JP2006217953A - Drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drum type washing machine which is set to have a process to execute the heating washing of the laundry containing washing water as a preceding process of the main washing so that an effect of the warm-water washing can be shown. <P>SOLUTION: The drum type washing machine is equipped with a circulation pump to sprinkle the water on the laundry stored in a drum, and a ventilation apparatus and a heater apparatus for the heating of the laundry in the drum. A washing course is to successively execute a pre-washing process, a heating washing process and a main washing process and is so constituted that the laundry is stirred to contain the washing water by rotating the drum while a small amount of the washing water is sprinkled by the circulation pump in the pre-washing process, the laundry in the rotating drum is stirred and heated by actuating the heater apparatus or the like in the heating washing process and the laundry is stirred by rotating the drum with a prescribed amount of the washing water in the main washing process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine including a drum that rotates around a horizontal axis.

Conventionally, this kind of drum type washing machine can be automatically operated such as washing, rinsing and dehydration processes as well known, and a relatively small amount of water stored in the water tank or the lower part of the drum is effective particularly in the easy washing and rinsing operation. In recent years, it has attracted attention as a water-saving washing machine because it can be used for cleaning. In addition, the laundry stored by rotating the drum around the horizontal axis is effectively stirred by turning up and down, and in this state, it can be efficiently dried by supplying warm air, so-called with a drying function. It is also rapidly spreading as a washing machine.
However, in order to obtain a predetermined washing performance with a small amount of washing water, for example, a sheathed heater is provided as a warm water heater at the bottom of the water tank, the washing water is heated to warm water to easily dissolve the detergent, and the activity of the enzyme that the detergent has The so-called warm water cleaning effect is obtained (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-181190 A

  However, although it is a small amount, heating and warming with a hot water heater requires a large amount of washing water and requires a long time, requires a long washing time and requires a large amount of heating heat, and is not suitable for energy saving with high demand. In addition, providing the sheathed heater directly in water requires assembly accuracy such as reliably providing a safety device against electric leakage or the like, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. Also, in this kind of washing machine, the washing action by tumbling operation such as tapping the laundry is performed, but in order to improve the washing performance, the entire laundry is quickly impregnated with washing water and always uniformly impregnated as a whole. However, in the combination of this drum system and a small amount of washing water, there is little opportunity for the washing water to directly touch the laundry, and it takes a considerable time for the washing water to impregnate the entire laundry. It has disadvantageous conditions to improve the cleaning performance.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a cleaning course that promotes effective use of detergents and impregnation of washing water into laundry and is expected to have a hot water cleaning effect. An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine capable of obtaining good cleaning performance.

  In order to achieve the above object, the drum type washing machine of the present invention sprinkles the drum supported around the horizontal axis inside the aquarium and the laundry contained in the drum into the laundry contained in the drum. A circulation pump means and a heating means for heating the laundry in the drum, and sequentially performing a prewashing process, a heating washing process, and a main washing process as a washing course, and in the prewashing process, a small amount While the washing water is sprinkled by the circulation pump means, the drum is rotated to impregnate the washing water while stirring the laundry, and the heating means is operated to stir the laundry in the rotating drum during the heating washing process. The main feature is that the drum is rotated by a predetermined amount of washing water and stirred in the main washing step by heating.

  According to the above means, a stirring operation with a high-concentration detergent solution with a small amount of water is performed in a pre-washing step before a main washing step with a predetermined amount of water, and this detergent solution is quickly impregnated with a circulation pump means to achieve a washing effect. More effective to promote. In addition, the laundry is heated while being stirred in the subsequent heat washing step, thereby further promoting the solubility and activation of the detergent and subsequently performing the main washing. As a result, a drum-type washing machine that can achieve a cleaning effect similar to the hot water cleaning effect, energy saving in the time required for heating and washing and the amount of heating heat, and can be expected to be efficient and efficient cleaning performance. Can provide.

Hereinafter, one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a drum type washing machine with a drying function will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view schematically showing the overall structure of the washing machine. As shown in the drawing, the washing machine main body 1 that forms a rectangular box-shaped outer shell opens and closes the laundry inlet 1a on the front side. And a cylindrical water tank 3 and a drum 4 which are opened in the same direction as the charging port 1a and are elastically supported by an elastic support mechanism 5 or the like.

  Among them, the water tank 3 is elastically sealed by a bellows 6 between the opening and the inlet 1a, and has a configuration in which water can be stored in a substantially non-porous shape. On the other hand, the drum 4 is in the water tank 3 and is rotatably supported around the horizontal axis, and has a structure in which a large number of through-holes 4a and baffles 4b effective for lifting the laundry are provided on the peripheral wall. None, the drum 4 is rotationally driven by a motor 7 provided on the back wall side of the water tank 3. However, the motor 7 is composed of an outer rotor type DC brushless motor, and the motor 7 is energized by inverter control in a configuration in which a rotating shaft directly connected to a rotor (not shown) passes through the water tank 3 and is connected to the center of the back wall of the drum 4. Therefore, the rotational speed of the drum 4 is controlled.

  Further, a drain port 3 a is formed at the lowest part of the water tank 3, and a drain pipe 9 led out of the apparatus through a midway drain valve 8 is connected. And it is provided along the upper wall part from the back wall part in the exterior of this water tank 3, and is provided with the circulation air path 10 which interposes the heat exchange means and heating means which comprise the drying mechanism of this washing machine. . The circulation air passage 10 has a duct shape in which one end is connected to a communication port 11 provided above the drainage port 3a at the lower part of the water tank 3 and the other end extends to the outer upper part of the water tank 3 and communicates with the front thereof. There is no.

  And the concrete structure of this circulation air path 10 arrange | positioned the heat exchanger 12 to the up-down direction continuously on the communicating port 11 side, and then arrange | positioned the air blower 13 and the heater apparatus 14 which comprise a heating means one by one. In the configuration. The heat exchanger 12 is connected to a multiple-type water supply valve 16 provided with a water injection pipe 15 in the upper part and provided in the upper part of the main body 1, so that the air flow rising in the heat exchanger 12 is The air flow is cooled by pouring water from the upper water pouring pipe 15, and the moisture in the air is condensed and dripped to function as a so-called water-cooled heat exchanger 12.

  Thus, as this drying mechanism, the hot air generated by the heating means is supplied in the direction indicated by the broken line arrow in the figure, but the function is to supply the hot air from the upper part of the water tank 3 to the inside, It is to be supplied into the drum 4 through 4a and to dry the laundry inside. However, the warm air (exhaust gas) that has absorbed moisture by this drying action goes out of the drum 4 and is taken into the circulation air passage 10 from the communication port 11 at the bottom of the water tank 3, that is, ascends in the heat exchanger 12. In this case, the water supply valve 16 is opened to inject water from the water injection pipe 15, the moisture in the exhaust is condensed by the cooling action, and the dehumidified air flow passes through the blower device 13 and the heater device 14 on the downstream side. The air is warmed again and repeatedly supplied into the water tank 3 and the drum 4, and the drying action of the laundry is promoted by circulating supply of so-called hot air.

  While such a drying mechanism is arranged in the rear part of the main body 1, it has a circulation pump means arranged mainly in the front part. That is, the circulation water passage 17 constituting the water passage of the circulation pump means is provided in such a manner as to be connected to the upper and lower portions outside the water tank 3, and the lower end of the suction side as one end is the drain pipe 9. The upper end of the discharge side, which is the other end, is connected to the opening of the water tank 3, and the water spout 17 a at the tip is provided at a position facing the inside through the opening of the drum 4. Yes.

  However, the circulation channel 17 is provided with a circulation pump 18 for feeding the wash water in the direction of the solid line arrow, and a filter device 19 on the upstream side of the water absorption side. Therefore, in the process of washing the laundry, the circulation pump 18 is driven, as will be described in detail later, and the washing water stored at the bottom of the water tub 3 is sprinkled from the water sprinkling body 17a to the inside of the drum 4 through the circulation water channel 17, so-called There is an effect that the laundry which is sprinkled and stirred in the laundry which is not illustrated is impregnated with the washing water quickly and evenly. The filter device 19 has a function of capturing and collecting lint such as lint from the circulating washing water.

  In addition, the upper part of the main body 1 includes the water supply valve 16 connected to the water supply, a bath water pump 20, a water supply case 21 that also serves as a detergent storage container and can be taken in and out from the front of the main body 1. By storing a predetermined amount of detergent in the water supply case 21 in advance, for example, when water is supplied from the water supply valve 16 through the water supply pipe 22a, the detergent is washed away and can be supplied together with water into the water tank 3 through the water supply pipe 22b. It is said.

In addition, although not shown, as a water level detecting means for controlling a predetermined washing water level in the water tub 3 according to the result of detecting the amount of laundry, or as a means for detecting the amount of laundry, for example, rotation of the drum 4 Based on the change in speed, there is provided weight sensing means for converting the amount of laundry cloth as a motor load through a control device (not shown).
FIG. 1 shows a specific process of the main part of the cleaning course for explaining the operation described later, and FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the main part.

Next, the operation of the drum type washing machine with a drying function having the above-described configuration will be described.
Generally, for example, in the standard course, based on the control device, it is usual to carry out a washing course such as washing, rinsing and dehydration, followed by a drying process. The cleaning course of the main part from the operation start shown in 2 to the main washing process will be described in detail. In addition, the hatching part in FIG. 2 shows that it is an energization operation state.

  First, the laundry is put into the drum 4 and a washing condition such as an operation course is set on an operation panel (not shown), and then the operation is started by operating the start key. Then, in step S1, weight sensing based on rotation / stop control of the drum 4, that is, so-called cloth amount detection is executed, a predetermined water level corresponding to the cloth amount is determined, and the detergent amount is also determined and displayed on the operation panel. The The user pulls out the water supply case 21 to store a predetermined amount of detergent and returns the case 21 to the inside.

  Then, a water supply operation is started in response to the series of operations (step S2). That is, in the water supply operation shown in the pre-washing process shown in FIG. 1, the water supply valve 16 opens the water supply pipe 22a side, whereby water is supplied into the water tank 3 together with the detergent. In step S3, when the water level eventually reaches the predetermined water level set above, a water level detection means (not shown) detects this, closes the water supply valve 16, and ends the water supply operation (step S4). In this water supply state, the drum 4 is stopped and the laundry is not stirred, and the laundry in a state where the predetermined water level in the drum 4 is low and dried is soaked that a part of the washing water is impregnated. Is in a state.

  Thus, when the water supply to the predetermined water level is completed in the water tank 3, the process proceeds to step S5 and pre-washing is started. In this pre-washing process, as shown in FIG. 1, the motor 7 is energized and the drum 4 is rotated to agitate the laundry, and at the same time, the circulation pump 18 is energized and driven through the circulation channel 17 in the direction of the solid arrow. Is sprayed into the drum 4 from the water spout 17a. Accordingly, although the laundry is first washed by the tumbling operation, the water level in the water tank 3 is lowered as the laundry is impregnated with the washing water (detergent liquid) by stirring. Moreover, since the laundry is impregnated quickly by the watering by the circulation pump means and is continuously executed thereafter, the initial water level tends to be further lowered.

