JP2002058892A - Fully automatic washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems of taking a long time for drying, causing unevenness and increasing vibration during operation, particularly during dehydration, in a conventional fully automatic washing and drying machine. SOLUTION: This fully automatic washing and drying machine is provided with a body 13; a receiving drum supported by suspensions inside the body; a washing-cum-spinning basket rotatably supported in the receiving drum by a spinning shaft; a fluid balancer provided at the upper part of the washing-cum- spinning basket; a pulsator provided at the bottom part; a washing shaft for rotatably supporting the pulsator; a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving drum; a hot air blasting means for supplying hot air; and a nozzle for smoothly contracting cross-sectional area to increase flow velocity to blast hot air into the washing-cum-spinning basket. With this constitution, the hot air is blasted while increasing the flow velocity, so that the hot air sufficiently spreads to clothes below to improve drying performance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic washing and drying machine used in ordinary households.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, the structure of a fully automatic washing and drying machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is a main body of a fully automatic washing and drying machine, and 2 is a receiving cylinder. Reference numeral 3 denotes a suspension mechanism for suspending and supporting the receiving cylinder 2 from the main body 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes a washing / dehydrating shaft having a biaxial structure, 5 denotes a clutch for switching between the washing / dehydrating shafts during washing or dehydrating, 6 denotes a washing / dehydrating tub, and 7 denotes a fluid balancer provided in the washing / dehydrating tub. Reference numeral 8 denotes a motor provided at the bottom of the receiving cylinder 2, reference numeral 9 denotes a pulsator provided at the center bottom of the washing and dewatering tub, and reference numeral 10 denotes a projection formed on an inclined surface of the pulsator. Reference numeral 11 denotes a drain cock, and reference numeral 12 denotes a hot air blowing means.

The operation of the thus-configured fully automatic washing / drying machine will be described below. In the washing, clothes, water and detergent are put into the washing and dewatering tub 6, the mechanism transmission is switched to the washing side by the clutch 5 and the power of the motor 8 is transmitted to the pulsator 9 via the washing shaft, and the pulsator 9 rotates. By doing so, the clothes are caught by the protrusion 10 of the pulsator and drawn into the center. The clothes in the lower central part of the washing and dewatering tub are pushed up to the upper part of the rinsing and dewatering tub by the pulled-in garments. Thus, the washing and dewatering tub 6
This is performed by agitating the clothes inside and rubbing each other with each other or by contact with the washing and dewatering tub 6 and the pulsator 9.

After the washing is completed, the water in the washing and dewatering tub 6 is drained by opening the drain cock 11 and then the transmission of the mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side by the clutch 5 so that the power of the motor 8 is washed through the dehydrating shaft. This is performed by rotating the dewatering tub 6 and separating water from the laundry by centrifugal force.

[0005] Drying is performed by the washing and dewatering tub 6 by the centrifugal force of dehydration.
By rapidly rotating the pulsator 9 forward and backward with respect to the clothing stuck to the inner wall, the clothing is peeled off, and then warm air is blown from the hot air blowing means 12 while rotating the pulsator in the normal mode.

[0006]

In the conventional fully automatic washing and drying machine, in the drying operation, the warm air blown from the warm air blowing means does not sufficiently reach the entire washing and dewatering tub, particularly to the lower part. Heat and flow rate could not be efficiently provided to the clothes, so drying took a long time, and drying unevenness sometimes occurred. Further, there is a problem in that the weight of the vibration (such as a receiving cylinder) is large, and the vibration during the operation of the washing machine, particularly during spin-drying, becomes large.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fully automatic washing and drying machine that shortens the drying time, reduces uneven drying of clothes, improves drying efficiency, and reduces vibration during operation, particularly during dehydration.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention is directed to a hot air supplied from a hot air blowing means, which is sufficiently delivered to a lower layer portion of a washing and dewatering tub by an outlet for increasing a flow velocity. The drying time can be shortened.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 comprises a main body,
A receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, a fluid balancer provided at the top of the washing and dewatering tub, and provided at the bottom A pulsator, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, and increasing the flow rate in the washing and dewatering tub. And a spout through which warm air is blown from the warm air blowing means. During drying, the warm air acts to spread to the clothes at a sufficient speed to the lower layer of the washing and dewatering tub.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and a washing and dehydrating tub. A fluid balancer provided at the top of the water tank and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, and hot air blowing for supplying hot air Means, an inner lid provided in the receiving cylinder, and a flexible substantially brush-shaped curtain provided on the entire circumference of the upper surface of the fluid balancer, so that the curtain is dried during drying, and warm air passes through the upper portion of the fluid balancer. It acts to suppress escape from the washing and dewatering tub to the receiving cylinder side.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and a washing and dehydrating tub. A fluid balancer provided at the top of the water tank and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, and hot air blowing for supplying hot air Means, an inner lid provided on the receiving cylinder, the inner lid having one hot air inlet, a plurality of outlets provided on the lower surface, and a branch channel for communicating and connecting the hot air inlet and the outlet. During drying, it acts so that warm air hits clothing in a wide range of places.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the spout is inclined in the circumferential direction of the washing and dewatering tub, and a vortex is generated in the washing and dewatering tub. This causes the warm air to hit the clothing evenly.

[0013] The invention according to claim 5 has a stirring means for stirring the clothes by rotating the pulsator forward and backward, and by generating a vortex in the direction opposite to the stirring direction, the warm air hitting the clothes during drying is provided. It acts to further increase the relative speed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside a receiving body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, and a washing and dewatering tub. A fluid balancer provided at the top of the water tank and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, and hot air blowing for supplying hot air Means, an inner lid provided on the receiving cylinder, the inner lid is provided with a hot air inlet at one location, an outlet provided on the lower surface, and a circular branch flow path connecting and connecting the hot air inlet and the outlet. Having, by providing a number of air curtain jets at substantially equal intervals along the inner edge of the fluid balancer on the lower surface of the branch channel, the air curtain during drying,
It acts to prevent hot air from escaping from the washing / dewatering tub to the receiving cylinder side through the upper part of the fluid balancer.

[0015]

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view. However, an operation panel, a top cover, and the like on the upper part of the main body 13 are omitted.

First, the configuration will be described. Reference numeral 13 denotes a body forming an outer shell, and a plurality of suspensions 14 therein.
And a receiving cylinder 15 supported by the main body 13 through the main body 13. Inside the receiving cylinder 15, there is provided a washing and dewatering tub 17 fixed to a dehydrating shaft 16 and having a large number of holes on its side surface, and a fluid balancer 18 is fixed to the upper part of the washing and dewatering tub 17. A pulsator 19 fixed to a washing shaft 20 and having a pan-shaped shape is provided at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 17. A projection 19 a is formed on an inclined surface of the pulsator 19.

The washing shaft 20 is connected to a motor 21.
The motor 21 is fixed to the receiving cylinder 15. Reference numeral 5 denotes a clutch, which switches the interlocking / non-interlocking of the dehydrating shaft 16 with the washing shaft 20, and 30 denotes a drain cock which opens during draining and dehydrating.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a fan, 25 denotes a heater, which constitutes a hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, and is fixed to the main body 13. And
On the downstream side, via an elastic duct 27 ′ and a spout 41,
The upstream side communicates with the washing and dewatering tub 17 via a heat exchanger 29 for dehumidification and a connection duct 28 to form a circulation channel. Reference numeral 23 denotes an inner lid attached to the upper surface of the receiving tube 15, and 23a 'denotes an inner lid which is openably and closably attached to the inner lid 23, and a spout 41 is fixed to the inner lid 23a'. The elastic duct 27 ′ and the connection duct 28 flexibly connect the main body 13 side and the vibration (receiving cylinder 15) side.

