CN220846724U - Reflective foam sensor and washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses a reflective foam sensor and a washing device, wherein the reflective foam sensor comprises an emission light source, a receiving piece and a signal processing piece, wherein the emission light source is used for emitting detection light, and the receiving piece and the emission light source are both positioned on a first plane and are spaced from the emission light source by a first preset distance and are used for receiving light waves of the detection light reflected by foam; the signal processing piece is electrically connected with the receiving piece; the first preset distance is determined according to the fact that the receiving piece can receive light waves emitted by the reflecting surface which is spaced from the position right above the first plane by a second preset distance.

Description

Reflective foam sensor and washing device

Technical Field

The utility model belongs to the technical field of cleaning equipment, and particularly relates to a reflective foam sensor and a washing device.

Background

With the improvement of living standard of people, the demands and expectations of the washing devices are growing. Taking a washing device as a washing machine as an example, from the aspect of a washing process, the clothes treating agent contains various effective components, wherein the surfactant has the effects of stripping stains from clothes fibers and wrapping the stains to form micelles to assist the stains to enter a water body, is a core effective component of the clothes treating agent, and is also a main component of foam formed in the washing process. When a small amount of laundry treatment encounters a large amount of stains, the surfactant therein will be used completely for cleaning the stains and form droplets without generating foam, and the cleaning effect will be greatly impaired at this time due to the insufficient laundry treatment. The perception by the end user of the laundry device that laundry is free of suds also represents a risk of laundry being washed clean. When a large amount of clothes treating agent encounters a small amount of stains, a large amount of foam is generated along with the progress of the washing process, and the existence of the foam can generate resistance to the operation of the washing device, so that the electric energy is additionally consumed, the service life of the washing device is reduced, and the damage of the washing device and the damage of the service scene of the washing device caused by the overflow of the foam in more extreme cases bring trouble to users.

However, the foam sensor in the prior art cannot accurately distinguish the presence or absence of foam, or can only detect foam in the drainage and dehydration stage, and cannot monitor foam in the washing process.

Disclosure of utility model

Therefore, the utility model provides a reflective foam sensor and a washing device, and aims to solve the problems that the foam sensor in the prior art cannot accurately distinguish whether foam exists or not, or can only detect foam in a drainage and dehydration stage, and cannot monitor the foam in a washing process.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the present utility model provides a reflective foam sensor for detecting foam, including:

The emission light source is used for emitting detection light;

The receiving piece is positioned on the first plane with the emitting light source and is spaced a first preset distance from the emitting light source, and is used for receiving the light waves of the detection light rays reflected by the foam;

The signal processing piece is electrically connected with the receiving piece;

The first preset distance is determined according to the fact that the receiving piece can receive light waves emitted by the reflecting surface which is spaced from the position right above the first plane by a second preset distance.

Preferably, in the reflective foam sensor, the second preset distance matches a thickness of a glass door of the washing apparatus when the reflective foam sensor is installed in the washing apparatus.

Preferably, in the reflective foam sensor, the detection light is any narrow wave or broad band light from ultraviolet light to near infrared light.

In order to achieve the above object, the present utility model provides a washing device including the above reflective foam sensor.

Preferably, in the washing apparatus, the washing apparatus further comprises:

A housing;

the cylinder structure is arranged in the shell and is used for accommodating a piece to be washed;

The door body is covered on the cylinder structure; and

And the glass door is arranged on the door body.

Preferably, in the washing apparatus, the reflective foam sensor is mounted on a side of the glass door opposite to the cylinder structure.

Preferably, in the washing apparatus, the reflective foam sensor is installed at a right lower edge of the glass door, a side of the glass door, or a middle of the glass door.

Preferably, in the washing apparatus, the second preset distance is a thickness of the glass door.

Preferably, in the washing device, when the receiving element can receive the light waves emitted by the reflecting surface spaced from the first plane by a second preset distance, the maximum distance between the emitting light source and the receiving element is Lmax, and the first preset distance is less than Lmax.

Preferably, in the washing apparatus, the washing apparatus is a washing machine.

The utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

compared with the traditional foam detection scheme (such as a liquid level sensing scheme and a dehydration braking scheme), the reflective foam sensor provided by the utility model can monitor the foam in real time in the washing process and the rinsing process, so that whether the foam exists or not can be accurately distinguished, and the judging effect is matched with the human eye perception.

Furthermore, compared with the traditional detection method which can detect whether the foam overflows seriously only in the dewatering stage, the reflective foam sensor provided by the utility model can provide effective data basis for intelligent control of the washing process.

Further, compared with other foam detection technologies such as image recognition and thermal radiation temperature distribution sensing technologies, the distribution condition of the foam in the inner cylinder of the washing machine can be accurately analyzed, and the reflective foam sensor can realize the discrimination of the foam in a single position or not under the condition of lower cost.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings that are needed in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly described, and it is obvious that the drawings in the description below are some embodiments of the present utility model, and other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a part of a structure of a washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the reflective foam sensor of FIG. 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the reflective foam sensor of fig. 3 in a washing machine.

Reference numerals illustrate:

Reference numerals	Name of the name	Reference numerals	Name of the name
				1	Reflective foam sensor	4	Glass door
11	Emission light source	41	First position
				12	Receiving element	42	Second position
13	Signal processing element	43	Third position
				2	Barrel structure	44	Fourth position
3	Door body

The achievement of the objects, functional features and advantages of the present utility model will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in conjunction with the embodiments.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present utility model will be made apparent and fully in view of the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the utility model are shown. The utility model will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings in conjunction with embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments of the present utility model and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other.

It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like in the description and the claims of the present utility model and the above figures are used for distinguishing between similar objects and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order.

In the present utility model, unless otherwise indicated, terms of orientation such as "upper, lower, top, bottom" are used generally with respect to the orientation shown in the drawings or with respect to the component itself in the vertical, upright or gravitational direction; also, for ease of understanding and description, "inner and outer" refers to inner and outer relative to the profile of each component itself, but the above-mentioned orientation terms are not intended to limit the present utility model.

The utility model provides a reflective foam sensor for detecting foam, referring to fig. 1 to 4, the reflective foam sensor 1 comprises an emission light source 11, a receiving element 12 and a signal processing element 13, wherein the emission light source 11 is used for emitting detection light, and the receiving element 12 and the emission light source 11 are both positioned on a first plane and are spaced from the emission light source 11 by a first preset distance and are used for receiving light waves reflected by the foam by the detection light; the signal processing piece 13 is electrically connected with the receiving piece 12; the first preset distance is determined according to the light waves emitted by the reflecting surface, which can receive the distance from the receiving element 12 to the position right above the first plane by a second preset distance.

The reflective foam sensor 1 may be applied to, but not limited to, a washing machine, but for convenience of explanation, the reflective foam sensor 1 will be described below as an example of application to a washing machine.

Wherein the emission light source 11 may be any narrow wave or wide band light from ultraviolet light to near infrared light, and the radiation angle of the light source is stable wide-angle radiation; taking the application of the reflective foam sensor 1 to a washing machine as an example, the emission light source 11 may be a drum lamp or an ultraviolet germicidal lamp in the washing machine, and the arrangement of the emission light source 11 is not particularly limited herein. When the emission light source 11 is an external light source such as a drum lamp or an ultraviolet germicidal lamp in a washing machine, the reflective foam sensor 1 may be considered to include only the receiving part 12 and the signal processing part 13, so that the existing light source can be reused, and the cost of the reflective foam sensor 1 can be reduced.

The receiving element 12 may be a full-wavelength responsive photoelectric conversion device (photoresistor/photodiode, etc.) for converting the light waves reflected back from the received transmitting light source 11 into electrical signals. The receiving element 12 is arranged on the same plane as the emitting light source 11 and is spaced apart by a first predetermined distance, which is determined according to the intensity of the emitting light source 11 and the radiation angle, and the receiving element 12 is typically arranged in a circular area where the emitting light source 11 can radiate. The specific location of receiver 12 may also be determined by a method comprising:

Step S210, firstly, arranging the receiving piece 12 and the emitting light source 11 on the same horizontal plane;

Step S220, placing a light reflecting plate at a second preset distance right above the horizontal plane, wherein the light reflecting surface of the light reflecting plate is arranged towards the receiving piece 12 and the emitting light source 11;

in step S220, a glass having a thickness of a second predetermined distance is placed on the horizontal plane, and a reflective plate is placed on the glass, wherein the reflective surface of the reflective plate is disposed toward the receiving member 12 and the emitting light source 11.

Taking the reflective foam sensor 1 for use in a washing machine as an example, the second predetermined distance is determined based on a glass door 4 of the washing machine. The second preset distance is typically equal to the thickness of the glass door 4. When the reflective foam sensor is installed in the washing device, the second preset distance is matched with the thickness of the glass door of the washing device. In this embodiment, the second preset distance is 8mm-9mm. Preferably, the second preset distance is 8mm. The maximum distance between the light source 11 and the receiving element 12 when the receiving element 12 can receive the light wave emitted by the reflecting surface which is spaced from the position just above the first plane by a second preset distance is Lmax, and the first preset distance is less than Lmax.

In step S230, the receiving member 12 is moved until the receiving member 12 can receive the light wave reflected by the emission light source 11.

It should be understood that when the distance between the receiving element 12 and the emitting light source 11 exceeds the maximum distance that the emitted light wave can be received, the receiving element 12 will not receive the light wave reflected by the reflector. Therefore, the distance between the receiving member 12 and the emitting light source 11 does not exceed the maximum distance.

The signal processing element 13 is electrically connected to the receiving element 12, and is configured to amplify and output the electrical signal converted by the receiving element 12.

In a specific operation, the reflective foam sensor 1 can respond to the presence or absence of foam.

(1) When only air exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of the light beams of the light source are transmitted to the far place through the air without reflected light, the light signals received by the receiving piece 12 are light source side radiation light, the reading value is relatively stable in the detection process, and the reflected light intensity is weak.

(2) When no foam washing water exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most light beams of the light source are transmitted to a distance through the washing water, only a small amount of turbid substances in the water body scatter a small amount of incident light, the light signal received by the receiving piece 12 is the sum of the side radiation light of the light source and the scattered light scattered to the direction of the receiving piece 12, the reading value is relatively stable in the detection process, and the reflected light intensity is slightly higher than that of an air medium.

(3) When large non-rigid foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, the light beam of the light source is reflected by the surface film layer of the foam, the reflection angle is related to the existence form of the foam, the light signal received by the receiving piece 12 is the sum of the radiation light of the side surface of the light source and the reflected light of the foam surface reflected towards the receiving piece 12, the read value changes along with the digestion and displacement of the foam in the detection process, and the read value of the whole foam sensor is higher than that of a foam-free washing water medium.

(4) When the micro compact foam exists on the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, most of light beams of the light source are reflected by the foam surface film layer, and due to the micro compact foam, the reflecting position of the light source is closer to the surface of the reflective foam sensor 1, the reflecting direction is more concentrated, the light signal received by the receiving piece 12 is the sum of the light source side radiation light and the reflected light reflected by the foam surface towards the receiving piece 12, the reflected light intensity exceeds the upper limit of the signal of the receiving piece 12, and due to the relative stability of the micro foam, the reading value is a full-scale value and is maintained stable.

The reflective foam sensor 1 specifically determines whether or not there is foam and the type of foam, and may be determined by comparing the ratio of the reflected light signal received by the receiving element 12 to the signal of the emitted light source 11 with a set threshold, specifically may use a plurality of sets of known data to fit a specific threshold, and the like, and in other embodiments, may also determine the threshold according to the power of a driving motor in the washing machine, and the like.

In addition, when the reflective type foam sensor 1 is applied to a washing machine, the large foam means a foam having a diameter of 3 to 4 cm; the small foam may be a foam other than the large foam, and is not particularly limited herein.

Compared with the traditional foam detection scheme (such as a liquid level sensing scheme and a dehydration braking scheme), the reflective foam sensor 1 provided by the utility model can monitor the foam in real time in the washing process and the rinsing process, so that whether the foam exists or not can be accurately distinguished, and the judging effect is matched with the human naked eye perception.

Furthermore, compared with the traditional detection method which can detect whether the foam overflows seriously only in the dehydration stage, the reflective foam sensor 1 provided by the utility model can provide effective data basis for intelligent control of the washing process.

Further, compared with other foam detection technologies such as image recognition and thermal radiation temperature distribution sensing technologies, the reflective foam sensor 1 can accurately analyze the distribution condition of the foam in the inner barrel of the washing machine, and can realize the discrimination of the foam in a single position or not under the condition of lower cost.

In order to achieve the above object, the present utility model provides a washing apparatus including the above-described reflective foam sensor 1.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the washing device include all the embodiments of the reflective foam sensor 1 described above, and the beneficial effects of the reflective foam sensor 1 described above can also be applied to the washing device. Likewise, the embodiments of the washing device can be applied to the above-described reflective foam sensor 1, and the advantageous effects of the washing device can also be applied to the above-described reflective foam sensor 1.

The washing device may be, but not limited to, a washing machine, a cleaning station, etc., not shown here.

More specifically, the washing device further comprises a shell, a cylinder structure 2, a door body 3 and a glass door 4, wherein the cylinder structure 2 is installed in the shell and is used for accommodating the to-be-washed pieces; the door body 3 is covered on the cylinder structure 2; a glass door 4 is mounted on the door body 3.

The reflective foam sensor 1 is mounted on the opposite side of the glass door 4 from the barrel structure 2. At this time, the second preset distance is the thickness of the glass door 4.

In order not to interfere with other functions of the washing machine, the reflective foam sensor 1 is small in overall size, the installation position of the reflective foam sensor 1 determines the area where the presence or absence of foam is measured, and the reflective foam sensor 1 can be used to determine whether foam is generated in a radial irradiation area having an installation position of 1cm in the center.

The reflective foam sensor 1 can utilize the light transmittance and the water resistance of the glass door 4 of the washing machine, the reflective foam sensor 1 is installed on the surface of the glass door 4 opposite to the cylinder structure 2, and the reflective foam sensor 1 can be installed without installing a housing part.

