WASHING MACHINE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which has a cloth amount detection means that accurately detects the amount of cloth in a drum, excludes influences of biasing of the laundry, and is stable. SOLUTION: The washing machine includes: a motor 7 for rotationally driving the drum; a motor rotating speed detection means 30; and a control unit 31. The control unit 31 controls: a first detection step of accelerating rotations of the drum and measuring time t1 during which the rotating speed rises just by ΔN1; and a second detection step of decelerating the rotations of the drum and measuring time t2 during which the rotating speed lowers just by ΔN2. The cloth amount is detected on the basis of angular acceleration α1 during acceleration and angular acceleration α2 during deceleration obtained from them. When the rotating speed decreases during the first detection step and the number of rotation decreases for a prescribed value or more with respect to a prescribed time passed, rotating drive of the drum is stopped, so that variation of friction torque of a drum rotary shaft is offset and the cloth amount is accurately detected by a simple configuration and by excluding influences, such as the biasing of the laundry. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT