JP2012030001A - Drum-type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to heat a washing liquid by preventing overheating of a heating means and to infiltrate quickly into clothes to enhance a cleaning effect.
SOLUTION: A heating means 17 for heating the washing liquid provided at the bottom of the water tank 2, a circulation path 22 for circulating the washing liquid into the drum 7 from the bottom of the water tank 2, and a circulation provided in the circulation path 22 The pump 18, the heating means 17, the circulation pump 18, etc. are driven, and the control means 24 is provided for controlling the operation. Since the operation 18 is alternately performed, the heating means 17 is prevented from being overheated, the washing liquid is heated, and the clothes are quickly penetrated to enhance the washing effect.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine for washing clothes and the like.

  Conventionally, this type of drum-type washing machine has a circulation pump for circulating the washing liquid collected at the bottom of the water tank of the washing machine in order to improve the washing power and the rinsing performance at the time of washing, as well as water saving. By providing a route to circulate in the drum, it is possible to quickly and satisfactorily contact the washing liquid with clothing, to separate dirt by the spraying power of the circulating water, and to wet the laundry with a small amount of water. It is considered to be able to do this (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The drum type washing machine described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a circulation pump and a circulation path for circulating the washing liquid in the water tank in which the drum for storing the laundry is installed in the drum, and a heater is provided at the bottom of the water tank. Is provided to heat the washing liquid.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-235069

  However, in the conventional configuration, in the washing process, the washing liquid is heated by the heating means such as a heater and the washing liquid is circulated by the circulation pump. Therefore, the liquid level of the washing liquid stored at the bottom of the water tank by the operation of the circulation pump When the energization is continued with the surface of the heating means exposed from the surface of the washing liquid, the heating means is overheated and the water tank provided with the heating means is damaged.

  In order to prevent this, after the heating of the washing liquid by the heating means is completed, the circulation pump is operated, or the circulation pump is operated and the heating means is operated after the clothes are wetted. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the stored washing liquid level and to prevent the surface of the heating means from being exposed from the washing liquid level.

  However, in such a configuration, the time for the clothes to get wet with the washing liquid is delayed, and the heating of the washing liquid is delayed, which makes it difficult to improve the cleaning performance. In addition, the water level can be increased by increasing the amount of water, and the heating means and the circulation pump can be operated at the same time, but the water-saving performance is reduced and the amount of water increases to increase the energy for heating the washing liquid. There was a problem that the performance also deteriorated.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a drum-type washing machine that can quickly wet clothes and heat washing liquid without increasing the amount of water, thereby improving washing performance, saving water and saving energy. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the drum type washing machine of the present invention includes a heating means for heating the washing liquid provided at the bottom of the water tank, and a circulation path for circulating the washing liquid into the drum from the bottom of the water tank. And a circulation pump provided in the circulation path, and a control means for driving the heating means, the circulation pump and the like to control the operation, and the control means heats the washing liquid by the heating means In the process, the heating means and the circulation pump are alternately operated.

  As a result, the circulation pump is stopped during the operation of the heating means, and the lowering of the water level of the washing liquid is suppressed. Even when both the heating means and the circulation pump are operated, the heating means is exposed from the water surface of the washing liquid and overheats. Therefore, the washing liquid can be heated safely and the temperature can be quickly raised, and the washing liquid circulating can be quickly penetrated into the clothes in the drum to enhance the washing effect.

  The drum type washing machine of the present invention can heat the washing liquid safely and increase the temperature quickly without increasing the amount of water, and quickly circulates the washing liquid in the drum into the clothes in the drum, thereby providing a washing effect. Can be increased.