Since the glass door 4 is a main observation position where a user judges whether foam exists during the washing process (the washing process is observed by lighting the down lamp, and the naked eye is observed when the clothes are taken out after the washing process is finished), the reflective foam sensor 1 is arranged at the position, so that the generation condition of the foam during the washing process can be well tracked. The light-shielding cover outside the glass door 4 is well shielded from ambient light and prevents ambient light from entering the receiving part 12 of the reflective foam sensor 1. When the reflective foam sensor 1 is installed at the door glass position of the washing machine, the communication line of the sensor passes through the door hinge and is connected to the main control board of the washing machine.

More specifically, the reflective foam sensor 1 may be installed at a position of a right lower edge of the glass door 4 of the washing machine, i.e., the first position 41, in which case as long as foam is generated during a washing process, the foam flowing along with a water flow flows to the right lower edge along the glass door 4 of the washing machine and stays so as to be detected by the reflective foam sensor 1, and is most sensitive to tracking of the foam generation condition during the washing process, i.e., can be detected as long as foam is generated in the inner tub, and can be used for determining whether foam exists in the inner tub of the washing machine, and supporting a main washing process laundry treatment agent replenishment of the washing machine or a tub foam emptying determination in a rinsing process.

The reflective foam sensor 1 can also be arranged at one side of the glass door 4 of the washing machine, namely the second position 42, foam generated in the washing machine in the washing process can reach the position in the gradual accumulation process of the door seal, and the reflective foam sensor can be arranged at the second position 42 to judge whether the foam accumulation position in the washing process reaches the horizontal line where the second position 42 is positioned or not, and is used for supporting the supplementary feeding of the laundry treating agent in the main washing process of the washing machine or the foam overflow judgment in the main washing process and the triggering of the subsequent defoaming treatment process or the foam emptying judgment of the inner barrel in the rinsing process. Since the lower edge of the glass door 4 is relatively close to the door seal, the clothes are harder to touch, and the foam detection at the first position 41 and the second position 42 can avoid signal interference caused by clothes rolling.

The reflective foam sensor 1 may also be installed in the middle of the glass door 4, i.e., the third position 43 and the fourth position 44, with the third position 43 and the fourth position 44 being arranged in the up-down direction, respectively. When the liquid level of the main washing process or the rinsing process is low, the reflective foam sensor 1 is arranged above the liquid level, the generated foam is mixed with the clothes in the washing process, is attached to the inner side of the glass door 4 through the tumbling action of the roller and is detected by the reflective foam sensor 1, and the result measured by the sensor in the installation mode needs to filter the interference of the clothes on the response of the foam through the filtering of signals; when the liquid level of the main washing process or the rinsing process is high, the sensor reflective foam sensor 1 can be selectively installed on the liquid level, clothes are immersed in the washing water, and foam floats on the liquid level and is sensed by the reflective foam sensor 1.

In addition, the reflective foam sensor 1 may be mounted on a rubber door seal side of a washing machine or the like when the housing portion thereof is mounted, and the mounting position of the reflective foam sensor 1 is not specifically shown.

It will be apparent that the embodiments described above are merely some, but not all, embodiments of the utility model. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, those skilled in the art may make other different changes or modifications without making any creative effort, which shall fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims (10)

1. A reflective foam sensor for detecting foam, comprising:

The emission light source is used for emitting detection light;

The receiving piece is positioned on the first plane with the emitting light source and is spaced a first preset distance from the emitting light source, and is used for receiving the light waves of the detection light rays reflected by the foam;

The signal processing piece is electrically connected with the receiving piece;

The first preset distance is determined according to the fact that the receiving piece can receive light waves emitted by the reflecting surface which is spaced from the position right above the first plane by a second preset distance.

2. The reflective foam sensor of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined distance matches a thickness of a glass door of the washing apparatus when the reflective foam sensor is installed in the washing apparatus.

3. The reflective foam sensor of claim 1, wherein the detection light is any narrow wave or broad band light from ultraviolet light to near infrared light.

4. A washing device comprising a reflective foam sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The washing apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

A housing;

the cylinder structure is arranged in the shell and is used for accommodating a piece to be washed;

The door body is covered on the cylinder structure; and

And the glass door is arranged on the door body.

6. The washing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reflective foam sensor is mounted on a side of the glass door opposite the barrel structure.

7. The washing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reflective foam sensor is mounted at a right lower edge of the glass door, a side of the glass door, or a middle of the glass door.

8. The washing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined distance is a thickness of the glass door.

9. The washing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the maximum distance between the light source and the receiving element is Lmax when the receiving element is able to receive the light waves emitted from the reflecting surface spaced a second predetermined distance directly above the first plane, said first predetermined distance being < Lmax.

10. The washing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the washing apparatus is a washing machine.