JP2016158744A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of detecting a state of washing water stably.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a water tub 42; a drain pipe 64 connected to a bottom part of the water tub 42; a sensor 67 for detecting a state of washing water disposed in the drain pipe; a lint filter 65 for collecting lint and the like; a filter case 83; a drainage pump 63 for draining the washing water; and a draining hose 66. When the drainage pump 63 is not driven, drainage of the water in the water tub 42 is inhibited by the rise of the draining hose 66. After draining the water by driving the drainage pump 63, at least a part of the filter case 83 and the drain pipe 64 is submerged in residual water in the draining hose 66, and the sensor 67 is disposed in a position which is submerged in the residual water in the drain pipe 64. Thus, after finish of washing, a draft face reaches the sensor 67 part, and accumulation of dirt can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that performs a washing operation according to the state of dirt of washing water.

  Conventionally, it has been considered to provide a sensor for detecting the degree of dirt on the washing water due to the elution of dirt from the laundry, and to detect the state of the washing water dirt by the sensor to control the washing process.

  The sensor is arranged in a drain pipe between the lower part of the water tank and the drain valve or a circulation path for circulating water in the water tank with a pump. Therefore, the state of the washing water stain detected by the sensor is easily affected by suspended particles such as lint. In order to suppress the influence of lint etc., a filter for removing lint etc. is provided. By removing lint and the like, it is possible to accurately detect the dirty state of the washing water without being affected by suspended particles in the washing water. In addition, since waste yarn and the like are removed from the wastewater by the filter, the waste yarn and the like are not discharged out of the washing machine together with the wastewater (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-264053 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, residual water is generated in the drain pipe or drain hose after draining. The amount of remaining water depends on the installation situation of the external drain hose outside the washing machine that communicates with the drain outlet on the house side. That is, when the external drainage hose is lifted higher than the drainage valve, the remaining water amount and the draft surface depend on the lifting height of the external drainage hose. Therefore, when the external drainage hose is lifted above the sensor level, the draft surface of the remaining water is positioned on the sensor part of the sensor after drainage, and the sensor part is likely to be contaminated. There was a problem that the state of dirt could not be detected correctly.

  This will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an installation state of a conventional washing machine. The sensor 67 is disposed in the drain pipe 64 or the circulation system 56. In the present embodiment, the sensor 67 is disposed in the circulation system 56. Further, a drain valve 66a is provided below the upstream side of the sensor 67, and the drain valve 66a is closed during the washing process and the rinsing process to prevent the washing water in the water tank 42 from being discharged outside the machine. The drain valve 66a is opened so that the washing water in the water tank 42 is discharged out of the machine. Therefore, after drainage, the washing water in the water tank 42 does not remain in the sensor 67 disposed in the drain pipe 64 or the circulation system 56.

  However, the situation of the remaining water greatly depends on the installation situation of the external drainage hose 66b that connects the drainage hose 66 and the drain outlet on the house side. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when a part of the external drain hose 66b is installed in a state where it is lifted higher than the drain valve 66a, the drain hose 66, the filter case 83, the drain pipe 64, and Water remains in the circulation system 56 as well. The amount of remaining water and the draft surface of the remaining water depend on the lifting height of the external drain hose 66b.

Therefore, when the external drainage hose 66b is installed in a state where it is raised to the same height as the sensor 67, the draft surface of the remaining water after draining is always located at the sensor 67 portion. Dirt accumulates on the optical path between them, making it impossible to correctly detect the state of the wash water stain.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that makes it difficult for dirt to adhere to a sensor portion and can accurately detect the state of washing water.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, a rotating drum formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a water tank that rotatably includes the rotating drum, a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the water tank, A sensor disposed in the drainage pipe for detecting the state of the washing water in the water tank, a filter case having a lint filter for collecting lint and the like connected to the drainage pipe, and communicating with the filter case A drainage pump for draining the washing water in the aquarium, and a drainage hose arranged in communication with the drainage pump, and when the drainage pump is not driven, After the drainage pump is driven and the water in the tank is drained, the drainage hose is stopped when the drainage pump is stopped. Fine said submerged at least a portion of the drainage pipe, wherein the sensor is one which is disposed at a position submerged in the drain pipe.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the draft surface from reaching the sensor unit after the washing is completed.

  In the washing machine of the present invention, the draft surface does not reach the sensor part after washing is completed, and it becomes difficult to get dirt, so that the dirt state of the washing water can be accurately detected, and the appropriate washing process is controlled in accordance with the degree of dirt. Can be realized.

Sectional drawing of the washing machine in embodiment of this invention Cross section of the main part of the washing machine Front view of the main part of the washing machine Schematic diagram showing the installation status of the washing machine Schematic diagram showing the installation status of the washing machine Schematic diagram showing the installation status of a conventional washing machine Schematic diagram showing other installation conditions of a conventional washing machine

  The first invention comprises a rotating drum formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a water tank that rotatably includes the rotating drum, a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the water tank, and the drain pipe, A sensor that detects the state of the washing water in the aquarium, a filter case that is connected to the drain pipe and collects lint, etc., and a lint filter, and communicates with the filter case to discharge the washing water in the aquarium. And a drainage hose disposed in communication with the drainage pump, and prevents the washing water in the aquarium from being discharged due to lifting of the drainage hose when the drainage pump is not driven. In addition, when the drain pump is stopped after driving the drain pump to drain water in the water tank, the residual water in the drain hose is at least part of the filter case and the drain pipe. By submerging, the sensor is placed at the position where the drain pipe is submerged, so that the draft surface does not reach the sensor part after washing, making it difficult for dirt to adhere and accurately detecting the state of the washing water. can do.

According to a second invention, in the first invention, the sensor is attached to the drain pipe in the vicinity of the filter case, so that the sensor is hardly affected by floating particles such as lint in the washing water, and the rotating drum rotates. The state of the washing water can be accurately detected without being affected by the bubbles generated by.

  According to a third invention, in the first invention, the internal volume of the drainage hose up to the maximum lifted position is larger than the total internal volume of the filter case and the sensor mounting portion of the drainage pipe. Since the sensor part is surely submerged even after the discharge operation is finished, the draft surface does not reach the sensor part after washing is completed, and dirt is less likely to adhere and the state of the washing water can be accurately detected. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Further, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of the washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Inside the washing machine housing 41, a water tank 42 is disposed so as to be swingable, and a rotating drum 43 is rotatably disposed within the water tank 42. A rotation shaft (rotation center shaft) 44 is provided in the horizontal direction at the rotation center of the rotary drum 43, and a motor 45 attached in the vicinity of the back side of the water tank 42 is connected to the rotation shaft 44 via a belt 46. The rotary drum 43 is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. Several protrusion plates 47 for stirring the laundry are provided on the inner wall surface of the rotating drum 43. In addition, a large number of water passage holes 48 are provided on the entire outer periphery of the rotating drum 43.

  The water tank 42, the rotating drum 43, the motor 45, and the like constitute a vibration-type water tank unit 49. The water tank unit 49 is formed by a plurality of spring bodies 50 from the upper part of the washing machine casing 41, and the washing machine casing 41. Anti-vibration is supported by a plurality of anti-vibration dampers 51 from below.

  A casing opening 40 provided in the washing machine casing 41 on the front side of the water tank 42 is covered with a lid 52 so as to be freely opened and closed. The lid 52 is hermetically sealed through a seal packing 82 that functions as a vibration proof and water seal that connects the front portion of the water tank 42 and the housing opening 40, and can be opened. Thus, the laundry can be taken in and out of the rotary drum 43 through the clothing entrance 53.

  The washing machine has a function of automatically controlling the motor 45, the water supply system 54, the drainage system (not shown), and the circulation system 56 in accordance with the mode setting and control program to perform at least a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process. doing.

  In the washing machine housing 41, a first electromagnetic valve 57 (first water supply means) and a second electromagnetic valve 58 (second water supply means) are provided. A first water supply hose 59 is connected to the first electromagnetic valve 57, and a second water supply hose 60 is connected to the second electromagnetic valve 58 to supply water to the detergent container 61. The detergent container 61 accommodates a drawer and a soft finish, and a drawer (not shown) that can be pulled out to the outside.

  The water supply system 54 includes a first electromagnetic valve 57, a second electromagnetic valve 58 and the like, and the first electromagnetic valve 57 (first water supply means) or the second electromagnetic valve 58 (second water supply means). By opening / closing control, water can be supplied into the water tank 42 from the first water supply hose 59 or the second water supply hose 60 through the detergent container 61 and the water supply path 62 in a timely manner.

