JP2013034534A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine easily preventing bath water and the like stored in a self-priming pump from flowing back to the side of a water line.SOLUTION: The washing machine comprises: a tank part into which the laundry is put; a feed water valve connected to a water line; and the self-priming pump connected to the feed water valve by a hose, for supplying tap water as priming and moving water stored outside to the inside of the tank part, and washes the laundry by using the water moved to the inside of the tank part. The washing machine includes an opening valve for opening a part of the hose so that air can flow from the outside of the hose into the hose.

Description

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

  Conventionally, washing machines used for washing clothes and the like have been widely used. Some washing machines are provided with a self-priming pump to make it easy to use, for example, bath water. According to such a washing machine, it becomes possible to transfer the bath water stored in the bathtub using a self-priming pump to a tank (for example, a dewatering tank) and perform washing using this water.

  In general, when the self-priming pump is driven, it is necessary to supply priming water in advance. Therefore, the self-priming pump is connected to, for example, a water supply valve connected to the water supply, and tap water supplied from the water supply valve is used as priming water.

JP-A-9-248398

  In the washing machine including the above-described self-priming pump, the water supply valve and the self-priming pump are directly connected by a hose, and tap water can be supplied from the water supply valve to the self-priming pump. However, according to the said structure, when a water supply becomes a negative pressure for some reason, there exists a possibility that the bath water etc. which have accumulated in the self-priming pump may flow backward to the water supply side.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that makes it easy to suppress backflow of bath water or the like accumulated in a self-priming pump to the water supply side.

  In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to the present invention is connected by a tub portion into which laundry is put, a water supply valve connected to water, and the water supply valve and a hose, and supplies tap water as priming water. A self-priming pump that moves water stored outside into the tank, and is a washing machine for washing the laundry using the water transferred into the tank, outside the hose It is set as the structure provided with the open valve which opens a part of this hose so that air can flow inward from.

  According to this structure, it becomes easy to suppress that the bath water etc. which have accumulated in the self-priming pump flow backward to the water supply side.

  More specifically, as the above configuration, the open valve operates to open a part of the hose when the inside of the hose is in a predetermined negative pressure state due to the negative pressure of the water supply. It is good also as composition to do. More specifically, the open valve may be provided in the middle of the hose.

  Moreover, the said structure WHEREIN: The said self-priming pump is good also as a structure which is a pump for bath water which moves the bath water stored in the bathtub into the said tank part. According to this structure, it becomes possible to improve the convenience at the time of washing using bath water.

  Further, the washing machine according to the present invention is connected by a tub portion into which the laundry is put, a water supply valve connected to the water supply, the water supply valve and the hose, and supplies tap water as priming water and is stored outside. A self-priming pump that moves water into the tank section, and a backflow prevention section that prevents a backflow of water from the self-priming pump to the tap water, using the water transferred into the tank section. The washing machine for washing laundry, wherein the backflow prevention unit is configured such that when the inside of the hose is in a predetermined negative pressure state due to the negative pressure of the water supply, outside air is introduced to the inside of the hose. By making it enter, it is set as the structure which prevents the said backflow.

  According to this structure, it becomes possible to suppress that the bath water etc. which have accumulated in the self-priming pump flow backward to the water supply side.

  As described above, according to the washing machine according to the present invention, it is easy to suppress backflow of bath water or the like accumulated in the self-priming pump to the water supply side.

It is an external view shown from the diagonally upper front point of the washing and drying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view shown from the side viewpoint of the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing shown from the side viewpoint of the washing-drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view near the water supply unit in the washing and drying machine. It is explanatory drawing regarding the structural form of the part in connection with the water supply using bath water. It is another explanatory drawing regarding the structural form of the part in connection with the water supply using bath water.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a washer / dryer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention from an obliquely upper front perspective, and FIG. 2 is an external view showing the washer / dryer 1 from a lateral viewpoint. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the washing / drying machine 1 from a lateral viewpoint. 1 and 2 show a state where the lid portion 15 is opened, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the lid portion 15 is closed and the hanger 2 is hung on one hook 15b. Represents. Further, the upper left part of FIG. 3 represents an enlarged view of a region surrounded by a broken line.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the washer / dryer 1 from a lateral perspective with respect to the portion below the top plate 11 in order to facilitate understanding of the main structure of the washer / dryer 1. . In the washing and drying machine 1 shown in each of FIGS. 2 to 4, the left side is the front surface and the right side is the back surface.

[About the overall configuration of the washing dryer]
Hereinafter, the overall configuration and the like of the washing / drying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. The washing / drying machine 1 is a fully automatic type and includes a rectangular parallelepiped outer box 10. The outer box 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its upper side is opened. The upper open portion of the outer box 10 is covered with a top plate 11.

  An operation unit (such as an operation button) that receives an operation of the washing / drying machine is provided at the front of the top plate 11. A back panel 14 is mounted on the back side of the top plate 11.

  In the central portion of the top plate 11, an entrance / exit (opening) 11 a for putting the laundry into the washing / drying machine 1 is opened. The entrance / exit 11a is opened and closed by a lid 15 pivotally supported by a hinge 15a provided at the front end of the back panel 14. The hinge portion 15 a is provided at a position on the rear side from the center in the front-rear direction of the washing / drying machine 1.

  Packing (not shown) is provided on the periphery of the lid portion 15, and when the lid portion 15 is fully closed, the space between the doorway 11 a and the lid portion 15 is sealed. Note that a claw 15c is provided on the front side of the lid portion 15 so that the lid portion 15 can be hooked (latched) by being hooked on the front side upper portion of the top plate 11 when fully closed. In a state where the claw 15c is hooked on the upper surface plate 11, the lid portion 15 does not open even when an upward force is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lid portion 15 is rotatable in the vertical direction (which can also be viewed as the front-rear direction) around the axis of the hinge portion 15 a. Accordingly, the user can open the lid portion 15 by rotating the lid portion 15 upward, and close the lid portion 15 by rotating the lid portion 15 downward. In a state in which the lid portion 15 is opened (in other words, in a state in which the entrance / exit 11a is opened), the user inputs laundry into the dehydration tank 30 or takes out laundry from the dehydration tank 30. can do.

  A hook 15b for hanging the hanger 2 is provided on the surface (lower surface) of the lid portion 15 that faces the entrance / exit 11a. As a result, the user can hang the hanger 2 to which the clothing (drying object) is attached on the hook 15b with the lid 15 opened.

  From this state, the lid 15 is closed by the user (in other words, the doorway 11a is closed), so that the clothes can be suspended in the dehydrating tank 30. As shown in FIG. 3 (particularly the upper left portion), the hook 15b has a cylindrical portion whose axis is the left-right direction. The hanger 2 has a hook-shaped portion, and the hook-shaped portion is hung on the cylindrical portion of the hook 15b so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction.

  Thereby, even if the angle of the cover part 15 fluctuates, the hanger 2 hung on the hook 15b is always downward (direction in which clothes are naturally suspended) due to the action of gravity. As will be described later, the washing / drying machine 1 can perform hanging drying on clothes hung using the hanger 2.

  Inside the outer box 10, a dewatering tank 30 that also serves as a washing tub and a water tank 20 that houses the dewatering tub 30 are housed. The dewatering tank 30 stores water in which detergent is dissolved or water for rinsing (hereinafter collectively referred to as “washing water”). Both the water tank 20 and the dewatering tank 30 have a shape of a bottomed cylindrical cup that opens upward, and are concentrically with the water tank 20 on the outside and the dewatering tank 30 on the inside, with the axes being vertical. Placed in.

  The water tank 20 is suspended by the suspension member 21. The suspension member 21 is provided at a total of four locations in such a manner that the lower outer surface of the water tank 20 and the inner corner of the outer box 10 are connected, and supports the water tank 20 so that it can swing within a horizontal plane.

  The dewatering tank 30 has a peripheral wall extending upwardly in a tapered shape, and there is no opening for allowing liquid to pass through the peripheral wall except for a plurality of dewatering holes 31 arranged in an annular shape at the top. That is, the dewatering tank 30 is formed in a so-called “no hole” type. An annular balancer 32 is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the dewatering tub 30 to suppress vibration when the dewatering tub 30 is rotated at a high speed for dewatering the laundry. A pulsator 33 for causing the washing water to flow in the tank is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the dewatering tank 30.

  A drive unit 40 is attached to the lower surface of the water tank 20. The drive unit 40 includes a motor 41 and a clutch / brake mechanism 43. The clutch / brake mechanism 43 is connected to the motor 41 by a belt 42, and the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 protrude upward. The clutch / brake mechanism 43 operates by electromagnetic force, and alternatively connects one of the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 to the motor 41. The clutch / brake mechanism 43 brakes the rotation of the dehydrating shaft 44 by electromagnetic force and releases the brake.