The operation of the present invention will be described below. The drying operation is started in a state where the clothes that have been dehydrated are put in the washing and dewatering tub 17. During drying, the wind generated by the fan 24 is heated while passing through the heater 25, and
7 ′, the air is blown into the washing and dewatering tub 17 as hot air through the outlet 41. The warm air heats the clothes to evaporate the water, and then passes through a hole in the side surface of the washing and dewatering tub 17 or between the fluid balancer 18 and the inner lid 23, and passes through a lower portion of the receiving cylinder 15.
It is led to the connection duct 28 and reaches the heat exchanger 29. The heat exchanger 29 cools and dehumidifies the warm air having the increased humidity, and discharges the dehumidified water out of the flow path (not shown). Then, the air is again guided to the suction port of the fan 24 and sent to the heater 25.

The clothes are dried by the circulation of the warm air as described above. During this time, the pulsator 19 rotates forward and backward (close to the movement of a general pulsator type washing machine at the time of washing).
However, the clothes are repeatedly stirred while lifting the clothes with the protruding portions 19a to assist drying.

Here, in the jet port 41, as shown in FIG. 1, the flow path area is gently narrowed by a smooth curved surface. Therefore, the hot air is reduced in pressure loss and the flow rate is increased to increase the speed of the washing and dewatering tub 1.
It is blown into 7. And it is strongly sprayed on clothing,
It reaches the lower layer of the washing and dewatering tub 17 at a sufficient speed.

Therefore, since heat and convection can be efficiently applied to the clothes, drying time can be shortened, drying unevenness can be reduced, and drying performance can be improved. Reducing the drying time also saves energy.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a flexible brush-like curtain provided all around the upper surface of the fluid balancer 18, and its tip has a slight clearance with the inner lid 23.

During drying, if the air flow between the fluid balancer 18 and the inner lid 23 is too good, the blown hot air escapes directly to the receiving cylinder 15 side without hitting the clothes (hereinafter short-circuit). Call it). The curtain 42 acts as an obstacle to the passage of warm air and prevents short circuits.

Accordingly, the loss due to the short circuit of the hot air can be suppressed, and the drying performance can be improved.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. Description of the same parts as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a plurality of outlets which are fixed to the inner lid 23 and communicate with the hot air inlet 47 through a branch 44 provided in the inner lid 23. Hot air inlet 47
The air passage 48 on the side of the main body 13 is connected with the elastic duct 27. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the spout 43 is opened below the washing and dewatering tub 17 and in the circumferential direction.

With this configuration, during the drying operation, warm air is blown out from a plurality of outlets 43 as shown by arrows in the figure, and is blown onto clothing in a wide range. Further, the warm air forms a three-dimensional vortex (counterclockwise in the figure) in the washing / dewatering tub 17 due to the inclination of the opening, and hits the clothes evenly.

Accordingly, the heat and the convection of the warm air can be uniformly applied to the clothes, so that the drying unevenness can be reduced and the drying performance can be improved.

In addition, if the direction of stirring of the clothes caused by the forward and reverse rotation of the pulsator 19, which is repeated during the drying operation, is linked with the direction of the vortex so as to always be in the opposite direction, the warm air hitting the clothes is The relative speed increases, and drying unevenness can be further reduced. Here, the configuration for reversing the direction of the vortex is not specifically shown, but, for example, two paths of the ejection port 43 are provided and switched, or the direction of the ejection port or an air guide is provided to change this direction. It is conceivable to keep it movable.

Although the shape of the ejection port 43 is rectangular in the figure, the shape is not particularly limited and may be a circle or the like.

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 5 is a plan view. Description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted.

A discharge port 45 is fixed to the inner lid 23 and communicates with the warm air inlet 47 and the circular branch flow path 44 provided in the inner lid 23. The hot air inlet 47 and the air passage 48 on the main body 13 side are connected by the elastic duct 27.
46 is a large number of air curtain ejection ports provided at substantially equal intervals on the lower surface of the branch channel 44 along the inner edge of the fluid balancer 18,
The diameter is considerably smaller than that of the ejection port 45.

