JPS6236720B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a drainage device for a washing machine of the type used in general households.

Conventional Structure and Its Problems FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of the basic structure of a conventional washing machine. In the figure, 1 is an outer frame of the washing machine, and 2 is an upper body, which covers the upper opening of the outer frame 1. 3 is a panel on which electrical components are attached to control the mechanical movement of the washing machine. The lid 4 is arranged in the center of the upper body 2 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 5 denotes a water receptacle serving as an outer tub of the washing tub, and has a substantially cylindrical shape for receiving washing water. Reference numeral 6 denotes a dehydration tub/washing tub, and 7 designates a dehydration hole provided on the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the dehydration tub/washing tub 6. 8 is a stirring blade, which stirs the laundry. The stirring blade 8 is provided at the center bottom of the dehydration tub/washing tub 6. Reference numeral 9 denotes a motor, which transmits its rotation via a motor pulley 10 and a V-belt 11 to a mechanical case 12 with a built-in clutch mechanism, and rotates the stirring blade 8 during washing and the spin-drying tub/washing tub 6 during spin-drying. The motor 9 and mechanical case 12 are provided with a reinforcing plate 13
is attached to. In addition, these entire mechanical parts are
It is suspended by a vibration isolator 14. Reinforcement plate 1
Spherical receivers 15 are provided at the four corners of the outer frame 1, and a vibration isolator 14 is slidably attached to the spherical receivers 15 via rods 16 at the upper part of the outer frame 1. Reference numeral 17 denotes adjustment legs provided at the four corners of the bottom of the outer frame 1, which are used to adjust so that there is no wobbling when the frame is installed on the floor. The adjustment legs 17 are usually provided at one or two locations. 18 is a fixed leg. 19
is a drain frame, which is provided with a drain valve inside, and is opened to drain the washing water in the water tray 5 to the outside of the machine. At this time, the drainage hose 20 connects the drainage frame 19 and the outside of the machine.
It uses Reference numeral 21 denotes a balance ring, which has a liquid sealed inside, and when the laundry in the spin-drying tub/washing tub 6 is unevenly dehydrated, the liquid moves to balance the laundry according to the unevenness. Reference numeral 22 denotes a dewatering tray cover that reinforces the upper opening of the water tray 5. Reference numeral 23 denotes an air trap chamber, which is connected to a pressure switch 25 by an air hose 24, and the joint portion of the air hose 24 is treated to prevent air leakage. Therefore,
When washing water is supplied into the water receiver 5, the air in the air trap chamber 23 is compressed, and when the water level reaches a certain level, the pressure switch 25 is operated to stop the water supply. The pressure switch 25 is usually attached to the panel 3 and has a built-in diaphragm made of rubber to sense pressure changes.

In such a conventional washing machine, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical sensor 26 is connected to the tubular drain port 2.
A sensor-type washing machine that could be attached to a washing machine to detect dirt in washing water was considered. FIG. 2 shows the mounting portion of the optical sensor 26. A tubular drain port 27 protrudes from the bottom of the water receiver 5, and a drain pot frame 19 having a guide pipe 28 connected to the tubular drain port 27 is arranged. An optical sensor 26 is attached to this guide pipe 28 as shown in FIG. 3, and a light emitting element (LED) 29 and a light receiving element (phototransistor) 30 are incorporated into the optical sensor 26. The washing water flows from the water receiver 5 to the tubular drain port 27, the guide pipe 28, and the drain valve 31 built into the drain tank frame 19. The amount of light is detected by receiving the light and converting it into voltage. The drain frame 19 is fixed to the bottom of the water receiver 5, and a drain valve 31 made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber is installed inside the drain frame 19.
is arranged, and the valve seat surface 32 is always pressed by a spring 33 to prevent washing water from leaking. When draining the washing water, the electromagnetic solenoid 34 is energized to attract the suction section 35, and the second and first cross sections 36 and 37 connected to the suction section are moved in the direction A by the second lock spring 38. let At this time, the drain valve 31 is opened in the A direction via a spring guide 39 attached to the drain valve 31 to drain the washing water. Drain valve 31
Rubber material is generally used, and the bellows part 40
are integrally molded to satisfy flexibility. The drain valve 31 is attached to the drain pot frame 19 with a pot lid 41 providing sealing properties.

However, in the conventional configuration, the light emitting and light receiving elements 29 and 30 of the optical sensor 26 were simply arranged on the outer periphery of the tubular drain 27 and the guide pipe 28, so that the inside of the tubular drain 27 and the guide pipe 28 due to dirt from washing water. Dirt on the inner wall becomes a problem, and detergent scum and scale due to water quality adhere, resulting in the dirt blocking the light from the light-emitting element 29, preventing light from being transmitted to the light-receiving element 30, and preventing normal washing water from being transmitted. It was impossible to detect dirt.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a drainage device for a washing machine that has a simple structure and can automatically clean the inside of a guide pipe for draining water, and can always accurately detect drainage dirt using an optical sensor.

