JPH04210091A - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the detection of clogging of a filter in a circulation passage by providing a heater and a filter therefor arranged in the circulation passage, two temperature sensors each provided before and behind the filter, and a control means to determine the clogging of the filter when a difference between temperatures obtained by the two temperature sensors is higher than a prescribed value and give an output accordingly. CONSTITUTION:With respect to a washing water circulation direction in a circulation passage which consists of a water supply pipe 16, a case 11, a pump 10, a circulation pipe 4 and a nozzle 15, on both upstream and downstream sides of a filter 5, thermisters 6a and 6b are provided respectively to detect washing water volume flowing through the circulation passage based on a difference of detected temperatures. Accordingly, based on a temperature difference outputted from the thermisters 6a and 6b, a clogging of the filter 5 due to strings and the like can be detected. In an upper part of an outer box 26 of a drum washing machine 1, a controller 7 including a microcomputer and an alarm buzzer 9 to give an alarm based on an alarm signal from the controller 7 for informing the clogging of the filter 5 are arranged. By this method, a cleaning term of the filter is informed, which is very useful for a user.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine in which a filter for collecting impurities in washing water is provided in a circulation waterway. [0002)

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of washing machine, the washing water in the washing drum is circulated through a circulation channel provided outside the drum, and a filter provided in the circulation channel collects impurities in the washing water. There are known devices configured to do so. [0003]

However, in such drum-type washing machines, lint and the like in the washing water are collected by the filter in the circulation channel and deposited on the filter during the washing operation. If the filter becomes clogged over time, the amount of washing water that passes through the filter will drop dramatically, and a sufficient amount of washing water will not be supplied to the laundry, reducing the washing efficiency and reducing the circulation pump. The problem was that it was negatively affected. [OO04] This invention was made in consideration of such circumstances, and it detects clogging of the filter in the circulation waterway,
By performing a predetermined operation based on the information, for example, by notifying the user when it is time to clean the filter, a drum-type washing machine that is highly convenient for the user is provided. [0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] This invention circulates washing water in a washing drum through a circulation waterway provided outside the drum, and collects impurities in the washing water using a filter provided in the circulation waterway. In a drum-type washing machine configured as shown in FIG. This drum-type washing machine is characterized by comprising a control means that outputs an output upon determining that the washing machine is clogged. [0006]

[Operation] When the filter becomes clogged, a difference occurs between the temperatures detected by the two temperature detection sensors provided before and after the filter, and when the difference becomes higher than a predetermined value, the control means outputs an output. [0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. This invention is not limited by this. [0008] FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and the drum type washing machine 1 includes a water tank 12 that is swingably suspended inside an outer box 26 by a spring 25;
A drum 2 is provided inside the water tank 12, which is rotatably supported horizontally via horizontal shafts 20a and 20b, and which accommodates laundry W. A baffle 27 for stirring the laundry W is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the drum 2, and a large number of outflow holes 3 are provided on the entire peripheral wall surface of the drum 2 through which washing water can freely flow in and out from the water tank 12. It is formed. One end of the water pipe 16 is connected to the bottom of the water tank 12.
The other end is bifurcated. In this case, water pipe 1
On the other end side of 6, there is a drain valve 1 that opens and closes depending on the operation mode.
A drain pipe 18 having a filter 5 and a case 11 having a removably attached filter 5 and a heater 13 for heating washing water are connected. [00091 Furthermore, a circulation pipe 4. is connected to the end of the case 11 via a pump 10. The nozzles 15 are connected in sequence and are configured as a circulation waterway through which washing water flowing out from the outflow holes 3 of the drum 2 is spouted from the nozzles 15 into the drum 2. The filter 5 is installed to prevent impurities such as lint from the laundry W generated in the washing water from being sucked into the pump 10, and to prevent the pump 10 from locking or being damaged. The nozzle 15 is inserted into the horizontal shaft 20b coaxially with the horizontal shaft 20b of the drum 2 so as not to interfere with the rotational drive of the drum 2 around the horizontal shaft. A water supply pipe 17 for supplying washing water into the water tank 12 is connected to the upper part of the water tank 12 . [00101 When washing is performed using the drum-type washing machine 1 as described above, the laundry W is first put into the drum 2, and washing water is supplied into the water tank 12 from the water supply pipe 17. At this time, the drain valve 14 is closed. Then, the laundry W is immersed in the washing water flowing into the drum 2 from the outflow hole 3. Then, the drum 2 is rotated by the drive of the motor 19, and the laundry W is lifted upward by the baffle 27 and then dropped to be washed by tamping (referred to as tamping). At the same time, the washing liquid stored at the bottom of the water tank 12 is guided into the case 11 through the water pipe 16 by driving the pump 10. [00111 Here, the lint and the like contained in the washing water are collected by the filter 5, further heated to an appropriate temperature by the heater 13, and then sprayed into the drum 2 from the nozzle 15 through the circulation pipe 4. Ru. As a result, the laundry W is beaten and washed by the rotation of the drum 2, and the washing water circulating in the circulation channel is sent to the nozzle 1.
Since water is sprinkled from 5 onwards, washing is done efficiently. Water pipe 16. Case 11. Pump 10. @Thermistors 6a and 6b are installed on the upstream and downstream sides of the filter 5, respectively, with respect to the washing water circulation direction (indicated by the solid arrow in the figure) in the circulation waterway consisting of the ring pipe 4 and the nozzle 15.
is provided, and the amount of washing water flowing through the circulation waterway is detected based on the detected temperature difference. Therefore, clogging of the filter 5 due to lint or the like is detected based on the temperature difference output from the thermistors 6a and 6b. A control device 7 including a microcomputer and a notification buzzer 9 that issues an alarm in response to an alarm signal from the control device 7 to notify that the filter 5 is clogged are disposed in the upper part of the outer box 26 of the drum-type washing machine 1. ing. Furthermore, a display section 8 is provided on the upper surface of the outer cylinder 26 to display that the filter 5 is in a clogged state in response to an alarm signal from the control device 7. Since the thermal output of the heater 13 is substantially constant, if the water flow rate is constant, the temperature difference between the thermistors 6a and 6b will be substantially constant regardless of the water temperature. If more than the preset amount of circulating water necessary for washing is flowing, the temperature difference will also become less than the allowable set temperature, and if the filter 5 becomes clogged and the flow rate decreases and the flow rate becomes less than the flow rate that requires filter cleaning, the temperature difference will decrease. will also be higher than the initial setting value. When this temperature difference reaches a preset temperature, a signal is sent from the control device 7 to the buzzer 9 and the display device to notify and display an alarm. [0012] The optimum temperature for enzyme detergent used for washing is approximately 2
Since the temperature is 0 to 40°C, the heater does not necessarily need to be energized all the time, and is controlled to maintain an appropriate temperature. If stored in the microcomputer, it is possible to issue an alarm even when the heater 13 is not energized. When the water temperature is high in the summer, the thermistor 6a senses the water temperature and automatically turns off the power to the heater 13 if the water temperature is suitable for washing. When a "clogging check button" (not shown) is manually operated, the pump 10 is operated while the heater 13 is temporarily energized, making it easy to check for clogging of the filter 5 even in the summer when the water temperature is high. Is possible. [0013] Since the filter 5 immediately after cleaning is not clogged with lint or the like, the load resistance on the suction side of the pump 10 is relatively small, so the amount of washing water flowing in the circulation channel is reduced. Relatively many. Therefore, if the filter is cleaned and installed correctly and the flow rate has recovered to a value higher than the set value, the temperature difference between the thermistors 6a and 6b will also be lower than the set value. Note that if this temperature difference is significantly lower than the set value, it is displayed on the display section 8 as a mounting error, a filter tear, or a forgotten filter. [0014] As described above, this embodiment is configured to detect clogging of the filter 5 in the circulation waterway and output a warning display or alarm on the display section 8 and the notification buzzer 9. As a result, it is possible to notify the user when it is time to clean the filter 5 and to notify the user of a mounting error, so that the user cannot continue washing with the filter 5 clogged or operate with the filter 5 incompletely mounted. This will be avoided. Further, in order to avoid failure of the pump 10 and the like, the user does not need to clean the filter 5 more frequently than necessary. Therefore, it can be said that the washing machine according to the embodiment is excellent in convenience for users. [0015] In the above-described embodiment, clogging of the filter 5 is detected, and based on the detected clogging, an alarm signal is outputted as a signal for a predetermined operation in response to the clogging of the filter 5 to issue an alarm or a warning display. As the signal for the predetermined operation, a signal for stopping the pump 10 or the motor 19 may be output, or such a signal may be output at the same time as the alarm signal. Thereby,
The filter 5 is cleaned in a timely manner, and locking, breakage, and failure of the pump 10 can be prevented.

According to the present invention, clogging of the filter in the circulation waterway can be easily detected. As a result, it is possible to notify, for example, that it is time to clean the filter, thereby improving the maintainability and convenience of the washing machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a drum-type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Drum type washing machine 2 Drum 3 Outflow hole 4 Circulation pipe 5 Filter 6a, 6b Thermistor 7 Control circuit 8 Display section 9 Notification buzzer 10 Pump 13 Heater

[Figure 1]

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A drum-type washing machine configured to circulate washing water in a washing drum through a circulation waterway provided outside the drum, and to collect impurities in the washing water by a filter provided in the circulation waterway. , a heater and a filter installed in the circulation waterway, two temperature sensors installed before and after the heater, and when the difference in temperature obtained by each temperature sensor is higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the filter is clogged and output. A drum-type washing machine characterized by comprising a control means.