JP3283025B2 - Washing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an automatic washing machine.
In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic washing machine that can automatically take laundry in and out of the washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional coin laundry, when all the installed washing machines are in use, the washing machine waits for a while on the spot until the washing machines become unused, or gives up and returns.

[0003] When there is too much laundry to be washed by one washing machine, when the number of washing machines installed is small, or when another installed washing machine is in use, the amount of laundry is reduced. In addition, the use process of the coin laundry has to be repeated a required number of times according to the washing / drying capacity of one washing machine, and it is necessary to stay at the place for a long time.

[0004] Even in a general household, when there is a large amount of laundry, it is necessary to perform the laundry in a plurality of times, and it is necessary to repeat the loading and unloading of the laundry a plurality of times. I have to put off my housework.

[0005]

Accordingly, there is a drawback that the coin laundry user must spend more time than necessary for washing.

[0006] The coin laundry adds a washing machine,
Although it is conceivable to provide the convenience of a coin laundry user, there is a drawback in that adding a washing machine requires a great deal of cost and space, and is often not economically viable.

[0007] In addition, it is a disadvantage that it is impossible for a general household to purchase a plurality of washing machines in terms of space and economy.

[0008]

The present invention solves this problem. At least one washing reservation box is provided for one washing machine, and the laundry in the washing reservation box is automatically collected. It is designed to be carried into the washing machine and automatically taken out of the washing reservation box after washing.

Also, when putting laundry in the laundry reservation box,
It is configured to input information for specifying a user, a reservation number, and washing contents (eg, washing / dehydrating only, washing to drying, detergent input, etc.).

[0010]

Therefore, if the laundry is placed in the laundry reservation box, the laundry is automatically washed with desired contents, and the washed laundry is carried out to the laundry reservation box, so that one washing machine is reserved for washing. It can be used as many washing machines as the number of boxes.

[0011] Further, if the coin laundry is used, it is possible to reserve the laundry by the number of the laundry reservation boxes installed, and the user of the coin laundry becomes extremely convenient in washing, while the coin laundry uses a washing machine. Profitability can be improved economically without additional facilities and without increasing space.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of FIG.

1 is a fully automatic washing machine, 2 is a door of the washing machine, 3 is an arm for carrying in and out the laundry, 4 is a hand, and 5 to 9 are laundry items reserved by a reservation of the washing machine. And a laundry reservation box, which is a box for storing laundry and laundry. In this example, five washing reservation boxes are shown.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a control unit which is a feature of the present invention, and reference numeral 11 denotes a charge input unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the control unit 10.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 15 denotes a laundry content input circuit for the user to input the laundry content, 16 denotes a number / password input circuit for the user to input the number of the reservation box and the password, 17 Indicates a display circuit for the user to confirm the instruction of the control unit and the receipt. The washing content input circuit 15 and the number / password input circuit 16
Each of them is connected to a discriminating circuit 18 for discriminating input data, and the discriminating circuit 18 is connected to a storage circuit 19 for storing the input data and a control program of the present apparatus.

The output of the charge input unit 11 is determined by a determination circuit 1
8 is connected to the charge processing circuit 20. The determination circuit 18, the charge processing circuit 20, and the storage circuit 19 are coupled to a control circuit 21 for controlling the operation of the present device.

Further, the control circuit 21 is connected to a washing reservation box driving section 23 for driving the washing reservation box, a washing driving section 24 for driving the washing machine, and an arm driving section 25 for driving the arm 3 respectively. ing.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for controlling the apparatus of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of the device of the present example. The operation of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

If the user is using the washing machine 1 and makes a reservation for washing, the user inputs the number of the washing reservation box to be used from the number / password input circuit 16 (step 40).
1, 402). In this example, the case where the laundry reservation box 8 at the laundry replacement position is selected will be described.

When the number of the washing reservation box 8 is inputted, the discriminating circuit 18 judges whether the number is correct or not.
In accordance with the instruction from the control circuit 21, the storage state is stored in the storage circuit 19, and the control circuit 21 reads out the use state of the laundry reservation box of this number from the storage circuit 19. If the laundry reservation box 8 is empty, the control circuit 21 displays an empty state on the display circuit 17 (step 403 NO). In this state, the laundry reservation box drive unit 23 opens the door of the laundry reservation box 8, puts the laundry put in the specified washing net into the laundry reservation box 8, and closes the door (steps 404 to 406).

