JP2008043394A - Washing and drying machine and pulsator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pulsator and a washing and drying machine capable of suppressing "cloth entanglement", guaranteeing an excellent washing performance and achieving drying with little "wrinkling" in a short time. <P>SOLUTION: The pulsator 10 is a disk in which a slope is formed on the upper surface and has point-symmetrical ridge lines 2a and 2b of a fixed height formed in a circular arcuate shape from a center axis O to the outer periphery in the plane view and transition lines 1a and 1b gradually lowered from the center axis O to the outer periphery between them, and steep slopes 12a and 12b respectively connecting the transition lines 1a and 1b and the ridge lines 2a and 2b and gentle slopes 21a and 21b respectively connecting the ridge lines 2a and 2b and the transition lines 1b and 1a, whose inclination angle is gentler than that of the steep slopes 12a and 12b, are formed. During washing, clothes are agitated around the center axis O by the steep slopes 12a and 12b. During drying, the clothes smoothly climb the gentle slopes 21a and 21b and then suddenly slide down to the steep slopes 12a and 12b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a laundry dryer and a pulsator, and more particularly to a pulsator-type laundry dryer and a pulsator installed in the laundry dryer.

In general, the washing and drying machine is roughly classified into a pulsator type and a drum type. The pulsator system rotates a pulsator placed in a washing tub, generates a "circulating water stream" by the rotation, and removes dirt by mechanical action such as friction or vibration and chemical action by a detergent. . The dewatering of the washed clothes rotates the washing tub (where the pulsator is disposed) and blows moisture by centrifugal force. Furthermore, drying of the clothes after dehydration rotates the pulsator while blowing warm air into the washing tub.
In the washing and drying machine, there is disclosed a rotating body (same as a pulsator) for realizing a finish with less “cloth entanglement” in order to increase cleaning efficiency and less “wrinkle” (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-81102 (page 6-7, FIG. 2)

The pulsator disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a disk in which a slope that rises toward the outer periphery is formed, and the slope is V-shaped in a front view (12 o'clock-6 o'clock direction), and a side view ( 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock), it is linear or inverted V-shaped (mountain shape). Therefore, the rotation of the pulsator causes water or clothing to be lifted by a slope having a predetermined inclination angle and pulled down by a slope having a same inclination angle (a line-symmetric slope).
In addition, when the rotation direction is changed alternately, the upward force acting on the water or the clothes is basically the same between the case of rotating in one direction and the state of rotating in the opposite direction.
For this reason, such pulsators, while washing, moderately agitate the water to suppress the “cloth entanglement” of the clothing. However, during drying without water, the clothing is difficult to move and the drying efficiency is reduced. There was a problem of inviting “wrinkles”.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and suppresses “fabric entanglement” to guarantee good cleaning performance, and can realize drying with less “wrinkle” in a short time, and the pulsator The object is to provide a washing and drying machine equipped with a pulsator.

The pulsator according to the present invention is a pulsator made of a disc in which a plurality of inclined surfaces are formed on the upper surface installed at the bottom of the washing tub of the washing and drying machine,
In a side view, the first axis (H1) from the bottom surface on the central axis of the disc and gradually lower toward the outer periphery so as to be the second height (H2) from the bottom surface on the outer periphery of the disc. A plurality of transition lines (1a, 1b) formed in an arc shape or spiral shape from the central axis to the outer periphery in plan view,
In the side view, the first height (H1) is maintained from the central axis to the outer periphery, and in the plan view, it projects in the same direction as the transition lines (1a, 1b), and extends from the central axis to the outer periphery. A plurality of ridgelines (2a, 2b) formed in a circular arc shape or a spiral shape,
A first inclined surface (12a) that gradually increases from the projecting direction of the one transition line (1a) toward the projecting direction of the one ridge line (2a) along a circumference at a predetermined distance from the central axis. )When,
A second inclined surface (21a) that gradually decreases from the projecting direction of the one ridge line (2a) toward the projecting direction of the other transition line (1b),
The inclination of the first inclined surface (12a) is larger than the inclination of the second inclined surface (21a).

Therefore, the pulsator according to the present invention may have a first inclined surface (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “steep slope”) and a second inclined surface (hereinafter referred to as “slow slope”) formed toward the arc-shaped ridgeline. Therefore, the following effects can be obtained.
(I) When rotating toward a steep slope during washing, the clothing receives a force in the circumferential direction and obliquely upward by the steep slope, and is therefore agitated around the central axis. Therefore, the washing performance is improved.
(Ii) When rotating toward a gentle slope during drying, the clothing smoothly climbs the gentle slope and, after reaching the ridgeline, slides down the steep slope rapidly. Therefore, the clothes are loosened by such up and down movement, drying is promoted and “wrinkle” is prevented.

[Embodiment 1]
(Pulsator-semicircle type)
1 to 5 illustrate a pulsator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, FIG. 3 is a developed view along a ridge line and a transition line, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a development view along the circumference when there is no fillet, and FIG. 5 is a development view along the circumference when there is a fillet. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a part of the description is omitted. Further, the same form will be described with the subscripts “first and second” and “a, b] omitted.

(Ridgeline)
1 and 2, the pulsator 10 is a disk having a smooth slope formed on the upper surface, and is formed in an arc shape extending from the central axis O to the outer periphery in the plan view (FIG. 2). The first ridgeline 2a and the second ridgeline 2b are point-symmetric. At this time, since the first ridge line 2a is convex upward and the second ridge line 2b is convex downward, the projecting directions of the first ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b are both counterclockwise. .
3 (a) and 3 (b), the first ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b extend from the central axis O to the outer periphery (in the drawing, the outer peripheral position Rb3 to the central axis O to the outer peripheral position Ra3). The height H1 is maintained. In addition, since the fillet (tip R) is formed on the first ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b, the actual shape has a slightly lower height at the outer peripheral position Rb3 and the outer peripheral position Ra3.

(Transition line)
1 and 2, the first transition line 1a and the second transition line 1a are formed in an arc shape extending from the central axis O to the outer periphery between the first ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b, and are point-symmetric with respect to the central axis. A transition line 1b is formed. At this time, since the first transition line 1a is convex upward and the second transition line 1b is convex downward, the extending directions of the first transition line 1a and the second transition line 1b are both the first The counterclockwise direction is the same as the protruding direction of the ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b.
3C and 3D, the first transition line 1a and the second transition line 1b are at a first height H1 from the bottom surface at the central axis O, and from the bottom surface at the outer peripheral positions Ta3 and Tb3 of the disc. The height gradually decreases toward the outer periphery so as to be the second height H2. In addition, since the fillet (tip R) is formed in the first transition line 1a and the second transition line 1b, the actual shape is slightly lower in the outer peripheral position Rb3 and the outer peripheral position Ra3, In the central axis O, the first ridge line 2a and the second ridge line 2b are smoothly connected to each other and have an upwardly convex substantially circular arc shape.

(Inclined surface)
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a first inclined surface (hereinafter referred to as “first steep slope”) gradually increases from the projecting direction of the first transition line 1a toward the projecting direction of the first ridge line 2a (same in the counterclockwise direction). 12a),
A first two inclined surfaces (hereinafter referred to as “first gentle slopes”) 21a gradually decreasing from the projecting direction of the first ridge line 2a toward the projecting direction of the second transition line 1b (same in the counterclockwise direction); ,
A second inclined surface (hereinafter referred to as “second steep slope”) 12b that gradually increases from the protruding direction of the second transition line 1b toward the protruding direction of the second ridge line 2b (same in the counterclockwise direction);
A second inclined surface (hereinafter referred to as “second gentle inclined surface”) 21b that gradually decreases from the protruding direction of the second ridge line 2b toward the protruding direction of the first transition line 1a (same in the counterclockwise direction); ,
Are formed respectively.

  4 and 5 are developed views along the circumference, where (a) is a circle passing through the positions Ra0 and Rb0 (closest to the central axis O), and (b) is the positions Ra1, Ta1, Rb1, and Tb1. (C) is a circle passing through Ra2, Ta2, Rb2, and Tb2 (approximately a half radius away from the central axis O), and (d) is Ra3, Ta3. , Rb3, and Tb3 in a circle (peripheral position). Since the fillet is actually formed, the ridge line is formed to be convex upward. Hereinafter, the steep slope 12 and the gentle slope 21 may be collectively referred to as “slow slope”.

(Effects of gentle slope)
6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation and effect of the pulsator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a steep slope, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the effect of the steep slope. is there.
In FIG. 6, the steep slope 12a (same for the steep slope 12b) is approximated by the inclination angle θ1, and the gentle slope 21a (similar to the gentle slope 21b) is approximated by the inclination angle θ2. And when there exists the following relationship between inclination-angle (theta) 1, 2 (theta), there exists the following effect.
θ1 = 30 ° -60 ° ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Formula 1
θ1 = (1.5-3.) × θ2 Equation 2

In FIG. 6A, washing is mainly performed by rotating the pulsator 10 so that the steep slope 12 is in the rotational direction (same in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1). At this time, the water and clothes are stirred around the central axis O by receiving a force obliquely upward in the circumferential direction by the steep slope 12, and thus the washing performance is improved.
Further, when the pulsator 10 is reversed (same as rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 1), water and clothing smoothly climb the gentle slope 21, so that the clothing to which inertia is imparted by clockwise rotation suddenly It will not be stirred counterclockwise. For this reason, “clothing” is prevented.

  In FIG. 6 (b), the drying is mainly performed by rotating the pulsator 10 so that the gentle slope 21 is in the rotational direction (same in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). At this time, the garment smoothly climbs the gentle slope 21 and is lifted up to the ridgeline 2 (corresponding to the apex of the pulsator 10). After that, it slides down the steep slope 12 abruptly. Therefore, by repeating such up and down movement, clothes are loosened and warm air is spread. At this time, since no upward force is applied to the garment, there is no fabric entanglement, and “wrinkle” is prevented by the action of the hot air that is blown off and blown.

Subsequent to this, if the pulsator 10 is reversed (same as rotating clockwise in FIG. 1), the garment climbs the steep slope 12, but the rotation speed and rotation angular speed during the reverse rotation can be reduced. Thus, the occurrence of “wrinkle” can be prevented.
Since the “wrinkle” prevention effect increases as the garment climbs so as to slide on the gentle slope 21, it is effective to finish the gentle slope 21 smoothly or to perform a surface treatment to reduce the friction coefficient. is there.

The above is an example in which two steep slopes are formed in the circumferential direction, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be three or more. In Article 1, since there are few surfaces that act on water and clothes in washing and on the clothes in drying, effective cleaning performance and drying capacity cannot be obtained. On the other hand, when the amount is too large, the area of the gentle slope becomes narrow or the slope angle of the gentle slope becomes large, and the above-mentioned effect becomes small.
Also, if the rotation speed of the pulsator is constant during drying, the frequency of swinging up and down is too high, and the clothes do not move effectively. Further, when the rotation speed is lowered, the swinging force determined by the difference in height between the transition line 1 and the ridge line 2 becomes weak, and the clothes cannot effectively move.

In the above, the shape of the transition line 1 and the ridge line 2 in the plan view is a semicircle having the same diameter as the radius of the pulsator 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a uniform radius of curvature is provided. A spiral shape (see Embodiment 2) in which the arc or the radius of curvature of the material fluctuates may be used.
When the pulsator 10 has a semicircle having the same diameter as the radius, in the drying step, the outer side from the center of the transition line 1 and the ridgeline 2 that is a semicircle is located outside the half of the pulsator radius. It is possible to create a space inside and outside the garment by applying a force that pushes the garment outward and weakening the pushout force on the inside. It is. Further, in the case of an arc having a radius of curvature larger than ½ of the radius of the pulsator 10, the force pushed outward is weakened, and the above-mentioned effect is weakened.

[Embodiment 2]
(Pulsator-spiral type)
8 to 12 illustrate a pulsator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a plan view, FIG. 9 is a perspective view, FIG. 10 is a development view along a ridge line and a transition line, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a development view along the circumference when there is no fillet, and FIG. 12 is a development view along the circumference when there is a fillet.
The pulsator 20 shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 is a curve (spiral shape) in which the radius of curvature continuously increases as the transition lines 3a and 3b and the ridge lines 4a and 4b move away from the central axis O in the plan view (FIG. 8). The same).
For this reason, in FIG. 8, since the ridgelines 4a and 4b are curved and entered in a counterclockwise direction, particularly in the drying step, the force for pushing the garment inside is weakened in a range close to the central axis. Therefore, a space can be created inside and outside the clothing, and warm air can be applied more effectively.
The pulsator 20 replaces the transition line 1 of the pulsator 10 in the first embodiment with the transition line 3, the ridge line 2 with the ridge line 4, the steep slope 12 with the steep slope 34, and the gentle slope 21 with the gentle slope 43, respectively. Therefore, the description is omitted. Further, the curvature deformation of the curve may be set for each predetermined range from the central axis O and may vary stepwise (discontinuously), or may be a cycloid curve, an involute curve, or the like. Good.

[Embodiment 3]
(Washing and drying machine)
FIG. 13 is a sectional view in side view showing the washing / drying machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
A washing / drying machine 100 shown in FIG. 13 includes a water receiving tank 102 for storing washing liquid stored in a washing machine casing 101, and a washing / dehydrating tank 103 rotatably supported in the water receiving tank 102. And the pulsator 10 (see Embodiment 1) installed inside the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 103.
At this time, the central axis of the water receiving tank 102 and the central axis of the washing and dewatering tank 103 coincide with each other. The peripheral wall surface of the washing and dewatering tub 103 is provided with a number of small holes for allowing water and air to pass therethrough, a fluid balancer 151 is provided at the top, and a pulsator 10 for stirring clothes is freely rotatable inside the bottom. Is pivotally supported. A driving means 105 that rotationally drives the pulsator 10 and the washing / dehydrating tank 103 is installed outside the bottom of the water receiving tank 102.

In addition, the air blowing means 108 is provided at the top of the washing machine casing 101, and the heating means 109 and the hot air discharge port 110 are provided immediately thereafter. The bottom of the water receiving tank 102 and the air blowing means 108 are connected via the air passage connecting portion 111. Are connected by an air passage 107. And the dehumidification means 152 is installed in the inside of the air path 107, and the air path connection part 111 is comprised with the material which has flexibility.
Further, in the gap between the upper part of the water receiving tank 102 and the upper part of the washing machine casing 101, a hot air shielding means 112 is installed to prevent the warm air from leaking to the outside through the gap. The lid 113 is installed to be openable and closable, and the upper portion of the water receiving tank 102 is covered by closing the lid 113.

  Accordingly, when warm air is supplied to the washing / dehydrating tub 103 in the drying process, the moisture adhering to the clothing evaporates and is taken into the warm air, and the moisture taken into the warm air is further removed by the dehumidifying means 115. It is collected and discharged out of the washing machine casing 101 via a drainage path (not shown). At this time, since the washing and dewatering tub 103 is sealed by the warm air shielding means 112 and the lid 113, steam or the like does not leak to the surroundings.

  In the washing process, the control means 106 alternately rotates the pulsator 10 clockwise and counterclockwise to stir the clothes, and in the dehydration process, the washing / dehydrating tub 103 is rotated in one direction at a high speed by centrifugal force. The driving means 105 is controlled so as to remove the washing liquid from the clothes. In the drying process, the pulsator 10 is also rotated (this will be described separately).

(Operation sequence)
14 and 15 are time charts for explaining the operation sequence of the pulsator installed in the washing / drying machine according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, where (a) is a washing process and (b) is a drying process. It is.
In FIG. 14 (a), in the washing process, in order to give the garment a large obliquely upward movement in the circumferential direction and to increase the mechanical force, the rotation toward the steep slope 12 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is performed on the gentle slope 21. The rotation angle is larger than the rotation toward (which is the same as the counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 1), and at the same time, the rotation angular velocity is increased. That is, the rotation toward the gentle slope 21 (same as the counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is made small and low.
Therefore, the “clothing” prevention effect of the pulsator 10 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) is exhibited.

In FIG. 14 (b), in the drying process, in order to give the garment a large vertical movement and to prevent the fabric from getting entangled and to obtain a finish without “wrinkle”, on the gentle slope 21 on the contrary to the washing process. The turning angle is larger than the turning direction (same as counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 1) toward steep slope 12 (same as clockwise rotation in FIG. 1), and at the same time, the rotational angular velocity is increased. That is, the rotation toward the steep slope 12 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is made small and low.
Therefore, the “wrinkle” preventing effect of the pulsator 10 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) is exhibited.

In FIG. 15 (a), in the washing process, in order to give the garment a large obliquely upward movement in the circumferential direction and increase the mechanical force, the rotation toward the steep slope 12 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is performed on the gentle slope 21. The rotation angle is made larger than the rotation toward (which is the same as the counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 1), and at this time, the rotation angular velocities are made equal. That is, the rotation toward the gentle slope 21 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is reduced at the same speed.
Therefore, the effect of preventing “entanglement” of the pulsator 10 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) is achieved, and the time for rotating counterclockwise and the stop time are shortened by equalizing the rotational angular velocities. The washing process is shorter than the operation sequence shown in FIG.

In FIG. 15 (b), in the drying process, in order to give the garment a great vertical movement and to prevent the fabric from getting tangled and to obtain a finish without "wrinkle", the gentle slope 21 The rotation angle is larger than the rotation toward the steep slope 12 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1), and the rotation angular velocity is made equal at this time. That is, the rotation toward the steep slope 12 (same as the clockwise rotation in FIG. 1) is reduced at the same speed.
Accordingly, the “wrinkle” prevention effect of the pulsator 10 described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) is exhibited, and the time for rotating clockwise and the stop time are shortened by equalizing the rotation angular velocity, The drying process is shorter than the operation sequence shown in FIG.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the fabric entanglement and wrinkle are reduced, so that the present invention can be widely used as a pulsator for various household and commercial laundry dryers, and as a household and commercial laundry dryer. Can do.

