JPS626477B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a washing machine cleaning method in which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are provided facing each other in the middle of the drainage path of the cleaning liquid, and the turbidity of the cleaning liquid is detected to detect the end time of washing, rinsing, etc. The present invention relates to a degree detection device.

Conventionally, the washing time of a washing machine is generally set by a time switch, and the user sets the time by taking into account the amount of laundry, how dirty it is, etc. from past experience. I was doing laundry. This has the drawback of setting an unnecessarily long time, wasting power, or damaging the fabric. In addition, there was also the drawback that the washing process ended even though the washing process had not been sufficiently rinsed.

Therefore, a method of detecting the turbidity of the cleaning liquid during washing has been considered as a method for detecting the end time of washing, rinsing, etc. That is, as a method for measuring turbidity, there is a method of measuring turbidity by measuring the light transmittance of a cleaning liquid using a light emitting element and a light receiving element. According to this method, it is possible to detect the end of washing by detecting changes in turbidity, but at this time, the influence of foam in the cleaning solution cannot be ignored, so the location where the detection device is installed is less susceptible to the influence of foam. Moreover, it needs to be installed in a place where it is difficult for dirt to adhere to it. The most suitable installation location for this condition would be to install it in the drainage path between the bottom of the washing tub and the drain valve.This will reduce the influence of foam and will also remove dirt that adheres to the side walls of the drainage path during draining. It also has a washing-off effect and does not impair light transmission, making it an ideal location for installation.

However, by locating the light emitting element and the light receiving element at the bottom of the washing tub, the following problems occur. That is, if water is supplied after the laundry and detergent are put in, a liquid with a high detergent concentration will flow into the detection area, resulting in a situation where the turbidity of the detection liquid is high from the initial stage of washing. Turbidity generally increases as washing progresses, but with the above configuration, the turbidity is highest at the beginning of washing, which may cause a malfunction in detecting the end of washing. This resulted in poor reliability.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and one embodiment thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the figure, 1 is the outer frame of the washing machine, 2 is the outer tub,
It is supported by vibration isolators 3 suspended from the four corners of the outer frame 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a dewatering/washing tub having a large number of drain holes 4a on the side wall, and is installed in the outer tub 2 so as to be rotatable for dewatering. Reference numeral 5 indicates a rotary blade rotatably installed at the center of the bottom of the dewatering/washing tub 4, 6 an electric motor attached to the bottom of the outer tub 2, 7 a mechanical unit having a clutch and a brake, and a mechanical unit including pulleys 8, 9 and a belt 10. Rotation of the electric motor 6 is transmitted through the motor. By switching the clutch, this mechanism section 7 rotates the rotary blade 5 during the washing and rinsing processes, and rotates the spin-drying/washing tub 4 during the spin-drying process.

A is a drainage path with one end connected to the drain port 2a at the bottom of the outer tank 2 and the other end connected to the outside of the machine, and first and second drain valves 11 and 12 are provided in series along the way. There is. Reference numeral 13 denotes a detection unit disposed in a portion of the drainage path A between the two drainage valves 11 and 12. Reference numeral 14 designates a drainage hose constituting a part of the drainage path A, 15 a water supply valve for supplying water into the dewatering/washing tub 4, and 16 a water supply port.

Next, details of the detection section 13 will be explained. 13a is a light receiving element 13b and a light emitting element 13 facing thereto.
This is a fixing plate formed by fixing c to the outer periphery of the casing 17 constituting the drainage path A, for example, by tightening the fixing plate.
The casing 17 is made of a glass material, a resin material, etc. having optical transparency, and includes a light-receiving element 13b that receives light emitted from the light-emitting element 13c as the concentration of the cleaning liquid discharged from the casing 17 changes. The time when the amount of received light changes and reaches a predetermined amount of received light is the point at which washing or rinsing is completed.

Of the two drain valves 11 and 12, the first drain valve 11 closer to the drain port 2a is closed during the water supply process, and is opened after the water supply process is completed, and at the same time, The second drain valve 12 on the drain path A closer to the outside of the machine is closed. In addition, the second
The drain valve 12 may be in either the open or closed state during the water supply process.

In the above configuration, when washing is started now, the water supply process starts, the water supply valve 15 is opened, and water is supplied from the water supply port 16 into the dehydration/washing tub 4. At this time, if laundry and detergent have been put in, the supplied water flows into the bottom of the outer tub 2 together with the detergent, but since the first drain valve 11 is closed, the detection unit 13 No detergent liquid flows into the corresponding drainage path A. At this time, the second drain valve 12 may be in either an open or closed state.

Water supply continues and after reaching the set water level,
That is, after the water supply process is completed, the second drain valve 12
is closed, the first drain valve 11 is opened,
By allowing the liquid in the outer tank 2 almost uniformly mixed with detergent to flow into the drainage path A portion corresponding to the detection unit 13, the liquid with a high concentration of detergent at the initial stage of water supply passes through the drain port 2a and flows into the detection unit 13. Since the water does not flow into the corresponding drainage path A, subtle changes in turbidity can be detected accurately.

The first drain valve 11 may be opened to allow the washing liquid to flow into the drain path A corresponding to the detection unit 13 at any time after the water supply process has been completed. If the washing liquid in the outer tub 2 is stirred to have a uniform concentration and then opened, the turbidity can be detected more accurately.

After the turbidity is detected after the completion of the water supply process, the turbidity is continuously detected during the washing process, and when the turbidity reaches a certain level, the output from the detection unit 13 is used to detect the turbidity.
Finish the washing process. Subsequently, the rinsing process is started, but in this process as well, the change in turbidity is detected in the same way, and when the turbidity reaches a predetermined level, the detection unit 13 detects the change in turbidity.
The rinsing process can be completed based on the output.

In addition, in the example, a case was explained in which the turbidity of the cleaning liquid discharged from the drain port at the bottom of the outer tank was detected using a single-tub type dehydrating washing machine as an example, but a normal two-tub type washing machine without a dehydrating function was used. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be implemented in a washing tub. The outer tub in this embodiment is regarded as a washing tub together with the dehydration/washing tub.

As described above, according to the present invention, a liquid with a high detergent concentration in the initial stage of water supply is not detected as the turbidity of the cleaning liquid, and the turbidity of a liquid with a uniform detergent concentration in the washing tub after water supply is completed is detected. Because it can detect subtle changes in turbidity, it is possible to accurately detect the end of washing. Moreover, it is only necessary to open and close the drain valve, and to improve the accuracy of turbidity detection, it is possible to accurately detect the end of washing. Since no correction is required on the electric circuit, the configuration is simple and can be provided at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a one-tub type dehydrating washing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a detection section thereof. 2... Outer tank, 2a... Drain port, 11, 12...
First and second drain valves, 13... detection section, 13b...
...Light receiving element, 13c... Light emitting element, A... Drainage path, 15... Water supply valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In the middle of the drainage path that connects the drain outlet at the bottom of the outer tank with the outside of the machine, there is a drain valve near the outer tank that closes during the water supply process to the outer tank and opens after the water supply process is completed, and a drain valve that closes after the water supply process is completed. A washing machine is provided with a drain valve located near the outside of the machine, and a detection section consisting of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element is provided in the drain path between the drain valves to detect changes in the turbidity of the washing water in the drain path. degree detection device.