JP2007068807A - Drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inclined drum type washing machine with a function of heating a washing water to a prescribed temperature. <P>SOLUTION: A rotary drum 5 and a water tub 3 in which the rotary drum is stored are disposed in a washing machine casing 2 in such a way that the shaft center R of rotation of the rotary drum 5 is inclined upward on the front side. A water storage space is formed on the lowest position of the water tub 3 in such a way that the bottom is approximately parallel, and a drain 22 is opened at the lowest part on the bottom. A heater 11 is stored approximately parallel to the bottom to form a washing water heating tub 10. As a heater holder 34 for holding the heater 11 shields the drain 22 from the heater 11, diffusion of the thermal radiation to the drain 22 and a drain pipe connected to the drain, etc. is inhibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine that cleans laundry stored in a rotating drum by rotationally driving a rotating drum disposed in a water tank.

  The temperature of water used when the washing process is carried out by a washing machine as well as the drum type washing machine is an important factor for exerting washing performance. There is an optimal water temperature suitable for the type of laundry to fully demonstrate the performance of the detergent, and by carrying out the washing process while maintaining that water temperature, the detergent performance is maximized and effective detergency is achieved. Obtainable. In particular, in a detergent using an action of an enzyme or the like, the action of the enzyme depends on the water temperature, so that a remarkable effect can be obtained by maintaining the water temperature appropriately. In addition, by intentionally raising the water temperature, it is possible to obtain an effect of exterminating and sterilizing pests such as mites adhering to the laundry.

As a drum-type washing machine provided with a structure that heats washing water mixed with detergent with a heater so that the water temperature during this washing step becomes a desired temperature, in a recess formed on the lower peripheral surface of a water tank containing a rotating drum A heater is arranged in parallel with the circumferential surface of the water tank, and the supplied water is heated by the heater arranged in the recess, and the heating by the heater is controlled by detecting the water temperature, and the washing temperature is maintained at the required temperature. The structure made to improve is known (refer patent document 1).
JP-A-10-263284

  In the drum-type washing machine according to the above-described prior art, the concave portion for storing the washing water is provided substantially parallel to the side peripheral surface of the water tank, and the heater is disposed therein, so that the rotation drum rotates during the washing process. As a result, the washing water may spill out of the recess and the heater may be exposed to the air. When the heater is exposed to the air, the exposed portion locally rises in temperature, causing a problem that the heater is deformed and contacts the rotating drum. This problem becomes more conspicuous in the drum-type washing machine of the oblique drum type in which the rotating drum and the water tub are arranged in an inclined manner so that the laundry can be easily taken in and out. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a structure that reliably holds the heater so that it is not easily deformed even when local heating occurs.

  Moreover, since the recessed part which heats washing water with a heater becomes the lowest part of a water tank, a drain outlet is formed there. Since the drain port is connected to the drain port and provided with a drain pipe, a drain valve, and the like, if the radiant heat of the heater reaches them, the resin member is adversely affected. In particular, when the heater is abnormally overheated due to some failure, the resin member is directly subjected to high thermal radiation from the heater, and there is a possibility that the resin is deformed or dissolved, and further, the dissolved resin is ignited.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type washing machine provided with a structure that does not adversely affect the drain outlet and the members connected thereto due to heat radiation from the heater when the washing water heating structure is configured. It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, a drum type washing machine according to the present invention accommodates a rotationally driven bottomed cylindrical rotating drum in a water tank formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, from the bottom part of the water tank. A water storage space is formed so that the bottom surface is in a substantially horizontal direction toward the bottom, the drain port is opened at the bottom of the bottom surface, and the drain port is heated by a heater holding bracket that holds the heater arranged substantially parallel to the bottom surface. The water tank unit formed by forming a washing water heating tank shielded from the front surface of the washing machine casing is inclined downward from the front side to the back side, and the drain port is the lowest point inside the water tank. It is arranged in the washing machine casing so that

  According to the above configuration, since the washing water heating tank that heats the washing water with the heater is located at the lowermost part of the water tank, a drain outlet is necessarily opened on the bottom surface. Therefore, a heater is disposed above the drain outlet, and radiant heat from the heater directly reaches the drain outlet. Therefore, if the heater is shielded from the drain port by the heater holding bracket that holds the heater in place, the radiant heat from the heater does not reach the drain port directly. High heat is prevented from being radiated, and heat does not easily affect the drain outlet and the drain pipe and drain valve connected thereto.

