JP2011067296A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine allowing the operation cost thereof to be reduced by achieving reduction in power consumption for generating water vapor to be supplied to the inside of a rotary drum. <P>SOLUTION: Water supply from a water supply source is temporarily stored in a water tank 6, and the stored water in the water tank 6 is delivered by a small amount each by the operation of a constant rate pump 7 configured as a tube pump, supplied to a steam generator 8, heated and evaporated by being in contact with a hot plate 82 inside the housing 80 of the steam generator 8, and supplied through a steam pipe 51 and a steam jetting port 52 to the inside of the rotary drum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine including steam supply means for supplying water vapor to a rotating drum that rotates in a washing tub.

  In recent years, washing machines that improve washing performance and realize various additional functions have been proposed. One type of washing machine of this type is a washing machine that includes a steam generator and is configured to supply water vapor generated by the steam generator to the inside of a rotating drum that rotates in a washing tub (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the washing machines of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the supply of water vapor to the inside of the rotating drum increases the temperature of the washing water circulating inside the rotating drum and the washing tub during the washing operation, and puts it into the rotating drum. The laundry is washed at a high temperature, promotes the removal of dirt and obtains good cleaning performance, and is also sterilized by applying high temperature steam to the laundry soaked in the washing water Has been implemented to obtain.

  Further, in the washing machine of Patent Document 1, water vapor is supplied even during a drying operation after completion of washing, and water is applied to the laundry being dried to remove wrinkles from the laundry. Thus, by supplying water vapor to the inside of the rotating drum, the washing performance can be enhanced, and additional functions such as sterilization of the laundry and wrinkle removal during drying can be realized.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-141985 Special table 2008-534049 gazette

  The supply of water vapor in the washing machines disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 as described above is mainly aimed at heating the washing water accumulated in the washing water tank and the rotating drum. A large amount of water vapor is required to achieve this object, and a washing machine using a small amount of washing water, such as the oblique drum type or horizontal drum type washing machines shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, Even so, there is a problem that a great amount of electric power is consumed to obtain a desired amount of water vapor, and the operating cost of the washing machine is increased.

  Further, the steam supply means provided in the washing machines of Patent Documents 1 and 2 includes a steam pipe provided by branching a washing water supply channel, and a heater arranged in the middle of the steam pipe. The water flowing inside is directly heated and evaporated to generate water vapor.

  As described above, this steam supply means is configured on the assumption that a large amount of steam is supplied, and is not suitable for stably generating a small amount of steam. Therefore, even if it is possible to reduce the amount of water vapor used, it is not possible to cope with such a usage pattern, and it is difficult to solve the above-described problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can stably generate a small amount of water vapor. By supplying the generated water vapor to the inside of the rotating drum, the power consumption can be reduced and the operation can be performed. It aims at providing the washing machine which can aim at the fall of cost.

  The washing machine according to the present invention is a washing machine comprising steam supply means for supplying water vapor to the inside of a rotating drum that rotates in a washing tub, wherein the steam supply means includes a water tank for storing water supplied from a water supply source, A metering pump for sending stored water in the water tank, and a steam generator for generating water vapor by heating and evaporating water supplied from the metering pump.

  In the present invention, water from a water supply source such as a water supply is temporarily stored in a water tank, and a part of this stored water is sent out in small amounts by the operation of a metering pump connected to the water tank and supplied to the steam generator. Steam generated by the steam generator is supplied to the inside of the rotating drum. Since the water supply is temporarily stored, the steam generator is always stable without being affected by the difference in tap water pressure depending on the installation location, and also by the sudden change in tap water pressure and water volume according to the usage status of other water appliances. Thus, a desired amount of water vapor can be stably generated.

  Further, the washing machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the water tank includes a drainage part that discharges the water supply exceeding a predetermined amount by overflowing.

  In the present invention, the internal water level of the water tank is kept constant by the drainage to the drainage section, the pressure on the inlet side of the metering pump is kept constant, and a small amount of water is sent out stably by the metering pump.

  In addition, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a water conduit that guides drainage to the drainage unit into a circulation wind passage for dry wind.

  In addition, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a water conduit that guides drainage to the drainage unit to the inside of the washing tub.

  In these inventions, the drainage to the drainage part is led to the inside of the circulation channel of the drying air or the washing tub through the water conduit, and for the cooling and dehumidification of the drying air without being discarded as wasted water, Or use it effectively as washing water. Furthermore, the surplus water introduced into the drying air passage is also led into the washing tub, and the surplus water for the generation of water vapor is effectively used without wasting water.

