JPS6088595A - Dehydrator - 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 Technical Field The present invention relates to a dehydrator that can control the dehydration process among the washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes of a washing machine.

<Prior art> Conventionally, as a means for detecting the end of the dehydration process of a washing machine, an electrode provided in the flow path of the dehydration liquid is bent. 2. The end of dehydration could be detected from changes in catfish resistance.

However, these methods have a problem in that the detection output varies depending on the characteristics of the detection unit and dehydration.

<Purpose> Therefore, the present invention is capable of detecting the completion of dehydration by detecting the presence or absence of water droplets flying out of the dehydration hole of the dehydration tank using a detection element.
Furthermore, the purpose is to provide a device that can absorb variations in the characteristics of the detection element and dehydrator by adjusting the magnitude of the electrical signal from the detection element.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

First, the dehydration sensor S of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. A sensing element built into the sealed case 2 to convert vibrations into electrical signals; and a sensing element electrode terminal 4.5 led out of the sealed case 2. , the detection element 3 consists of a diaphragm 6 mounted in a sealed case 2 so as to be able to vibrate, and a pressure-type element 7 attached to the diaphragm 6.

Here, a ceramic piezoelectric element that utilizes the piezo effect is used as the detection element 3 that generates an electric signal by the collision of water droplets of the dehydrated liquid. Electrodes are formed on both surfaces of i, one electrode surface and a metal diaphragm 6 are bonded together in a conductive state, and electrode terminals 4 and 5 are connected to a required electronic circuit, respectively. The dehydration sensor S is provided so as to face a plurality of dehydration holes 9 formed in the lower part of the dehydration tank 8, as shown in FIG. Note that 10 indicates a dehydration hole bored in the upper part of the dehydration tank 8.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the dehydration sensor 4j-3 has a screw 13 passed through the hole 2d installed in the mounting hole 12 of the water receiving tank 11 that receives the dehydrated liquid.
, the nut 14, and the gasket 15 are taken in close contact with a sealant used as necessary (=1).

Further, the sealed case 2 has circular concave portions 1 in close contact with each other.
It consists of a front cover 2a and a rear cover 2b, and the thin film 1 integrally formed with the front cover 2a of this sealed case 2 is made of ABS of normal hardness.
It is made of synthetic TJL resin such as resin, and has a thickness of about 1111111 mm that vibrates when water droplets peak.The vibration of this thin film 1 causes the internal air 2c of the sealed case 2 to vibrate, causing the detection element 3 to vibrate. It has been scouted.

Note that the arrows in the figure indicate the state in which the water droplets of the dehydrated liquid collide.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 16 is a number of frames, on which a motor M for driving the dehydration tank 8 via a spring 17 serving as a buffer is installed.
is connected to motor λ1. A drain pipe 19 is connected to a part of the bottom of the water receiving tank II which surrounds the outer periphery of the dewatering tank 8 and receives the dehydrated liquid.

Furthermore, the electrode terminal 4 on the metal diaphragm 6 side is connected to the detection circuit as the ground side (or output side), and the electrode terminal 5 on the ceramic piezoelectric element 7 side is connected to the detection circuit as the output side (or ground side). .

As mentioned above, the detection element 3 is housed inside the sealed case 2. Even if the water film formed on the wall surface of the water tank 11 and the surface of the thin film 1 on the dehydration liquid side acts as an antenna, ? f
Since it has the shield effect of Jj7 Case 2, it is convenient to not have to pick up the /chair.

Of course, since shielded wires are used for the electrode terminals 4 and 5, noise will not be picked up from these as well.

Next, the electronic circuit of the dehydrator will be explained with reference to the block diagram in FIG. Motor control circuit B that automatically controls M
It is equipped with.

