JPH02307498A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To judge accurately the opening and closing of a hydrant by opening temporarily a feed valve when the hydrant is judged to be opened or closed so that a detecting signal obtained from a water pressure detecting means is read. CONSTITUTION:When a faucet 4 is closed, water is not accumulated in a feed path 3 even if a feed valve 2 is closed, and no detecting signal is generated from a semiconductor pressure sensor 9 of a water pressure detector 6. Thus, a microcomputer 10 judges the faucet 4 to be closed on the basis of the absence of the signal to supply current to a buzzer 13 through a buzzer operating circuit 14 and buzz the buzzer for example. The feed valve 2 is temporarily opened when the faucet 4 is judged to be opened or closed and thereafter the faucet 4 is judged to be opened or closed on the basis of the detecting signal obtained from the water pressure detector 6, so that the opening and closing of the faucet 4 can be accurately judged and thereby problems of washing operation stopped indefinitely can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of determining whether a faucet is opened or closed.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, washing machines have been provided that have a function of determining whether to open or close a faucet.

This type of water faucet generally has a water pressure detector attached to the main water supply channel, which is the water supply hose that connects the water supply valve to the water faucet, and a microcomputer reads the water pressure detection signal emitted by the water pressure detector. The system determines whether to open or close a water faucet by determining whether or not water is being supplied to the water supply channel.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of the above conventional system, when the water supply valve is closed and the water faucet is opened, water accumulates in the water supply hose, and then the water faucet is opened. Even if the water supply hose is blocked, water will remain in the water supply hose, and based on the water pressure detection signal emitted from the water pressure detector, the microcomputer will turn on the water supply even though the water supply hose is actually blocked. The faucet is mistakenly judged to be open, and the operation is subsequently performed, but since water is not actually being supplied, the water level switch etc. does not work, and as a result, the washing process does not proceed as expected. This caused problems such as not doing so.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and therefore, its purpose is to provide a system in which, when a water supply valve is closed and a water supply valve is opened and then the water supply valve is closed, the water supply valve remains open. To provide an excellent washing machine that can accurately determine that a water faucet is blocked without making an erroneous determination.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A washing machine of the present invention includes a water supply valve connected to a water supply faucet that can be opened and closed by a water supply means, and a water pressure detection means for detecting water pressure in the water supply means. and determining means for temporarily opening the water supply valve when determining whether to open or close the water supply faucet, and then determining whether the water supply valve is open or closed based on a detection signal obtained from the water pressure detection means. However, it has certain characteristics.

(Function) According to the above means, by temporarily opening the water supply valve when determining whether to open or close the hydrant, if the hydrant is opened afterwards, water will accumulate in the water supply means, but the water supply valve will not be closed. If it is blocked, water will not accumulate in the water supply means. Therefore, by reading the detection signal obtained from the water pressure detection means, it is possible to accurately determine whether the water faucet is open or closed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, as shown in Fig. 2, a water supply valve 2 is disposed inside the main body 1 of the washing machine. It is connected to a water faucet 4 via a hose joint 5. A water pressure detector 6, which is water pressure detection means, is attached to the water supply channel 3 at a midpoint located inside the washing machine main body 1. In this case, the water pressure detector 6 is connected to a diaphragm 7 located across the inside of the water supply channel 3, and a diaphragm 7 that connects the water supply channel
It consists of an air trap 8 facing inside, and a semiconductor pressure sensor 9 that responds to pressure changes in the air trap 8.

A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer) 10 shown in FIG. The necessary DC power is supplied through the Further, the microcomputer 10 receives input from a key switch device 11 and a semiconductor pressure sensor 9 of the water pressure detector 6. On the other hand, the microcomputer 10 receives input from a display section 12 consisting of, for example, a large number of LEDs. and a buzzer operating circuit 14 for operating a buzzer 13, and furthermore, the AC power source 1
TRIAC 16 17 as a motor energization control means connected to the motor 15 together with the TRIAC 1 as a drain valve energization control means connected together with the drain valve 18.
9 and a triac 20 connected together with the water supply valve 2 and serving as water supply valve energization control means.

