JP2006043153A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine not requiring a clutch mechanism, a decelerating mechanism or a planetary gear mechanism and capable of independently controlling rotation of a washing/spin-drying tub and a pulsator. <P>SOLUTION: The washing machine 10 is provided with a washing/spin-drying tub 16 containing laundry, a pulsator 18 installed in the inner bottom of the washing/spin-drying tub 16, a first motor 64 for driving a pulsator shaft 60 functioning as a rotating shaft of the pulsator 18 and a second motor 66 for driving a spin-drying shaft 58 functioning as a rotating shaft of the washing/spin-drying tub 16. The first motor 64 is an inner rotor type motor composed of a first stator 74 and an inner rotor 68 installed to the inner circumference of the first stator 74, the second motor 66 is an outer rotor type motor composed of a second stator 86 arranged on the outer circumference of the first stator 74 and an outer rotor 80 arranged on the outer circumference of the second stator 86 coaxially with the first motor 64, and a control device capable of independently controlling the speed of the first motor 64 and the second motor 66. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine capable of rotationally driving a laundry dewatering tub and a pulsator disposed on the inner bottom thereof, and more specifically, the laundry dewatering tub and pulsator are directly connected to a drive motor without a gear or a clutch. The present invention relates to a washing machine that can be driven to rotate relative to each other.

  A fully automatic washing machine that stores laundry in one laundry dewatering tub and performs washing / rinsing and dehydration processes is equipped with a laundry dewatering tub in the outer tub and a pulsator that generates a swirling flow in the laundry dewatering tub. The washing dehydration tank is fixed during the washing and rinsing process, and only the pulsator is driven to rotate in both directions at low speed. In the dehydration process, the washing dehydration tank and the pulsator are integrated at high speed. A device that is rotationally driven in one direction is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  The drive mechanism for switching the drive between the pulsator and the washing and dewatering tub transmits the rotation of the output shaft of the motor to the pulsator shaft that is the rotation shaft of the pulsator via the speed reduction mechanism, while the rotation of the same motor is transmitted to the other pulsator. It is transmitted to a dewatering shaft that is a rotating shaft of the washing and dewatering tank via a speed reduction mechanism and a clutch mechanism. More specifically, an engagement member that moves up and down is provided on a dewatering shaft that is hollow and includes a pulsator shaft. During the dehydration process, the engagement member is driven by a clutch motor or the like to engage with the pulsator shaft. By rotating the pulsator and the washing / dehydrating tub at substantially constant speed, the engaging member is engaged with the fixed member integrated with the outer tub by a clutch motor or the like during the washing / rinsing process, so that only the pulsator is rotated. It is supposed to let you.

  However, in such a drive configuration, the configuration becomes complicated, which not only causes an increase in manufacturing cost, but also causes anxiety in reliability and durability such that the clutch mechanism is not operated due to deterioration over time. Furthermore, the clutch mechanism and the speed reduction mechanism are likely to generate noise such as operation noise and vibration noise.

  By the way, a washing machine that improves washing and rinsing performance by actively rotating the washing dehydration tank at a low speed in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the pulsator during the washing and rinsing process has been conventionally known (for example, And Patent Document 3).

  In such a washing machine, an internal gear is connected to the dewatering shaft, a sun gear is connected to the output shaft, and a planetary gear that rotates in mesh with the internal gear and the sun gear is connected to the pulsator shaft. A planetary gear mechanism is provided, and in the washing and rinsing process, the output shaft and the dewatering shaft are shut off by the clutch mechanism, and the output shaft and the dewatering shaft are coupled via the sun gear, the planetary gear and the internal gear, and the pulsator is connected. While rotating in a predetermined direction, the dewatering shaft (washing dewatering tub) is rotated in the opposite direction to the pulsator shaft (pulsator) by the reaction force of the planetary gear meshing with the internal gear generated by this rotation.