Composition of the Invention This invention provides an optical sensor at the outlet of a guide pipe, and integrally forms a sliding part via a telescopic part in the center of a drain valve that closes the outlet of the guide pipe, and when the drain valve is closed. The sliding portion moves into a portion of the guide pipe that corresponds to the optical sensor due to inertia caused by the impact, and cleans this portion. Therefore, drainage stains can always be accurately detected by the optical sensor. Further, since the sliding portion is moved in by the impact inertia at the time of closing, a separate driving source is not required and the structure is simple.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to 11. In FIG. 4, a drain valve 31' housed in a drainage block frame 19 made of a transparent resin material is partially fitted with a flange 44 protruding from the cylindrical part of the first drain block 37'. I am holding it. In the substantially cylindrical center of the drain valve 31',
A sliding part 43 having a flexible part 42 is integrally provided, and the sliding part 43, which is normally housed in the tip of the drain valve 31', includes a spring guide 39'. is also formed by simultaneous molding,
The valve spring 45 is hooked onto this spring guide 39' and is always set. A step is provided inside the first lock 37', a second lock spring 38 is set in the step, and a spring guide 39a is attached to one end of the second lock spring 38.
The other end is connected to the second hook 36. The spring 38 is set so as to always apply a tensile force, and the valve spring 45 is also set in the spring guide 39' so as to apply a tensile force. Here, it is assumed that the valve spring 45 has a smaller spring constant. Further, the first locking block 37' is pressed by a locking spring 33, and the drain valve 31' is pressed against the valve seat surface 32 to prevent washing water from leaking. The drain spring 33 is set in the drain lid 41, and the other end of the drain valve 31' is pressed here to provide a seal between the drain drain frame 19 and the drain lid 41. The optical sensor 26 is arranged in the direction in which the sliding part 43 moves, and the light emitting and light receiving elements 2 are arranged around the X-X axis in the drawing.
9 and 30 are provided on the guide pipe 28.

While FIG. 4 shows the drain valve 31' in a closed state, FIG. 5 shows the drain valve 31' in an open state using the electromagnetic solenoid 34. is the dimension C from the valve seat surface 32,
It shows a state of being moved in the A direction. This action drains all the washing water. FIG. 6 shows the movement of the sliding part 43 after the draining process and the dewatering process are completed. When the electromagnetic solenoid 34 is turned off, the drain valve 31' rapidly moves toward the valve seat surface 32 (direction B) by the force of the first leaf spring 33, and the valve seat surface 32 and the drain valve 31' The tips of the two collide. At this time, since the sliding part 43 has the bending part 42, the inertial force in the B direction generated by this collision causes the dimension E in the B direction from the valve seat surface 32.
move only. This amount of movement affects the shape of the flexible portion 42 and the mass of the sliding portion, but tends to be proportional to the dimension C. Therefore, since the sliding portion moves by the dimension E, the light-emitting and light-receiving elements 29 and 30 of the optical sensor 26 may be installed at the dimension D portion, which is closer to the valve seat surface 32 than the dimension E. When this sliding part 43 moves by the dimension E, the valve spring 45
is pulled in the direction B, and when the inertia force disappears again, the sliding part 43 is pulled and returned to its original position.

FIG. 7 shows the natural state of the sliding part 43. When the entire drain valve 31' is molded from synthetic rubber or the like, the sliding portion 43 is molded so as to protrude by a certain length L, as shown in FIG. At this time, the flexible portion 42 is in a relatively extended state. As described in FIG. 6, the distance dimension E is set to be approximately the same as the distance dimension E which is projected due to inertial force. FIG. 8 shows a state diagram in which the sliding portion 43 is set in its natural state by the valve spring 45 via the spring guide 39'. The flexible portion 42 is shaped to fit inward.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the deformation force of the flexible portion 42 of the sliding portion 43. Since the sliding part 43 is in its natural state (dimension after molding) with a dimension E that protrudes due to inertial force, the force that deflects the sliding part 43 from point ○A to point ○RO when set is , a certain force F is required. This force changes depending on the material of the flexible portion 42 and the thickness of the material. At the ○ro point during setting, the flexible portion 42 tries to return to the ○point direction J, so the valve spring 45 applies force in the setting direction H to set the ○ro point at the setting time. ing. Therefore, at point ○a where it pops out due to inertia force, the deformation force of the flexible portion 42 is zero, and the force K is only the tensile force of the valve spring 45.
This means that this is occurring.

