JPH035199B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

(a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a dehydrator having a dehydrating and rinsing process in which clothing is soaked with water and dehydrated by supplying water into a dehydrating tank. (b) Prior Art As a conventional example, there is a washing machine shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-29758. This is a centrifugal dehydrator that has a bottomed cylindrical shape or a bottomed cylindrical shape whose diameter is slightly larger at the bottom than the upper opening. The upper opening is covered with a dehydration cap having a cylindrical part in the center, and a rinsing water inlet is arranged above the cylindrical part of the dehydration cap, and spin rinse is performed by repeating the cycle of dehydration operation, dehydration stop, and water supply. This is a spin-rinse washing machine that is characterized by the following features: However, in this washing machine, the water supply time in the spin rinse process is set in advance according to the lowest water pressure that can be expected, and the water volume is not adjusted in advance.
This is a very time-consuming process, as the water must first flow into the washing tub, be adjusted, and then be transferred to the dehydration tub. (c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a dehydrator that is easy to use and allows easy adjustment of the amount of water supplied during the dehydration and rinsing process. (d) Means for solving the problems The present invention provides a dehydrator having a dewatering and rinsing step, which includes a water supply channel to a dehydration tank having a water supply solenoid valve;
The controller includes a switch for executing the dewatering and rinsing process, and a control device that controls dehydration, water supply time, etc. during the dehydrating and rinsing process, and the control device activates the execution switch when the top cover that covers the top of the dehydration tank is opened. When receiving an input signal from the water supply solenoid valve, the water supply solenoid valve is opened for a predetermined time or until the lid is closed. (E) Effect: When the top lid is opened, by operating the execution switch, water is immediately supplied for a specified period of time, during which time the water supply amount can be adjusted by eye, and after adjustment, the water can be dehydrated simply by closing the lid. It performs a rinsing process. (f) Examples Examples of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a two-tub washing machine in which a washing tub 3 and a dewatering tank 4 are arranged side by side in a machine frame 2, and a control box 5 is arranged at the upper rear part. A large-diameter chevron-shaped rotary blade (not shown) is disposed at the inner bottom of the washing tub 3, and rotates at a low speed during washing. A dehydration tank 6 with an upper opening edge 6a curled inward is disposed within the dehydration receiving tank 4. This dehydration tank 6 has dehydration holes 7 bored on its circumferential side, and is connected to a motor rotating shaft 8 to perform "dehydration" and dehydration by continuous clockwise rotation.
It performs "dehydration rinsing" by repeating the cycle of braking and stopping (water supply during braking and stopping). (Furthermore, stopped is a state in which the braking is completed and the power to the motor is cut off, and the motor may be rotating due to inertia.) Also, the motor 9 is connected to the machine frame 2.
The motor rotation shaft 8 is elastically supported by vibration isolating rubber 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a top plate fixed to the upper opening of the dehydration receiving tank 4, and has a clothing input port 13 which has approximately the same diameter as the upper opening of the dehydration tank 6 and faces from above. 14 is a plate-shaped safety cover that is pivotally supported within the control box 5 and opens and closes the clothing input port 13;
A large number of small holes 15 are bored in the bottom surface, and the clothes slot 13 is deeply recessed to approach the upper opening of the dehydration tank 6. Although not shown, the top of this safety cover 14 is covered with a dehydration top cover. Inside the control box 5, there is a dual switching electromagnetic water supply valve 17 for the water supply hose installation port 16.
A washing water supply channel 18 and a rinsing water supply channel 19 are provided, which communicate with each other via a water supply channel 18. The water supply channel 18 supplies water into the washing tub 3, and the water supply channel 19 faces the side wall of the safety cover 14 and is inserted into the cover. Supply water. The washing machine 1 washes in the washing tub 3, rinses if necessary, and performs rinsing and dewatering in the dewatering tank 4. In particular, when we explain the operation inside the dehydration tank 4, we first start with normal “dehydration”.
The dehydration tank 6 is activated by setting the timer.
