JP2020192099A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which determines the deterioration degree of a detergent and a softener in a tank, and which suppresses deterioration in washing performance.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a housing; a water tub provided in the housing; washing processing liquid supply means having a tank for holding a washing processing liquid inside, and for supplying the washing processing liquid to the water tub; deterioration degree determination means for determining the deterioration degree of the washing processing liquid in the tank; and operation control means for controlling the washing processing liquid supply means and the deterioration degree determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing clothes.

For example, in a drum-type washing machine, a drum is rotatably arranged in a water tank arranged horizontally or substantially horizontally, and the drum is rotationally driven around a rotation axis to wash and rinse the laundry. It even dehydrates. Some drum-type washing machines even dry the laundry.

The washing machine described in Patent Document 1 states that "the upper part of the water receiving tub 3 in which the washing and dehydrating tub is rotatably arranged is covered with a water receiving tub cover, and the upper part of the outer shell that supports the water receiving tub with vibration isolation An outer cover is provided so as to cover the water receiving tank 3. The outer frame cover is provided with a detergent tank capable of accommodating an amount of liquid detergent that can be used for at least two washings, and the liquid detergent is washed and dehydrated by a detergent charging device. A configuration that can be put into the tank (solution for summarization) is disclosed.

Further, in the washing machine described in Patent Document 2, "the water tank is elastically supported via a support means 5 provided with a spring and damping. A drain pipe is connected to the bottom surface of the water tank via a drain valve. In addition, the washing water in the water tank can be drained. In addition, the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means is arranged above the water tank. A drying air passage is connected to the water tank to discharge the moist air in the water tank. Then, it is dried by, for example, a drying means provided with a heater or a blowing means (not shown). ”The configuration is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-300891 Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-006758

In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, a configuration in which the liquid detergent is supplied by using a pump device that directly pumps the liquid detergent from the detergent tank is disclosed, but in order to avoid the pressure in the detergent tank becoming negative. It is necessary to provide an air inlet. Therefore, the water evaporated from the liquid detergent in the detergent tank is released into the atmosphere from the air inlet, and the liquid detergent in the detergent tank loses its water content and deteriorates.
In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the surface temperature of the tank rises during the drying operation, and the liquid detergent and the softener in the tank become high in temperature, which is altered by heat.
Liquid detergents and fabric softeners that have deteriorated due to a decrease in water content or heat cannot exhibit the original performance of detergents and fabric softeners because they gel or solidify and become difficult to dissolve in water, or their components change. As described above, there is a problem that detergents and fabric softeners change (altered) in the tank so as to deteriorate the washing performance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that determines the degree of deterioration of the detergent and the softener in the tank and suppresses the deterioration of the washing performance.

In order to achieve the above object, as an example of the present invention, the washing machine of the present invention has a housing, a water tank provided inside the housing, and a tank for holding the washing treatment liquid inside. A washing treatment liquid supply means for supplying the washing treatment liquid into the tank, a deterioration condition determination means for determining the deterioration condition of the washing treatment liquid in the tank, a washing treatment liquid supply means, and an operation control means for controlling the deterioration condition determination means. And,.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of determining the degree of deterioration of the detergent or fabric softener in the tank and suppressing deterioration of washing performance.

It is a perspective view of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the washing process liquid automatic addition means which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the washing treatment liquid tank which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing BB which shows the structure of the washing process liquid automatic addition means which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the pump part of the washing process liquid automatic addition means which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a CC sectional view of FIG. 8 which shows the structure of the pump part which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 8 of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the washing process liquid automatic addition means which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the motor is rotated forward and the detergent is supplied from the detergent tank. It is a top view of the washing process liquid automatic addition means which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the motor is reversed and the softener is supplied from the softener tank. It is the schematic which shows an example of the residual amount detecting means of the washing process liquid which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows an example of the residual amount detecting means of the washing process liquid which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a control flowchart which shows the operation of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view, and shows a part of the internal configuration by virtually removing the front cover 18. FIG. 3 shows a top view, FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, and for explanation, a cylindrical water tank 17 and a part of the rotary drum 20 which are water receiving tanks are virtually broken. And illustrated.
Further, in the following description, the directions of up, down, left, right, front and back are based on the directions of up, down, left, right, front and back shown in FIG.

An outer frame 2 formed by combining a steel plate and a resin molded product is placed on the upper portion of the base 1 to form a washing machine main body 4. A lid 3 and a front cover 18, which are doors for taking in and out the laundry 21, are provided on the front surface of the outer frame 2, and a back cover 19 is provided on the back surface.

A part of the front surface of the upper surface of the outer frame 2 has switches and displays for selecting an operation course such as turning on / off the power supply, turning on / off the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 which is a washing treatment liquid supply means, washing, and drying. The operation panel 6 is provided, and the other part is a detergent inlet 25 provided so as to be openable and closable.

A water tap 7 is provided on the upper surface near the back surface of the washing machine main body 4, and a water pipe is connected to supply water to the washing machine main body 4.

Since the configuration is the same as that of a conventional washing machine or washer / dryer, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

<Detergent inlet>
The detergent input port 25 includes, for example, a powder detergent input unit 25a, a liquid detergent input unit 25b, and a softener input unit 25c, and can charge one dose of powder detergent, softener, or liquid detergent, respectively. it can. The powder detergent, fabric softener, or liquid detergent charged into the detergent inlet 25 is supplied with water via the first water supply pipe 9 at a predetermined time in the washing process, and is supplied with water via the first detergent supply pipe 14. Then, it is put into the water tank 17.

<Outline configuration on the main body side>
The water tank 17 is elastically supported on the base 1 via a support means 5 provided with a spring and damping.

Inside the water tank 17, a cylindrical rotating rotating drum 20 for putting laundry 21 into the washing and dehydrating is provided, and on the front end side of the rotating drum 20, fluid is confined in a plurality of layers concentrically provided inside. The fluid balancer 22 is provided and rotates integrally with the rotating drum 20 to reduce the vibration of the rotating drum 20 due to the imbalance of the laundry 21. The rotating drum 20 has a large number of small holes (not shown) for centrifugal dehydration on the side wall, and is rotated by the drum motor 8.

<Drain valve>
A drain pipe 11 is connected to the bottom surface of the water tank 17 via a drain valve 10, and the washing water in the water tank 17 can be drained. Further, in the case of a washer / dryer having a drying function, a drying air passage 13 is connected to the water tank 17, and moist air in the water tank 17 is discharged to provide, for example, a heater or a blowing means (not shown). Dry by drying means.

<Water supply solenoid valve>
When supplying the powder detergent, softener, or liquid detergent charged into the detergent inlet 25 into the water tank 17, the water supply electromagnetic valve 12 is opened to allow the water supply electromagnetic valve 12 and the detergent inlet 25 to be supplied from the water tap 7. Tap water is supplied to, for example, the liquid detergent inlet 25b of the detergent inlet 25 to dissolve the liquid detergent via the first water supply pipe 9 connected to the detergent inlet 25, and the water tank 17 and the water tank 17 descend from the detergent inlet 25. It is supplied to the inside of the water tank 17 through the connected first detergent supply pipe 14.

<Detection of the presence or absence of washing liquid>
An electrode sensor 93 is provided in the lower part of the water tank 17 to detect the presence or absence of the washing treatment liquid in the present embodiment. From the electrical conductivity detected by the electrode sensor 93, the presence or absence of detergent or softener is determined. For example, a threshold value may be set and the presence or absence of detergent or softener may be determined using this threshold value. The present invention is not limited to conductivity detection.

<Check valve>
A check valve 16 is provided in the vicinity of the water tank 17 of the first detergent supply pipe 14, and the detergent liquid flowing from the detergent inlet 25 toward the water tank 17 passes through, but conversely, the detergent liquid flows from the water tank 17 toward the detergent inlet 25. It is possible to suppress the passage of air when the pressure in the water tank 17 rises, or in the case of a washing / drying machine, high humidity air.

<Automatic injection of washing liquid>
On the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4, a washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30, which is a washing treatment liquid supply means described in detail later, is provided, and an openable / closable tank lid 31 is provided on the upper surface thereof. At least one or more washing treatment liquid tanks are provided in the lower part of the tank lid 31, and as an example, two sets of washing treatment liquid tanks are provided, one of which is an amount of liquid detergent capable of performing multiple washings. The detergent tank 32 has a capacity to hold the above, and the other can be a softener tank 33 having a capacity to hold, for example, a softener in an amount capable of performing a plurality of washings.

In the state where the tank lid 31 is opened, the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 can be pulled out upward from the opening in which the tank lid 31 is opened, and can be set again.

Hereinafter, when the common configuration of the softener tank 33 and the detergent tank 32 is described, it may be simply referred to as a “tank”.

<Laundry processing liquid automatic injection means top surface arrangement>
In the present embodiment, since the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 which is the washing treatment liquid supply means is provided on the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4, the user does not have to bend down to attach / detach the washing treatment liquid tank. An easy washing machine can be provided. Further, since both the detergent charging port 25 and the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 are arranged on the left side of the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4, they are arranged at a cohesive position, so that the user's usability is further improved. Further, when the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 is arranged below the water tank 17, water may flow back to the treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 from the pipe connecting the washing processing liquid automatic charging means 30 and the water tank 17. However, in the present embodiment, since the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 is arranged above the water tank 17, there is no risk of such backflow, and a highly reliable washing machine can be provided. Further, since the washing processing liquid automatic charging means 30 can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction from the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4, usability is improved.

<The lid opens on the back side>
In the present embodiment, the tank lid 31 is pivotally supported around the lid fulcrum 42a, which is a rotation fulcrum, along the side on the rear surface side, and the side on the front side is lifted toward the back side. It is a configuration to open. Since the opening in which the tank lid 31 is opened is in a state where the front side and the three sides on both the left and right sides are open, when inserting a hand through the opening to remove the tanks 32 and 33 upward, either the left or right side Since it does not come into contact with the tank lid 31 in the open state, it is easy to insert the washing machine, and the tanks 32 and 33 can be easily removed to provide a convenient washing machine.

If the angle when the tank lid 31 is opened is larger than 90 °, for example, about 100 °, the center of gravity of the tank lid 31 moves to the rear of the rotation fulcrum, so that it is stable in the open state. Suitable.

<Details of automatic washing liquid injection means>
The washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 which is the washing treatment liquid supply means according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 12. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the washing treatment liquid automatic filling means 30 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the washing treatment liquid tank, and FIG. 7 is a configuration of the washing treatment liquid automatic filling means 30. −B sectional view, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the pump portion of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line DD, and FIG. It is a top view of the automatic processing liquid charging means, in which the motor is rotated in the normal direction to supply detergent from the detergent tank 32, and FIG. 12 is a top view of the washing processing liquid automatic charging means, in which the motor is reversed and flexible. It shows the state where the softener is being supplied from the agent tank.

<Storage container>
The tank storage container 34 has a substantially box-like shape with an open upper surface, and is provided in the washing machine main body 4, and can store the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33. The detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 each include a detergent tank storage area 37 divided in the front-rear direction by a first partition wall 35, and a softener tank storage area 38. The left side surface of the tank storage container 34 is provided with a charging area 39 separated from the detergent tank storage area 37 and the softener tank storage area 38 by a second partition wall 36. The other end of the second water supply pipe 40, one end of which is connected to the water supply solenoid valve 12, is connected to the rear side surface of the input region 39, and when the water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened, the water is second. Water is supplied into the input area 39 via the water supply pipe 40 of the above.

One end of the second detergent supply pipe 41 is connected to the lower surface of the charging region 39, and the other end of the second detergent supply pipe 41 is connected to the first detergent supply pipe 14. That is, the detergent or fabric softener charged into the charging region 39 flows out to the inside of the first detergent supply pipe 14 via the second detergent supply pipe 41 together with the supplied water.

The timing at which the detergent and the softener are supplied into the water tank 17 is different from each other, and the detergent is supplied in the washing step and the softener is supplied in the final rinsing step, which will be described in detail later. Since the inside of the charging area 39 is cleaned by supplying water after supplying the detergent to the inside of the charging area 39, even if the softener is supplied to the inside of the same charging area 39, the detergent remains and becomes a softener. Not mixed. Therefore, only one input region 39 is required, and the water supply discharge unit 57 and the second water supply pipe 40 for supplying water to the input basin 39 do not need to be separately provided for the detergent and the softener, which is simple. It is suitable because it can be configured.

On the upper surface of the rear portion of the tank storage container 34, a lid support portion 43 provided with a support shaft hole 42 for pivotally supporting the lid body described later is provided.

<Tank>
In the tank storage container 34, two washing treatment liquid tanks are provided side by side in the front-rear direction, and a softener tank 33 is provided in the front and a detergent tank 32 is provided in the rear. The softener tank 33 and the detergent tank 32 are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the first partition wall 35. As an example, if the size of the detergent tank 32 in the front-rear direction is larger than the size of the softener tank 33 in the front-rear direction, the capacity of the detergent tank 32 can be made larger than that of the softener tank 33.

Since the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 have the same configuration except that they have a substantially symmetrical shape with the first partition wall 35 in between and the dimensions in the front-rear direction are different, the detergent tanks are shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The configuration of 32 will be described in detail.

In the present embodiment, the detergent tank 32 is detachably divided into two parts, an upper tank lid 44 and a lower tank body 45, and the tank lid 44 is used when replenishing detergent or inside the detergent tank 32. When cleaning, it can be removed from the tank body 45 by releasing a locking means (not shown). The tank lid 44 is provided with a tank handle 44a for manually gripping the detergent tank 32 when it is attached or detached.

When the detergent tank 32 is replenished with a predetermined amount of detergent, the tank body 45 can be configured so that the liquid level of the detergent reaches the maximum capacity at a height lower than the boundary between the tank body 45 and the tank lid 44. It is preferable because the detergent does not leak out of the detergent tank 32 from the boundary between the tank lid portion 44 and the tank lid portion 44.

If the tank body 45 is molded of a transparent resin such as acrylic resin or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, the remaining amount of detergent or fabric softener when the detergent tank 32 or fabric softener tank 33 is removed from the washing machine body 4. Is suitable because it can be visually confirmed.

The bottom surface 46 of the tank body 45 has a substantially V shape, and if the suction port 48 of the pump means 47 described later is provided at the lowest portion of the bottom surface, the detergent in the tank is sucked to the end. Since it can be formed, the detergent is not wasted, which is suitable.

<Vertical tank>
The detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 are configured so that the depth dimension is the smallest among the depth dimension in the front-rear direction, the width in the left-right direction, and the height dimension in the vertical direction. With this configuration, the area where the detergent or fabric softener inside the tank comes into contact with the air in the tank can be reduced, so that moisture evaporates from the surface of the detergent or fabric softener and the viscosity of the surface increases. There is an effect that the influence of solidification can be minimized and the supply operation by the pump means 47 described later can be reliably performed.

<Tank front and rear arrangement and tank depth>
The arrangement, dimensions and volume of the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 will be described. Here, a case where it is desirable that the capacity of the detergent tank 32 is larger than the capacity of the softener tank 33 will be described. This corresponds to, for example, the case where the container size of each of the detergent and the softener on the market and the sales unit sold for refilling are larger for the detergent than for the softener.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the water tank 17 is arranged so as to be inclined so that the front lid 3 side is high and the rear is lower. In this case, the gap between the water tank 17 and the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4 is smaller toward the front and larger toward the rear. Therefore, when the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, it is preferable to arrange a tank having a large capacity in the rear so that the depth in the vertical direction can be increased. It is preferable to arrange a tank having a small depth and a small capacity on the front side, and in this embodiment, it is preferable to arrange the detergent tank 32 in the rear and the softener tank 33 in the front.