The dehydration state detection circuit A includes a dehydration sensor S, an amplifier circuit 20 that amplifies its output voltage, and a constant voltage to eliminate the small output voltage from the dehydration sensor S due to normal vibrations that occur during the dehydration process. A first comparator circuit 2 is provided to output an output only when the voltage is higher than the certain voltage.
1, and when there is an output (a single output due to the collision of a water droplet is short) via this first comparator circuit 21, an output is generated that discharges in a longer time (
11IT+-n, L? Ii + elbow 993- -f1111
When +z+r-<goWli4 is exceeded, a signal 11 is outputted, and a second comparator circuit 23 outputs an I- signal whose output is below a certain voltage.

FIG. 9 shows the output waveform from the amplifier circuit 20 as a model.

At the start of dehydration, water droplets of the dehydration liquid hit the dehydration sensor S, so large outputs are obtained one after another at short intervals, but after a certain time T1, the amount of dehydration suddenly decreases to y'1 and the dehydration sensor S As the number of colliding water droplets decreases, the water droplets become smaller, resulting in a smaller output.Taking this point into consideration, T1 is defined as the half-dehydration time.In order to actually squeeze out the water, it must be several times this T1 (for example, 5 It has been determined from experiments that a

This half-dehydration time T1 is determined by the magnitude of the output from the dehydration sensor S and the comparison voltage of the first comparison circuit 21. Therefore, depending on the characteristics of the dehydration sensor S and the dehydrator, the dehydration sensor S If the output is too large or too small, this half-dehydration time T1 may be far from the expected value.

Therefore, the present invention provides the first comparator circuit 2 as shown in Fig. 7.10.
The comparison voltage Vc of 1 is constant, and the amplification factor A of the amplifier circuit 20 is
By making [ variable, it is possible to correct variations in the output from the dehydration sensor S while amplifying them. That is, in the present invention, the dehydration state detection circuit A is provided with an adjustment circuit C that adjusts the magnitude of the electrical signal of the detection element 3 using the amplifier circuit 20.

The amplification factor Af of the amplifier circuit 20 is determined by the negative feedback resistance Rf of the amplifier IC and the input resistance Ri.
'Ri, and Af is the dehydration sensor S by adjusting the variable resistor.
If the output is too large or too small, it is amplified and corrected, and the output is adjusted to a predetermined level (this level refers to the comparison of the first comparison circuit 21 during the semi-dehydration time, as in the model shown in Fig. 9). (This refers to a voltage that has an output that exceeds the voltage Vc and whose output of noise such as vibration and noise is smaller than the comparison voltage Vc.) After that, it is input to the first comparison circuit 21.

Further, the motor control circuit B is configured as follows.

24 is a start switch that restarts the high dehydration process (normal dehydration process), 25 is a semi-drying process (semi-drying process is generally required to squeeze out all the water from the laundry, Depending on the type, squeezing out the water may cause inconveniences such as wrinkles or damage to the fabric. 100 is a controller composed of a microcomputer, and its basic configuration is as shown in Fig. 1υ. , temporary memory memo 1
Month? AM1o3, timer 104.110 parts (input and output (f,)-105).

Further, 26 is a drive circuit that turns the motor M ON-OFF based on the output of the controller 100. A relay is used in the drive circuit 26, and its contact 27 turns the motor M ON-OFF.
do. 28.2' is the winding of the soil motor M, and 30 is a running capacitor.

Next, the dehydration detection operation will be explained with reference to chart 70 in FIG. 11. When you want to perform high dehydration, first turn on the start switch 24, confirm that the start switch 24 is on with the signal from the input terminal 1 of the controller 10 (), and send a signal to the output terminal 01 times 1], and then send the signal to the drive circuit 26. The motor 1t=1 is driven via the motor 1t=1. and timer 1
(Starts J4. Timer 104 data'l
When 125 seconds have elapsed, the input terminal from detection circuit A ■2
If l2=L, read the data 'I' of the timer 104 and set i'
= i' ]. As shown in the output waveform of the amplifier circuit 20 in FIG. 9, this 'r↑ is the time during which water droplets continuously fly out and exceed the output voltage or the comparison voltage Vc. The amount of dehydration decreases rapidly, and the output voltage decreases to V.
Since it is less than c, the time during which the output voltage exceeds Vc corresponds to the half-drying time. In fact, experiments have shown that several times this amount, for example, five times, is required to complete high dehydration for squeezing. The high dehydration completion time is calculated from this TI. For example, let 1゛2=TIXS.

Next, the data '1' of the timer 104 or T≧i'2
h. Determine if '≧T2, then high dehydration has been completed, so the output of the output terminal 01 of the controller 10 ( ) is set to the L signal, and the motor M is stopped via the drive circuit 26.Next, Timer 1 (Stop 14 and clear it.

Next, when you want to stop at semi-drying, first press the semi-drying switch 25.
ONL, controller 1. (-1+, 1 input terminal I3 L signal is used to turn on the semi-dehydration switch 25, the output terminal 01 is output H signal, and the motor M is driven via the drive circuit 2. Then, the timer 104 Start the timer] When the data i' of t, +4 reaches 1゛≧5 seconds, the input terminal 1 of the detection circuit A h''i>
Output power bow to 2:1. If l2=L, then semi-dehydration or complete dehydration has occurred, so the output of output terminal 01 of controller 10o is 1., (,:
Then, the motor N.1 is stopped via the drive circuit 2G. Next, quickly press the timer 10・↓ and clear the top of 1 and 2j.

In the present invention, the adjustment circuit C for adjusting the magnitude of the electrical signal of the sensing element 3 may be constructed from the first comparison circuit 21 whose comparison voltage is variable instead of the amplifier circuit 20 whose amplification factor is variable. good.

<Effects> As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a dehydration state detection circuit having a detection element that generates an electric signal by the collision of water droplets of dehydration liquid that jumps out of the dehydration hole of a dehydration tank, and a dehydration state detection circuit that generates an electric signal based on the electric signal. and a motor control circuit that automatically controls a drive motor for rotating the dehydration tank, and the dehydration state detection circuit includes an adjustment circuit that checks the intensity of the electric signal of the detection element. be.

Therefore, in the present invention, the adjustment circuit can compensate for variations in the characteristics of the detection elements and dehydration, providing a more reliable dehydration detection device, and eliminating the need to sort the detection elements, which is very convenient. It has a depressing effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a detection element according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same, FIG. 3 is a front view of the same dehydration sensor, FIG. 4 is a central sectional view of the same, and FIG. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the entire washing machine to which the application was applied, and Figure 6 is a central cross-sectional view of the same dehydration sensor.
The figure is an electronic circuit diagram of the dehydration detection device, Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the controller of the motor control circuit, Figure 9 is an output waveform diagram of the amplifier circuit, and Figure 10 is the electronic circuit of the amplifier circuit. 11 are flowcharts of the dehydration detection device. A: Dehydration state detection circuit, B: Motor control circuit, C: Adjustment circuit, M: Motor, S: Dehydration sensor S, 1: Thin film, 2
: Sealed case, 3: Detection element, 4, 5: Electrode terminal,
6: Metal diaphragm, 7: Ceramic piezoelectric element, 8: Dehydration tank, 9: Dehydration hole at the bottom, H): Dehydration hole at the jz section, 12:
Take-out hole 1, 20: Amplifier circuit, 21: First comparison circuit, 2
4 Ni start switch, 25-inch 1', dehydration switch, 2
6: Drive circuit, 100: Controller. Applicant Sharp Corporation Agent Tsunehisa Nakamura Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2 Figure 8 Figure 2) AZI) Figure 9 Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] A dehydration state detection circuit that includes a detection element that generates an electrical signal by the collision of water droplets of the dehydration solution that pops out of the dehydration hole of the dehydration tank, and a motor control circuit that automatically controls the drive motor for rotating the dehydration tank based on the electric signal. A dehydrator, characterized in that the dehydration state detection circuit includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts the magnitude of the electric signal of the detection element.