Further, the user can select desired washing contents (for example,
Only the washing and dehydration, or the amount of detergent input from washing to drying) is input by the washing content input circuit 15 (step 407). This washing content data is transmitted to the discriminating circuit 18.
Is determined to be correct data, and if the data is correct, the data is stored in the storage circuit 19 in accordance with the instruction of the control circuit 21 in correspondence with the washing reservation box number.

This washing content data is sent to the charge processing circuit 20, and a washing charge is determined according to the washing contents, and this charge is displayed on the display circuit 17 by the control circuit 21 (step 408). The user inputs the displayed fee from the fee input unit 11 (step 409). Discrimination circuit 18
Confirms that the inserted money is not fake, determines the amount of money to be inserted, and sends the amount of money data to the fee processing circuit 20 according to an instruction from the control circuit 21. When confirming that the laundry charge has been entered, the fee processing circuit 20 notifies the control circuit 21 that the charge has been entered (step 410).

Next, the control circuit 21 displays the user's password input request on the display circuit 17. As a result, the user inputs a desired password combining the date of birth of the user from the number / password input circuit 16. Discrimination circuit 18
Determines whether the password is correct, and if the password is correct, stores it in the storage circuit 19 in accordance with the instruction of the control circuit 21 in correspondence with the number of the washing reservation box (step 411).

When the control circuit 21 confirms that the user's reservation procedure has been completed, the control circuit 21 issues a receipt describing the details of use and the estimated time of completion of washing from the display circuit 17 to the user (step 412).

Further, the control circuit 21 controls the washing reservation box driving unit 23 to lock the door of the washing reservation box (step 413). In this state, the control circuit 21 monitors the use state of the washing machine 1 based on the data from the washing machine drive unit 24, and places the washing reservation box 8 in a waiting state while the washing machine 1 is in use (step 414).

When the washing machine 1 is ready for washing, the control circuit 21 determines the order of the reserved washing, and if the washing reserved box 8 is in the next order, the laundry in the washing reserved box 8 is sent to the washing machine 1. It is carried in (step 415). This operation will be described with reference to FIG.

The control circuit 21 causes the laundry reservation box drive unit 23 to open the door, and instructs the arm drive unit 25 to drive the arm 3. The arm drive unit 25 is connected to the washing machine 1 by the hand 4.
After the door is opened, the arm 3 is raised, and the laundry in the net in the washing reservation box 8 is gripped by the hand 4 at the tip of the arm 3. Next, the arm driving unit 25 lowers the arm 3, stores the laundry held by the hand 4 in the washing machine 1, opens the hand 4, and removes the laundry from the washing machine 1.
After that, the arm 3 closes the door of the washing machine 1. The loading can be performed by a general arm control method.

Here, the door of the washing machine 1 may be opened and closed by providing a small door opening and closing motor in the washing machine, or by using a gear,
The opening and closing mechanism may be configured by a combination of a cam and the like. The control circuit 21 confirms the completion of the loading of the laundry by the loading completion signal from the arm driving unit 25, and then instructs the washing content input to the washing machine driving unit 24, and the washing machine driving unit 24 operates according to the washing content. The laundry is washed in a general manner (step 416).

The control circuit 21 instructs the arm drive unit 25 to carry out the laundry after confirming the end of the laundry by the washing end signal of the washing machine drive unit 24 (step 41).
7).

That is, the control circuit 21 causes the laundry reservation box drive unit 23 to open the door, and instructs the arm drive unit 25 to drive the arm 3. After opening the door of the washing machine 1, the arm drive unit 25 moves the hand 4 into the washing machine 1 and causes the hand 4 at the tip of the arm 3 to grip the laundry contained in the washing reservation box 8. Then, the laundry is carried out of the washing machine 1.
Next, the arm drive unit 25 raises the arm 3, carries out the laundry held by the hand 4 into the laundry reservation box 8, opens the hand 4, and stores the laundry in the laundry reservation box 8. The control of the arm 3 and the hand 4 can be performed by a general arm control method.

After the control circuit 21 confirms the carry-out of the laundry to the laundry reservation box 8 by the carry-out completion signal from the arm drive unit 25, the control circuit 21 instructs the laundry reservation box drive unit 23 to close the laundry reservation box and lock the door. And the door of the washing reservation box 8 is locked (step 418). Further, the control circuit 21 displays the end of the reserved washing in the washing reservation box 8 on the display circuit 17.

The user who has reserved the laundry reservation box 8 visits the coin laundry again after a desired time, confirms the end of the reserved laundry on the display of the display circuit 17, and indicates the number of the laundry reservation box and the password. / Input again by the password input circuit 16 (YES in steps 402 and 403, 41)
9). The control circuit 21 compares the stored laundry reservation box number and password with the inputted laundry reservation box number and password, and if they match, the laundry reservation box driving section 23.
Is instructed to open the laundry reservation box, and the door is opened (steps 420 and 421). The user takes out the laundry from the laundry reservation box 8 and the reserved laundry ends.