Rotate clockwise at approximately 1400 rpm to perform centrifugal dehydration. In addition, during "dehydration rinsing", the rinse water supplied from the water supply channel 19 to the recessed safety cover 1.
4, and from there it falls accurately into the dehydration tank 6 through small holes 15, etc. Dehydration tank 6
The rinsing water inside the tub is directly absorbed by the laundry at the top of the tub, and then sequentially enters the middle section where it is absorbed. When centrifugal force is applied, the water absorbed into the laundry is discharged through the dehydration holes 7, and by repeating water absorption and dewatering several times in this way, the detergent liquid contained in the laundry is removed. It is diluted and so-called rinsed. Next, FIG. 4 is a front view of the control box 5, in which 20 is a finishing agent inlet, 21 is an overflow water level adjustment lever, and 22 is a drain valve operating button. 23 is a water flow changeover switch for changing the water flow intensity; 24 is a switch for switching the rinsing, which is normally performed on the side of the washing tub 3, to water injection rinsing, in which rinsing is performed while water is being poured; 25 is a switch for temporarily stopping the rotary blade and water supply; 26 is a washing/rinsing time setting and start switch on the washing tub 3 side, 27 is a start switch for an automatic course of dehydration rinsing → spin drying on the dehydration tank 6 side, and 28 is a dehydration time setting and start switch. In addition, each switch is equipped with display light emitting diodes 24a and 29 to 31 (hereinafter referred to as LED).
is attached. Therefore, in order to wash and rinse in the washing tub 3, the process time is first set using the wash and rinse switch 26. That is, each time this switch 26 is pressed once, the display section 32a displays 10 → 7 → 5 → 2 → 0 → 15.
→10→... (however, if the water flow intensity is "soft", the process time starts from 5), and at the same time, the water supply solenoid valve 17a leading to the washing tub 3 is opened and water is supplied. During this water supply, the set time is not subtracted, and when the water level switch is turned OFF and the water supply stops, the subtraction starts and the rotor blades are driven at the same time. If the water level switch does not turn off even after 15 minutes have passed after pressing the washing/rinsing switch 26,
It is determined that there is a drainage abnormality, the water supply is stopped, and the time display on the display section 32a is made to blink. If the water injection rinsing switch 24 is set, water is supplied into the washing tub 3 as the rotary blades are driven, and so-called water injection rinsing is performed. However, if the washing/rinsing process does not start even after a predetermined period of time has passed after setting the switch 24, that is, the washing/rinsing process does not start.
If the rinse switch 26 is not operated, the setting of the water injection rinse switch 24 is automatically canceled. This prevents the possibility that if you forget to release the water inlet rinse switch 24 and then perform the next washing process, the water will be supplied again and the detergent will be flushed out even though you have put in the detergent. This is to do so. When it is desired to stop the water supply to these washing tubs 3, the washing/rinsing time can be set to zero. Next, by setting the dehydration time with the dehydration time setting switch 28, dehydration is performed in the dehydration tank 6. That is, each time this switch 28 is pressed, the corresponding LED 31 lights up from 3 → 1 → 0.5 → none → 5
→3→…. Note that the washing, rinsing, and spin-drying times can be changed during the process, and the set times can be memorized by continuing to press each switch 26, 28 for 2 seconds or more.
From next time onwards, this memorized time can be displayed first. The display section 32 is composed of four digits and usually displays the time, washing and rinsing are displayed in the upper two digit display section 32a, and dehydration rinsing and dehydration time are displayed in the lower two digit display section 32b in minutes. . Time adjustment is performed by each switch 25, 26, 27. Figure 5 shows a block circuit diagram of the control section of this washing machine, where 33 is a microcomputer that is the center of the control section, and 34 is a display consisting of a group of LEDs that display washing/rinsing and spin-drying times, water flow intensity, etc. Circuit, 35 is water level detection switch on the washing tub side, 36
37 is a safety switch that is linked to the opening and closing of the dehydration top cover.
is an operation section composed of switches 23 to 28,
38 is a buzzer circuit, 39 and 40 are motor left and right rotation drive circuits, and 41 is a water supply valve 17 leading to the washing tub 3.