Further, since the water tank 17 has a cylindrical shape, the gap between the water tank 17 and the upper surface of the washing machine main body 4 is larger as it is closer to both left and right ends, and is smaller as it is closer to the center. Therefore, when the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, a tank having a small capacity (softener tank 33) is arranged near the center, and a tank having a large capacity is arranged on the end side of the housing. It is desirable to arrange a tank (detergent tank 32). With such an arrangement, the height of the tank (detergent tank 32) arranged on the end side of the tank (softener tank 33) arranged near the center is increased to further expand the capacity of the detergent tank 32. It is suitable because it can be done.

<Pump>
The tank lid 44 is provided with a pump means 47 for sucking the washing treatment liquid from the tank body 45 and charging it into the above-mentioned charging area 39. In this embodiment, a so-called gear pump is used as an example of the pump means 47.

The pump means 47 in the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided inside the detergent tank 32, and has a pump case 49 extending downward from the tank lid 44 and further downward from the bottom surface of the pump case 49. A suction pipe 50 is provided whose lower end is close to the bottom surface of the tank body 45. The lower end of the suction pipe 50 is an open suction port 48.

As shown in FIG. 9, at the lower end of the pump case 49, one is rotatably supported with the pump drive shaft 60, and the other is rotatably supported around the pump driven shaft 91. It is a so-called gear pump 51 composed of a pair of gears which are driven gears 51b, and has a configuration in which detergent can be conveyed from one of the gear meshing portions 52 to the other by rotating while meshing.

The upper end of the suction pipe 50 is connected to one of the gear meshing portions 52, and the detergent can be sucked through the suction port 48.

A supply pipe 54 arranged in the vertical direction along the pump case 49 is provided on the other side of the gear meshing portion 52, and the lower end of the supply pipe 54 is connected to the other side of the gear meshing portion 52, and the detergent delivered from the gear pump 51. Is supplied.

By rotating the gear pump 51 in the direction of the arrow, the space formed by the gap between the adjacent teeth of the drive gear 51a and the driven gear 51b and the gear pump wall 55 provided close to the outer circumference of the gear is filled. The detergent is supplied by moving the detergent from the suction port 48 side toward the supply pipe 54 side. The operation of the gear pump 51 is generally well known, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The upper end of the pump case 49 is a pump cover 53 that covers the upper surface of the pump means 47.

The upper end of the supply pipe 54 is stretched substantially horizontally in a direction away from the pump cover 53, and the tip thereof is stretched downward, and the tip opens downward to form a detergent discharge port 56.

<Discharge port cleaning>
The second water supply pipe 40 is connected so as to discharge water from the water supply discharge unit 57 provided on the side surface of the charging area 39 of the tank storage container 34. If the water supply / discharge unit 57 is arranged near the discharge port 56 so that the water supplied from the water supply / discharge unit 57 hangs on the discharge port 56, the detergent or fabric softener adhering to the discharge port 56 dries and solidifies. Since there is no clogging of detergent or fabric softener, it is highly reliable.

A suitable position of the water supply / discharge unit 57 will be described. When the height of the water supply discharge unit 57 is close to the second partition wall 36, the discharged water gets over the second partition wall 36 and flows into the detergent tank storage area 37 or the softener tank storage area 38. There is. On the other hand, if the height of the water supply / discharge unit 57 is too close to the bottom surface, the discharged water does not reach the discharge port 56, so that the discharge port 56 cannot be cleaned, and the detergent or softness adhering to the wall surface of the injection area 39. The agent cannot be washed. Therefore, it is preferable that the water supply / discharge unit 57 is provided near the discharge port 56 and at a position lower than the second partition wall 36.

Another example of a suitable position of the water supply / discharge unit 57 will be described. It is desirable that the water supply / discharge unit 57 is provided at a position higher than the discharge port 56. As a result, the water discharged from the water supply / discharge unit 57 can be reliably applied to the discharge port 56, the solidification of the detergent or the softener at the discharge port 56 is suppressed, and the reliability is improved. Further, the water discharged from the water supply / discharge unit 57 may be shower-shaped. As a result, solidification of the detergent or softener at the discharge port 56 is suppressed, and reliability is improved.

Further, since the water supply discharge unit 57 is connected to the second water supply pipe 40, every time water is supplied to the second water supply pipe 40, the water discharged from the water supply discharge unit 57 is applied to the discharge port 56. It is possible to further suppress the solidification of the detergent or the softener at the discharge port 56. Further, since a dedicated water supply path for cleaning the discharge port 56 is not required, water saving is improved.

<Gear pump height>
In the present embodiment, when the remaining amount of the detergent or the softener becomes small, the detergent or the softener is sucked by a negative pressure from the suction port 48 near the bottom surface of each of the tanks 32 and 33 to the gear pump 51 part. To. If the suction height is large, it becomes difficult to suck the detergent or the softener, so it is desirable that the height of the gear pump 51 is close to the bottom surface. On the other hand, in the configuration where the height of the gear pump 51 is close to the bottom surface, the volume of the pump case 49 submerged in the detergent or the softener becomes large, so that the tank capacity of the detergent or the softener decreases. Therefore, by providing the gear pump 51 at a height near the middle between the tank bottom surface 46 and the tank lid 44, the height from the suction port 48 to the gear pump 51 provided near the bottom surface of the pump case 49 can be reduced. It is suitable because it can secure the capacity of detergent or softener.

Further, if the height of the gear pump 51 is arranged at a position lower than the liquid level when the detergent or the softener is replenished in the detergent tank 32 or the softener tank 33, when the detergent or the softener is replenished, the height of the gear pump 51 is lower than the liquid level. The gear pump 51 is in a state of being immersed in a detergent or a softener, that is, in a so-called "priming water" state. That is, since it is not necessary to suck the detergent or the softener to the height of the gear pump 51 by the negative pressure of air, the detergent or the softener can be reliably supplied, which is preferable.

If the gear pump 51 is provided close to the bottom surfaces of the tanks 32 and 33, the liquid level height of the detergent or softener is always higher than that of the gear pump 51, so that the detergent or softener can be reliably supplied, which is preferable.

<Filter structure>
In the present embodiment, the filter 58 is provided with an enlarged lower end of the suction port 48 close to the bottom surfaces of the tanks 32 and 33. The filter 58 has, for example, a disk shape, and a plurality of slits 59 having a width of, for example, about 0.5 mm are provided on the upper surface thereof. Since the filter 58 is provided close to the bottom surface 46 of the tanks 32 and 33, the detergent in the detergent inlet 25 reaches the suction port 48 provided in the substantially central portion of the filter 58 after passing through the slit. It is sucked by the gear pump 51. With such a configuration, when foreign matter is mixed in the detergent or softener, it is collected by the slit 59 of the filter 58, so that the foreign matter can enter the gear pump 51 from the suction port 48 through the suction pipe 50. Since there is no such substance, it is possible to prevent the gear pump portion from being clogged with foreign matter, and it is possible to provide a highly reliable automatic washing treatment liquid charging means 30.

<Pump drive unit>
A configuration for driving the drive gear 51a will be described. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, the pump drive shaft 60 is rotatably supported by the pump case 49 and the pump cover 53, and a drive gear 51a is fixed to the lower end of the pump drive shaft 60 to provide a pump. The upper end of the drive shaft 60 protrudes from the upper surface of the pump case 49, and the coupling 61 is rotatably fixed integrally with the pump drive shaft 60. The coupling 61 has a configuration in which a rotational driving force is transmitted from a driving means 62 provided on the tank lid 31, which will be described later.

That is, when the coupling 61 is rotated by the drive means 62, the gear pump 51 rotates via the pump drive shaft 60, and the detergent in the detergent tank 32 is sucked from the suction port 48 by the action of the gear pump 51, and the gear pump 51 , It is configured to be delivered from the discharge port 56 via the supply pipe 54. The detergent delivered from the discharge port 56 is supplied to the charging area 39 of the tank storage container 34.

<Coupling>
The coupling 61 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and its upper surface has a tapered conical shape with a taper. Coupling protrusions 63 protruding toward the outer circumference are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer circumference of the coupling 61, and at three locations at every 120 ° in the present embodiment. In the upper portion of the coupling 61 and the tapered conical portion, the coupling projection 63 also has a tapered shape that tapers upward along the conical surface.

