JPH0323181Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a turbidity detection device.

(B) Conventional technology This type of washing machine detects initial value data of fresh water immediately after water supply is completed and turbidity data after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the process, and uses the ratio or difference between these two data as a reference value. A method for detecting turbidity by comparison is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-66567.

However, if water is supplied into the tank during the rinsing process, for example, the detergent contained in the laundry will flow out during the washing process, making it impossible to obtain appropriate initial value data. Also, in the washing process, detergent is normally added at the same time as water is supplied, and the influence of this detergent will similarly affect the initial value data.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention The present invention improves detection accuracy in washing machines equipped with a turbidity detection device by obtaining stable initial value data close to clean water.

(d) Means for solving the problem The washing machine of the present invention has a turbidity detection device installed below the lowest water level in the tank, and a water supply inlet from the water supply section near the top of the turbidity detection device. A predetermined delay time is provided between the completion of water supply and the detection of initial value data corresponding to the turbidity of the water supply.

(E) Effect: In other words, the water flowing out from the water supply inlet keeps the detergent components away from the area around the turbidity detection device, and a predetermined delay time is provided to avoid the influence of water bubbles generated during water supply, so that the detergent components are kept close to fresh water. This is to obtain stable initial value data at all times.

(f) Examples Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In the fully automatic washing machine shown in Figure 6, 1 is the machine frame, 2
3 is an outer tank installed inside the machine frame 1; 4 is installed inside the outer tank 3;
An inner tank having dewatering holes 5 around the periphery, 6 a rotary blade disposed at the bottom of the inner tank 4, 7 a drive motor,
It is connected to the inner tub 4 and the rotary blades 6 via a power transmission mechanism 8, and rotates the rotary blades 6 during washing, and rotates both the inner tub 4 and the rotary blades 6 at high speed during dehydration. 9 is a drain port provided at the bottom of the outer tank 3; 10 is a drain solenoid valve; 11 is a drain hose; 12 is an air trap provided at one corner of the bottom of the outer tank 3; It communicates via 14. 15 is a water supply electromagnetic valve provided in the water supply channel 16, 17 is a turbidity detection device attached to the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tank 3, 18 is a water supply inlet formed above this turbidity detection device 17, and 19 is the above-mentioned This is a lower water supply channel that branches off from the water supply channel 16 and is connected to the water supply inlet 18 .

Figure 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the control mechanism;
0 corresponds to a control device, and is a microcomputer that is the center of control, and an operation section 22 consisting of the pressure switch 13 as a water level detection means, the turbidity detection device 17, a water level setting button 21, and various operation switches. When a signal is inputted, based on the signal, each operation of the display circuit 23, the buzzer circuit 24 that notifies the end of the process, the drive motor drive circuit 25, and the supply/drain electromagnetic valve drive circuit 26 is controlled. The input signal from the turbidity detection device 17 is converted into a standard value unit by a calculator 27, and compared with the standard value by a comparator 28 to determine the degree of turbidity.

Next, the turbidity detection device 17 is
This will be explained based on the diagram.

29 is the water supply inlet 18 in the outer tank 3
30 is a sensor holder attached to the outer surface of the transparent window 29, in which four light-emitting elements 31 and a light-receiving element 32 located at the center between each light-emitting element 31 are arranged. , and each light emitting element 3
1... and the light-receiving element 32, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 31... is reflected on the tongue-shaped reflecting plate 33 hanging down from the upper part of the water supply inlet 18, and the light-receiving element 3
The angles are adjusted so that they are incident on 2. 34
is a cover of the sensor holder 30, and 35 is a water seal member. Note that the reason why four light emitting elements 31 are used is to adjust the brightness, and normally only one light emitting element is required.

As the light receiving element 32, an amorphous visible light full spectrum sensor (hereinafter referred to as an a-Si sensor) or an amorphous integrated full color sensor (hereinafter referred to as an a-Si color sensor) is used.