Now, in the case of the configuration as described above, when determining whether to open or close the water faucet 4, such as at the beginning of operation, the microcomputer 10
First, as shown in step s1 in FIG. 1, it is determined whether water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3 or not. Here, water supply valve 2
If water accumulates in the water supply channel 3 due to the faucet 4 being open while the air trap is blocked, the water pressure detector 6 detects that the diaphragm 7 is compressed by the water pressure and the air pressure in the air trap 8 increases. and thereby the semiconductor pressure sensor 9
Since a detection signal indicating that water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3 is being issued, the microcomputer 10 determines that water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3 based on the signal (YES in step Sl). The process moves to step S2. In this step S2, the water supply valve 2 is energized and opened via the triac 20. In the next step S1, the water supply valve 2 is waited for a certain period of time, for example, 0.5 seconds, and in the next step s4, the water supply valve 2 is turned off via the triac 20. Electrically block it. Therefore, the water supply valve 2 is temporarily opened and the water in the water supply channel 3 is drained, and then, in step S, it is determined whether or not water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3. . At this time, if the faucet 4 is open, water will immediately accumulate due to the above-mentioned blockage of the water supply valve 2, so the water pressure detector 6
The semiconductor pressure sensor 9 generates a detection signal indicating that water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3 in the same manner as described above, and the microcomputer 10 determines that water has accumulated in the water supply channel 3 based on the signal. (YES), it is determined in the next step S6 that the faucet 4 is open, and the process proceeds to the next step (not shown), for example, a water supply process.

On the other hand, if the faucet 4 is closed at the above-mentioned time point, water does not enter the water supply channel 3 even if the water supply valve 2 is closed, so water does not accumulate, and the semiconductor pressure sensor 9 of the water pressure detector 6
No detection signal is emitted. Therefore, based on this, the microcomputer 10 determines that water has not accumulated in the water supply channel 3 (No in step S5), determines that the faucet 4 is blocked in the next step S7, and turns on the buzzer 13, for example. It is energized via the operating circuit 14 to make it ring.

Also, if no detection signal is obtained from the semiconductor pressure sensor 9 of the water pressure detector 6 in the previous step S1, the microcomputer 10 will determine that water is not accumulated in the water supply channel 3 based on it. (NO), then in step S7 as described above, it is determined that the faucet 4 is closed, and, for example, the buzzer 13 is energized via the buzzer operating circuit 14 to sound.

According to this embodiment, the water supply valve 2 is temporarily opened when determining whether to open or close the faucet 4, and then whether to open or close the faucet 4 is determined based on the detection signal obtained from the water pressure detector 6. At this time, if the faucet 4 is open, the water supply channel 3
If water collects in the faucet 4 and the faucet 4 is blocked, the water supply channel 3
Since water does not accumulate in the faucet 4, it is detected by the water pressure detector 6, and by reading the detection signal, it is possible to accurately determine whether to open or close the faucet 4. Therefore, the washing process does not continue indefinitely as in the past. The occurrence of such problems can also be avoided.

Note that the semiconductor pressure sensor 9 in the water pressure detector 6 may be replaced with a variable oscillation frequency device using a coil, a microswitch, or the like.

Furthermore, when it is determined that the faucet 4 is blocked, instead of sounding the buzzer 13, it may be displayed on the display device 12, or both may be used to notify the user. Alternatively, the operation may be stopped individually. Then, the procedure when determining whether to open or close the faucet 4 is not from the previous step S1, but from the next step S2.
You may start from .

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be implemented with appropriate changes within the scope of the gist.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the washing machine of the present invention includes a water supply valve that is connected to a water supply faucet that can be opened and closed by a water supply means, and a water pressure detection means that detects water pressure in the water supply means. and determining means for temporarily opening the water supply valve when determining whether to open or close the water supply faucet, and then determining whether the water supply valve is open or closed based on a detection signal obtained from the water pressure detection means. This system has a feature in that when the water supply valve is closed and the water supply valve is opened and then the water supply valve is closed, the system does not mistakenly assume that the water supply valve is open. This has an excellent effect in that it can be accurately determined that the water faucet is blocked.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing the judgment procedure when deciding whether to open or close a water supply faucet, Fig. 2 is a partial rupture pressure surface diagram from a water faucet to a water supply valve, and Fig. Figure 3 is an electrical circuit configuration diagram. In the drawing, 2 is a water supply valve, 3 is a water supply channel (water supply means), 4 is a water faucet (hydrant), and 6 is a water pressure detector (water pressure detection means).
, 10 indicates a microcomputer (judgment means). Applicant Toshiba Corporation Toshiba Audio/Video Engineering Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water supply valve connected to a water supply faucet that can be opened and closed by a water supply means, a water pressure detection means for detecting water pressure in the water supply means, and a water supply valve that temporarily opens the water supply valve when determining whether to open or close the water supply faucet, A washing machine comprising determining means for determining whether to open or close the faucet based on a detection signal obtained from the water pressure detecting means.