JPS6345839B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

(a) Industrial application field The present invention allows washing, rinsing, and washing by inserting a coin.
This invention relates to a coin-operated washing machine that runs a program consisting of a series of processes such as dehydration. (b) Prior art In conventional fully automatic washing machines, not only coin-operated ones but also general ones, when the top lid is opened during the spin-drying process, the top-lid switch stops the spin-drying operation and also stops the program timing operation. By closing the , the dehydration operation and program timing operation will be restarted. For this reason, in coin-operated washing machines, if the user finishes the spin cycle early during the final spin cycle and leaves the top lid open, the next user can close the top cover and run the machine for the remaining spin process. Otherwise, I couldn't use the washing machine. Therefore, during the final dehydration process, when the top lid is opened, only the dehydration operation will stop and the program's timing operation will continue; even if the top lid is left open, the dehydration process will automatically end and the next user can When using a washing machine, the top cover was closed so that there was no need to run it for the remaining time during the dehydration process, which was developed in 1975.
-151276. However, with this product, if you open the top cover before entering the final dehydration process and forget to close it, the program will run the clock without starting the dehydration process. In some cases, the dehydration process ended without doing so. (C) Purpose of the Invention The present invention provides that if the top cover is opened during the final dehydration step when dehydration is not considered to be sufficient,
When the dewatering operation is stopped, the timing operation of the program is also stopped to prevent the operation from ending with the dehydration incomplete. The purpose is to allow the next user to use the washing machine immediately even if the user forgets to close the top cover by continuing only the timing operation of the program when the top cover is opened. (d) Structure of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, the present invention advances a program consisting of a series of steps such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration by inserting a coin, and during the dehydration step, opening the top cover allows the dehydration operation and the program to proceed. In a coin-operated washing machine, when the top lid is opened within a predetermined amount of time remaining in the final spin cycle, the spin cycle starts when the top lid is closed. The program is configured to stop only the program and continue the time measurement operation of the program. (E) Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a coin-operated washing machine in which the present invention is implemented, where 25 is a control box, 5 is a 50
This is a four-digit display device for displaying the accumulated amount of coins inserted from the yen coin slot 48 or the 100 yen coin slot 49 or the remaining driving time, and is made of a light emitting diode LED. 1 to 3 are process display LEDs that flash to indicate which process is currently in operation among the washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes, and 4 is a softer injection time display LED that blinks to indicate the soft finishing agent injection time. . FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the embodiment.
Power supply terminal of microcomputer 45 that receives input signals from various switches and controls output to each load.
The V _DD and GND terminals are connected to a DC power supply circuit 39 that rectifies the AC power supply and generates a 5V DC voltage. Reference numeral 42 denotes a backup power supply for supplying power to the microcomputer 45 in place of the DC power supply circuit 39 when the AC power supply is cut off due to a power outage, etc. In the embodiment, a capacitor with a very large capacitance is used. are doing. This backup power supply 42 is charged by the DC power supply circuit 39 while the AC power supply is on. 41 is a charging resistor that limits the current during charging. The diode 40 is for preventing current from the backup power supply 42 from flowing to the DC power supply circuit 39 side when the AC power supply is cut off. The voltage of the DC power supply circuit 39 is also input to the HOLD terminal of the microcomputer 45. When a low level voltage is applied to the HOLD terminal, the microcomputer 45 stops executing the program and enters a so-called hold mode in which the contents of the internal memory RAM are held until the voltage at the power supply terminal V _DD becomes considerably low. In the hold mode, the power consumption of the microcomputer 45 is also low, and even if the capacity of the backup power supply 42 is small, the contents of the RAM can be held for a fairly long time. Conversely, when a high level voltage is applied to the HOLD terminal, the microcomputer 45 starts executing the program. Further, the reset signal generation circuit 26 outputs the RES of the microcomputer 45 when the DC power supply circuit 39 changes from non-energized to energized.