<Lid / driving means>
The tank lid 31 is pivotally supported around a support shaft hole 42 provided in the lid support portion 43 so as to be openable and closable. Inside the tank lid 31, a supply motor 65 and gears, which are drive means 62, are provided. A speed reducing means 66 provided with a row, and a coupling receiving portion 64 that meshes with the coupling 61 and transmits a driving force to the coupling 61 are provided. The driving force of the supply motor 65 is reduced to an appropriate rotation speed via, for example, a worm gear 67 or a reduction means 66 including a reduction gear train including a plurality of spur gears to rotate the coupling receiving portion 64. Two sets of coupling receiving portions 64 are provided, and when the tank lid 31 is closed, the coupling 61 (detergent supply coupling) and the softener tank 33 provided in the detergent tank 32 are provided, respectively. It is arranged so as to mesh with the coupling 61 (coupling for supplying a softener). Since the coupling 61 and the coupling protrusion 63 have a tapered shape that tapers upward, when the coupling receiving portion 64 is fitted to the coupling 61 by closing the tank lid 31, they may hit or get caught in each other. There is no such thing, and it can be fitted smoothly.

<Coupling receiver>
The inner circumference of the coupling receiving portion 64 is a cylindrical recess 68 having a diameter larger than the outer circumference of the coupling projection 63 provided on the outer circumference of the coupling 61, and is centered on the inner circumference side of the cylindrical recess 68. A meshing protrusion 69 that protrudes toward the surface is provided. In the present embodiment, the meshing protrusions 69 are provided at six positions every 60 °, and the inner peripheral diameter of the meshing protrusions 69 is larger than the diameter of the coupling 61.

That is, the coupling 61 has a dimensional relationship that can be fitted inside the coupling receiving portion 64, and the coupling projection 63 is arranged between the adjacent engaging projections 69 provided in the coupling receiving portion 64. Therefore, the coupling protrusion 63 and the meshing protrusion 69 do not interfere with each other.

<Coupling engagement>
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD showing a state in which the coupling 61 is fitted inside the coupling receiving portion 64. The coupling receiving portion 64 rotates counterclockwise as shown, and the engaging protrusion 69 is a coupling protrusion. It shows a state in which the driving force is transmitted from the coupling receiving portion 64 to the coupling 61 by abutting on the 63 to rotationally drive the coupling 61.

The coupling 61 and the coupling receiving portion 64 are detachable from each other, and when they are fitted to each other, they form a driving force connecting means 29 capable of transmitting a rotational driving force.

The outer circumference of the coupling 61 is provided with three coupling protrusions 63 at every 120 °, and the inner circumference of the coupling receiving portion 64 is provided with six engagement protrusions 69 at every 60 °.
By providing twice as many meshing protrusions 69 as the number of coupling protrusions 63 provided on the outer circumference of the coupling 61 on the inner circumference of the coupling receiving portion 64, the coupling protrusions 63 are adjacent to each other. Since it can be arranged between the 69s, the coupling 61 and the coupling receiving portion 64 are securely and preferably fitted.

When the tank lid 31 is closed to fit the coupling 61 and the coupling receiving portion 64, and then the supply motor 65 is energized to rotate the coupling receiving portion 64, the engaging projection 69 comes into contact with the coupling projection 63. Then, the coupling receiving portion 64 idles until the state as shown in FIG. 10 is reached, and then the coupling 61 rotates together with the coupling receiving portion 64. The maximum value of this idling angle is φ in FIG. 10, and in the present embodiment, the angle is smaller than the angle of 60 degrees of the adjacent meshing protrusion 69 by the thickness of the meshing protrusion 69 and the coupling protrusion 63 in the circumferential direction. Become. This angle φ is an angle region in which the gear pump 51 does not rotate even when the supply motor 65 is energized when the tank lid 31 is closed, which causes an error in the amount of detergent or softener supplied, but the angle is at most 60 °. The ratio of the error to the supply amount of the detergent or fabric softener used in one washing process is small enough not to be a problem.

With the above configuration, by rotationally driving the supply motor 65 with the openable and closable tank lid 31 closed, the gear pump 51 is rotationally driven via the coupling receiving portion 64 and the coupling 61, and the tank 32 is driven. , 33 can be supplied to the charging area 39 provided in the tank storage container 34.

In the present embodiment, a tank lid 31 having a driving means 62 above the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 is rotatably supported around the fulcrum 90. By rotating the tank lid 31 around the fulcrum, the coupling 61 and the coupling receiving portion 64 can be separated from each other, and the upper surfaces of the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 can be opened. Therefore, it is not necessary to move the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 in order to disconnect the drive system connection, and the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 can be pulled out upward only by opening the tank lid 31. The structure makes it easy to replenish detergents and fabric softeners and clean the tank.

<Cover hinge wiring>
The tank lid 31 can be opened and closed, and wiring from the drive circuit 154 (see FIG. 15) provided in the washing machine main body 4 to the supply motor 65 is provided. As a route for inserting the wiring from the washing machine main body 4 to the inside of the tank lid 31, it is preferable to pass the wiring through the support shaft hole 42 which is the center of opening / closing rotation of the tank lid 31. Even if the tank lid 31 is opened and closed, the wiring 87 is only twisted within the opening and closing angle range and is not pulled. Therefore, the reliability of the wiring is ensured, and a highly reliable washing machine can be provided.

<Lid size and tank attachment / detachment>
The opening size when the tank lid 31 is opened is larger than the size in which the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 are juxtaposed in the top view, and the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 32 and the softener are opened from the opening when the tank lid 31 is opened. The size is such that the tank 33 can be removed and attached.

With the above configuration, when the tank lid 31 is opened, the coupling 61 and the coupling receiving portion 64, which are the driving force connecting means 29, are separated from each other, and the detergent tank is opened from the opening when the tank lid 31 is opened. The detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 can be easily removed by simply pulling the 32 and the softener tank 33 upward.

On the contrary, the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 can be easily attached from above via the opening when the tank lid 31 is opened.

After that, when the tank lid 31 is closed, the coupling receiving portion 64 and the coupling 61 are fitted, and the driving force from the supply motor 65 is transmitted to the pump means 47 to drive the gear pump 51, and the detergent or fabric softener is used. Can be supplied from the detergent tank 32 or the softener tank 33 into the water tank 17 via the first detergent supply pipe 14, respectively.

<Quantitative Supply> Voltage and Drive Time As is well known, the gear pump 51 is a so-called metering pump, and the amount of fluid supplied is proportional to the rotation speed of the gear. That is, when supplying a predetermined amount of detergent, for example, the rotation speed of the supply motor 65 is determined by keeping the voltage applied to the supply motor 65 constant, and the drive time of the supply motor 65 is adjusted to the predetermined time to adjust the gear. By setting the rotation speed to a predetermined value, a desired amount of detergent can be supplied.

As an example, the supply motor 65 is used as a DC motor, and the rotation speed can be made constant by making the voltage applied to the supply motor 65 constant. Alternatively, the supply motor 65 may be a stepping motor, and the rotation speed may be constant by making the frequency of the pulse applied to the supply motor 65 constant.

<Switching operation>
Next, an example of a configuration in which the supply of the detergent and the supply of the softener are switched will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. 11 and 12 show a top view of the washing process liquid automatic charging means 30, which is provided on the tank lid 31 with a see-through view from the tank lid 31 to the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33. An example of the configuration of the drive means 62 is shown. In the present embodiment, the detergent and the softener can be selectively supplied by reversing the rotation direction of the supply motor 65 into forward rotation and reverse rotation, respectively, and the configuration and operation thereof will be described.

<Detergent supply>
FIG. 11 shows a state in which the supply motor 65 is operated in the forward rotation direction to supply detergent, and FIG. 12 shows a state in which the supply motor 65 is operated in the reverse direction to supply the softener. ..