  For this reason, an initial water level falls and the washing water in the aquarium 3 becomes a small amount from the amount of water which is originally required. Further, the concentration of the detergent dissolved under a small amount of water is also higher than the original detergent liquid (detergent liquid at the time of main washing described later). Such a washing state is referred to as pre-washing with respect to the main washing described later, and a washing operation with a high concentration detergent solution is performed with a small amount of water. When this washing operation is performed for a predetermined time (step S6), only the circulation pump 18 is stopped (step S7), and the prewashing process shown in FIG. 1 is completed. In addition, the amount of water at the time of the pre-washing needs to be such that at least the amount of water that can be impregnated into the laundry by the circulation pump 18 and impregnated into the entire laundry is required, and the lower communication port 11 of the circulation air passage 10 It is set to be a lower water level.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S8 and the heating washing process shown in FIG. 1 is started. Here, the stirring operation by the rotation of the drum 4 is continued from the pre-washing step, and in this state, the washing operation is performed in a state where the heating means including the blower 13 and the heater device 14 is operated. That is, it is heated for a predetermined time set in advance in the step of heating while stirring the laundry that has been uniformly impregnated with the washing water in the previous pre-washing step (step S9). However, since there is no watering by the circulation pump means in this heat washing process, the wet laundry is uniformly heated by stirring and gradually rises in temperature. As a result of this heating, a state in which the solubility and activation of the detergent are promoted is obtained, and the water level at the previous pre-washing is set lower than the communication port 11 as described above. Wind circulation is not hindered.

  In this embodiment, the heating means uses the air blower 13 and the heater device 14 that are originally provided for drying. Therefore, in addition to the laundry, the water tub 3 and the drum 4 are also heated. It is additionally heated by warm air. However, there is no water injection operation from the water injection pipe 15 so that the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 provided in the circulation air passage 10 does not function, and water is not added to the water tank 3. Also, in this heat washing, the laundry is heated with warm air, but since it is heated from a wet state, for example, stubborn dirt components etc. are easily peeled off, and the laundry becomes overdried or overheated. There is no risk that clothes or other fibers will be altered or deteriorated.

Note that the heat exchanger 12 may be an air-cooled type instead of the water-cooled type, for example, so that the dehumidifying function by the heat exchange action is also exhibited in the process.
Thus, when the wet laundry is heated for a predetermined time and sufficiently heated, the process proceeds to step S10, the heating means such as the heater device 14 is stopped, and the heating washing process shown in FIG. Ends.

  Next, the main washing process shown in FIG. In the flow of FIG. 2, first, the water supply valve 16 is opened again in step S11, and water is supplied into the water tank 3 through the water supply paths such as the water supply pipes 22a and 22b and the water supply case 21. As described above, since the initial water level is significantly lower than the predetermined water level due to the impregnation of the laundry and is less than the originally required amount of washing water, the water is supplied again to the predetermined water level. Therefore, when it is detected in step S12 that the predetermined water level has been reached, the water level is the amount of washing water required for the main wash, and the water level does not vary greatly.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stirring operation by the drum 4 and the watering operation by the circulation pump means are intermittently executed. This is because the operation is stopped together with the drum 4 while constantly spraying and evenly impregnating the laundry, and the water level detecting means accurately detects the calmed water level. Even if there is an impregnation action (water level fluctuation), a predetermined water level that is originally necessary is obtained without being affected by this, and therefore the water level does not fluctuate greatly thereafter. For this reason, the water supply for the main wash is replenished with the water supply up to the required water level at the time of pre-washing, so-called supplementary water is supplied. When the water supply is detected, the water supply valve 16 is closed, and the water supply operation as supplementary water supply is terminated (step S13).

  And it transfers to step S14 and a main wash is started. In essence, based on the stirring operation by the drum 4 and the continuous operation by the circulation pump 18 shown in FIG. 1, the washing operation originally performed under a predetermined amount of washing water (detergent solution) is executed. In this case, the laundry is in a preheated state and warms the wash water temperature. In addition, the fact that the drum 4 and the water tank 3 are also heated by the warm air effectively works to warm the washing water. Accordingly, a sufficient cleaning performance for washing off the dirt component, such as sufficiently extracting the cleaning performance of the detergent component, is obtained, and as a result, an efficient hot water cleaning effect can be expected.

  Of course, the agitated laundry is always sprinkled and the tumbling operation is performed while efficiently and evenly impregnating the washing water, so that the cleaning action is effectively promoted evenly. When this washing operation is executed for a predetermined time (step S15), the drum 4 and the circulation pump 18 are stopped and the washing operation is completed. At the same time, only the drain valve 8 is energized and the washing water in the water tank 3 is removed from the machine. The main washing process ends with draining.

  Although the explanation of the operation in the subsequent process is omitted, for example, in the subsequent rinsing process, a rinsing operation with fresh water is performed in place of the detergent solution in the same manner as the washing operation in the main rinsing process. In addition to the stirring operation in which the drum 4 is rotated at a low speed as in the washing operation when the spinning process is performed by rotating at a high speed to further centrifugally dehydrate, the dehumidifying action by the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 constituting the drying mechanism, and The hot air generated by the heating means including the blower 13 and the heater device 14 is circulated and supplied using the circulation air passage 10 to dry the laundry in the drum 4.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
In the pre-washing process, it becomes a high-concentration detergent solution with a small amount of water. This detergent solution is quickly impregnated into the laundry by the circulation pump means, and is heated while stirring in the subsequent heating washing process to promote the solubility and activation of the detergent. At the same time, the main washing is performed under the sufficient washing water originally required while obtaining the washing effect of the heat washing such as raising dirt components. The washing water is warmed by the amount of heat stored in the laundry, the water tub 3 and the like, and as a result, a washing performance similar to the hot water washing effect can be expected in a short washing time.

Moreover, in the past, a hot water heater that directly heats a large amount of washing water was provided, but in this embodiment, the laundry is heated using the air blower 13 and the heater device 14 provided outside the water tank 3 as heating means. Because it does so, it does not require water safety or high level of assembly accuracy, and especially it does not consume a large amount of heating heat. A drum type washing machine capable of saving energy can be provided.
Further, the heating means can be used as a part of the drying mechanism, and can be used immediately if it is a washing machine with a drying function as in this embodiment, or can be easily added when a drying function is newly added. Convenient usability by hot air heating can be expected.

  In addition, the amount of washing water may be small throughout the pre-washing and heating washing steps, and at least the amount of water necessary for impregnating the entire laundry may be obtained, so that there is no unevenness as if a part of the laundry is immersed in water, and The use of excess water can be suppressed, and the laundry can be sufficiently heated by heating with warm air, and the effect of washing with warm water can be brought out on the entire laundry. In this case, since the water level to be a small amount is set lower than the communication port 11 in the lower part of the water tank 3 of the circulation air passage 10, it does not hinder hot air from circulating in the subsequent heating and washing process.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the washing water at the time of pre-washing requires at least the amount of water necessary for impregnating the entire laundry, For example, a control means for setting a small amount of water level exclusively for pre-washing according to the amount of cloth can be adopted, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The figure which shows the washing process of the principal part in one Example of this invention. Flow chart showing control contents of main part Longitudinal side view showing the schematic configuration of the entire washing machine

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a main body, 3 is a water tank, 4 is a drum, 10 is a circulation air passage, 11 is a communication port, 12 is a heat exchanger, 13 is a blower, 14 is a heater device, 17 is a circulation water passage, and 18 circulations. Indicates pump.

Claims (4)

A drum pivotally supported around the horizontal axis inside the aquarium, circulation pump means for spraying the washing water inside the aquarium to the laundry accommodated in the drum, and heating for heating the laundry in the drum Means and
As a washing course, a pre-washing process, a heating washing process, and a main washing process are sequentially performed, and in the pre-washing process, the drum is rotated while the laundry is sprinkled by the circulation pump means, and the laundry is stirred. In the heating and washing step, the heating means is operated to stir and heat the laundry in the rotating drum, and in the main washing step, the drum is rotated by a predetermined amount of washing water to wash the laundry. A drum-type washing machine characterized by stirring.   2. A drum according to claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a blower device and a heater device arranged outside the water tank, and these are arranged in a circulation air passage communicating with the inside of the drum through the water tank. Type washing machine.   2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing water in the pre-washing step has a water amount required to impregnate at least the whole laundry. The drum type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing water level in the pre-washing step is set to be equal to or lower than the communication port with the lower part of the water tank of the circulation air passage.

Images