A reset signal is applied to the terminal for a predetermined period of time to initialize the program counter of the microcomputer 45 and execute the program from a predetermined start address. Therefore, whenever the AC power source changes from a cut-off state to a power-on state, the program is executed from a predetermined start address. The voltage of the backup power supply 42 is checked based on the input from the backup power supply voltage comparison circuit 44 to see if a sufficient voltage is maintained for the backup power supply 42, and the voltage of the backup power supply 42 is lowered to a voltage at which retention of the contents of the RAM is not guaranteed (voltage below the reference voltage described later). When the RAM is low,
Clear all contents. This is to prevent the washing machine from malfunctioning. The reference voltage generating power supply 43 generates the lowest voltage that allows the microcomputer 45 to hold the contents of the RAM in the hold mode.
is input to the microcomputer 45. It should be noted that at the same time that the AC power supply changes from the cut-off state to the energized state, the backup power supply 42 also begins to be charged by the DC power supply circuit 39, but since charging is performed very slowly, the backup power supply 42
The voltage also rises slowly, so that the microcomputer 45 does not make a mistake in determining whether RAM clearing is possible based on the input from the backup power supply voltage comparison circuit 44. As switch inputs to the microcomputer 45, there are the following in addition to the 50 yen coin detection switch 23 and the 100 yen coin detection switch 24, which output a signal when a coin is inserted into each of the aforementioned coin slots 48 and 49. The forced advance switch 22 is used during maintenance and inspection of the washing machine, and each time this switch is turned on, the state of the washing machine changes from initial state to washing to draining to dewatering. The rinse selector switch 21 is used to select water pouring, hardening, and rinsing as the second rinse step of all processes; when it is on, it performs a preliminary rinse, and when it is off, it performs rinsing while pouring water. The top lid switch 20 detects the open/closed state of the top lid.
It is on when the top lid is closed and off when it is open. The liquid level switch 19 detects the water level in the washing and dehydrating tank, and is turned on when the water level reaches a specified level, and turned off when it does not reach the specified water level. water supply·
The hot water supply specification changeover switch 18 has three switches,
, and depending on the on/off status of each switch and the input amount, the opening combinations of the water supply valve and hot water supply valve at the time of water supply before the washing process are as shown in Table 1. In Table 1, "additional specifications" refers to a function in which after the water supply valve is opened when the input amount matches a predetermined set amount, the combination of valve opening changes when a certain amount is further input. "mixing"
This means opening the water supply valve and hot water supply valve at the same time and injecting a mixture of water and hot water. The price setting switch 17 is a switch for setting the above-mentioned set amount, and is made up of a plurality of switches, so that a plurality of amounts can be set in accordance with the on/off combinations of these switches.

[Table] The output from the microcomputer 45 includes a display output and an output for driving the washing machine. The display output includes LED1 for displaying the process.
3. 7 segment signals and 4 for dynamically lighting LED 4 for displaying softer input time and LED 5 for displaying input amount and remaining time.
There is a book digit signal. Since the current that the microcomputer 45 can output is very small, these output signals are sent to the inverter driver 6.
~12 and drivers 13 to 16 to amplify each
Turn on the LED. The output for driving the washing machine includes one for the motor clockwise rotation drive circuit 33, one for the motor counterclockwise rotation drive circuit 34, and one for opening the drain valve so that the motor power is also transmitted to the washing and dewatering tank. one to the drain solenoid drive circuit 35 that switches the clutch to the other, one to the water supply valve drive circuit 36 that opens the water supply valve,
One is for the hot water supply valve drive circuit 37 that opens the hot water supply valve, and the other is for the operation cycle counter drive circuit 38 that drives an operation cycle counter that adds up the number of times the fully automatic operation has been performed. Each drive circuit 33-3
8 uses a triax in the embodiment to switch the motor, drain valve, water supply valve, hot water supply valve, and operation cycle counter, respectively. driver 2
7 to 32 are for amplifying the output signal of the microcomputer 45. FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the embodiment. When the AC power source is turned on after the outlet is plugged in, the DC power supply circuit 39 and the reset signal generation circuit 26 operate, and the microcomputer 45
executes the program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, after turning on the AC power, turn on the microcomputer 4.
5 inputs the setting contents of the price setting switch 17 and stores the set amount in the RAM. 50 yen coin slot 48 or 100 yen coin slot 49.