  The dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 have a double shaft structure. The dewatering shaft 44 is disposed outside and the pulsator shaft 45 is disposed inside. The dehydrating shaft 44 penetrates the water tank 20 and is connected to the dehydrating tank 30 and pivotally supports the dehydrating tank 30. The pulsator shaft 45 passes through the water tank 20 and the dewatering tank 30 and is connected to the pulsator 33 to pivotally support the pulsator 33. Seal members for preventing water leakage are disposed between the dehydrating shaft 44 and the water tank 20 and between the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45, respectively.

  On the lower side of the upper surface plate 11, a substantially cylindrical connecting component 17 having a side surface with a bellows shape is fixed. The top plate 11 and the water tank 20 are connected by the connecting component 17 so that the vibration of the water tank 20 due to the rotation of the dewatering tank 30 is absorbed.

  Further, the upper surface plate 11 and the connecting component 17 constitute a shielding portion that shields between the periphery of the entrance / exit 11 a and the upper surface of the water tank 20. A sealed space is formed between the water tank 20 and the entrance / exit 11a by the shielding portion. Thereby, the inner cover which opens and closes the upper surface of the water tank 20 is not required, and the lid 15 can be closed to perform washing and drying.

  A drying unit is installed on the upper surface plate 11 at the rear of the outer box 10. The drying unit includes a blower, a heater, and the like, and has a function of blowing warm air along the inner peripheral wall of the dewatering tank 30 (supplying warm air into the dewatering layer 30) when the hanging drying operation is performed. ing.

  Further, a water supply unit for supplying water into the dewatering tank 30 is provided at a rear portion of the upper surface plate 11. The water supply unit is provided with a water supply valve connected to the water supply, a water supply port arranged above the dehydration tank 30, a self-priming pump (bath water pump), and the like.

  The water supply unit operates in one of the operation modes of a tap water mode (an operation mode for supplying water using tap water) and a bath water mode (an operation mode for supplying water using bath water). It should be noted that the user can select which operation mode is used for water supply during the washing operation.

  When the tap water mode is selected, the water supply unit operates so that tap water is supplied into the dehydration tank 30 through the water supply valve and the water supply port. At this time, the amount of water supply is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve.

  When the bath water mode is selected, the water supply unit operates so that bath water is supplied into the dehydration tank 30. In addition, the structure form of the part in connection with the water supply using the bath water in a water supply unit is demonstrated in detail anew.

  A drain hose 60 for draining water in the water tank 20 and the dewatering tank 30 to the outside of the outer box 10 is attached to the bottom of the water tank 20. The dewatering tank 30 is provided with four drain holes 62 on the same circumference, and each drain hole 62 and the drain hose 60 are connected by a drain duct 61. A drain valve 63 is provided in the drain duct 61. When the drain valve 63 is opened, the water in the dewatering tank 30 is drained through the drain duct 61 and the drain hose 60. Further, the water that flows out from the upper part of the dewatering tank 30 during dehydration passes between the peripheral wall of the water tank 20 and the peripheral wall of the dewatering tank 30 and is drained from the drain hose 60.

  The washing / drying machine 1 also includes a lid opening / closing sensor that detects the open / closed state of the lid 15, a water level sensor that detects the water level of the dehydration tank 30, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature inside the dehydration tank 30, and the interior of the dehydration tank 30. Various sensors such as a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the water are provided.

  In addition, the washing / drying machine 1 includes a control device that controls each unit so that the washing / drying machine 1 operates appropriately in accordance with user operations, detection information of various sensors, and the like. The said control apparatus is distribute | arranged to the back upper part of the outer case 10, for example, and controls the motor 41, a drying unit, etc.

  In the washing / drying machine 1 having the above-described configuration, the laundry is put into the dehydrating tank 30 from the entrance / exit 11a, and the lid portion 15 is closed. When the washing condition is selected by the user and the start of washing is instructed, the lid opening / closing sensor detects that the lid portion 15 is closed, and the operation of the washing process is executed.

