JPS59203595A - Washer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine that controls washing by detecting the transparency (turbidity) of washing liquid etc. using a light transmittance detector.

Conventional structure and its problems Conventionally, washing, rinsing, dehydration, etc. in a washing machine have been done by setting the time switch and slot according to the experience and intuition of the user, judging from the clothes' length and how dirty they are. It was a long drive. This has the disadvantage that washing takes more time than necessary and that the washing process damages the fabric.

Therefore, as a means for detecting the washing state of a washing machine, a means for detecting the transparency (turbidity) of the liquid during washing can be considered. As a means for measuring turbidity, there is a method of measuring turbidity by measuring the light transmittance of a liquid using a light emitting element and a light receiving element. According to this method, it is possible to detect the change in turbidity of the washing liquid during the washing process, and it is possible to know when washing is complete.

However, if dirt etc. adhere to the detection part of the light transmittance detector and the initial light transmittance is extremely reduced, or if the detector malfunctions and no output voltage is generated, changes in the turbidity of the liquid may occur. Detection is not possible and cleaning detection cannot be performed. Moreover, it has the disadvantage that it is not possible to easily check whether the cleaning detection failure is due to a defect in the light transmittance detector itself, the influence of dirt on the detection section, or another defect in the control section.

Additionally, there is a problem in that disturbance light (for example, sunlight) affects the light receiving element of the light transmittance detector and interferes with the detection of turbidity changes, but the extent of this influence cannot be easily checked. It had the following drawback.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional examples and provides a method for testing the operating characteristics of a light transmittance detector. + The purpose is to provide a washing machine that can be operated safely and quickly by simple operation.

Structure of the Invention The present invention comprises a light transmittance detector including a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided near a drain valve in order to detect the transparency (turbidity) of washing liquid, etc., a program selection section and a state detection section. and an operation control section that controls the load section and display section using signals from the human power section, and by turning on the power switch after operating the switch according to a predetermined combination of input cast inches, the light transmittance can be adjusted. The present invention is characterized in that it is configured to test the operating characteristics of the detector. By doing this, a set current is passed through the light emitting element to test the operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector, and when the output voltage of the light transmittance detector is outside the preset voltage range, the current of the light emitting element When the output voltage of the light transmittance detector is outside the preset voltage range due to the influence of ambient light, an indication is displayed on the display or a buzzer is activated. It is possible to provide a washing machine that can change the notification contents.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a program control device in a washing machine, in which 1 is a program selection section consisting of a group of setting switches for selecting a washing program, 2 is a program selection section that is made up of a group of setting switches for selecting a washing program, and 2 is a block diagram showing the water level in the washing machine tub and opening/closing of the lid of the washing machine. This is a state detection unit that detects the state and vibration state of the tank. Reference numeral 3 denotes an operation control section which stores several preset programs and controls the output load according to input signals to execute program operations, and is composed of, for example, a microcomputer or a logic circuit. 4 is the supply of power necessary for the operation of each part,
Power supply unit that generates the reference time signal, 5baim, rinse,
A load control circuit section that drives a motor, water supply valve, drain valve, buzzer, etc. for performing a series of operations such as dehydration.This load control circuit section uses semiconductor switching circuits that open and close the load, such as transistors, thyristors, etc. Operation control section 3
The semiconductor switching circuit is comprised of an interface circuit that converts the level of the signal necessary for operating the semiconductor switching circuit.

6 is an operation display unit, for example a display control circuit unit for driving an LED (light emitting diode), etc.; 7 is a load unit consisting of a motor, water supply valve, drain valve, buzzer, etc. for washing operations; 8 is an operation display unit; This is a display section that performs 9 is a light transmittance detector provided in the drainage path. This light transmittance detector 9b,
For example, a light emitting element made of a light emitting diode and a light receiving element made of a phototransistor, for example, are arranged to face each other with a drainage path in between. Reference numeral 1'1 is a power switch that turns on and off the power supply to the power supply unit 4.

12 is a commercial power source.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a specific example of the program selection section 1, operation control section 3, display section 8, light transmittance detector 9, power supply section 4, etc. shown in FIG. s2 is a pause switch to temporarily stop the operation, and s3 is a select switch to select partial courses, such as washing only, washing only, rinsing only 1, spin-drying only, etc.

13 to 15 are LEDs for display; 13 is an LED for the washing process; 14 is an LED for the washing process; and 15 is an LED for the dehydration process. 16 is a light emitting element of the light transmittance detector 9;
7 is a light receiving element. 18 is a buzzer, and 19 is an A/D converter that converts the output voltage of the light transmittance detector 9 into a digital value.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained. When the start switch S1 is turned on, the washing process LED 13 blinks and the operation starts. Once the water supply is complete, the motor will rotate and washing will begin. As washing progresses, dirt is extracted from the laundry and the washing liquid gradually becomes cloudy, so the light transmittance detector 9 detects changes in the light transmittance of the washing liquid at regular intervals.
When the change in light transmittance reaches a certain level or less, that is, when no more dirt is extracted from the laundry, the washing is completed.

However, if the light transmittance detector 9 malfunctions, changes in transmittance cannot be detected.For example, if dirt or the like adheres to the detection part and the light transmittance from the initial stage is extremely reduced, It is no longer possible to detect changes in the light transmittance of the washing liquid.The reason is that the light emission output of the light emitting element 16 is Po, the output of the light receiving element 17 is ?jirIl', and the initial light transmittance of the detection section is μ. ., the light transmittance of the liquid is μ2, then vo is generally expressed by the following formula:■.−8, Po, e−B(μ
m+μ2) In the formula, A and B represent constants. The change in output voltage with respect to the change in light transmittance is Δ■o/Δ(μ, 10 μ
2) --B(μm+μ2)・Vo, and if the initial transmittance μm becomes larger・7Vo/7(l110μ2)
The value of becomes small, making it impossible to detect changes in the light transmittance of the liquid. , the output voltage when the light receiving element 17 of the light transmittance detector e is affected by disturbance light such as sunlight, etc.
It is expressed as A-Po-e-B(μμ2)+v1, and ■.

indicates the output voltage due to only disturbance light. In this case as well, when detecting a change in light transmittance, the output voltage (1) due to the disturbance light is not constant, but constantly changes, making it impossible to accurately detect a change in light transmittance of the liquid.

Hereinafter, we will explain how to easily check whether the cause is a failure of the light transmittance detector 9 itself, dirt on the detection section, or the influence of ambient light in cases like ``2''. do.

A combination of switches that would not occur during normal use, such as a start switch S1 and a temporary stop switch S2,
When the power switch 11 is turned on from the cut-off state to the energized state while the select switch S3 is pressed at the same time, the operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector 9 are tested. The contents of the inspection will be explained using FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis (indicates time) and the vertical axis indicates the output voltage of the light transmittance detector 9. The influence of disturbance light is investigated in the range of T1. First, the light emitting element 16 is Output voltage of transmittance detector 9 ■.

is measured, and if the vO force is greater than or equal to σ, it is determined that the disturbance light is affecting the dog. Next, the initial operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector 9 are examined in the range of T2. Output voltage (■) of the light transmittance detector 9 with a preset current flowing through the light emitting element 16. Measure and ■. For example, ■c〉■. 〉vB, the output voltage of the light transmittance detector 9 ■. is considered normal. ■. When >700, it is determined that the light transmittance detector 9 is defective, such as a short circuit in the light receiving element 17, and when VB>vo>VA, it is determined that the output has decreased due to dirt on the detection section, etc.

Also VA〉■. If so, it is determined that the light transmittance detector 9 itself is defective, for example, the light emitting element 16 is open.

In FIG. 3, the characteristic of the solid line A indicates the operation or normal state of the light transmittance detector 9, and the characteristic of the two-dot chain line B indicates the state where the influence of external light is severe in the range of T1, and the range of T2. So, what about the output voltage due to dirt, etc.? Indicates a decreased condition.

Note that when testing the operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector 9, the LED of the display section 8 is turned on during the test, and when it is determined to be normal, the LED of the display section 8 is turned off.

In addition, we measured the influence of ambient light in the range of T1, and found that the influence was
When Vo>VA), the washing process LED 1 on the display section 9
Turn on 3. Measure the output voltage in the range of T2 cut,
■When o>vc, blink LED13 for washing process,
When B > 780 hours, the Susuki' process LED z4i blinks and ■8〉■. In this case, by blinking the dehydration process LED 15'i, the test result of the operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector 9 can be easily determined. Furthermore, in addition to the display on the display unit 9, it is also possible to determine the test result by using the buzzer 13 to notify the user of different intermittent sounds or the like.

Effects of the Invention In the present invention, the operating characteristics of a light transmittance detector can be tested safely and quickly with simple operations.
This has the effect of making it possible to easily analyze detailed inspection results and the cause of defects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a program control device in a washing machine of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a specific circuit diagram showing a part thereof, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing operating characteristics during inspection of a light transmittance detector. It is a diagram. 1...Program selection section, 2. Status detection section, 3.. Operation control section, 8.. Display section, 9..
- Light transmittance detector, 11... Power switch, notch, 16... Light emitting element, 17... Light receiving element, S
l...Start switch, S2...Pause switch, S3...Select switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A light transmittance detector for detecting the transparency of washing liquid, etc., which is provided near the drain valve of a dehydration tank with a light emitting element and a light receiving element facing each other, a program selection section, and a state detection section. and an operation control section that controls the load section and the display section using signals from the input section, and the light source is controlled by turning on the power switch after operating the switch using a predetermined combination of input switches. A washing machine configured to test operating characteristics of a permeability detector. (Kon) When testing the operating characteristics of a light transmittance detector, a preset current is passed through the light emitting element, and when the output voltage of the light transmittance detector is outside the preset voltage range, this is detected by the display. A washing machine according to claim 1, which is configured to notify by a display or a buzzer. When the output voltage of the light transmittance detector is outside a preset voltage range, the output voltage of the light transmittance detector is displayed on a display unit or notified from a laser. Washing machine A. (4) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the display location on the display section or the notification area of the buzzer is changed depending on the inspection content of the operating characteristics of the light transmittance detector.