JPS60194999A - Washing machine with photosensor - 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 Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical sensor device for a washing machine used in a general household.

(Structure of conventional example and its problems) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional washing machine with a light sensor. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the washing machine, 2 is a washing tub, and 3 is a dehydration tub. The dehydration tub 3 has a large number of small holes 4 bored around it. 5 is a rotary blade that rotates the clothes in the washing tub to wash them. 6 is a dewatering motor, and 7 is a washing motor, which are attached to the underframe at the bottom 8 of the main body 1, and the washing motor 7 is connected to a pulley 9.
The rotor blade 5 is rotated by the pulley 10 (V-bell) 11 which is covered with the V bell. Drain port 1 drilled at the bottom of the washing tub 2
2 and the inlet of the drain valve 13 are connected by forming an inflow pipe 14 using a translucent material, that is, a transparent resin material. 15 is a drain hose connected to the outlet of the drain valve 13.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a holder supported by the inflow tube 14, and as shown in FIG. 18 are held correspondingly on the same line.

When doing laundry, laundry, water, and detergent are put into washing tub 2.
At this time, since the drain valve 13 is closed, the washing tub 2 and the inlet pipe 14 of the drain valve 13 are filled with washing liquid. When washing and rinsing are started, the turbidity of the washing and rinsing solutions increases. As a result, the light reaching the light receiving element 18 from the light emitting element 17 decreases, and the output voltage of the light receiving element 18 changes as shown in FIG.

When dirt is removed by washing, the turbidity of the washing liquid increases,
The output voltage of the light receiving element 1B decreases. Therefore, the light receiving element 1
With the output voltage of 8, it is possible to detect a change in turbidity and to detect the end of cleaning. However, dirt from the laundry comes out together with the washing liquid during washing, staining the guide surface of the inflow pipe 14 and blocking the light from the light emitting element 17, so that only a small amount of light reaches the light receiving element 18. However, there is a drawback in that when this state is detected, this state is mistaken for the occurrence of turbidity, and it is determined that cleaning and rinsing are complete.

(Object of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor cleaning device for a washing machine equipped with an optical sensor, which eliminates the conventional drawbacks, improves the transmission ability of the optical sensor, and improves the reliability of sensor detection. It is.

(Structure of the Invention) In the washing machine with an optical sensor of the present invention, a slidable cleaning sliding plate is disposed in a detection chamber containing a light emitting element and a light receiving element of an optical sensor, and detects one of the elements. The device is installed in an air chamber provided in the upper part of the chamber, and the other element is provided in the lower part, and the optical sensor part is cleaned by sliding a sliding plate with a stream of washing water.

(Description of Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 4 to 7.

In the figure, a concave detection chamber 19 is provided in a part of the inner wall of the washing tub 2, and a corresponding light emitting element 17 and light receiving element 18 are arranged on the outside of the upper and lower walls of the detection chamber 19. A transparent plate 20 made of transparent resin or the like is provided on the wall surface of the detection chamber at the tip so as not to reduce the transmittance of the detection light. The outer periphery of the transparent plate 20 is waterproofed with a sealant or the like to prevent washing water from leaking from both the washing tub 2 and the detection chamber 19. In addition, a sliding plate 22 having upper and lower locked rotation shafts 21 is installed at the center of the entrance of the detection chamber 190, and the sliding plate 22 is made of a molded product such as resin and is provided integrally with the rotation shaft 21. Attach the cleaning brush 23 to the The cleaning brush 23 is made of a relatively soft material and maintains a dimensional relationship that allows it to come into contact with the surface of the transparent plate 20. cleaning brush 2
In some cases, relatively soft felt material, rubber material, etc., are used instead of the water flow, and the water flow is rotatable so that the direction can be changed along with the flow of water.

These detection chambers 19 are provided below the washing water level A side,
Place it in the washing liquid. Therefore, when the laundry 25 is washed by the rotary water flow by the rotary blade 5, the sliding plate 22 changes its rotation angle along the water flow.

The upper part of the detection chamber 19 is surrounded by an outer wall 27 so as to form an air chamber 26, a seal 17 is arranged to prevent air from leaking, and the entire circumference is sealed with Nord material to maintain airtightness. 17 and air chamber 26i are sealed.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, by arranging the transparent plate and the cleaning sliding plate between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the adhesion of dirt that adversely affects the transmission of light is reliably removed. By placing one of the elements in the air chamber above the detection chamber, the air chamber can:1. = Since the washing liquid and rinsing liquid often come into contact with the IK coating surface, there is no need for cleaning because detergent stains and mud stains do not adhere.

Furthermore, elements that do not come into direct contact with liquid can be exposed to the detection chamber and do not require a protective plate such as a transparent plate. The other element at the bottom of the air chamber provided in the detection chamber uses a sliding plate to clean the surface mj, but since this sliding plate is not used for cleaning the element on the air chamber side, the lower part Even a weak stream of water is sufficient to clean only one element.

1・-fL/7-1 fBI-+, Ifl-h- 93
日日/7”l-'l'l'--hsoanatomy--i, I-'
1-'hlA, I9 has few parts and has a simple structure, which has a great effect on reducing costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional washing machine with an optical sensor, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the optical sensor mounting part, Fig. 3 is a graph of the relationship between turbidity and output voltage, and Fig. 4 is the invention of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the light sensor mounting portion, FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view. 1...Washing machine main body, 2...Washing tub, 3...Dehydration tank, 4...Small hole, 5...Rotary blade, 6...Dehydration motor, 7...Washing motor, 8...Bottom, 9...Pulley, 10...Impeller pulley, 11...■Belt, 1
2... Drain port, 13... Drain valve, 14... Inflow pipe, 15... Drain hose, 16... Holder, 17
... Light emitting element, 18 ... Light receiving element, 19 ... Detection chamber, 20 ... Transparent plate, 21 ... Rotating shaft, 22 ...
Sliding plate, 23...Cleaning brush, 24...Bearing part, 2
5... Laundry, 26... Air chamber, 27... Outer wall. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 □ Dirty condition (person) □ Woshi, crosspiece L (large) Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a washing machine equipped with a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element for detecting changes in the transmittance of the washing liquid accumulated in the washing tub and the can of rinsing liquid, a substantially concave sensor detection chamber is provided on the inner wall of the washing tub,
The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged correspondingly above and below the detection chamber, and the upper part of the detection chamber is surrounded by an outer wall so as to serve as an air chamber,
Either one of the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element is arranged in the air chamber, and the light-transmitting surface of the element arranged at the lower part is cleaned by a cleaning device that slides with water flow. Washing machine with light sensor.