  Further, in the washing machine according to the present invention, the metering pump moves in a state in which the elastic tube is crushed and an elastic tube interposed in the middle of the communication pipe connecting the water tank and the steam generator. The tube pump is provided with a pressing body that sends out the internal water to the steam generator side.

  In the present invention, a tube pump having a simple structure is adopted as a metering pump, thereby simplifying the configuration of the steam supply means. The water supply flowing through the elastic tube is kept at a low pressure due to the presence of a water tank functioning as a buffer tank, and the tube pump can stably feed a fixed amount of water. Since the water introduced from the water tank is at a low pressure, the load applied to the elastic tube constituting the tube pump is small, and there is no possibility of problems such as breakage of the elastic tube.

  Further, in the washing machine according to the present invention, the steam generator includes a hot plate disposed opposite to the flow-down port in a housing having a flow-down port for supplying water from the metering pump and a steam outlet. It is characterized by.

  In this invention, a steam generator is implement | achieved by the simple structure which provided the hot plate inside the housing provided with a flow-down port and a delivery port. Feed water of the metering pump is made to flow down on the hot plate through the flow down port, heated and evaporated by contact with the hot plate to generate water vapor inside the housing, and the generated water vapor is sent out through the outlet.

  In the washing machine according to the present invention, the water supply from the water supply source is temporarily stored in the water tank, and the stored water in the water tank is supplied to the steam generator by the operation of the metering pump. The present invention has an excellent effect that it can be generated and supplied to the inside of the rotating drum, the power consumption for generating steam can be reduced, and the operating cost can be reduced.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an appearance of a washing machine according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematically the internal structure of the washing machine which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of a vapor | steam supply means.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a washing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the washing machine according to the present invention. The washing machine according to the present invention includes a washing tub 2 inside an outer box 1 constituting an exterior. The washing tub 2 is a large-diameter bottomed cylindrical body having an opening 20 for loading laundry on one side, and a plurality of support legs 21 (only one is shown) erected on the bottom surface of the outer box 1. ) Is elastically supported while maintaining an inclined posture with the opening 20 side up. The inclination angle of the washing tub 2 is about several degrees to several tens of degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

  On the front surface of the outer box 1 (the left side surface in FIG. 2), a laundry inlet 11 is opened at a position facing the opening 20 of the washing tub 2 so as to be opened and closed by a lid 10. And the opening 20 are hermetically sealed by a bellows 12. The applicant of the present application also includes a lid (inner lid) in the opening 20 of the washing tub 2, and the lid is opened and closed in conjunction with the lid 10 (outer lid) of the inlet 11 of the outer box 1. A washing machine having a lid structure has been proposed previously, and it goes without saying that a similar lid structure can also be adopted in the washing machine of the present invention.

  A rotating drum 3 is supported coaxially inside the washing tub 2. The rotating drum 3 is a bottomed cylindrical body having a slightly smaller diameter than the washing tub 2 and has an opening 30 for putting laundry on one side. Such a rotating drum 3 faces the opening 30 inside the opening 20 of the washing tub 2 and is coaxial with the end of the output shaft 40 of the drive motor 4 fixed at the center of the bottom of the washing tub 2. It is connected and is rotated inside the washing tub 2 by transmission from the drive motor 4.

  A fluid balancer 31 is provided around the opening 30 of the rotary drum 3 so as to absorb vibrations associated with the rotation of the rotary drum 3. The drive motor 4 for the rotary drum 3 is fixed inside a motor chamber 41 that is provided outside the bottom plate of the washing tub 2. The output shaft 40 of the drive motor 4 protrudes through the bottom plate of the washing tub 2 in a liquid-tight manner inside the washing tub 2, and the rotary drum 3 is connected to the protruding end.

  As shown in FIG. 2, many small holes 32 are formed through the entire surface of the peripheral wall of the rotary drum 3, and a baffle 33 extending in the axial length direction is formed on the inner surface of the rotary drum 3 in the circumferential direction. Plural protrusions are made evenly. In FIG. 2, only a part of the small hole 32 and one baffle 33 are shown.