  One end of a drain pipe 64 is connected to the bottom of the water tank 42, and the other end of the drain pipe 64 is connected to a filter case 83. The filter case 83 houses a lint filter 65 that collects lint contained in the washing liquid, and the lint filter 65 can be removed from the lower front portion of the washing machine casing 41 outward by a filter knob 84. It is composed. The lint filter 65 is connected to a drainage pump 63 connected to a drainage hose 66 disposed from the inside of the machine to the outside of the machine.

  The drainage system 55 includes a drainage pump 63 and the like. When the drainage pump 63 is driven, the wastewater in the water tank 42 is drained by the lint filter 65 when the washing process is completed or the rinse process is completed. After being removed, the drainage hose 66 can be drained out of the machine. The drain pipe 64 is provided with a sensor 67 that detects the state of the washing water in the water tank 42. The sensor 67 can detect the dirty state of the washing water during the washing process and the rinsing process.

  The circulation system 56 circulates the water in the water tank 42 into the rotating drum 43 as necessary during the pre-washing process, the washing process, the rinsing process, etc., and prevents the detergent from prematurely dissolving and biasing and activating the detergent. Make it. Thereby, the function improvement of being easy to wash can be aimed at.

  The circulation system 56 drives the circulation pump 68 to pass the washing water in the water tub 42 through the filter case 83 via the drain pipe 64 and removes lint and the like in the drainage by the lint filter 65. A flow path 85 formed inside the front of the water tank 42 through the inflow side path 69 to the circulation pump 68, the circulation pump 68, and the discharge side path (not shown) of the circulation pump 68 from the washing water from which the lint etc. have been removed. And is ejected radially into the rotating drum 43 as circulating water indicated by a solid line arrow from an outlet 70 facing the clothing entrance 53 of the rotating drum 43. An injection guide plate 86 is provided on the front inner surface side of the water tank 42 and serves as a guide for guiding the jetted circulating water in a predetermined direction and shape. The details around the filter case 83 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In a recess 71 formed at the bottom of the water tub 42, a hot water heater (heating means) 72 such as a sheathed heater for heating the washing water is disposed in the horizontal direction. As described above, the washing water in the water tank 42 heated by the hot water heater 72 is discharged into the rotating drum 43, so that the washing water is sprinkled on the laundry and the washing water is circulated again. Since the heated washing water is sprinkled on the laundry, the molecular activity of the washing water is increased and the activation of the detergent is increased, so that the cleaning power can be increased and the unevenness in washing can be reduced. In the vicinity of the hot water heater 72, temperature detection means 73 such as a thermistor for detecting the water temperature is provided.

  An air trap 74 is configured in communication with the drain pipe 64 on the side wall on the rear periphery of the bottom of the washing machine casing 41.

  The air trap 74 is connected to a water level detection means 76 that is provided inside the upper part of the washing machine casing 41 via an air pipe 75 and is constituted by a pressure sensor or the like. The water level of a plurality of stages is detected by the pressure of the washing water supplied to the water.

  The upper rear surface of the detergent container 61 provided in the upper inner side of the washing machine casing 41 and the upper part of the water tank 42 are connected by a connecting hose 77, and the connecting hose 77 is a water tank that is pressurized by a stroke operation. It serves to remove air in 42.

Selection of modes such as an operation course and various functions is performed by a user inputting to an input setting means (not shown) from an operation panel 79 provided at the upper front of the washing machine casing 41. An input signal of the input setting means is input to a control device 80 having a control means (not shown) disposed inside the upper portion of the washing machine casing 41, and the control device 80 operates an operation panel based on the input information. 79 display means (
(Not shown) to inform the user and control the washing process.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part showing the periphery of the filter case of the washing machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the drain pipe 64 is provided with a substantially U-shaped sensor 67 on the outer periphery of the drain pipe 64. The sensor 67 includes a light emitting unit 67a and a light receiving unit 67b at positions facing each other. The light emitted from the light emitting portion 67a is attenuated by the washing water in the drain pipe 64, and the light receiving portion 67b receives the attenuated light, so that the state such as the degree of turbidity of the washing water can be detected.