However, in such a washing machine drive mechanism, a planetary gear mechanism is further required in addition to the clutch mechanism and the speed reduction mechanism that are required in the washing machine drive mechanism described above, and there is a problem in that the configuration is further complicated. there were. Also, in the planetary gear mechanism, the washing / dehydrating tub can be rotated in the opposite direction to the pulsator, but the washing / dehydrating tub and the pulsator are arbitrarily controlled at the rotational speed due to the gear ratio limitation of the gear constituting the planetary gear mechanism Therefore, there is a problem that there are few kinds of washing methods.
JP 2001-178990 A JP 2001-190889 A JP 2001-162087 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a washing machine capable of independently controlling the rotation of a washing dewatering tub and a pulsator without requiring a clutch mechanism, a speed reduction mechanism, and a planetary gear mechanism. Objective.

  The washing machine of the present invention includes a laundry dewatering tub in which laundry is stored, a pulsator disposed on an inner bottom portion of the laundry dewatering tub, a first motor that drives a pulsator shaft serving as a rotation shaft of the pulsator, A washing machine comprising: a second motor that drives a dewatering shaft serving as a rotation shaft of the laundry dewatering tub. The first motor includes a first stator and an inner rotor on an inner peripheral surface side of the first stator. The second motor has a second stator on the outer peripheral surface side of the first stator and an outer rotor on the outer peripheral surface side of the second stator coaxially with the first motor. An outer rotor type motor is provided, and has a control device capable of independently controlling the first motor and the second motor at variable speeds.

  In the washing machine of the present invention, the drive motor is composed of a first motor for rotationally driving the pulsator and a second motor for rotationally driving the laundry dewatering tub, and the first and second motors are independently Since variable speed control can be performed, the laundry dewatering tub and the pulsator can be independently controlled to rotate, and the washing method can be selected in detail according to the type and amount of the laundry. Moreover, since the washing and dewatering tub and pulsator are integrated into the output shaft of the drive motor without using a clutch mechanism or speed reduction mechanism that causes noise or vibration, noise is reduced and durability is reduced. A washing machine with improved reliability and reliability can be manufactured at low cost.

  According to the present invention, a washing machine capable of independently controlling the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator can be obtained with a simple drive configuration, so that it can be manufactured at a low cost and reduced inconvenience due to deterioration over time. Reliability and durability can be improved, and noise can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an overall configuration of the washing machine 10 according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a driving device 50 of the washing machine 10, and FIG. 3 is a partially omitted sectional view of a mold frame 88. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine of the present embodiment is a fully automatic washing machine, and is suspended inside a box-shaped housing 12 so as to be swingable via a suspension bar (not shown) and a vibration absorbing spring. A bottomed cylindrical outer tub 14 is provided, and the outer tub 14 is internally provided with a washing and dewatering tub 16 having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a large number of water passage holes on its peripheral surface. A pulsator 18 is provided concentrically on the inner bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 16, and a driving device 50 for rotating the washing / dehydrating tub 16 and the pulsator 18 is disposed below the outer tub 14.

  An outer lid 20 that opens and closes an opening for taking in and out the laundry is attached to the upper surface of the housing 12. A water supply valve 24 for supplying water into the outer tank 14 through a water supply pipe 22 is provided at the upper rear of the outer tank 14. A drainage duct 26 for draining washing water is provided below the outer tub 14, and is opened and closed by a drainage valve 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the driving device 50 is attached by fixing the support member 52 to the outer bottom portion of the outer tub 14 by screwing or the like. The support member 52 includes an upper support member 52a and a lower support member 52b. A cylindrical portion 54 is formed at the center of the upper support member 52a, and a bearing 56 formed of a ball bearing is fixed thereto. That is, the bearing 56 is fixed to the outer tub 14 which is a fixing member via the lower support member 52b. A cylindrical dewatering shaft 58 integrated with the washing dewatering tub 16 is inserted into the bearing 56 and is rotatably supported. An oil seal 59 for preventing water leakage is mounted in the gap between the cylindrical portion 54 and the dehydrating shaft 58 on the upper side of the bearing 56.

