KR100403024B1 - Full automatic washing machine equipped horizontal position sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a horizontal state detection device of a fully automatic washing machine.

At least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect to detect the horizontal when installing the washing machine, a rolling element which can freely flow on the piezoelectric element according to the horizontal state, and the piezoelectric element generating a voltage by the rolling element It features. As a result, the installation position and space of the horizontal state sensing device can be free and structural simplification can be achieved, and since it can be used semi-permanently, the quality and reliability of the product can be improved. In addition, when the level is abnormal, it is possible to easily display the horizontal or abnormal state by a letter or give a voice alarm to prevent the operation to give a product in advance to improve the reliability of the product and to extend the life.

Description

Full automatic washing machine equipped horizontal position sensor

The present invention relates to a horizontal sensing device of a washing machine that enables a simple and accurate horizontal installation work of a washing machine by detecting a horizontal installation state when installing a washing machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a horizontal sensing device using a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect. And it corresponds to the horizontal state detection device of the washing machine that can facilitate the horizontal adjustment by displaying so that the user can easily identify with the naked eye.

In general, the washing machine is installed in the top cover or the front control unit so as to achieve a horizontal state to maintain the safety of the washing machine during installation.

However, if the horizontal state of the washing machine is poor, it is eccentric to any one side, causing severe vibration and noise during the washing stroke, which causes a shortening of the life of the washing machine 1.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a washing machine 1 equipped with a level gauge 9 for adjusting a horizontal state of a conventional washing machine 1.

The horizontal system 9 is installed on the top cover 5 or the operating unit 3 of the washing machine 1 to inject a certain amount of liquid into a closed space, and the horizontal state by the movement of the bubble (9a) generated in the remaining space Judging method was used.

That is, when an imbalance occurs when the washing machine 1 is installed, the bubble 9a is biased in the opposite direction to the inclined direction as shown by the virtual line of FIG. 1.

At this time, the installer is able to level the washing machine 1 by rotating a leg (not shown) so that the bubble position is located at the center of the horizontal system 9 and increasing the tilted direction or lowering the tilted direction. .

However, the conventional horizontal system 9 as described above has a problem that the precision of the horizontal can be changed according to the size of the bubble (9a).

In addition, if the level (9) is in the upper part of the washing machine (1), that is, the door (7) or the top cover (5), the legs (not shown) to adjust the level and to repeat the operation to check the level (9) There was a hassle to do.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention, it is composed of at least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect and a rolling element that can freely flow in accordance with the horizontal state in order to level the horizontal state while the washing machine is installed. It is to provide a horizontal state detection device for detecting the horizontality by the position of the body.

1 is a top cross-sectional view of a washing machine with a conventional horizontal gauge

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the horizontal state detection apparatus is attached according to the present invention

3 is a perspective view of a horizontal state detection apparatus according to the present invention

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the horizontal state detection apparatus according to the present invention

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a piezoelectric element showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view of a piezoelectric element showing a second embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the signal flow of the horizontal state detection apparatus according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: washing machine 9: level

11: horizontal state sensing device 13: first piezoelectric element

14 second piezoelectric element 15 rolling element

19: case 21: support groove

In order to achieve the above object, the horizontal state sensing apparatus according to the present invention includes at least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect for detecting a horizontal state, a rolling element capable of freely flowing over the piezoelectric element, and the rolling element. It is characterized by consisting of an output unit for indicating the horizontal state by receiving the voltage generated from the piezoelectric element.

In addition, at least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect to detect the horizontal when installing the washing machine, a rolling element that can freely flow on the piezoelectric element according to the horizontal state, the piezoelectric element generating a voltage by the rolling element Characterized in a horizontal state detection device of the automatic washing machine configured.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the horizontal state detection device of the automatic washing machine 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric element 12 will be briefly described. When a certain pressure or force such as vibration or sound is applied to the piezoelectric element 12, a voltage is generated on the surface of the piezoelectric element 12. On the contrary, when a certain voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 12, the piezoelectric element 12 is vibrated according to the voltage magnitude.

2 is a cross-sectional view in which the horizontal state sensing device 11 equipped with the piezoelectric element 12 is installed in the washing machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The horizontal state sensing device 11 in which the piezoelectric element 12 having the piezoelectric effect is incorporated may be installed at any part of the washing machine 1 due to the limited space or position at the time of installation. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. As shown in the preferred embodiment, it is installed in front of the top cover 5 in which the microprocessor 34 is located.

That is, the horizontal state in which the microprocessor 34 for transmitting the automatic control signal is installed in the front part of the top cover 5 provided on the upper part of the main body 1 of the washing machine 1 and the piezoelectric element 12 is built in the empty space. The sensing device 11 is installed to be connected to the microprocessor 34.

3 is a perspective view showing a piezoelectric element 12 and a rolling element 15 in a case according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3 or 4, the horizontal state sensing device 11 has a piezoelectric element (not shown) at the left and right sides of the case 19 with the opening and closing surface 19a inside the case 19 having one side opened and closed. The rib 17 supporting the 12 is integrally formed with the case 19, and a plurality of support grooves 21 are provided on the inner surface of the rib 17 to support and horizontally support the piezoelectric element 12.

The support groove 21 is for the support and horizontal mounting of the piezoelectric element 12 may further comprise a support groove 21 up and down and the piezoelectric element 12 can be separated from the support groove 21. Do.

The horizontal state sensing device 11 is mounted in the first support groove 21a to receive vibration from the first piezoelectric element 13 and the first piezoelectric element 13 having vibration by receiving power from the power supply unit 31. It consists of a receiving rolling element 15 and a second piezoelectric element 14 that receives a vibration through the rolling element 15 to generate a predetermined voltage.

The rolling element 15 is provided between the first piezoelectric element 13 and the second piezoelectric element 14 and is free to flow according to a horizontal state. The size of the rolling element 15 is equal to that of the first piezoelectric element 13. It becomes a reference | standard which sets the height space | interval at the time of installation of the 2nd piezoelectric element 14. As shown in FIG.

In addition, the first piezoelectric element 13 mounted in the first support groove inside the rib 17 of the case 19 is installed to be connected to the power supply unit 31 to receive a voltage, and the first piezoelectric element 13. The second piezoelectric element 14 mounted in the second support groove directly below may transmit different voltage signals to the output unit 35 according to the position of the rolling element 15 subjected to the vibration of the first piezoelectric element 13. In order to be electrically connected to the microprocessor 34 is installed.

The output unit 35 includes a display unit 36 for displaying a text or an alarm unit 37 for outputting a voice, and the microprocessor 34 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 31 and the output unit 35. Is installed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second piezoelectric element 14 has a piezoelectric element 14a having a horizontal state and piezoelectric elements 14b, 14c, 14d, which further have four directions before, after, left, and right. 14e) is constituted by one piezoelectric element.

The plurality of piezoelectric elements 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e constituting the second piezoelectric element 14 are set to have different voltage signals, and their output signals are input to the microprocessor 34.

The operation of the horizontal state sensing device 11 configured as described above is as follows.

In the horizontal state sensing device 11 provided with the piezoelectric element 12 having the piezoelectric effect, the first piezoelectric element 13 is supplied with a continuous voltage from the power supply unit 31 and the second piezoelectric element 14 installed on the other side is The vibration generated by the first piezoelectric element 13 receives the vibration through the rolling element 15 to generate another voltage signal according to the position of the rolling element 15.

That is, when a voltage is applied to the first piezoelectric element 13, the pressured first piezoelectric element 13 vibrates, and the vibration is transmitted to the rolling element 15 provided between the piezoelectric elements 12. The second piezoelectric element 14 receiving the vibration from the rolling element 15 generates a different voltage signal according to the position of the rolling element 15 and simultaneously transmits the voltage signal to the microprocessor 34. And, the voltage signal transmitted to the microprocessor 34 is to display the inclination direction and the solution of the washing machine 1 on the display unit 36 of the operation panel in text or to inform the alarm unit 37 by voice.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when the rolling element 15 is positioned at 14a of the second piezoelectric element 14, a text or voice indicating normal is output to the display unit 36 or the alarm unit 33 of the operation panel. .

However, when the rolling element 15 is positioned at 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e instead of the central portion 14a of the second piezoelectric element 14, the direction inclined to the display portion 36 or the alarm portion 37 of the operation panel. A letter or a voice (or alarm) is output for.

That is, when the rolling element 15 is located at “14b” of the second piezoelectric element 14 as shown in FIG. 5, the set voltage signal is generated in the 14b piezoelectric element, and the voltage signal is transmitted to the microprocessor 34 to provide the microprocessor. The display unit 36 is electrically connected to the display unit 34 or the alarm unit 37.

