is synthetic fiber, and the second threshold may also be set separately for the case where the laundry is cotton and the case where the laundry is synthetic fiber. In this case, since cotton absorbs water more easily than synthetic fibers, the threshold for cotton is set higher than the threshold for synthetic fibers for the same amount of laundry.

[0050] <3.4 Control Unit> The control unit 54 controls the drum motor 16 via the motor control unit 111, the automatic dispensing device 21 via the automatic dispensing device control unit 112, and the water supply valve motor 71, drain valve motor 72, heat pump 32, and blower fan 33 based on the determination results of the fabric type determination unit 52, the determination results of the fabric quantity determination unit 53, the output of the acceleration sensor 61, the output of the current sensor 62, etc.

[0051] In this embodiment, the control unit 54 determines the amount of water to be supplied, the amount of detergent to be added, and the content of the washing operation (such as the rotation speed of the drum motor 16 and the length of the washing time) at the start of the washing operation based on the first determination result of the fabric load determination unit 53, and starts the washing operation reflecting these. Meanwhile, the control unit 54 determines the content of the rinsing operation (rotation speed of the drum motor 16 and the length of the rinsing time), the spin-drying operation (rotation speed of the drum motor 16 and the length of the spin-drying time), and the drying operation (operating frequency of the compressor 41 of the heat pump 32, rotation speed of the blower fan 33, and length of the drying time) based on the second determination result of the fabric load determination unit 53 obtained during the washing operation, and executes the rinsing, spin-drying, and drying operations reflecting these. Note that the washing operation may be started based on the first determination result, and the content of the washing operation may be changed midway through the washing operation based on the second determination result obtained during the washing operation. That is, the washing time may be shortened or extended.

[0052] In this embodiment, the control unit 54 controls the automatic detergent dispenser 21 via the automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112. Based on the first determination result, the automatic detergent dispenser 21 automatically dispenses detergent before the start of the washing operation, and based on the second determination result, additional detergent is dispensed during the washing operation to compensate for any shortage. Specifically, the automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 dispenses a preset amount of detergent for the amount of fabric determined by the first determination result. If the amount of fabric determined by the second determination result is greater than the amount of fabric determined by the first determination result, the automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 dispenses additional detergent corresponding to the difference. For example, if the amount of fabric determined by the first determination result is 6 kg (when the sensor value is below the first threshold), the automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 dispenses an amount of detergent appropriate for 6 kg of laundry. If the amount of fabric determined by the second determination result is 7 kg (when the sensor value is below the second threshold), the automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 dispenses additional detergent corresponding to the 1 kg difference between 6 kg and 7 kg.

[0053] <4. Control Flow> Next, the control flow of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the control flow of the first embodiment. Figure 8 shows the process that starts when laundry is placed in the drum 14 of the washing and drying machine 1 and the washing and drying operation is started. In the process shown in Figure 8, the fabric amount determination unit 53 makes a first determination (first fabric amount detection) based on the first load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is empty of water. Based on the result of the first determination, the fabric amount is classified into one of several ranks (fabric amount rank). If the fabric amount is classified into the 6-7 kg rank, a second determination (second fabric amount detection) is made based on both the second load amount when the water tank 13 is filled with water and the first load amount detected earlier, to accurately determine whether the fabric amount is 6 kg or 7 kg. In other words, an example of the first determination is a rough classification based only on the first load amount. On the other hand, an example of a second classification is a detailed classification based on the first and second loads.

[0054] First, when the user loads clothes into the washing and drying machine 1 and starts the washing and drying operation in a desired operating mode, the fabric amount determination unit 53 performs a first fabric amount detection (S11). Here, the fabric amount determination unit 53, via the control unit 54 and the motor control unit 111, increases the drum motor 16, for example, to a predetermined rotational speed at a constant acceleration and detects the average value of the q-axis current during acceleration (i.e., the first load amount). As explained with reference to Figure 4, as the amount of fabric increases, the q-axis current value required for acceleration also increases, so the amount of fabric (or the rank of the amount of fabric) can be determined based on the magnitude of the q-axis current.

[0055] Next, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the rank of the fabric quantity (S12). In this embodiment, the process by which the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the rank of the fabric quantity based on the first load amount (i.e., the process of determining the fabric quantity) is called the first determination. The fabric quantity determination unit 53 classifies the approximate weight into ranks 1, 2, 3, etc., and determines that clothing weighing approximately 6 kg to 7 kg is rank 3 (fabric quantity of 6 to 7 kg). After that, the control unit 54 pours in the amount of water corresponding to the determined rank (S13) and automatically dispenses the amount of detergent corresponding to the determined rank (S14). When dispensing detergent, if the control unit 54 classifies the fabric quantity into a rank of 6 to 7 kg, for example, it dispenses an amount of detergent appropriate for the lowest value within that rank (in this case, 6 kg).

[0056] After water is added, the control unit 54 starts the washing operation (S15). During the washing operation, the control unit 54 rotates the drum 14 alternately or irregularly in the forward and reverse directions, moving the laundry in the detergent water to remove dirt. During the washing operation, the fabric load determination unit 53 performs a second fabric load detection (S16). In the second fabric load detection, the fabric load determination unit 53 detects the average value of the q-axis current while rotating at a constant speed during the washing operation (i.e., the second load). As explained with reference to Figure 5, the q-axis current required for rotation increases with increasing fabric load, but conversely, beyond a certain weight, the q-axis current required for rotation decreases. Also, during the washing operation, the fabric quality determination unit 52 determines the fabric quality (S17).

[0057] Next, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines whether the fabric quantity rank was classified as rank 3 of 6-7 kg in the fabric quantity rank determination (S12) (S18). If the fabric quantity rank was classified as rank 3 of 6-7 kg (S18: Yes), the fabric quantity determination unit 53 selects a first threshold and a second threshold from the first threshold information 59a and the second threshold information 59b based on the fabric quality determination result (S19).

[0058] Next, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines whether the first load is greater than the first threshold, or whether the second load is less than the second threshold (S20). The fabric quantity determination unit 53 uses the first load, which increases with increasing fabric quantity, and the second load, which decreases in the opposite direction, to distinguish between 6kg and 7kg. As explained with reference to Figure 6, the sensor value for the first load is greater for 7kg than for 6kg, and the sensor value for machine B is greater than for machine A. For example, if a first threshold is set that is located between the sensor value for 7kg for machine A and the sensor value for 7kg for machine B, then if the sensor value is greater than the first threshold, it can be determined that the fabric quantity of machine B is 7kg, not 6kg. On the other hand, looking at Figure 7, the sensor value for 7kg is smaller than for 6kg, and the sensor value for machine B is larger than for machine A. For example, if a second threshold is set between the sensor value for machine A at 6 kg and the sensor value for machine A at 7 kg, then if the sensor value is smaller than the second threshold, it can be determined that the amount of fabric in machine A is 7 kg. In other words, if the first load is greater than the first threshold, or the second load is smaller than the second threshold, it can be determined that it is 7 kg even if there is a difference between machines. The fabric amount determination unit 53 determines that the amount of laundry is 7 kg if the first load is greater than the first threshold, or the second load is smaller than the second threshold (S20: Yes) (S21). In this case, the control unit 54 adds detergent so that the total amount added is appropriate for 7 kg (S22). On the other hand, the fabric amount determination unit 53 determines that the amount of laundry is 6 kg if the first load is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the second load is greater than or equal to the second threshold (S20: No) (S23).

[0059] If the fabric quantity determination unit 53 has not classified the fabric quantity rank as rank 3 (6-7 kg) (S18: No), the control unit 54 proceeds to the next process after S22 or S23. In subsequent processes, the control unit 54 can appropriately set the operating time, water volume, and motor rotation speed in the rinsing, dewatering, and drying processes after the washing process according to the fabric quantity, based on the highly accurate fabric quantity determination result derived from the first load quantity and the second load quantity, enabling efficient operation with minimal waste.

[0060] <5. Advantages> In determining the amount of laundry, differences exist between machines due to factors such as the eccentricity of the drum and the ease of rotation (frictional resistance) of the sliding parts, which in turn affect the ease of rotation of the motor. In other words, there is variation in the rotational resistance of the drum 14 from one washing machine to another. As a result, it can be difficult to accurately determine the amount of laundry. Furthermore, as explained with reference to Figure 4, in the range where the weight of laundry is relatively large, such as 6 kg or 7 kg, the increase in the sensor value per unit amount of laundry decreases, making it difficult to accurately determine the amount of laundry based on the load of the torque motor 16.

