WASHING MACHINE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine having a cloth amount detection means capable of accurately detecting the amount of cloth in a drum. SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: a motor 7 for rotationally driving the drum; a motor rotation number detection means 30 for detecting the rotation number of the motor 7; and a control section 31 for controlling the rotation of the motor 7 on the basis of the detection output of the motor rotation number detection means 30. The control section 31 controls: a first detection step of accelerating the rotation of the drum by applying a prescribed voltage to the motor 7 and giving a prescribed command frequency, and measuring time t1 during which the rotation number rises by ΔN1; and a second detection step of decelerating the rotation of the drum by applying a prescribed DC voltage to the motor 7, and measuring time t2 during which the rotation number lowers by ΔN2, and the cloth amount is detected by angular acceleration α1 during acceleration and angular acceleration α2 during deceleration obtained from them. Thus, the dispersion of the friction torque of a drum rotary shaft is offset and the cloth amount is accurately detected by a simple configuration. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT