JPH08141277A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate tuning an injection opening for wash finishing agent by small force to a position easiest of injection by allowing a dewatering tank to be released from being braked while in waiting condition. CONSTITUTION: A wash finishing agent charging container 14 is formed in a fluid balancer case which is so disposed as to rotate integrally with a dewatering tank 2 around its upper edge, whereas the dewatering tank 2 is controlled by a control unit to release it from being braked while the dewatering tank is in waiting condition, which has been braked by a braking device built in a motive force transmitting device 5. Thus, the dewatering tank 2 is released from being braked and turned by small force, so that the charging container 14 can be moved to a front side position without special effort, at which the finishing agent can easily be charged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine such as a fully automatic washing machine having a rotary dehydration tank, and a container for charging a laundry finishing agent provided on the dehydration tank. It is about improving sex.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a fully automatic washing machine,
It has a double structure with a water tank suspended and supported via an anti-vibration mechanism inside the outer tank, and a dehydration tank that doubles as a washing tank is provided in this water tank. Turn on and operate the key switch of the input device as appropriate, the water supply is controlled by the microcomputer built into the washing machine.
The washing, rinsing and dehydrating steps are automatically performed in that order.

In recent years, in this type of washing machine, a washing machine in which a container for putting a laundry finishing agent is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of a dehydrating tub has been put into practical use. An injection port for the laundry finishing agent is opened at the top of this input container, and by simply injecting a commercially available laundry finishing agent before starting washing, the finishing agent is automatically added in the final rinsing step in the washing program. It is designed to be put into the dehydration tank.

By the way, conventionally, even in a washing machine equipped with such a container for the laundry finishing agent, a pulsator disposed at the inner bottom of the dehydration tub is used in the washing step and the rinsing step as in a normal washing machine. In the dehydration process, the dehydration tank itself is driven, and the driving force of the built-in motor is transmitted to the pulsator and the dehydration tank by a power transmission device linked to the motor. This power transmission device is composed of a braking device for braking the dehydration tank and a clutch mechanism mechanically connected to the braking device. The clutch mechanism switches the motor power transmission path to the pulsator and the dehydration tank. Has been done.

During the dehydration operation, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the dehydration tank through the power transmission device, and the braking state of the dehydration tank is released by the braking device, whereby the dehydration tank is rotationally driven. . When the spin-drying operation is not performed, such as during standby or during the washing operation, the spin-drying tank is braked by the braking device and held in the stopped state, and the driving force of the motor is interlocked with the pulsator via the power transmission device. It will be connected.

[0006]

However, in the conventional structure as described above, the stop position of the dehydration tub when the dehydration operation is completed is not constant due to the operating time and the size of the load amount, etc. It is unavoidable that the stop positions are different. For this reason, the inlet for the laundry finishing agent, which is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the dehydration tank, may stop at the rear.In such a case, the inlet for the laundry finishing agent is manually pushed to the position where the laundry finishing agent on the front side can be easily poured. However, as described above, the braking device is working during standby and braking force is applied to the dehydration tank, so there is a problem that a great deal of labor is required to rotate the dehydration tank. It was

As a solution to such a problem, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-103574, the dehydration tub is rotated at a low speed after the completion of washing, and the position detection information of the container for the laundry finishing agent is detected at the low speed. Based on this, there is disclosed one in which the dehydration tank is stopped so that the charging container is located at a position other than the rear.

In this case, although it is possible to stop the input container at the correct front position where the laundry finishing agent can be easily inserted by the control operation of the microcomputer incorporated in the washing machine, it is still possible despite the completion of washing. Since the dewatering tub has to be rotated at a low speed, the time required for one wash will be correspondingly long. Further, there is a problem that a position detector of the charging container must be installed and the control of the motor and the power transmission device for stopping the dehydration tank at a correct position becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the braking of the dehydration tub can be released during standby, which makes it easy to put the laundry finishing agent into a position where it is easy to insert it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine that can be rotated.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a laundry finishing agent container provided so as to rotate integrally with a dehydration tank, a drive device for rotationally driving the dehydration tank, and a rotation device. In a washing machine including a braking device that brakes the dehydrating tub that is being driven, braking releasing means that releases the braking state of the braking device is provided.

In the above structure, the brake releasing means can be specifically configured as an additional function of the control device for switching and controlling the operations of the drive device and the braking device. In this case, the brake releasing means is in the standby state. In the state, it may have a function of instructing to release the braking state of the braking device.

Further, the finishing agent container holds the laundry finishing agent in a fluid balancer case mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the dewatering tank, and temporarily holds the washing finishing agent by centrifugal force generated when the dewatering tank is rotated. And a single or a plurality of storage holding chambers configured to move to the next chamber, and the laundry finishing agent temporarily holds the laundry finishing agent and when the centrifugal force stops acting, the laundry finishing agent falls by its own weight into the next chamber. Alternating with single or multiple centrifugal force retention chambers configured to move to,
An inlet for the laundry finishing agent that opens to the upper surface of the fluid balancer case may be formed in the holding chamber on the most upstream side, and a charging port that opens to the lower surface of the case may be formed on the holding chamber on the most downstream side. .

Further, in the washing machine constructed so that the drain valve interposed in the drainage path of the dehydration tank is closed in conjunction with the braking operation of the braking device, the drain valve is released when the braking device is released. Since it opens, it becomes impossible to supply washing water with a bucket or the like. For this reason, in the present invention, a braking release operation means for releasing the braking operation of the braking device may be provided. In this case, a display device including a fluorescent display tube for displaying the operation content and an LED is provided, and the brake release state of the dehydration tank is displayed on this display device, so that the user can supply water from the outside with a bucket or the like. It may be possible to accurately determine whether or not.

[0014]

According to the above construction, the braking of the dehydrating tub is released by the function of the brake releasing means. Therefore, when the container for putting the laundry finishing agent is in a position such as the rear side of the dehydrating tub which is not convenient to use, Can be easily moved to the convenient position of the input container with a small force.

Further, in the case where the drain valve is opened in association with the braking operation of the braking device, the braking of the dehydration tub is released by operating the braking releasing operation means to open the drain valve and inject the laundry finishing agent. After that, the dehydration tank is braked again and the drain valve is closed, so that washing water can be supplied from the outside such as a bucket.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show a fully automatic washing machine according to this embodiment, FIG. 1 shows a mechanical structure, FIGS. 2 to 4 show an example of a specific structure of a finishing agent charging container, and FIG. 5 shows a control system. FIG. 6 shows the outline of the circuit configuration, and FIG. 6 shows the flow of the control operation. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a water tank, which is suspended and supported by an anti-vibration support mechanism (not shown) in an outer tank (not shown) that constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine body. This water tub 1 is internally provided with a dehydration tub 2 which also has a large number of dehydration holes (not shown) formed on its peripheral wall and also serves as a washing tub. ing.

4 is a motor, 5 is a power transmission device,
Both are arranged on the outer bottom side of the water tank 1, and the motor 4
Rotation of the power transmission device 5 via the belt-pulley mechanism 6.
Is transmitted to The power transmission device 5 includes a clutch mechanism and a braking device that is interlocked with the clutch mechanism, and selectively transmits the rotational driving force of the motor 4 to the dehydration tank 2 or the pulsator 3.

That is, the drive switching to the dehydration tank 2 or the pulsator 3 is performed by switching the clutch mechanism inside the power transmission device under the control of the microcomputer 7 shown in FIG. When the water tank 2 is not driven, the dehydration tank 2 is braked by the braking device that works in conjunction with the clutch mechanism, and the pulsator 3 is rotationally driven. Further, when the dehydration process is performed, the dehydration tank 2 is connected to the motor 4 and is rotationally driven.

A drainage port 8 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 1, and drainage water after the washing and rinsing steps and drainage water during the dehydration step are discharged from the drainage port 8 to the outside of the outer tank through a drainage hose 9. Be guided. Further, a drain valve 10 for opening and closing the drain port 8 is provided in the middle of the drain path. 1
Reference numeral 1 is a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply port 12, and 13 is a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the tank.

The drain valve 10 is composed of an electromagnetic valve and is controlled to be opened / closed by the microcomputer. When the drain valve 10 is controlled independently of the braking device and when it is linked to the braking device, the drain valve 10 is operated simultaneously with the braking device. It may be controlled. In the case of simultaneous control with the braking device, the drain valve 10 is opened when the braking device is released, and the drain valve 10 is closed when the braking device performs the braking operation.