  In the washing process, water is supplied to the dehydration tank 30 by the water supply unit. When a predetermined amount of water accumulates in the dewatering tank 30, this is detected by a water level sensor, and water supply is stopped. Next, the clutch / brake mechanism 43 connects the pulsator shaft 45 to the motor 41 to drive the motor 41. Thereby, the pulsator 33 rotates and the washing operation is performed by stirring the water in the dewatering tank 30.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the washing process, the drain valve 63 is opened to drain the water in the dewatering tank 30, and the dewatering shaft 44 is connected to the motor 41 by the clutch / brake mechanism 43. Thereby, the dehydrating tank 30 is rotated at a high speed by the drive of the motor 41 and the dehydrating operation is performed. The water splashed from the laundry by the high-speed rotation of the dewatering tank 30 flows out from the drainage duct 61 and the dewatering hole 31.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the dehydrating operation, the motor 41 is stopped and the drain valve 63 is closed. Thereafter, water is supplied to the dewatering tank 30, and the clutch / brake mechanism 43 further connects the pulsator shaft 45 to the motor 41 to drive the motor 41. As a result, the pulsator 33 rotates, and the rinsing operation is performed by stirring the water in the dewatering tank 30.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed after starting the rinsing operation, the above dehydration operation is performed again. When the dehydrating operation is performed for a predetermined time, the washing process ends. In addition, the washing and drying machine 1 starts the hanging and drying operation when an instruction to perform the hanging and drying operation is given by the user.

  The hanging and drying operation is an operation of drying the suspended clothes (suspending and drying) by supplying warm air into the dehydrating tank 30 and circulating it. That is, the washing / drying machine 1 implements hanging / drying of the clothing by performing the hanging / drying operation in a state where the clothing is suspended in advance.

[Configuration form of the part related to water supply using bath water]
As described above, the water supply unit in the washing / drying machine 1 can supply water using bath water. A configuration form of a portion related to water supply using bath water in the water supply unit will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is an external view of the vicinity of the water supply unit in the washing / drying machine 1 (only the schematic position is shown for the open valve 75), and FIG. 6 is a part related to water supply using bath water in the water supply unit. The configuration form is schematically shown. As shown in these drawings, the water supply unit 70 is provided with a water supply valve 71, a self-priming pump 72, a priming hose 73, a water supply port 74, an open valve 75, and the like.

  The water supply valve 71 can be attached to the tip of a water hose and is connected to the water supply via the water hose. The water supply valve 71 is controlled to open and close, and tap water is supplied into the water supply unit 70 by opening the water supply valve 71. When supplying priming water to the self-priming pump 72, the water supply valve 71 is opened.

  The self-priming pump 72 is connected to the water supply valve 71 by a priming hose 73. In addition, the self-priming pump 72 can be connected to one end of a bath water hose, and the inside of the bathtub (where the bath water is stored outside the washing / drying machine 1) via the bath water hose. Connected to.

  The self-priming pump 72 operates using tap water supplied from the water supply valve 71 through the priming hose 73 as priming water. At this time, the tap water is delivered from the tap water to the self-priming pump 72 through the tap hose, the water supply valve 71, and the priming hose 73 in this order, as indicated by the colored arrows in FIG.

  The self-priming pump 72 is connected to a water supply port 74 provided above the dehydration tank 30. The self-priming pump 72 operates to suck up the bath water using priming water and discharge it from the water supply port 74, thereby realizing water supply into the dehydration tank 30 using the bath water. At this time, the bath water is transferred from the bathtub to the dehydration tank 30 through the bath water hose, the self-priming pump 72, and the water supply port 74 in this order, as indicated by the white arrows in FIG. In addition, since the structure of the self-priming pump and the principle of operation itself are known, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The release valve 75 is provided in the middle part of the priming hose 73 and operates to open and close. When the open valve 75 is closed, the inside of the priming hose 73 is hermetically sealed so that tap water can be supplied from the water supply valve 71 to the self-priming pump 72 without causing water leakage or the like. . On the other hand, when the release valve 75 is open, a part of the priming hose 73 is opened so that air can flow in from the outside to the inside of the priming hose 73, and the sealed state in the priming hose 73 is It will be resolved.

  The open valve 75 is normally closed, but when the water supply becomes negative pressure and the inside of the priming hose 73 reaches a predetermined negative pressure state, the opening valve 75 is opened (air flows from the outside to the inside of the priming hose 73). It operates so that a part of the priming hose 73 is opened so that the inflow is possible. Further, the release valve 75 operates to return to the closed state again when the negative pressure state is eliminated.

  When the release valve 75 opens when the inside of the priming hose 73 is in a negative pressure state, air enters from the outside to the inside of the priming hose 73 through the opened part as shown by the arrows in FIG. Become. Thereby, the air that has entered from the opened part is sucked into the water supply side. As a result, backflow of bath water or the like stored in the self-priming pump 72 to the water supply side is suppressed.