When another laundry reservation box, for example, the laundry reservation box 5 is reserved, and the laundry reservation box 5 is in the next washing order, the control circuit 21 sets the laundry reservation box 5 to the laundry reservation box. The laundry is moved to the laundry exchange position by the drive unit 23 and the reserved washing of the laundry reservation box 5 is performed by the above-described operation.

As described above, when the washing machine is in use, the user can perform the scheduled washing and obtain the washed laundry after a desired time, thereby eliminating the waiting time in the washing order. . On the other hand, the operator of the coin laundry can efficiently use the existing washing machine without adding a washing machine and expanding a space.

Here, the above-mentioned example shows an example of a coin laundry. However, in order to carry out the present invention for home use, the laundry reservation box is opened, and steps 405, 407 and 41 in FIG.
4, 415, 416, 417, and 422, and the control unit 10 in FIG. 3 can be configured by a washing content input circuit 15, a storage circuit 19, a control circuit 21, and a display circuit 17.

That is, in such a configuration, as in the above-described operation, if the washing machine 1 is in use, the laundry is stored in the washing reservation box (step 405), and the washing contents are input as described above. (Step 407) When washing becomes possible (NO in Step 414), the arm drive unit 25 carries the laundry into the washing machine as described above (Step 415), and after the washing is finished, carries the laundry to the laundry reservation box. (YE in step 416)
S, 417) Then, the laundry is taken out of the laundry reservation box (step 422).

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, at least one washing reservation box is provided for one washing machine, and the laundry in the washing reservation box is automatically carried into the washing machine, and After that, it is configured to automatically take out to the laundry reservation box.

When putting laundry in the laundry reservation box,
The information to identify the user, the reservation number, etc., and the contents of washing / drying (eg, washing / dehydrating only, washing-drying, detergent input, etc.) are input.

Therefore, if the laundry is put in the laundry reservation box, the laundry is automatically washed with the desired contents and the washed laundry is carried out to the laundry reservation box. Can be used as many washing machines as the number of boxes, 1
The use efficiency of the washing machine can be significantly improved.

When used for a coin laundry, it is possible to reserve the laundry by the number of laundry reservation boxes installed. Therefore, the user of the coin laundry does not need to wait for the washing machine to be emptied on the spot as in the past, and since a large amount of laundry can be easily distributed and reserved, the washing becomes extremely convenient, and the half day of the holiday can be reduced. It has excellent effects such as eliminating the need for washing.

In addition, since the coin laundry does not require additional washing machines and does not increase the space, the use efficiency of the existing washing machines can be doubled by the number of washing reservation boxes. It has excellent effects such as significantly improving profitability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of a control unit 10;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for controlling the apparatus of the present example.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a use state of the device of the present example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 3 Arm 4 Hand 5-9 Wash reservation box 10 Control part 11 Charge input part 15 Washing content input part 16 Number / PIN number input part 17 Display circuit 1
Reference Signs List 8 discrimination circuit 19 storage circuit 20 fee processing unit 21 control circuit 23 washing reservation box drive unit 24 washing machine drive unit 25 arm drive unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A washing reservation box for temporarily storing laundry; a washing machine; loading means for loading the laundry between the washing reservation box and the washing machine; An unloading unit for unloading the laundry from and to the washing machine; and a control unit connected to the washing machine, the washing reservation box, the unloading unit, and the unloading unit. Identifying a use state of the washing machine based on data from a driving unit of the washing machine; identifying that the washing machine is washable; and, when the laundry is present in the washing reservation box, setting the washing reservation. Operating the carry-in means for carrying the laundry from the box into the washing machine; and receiving the carry-in completion signal from the carry-in means, and washing the carried-in laundry with the washing machine. When the end of the washing is identified by the data from the driving unit of the washing machine, the laundry is driven. Operating the means out 該搬 to discharge into the washing reservation box from 濯機 washing apparatus according to claim. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a washing content instruction circuit for instructing the washing machine to wash the laundry in the washing reservation box. 3. The control unit further comprises: storage means for storing information for specifying a person who reserved the laundry reservation box, and after the information is stored in the storage means, the carry-in means. And means for locking the door of the laundry reservation box other than when the unloading means is operating, and means for releasing the lock when information specifying a reserved person matching the stored information is input. The washing device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving unit having: