JP2847816B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine for detecting the degree of light transmission of a liquid in a tub.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional washing machine control device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-1629.
There is one shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 74. The degree of light transmission of the washing liquid in the tub is detected by an optical sensor, the washing time is estimated in accordance with the output of the optical sensor, and the washing progress is displayed on a display device based on the estimated time.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the conventional display device of the washing machine changes the display content of the progress of washing in accordance with the output of the optical sensor, that is, the degree of dirt, and does not display the degree of dirt itself. Was. Therefore, the user cannot know the degree of soiling of the laundry determined by the washing machine, and may have anxiety about the estimated contents of the washing machine.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to accurately display the degree of soiling of laundry from an initial stage of a washing process.

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light transmission degree detecting means for detecting a light transmission degree of a liquid in a tub, a display means for displaying a degree of soiling of laundry, and the light transmission degree. Control means for controlling the degree detection means and the display means, wherein the control means determines the degree of dirt on the laundry based on the output from the light transmission degree detection means after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of washing, and determines the degree of dirt according to the degree. The degree is displayed on the display means, and thereafter, the display is changed in accordance with the amount of change in turbidity until the light transmission degree detecting means detects saturation of dirt.

Operation According to the above configuration, the degree of soiling of the laundry can be accurately displayed in an initial stage after the start of the washing process.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram of a washing machine according to the present invention. In the figure, an AC voltage is applied to a control device 2 from an AC power supply 1,
The control device 2 includes a washing motor 3 having a phase-advancing condenser 4 for driving a stirring blade for stirring the laundry in the tub, a water supply valve 5 for supplying water to the tub, and a drain valve 6 for draining water from the tub. Control. The control device 2 has a signal control circuit 20 as a control means, an operation display device 21 having a function of a display means for displaying a washing progress state and the like, a setting function for setting washing, rinsing and the like, and setting various washing courses. A power control circuit 22 including a switching element such as a bidirectional thyristor for controlling energization of the washing motor 3, the water supply valve 5 and the drain valve 6, and a light transmittance detection means for detecting a light transmittance of the washing liquid in the tub. And an optical sensor 23. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a display device for displaying the degree of soiling of the laundry. That is, a plurality of LEDs 1 to 6 that are lit according to the degree of dirt on the laundry are arranged in a part of the operation display device 21, and the LEDs 1 to 6 are turned on as the degree of dirt increases.

Shows the change in the output voltage V ₀ which photosensor circuit 23 in the washing process in Figure 3. After the water supply end, the output voltage V ₀ of the light sensor circuit 23 and washing started decreases. Generally, the light transmittance is V ₀ / V _{S with} respect to a reference voltage V _S set during water supply.
× 100%. Transmittance or ΔV = V _S −V ₀
The magnitude of turbidity can be determined by the value of.

In Figure 4 shows the difference in output voltage V ₀ which photosensor circuit 23 due to contamination degree of the laundry in the washing process. Generally, as the laundry becomes heavier, the output voltage of the optical sensor circuit 23 rapidly decreases to a low value and saturates in a short time.

On the other hand, if the laundry is light, the light sensor circuit
Output voltage V ₀ which 23 gradually decreases, as compared with the case is very dirty, moreover it takes a long time to saturate at a value slightly higher. It is possible to determine the degree of contamination of the laundry by the value of the output voltage V _t of time after washing the start t elapsed time of the optical sensor circuit 23.

Next, the program operation in the washing step of the signal control circuit 20 will be described with reference to FIG. In the water supply step of step 201, the control and the water supply step so that the output voltage V ₀ which photosensor circuit 23 becomes the reference value V _S is completed, stirring is begun by driving the motor 3 in step 202. In step 203, LED for dirt display
1 to 6 are repeatedly turned on and off one by one in order from LED1, so that the lit LED flows, and the display of the detection of dirt and detection is performed until the time t elapses from the start of washing (No. 6).
Figure a). Then if the elapsed time t from the wash begins at step 204, receives the output voltage V _t of the optical sensor circuit 23 at step 205 detects the voltage change ΔV _t = V _S -V _t. At step 206 in accordance with the [Delta] V _t to view the dirt degree dirt display LED.

When the case ΔV _t is large, ie it is very dirty, LED1
~ LED6 is all lit, and when the dirt is moderate, LED1 ~ LED5
Is turned on, and when dirt is light, LED1 to LED4 are turned on. Incidentally, the dirt display operation is performed until detection of saturation of the output voltage V ₀ which optical sensor circuit 23, but since the amount of change in the output voltage V ₀ during this time is gradually decreased, the laundry in accordance with the amount of change It is judged that the dirt is coming off, and the lit LE
The lights are sequentially turned off from the side of D having a large dirt (FIG. 6b). In step 207, when detecting the saturation of the output voltage V ₀ which light sensor circuit, LEDs 1 to 3 lit displays saturation at step 208, after saturation detection series of dirt display performs display shown in FIG. 6 c End the operation.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the degree of dirt on the laundry is detected by detecting the degree of light transmission in the tub at an early stage from the start of washing. Judgment can be made in stages and displayed with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a washing machine showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the operation display device, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in output of an optical sensor circuit in the washing process. 4
The figure shows the change in the output of the optical sensor circuit depending on the degree of dirt on the laundry during the washing process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the dirt display at the time of the washing. FIG. 6 shows the dirt and lighting in the dirt display at the time of the washing. It is a figure showing an LED. 20 ... signal control circuit, 21 ... operation display device, 23 ... light sensor circuit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light transmission degree detecting means for detecting a light transmission degree of a liquid in a tub, a display means for displaying a degree of soiling of laundry, and a control means for controlling the light transmission degree detecting means and the display means. The control means determines the degree of soiling of the laundry based on the output from the light transmission degree detecting means after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of washing, displays the degree of soiling according to the determination on the display means, and thereafter displays the light level. A washing machine that changes the display according to the amount of change in turbidity until the degree of transmission detection unit detects saturation of dirt.