JP7029590B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine that automatically controls washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes.

Conventionally, in this type of washing machine, various configurations for detecting the water level in the tub have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram in which the water level detection device of the conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1 is attached.

In FIG. 5, the side surface portion of the washing tub 55 is provided with an overflow water level setting mechanism 58 that allows the user to set the overflow level at the time of rinsing to a desired height, and sets the overflow water level by moving the washing tub 55 in parallel in the direction of the arrow. be able to.

A temperature-sensitive resistance element 51 is arranged at a predetermined position of the overflow drainage path 59 through which the overflowed water flows. Since the temperature-sensitive resistance element 51 self-heats when a current is supplied from a current source (not shown), the resistance value changes due to cooling from the outside.

In the rinsing step, the water level in the washing tub 55 rises and overflows, and when the temperature-sensitive resistance element 51 comes into contact with water, the temperature-sensitive resistance element 51 is cooled and the resistance value changes. The rate of change of this resistance value is detected, and the determination unit 61 determines that the water level has reached a predetermined level and proceeds with the process.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-35290

However, in the conventional configuration, the self-heating amount of the temperature-sensitive resistance element is small, and it takes time to detect the temperature difference, so that there is a problem that time and water are wasted.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to shorten the time for detecting the water level by detecting the water level by combining a diode having a small current and a high calorific value and a temperature-sensitive resistance element.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the washing machine of the present invention includes a housing, a water tank supported by vibration isolation inside the housing, a washing tub rotatably contained in the water tub, and the washing tub. A motor for rotating the water tank, a water supply valve for supplying water to the water tank, a communication pipe erected so as to communicate with the lower side surface portion of the water tank, and a control means, and the communication pipe is provided with the water tank. A water level detecting means for detecting the water level of the supplied water is provided inside, and the water level detecting means includes a diode that generates heat by supplying an electric current and a temperature-sensitive resistance element that is arranged in the vicinity of the diode and whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature. The control means is configured to calculate the reaching water level in the water tank based on the resistance value detected by the water level detecting means. ..

As a result, the time for detecting the water level can be shortened.

The washing machine of the present invention can shorten the time for detecting the water level.

Longitudinal sectional view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention Enlarged layout of the water level detection board of the washing machine Configuration diagram with the water level detection device of the washing machine installed Control block diagram of the water level detection device of the washing machine Configuration diagram with a water level detector for a conventional washing machine

The first invention comprises a housing, a water tank supported by vibration isolation inside the housing, a washing tub rotatably contained in the water tub, a motor for rotationally driving the washing tub, and the inside of the water tub. A water supply valve for supplying water to the water tank, a communication pipe erected so as to communicate with the lower side surface portion of the water tank, and a control means are provided, and the communication pipe detects the water level of the water supplied in the water tank. The water level detecting means is provided with a substrate formed of a diode that generates heat by supplying an electric current and a temperature-sensitive resistance element that is arranged in the vicinity of the diode and whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature. The control means is configured to calculate the reaching water level in the water tank based on the resistance value detected by the water level detecting means, so that the time for detecting the water level can be shortened. ..

A second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first invention, the communication pipe comprises at least two or more of the water level detecting means provided at a plurality of positions having different heights, and the control means is each said. The water level detection time can be further shortened by comparing the resistance values detected by the water level detecting means and calculating the reaching water level in the water tank.

A third aspect of the invention is, in particular, in the first aspect, the water level detecting means includes a switch for opening and closing the supply of electric current to the diode, and the control means is the reaching water level calculated in the first water supply step. The control is provided with a storage unit that stores a first water level detecting means that is below and closest to the water level, and a second water level detecting means that is above and near the reaching water level. The means are provided in the first switch provided in the first water level detecting means and the second water level detecting means based on the information stored in the storage unit in the second and subsequent water supply steps. A configuration in which only the second switch is closed, the other switches are opened, and the reaching water level in the water tank is calculated from the resistance values detected by the first water level detecting means and the second water level detecting means. By doing so, it is possible to minimize the power consumption required for detection and save energy.

