JPH0337438B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine that controls washing or rinsing operations by optically detecting changes in turbidity of a washing liquid.

(Prior art and its problems) Recently, various fully automatic washing machines that control washing or rinsing operations by optically detecting changes in the turbidity of the washing liquid have been developed and commercialized. In this case, dirt on the detection window in the measurement section becomes a problem. In other words, if there is dirt on the detection window of a device that optically detects changes in the turbidity of the cleaning solution, the dirt on the detection window will greatly affect the transmittance of light, making it difficult to detect the turbidity of the cleaning solution. Accurate detection will not be possible, making it difficult to perform normal control.

However, in the past, it has been proposed that a brush is provided that moves in conjunction with the movement of the drain valve, and this brush is used to remove dirt adhering to the detection window.
With this type of configuration, there is a risk that the brush may scratch the detection window and reduce detection accuracy, making it unreliable.Furthermore, the brush tends to become tangled with lint, etc. The entanglement of the brushes also hindered the movement of the brush and drainage, which was not very desirable.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an object to always keep the detection window of the measurement unit in a clean state by effectively washing with clean water, and to make the light transmittance of the detection window constant. This makes it possible to accurately detect the turbidity of the cleaning liquid, and also eliminates the problems associated with conventional brushes.

(Example) Examples of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of a fully automatic washing machine in one embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, 1 is a water tank, 2 is a cleaning liquid such as washing liquid or rinsing water, 3 is a washing and dehydrating tank, 4 is a pulsator, and 5 is a washing liquid such as washing liquid or rinsing water.
6 is a communication pipe, 6 is a turbidity detector, and 7 is a communication pipe for discharging the cleaning liquid in the tank to the outside. One end of the communication pipe 5 is connected in the middle of this communication pipe 7, and the communication pipe 5 is connected to the communication pipe 5. A part of the conduction pipe 7 forms a circulation path for the cleaning liquid. Reference numeral 8 denotes a motor serving as a rotational drive source for the washing/dehydration tank 3 and the pulsator 4; 9 a motor control unit; 10
11 is a drain valve; 12 is a drain valve control unit that controls the opening and closing of the drain valve 11; 13 is a sequence control unit; 14 is a water supply pipe, 15 is the main water valve,
16 is a main water supply valve control unit that controls the opening and closing of the main water supply valve 15; 17 is an auxiliary water supply valve; 18 is an auxiliary water supply valve control unit that controls the opening and closing of the auxiliary water supply valve 17; 19 is for supplying water into the washing and dewatering tank 3; 20 is a main water supply port, 20 is an auxiliary water supply port for supplying water between the water tank 1 and the washing/dehydration tank 3, 21 is a pressure pipe, and 22 is a water level detector.

As shown in FIG. 2, the turbidity detector 6 is a combination of a light-emitting element 6A and a light-receiving element 6B, and both elements 6A and 6B are disposed facing each other with a conductive tube 7 between them. In FIG. 2, 6C is a light emitting element holder, and 6D is a light receiving element holder, both of which are made of transparent or semitransparent materials. The portion of the conduction tube 7 where the turbidity detector 6 is disposed, that is, the measurement section 23, includes at least each element 6A,
The wall facing 6B is made transparent or semi-transparent to serve as detection windows 23A and 23B. Note that 24 indicates a detection light beam.

The fully automatic washing machine of the above embodiment has the above configuration, and the sequence control unit 13 reads the status of each part on the input side and controls each part on the output side according to a predetermined program, similar to the conventional fully automatic washing machine. By doing so, each operation such as water supply, washing, rinsing, and spin-drying is performed in sequence. here,
The dewatering operation including cleaning of the measuring section according to the gist of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the flowchart of FIG. 3, but before that, each operation of water supply, washing, and rinsing will be briefly explained.

Now, when the sequence control unit 13 outputs an ON signal to the main water supply valve control unit 16 to open the main water supply valve 15, water is supplied from the main water supply port 19, and changes in the water level in the water tank 1 are controlled through the pressure pipe 21. This is transmitted to the water level detector 22 as a pressure change. When the sequence control unit 13 determines that the specified water level has been reached based on the output of the water level detector 22, it outputs an OFF signal to the main water supply valve control unit 16, closes the main water supply valve 15, and then starts the next stage. Shift to washing operation.

When the washing operation starts, the sequence control section 13
is the ON and OFF signal that changes periodically in the motor control unit 9.
A signal is output to drive the motor 8 to reverse left and right, and in conjunction with this, the pulsator 4, which reverses left and right, creates a reverse water flow to perform washing. By this rotation of the pulsator 4, the cleaning liquid in the washing/dehydration tank 3 is transferred from the water tank 1 to the communication pipe 5 as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The cleaning liquid is circulated in the order of →conducting pipe 7 including the measuring part 23 →water tank 1, and in the measuring part 23, the turbidity of the cleaning liquid is detected by the turbidity detector 6. This measuring section 2
Although there is a slight response delay due to the circulation of the cleaning liquid, the turbidity in the washing/dehydrating tank 3 is approximately equal to the turbidity in the washing/dehydration tank 3. The turbidity determination unit 10 detects a change in the turbidity of the cleaning liquid based on the output signal of the turbidity detector 6, and determines whether or not washing should be completed based on this change in turbidity. When determining the end of washing, the sequence control section 13 outputs an OFF signal to the motor control section 9 based on the signal from the turbidity determination section 10 to stop energizing the motor 8, and ends the washing operation. Note that the rinsing operation is also performed in the same manner as the previous washing operation.

After the washing operation, draining and intermediate spin-drying operations are performed, and after the rinsing operation, draining and final spin-drying operations are performed, and the washing operation of the measuring section according to the gist of the present invention is performed during the intermediate and final spin-drying operations. The operation will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. 3.

Now, when the previous operation, that is, the washing or rinsing operation, is completed and the drain operation is started, the sequence control section 13 outputs an ON signal to the drain valve control section 12 to open the drain valve 11 and drain the cleaning liquid in the water tank 1. Drain.
When the sequence control unit 13 determines that drainage is complete based on the output of the water level detector 22, the next stage of dewatering operation is started, and the motor 8 is energized by the motor control unit 9 to continuously operate in one direction. The washing and dehydration tank 3 is rotated at high speed to perform dehydration work. The sequence control unit 13 counts the time from the start of dehydration, and when a predetermined dehydration time T1 (a fixed time at the intermediate time, an arbitrarily set time at the final time) has elapsed, it continues to energize the motor 8. Then, an ON signal is output to the auxiliary water supply valve control unit 18 to open the auxiliary water supply valve 17. Then, water from the auxiliary water supply port 20 passes through the water tank 1 and flows into the measuring section 23 via the conductive pipe 7, and after cleaning the measuring section 23, is discharged to the outside through the drain valve 11.

At this time, the water from the auxiliary water supply port 20 is not supplied into the washing and dehydrating tank 3, so it does not wet the laundry after it has been dehydrated again, and it does not come into contact with the laundry or the inner surface of the washing and dehydrating tank 3. The fresh water is supplied to the measuring section 23 as it is. On the other hand, each part including the measuring part 23 is connected to the motor 8.
The washing and dewatering tank 3 is operated and the washing and dewatering tank 3 is rotated, causing fine vibrations, and the vibrations are also added to the supplied fresh water. wash thoroughly,
This will remove dirt efficiently, and the detection window 23A,
23B is not left with dirt attached to it, and the light transmittance is always constant.

Then, when the predetermined water supply (cleaning) time T2 has elapsed, the sequence control unit 13 outputs an OFF signal to the auxiliary water supply valve control unit 18 to close the auxiliary water supply valve 17, and the motor control unit 9 turns off the power to the motor 8. After that, after a predetermined inertial rotation time T3, an OFF signal is output to the drain valve control section 12, and the drain valve 11 is stopped.
is closed and the brake is applied to the washing and dehydrating tank 3.

Here, in the above embodiment, the reason why the measuring section is cleaned in the latter half of the dehydration operation is as follows. Remove stains such as powdered detergent lees, lint, mud, etc.
During washing and rinsing operations when the measuring section 23 is filled with water, dirt does not adhere to the detection windows 23A, 23B, and dirt that remains without being drained during the subsequent drainage operation does not adhere. When the attached dirt dries over time, the detection windows 23A and 23B
It gets stuck on your skin and becomes difficult to remove. Therefore, if you wash the dirt before it dries, you can easily wash away the dirt, and it is preferable to do this during the intermediate and final dewatering operations that follow the draining operation, and especially during the dewatering operation. The most favorable results are obtained in the latter stage, when the liquid is drained out.

