JPS6139078B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a rinse detection device for a washing machine.

Nowadays, as washing machines become increasingly automated, detecting the degree of contamination of rinse water and automatically controlling the rinse water is an important issue in terms of water conservation and other issues.
As a device for detecting such degree of dirt, that is, a rinsing detection device, two pairs of light emitting and receiving elements are used.
There is a so-called double beam method in which one pair of light-emitting and receiving elements measures the light transmittance of a reference sample, and the other pair of light-emitting and receiving elements measures the light transmittance of the sample to be measured. This rinsing detection device is installed, for example, at the bottom of a washing tub and detects the level of dirt in the thoroughly stirred rinse water, but since the flow of rinse water contains a lot of lint, etc. This lint, etc. can easily get entangled in the rinse detection device, and the flowing lint, etc. can also block the optical path of the detection device, which can lead to malfunctions and prevent accurate rinse detection. There was also the problem of not being able to do so.

This invention was made in view of the above points,
A washing machine rinse detection device uses a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element to detect changes in the transmittance of rinse water and performs rinse control.The rinse detection device uses a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element to detect changes in the transmittance of rinse water and performs rinse control. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rinsing detection device for a washing machine, which can minimize the possibility of objects blocking the optical path of the detection device, prevent malfunctions, and perform highly accurate rinsing detection.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a fully automatic washing machine, in which 11 is a housing, 12 is a washing tub, and 13 is a dewatering tank provided in this washing tub 12, which is not shown in the drawings. It has countless holes. Further, 14 is a pulsator, and 15 is a motor for rotating the pulsator 14 or the dehydration tank 13. The pulsator 14 is rotated during washing and rinsing, and the dehydration tank 13 is rotated during dehydration. Further, 16 is a rinsing detection device installed at the bottom of the washing tub 12 so as to protrude upward from the low wall, and 17 is a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the washing tub 12.

However, the rinsing detection device 16 shown in FIG.
It is configured as shown in b. FIG. 2a is a plan view, and FIG. 2b is a side sectional view.
Reference numeral 6 indicates two light emitting elements 21a, 21b and two light receiving elements 22 paired with the light emitting elements 21a, 21b.
a, 22b. These light-emitting elements 21a, 21b and light-receiving elements 22a, 22b are fixed to bases 23, 24, respectively, and are arranged so that the light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements forming a pair face each other. Further, 25 is an optical waveguide interposed in the optical path on the side of the light emitting element 21b, which guides the light emitted by the light emitting element 21b without attenuating it. The present invention does not discuss the effects and effects of interposing the optical waveguide 25 in one optical path and making the optical path length in water sufficiently shorter than the optical path length on the side where the optical waveguide 25 is not interposed. Since this is not directly related to the gist of this point, its explanation will be omitted.

Thus, the light emitting elements 21a, 21b, the light receiving elements 22a, 22b, the optical waveguide 25, the base 23,
24, etc. are hermetically covered by an outer box 26 in a shape that roughly follows their external shapes as shown in FIG. 2b,
Prevents water from entering. This outer box 26 is formed of a transparent member. The corners of the outer box 26 are all curved, and the entire outer box 26 has a rounded shape.

The tin stain detection device 16 constructed in this manner is installed at the bottom of the washing tub 12 as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 schematically shows the bottom of the washing tub 12, and arrow a indicates the direction in which the rinsing water flows. In the case of an automatic reversal type, the flow also flows in the opposite direction, but only one direction is shown here. and,
The rinse detection device 16 is installed so that its optical path (b in the figure) is parallel to the water flow direction (a in the figure).

As described above, when installing the rinse detection device, the present invention allows the detection device 16 to protrude inside the wall of the washing tub 12, that is, to a position where the flow is relatively fast.
It is installed so that its optical path is parallel to the direction in which the rinsing water flows, and the external shape of the detection device 16 has no corners and is rounded overall.
Therefore, since the detection device 16 is placed in a position where the water flow is relatively fast, that is, in a position where the rinsing water is difficult to stagnate, it is possible to not only prevent lint and the like from accumulating in the optical path, but also prevent lint from being mixed in the rinsing water. Since the lint and the like that flow along the lint flow approximately parallel to the optical path of the rinse detection device 16, the optical path is less likely to be interrupted.
Furthermore, the absence of corners makes it difficult for lint and the like to adhere to the detection device 16, and during dehydration, the vibration of the outer box due to rotation of the dehydration tank removes adhering matter from the transmission surface.

In the above embodiment, the rinse detection device is attached to the bottom of the washing tub, but it is not limited to the bottom, and may be attached to other parts such as the side. However, it goes without saying that when this is installed, it should be installed so that it protrudes inward from the wall of the washing tub and the optical path is parallel to the water flow direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, the rinsing detection device is made to protrude inward from the wall of the washing tub, and is installed in the washing tub so that its optical path is parallel to the water flow direction, and the rinsing detection device The shape is rounded to prevent lint from entering the optical path.
Alternatively, it is possible to prevent as much as possible lint from entering and accumulating or adhering to the device, thereby providing a rinse detection device for a washing machine that can prevent malfunctions and perform highly accurate rinse detection.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1 is a side sectional view showing the overall schematic configuration;
Figure a is a plan view showing the rinse detection device taken out, Figure 2 b is a side sectional view of Figure 2 a, and Figure 3 is a view showing the bottom of the washing tub taken out. 12...Washing tub, 13...Water cutoff tank, 16...Rinse detection device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Place a light emitting element and a light receiving element in the washing tub,
In the rinsing detection device configured to detect a change in the optical transmittance of the rinse water obtained from a change in the output of the light receiving element as a change in the rinsing state, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged in an outer box having curved corners. The outer box is arranged in the washing tub so that the light path between the light emitting element and the light receiving element is parallel to the water flow in the washing tub, and the outer box protrudes inward from the wall of the washing tub. A washing machine rinse detection device characterized by: