JP2006141432A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily realize wide color variation of the exterior of a washing machine by changing the color tone and pattern of the exterior of the washing machine. <P>SOLUTION: An upper lid 16 of the washing machine consists of upper lid bases 101 and 111 and translucent upper lid covers 102 and 112. Ornament sheets 103, 104 and 113 with color tones and patterns are pasted on the upper lid bases 101 and 111, and the upper covers 102 and 112 are put over the ornament sheets and engaged. The ornament sheets 103, 104 and 113 are held between the upper lid bases 101 and 111 and the upper lid covers 102 and 112. The ornament sheets 103, 104 and 113 can be seen through the upper lid covers 102 and 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine rich in color variations.

  Generally, the exterior of the washing machine is made of a synthetic resin molded product. The color development in this molded product is handled by changing the color tone of the material. However, if the color development is based only on the material color tone of the molded product, only a monotonous color tone is obtained, and a high-class feeling cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a color variation with a sense of luxury and uniqueness by adding gradation to the molded product or giving it a glitter.

In order to manufacture a molded product having a color variation, as described in Patent Document 1, in-mold molding is performed in which a light-transmitting mold layer including a bright mold layer and a transfer layer are stacked.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-11751

  When a molded product is manufactured by in-mold molding, the yield of a molded product having a size like the upper lid of a washing machine is poor, and the number of contractors that can be molded is limited. Moreover, since it is molding, it is not easy to change the color tone or pattern. For this reason, many color variations cannot be desired.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can easily realize various color variations.

  In the present invention, an exterior is constituted by a plurality of molded products and a decorative sheet having an arbitrary color tone or pattern. By using the decorative sheet, it is possible to produce decorative properties with various colors and patterns without developing the color of the molded product.

  The decorative sheet is sandwiched between an upper molded product and a lower molded product, and the upper molded product has translucency. Thereby, the decorative sheet can be visually recognized through the upper molded product. The upper lid is formed by the upper molded product and the lower molded product. Since the upper lid is most easily noticeable in the usage form of the washing machine, if a decorative sheet is used here, the decorativeness of the washing machine is increased.

  The decorative sheet is attached to a part of the surface of the lower molded product. In addition, although you may affix on the whole surface of a molded article, it becomes an accent of a decoration and can be made conspicuous by making it a part. Moreover, the decorative sheet can be peeled off by sticking. Therefore, the decorative sheet can be exchanged for a different color and pattern, and the color variation can be enriched.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to add a color tone and a pattern by using a decorative sheet separately from the molded product constituting the exterior, and various color variations can be easily realized by changing the color tone and the pattern.

  The washing machine of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The washing machine 1 is a fully automatic type, and the rectangular parallelepiped outer box 10 is formed of metal or synthetic resin, and the upper surface and the bottom surface thereof are opened. A top plate 11 made of synthetic resin is fitted into the upper surface opening of the outer box 10 and is fixed to the outer box 10 with screws. A synthetic resin back panel 12 is overlaid on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 11 located on the back side of the outer box 10 shown on the right side in the drawing, and is fixed to the outer case 10 or the upper surface plate 11 with screws. A synthetic resin base 13 is fitted into the bottom opening of the outer box 10 and fixed to the outer box 10 with screws. Note that none of the screws are shown.

  At the four corners of the base 13, leg portions 14a and 14b for placement on the floor are provided. The rear leg portion 14 b is a fixed leg integrally formed with the base 13. The front leg portion 14a is a screw leg with a variable height, and is rotated to level the washing machine 1.

  On the upper surface plate 11, a laundry input port 15 for inputting laundry is formed, and the laundry input port 15 is covered with an upper lid 16. The upper lid 16 is attached to the upper surface plate 11 through a hinge portion 17 so as to be freely opened and closed, and opens and closes the laundry input port 15.

  Inside the outer box 10 are a water tank 20 for storing water for washing with a detergent or rinsing water (hereinafter collectively referred to as washing water), and a washing tank that also serves as a dewatering tank built in the water tank 20. 30 is disposed. The water tub 20 and the washing tub 30 are in the shape of a cylindrical cup having an open top surface, the respective axes are located on the same vertical line, and the water tub 20 and the washing tub 30 are arranged concentrically. The water tank 20 is suspended from the outer box 10 by the suspension member 21. The suspension members 21 are arranged at the four corners inside the outer box 10, connect the lower part of the outer surface of the water tank 20 and the inner corner part of the outer box 10, and support the water tank 20 so that it can swing in a horizontal plane.

  The washing tub 30 has a peripheral wall that spreads upward with a gentle taper. In the peripheral wall, a plurality of dewatering holes 31 are formed in an annular shape at the uppermost portion, and there are no openings for allowing liquid to pass through other than these dewatering holes 31. The washing tub 30 is a so-called “no hole” type. An annular balancer 32 is attached to the periphery of the upper opening of the washing tub 30 and functions to suppress vibration when the washing tub 30 is rotated at a high speed for dewatering the laundry. On the bottom surface of the washing tub 30, a pulsator 33 for causing the washing water to flow in the tub is rotatably arranged.

  A drive unit 40 is mounted outside the bottom surface of the water tank 20. The drive unit 40 includes a motor 41, a clutch mechanism 42, and a brake mechanism 43. A dewatering shaft 44 and a pulsator shaft 45 protrude upward so as to pass through the center of the drive unit 40. The dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 have a double shaft structure in which the dewatering shaft 44 is on the outside and the pulsator shaft 45 is on the inside. Both shafts 44 and 45 are inserted into the water tub 20, and the dewatering shaft 44 is connected to the washing tub 30 to support the washing tub 30. The pulsator shaft 45 is further inserted into the washing tub 30 and connected to the pulsator 33 to support the pulsator 33. Seal members for preventing water leakage are provided between the dewatering shaft 44 and the water tank 20 and between the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45, respectively.

  When the motor 41 is driven and washed and rinsed, the pulsator shaft 45 rotates and the pulsator 33 rotates. Further, at the time of dehydration, the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 rotate integrally, and the pulsator 33 rotates together with the washing tub 30. The respective rotations are switched by the operation of the clutch mechanism 42 and the brake mechanism 43.

  Below the water tank 20, a drain hose 60 for draining water from the water tank 20 and the washing tank 30 to the outside of the outer box 10 is installed, and drain pipes 61 and 62 from the water tank 20 are connected to the drain hose 60. The drain pipe 61 is connected to a location near the outer periphery of the bottom surface of the water tank 20. The drain pipe 62 is connected to a location near the bottom center of the water tank 20.

  An annular partition wall 63 is attached to the inside of the bottom surface of the water tank 20 so as to surround the connection location of the drain pipe 62. An annular seal member 64 is attached to the upper part of the partition wall 63. The seal member 64 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the disk 65 fixed outside the bottom surface of the washing tub 30. As a result, an independent drainage space 66 is formed between the water tub 20 and the washing tub 30. The drainage space 66 communicates with the inside of the washing tub 30 through a drainage port 67 formed on the bottom surface of the washing tub 30.

  The drain pipe 62 is provided with a drain valve 68 that opens and closes electromagnetically. An air trap 69 is provided at a position upstream of the drain valve 68 of the drain pipe 62. A pressure guiding tube 70 extends from the air trap 69, and a water level switch is connected to the upper end of the pressure guiding tube 70.

  A control unit 80 is installed inside the front side of the outer box 10. The control unit 80 is located below the upper surface plate 11, receives an operation command from the user through an operation / display unit 81 provided on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 11, and receives the drive unit 40, the water supply valve and the drain valve 68. An operation command is output to. Further, the control unit 80 outputs a display command to the operation / display unit 81.

  In the washing machine 1 described above, the exterior is constituted by the outer box 10, the base 13, and the upper surface plate 11 with the upper lid 16. Although the outer box 10 and the base 13 have a single color tone, diversification of color variations in the top plate 11, particularly the upper lid 16, which is most noticeable in the usage pattern of the washing machine 1 is achieved. This will be described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper lid 16 is configured by combining a plurality of molded products. The upper lid 16 is divided into two in the front-rear direction and is a lid that can be folded and opened. That is, the upper lid 16 has a structure in which a rear-side upper lid assembly 16a and a front-side upper lid assembly 16b are connected so as to be bendable.

  The upper lid assembly 16a on the back side and the upper lid assembly 16b on the front side are connected by an upper lid shaft 18 and the upper lid shaft 18 is prevented from coming off by a shaft cap 19. The upper lid 16 is bent and opened about the upper lid shaft 18.

  Each upper lid assembly 16a, 16b consists of two upper and lower molded products. That is, the upper lid assembly 16a on the back side includes the upper lid base 101, the upper lid cover 102, and the decorative sheets 103 and 104. Similarly, the front upper lid assembly 16b is composed of an upper lid base 111, an upper lid cover 112, and a decorative sheet 113. An annular frame is formed by the upper lid base 101 on the back side and the upper lid base 111 on the front side, and covers the periphery of the laundry input port 15. A substantially egg-shaped cover is formed by the rear cover 102 and the front cover 112 so as to cover the central opening of the frame.