Note that the auxiliary water supply valve 17 may be closed after the power supply to the motor 8 is stopped.

(Other Embodiments) In FIG. 4, in this embodiment, fresh water from the auxiliary water supply port 20 is passed through the auxiliary water supply pipe 25 to the measurement unit 2.
It is designed to lead directly above No. 3.

(Other Different Embodiments) In FIG.
3, and the conduction tube 7 including the measuring section 23 is filled with clean water for cleaning. However, in this case, control is performed as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, only the points different from the previous embodiment will be explained. When the predetermined dewatering time T1 has elapsed, the drain valve 11 is closed, and then the auxiliary water supply valve 1 is closed.
Open 7. And this water supply is for a predetermined time T4
By ending the process after the elapsed time, water is supplied to the upper part of the measuring part 23 and the inside of the measuring part 23 is filled with fresh water.
Thereafter, the operation of the motor 8 is continued until a predetermined cleaning time T5 has elapsed, and when T5 has elapsed, the drain valve 11 is opened and the motor 8 is stopped.

Even in such an embodiment, the dirt adhering to the detection windows 23A and 23B can be suspended in the fresh water by vibration, and the dirt can be discharged to the outside together with the fresh water. .

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but the point is that a water supply means for supplying fresh water is provided in the measuring section, and the water supply means supplies fresh water while the motor is energized during dehydration operation. Any configuration that starts supply may be sufficient.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a water tank 1 in which a dehydration tank 3 is provided, and a pulsator 4 in this dehydration tank 3, in which a conduction path 5 communicates with the water tank 1 and through which cleaning liquid flows. , 7 at the lower part of the water tank 1, and a turbidity detector 6 for detecting the turbidity of the cleaning liquid flowing through the conduction path 7. A water supply channel 2 that supplies fresh water to a conduction path 7 provided with
0, a water supply valve 17 for opening and closing the water supply channel 20, and a water supply valve control means for opening the water supply valve 17 after the middle stage of the dewatering process.

Therefore, after the middle stage of the dehydration process, the water supply valve 17 is opened by the water supply valve control means, and fresh water is supplied to the turbidity detector 6.
will be washed. For this reason, the turbidity detector 6
Since the attached cleaning liquid is washed with clean water before it dries, the turbidity detector 6 can be easily kept in a clean state at all times without using a brush or the like. Thereby, it is possible to accurately detect the turbidity of the cleaning liquid passing through the conduction path in the next washing process, and accurate washing control can be performed.

In the case of the present invention, fresh water for cleaning the turbidity detector 6 is supplied to the turbidity detector 6 from between the water tank 1 and the dehydration tank 3 through the conduction path 7 after the middle stage of the dehydration process. The turbidity detector 6 can be cleaned with fresh water without affecting the laundry being dehydrated. In addition, by supplying fresh water after the middle stage of the dehydration process when the dehydration liquid is almost gone, the clean water can wash not only the cleaning liquid in the washing process but also the cleaning liquid components and dirt contained in the dehydration liquid in the dehydration process. Therefore, the turbidity detector 6 can be maintained in a clean state at all times.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a fully automatic washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the turbidity detector and measuring section, Fig. 3 is a control flow chart of the above, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing other parts. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another different embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of the same embodiment. 1: water tank, 6: turbidity detector, 6A: light emitting element,
6B: Light receiving element, 17: Auxiliary water supply valve, 23: Measuring section, 23A, 23B: Detection window, 25, 26: Auxiliary water supply pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 A dehydration tank 3 is provided in the water tank 1, and a pulsator 4 is provided in the dehydration tank 3, with conduction paths 5 and 7 communicating with the water tank 1 and through which cleaning liquid flows inside. A turbidity detector 6 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 1 and detects the turbidity of the cleaning liquid flowing through the conduction path 7, and a turbidity detector 6 is provided between the water tank 1 and the dehydration tank 3. Water supply channel 20 that supplies fresh water to passage 7
A fully automatic washing machine characterized by being provided with a water supply valve 17 for opening and closing the water supply channel 20, and a water supply valve control means for opening the water supply valve 17 after the middle stage of the dewatering process.