JPH04244191A - Timer device for washing machine or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To operate a load such as of a washing machine motor at any cycles with a compact device easy to manufacture and assembly and simple in construc tion. CONSTITUTION:The speed of a timer motor 13 is changed by a controller 14 to change a cycle of opening and closing a timer switch 12 for operating a washing motor 24 at any cycles.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Object of the invention]

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timer device for a washing machine, etc., which periodically energizes a load such as a washing machine motor.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, washing machines have been provided that use a timer device using a waren motor or a mainspring spring as a driving source. This timer device is equipped with a plurality of sets of timer switches and cams that periodically open and close the timer switches with different opening and closing cycles, and these cams are rotated by the drive source and further controlled by a selection switch. By selecting one of the timer switches, the washing machine motor can be driven at any cycle, and any water flow, either strong or weak, can be obtained.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional device, multiple sets of timer switches and cams are required, and since it takes time and effort to manufacture and assemble them, it has the disadvantage of being expensive. Ta. Furthermore, since multiple sets of timer switches and cams are required, the structure of the timer device becomes complicated and it becomes larger.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is not only to operate a load such as a washing machine motor at an arbitrary cycle, but also to make it easy to manufacture and assemble it. To provide an excellent timer device for a washing machine, etc., which is easy, has a simple structure, and can be realized without increasing the size.

[Configuration of the invention]

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the timer device for a washing machine, etc. of the present invention includes a timer switch connected to a load circuit of the washing machine motor, etc., and a timer switch that is periodically activated. The present invention is characterized by comprising a timer motor whose speed can be changed to open and close at different times, and a control device which controls the speed of the timer motor.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the above means, by changing the speed of the timer motor, the opening/closing period of the timer switch can be changed and the load can be operated at an arbitrary period.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

First, FIG. 2 shows the outer box 1 of the entire washing machine, and as is clear from the arrangement of the washing lid 2 and dehydration lid 3 on the top surface, a washing tub and a dehydration tub (none of which are shown) are placed side by side. It is installed internally in good condition. In addition, a panel 4 is provided at the rear of the upper surface of the outer box 1, and this panel 4 includes an operating knob 5 for setting washing time, an operating knob 6 for setting water flow, an operating knob 7 for setting spin-drying time, and a water supply hose connection port 8.

Next, FIG. 1 shows a washing timer device 9, and this washing timer device 9 has first to third
timer switches 10 to 12, a timer motor 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) consisting of, for example, a small DC motor capable of changing speed, which periodically opens and closes the timer switches 10 to 12 via a cam (not shown); It is composed of a control device 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that controls the speed of the motor 13, the washing time setting operating knob 5, and the water flow setting operating knob 6. and the cam rotate together.

FIG. 1 also shows a plug 15 that is plugged into an AC power outlet (not shown), and one plug terminal of the plug 15 is connected to the first timer switch 10 of the washing timer device 9. and is connected to the control device 14.

Here, as shown in detail in FIG. 5, the control device 14 includes a DC power supply circuit 17 consisting of a rectifier circuit 15 and a smoothing capacitor 16 connected between the DC output terminals of the rectifier circuit 15; Resistor 1 connected to one end of 16
8, 19 (resistance value is that resistor 18 is smaller than resistor 19)
, and a resistor 20 connected to the other end of the smoothing capacitor 16
, and a water flow switching circuit 22 consisting of a changeover switch 21 that selectively connects the resistors 18 and 19 to the resistor 20, and the changeover switch 21 of the water flow changeover circuit 22 is operated to set the water flow. It can be operated using knob 6. One of the AC input terminals of the rectifier circuit 15 is connected to one insertion terminal of the plug 15 via the first timer switch 10, and the other AC input terminal of the rectifier circuit 15 is connected to the plug 15 via the first timer switch 10. A buzzer 23 is connected from the first timer switch 10 through the second timer switch 11, and the timer motor 13 is further connected in parallel with the connection circuit of the resistors 18, 19 and the changeover switch 21. .

The first timer switch 10 is also connected to a normal rotation terminal of a washing motor (washing machine motor) 24 via a movable contact O and a fixed contact A of a third timer switch 12. The timer switch 12 is connected to a reversing terminal of a washing motor 24 via a movable contact O and a fixed contact B. The washing motor 24 is connected to the other insertion terminal of the plug 15.

Furthermore, between one insertion terminal and the other insertion terminal of the plug 15, a lid switch 25 which responds to the opening and closing of the dehydration lid 3 and a clockwise spring (not shown) of a dehydration timer device 26 are used to open and close the dehydration lid 3. timer switch 27
A dewatering motor 28 is connected to the dewatering motor 28 via the dewatering motor 28.