  Each of the upper lid bases 101 and 111 is a molded product made of a general synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and is colored and does not have translucency. Each of the upper lid covers 102 and 112 is a molded product made of a general synthetic resin such as light-transmitting polystyrene or polycarbonate. Note that normally, a translucent material often has a property that is weak against chemicals such as a detergent used in the washing machine 1, particularly a liquid detergent, but a movable part that places importance on the function of the upper lid 16 and The material of each of the upper lid bases 101 and 111 is made of polypropylene that is resistant to detergent or the like, thereby having a chemical resistance effect, increasing durability, and obtaining an effect of high design.

  The decorative sheets 103, 104, 113 on the back side and the front side are made of a synthetic resin sheet such as polystyrene or polyethylene, and are colored in an arbitrary color tone or given an arbitrary pattern. The decorative sheet may be formed from water-resistant paper.

  The two decorative sheets 103 and 104 on the back side are formed in a strip shape and have the same shape. A pair of flat portions 105 and 106 corresponding to the shape of the decorative sheets 103 and 104 are formed on a part of the surface of the upper lid base 101 on the back side, and the decorative sheets 103 and 104 are formed on the left and right flat portions 105 and 106. Is attached with double-sided tape. Then, the upper lid cover 102 is covered on the upper lid base 101 on the back side, and the claws of the upper lid base 101 are fitted into the locking holes of the upper lid cover 102 so that both are engaged. The decorative sheets 103 and 104 are sandwiched and fixed between the upper lid base 101 and the upper lid cover 102. The upper lid base 101 and the upper lid cover 102 are detachable.

  The front decorative sheet 113 is formed in a substantially U shape. A flat portion 115 corresponding to the shape of the decorative sheet 113 is formed in a substantially U shape on a part of the surface of the upper lid base 111 on the front side, and the decorative sheet 113 is attached to the flat portion 115 with a double-sided tape. Similarly, the decorative sheet 113 is sandwiched and fixed between the upper lid base 111 and the upper lid cover 112 on the front side.

  In this way, by covering the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 with the translucent upper cover 102, 112, the color tone or pattern of the decorative sheets 103, 104, 113 can be seen from the outside. As a result, the decorativeness of the upper lid 16 increases, and the design of the entire top plate 11 increases. Since the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 are separate members from the other molded products, a wide variety of color variations can be achieved by preparing various types of different colors and patterns.

  The upper lid covers 102 and 112 are transparent, but may be colored to have a color tone. Note that the color tone and pattern of the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 can be clearly shown by unifying them with complete transparency. By changing the colors and patterns, you can easily enrich the color variations.

  In addition, the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 are not integrated with the molded product and are sandwiched between the upper and lower molded products, so that the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 can be attached and detached. As a result, the user can select the favorite decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113 and replace them to make the top plate 11 of his / her preference. Furthermore, by using a printable material such as OHP or paper for the decorative sheets 103, 104, and 113, the user can freely design and form an original exterior.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. The upper lid may be a single-sheet lid, and has a structure composed of upper and lower molded products in the same manner as the folding upper lid. The upper lid cover may be composed of a plurality of molded products, and the decorative sheet may be one sheet or a plurality of sheets. Further, the upper lid base may be translucent, and the decorative sheet can be seen through the upper lid base when the upper lid is opened. For this reason, the decorative sheet is provided with a color tone and a pattern not only on the front surface but also on the back surface.

  Further, the decorative sheet may be provided only on the upper lid assembly on either the front side or the back side. Furthermore, not only the upper lid, but also a decorative sheet may be provided on the outer box, the top plate, and the base that are other exteriors. In this case, it is not necessary to cover the entire surface, but only a part.

Schematic sectional view showing the overall configuration of the fully automatic washing machine of the present invention Perspective view of upper lid Exploded view of upper lid

Explanation of symbols

16 Upper lid 101 Upper lid base on the rear side 102 Upper lid cover on the rear side 103 Decoration sheet 104 Decoration sheet 105 Flat portion 106 Flat portion 111 Upper lid base on the front side 112 Upper lid cover on the front side 115 Flat portion 113 Decoration sheet

Claims (4)

A washing machine, wherein an exterior is constituted by a plurality of molded products and a decorative sheet having an arbitrary color tone or pattern. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the decorative sheet is sandwiched between an upper molded product and a lower molded product, and the upper molded product has translucency. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the decorative sheet is attached to a part of the surface of the lower molded product. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exterior is an upper lid.

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