Patent Publication Number: US-8117872-B2

Title: Signal inspection apparatus of commercial washing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0019035, filed on Feb. 26, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a commercial washing machine that requires the public to pay charges necessary to use the commercial washing machine. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Generally, a laundry machine is a machine that cleans clothes and bedclothes (hereinafter, referred to as “laundry”) through various processes, such as washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying, to remove contaminant from the laundry. Representative examples of the laundry machine include a washing machine and a drying machine. 
     Based on the purpose of use thereof, the washing machine may be classified as a household washing machine or as a commercial washing machine. The household washing machine is installed in a house for washing laundry belonging to family members residing in the house. On the other hand, the commercial washing machine is installed in a Laundromat for requiring a customer who wishes to wash laundry to pay predetermined charges necessary to use commercial washing machine. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a conventional commercial washing machine. 
     The commercial washing machine includes a machine body  1  forming the external appearance of the washing machine, a tub mounted in the machine body  1  such that the tub is supported by springs and a damper in a shock-absorbing fashion, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, the drum being provided at the outer circumference thereof with a plurality of water holes, a motor mounted at the rear of the tub for rotating the drum, and a control panel mounted at the front of the machine body  1  for allowing a user to select a function of the washing machine. The control panel includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) for controlling functions of the washing machine. The main PCB includes a power control unit for controlling the supply of power to a drive unit to be allowed or interrupted. Also, the commercial washing machine further includes a charge settlement device  2 , such as a coin box for allowing a user to deposit cash, for example a coin, as charges necessary to use the commercial washing machine or a card reader for allowing the user to settle the charges necessary to use the commercial washing machine using a credit card. 
     The commercial washing machine is installed in a public place such that customers jointly use the commercial washing machine, and therefore, an owner of the commercial washing machine makes a profit. Consequently, the commercial washing machine is designed and manufactured such that the commercial washing machine exhibits higher profit efficiency, stability, maintainability, and durability than the household washing machine. 
     Specifically, the commercial washing machine further needs a charge settlement device and a control algorithm for the charge settlement device. In addition, the commercial washing machine further needs an additional washing algorithm to maximize the profit of the owner of the commercial washing machine. Furthermore, it is required for the commercial washing machine to be manufactured in a structure in which the commercial washing machine is prevented from being damaged by the customer or components of the commercial washing machine are prevented from being lost by the customer, and, at the same time, the maintenance of the commercial washing machine can be very conveniently and rapidly carried out. 
     The commercial washing machine is constructed in a structure in which AC power is directly supplied to the machine body  1  Also, the charge settlement device  2  and the machine body  1  are connected to each other via ports such that a control signal related to whether the settlement has been made and the progress of washing can be exchanged between the charge settlement device  2  and the machine body  1 . 
     However, when the machine body and the charge settlement device are separately manufactured, and then the charge settlement device is mounted to the machine body, it is not possible to determine whether a control signal related to the progress of washing is normally generated from the machine body unless the charge settlement device is mounted to the machine body. 
     Consequently, it is required to mount the charge settlement device at the machine body in order to detect whether the signal from the machine body is abnormal, and, if the signal from the machine body is abnormal, it is required to separate the charge settlement device from the machine body before the machine body is inspected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a signal inspection apparatus of a commercial washing machine that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a commercial washing machine including a charge settlement device having a power control function designed to prevent unnecessary power consumption. 
     Meanwhile, when the commercial washing machine is constructed in a structure in which the charge settlement device having the power control function is mounted at the commercial washing machine, it is possible to confirm whether a machine body of the commercial washing machine is abnormal only after the charge settlement device is mounted at the commercial washing machine. Consequently, another object of the present invention is to provide a signal inspection apparatus of a commercial washing machine that is capable of inspecting whether a signal generated from the machine body is abnormal before the charge settlement device is mounted at the commercial washing machine. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a signal inspection apparatus of a commercial washing machine includes a connector configured to be connected to ports of a machine body of the commercial washing machine, through which the exchange of a signal between the machine body and a charge settlement device is achieved, and a display unit for displaying whether the signal inputted through the ports is abnormal. 
     Preferably, the display unit includes a light emitting diode. 
     Preferably, the display unit outputs a sound. 
     Preferably, the signal inspection apparatus further includes a resistance element mounted to the connector such that the resistance element is connected in parallel to the display unit. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a conventional commercial washing machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating the construction of a commercial washing machine according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating the connection of a signal inspection apparatus to the commercial washing machine according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the construction of the signal inspection apparatus of the commercial washing machine according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Hereinafter, the construction of a commercial washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The commercial washing machine includes a machine body  30  for performing washing, a charge settlement device  20  for settling charges necessary to operate the machine body  30 , and cables (not shown) for connecting the machine body  30  and corresponding ports P 5  to P 8  of the charge settlement device  20 . 
     The charge settlement device  20  preferably includes a power control unit (not shown) for controlling the supply of power to be allowed or interrupted. 
     If the power control unit is mounted at the machine body  30  of the commercial washing machine, it is required to continuously supply power to the machine body  30 , even when the commercial washing machine is not driven, in order to confirm whether a settlement signal from the charge settlement device  20  is inputted to the machine body  30 , with the result that power may be unnecessarily consumed. 
     Also, only DC current of a low voltage flows through the cables which interconnect the charge settlement device  20  and the power control unit of the machine body  30 . For this reason, there is a possibility that the cables may be easily cut, and a signal similar to a the settlement signal may be inputted, whereby the commercial washing machine may be used intentionally without the payment of charges necessary to use the commercial washing machine. 
     In this embodiment, therefore, the power control unit, which controls main power of the machine body  30 , is preferably mounted at the charge settlement device  20  such that the power can be supplied to the machine body  30  only when it is confirmed that the settlement has been made through the charge settlement device  20 . 
     In this case, it is not necessary to continuously supply power to the machine body  30 , and therefore, it is possible to reduce unnecessary power consumption. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the charge settlement device  20  from being cut, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the commercial washing machine from being used without permission. 
     At this time, the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30  transmit and receive settlement information and information related to the progress of washing through the ports P 1  to P 8 . An AC power source  10  may be configured such that power from the AC power source  10  is inputted to the charge settlement device  20 , and the power is outputted from a port Pout of the charge settlement device  20  and inputted to a port Pin of the machine body  30  depending upon the confirmation as to whether the settlement has been made. At this time, the charge settlement device  20  may perform a controlling operation such that, when a user inputs a washing start command, and therefore, an operation start signal is inputted to the machine body  30 , the power of the machine body is turned on by the power control unit, and, when all operations are completed, and therefore, an operation end signal is inputted to the machine body, the power of the machine body is turned off by the power control unit. 
     In the commercial washing machine with the above-stated construction, the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30  are assembled last. Before the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 , it is preferred to inspect whether the machine body  30  can normally transmit a signal related to the washing information or not. 
     This is because, when the abnormality of the signal system of the machine body  30  is detected after the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 , it is required to disassemble the charge settlement device  20 , which is troublesome. In particular, the charge settlement device  20  is securely fixed to the machine body  30  in order to prevent users from separating the charge settlement device  20  from the machine body  30  without permission. Consequently, it is preferred to perform the inspection of the signal system of the machine body  320  before the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 . 
     In this embodiment, therefore, an additional signal inspection assembly  60  is used to inspect the signal system of the machine body  30  before the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 . 
     Hereinafter, the signal inspection assembly  60  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view schematically illustrating the connection of the signal inspection assembly  60  to the commercial washing machine according to the present invention. 
     The signal inspection assembly  60  includes an auxiliary power supply unit  50  for supplying auxiliary power to the machine body  30 . 
     For a commercial washing machine constructed in a structure in which the power control unit is mounted at the charge settlement device  20  as in this embodiment, it is not possible to supply power to the machine body before the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 . Consequently, it is preferred to temporarily supply power to the machine body  30  through the auxiliary power supply unit  50 , at a signal inspecting step, such that the machine body  30  can be driven, and therefore, a signal can be generated from the machine body  30 . 
     In this embodiment, therefore, the auxiliary power supply unit  50 , while supplies DC power sufficient only to operate the control unit of the machine body  30 , is used through a directly connectable port. However, the above-mentioned auxiliary power supply unit is merely one possible example, and therefore, any kinds of auxiliary power supply units may be used so long as the auxiliary power supply units are constructed to auxiliary supply power. 