[0061] Therefore, in this embodiment, the washing and drying machine 1 comprises a water tank 13, a drum 14 (washing tub) placed inside the water tank 13 to hold laundry, a drum motor 16 (motor) that rotates the drum 14, a load detection unit 51 that detects the load amount of the drum motor 16, and a fabric amount determination unit 53 that determines the amount of laundry based on a first load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is empty, and a second load amount of the drum motor 16 detected by the load detection unit 51 when the drum 14 is rotated when the water tank 13 is filled with water. According to this embodiment, by combining the determination of fabric amount based on the first load amount and the determination of fabric amount based on the second load amount, the accuracy of fabric amount determination can be easily improved compared to the case where no combination is used. As a result, the accuracy of water supply and washing operation can be improved by improving the accuracy of laundry weight determination, and user convenience can be improved.

[0062] In this embodiment, the fabric quantity determination unit 53 determines the fabric quantity based on a first determination result based on a first load amount and a first threshold, and a second determination result based on a second load amount and a second threshold. According to this embodiment, the fabric quantity can be accurately determined by a simple process of comparison with a threshold.

[0063] In this embodiment, the first load is the load detected when the load on the drum motor 16 increases as the amount of fabric increases, and the second load is the load detected when the load on the drum motor 16 decreases as the amount of fabric increases. According to this embodiment, the amount of fabric can be determined with high accuracy by correcting for differences between machines.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first load is the load detected during acceleration or deceleration of the drum motor 16, and the second load is the load detected while the drum motor 16 is rotating at a constant speed. According to this embodiment, for the first load, high-precision fabric quantity detection is possible from the moment of inertia of the drum motor 16 during acceleration or deceleration. Furthermore, for the second load, the fabric quantity can be stably detected even during operation with a relatively high load.

[0065] In this embodiment, the second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. According to this embodiment, the load amount can be detected during the washing operation without performing any special operation for determining the amount of fabric.

[0066] In this embodiment, the washer-dryer 1 comprises a washing machine body MB including a water tank 13, a drum 14, and a drum motor 16, and a control unit 54 that controls the washing machine body MB. The first load amount is the load amount detected before water supply. The second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. The fabric amount determination unit 53 makes a first determination regarding the fabric amount based on the first load amount, and then makes a second determination regarding the fabric amount based on the second load amount. Based on the result of the first determination, the control unit 54 starts controlling the washing machine body MB regarding the amount of water supplied or the washing operation. Based on the result of the second determination, the control unit 54 controls the operation of the washing machine body regarding the rinsing operation, spin-drying operation, or drying operation. According to this embodiment, the rinsing, spin-drying, drying time, rinse water amount, motor rotation speed, etc. can be set to more appropriate values ​​according to the fabric amount with high accuracy.

[0067] In this embodiment, the washing and drying machine 1 further includes an automatic detergent dispenser 21 for automatically dispensing detergent and an automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 for controlling the automatic detergent dispenser. The first load amount is the load amount detected before water supply. The second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. The fabric load determination unit 53 makes a first determination regarding the fabric load based on the first load amount, and then makes a second determination regarding the fabric load based on the second load amount. The automatic detergent dispenser control unit 112 automatically dispenses detergent using the automatic detergent dispenser 21 based on the result of the first determination, and adds any insufficient detergent based on the result of the second determination. According to this embodiment, the amount of detergent can be made more appropriate.

[0068] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 9, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the control device 50 includes a characteristic estimation unit 55, the storage unit 59 stores characteristic information 59c, and the control unit 54 and the fabric quantity determination unit 53 utilize the characteristic estimation results from the characteristic estimation unit 55. Other than what is described below, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 50 of the second embodiment.

