JPS6236717B2 - - 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
installed on. Further, these entire mechanical sections are suspended by a vibration isolator 14. Spherical receivers 15 are provided at the four corners of the reinforcing plate 13, and the vibration isolator 14 is connected to the spherical receivers 15 via rods 16.
It is slidably attached to the upper part of the outer frame 1. 17
are adjustment legs provided at the four corners of the bottom of the outer frame 1,
This is to adjust so that there is no wobbling when installing on the floor. The adjustment legs 17 are usually provided at one or two locations. 18 is a fixed leg.
Reference numeral 19 denotes a drain pot 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, a drain hose 20 is used to connect the drain pot frame 19 to the outside of the machine. 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 reaches a certain level, the pressure switch 25 is activated to stop the water supply. . Normal pressure switch 2
5 is 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. Light passes through it, and the amount of light is detected by 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.
The valve seat surface 32 is always pressed by the first 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 connected to A via the spring guide 39 attached to the drain valve 31.
The washing water is drained by opening in the direction. A rubber material is generally used for the drain valve 31, and the bellows portion 40 is 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 The object of the present invention is to provide a drainage device for a washing machine with a simple structure that can automatically clean the inside of a guide pipe for draining water and always accurately detect drainage dirt using an optical sensor.

Structure of the Invention This invention provides an optical sensor at the outlet of a guide pipe, and a sliding part is integrally provided in the center of the front surface of a drain valve that closes the outlet through an extensible part. The sliding part is pushed out into the outlet part of the guide pipe by inertial force and cleans the inner surface of the guide pipe corresponding to the optical sensor. Furthermore, a conduit for opening the drain valve is formed into a stepped cylindrical shape, and a large end diameter portion of a conduit spring disposed inside thereof is engaged with the stepped portion, and a straight line extending in the diametrical direction from this large diameter portion is provided. A valve spring for returning the sliding portion is engaged with the extension portion. This eliminates the need for mounting members to mount these springs and valve springs, thereby simplifying the structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to 9. In FIG. 4, a drain valve 3 is housed in a drain pot frame 19 made of a transparent resin material.
1' is partially fitted and held by a collar portion 44 protruding from the cylindrical portion of the first locking rod 37'. A sliding portion 43 having a flexible portion 42 is integrally provided at the substantially cylindrical center of the drain valve 31', and is normally housed in the tip of the drain valve 31'. A spring guide 39' is also formed in the sliding part 43 by molding at the same time, and the valve spring 4 is attached to this spring guide 39'.
I always set it by hooking 5. A step is provided inside the first lock 37', and a second lock spring 38 is set in this step, and the other end of the second lock spring 38 is connected to the second lock 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 between the drain drain frame 19 and the drain lid 41 to provide a seal. 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 in contact with the guide pipe 28.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a large-diameter portion 49 is locally provided at one end of the second spring 38, and the wire end forming this large-diameter portion 49 is connected to the large-diameter portion 49.
9 toward the center so as to divide it into two parts to create a linear extension part 50. The stepped portion 51 of the first locking rod 37' is set to a diameter that allows the large diameter portion 49 of the second locking spring 38 to be set therein. Furthermore, one end of the valve spring 45 is hooked onto the linear extension 50 and set. Normally, the spring constant of the valve spring 45 that sets the sliding part 43 is low, so even if the valve spring 45 is pulled, the second spring 38 is not stretched and is always set at the stepped part 51. .

Fig. 4 shows the drain valve 31' in a closed state, while Fig. 8 shows the drain valve 31' in an open state using the electromagnetic solenoid 34 (Fig. 2). 31' is shown moved in the direction A by a distance C from the valve seat surface 32. With this action,
All the washing water will be drained. FIG. 8 shows the movement of the sliding portion 43 after the drain stroke and dewatering stroke are completed. When the electromagnetic solenoid 34 (Fig. 2) is turned off, the drain valve 31' is rapidly moved toward the valve seat surface 32 (direction B) by the force of the spring 33.
The valve seat surface 32 collides with the tip of the drain valve 31'. At this time, since the sliding portion 43 has the bending portion 42, it moves by a distance E in the B direction from the valve seat surface 32 due to the inertia force in the B direction generated by this collision. This amount of movement affects the shape of the flexible portion 42 and the mass of the sliding portion 43, but
It tends to be proportional to dimension C. Therefore, the sliding portion 43 moves by the dimension E, and the light emitting elements 29 and 30 of the optical sensor 26 can be installed at a location closer to the valve seat surface 32 than this dimension E (dimension D). When the sliding portion 43 moves by a distance E, the valve spring 45 is pulled in the direction B, and when the inertia force disappears again, the sliding portion 43 is pulled back to its original position.

