JP2001038095A - Detergent dissolving device and washing machine having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detergent dissolving device capable of well dissolving a detergent and a washing machine having the same. SOLUTION: The container 34 housing the detergent A is supported freely vibrationally by means of an elastic body 35, such as a spring. As a result, the detergent housed in the container 34 is scraped up by the water poured from a watering port 41 and is dissolved, simultaneously with which the container 34 is vertically and laterally vibrated by the water pressure of the poured water and, therefore, the detergent is stirred and the dissolution is further accelerated, by which the detergent remaining without being dissolved is eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a detergent dissolving apparatus for dissolving a detergent to be used for washing in water, and a washing machine having the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water (washing water) containing a detergent and laundry are stored in a washing tub 5 and a pulsator 17 disposed in the washing tub 5 is rotated to stir the laundry and the washing water. A washing machine that performs washing is known. In such a washing machine, a laundry detergent is used.

[0003]

However, depending on the timing at which the detergent is introduced into the washing tub, the detergent may not be dissolved well, and therefore the laundry may not be sufficiently stained. In other words, if the detergent is sufficiently dissolved in the water stored in the washing tub, and then the laundry is put in and the laundry is started, the detergent does not remain undissolved. Can be. On the other hand, if the laundry is first put into the washing tub, and then water and detergent are added and washing is started, the water and the detergent do not mix well. Detergent may not dissolve in water. In particular, when the detergent is in the form of powder or granules, it may take time to dissolve in water, or a part of the detergent may remain without being dissolved in water.

[0004] The amount of detergent used for washing is appropriately determined according to the amount of laundry and water so as to sufficiently remove stains from the laundry. And can not wash the laundry clean.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent dissolving apparatus capable of satisfactorily dissolving a detergent and a washing machine having the same.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A container having a detergent storage portion, a water inlet for injecting water from above the storage portion, and an outlet for discharging washing water in which the detergent is dissolved by the injected water, so that the container vibrates by the force of the injected water. A detergent dissolving apparatus characterized in that a container is supported by an elastic body.

According to the above construction, when water is injected into the container from the water inlet, the detergent is mixed into the water by the force of the water, stirred and dissolved, but at the same time, the container is elastically moved by the water pressure at that time. Vibrates vertically and horizontally because it is mounted via Thereby, the detergent and water in the container are further stirred, so that the dissolution can be promoted more effectively.

A second aspect of the present invention is a detergent dissolving apparatus characterized in that a flexible member is used in a part of a water channel leading to a water inlet and an outlet.

According to the configuration of claim 2, it is possible to reduce the restraint of the vibration of the container due to the water pressure at the time of water injection,
Dissolution is promoted more effectively.

A third aspect of the present invention is a detergent dissolving apparatus characterized in that an air mixing device is provided in the middle of a water channel leading to a water inlet, and air is mixed into water injected from the water inlet.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when air is mixed into the water poured into the detergent, fine bubbles are generated in the water injected from the water inlet. For this reason, the detergent is crushed by fine bubbles contained in the water and is quickly dissolved in the water.
In addition, since water injected from the injection port contains bubbles,
No detergent left over adheres to the container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the detergent dissolving apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects is an apparatus for an electric washing machine, wherein a water channel leading to a water inlet of the detergent dissolving apparatus is a washing machine. The washing machine is connected to a water supply device for supplying water to a washing tub of the machine, and the water in which the detergent is dissolved is supplied to the washing tub through an outlet.

According to the structure of claim 4, the water channel leading to the water inlet is connected to a water supply device for supplying water to the washing tub of the washing machine, and the water in which the detergent is dissolved by the detergent dissolving device is used. , Supplied to the washing tub.

For this reason, the water sent from the water supply device is poured into the detergent dissolving device from the water inlet, and the detergent is dissolved in the water without remaining undissolved, and the water in which the detergent is sufficiently dissolved is supplied to the washing tub. Is done. Therefore, an appropriate amount of detergent according to the amount of laundry and water can be dissolved in water, and the laundry can be washed cleanly.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a simplified configuration of a fully automatic washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this fully automatic washing machine, the remaining water in the bath can be used as washing water.

This fully automatic washing machine has a box-shaped exterior 1 having an opening on the upper surface. An upper cover 2 for opening and closing an opening on the upper surface is attached to the upper surface of the exterior 1.
An operation panel 3 is arranged on the upper surface of the exterior 1. An operation start switch 3a and the like for starting a washing operation are arranged on the operation panel 3. Inside the exterior 1, an outer tub 4 for storing washing water is suspended by a suspension rod (not shown) with a spring. In the outer tub 4, a washing tub 5 for storing laundry is provided. It is provided rotatably.

