JPH07100113B2 - Drainage abnormality detection device for washing machines, etc. - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a tub and a drain valve, a dishwasher or the like, and drainage of a washing machine or the like for detecting drainage abnormality. An abnormality detection device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, in a washing machine, when draining water in a tub, a drain port, a drain valve or a drain passage such as a drain hose is clogged, or a user forgets to drop the drain hose. Even if the drain valve is opened, drainage abnormality may occur in which drainage is not actually performed, or even when drainage is performed, the amount of drainage is extremely small and the drainage time becomes excessively long.

Thus, in a washing machine equipped with a water level sensor and detecting the completion of drainage based on this water level sensor to close the drain valve, water distribution is completed even if a certain reference time is exceeded from the time when drainage is started. If the water level is not detected, there is one that detects an abnormality in drainage and drives an alarm. Even if the drainage is normal, the above-mentioned reference time may be relatively long. Therefore, the reference time is set longer in consideration of this.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) By the way, when the drainage abnormality occurs, the cause is
Usually, it is caused at the start of drainage operation. In other words, the clogging of the drainage path, forgetting to drop the drainage hose, etc. often occur before the start of the drainage operation. However, in the above-mentioned conventional drainage abnormality detection method, the detection of drainage abnormality is judged by the passage of a unique reference time.Therefore, even if the cause of drainage abnormality exists from the beginning of drainage operation, drainage abnormality is detected. It takes a long time to detect, that is, it always takes a long time to detect an abnormality of drainage, which causes a problem that the notification of abnormality of drainage is delayed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is not only to reliably detect a drainage abnormality, but also when the cause of the drainage abnormality has already occurred at the time of opening the drainage valve, an abnormality occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drainage abnormality detection device for a washing machine or the like, which can detect this early and notify the abnormality thereof without waiting for a reference time for detection determination to elapse.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) The present invention relates to a drain valve for discharging water in a tank, a water level detecting means for detecting a water level in the tank, and opening of the drain valve. Water level reduction degree detection means for detecting the water level reduction degree based on the water level detected by the water level detection means at the beginning of the start, and drainage abnormality is judged when the detection result by this water level reduction degree detection means falls below a reference value. A first determining means; a second determining means for determining a drainage abnormality when the detected water level does not reach the drainage completion water level and the opening time of the drainage valve exceeds a reference time; and the first determining means And an alarm drive means for driving an alarm when the abnormality is determined by the second determination means or when the abnormality is determined by the second determination means.

(Function) If the cause of the drainage abnormality such as clogging of the drainage route or forgetting to tilt the drainage hose has already occurred at the beginning of opening the drainage valve, even if the drainage valve is opened, the water level does not decrease or decreases. However, the amount of water level reduction per unit time is considerably small, in other words, the degree of water level reduction is lower than that during normal drainage. Thus, in such a case, since the water level reduction degree detected by the water level reduction detecting means falls below the reference value, the drainage abnormality is determined by the first determining means. Then, the alarm drive means drives the alarm based on this determination result, and thereby notifies the drainage abnormality. Therefore, if the cause of the drainage abnormality has already occurred when the drainage valve is opened, the drainage abnormality can be promptly detected and notified without waiting for the elapse of the reference time.

It is also possible that the cause of the drainage abnormality occurs during the drainage operation. That is, this corresponds to the case where the drainage path is clogged with laundry or foreign matter during the normal drainage operation. In such a case, a normal degree of change in drainage reduction is shown at the initial stage of opening the drainage valve, but since the detected water level does not reach the complete drainage level due to no drainage during that time, the valve opening time is the standard. After a lapse of time, as a result, the second determination means determines the drainage abnormality. Then, based on this determination result, the alarm drive means drives the alarm in the same manner as described above, and thereby notifies the abnormality. In general, drainage abnormality can be reliably detected regardless of the timing of the cause of drainage abnormality occurrence, and if the cause of drainage abnormality has already occurred at the time of opening the drain valve, it does not wait for the reference time to elapse. Abnormality of drainage can be detected quickly.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a combined washing machine for dehydration will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 2, 1 is an outer box of a washing machine for combined use of dehydration and 2
Is a water receiving tank, 3 is a rotating tank for washing and dewatering, 4 is a container-shaped agitator, 5 is a washing machine motor, and 6 is a mechanism portion including a speed reduction mechanism and the like. On the other hand, 7 is an electromagnetically driven water supply valve for supplying water into the rotary tub 3, 8 is an electromagnetically driven drainage valve for discharging water in the rotary tub 3, and both of these valves 7, 8 are Is a normally closed type and opens when energized. Reference numeral 9 is an air trap provided at the bottom of the water receiving tank 2, and one end of a pressure guiding tube 10 is connected above the air trap 9.
At the other end of the pressure guide tube 10 is a water level sensor located above the washing machine.
11 is connected. The air trap 9 converts the water pressure according to the water level in the water receiving tank 2 and thus the rotary tank 3 into air pressure,
The air pressure is guided to the water level sensor 11 via the pressure guiding tube 10. The water level sensor 11 outputs an electric signal (for example, a voltage signal) corresponding to the air pressure (depending on the water level). The water level sensor 11 and the A / D converter 11a shown in FIG. 1 constitute a water level detecting device 12 as a water level detecting means. Thus, the voltage signal output from the water level sensor 11 is a frequency pulse signal corresponding to the voltage level by the A / D converter 11a (the frequency signal is defined as f).
And the output frequency f is used as the detected water level. As shown in FIG. 3, the output frequency f of the A / D converter 11a increases as the water level in the rotary tank 3 decreases, that is, is inversely proportional. The output frequency f is supplied to the microcomputer 13 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 14 is a switch input circuit, which is provided with various switches such as a water level setting switch and a start switch, and provides switch input to the microcomputer 13 in response to switch operation. 15, 16 and 17 are washing machine motor 5 and water supply valve based on the control device from the microcomputer 13.
7. This is a drive circuit that connects and disconnects the drain valve 8 respectively. Reference numeral 18 is an alarm device including a buzzer, for example.

Now, the microcomputer 13 has a washing operation control program, and by its software configuration, executes a water supply process, a washing process, a drainage process, a rinsing process, and a dehydration process in a laundry operation according to a predetermined time sequence. Yes, depending on each stroke, the washing machine motor 5, water supply valve 7,
The drain valve 8 is appropriately drive-controlled via the drive circuits 15, 16 and 17. Then, in the drainage stroke, the abnormality of the drainage is detected according to the drainage abnormality detection program, and the software configuration thereof causes the water level reduction degree detection means, the first determination means, and the second determination means. It has a function as a determination unit and a notification drive unit.

The control contents of the drainage abnormality detection program are described below.
It will be described with reference to the flowchart in the figure. This drainage abnormality detection control program is executed in the drainage stroke after the selective operation is finished or in the drainage stroke after the rinsing stroke. At the “start” point in the figure), the water used for washing or rinsing is stored in the rotary tank 3.

Then, first, as shown in step P ₁ of FIG. 4, the output frequency f from the water level detection device 12 is read and stored. The content value of the frequency f at this time is f ₁ . Then step
Open drain valve 8, as shown at P ₂ , and step
The timing operation is started with the parameter t as indicated by P ₃ .
That is, the opening time of the drain valve 8 is measured. Then, as shown in step P ₄ , it is determined whether or not the valve opening time t reaches the sampling time ts which is a constant time value, and if it reaches, the process proceeds to step P ₅ and the output frequency f at this point Read (the frequency content value at this time is f ₂ ). Then, in the next step P ₆ , from this frequency f ₂ to the first frequency
By subtracting f ₁ , the water level reduction degree Δf at the sampling time ts is detected. In the next step P ₇ , it is determined whether or not this water level reduction degree Δf falls below a reference value fa for the water level reduction degree.

Here, in the case where the drainage path is clogged or the drainage hose has not fallen down, that is, when the cause of the drainage abnormality has already occurred when the drainage valve 8 is opened, Is not reduced, or even if it is reduced, the amount of reduction is small, that is, in step P ₇ , it is determined that the water level reduction degree Δf is less than the reference value fa, and as a result, drainage abnormality occurs. Is determined. When this determination result is obtained, the process proceeds to step P ₈ in accordance with the "YES" in step P _7, drives the annunciator 18 to notify the abnormal drainage Te following. Then, the process proceeds to step P ₉ to stop the washing operation.

If there is no cause of abnormal drainage, the water in the rotary tank 3 is discharged well, so the degree of water level reduction is large. Therefore, in step P ₇ , the water level reduction degree Δf is the reference value.
It is determined that it is equal to or greater than fa. In this case, the process proceeds to step P ₁₀ in accordance with the "NO" in the step P _7, the detection level output frequency f is determined whether reaches drainage ending frequency fe equivalent to the drainage ending level. If the output frequency f has not reached the drainage completion frequency fe, step P
₁₁ proceeds to the valve opening time t is determined whether reaches the reference time tk, the flow returns to step P ₁₀ if not reached. When the output frequency f reaches the drainage completion frequency fe, that is, when almost all the water in the rotary tank 3 is discharged, step P ₁₀
According to "YES" of, this drainage process is completed.

On the other hand, if there is no drainage abnormality cause at the beginning of the drainage process (beginning drain valve 8 open), when the drainage abnormality cause in the middle drainage stroke as raised, the step P ₁₀ and Step P
_{In the} time zone in which the closed loop R with ₁₁ is executed, the water in the rotary tank 3 is not discharged, or even if the water is discharged, the reduction amount is extremely small. Therefore, the output frequency f which is the detected water level is The valve opening time t reaches the reference time tk before the drainage completion frequency fe, which is the drainage completion water level, is reached. As a result, the process moves from step P ₁₁ to step P ₁₂ to drive the alarm 18 to notify the drainage abnormality. Then, the process proceeds to step P ₁₃ to stop the washing operation.

In addition, although the present invention has been described in the above-described embodiments by applying the present invention to a combined washing machine for dehydration, the present invention can also be applied to a two-tub washing machine, dish washing, and the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the description of abnormality, the present invention discloses a drain valve for discharging water in a tank, a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the tank, and opening of the drain valve. Water level reduction degree detection means for detecting the water level reduction degree based on the water level detected by the water level detection means at the beginning of the start, and drainage abnormality is judged when the detection result by this water level reduction degree detection means falls below a reference value. A first determining means; a second determining means for determining a drainage abnormality when the detected water level does not reach the drainage completion water level and the opening time of the drainage valve exceeds a reference time;
When the abnormality is judged by the judging means of 1 or the abnormality is judged by the second judging means, the notification driving means for driving the alarm is provided. Not only can the drainage abnormality be reliably detected and notified, but if the cause of the drainage abnormality has already occurred at the time of opening the drainage valve, the abnormality can be detected and notified early.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of a washing machine, and FIG. 3 shows a relationship between an output frequency of a water level detection device and a water level Figure, 4th
The figure is a flowchart showing the contents of the drainage abnormality detection control. In the figure, 3 is a rotary tank, 8 is a drain valve, 9 is an air trap, and 11
Is a water level sensor, 11a is an A / D converter, 12 is a water level detection device (water level detection means), 13 is a microcomputer (water level reduction degree detection means, first determination means, second determination means, notification drive means) ).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A drain valve for discharging water in a tank, a water level detecting means for detecting the water level in the tank, and a water level reduction based on the water level detected by the water level detecting means at the beginning of opening of the drain valve. A water level reduction degree detection means for detecting a small degree, a first determination means for determining a drainage abnormality when a detection result by the water level reduction degree detection means falls below a reference value, and the detected water level is a drainage completion water level. Second, the drainage abnormality is judged when the drainage valve opening time exceeds the reference time.
And a notification drive means for driving the alarm device when the abnormality is determined by the first determination means or when the abnormality is determined by the second determination means. Drainage abnormality detection device for washing machines.