When a yen coin or a 100 yen coin is inserted, it is detected by a signal from the 50 yen coin detection switch 23 or the 100 yen coin detection switch 24, and the RAM
Input amount: 50 (yen) or 100 in the memory contents
(yen) is added. The contents of the input amount memory and the contents of the set amount memory are compared, and if the input amount exceeds the set amount, the ``driving flag'' in the RAM is set to ``1'' and predetermined fully automatic operation is started. Incidentally, when a coin is inserted, the ``top cover open flag'' is ``0''. In the first water supply (first water supply), the following operation is performed depending on the setting of the water supply/hot water supply specification changeover switch 18. If the first switch is on,
“Additional specifications available” will be displayed depending on whether the switch is turned on or off.If the switch is on, the input amount will be 100 yen or more compared to the set amount, and if it is off, it will be 50 yen or more. Set the 'hot water wash flag' in RAM to '1'. When the switch is on and the 'hot water wash flag' is not set,
The microcomputer 45 sends an output signal only to the water supply drive circuit 36 and opens only the water supply valve. When additional coins are inserted and the 'hot water flushing flag' is set, when the switch is on, the specification becomes 'hot water valve only', and the output to the water valve drive circuit 36 is stopped and an output signal is sent to the hot water valve drive circuit 37. Open only the hot water valve.
When the 'hot water flushing flag' is set and the switch is off, the microcomputer 45 sends an output signal to both the water supply valve drive circuit 36 and the hot water supply valve drive circuit 37, opening both the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve. Inject water using "mixing". When the switch in Table 1 is off and there is no additional specification, the opening/closing status of the water supply valve and hot water valve will not change even if additional coins are inserted after the start of operation. If this is the case, an output signal is sent only to the hot water supply valve drive circuit 37, and if it is off, an output signal is sent to both the water supply valve drive circuit 36 and the hot water supply valve drive circuit 37, and water is supplied only or by mixing. When the first water supply reaches the specified water level, the liquid level switch 1 is turned on.
9 turns on, the output to the water supply valve drive circuit 36 and the hot water supply valve drive circuit 37 is cut off, the water supply valve and the hot water supply valve are closed, and the process ends. Moreover, since the above-mentioned additional insertion of coins has meaning only in the first water supply, once the first water supply ends and the washing process begins, hardening is not detected and the input amount memory is cleared. In the washing process operation, output signals are alternately sent to the motor right rotation drive circuit 33 and the motor left rotation drive circuit 34 with a stop time in between, and the pulsator is reversed for a predetermined period of time. When the washing process is completed, an output signal is sent to the drain solenoid drive circuit 35 for a predetermined period of time, the drain valve is opened, and the drain process is executed. When the draining process is completed, an output signal is sent to the water supply valve drive circuit 36, the water supply valve is opened, and the second water supply valve is operated until the liquid level switch 19 is turned on.
Execute the second water supply (second water supply). Next, in the first rinsing step (first rinsing), a rinsing operation is performed in which the pulsator is reversed for a predetermined period of time, similar to washing. After the first rinse is completed, an output signal is sent to the drain solenoid drive circuit 35, the drain valve is opened to drain water, and when the liquid level switch 19 is turned off, the top cover switch 20 is turned on, indicating that the top cover is closed. After confirming this, an output signal is sent to the motor clockwise rotation drive circuit 33 to perform dewatering operation (first drainage dehydration). 1st
During drain dehydration, if the top lid is open and the top lid switch 20 is off, dewatering will not be performed and the drain solenoid drive circuit 3 will be turned off when the liquid level switch 19 is turned off.