The top view explaining the pulsator concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The perspective view explaining the pulsator concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The expanded view along the ridgeline and transition line explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a developed view (without a fillet) along the circumference for explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a development view (with a fillet) along the circumference for explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. 1. The schematic diagram which shows the gentle slope of the pulsator shown in FIG. The schematic diagram which shows the effect of the steep slope of the pulsator shown in FIG. An explanatory top view of a pulsator concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The perspective view explaining the pulsator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The expanded view along the ridgeline and transition line explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a developed view (without a fillet) along the circumference for explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a developed view (with a fillet) along the circumference for explaining the pulsator shown in FIG. 8. Sectional drawing of the side view which shows the washing-drying machine which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. 14 is a time chart for explaining an operation sequence of the washing / drying machine shown in FIG. 13. 14 is a time chart for explaining an operation sequence of the washing / drying machine shown in FIG. 13.

Explanation of symbols

1: Transition line (Embodiment 1), 2: Edge line (Embodiment 1), 3: Transition line (Embodiment 2), 4: Edge line (Embodiment 2), 10: Pulsator (Embodiment 1) ), 12: steep slope, 20: pulsator (Embodiment 2), 21: gentle slope, 34: steep slope, 43: gentle slope, θ1: inclination angle, θ2: inclination angle, 100: washing dryer, 101: washing machine Case: 102: Water receiving tank, 103: Washing / dehydrating tank, 105: Driving means, 106: Control means, 107: Air passage, 108: Air blowing means, 109: Heating means, 110: Hot air discharge port, 111: Wind Road connection part, 112: warm air shielding means, 113: lid, 115: dehumidifying means, 151: fluid balancer, 152: dehumidifying means.

Claims (9)

A pulsator made of a disc having a plurality of inclined surfaces formed on the upper surface installed at the bottom of the washing tub of the washing and drying machine,
In a side view, the first axis (H1) from the bottom surface on the central axis of the disc and gradually lower toward the outer periphery so as to be the second height (H2) from the bottom surface on the outer periphery of the disc. A plurality of transition lines (1a, 1b) formed in an arc shape or spiral shape from the central axis to the outer periphery in plan view,
In the side view, the first height (H1) is maintained from the central axis to the outer periphery, and in the plan view, it projects in the same direction as the transition lines (1a, 1b), and extends from the central axis to the outer periphery. A plurality of ridgelines (2a, 2b) formed in a circular arc shape or a spiral shape,
A first inclined surface (12a) that gradually increases from the projecting direction of the one transition line (1a) toward the projecting direction of the one ridge line (2a) along a circumference at a predetermined distance from the central axis. )When,
A second inclined surface (21a) that gradually decreases from the projecting direction of the one ridge line (2a) toward the projecting direction of the other transition line (1b),
The pulsator characterized in that the inclination of the first inclined surface (12a) is larger than the inclination of the second inclined surface (21a).   2. The pulsator according to claim 1, wherein the arc shape extending from the central axis to the outer periphery in the plan view is a semicircle having a radius of curvature that is ½ of the radius of the disk.   2. The pulsator according to claim 1, wherein the spiral shape extending from the central axis to the outer periphery in the plan view is a curve in which the radius of curvature increases continuously or stepwise as the distance from the central axis increases.   4. The pulsator according to claim 1, wherein a friction coefficient of the first inclined surface is larger than a friction coefficient of the second inclined surface. 5. A housing,
A washing tub for washing and drying clothes put in and stored in the housing;
The pulsator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is rotatably installed at the bottom of the washing tub, and a motor that rotationally drives the pulsator;
And a control means for controlling the rotation of the motor.   When the control means rotates the pulsator alternately in different directions in the washing process, a rotation angle that rotates toward the first inclined surface rotates toward the second inclined surface. The washing / drying machine according to claim 5, wherein the washing / drying machine has a larger rotation angle.   When the control means rotates the pulsator alternately in different directions in the drying step, a rotation angle that rotates toward the direction of the second inclined surface rotates toward the direction of the first inclined surface. The washing / drying machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the washing / drying machine has a larger rotation angle.   When the control means rotates the pulsator alternately in different directions in the washing process, a rotation angular velocity rotating toward the direction of the first inclined surface rotates toward the direction of the second inclined surface. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the washing / drying machine has a larger rotational angular velocity. When the control means rotates the pulsator alternately in different directions in the drying step, the rotational angular velocity that rotates toward the second inclined surface rotates toward the first inclined surface. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the washing / drying machine has a larger rotational angular velocity.

Images