Above the outer tub 4, a washing water supply unit 6 for supplying washing water used for washing to the washing tub 5 is provided. A tap water hose 7 and a bath water hose 8 are connected to the washing water supply unit 6. Tap water from a water supply system 9 is supplied through the tap water hose 7, and the bath water is supplied through the bath water hose 8. Water is being supplied.

The washing water supply unit 6 dissolves a detergent in tap water supplied from a tap water hose 7 and bath water supplied from a bath water hose 8, and supplies tap water or bath water in which the detergent is dissolved into a water supply port. It supplies from 10 to the washing tub 5. The washing water supplied to the washing tub 5 is stored in the outer tub 4 through a number of small holes formed in the washing tub 5.

At the bottom of the outer tub 4, a drain port 11 for discharging the washing water stored in the outer tub 4 to the outside of the exterior 1 is formed. A drain pipe 12 extending outside the exterior 1 is connected to the drain port 11. A drain valve 13 composed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 12.

By closing the drain valve 13, the washing water supplied through the washing water supply unit 6 is stored in the outer tub 4. When the drain valve 13 is opened, the washing water is stored in the outer tub 4. The washing water thus drained is drained out of the exterior 1 through the drain pipe 12. An air trap 14 is provided at one corner of the bottom of the outer tank 4. The air trap 14 is connected to a water level sensor 15 provided above the exterior 1 by an air hose 1.
6 are connected.

As the water level in the outer tub 4 rises, washing water also enters the air trap 14, and the air in the air trap 14 is compressed. Conversely, when the wash water is drained from the outer tub 4, the air pressure in the air trap 14 decreases as the level of the wash water in the outer tub 4 decreases. Water level sensor 15
Detects the water level in the outer tub 4 based on such a change in the air pressure in the air trap 14.

The washing tub 5 also serves as a dehydration tub, and has a number of fine dehydration holes (small holes) formed around it. At the bottom of the washing tub 5, a pulsator 17 for stirring the washing water to generate a water flow is provided. The washing tub 5 and the pulsator 17 are rotatably supported by an output shaft 19 of a bearing 18 provided below the outer tub 4.

A motor 20 is further provided below the outer tub 4.
The power is transmitted to the bearing 18 via the belt 22 and the bearing pulley 23.

The bearing 18 has a built-in clutch so that the washing tub 5 and the pulsator 17 can be driven individually, and the output shaft 19 of the bearing 18 is a double shaft. For example, at the time of washing and rinsing, the rotational force of the motor 20 is transmitted to the pulsator 17 via the bearing 18, the pulsator 17 rotates forward and reverse, and a water flow is generated in the washing tub 5. At the time of spin-drying, the rotational force of the motor 20 is transmitted to both the washing tub 5 and the pulsator 17, and both the washing tub 5 and the pulsator 17 rotate in one direction at high speed, and the laundry in the washing tub 5 is dehydrated by centrifugal force. Is done.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a water channel of the washing water supply unit 6. First, tap water is injected into the detergent dissolving device 27 from the tap water supply 9 through the tap water hose 7 through the water supply valve 24, the check valve 25, and the water supply path of the merging flow path 26 in the washing water supply unit 6. The tap water dissolves the detergent stored in advance in the detergent dissolving device 27, and serves as washing water from the water supply port 10 to the washing tub 5.
Supplied within.

Further, bath water (not shown) in the bathtub is sucked by a bath water pump 29 through the bath water hose 8 after the strainer 28 at the tip of the bath water hose 8 is put into the bathtub. The suctioned bath water is supplied to the check valve 30,
Through 6, water is injected into the detergent dissolving device 27. The bath water dissolves the detergent in the detergent dissolving device 27 and is supplied from the water inlet 10 into the washing tub 5 as washing water.

The check valve 25 is used to prevent the bath water from flowing back toward the water supply valve 24 when the bath water pump 29 is operated. It is provided to prevent this.

The bath water pump 29 is connected to one end of a priming water channel 31 for supplying priming water required at the time of starting, and the other end of the priming water channel 31 is connected to the water supply valve 24. The water supply valve 24 is formed of, for example, a three-way valve. By switching the water supply valve 24, tap water can be supplied to the detergent dissolving device 27 or supplied to the bath water pump 29 as priming water.

Further, the washing water supply section 6 has an air mixing device 3 for mixing air into tap water or bath water.
2 are provided. This air mixing device 32 has an air supply tube 33 having one end connected in the middle of the merging channel 26.
Are connected to each other. The air mixing device 32 is configured by, for example, an electromagnetic pump, and mixes air into tap water or bath water immediately before being injected into the detergent dissolving device 27 via an air supply tube 33.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration example of the detergent dissolving device 27. The detergent dissolving device 27 includes a container 34 for storing the detergent A, and is attached to the washing water supply unit 6 via a spring 35.

The container 34 comprises a container body 36 and a lid 37. The container body 36 is a cylindrical body having a bottom surface 36a. The bottom surface 36a is a detergent accommodating portion, and is provided with an outlet 38 for discharging the washing water in which the detergent A is dissolved into the washing tub. The outlet 38 is a pipe extending upward and downward from substantially the center of the bottom surface 36a. A small hole 38a for discharging residual water accumulated in the container body 36 is provided near the bottom surface 36a of the outlet 38. Are provided. A flexible outlet hose 39 having a bellows structure is connected to the lower end of the outlet 38.

Although not shown, the other end of the outlet hose 39 is connected to the water supply port 10. A lid 37 is screwed into an opening 36b formed on the upper surface of the container body 36 via an O-ring 40. A water inlet 41 is provided on the upper surface 37 a of the lid 37. The water inlet 41 is provided on the upper surface 37 a
The pipe extends upward and downward from substantially the center of the pipe, and the lower part of the water inlet 41 is curved obliquely.

Above the water inlet 41, a hook groove 41a for hooking the magic joint 42 is formed.
A magic joint 42 is detachably attached. A flexible connection hose 43 having a bellows structure is connected to the magic joint 42. Connection hose 4
The other end of 3 is connected to the merge channel 26.

With the above configuration, the user first removes the magic joint 42 from the lid 37, and then turns the lid 37 counterclockwise to remove it from the container body 36. The detergent A in an amount corresponding to the amount of the laundry to be washed is put into the opened container body 36. At this time, the detergent is applied to the bottom 3
6a.

The lid 37 and the upper surface 36 of the container body 36
The cover 37 is screwed clockwise with the O-ring 40 interposed therebetween in order to secure a seal between the container b and the container 37. After that, the magic joint 42 is attached to the lid 37.

When the washing operation of the fully automatic washing machine is started, tap water or bath water injected from the water inlet 41 hits the inner peripheral surface of the container body 36 and falls downward while rotating around the peripheral surface. Scrub detergent A. The scraped-up detergent is mixed with water, stirred and dissolved, but at the same time, the water pressure at that time causes the container 34 supported by the spring 35 to vibrate vertically and horizontally, so that the detergent is stirred and the dissolution is further promoted. Is done. Then, the washing water can be supplied into the washing tub without remaining undissolved.

Since the outlet hose 39 and the connection hose 43 use flexible members and have a bellows structure, the vibration of the detergent dissolving device 27 is restrained from being restrained at the time of pouring water. Thereby, the stirring power can be increased and the dissolution can be promoted.

Further, the air mixed into the tap water or bath water by the air mixing device 32 becomes fine bubbles and is injected into the container 34. And the detergent A in the container 34
Is crushed by fine air bubbles contained in injected tap water or bath water, and rapidly dissolves in water.

[0039]

According to the present invention, as described above, the detergent in the container can be dissolved in tap water or bath water without remaining undissolved and supplied to the washing tub as washing water.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the configuration of a fully automatic washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a water channel configuration of a washing water supply unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the configuration of the detergent dissolving apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exterior 2 Top lid 4 Outer tub 5 Wash tub 6 Washing water supply part 27 Detergent dissolving device 32 Air mixing device 34 Container 35 Spring 36 Container main body 37 Cover 38 Outlet 41 Water inlet A Detergent

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container having a detergent storage portion, a water inlet for injecting water from above the storage portion, and an outlet for discharging washing water in which the detergent is dissolved by the injected water. A detergent dissolving device, wherein the container is supported by an elastic body so that the container vibrates. 2. The detergent dissolving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container is constructed in a closed state, and a flexible member is provided on at least a part of a water channel leading to a water inlet and an outlet. 3. The detergent dissolving device according to claim 1, wherein an air mixing device is provided in the middle of a water channel leading to the water inlet, and air is mixed into water injected from the water inlet. 4. The detergent dissolving device according to claim 1, wherein the detergent dissolving device is a device for an electric washing machine. The washing machine is connected to a water supply device for supplying the washing water, and the washing water in which the detergent is dissolved is supplied to the washing tub through an outlet.