  According to the present invention, a function of heating a washing water to a desired temperature is provided in a drum-type washing machine of an oblique drum type in which a rotating drum and a water tub are inclined to facilitate the work of taking in and out the laundry with respect to the rotating drum. In this case, the washing water heating tank is a concave portion directed downward from the lowermost part of the water tank, and the drain outlet opens on the bottom surface, so that the heat radiation from the heater directly reaches the drain outlet. Since the heater holding metal shields between the heater and the drain port, high heat radiation is prevented from reaching the drain port directly, and the drain port and drain pipes and drain valves connected to it are adversely affected by heat radiation. Will not affect.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a drum type washing machine 1 according to an embodiment as a cross-sectional view. A rotating drum 5 and a water tub 3 that accommodates the rotating drum 5 are inclined at an angle θ from a horizontal direction to an upward direction. 5 and the opening 8 of the water tub 3 are arranged in the washing machine casing 2 so that the opening of the washing machine casing 3 faces upward from the horizontal direction, and the door body 8 is provided on an inclined surface in which the front surface of the washing machine casing 2 is inclined upward. The drum-type washing machine 1 in the form of an oblique drum that makes it easy to put the laundry into and out of the rotary drum 5. By the way, according to the research by the inventors of the present application from various viewpoints, it is concluded that the optimum angle is set to θ = 25 ± 5 degrees. Even if there is a difference in height from children (excluding infants) to adults, even people with disabilities using wheelchairs, it is easy to open the door 8 and put the laundry in and out of the rotating drum 5, Since the waist does not bend in and out, it is configured to be installed in a narrow space such as a washroom.

  The rotating drum 5 has a bottomed cylindrical opening side on the front side of the washing machine housing 2 and a bottom surface on the back side of the washing machine housing 2 so that the rotation axis R is from the front side to the back side. The rotating shaft 15 is pivotally supported by a bearing 16 provided on the back surface of the water tank 3 so as to be inclined downward at an angle θ. A driven pulley 18 is attached to the rotating shaft 15, and a driving belt 19 is constructed between the driving pulley 17 attached to the rotating drive shaft of the drum drive motor 4 attached to the lower surface of the water tank 3. The rotary drum 5 is rotationally driven by the drum drive motor 4. A large number of through holes 20 are formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 5 so that water can flow between the inside of the water tank 3, and stirring protrusions 21 are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner peripheral surface of the rotating drum 5. Is provided, and the washing drum is lifted upward by the rotation of the rotating drum 5 and is configured to be beaten and dropped from above.

  The water tank 3 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in which a water tank main body 3a and a water tank lid body 3b are connected, and is inclined downward from the front side to the back side in the same manner as the rotating drum 5 accommodated in the washing machine casing 2. It is supported inside by a suspension structure (not shown). The water tank 3 is formed by resin molding so that various components can be easily constructed and connected while reducing the weight. A laundry entrance 6 is opened on the front side of the water tub 3, and the opening center C thereof is positioned upward from the opening center of the rotating drum 5 (coincident with the rotational axis R), and the center of the door 8 is also the laundry. It is made to substantially coincide with the center line of the entrance 6. When the laundry entrance / exit 6 and the door body 8 are configured such that the center position C thereof is offset upward from the rotation axis R of the rotary drum 5, the diameter of the door body 8 formed in a circle and the laundry Even when the opening diameter of the article entrance / exit 6 is restricted, the number of parts that become blind spots when the door body 8 is opened and the inside of the rotating drum 5 is viewed through the laundry entrance / exit 6 is reduced. Therefore, since the laundry accommodated in the rotating drum 5 can be seen over a wide range, it becomes difficult to forget to take out the laundry. In particular, in the configuration in which the rotating drum 5 is inclined and the door body 8 is provided on the inclined surface of the washing machine housing 2 corresponding to the inclination angle of the rotating drum 5 as in the drum type washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment. Can look over the interior of the rotating drum 5 in a wider range.

  However, when the opening diameter of the laundry entrance / exit 6 is smaller than the opening diameter of the rotating drum 5 and the center position C of the laundry entrance / exit 6 is offset upward from the rotation axis R of the rotating drum 5, the rotating drum as illustrated in FIG. The lower part of the laundry entrance / exit 6 overlaps the opening end of 5. In this state, when a part of the laundry jumps out of the opening of the rotary drum 5, the part that jumps out with the rotation of the rotary drum 5 may be caught between the rotary drum 5 and the water tub 3. is there. In order to prevent the biting of the laundry, the biting prevention of covering the peripheral portion of the laundry entrance 6 and protruding toward the inside of the rotating drum 5 with the portion overlapping the opening of the rotating drum 5 as the center. An entrance / exit frame 14 in which the protrusion 13 is formed is provided. The biting prevention protrusion 13 is formed so that a downward protrusion amount that increases the amount of overlap with the opening of the rotating drum 5 is increased, and the biting prevention protrusion 13 protrudes inward from the opening of the rotating drum 5. Therefore, when the amount of laundry is large, it acts to prevent the laundry from jumping out of the opening with the rotation of the rotating drum 5, and the laundry jumping out of the opening of the rotating drum 5 becomes the water tank 3. It is possible to prevent biting between the two.

  Further, the biting prevention protrusion 13 is likely to come into contact with the laundry stirred by the rotary drum 5, so that if the contact area is large, the laundry sticks and contact resistance increases, so that the contact resistance increases between the laundry and the laundry. The degree of occurrence of rubbing friction increases, and there is a possibility that damage will occur due to repeated rubbing friction in a weak fibrous laundry. Therefore, the surface shape of the biting prevention protrusion 13 is formed in a rounded surface without a flat surface, as shown in a sectional view in FIG. Since the surface of the biting prevention protrusion 13 is rounded, the contact area with the laundry is reduced and the contact friction is reduced, so that the laundry is prevented from being damaged. In order to further reduce the contact resistance, the contact area with the laundry can be reduced by forming a large number of holes or recesses in the biting prevention protrusion 13.

  Further, in the drum type washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the washing effect is improved by heating the detergent-mixed water obtained by mixing the detergent with water to a temperature at which the performance of the detergent is sufficiently exerted. The washing water heating tank 10 for heating the detergent mixed water poured into the water tank 3 is constructed at the lowest part of the water tank so that the water temperature suitable for the water tank 3 can be obtained. A heater 11 for water heating is provided. The bottom surface of the washing water heating tank 10 is formed in a substantially horizontal direction, and is disposed with a slight inclination so that the opening position of the drain port 22 opened to the front side of the bottom surface is the lowest point. Are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