Sectional drawing of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Time chart showing the operation of the heating process of the drum type washing machine Time chart showing operation of drum type washing machine in embodiment 2 of the present invention Time chart showing the operation of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 3 of the present invention

  The first invention is a water tank for storing washing liquid, a bottomed cylindrical drum rotatably provided in the water tank, a driving device for rotating the drum, and a water supply means for supplying water into the water tank. Heating means for heating the washing liquid provided at the bottom of the water tank, a circulation path for circulating the washing liquid into the drum from the bottom of the water tank, a circulation pump provided in the circulation path, A drive unit, a heating unit, a control unit for driving the circulation pump, and the like, and a control unit for controlling the operation, wherein the control unit is configured to control the heating unit and the circulation pump, Since the operation is performed alternately, the circulation pump is stopped during the operation of the heating means, and the lowering of the washing liquid level is suppressed. Even if the heating means and the circulation pump are operated together, the heating means does not water The washing liquid can be heated safely and heated quickly without being exposed to overheating, and the washing liquid circulating in the drum can be quickly permeated into the clothes in the drum to enhance the washing effect. . In addition, since the temperature of the washing liquid can be increased quickly and uniformly, dissolution of the detergent can be promoted to enhance the cleaning effect.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means reduces the ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump to the unit time of the step of heating the washing liquid during the heating step. The washing efficiency can be improved by giving priority to the wetting by the circulation pump in the initial stage of washing in which the clothes need to be wet, and giving priority to the heating of water in the latter half of the heating process in which the clothes are wet.

  In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a water level detecting means for detecting the water level of the washing liquid in the water tank, and the control means detects the water level of the washing liquid in the step of heating the washing liquid. When the decrease in the temperature has subsided, the ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump to the unit time of the heating process is reduced. The performance can be further increased.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry put in the drum, and the control means has a large amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detecting means. By increasing the ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump to the unit time of the heating process, the clothes can be wetted quickly by the circulation pump at a large capacity when wetting is slow because the clothes do not move easily. Cleaning performance can be enhanced.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, in the step of heating the washing liquid, the control unit is operated when the drum is rotating, and the heating unit is operated when the drum is stopped. Therefore, when the circulation pump is operated, the entire clothes are efficiently wetted to improve the cleaning performance, and when the heating means is operated, the drum can be stopped to further reduce the water level, thereby improving the water saving performance. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the heating process of the drum type washing machine.

  1 and 2, a bottomed cylindrical water tank 2 for storing a washing liquid is elastically supported in a casing 1 of the washing machine. The water tank 2 is suspended from the upper part of the housing 1 by a suspension spring 3 and supported from below by a bottom plate 4 of the washing machine via a damper 5. A bottomed cylindrical drum 7 having a large number of small holes 6 on the peripheral side wall surface is rotatably disposed in the water tank 2, and the horizontal or horizontal direction of the rotation axis direction from the front side to the back side. It is pivotally supported so as to be tilted downward from and freely rotatable.

  The drum 7 accommodates the laundry 8 inside. By rotating the drum 7, the laundry 4 is lifted in the rotation direction by the plurality of stirring protrusions 9 provided on the inner peripheral side wall of the drum 7, and the laundry 8 is dropped from above the drum 7, Laundry is performed by applying the mechanical force of tapping to the laundry 8. In order to rotationally drive the drum 7, a motor (driving device) 10 is fixed to the lower part of the outer periphery of the water tank 2, and the drum 7 is rotated via a belt 11 and a pulley 12.

  A door 13 for taking in and out the laundry 8 is provided on the front surface of the housing 1. In addition, a water supply valve 14 serving as a water supply means for supplying the washing liquid to the water tank 2 is provided in the upper part of the housing 1 and is connected to the water tank 2 via a detergent case 15 into which a detergent is introduced. The water level of the washing liquid supplied into the water tank 2 is detected by a water level sensor 16.

  A heater (heating means) 17 for heating the washing liquid is disposed on the inner bottom of the water tank 2. A circulation pump 18 is provided for circulating the washing liquid into the rotary drum 7 during the washing process. The circulation pump 18 is also driven when the washing liquid or the like is drained after the steps such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration are completed.

  The suction side of the circulation pump 18 is connected to a circulation path inlet 19 provided at the bottom of the water tank 2, and the discharge side is connected to a drain hose 21 that discharges the washing liquid to the outside of the housing 1 via the switching valve 20. It is connected. The other of the switching valves 20 is connected to a circulation path 22 that leads to the upper part of the water tank 2. The circulation path 22 is provided with a nozzle portion 23 that can inject the washing liquid toward the laundry 8 in the rotating drum 7 at the tip portion connected to the upper part of the water tank 2.

  A control means 24 is disposed below the front side of the housing 1 and drives the motor 10, the water supply valve 14, the heater 17, the circulation pump 18 and the like, and sequentially controls each process such as washing, rinsing and dehydration. .

About the drum type washing machine comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. First, the door 13 is opened, the laundry 8 is put into the drum 7, the power switch (not shown) of the operation unit 25 provided on the front upper surface of the housing 1 is turned on, and the start switch (not shown). When the operation is started by operating the water supply means 14, the water supply means 14 operates to start water supply, and the washing liquid is supplied into the water tank 2 together with the detergent put into the detergent case 15.

  The water supply amount is set in advance according to the amount of the laundry 8 that has been thrown in. When the water level sensor 16 detects a predetermined water level, the water supply is stopped and the motor 10 is driven. In the washing process, the drum 7 is rotationally driven by the motor 10, and the laundry 8 in the drum 7 is lifted and dropped onto the water surface.

  In this washing step, a heating step for heating the washing liquid is performed. The washing liquid is heated by the heater 17 and heated to a predetermined temperature by the control means 24 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means (not shown). Whether or not the washing liquid is heated in the washing step can be selected.

  In the washing liquid heating process, the energization of the heater 17 provided at the bottom of the water tub 2 and the operation of the circulation pump 18 are alternately performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, after energizing the heater 17 for about 10 to 40 seconds, the circulating pump 18 is operated for about 10 to 40 seconds, and after the operation of the circulating pump 18 is stopped, the heater 17 is energized. Repeat the control.

  In this control method, the heater 17 is not energized while the water level of the washing liquid is temporarily lowered by the operation of the circulation pump 18, and the heater 17 is energized while the water level is recovered by stopping the circulation pump 18. It is possible to prevent the heater 17 from being exposed from the water surface and overheating.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, after the operation of the circulation pump 18 is stopped, if the heater 17 is energized after waiting for a predetermined time until the water level recovers, the safety is further increased. This control method prevents abnormal overheating of the heater 17 and heats the washing liquid in the water tub 2 to increase the washing temperature and improve the washing performance. Also, the washing liquid is circulated in the drum 7 so that the washing liquid is circulated. It can penetrate into the laundry quickly, and the cleaning effect of the detergent can be exerted more quickly.

  Also, the washing liquid spraying force from the nozzle portion 23 adds a force for separating dirt from the laundry, and the washing liquid can be heated quickly and uniformly, thereby promoting the dissolution of the detergent and the cleaning effect. Can be increased.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump 18 to the unit time of the washing liquid heating process may be reduced during the heating process. Thereby, priority can be given to the wetting of the laundry by the circulation pump 18 in the initial stage of the washing process in which the laundry needs to be wet, and heating of the washing liquid can be given priority in the latter half of the heating process in which the laundry is wet. Performance can be increased.

  At this time, as the washing liquid permeates into the laundry, the water level of the washing liquid is lowered. Therefore, the water level after the operation of the circulation pump 18 is detected by the water level sensor 16 is detected. The ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump 18 to the unit time may be reduced. Thereby, when the garment is sufficiently wet, the emphasis can be shifted from wetting the garment to heating the water, and the cleaning efficiency can be further increased.

  When the washing process is completed, the washing liquid is drained outside the machine by switching the switching valve 20 to the drainage hose 21 side and driving the circulation pump 18.

Also in the rinsing process executed following the washing process, the water supply means 14 operates to start water supply, and the rinsing liquid is supplied into the water tank 2 as in the washing process. When the water level sensor 16 detects a predetermined water level, water supply is stopped and the motor 10 is driven. In the rinsing process, as in the washing process, the drum 7 is rotationally driven by the motor 10, and the laundry 8 in the drum 7 is lifted and dropped onto the water surface.

  At this time, the heater 17 provided at the bottom of the water tank 2 may be energized, and the rinse liquid in the water tank 2 may be heated to perform rinsing. For this reason, also in the rinsing process, the energization of the heater 17 and the operation of the circulation pump 18 are alternately performed to circulate the rinsing liquid into the drum 7 and quickly remove the detergent components and the remaining dirt from the clothing. The effect of rinsing can be exhibited.

