Patent US4676077A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4676077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Washing machine
Assignee: MITSUBISHI DENKI NIHON KENTETSU CO Ltd KK
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Filing: 1986-02-20
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2006-02-20
Abstract
Abstract When it is detected that the motor for rotating the agitator of the machine is locked, the motor is turned in the forward direction and/or in the reverse direction a predetermined number of times. If the motor is still locked, an indicating unit is operated to indicate the occurrence of the abnormal condition. When the motor locked by an excessively large quantity of wash and the motor is not unlocked after the motor is turned in the opposite direction, the occurrence of the abnormal condition is indicated by an alarm unit. Therefore, the operator, informed of the presence of the abnormal condition immediately upon its occurrence, can rectify the problem, for instance, by decreasing the size of the washing load.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Hirooka
- 👤 Takeshi Saito
- 👤 Hirobumi Urabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:55
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F37/00; D06F37/30; G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; D06F37/304; D06F37/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A washing machine in which a rotary blade assembly in a wash-receiving tank is rotated by an electric motor, comprising: (a) motor locking detecting means for detecting when said motor is not turning although a motor driving instruction has been issued; (b) reverse rotation instructing means for applying, when a signal representing the fact that said motor has been locked is received from said locking detecting means, an instruction signal to said motor to cause said motor to rotate in the opposite direction; (c) means for detecting the fact that said reverse rotation instructing means has issued said instruction signal a predetermined number of times and to provide an output signal accordingly; and (d) means for indicating, when said number-of-times detecting means provides said output signal, the occurrence of an abnormal condition to an operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A washing machine in which a rotary blade assembly in a wash-receiving tank is rotated by an electric motor, comprising: (a) motor locking detecting means for detecting when said motor is not turning although a motor driving instruction has been issued; (b) reverse rotation instructing means for applying, when a signal representing the fact that said motor has been locked is received from said locking detecting means, an instruction signal to said motor to cause said motor to rotate in the opposite direction; (c) means for detecting the fact that said reverse rotation instructing means has issued said instruction signal a predetermined number of times and to provide an output signal accordingly; and (d) means for indicating, when said number-of-times detecting means provides said output signal, the occurrence of an abnormal condition to an operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking detecting means comprises means for detecting a rotational speed of said motor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said washing machine further comprises: an operating panel on which operating switches for controlling washing operations and indicating lamps for indicating operating conditions of said washing machine are provided, said indicating means being coupled to said indicating lamps and causing said indicating lamps to operate in a manner different from that employed when said washing machine is operated under normal conditions to indicate the occurrence of an abnormal condition in said washing machine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said indicating means comprises means for causing at least some of said indicating lamps to flicker in a predetermined order to indicate the occurrence of an abnormal condition in said washing machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor locking detecting means comprises means for detecting when a locking condition of said motor is eliminated by turning said motor in an opposite direction, and wherein said washing machine further comprises: returning means for causing, upon provision of a signal from said locking detecting means representing the fact that the locking condition of said motor has been eliminated, said motor to operate beginning from a start of a washing operation in which said motor was locked.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-29 | 1990-12-29 | 1991-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-29 | 1994-12-29 | 1995-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-29 | 1998-12-29 | 1999-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |