JPS6324394B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a coin-operated washing machine that automatically operates a program consisting of a series of steps such as water supply, washing, and drainage by inserting a coin.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally known coin-operated washing machines are popular because they automatically run a predetermined program consisting of a series of processes such as water supply, washing, and draining when a set amount of coins are inserted. Unlike fully automatic washing machines, there is no need to set the time using a program timer, so the program timer knob is covered with a transparent plate so that it cannot be touched by hand, and is used to indicate the operating process. It only served as an indicator.

Therefore, to test run a coin-operated washing machine, you must open the control box that houses the program timer and forcefully rotate the program timer shaft to the position of the process you want to test, which is cumbersome and cumbersome. Ta.

(c) Purpose of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a coin-operated washing machine that allows test runs to be easily carried out, and at the same time prevents the washing machine from being used without paying for the test run.

(d) Structure of the Invention The present invention is a coin-operated washing machine that automatically runs a program consisting of a series of processes such as water supply, washing, and drainage by inserting a coin, and is equipped with a reset-type forced operation switch and the closing of this switch. The apparatus is equipped with operating means for selecting a process to be forcibly operated according to the number of times, and forcibly operating the selected process for the shorter of the closing time of the switch or a preset predetermined time. be.

With this configuration, if you close the forced operation switch the number of times corresponding to the process you want to test run, that process will be forced to operate, and this operation time will be the same as the time when the forced operation switch is closed. Since the operation is only carried out for a short period of time within a predetermined period of time, even if the forced operation switch is kept closed for a long time, the forced operation will stop after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, and therefore the forced operation switch can be used. Unpaid use will be prevented.

(e) Embodiment Figure 1 is a front view of a coin-operated washing machine, where 1 is the machine frame, 2 is a control box, and the front plate has coin slots 3 and 4 into which 50 yen coins and 100 yen coins are inserted. A four-digit display device 5 (consisting of light emitting diodes (LEDs)) for displaying the remaining time and input amount, and three process display devices 6 (consisting of LEDs) for displaying the progress of the process are arranged. There is.
Further, on the back of the control box, a forced operation switch 7 is arranged as shown in FIG. This switch is a return type switch that closes only while it is pressed and opens when you release the switch.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the control section, in which a microcomputer 8 is used in this embodiment. 9
is an AC power supply, 10 is a DC power supply circuit that obtains the DC voltage (VDD) necessary to operate the microcomputer 8, and 11 is for retaining data in the memory (RAM) in the microcomputer 8 when the AC power supply is cut off. 12 is a charging resistor for charging the backup power source 11; 13 is a charging resistor for charging the backup power source 11;
14 is a reference voltage generation power supply, and 14 is a comparison circuit that compares the reference voltage and the backup voltage. When the backup voltage becomes lower than the reference voltage, it is determined that the data in the memory (RAM) cannot be retained.
Resets the contents of memory. Reference numeral 15 denotes a reset signal generating circuit, which operates when the power is turned on to reset the program counter of the microcomputer 8.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a price setting switch, which predetermines the amount to be input. After power is turned on, the microcomputer 8 judges the signal from this switch 16 and stores it in the RAM as a set price. 17 is a 50 yen coin detection switch that outputs a signal when a 50 yen coin is inserted from the coin slot 3 for 50 yen coins, and 18 is a switch from the coin slot 4 for 100 yen coins.
100 yen coin detection switch that outputs a signal when a yen coin is inserted; 7 is the forced operation switch; 19
In addition to these switches 16, 17, 18, and 7, there are other switches that input signals to the microcomputer 8, such as a water level switch that detects the liquid level in the washing tub and a top lid switch that is linked to the opening and closing of the top lid.

20 is a clockwise rotation drive circuit for the motor, 21 is a left rotation drive circuit for the motor, 22 is a drain valve and clutch drive circuit, and 23 is a water supply valve drive circuit, from which signals are output to output terminals A to D of the microcomputer 8, respectively. At this time, it is activated via the drive circuits 24-27. 5 and 6 are the display devices, respectively.

Next, the operation will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. After the power is turned on, the set price is first stored in the RAM. Then, 50 yen coin detection switch 17 and 100 yen coin detection switch 18 detect 50 yen coins and 100 yen coins.
Each time the insertion of a yen coin is detected, 50 (yen) or 100 (yen) is added to the input amount memory in RAM. When the input amount exceeds the set price, fully automatic operation consisting of a series of steps will begin.

In fully automatic operation, first, a signal is output from the output terminal D to operate the water supply valve drive circuit 23 to supply water.
When the specified water level is reached and a signal is received from the water level switch 19, the water supply is stopped, and signals are output alternately from the output terminals A and B, and the left and right drive circuits 21 and 20 are alternately activated to drive the rotor. Rotate left and right alternately to perform the washing process. When the washing process is finished, a signal is output from the output terminal C to operate the drive circuit 2 and open the drain valve to drain water. After draining, a rinsing process is performed, similar to washing.
When the rinsing process is finished, a signal is sent from terminals A and C, which opens the drain valve and activates the clutch, transmitting the clockwise rotation of the motor not only to the rotary blades but also to the washing and dehydrating tank, which runs the dehydrating tank at high speed. Rotate to the right,
Perform dehydration.

During such fully automatic operation, the process display device 6 flashes an LED corresponding to the process being operated.
Further, the four-digit display device 5 displays the remaining operating time in the last two digits. This display device 5 displays the amount of money inserted as shown in FIG. 5 while coins are being inserted. LED here
The lighting of 28 indicates that the displayed content at that time is the input amount. The figure shows 250 yen.

Also, the flag "TEST" and the flag "TEST" set in the microcomputer during fully automatic operation
END” are both “0” and the counter “TEST” is “0”.
MODE" is also set to "0".

Next, a case will be described in which the forced operation switch 7 is pressed and closed during fully automatic operation in order to perform a test operation. First, once this switch is closed, the flag "TEST" is set to "1" and the flag "TEST END" is set.
Since the counter "TEST MODE" is "0", the operation data in the memory (RAM) is cleared, fully automatic operation is stopped, and the display device 5 is displayed for up to 5 seconds until the forced operation switch 7 is opened. Display “00” in the last two digits as shown in Figure 6.

When you release the forced operation switch 7 and force it to open, the flag "TEST" is returned to "0", the counter "TEST MODE" is incremented by 1, and the result is 1.
Make it. Also, set the flag "TEST END" to "0".

When the forced operation switch 7 is pressed again and closed, the counter "TEST MODE" is now set to 1, so the water supply valve drive circuit 23 is activated to perform water supply operation, and the last two digits of the display 5 are displayed as "TEST MODE". 01" is displayed. This water supply is carried out for a maximum of 1 minute while the switch 7 is closed. When one minute has elapsed, the flag "TEST END" is set to "1", so the water supply operation is stopped even if the switch 7 is kept closed.

Next, when the forced operation switch 7 is opened,
As before, return the flag "TEST" to "0" and add 1 to the counter "TEST MODE", making the result 2. Also, set the flag "TEST END" to "0".

When the forced operation switch 7 is pressed again to close it, the counter "TEST MODE" is set to 2, so the drain valve drive circuit 22 is activated to perform the drain operation, and the lower two digits of the display 5 are displayed as "TEST MODE". 02” is displayed. This drainage is also carried out for a maximum of one minute while the switch 7 is closed. When one minute has elapsed, the flag "TEST END" is set to "1", so even if switch 7 is kept closed, the drainage operation is stopped.

Next, when the forced operation switch 7 is opened,
Return the flag "TEST" to "0" and add 1 to the counter "TEST MODE", making the result 3.

Then, when you close the forced operation switch 7 again, this time the counter "TEST MODE" is 3,
The drive circuits 20 and 22 are operated to perform dehydration operation, and the display device 5 displays "03" in the lower two digits. This dehydration operation is performed for a maximum of 2 minutes while the switch 7 is closed, and after 2 minutes, the flag "TEST END" is set to "1" to stop the dehydration operation even if the switch 7 is kept closed.

Next, when the forced operation switch 7 is opened, the flags "TEST" and "TEST END" are set to "0", and the counter "TEST MODE" is also returned to zero.

In this way, when the forced operation switch 7 is closed once, the operation data in the RAM is cleared, when it is closed twice, water supply operation is performed, when it is closed three times, drainage operation is performed, and when it is closed four times, dehydration operation is performed. It will be done.

The above description has been made for fully automatic operation, but the power supply only needs to be turned on even if coins are being inserted or even if no coins are being inserted. When the power is turned on, the reset signal generating circuit 15 sets the flags "TEST" and "TEST" in the same way as during fully automatic operation.
This is because "END" and the counter "TEST MODE" become 0.

(F) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, when performing a test run, it is only necessary to close the forced operation switch 7 the number of times corresponding to the process to be tested (for example, in the embodiment, three times if the drainage process is to be tested). Tests can be performed much more easily than those that forcibly rotate the program timer axis to the position corresponding to the process. The forced operation time is the shorter of the closing time of the forced operation switch 7 and a predetermined maximum time (in the example, for example, water supply is 1 minute), so this switch 7 can be misused. This will prevent you from using the card without paying. Therefore, the forced operation switch can be provided at a position where it is relatively easy to operate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show the coin-operated washing machine of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a rear view, FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of the control section, FIG. 4 is a flowchart, and FIGS. 5 and 6. The figures are front views showing different states of the display device. 17, 18... Coin detection switch, 7... Forced operation switch, 8... Microcomputer (operation means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a device that automatically operates a program consisting of a series of processes such as water supply, washing, and drainage by inserting a coin, there is a reset-type forced operation switch and the process to be forced to operate is selected according to the number of times the switch is closed. The coin-operated washing machine is provided with an operating means for forcibly operating the selected process for a shorter period of time, whichever is the shorter of the closing time of the switch or a preset predetermined time.