5 and waits for a predetermined time period for the first drainage dehydration to elapse. When the first waste water dehydration is completed, a third water supply (third water supply) is performed, and then a second rinsing step (second rinse) is entered. In the second rinse,
Similar to the first rinse, the pulsator is reversed for a predetermined period of time, but if the rinse changeover switch 21 is off at this time, an output is also sent to the water supply valve drive circuit 36, the water supply valve is opened, and the liquid level switch 19 is turned on. The water continues to be rinsed even when the water is injected. When the second rinsing is completed, the process moves to the final drainage dewatering step. During the final drain dehydration, users of coin-operated washing machines sometimes take out the laundry before the specified drain dehydration time has elapsed and end the operation early, or forget to close the top lid when operating the machine. I try to make it work. When entering the final drainage dehydration, the microcomputer 45 confirms that the top lid is closed and the top lid switch 20 is turned on, and then the drainage solenoid drive circuit 3
Send an output signal to 5 to open the drain valve. When drainage progresses and the liquid level switch 19 is turned off, an output signal is sent to the motor clockwise rotation drive circuit 33 to perform dewatering operation.
When the top lid is closed, the draining and dewatering time is always measured and the program is in progress. When the top lid is opened and the top lid switch 20 is off, no output signal is sent to the motor clockwise rotation drive circuit 33 and the drain solenoid drive circuit 35, and the dewatering operation is stopped. However, when the top lid switch 20 is turned off, the final If the remaining time of the drain dehydration process is 3 minutes or more, the drain dehydration time measurement operation will stop; if the remaining time is less than 3 minutes, the drain dehydration time measurement operation will stop even if the dewatering operation is stopped. I'm trying to keep going. This means that if less than 3 minutes remain in the drain spin cycle, the spin rate has reached an appropriate value that allows the laundry to be taken out, and the user should stop the spin cycle early and leave the top lid open. In that case, the timer operation will continue and the draining and dehydrating process will be completed, so that when the next user wants to do laundry, they can do it immediately without having to close the top lid and wait for the remaining time to dehydrate. This is to make it happen. In addition, if the top lid is open with more than 3 minutes remaining, it is assumed that the top lid has been open since before the final drainage/dehydration process started and has been forgotten to close, or if the remaining time is 3 minutes or more. This is because even if dehydration is being performed, it is assumed that dehydration has not been completed sufficiently, and the timing operation is stopped at the same time as dehydration, so that the program for the entire process does not end with insufficient dehydration. . Also, the liquid level switch 19 is turned off when the remaining time for drain dehydration is less than 3 minutes (if it is turned on, it is an abnormal situation such as the drain hose being clogged).
When the top lid is opened and the top lid switch 20 is turned off, the microcomputer 45 is stored in the RAM.
Set the top lid open flag' to ``1''. If a 50 yen coin or 100 yen coin is inserted while the 'top lid open flag' is set, regardless of whether the top lid is opened or closed,
The microcomputer 45 detects this with the 50 yen coin detection switch 23 or the 100 yen coin detection switch 24 and clears the contents of the RAM (the ``running flag'', hot water washing flag, and top lid open flag are also cleared). At the same time, the output is turned off and the program is returned to its initial state, that is, the coin detection state. This is also so that if the user finishes the spin cycle early and the washing machine is empty, the next wash can be done immediately even if the remaining spin time has not elapsed. It is convenient in some cases. (F) Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, since the opening of the top cover during the final dehydration step is differentiated between when the remaining time is longer than a predetermined time and when it is less than a predetermined time, it is convenient for the user to There is no need to worry about the entire program ending with incomplete dehydration, and even if a user finishes dehydration early and forgets to close the top lid, the next user can close the top lid and continue dehydration for the remaining time. The advantage is that you can use the washing machine immediately without having to do anything. On the other hand, for coin washing machine owners,
This is convenient because the number of times the washing machine can be used can be increased during business hours.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings illustrate the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view of the main body of a coin-operated washing machine, FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing the operation. 23, 24...Coin detection switch, 20...Top lid switch, 33...Motor clockwise rotation drive circuit, 3
5...Drainage solenoid drive circuit, 45...Microcomputer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. By inserting a coin, a program consisting of a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration is advanced. During the dehydration process, opening the top lid temporarily stops the dehydration operation and the program timing operation, and closing the top lid causes the dehydration operation to start. In coin-operated washing machines that restart the program timing operation, during the final spin process,
The control device for a coin-operated washing machine is configured to stop only the dewatering operation and continue the program timing operation when the top cover is opened before the remaining time is within a predetermined time.