JPH02232099A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove a foreign matter when clogging is light degree even if a drainage valve is clogged upwith the foreign manner by opening and closing the drainage valve by several times when the abnormality of drainage is detected. CONSTITUTION:A drainage solenoid 14 is turned on and simultaneously, a time is started being counted. Since the level of water in an outer tank 3 is gradually lowered in normal draining operation, the level of the water reaches a reset water level (in the same level as the bottom surface of a washing drum 4) for about one minute. When one minute is passed after the reset water level is detected, dehydrating operation is executed. Afterwards, a washing process is successively executed according to a program. When the reset water level is not reached even if four minutes are passed after the drainage is started, the drainage solenoid 14 is turned off for five seconds and afterwards, the drainage solenoid 14 is opened and closed by the times with the period of ON for one second - OFF for one second. By this opening and closing operation, when the clogging of the foreign matter is light degree, the abnormality can be canceled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a washing machine. (Example) In conventional washing machines, if the drain hose is forgotten or if the drain valve is clogged with foreign matter, the water will not be drained properly. If the water level does not drop to a predetermined level, it is determined that there is a drainage abnormality as described above, and the operation is stopped and the abnormality is notified.
It is shown in Publication No. 36315 (DO6F33/02). (C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional example, the user is not always on standby near the washing machine, so it is rare for the user to notice an abnormality alarm immediately, and wait until the program has finished. When the user arrived at the scheduled time, the program was often left in an interrupted state. The present invention aims to solve this problem and increase the execution rate of a washing program. (2) Means for solving the problem In order to solve the problem, the washing machine of the present invention includes an automatic drain valve that opens and closes a water pipe leading from the washing tub, and a means for detecting the water level in the washing tub. The drain valve is equipped with a timer for measuring the draining operation time, and a control means for opening and closing the automatic drain valve several times if the water level does not drop to a predetermined level even after a predetermined time has elapsed during draining. {E} Effect: When a drainage abnormality is detected, by opening and closing the drain valve several times, even if the drain valve is clogged with foreign matter, it can be removed if it is minor. (F) Embodiments Examples of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. In Fig. 2, {1} is a machine frame, (2) is an operating section provided at the upper rear of the machine frame {1}, and (3) is an elastically supported part within the machine frame (1). The outer tank (4) is installed inside the outer tank (3) and has a large number of dewatering holes (5) around the periphery. (6) is the outer tank (4). The rotor blade {7} installed at the bottom is a drive motor attached to the outer bottom of the outer tank {3}, and a small pulley (8) is connected to the washing tank (4) and the rotor blade (6). , a large booley (9), a belt (lO) and a power transmission mechanism <111, the rotary blade (6) is reversed during washing, and the washing tub (4) and rotary blade {6} are connected together during dewatering. Rotate in one direction at high speed. (+
21 is a drain port (l) provided at the bottom of the outer tank (3).
3) is a drain pipe connected to the drain port {12}, (14)
is a drainage solenoid valve (15) interposed in the water pipe (13);
1 is an air trap provided at one corner of the bottom of the outer tank (3), and a water level sensor (16) in the operating section (2).
) through a pressure hose {17}, (1
81 is a water supply solenoid valve (20) interposed in the water supply pipe (19);
) is the overflow port provided at the top of the outer tank (3), (2l
) is the overflow hose connected to the overflow port (20). The water level sensor (l6) detects a change in the water level in the washing tub (4) as a change in pressure, moves a magnetic body within the coil in response to this pressure, and as a result, the change in water level is detected as a change in inductance of the coil. This change in inductance is converted into a change in oscillation frequency and input to a microcomputer, which will be described later. Thereby, the microcomputer continuously detects the water level in the tank over a wide range based on changes in this oscillation frequency. Now, such a fully automatic washing machine is controlled by a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer 22) {for example, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. WLC6
The control mechanism of the washing machine, mainly the 6506B model, will be explained based on Fig. 3. The microcomputer {22} is C P
[1 123), RAM (24), ROM (25),
It consists of a timer (26), a system bus (28), and an input/output boat (28j to (33)).
(23>) is composed of a control section (34) and an arithmetic section {35}, the control section (34) fetches and executes instructions, and the arithmetic section (35), in the instruction execution stage, Performs arithmetic processing such as binary addition, logical operation, increase/decrease, and comparison on data given from input devices and memory in response to control signals from the control section (34).The RAM (24)
is for storing data about the washing machine,
The ROM (25) is used to load in advance the means for operating the washing machine, the setting of conditions for judgment, and the rules for processing various types of information. The input port (29) (301 includes an input key circuit {36) consisting of the various operation keys, a water level sensor (16), and a signal from the top lid safety switch (37) that is linked to the opening and closing of the top lid. is input, and based on this information, the LED drive circuit (3 illusions,
A load drive circuit (401) consisting of a buzzer circuit (39) for process completion notification or abnormality notification, and a bidirectional thyristor, etc.
The M control signal is sent to etc. The load drive circuit (40) controls the left and right rotation circuits (41) and (42) of the rotor blade drive motor (7) and the water supply solenoid valve drive circuit (4) according to control signals from the microcomputer (22).
(45) is a power supply circuit that supplies voltage to the microcomputer (22), and (46) is a reset signal generation circuit. The operation based on such a configuration will be explained according to FIG. When the washing program is started, water is first supplied to the set water level (S-1), and the washing process is executed (S-2).
．． When the washing process is finished, the process moves to the draining process, the drain solenoid valve (14) is turned ON (S-3), and at the same time timing is started (S-4>. In normal draining operation, the draining process starts from the outer tank (14). 3) As the water level in the tank gradually decreases, it reaches the reset water level (same level as the bottom of the washing tub (4)) in about 1 minute, and 1 minute after this reset water level is detected (S
-5), and the dehydration operation is performed (S-61,
Thereafter, the washing process is sequentially executed according to the program.

Now, if the drain solenoid valve (l4) is clogged with foreign matter and the drain hose is forgotten to be turned down, normal drainage will not be carried out and the drainage capacity will be reduced. Therefore, if the reset water level is not reached even after t & 4 minutes have elapsed since the start of drainage, the drainage solenoid valve (l4) is
After OFF for seconds (S-7), 1 second ON-1 second OFF
Open and close the drain solenoid valve (l4) 10 times at a cycle of +
S-8) This opening/closing action will clear any minor foreign matter clogging, but if it is not cleared or you forget to turn the drain hose down, the reset water level will not be reached even after 4 minutes have passed. Therefore, in this case, immediately turn off the drain solenoid valve (
! 4) is turned OFF (S-9) to stop operation (
S-10), notifies abnormality (buzzer sounds (5 seconds)
, all LEDs blink) (S-113 (S-121.
In this embodiment, the opening/closing cycle and number of times of the drain solenoid valve (l4) are not limited to these. Also, (S
-7 Operations 1 to (S-12) are executed not only after the washing process but also during all drainage operations. Additionally, if the operation of the drain valve is accompanied by noise, the drain valve operation string may be wound up or closed using a small motor. (G) Effects of the Invention In the washing machine of the present invention, when a drainage abnormality is detected,
If it is a minor blockage with foreign matter, it can be cleared, reducing interruptions in operation and increasing the execution rate of the operation program.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A washing tub, an automatic drain valve that opens and closes a water pipe leading from the washing tub, a means for detecting the water level in the washing tub, a means for timing the draining operation time, and a means for measuring the draining operation time, even if a predetermined period of time has elapsed during draining. A washing machine characterized by comprising a control means for opening and closing the automatic drain valve several times when the water level does not drop to a predetermined level.