JPH01164397A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automatically supply detergent or a finishing agent at low cost and to eliminate noise during automatic supply by letting the internal detergent or finishing agent flow out to a spinning tub by infiltrating water in the spinning tub to the inside of a storage part when a water level in the spinning tub is increased to a second water level. CONSTITUTION: In a finish washing process, first of all, water is supplied by opening a feed valve and at a time point when the water level in a spinning tub 2 is increased to a second water level L2 , the feed valve is closed by turning on a second water level switch 21 so that water supply is stopped. Since the second water level L2 is a water level to fill up an opening part 15 of a storage part 10, water in the spinning tub 2 is infiltrated from the opening part 15 into the storage part 10. At the second water level L2 , a motor 4 is activated and finish washing is executed. In this case, water flows from three opening parts 15 and 16 into the storage part 10 while utilizing eddy water currents and with that water, the internal finishing agent flows out to the spinning tub 2 and is stuck on laundry while being diluted. A conventional driving source such as an electromagnet for opening/closing the storage part is unnecessitated, the finishing agent or the like can automatically be supplied at low cost and noise during automatic supply can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a washing machine that can automatically supply detergent or finishing agent into a washing tub.

(Prior Art) In a conventional washing machine, for example, an automatic finishing agent supply mechanism is provided with a supply opening at the bottom of a storage container that stores the finishing agent, and this supply opening is connected to a shutter or the like driven by an electromagnet or the like. It was designed to open and close to control the supply of finishing agent to the washing tub.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, the above configuration requires a driving source such as an electromagnet, but driving sources such as electromagnets are generally more expensive than other electrical components, resulting in high costs. was. Furthermore, when the driving source such as the electromagnet operates, a relatively large noise is generated, which is unpleasant for the user.

The present invention aims to solve these problems,
Therefore, the object is to provide a washing machine that can automatically supply detergents and finishing agents at low cost and eliminate noise during automatic supply.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The washing machine of the present invention performs a final washing process in which laundry is washed with detergent or a finishing agent is attached to the laundry after rinsing. An operation control means that sets the water level in the washing tub to a first water level in a pre-process of washing or final washing and sets the water level to a second water level higher than the first water level after the completion of the pre-process;
a storage section located at a portion where the water in the washing tub can enter at the second water level and capable of accommodating a detergent or a finishing agent therein; When the water level rises to the washing tub, the water in the washing tub enters the storage section and the detergent or finishing agent inside is flushed out into the washing tub.

(Function) In the pre-process (pre-washing or rinsing) of detergent washing or final washing, the washing machine is operated with the water level in the washing tub set at the first water level. At this first water level, the water in the washing tub does not enter the storage section, so that the prewashing or rinsing is performed without detergent or finishing agent flowing out from the storage section. After the previous step is completed, the water level in the washing tub is raised to a second water level, and as a result, the water in the washing tub enters into the storage section and the detergent or finishing agent inside flows out into the washing tub. Then, detergent washing or final washing is performed. In this case, since the detergent or finishing agent is supplied by raising the water level to the second water level, there is no need to open and close the storage section using a driving source such as a solenoid valve.

(Example) Hereinafter, a first example in which the present invention is applied to a two-tub washing machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box of a two-tub washing machine, and inside thereof a washing tub 2 and a dewatering tub (not shown) are provided. A container-shaped agitator 3 is disposed at the inner bottom of the washing tub 2, and this agitator 3 is rotated by a motor 4 at the bottom of the outer box 1 via a speed reduction mechanism 5.

6 is a pipe-shaped drain valve that opens and closes the drain lower at the bottom of the washing tub 2, and also functions as an overflow pipe. This drain valve 6 is
It is disposed in an overflow and drainage chamber 9 defined by a strainer member 8 on the side of the washing tub 2 . Reference numeral 10 denotes a container-shaped storage part formed in the strainer member 8 so as to be located on the overflow drainage chamber 9 side, and is located below the upper end of the drain valve 6 (overflow water level L3). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both ends of the lower part of the cover 11 are rotatably supported on the strainer member 8 via hinge pins 12 adjacent to the upper side of the storage section IO. This cover 11 functions as a lid for opening and closing the input port 13 for the finishing agent, etc. Storage part 1 for medicines, etc.
It functions as a guide to introduce into 0. Further, a finger hook 14 is formed at the center of the upper end of the cover 11 to make it easier to hang the finger. As shown in FIG. 3, openings 15 and 16 are formed in the strainer member 8 adjacent to the lower part and both right and left side parts of the cover 11, and the water in the washing tub 2 flows through each opening 15.16. 16 into the storage section 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the rear wall 10a of the storage section 1° is made higher than the front wall 10b, so that the finishing agent, etc. is directed to the overflow drain chamber 9 side during final washing and detergent washing, which will be described later. Prevent it from flowing out,
Finishing agents and the like are made to easily flow out into the washing tub 2 from the opening 15.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, an air trap 17 is provided at the bottom of the drain valve 17.
Air pressure inside the operation box (
first and second water level switches 20.21 in (not shown)
The water level switches 20 and 21 are turned on when the air pressure reaches a predetermined value.

In this case, the first water level switch 20 indicates that the water supply level in the washing tub 2 has reached the first water level L1 (a water level below the opening 15 of the storage section 10) shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. On the other hand, the second water level switch 21 is turned on when the water supply level reaches the second water level L2 (the water level that fills the opening 15 of the storage section 1°). The operation control means (
(not shown), and this operation control means controls the motor 4. The operations of the water supply valve (not shown) and the drain valve 6 are controlled according to the time chart shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. Automatically performs the laundry washing process with detergent, the rinsing process, and the final washing process in which a finishing agent is applied to the laundry after rinsing.
When washing in the "fully automatic course", the user must
Laundry and detergent are put into a washing tub 2, a cover 11 of a storage part 10 is opened, a finishing agent is put into the storage part 10, and the cover 11 is closed. When the "fully automatic course" is selected and the operation is started, the operation control means performs the following control according to the time chart shown in FIG. First, the water supply valve is opened to supply water into the washing tub 2, and when the water supply level in the washing tub 2 reaches the first water level L1 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The switch 20 is turned on to close the water supply valve and stop the water supply. Thereafter, the motor 4 is immediately started to rotate the agitator 3 to perform detergent washing. The water level at this time is the first water level L1, which is lower than the opening 15 of the storage section 10, so the washing water does not enter into the storage section 10, and therefore the finishing agent comes from inside the storage section 10. will not flow out into the washing tub 2.

After detergent washing is completed, the machine automatically moves to the rinsing process, which is a pre-washing process. In this rinsing process, first, the drain valve 6 is opened to drain the washing water in the washing tub 2, and then the drain valve 6 is closed and the water supply valve is opened to supply water to the first water level L1 and then the motor 4 and rinse. This rinsing is also performed at the first water level L lower than the opening 15 of the storage section 10.
1, the finishing agent flows from inside the storage section 10 into the washing tub 2.
It never flows inside. Then, after rinsing is performed twice as described above, the process automatically shifts to the final washing process.

In this final washing process, first open the water supply valve and supply water.
As a result, when the water level in the washing tub 2 rises to the second water level L2, the second water level switch 21 is turned on to close the water supply valve and stop water supply. This second water level L
2 is a water level that fills the opening 15 of the storage section 10, so water in the washing tub 2 infiltrates into the storage section 10 from the opening 15. Then, at this second water level L2, the motor 4
Start up and perform the final wash. At that time, water flows into the storage section 10 from the three openings 15 and 6 using the swirling water flow, and the finishing agent inside is diluted by the water and flows out into the washing tub 2, where it adheres to the laundry. .

On the other hand, when selecting the "prewash/detergent washing course" in which the laundry is prewashed (washed without adding detergent) and then washed with detergent, the detergent is stored in the storage section 10 and then the machine is operated. Start. In this case, first, water is supplied to the first water level L1, and the motor 4 is started at that water level L1 for pre-washing. Since this sub-washing is performed at the first water level L1 lower than the opening 15 of the storage section 10, the detergent does not flow out into the washing tub 2 from inside the storage section 10. After the pre-washing is completed, water is supplied to the second water level L2, and detergent washing is performed at that water level L2. This detergent washing is performed on the opening 1 of the storage section 10.
Since the washing is carried out at the second water level L2 that satisfies 5, the water in the washing tub 2 enters into the storage section 10 through the opening 15 and
The detergent in the washing tub 2 is poured out, and dirt is removed from the laundry by the washing action of the detergent.

According to the above embodiment, the water level in the washing tub 2 is set to the first water level L.
By raising the water level from 1 to the second water level L2, the water in the washing tub 2 enters the inside of the storage section 10 and the finishing agent, etc. inside the washing tub 2 flows out. A driving source such as an electromagnet for opening and closing the storage section is not required, and accordingly, it is possible to automatically supply the finishing agent etc. at a low cost, and also to eliminate noise during automatic supply (operation sound of the driving source).

In the above embodiment, the cover 11 is provided to open and close the inlet 13 of the storage section 10, and when the cover 11 is opened, the cover 11 is locked in an upwardly inclined manner. The cover 11 can be used as a loading guide when loading the container, and the loading can be easily performed, which is an advantage in terms of ease of use.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and in this second embodiment, the water level is changed from the first water level L1 to the second water level L2.
The time switch 22 controls the water supply until the first
A feature of this embodiment is that the second water level switch 21 in the embodiment is omitted. In this case, the first water level L1 for pre-washing or pre-rinsing is detected by a water level switch (not shown) as in the first embodiment, and after the pre-washing or pre-rinsing is completed, the time switch 2
2 is turned on for a predetermined time, the water supply valve 23 is opened for a predetermined time,
With this, water is supplied up to the second water level L2.

In such a second embodiment, only one water level switch is required to constitute the operation control means, and a reduction in manufacturing costs can be expected.

In the first embodiment, the cover 11 for opening and closing the input port 13 of the storage section 10 is provided, but the cover 11 may be omitted. Furthermore, the configuration of the storage section 10 is not limited to the first embodiment described above. For example, the bottom of the storage section may be configured to be openable by the buoyancy (pressure) of water, and when the water level reaches the second water level L2, the storage section 10 can be opened. The buoyancy of the water (
It may also be configured to open in response to pressure).

In addition, the present invention can be modified in various ways, such as being applicable not only to a two-tub type washing machine but also to a dehydrating and dehydrating washing machine.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention raises the water level in the washing tub from the first water level to the second water level, thereby discharging the water in the washing tub into the storage section. Since it has a structure in which the internal finishing agent, etc. flows out into the washing tub, there is no need for a driving source such as an electromagnet to open and close the storage section as in the past, and the automatic supply of finishing agent, etc. can be made cheaper. This has the excellent effect of eliminating noise during automatic feeding (operating sound of the drive source).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an approximately overall longitudinal sectional side view, FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional side view of the vicinity of the storage section, and FIG. 3 is the same. The perspective view and FIG. 4 are time charts for explaining the contents of each process, and FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of a time switch showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 2 is a washing tub, 3 is an agitator, 4 is a motor, 6 is a drain valve, 10 is a storage section, 11 is a cover, 13 is an input port, 1
5 and 16 are openings, 20 is a first water level switch, 21
2 is a second water level switch, 22 is a time switch, and 23 is a water supply valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A final washing process in which laundry is washed with detergent or a finishing agent is applied to the laundry after rinsing, and the water level in the washing tub is lowered in the process before washing with detergent or final washing. an operation control means for controlling the washing tub to operate at a first water level and at a second water level that is higher than the first water level after the completion of the previous process; A washing machine comprising: a storage section located so as to be able to accommodate a detergent or a finishing agent therein, and at the second water level, the storage section is flushed out into the washing tub along with the water in which the detergent or finishing agent has soaked inside. . 2. The operation control means includes a water level switch that detects the first water level and a time switch that increases the water level in the washing tub from the first water level to the second water level by controlling the water supply time. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: