JPS6116783A - Operation apparatus of washing machine - 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 of the Invention] The present invention relates to a washing machine operating device that rationally performs the washing operation in a so-called automatic washing machine.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Automatic washing machines, especially fully automatic washing machines, perform all washing and dehydration operations automatically, and most of the operation is performed by a timer motor, a cam, and a cam switch. The time is primarily controlled by a timer device consisting of: In such conventional automatic washing machines, the rinsing operation that is performed after washing and draining water is no exception, and in particular, this rinsing operation is not done once or three times, but three or four times. This process is repeated many times, but depending on the quality, quantity, or degree of dirtiness of the laundry, it may only take two times.In such cases, the remaining third or fourth rinse operation may be performed extra times. This results in the wasteful consumption of electricity, water, etc., and has the drawback of rapidly shortening the life of motors and other equipment. Also, depending on the quality and quantity of the laundry, or the degree of dirt, it may be washed three times, contrary to the above.

There are cases where a sufficient rinsing effect cannot be obtained even after four rinse operations, and in such cases, with the above-mentioned conventional washing machine, the user is forced to manually operate the timer device again, which is extremely troublesome. It was something new.

[Object of the invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and
Therefore, the purpose is to perform rinsing operation according to the degree of tint, without wasting electricity or water, without shortening the life of various equipment, and without the hassle of re-operation. To provide an operating device for a washing machine that can always obtain a substantially constant rinsing effect and a sufficient rinsing effect.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention includes a detection device that detects the degree of rinsing, and when the arithmetic processing device indicates that the degree of rinsing has reached a certain level or higher during the rinsing process, The process is progressed to the final stage by rinsing for a certain amount of time, and the rinsing operation is performed in accordance with the actual degree of rinsing.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, 1 is the outer box of the washing machine, 2 is a water tank disposed inside the outer box 1 and supported by an elastic suspension mechanism 3, and 4 is a rotating tank disposed inside the water tank 2. , 5 are stirring blades disposed within the rotating tank 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a motor disposed below the water receiving tank 2, which rotates the stirring blade 5 during washing and rinsing via a belt transmission mechanism 7, and rotates the rotary tank 4 together with the stirring blade 5 during dewatering. Reference numeral 8 denotes a top plate disposed on the outer box 1, which has a first entrance/exit 9 in the center, a lid 10 for opening and closing the entrance/exit 9, and an operation box 11 at the rear. Reference numeral 12 denotes an abnormality detection lever projecting downward from the operation box 11, and is used to detect, for example, an abnormally large vibration of the water receiving tank 2 due to the rotation of the rotating tank 4 as a dehydration abnormality.

On the other hand, reference numeral 13 denotes a concave portion formed by bulging outward in the lower part of the circumferential wall near the bottom of the water receiving tank 2, and as shown in FIG. An element such as a light-emitting diode 14 is attached to one end, and a light-receiving element such as a phototransistor 15 is attached to the other, and these constitute a detection device A. Now, the electronic control circuit B shown in FIG. 3 is installed inside the operation box 11.
An electronic timer 16, a clock control circuit 17, and an arithmetic processing unit 18. Memory 19. Input buffer control circuit 20. It consists of an output buffer control circuit 21, and since it is already publicly known, a detailed explanation of its configuration will be omitted, but basically it controls the stroke in the same way as a conventional timer device consisting of a timer motor, a cam, and a cam switch. Washing, draining/dehydrating, rinsing, draining/
Dehydration... and so on. Therefore, the input buffer control circuit 20
In the external input section 22 connected to, 23 is a power switch for turning on the power, 24 is a lid switch that is linked to opening and closing of the lid 10, 25 is a safety switch that is linked to the swing of the abnormality detection lever 12, 26 is a water level switch that responds to the water level in the water receiving tank 2, 27 is a programming switch for setting the content of stroke combinations, and A is the previous detection device. The signal is converted into logical values [0] and [1] by state converters 28 to 32 such as circuits, and a direct signal is issued to the input buffer control circuit 20. On the other hand, in the detection device A, the phototransistor 15 transfers the light emitted from the light emitting diode 14 to the recess 13.
It emits an output by receiving the water through the inside, and the output varies depending on the transparency of the water in the recess 13, the distance between the phototransistor 15 and the light emitting diode 14, and the water receiving tank 2. The output of the detection device A is supplied to an analog-to-digital converter (hereinafter not abbreviated as A-converter) 33;
3 is a water receiving tank 2 which receives a detection signal S from the arithmetic processing device 18 after a certain period of time from the start of the rinsing process and indicates the degree of rinsing by the output supplied from the detection device A at this time.
