JPH10263274A - Imbalance detector for fully automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imbalance detector with which not only assembly work is facilitated by reducing the number of parts but also workability is improved by unnecessitating the work of fine assembly control at the time of assembly and imbalance detection accuracy can be improved as well by exactly and easily installing a safety lever away from an outer tub for a prescribed distance. SOLUTION: The imbalance detector is arranged so as to face the outer periphery of dehydration tub and provided with a safety lever 5 to be displaced by abnormal vibrations at the time of dehydration and a switch 6 to be operated by the displacement of safety lever 5. In this case, the safety lever 5 is almost L-shaped from an elastic member such as a leaf spring while being integrated with a lid lever 4 for detecting the open /close of lid 7, one arm of this almost L-shaped safety lever 5 is used as the lever 3 is used as the safety lever 5 and the other arm is used as the lid lever 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an unbalance detecting device for a fully automatic washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fully automatic washing machine, during the spinning operation in which the washing and dewatering tub is rotated at a high speed, the laundry in the washing and dewatering tub is biased to one side, and the swing of the washing and dewatering tub is transmitted to the outer tub. ,
When the outer tub vibrates and comes into contact with the outer box of the washing machine, and the entire washing machine abnormally vibrates and cannot be dehydrated, this is detected.

In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, a safety lever is provided on the outer periphery of the outer tub for detecting unbalance caused by abnormal vibration during dehydration and jumping out of the laundry. A switch for detecting imbalance is operated to detect an imbalance state and to deal with this.

As an unbalance detecting device, there is a device as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-20520. As shown in FIG. 5, a switch 11 is mounted on a base 10 fixed to the main body of the washing machine. And fix the base 10
The horizontal portion 14a at the tip of the safety lever 14 urged upward by the spring 12 faces downward.

[0005] In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a lid lever formed by a movable arm. The horizontal portion 14a at the center of the safety lever 14 is combined with the lid and pushed upward by the lid with the lid of the washing machine closed. The horizontal portion 14a of the engaged safety lever 14 is pushed up, and the contact 11a of the switch 11 is closed.

The lever 14 is displaced in the radial direction of the washing and dewatering tub and the outer tub against the elasticity of the spring 12, and is combined with the lid lever 13 so as to be displaceable also in the tangential direction.

During the spin-drying operation, the contact portion 11a of the switch 11 is pressed by the horizontal portion 14a of the safety lever 14 and the contact 11a is closed. When the water tub and the outer tub swing and the washing machine vibrates abnormally, the point C, which is the power point of the safety lever 14, is placed in the outer tub.
Displaced in the radial direction of the washing tub with the point as a fulcrum. As a result, the point B, which is the operating point of the horizontal portion 14a, is separated from the contact 11a of the switch 11, the contact 11a opens, and an unbalanced state is detected.

[0008]

As described above, conventionally, since the operating point B of the safety lever 14 is located above the power point C and the fulcrum A, the displacement at the operating point B is not transmitted to the lid lever 13. Therefore, it is necessary to form the safety lever 14 and the lid lever 13 separately from each other, so that not only the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are increased, but also the safety lever is increased due to the dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy of each part. It was difficult to accurately set 14 at a predetermined distance from the outer tank.

The distance between the safety lever 14 and the outer tub is an important factor for determining the amount of vibration to operate the switch, and the safety lever 14 is set at an accurate position. Therefore, adjustment was required not only at the time of assembly but also at the time of setting after assembly.

However, in addition to the fact that the lid lever 13 and the safety lever 14 are formed separately, structurally, when the lid is lifted upward by the lid by closing the lid, the lid is locked to this. The horizontal lever 14a of the safety lever 14 moves upward, and as a result,
The lower part of the safety lever 14 placed in the outer tank moves in a direction approaching the outer tank.

For this reason, when the unbalance detecting device is set by combining the lid lever 13 and the safety lever 14 with the lid opened, when the lid is closed during the subsequent operation, the position of the safety lever 14 is set in this state. Closer to the outer tub and the distance to the outer tub changes,
Initial unbalance detection accuracy cannot be expected.

In order to eliminate such inconvenience, it is necessary to set the safety lever 14 to a position where the amount of movement after the setting of the safety lever 14 has been corrected when setting the unbalance detecting device, and the work of adjusting the assembly is difficult.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the conventional example, to reduce the number of parts and to facilitate the assembling work, and to eliminate the need for assembling fine adjustment at the time of assembling, thereby improving workability. An object of the present invention is to provide an unbalance detection device that can accurately and easily install a safety lever at a position separated from an outer tub by a predetermined distance, and can improve the unbalance detection accuracy.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention firstly provides a safety lever which is arranged to face the outer periphery of a washing and dewatering tub and is displaced by abnormal vibration during dehydration. In an unbalance detection device of a fully automatic washing machine provided with a switch that is operated by displacement of a safety lever, the safety lever is substantially L-shaped with an elastic member such as a leaf spring as an integral part of a lid lever that detects opening and closing of a lid. By forming one arm of the substantially L-shaped lever as a safety lever and the other arm as a lid lever, the lid lever and the safety lever can be formed integrally with the substantially L-shaped lever, and the number of parts and the assembly process can be reduced. It reduces the number of parts, improves the assembly workability, and improves the product accuracy.

Second, the substantially L-shaped lever is supported by a mounting member for the lever and the switch with the L-shaped bent portion as a fulcrum, and the lower portion of the safety lever suspended downward from the fulcrum is unbalanced. An actuation point is provided between the fulcrum and the force point as a power point for detection, and the contact point of the switch faces the operation point. Only the operating point of the safety lever can be actuated without any effect.

Third, the substantially L-shaped lever and the mounting member of the switch are provided with a stopper portion which comes into contact with the safety lever in a state where the contact point of the switch is pressed close to the mounting position of the switch. Because the operating point of the safety lever can determine the position where the switch contacts are pressed,
The setting position of the safety lever with respect to the outer tank can be easily determined by the installation position of the mounting member.

Fourthly, the bent portion forming the fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever is formed in an arc shape so that the safety lever can be displaced only when the safety lever is pushed by the outer tank and only the safety lever is displaced. However, even if the arm is integrally formed with the lid lever, the arc-shaped bent portion is interposed between the coupling portions of both levers, so that only the arm portion constituting the safety lever can be smoothly displaced.

Fifth, by forming the bending angle of the bent portion forming the fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever at 90 degrees or less, the arm of the lid lever portion is horizontal with the safety lever portion in the lid closed state where the arm is horizontal. Arm in the direction of the contact of the switch, and the contact can be reliably turned on.

Sixth, the substantially L-shaped lever is provided with a biasing means for biasing the cover lever downward so as to pivot the safety lever outward when the cover is opened, so that the cover lever is configured with the cover opened. Displace the tip of the arm downward surely,
The safety lever integrated with the lid lever can be separated from the contact point of the switch to be surely turned off.

Seventh, the urging means is a compression spring interposed between the safety lever and the mounting member, so that the safety lever is directly pressed by the elasticity of the compression spring. It is reliably separated from the switch contacts.

Eighth, since the biasing means is a tension spring provided between the tip of the lid lever and the mounting member, the biasing means can be disposed at a position away from the operating point of the safety lever.
Adjustment during installation becomes easier.

Ninth, since the biasing means is a weight provided on the lid lever, not only can the biasing means be disposed at a position distant from the operating point of the safety lever, but also the weight of the weight can be adjusted. Can easily adjust the biasing force.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an embodiment of an imbalance detecting device of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same, and the imbalance detecting device of the present invention is arranged so as to face the outer periphery of the washing and dewatering tub, that is, the outer tub 1 in which the washing and dewatering tub is disposed, as in the prior art. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes two divided bodies 2a and 2b.
A substantially L-shaped lever integrally formed with a lid lever 4 for detecting opening and closing of the lid and a safety lever 5 for detecting abnormal vibration of the outer tub 1; FIG.

The substantially L-shaped lever 3 is formed of a material having elasticity such as a leaf spring, and is bent at an angle of 90 degrees or less on an arc to form a bent portion 3a. One arm was formed on the lid lever 4 and the other arm was formed on the safety lever 5.

The distal end of the lid lever 4 is further bent upward in a U-shape to form a contact portion 4 a with the lid 7.

The bent portion 3a of the substantially L-shaped lever 3 becomes a point A which is a fulcrum of the rotation of the substantially L-shaped lever 3,
Notched concave portions 3b for attachment to the case 2 were provided at both edges of the bent portion 3a.

A projection 2d is provided in the case 2 to be engaged with the cutout recess 3b. An arc-shaped support base 2c for supporting the bent portion 3a is integrally formed.
and a compression spring 8 serving as urging means for urging the lid lever 4 to rotate downward when the lid is opened below the vertical portion 2e. A recess 2f is formed.

The lower part of the storage recess 2f is used as a mounting portion 2g of the micro switch 6, and a mounting projection is provided. The micro switch 6 is mounted here. In this case, the contact 6a of the microswitch 6 is made to protrude from the vertical portion 2e toward the right side in FIG. 1, that is, in a state where the substantially L-shaped lever 3 is attached to the case 2, in the direction of the lever 3.

In order to incorporate the substantially L-shaped lever 3 into the case 2, the notch concave portion 3b provided in the middle bent portion 3a is engaged with the projection 2d on the case 2 side, and the bent portion 3a is fixed to the support base portion 2c. When the compression spring 8 is mounted on the supporting recess 2f and the divided bodies 2a and 2b are opposed to each other, the bent portion 3a of the substantially L-shaped lever 3 and the vicinity thereof are stored in the case 2 in a bent state. A substantially L-shaped lever 3 is rotatably suspended from the support base 2c at a position 3a.

In this state, the arm located substantially horizontally above the upper portion of the substantially L-shaped lever 3 becomes the lid lever 4, the point A at the bent portion 3a becomes the fulcrum, and the portion below this becomes the safety lever 5, and the compression lever 5 is compressed. The spring 8 is interposed between the case 2 and the safety lever 5 so as to urge the safety lever 3 outward to rotate the tip of the lid lever 4 downward.

In order to attach the case 2 incorporating the substantially L-shaped lever 3 to the washing machine in this manner, it is necessary to secure a predetermined distance between the outer tub 1 and the safety lever 5. In the closed state, the safety lever 5 hangs down along the vertical portion 2e of the case 2 as described later.
And the positional relationship between the case 2 is determined by the vertical portion 2e.
Therefore, the mounting position of the case 2 can be easily determined based on the position of the vertical portion 2e.

Next, the operation will be described. When the lid 7 is open, as shown in FIG. 1, the safety lever 5 is pushed outward by the elastic force of the compression spring 8, and the substantially L-shaped lever 3 is entirely left in FIG. In this state, the lid lever 4 rotates downward.

As a result, the safety lever 5 is separated from the contact 6a of the micro switch 6, and the micro switch 6 is turned off.

When the cover 7 is closed from this state as shown in FIG. 3, the cover 7 closes the contact portion 4 at the tip of the cover lever 4.
a is lifted from below, the substantially L-shaped lever 3 as a whole pivots rightward in the figure with the bent portion 3a as a fulcrum, and the safety lever 5 also pivots rightward against the elasticity of the compression spring 8,
The point B, which is the operating point, presses the contact 6a of the microswitch 6.

At this time, since the safety lever 5 hangs down along the vertical portion 2e of the case 2, the contact 6a protruding forward from the vertical portion 2e is surely pushed. Further, since the bent portion 3a of the substantially L-shaped lever 3 is bent to 90 degrees or less, the safety lever 5 and the lid lever 4 are displaced by pushing the bent portion 3a open at this angle.
Therefore, a force for urging the safety lever 5 in the direction of the contact 6a is exerted on the safety lever 5 by the elastic force of the leaf spring, and the contact 6a is reliably pushed and turned on.

Now, when an unbalanced state or clothing jumps out due to abnormal vibration of the washing and dewatering tub, a force for pushing the safety lever 5 outward acts on the safety lever 5 as shown in FIG. Point C indicates the power point.

As a result, the safety lever 5 is displaced outward around the fulcrum, which is the point A, by the elasticity of the leaf spring.
The point B, which is the operating point, is separated from the contact 6a, and the microswitch 6 is turned off to detect the occurrence of imbalance. At this time, point B which is an operating point is point A which is a fulcrum and point C which is a power point.
Since the L-shaped lever 3 is provided between the arm and the point, only the arm of the safety lever 5 is displaced, and the arm of the lid lever 4 holds the horizontal position by the elastic force of the leaf spring.
The lid 7 is not pushed down.

Although not shown in the drawings as another embodiment, the urging means for urging the lid lever 4 downward and the safety lever 5 to rotate outward when the lid is opened is limited to the compression spring 8 described above. Instead, a tension spring may be provided between the tip of the lid lever 4 and the case 2, or a weight may be attached to the lid lever 4.

When a tension spring is provided, it can be arranged at a position distant from the operating point of the safety lever 5, and adjustment at the time of mounting becomes easy. In the case of a weight, the weight of the weight is further adjusted. You can easily adjust the biasing force.

[0040]

As described above, the imbalance detecting device of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention is firstly arranged so as to face the outer periphery of the washing and dewatering tub, so that abnormal vibration during dehydration and washing of the laundry are prevented. An unbalance detection device for a fully automatic washing machine provided with a safety lever displaced by popping out and a switch operated by the displacement of the safety lever, wherein the safety lever is integrated with a lid lever for detecting opening and closing of the lid. By forming one arm of the substantially L-shaped lever as a safety lever and the other arm as a lid lever, the lid lever and the safety lever are integrally formed into a substantially L-shaped lever. The number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced, assembling workability is improved, and product accuracy is also improved.

Second, the substantially L-shaped lever is supported by the lever and the switch mounting member with the L-shaped bent portion as a fulcrum, and the lower part of the safety lever suspended downward from the fulcrum is unbalanced. An actuation point is provided between the fulcrum and the force point as a power point for detection, and the contact point of the switch faces the operation point. Only the operating point of the safety lever can be actuated without any effect.

Third, the substantially L-shaped lever and the mounting member of the switch are provided with a stopper which comes into contact with the safety lever in the state where the contact point of the switch is pressed close to the mounting position of the switch. Because the operating point of the safety lever can determine the position where the switch contacts are pressed,
The setting position of the safety lever with respect to the outer tank can be easily determined by the installation position of the mounting member.

Fourth, the bent portion forming the fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever is formed in an arc shape, so that the safety lever is pushed by the outer tank and only the safety lever is displaced. However, even if the arm is integrally formed with the lid lever, the arc-shaped bent portion is interposed between the coupling portions of both levers, so that only the arm portion constituting the safety lever can be smoothly displaced.

Fifth, by forming the bent portion forming the fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever at a bending angle of 90 degrees or less, the arm of the lid lever portion is horizontal with the safety lever portion in the lid closed state where the arm of the lid lever portion is horizontal. Can be urged in the direction of the contact of the switch, and the contact can be reliably turned on.

Sixth, since the substantially L-shaped lever is provided with a biasing means for biasing the cover lever downward and the safety lever outward when the cover is opened, the cover lever is configured with the cover opened. Displace the tip of the arm downward surely,
The safety lever integrated with the lid lever can be separated from the contact point of the switch to be surely turned off.

Seventh, the urging means is a compression spring interposed between the safety lever and the mounting member, so that the safety lever is directly pressed by the elasticity of the compression spring. It is reliably separated from the switch contacts.

Eighth, since the biasing means is a tension spring provided between the tip of the lid lever and the mounting member, the biasing means can be disposed at a position away from the operating point of the safety lever.
Adjustment during installation becomes easier.

Ninth, by using the weight provided on the lid lever as the urging means, not only can the urging means be provided at a position distant from the operating point of the safety lever, but also the weight of the weight can be adjusted. Can easily adjust the biasing force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an embodiment of an unbalance detecting device of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention when a lid is opened.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the imbalance detecting device of the fully automatic washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an operation state of the imbalance detecting device of the fully automatic washing machine of the present invention when the lid is closed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional front view showing an operation state of the unbalance detection device of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention when the unbalance is detected.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view of a conventional unbalance detection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer tank 2 ... Case 2a, 2b ... Divided body 2c ... Support base part 2d ... Projection 2e ... Vertical part 2f ... Storage recess 2g ... Mounting part 3 ... L-shaped lever 3a ... Bending part 3b ... Notch recessed part 4 ... Lid lever 4a ... Contact part 5 ... Safety lever 6 ... Micro switch 6a ... Contact 7 ... Lid 8 ... Compression spring 10 ... Base 11 ... Switch 11a ... Contact 12 ... Spring 13 ... Lid lever 14 ... Safety lever 14a ... Horizontal part

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An automatic washing machine, comprising: a safety lever disposed to face an outer periphery of a washing and dewatering tub and displaced by abnormal vibration during dehydration; and a switch operated by displacement of the safety lever. In the balance detection device, the safety lever is formed in a substantially L-shape with a member having elasticity such as a leaf spring as an integral part of a lid lever for detecting opening and closing of the lid, and one arm of the substantially L-shaped lever is provided as a safety lever.
An imbalance detecting device for a fully automatic washing machine, wherein the other arm is a lid lever. 2. A substantially L-shaped lever is supported by a mounting member of the lever and the switch with the L-shaped bent portion as a fulcrum, and a lower portion of the safety lever suspended below the fulcrum for unbalance detection. 2. The imbalance detection of a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an operating point is provided between the fulcrum and the power point, and a contact point of a switch faces the operating point. apparatus. 3. The switch member according to claim 1, wherein the substantially L-shaped lever and the mounting member of the switch are provided with a stopper portion which comes into contact with the safety lever in a state where the contact point of the switch is pressed close to the mounting position of the switch. The unbalance detecting device for a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The unbalance detection of a fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion forming the fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever is formed in an arc shape. apparatus. 5. The fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a bending angle of a bent portion forming a fulcrum of the substantially L-shaped lever is formed at 90 degrees or less. Unbalance detector. 6. The substantially L-shaped lever is provided with biasing means for biasing the lid lever downward and rotating the safety lever outward when the lid is opened. 5. The unbalance detection device for a fully automatic washing machine according to any one of 5. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the urging means is a compression spring interposed between the safety lever and the mounting member. 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the urging means is a tension spring provided between a tip of the lid lever and the mounting member. 9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the urging means is a weight provided on the lid lever.