[0069] The characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates the characteristics of the washing machine body MB regarding the ease of rotation of the drum 14 based on the first load amount and the second load amount, and stores the estimated result as characteristic information 59c in the storage unit 59. For example, during the processing of S20 shown in Figure 8, the characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates the characteristics of the washing machine body MB based on the comparison result of the first load amount and the first threshold, and the comparison result of the second load amount and the second threshold. For example, if the first load amount is less than or equal to the first threshold and the second load amount is less than or equal to the second threshold (i.e., when the first load amount is less than or equal to the first threshold with laundry that is ultimately determined to weigh 7 kg contained, the characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates that the machine has the characteristic of the drum 14 being easy to rotate, and stores data indicating this as characteristic information 59c in the storage unit 59. The characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates that the drum 14 has characteristics that make it difficult to rotate when, for example, the first load is greater than the first threshold and the second load is greater than the second threshold (i.e., when the first load is greater than the first threshold with laundry that is ultimately determined to weigh 7 kg), and stores data indicating this as characteristic information 59c in the storage unit 59. The characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates that the drum 14 has normal characteristics when, for example, the first load is greater than the first threshold and the second load is less than the second threshold, or when the first load is less than or equal to the first threshold and the second load is greater than or equal to the second threshold, and stores data indicating this as characteristic information 59c in the storage unit 59.

[0070] The estimation results from the characteristic estimation unit 55 can be used, for example, in the next operation, to determine the fabric load rank in the S12 process shown in Figure 8. The correspondence between the first load amount used as a reference and each rank can be selected from the correspondence for easy rotation, the normal correspondence, or the correspondence for difficult rotation, and used to determine the fabric load rank. Alternatively, it can be used in subsequent operations shown in Figure 8, for example, to adjust the acceleration / deceleration settings in the control of the drum motor 16, or to correct the load amount detection results. Furthermore, the characteristics of the washing machine body MB are not limited to being divided into three categories: "easy to rotate," "normal," and "difficult to rotate," but may be divided into only two categories: "easy to rotate" and "difficult to rotate."

[0071] The characteristic estimation unit 55 can, for example, estimate the characteristics and update the characteristic information 59c for each operation. The control unit 54 can also determine the content of the washing operation (such as the rotation speed of the drum motor 16 and the length of the washing time) for the next operation using the result of the first determination and the characteristics estimated in the previous operation, and determine the content of the rinsing operation, the dewatering operation, and the drying operation based on the result of the second determination.

[0072] In this embodiment, when the characteristic estimation unit 55 has estimated the characteristics, the control unit 54 starts controlling the water supply amount, the automatic detergent dispensing amount, or the washing operation in the next washing operation based on the first load amount and the characteristics estimated by the characteristic estimation unit 55. According to this embodiment, the operation can be controlled with high precision.

[0073] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that, as shown in Figure 10, the washing machine body MB is equipped with a temperature sensor 63 that detects the ambient temperature of the drum 14, for example, and the output of the temperature sensor 63 is input to the control device 50; the control device 50 is equipped with an update timing determination unit 56; and the estimation of characteristics by the characteristic estimation unit 55 is limited to the timing instructed by the update timing determination unit 56, rather than during every operation. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 50 of the third embodiment.

[0074] In the third embodiment, the characteristic estimation unit 55 estimates and updates the characteristics not for each operation, but at the timing instructed by the update timing determination unit 56. Furthermore, in subsequent operations, the control unit 54 uses the result of the first determination and the previously estimated characteristics to determine the content of the washing operation (such as the rotation speed of the drum motor 16 and the length of the washing time), as well as the content of the subsequent rinsing operation, dewatering operation, and drying operation. In other words, in the third embodiment, the second determination using the second load amount does not need to be performed every time.

[0075] The timing for updating the estimated characteristics, as instructed by the update timing determination unit 56, is, for example, when the ambient temperature of the drum 14 (temperature detected by the temperature sensor 63) differs by a predetermined amount compared to the previous estimation of the characteristics of the washing machine body MB, when the season (spring, summer, autumn, winter) is different from the previous estimation, or when a predetermined number of days have elapsed since the previous estimation.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the characteristic estimation unit 55 re-estimates the characteristics of the washing machine body MB if the ambient temperature of the drum 14 (water tub) differs by a predetermined amount compared to the previous estimation, if the season is different from the previous estimation, or if a predetermined number of days have elapsed since the previous estimation. This embodiment allows for the estimation and updating of characteristics at an appropriate timing.

[0077] (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that, as shown in Figure 11, the control device 50 includes an unbalance determination unit 57, and the characteristic estimation by the characteristic estimation unit 55 is limited not to every operation, but to the timing instructed by the update timing determination unit 56 and the timing when the unbalance determination unit 57 determines that an unbalanced state has occurred. Other than what is described below, the configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment. Figure 11 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control device 50 of the fourth embodiment.

