JP2001300180A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hardly transmit the vibration of an outer tub in a dehydrating process to a case body, to easily feed clothes by increasing the size of an inner lid disposed on the outer tub and to improve handleability in a washing and drying machine capable of consistently conducting washing to drying. SOLUTION: An inner tub 30 provided with a rotation center axis in a vertical direction is freely rotatably supported inside the outer tub 25 elastically suspended inside the case body 24, a rotary blade 32 is freely rotatably arranged on the inner bottom part of the inner tub 30, the inner tub 30 or the rotary blade 32 is driven by a motor 27, air from a blower 35 for circulation is heated by a heater 36 and blown into the inner tub 30 and cooling air is introduced from the outside into the case body 24 by the blower for cooling. The upper surface of the outer tub 25 is covered with an outer tub cover 38 provided with a freely openable and closable inner lid 39 and a circulation bellows hose 42 connected to a circulation air passage 41a and a water supply bellows hose 40 for supplying water are closely arranged side by side in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the outer tub cover 38.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine having a process of drying laundry by blowing warm air into an inner tub, and capable of performing washing to drying consistently.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a new washing and drying machine, the present inventors have
A washing / drying machine having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is proposed. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 6, a housing 1 supports an outer tub 2 by a suspension mechanism 3 in a vibration-proof manner. A motor 4 is provided below the outer tub 2 and is provided with a washing / dehydrating shaft 5 having a hollow and biaxial structure and a clutch 6 for switching transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 5 during washing or spinning. It is connected to an inner tank 7 rotatably provided inside the outer tank 2.

[0004] A fluid balancer 8 is provided above the inner tank 7, and a rotating blade 9 is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank 7. The drain valve 10 drains water in the outer tub 2. The circulation blower 11 blows warm air into the inner tank 7 for drying, and is provided substantially above the housing 1. The heater 12 heats the air blown by the circulation blower 11. The cooling blower 13 is provided on a side wall of the housing 1,
The cool air is introduced into the housing 1 from the outside.

[0005] The upper surface of the outer tank 2 is covered with an outer tank cover 14, and an openable and closable inner lid 15 is provided at substantially the center of the outer tank cover 14. The discharge port 16 is provided in the outer tank cover 14 and discharges warm air blown by the circulation blower 11. The discharge port 16 is connected to an end of a circulating air passage 17 connected to the heater 12 by a retractable upper bellows hose 18. Further, a water supply bellows hose 19 for supplying tap water to the outer tank cover 14 is provided so that tap water can be supplied into the outer tank 2. The lower portion of the outer tub 2 is connected to the circulating air passage 17 via a switching valve 20 via a lower bellows hose 21 which is extendable and contractible. Reference numeral 22 denotes a dehumidification water drain port. In the inner tank 7, the put clothes 23 are contained.

The circulating air generated by the circulating blower 11 passes through the heater 12, the upper bellows hose 18, the discharge port 16, the inside of the inner tank 7, a small hole (not shown) around the inner tank 7, the lower part of the outer tank 2,
Lower bellows hose 21 provided at the lower part of outer tank 2, switching valve 2
0, it passes through the circulation air passage 17 and circulates again in the passage circulating to the circulation blower 11.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinsing process, with the drain valve 10 and the switching valve 22 closed, the clothes 23 and the detergent are put into the inner tub 7, water or hot water is supplied through the water supply bellows hose 19, and the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is washed. Side, the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the rotating blades 9 via the washing / dewatering shaft 5, and the rotating blades 9 rotate, so that the clothes 23 are stirred in the water and washed and rinsed.

[0008] In the dehydration process, after the washing and rinsing processes,
After draining the water in the inner tub 7 by opening the drain valve 10, the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side, and the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the inner tub 7 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 5. By rotating and giving a centrifugal force to the clothing 23, moisture is separated from the clothing 23 and drained to the outside through the drain valve 10.