With this configuration, during the drying operation, the warm air flows into the branch channel 44 at the same time as the jet port 45. The warm air that has flowed into the branch channel 44 blows downward from the air curtain outlet 46 into the washing / dewatering tub 17 in a circular shape along the inner edge of the fluid balancer 18. This blowing forms an air curtain and prevents the hot air from short-circuiting (see Example 1).
However, at this time, it is assumed that the flow rate and the flow velocity of the air curtain are adjusted to an appropriate range (the amount of ejection from the ejection port 45 is ensured and the air curtain itself does not short-circuit). Therefore, the loss due to the short circuit of the hot air can be suppressed, and the drying performance can be improved.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 7 is a plan view. The description of the common parts with the first, second, and third embodiments will be omitted.

Reference numeral 23a denotes an inner opening / closing lid, which is located on the front side of the inner lid 23, and opens and closes about a shaft supported by the inner lid 23 as a fulcrum. Airtight packing is applied to the joint surface with the inner lid 23, and a latch or a magnet is provided so as not to open suddenly from the closed position. Reference numeral 47 denotes a warm air inlet provided in the inner lid 23, which is disposed on the inner side of the inner lid 23, and is completely separated from the inner opening / closing lid 23a. 49 is a spout, and the hot air inlet 47
6 and the opening is as shown in Figs.
7 is directed downward. 27 is a hot air inlet 47
And an elastic duct that connects the air passage 48 on the side of the main body 13 to the main body 13.

During the washing, dewatering and drying operations, the pulsator 19 or the washing and dewatering tub 17 rotates.
The receiving cylinder 15 and the like vibrate. The connection between the suspension 14 and the circulation flow path (the elastic duct 27 and the connection duct 28) absorbs this vibration, but cannot completely absorb it and is transmitted to the main body 13.

Therefore, the inner opening / closing lid 23a is arranged on the front side of the inner lid 23, and the ejection port 49 and the hot air inlet 47 are provided.
Are arranged on the inner lid 23 at the back side and separated from each other, so that these components located at the upper part of the receiving tube 15 are simple and lightweight.
(Comparative reference: Example FIG. 1), it is possible to suppress the occurrence of vibration of the receiving cylinder 15 during the washing, spin-drying and drying operations.

Next, the description of the ejection port 49 will be made again. By blowing out warm air from the position on the back side of the inner lid 23 toward the lower center of the washing and dewatering tub 17, convection is generated in the washing and dewatering tub 17 in a well-balanced manner, and the heat and flow rate are imparted evenly to the clothes. Therefore, drying unevenness can be reduced and drying performance can be improved.

The inner opening / closing lid 23a is most convenient to open and close in the direction of the drawing if it is of the type shown in the figure, but may be of another type such as an accordion curtain type or a slide shutter type.

Further, it is difficult to open and close the entire inner lid 23 without providing the inner open / close lid 23a, because the operation panel, the top cover and the like are actually formed on the upper part of the main body 13.

Further, it is more preferable to combine a shape in which the flow path area is gently narrowed with a smooth curved surface, as in the first embodiment, at the ejection ports of the second, third, and fourth embodiments.