[0078] In the fourth embodiment, the characteristic estimation unit 55 performs an unbalance determination by the unbalance determination unit 57 in addition to the timing instructed by the update timing determination unit 56, and updates the estimated characteristics if an unbalance is determined. If the acceleration is large enough to cause an unbalance, the axis of the drum motor 16 may shift due to the shock caused by vibration, which may cause changes in characteristics such as the ease of rotation of the drum 14. However, according to this embodiment, the characteristics can be estimated and updated immediately in such cases.

[0079] The unbalance determination unit 57 performs an unbalance determination to determine whether or not there is an imbalance in the position of the laundry inside the drum 14. For example, the unbalance determination unit 57 determines that there is an imbalance in the position of the clothes inside the drum 14 if the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 61 during the spin-drying operation (i.e., the magnitude of the vibration of the water tub 13) is above a threshold. The unbalance determination unit 57 may also be called an "imbalance determination unit" or a "vibration determination unit".

[0080] (Fifth embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the detection of the load amount of the drum motor 16 (first fabric amount detection in the first embodiment) when the drum 14 is empty of water is performed during or after the dewatering operation. Other than what is described below, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the control flow of the fifth embodiment.

[0081] In the fifth embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, fabric quantity detection (S11) and fabric quantity rank determination (S12) are performed before the start of the washing operation. Fabric quantity detection (S11) and fabric quantity rank determination (S12) are the same as the first fabric quantity detection (S11) and fabric quantity rank determination (S12) in the first embodiment.

[0082] In this embodiment, a second fabric quantity detection is performed after the start of the washing operation (S15) (S16). Then, after the washing operation is completed, a rinsing operation (S31) and a spin-drying operation (S32) are performed. However, the rinsing operation (S31) and the spin-drying operation (S32) are performed based on the fabric quantity rank determined in the process of S12.

[0083] In this embodiment, a third fabric load detection (S33) is performed during or after the dewatering operation. The third fabric load detection is the detection of the first load amount of the drum motor 16 when the drum 14 is empty of water, and corresponds to the first fabric load detection in the first embodiment. The subsequent determination flow is the same as that from S18 to S23 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the fabric load is accurately determined based on the second load amount obtained in the second fabric load detection (S16) and the first load amount obtained in the third fabric load detection (S33), and the content of the drying operation is determined based on the determination result. With this configuration, the content of the drying operation can be made more appropriate.

[0084] (Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. The sixth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that an example of a "washing machine system WS" is configured with a washing machine 1 and a server device 200. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, except for those described below.

[0085] Figure 13 shows a washing machine system WS according to the sixth embodiment. The washing machine system WS includes a washer-dryer 1 and a server device 200. For example, the washer-dryer 1 is connected to a network NW via a wireless router R and modem M installed in the user's residence. The washer-dryer 1 can communicate with the server device 200 (e.g., a cloud server) via the network NW. However, the server device 200 is not limited to a cloud server and may be a computer installed in the user's residence, etc.

[0086] In this embodiment, the server device 200 has a load detection unit 201 and a fabric quantity determination unit 202. The storage unit 203 is configured as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. In this embodiment, the first threshold information 204 and the second threshold information 205 are stored in the storage unit 203 of the server device 200. The load detection unit 201, the fabric quantity determination unit 202, the first threshold information 204 and the second threshold information 205 correspond to the load detection unit 51, the fabric quantity determination unit 53, the first threshold information 59a and the second threshold information 59b shown in Figure 1, respectively, and have the same function.

[0087] Although several embodiments have been described above, the embodiments are not limited to the examples above. For example, the embodiments described above may be combined and implemented. The determination of the amount of fabric is not limited to a first determination, a second determination, etc., which compare a threshold and a load, but may also be calculated by inputting the first load and the second load into a predetermined calculation formula. Furthermore, in the flowcharts shown in Figures 8 and 12, for rank 3 amounts of fabric between 6kg and 7kg, a process is performed to further distinguish between 6kg and 7kg (to determine which it is closer to) using the first load and the second load. However, accurate determination of the amount of fabric using the first load and the second load may be performed not only for one rank of fabric amount, but also for multiple ranks of fabric amount (for example, all ranks).

