JP2022108881A - washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent water leakage to the outside of a washing machine even when water level of water in a washing tank reaches abnormal water level in a standby mode.SOLUTION: A washing machine is provided which is configured in such a manner that: when normal operation is selected as an operation course, a process is proceeded by outputting a water level data from a water level sensor to a microcomputer through first state detection mean; in a standby mode with power turned off, when the water level detected by the water level sensor is more than a preset abnormal water level, the abnormal water level data from the water level sensor is output to the microcomputer through second state detection mean, the microcomputer cancels the standby mode and causes draining means to be driven through load driving means to drain water in the water tank. Thereby, water leakage to the outside of the machine can be prevented.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine that automatically controls processes such as washing, rinsing, and spin-drying.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a washing machine equipped with a water level sensor that detects the water level in the water tub. In this washing machine, when the microcomputer detects an arbitrarily set abnormal water level due to a failure of a water supply valve or the like with a water level sensor, the washing machine operates the draining means to perform forced draining if the power is on.

JP-A-10-179981

The present disclosure is a standby (energy saving) mode state of a microcomputer that reduces the load of a switching power supply that is currently used in many washing machines as one of the standby power reduction methods and suppresses the standby power of the washing machine. Even so, if the microcomputer detects a water level exceeding a preset abnormal water level due to a malfunction of the water supply valve, etc., the water leakage to the outside of the machine will be prevented by operating the drainage means and performing forced drainage. To provide a washing machine capable of preventing

A washing machine according to the present disclosure includes a water tank for storing washing water, a rotating drum rotatably disposed in the water tank, a motor for driving the rotating drum, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tank, and a water level in the water tank. a water level sensor for detecting water level, drainage means for draining the water in the water tank, and a control unit having a microcomputer for controlling the motor, water supply valve, drainage means, etc., and for sequentially controlling a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc. When the operation course is in normal operation, the control unit outputs water level information from the water level sensor to the microcomputer through the first state detection means to proceed with the process, and the power is turned off. In the standby mode state, if the water level detected by the water level sensor exceeds a preset abnormal water level, the abnormal water level information from the water level sensor is output to the microcomputer through the second state detection means. , the microcomputer cancels the standby mode state and drives the draining means through the load driving means to drain the water in the tank.

In the washing machine according to the present disclosure, even when the microcomputer is in the standby mode, if the water level becomes abnormal due to a failure of the water supply valve, etc., the microcomputer's standby mode is canceled based on the information from the water level sensor, and the drainage means is operated. can be forced to drain. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from leaking out of the machine.

Appearance perspective view of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 Schematic longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 Schematic circuit diagram showing water level sensor and drain means control of washing machine in Embodiment 1 Schematic circuit diagram of the second state detection means of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 Frequency-voltage characteristic diagram in the second state detection means of the washing machine in Embodiment 1

(Knowledge, etc. on which this disclosure is based)
In a conventional washing machine, if the water level sensor detects an arbitrarily set abnormal water level due to a failure of the water supply valve, etc., while the machine is in operation, the draining means is operated to perform forced draining and discharge the water to the outside of the machine. Water leakage can be prevented. However, for example, in the standby (energy saving) mode state of the microcomputer with the power turned off, most of the functions of the microcomputer are stopped. There was a problem that water leakage outside the machine could not be prevented.

In order to solve the problem, the subject matter of the present disclosure has been constructed.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or redundant descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation from becoming more redundant than necessary and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to allow those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter thereby.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.

(1-1. Configuration)
1 and 2, the washing machine 5 has a water tank 27 rotatably disposed inside a substantially box-shaped main body 21, and a rotating drum 28, which is a rotating tank, is rotatably disposed in the water tank 27. is set. A rotating shaft (rotating center shaft) 10 is provided in the horizontal direction at the center of rotation of the rotating drum 28, and a motor 22 attached near the back side of the water tank 27 is connected to the rotating shaft 10 via a belt 14. 22 rotates a rotating drum 28 in forward and reverse directions. The inner wall surface of the rotating drum 28 is provided with several projecting plates 12 for stirring the laundry. In addition, a large number of water passage holes 13 are provided all over the outer peripheral portion of the rotating drum 28 .

A body opening 20 provided in the body 21 on the front side of the water tank 27 is covered with a door 23 so as to be openable and closable. Laundry can be put in and taken out within 28.

A water supply valve 15 (see FIG. 3) for supplying water to the inside of the water tank 27 is arranged in the upper rear portion of the main body 21 .

A water level sensor 31 for detecting the water level of the water tank 27 is arranged in the upper part inside the main body 21 .

In addition, a drainage means 29 for draining the washing water stored in the water tank 27 is arranged at the lower part of the main body 21. - 特許庁

An operation display unit 32 is provided on the upper part of the door 23. In the operation unit 24, various input settings such as operation course selection and reservation time setting such as how many hours to start driving are performed and displayed. A section 25 displays the setting contents, the progress of the process, and the like.

The operation display unit 32 also has a power on/off switch 30, a start/pause switch 33, and the like. The start/pause switch 33 functions as a start switch until the start and a pause switch after the start.

In the first embodiment, the power on/off switch 30 and the start/pause switch 33 are respectively one switch, but the power on/off switch and the power off switch may be provided separately. and a pause switch may be provided separately.

Adjacent to the operation display unit 32, a detergent storage container 26 for storing detergent is arranged so as to be able to be drawn forward.