In FIG. 11, a worm gear 67 is provided on the rotation shaft of the supply motor 65, and a worm wheel 70 rotatably supported on the shaft meshes with the worm gear 67 to reduce the rotation of the supply motor 65 to reduce the rotation of the worm wheel. Communicate to 70. The first reduction gear 71 provided coaxially with the worm wheel 70 is a second gear 73 that is rotatable and has a rotation center shaft 77 movably supported along a swing groove 72. Are in mesh at the first mesh 74a. The swing gear 73 has a rotation center located at one end of the swing groove 72 close to the first pump drive gear 75, and meshes with the first pump drive gear 75. As shown in FIG. 8, the first pump drive gear 75 is configured to rotate integrally with the coupling receiving portion 64, and in FIG. 11, the worm wheel 70, the swing gear 73, and the first pump drive gear 75 are The pump means 47 provided in the detergent tank 32 is driven by rotating in the direction of the illustrated arrow to supply the detergent to the charging region 39.

<Softener supply>
In FIG. 12, the swing gear 73 has a rotation center located at the other end of the swing groove 72 and meshes with the third reduction gear 78. The third reduction gear 78 further meshes with the second pump drive gear 76. The second pump drive gear 76 has a configuration that rotates integrally with the coupling receiving portion 64 like the first pump drive gear 75. In FIG. 12, the worm wheel 70, the swing gear 73, and the third reduction gear The 78 and the second pump drive gear 76 rotate in the directions shown by the arrows to drive the pump means 47 provided in the softener tank 33 to supply the softener to the charging region 39.

<Motor forward / reverse switching>
Here, at the time of normal rotation shown in FIG. 11, the swing gear 73 rotates from the first reduction gear 71 in the first meshing 74a by receiving a force in the substantially tangential direction in the rotation drive direction, and at the same time, the swing groove. Moving along 72, it meshes and rotates at the first pump drive gear 75 and the second mesh 74b. When the supply motor 65 is reversed from this state, the first reduction gear 71 also rotates in the reverse direction. Therefore, the swing gear 73 receives a force in the substantially tangential direction in the opposite direction from the first reduction gear 71, and the rotation is reversed. At the same time, it moves from one end to the other along the swing groove 72, and the engagement with the first pump drive gear 75, that is, the second engagement 74b is disengaged, while the third reduction gear 78 is the fourth. The meshing 74 of the meshing 74 meshes and rotates. Since the oscillating gear 73 moves along the oscillating groove 72, the mesh with the first reduction gear 71 moves to the third meshing 74c. That is, when the supply motor 65 is reversed, the state of FIG. 11 shifts to the state of FIG. 12 and rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing, and the second pump drive gear 76 is rotationally driven to supply the softener from the softener tank 33. ..

When the supply motor 65 is rotated forward from the state shown in FIG. 12, the first reduction gear 71 also rotates in the forward direction, so that the swing gear 73 receives a force in the substantially tangential direction in the forward direction from the first reduction gear 71. Therefore, at the same time as rotating in the forward rotation direction, it moves from the other end to one end along the swing groove 72, and while being disengaged from the third reduction gear 78, it meshes with the first pump drive gear 75. Rotate. That is, when the supply motor 65 is rotated in the normal direction, the state of FIG. 12 shifts to FIG. 11, and the detergent is supplied from the detergent tank 32.

Here, the distance between one end and the other end of the swing groove 72 is separated from the swing gear 73 and the third reduction gear 78 when the swing gear 73 and the first pump drive gear 75 mesh with each other. When the oscillating gear 73 and the third reduction gear 78 are engaged with each other, the oscillating gear 73 and the first pump drive gear 75 may be separated from each other and do not mesh with each other. Such a condition can be obtained if the distance is equal to or greater than the height of the gear.

<Swing gear meshing>
Since the swing gear 73 moves to the other end of the swing groove 72, the meshing position of the swing gear 73 and the first reduction gear 71 moves from the first mesh 74a to the third mesh 74c. Needless to say, since the distance between one end and the other end of the swing groove 72 is small in the swing gear 73, the distance between the first mesh 74a and the third mesh 74c is small, and the swing gear 73 and the first The meshing state with the reduction gear 71 of the above does not deteriorate.

Further, the straight line connecting one end and the other end of the swing groove 72 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the straight line connecting the midpoint between one end and the other end of the swing groove 72 and the rotation center of the worm wheel 70. Then, the moving direction of the swing gear 73 along the swing groove 72 is the tangential direction of the engagement between the swing gear 73 and the worm wheel 70, so that even if the swing gear 73 moves, the swing gear 73 and the swing gear 73 It is more preferable because there is almost no change in the center-to-center distance from the first reduction gear 71.

<Pump rotates in the same direction>
In the normal rotation state of FIG. 11, the first pump drive gear 75 provided with the coupling 61 meshes with the swing gear 73 and rotates. Therefore, the pump drive shaft 60 provided in the detergent tank 32 is different from the swing gear 73. Rotate in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, in the reverse state of FIG. 12, the second pump drive gear 76 provided with the coupling 61 rotates from the swing gear 73 via the third reduction gear 78, so that the pump provided in the softener tank 33 The drive shaft 60 rotates in the same direction as the swing gear 73. Since the rotation directions of the swing gears are opposite to each other in the forward rotation state and the reverse rotation state, the first pump drive gear 75 and the second pump drive gear 76 rotate in the same direction. That is, the pump means 47 for supplying the detergent and the pump means 47 for supplying the softener may have the same configuration as long as they supply the detergent or the softener when they rotate in the same direction. Since the parts can be shared, there is an advantage that it can be configured at low cost.

<Summary of forward / reverse switching operation>
According to the present embodiment, when the supply motor 65 is rotated forward, only the pump means 47 provided in the detergent tank 32 is driven to supply the detergent, and when the supply motor 65 is reversed, the softener tank 33 is provided. Since only the pump means 47 can be driven to supply the softener, only one supply motor 65 can select and supply two types of detergent and softener, and the structure is simple and low-priced washing. The processing liquid automatic charging means 30 can be realized.

It should be noted that the forward rotation and the reverse rotation are for convenience of explaining the present embodiment, and are not limited to such expressions.

<Remaining amount detection> Permeation type FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic views showing an example of the configuration of the remaining amount detecting means 79 of the washing treatment liquid in the present embodiment.

A light emitting element 80 such as an LED is provided on one surface of the detergent tank 32, and a light receiving element 81 is provided on the opposite side of the light emitting element 80 and coaxially with the light emitting element 80 with respect to the detergent tank 32. The light receiving element 81 is an element such as a phototube or a photodiode that converts the intensity of light into an electric signal.

Since the tanks 32 and 33 are made of transparent resin, when the washing treatment liquid is not contained, the light from the light emitting element 80 passes through the tanks 32 and 33 and reaches the light receiving element 81, so that the light receiving element 81 Produces an electrical signal. On the other hand, when the washing treatment liquid is charged into the tanks 32 and 33, it is shielded from light, so that no electric signal is generated in the light receiving element 81. Therefore, by arranging the pair of the light emitting element 80 and the light receiving element 81 at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the tanks 32 and 33, the height of the liquid level of the washing treatment liquid in the tanks 32 and 33 can be detected. ..

In FIG. 14, a pair of a light emitting element 80 and a light receiving element 81 is provided at two locations from the bottom surface 46 of the tanks 32 and 33, a height h1 close to the bottom surface 46 and a height h2 above h1. It is shown in the figure.

When the washing treatment liquid is sufficiently in the tank and the liquid level height is at the position H2 higher than h2, both the first light receiving element 81a and the second light receiving element 81b are shielded from light, so that the liquid It can be seen that the surface height is higher than h2.

When the liquid level of the washing liquid is H1 between h1 and h2, the first light receiving element 81a provided at the height h1 is shielded from light, and the second light receiving element 81a provided at the height h2 is shielded from light. Since the element 81b receives light and generates an electric signal, it can be seen that the liquid level height H1 is between h1 and h2.

When the liquid level height of the washing treatment liquid is lower than the height h1, both the first light receiving element 81a and the second light receiving element 81b receive the light from the light emitting element 80 to generate an electric signal. It can be seen that the liquid level height is near the bottom surface and there is almost no remaining amount of the washing treatment liquid.