In the fourth invention, in particular, in the first invention, the diode is configured to be an LED, so that the time for detecting the water level can be shortened.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Further, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the housing 21 suspends and supports the water tank 5 with a plurality of suspensions 22. The washing / dehydrating shaft 24 is hollow and has a biaxial structure.

The washing tub 32 has a large number of dehydration holes (not shown) on the side wall, a fluid balancer 26 for vibration reduction at the upper part of the inner circumference, and a pulsator 27 for agitating clothes at the central bottom. There is.

Further, although not shown in FIG. 1, a communication pipe 6 communicating with the water tank 5 is erected on the lower side surface portion of the water tank 5 to the same height as the water tank 5. The surroundings of the communication pipe 6 will be described in detail in FIGS. 2 and 2.

An upper frame body 30 is provided on the upper part of the housing 21, and a laundry loading / unloading outlet 23 for communicating the washing tub 32 and the outside is formed in a substantially central portion of the upper frame body 30 to load and take the laundry. The outlet 23 is covered with a lid 25 so as to be openable and closable.

Further, on the front portion of the upper frame body 30, an operation display unit 31 is provided which performs various input settings and displays the setting contents and the progress status. An electronic circuit device 20 having a control unit 9 (see FIGS. 2 and 2) that controls a motor 29 and the like and sequentially controls a series of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating processes is housed inside the operation display unit 31. Has been done. A water supply valve 33 that can be opened and closed by electromagnetic force is arranged at the rear portion of the upper frame body 30.

The transmission mechanism unit 28 has a built-in reduction gear (not shown) for washing. The motor 29 driven by the electronic circuit device 20 as an inverter is attached to the outer bottom portion of the water tub 5, and rotates the pulsator 27 and the washing tub 32 via the transmission mechanism portion 28.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged layout of the water level detection substrate of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram in which the water level detection device of the washing machine is attached, and FIG. 4 is a water level detection device of the washing machine. It is a control block diagram of.

In FIG. 2, the water level detecting substrate 1 which is a water level detecting means is arranged on a substrate 4 having high thermal conductivity so that the LED 2 which is a diode and the temperature sensor 3 which is a temperature sensitive element are close to each other. There is.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a communication pipe 6 communicating with the water tank 5 is erected on the lower side surface of the water tank 5 to the same height as the water tank 5 as described above.

In the communication pipe 6, the low water level detection substrate 1A, the medium water level detection substrate 1B, the high water level detection substrate 1C, and the comparative water level detection substrate 1D, which are the water level detection means, have low water level, medium water level, high water level, and high water level. It is arranged at a predetermined height above.

The low water level detection board 1A has a low water level LED 2a and a low water level temperature sensor 3a, the medium water level detection board 1B has a medium water level LED 2b and a medium water level temperature sensor 3b, and the high water level detection board 1C has a high water level. A water level LED 2c and a high water level temperature sensor 3c are arranged, and a comparison LED 2d and a comparison temperature sensor 3d are arranged on the comparison water level detection substrate 1D.

The current source 8 is electrically connected to the low water level LED 2a, the medium water level LED 2b, the high water level LED 2c, and the comparison LED 2d, respectively. Further, a switch 12 is provided between the current reduction 8 and each LED 2, and when the switch 12 is ON (when it is closed), a current is supplied to each LED 2.

The comparator 7 as a control means was detected by the low water level temperature sensor 3a of the low water level detection board 1A, the medium water level temperature sensor 3b of the medium water level detection board 1B, and the high water level temperature sensor 3c of the high water level detection board 1C. The temperature of each LED is compared with the temperature detected by the comparison temperature sensor 3d of the comparison water level detection substrate 1D.

The control unit 9, which is a control means, determines to what level the water has risen based on the information detected by the comparator 7, and controls the subsequent processes based on the information. The rising temperature of the LED, the rising temperature at the time of heat generation, and the like are different between the case where the LED is in contact with water and the case where the LED is in contact with air. As a result, the control unit 9 calculates the reaching water level from the values detected by the respective temperature sensors.

The storage unit 10 sequentially stores the information of the control unit 9.

The switch control unit 11 which is a control means has a low water level switch 12a, a medium water level switch 12b, and a high water level in order to supply a current to the low water level LED 2a, the medium water level LED 2b, the high water level LED 2c, and the comparison LED 2d. It controls the opening and closing of the switch 12c for comparison and the switch 12d for comparison.

The operation and operation of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

In the washing or rinsing process, the water supply valve 33 is driven to supply water to the water tank 5, and at the same time the water is stored, water proportional to the water level of the washing tub is also stored in the communication pipe 6, and the water level rises.

When the water level in the communication pipe 6 reaches the low water level detection substrate 1A, the low water level temperature sensor 3a detects the temperature of the low water level LED 2a that directly or indirectly comes into contact with water. At this time, the temperature of the low water level LED 2a changes due to the temperature difference between the water and the air layer and the specific heat difference, so that the change is detected.

Then, the temperature detected by the low water level temperature sensor 3a of the low water level detection substrate 1A and the comparison temperature sensor 3d of the comparison water level detection substrate 1D touching the air layer are compared by the comparator 7, and the temperature is compared. Based on the comparison information, the control unit 9 determines that the water has reached a low water level. If the water level is set to a low level, it is determined that the target water level has been reached, the water supply is stopped, and the process proceeds to the next process. Then, the detected information is stored in the storage unit 10.

Even if the set water level is a medium water level or a high water level, the medium water level temperature sensor 3b of the medium water level detection substrate 1B or the high water level temperature sensor 3c of the high water level detection substrate 1C is used as in the case of the low water level. The detected temperature is compared with the temperature detected by the comparison temperature sensor 3d of the comparison water level detection substrate 1D, and it is determined whether or not the water has reached the water level.

(Embodiment 2)
For the first measurement of water supply, the same operation as in the first embodiment is performed.

In the second and subsequent measurements of water supply, the control unit 9 reads out the information stored in the storage unit 10 and drives only the water level detection board located in the vicinity of the water level reached at the first time.

For example, when the reached water level is the medium water level in the first measurement, the low water level detection substrate 1A and the medium water level detection substrate 1B are immersed in water, and the high water level detection substrate 1C is in contact with air. Therefore, in the second measurement, the switch control unit 11 closes only the medium water level switch 12b and the high water level switch 12c, and supplies a current to the medium water level LED 2b and the high water level LED 2c. Since the water level of the first time and the water level of the second and subsequent times are substantially the same or have a predetermined relationship, the change in the water level can be determined only from the temperatures detected by the medium water level detection substrate 1B and the high water level detection substrate 1C. As a result, the driving current of the LED can be reduced and the temperature comparison time can be shortened.

In the present embodiment, the water level detection substrate 1 for detecting the water level in three stages of low water level, medium water level, and high water level is provided, but the water level detection substrate 1 is not limited to the three stages and may be any number of stages according to the product specifications. ..

Further, in the present embodiment, an LED which is a kind of diode is adopted, but the present invention is not particularly limited. LEDs have the characteristics that the rate of heat generation in response to a current is high and the amount of heat generated is high even with a small current.

Further, in the present embodiment, the low water level detection substrate 1A for detecting the water level, the medium water level detection substrate 1B, the high water level detection substrate 1C, and the comparative water level detection substrate 1D which is always in contact with the air layer are separately provided. , The configuration may be such that the water level detection substrate for comparison is not provided. Further, the detection value when the air layer is touched may be set in advance. At this time, a predetermined value may be stored as a detection value when the air layer is touched, or a comparison value may be detected before water supply.

Further, in the present embodiment, only one set of the LED 2 and the temperature sensor 3 is mounted on one place of the water level detection board, but a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of temperature sensors may be arranged respectively.

Further, in the present embodiment, the LED and the temperature sensor are installed in the vicinity, but by using a substrate having excellent thermal conductivity, it is possible to detect even if the distance between the LED and the temperature sensor is long. Is.