Now, in the case of the above-described structure, when the washing timer device 9 is operated to set a washing time setting knob 5 to a desired time, the first timer switch 10 is closed. Then, in the DC power supply circuit 17 of the control device 14, AC power is applied to the rectifier circuit 15, and a DC voltage is output, which is applied to the smoothing capacitor 1.
6, a voltage according to the state of the water flow switching circuit 22 is applied to the timer motor 13. Therefore, the timer motor 13 is started, rotates a cam (not shown), and periodically opens and closes the third timer switch 12.

In the water flow switching circuit 22, the resistors 18 and 19 can be selectively connected to the resistor 20 by operating the changeover switch 21 using the water flow setting operation knob 6. resistance 18
When the resistor 18 is connected, the resistance value of the resistor 18 is smaller than that of the resistor 19, so a relatively low voltage is applied to the timer motor 13. Therefore, in this case, the timer motor 13 rotates at a low speed, and a cam (not shown) is rotated at a low speed to open and close the third timer switch 12 at a slow cycle. Accordingly, the washing motor 24 is also rotated as shown in FIG. It is energized to repeat forward and reverse rotations at slow cycles, generating a strong water flow.

On the other hand, in the water flow switching circuit 22,
When the resistor 19 is connected to the resistor 20, the resistance value of the resistor 19 is greater than that of the resistor 18, so a voltage higher than that described above is applied to the timer motor 13. Therefore, in this case, the timer motor 13 rotates at a higher speed than described above, causing a cam (not shown) to rotate at a high speed to open and close the third timer switch 12 at a fast cycle, and the washing motor 24 also rotates accordingly. As shown in 7, the current is applied so as to repeat normal and reverse rotations at a fast cycle to generate a weak water flow.

In this case, since the washing time to be set changes depending on the strength of the water flow, a plurality of washing time setting scales are provided depending on the water flow.

[0020] When the set washing time is about to end, the second timer switch 11 is closed, the buzzer 23 is energized and activated (end notification), and then the second timer switch 11 is closed. With the opening of
By opening the first timer switch 10,
The buzzer 23 stops operating, and at the same time the timer motor 13
And the washing motor 24 also stops.

As described above, in this configuration, by changing the speed of the timer motor 13 by the control device 14, the opening/closing cycle of the third timer switch 12 is changed, and the washing motor 24 is operated to obtain a strong water flow or a weak water flow. It can be operated in any cycle, and in particular, the control device 14 can be constructed by mounting most of its parts on the circuit board 29 shown in FIG.
Unlike conventional timer switches and cams that require multiple sets, this does not require the time and effort of manufacturing and assembly, and can be realized at a low price. Further, in this case, the structure of the washing timer device 9 can be simplified and the size can be reduced.

In contrast to the above, FIGS. 8 to 11 show different embodiments of the present invention, in which the first timer switch 10 is replaced by a second timer motor 30 provided separately from the timer motor 13. In addition to opening and closing,
The voltage applied to the timer motor 13 is changed by a variable resistor 31. By doing this, the washing time can be advanced regardless of changes in the speed of the timer motor 13, so the washing time setting can be changed. Only one scale is required, and the speed change of the timer motor 13, in other words, the change in the energization cycle of the washing motor 24 can be made stepless or more precisely.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be widely applied to timer devices in general for equipment other than washing machines and having similar circumstances. The invention may be modified and implemented as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0024]

As is clear from the above description, the timer device for washing machines, etc. of the present invention comprises a timer switch connected to a load circuit such as a washing machine motor, and a speed changer for periodically opening and closing the timer switch. It is equipped with a timer motor and a control device that controls the speed of this timer motor, and in addition to being able to operate a load such as a washing machine motor at an arbitrary cycle, it is particularly easy to manufacture and control.
It has excellent effects in that it is easy to assemble, has a simple structure, and can be realized without increasing its size.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] Overall electrical circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] External perspective view of the entire upper part

[Figure 3] Side view of the laundry timer device

[Figure 4] Bottom view of the laundry timer device

[Figure 5] Electrical circuit diagram of control device

[Figure 6] Time chart of strong water flow

[Figure 7] Time chart of weak water flow

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 showing different embodiments of the present invention.

[Figure 9
] Figure 5 equivalent figure

[Figure 10] Diagram equivalent to Figure 3

[Figure 11] Diagram equivalent to Figure 4

[Explanation of symbols]

9 is a washing timer device (timer device), 12 is a third
13 is a timer motor, 14 is a control device, and 24 is a washing motor (washing machine motor).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A timer switch that is connected to a load circuit such as a washing machine motor, a timer motor that can change speed to periodically open and close the timer switch, and a control device that controls the speed of the timer motor. A timer device for washing machines, etc.