     Consequently, the auxiliary power supply unit  50  is connected to the machine body  30 , such that the power can be supplied to the machine body  30 , and the machine body  30  is driven to generate a signal related to a washing operation, even before the assembly of the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 . 
     On the other hand, the signal inspection assembly  60  includes a signal inspection apparatus  40  for inspecting a signal generated from the machine body  30 . 
     When the machine body  30  is driven by the auxiliary power supply unit  50 , the signal inspection apparatus  40  serves to inspect whether a signal is normally generated from the machine body  30  in a state in which the signal inspection apparatus  40  is mounted at the machine body  30 . 
     At this time, the signal inspection apparatus  40  is preferably configured to be coupled to the ports of the machine body  30  at which the charge settlement device  20  is mounted such that a signal is exchanged between the charge settlement device  20  and the machine body  30 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the signal inspection apparatus  40  includes inspection ports P 10  to P 13  corresponding to the ports P 1  to P 4  of the machine body  30 , which exchanges a signal with the charge settlement device  20 , for receiving a signal generated from the machine body  30 . 
     Hereinafter, the construction of the signal inspection apparatus  40  of the commercial washing machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     The signal inspection apparatus  40  includes a connector  41  coupled to the ports of the machine body  30  for receiving a signal from the machine body  30 , a light emitting unit or a display unit D 1  constructed to blink according to the signal received by the connector  41 , and a bias resistor R 1  connected to the light emitting unit D 1  for adjusting the magnitude of the signal. 
     Preferably, the connector  41  has the same construction as a connector included in the charge settlement device  20 . However, the above-mentioned construction is merely a possible example, and the construction of the connector  41  is not particularly restricted so long as the signal inspection apparatus  40  can be electrically connected to the ports of the machine body  30  by the connector  41 . 
     In this embodiment, the connector  41  includes a case  42  forming the external appearance of the connector  41  and constructed to be coupled to the machine body  30  and inspection ports  43  electrically connected to the ports of the machine body  30  for receiving a signal. 
     In this embodiment, the case  42  is formed in the shape of a box, and the inspection ports  43 , which are electrically connected to the corresponding ports of the machine body  30 , are fixed in the case  42 . At this time, the inspection ports  43  are fixed at positions corresponding to the ports of the machine body  30 . Consequently, when the connector  41  is fitted to the machine body  30 , the inspection ports  43  are electrically connected to the corresponding ports of the machine body  30 . 
     The signal inspection apparatus  40  is provided to inspect only whether the signal outputted from the machine body is abnormal or not, and therefore, the number of the inspection ports  43  is not necessarily equal to that of the ports of the machine body  30 . Consequently, the number of the inspection ports may be reduced according to the kinds of signals necessary to be inspected, among the signals outputted from the machine body  30 . 
     For example, when the number of the ports of the machine body  30  is 8, but the number of signals outputted through the ports of the machine body  30  is only 2, and the other ports are provided to receive signals outputted from other devices, the connector  41  of the signal inspection apparatus  40  may include a total of four inspection ports  43 . 
     At this time, the size of the signal inspection apparatus  40  is decided depending upon the number of the inspection ports  43 . Consequently, with the reduction of the number of the inspection ports  43 , the overall size of the signal inspection apparatus  40  decreases. 
     Here, the connector  41  may be made of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), which can be easily handled and is suitable for both an alternating current and a direct current. According to the present invention, the connector  41  is used at a low voltage, and therefore, the connector  41  may be made of nylon, which is inexpensive. 
     The display unit D 1  is preferably a light emitting diode, the power consumption of which is low; however, the display unit D 1  may have a lamp function that is capable of emitting light by the application of a low voltage, which is a control signal. Alternatively, the display unit D 1  may be replaced with a sound output element that is capable of outputting a sound, such that a user can be informed whether the signal has been received, if the function and the handling efficiency of the display unit D 1  are good. Also, the display unit D 1  may be constructed using a heat emitting element; however, the heat emitting element has high power consumption and is difficult for the user to detect as compared to other methods. 
     The bias resistor R 1 , which is a resistance element, may be used to distribute current such that excessive current is prevented from flowing to the display unit D 1 . Consequently, the bias resistor R 1  and the display unit D 1  are preferably connected in parallel to each other. 