  2 (a) and 2 (b) show a mounting structure of the heater 11 disposed in the washing water heating tank 10, and the inner wall surface of the washing water heating tank 10 is a heat shield plate 33 formed of a stainless steel thin plate. The tip of the heater 11 bent and formed by the heater holding metal fitting 34 attached to the heat shield plate 33 is held. The heater 11 is inserted into the washing water heating tank 10 from the hole formed in the rear side wall of the washing water heating tank 10, the tip portion is inserted into the heater holding metal fitting 34, and the hole provided in the rear side wall is the heater support 32. It is fixed so as to be closed to a waterproof structure. The heater holding bracket 34 is formed by pressing a stainless thin plate into a substantially T shape and forming a holding portion 34a that is folded back with a space at which the heater 11 can be sandwiched between the portions formed wide in the left and right directions of the T shape. The narrow portion in the T-shaped vertical direction is welded and fixed to the bottom surface of the heat shield plate 33 as a holding metal fitting 34b. The lower surface of the holding portion 34 a is located above the drain port 22 and has a size that covers almost the entire surface of the drain port 22. Further, a thermal fuse 35 is attached to one outer side surface of the washing water heating tank 10, and one end side of the heater 11 is sandwiched between the opposite heat shield plates 33 to transfer the heat of the heater 11 to the thermal fuse 35. A heat transfer plate 36 is attached to the side surface of the heat shield plate 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heat transfer plate 36 is welded and joined to a recess formed on the side surface of the heat shield plate 33 so that the heat shield plate 33 is mounted in the washing water heating tank 10. Then, the outer surface of the concave portion is in close contact with the side surface of the washing water heating tank 10, and the temperature of the heater 11 can be efficiently transferred to the temperature fuse 35 through the side surface of the washing water heating tank 10. The temperature fuse 35 is attached to the temperature fuse mounting bracket 39 so that its temperature detection surface is in close contact with the outer surface of the washing water heating tank 10, and is transferred from the heat transfer plate 36 through the side surface of the washing water heating tank 10. The temperature of the heated heater 11 is detected. The thermal fuse mounting bracket 39 is formed with a pair of left and right urging pieces 40 and a fixed piece 41, and a rib 37 provided at a predetermined interval from the side surface of the washing water heating tank 10 and washing water heating. When the urging piece 40 is pushed in between the outer surface of the tank 10 and the urging piece 40 is inserted, the urging piece 40 is pushed by the rib 37 to press the temperature fuse mounting bracket 39 against the outer surface of the washing water heating tank 10. Thus, the temperature detection surface of the temperature fuse 35 attached to the temperature fuse mounting bracket 39 is in close contact with the outer surface of the washing water heating tank 10. This state is maintained by fixing the fixing piece 41 to the boss 38 provided in the water tank 3 with screws.

  In the washing water heating structure, it is necessary to energize the heater 11 with the washing water heating tank 10 filled with the washing water and the heater 11 submerged in the water, and the heater 11 is energized with the heater 11 exposed in the air. If it does, the part exposed in the air will deform | transform and contact with the rotating drum 5 by abnormal temperature rise, or it will be in the state which carries out the heat deformation of the water tank 3, especially the washing water heating tank 10 formed with resin. In addition, if the temperature rise continues and an overheated state occurs, dissolution may occur in the resin water tank 3 and the dissolved resin may ignite. In the above-described configuration, the washing water heating tank 10 is a recess having a substantially horizontal plane connected to the drain port 22 at the bottom of the water tank 3, so that the washing water disappears from the washing water heating tank 10 due to fluctuations in the water level during washing. It is possible to prevent the heater 11 from being exposed to the air and causing an abnormal temperature rise.

  Even when the temperature of the heater 11 rises abnormally due to a failure or poor control, the inner peripheral wall of the washing water heating tank 10 is covered with the heat shield plate 33, so that high heat is radiated to the washing water heating tank 10 and deforms. And dissolution is prevented. Further, since the holding portion 34a of the heater holding bracket 34 located on the drain port 22 of the heater 11 shields the drain port 22 from the heater 11, the radiant heat of the heater 11 does not reach the drain port 22 directly, and the drain port 22 And the influence which acts on resin members, such as a drain pipe connected to it and a drain valve, is suppressed. Further, the top surface of the holding portion 34a of the heater holding metal 34 shields the upper portion of the heater 11, so that the radiant heat from the heater 11 is reflected by the mirror-finished rotating drum 5 and is reflected by the heat shield plate 33 of the water tank 3. There is also an effect of suppressing thermal influence on the uncoated region.

  When the temperature of the heater 11 rises above the temperature that can be shielded by the heat shield plate 33, the temperature is transferred from the heat transfer plate 36 to the temperature fuse 35, so that the preset operating temperature of the temperature fuse 35 is set. When the heater 11 is overheated, the temperature fuse 35 is melted and the energization circuit to the heater 11 is cut off, and the abnormal overheating of the heater 11 can be stopped. The temperature fuse 35 is a final means for preventing the water tank 3 including the washing water heating tank 10 from being melted or ignited, and is prevented from being in a worst state due to a failure or the like. Further, the holding portion 34a of the heater holding metal 34 is in close contact with the heater 11, and heat of the heater 11 is transferred from the holding metal fitting mounting portion 34b to the heat shield plate 33, so that the heat of the heater is not limited to the heat transfer plate 36. Heat is transferred also from the hot plate 33 to the thermal fuse 35, and the thermal fuse 35 can be operated more reliably.

  When the function of heating the washing water is provided as described above, steam is generated in the water tank 3 with the heating. Since the water tank 3 is in a sealed state when the door body 8 is closed, the internal pressure in the water tank 3 increases due to the generation of steam. This change in atmospheric pressure in the water tank 3 is not preferable, and this hinders the function of detecting the feed water level from the change in atmospheric pressure in the water tank 3 as in this configuration. In the water level detection, a state in which the air in the air trap 45 communicating with the drain port 22 is compressed according to the amount of water supply is guided to the water level sensor 46 by the air pipe 47, and the water supply water level is detected from the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 46. Yes. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the atmospheric pressure in the water tank 3 at atmospheric pressure, and when the atmospheric pressure rises due to the generation of steam accompanying heating, the pressure is discharged from the water tank 3. In this configuration, an exhaust pipe 48 is connected from above the water tank 3 toward the detergent charging unit 27, and steam generated in the water tank 3 fills the detergent storage chamber 61 of the detergent charging unit 27 from the exhaust pipe 48. The water flows through the lid 62 and is condensed by cooling, and water generated by the condensation is returned from the water supply pipe 7 to the water tank 3. Further, since the water supply pipe 7 is provided with the trap 7 a, the steam in the water tank 3 is prevented from flowing from the water supply pipe 7 to the detergent charging unit 27.

  The water tank 3 having the above configuration is supported in the washing machine casing 2 by a suspension structure (not shown). The washing machine housing 2 is constructed of a damping steel plate or the like on a resin base frame 25, and a reinforcing member, a damping member, and the like are arranged at important points, and the base frame 25 is placed on the installation surface by a vibration isolation support leg 24. Supports and suppresses the conduction of vibrations during washing and dehydration to the outside. Further, the washing machine housing 2 is provided with a water supply port 26 connected to the water tap, a detergent charging unit 27, an operation / display panel (not shown), and the like exposed to the outside.

  The operation of the drum type washing machine 1 configured as described above will be briefly described. A series of operations from the washing process to the dehydration process is automatically executed by a control configuration (not shown) by inputting an instruction from the operation / display panel.

  When the door body 8 is opened, laundry is put into the rotary drum 5, an amount of detergent corresponding to the amount of laundry is put into the detergent loading unit 27, and an operation start is input from the operation / display panel. Is closed, first the first water supply valve 29 is opened, and the supplied water is sprinkled from the shower nozzle 31 into the rotary drum 5 so that the laundry contains water, so that the washing water in which the detergent has dissolved is easily infiltrated. To do. Subsequently, the second water supply valve 30 is opened, and the supplied water is injected into the detergent storage chamber 61 from the water injection lid 62 of the detergent charging unit 27, and the detergent mixed water mixed with the detergent enters the water tank 3 from the water supply port 9. Water is supplied. The water supply port 9 is opened at a position near the upper back surface of the water tank 3 and the water tank 3 is inclined, so that the detergent mixed water that has flowed in flows down along the back surface of the water tank 3 and is the lowermost part of the washing It flows into the water heating tank 10 from its back side. As described above, the washing water heating tank 10 has a bottom surface formed in a substantially horizontal direction, and has a slight inclination (2 to 3 degrees) toward the opening position of the drain port 22 opening to the front side. Because the detergent in the detergent mixed water that has flowed into the washing water heating tank 10 remains on the rear side of the bottom surface due to frictional resistance with the bottom surface, only water flows into the drain port 22 and the drain valve 28 is closed. The drainage port 22 is quickly filled, and the detergent accumulates at the bottom of the washing water heating tank 10. Since the detergent mixed water is supplied to the water level corresponding to the amount of laundry in the aquarium 3, when the heater 11 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 11, the detergent is easily dissolved in water.

  Next, when the rotary drum 5 is rotationally driven by the drum drive motor 4, a vortex flow is generated in the washing water heating tank 10 due to the intense water flow generated in the water tank 3, and the detergent and water are agitated. Combined with heating, the detergent can be obtained as a washing water sufficiently dissolved in water. Since the washing water enters the rotary drum 5 through the through holes 20, it effectively penetrates into the laundry containing water. The laundry is lifted by the stirring protrusions 21 provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof by the rotation of the rotary drum 5 and the operation of tapping to drop into the washing water from above is repeated. The washing operation is performed. Although the opening of the rotating drum 5 and the laundry entrance / exit 6 of the water tub 3 are open, the bellows 12 attached to the entrance / exit frame 14 is in close contact with the inside of the door 8 when the door 8 is closed. Water will not splash outside.

  When the washing process is completed, the drain valve 28 is opened and the dirty washing water is discharged to the outside, so that the washing water contained in the laundry is continuously removed from the water tank 3 through the through hole 20 by the dehydrating operation of rotating the rotating drum 5 at a high speed. To the inside and to the outside. After this dewatering operation, the first and second water supply valves 29 and 30 are opened to supply water into the water tub 3, and the rinsing process for rotating the rotating drum 5 and the dewatering operation are repeated a predetermined number of times to remain in the laundry. Since the washing water being rinsed is rinsed out, the laundry washed by performing the dehydration process lastly becomes dehydrated and the process ends, so the door 8 is opened and the laundry is taken out. Can do.

  When the rotating drum 5 is inclined as in the above configuration, the operation of putting laundry into and out of the rotating drum 5 is facilitated, and the water supplied into the rotating drum 5 is accumulated on the back side, so that even a small amount of water can be stored deeply. On the other hand, there is an advantage that the state can be obtained, but the laundry stored in the rotary drum 5 gathers at the lower part on the bottom surface side which is the lowest position, and when the rotary drum 5 is rotated, the laundry is further gathered on the bottom surface side. The drum type washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to change the position of the laundry by controlling the rotation drive of the rotary drum 5 by the drum drive motor 4, and the stirring protrusion 21. With this shape, the laundry is changed back and forth as the rotary drum 5 rotates. With these configurations, the position of the laundry is changed so that all the laundry is uniformly given cleaning power.

  As described above, the drum-type washing machine according to the present invention is a slant drum-type drum type washing machine in which the rotating drum and the water tub are arranged at an angle to facilitate the operation of putting in and out the laundry with respect to the rotating drum. When the washing water heating tank is provided with a function to heat the water to the desired temperature, the drainage port is opened at the bottom of the concave portion directed downward from the lowermost part of the water tank. Although it reaches directly to the drainage port, the heater holding metal shields the space between the heater and the drainage port, so that high heat radiation is prevented from directly reaching the drainage port, and the drainage port and the drainage pipe connected to it. It is possible to provide a drum-type washing machine that is easy to use and has good washing performance without adversely affecting heat radiation and the drain valve.

Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the drum type washing machine which concerns on embodiment. (A) which shows the arrangement | positioning structure of a heater is a top view, (b) is a side view. Sectional drawing which shows the attachment structure of a thermal fuse.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum type washing machine 2 Washing machine housing 3 Water tank 5 Rotating drum 10 Washing water heating tank 11 Heater 22 Drain port 33 Heat shield plate 34 Heater holding bracket 35 Thermal fuse 36 Heat transfer plate

Claims (1)

  A bottomed cylindrical rotating drum that is driven to rotate is housed in a water tank formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a water storage space is formed so that the bottom surface is in a substantially horizontal direction downward from the lowest part of the water tank. The water tank unit is formed by forming a washing water heating tank in which a drainage opening is opened at the bottom of the bottom surface and the drainage opening is shielded from the heater by a heater holding bracket that holds the heater arranged substantially parallel to the bottom surface. The rotation axis of the rotary drum is inclined downward from the front side to the back side of the machine casing, and the drain outlet is disposed in the washing machine casing so as to be the lowest point inside the water tank. A drum-type washing machine.

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