When the liquid level height of the washing treatment liquid is H1, the first light receiving element 81a is shielded from light, and the second light receiving element 81b receives light to generate an electric signal. Here, when the washing treatment liquid is translucent, the first light receiving element 81a is not completely shielded from light, but the amount of light is reduced, so that the generated electrical signal is reduced. Therefore, if the difference from the electric signal generated in the second light receiving element 81b is measured, the liquid level is more reliable than measuring only the increase or decrease of the signal of the single light receiving element 81a and the second light receiving element 81a. It can be determined that it is located between the light receiving element 81b and the light receiving element 81b.

Here, when the liquid level of the washing treatment liquid reaches H1, the heights of h1 and h2 are set so that the remaining amount of the washing treatment liquid is, for example, 2-3 times of washing, and in that case, washing is performed. If a notification means for notifying that the remaining amount of the treatment liquid is low is provided, the user can be notified that it is time to replenish the washing treatment liquid, so that the detergent runs out without the user noticing. It is possible to realize a washing machine equipped with a highly reliable automatic washing liquid injection means.

<Tank removable>
According to the present embodiment, the tanks 32 and 33 are not provided with a wiring connection portion for attaching / detaching wiring for driving the supply motor 65 to / from the main body, for example.

That is, the driving force for driving the gear pump 51 from the supply motor 65 is such that the pump means 47 is driven from the driving means 62 provided on the washing machine main body side via the coupling 61 which is the driving force attachment / detachment means. Further, the light emitting element 80 and the light receiving element 81, which are detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the washing processing liquid in the tanks 32 and 33, are provided on the washing machine main body 4 side. Therefore, when the user removes the tanks 32 and 33 to supply the washing treatment liquid, as shown in FIG. 1, if the tank lid 31 containing the drive means 62 is opened, the coupling 61 receives the coupling. Since the tank handle 44a is separated from the portion 64, the tanks 32 and 33 can be easily removed together with the pump means 47 by pulling it upward while holding the tank handle 44a.

<Prevention of detergent dripping>
Here, since the tanks 32 and 33 and the pump means 47 are integrally removed, it is preferable because the washing treatment liquid does not drip when the tanks 32 and 33 are taken out from the washing machine main body. When the tanks 32 and 33 and the pump means 47 are separated from each other and only the tanks 32 and 33 or only the pump means 47 are taken out, the pump means 47 and the tanks 32 and 33 are taken out at the suction port 48 of the pump means 47. It is necessary to separate the two, and the detergent may drip when the tanks 32, 33 or the pump means 47 are removed.

<Tank cleanability>
The tanks 32 and 33 in the present embodiment are detachably divided into two parts, the upper tank lid 44 and the lower tank body 45, which do not have wiring or electrical parts, so that they are outside the tanks 32 and 33. Alternatively, since the inside of the tank lid 44 and the tank body 45 can be freely washed with water, the insides of the tanks 32 and 33 can be kept clean.

Also, when replacing with a different washing treatment liquid, the remaining original washing treatment liquid can be washed away and then another new washing treatment liquid can be added, so that the different washing treatment liquids are mixed and solidified, or the cleaning power is reduced. There is nothing to do.

<Pump cleanability>
According to the present embodiment, since the pump means 47 is provided with the driving force connecting means 29 which can be connected and separated from the driving means 62, the tank and the pump means 47 can be detached and removed, and the tank and the pump means 47 can be detached from each other. Does not have wiring for supplying power to drive the pump means 47, and can be removed because it can be constructed without wiring connected to the detection means for detecting the remaining amount of detergent / softener. It is possible to easily clean the inside of the tank and the inside of the pump, and it is possible to provide a washing machine with improved cleanability and reliability.

Further, by manually rotating the coupling 61 while the suction port 48 of the pump means 47 is immersed in water, the gear pump 51 rotates and water is discharged from the suction port via the gear pump 51 and the supply pipe 54. By discharging from the outlet 56, the detergent remaining inside the pump can also be diluted and washed away.

According to the present embodiment, the tanks 32 and 33 can be easily washed with water, and even the inside of the pump means 47 can be easily washed with water. Therefore, the detergent does not remain inside the pump means 47 and solidifies, or the pump means Since the previously used washing treatment liquid and the new washing treatment liquid do not mix inside the 47, it is possible to provide a washing machine provided with the highly reliable automatic washing treatment liquid charging means 30.

Further, if the case of the pump means 47 is molded with a transparent resin, it is preferable because it is possible to visually confirm whether the detergent or the softener remains in the pump and whether the cleaning is completed.

<Compatibility with manual supply>
According to the present embodiment, as described above, the detergent charging port 25 includes, for example, a powder detergent charging unit 25a, a liquid detergent charging unit 25b, and a softener charging unit 25c, each of which is a powder for one dose. The detergent, fabric softener, or liquid detergent is charged and charged into the water tank 17 via the first detergent supply pipe 14. Further, the detergent can be automatically charged into the water tank 17 from the detergent tank 32 via the second water supply pipe 40 and the first water supply pipe 9.

That is, it is possible to freely use the case of washing with the detergent in the detergent tank 32 or the case of washing with another detergent charged in the liquid detergent charging unit 25b according to the user's preference. It is possible to provide a washing machine equipped with a good automatic washing liquid injection means.

Similarly, when the softener in the softener tank 33 is used or when another softener charged in the softener charging section 25c is used, it is possible to freely use the washing machine, which is easy to use. It is possible to provide a washing machine provided with the processing liquid automatic charging means 30.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 and the detergent charging port 25, which are the washing treatment liquid supply means, are arranged independently, the cleanability of the tank and the pump, and the washing treatment liquid to the tank are arranged. In addition to improving replenishability, it is also possible to pull out the tank of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 while washing with the washing treatment liquid charged into the detergent inlet 25, which improves usability.

Further, by detecting the detergent charged from the detergent charging port 25 with the electrode sensor 93, the control of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 can be turned off, and excessive detergent and softener charging can be prevented. it can.

<Control block diagram>
FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the washing machine control device 138. Reference numeral 150 denotes an operation control means which is a control unit, and is an operation button input circuit 151 connected to each switch (not shown), a water level sensor 134 which is a water level detecting means, and a washing liquid remaining amount detecting means (detergent remaining amount detecting means 79a, flexible). It is connected to the agent remaining amount detecting means 79b), the deterioration condition determining means 94, and the detergent treatment liquid dissolving means 95, and receives various information signals in the user's button operation and washing process. The output from the operation control means 150 is connected to the drive circuit 154, connected to the water supply solenoid valve 12, the drain valve 10, the drum motor 36, the supply motor 65, the hot water heater which is the washing liquid heating means 200, and the like, and opens and closes these. Controls rotation and energization. Further, it is connected to a display 114 such as a 7-segment light emitting diode, a light emitting diode 156, and a buzzer 157 for informing the user of the operating state of the washing machine.

The operation control means 150 is activated when the power switch 139 is pressed and the power is turned on, and executes a basic washing control processing program as shown in FIG.

<Control processing program>
Step S101
Check the condition of the washer / dryer and make initial settings.

Step S102
The display 114 of the operation panel 6 which is the operation unit is turned on, and it is set whether or not to automatically add the detergent and the softener according to the instruction input from the operation button switch (not shown). When automatic charging is set, detergent and fabric softener are automatically charged in the following washing process. On the other hand, when the automatic charging is not set, the user manually charges the detergent and the softener into the detergent charging port 25, and the detergent and softener supply motor 65 is not driven.

Step S103
The process is branched by monitoring the instruction input from the start switch (not shown) on the operation panel 6.

Step S104
When a signal from the start switch is input, the deterioration condition determination means 94 determines whether or not the detergent in the detergent tank 32 and the softener in the softener tank 33 have deteriorated. That is, the deterioration condition determination means 94 determines the deterioration condition of the washing treatment liquid (detergent, softener, etc.) in the tank. The alteration degree determination means 94 determines whether or not the alteration has been made by a plurality of methods, and if any of the determination results is alteration, it is determined that the alteration has occurred. In this embodiment, the degree of deterioration is determined by the three methods described below, but the present invention is not limited to these, and other methods may be used.