  In the washing operation of the washing machine configured as described above, the opening 11 is opened by the lid 10 on the front surface of the outer box 1 and the laundry is put in. After the lid 10 is closed, as described later, the washing tub An appropriate amount of washing water is supplied into the interior of 2 and water vapor is supplied, while the drive motor 4 is driven and the rotary drum 3 is rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lid body 10 is provided with a grip portion 13 that is gripped for opening and closing, and a door opening button 14 is disposed on the front surface of the outer box 1 in the vicinity of the lid body 10. The lid body 10 is opened and closed by operating the grip portion 13 or the door opening button 14. The input port 11 provided on the front surface of the outer box 1 faces the openings 20 and 30 of the washing tub 2 and the rotary drum 3, and the laundry supplied from the input port 11 passes through the openings 20 and 30 and rotates to the rotating drum. 3 is introduced inside. Inside the rotating drum 3, washing water inside the washing tub 2 flows from a small hole 32 provided on the peripheral surface, and a plurality of baffles 33 protrude from the inner surface of the rotating drum 3. Therefore, the laundry thrown into the rotating drum 3 is immersed in the washing water flowing into the rotating drum 3 through the small holes 32, and is stirred together with the washing water including lifting and dropping by the action of the baffle 33. And washed.

  An operation panel 15 having operation keys for various operations and a display unit for various displays is provided on the front upper portion of the outer box 1. The operation panel 15 is connected to an operation control unit 16 (see FIG. 2) that is located inside the operation panel 15 and provided inside the outer box 1. The operation of the washing machine including the washing operation, the dehydrating operation, and the drying operation is executed by the operation of the operation control unit 16 according to the operation content of the operation panel 15. These washing operation, dehydration operation, and drying operation are each performed according to known procedures, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  A water supply port 17 serving as a connection end to the water supply is provided on the rear upper surface of the outer box 1, and the water supply port 17 is provided with a water supply valve 18 (FIG. 2) provided inside the outer box 1 as shown in FIG. Connected). The water supply valve 18 is a multiple solenoid valve having a plurality of water supply outlets. The first water supply outlet of the water supply valve 18 is connected to the upper peripheral surface in the vicinity of the bottom plate of the washing tub 2 through the water supply pipe 19, and when the water supply valve 18 is switched to the first water supply outlet, the water supply outlet 17 This water supply is supplied to the inside of the washing tub 2 through the water supply valve 18 and the water supply pipe 19. A detergent case may be arranged in the middle of the water supply pipe 19 so that an appropriate amount of detergent is introduced together with the water supply.

  In addition, a water conduit 22 is connected to the washing tank 2 on the peripheral surface near the bottom plate at the lowest position, and this water conduit 22 is a cylindrical filter case fixedly supported at the front lower part inside the outer box 1. Connected to 23. Inside the filter case 23 is housed a lint filter 24 that captures foreign matter mixed in the water. The lower part of the filter case 23 is connected to a drain pipe 26 laid along the bottom surface of the outer box 1 through a drain valve 25. Further, a return pipe 28 is connected to the rear end of the filter case 23 via a circulation pump 27, and the return pipe 28 extends upward along the front part of the washing tub 2. The front opening 20 is connected from above.

  The washing water supplied into the washing tub 2 is introduced into the filter case 23 through the water conduit 22 and fills the inside of the filter case 23. The circulation pump 27 attached to the filter case 23 is continuously or intermittently driven during the aforementioned washing operation. By this driving, the washing water inside the filter case 23 is sucked into the circulation pump 27 and pressurized, and is fed to the upper part of the washing water tank 2 through the return pipe 28, and from the tip of the return pipe 28 to the inside of the rotary drum 3. It is sprayed on the laundry and acts to enhance the cleaning effect. During this time, the washing water in the washing tub 2 is continuously supplied to the inside of the filter case 23 via the water conduit 22, and therefore returns from the washing tub 2 to the inside of the rotary drum 3 through the inside of the filter case 23. Circulation of washing water occurs. Foreign matters such as fiber waste contained in the circulating wash water are trapped and removed by the lint filter 24 provided in the filter case 23, and clean laundry water is passed through the return pipe 28 inside the rotary drum 3. Will be poured down.

  The drain valve 25 provided at the lower part of the filter case 23 is opened after the above washing operation. With this opening, the washing water inside the washing tub 2 is discharged to the drain pipe 26 through the water conduit 22 and the filter case 23 and drained to the sewer pipe to which the drain pipe 26 is connected. Even during this drainage, foreign matters contained in the wash water are captured by the lint filter 24 inside the filter case 23, so that there is no possibility of being discharged to the sewer pipe through the drain pipe 26, thereby reducing the environmental load. it can.

  A small-diameter water supply pipe 50 is connected to the second water supply outlet of the water supply valve 18, and the water supply valve 18 is switched to the second water supply outlet to supply water from the water supply port 17. Supplied. The water supply pipe 50 extends forward in the upper space of the washing tub 2. In the middle of the water supply pipe 50, there are provided a water tank 6 for temporarily storing the water supplied from the water supply pipe 50 and a metering pump 7 capable of supplying a certain amount of water. It is connected to the generator 8.