Referring to FIG. 6, which shows a second embodiment, unlike the embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment using the second piezoelectric element 14 as one unit has all the configurations except for the second piezoelectric element 14. It is the same as Example.

In general, the piezoelectric element 12 is characterized in that different voltages are generated depending on the position at which pressure or vibration is applied. In the second embodiment, at least two or more according to the position of the second piezoelectric element 14 as one. The other voltage signal is input to the microprocessor 34 in advance.

That is, in the case of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the second piezoelectric element 14 is configured as one, but similarly to the first embodiment, the horizontal and vertical sides of the second piezoelectric element 14 are equally divided. The whole section is divided into four parts based on the center line, and a voltage signal corresponding to the position is input to the microprocessor 34 to configure a voltage signal different from the position of the rolling element 15.

FIG. 7 is an internal block diagram illustrating a signal flow of the horizontal state sensing apparatus 11 of FIG. 5 or 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first piezoelectric element 13 having a vibration by applying a voltage in the first or second embodiment, the rolling element 15 subjected to the vibration of the first piezoelectric element 13, A second piezoelectric element 14 generating a voltage through the rolling element 15, an amplifier 32 amplifying a voltage signal from the second piezoelectric element 14, and a voltage signal output from the amplifier 32. A / D converter 33 for converting, a microprocessor 34 for receiving a digital signal from the A / D converter 33 and sending a control signal, and an output unit 35 for outputting under control of the microprocessor 34. In other words, the display unit 36 and the alarm unit 37 is included.

In the above, the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments by using the horizontal sensing device having a simple structure in an electric product used in a horizontal state. If there is an abnormal state of the present invention without departing from the gist of the invention claimed in the claims so that it is easy to recognize and adjust the inclination direction through the display device Anyone can make various modifications and improvements.

As described above, the horizontal state detection device of the automatic washing machine according to the present invention has less restrictions on the mechanical installation position and mechanical coupling conditions, so that the installation position and space can be free and structural simplification can be used semi-permanently. There is an effect that can improve the quality and reliability of the washing machine.

In addition, when the level is abnormal, it is possible to easily display the horizontal or abnormal state by a letter or give a voice alarm to prevent the operation to give a product in advance to improve the reliability of the product and to extend the life.

Claims (12)

At least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect for detecting a horizontal state, a rolling element that can freely flow on the piezoelectric element, an output unit for receiving a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element by the rolling element to inform the horizontal state Horizontal state sensing device, characterized in that configured. The horizontal state sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the horizontal state sensing apparatus further comprises a power supply for voltage application and a microprocessor which receives a sensed horizontal state and transmits a control signal. The piezoelectric element of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element comprises a first piezoelectric element having a vibration by receiving a voltage from a power supply unit, and at least one second piezoelectric element configured to generate a voltage by a rolling element receiving vibration of the first piezoelectric element. Horizontal state sensing device, characterized in that the device. 4. The horizontal state sensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric element having at least two different voltage signals depending on the position of the rolling element. The horizontal state sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output unit is at least one output unit corresponding to the piezoelectric element. The horizontal state sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises a display unit for displaying a text and an alarm unit for outputting a voice. At least one piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric effect to detect the horizontal when installing the washing machine, a rolling element which can freely flow on the piezoelectric element according to the horizontal state, and the piezoelectric element generating a voltage by the rolling element Horizontal state detection device of the washing machine. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the horizontal state sensing device further comprises a power supply for voltage application, a microprocessor which receives a sensed horizontal state and sends a control signal, and an output unit which receives a signal from the microprocessor and notifies a horizontal state. Horizontal state detection device of the washing machine. The piezoelectric element of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric element comprises at least one second piezoelectric element configured to generate a voltage by a first piezoelectric element having a vibration by receiving a voltage from a power supply unit and a rolling element that receives the vibration from the first piezoelectric element. Horizontal state detection device of the washing machine, characterized in that the element. 10. The horizontal state sensing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric element having at least two different voltage signals depending on the position of the rolling element. The horizontal state sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the output unit is at least one output unit corresponding to the piezoelectric element. The horizontal state sensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the output unit comprises a display unit for displaying a text and an alarm unit for outputting a voice.