JPS6213036B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic washing machine in which an internal structure consisting of an inner/outer tub, an electric motor, etc. is elastically suspended and supported within an outer casing, and particularly relates to an automatic washing machine that detects the water level in the tub. This invention relates to a water supply control device that controls a water supply valve.

In such an automatic washing machine, the present invention is characterized in that the water level (amount of water supplied) is detected by using a permanent magnet and a reed switch to detect the water level (amount of water supplied) and control the water supply valve using the lowering of the internal structure accompanying water supply. Another feature is that a desired water level is arbitrarily selected using a combination of a permanent magnet and a plurality of reed switches, and the water supply valve is controlled when the selected water level is reached.

Embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of the washing machine of the present invention, in which 1 is an inner tank (washing and dehydration tank) in which a pulsator 2 is arranged at the inner bottom, 3 is an outer tank that rotatably accommodates the inner tank 1, and 4 is an outer tank that rotatably accommodates the inner tank 1. is a conventionally known elastic support device composed of a support rod 5, a spring 6, etc.
Internal structures including the inner and outer tanks 1 and 3, an electric motor, etc. are elastically suspended and supported within an outer casing (not shown). Reference numeral 7 denotes a permanent magnet placed inside the operation panel section (not shown), which is connected to the outer tank 3 with a linear member 8 such as a wire, and is connected to the locking section 9 of the operation panel section.
A spring 10 is compressed between the outer tank 3 and
The vertical movement of the internal structure, that is, the vertical movement of the internal structure, is linked via the linear member 8. In addition, a movement guide means for reciprocating the permanent magnet 7 along a predetermined course is provided in the operation panel section. Reference numerals 11 to 13 designate high, medium, and low water level detection reed switches arranged at appropriate intervals in the moving direction of the permanent magnet 7 in the operation panel section, all of which are normally open type switches. It closes due to the approach of . 14 is a water supply valve that controls water supply to the inner tank 1.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation panel section, where 15 is an operation panel, and 16 is a water level changeover switch disposed on the panel 15, which is a momentary key switch. Reference numerals 17 to 19 indicate high, medium, and low water level display elements similarly disposed on the operation panel 15, and are made of, for example, light emitting diodes.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the washing machine of the present invention.
0 is a counter that first selects a high water level when the power is turned on, then a medium water level when the water level selector switch 16 is turned on the first time, a low water level when it is turned on the second time, and a low water level when it is turned on the third time. High water level due to……
Each time the water level changeover switch 16 is turned on, the water level is switched and selected. 21
23 is an AND circuit that generates an output based on the input from each reed switch 11 to 13 and the input from the counter 20, 24 is an OR circuit that generates an output based on the input from the AND circuits 21 to 23, and 25
is a drive circuit that controls the water supply valve 14 based on the input from the OR circuit 24. In addition, 17-19 in the figure show the water level display element mentioned above.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned washing machine will be explained. When there is no water in the tank, the internal structure is at point A.
The permanent magnet 7 is at point A', and the reed switches 11 to 13 are in the OFF state.

First, when the power is turned on, the counter 20 selects a high water level, produces an output corresponding to the high water level, and lights up the high water level display element 17 to indicate that the high water level is set. On the other hand, the AND circuit 21 is connected to the high water level detection reed switch 11.
Since the counter 20 is in each state of OFF and high water level selection, all inputs are at H level and the output is also at H level. Therefore, the output of the OR circuit 25 becomes an H level output as one of the inputs becomes an H level. However, at this point, the start switch for program operation is not turned on, so
The drive circuit 25 does not open the water supply valve 14.

Therefore, if the user's desired water level is a high water level, simply set the predetermined program and turn on the start switch without operating the water level changeover switch 16, and the washing will start according to the program after the water supply process. The process progresses automatically from the process to the final dehydration process. If the user's desired water level is a medium water level, turn on the water level changeover switch 16 once, and if the desired water level is a low water level, turn on the water level changeover switch 16 twice, and the counter 20 will select the medium water level or low water level and respond accordingly. The set water level is displayed by lighting the middle water level display element 18 or the low water level display element 19, and also outputs H to the AND circuit 22 or 23.
Output a level signal.