42 is the water supply valve 17b leading to the dehydration tank.
43 is a finishing agent inputting part, 44 is a dehydration tank 6
45 is a dehydration motor drive circuit,
46 is a motor current detection circuit which will be described later. The microcomputer 33 corresponds to a control device, and compares the signal from the motor current detection circuit 46 with stored reference values (t _A , t _B , t _C to be described later), and compares the signal with the reference value. It has a built-in load amount detection device that detects the amount of laundry or dehydrated material (hereinafter referred to as load) based on the results, and a calculation device that calculates the process time based on a predetermined time for this detected load amount. , the drive of a load such as a motor is controlled based on input signals from the various switches and the calculated process time. Now, the compounding is carried out by operating the rinse/dehydration switch 27.
Pressing 7 once will select the standard course (4 cycles of dewatering - braking (water supply) - stop (water supply) → adding finishing agent → 3 minutes of dehydration), and pressing twice will select the careful course (the above cycle will be repeated 5 times → finishing). Adding agent → dehydration for 3 minutes)
will be executed, and if you press it three times it will be canceled. The finishing agent injection is performed during the stop time, starting 5 seconds before the final cycle of dewatering and rinsing in each course, from braking to stopping. Here, as shown in FIG.
Upon receiving the opening/closing signal of 6, if the dehydration top lid is closed, the set course is executed immediately, but if the dehydration top lid is opened, the water supply valve 17b is opened before the course execution and water supply into the tank is started. This water supply time is 15 seconds, during which the user can adjust the water supply amount. The water supply valve 17b is opened after 15 seconds have elapsed, but even if the water supply valve 17b does not wait for 15 seconds, as soon as the top lid is closed, the water supply is stopped and the set course is executed. Currently, there are products that have a transparent window on the top lid that allows you to adjust the amount of water when the lid is closed, but this example allows you to adjust the amount of water when the lid is open, making it easy to see and making it easy to use when adding dehydrated material containing detergent. It is also possible to wash away detergents that have adhered to the surface. Immediately after each course is set and the motor 9 starts rotating, the microcomputer 33 receives the signal from the motor current detection circuit 46, detects the load amount, calculates the time corresponding to this, and calculates the time corresponding to this amount and the dehydration time. 3 minutes of the time are added and the lower two digits are displayed on the display section 32b. Note that the dehydration time can be changed using the switch 28. Further, this load amount detection is also performed during the normal dehydration process. The motor current detection means will be explained below. In FIG. 6, 47 and 48 are dewatering motors 9
It is a bidirectional thyristor connected to
do. The one bidirectional thyristor 47 constitutes a braking circuit that applies DC voltage to the dehydration motor 9 via a diode 49 to apply DC braking. Now, 50 is a current transformer, and a voltage proportional to the current flowing through the dehydration motor 9 appears on the secondary side, and this is converted into a DC voltage V _CT through a rectifier circuit 51 and a smoothing circuit 52. Generally, when the dehydration motor 9 is driven, a large current flows during startup, and as the motor 9 reaches steady rotation, the motor current gradually decreases to a steady current. That is, the V _CT has a characteristic as shown in FIG. 7. Here, the reference voltage V _REF is determined in advance, and this
A comparator 53 compares V _REF and the V _CT to obtain an output V _OUT . Figure 8 is a time chart of this V _OUT , and to explain it based on the solid line in Figure 7, V _OUT shows a High level (V _H ) after motor 9 is started, and when V _CT exceeds V _REF . It becomes Low level (V _L ). Then V _CT decreases and V _REF again
When V OUT becomes smaller than , V _OUT again shows the High level. Thus, the microcomputer 33 controls the motor 9.
The time T from the time of startup until the aforementioned V _OUT becomes High level again is counted. The time T naturally varies depending on the amount of load, and the larger the amount of load, the longer the time T becomes. In FIG. 7, t _A , t _B , and t _C are reference values determined using ideal large, medium, and small loads, respectively (t _A > t _B > t _C ), and the microcomputer 33 By comparing the time T with these reference values t _A , t _B , t _C , the load amount can be set in four stages, that is, a large amount of load (t _A ≦T),
Medium load (t _B ≦T < t _A ), light load (t _C ≦ T < t _B ),
A small load (T<t _C ) is determined. Here, 1 of the dehydration rinse at each load amount mentioned above.