  The dehydrating shaft 58 extends into the outer tub 14 from a through hole 14 a formed at the bottom of the outer tub 14, and a flange portion 58 a formed at the upper end of the dewatering shaft 58 is screwed to the bottom of the laundry dewatering tub 16. It is fixed with. A pulsator shaft 60 is coaxially housed in the hollow portion of the dewatering shaft 58 and is rotatably held via a bearing 62 formed of a dynamic pressure bearing or a ball bearing. The pulsator shaft 60 protrudes into the washing / dehydrating tub 16, and the pulsator 18 disposed on the inner bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 16 is fixed to the upper end of the pulsator shaft 60 with a screw. In this way, the washing and dewatering tank 16 is directly connected to the flange portion 58a of the dewatering shaft 58 so as to rotate integrally, and the pulsator 18 is directly connected to the upper end portion of the pulsator shaft 60 so as to rotate integrally. Yes.

  The drive motor 63 for rotationally driving the dehydrating shaft 58 and the pulsator shaft 60 as described above includes a first motor 64 for rotationally driving the pulsator shaft 60 and a second motor 66 for rotationally driving the dewatering shaft 58. The first motor 64 is coaxially arranged inside the second motor 66.

  More specifically, the first motor 64 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical stator core 70 formed by stacking a cylindrical inner rotor 68 having an S pole and N pole permanent magnet alternately on the outer periphery and an iron core. And a first stator 74 formed by winding a stator winding 72 around the teeth, and the first stator 74 is an inner rotor type brushless DC motor configured to house an inner rotor 68 therein.

  The second motor 66 includes an outer rotor 80 in which a plurality of S-pole and N-pole permanent magnets 79 are alternately fixed to the inner periphery of a cup-shaped rotor cup 78, and a cylindrical stator core 82 formed by stacking iron cores. And a second stator 86 formed by winding a stator winding 84 around teeth protruding from the outer peripheral surface. The second stator 86 faces the outer peripheral surface side of the first stator 74 via an annular air gap. The outer rotor 80 is an outer rotor type brushless DC motor arranged to open downward and configured to house the second stator 86 therein.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first stator 74 and the second stator 86 are molded integrally to form an annular mold frame 88 and fixed to the lower support member 52 b with screws. By arranging the inner rotor 68 on the surface side and the outer rotor 80 on the outer peripheral surface side, the first motor 64 is coaxially disposed inside the second motor 66.

  The pulsator shaft 60 is rotationally driven by the first motor 64 when the inner rotor 68 is attached to the lower end thereof, and the dehydrating shaft 58 is rotationally driven by the second motor 66 by being provided integrally with the outer rotor 80. It has come to be.

  The drive motor 63 is driven and controlled by electrically connecting the first motor 64 and the second motor 66 constituting the drive motor 63 to separate drive circuits.

  The drive circuit for driving and controlling the first motor 64 has an inverter circuit and a control circuit, and the control circuit is based on a position detection signal from the Hall IC that detects the rotational speed of the inner rotor 68 of the first motor 64. The current rotation speed is calculated, and a PWM control signal is output to the inverter circuit so that the rotation speed matches the rotation speed of the command signal input from the outside, so that a bidirectional current flows in the stator winding 72. Then, the first motor 64 is driven by an inverter.

  Further, the second motor 66 is connected to a drive circuit having the same configuration as the drive circuit of the first motor 64 described above, so that the second motor 66 is driven and controlled separately from the first motor 64.

  In the washing / rinsing process of the washing machine 10 as described above, for example, when washing laundry with a small amount of dirt or a small amount of laundry, the power consumption can be suppressed by rotating only the pulsator 18 forward and backward. Moreover, since a relatively gentle water flow can be obtained, washing and rinsing can be performed without damaging the fabric.

  Moreover, when washing a laundry with much dirt, rotating the pulsator 18 and the washing dewatering tank 16 simultaneously in the opposite directions is repeated in both directions in a short time. As a result, the laundry dewatering tub 16 rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction with respect to the laundry that moves on the water flow generated by the rotation of the pulsator 18, so that the friction between the laundry and the laundry dewatering tub 16 increases. The washing and rinsing performance is improved. Further, since the water flow in the direction opposite to the water flow generated by the pulsator 18 is generated by the rotating washing / dehydrating tank 16, a turbulent flow is generated due to the collision of both water flows, and a vertical water flow is easily obtained. The laundry is stirred up and down in the direction of the water flow, and the uniformity of washing and rinsing is improved. In this case, it is preferable that the rotational speed of the washing and dewatering tank 16 is set slower than the rotational speed of the pulsator 18.