Further, in the present embodiment, the water level detection boards 1 are independently provided at each of the four locations, but these water level detection boards may be composed of one continuous board 4. In this case, the combination of the LED and the temperature sensor can be regarded as equivalent to the individual water level detection boards, and can be operated in the same manner as in the present embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to perform detailed water level measurement from the temperature gradient of the entire substrate.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication pipe 6 which communicates with the lower side surface portion of the water tank 5 and is erected to the same height as the water tank 5 has the same height as a predetermined plurality of water levels. As a plurality of water level detection boards in which a combination of the LED 2 and the temperature sensor 3 is arranged, a low water level detection board 1A, a medium water level detection board 1B, and a high water level detection board 1C are arranged, and compared to a position higher than the high water level detection board 1C. The water level detection board 1D is arranged, and the control unit 9 compares the low water level detection board 1A and the medium water level detection board 1B with the comparator 7 provided in the electronic circuit device 20 in the washing or rinsing step. By configuring the configuration to detect the arrival of any water level based on the temperature information of the temperature sensor 3 of the high water level detection board 1C and the comparison water level detection board 1D, the time for water level detection can be shortened.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can shorten the water level detection time by detecting the water level by combining an LED having a small current and a high calorific value and a temperature sensor. It can be applied to other washing machine applications such as the drum type.

1 Water level detection board (water level detection means)
1A low water level detection board (water level detection means)
1B Medium water level detection board (water level detection means)
1C High water level detection board (water level detection means)
1D comparison water level detection board (water level detection means)
2 LED (diode)
2a Low water level LED (diode)
2b Medium water level LED (diode)
2c LED (diode) for high water level
2d comparison LED (diode)
3 Temperature sensor (temperature-sensitive resistance element)
3a Temperature sensor for low water level (temperature-sensitive resistance element)
3b Temperature sensor for medium water level (temperature-sensitive resistance element)
3c High water level temperature sensor (temperature-sensitive resistance element)
3d temperature sensor for comparison (temperature-sensitive resistance element)
4 Substrate 5 Water tank 6 Communication pipe 7 Comparator (control means)
9 Control unit (control means)
11 Switch control unit (control means)
12 Switch 12a Low water level switch (switch)
12b Medium water level switch (switch)
12c High water level switch (switch)
12d Comparison switch (switch)
20 Electronic circuit device (control means)
21 Housing 27 Pulsator 29 Motor 30 Upper frame 31 Operation display 32 Washing tub 33 Water supply valve

Claims (4)

A housing, a water tank that is vibration-proof supported inside the housing, a washing tub that is rotatably contained in the water tub, a motor that rotationally drives the washing tub, and a water supply valve that supplies water to the water tub. A communication pipe erected so as to communicate with the lower side surface portion of the water tank, and a control means are provided.
The communication pipe is provided with a water level detecting means for detecting the water level of the water supplied in the water tank, and the water level detecting means is provided with a diode that generates heat by supplying an electric current and a diode that is arranged in the vicinity of the diode and resists due to temperature. A temperature-sensitive resistance element whose value changes is provided on a substrate made of a high heat conductive material .
The control means is a washing machine that calculates the reached water level in the water tank based on the resistance value detected by the water level detecting means. The communication pipe includes at least two or more of the water level detecting means provided at a plurality of positions having different heights, and the controlling means compares the resistance values detected by the respective water level detecting means. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water level reached in the water tank is calculated. The water level detecting means includes a switch for opening and closing the supply of electric current to the diode.
The control means are the first water level detecting means located below and closest to the calculated reached water level in the first water supply step, and the first water level detecting means above and closest to the reached water level. Equipped with a storage unit that stores the second water level detecting means
The control means is provided in the first switch provided in the first water level detecting means and the second water level detecting means based on the information stored in the storage unit in the second and subsequent water supply steps. Only the second switch is closed, the other switches are opened, and the reaching water level in the water tank is calculated from the resistance values detected by the first water level detecting means and the second water level detecting means. The washing machine according to claim 1. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the diode is an LED.

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