In the drying step, first, the switching valve 20 is opened, and the rotating blades 9 are slowly rotated to peel off the clothing 23 stuck to the inner wall of the inner tank 7 by centrifugal force during dehydration. The rotating wings 9 are instantaneously and strongly rotated in the forward and reverse directions, and the clothes 23 are agitated so as to be thrown upward in the inner tank 7.

At the same time, the hot air heated by passing through the heater 12 by the circulation blower 11 is supplied to the upper bellows hose 1.
8. It is fed into the inner tank 7 via the discharge port 16. The warm air warms the clothes 23 in the inner tank 7 to remove the moisture, and the outer tank 2, the lower bellows hose 21, and the circulating air passage 17.
Is passed through the cooling air blower 13, the air is cooled by an external air blow, so that the air is dehumidified and drained from the dehumidified water outlet 22. Then, it returns to the circulation blower 11 again, and is dried.

[0011]

In such a conventional configuration, two upper bellows hoses 1 provided on the outer tank cover 14 are provided.
8 and the water supply bellows hose 19 were appropriately arranged in an undetermined positional relationship.

On the other hand, when the inner tub 7 rotates at a high speed during the dewatering process, when the clothes 23 in the inner tub 7 are in an unbalanced state, the entire outer tub 2 including the inner tub 7 is rotated according to the rotation. Vibrates greatly. In this vibration mode, since the suspension mechanism 3 is installed substantially below the outer tank 2, the vicinity of the upper fluid balancer 8 oscillates in a complicated manner in the horizontal and vertical directions around the lower half of the outer tank 2. .

Upper bellows hose 18 and water supply bellows hose 19
When the entire outer tub 2 including the inner tub 7 vibrates greatly, the vibration absorption mode of the upper bellows hose 18 and the water supply bellows hose 19 is not determined, and abnormally large vibration is transmitted to the housing 1. Had the problem that

Further, since the upper bellows hose 18 and the water supply bellows hose 19 are provided on the outer tub cover 14, the size of the inner lid 15, which is the entrance for clothing, is limited and small. In addition, there was a problem that the introduction of large items such as blankets would be hindered.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and makes it difficult to transmit the vibration of the outer tub during the spin-drying process to the housing. The purpose is to make it easy to insert and to improve usability.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an inner tub which has a rotation center axis in a vertical direction in an outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing and stores laundry. Is rotatably supported, and rotatable blades are rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank,
The inner tank or the rotating blades are driven by the driving means, and the air blown by the circulating air blowing means is guided through the circulating air passage to be blown into the inner tank, and the air blown by the circulating air blowing means is heated by the heating means, and the cooling air blowing means The outer tub is configured to introduce cooling air from the outside into the housing, and the outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and is connected to the circulation air passage near the outer peripheral edge of the outer tub cover. The circulating bellows hose and a water supply bellows hose for water supply are juxtaposed and juxtaposed.

[0017] This makes it difficult to transmit the vibration of the outer tub during the dehydration process to the housing, and makes it possible to increase the size of the inner lid provided in the outer tub, so that clothes can be easily thrown in. Can be improved.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to an outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing, and having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction and rotatably mounted in the outer tub. An inner tub that supports and stores laundry, a rotatable blade rotatably provided at an inner bottom portion of the inner tub, a driving unit that drives the inner tub or the rotary wing, and blows circulating air into the inner tub. Circulating air blowing means, heating means for heating the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, a circulating air passage for guiding the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and cooling air blowing means for introducing cooling air from outside into the housing. The outer tub has an upper surface covered with an outer tub cover having an openable and closable inner lid, and a circulating bellows hose connected to a circulating air passage and a water supply bellows hose for supplying water near an outer peripheral edge of the outer tub cover. And the outer tank vibrated during the dehydration process. Vibration absorption mode is as if it were a single bellows hose, and the vibration of the outer tub is difficult to transmit to the housing, making it possible to use a low-vibration washer / dryer, while maximizing the inner lid. The size can be increased to a minimum size, a wide clothing inlet can be secured, clothing can be easily inserted, and usability can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, one of a circulating bellows hose connected to a circulating air passage and a water supply bellows hose for supplying water is substantially vertically oriented. The bellows hoses are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and the horizontal and vertical vibrations can be absorbed mainly at the installation locations of these bellows hoses, taking advantage of the vibration absorption characteristics of the bellows hose. Vibration can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a circulating bellows hose connected to the circulating air passage and a water supply bellows hose for supplying water are arranged substantially orthogonal to each other. In the drying process, the water supply bellows hose is heated by the radiant heat of the warm air passing through the circulating bellows hose, and when the process proceeds to the washing process, the washing water can be heated and the washing effect can be enhanced. .

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a casing 24 supports an outer tub 25 by a plurality of suspension mechanisms 26 in a vibration-suspended manner. A motor (drive means) 27 is provided below the outer tub 24, and a washing / dehydrating shaft 28 having a hollow and biaxial structure, and a clutch 29 for switching transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 28 during washing or dehydrating. The inner tank 30 is connected to an inner tank 30 provided inside the outer tank 24 through the outer tank 24.

A fluid balancer 31 is provided above the inner tank 30, and a rotating blade 32 is provided at an inner bottom of the inner tank 30. A stirring blade 32 a is provided on the upper surface of the rotary blade 32. The drain valve 33 drains water in the outer tank 25 from a drain port 34. Circulating blower (circulating blower) 35
Is to blow hot air into the inner tank 30 for drying,
It is provided substantially above the housing 24. Heater (heating means) 3
6 heats the air blown by the circulation blower 35. The cooling blower (cooling blower) 37 is provided in the housing 24.
Are provided on the side wall of the housing 24, and cool air is introduced into the housing 24 from outside.

An outer tank cover 38 is provided on the upper surface of the outer tank 25,
An inner lid 39 is provided at a substantially central portion so as to be freely opened and closed. A water supply bellows hose 4 for water supply is provided near the outer peripheral edge of the outer tank cover 38.
0, and a circulating bellows hose 42 connected to a circulating air passage 41a connected to the heater 36.

The water supply bellows hose 40 and the circulation bellows hose 42 are, as shown in FIG.
Two of them are arranged side by side in the depth direction, and have a positional relationship close to each other. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the housing 24 from the side, and shows that the housing 24 is positioned outside the inner lid 39 on a substantially straight line. 39a is an imaginary line in which the inner cover 39 is slightly opened.

A hot air outlet 43 is provided in the lower part of the outer tank 25, and the hot air outlet 43 and the circulating air passage 41 are connected via a switching valve 44 by an extendable lower bellows hose 45. 46 is a dehumidification water drain port. In the inner tank 30, the put clothes 47 are put. Reference numeral 48 denotes a temperature sensor, 49 denotes a display unit, and 50 denotes a control unit. Reference numeral 51 denotes a water supply valve.

The warm air (circulating air) blown by the circulation blower 35 passes through the heater 36 and passes through the circulation bellows hose 4.
2, through the inside of the inner tank 30, the small hole (not shown) around the inner tank 30, the lower part of the outer tank 25, the lower bellows hose 45 provided in the lower part of the outer tank 25, the switching valve 44, the circulation air passage 41, Again, circulation to the circulation blower 35 is performed.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinsing stroke, the drainage valve 33 and the switching valve 44 are closed by the control of the control unit 50 in accordance with the display unit 49, and the inner tank 3 is closed.
The clothes 47 and the detergent are put into the inside of the cylinder 0, water or hot water is supplied through a water supply bellows hose 40 by a water supply valve 51, and the power of the motor 27 is switched through the washing / dehydrating shaft 28 by switching the clutch 29 of the transmission mechanism. , Inner tank 30 or rotor 3
2 and the inner tub 30 or the rotary wings 32 rotate, thereby allowing the clothes 47 to pass moisture containing detergent,
Washing and rinsing are performed by stirring 7 in water containing a detergent.

