JP2023042211A - Coin-operated laundry device and operation method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a coin-operated laundry device capable of preventing an operation from being started in a state where laundry such as clothing and the like is not in the device.SOLUTION: A coin-operated laundry device 1 includes: a housing 2 for storing laundry and the like; an opening/closing door 7 for opening/closing an input port for putting/taking the laundry and the like in/out of the housing 2; and a control part 30 for measuring a difference between the time in which the processing of closing the opening/closing door 7 is detected and the processing of selecting the course of washing and the like, and for controlling the operation processing of washing and the like. In the case where the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, the coin-operated device guides a user to confirm the input of the laundry and the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a coin laundry machine that performs washing, drying, and other processes on laundry such as clothes and sheets in response to payment of a usage fee, and a method of operating the same.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of devices that, when using a coin laundry machine in a coin laundry store, provide voice guidance to guide the user about operation procedures and the like by voice.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a coin laundry system that automatically performs washing and drying by paying with coins or a prepaid card. It is disclosed that the cancellation number information is notified to the user by a voice guidance message.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-105501

However, the voice guidance as in Patent Document 1 guides the operation procedure, but if the opening and closing door is originally closed, the operation procedure itself will be erroneous if the course button is pressed even if there is no clothes etc. Since there is no As described above, in the conventional technology such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult for the coin laundry machine to determine if clothes, etc., have been left out. There is

Therefore, the main object of the embodiment of the present invention is to provide a coin laundry machine capable of preventing the operation from being started in a state where there is no laundry such as clothes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a housing for storing laundry or the like, an opening/closing door for opening/closing an inlet for putting the laundry or the like in and out of the housing, a time at which a process of closing the opening/closing door is detected, and the washing a control unit that measures the difference between the time when a process other than the process of inserting an object or the like is detected and controls an operation process such as washing, and if the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, To provide a coin-operated laundry machine that guides confirmation of loading of the laundry or the like.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, a step of detecting that a process of closing an opening/closing door for opening and closing an input port for putting in and out the laundry etc. into and out of the housing has been performed, and a process other than the process of loading the laundry etc. measuring the difference between the time when the process of closing the opening/closing door is detected and the time when the process other than the closing process is detected; and the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time. a step of guiding the user to confirm the loading of the laundry, etc., in a case where the laundry is loaded.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a coin laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration example of a coin laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a control system of a coin laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing operation processing using the coin laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are examples of representative embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed narrowly.

<Configuration example of coin laundry machine>
First, a configuration example of a coin laundry machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a coin laundry machine 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the coin laundry machine according to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a control system of the coin laundry machine according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a coin laundry machine 1, such as a washing and drying machine that requires payment of a usage fee, includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 2 for accommodating laundry, etc., and a It has an outer shell 3 and a drum 4 . The outer body 3 is a horizontal cylindrical body with a bottom, and is arranged inside the housing 2 . The drum 4 is also a horizontal cylindrical body with a bottom, and is arranged inside the outer barrel 3 .

The housing 2 has a circular panel opening 2b approximately in the center of the front panel 2a. The outer body 3 has an inlet 6 for putting laundry such as clothes and sheets into and out of the housing 2, and the inlet 6 is fixed so as to be exposed to the panel opening 2b.

An opening/closing door 7 for opening/closing the input port 6 is arranged on the front panel 2a. The opening/closing door 7 has a disc shape capable of closing the inlet 6, and has a window in the center. A sealing material (not shown) is arranged between the opening/closing door 7 and the edge of the slot 6 to improve airtightness.

The outer body 3 is a horizontal cylindrical body with a bottom, and is arranged inside the housing 2 . The drum 4 is also a horizontal cylindrical body with a bottom, and is arranged inside the outer barrel 3 . The drum 4 is loaded with clothes, sheets, etc., and stores the clothes, sheets, etc. during the washing process and/or the drying process.

A handle-type door lock 8 is provided at the edge of the inlet 6 . The user can use the door lock 8 to open and close the door 7, latch the door 7 (empty lock), and unlatch it. Further, the door lock 8 can control locking and unlocking of the open/close door 7 by a control section 30 which will be described later.

The control unit 30 can fix the door lock 8 in a state where the open/close door 7 is closed and latched. In other words, the control unit 30 can keep the opening/closing door 7 locked by the door lock 8 and the inlet 6 sealed. On the other hand, when the control unit 30 unlocks the opening/closing door 7, the door lock 8 can be manually pulled to release the latch, and the opening/closing door 7 can be opened to open the input port 6.例文帳に追加The door lock 8 can be provided with an open/close sensor 41 for detecting a state in which the open/close door 7 is closed and latched. The open/close sensor 41 outputs detection data to the controller 30 .

A water supply pipe 15 and a drain pipe 16 (not shown) are connected to the outer barrel 3 . The outer barrel 3 stores water supplied from the water supply pipe and discharges the stored water to the outside of the coin laundry machine 1 through the drain pipe 16 . A water level sensor 42 for detecting the water level can be provided on the outer barrel 3 . The water level sensor 42 outputs detection data to the control section 30 .