[0088] According to at least one embodiment described above, the washing machine system has a fabric quantity determination unit that determines the amount of laundry based on a first motor load detected when the washing tub is rotated when the tub is empty of water, and a second motor load detected when the washing tub is rotated when the tub is filled with water. Such a configuration can improve convenience.

[0089] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of 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 and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0090] 1...Washer-dryer (washing machine system), MB...Washing machine body, 13...Water tank (water receiving tank), 14...Drum (washing tub), 16...Drum motor (motor), 21...Automatic dispensing device, 50...Control device, 51, 201...Load detection unit, 52...Fabric type determination unit, 53, 202...Fabric amount determination unit, 54...Control unit, 55...Characteristic estimation unit, 56...Update timing determination unit, 57...Unbalance determination unit, 59, 203...Storage unit, 61...Accelerometer, 62...Current sensor, 59a, 204...First threshold information, 59b, 205...Second threshold information, 111...Motor control unit, 112...Automatic dispensing device control unit.

Claims

1. It is a washing machine system, A fish tank and A washing tub is placed inside the aforementioned water tank, has multiple baffles, and contains laundry, A motor that rotates the washing tub, A load detection unit for detecting the load amount of the motor, A fabric quantity determination unit capable of determining the amount of laundry based on a first load amount of the motor detected by the load detection unit when the amount of laundry increases while the motor is accelerating or decelerating with no water stored in the water tank, and when the load amount of the laundry is above a certain level, and when the amount of laundry increases, the weight of the laundry acting on the plurality of baffles becomes more equal and the load amount of the motor decreases, based on a second load amount of the motor detected by the load detection unit when the motor is rotating at a constant speed with water stored in the water tank, A control unit that determines at least one operation to be included in the operation of the washing machine system based on the determination result of the fabric amount determination unit, Equipped with, The fabric quantity determination unit performs a first determination regarding the fabric quantity based on the first load quantity, and if the result of the first determination determines that the fabric quantity is classified into a predetermined rank in the region above a certain level, it performs a second determination to determine whether the fabric quantity is included in the first classification within the predetermined rank or in the second classification within the predetermined rank, based on a comparison of at least the detection result of the second load quantity and the second threshold. Washing machine system.

2. The aforementioned fabric quantity determination unit is As the second determination, the amount of fabric is determined based on the comparison result between the first load and the first threshold, and the comparison result between the second load and the second threshold. If the first load is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the second load is greater than or equal to the second threshold, it is determined that the amount of fabric is included in either the first or second classification. The washing machine system according to claim 1.

3. The second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. The washing machine system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The washing machine body further comprises the water tank, the washing tub, and the motor, The first load is the load detected before water supply. The second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. Based on the result of the first determination, the control unit starts controlling the washing machine body regarding the amount of water supplied or the washing operation, and based on the result of the second determination, controls the operation of the washing machine body regarding the rinsing operation, spin-drying operation, or drying operation. A washing machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. An automatic detergent dispenser, An automatic feeding device control unit that controls the automatic feeding device, Furthermore, The first load is the load detected before water supply. The second load amount is the load amount detected during the washing operation. The automatic dispensing device control unit automatically dispenses detergent using the automatic dispensing device based on the result of the first determination, and adds any missing detergent based on the result of the second determination. A washing machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The washing machine body further comprises the water tank, the washing tub, and the motor, When the second determination is made, the washing machine further includes a characteristic estimation unit that estimates the characteristics of the washing machine body regarding the ease of rotation of the washing tub, based on the comparison result of the first load amount and the first threshold and the comparison result of the second load amount and the second threshold. A washing machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. When the characteristic estimation unit has estimated the characteristics, the control unit will start controlling the water supply amount, the automatic detergent dispensing amount, or the washing operation in the next washing operation based on the first load amount and the characteristics estimated by the characteristic estimation unit. The washing machine system according to claim 6.

8. The characteristic estimation unit re-estimates the characteristics if the ambient temperature of the water tank differs by a predetermined amount compared to the previous estimation of the characteristics of the washing machine body, if the season is different from the previous estimation, or if a predetermined number of days have elapsed since the previous estimation. The washing machine system according to claim 6 or claim 7.

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