Moreover, green light emitting diodes are used as the light emitting elements 31, and the reflective surface of the reflector plate 33 is colored with yellow fluorescent color. By doing this,
The light incident on the light-receiving element 32 has a mixed color of green and yellow, and if it is green light, it has the spectral sensitivity characteristics shown in Figure 4A, but becomes a mixed color and has sensitivity characteristics as shown in Figure 4B. The half value of is expanded, approaching the sensitivity characteristics of the a-Si sensor, and the a-Si color sensor can be used to detect the respective outputs of red R, green G, and blue B (however, the peak sensitivity is ). Note that the coloring of the reflective surface is not particularly yellow.

In this embodiment, an a-Si sensor is used as the light receiving element 32, and the operation based on turbidity detection will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows the output characteristics of the light-receiving element 32 when the washing machine progresses sequentially from the water supply to the washing process.As shown in the figure, the output characteristics of the light receiving element 32 are affected by water bubbles not only during the water supply but also for a while after the water supply is completed. The light receiving element 3
The output of 2 is unstable.

Therefore, the stable output which is the initial value data of Shimizu
In order to obtain Vo, a delay time td is provided between the completion of water supply and the detection of initial value data.

In this way, during water supply, the detergent components in the tank are washed away from around the device 17 due to the water flow flowing out from the water supply inlet 18 above the turbidity detection device 17, and even after the water supply is completed, the detergent components remain in the device 17 for a while. Do not come close. Therefore, it is possible to obtain stable initial value data that is extremely close to that of fresh water.

Now, after detecting the initial value data Vo, the rotor blade 6
Rotate to start the washing process. In the washing process, as time passes, the detergent dissolves and dirt separates from the laundry, so the output of the light receiving element 32 gradually decreases. Therefore, the microcomputer 20
Obtain the output Vx from the light-receiving element 32 after a predetermined time (tx-to) has elapsed from the start of the washing process, further calculate the ratio Vo/Vx with the initial value data Vo, and set this as a predetermined reference value Z. compare. and,
If Vo/Vx>Z, it is determined that the turbidity of the washing liquid is high, and in the next rinsing process, the first rinsing process is repeated and carefully performed, and Vo/Vx≦
If it is Z, it is determined that the turbidity of the washing liquid is not very high, and a standard second rinsing step is performed.

The above-mentioned turbidity detection means can also be applied to the rinsing process, and the output ratio may be detected from time to time to detect the progress of the process.

In this embodiment, water flowing out from the water supply inlet 18 when water is supplied causes the transparent window 29 to
The surface of the reflective plate 33 and the reflective surface of the reflective plate 33 can be cleaned automatically or manually.

In addition, as shown in Figure 4, the a-Si sensor has a peak value that is approximately the same as human visibility (approximately 5500 Å).
As a result, the turbidity detection result matches the user's appearance, giving the user a sense of security.

(g) Effects of the invention This invention can improve the accuracy of turbidity detection because it can obtain a stable output close to that of fresh water as initial value data in a washing machine equipped with a turbidity detection device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine with high commercial value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram of the output characteristics of the light receiving element during the water supply and washing process of the washing machine of the present invention, Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the turbidity detection process, and Figure 3A is a cross section of the turbidity detection device. Fig. 4 is a spectral sensitivity characteristic diagram of the light receiving element, Fig. 5 is a block circuit diagram of the control mechanism, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the main parts of the fully automatic washing machine. It is a mechanism diagram. 17...Turbidity detection device, 18...Water supply inlet,
20...Microcomputer (control device), 3
1... Light emitting element (light emitting diode), 32... Light receiving element (amorphous visible light full spectrum sensor).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A turbidity detection device consisting of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element for detecting the turbidity of a washing liquid, initial value data corresponding to the turbidity of water supplied into a tank from the turbidity detection device, and the turbidity. In a washing machine equipped with a control device that detects turbidity from a calculation result with turbidity data corresponding to the turbidity of washing at an arbitrary time during a washing or rinsing process from a detection device, A turbidity detection device is installed below the lowest water level in the tank, and a water supply inlet from the water supply section is formed near the top of the turbidity detection device, and a predetermined delay is set between the completion of water supply and the detection of the initial value data. A washing machine characterized by a set time.