  The steam generator 8 having a configuration to be described later operates to heat and evaporate the feed water from the feed water pipe 50 to generate water vapor and send it to the steam pipe 51. The steam pipe 51 extends further forward from the steam generator 8, and is connected to a steam injection port 52 provided alongside the return pipe 28 at the periphery of the opening 20 at the front of the washing tub 2. The delivered water vapor is jetted from the vapor jet port 52 toward the laundry inside the rotary drum 3.

  The washing machine of the present invention is characterized by the structure of the steam supply means 5 including the water supply pipe 50, the water tank 6, the metering pump 7, the steam generator 8, and the steam pipe 52 as described above. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the steam supply means 5.

  The water tank 6 is a hollow container that can store a predetermined amount of water therein, and communicates with an inlet pipe 60 that communicates with the upper surface, an outlet pipe 61 that communicates with a side surface near the bottom surface, and a side surface located away from the bottom surface. And an overflow pipe 62. A water supply pipe 50 extending from the water supply valve 18 is connected to an inlet pipe 60, and water flowing from the inlet pipe 60 is stored inside the water tank 6. The outlet pipe 61 is connected to the metering pump 7 via the water supply pipe 50, and the water conduit 63 is connected to the overflow pipe 62.

  The overflow pipe 62 serves to keep the internal water level of the water tank 6 constant by sending out the water exceeding the opening position to the water guide pipe 63 when the water level of the stored water in the water tank 6 rises. The water sent out to the water guide pipe 63 is supplied to the inside of the circulating air passage through which the drying air circulates, and is reused as cooling water for contact cooling and dehumidifying the drying air flowing through the circulating air passage. Further, the water sent out to the water conduit 63 is supplied to the inside of the washing tub 2 and reused as a part of the washing water.

  In FIG. 2, illustration of the circulation air path of the dry air is omitted. This circulation air passage connects the inlet and outlet opening that opens inside the washing tub 2 by a duct that goes around the outside of the washing tub 2, and a dust trapping filter and drying air are generated along the way. It has a known configuration in which a blower fan and a heater for heating dry air are provided.

  The introduction port is opened along the periphery of the opening 20 at the front of the washing tub 2 along with the return pipe 28 and the steam injection port 52, and the outlet is opened at the lower peripheral surface near the bottom of the washing tub 2. It is. The drying air is introduced into the rotary drum 3 through the inlet port while being heated by the heater, hits the laundry rotating in the rotary drum 3, takes moisture from the laundry, passes through the outlet port, and circulates the air flow path. Return inside. The cooling water flows and stays in the vicinity of the outlet in the duct, and is used to cool the return air, liquefy and recover the contained water, and dehumidify the dry air. The return air circulates by the operation of the blower fan, passes through the filter, captures dust, is reheated by the heater, and returns to the inside of the rotary drum 3 through the introduction port. The laundry in the rotating drum 3 is dried by the circulation of the drying air.

  The metering pump 7 includes an elastic tube 70 and a pressing body 71, and is configured as a so-called tube pump. The pressing body 71 is a disc provided with pressing pieces projecting radially outward at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The pressing body 71 is fixed to the output end of the motor 72 and rotates by driving the motor 72. The elastic tube 70 is connected to the joint 73 at both ends and is bent in a circle so as to surround the outside of the pressing body 71. A water supply pipe 50 extending from the outlet pipe 61 of the water tank 6 is connected to one end of an elastic tube 70 via a joint 73, and the stored water inside the water tank 6 is elastic through the outlet pipe 61 and the water supply pipe 50. It is introduced into the tube 70. The other end of the elastic tube 70 is connected to the steam generator 8 via a water supply pipe 50 connected to the same side of the joint 73.

  As shown in the figure, the pressing piece provided on the pressing body 71 crushes the corresponding portion of the elastic tube 70 at each tip, and moves according to the rotation of the pressing body 71. By this movement, the water in the elastic tube 70 is pushed out toward the other end and sent to the steam generator 8 through the downstream water supply pipe 50.

  A plurality of (three in the figure) pressing pieces of the pressing body 71 are provided, and each of them moves in a state where the elastic tube 70 is crushed. Therefore, the steam generator 8 responds to the rotation of the pressing body 71. A fixed amount of water is sent out continuously.

  As described above, the metering pump 7 can send a metered amount of water according to the rotation of the pressing body 71. The water introduced into the metering pump 7 is stored water inside the water tank 6, and the stored water is in a substantially constant low pressure state without being affected by the pressure of the upstream water supply source. Therefore, the pressing body 71 can reliably crush the elastic tube 70 containing low-pressure water and stably feed out a small amount of water by the rotation.

  The metering pump 7 is not limited to the illustrated tube pump, but may be other types of pumps. However, the tube pump has a simple configuration in which the elastic tube 70 and the pressing body 71 are main components. Is preferred.

  The steam generator 8 has a configuration in which a flat bottom surface of the housing 80 is covered with a hot plate 82 in which a heater wire 81 is embedded. On the upper surface of the housing 80, a flow-down port 83 is formed so as to face the center of the bottom heat plate 82 from above, and a water supply pipe 50 extending from the metering pump 7 is connected to the flow-down port 83. . Further, one side of the bottom surface of the housing 80 is raised from the laying position of the heat plate 82, and a delivery port 84 is opened at this raised part. The delivery port 84 is connected to the steam pipe 51 through the steam pipe 51 described above. Connected to the injection port 52.

  The steam generator 8 configured as described above supplies water from the metering pump 7 through the water supply pipe 50 and generates steam by heating the heat plate 82 by energizing the heater wire 81. The water supply flows down from the flow outlet 83 connected to the water supply pipe 50 to the approximate center of the hot plate 82 facing downward, and is heated and evaporated by contact with the hot plate 82, and water vapor is generated inside the housing 80. appear. The generated water vapor is sent into the steam pipe 51 through the delivery port 84, is jetted from the steam jet port 52 at the tip of the steam pipe 51, and is supplied into the rotary drum 3 as described above.

  A small amount of water is stably supplied to the steam generator 8 by the above-described operation of the metering pump 7, and this water supply is sequentially evaporated by contact with the hot plate 82. Can be generated stably, and this water vapor is supplied into the rotary drum 3. Such generation of water vapor can be realized with less power consumption required for evaporation of the feed water from the metering pump 7, and the operation cost can be reduced.

  The supply of water vapor into the rotating drum 3 is performed, for example, before the washing water is supplied or in parallel with the supply of the washing water during the washing operation. The supplied water vapor hits the laundry before it is soaked in the washing water, heats and wets the laundry, softens the soil component, and promotes the action of removing the soil component. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the washing effect in the washing operation performed after the washing water is supplied.

  The supply of water vapor into the rotary drum 3 is performed immediately before the completion of drying, for example, during the drying operation. The supplied water vapor hits a sufficiently dried laundry, and acts to remove “wrinkles” generated in the laundry by loosening fibers hardened by drying by giving a slight moisture. Therefore, the finished laundry is good after drying. In particular, a thick laundry such as towel cloth is raised and feels better.

  A temperature detector 85 for detecting the temperature of the hot plate 82 is attached to the hot plate 82 of the steam generator 8. The hot plate 82 is also extended to the top surface of the housing 80, and an abnormal temperature detector 86 is provided in the extended portion. The temperature detected by the temperature detector 85 is used for on / off control of energization of the heater 81. The abnormal temperature detector 86 detects, for example, that the heater 81 is not normally turned on / off due to an abnormality in the temperature detector 85 and the hot plate 82 is overheated, and forcibly cuts off the power supply to the heater 81. It is provided to do. By such control, it is possible to prevent overheating of the steam generator 8 when water supply is insufficient due to abnormality of the metering pump 7, clogging of the water supply pipe 50, etc., and safety can be improved. In this case, it is preferable that a predetermined display is performed on the display panel 15 to notify the user of the occurrence of an abnormality.

2 Washing water tank 3 Rotating drum 5 Steam supply means 6 Water tank 7 Metering pump 8 Steam generator
62 overflow pipe
63 Water conduit
70 Elastic tube
71 Press body
80 housing
82 Hot plate
83 Downstream entrance
84 Outlet

Claims (6)

In a washing machine comprising steam supply means for supplying steam to the inside of a rotating drum that rotates in the washing tub,
The steam supply means includes a water tank for storing water supplied from a water supply source, a metering pump for sending stored water in the water tank, and a steam generator for generating steam by heating and evaporating the water supplied from the metering pump. A washing machine comprising:   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water tank includes a drainage unit that overflows and discharges water that exceeds a predetermined amount.   The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a water conduit that guides drainage to the drainage section into a circulation wind path for dry wind.   The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a water conduit that guides drainage to the drainage unit to the inside of the washing tub.   The metering pump moves in a state in which the elastic tube is crushed and an elastic tube interposed in the middle of a communication pipe that connects the water tank and the steam generator, and the internal water is transferred to the steam generator. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the washing machine is a tube pump including a pressing body that is fed to the side of the washing machine.   6. The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the steam generator includes a heat plate disposed opposite to the flow-down port in a housing having a flow-down port for supplying water from the metering pump and a steam outlet. The washing machine according to one.

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