In this way, when performing the draining action of the washing light, after turning on the electromagnetic solenoid 34 and opening the drain valve 31', the drain valve 31' is opened at the end of draining.
1', when the sliding part 43 jumps forward due to inertia using the law of motion, the guide pipe 28 to which the optical sensor 26 is attached emits light, and the light receiving elements 29, 30 Since the dirt on the inner wall, which is the area corresponding to the above, is rubbed off by the sliding part 43, the proper amount of light from the light emitting element 29 can be transmitted to the light receiving element 30. FIG. 9 is a graph in which the amount of light transmitted when dirty is replaced with the output voltage. If there is no dirt, the output voltage shows a constant value _V0 , but if dirt adheres to the inner wall of the guide pipe 28, the output voltage also shows a state of decreasing. In terms of performance, the deterioration of light detection is prevented by removing dirt as described above, but all of this is done naturally when the drain valve 31' is opened and closed. Therefore, in the past, stains had to be cleaned by disassembling the product or using special cleaning agents, but this invention eliminates these inconveniences and allows the product to be kept under constant light. A highly reliable sensor 26 product can be provided.

Moreover, after sliding the sliding part 43 by inertia force,
It is necessary to return it to its normal position, and this action is performed by the valve spring 45. The second lock spring 38, which is also installed in the first lock rod 37', plays the following role. That is, if the electromagnetic solenoid 34 operates when the drain valve 31' is frozen and does not move, there is a risk that the electromagnetic solenoid 34 will not operate and the internal coil will burn out. Therefore, even if the drain valve 31 freezes, the second spring 38 stretches and the electromagnetic solenoid 3
4 allows it to adsorb and work normally. For this reason, the second Kotoku spring 38 and the valve spring 4
5. Both play an extremely important role in forming a drainage system.

However, if these second springs 38 and valve springs 45 are generally provided, the first
As shown in the proposed example in Figure 0, the first cross section is 37''.
It is necessary to create a separate hook part by insert molding metal guide springs 46, 47 inside. Therefore, it is necessary to make preliminary adjustments both in terms of cost and man-hours (workability). However, in this invention, as shown in this embodiment, one end of the second Kotoku spring 38 is connected to the large diameter portion 4.
9, and this large diameter portion 49 is connected to the first cross section 3.
7' to create a linear extension 50, one end of the valve spring 45 is hooked to this linear extension 50. Therefore, the two parts 38 and 45 can be connected only by the spring shape, and separate parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced. Furthermore, when the large-diameter portion 49 of the second spring 38 is attached to the stepped portion of the first spring 37', the linear extension 50 extends to its maximum diameter, causing the valve spring 45 to move left and right. Also, large diameter part 49
In this case, it becomes a reliable connection structure that cannot be moved any further and will not come off.

Effects of the Invention The present invention has the advantage that the inside of the guide pipe for draining water can be automatically cleaned, drainage stains can always be accurately detected by an optical sensor, and the structure is simple.

[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 of the same, FIG. Perspective views of the second Kotsuku spring, Figures 7 and 8.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of its operation, and Figure 9 is a graph of the relationship between dirt and the amount of transmission, which also shows the characteristics of the optical sensor.
Figure 0 is a partial sectional view of a comparative proposed example of a drainage device. 5...Water receiver (washing tub), 26...Light sensor, 27
...Tubular drain port, 28...Guide pipe, 31'...Drain valve, 32...Valve seat surface, 33...First spring, 3
4... Electromagnetic solenoid, 37'... First locking rod, 38... Second locking spring, 43... Sliding part, 49
...Large diameter portion, 50...Linear extension portion, 51...Stepped portion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub having a stirring means, a guide pipe connected to the drain of the washing tub and having a translucent part near the outlet, and a light-emitting device disposed opposite to each other across the translucent part of the guide pipe. an optical sensor that has an element and a light-receiving element and detects water contamination in the guide pipe; and a drainage device whose peripheral edge contacts a valve seat surface formed at the peripheral edge of the outlet of the guide pipe to open the guide pipe. The guide pipe is integrally provided with a valve at the center of the front surface of the drain valve via an extendable part, and the light transmission of the guide pipe is caused by inertia caused by the impact when the drain valve hits the valve seat surface of the drain valve when the drain valve is closed. a sliding part that is pushed into the translucent part and cleans the translucent part; a sliding part that is formed in a cylindrical shape with a large diameter on the tip side and has a peripheral part of the drain valve attached to a flange part on the outer periphery of the tip; A first spring that biases the drain valve to close; a first spring that is inserted through the small diameter portion of the water drain valve, has a final winding portion having a large diameter, is engaged with a stepped portion of the water clog, and is connected to the spring from the last winding portion to the final winding spring; a drain valve driving device that opens the drain valve against the first spring by pulling a starting end of the second spring; Second
A drainage device for a washing machine, comprising: a valve spring, one end of which engages with the linear extension of the spring, and the other end of which engages with the sliding portion to draw in and bias the sliding portion.