JPH0323076B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

(a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a device for dispensing detergent. (b) Prior Art Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8755-8755 discloses a detergent dispensing device for dispensing a unit amount of detergent liquid from a detergent storage tank into a washing tub of detergent-using equipment such as a washing machine. However, such detergent injection devices do not take into account the viscosity and temperature of the detergent liquid used. In other words, the viscosity differs depending on the manufacturer of the detergent liquid used, and even if the detergent liquid is from the same manufacturer, the viscosity varies depending on the temperature of the detergent liquid, so if the operation time for adding detergent is fixed, the viscosity will depend on the viscosity of the detergent liquid used. The amounts are different, making it impossible to obtain an appropriate cleaning effect. (c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention provides a detergent dispensing device that can always automatically dispense a predetermined amount of detergent so as to obtain an appropriate cleaning effect. (d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a detergent dosing device that is installed in detergent-using equipment such as a washing machine and that automatically dispenses an appropriate amount of detergent from a storage tank. The viscosity of the detergent liquid to be used is also set with the type setting switch, and the temperature of the detergent liquid or the outside air temperature is detected with a temperature detection device, and based on these data, the operating time of the detergent injection is determined. It is subject to change. (e) Effect In other words, the actual viscosity of the detergent solution is estimated from the viscosity of the detergent solution, which differs depending on the manufacturer's type, and the temperature of the detergent solution, and the set detergent injection operation time is changed appropriately to ensure that the detergent is always properly applied. amount of detergent is dispensed. (f) Embodiments Examples of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Fig. 3 is a front view of a coin-operated washing machine, where 1 is a machine frame, 2 is an operation box, and coin slots 3 and 4 into which 50 yen coins and 100 yen coins are inserted into the front panel 2a;
A remaining time, amount display section 5, and process progress display section 6 are provided. Reference numeral 7 denotes a detergent injection device, and a detergent liquid storage tank 9 is detachably housed inside the case 8. A delivery port 10 is formed at the bottom of the storage tank 9 and is closed with a reverse valve.
When the tank 9 is installed, it comes into pressure contact with the connection port 11 formed at the bottom of the case 8, and at the same time the check valve opens and detergent (hereinafter referred to as liquid detergent in this embodiment) is released from the outlet port 10 and the connection port 11. is sent. Further, although not shown, a hose leading into the washing tub is connected to the connection port 11, and a pump device, which will be described later, is interposed in the hose. The detergent liquid is drawn out into the washing tub by driving the pump device. Note that 12 is a safety switch for driving the pump device, which is closed when the tank 9 is installed, and 13 is a float switch for detecting the amount of liquid in the tank 9. FIG. 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the control unit built into the control box 2, in which 14 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a washing microcomputer) which plays a central role in controlling the washing machine, 15 is a reset signal generation circuit, It operates when the power is turned on and clears the data in RAM. Reference numeral 16 denotes a price setting switch, which predetermines the amount to be put in. After the power is turned on, the washing microcomputer 14 judges a signal from this switch 16 and stores it in the RAM as a set price.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a forced operation switch, which is installed in a place where the washing machine cannot be easily operated, and is used for operational testing during the manufacturing stage, and when operated, a predetermined process or a series of processes are automatically executed. 18 is a 50 yen coin detection switch that outputs a signal when a 50 yen coin is inserted into the coin slot 3 for 50 yen coins; 19 is a 50 yen coin detection switch;
A 100 yen coin detection switch that outputs a signal when a 100 yen coin is inserted into the coin slot 4 for 100 yen coins, 20 is a group of various safety switches, 21 is a motor clockwise rotation drive circuit, and 22 is a motor left rotation drive circuit. ,2
3 is a drain electromagnetic valve drive circuit, and 24 is a water supply electromagnetic valve drive circuit. Each of the drive circuits 21 to 24 is activated via drive circuits 25 to 27 when a signal is output to the output port of the washing microcomputer 14, respectively. FIG. 6 shows a specific circuit of the washing machine, in which 28 is a drive motor, 29 is a water supply solenoid valve, 30 is a drain solenoid valve, and 31 to 34 control these operations based on signals from the washing microcomputer 14. A bidirectional thyristor 35 is a drive circuit for driving the display sections 5 and 6. 36 is a constant voltage circuit that obtains the DC voltage V _BK (V _DD ) necessary to operate the washing microcomputer 14;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a backup capacitor for holding data in the memory (RAM) in the washing microcomputer 14 when the AC power supply is cut off; This is a charging resistor that limits the current that charges the capacitor 37. 40 is a comparator that compares the reference voltage V _R obtained by dividing a constant voltage of 5V with resistors R ₁ and R ₂ and the terminal voltage of the Zener diode 41; when a power outage occurs (the AC power supply is cut off), the constant voltage When the voltage of 5V begins to drop and becomes below the terminal voltage of the Zener diode 41, the output of the comparator 40 changes from HIGH to LOW. During this time, the power supply of the washing microcomputer 14 is backed up by the capacitor 37, and the washing microcomputer 14 continues to operate even during the power outage. When the LOW signal of the comparator 40 is input, the operation is stopped and the contents of the RAM are held in standby mode. At the same time, the base potential of the transistor 44 becomes the GND level due to the diodes 42 and 43, and the transistor 44 becomes
OFF, and the charge stored in the capacitor 45 is discharged with a CR time constant with the resistor 46. When the power is restored from the power outage, the transistor 44 is turned on, and a signal delayed by the pull-up resistor built into the terminal and the capacitor 45 is input, and the standby state is canceled and the state before the power outage continues. be done. Next, referring to FIG. 5, the control section of the detergent dispenser 7, which is arranged in parallel with the control section of the washing machine, will be explained based on a block diagram. 47 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a detergent microcomputer) that plays a central role in controlling the detergent dispenser 7.
and is interconnected with the washing microcomputer 14. 48 is a switch that sets the timing of adding detergent; detergent is added during the washing process;
If it stores a finishing agent such as a fabric softener instead of detergent, change it so that it is added during the rinsing process. 49 is a detergent type setting switch;
As will be described later, the viscosity of detergent differs depending on the detergent manufacturer, so the detergent injection operation time is adjusted accordingly. Reference numeral 50 denotes a detergent injection operating time setting switch, which is used to change and set the driving time of the pump device for dispensing the specified amount shown in Figure 1A specified by each detergent manufacturer at room temperature. be. Also, since the amount of detergent used varies depending on the capacity of the washing machine, it is also used in this case. Specifically, as shown in Figure 1D and Figure 2,
Seven dual-choice selector switches are arranged in parallel on the control board of the control unit, and No. 1 to No. 4 are the operation time setting switches 50, and ON-OFF combinations of these four switches are provided. The drive time of the pump device can be set every 0.5 seconds. Also, No. 5,
No. 6 corresponds to the detergent type setting switch 49, and No. 7 corresponds to the detergent injection timing setting switch 48 (detergent or finishing agent). In addition, FIG. 1B is used to throttle the connection port 11 using an adjustment knob (not shown) to adjust the detergent delivery power. Reference numeral 51 denotes a temperature detection device, which will be explained based on FIG. Reference numeral 52 denotes a negative characteristic thermistor, which is attached to one bottom corner of the storage tank 9. and,
Output ports a, b, c of the detergent microcomputer 47
From here, 8 types of signals are created by combining HIGH or LOW (0or1) signals, respectively, starting from the smallest value (a, b, c) → (0, 0, 0) → (0, 0, 1)
→(0,1,0)→(0,1,1)→……(1,
1, 1), and the comparator 53 compares the voltage at that time with the voltage determined by the resistance value of the thermistor 52, which changes depending on the detergent temperature. Then, from the output terminal of this comparator 53 to the input port d of the detergent microcomputer 47.
When the reversal signal is input to the detergent microcomputer 47,
determines that the outputs (a, b, c) at that time correspond to the detergent temperature. The detergent microcomputer 47 controls the operation of the pump motor drive circuit 54 of the pump device based on input signals from the switches 48, 49, 50, 12 and the temperature detection device 51. The operation based on such a configuration will be explained according to Table 1.

[Table] In Table 1, ~ are the four detergent types set by the detergent type setting switch 49 (No. 5, 6). First, when using the detergent operating device 7, the administrator of the coin-operated washing machine selects the basic detergent by setting the operating time setting switch 50 with reference to FIG. The standard operation time α for dispensing is set, and the type of detergent to be used is set using the detergent type setting switch 49.
The input timing setting switch 48 is used to set whether to use a detergent or a finishing agent. When the user operates the washing machine, the detergent microcomputer 47 determines the detergent temperature into eight ranks based on the signal from the temperature detection device 51.
Based on the temperature and the detergent type (~) preset by the detergent type setting switch 49, the pump device is driven for a time that is appropriately multiplied by a predetermined number of times the reference operating time α of the pump device, as shown in Table 1. In other words, this operating time takes into consideration the viscosity of the detergent, which changes depending on the type of detergent and the temperature, in addition to the standard operating time α at room temperature. Since the resistance to the pump device is low, the operation time of the pump device is shortened so that a predetermined amount of detergent is always dispensed. Incidentally, since the temperature of the detergent depends on the outside temperature, the thermistor 52 may be attached outside the storage tank 9 to measure the outside temperature. Further, although a pump device is used as a means for introducing the detergent, it may also be a device that simply opens and closes a valve for a predetermined period of time. (G) Effects of the Invention The present invention determines the operation time for adding detergent by taking into account changes in viscosity due to temperature for each detergent of different viscosity. It is possible to provide a detergent dispensing device capable of dispensing detergent, and accordingly, an appropriate cleaning effect can always be expected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a corresponding diagram explaining the operation settings for each type of detergent in the detergent dispenser of the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the settings of the same operation time setting switch, Figure 3 is a front view of the coin-operated washing machine, Figure 4A is a front perspective view of the detergent dispenser, Figure 4B is a rear perspective view, Figure 5 is a block circuit diagram of the control section, Figure 6 is a specific circuit diagram of a coin-operated washing machine, and Figure 7 is a FIG. 3 is a temperature detection circuit diagram. 7... Detergent injection device, 9... Storage tank, 47
...detergent microcomputer (control means),
49...Type setting switch, 50...Operation time setting switch, 51...Temperature detection means (temperature detection device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device that is installed in detergent-using equipment such as washing machines and automatically dispenses an appropriate amount of detergent from a storage tank, with a switch for setting the detergent dispensing operation time and a type setting that changes depending on the viscosity of the detergent to be used. a switch, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the detergent solution in the storage tank or the outside temperature, and a control means for the detergent injection operation, and the control means detects the temperature of the detergent solution detected by the temperature detection means and the temperature of the detergent solution detected by the temperature detection means. A detergent dispensing device characterized in that the detergent dispensing operation time set by the setting switch is changed based on the viscosity of the detergent liquid set by the type setting switch.