JP5487713B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that controls a washing operation in accordance with the state of a washing liquid.

  Conventionally, as a stain detection device for a washing machine, a circulation path for circulating the washing liquid from the lowermost part of the outer tub and circulating the washing liquid to the washing tub is installed, and a washing liquid such as a turbidity sensor is provided in a part of the circulation path. It has been considered to install a dirt sensor for detecting the state of the washing and to control the washing process by detecting the state of the washing liquid such as dirt.

  When measuring the state of the washing liquid in this circulation path, if bubbles or floating particles generated in the washing liquid flow into the circulation path, the measurement tends to vary. In order to suppress the inflow, a method using a bubble trap or the like in which the shape of the circulation path is deformed is considered (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, it has been considered to provide a conductivity sensor in the vicinity of the drain of the outer tub to detect the conductivity of the washing liquid (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-61-206494 JP 2008-11002 A

  However, with the above washing machine configuration, control of stopping rotation of the drum and pulsator to greatly change the structure of the conducting pipe used in the circulation path for installing a bubble trap or the like, or to stop the water flow at every measurement time. The relatively large particles that have melted from the clothes contained in the washing liquid do not flow to the circulation path.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a washing machine that can easily measure the state of the washing liquid as it is without greatly changing the structure of the circulation path.

In order to solve the above problems, the washing machine of the present invention is:
A bottomed cylindrical washing tub having a plurality of water passage holes on the peripheral surface, an outer tub that rotatably accommodates the washing tub, a water intake port that is connected to a lower portion of the outer tub and into which washing liquid enters, and A circulation path whose one end communicates with the water intake, a discharge port which communicates with the other end of the circulation path and discharges the washing liquid into the washing tub, and a washing liquid state detection which detects the state of the washing liquid in the washing tub Means, a circulation pump that takes the washing liquid into the circulation path and discharges the washing liquid from the discharge port into the washing tub, and a detachable filter that removes suspended particles between the intake port and the circulation pump. The washing liquid state detecting means is installed immediately before the filter, and the washing liquid state detecting means is integrated with an attachment mechanism for attaching the filter to the washing machine. As a result, the water that has drawn the washing liquid from the washing tub into the circulation path comes to the sensor portion as it is, so that the dirt itself from the clothes can be accurately detected.

In the washing machine of the present invention, the washing liquid state detection means is installed immediately before the circulation path filter, so that the water drawn into the circulation path by the circulation pump from the washing tub does not pass through the filter etc. Therefore, the dirt itself from the clothes is accurately detected, and then the suspended particles and the like are removed by the filter, so that it is possible to suppress clogging of the circulation pump by large particles and discharge to the drain pipe.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The block diagram of the washing | cleaning liquid state detection means of the circulation path in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which integrated the washing | cleaning-liquid state detection means and filter in Embodiment 1 of this invention

  A washing machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is connected to a bottomed cylindrical washing tub having a plurality of water passage holes on a peripheral surface, an outer tub that rotatably accommodates the washing tub, and a lower portion of the outer tub. A water intake port through which the washing liquid enters, a circulation path communicating with one end of the water intake port, a discharge port communicating with the other end of the circulation path and discharging the washing liquid into the washing tub, A washing liquid state detecting means for detecting a state of the washing liquid, a circulation pump for taking the washing liquid into the circulation path and discharging the washing liquid from the discharge port into the washing tub, and from the intake port to the circulation pump There is a removable filter for removing suspended particles in between, and the washing liquid state detecting means is installed immediately before the filter so that the water drawn into the circulation path by the circulation pump from the washing tub is filtered. Come to the sensor without passing through Because accurately detect out the dirt content itself from the clothes, then for the removal of such suspended particles by the filter, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the clogging and drainage of the circulating pump by large particles.

  In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the washing liquid state detection means is configured integrally with an attachment mechanism for attaching the filter to the washing machine, so that a separate place for attaching the washing liquid state detection means is prepared. The installation can be facilitated.