Reference numeral 14 designates a container for the laundry finishing agent, which is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the dehydration tub 2. The concrete construction thereof is shown in FIGS. In these figures, the finishing agent container 1
4 is integrally formed in the fluid balancer case 15 mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the dehydration tub 2, and the inside thereof has four holding chambers 16 to 1 for temporarily holding the laundry finishing agent.
9 are partitioned in such a manner that they are sequentially communicated from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the first stop holding chamber 16 provided on the uppermost stream side thereof is provided with a laundry finishing agent that opens on the upper surface of the fluid balancer case 15. A pouring port 20 and a pouring port 21 for pouring the laundry finishing agent into the dehydration tub 2 are formed in the second rotation holding chamber 19 provided on the most downstream side and open to the lower surface of the case 15. Has been done.

The first stop holding chamber 1 in which the injection port 20 opens
6 and the second rotation holding chamber 18 disposed via the first rotation holding chamber 17 are both in a stopped state and can store the laundry finishing agent, and are generated when the dehydration tub 2 rotates. The laundry finishing agent is moved to the next chamber by centrifugal force. On the contrary, both the first rotation holding chamber 17 and the second rotation holding chamber 19 can temporarily hold the laundry finishing agent by the centrifugal force when the dehydration tub 2 is rotated, and the centrifugal force acts. The laundry finishing agent is configured to move to the next chamber due to its own weight drop when it disappears.

As described above, the laundry finishing agent container 1 in this embodiment in which the stationary holding chambers 16 and 18 and the rotating holding chambers 17 and 19 are alternately arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side.
In No. 4, in order to execute the washing program, after the power is turned on, the finishing agent injected from the injection port 20 is accumulated in the first stop holding chamber 16. During the first dehydration operation during the rinsing step after the washing operation is completed, the laundry finishing agent is moved from the first stop holding chamber 16 to the first rotation holding chamber 17 by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the dehydration tub 2. And is temporarily suspended.

When the centrifugal force stops working, the laundry finishing agent is drawn out to the second stop holding chamber 18 of the next chamber by its own weight drop. During the second dehydration operation during the rinsing process,
The laundry finishing agent held in the second stop-time holding chamber 18 is moved to the second rotation-time holding chamber 19 and temporarily held by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the dehydration tub 2. When the dehydration tank 2 is braked and the centrifugal force stops working, the inlet 2
1 and is put into the dehydration tank 2.

The laundry finishing agent container 14 of the present embodiment constructed as described above is constructed by utilizing the space inside the fluid balancer case 15, and the space inside the case is concentric as shown in the drawing. By using the centrifugal force of the dehydration tub 2 effectively, it is possible to perform a reliable and timely loading operation of the laundry finishing agent with a relatively simple configuration such as partitioning into a shape or providing an inclination or a step. There is an advantage that it can be done.

In the washing machine of this embodiment having such a mechanical structure, after the water is supplied into the dehydration tub 2 with the drain valve 10 closed, the motor 4 starts to drive and its output is the belt. -By driving the pulsator 3 via the pulley mechanism 6 and the power transmission device 5, the dehydration tub 2 held in a stopped state by the braking device functions as a washing tub, and each step of washing and rinsing is performed.

Further, at the time of dewatering, the drain valve 10 is opened to drain the rinsing water in the dewatering tank 2, and then the clutch mechanism incorporated in the power transmission device 5 is switched, and at the same time, the braking device is released and the belt- The output of the motor 4 is transmitted to the dehydration tank 2 via the pulley mechanism 6 and the power transmission device 5, and the dehydration process is performed. By the way, the laundry finishing agent container 14
As described above, the finishing agent injected into the cleaning agent is moved through the holding chambers 16 to 19 in the laundry finishing agent charging container 14 by the centrifugal force during the dehydration operation during the rinsing step, and is discharged from the charging port 21 in the final rinsing step. A finishing agent is put into the dehydration tank 2.

In the control system shown in FIG. 5, the control device 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes a microcomputer 7 which is the center of the control device 22, a state detection circuit 23 connected as an external circuit of the microcomputer 7, a buzzer 24 for notifying an operation end and an error occurrence by a sound, and a load drive circuit 25. It is composed by. Of these, the state detection circuit 23 is connected to a lid switch 26 and a water level sensor 13 that detect the opening and closing of the lid that closes the dehydration tank 2, and the microcomputer detects information such as the lid open / closed state and water level detected by these detection means. Output to 7.

The load driving circuit 25 is based on a command from the microcomputer 7 and is used to drive the dehydrating tank 2 and the pulsator 3 to drive the motor 4, the power transmission device 5 including a braking device, and the drain valve 1.
0 and the water supply valve 11 are controlled. 27 is an input means consisting of a switch key, which is equipped with a power switch, a start / stop switch, setting keys for water level, washing, rinsing, dehydration, use of finishing agent, time, reservation, etc. The microcomputer 7 executes each process of water supply, washing, rinsing and dehydration in response to the key switch input of the input means 27. Reference numeral 28 denotes a display device, which displays the driving contents of each course such as careful, standard, and hiding according to the output of the microcomputer 7.