  Here, in the washing of the present embodiment, since the drain pipe 64 is not provided with a drain valve, the washing water in the water tank 42 is not naturally discharged outside the machine during the washing process and the rinsing process. The drainage hose 66 is lifted to a position h2 (for example, 1000 mm) higher than the maximum water level h1 (for example, 300 mm) during the washing process and the rinsing process. Accordingly, when the drainage pump 63 stops driving during drainage, the water from the drainage pump 63 to the lifted portion of the drainage hose 66 is not discharged outside the apparatus but remains in the filter case 83 and the drainage pipe 64.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the height h2 (for example, 1000 mm) of the drainage hose 66 is formed (h2> h3) so as to be higher than the height h3 (for example, 65 mm) of the sensor 67. Regardless of the installation situation of the external drain hose 66b, the draft surface of the remaining water does not come to the sensor 67 portion after draining. Therefore, dirt does not accumulate on the optical path between the light emitting part 67a and the light receiving part 67b of the sensor 67, and the state of the washing water can be detected correctly.

  Further, during the washing and rinsing process, the rotary drum 43 is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions. Accordingly, bubbles and the like are generated in the drainage pipe 64 and the vicinity thereof with the water tank 42 due to the rotational drive of the rotary drum 43, and it is difficult to accurately detect the state of the washing water.

  Therefore, by attaching the sensor 67 to the vicinity of the filter case 83 instead of the connection portion with the water tank 42 and the vicinity thereof, the state of the washing water can be accurately detected without being affected by bubbles due to the rotational drive of the rotary drum 43. It becomes possible to do.

  On the other hand, the height of the external drainage hose 66b is limited due to restrictions on the location of the washing machine, and the height of the drainage hose 66 is limited due to restrictions on the configuration inside the washing machine. Further, the height h2 (for example, 1000 mm) of the drainage hose 66 is not necessarily required as long as the height h2 is raised to a position higher than the highest water level h1 (for example, 380 mm) during the washing process and the rinsing process. .

  That is, the internal volume v1 (for example, average hose inner diameter 20 mm × total length 1500 mm = about 470,000 mm 3) from the drain pump 63 to the raised portion of the drain hose 66 is the sum of the filter case 83 and the sensor 67 mounting portion of the drain pipe 64. By forming the inner volume v2 to be larger than the inner volume v2 (for example, filter case inner diameter 45 mm × total length 75 mm = about 120,000 mm 3 + drain pipe inner diameter 22 mm × total length 150 mm = about 60,000 mm 3 = about 180,000 mm 3) (v1> v2) The sensor 67 can be surely submerged and the state of the washing water can be accurately detected. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lifting height h2 ′ of the drainage hose 66 can be lowered (for example, 500 mm, average hose inner diameter 20 mm × total length 1000 mm = about 310,000 mm 3). It is possible to satisfy the constraints.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention has a draft surface that does not reach the sensor unit after washing is completed, and is less likely to get dirty. Therefore, the present invention is useful as a washing machine.

41 Washing Machine Housing 42 Water Tank 43 Rotating Drum 45 Motor 56 Circulation System 63 Drainage Pump 64 Drainage Pipe 65 Lint Filter 66 Drainage Hose 66a Drainage Valve 66b External Drainage Hose 67 Sensor 67a Light Emitting Part 67b Light Receiving Part 68 Circulation Pump 83 Filter Case

Claims (3)

A rotating drum formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape;
A water tank containing the rotating drum rotatably,
A drain pipe connected to the bottom of the aquarium;
A sensor that is disposed in the drain pipe and detects a state of the washing water in the water tank;
A filter case that is connected to the drain pipe and has a lint filter that collects lint and the like;
A drainage pump that communicates with the filter case and discharges washing water in the water tank,
A drainage hose disposed in communication with the drainage pump,
When the drainage pump is not driven, the drainage hose is lifted in the middle to prevent the washing water in the aquarium from being discharged, and after the drainage pump is driven to drain the water in the aquarium, the drainage pump When the water is stopped, the residual water of the drain hose submerges at least a part of the filter case and the drain pipe, and the sensor is disposed at a position submerged by the residual water. Machine. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is attached in the vicinity of a filter case of the drain pipe. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the drainage hose to the maximum lifted position is larger than the total internal volume of the filter case and the sensor mounting portion of the drainage pipe.

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