  On the other hand, during the dehydration process, the pulsator 18 and the laundry dewatering tank 16 are rotated at high speed in the same direction. At this time, it is preferable that both have the same rotational speed.

  As described above, in the washing machine of the present embodiment, the drive motor includes the first motor for rotationally driving the pulsator and the second motor for rotationally driving the laundry dewatering tank, and the first and second motors Therefore, the pulsator and the washing / dehydrating tub can be independently rotationally controlled without the need for a clutch mechanism or a speed reduction mechanism. Therefore, the types of washing and rinsing methods can be greatly increased, and the washing state can be appropriately controlled according to the type of clothing and the dirty state of the laundry.

  In addition, a simple drive configuration in which the washing and dewatering tub and the pulsator are directly connected to the output shafts of the first motor and the second motor without using a clutch mechanism or a speed reduction mechanism that causes noise or vibration or causes malfunction. Therefore, a washing machine with improved durability and reliability can be manufactured at a low cost, and noise and vibration can be reduced.

(Example of change)
In the present embodiment, the pulsator shaft is driven by the first motor and the dehydrating shaft is driven by the second motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

  For example, the pulsator shaft may be driven by a second motor and the dewatering shaft may be driven by a first motor. That is, the pulsator shaft is hollow, the dewatering shaft is built in the hollow portion, the pulsator shaft is provided integrally with the outer rotor, the pulsator shaft is driven by the second motor, and the inner rotor is attached to the lower end of the dewatering shaft. The dehydrating shaft may be driven by the first motor.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the whole structure of the washing machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which showed the drive device of the washing machine of FIG. It is a partially omitted cross-sectional view of the mold frame.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Washing machine 12 ... Housing 14 ... Outer tank 16 ... Washing and dewatering tank 18 ... Pulsator 50 ... Drive device 52 ... Supporting member 52a ... Upper support member 52b ... Lower support member 58 …… Dehydrating shaft 60 ... Pulsator shaft 64 ... First motor 63 ... Drive motor 66 ... Second motor 68 ... Inner rotor 74 ... First stator 80 ... Outer rotor 86 ... Second stator 88 ... Mold flame

Claims (5)

A laundry dewatering tub in which laundry is stored, a pulsator disposed at an inner bottom of the laundry dewatering tub, a first motor that drives a pulsator shaft serving as a rotation shaft of the pulsator, and a rotation shaft of the laundry dewatering tub In a washing machine comprising a second motor that drives a dehydrating shaft,
The first motor is an inner rotor type motor having a first stator and an inner rotor disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the first stator,
The second motor is an outer rotor type motor in which a second stator is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the first stator, and an outer rotor is disposed coaxially with the first motor on the outer peripheral surface side of the second stator. ,
A washing machine having a control device capable of variable speed control of the first motor and the second motor independently of each other. A laundry dewatering tub for storing laundry, a pulsator disposed at an inner bottom of the laundry dewatering tub, a second motor for driving a pulsator shaft serving as a rotation shaft of the pulsator, and a rotation shaft of the laundry dewatering tub In a washing machine comprising a first motor that drives a dehydrating shaft,
The first motor is an inner rotor type motor having a first stator and an inner rotor disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the first stator,
The second motor is an outer rotor type motor in which a second stator is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the first stator, and an outer rotor is disposed coaxially with the first motor on the outer peripheral surface side of the second stator. ,
A washing machine having a control device capable of variable speed control of the first motor and the second motor independently of each other.   The dehydrating shaft is provided in a cylindrical shape, and the pulsator shaft is coaxially provided in a hollow portion thereof, and the dehydrating shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings fixed to a fixing member of a washing machine, 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the pulsator shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings housed in a hollow portion of the dewatering shaft. The pulsator shaft is provided in a cylindrical shape, and the dehydration shaft is coaxially provided in a hollow portion thereof, and the pulsator shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings fixed to a fixing member of a washing machine, The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the dewatering shaft is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings provided in a hollow portion of the pulsator shaft.
Machine. The first stator and the second stator are molded integrally to form an annular mold frame, the inner rotor is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the mold frame, and the outer stator is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the mold frame. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a rotor is arranged.

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