In such a configuration, in this embodiment, the microcomputer 7 of the control device 22 is provided with a function of instructing to release the braking state of the braking device built in the power transmission device 5 in the standby state. . That is, in the flowchart showing the program of the washing machine of FIG. 6, when the washing is started, the power switch of the input means 27 is turned on in step # 105, and step #
At 110, the braking of the dehydration tank 2 is released. by this,
The dehydration tub 2 can be rotated with a slight force, and the laundry finish injection port 20 can be easily moved to a position where it is easy to put in, for example, the front side of the front side.

Next, at step # 115, the input means 27
When the washing program is set based on the input information from step S120 and the start switch is turned on in step # 120, the washing program set in step # 125 is executed. When the operation according to the washing program is completed in step # 130, the motor 4 is turned off in step # 135.
F, stop braking the dehydration tank 2 in step # 140,
finish.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a program of a washing machine in another embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical structure and the control system structure in this embodiment are basically the same as those in the above-mentioned embodiments, and therefore their explanations are omitted to avoid duplication. As described above, the drain valve 10 may be mechanically interlocked with the braking device of the power transmission device 5. In this case, when the braking of the dehydration tank 2 is normally released by the control according to the above-described embodiment, the drainage valve 10 is drained. The valve 10 opens at the same time, which causes a problem that water cannot be supplied by a bucket or the like.

Therefore, in this embodiment, an operation key switch (finishing agent switch, not shown) as a braking release operating means of the braking device is separately provided in the input means 27. In the flowchart of FIG. 7, when washing is started, the power switch of the input means 27 is turned on in step # 205, and when the braking of the dehydration tank 2 is released in step # 210, the finishing agent switch is turned on in step # 215. When turned on, the braking of the dehydration tub 2 is released in step # 220, the dehydration tub 2 can be rotated by a slight force as in the above-described embodiment, and the laundry finish injection port 20 can be easily moved to a position where it can be easily inserted. be able to.

At this time, the drain valve 10 is opened, but after the finishing agent is injected, when the finishing agent switch is turned on again in step # 225, the dehydration tank 2 is braked in step # 230 and the drain valve 10 is closed. Water can be supplied by a bucket.

After this, or when the braking of the dehydration tub 2 is not released, that is, the finishing agent switch is not pressed in step # 210, the washing program is set in step # 235, and the washing program is set in step # 240. When it is recognized that the start switch is turned on, step # 24
In step 5, the washing program is executed. When the operation according to the washing program is completed in step # 250, step # 25
The motor 4 is turned off in step 5, and the dehydration tank 2 is operated in step # 260.
Is stopped and the drain valve 10 is closed to finish the process.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a program of the washing machine in still another embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
The mechanical structure and the control system structure in this embodiment are basically the same as those in the above-mentioned respective embodiments, and therefore their explanations are omitted to avoid duplication. In this embodiment, in addition to the finishing agent switch of the other embodiment, the display device 28 is configured to display whether the dehydration tank 2 is in a braked state or a braked state is released. There is.

In the flowchart of FIG. 8, when washing is started, the power switch of the input means 27 is turned on in step # 305, and then the braking of the dehydration tub 2 is released in step # 310. When the finishing agent switch is turned on, the braking of the dehydration tank 2 is released in step # 320, and the dehydration tank 2 can be rotated with a slight force.
As a result, the laundry finish injection port 20 can be easily moved to a position where it can be easily inserted.

At the same time as the braking of the dehydration tank 2 is released, the display of the finishing agent provided on the display device 28 is turned on in step # 325, which confirms that the drain valve 10 is open. After injecting the finishing agent, when the finishing agent switch is turned on again in step # 330, the dehydration tank 2 is braked in step # 335, and the drain valve 10 is closed.
Water can be supplied by bucket, and step # 3
At 40, the finish agent display of the display device 28 is turned off, and the drain valve 10
You can see that is closed. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it can be confirmed that whether the drain valve 10 is open or closed can be easily and accurately determined by the light display of the display device 28.

After this, or when the braking of the dehydration tub 2 is not released in step # 310, that is, the finishing agent switch is not pressed, as in the other embodiments, step # 345.
After setting the washing program with, and recognizing that the start switch is turned on in step # 350, step # 350
At 355, the laundry program is executed. Step # 360
When the operation according to the washing program is completed in step #
The motor 4 is turned off at 365, the dewatering tank 2 is braked and stopped at step # 370, and the drain valve 10 is closed.
finish.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, braking releasing means for releasing the braking state of the braking device is provided, and when the braking releasing means is operated in the standby state, the braking of the dehydration tank is performed by its operation. Therefore, if the braking of the dehydration tub is released before the washing is performed, the dehydration tub can be opened when the container for the laundry finishing agent is in a position such as the rear side of the dehydration tub which is not convenient to use. The input container can be easily moved to a convenient position with a small force.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the finishing agent charging container is constructed by utilizing the space inside the fluid balancer case, and the centrifugal force of the dehydration tank 2 is effectively used to ensure the reliability. There is an advantage that it is possible to perform the loading operation of the laundry finishing agent without timing deviation.

According to the present invention, since the drain valve opens in conjunction with the braking operation of the braking device, the braking releasing operation means of the braking device is provided. Therefore, the braking release operation means is operated. The brake of the dehydration tank is released, the drain valve is opened, the laundry finishing agent is injected, and then the dehydration tank is braked and the drain valve is closed, so that the washing water can be supplied from the outside such as a bucket. It will be possible.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine equipped with a laundry finishing agent charging container, which has a greatly improved usability and is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a mechanical structure in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a finishing agent charging container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a top surface portion thereof by breaking.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the control system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation program of the control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a program of a control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a program of a control unit in still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water Tank 2 Dehydration Tank 3 Pulsator 4 Motor 5 Power Transmission Device 6 Belt-Pulley Mechanism 7 Microcomputer 10 Drain Valve 11 Water Supply Valve 13 Water Level Sensor 14 Washing Agent Filling Container 15 Fluid Balancer Case 16 First Stop Holding Chamber 17 1st Holding chamber during rotation 18 Holding chamber during second stop 19 Holding chamber during second rotation 20 Inlet port 21 Input port 22 Control device 23 State detection circuit 24 Buzzer 25 Load drive circuit 26 Lid switch 27 Input means 28 Display device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A dehydration tub, a laundry finishing agent container provided so as to rotate integrally with the dehydration tub, a drive device for rotationally driving the dehydration tub, and a braking device for braking the dehydration tub being rotationally driven. A washing machine comprising: a washing machine including braking release means for releasing a braking state of the braking device. 2. A dehydrating tub, a laundry finishing agent input container which is disposed at an outer periphery of an upper end of the dehydrating tub and has an opening for injecting the laundry finishing agent to the outside, and a drive device for rotationally driving the dehydrating tub. And a braking device that brakes the spin-drying tub that is being rotationally driven, and controls the operation of the driving device and the braking device, and commands to release the braking state of the braking device in the standby state. A washing machine having a control device for controlling the washing machine. 3. A dehydration tub, a laundry finishing agent input container, a drive device that rotationally drives the dehydration tub, a braking device that brakes the dehydration tub that is rotationally driven, and the operation of the drive device and the braking device is switched. In a washing machine including a control device for controlling, the control device has a function of instructing to release the braking state of the braking device in a standby state,
Further, the finishing agent charging container temporarily holds the laundry finishing agent in a fluid balancer case mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the dewatering tank, and the washing finishing agent is transferred to the next chamber by centrifugal force generated when the dewatering tank is rotated. A single or a plurality of storage holding chambers configured to move, and a laundry finishing agent that temporarily holds the laundry finishing agent and moves to the next chamber by its own weight drop when the centrifugal force stops acting. Alternatingly arranged with a single or a plurality of centrifugal force holding chambers configured in, to form an inlet for the laundry finishing agent opening to the upper surface of the fluid balancer case in the holding chamber on the most upstream side, and the most downstream side A washing machine, characterized in that the holding chamber is formed with an inlet opening to the lower surface of the case. 4. A dehydration tub, a laundry finishing agent input container, which is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the upper end of the dehydration tub and has an inlet for the laundry finishing agent exposed to the outside, and a drive device for rotationally driving the dehydration tub. A braking device for braking the dehydration tub that is rotating, and a drain valve interposed in the drainage path of the dehydration tub,
A washing machine configured to close the drain valve in conjunction with a braking operation of the braking device, wherein a braking release operation means of the braking device is provided.