After selecting the desired water level through the operations described above, when the program operation start switch is turned on, the drive circuit 25 opens the water supply valve 14 because the output of the OR circuit 24 is at the H level, and the water is supplied to the inner tank. Start water supply. As the water level in the inner tank 1 increases due to this water supply, the internal structure descends due to the weight of the water, and the permanent magnet 7 also moves in the direction of the arrow from point A'.

Then, as the water supply progresses and the internal structure descends to point B, the permanent magnet 7 reaches point B' and turns on the low water level detection reed switch 13. If the water level is set to a low level at this time, the output of the AND circuit 23 is inverted by turning on the reed switch 13, and the output of the other AND circuits 23 becomes L level, so the output of the OR circuit 24 also becomes L level. The driving circuit 25 then closes the water supply valve 14 to stop water supply. Of course, if the water level is set to a high water level or a medium water level, water supply continues regardless of whether the low water level detection reed switch 13 is turned on.

When the internal structure descends to point C, the permanent magnet 7
reaches point C' and the reed switch 1 for middle water level detection is activated.
2 will be turned on. At this time, if the water level is set to the middle water level, the output of the AND circuit 22 is inverted by turning on the reed switch 12 and becomes L level, so the output of the OR circuit 24 is also inverted and becomes L level, and the drive circuit 25 is The water supply valve 14 is closed to stop water supply. If the water level is set to a high water level, water supply continues regardless of whether the middle water level detection reed switch 12 is turned on.

As the water supply progresses further and the internal structure descends to point D, the permanent magnet 7 reaches point D' and turns on the high water level detection reed switch 11. Then, the output of the AND circuit 21 is sent to the reed switch 1.
1 is inverted and becomes the L level, the output of the OR circuit 24 also becomes the L level, and the drive circuit 25
closes the water supply valve 14 and stops water supply.

When water is supplied to the pre-selected water level in this manner, the water supply process is automatically terminated, and thereafter the washing process to the final dehydration process will proceed according to the program.

In the above embodiment, a single water level changeover switch 1 is used.
6 to switch the water level,
It is also possible to provide a water level selection switch corresponding to each of the water level detection reed switches 11 to 13, and to switch the water level by operating these selection switches. Furthermore, the water level switching is not limited to three stages.

According to the present invention configured as described above, the water level can be detected and the water supply can be controlled by using the lowering of the internal structure accompanying water supply using a permanent magnet and a reed switch, and moreover, a plurality of reed switches can be used. The water level can be changed to several levels using the switch, and the set water level can be changed by repeatedly turning on a single water level switch, and the set water level can be easily displayed by lighting the water level display element. It is acceptable and has excellent operability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory diagram of the washing machine of the present invention;
The figure is an explanatory view of the operation panel portion same as the above, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same as the above. 1: Inner tank, 3: Outer tank, 4: Elastic support device, 7:
Permanent magnet, 8: Linear member, 11 to 13: Reed switch for water level detection, 14: Water supply valve, 16: Water level changeover switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic washing machine in which an internal structure consisting of an inner tank, an outer tank that rotatably accommodates the inner tank, and an electric motor, etc. is elastically suspended and supported within an outer casing using an elastic support device, the inner structure is suspended from the inner tank. a water supply valve for controlling the water supply;
A permanent magnet that is linked to the vertical movement of an internal structure via a linear member such as a wire, and a plurality of leads that are arranged at appropriate intervals in the direction of movement of the magnet and that operate when the permanent magnet approaches. A switch, the same number of water level display elements as the reed switch, a single water level changeover switch that changes the set water level by repeating the ON operation, and counts the number of times the water level changeover switch is ON and displays the water level according to the count. A counter that sequentially lights up the elements and outputs a signal according to the number of counts, and a judgment that sets the water level according to the output signal of the counter, determines whether the reed switch corresponding to the set water level is ON, and outputs a close signal. What is claimed is: 1. An automatic washing machine comprising: a drive circuit that closes a water supply valve in response to a closing signal from the determination unit.