JPH0263496A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent overflow of a detergent foam to the outside of a drum through defoaming of a detergent foam in the drum by providing a control means which stops execution of a rinse process when, during a rinse process, a foam detecting signal is outputted from a foam sensor, and actuates a shower water injection mechanism. CONSTITUTION:An operation control circuit 28 is functioned as a control means, and outputs a foam detecting signal Sa by detecting foams by means of a foam sensor 12 when, during an overflow rinse process, a detergent foam is generated and an amount thereof is increased, namely when foams are raise within a washing drum 2. In which case, the operation control circuit 28 stops a rinse process, with an injection valve 18 opened, a shower water injection mechanism 20 is actuated and a drainage valve 22 is actuated for opening. Thus, water is sprayed in a showerlike manner in the washing drum 2 from a water injector 19 of the shower water injection mechanism 20, and as a result, rinse water is drained as foams are defoamed. Thereafter, when an amount of foams in the washing drum 2 is decreased and an output of a foam detecting signal Sa from the foam sensor 12 is not provided, the operation control circuit 28 closes the water injection valve 18 to stop operation of the shower water injection mechanism 20, and the drainage valve 22 is closed to restart the rinse process.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a bubble generator.

(Prior Art) In a washing machine, a washing tub equipped with an agitator is provided with a bubble generator that generates air bubbles in the water by sending air into the tub from the lower part of the tub, and the agitator is rotated. At the same time, it has been considered to perform the rinsing process by generating bubbles using the bubble generator.

However, in this product, during the rinsing process, air bubbles are generated in the water by the air bubble generator, so the countless fine air bubbles that are generated pass through the laundry and remove dirt, and the agitator simply removes the dirt. This allows for more effective rinsing than those that simply rotate the water. In addition, in this case, contact between the laundry and the agitator can be avoided due to the air bubbles generated, and there is an advantage that problems such as cloth damage or cloth entanglement can be prevented from occurring.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned detergent foam, detergent foam is generated on the water surface due to the air bubbles, and if this foam increases, there is a risk that the washing tub will overflow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which performs a rinsing process by rotating an agitator and generating bubbles by a bubble generator, and which can prevent detergent foam from overflowing out of the tub.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a bubble generator for generating air bubbles in water by sending air into the tub from the lower part of the washing tub equipped with an agitator. a foam sensor for detecting detergent foam generated in the washing tub and outputting a foam detection signal; a shower water injection mechanism that pours water into the washing tub in a shower-like manner; and a shower water injection mechanism that stops execution of the rinse process and activates the shower water injection mechanism when a bubble detection signal is output from the bubble sensor during the rinse process. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for stopping the operation of the shower water injection mechanism and restarting the rinsing process based on this when the output of the bubble detection signal disappears.

(Function) According to the above means, when detergent foam is generated during the rinsing process, the foam is detected by the foam sensor, and a foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor. The control means stops execution of the rinsing process based on the output of this bubble detection signal. This stops the rotation of the agitator and the generation of bubbles by the bubble generator, thereby eliminating further generation of detergent foam. At the same time, the control means operates the shower water injection mechanism. As a result, water is sprayed into the tank in a shower-like manner, so that the detergent foam in the tank disappears.

Thereafter, when the output of the detection signal is stopped, the operation of the shower water injection mechanism is stopped based on this, and the rinsing operation is started by +Ir.

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

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer box, in which a washing tub 2 is installed. Reference numeral 3 denotes an agitator disposed at the inner lower part of the washing tub 2, which is shaped like a container in this embodiment, and has protrusions 4 on the inner circumferential surface.
I have several. 5 is a trainer for the overflow/drainage room.

6 is a bubble generator, which includes a compressor 7 and a compressor motor 8 (see FIG. 1) provided at the inner bottom of the outer box 1;
An air tube installed from the discharge port of the compressor 7 to the water pumping/drainage chamber, and a large number of overlapping jet ports 10 located approximately in the center of the bottom of the washing tub 2 (on the back side of the agitator 3) are connected to the washing tub 2. It is composed of a mouth facing upward inside and a fumarole 11 connected to the air tube 9.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a foam sensor, which is provided on the upper part of the inner surface of the washing tub 2, and is configured as shown in FIG. 3 in detail. That is, this foam sensor 12 includes a light emitting diode 13 and a phototransistor 14, both of which are waterproofed and spaced apart from each other, and when detergent foam enters between them, a low level foam detection signal Sa is output from the output terminal Ta. It is supposed to be done. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a mouth to which a water supply hose is connected, and the water supplied to the mouth 15 is passed from a water supply port 17 to a washing tub 2 through a water supply valve 16 (see FIG. 1) consisting of an electromagnetic valve. Water is supplied into the washing tub 2 from one water injector through a water inlet valve 18 (see FIG. 1) consisting of a solenoid valve.

Shower water injection mechanism 20 with the above water injection valve] 8 and one water injection device
is configured. One water injector is disposed at the upper edge of the washing tub 2, and this water injector 19 has a number of small holes (not shown) formed toward the inside of the washing tub 2. Water is sprayed from this water injector 19 in the form of a shower.

Next, in FIG. 1, 21 is a washing motor for driving the agitator 3, 22 is a drain valve for discharging water in the washing tub 2, and 23 to 27 are washing motors 21 and 27, respectively.
．． Compressor motor 8 water supply valve 16. Water injection valve 18. This is a drive circuit for driving the drain valve 22.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an operation control circuit including a microcomputer, to which an output from the foam sensor 12 is given as well as a signal from a water level sensor 29 that detects the water level in the washing tub 2. Furthermore, the switch power from various switches can be obtained. These various switches include an operation start switch, a water level setting switch, and the like. Note that 30 is a clock circuit that provides clock pulses for time measurement of the operation control circuit 28.

Now, the operation control circuit 28 also functions as a control means, and this will be described together with its operation. In addition,
To aid understanding, the description will be made with reference to the time chart shown in FIG.

During the rinsing process, the operation control circuit 28 turns on the washing motor 21 to rotate the stirring body 3, and also turns on the compressor motor 8 to generate bubbles by the bubble generator 6. At the same time, the water supply valve 16 is opened. During such a rinsing (overflow rinsing) process, when detergent foam is generated and its amount increases, that is, when the foam rises in the washing tub 2, the foam sensor 12 detects this foam and generates a foam detection signal. Sa is output (time t1 in FIG. 4). Then, the operation control circuit 28 stops the rinsing process, stops driving the washing motor 21, and stops driving the compressor motor 8), and opens the water injection valve 18 to operate the shower water injection mechanism 20. The drain valve 22 is opened. As a result, water is sprayed into the washing tub 2 like a shower from the water injector 19 of the shower water injecting mechanism 22, and as a result, the rinsing water is discharged while eliminating the bubbles. In this case, although the rinse water has a detergent concentration sufficient to generate a large amount of detergent foam, there is no problem in discharging the water.

After this, the amount of bubbles in the washing tub 2 has decreased considerably and the bubble sensor 12
When the height drops below the height of , the output of the bubble detection signal Sa from the bubble sensor 12 stops (time t2 in FIG. 4). Then,
After a bubble elimination guaranteed time of 15 seconds, the operation control circuit 28 closes the water injection valve 18 to stop the operation of the shower water injection mechanism 20, and closes the drain valve 22 to restart the rinsing process. . As you can see, the detergent foam is in the washing tub 2.
The bubbles can be cleared before they get out.

In the above embodiments, the rinsing form is overflow rinsing, but it may also be pre-rinsing. Further, the control of the drain valve based on the output of the foam sensor may be performed as necessary.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the gist.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a bubble generator for generating air bubbles in water by sending air into the tank from the lower part of the washing tub equipped with an agitator. a foam sensor for detecting detergent foam generated in the washing tub and outputting a foam detection signal; a shower water injection mechanism that sprays water in a shower-like manner into the washing tub; and a shower water injection mechanism that stops execution of the rinse process and activates the shower water injection mechanism when a bubble detection signal is output from the foam sensor during the rinse process. The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for stopping the operation of the shower water injection mechanism and opening the rinsing process by +lj based on the output of the foam detection signal. This has the effect of reliably preventing water from overflowing to the outside of the tank.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the electrical configuration, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway oblique view of the entire washing machine, Fig. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram of the bubble sensor, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical configuration. The figure is a time chart showing an example of control contents during the rinsing process. In the figure, 2 is a washing tub, 3 is an agitator, 6 is a bubble generator, 7 is a compressor motor, 8 is a compressor motor, 12 is a foam sensor, 18 is a water injection valve, 19 is a water injector, 20 is a shower water injection mechanism, 2 ] is the washing motor, 28 is the operation control circuit (
control means). Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub equipped with an agitator is equipped with a bubble generator that generates air bubbles in the water by sending air into the tank from the bottom of the tub, and as the agitator is rotated, the bubble generator generates air bubbles. a foam sensor that detects detergent foam generated in the washing tub and outputs a foam detection signal, and a shower water injection mechanism that sprays water into the washing tub in the form of a shower. , when a foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor during the rinsing process, the execution of the rinsing process is stopped and the shower water injection mechanism is activated, and when the output of the foam detection signal is no longer output, the shower water injection mechanism is activated based on this. A washing machine comprising a control means for stopping the operation of the washing machine and restarting the rinsing process.