Inside the main body 21, there is arranged a control section 7 having a microcomputer 1 for controlling the water supply valve 15, the motor 22, the drainage means 29, etc., and for sequentially controlling a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration. (See Figure 3).

In FIG. 3, during normal operation of the set operation course, the water level sensor 31 detects the first state of the control unit 7 using the change in the water level in the water tank 27 during water supply by the water supply valve 15 as frequency information. The first state detection means 3a converts the frequency information into a pulse signal and outputs the pulse signal to the microcomputer 1 based on the frequency information. Accordingly, the microcomputer 1 controls the motor 22, the water supply valve 15, the draining means 29, etc. of the washing function part 11 through the load driving means 2 based on the inputted water level information, thereby controlling the process. The second state detection means will be described in (1-2. Operation and action).

If the water level information input to the microcomputer 1 exceeds the preset abnormal water level, the microcomputer 1 drives the draining means 29 through the load driving means 2 to drain the water in the water tank 27. Discharge.

(1-2. Operation, action)
The operation and function of the washing machine constructed as described above will be described below.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the control of the water level sensor 31, the drainage means 29, etc. by the microcomputer 1 during operation of the set operation course is as described above.

In the standby (energy-saving) mode state of the microcomputer 1 in which the power is turned off, the functions of the microcomputer 1 are almost stopped. Furthermore, even if the frequency information from the water level sensor 31 is output to the microcomputer 1 via the first state detection means 3a, the microcomputer 1 cannot obtain the signal.

However, when the microcomputer 1 is in the standby mode, it uses the second state detecting means 3b composed of the FV conversion circuit 4 for converting frequency into voltage. Then, if the water level detected by the water level sensor 31 exceeds a preset abnormal water level, that is, if an abnormal detection frequency S is detected, the microcomputer 1 is notified via the second state detection means 3b. Outputs a voltage signal (eg, 5V) that conveys water level abnormality (see FIG. 5).

Then, the microcomputer 1 obtains a voltage signal indicating that the water level is abnormal from the second state detection means 3b, cancels the standby mode state, and drives the drain means 29 through the load drive means 2 to drive the water tank. Drain the water in 27.

(1-3. Effects, etc.)
As described above, in the present embodiment, the washing machine 5 includes a water tank 27 for storing washing water, a rotating drum 28 rotatably disposed in the water tank 27, a motor 22 for driving the rotating drum 28, A water supply valve 15 for supplying water to the water tank 27, a water level sensor 31 for detecting the water level in the water tank 27, a drain means 29 for draining the water in the water tank 27, and a motor 22 and a water supply valve via the load driving means 2. 15, and a control unit 7 having a microcomputer for controlling the draining means 29 and the like, and for sequentially controlling a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration. The control unit 7 outputs the water level information from the water level sensor 31 to the microcomputer 1 through the first state detection means 3a to advance the process when the operation course is in normal operation, and the power is turned off. In the standby mode state, if the water level detected by the water level sensor 31 exceeds a preset abnormal water level, the abnormal water level information from the water level sensor 31 is detected via the second state detection means 3b. The information is output to the computer 1 , and the microcomputer 1 cancels the standby mode state, and drives the draining means 29 through the load driving means 2 to drain the water in the water tank 27 .

As a result, even when the power is turned off, it is possible to detect a water level exceeding a preset abnormal water level. Therefore, water leakage to the outside of the machine can be prevented.

The second state detection means 3b may be composed of the FV conversion circuit 4. FIG.

Thereby, even when the power is turned off, it is possible to reliably detect a water level exceeding a preset abnormal water level. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent water leakage to the outside of the machine.

The present disclosure cancels the standby mode of the microcomputer based on the information of the water level sensor when the water level becomes abnormal due to the failure of the water supply valve even in the standby mode state of the microcomputer with the power turned off. By activating the draining means and forcibly draining water, it is possible to prevent water from leaking out of the machine.

1 Microcomputer 2 Load Driving Means 3a First State Detecting Means 3b Second State Detecting Means 4 FV Conversion Circuit 5 Washing Machine 7 Control Unit 10 Rotational Axis (Rotation Center Axis)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 washing function unit 12 projecting plate 13 water passage hole 14 belt 15 water supply valve 20 main body opening 21 main body 22 motor 23 door 24 operation unit 25 display unit 26 detergent container 27 water tank 28 rotating drum (rotating tank)
29 Drainage means 30 Power on/off switch 31 Water level sensor 32 Operation display unit 33 Start/pause switch

Claims (2)

A water tank for storing washing water, a rotating tank rotatably arranged in the water tank, a motor for driving the rotating tank, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tank, and a water level for detecting the water level in the water tank. The motor, the water supply valve, the draining means, etc. are controlled via the sensor, the draining means for draining the water in the water tank, and the load driving means, and a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc. are controlled sequentially. and a control unit having a microcomputer, wherein the control unit outputs water level information from the water level sensor to the microcomputer via the first state detection means during normal operation of the operation course. While proceeding with the process, if the water level detected by the water level sensor exceeds a preset abnormal water level in the standby mode state in which the power is turned off, the abnormal water level information from the water level sensor is sent to the first. The second state detecting means outputs to the microcomputer, the microcomputer cancels the standby mode state, and the load driving means drives the draining means to discharge the water in the water tank. machine. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said second state detecting means comprises an FV conversion circuit.

Images