In the dehydration step, after the washing and rinsing steps are completed,
The water in the inner tank 30 is drained by the drain valve 33 under the control of the control unit 50.
Is opened to drain the water from the drain port 34 to the outside, the clutch 29 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side, and the power of the motor 27 is transmitted to the inner tub 30 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 28 so that the inner tub 3
By rotating 0 and giving a centrifugal force to the clothing 47,
Moisture is separated from the clothes 47 and drained to the outside through the drain valve 33 and the drain port 34.

In the drying step, the control unit 50 similarly opens the switching valve 44 and then slowly rotates the rotary blade 32 to adhere to the inner wall of the inner tank 30 by centrifugal force during dehydration. After peeling off the clothes 47, the rotating wings 32 are instantaneously and strongly rotated in the forward and reverse directions so that the clothes 47 are hooked on the stirring blade 32a and lifted up in the inner tank 30. At the same time, by the circulation blower 35,
The warm air heated by passing through the heater 36 is sent into the inner tank 30 via the circulating bellows hose 42.

The warm air warms the clothes 47 in the inner tank 30 to remove the moisture, and the outer tank 25 and the lower bellows hose 4
5. When passing through the circulation air passage 41, the cooling blower 37
Is cooled by the external air blow, and is thus dehumidified and discharged from the dehumidified water drain port 49 to the outside. Then, it returns to the circulation blower 35 again, and is dried.

In the course of such an operation, in the dehydration process, the inner tub 30 rotates at a high speed of about 800 r / min, so that the clothes 47 in the inner tub 30 are in an unbalanced state. The vibration of the entire outer tub 25 becomes large. In addition, since the suspension mechanism 26 is installed near the lower part of the outer tank 25, the center of vibration is relatively near the lower part, and the vicinities of the upper outer tank cover 38 are violent in the horizontal and vertical directions. The presence of 40 and circulating bellows hose 42 is a condition that can have a significant adverse effect.

However, since the water supply bellows hose 40 and the circulation bellows hose 42 provided on the outer tub cover 38 are juxtaposed and juxtaposed, they are in a state almost equal to one. This indicates that the adverse effect on the vibration is limited, and as a countermeasure, the water supply bellows hose 40 and the circulation bellows hose 42 of the plurality of suspension mechanisms 26 that support the outer tub 25 in suspension and vibration isolation. By adjusting only the suspension mechanism 26 on the side where
Avoid adverse effects on vibration. Thereby, the vibration transmitted to the housing 24 can be reduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the two water supply bellows hoses 40 and the circulation bellows hose 42 are connected to the outer tank cover 38.
, It is possible to obtain a washer / dryer with small vibration. Also, a water supply bellows hose 40 and a circulation bellows hose 42
Are arranged side by side, so that the place can be limited, the size of the inner lid 39 can be maximized, clothes can be put in easily, and the usability can be improved. Can be.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a circulating bellows hose 52 and a water supply bellows hose 53 are juxtaposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the outer tank cover 38, and are arranged side by side. And a circulating air passage 41a connected to the heater 36, and is installed substantially vertically. Water supply bellows hose 53
Is connected to the water supply valve 51 and installed in a substantially horizontal direction.
The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition,
The basic operation from the washing process to the drying process is the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

If the clothes 47 in the inner tub 30 are in an unbalanced state during the dehydration process, the vibration of the outer tub 25 as a whole becomes large, and the outer tub cover 38 vibrates violently. At this time, for vertical vibration, the vertical circulation bellows hose 52 absorbs vertical vibration due to its shape characteristics, and for horizontal vibration, the horizontal water supply bellows hose 53 is used. Due to the shape characteristics, horizontal vibration can be absorbed, and vibration transmitted to the housing 24 can be reduced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, depending on the direction in which the circulation bellows hose 52 and the water supply bellows hose 53 are arranged,
Taking advantage of the vibration absorption characteristics of the bellows hose, horizontal and vertical vibrations can be absorbed mainly at the installation location of the bellows hose, and the vibration can be reduced as a whole.

In this embodiment, the circulation bellows hose 52 is used.
Are arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and the water supply bellows hose 53 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. However, even in the opposite case, the same effect can be expected, and either setting may be used.

(Embodiment 3) As shown in FIG. 5, the circulating bellows hose 54 and the water supply bellows hose 55 are juxtaposed in proximity to the outer periphery of the outer tub cover 38 and arranged side by side.
It is arranged substantially orthogonally so as to go under a heater 57 in a circulation air passage 56 to which a circulation bellows hose 54 is connected.
The other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition,
The basic operation from the washing process to the drying process is the same as the operation of the second embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

During the drying process, the inside of the circulation air passage 56 is filled with warm air from the heater 57. The radiant heat indirectly heats the water supply bellows hose 55. When the heated water supply bellows hose 55 shifts to the washing step without leaving much time, warm water can be supplied, and the cleaning effect can be improved. Thus, a high washing effect can be obtained by washing the dirty clothes for the second time.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outer tub elastically suspended from the inside of the housing and the rotation center axis is provided in the vertical direction. An inner tub rotatably supported on the inner tub for storing laundry, a rotary wing rotatably provided at an inner bottom portion of the inner tub, a driving means for driving the inner tub or the rotary wing, and circulation in the inner tub Circulating air blowing means for blowing air, heating means for heating the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, a circulating air passage for guiding the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and cooling for introducing cooling air from outside into the housing. A circulating bellows hose connected to a circulating air passage near the outer peripheral edge of the outer tub cover, wherein the outer tub is provided with a circulating bellows hose; The outer tub vibrates during the dehydration process because the water supply bellows hose of In addition, the vibration of the outer tub is not easily transmitted to the housing, making it possible to use a low-vibration washer / dryer. It is possible to easily put clothes in and improve usability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, one of the bellows hose connected to the circulation wind passage and the bellows hose for supplying water is disposed in a substantially vertical direction, and the other is disposed substantially in the vertical direction. Since the bellows hoses are arranged in the horizontal direction, the vibrations in the horizontal and vertical directions can be absorbed mainly at the installation locations of the bellows hoses by utilizing the vibration absorbing characteristics of the bellows hoses, and the vibrations can be reduced as a whole.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the circulating bellows hose connected to the circulating air passage and the water supply bellows hose for supplying water are arranged substantially orthogonal to each other, so that the circulating bellows hose is arranged in the drying process. When the water supply bellows hose is heated by the radiant heat of the warm air passing through the inside of the hose and then the washing process is started, the washing water can be heated, and the washing effect can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the washing and drying machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the washing and drying machine.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 24 housing 25 outer tank 27 motor (drive means) 30 inner tank 32 rotating blade 35 circulation blower (circulation blower) 36 heater (heating means) 37 cooling blower (cooling blower) 38 outer tank cover 39 inner lid 40 Water supply bellows hose 41a Circulating wind passage 42 Circulating bellows hose

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Maeda 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (reference) 3B155 AA10 AA16 AA17 BA04 BB02 BB08 CA06 CB07 CB55 DA05 DB01 FA02 FA07 FA26 MA01 MA02

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing, an inner tub having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction, rotatably supported in the outer tub, and storing laundry, and the inner tub. A rotating blade provided rotatably on the inner bottom of the inner tank, a driving unit for driving the inner tank or the rotating blade, a circulating blowing unit for blowing circulating air into the inner tank, and air blown by the circulating blowing unit Heating means for heating air, a circulating air passage for guiding the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and a cooling air blowing means for introducing cooling air from outside into the housing, and the outer tank has an openable and closable inner lid. A washing / drying machine whose upper surface is covered by an outer tub cover, and a circulating bellows hose connected to a circulating air passage and a water supply bellows hose for water supply are arranged adjacent to each other near the outer peripheral edge of the outer tub cover. 2. One of a circulation bellows hose connected to a circulation wind passage and a water supply bellows hose for water supply is arranged substantially vertically, and the other is arranged substantially horizontally.
The washing and drying machine as described. 3. The washing and drying machine according to claim 2, wherein a circulating bellows hose connected to the circulating air passage and a water supply bellows hose for supplying water are arranged substantially orthogonal to each other.