  According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the washing liquid state detecting means is configured to be detachable together with the filter, so that the washing liquid state detecting means is washed together with the filter, and maintenance and replacement are easy. Can be done.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a washing machine using the washing machine dirt detection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box of the entire washing machine, and its interior. An outer tub 2 is disposed in the outer tub 2, and a drum 3 serving as a washing tub is disposed inside the outer tub 2 so as to be rotatable by a rotating shaft inclined slightly rearwardly downward from the horizontal direction. The drum 3 has a motor 4 connected to the back surface, and the drum 3 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 4. The drum 3 is provided with a plurality of water holes on the outer peripheral surface, and functions as a washing tub, a dewatering tub, and a drying tub.

  A water intake port 5 is connected to the bottom of the outer tub 2, and a circulation path 9 connected to the discharge port 8 for discharging the washing liquid taken in from the water intake port 5 to the drum 3 communicates with the outer tub 2. The washing liquid and rinse liquid can be circulated.

The circulation path 9 is provided with a washing liquid state detection means 10 for detecting the state of the washing liquid downstream of the water intake 5, and a filter 14 for removing suspended particles and lint is provided downstream of the circulation path 9. A circulation pump 15 for circulating the washing liquid 9 is installed. The washing liquid state detection means 10 is installed immediately before the filter 14.

  Further, a drain valve 6 is also provided between the filter 14 and the circulation pump 15, and the drain valve 6 is connected to the drain pipe 7, and the drain valve 6 is controlled so that washing liquid and rinsing liquid in the washing machine can be obtained. Drain through drain pipe 7.

  The filter 14 is a detachable mechanism that can be removed and cleaned because washing dirt such as mud and clothing fibers are gradually attached by washing.

  As shown in the sectional view of the circulation path 9 in FIG. 2, the washing liquid state detection means 10 measures the conductivity by the conductivity sensor 11 having a shape in which a pair of electrodes 13 a and electrodes 13 b are inserted into the circulation path 9. . The conductivity is measured by, for example, forming an RC oscillation circuit with the impedance of the washing liquid between the electrodes 13a and 13b and a capacitor on a control circuit (not shown), and outputting the change in the washing liquid impedance as a frequency change. Further, this may be converted into a voltage value.

  Further, upstream of the conductivity sensor 11, a turbidity sensor 12 composed of a light emitting element 16 such as an LED and a light receiving element 17 such as a phototransistor is disposed opposite to each other with the circulation path 9 interposed therebetween. The portion of the circulation path 9 sandwiched between the light-emitting elements 16 is made of a translucent material, and the light emitted from the light-emitting element 16 is received by the light-receiving element 17 through the washing liquid in the circulation path 9 and converted into a voltage for output. . For this reason, at least the turbidity sensor portion of the washing liquid state detection means 10 has a light-shielded sealed structure so that the light receiving element 17 does not receive light from the outside.

  The turbidity sensor 12 of the washing liquid state detecting means 10 is installed at a position where the circulation path 9 is arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to the ground, and the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 are shown in a longitudinal section of the circulation path 9 in FIG. As you can see, they are arranged on the left and right sides below the center.

  The light emission control of the light emitting element 16 and the capture of the output of the light receiving element 17 are performed by a control circuit (not shown) such as a microcomputer, and the output value from the light receiving element 17 is used as the turbidity of the washing liquid passing through the circulation path 9. Processing is performed, and the washing process and the rinsing process are controlled based on the turbidity.

  In the washing liquid in the washing process, dirt from the laundry is dissolved by detergent and stirring, and the conductivity and turbidity gradually increase. For this reason, it is possible to determine the amount of dirt and the completion of cleaning by looking at changes in the conductivity and turbidity of the detergent liquid.

  Next, an operation for detecting the state of the washing liquid according to the present embodiment will be described.

  By operating the circulation pump 15 at the time of washing and rinsing, the washing liquid in the drum 3 and the outer tub 2 enters from the water intake 5 and circulates to the drum 3 through the circulation path 9 having the washing liquid state detecting means 10. To do. Thus, the water in the circulation path 9 always has the same concentration of the washing liquid in the drum 3 and the outer tub 2 as the detergent and dirt.

  In the washing liquid state detection means 10, for example, the outputs of the conductivity sensor 11 and the turbidity sensor 12 are used every minute for the control of the washing process and the rinsing process as the conductivity and turbidity of the washing liquid at that time. In particular, when measuring the conductivity of the washing liquid, it is possible to determine the type of detergent and the amount of detergent in the washing liquid, and to determine the amount of dirt of ionic components mainly composed of sweat that has melted out of the laundry. More precise control can be performed.

By detecting the two states of conductivity and turbidity, for example, if the conductivity is lower than a predetermined value, but the permeability is higher than another predetermined value, the liquid detergent is introduced. Judgment to control the washing process, if the conductivity is higher than the reference value even if the turbidity is equivalent to tap water, it is judged that the rinse is insufficient and the rinse is extended, or the conductivity exceeds the reference value. If it falls below, it can be used for control such as ending the rinsing step.

  In addition, the drain pipe 7 for draining the washing water is connected between the filter 14 and the circulation pump 15 and performs draining operation by opening and closing the drain valve 6. Since the water from which the water is removed is drained, it is possible to perform both the circulation and drainage filters.

  As described above, by installing the washing liquid state detecting means 10 immediately before the filter 14 in the circulation path 9 and monitoring the state of the detergent liquid during washing, the circulation pump 15 is operated to wash the washing liquid from the washing tub. When the water is drawn into the circulation path 9, the washing water comes to the sensor portion as it is, so that the entire dirt coming out of the clothes before the removal of the suspended particles by the filter 14 can be accurately detected, not immediately after the water intake 5. By installing the washing liquid detection means 10 immediately before the filter 14, the washing liquid swaying due to the rotation of the drum at the time of rinsing is less affected when the washing liquid detection means 10 detects the state of the washing liquid. can do.

  Further, if the attachment position of the washing liquid state detection means 10 is integrated with an attachment mechanism for attaching and detaching the filter 14 to and from the washing machine, there is no need to prepare a separate attachment place for the washing liquid state detection means 10, Installation and maintenance can be facilitated, and if the washing liquid state detecting means 10 is visible from the outside when the filter 14 is removed, contamination of the conductive sensor 11 and the turbidity sensor 12 can be confirmed. It is also possible to perform maintenance such as cleaning from the outside.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the washing liquid state detection means 10 is configured to be detachable together with the filter 14, so that the washing liquid state detection means is washed together with the filter, and maintenance and replacement are easily performed. be able to. The power supply and signal connection of the electrode 13 of the conductivity sensor 11, the light emitting element 16 and the light receiving element 17 of the turbidity sensor 12 may be performed by contact of the connector at the attachment / detachment position of the washing liquid state detecting means 10.

  In addition, the configuration of the washing machine in the above embodiment has been described with a drum-type washing machine in which the washing tub has a rotation axis inclined from the horizontal direction, but the washing tub is a vertical washing machine having a rotation axis in the vertical direction. Even if it exists, if the circulation path 9 is comprised from the water intake 5 connected to the lower part of the outer tank 2, the effect similar to said content can be acquired.

  As described above, since the washing machine according to the present invention can detect the state of the cleaning liquid with less measurement variation using the circulation path circulated from the cleaning tank to the cleaning tank, the washing machine according to the present invention can also be used for a cleaning device such as a fiber Applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer box 2 Outer tank 3 Drum 4 Motor 5 Water intake 6 Drain valve 7 Water distribution pipe 8 Discharge port 9 Circulation route 10 Washing liquid state detection means 11 Conductivity sensor 12 Turbidity sensor 13 Electrode 14 Filter 15 Circulation pump 16 Light emitting element 17 Light receiving element

Claims (2)

A bottomed cylindrical washing tub having a plurality of water passage holes on the peripheral surface, an outer tub that rotatably accommodates the washing tub, a water intake port that is connected to a lower portion of the outer tub and into which washing liquid enters, and A circulation path whose one end communicates with the water intake, a discharge port which communicates with the other end of the circulation path and discharges the washing liquid into the washing tub, and a washing liquid state detection which detects the state of the washing liquid in the washing tub Means, a circulation pump that takes the washing liquid into the circulation path and discharges the washing liquid from the discharge port into the washing tub, and a detachable filter that removes suspended particles between the intake port and the circulation pump. The washing liquid state detecting means is installed immediately before the filter, and the washing liquid state detecting means is integrated with an attachment mechanism for attaching the filter to the washing machine. . The washing liquid state detecting means, the washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a detachable with filter.