  As described above, the drum type washing machine of the present invention is configured such that the heating means 17 and the circulation pump 18 are alternately operated in the step of heating the washing liquid by the heating means 17. During operation, the circulation pump 18 is stopped and the lowering of the water level of the washing liquid is suppressed. Even when both the heating means 17 and the circulation pump 18 are operated, the heating means 17 is exposed from the water surface of the washing liquid and overheats. In addition, the washing liquid can be heated safely and the temperature can be quickly raised, and the washing liquid circulating can be quickly penetrated into the clothes in the drum 7 to enhance the washing effect.

  Although the present embodiment is a drum type washing machine, it can also be applied to a drum type washing machine having a drying function.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the heating process of the drum type washing machine in the second embodiment of the present invention. A feature of the present embodiment is that cloth amount detecting means (not shown) for detecting the amount of laundry put in the drum 7 is provided, and the greater the detected cloth amount, the more the circulation takes up in the unit time of the heating process. The ratio of the operation time of the pump 18 is increased. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and the detailed description of the first embodiment is used.

  Thereby, for example, when the amount of cloth is as large as half or more of the rated capacity, one operation time of the circulation pump 18 is about 10 to 40 seconds, and when the amount of cloth is small, about 5 to 20 seconds. Good. As a result, the clothes can be wetted quickly by the circulation pump 18 and the washing performance can be improved in a large capacity where the clothes are difficult to move and the wetting is slow.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the heating process of the drum type washing machine in the third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the present embodiment is that in the step of heating the washing liquid, the circulation pump 18 is operated when the drum 7 is rotated, and the heating means 17 is operated when the drum 7 is stopped. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and the detailed description of the first embodiment is used.

  As a result, when the circulation pump 18 is operated, a shower is applied to the entire rotating garment so that it can be efficiently wetted, and the cleaning performance is improved. In addition, by stopping the drum 7 when the heater 17 is in operation, it is possible to prevent the washing liquid at the bottom of the water tank 2 from being swept up by the rotation of the drum 7 and to reduce the water level. The washing liquid can be heated without exposing 17 from the surface of the washing liquid. By suppressing the amount of water used, the temperature of the washing liquid is increased quickly, and the cleaning effect can be enhanced.

  As described above, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention can heat the washing liquid safely and quickly increase the temperature without increasing the amount of water, and quickly circulate the washing liquid to the clothes in the drum. Since it can be permeated to enhance the cleaning effect, it is useful as a drum type washing machine.

2 Water tank 7 Drum 10 Motor (drive device)
14 Water supply valve (water supply means)
17 Heater (heating means)
18 Circulating pump 22 Circulating path 24 Control means

Claims (5)

A water tank for storing the washing liquid, a bottomed cylindrical drum rotatably provided in the water tank, a driving device for rotationally driving the drum, a water supply means for supplying water into the water tank, and a bottom portion of the water tank A heating means for heating the washing liquid provided in the water tank, a circulation path for circulating the washing liquid into the drum from the bottom of the water tank, a circulation pump provided in the circulation path, the drive device, and the heating means And a control means for controlling the operation by driving the circulation pump and the like, wherein the control means alternately operates the heating means and the circulation pump in the step of heating the washing liquid by the heating means. Drum-type washing machine. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means reduces the ratio of the operation time of the circulation pump to the unit time of the step of heating the washing liquid in the middle of the heating step. A water level detecting means for detecting the level of the washing liquid in the water tank is provided, and the control means detects the water level of the washing liquid in the process of heating the washing liquid, and when the drop in the water level stops, the unit time of the heating process is The drum type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of an operation time of the circulating pump is reduced. The cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry put in the drum is provided, and the control means is such that the greater the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detecting means, the more the operation time of the circulation pump that occupies the unit time of the heating process. 2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the drum is increased. 2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein in the step of heating the washing liquid, the control means is operated when the circulation pump is rotating, and the heating means is operated when the drum is stopped.