JPH0323185Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a device for detecting the amount of washing water or rinsing water inside a washing tub of a washing machine.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

Conventionally, the method of determining the amount of washing water and rinsing water inside the washing tub of a commercial washing machine, etc. was to install a float that can be moved vertically inside the washing tub via a communication pipe at the bottom end of the washing tub. A display tube is connected, and the state of the liquid level can be confirmed by correlating the position of the float, which moves up and down as the liquid level inside the washing tub changes, with a reference scale line provided on the display tube.

However, with the above method, there are problems in that the position of the float is visually confirmed, which requires time and effort, and it is difficult to quickly detect and determine the exact amount of liquid.

Therefore, this invention aims to provide a detection device that can automatically detect the amount of liquid in the washing tub and accurately grasp the amount of liquid.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the above problem, this invention has a movable float having a vertical indicator rod inside a vertical indicator tube that communicates with the lower end of the washing tub. The indicator rod is provided with a plurality of detectors at predetermined intervals along its length, and a detection switch for detecting each detector is provided on the outside of the display tube.

[Effect]

In the detection device configured as above,
When the amount of liquid inside the washing tub changes, the float inside the display tube moves up and down, and the detector moves up and down in accordance with this movement. By following the movement of this detector with a detection switch and adding or subtracting the detection signal, the amount of liquid in the washing tub can be determined.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a washing tub rotatably equipped with a basket 2 therein, and a display tube 4 extending vertically is connected to the lower end of the tub through a communication tube 3.

Inside the indicator tube 4, a float 6 with an indicator rod 5 attached to the upper surface is provided. It floats on the surface of the washing liquid and moves up and down according to the movement of the liquid level.

The indicator rod 5 is made of resin or a non-magnetic rod, and a plurality of metal rings 7 serving as detectors are attached along its length. The intervals between the metal rings 7 are set at constant intervals, or they are set at appropriate intervals in accordance with the liquid level height required in the cleaning and rinsing steps.

Further, on one side of the display tube 4, a proximity switch 8 serving as a detection switch for detecting the metal ring 7 is installed with the detection direction facing the indicator rod 5. This proximity switch 8 is connected to a control circuit that controls each washing operation of the washing proximity machine, detects the approach of the metal ring 7, and transmits a pulse signal to the control circuit.

Note that the metal ring 7 may be a magnetic ring, and a magnetically actuated switch (read pulse switch) may be installed outside the display tube 4 in place of the proximity switch 8.

This embodiment has the configuration as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

In the liquid supply process, when washing water or rinsing water is supplied into the washing tub 1, it passes through the communication pipe 3 to the display pipe 4.
The liquid level inside rises, and the float 6 rises. In accordance with this movement, the metal ring 7 rises and passes through the detection area of the proximity switch 8, and a pulse signal is sent from the proximity switch 8 to the control circuit. The control circuit has a function of storing and adding/subtracting the number of pulse signals, and when the float 6 continues to rise and receives the second and subsequent pulse signals, it adds them to determine the liquid level height. , it is converted into the amount of liquid in the washing tub 1 and displayed on the control panel of the washing machine.

On the other hand, in the liquid draining process, an operation opposite to the above occurs, and a drop in the liquid level is detected in response to a pulse signal caused by the lowering of the metal ring 7, and the amount of liquid is determined.

In the above case, the initial condition for determining whether the liquid level is rising or falling is whether the process is a liquid supply process or a liquid drain process.

Furthermore, in the liquid level detection described above, it is necessary to distinguish between liquid level movement due to normal liquid supply and drainage and liquid level movement due to other reasons. That is, it is necessary to control such that the pulse signal resulting from the movement of the liquid level due to stirring of the basket 2 during the cleaning or rinsing process is not regarded as the pulse signal due to the supply and drainage of liquid. This control is possible because the liquid level movement due to stirring in the basket 2 generally occurs within an extremely short time compared to the case of supplying and draining liquid.
The time from when one pulse signal is generated until the next pulse signal is generated is now based on the average pulse generation interval due to normal liquid supply and drainage, and cases where it is smaller are excluded from addition/subtraction of the liquid level. do.

[Effect of idea]

Since this device is configured as described above, it is possible to quickly and accurately detect the amount of washing liquid inside the washing tub, thereby shortening the time required to detect the amount of liquid in each process of washing and rinsing, thereby increasing efficiency. Achieve a good washing job.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a partially vertical front view of an embodiment of this invention. 1...Washing tub, 4...Display tube, 5...Indicator stick,
6...Float, 7...Metal ring (detector), 8...
...Proximity switch (detection switch).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A float having a vertical indicator rod is movably provided inside a vertical indicator tube that communicates with the lower end of the washing tub, and a plurality of detectors are provided on the indicator rod at predetermined intervals in the length direction. A washing liquid level detection device for a washing machine further includes a detection switch for detecting each of the detectors on the outside of the display tube.