Washing machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A washing machine comprising:
- an outer tub supported in a frame;
means for supplying water to said tub;
means for draining said tub;
a drum rotatably supported about a horizontal supporting shaft in said tub and formed with a plurality of bores in its peripheral wall;
means for rotating said drum;
sensing means including an overflow chamber formed in the wall of said tub and communicating to a drain pipe,a pair of electrodes placed in said overflow chamber for sensing foam generated beyond a permissible amount in said tub in washing the laundry and producing a signal representative thereof; and
control means for settling foaming in response to the foam sensing signal from said sensing means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A washing machine comprises a drum rotating device, a water supplying device, a draining device, a sensing device for sensing excessive foam generated beyond a permissible amount in an outer tub of the washing machine in the washing operation, and a control device for controlling the drum rotating device, the water supplying device and the draining device. In this washing machine, the sensing device would sense the abnormal foaming in the washing operation and inputs a foam sensing signal to the control device. Then, the control device forces the water supplying device to supply water in the tub and/or the draining device to drain the tub so as to settle the abnormal foaming.
76 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A washing machine comprising:
-
an outer tub supported in a frame; means for supplying water to said tub; means for draining said tub; a drum rotatably supported about a horizontal supporting shaft in said tub and formed with a plurality of bores in its peripheral wall; means for rotating said drum; sensing means including an overflow chamber formed in the wall of said tub and communicating to a drain pipe, a pair of electrodes placed in said overflow chamber for sensing foam generated beyond a permissible amount in said tub in washing the laundry and producing a signal representative thereof; and control means for settling foaming in response to the foam sensing signal from said sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
6. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said overflow chamber is formed with a drain outlet projecting upward and is also formed with an aperture positioned lower than said drain outlet and communicating with said tub.
-
17. A washing machine comprising:
-
an outer tub supported in a frame; means for supplying water to said tub; means for draining said tub; a drum rotatably supported about a horizontal supporting shaft in said tub and formed with a plurality of bores in its peripheral wall; means for rotating said drum; means for sensing foam generated beyond a permissible amount in said tub in washing the laundry; and control means for settling foaming in response to a foam sensing signal from said sensing means said control means acting to instruct said drum rotating means to stepwise increase operating time per unit time.
-
-
18. A washing machine comprising:
-
an outer tub supported in a frame; means for supplying water to said tub; means for draining said tub; a drum rotatably supported about a horizontal supporting shaft in said tub and formed with a plurality of bores in its peripheral wall; means for rotating said drum; means for sensing foam generated beyond a permissible amount in said tub in washing the laundry; control means for settling foaming in response to a foam sensing signal from said sensing means; and alarm means to alert a user that the foaming has been settled by supplying water in said tub and/or draining said tub, said control means acting to instruct said alarm means to give warning in response to a stored signal corresponding to the foaming having been settled, after the completion of the washing including washing, rinsing, hydroextracting, or drying operation.
-
-
19. A washing machine comprising:
-
an outer tub supported in a frame; means for supplying water to said tub; means for draining said tub; a drum rotatably supported about a horizontal supporting shaft in said tub and formed with a plurality of bores in its peripheral wall; means for rotating said drum; sensing means for sensing foam generated beyond a permissible amount in said tub in washing the laundry; control means for settling foaming in response to a foam sensing signal from said sensing means; and means for estimating the degree of the foaming based upon the length of period from a certain point of time to a point of time when the foam sensing signal is received from said sensing means, said control means acting to instruct.
-
Specification