It is determined whether the transparency of the water in the water has reached the set value and a rinsing completion signal [OK] based on logical value [1] or logical value [0] is output.
] is configured to issue one of the Suzugi incomplete signals [OUT] to the input buffer control circuit 20. On the other hand, in the external output section 34 connected to the output buffer control circuit 21, 35 is a magnet for a drain valve and a brake device, 36 is a magnet for a water supply valve, and the motor 6 is as described above. , 37 is a light emitting diode for displaying the stroke, and 38 is a buzzer for notifying the end of the process, each of which is controlled to be energized by switching elements 39 to 43 such as a thyristor. Therefore, the arithmetic processing unit 18 operates on the external input horn section 22 appearing in the state converters 28 to 32 and the A-D converter 33.
Each state is read from the memory 19 via the input buffer control circuit 20, and the result is given to the output buffer control circuit 21 to control each of the external output sections 34 via the switching elements 39 to 43. In conjunction with the operation of the electronic timer 16 controlled via the circuit 17, for example, when the most standard combination of strokes is set, the stroke is set to the fourth stroke.
The transition is made as shown in the figure.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. Now, assuming that we have set the most standard combination of itineraries (standard course),
When the operation is started, the magnet 36 is first energized and the water supply valve (not shown) is opened in the first washing process, so that water is supplied into the water receiving tank 2 and by extension into the rotating tank 4. When the supplied water reaches the set water level, the water level switch 26 is activated at that point, and the magnet 36 is cut off to close the water supply valve, and the motor 6 is instead energized to rotate the stirring blade 5. As a result, so-called main washing is started by stirring the water in the rotary tub 4 together with laundry and detergent (not shown), and the electronic timer 16 is activated.
After the above-mentioned one-piece washing time has elapsed, the motor 6 is cut off and the rotation of the stirring blades 5 is stopped, and the magnet 35 is turned off instead.
"Drainage" in which the water in the rotating tank 4 and the water receiving tank 2 is discharged to the outside of the machine by energizing and opening a drain valve (not shown).
At the same time, while the magnet 35 is kept energized, the motor 6 is energized to rotate the rotary tub 4, thereby performing "dehydration" in which water containing a large amount of detergent is shaken off and discharged from the laundry by centrifugal force. The first draining/dehydrating process is performed, and after the first "draining/dehydrating" time by the electronic timer 16 ends, the process proceeds to the next first rinsing process. In this first rinsing process, the operation is exactly the same as the washing process described above except that no detergent is used.In other words, "rinsing" is performed with a certain amount of water (clean water) stored. After that, a second draining/dehydrating process similar to the first draining/dehydrating process is performed, and the second rinsing process is also the same as the first rinsing process. It is done in the same way. Now,
In this second rinsing process, the detection signal S is given from the arithmetic processing unit 18 to the A-D converter 33 after a certain period of time from its start, for example, just before the end, and the detection signal S is received ( The A-D converter 33 outputs either a rinse completion signal [OK] or a rinse incomplete signal [OUT] depending on the transparency of the rinse water in the water receiving tank 2 determined by the output of the detection device △. If this rinsing completion signal [OK] is issued, rinsing is performed for a predetermined time.In other words, the rinsing process in this case is a so-called "pre-rinsing" in which a certain amount of water is still stored. Unlike the above-mentioned first and second rinsing steps, water supply is continued even after a certain amount of water has been stored, and the excess water overflows from the top surface of the rotating tank 4 along with the dirt floating on the water surface. "Short-time overflow rinsing" is a "short-time overflow rinsing" in which this process is performed for a short period of time while draining the water.
When this is executed, a third drainage/dehydration process similar to the first and second drainage/dehydration processes is performed, and the process ends with the buzzer 38 sounding. If, on the other hand, the rinsing incomplete signal [OUT] is issued, the process is shifted to the normal "overflow rinsing" in which the above-mentioned overflow rinsing is waited for a normal time instead of a short time, and here again, for example, Just before the end, water tank 2
Detecting the transparency of the water inside the tank is carried out in the same manner as described above. Therefore, if the rinsing completion signal [OK] is issued here, the process shifts from the ``overflow rinsing during short II'', which is a rinsing process for a predetermined period of time, to ``draining/dewatering'', while still sounding the buzzer 38, as described above. However, if the rinsing incomplete signal [○tJT] is issued, "Drain/Spin"
After that, ``rinsing'' similar to the first and second rinsing steps is performed, and furthermore, in this rinsing step, the transparency of the water in the water receiving tank 2 is detected just before the end of the rinsing step. If the rinsing completion signal [OK] is issued, the process will proceed from ``short overflow rinsing'' to ``draining/spilling'' as before, and the buzzer 38 will sound.