The required cycle times are shown in Table 1.

[Table] However, the stop time in the final cycle of dehydration rinsing in each of the standard and careful courses, that is, the stop time when adding the finishing agent, was 55 seconds for each load. This 55
Seconds is sufficient time for finishing agents (fabric softeners, antistatic agents, laundry starch, etc.) to penetrate into the clothing at each load, but especially for loads other than 55 seconds. All you have to do is set the time accordingly. By setting this time, it is possible to obtain a uniform finishing effect even if the load amount changes. Now, when the microcomputer 33 determines the rank of the load amount, it quadruples the cycle time corresponding to this load amount (in the case of a careful course, it increases the cycle time by 5 times).
double), add the extended stop time for adding the finishing agent, convert it to minutes, add the dehydration time (minutes), and display it on the display 32b (for example, it is determined that there is a large load). If it is, the dehydration rinse time 540 + 10 = 550 seconds ≒ 10 minutes + dehydration time 3 minutes = 13 minutes will be displayed, and if it is judged as a small load, the dehydration rinse time 264 + 45 = 309 seconds ≒ 6 minutes + dehydration time 3 minutes = 9 minutes. ). Also, if you change to a careful course in the middle of the standard course, the time will be corrected by the additional one cycle and the display will be changed. Note that if a decimal term occurs during the calculation, it is rounded up and displayed in minutes, but when the number of seconds corresponding to this decimal term has elapsed, one is subtracted from the display. Based on this, the process of detecting the load amount in the dewatering and rinsing process will be explained based on FIG. 2. The dehydration and rinsing process is started by putting a load into the dehydration tank 6 and turning on the rinsing/dehydration switch 27. When the dehydration motor 9 is turned on, it will output for a while.
V _OUT shows high level and measurement is OK at this point
Measure time without setting the flag. Then, when the output V _OUT switches to the Low level, the measurement OK flag is set (time measurement is still being performed), and when the output V _OUT switches to the High level again, the time T up to that point is calculated. Reference value t _A , t _B ,
Compare with t _C to determine the rank of load amount. Thereafter, the dehydration rinsing process time is calculated from the cycle time corresponding to the determined load amount, and the dehydration time is displayed including the dehydration time. (G) Effects of the Invention The dehydrator of the present invention can adjust the amount of water supplied during the dehydration process with the top lid open.
Water supply status is easy to see and adjustment is easy. Furthermore, since the dehydration and rinsing process begins immediately after the top lid is closed, there is no need to wait until the predetermined water supply time has elapsed, making it possible to provide a dehydrator that is extremely easy to use.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a flowchart showing a series of water supply operations in the dewatering and rinsing process, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the load amount detection process in the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional front view of the main parts of a two-tub washing machine. Figure 4 is a front view of the control box, Figure 5 is a block circuit diagram of the control section, Figure 6 is a motor current detection circuit diagram, Figure 7 is a characteristic diagram of the output V _CT , and Figure 8 is the output V This is an _OUT time chart. 6... Dehydration tank, 9... Dehydration motor, 17b...
Water supply solenoid valve, 33...microcomputer (control device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a dehydrator having a dehydration rinsing step in which clothes are soaked with water and dehydrated by supplying water into a dehydration tank, a dehydration top lid that covers the upper part of the dehydration tank and a dehydration solenoid valve that includes a water supply solenoid valve are provided. A water supply channel to the water tank, a switch for executing the dehydration and rinsing process, and a control device for controlling dehydration, water supply time, etc. during the dehydration and rinsing process, and the control device is configured to control the execution switch when the top lid is opened. A dehydrator characterized in that when receiving an input signal from the dehydrator, the water supply solenoid valve is opened for a predetermined time or until the lid is closed.