The first method will be described. The time when the temperature of the washing treatment liquid in the tank exceeds the specified temperature is measured, and the degree of deterioration due to the thermal effect on the washing treatment liquid is determined. That is, the deterioration condition determination means 94 determines the deterioration condition of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the temperature detected by the tank temperature detecting means 96. The operation control means 150 controls the tank temperature detecting means 96 to determine the tank temperature. Specifically, a thermistor (not shown) is provided on the surface of the tank storage container 34, and the operation control means 150 records the temperature detected by the thermistor. The tank storage container 34, the detergent tank 32, and the softener tank 33 are in contact with each other, and the temperature of the tank storage container 34 and the temperature of the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33 are close to each other, whereby the detergent and the softener tank 32 in the detergent tank 32 are flexible. The temperature of the softener in the agent tank 33 is measured. The tank temperature detecting means 96 measures the time when the temperature detected by the thermistor exceeds the specified temperature and stores it at the end of the operation. It is measured for each operation cycle and added to the time stored in the previous operation cycle. As a result, it is possible to record the integrated time when the surface temperature of the tank storage container 34 becomes equal to or higher than the specified temperature (time exceeding the specified temperature). The alteration degree determination means 94 determines that the deterioration is caused by heat if the specified temperature excess time exceeds the threshold value. When the remaining amount detecting means 79 determines that the detergent or the softener has been charged into the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33, the operation control means 150 initializes the specified temperature excess time.

The second method will be described. The elapsed time from the time when the washing treatment liquid is supplied into the tank is measured, and the degree of deterioration due to evaporation of the washing treatment liquid is determined. That is, the deterioration condition determination means 94 determines the deterioration condition of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the elapsed time measured by the washing treatment liquid leaving time measuring means 97. The operation control means 150 controls the washing treatment liquid leaving time measuring means 97 to measure the time that the washing treatment liquid is left in the tank (natural leaving time). Specifically, after the remaining amount detecting means 79 determines that the detergent or softener has been added to the detergent tank 32 or the softener tank 33, the detergent or the softener is added to the next detergent tank 32 or the softener tank 33. The time until the remaining amount detecting means 79 determines that it has been done is measured. The operation control means 150 is battery-powered and measures even while the power is off. In addition, the natural leaving time may be measured using the time. If the natural standing time exceeds the threshold value, the alteration degree determining means 94 determines that the alteration has deteriorated due to evaporation. When the remaining amount detecting means 79 determines that the detergent or the softener has been put into the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33, the operation control means 150 initializes the natural leaving time.

The third method will be described. The number of washing and drying operations is measured, and the degree of deterioration due to thermal influence and evaporation on the washing treatment liquid is determined. That is, the deterioration degree determining means 94 determines the deterioration degree of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the number of operations measured by the operation number measuring means 98. The operation control means 150 controls the operation number measuring means 98 and stores the washing / drying operation number (cycle operation number). Specifically, the operation number measuring means 98 counts up the operation number at the end of the washing / drying operation. The washing operation is counted as one operation per operation. Since the drying operation has a large thermal effect on the tank, even one operation is counted as a plurality of cycles (for example, twice). If the number of cycle operations exceeds the specified number of times, the deterioration condition determining means 94 determines that the quality has deteriorated due to thermal influence / evaporation. When the remaining amount detecting means 79 determines that the detergent or the softener has been charged into the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33, the operation control means 150 initializes the number of cycle operations.

As described above, by providing the deterioration condition determination means 94, it is possible to provide a washing machine that determines the deterioration condition of the detergent or the softener in the tank and suppresses the deterioration of the washing performance.

Step S105
After determining the degree of deterioration of the deterioration condition determination means 94, the process is branched depending on whether or not the automatic detergent addition is set.

Step S106
When the automatic detergent addition is set in step S105, the remaining amount of detergent is confirmed based on the output of the detergent remaining amount detecting means 79a, and the process is branched.

Step S107
When the automatic detergent injection is set, the remaining amount of the detergent is detected by the detergent remaining amount detecting means in step S106, and then the remaining amount of the softener is confirmed based on the output of the softener remaining amount detecting means 79b. , Branch the process.

If it is determined in steps S106 and S107 that there is no remaining amount, an alarm is notified in step S131.

Step S108
If the automatic detergent injection is not set in step S105, or after detecting the remaining amount of the washing liquid of the detergent or fabric softener, the rotating drum 20 is rotated by the cloth amount determining means, and at that time, the drum motor 8 The rotational drive torque generated in the drum motor 8 is measured from the current value required to drive the rotary drum 20 to determine the amount of cloth charged into the rotary drum 20.

Step S109
The supply amount of the washing liquid such as detergent and softener is set based on either or both of the determination value of the amount of cloth determined by the cloth amount determination means and the result of the deterioration degree determination.

If the determination result of the alteration degree determination means 94 is alteration, the operation control means 150 sets a large supply amount of the detergent and the softener (for example, 1.2 times). As a result, washing performance can be ensured even with altered detergents and fabric softeners. Further, when the determination result of the alteration degree determination means 94 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the buzzer 157 is sounded to notify the user that the detergent or the softener has been altered. The threshold value for determining the input amount of the detergent or the softener and the notification of the notification to the user is set in each of the detergent tank 32 and the softener tank 33. As a result, the determination timing can be changed between the detergent and the softener. Further, the washing machine and an information terminal (not shown) may be connected by a network so that the brand of the tank contents can be specified by the information terminal. As a result, finer control can be performed according to the brand.

Step S110
After setting the supply amount of the washing liquid in step S109, the water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened to supply water, and the water is supplied to the inside of the water tank 17 via the first detergent supply pipe 14.

When the detergent is manually added to the detergent inlet 25, the manually added detergent is supplied as a detergent solution into the water tank 17 while being dissolved in water.

Step S111
The detergent manual charging means determines whether or not the detergent has been manually charged into the water tank 17, that is, whether or not the detergent has been manually charged from the detergent charging port 25. This is determined from the conductivity detected by the electrode sensor 93. By performing this process during the water supply in step S110, the operation time can be shortened.

Step S112
Regardless of whether or not the detergent means has been added in step S111, the process is branched depending on whether or not the automatic detergent addition by the washing process liquid automatic charging means 30 which is the washing processing liquid supplying means is set.

Step S113
When the detergent is not manually added from the detergent inlet 25 and the automatic detergent addition is set to ON, the supply motor 65 is driven in the forward rotation direction for a predetermined time to remove the detergent in the detergent tank 32. A predetermined amount is supplied into the charging area 39. Do not perform this step if automatic detergent loading is not set. By performing the water supply in step S110, the detergent supplied to the charging area 39 is supplied to the inside of the water tank 17 while being dissolved in water.

Step S114
The operation control means 150 controls the washing treatment liquid dissolving means 95 to dissolve the detergent in water. Specifically, the rotary drum 20 is rotated in one direction for a predetermined time to stir and dissolve the water and the detergent inside the water tank 17. If the determination result of the alteration degree determination means 94 is alteration, the rotation time of the rotating drum 20 is extended. Further, the washing liquid heating means 200, which is a hot water heater, is energized to heat the washing liquid. As a result, the detergent that has been altered, gelled, and solidified can be dissolved in water.

Step S115
If the detergent is not manually added from the detergent inlet 25 and the automatic detergent addition is set to off, the automatic detergent addition is changed to the on setting and the supply motor 65 is rotated in the forward direction. It is driven for a predetermined time to supply a predetermined amount of the detergent in the detergent tank 32 into the charging area 39.

Step S116
When the detergent is manually added from the detergent inlet 25 and the detergent automatic addition is set to on, the detergent automatic addition is changed to the off setting and the detergent is automatically added by the washing treatment liquid automatic addition means 30. Do not throw in.