However, the unfinished signal [OU
T] is issued, the process shifts to the normal "overflow rinsing" which normally takes a long time, and here the transparency of the water in the water tank 2 is no longer detected, and "
The process shifts to ``drainage/dewatering'' and ends with the buzzer 38 sounding. In addition, the rinsing incomplete signal [OUT] was issued! [The reason for discontinuing the repetition of rinsing by ``togi-no-matame-rinsing'' or ordinary ``overflow rinsing'' after a certain number of times (three times in this example) is that the process is likely to be caused by malfunction of the equipment. This is based on the assumption that this may occur, and is effective in avoiding unnecessarily prolonging driving time. Also, the reason why the transparency of the water in the water receiving tank 2 is not detected from the first rinsing process but from the second rinsing process is because
In most cases, a sufficient rinsing effect cannot be obtained with multiple rinses, and this is to eliminate the problem of equipment malfunction resulting in rinsing being completed in a single rinse without sufficient rinsing effect. This is to ensure that rinsing is performed at least twice. However, this is not always necessary; for example, if the combination of steps in the saving course shown in Fig. 5 is set, the transparency of the water in the water tank 2 will be detected from the first rinsing step. It is. In addition, in this saving course, in order to shorten operation time, "overflow rinsing" is performed from the first suzugi process mentioned above, and when the suzugi incomplete signal [OUT] is issued, the repeated suzugi is also ""OverflowRinse" and do this only twice.

In the above embodiment, the rinsing that is performed when the level of tint reaches a certain level is defined as "short overflow zuzugi", but the rinsing time is not limited to a short time,
Moreover, the rinsing method is not "overflow rinsing", but can be performed in various ways, such as a so-called ``reservoir rinsing'' in which a certain amount of water is stored.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned saving course and the above-mentioned standard course, the detection device for detecting the degree of rinsing used in the above embodiment used a light emitting diode 14 and a phototransistor 15 to detect the transparency of water. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be possible to detect a change in conductivity depending on the degree of contamination of the water, for example.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and various changes can be made within the scope of the invention, such as the presence or absence of a dehydrating function, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention has a method in which at least a process of washing, draining, and rinsing is sequentially performed by an electronic control circuit mainly including an electronic timer, an arithmetic processing unit, and a memory. In a washing machine that has been cleaned, a detection device is installed to detect the degree of rinsing, and when the arithmetic processing device receives an indication from the detection device that the degree of rinsing has reached a certain level during the rinsing process. The feature is that the process is advanced to the final stage after rinsing for a predetermined period of time.This allows the rinsing operation to be performed in accordance with the actual degree of tint, and thereby prevents the operation from being performed more than necessary. This means that you can save a lot of electricity, water, etc., and avoid wasting a lot of time.Furthermore, you can extend the lifespan of various appliances, including motors, without unnecessary consumption. Moreover, once the operation is started, a substantially constant rinsing effect can be obtained automatically without the trouble of re-operation. To provide a truly excellent operating device for a washing machine that can obtain a further rinsing effect while saving electricity and water as much as possible through rinsing, thereby compensating for detection errors and fluctuations and obtaining a sufficient rinsing effect. It's something you get.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of the entire washing machine, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the detection device, and Fig. 3 Figure 9 shows the electronic control circuit, external input section, and external output 1. Figure 4 is the standard course process diagram, and Figure 5.
The figure shows the itinerary of the savings course. In the figure, A is the detection device, B is the electronic control circuit, 2 is the water tank,
4 is a rotating tank, 5 is a stirring blade, 6 is a motor, 13 is a recess, 1
4 is a light emitting diode, 15 is a phototransistor, 16
is an electronic timer, 17 is a clock control circuit, 1
8 is an arithmetic processing unit, 19 is a memory, 20 is an input buffer control circuit, 21 is an output buffer control circuit, 22 is an external input section, 33 is A-D
The converter 34 is an external output section. Figure 1 Figure 2 View 3 Figure 22 j4 Figure 4
figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection device for detecting the degree of rinsing in a washing machine that sequentially proceeds through a process consisting of at least washing and draining and rinsing using an electronic control circuit mainly including an electronic timer, arithmetic processing unit, and memory. is provided, and when the arithmetic processing unit indicates that the degree of rinsing has reached a certain level or more from the detection device during the rinsing process, the processing unit performs rinsing for a predetermined time and advances the process to the final stage. Characteristic washing machine operating device.