Lastly, throughout all of the examples, the drying time and drying unevenness that determine the drying performance are closely related to each other, and in fact, it is not possible to clearly separate the causes and countermeasures of each. Please note.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the washing and dewatering tub is provided with the jet port for blowing hot air at an increased flow rate, so that the hot air is blown during drying. Provides an energy-saving fully automatic washer / dryer with reduced drying time, reduced drying unevenness, and improved drying performance, because it reaches the lower part of the washing and dewatering tub with sufficient speed to reach the clothes. can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing a flexible substantially brush-shaped curtain all around the upper surface of the fluid balancer, a short circuit during drying can be prevented and the loss of hot air can be suppressed. Thus, it is possible to provide a fully automatic washing and drying machine with improved drying performance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fully automatic washing / drying machine having improved drying performance by providing a wide range of hot air to clothes by providing a plurality of outlets. Can be.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the spout is inclined in the circumferential direction of the washing and dewatering tub, and a vortex is generated in the washing and dewatering tub, so that warm air is uniformly applied to the clothes. It is possible to provide a fully automatic washing and drying machine with improved drying performance.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pulsator has a stirring means for rotating the pulsator in the normal and reverse directions to stir the clothes, and a vortex is generated in a direction opposite to the stirring direction, so that the warm air hits the clothes. The relative speed of
A fully automatic washing / drying machine having improved drying performance can be provided.

According to the invention of claim 6 of the present invention, a large number of air curtain jet ports are provided at substantially equal intervals along the inner edge of the fluid balancer on the lower surface of the branch channel, so that the loss of hot air due to a short circuit is reduced. It is possible to provide a fully automatic washing and drying machine that suppresses and improves drying performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing and drying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing and drying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing and drying machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing and drying machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a conventional fully automatic washing and drying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 Main body 14 Suspension 15 Receiving cylinder 16 Dehydrating shaft 17 Washing and dehydrating tub 18 Fluid balancer 19 Pulsator 20 Washing shaft 21 Motor 23 Inner lid 23a Inner open / close lid 24 Fan 25 Heater 27 Elastic duct 41 Spout (claim 1) 42 Curtain 43 jet port (claims 3 and 4) 44 branch channel 45 jet port (claim 6) 46 air curtain jet port 47 hot air inlet 49 jet port (claim 8)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Morinaka 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichi Matsuda 1006 Odaka Kadoma Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3B155 AA16 BB15 CA06 CB07 CB52 CB55 CB57 DA06 DC01 MA01 MA02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and an upper portion of the washing and dewatering tub. A fluid balancer, a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, A fully automatic washing / drying machine provided with an outlet for blowing hot air from the hot air blowing means while increasing the flow rate in the dewatering tank. 2. A main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and an upper portion of the washing and dewatering tub. A fluid balancer and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, and the receiving cylinder; And the inner lid
A fully automatic washing and drying machine comprising a flexible substantially brush-shaped curtain all around the upper surface of the fluid balancer. 3. A main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and a washing and dewatering tub provided on an upper portion of the washing and dewatering tub. A fluid balancer and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, and the receiving cylinder; A fully automatic washing / drying machine having an inner lid provided at a lower end thereof, wherein the inner lid has a branch channel for communicating and connecting a hot air inlet provided on an upper surface thereof and a plurality of outlets provided on a lower surface thereof. 4. The fully automatic washing / drying machine according to claim 3, wherein the spout is inclined in a circumferential direction of the washing and dewatering tub to generate a vortex in the washing and dewatering tub. 5. The fully automatic washing and drying machine according to claim 4, further comprising a stirring means for stirring the clothes by rotating the pulsator forward and backward to generate a vortex in a direction opposite to the stirring direction. 6. A main body, a receiving cylinder supported by a plurality of suspensions inside the main body, a washing and dewatering tub rotatably supported by a dehydrating shaft inside the receiving cylinder, and a washing and dewatering tub provided on top of the washing and dewatering tub. A fluid balancer and a pulsator provided at the bottom, a washing shaft rotatably supporting the pulsator, a motor connected to the washing shaft and fixed to the receiving cylinder, hot air blowing means for supplying hot air, and the receiving cylinder; The inner lid has a circular branch channel that connects the hot air inlet provided on the upper surface and the jet outlet provided on the lower surface to communicate with each other. A fully automatic washing and drying machine provided with a large number of air curtain jets at substantially equal intervals along the inner edge of the fluid balancer.