JPH0338878B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention <Technical Field> This invention introduces washing water in a washing tub into a circulation waterway of a communication pipe and a conduction pipe formed below the washing tub, and prevents turbidity of the washing water in this circulation waterway. The present invention relates to a turbidity detection device for a washing machine that detects turbidity using an optical detection means.

<Summary of the Invention> In summary, this invention separates air bubbles from the washing water that is led to the optical detection means of the turbidity detection device of the washing machine by forming a container part in a part of the communication pipe, and This improves the detection function of optical detection means for detecting turbidity.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> In recent years, washing machines have been increasingly automated in order to simplify the work of users. A turbidity detection device for washing machines has been devised to further effectively advance the above-mentioned automation. As shown in FIG. 3, the turbidity detection device described above includes a part of a communication pipe 18 that communicates between the washing tub 1 and the drain port 17, and a communication pipe 5 that communicates the washing tub 1 with the washing water 2. It constitutes a circulation waterway. A photo sensor consisting of a light emitting element 12 and a light receiving element 13 is disposed facing each other in a part of the conductive tube 5, and the light beam from the light emitting element 12 passes through the window 14 and the washing water and is received by the light receiving element 13. be done. Further, a barrier 19 is disposed near the connecting pipe on the bottom of the washing tub 1, and during washing or rinsing operations, the washing water flows as shown by the arrow in the figure as the pulsator 3 rotates. At this time, the output of the light-receiving element 13 varies depending on the degree of contamination of the washing water flowing in the conductive tube 5. When the washing water is highly transparent, the output of the light-receiving element 13 is large, and when the washing water is turbid and has low transparency, the output of the light-receiving element 13 is large. The output of the light receiving element 13 also becomes smaller. Therefore, after starting the washing operation, the output of the light receiving element 13 decreases with time as shown in FIG.
When the dirt is completely removed from the laundry after a certain period of time and is diffused and suspended in the washing water, there is almost no change in the output of the light-receiving element and the dirt is in an equilibrium state. Conversely,
By detecting this equilibrium state, it is possible to know when the washing work has ended.

However, none of the above-mentioned conventional turbidity detection devices is designed to remove air bubbles generated in washing water by rotation of a pulsator during washing operations, and the air bubbles pass through an optical detection means disposed in a conduction pipe. At this time, the light rays from the light emitting element 12 are reflected diffusely, so the amount of light rays reaching the light receiving element 13 becomes too small or too large, and the output of the light receiving element becomes unstable as shown in Fig. 5, and the output value becomes unstable. There was a drawback that the equilibrium state could not be detected and the above device could not be used effectively.

<Object of the Invention> In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the object of the present invention is to effectively operate the optical detection means of the turbidity detection device of the washing machine and stabilize the output of the detection means, thereby facilitating the equilibrium state. An object of the present invention is to provide a turbidity detection device for a washing machine that can detect turbidity and realize automation of washing work.

<Configuration and Effects of the Invention> The present invention provides a communication pipe that communicates between a part of the communication pipe that communicates the washing tub and the drain hole with the washing tub, and allows a part of the washing water to flow into the washing tub. In a turbidity detection device for a washing machine, the turbidity detection device for a washing machine is provided with an optical detection means for detecting the turbidity of the washing water in a part of the communication pipe and returning the washing water to the washing tub via a communication pipe and a communication pipe. A container portion is formed by enlarging the cross-sectional area of a part of the portion extending downward from the washing tub on the front side of the connecting portion with the conducting pipe, and slanting the top surface with the communicating pipe side facing upward. It is characterized by

With the above configuration, air bubbles in the washing water can be collected in the container section in front of the optical detection means, and the collected air bubbles can be easily returned to the washing tub through the connecting pipe extending downward from the washing tub.
Only the washing water that does not contain air bubbles can be passed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the optical detection means. Therefore, diffuse reflection due to air bubbles can be prevented, and instability in the output of the light emitting element caused by this can be prevented, and the end of the washing process can be easily detected, effectively realizing automation of the washing process. can do.

<Example> FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a turbidity detection device for a washing machine as an example of the present invention.

A communication pipe 18 is provided that communicates the lower surface of the washing tub 1 with a drain port 17, and above the drain port 17 is a drain valve having a valve body 6 and an elastic body 7 that biases the valve body 6 in the direction of arrow B. 9 is provided. A portion of the communication pipe 18 extends vertically downward from the washing tub. A communication pipe 5 is disposed between a part of the communication pipe 18 and the washing tub 1 to communicate the two.
A part of the conduction pipe 5 has window portions 14 facing each other.
A light emitting element 12 and a light receiving element 13 of a photo sensor are disposed inside each of them.
A photo sensor consisting of the light receiving element 12 and the light emitting element 13 is an optical detection means. A rod 16 is fixed to the valve body 6, and this rod 16
A sponge 15 that comes into contact with the surface of the window portion 14 is fixed to the end portion of the window portion 14 . An actuator 11 of a solenoid 10 is engaged with a rod 8 fixed to the side surface of the valve body 6 on the elastic body 7 side. With the above configuration, when the washing water 2 is drained, the solenoid 10 is turned on and the actuator 11 is moved in the direction of arrow A. The above operation moves the valve body 6 in the direction of arrow A, opening the space between the communication pipe 18 and the drain port 17.
When the drain operation is completed, the solenoid 10 is turned off, and the elastic force of the elastic body 7 in the direction of arrow B moves the valve body 6 to close the space between the communication pipe 18 and the drain port 17. As the valve body 6 moves in the direction of arrow A or B, the sponge 15 also moves in the direction of arrow A or B and slides on the window 14 to clean the window surface so that optical detection by the photo sensor can be performed normally. Make it.

In the communication pipe 18, the cross-sectional area of the part extending vertically downward from the washing tub and on the front side of the connection part with the conduction pipe 5 is enlarged, and the container part 20
is formed. The upper surface of this container portion 20 is inclined with the communicating pipe 18 side facing upward. Further, a barrier 19 is fixed on the bottom surface of the washing tub 1 near the connecting pipe 18 to effectively allow the washing water to flow into the connecting pipe 18 as the pulsator 3 rotates.

With the above-mentioned configuration, during the washing operation, the pulsator 3 rotates, and the washing water 2 circulates within the communication pipe 18 and the conduction pipe 5 as shown by the arrows in the figure. Air bubbles 21 generated in the washing water during the washing operation remain in the container part 20 when passing through the communication pipe 18,
The liquid passes along the sloped upper surface of the washing tub 1 and returns to the washing tub 1 through a communication pipe 18 extending vertically downward from the washing tub 1, and only liquid flows into the communication pipe 5. Therefore, the light beam from the light emitting element 12 reaches the light receiving element 13 without being diffusely reflected by bubbles, and the output of the light receiving element 13 is stabilized. Air bubbles 2 remaining in the container part 20
2 will gradually grow larger. The upper surface of the container part 20 is sloped with the communicating pipe 18 side facing upward, and the grown air bubbles pass through the communicating pipe 18 to the washing tub 1.
is exhausted to the outside.

FIGS. 2A to 2C show another embodiment of the container section of the turbidity detection device for the washing machine.

As shown in FIG. 2A, connecting conduits 18 and 18'
are arranged eccentrically above and below the container portion 20. The above configuration allows the bubbles 21 to remain in the container portion 20 more effectively.

What is shown in FIG. 2B is one in which barrier plates 23 and 24 are disposed within the container section 20 shown in FIG. 2A. The above configuration makes it possible to more effectively prevent air bubbles from remaining in the container portion 20 and prevent them from flowing into the lower communicating pipe 18'.

In FIG. 2C, a barrier plate 23 is also used. As shown in the same figure, the effect of remaining air bubbles can also be improved by disposing the barrier plate 23 in the container section 20 having the structure shown in FIG. 1.

As described above, according to the present invention, air bubbles generated in the washing liquid remain in the container to prevent them from flowing into the position where the optical detection means is disposed, and to prevent diffuse reflection of light from the light emitting element. , it is possible to stabilize the output of the light receiving element.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the schematic structure of a turbidity detection device for a washing machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
C is a diagram showing another embodiment of the container portion constituting a part of the turbidity detection device for the washing machine, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the schematic structure of the conventional turbidity detection device for the washing machine, and FIG. 5 and 5 are graphs showing changes over time in the output of the light-receiving element of the optical detection means that constitutes a part of the turbidity detection device of the washing machine. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Washing tub, 5...Conducting pipe, 12...Light emitting element, 13...Light receiving element, 18...Communicating pipe, 20...
...Container section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A communication pipe is provided that communicates between a part of the communication pipe that communicates the washing tub and the drain hole with the washing tub,
A part of the washing water is returned from the washing tub to the washing tub via a communication pipe and a conduction pipe, and a part of the communication pipe is equipped with optical detection means for detecting the turbidity of the washing water. In the water temperature detection device, the cross-sectional area is enlarged at a part of the portion of the connecting pipe extending downward from the washing tub on the near side of the connecting portion with the conducting pipe, and the upper surface is arranged so that the connecting pipe side is upward. A turbidity detection device for a washing machine formed with an inclined container section.