FIG. 10 shows the deformation force G when the flexible portion 42 of the sliding portion 43 is molded in its natural state at the point ○○ during setting as shown in FIG. On the contrary from point ○○ when set, the force G that pushes it out to point ○a where it pops out due to inertia is,
As shown in FIG. 10, the force is several times larger than the force described in FIG. 9. Therefore,
The force at point ○A at dimension E that pops out due to inertial force is greater than the force at G when the natural state after molding is given only dimension E and the valve spring 45 is installed at point ○B when set. It is much smaller. The G force returns to its natural state at point ○ during setting, so it becomes zero.

In this way, when draining washing water, after turning on the electromagnetic solenoid 34 and opening the drain valve 31', the drain valve 31' is opened when the draining is finished.
1', when the sliding part jumps forward due to inertia using the law of motion, the guide pipe 2 to which the optical sensor 26 is attached
The sliding portion 43 is used to rub off dirt on the inner wall portion corresponding to the light emitting and light receiving elements 29 and 30 of 8. Therefore, a regular amount of light from the light emitting element 29 can be transmitted to the light receiving element 30. FIG. 11 is a graph in which the amount of light transmitted when the guide pipe 28 is dirty is replaced with the output voltage. If there is no dirt, the output voltage shows a constant value, but if dirt adheres to the inner wall of the guide pipe 28, This shows a state in which the output voltage is also decreasing. In terms of performance, the deterioration of light detection is prevented by removing dirt as described above, and all of this is done naturally when the drain valve 31' is opened and closed. However, since the operation of the present invention utilizes an extremely small inertial force generated by the collision of the drain valve 31', it is necessary to utilize the inertial force 100% effectively.
The work of the person becomes unsatisfactory. Therefore, the force generated in the opposite direction to the inertial force in the dimension E that protrudes due to the inertial force must be made extremely small so that it does not become a resistance to the inertial force. As in this embodiment, by giving the shape of the bending portion 42 such that the repulsive force gradually decreases between points ○RO and ○A where the inertial force acts, it is possible to counteract the inertial force. The generated force can be made extremely small. Even if the rubber material forming the sliding part 43 and the flexible part 42 loses its elasticity due to aging, etc., and the bending force becomes stiff, the force F at the time of setting will only increase, and the inertial force will be reduced. Since the force in the direction always changes towards zero, it has no influence. In addition, since the shape of the flexible portion 42 is divided into the straight cylindrical portion 42a and the U-shaped portion 42b in FIG.
In the deflected state, the straight cylindrical portion 42a gradually deforms into a U-shape, and the deforming force is extremely small. 8th
As shown in the figure, if the flexible portion 42 is formed in the set state, the U-shaped portion 42b
This creates an extremely strong resistance force, and the deformation force becomes two to three times as strong as the above. In this way, the influence on the inertial force can be extremely reduced, and dirt within the guide pipe 28 can be reliably removed. Therefore, there is no need to disassemble the product for cleaning or to use a special cleaning agent for cleaning.These inconveniences are eliminated, and products with high reliability of the optical sensor 26 can be provided at all times.

Effects of the Invention The drainage device for a washing machine according to the present invention has the advantage of automatically cleaning the inside of a guide pipe for draining water, always accurately detecting drainage dirt using an optical sensor, and having a simple structure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional diagram showing a conventional washing machine;
The figure is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the - line, FIG.
The figure is also a cross-sectional view of the drain valve in its molded state.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drain valve in its set state with the valve spring, Figure 9 is a graph of the force relationships that occur when it is set, and Figure 10 is the force that occurs when the drain valve is changed in its molding state. The relationship graph, FIG. 11, is a graph showing the relationship between dirt and the amount of transmission, which also shows the characteristics of the optical sensor. 5...Water receiver (washing tub), 26...Light sensor, 27
...Tubular drain port, 28...Guide pipe, 31'...Drain valve, 32...Valve seat surface, 33...Kotuku spring, 34...
Electromagnetic solenoid, 72...Flexible part (expandable part), 4
3...Sliding part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A washing tub having a stirring means, a guide pipe connected to a drain of the washing tub and having a translucent part near the outlet, and a guide pipe with the translucent part of the guide pipe sandwiched therebetween. an optical sensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged opposite to each other and detecting water contamination in the guide pipe; A drain valve for opening the pipe, an opening/closing drive device for the drain valve, and a retractable part provided integrally with the front center of the drain valve so that the drain valve touches the valve seat when the drain valve is closed. a sliding part that protrudes into the transparent part of the guide pipe and cleans the transparent part by inertia due to the impact when the guide pipe falls; A washing machine drainage device equipped with a valve spring that exerts force. 2. The drain device for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drain valve is molded with the sliding portion protruding.