Step S113-1
It is determined whether or not the detergent has been put into the water tank 17. This is determined from the conductivity detected by the electrode sensor 93.

Step S113-2
If the determination result of S113-1 is negative, that is, if the detergent is not supplied into the water tank 17, the washing treatment liquid supply means is provided even though the washing treatment liquid is still remaining in the detergent tank 32. It can be determined that the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 30 is not operating normally (abnormality of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means). When it is determined that the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means is abnormal, for example, by notifying the user of an alarm and prompting the user to manually add the detergent, it is possible to prevent the washing from being completed due to insufficient washing. Further, a waiting time for manually adding detergent may be provided during the alarm notification.

Step S117
Perform the washing process. The operation control means 150, which is a control unit, extends the time of the washing process (for example, 5 minutes extension) if the determination result of the deterioration condition determination means 94 is deterioration. Further, the washing liquid heating means 200, which is a hot water heater, is energized to heat the washing liquid. As a result, washing performance can be ensured even with a deteriorated detergent. After the washing step is completed, the drain valve 10 is opened to drain the washing water, and then the rotary drum 20 is rotated at high speed to perform centrifugal dehydration.

Step S118
Step S119 of opening the water supply solenoid valve 12 to supply water and supplying the rinse water to the inside of the water tank 17.
The rinsing step is executed, and after completion, the drain valve 10 is opened to drain the rinse water, and then the rotary drum 20 is rotated at high speed to perform centrifugal dehydration. When the amount of detergent supplied increases in step S109, the operation control means 150 increases the amount of rinse water in step S119. Alternatively, the number of rinses may be increased. As a result, it is possible to prevent insufficient rinsing even when the amount of detergent is large.

Step S120
It is determined whether or not the softener is manually charged into the water tank 17, that is, whether or not the detergent is manually charged from the detergent inlet 25. This is determined from the conductivity detected by the electrode sensor 93.

Step S121
The process is branched depending on whether or not the automatic softener addition by the washing process liquid automatic addition means 30 is set. By performing this process during the water supply in step S118, the operation time can be shortened.

Step S122
When the softener is not manually charged from the detergent inlet 25 and the softener automatic charging is set to ON, the supply motor 65 is driven in the reverse direction for a predetermined time to enter the softener tank 33. A predetermined amount of the softener is supplied into the charging area 39. Do not perform this step if fabric softener autofill is not set. By performing the water supply in step S118, the softener supplied to the charging area 39 is supplied to the inside of the water tank 17 while being dissolved in water.

Step S123
The operation control means 150 controls the washing treatment liquid dissolving means 95 to dissolve the softener in water. Specifically, the rotary drum 20 is rotated in one direction for a predetermined time to stir and dissolve the water inside the water tank 17 and the softener. If the determination result of the alteration degree determination means 94 is alteration, the rotation time of the rotating drum 20 is extended. Further, the washing liquid heating means 200, which is a hot water heater, is energized to heat the washing liquid. As a result, the softener that has been altered, gelled, and solidified can be dissolved in water.

Step S124
When the softener is not manually charged from the detergent inlet 25 and the softener automatic charging is set to off, the softener automatic charging is changed to the on setting and the supply motor 65 is set to positive. It is driven in the rolling direction for a predetermined time to supply a predetermined amount of the detergent in the detergent tank 32 into the charging region 39.

Step S125
When the fabric softener is manually added from the detergent inlet 25 and the fabric softener automatic addition is set to on, the fabric softener automatic addition is changed to the off setting, and the washing treatment liquid automatic injection means 30 Do not automatically add fabric softener.

Step S122-1
It is determined whether or not the softener has been put into the water tank 17. This is determined from the conductivity detected by the electrode sensor 93.

Step S122-2
If the determination result in step S122-1 is negative, that is, if the softener is not supplied into the water tank 17, the washing treatment liquid is still present in the detergent tank 32. It can be determined that the automatic charging means 30 is not operating normally (abnormality of the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means). When it is determined that the washing treatment liquid is automatically added, an alarm is notified to the user to prompt the user to manually add the softener, so that the washing can be avoided due to insufficient effect of the softener. Further, a waiting time for manually adding the softener may be provided during the alarm notification.

Step S126
The water supply solenoid valve 12 is opened to supply water, and the water is supplied to the inside of the water tank 17.

Step S127
Perform the final rinse process. The operation control means 150 extends the time of the final rinsing step (for example, 2 minutes extension) if the determination result of the alteration degree determination means 94 is alteration. Further, the washing liquid heating means 200, which is a hot water heater, is energized to heat the washing liquid. As a result, the washing performance can be ensured even with the altered softener. After the final rinsing process is completed, the drain valve 10 is opened to drain the rinse water.

Step S128
The rotating drum 20 is rotated at high speed to perform dehydration.

Step S129
Dry by, for example, a drying means equipped with a heater or a blowing means (not shown).

Step S130
The series of washing and drying steps is completed.

The operation control means 150 stores the specified temperature excess time, the natural standing time, and the number of operations measured by the deterioration condition determination means 94.

As described above, by determining the degree of deterioration of the washing treatment liquid by the degree of deterioration determination means 94, it is possible to determine whether the washing performance can be ensured. In addition, by notifying (notifying) the user of the degree of deterioration of the washing treatment liquid, it is possible to promote the maintenance of the tank and the replenishment of the washing treatment liquid. As a means for notifying the user, there is a means for sounding a buzzer 157 and notifying by an alarm. Further, the washing machine and the information terminal may be connected by a network to notify the information terminal (not shown), specifically, the deterioration determination result may be displayed on the screen of the information terminal. If the alteration judgment result is alteration, the information terminal screen will guide you on how to care for the tank. For example, a method of cleaning the tank and a method of replacing / replenishing the washing treatment liquid will be described. It may be possible to automatically order the washing treatment liquid to be replenished at the information terminal. As a result, it is possible to prevent the altered washing treatment liquid from being used continuously.

Further, although the above embodiment has been described by taking a drum type washing machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a vertical type washing machine.

1 base 2 outer frame
3 lid
4 Washing machine body 5 Support means 6 Operation panel 7 Water faucet 8 Drum motor 25 Detergent inlet 25a Powder detergent inlet 25b Liquid detergent inlet 25c Softener inlet 30 Washing treatment liquid automatic charging means 31 Tank lid 32 Detergent tank ( First tank)
33 Fabric softener tank (second tank)
34 Tank storage container 79 Remaining amount detecting means 79a Detergent remaining amount detecting means 79b Softener remaining amount detecting means 93 Electrode sensor 94 Deterioration condition determining means 95 Washing treatment liquid melting means 96 Tank temperature detecting means 97 Washing treatment liquid leaving time measuring means 98 Operation count measuring means 150 Operation control means 200 Washing liquid heating means

Claims (6)

With the housing
The water tank provided inside the housing and
A washing treatment liquid supply means having a tank for holding the washing treatment liquid inside and supplying the washing treatment liquid into the water tank, and a washing treatment liquid supply means.
Deterioration condition determination means for determining the deterioration condition of the washing treatment liquid in the tank, and
An operation control means for controlling the washing treatment liquid supply means and the deterioration degree determination means,
A washing machine characterized by having. The washing machine according to claim 1.
It has a tank temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the tank.
The washing machine is characterized in that the deterioration degree determining means determines the deterioration degree of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the temperature detected by the tank temperature detecting means. The washing machine according to claim 1.
It has a washing treatment liquid leaving time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time after the detergent is replenished in the tank.
The washing machine is characterized in that the deterioration degree determining means determines the deterioration degree of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the elapsed time measured by the washing treatment liquid leaving time measuring means. The washing machine according to claim 1.
It has an operation count measuring means that stores the number of washing and drying operations.
The washing machine is characterized in that the deterioration degree determining means determines the deterioration degree of the washing treatment liquid in the tank based on the number of operations measured by the operation number measuring means. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A washing machine characterized in that when the deterioration degree determination result is determined to be deterioration, a notification is given. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A washing machine characterized in that when the deterioration degree determination result is determined to be altered, the information terminal is notified via a network.

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