Furthermore, a hot air supply path 20 for supplying hot air for drying and a hot air discharge path 21 are connected to the outer barrel 3 . A heating unit 22 , an overheat prevention device, a safety device, and the like are arranged in the hot air supply path 20 . Heating unit 22 is a gas burner. A filter, a fan 23, an overheat prevention device, a check damper, and the like are arranged in the hot air discharge path 21 .

When the fan 23 is rotated, the air introduced into the hot air supply path 20 is heated by the heating unit 22 and the hot air is supplied to the outer shell 3 . Thereby, the laundry thrown into the drum 4 is dried. Then, air containing moisture is introduced from the outer shell 3 into the warm air discharge path 21 and discharged to the outside.

A temperature sensor 18 is arranged downstream of the hot air discharge path 21 . A temperature sensor 18 measures the temperature of the air introduced from the outer shell 3 into the hot air discharge path 21 . The temperature sensor 18 then outputs measurement data to the controller 30 .

The drum 4 is arranged with a gap with respect to the outer drum 3 so that its opening coincides with the inlet 6 of the outer drum 3 . The drum 4 has a rotating shaft (not shown) extending rearward, and this rotating shaft is rotatably supported by the outer drum 3 . A rotary drive unit including a motor 28 and the like is connected to the rear end of the rotary shaft. The rotary drive section transmits the rotation of the motor 28 to the rotary shaft via a pulley and a belt to drive the drum 4 to rotate.

An operation input unit 11 is arranged on the upper part of the front panel 2a. The operation input unit 11 is connected to the control unit 30, and the user operates the laundry processing operation. A display unit 31 is arranged adjacent to the operation input unit 11 .

The display unit 31 displays information and the like regarding the laundry processing operation. The display unit 31 displays, for example, the usage time of the coin laundry machine 1, usage charges (including excess charges and weighted excess charges), and necessary operation procedures as information related to the laundry processing operation.

On the right side of the operation input unit 11, a fee reception unit 12 is arranged to receive usage fees for processing such as washing. A fee reception unit 12 receives a usage fee before the laundry processing operation of the coin laundry machine 1 is started. The charge reception unit 12 can also accept payment by a prepaid card, a credit card, various points, etc. as well as money as the usage charge.

When the user inserts money or the like into the fee receiving unit 12, the fee receiving unit 12 outputs to the control unit 30 that the money has been deposited. When the user operates according to an appropriate procedure, the fee reception unit 12 calculates the amount of money or the like that has been put in, and if the usage fee (including the excess fee and the weighted excess fee) is satisfied, the fee payment information is controlled. Output to unit 30 . Note that the fee receiving unit 12 and the control unit 30 may cooperate to determine whether the fee has been paid off.

Inside the housing 2, a control unit 30 that controls the coin laundry machine 1 is arranged. The control unit (laundry processing completion determination unit, operation procedure determination unit, charge determination unit) 30 is configured by a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. A speaker 40 of a sound generator is also arranged in the housing 2 . The speaker 40 outputs audio guidance such as usage guidance to the user.

The control unit 30 measures the difference between the time when the process of closing the opening/closing door 7 is detected and the time when the process other than the loading process of the laundry is detected, and controls the operation process such as washing. For example, the control unit 30 measures the difference between the time when the process of closing the opening/closing door 7 is detected and the time when the process of selecting a course such as washing is detected, and the difference is a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds to 1 minutes) or more, control is performed to guide the user to confirm the loading of the laundry or the like.

In addition, the control unit 30 detects that the user has performed the fee settlement processing for the fee reception unit 12, and controls operation processing such as washing. For example, the control unit 30 detects that the user is about to pay the fee, and when guidance is required such as when an erroneous operation is performed, the control unit 30 instructs the user to perform an appropriate operation by voice or the like. Perform control to guide the procedure.

Further, the control unit 30 executes control for performing laundry processing operations (washing processing, drying processing) on the laundry put into the drum 4 through a plurality of preset operation steps.

In a conventional coin laundry machine with voice guidance, the opening and closing operation of the door is used as a trigger to guide the user about the operation procedure and the contents of the next operation by voice.

Here, as an example, the operation procedure of a conventional coin laundry machine is as follows: (1) Put the clothes to be washed in the drum and close the open/close door, (2) Select the washing course you want to run, and select the course of processing. (3) Insert the fee for the selected course, or settle the account using a prepaid card, IC card, credit card, or the like.

When performing such an operation, there is no problem even if the above procedures (1) and (2) are reversed, but if either of the above (1) or (2) is not performed, the operation procedure is incorrect, the coin laundry machine cannot accept the payment.

This is because if the above (1) is not implemented, the operation cannot be started because the opening and closing door is open, and if the above (2) is not implemented, the course will be different because the fee is different for each course. This is because the coin laundry machine cannot determine the charge to be collected unless it is selected first.

However, it is difficult for the laundromat machine 1 side to determine whether to put clothes or the like into the drum 4 and close the opening/closing door 7 . Therefore, if the opening/closing door 7 is originally closed, there is a possibility that even if clothes are not put in the car, if the course button is pressed, the charge will be settled and the car will start running.

Therefore, the coin laundry machine 1 according to the present embodiment can prevent operation in a state in which no clothes have been put in by providing the user with guidance for forgetting to put in clothes, which will be described later. The guidance for the operation procedure is not limited to voice, and may be guidance by display on a display screen or the like.

<Example of operation processing method>
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, an example of the operation processing method using the coin laundry machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing operation processing using the coin laundry machine 1 according to this embodiment.

First, the control unit 30 detects that the process of closing the opening/closing door 7 has been performed and that the process of selecting a course such as washing, which is a process other than the process of loading the laundry etc., has been performed.

Then, when the control unit 30 measures the difference between the time at which the process of closing the open/close door 7 is detected and the time at which the course button, which is the process of selecting the course, is detected, the difference is shown in FIG. Operation processing is started. As an example, the difference represents the time from when the open/close door 7 is closed until the course button is pressed.

In Step 1, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the difference is within a predetermined time. If the course button has not been pressed within the predetermined time (No), the process proceeds to Step 2, and if the course button has been pressed within the predetermined time (Yes), the process proceeds to Step 3.

In Step 2, if the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined time, the control unit 30 guides the user to confirm that the laundry has been loaded. That is, the control unit 30 issues a command to the user to confirm whether or not the drum 4 contains clothes, etc., open the opening/closing door 7 once, and then close the opening/closing door 7 again.

For example, even if the course button is pressed 30 minutes after closing the opening/closing door 7 without opening/closing the opening/closing door 7, it is not determined that the clothes or the like have been put into the drum 4.例文帳に追加Therefore, when it is determined that there is no clothing, etc. in the drum, the control section 30 says, "Check if there is clothing, etc. in the drum, close the door again, and then insert a coin." guide you.

In Step 3, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the process of closing the opening/closing door 7 has been performed. If it is open (No), proceed to Step 4; if it is closed (Yes), proceed to END and do not perform guidance.

In Step 4 , the control unit 30 issues a command to the user to perform guidance for closing the opening/closing door 7 . For example, guidance such as "Please put clothes in the drum, close the door, and then insert coins."

It is also possible to apply the above-described operation processing method by using the time from when the course button is pressed until the open/close door 7 is closed as the difference. In this case, if the open/close door 7 is opened/closed within a predetermined time after the course button is pressed, it can be assumed that clothes or the like have been put into the drum 4 .

When the control unit 30 detects that the user has closed the opening/closing door 7 and pressed the course button according to the instruction of the guidance, the operation processing is terminated, and the coin laundry machine 1 accepts the charge settlement. The charge can be settled by inserting coins into the charge reception unit 12 such as a coin mech, or by using a prepaid card, an IC card, a credit card, or the like.

In the coin laundry machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the closing of the opening/closing door 7 is used as a trigger to measure the difference. do not consider Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the open/close door 7 has been opened/closed within several tens of seconds before and after the action of pressing the course button.

As a result, the coin laundry machine 1 judges whether or not clothes are in the drum 4 and then gives advice on appropriate operation procedures. It is possible to prevent the operation from being started in a state where there is no object or the like.

In the present embodiment, the coin laundry machine 1 capable of executing the washing process and the drying process has been exemplified and explained, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a washing machine that performs only washing processing on laundry, or may be applied to a dryer that performs only drying processing on laundry. .

In the above embodiment, a washing type device that uses water to wash clothes has been exemplified and explained, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a dry-cleaning type washing machine (washing/drying machine) that performs washing using a solvent such as a petroleum-based solvent.

Moreover, although the case where the operation input unit 11 and the fee reception unit 12 are arranged in the housing 2 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation input unit 11 and the fee reception unit 12 may be arranged separately from the housing 2 . That is, not limited to a separate type in which one coin laundry machine includes the charge reception unit 12, etc., but a case where operation of one or more coin laundry machines and payment of charges are accepted by a so-called centralized payment machine system using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. may be

This embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The present invention can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the present invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 Coin laundry machine 2 Housing 2a Front panel 2b Panel opening 3 Outer body 4 Drum 6 Insertion port 7 Open/close door 8 Door lock 11 Operation input unit 12 Charge reception unit 30 Control unit 31 Display unit

Claims (4)

a housing for housing laundry, etc.;
an opening/closing door that opens and closes an inlet for putting the laundry in and out of the housing;
A control unit that measures the difference between the time when the closing process of the opening and closing door is detected and the time when the process other than the loading process of the laundry is detected, and controls the operation process such as washing,
A coin laundry machine that guides a user to confirm the loading of the laundry when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time. 2. The coin laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing other than the loading processing is processing for selecting a course such as washing. 3. The coin laundry machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said input confirmation guidance is voice or display guidance. a step of detecting that a process of closing an opening/closing door that opens/closes an inlet for putting laundry in and out of the housing has been performed;
a step of detecting that a process other than the loading process of the laundry or the like has been performed;
a step of measuring the difference between the time when the process of closing the opening/closing door is detected and the time when the process other than the closing process is detected;
a step of guiding the user to confirm the loading of the laundry, etc., when the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined time;
a method of operating a laundromat including;

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