JP2629932B2 - Coin-operated washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin-type washing machine for automatically operating a series of steps such as tub washing, washing, and draining by inserting coins.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a coin-type washing machine of this kind, a coin insertion detecting means 1 for detecting insertion of a coin as shown in FIG.
The inserted amount discriminating means 2 for judging that the total number of coins inserted into the coin inserted detecting means 1 satisfies a predetermined amount, and the output of the inserted amount discriminating means 2 is not input, and the predetermined amount As described above, the state control means 4 for controlling the electromagnetic counter 3 to give an output when a coin is inserted is provided.

FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the electromagnetic counter 3.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit for displaying the number of counters. There are various types, but in the example shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to display 6 digits.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the electromagnetic counter of FIG. 5, in which the switch 10 is turned on when an output signal from the state control means 4 is given to the electromagnetic counter. At this time, the AC power supply 6 is rectified by the diode 7, and the pulsating voltage divided by the resistor 8 is given to the magnet 9. As a result, the arm lever 11 is pulled up, so that the gear of the cam 12 The display unit 5 shown in FIG.
Is configured to add 1 to the counter number.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a conventional configuration, since the expensive electromagnetic counter 3 is used, the price of the entire product is easily increased, and the electromagnetic counter 3 is easy to wash, which is an original function of the product. Unlike the case where the washing machine is maintained, the washing machine is only necessary for a person who performs maintenance of the washing machine. Therefore, the mounting position of the washing machine is greatly restricted so that it cannot be easily operated by ordinary people.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize an operation counter that is inexpensive and hardly restricted in mounting position.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a nonvolatile storage means for storing the number of times of operation, and an operation stored in the nonvolatile storage means when a coin is inserted in a predetermined amount or more. State control means for adding 1 to the number of times and controlling the number of times to be displayed on the number-of-operations display means is provided.

Operation With this configuration, it is possible to realize a function equivalent to the electromagnetic counter by the non-volatile storage means, the operation number display means, and the state control means, and to compare the operation number with the total amount inserted in the coin box. In this case, the counter function can be made inexpensive and hardly restricted by the mounting position.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a coin insertion detecting means, 2 is an inserted amount discriminating means, and 4 is a state control means. Numeral 14 denotes a non-volatile storage means which receives an output of the state control means 4 as an input and outputs the stored number of operations. Numeral 15 denotes a number-of-operations display means, which is a nonvolatile storage means 14 inputted to the state control means 4.
Is input and displayed.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a display switching means, which uses the number-of-operations display means 15 as a switching signal output means when used together with the display of the time required for a series of steps such as washing and rinsing.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific configuration of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 17 denotes a coin box attached to the operation unit of the main body 18, which generates an output signal when a coin is inserted.
Reference numeral 19 denotes a microcomputer, which determines whether or not the total amount of input is equal to or more than a predetermined amount by a built-in program.
The number of times of operation stored in the memory is input, 1 is added, and the result is output to the nonvolatile storage means 14 again. Specifically, the storage unit 19a storing a predetermined amount of money, the nonvolatile storage unit 14
Input section 19b for inputting the switch signal of the coin box 17 and the display switching means 16, a 7-segment LED 20, and an output section 19c for outputting each content to the non-volatile storage means 14, It has an operation control unit 19d that controls the unit 19a, the input unit 19b, and the output unit 19c, and performs data comparison operation and the like.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a main part of a flowchart under the control of the microcomputer 20.

Generally, the user puts laundry into the washing tub 21, puts a detergent, and puts coins into the coin box 17. By this operation, the microcomputer 19 detects in step 22 that a coin has been inserted, and when it is determined in step 23 that the total amount is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the microcomputer 19 stores the operation stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 14. The number of times is input from the input unit 19b, and one is added by the arithmetic control unit 19d. Then, the number of times is re-stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 14 from the output unit 19c, thereby performing the process of step S24. Thereafter, when a command to start washing is issued from the arithmetic control unit 19d, step 25 is executed.
When a series of steps is completed after performing steps 26 to 26, the process returns to the initial state again and the processing is performed again from step 22.

Here, if it becomes necessary to compare the number of times of operation of the washing machine with the total amount of coins inserted into the coin box 17, by pressing a switch of the display switching means 16, a series of steps up to that time is performed. The device displaying the required time required for the operation can be temporarily substituted for the operation number display means 15.

In addition, since the nonvolatile storage means 14 uses a nonvolatile memory transistor as a storage element, its storage content is indefinite even without a backup power supply, and is stored in the nonvolatile storage means 14 even when the power of the main body 18 is cut off. There is no fear that the number of driving operations will change.

As a result, when the owner of the washing machine wants to check the number of times of operation, an IC (integrated circuit) of about 8 pins which is a non-volatile storage means and a display means which has been conventionally used to display the time required for washing, etc. Since it can be checked by the switches of the display switching means and the counter made by the microcomputer which controls these inputs and outputs, it is not necessary to use an expensive electromagnetic counter as in the past. Therefore, there is no inconvenience that a counter for displaying the number of operations is attached as an option as before, and the counter is sold separately only when necessary.

As can be seen from the above description, the non-volatile storage means is a small IC (integrated circuit) of about 8 pins, which has a very small possibility of hindering installation, and is very advantageous for its arrangement. .

Thus, in this embodiment, the operation number counter is
It can be made inexpensively using ICs (integrated circuits),
It is possible to remove a protective cover or the like necessary to prevent the electromagnetic counter from being easily seen from the outside when mounting the electromagnetic counter.

Further, in this embodiment, since the microcomputer is used as the means for adding the number of times of operation, when the number of times of operation exceeds a predetermined number of times and becomes equal to or more than the standard durability number of the product, an output signal to that effect is given. Is displayed on the display means, it is easy to prevent a failure before it occurs.

Although the non-volatile storage unit is used as the unit for storing the number of operations in the above embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by using a volatile storage unit having a backup power supply.

As described above, according to the present invention, the non-volatile storage means, the operation number display means, and the microcomputer are used to store or display the added operation number. Can be realized inexpensively and in a small space as compared with the case of using. Further, since it can be used together with a microcomputer for controlling a series of steps such as washing and a display device, it can be easily implemented simply by attaching a non-volatile storage means as a new component.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example using the microcomputer, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the main part, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an external appearance of the electromagnetic counter, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the electromagnetic counter. 1 ... coin insertion detecting means, 2 ... insertion amount discriminating means,
4 ... state control means, 14 ... non-volatile storage means, 15 ...
Operation number display means, 16 ... Display switching means.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kuniaki Nagai 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coin insertion detecting means for detecting insertion of coins, an inserted amount determining means for determining that the total number of coins inserted in the coin insertion detecting means satisfies a predetermined amount, and the inserted amount determining means With the output of the means as an input, when a coin is inserted into the predetermined amount or more, 1 is added to the non-volatile storage means for storing the number of times of operation so far, and the number of times is displayed on the number of times of operation display means. A coin-type washing machine having a state control means for controlling.