  Thus, according to the open valve 75, even if the water supply becomes negative pressure for some reason, it is suppressed that the bath water or the like accumulated in the self-priming pump 72 flows back to the water supply side. That is, when the water supply becomes negative pressure and the inside of the priming hose 73 reaches a predetermined negative pressure state, the release valve 75 opens the inside of the priming hose 73 to the outside and air outside the priming hose 73 to the outside. As a result, the reverse flow of water from the self-priming pump 72 to the water supply is prevented.

  The configuration and operation of the release valve 75 can be variously configured to open when the water supply becomes negative pressure and the inside of the priming hose 73 reaches a predetermined negative pressure state. In the form shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the release valve 75 rotates (opens and closes) around the hinge mechanism 75 a, but is not limited to such a form.

  If the open valve 75 is opened using the pressure state in the priming hose 73, the open valve 75 is automatically opened when the negative pressure state occurs, and the negative pressure state is resolved. It can be easily realized that the open valve 75 is automatically closed. The open valve 75 may be configured in accordance with a general vacuum breaker.

Further, the release valve 75 may be opened immediately when the pressure in the priming hose 73 becomes slightly negative, for example, and is opened when a certain negative pressure (threshold) is reached. It may be. The degree of negative pressure in the priming hose 73 when the release valve 75 is opened is appropriately set according to the use of the washer / dryer 1 and the importance of backflow prevention. obtain.
[Others]

  As described above, the washing / drying machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tank portion (formed by the dehydration tank 30 and the like) in which the laundry is put, a water supply valve 71 connected to the water supply, and the water supply valve 71. A self-priming pump 72 that supplies tap water as priming water and moves bath water stored in the bathtub (water stored outside) into the tank, Wash the laundry using the water transferred into the tank.

  The washer / dryer 1 is further provided with an opening valve 75 for opening a part of the priming hose 73 so that air can flow in from the outside to the inside of the priming hose 73. Therefore, according to the washing / drying machine 1, it is easy to suppress backflow of bath water or the like accumulated in the self-priming pump to the water supply side.

  In addition, about the "hose" (this embodiment hose 73 for priming water) which connects a water supply valve and a self-priming pump, a shape, a material, etc. are not specifically limited. This “hose” can take various forms as long as it has a function as a pipe for passing water from the water supply valve to the self-priming pump.

  Moreover, the self-priming pump 72 of this embodiment is a bath water pump that moves bath water stored in a bathtub into the tank. Therefore, the washing / drying machine 1 is excellent in convenience when performing washing using bath water. However, as the self-priming pump, a pump other than for bath water may be adopted, and water other than bath water may be transferred into the tank.

  The present invention is applicable to various types of washing machines having a self-priming pump including a washing machine that does not have a drying function. As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this content. The embodiments of the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used for a washing machine having a self-priming pump.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing and drying machine 2 Hanger 10 Outer box 11 Top plate 11a Entrance / exit 14 Back panel 15 Lid part 15a Hinge part 15b Hook 15c Claw 17 Connection component 20 Water tank 30 Dehydration tank (a part of tank part)
32 balancer 33 pulsator 40 drive unit 41 motor 42 belt 43 clutch / brake mechanism 44 dewatering shaft 45 pulsator shaft 60 drain hose 61 drain duct 62 drain hole 63 drain valve 70 water supply unit 71 water supply valve 72 self-priming pump (bath water pump) )
73 Hose for priming water 74 Water supply port 75 Release valve 75a Hinge mechanism

Claims (5)

A tank section into which the laundry is placed;
A water supply valve connected to the water supply,
A self-priming pump that is connected by the water supply valve and the hose, supplies tap water as priming water, and moves the water stored outside into the tank,
A washing machine for washing the laundry using water transferred into the tank,
A washing machine comprising an opening valve for opening a part of the hose so that air can flow in from the outside to the inside of the hose. The release valve is
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein when the water supply becomes negative pressure and the inside of the hose becomes a predetermined negative pressure state, the washing machine operates to open a part of the hose. The release valve is
The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing machine is provided in an intermediate portion of the hose. The self-priming pump is
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the washing machine is a bath water pump for transferring bath water stored in a bathtub into the tank. A tank section into which the laundry is placed;
A water supply valve connected to the water supply,
A self-priming pump that is connected by the water supply valve and the hose, supplies tap water as priming water, and moves the water stored outside into the tank portion;
A backflow prevention unit for preventing backflow of water from the self-priming pump to the water supply,
With
A washing machine for washing the laundry using water transferred into the tank,
The backflow prevention unit is
When the water supply becomes negative pressure and the inside of the hose becomes a predetermined negative pressure state, the backflow is prevented by allowing outside air to enter the inside of the hose.