     At this time, the resistance value of the display unit D 1  may be confirmed when the display unit D 1  is purchased or calculated by the measurement. Consequently, it is preferred to select a bias resistor R 1  having a resistance value efficient for a rated current to flow to the display unit D 1  in order to prevent the display unit D 1  from being burned due to overheating. 
     The signal inspection apparatus  40  does not perform the same function as the charge settlement device  20 . Consequently, when the signal inspection apparatus  40  receives a signal from the machine body  30 , the signal inspection apparatus  40  may inform a user of whether the signal has been received by emitting light or outputting a sound instead of supplying the AC power. 
     The user can determine whether the control unit of the machine body  30  has been driven merely depending upon whether the display unit D 1  has been turned on or off and confirm whether the signal system of the machine body  30  is abnormal by observing patterns in which the operation of the display unit D 1  is changed. 
     On the other hand, the signal inspection apparatus  40  may include an additional microprocessor. In this case, the signal inspection apparatus  40  includes a display unit for outputting a specific message depending upon the patterns of a signal inputted from the machine body  30 . For example, the message displayed on the display unit may be characters, such as “During washing” and “During spin-drying.” Alternatively, the message displayed on the display unit may be pictures, which attract the interest of the user. Consequently, the signal inspection apparatus  40  can more easily confirm whether a signal is normally inputted from the machine body  30 . 
     Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the commercial washing machine using the signal inspection assembly according to the present invention will be described in detail. 
     First, the machine body  30 , in which a washing operation for washing laundry is performed, and the charge settlement device  20 , which allows a user to deposit charges, are separately manufactured to constitute the commercial washing machine. At this time, the machine body  30  and the charge settlement device  20  includes ports, through which a signal related to whether money has been deposited or the contents of the washing operation is exchanged between the machine body  30  and the charge settlement device  20  after the assembly of the machine body  30  and the charge settlement device  20 . 
     Before the assembly of the machine body  30  and the charge settlement device  20 , a step of inspecting a signal is carried out by the signal inspection assembly in order to determine whether a signal is normally generated from the machine body  30  according to the washing operation. 
     At this time, the signal inspection assembly may include the signal inspection apparatus  40  and the auxiliary power supply unit  50 . As previously described, the signal inspection apparatus  40  is coupled to the ports of the machine body  30  for detecting a signal, and the auxiliary power supply unit  50  serves to supply power to the machine body  30 . 
     Specifically, the signal inspection apparatus  40  and the auxiliary power supply unit  50  are coupled to the machine body  30 , and then the machine body  30  is driven. After the machine body  30  is driven, whether a signal is normally outputted from the machine body  30  is detected by the signal inspection apparatus  40 . 
     At this time, the step of detecting whether the signal is abnormal preferably includes inputting the signal from the machine body  30  to the signal inspection apparatus  40  and displaying whether the signal is abnormal depending on the inputted signal such that a user is informed of whether the signal is abnormal. When no signal has been detected, the display step may not be performed or a specific indication informing the abnormality may be provided such that the user can easily recognize that no signal has been detected. 
     When it is determined that the signal system of the machine body  30  is normal, the signal inspection assembly is removed, and the charge settlement device  20  is coupled to the machine body  30  to constitute the commercial washing machine. 
     According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to inspect whether the signal system of the machine body  30  even before the charge settlement device  20  is mounted at the machine body  30 . Consequently, the present invention solves the inconvenience caused from the conventional art, in which, when an abnormality is inspected, after the charge settlement device  20  is mounted at the machine body  30 , it is required to separate the charge settlement device  20  from the machine body  30 . 
     As described above, this embodiment is applied to the manufacture of the commercial washing machine; however, this embodiment may be also applied to the inspection or repair of the commercial washing machine. 
     As apparent from the above description, the power control unit is mounted at the charge settlement device, and therefore, power is supplied to the machine body of the commercial washing machine after the settlement of charges is made. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of preventing unnecessary power consumption. 
     Also, it is possible to inspect whether the machine body is abnormal even before the charge settlement device is mounted to the machine body, Consequently, the present invention has the effect of solving inconvenience caused when the charge settlement device is separated from the machine body due to the discovery of abnormality of the machine body after the assembly of the charge settlement device and the machine body. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.