JP2013052060A - Drum-type washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drum-type washer capable of effectively collecting and removing a lint such as a yarn waste without the need of maintenance.SOLUTION: A drum-type washer comprises: a pump suction tube 91 of a circulation pump 93 for sucking washing water from a drain port 76 of a bottom part of an outer tank 73 and sending it back to a rotary drum 74; a mesh filter 92 with elasticity and flexibility, which is disposed inside the pump suction tube 91; and a drain valve 79 for discharging washing water from the drain port 76 to the outside of the washer. The mesh filter 92 changes into a concave shape with a suction force of the circulation pump 93 when collecting the lint. When the circulation pump 93 stops, the elasticity of the mesh filter 92 restored to its original shape separates the lint attached thereto from the mesh filter 92. The separated lint is discharged together with washing water with the drain valve 79 being opened for a prescribed time, thereby making the removal of the collected lint maintenance-free. The mesh filter 92 is restored to the initial state without attachment of lint at every draining time, thereby always maintaining the lint collection effect and drastically reducing the attachment of lint to laundry.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that collects lint, foreign matter, and the like peeled from laundry.

  Collection of lint and the like in the process of the washing machine is one of important washing performances for preventing litter and other garbage from being attached to clothes after washing.

  Conventionally, in this type of drum type washing machine, a configuration has been proposed in which a lint collection unit is configured in the drainage path of the wash water in the outer tub, and the lint is captured in the drainage process during washing water or dehydration ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an outer tub 5 is supported by a suspension 6 so as to be freely slidable from the bottom of the outer case 1 in the outer box 1 of the drum type washing machine. A cylindrical rotating drum 8 is housed in a rotatable manner by a drive motor 9 disposed on the back of the outer tub 5.

  A drain port 19 is provided at the bottom of the bottom 17 of the outer tub 5, and one end of a communication hose 20 is connected to the drain port 19, and the other end of the communication hose 20 is a casing 22 containing a lint collection unit 24. Connected to the water inlet 23.

  Further, a drain valve and a water outlet (both not shown) are disposed on the downstream side of the lint collection unit 24 and connected to the drain hose 36.

  When the drainage valve (not shown) is opened, the washing liquid in the outer tub 5 passes through the lint collection part 24 from the water intake part 23 of the casing 22 via the drainage port 19 and the connecting hose 20. In addition, foreign matter and lint are supplemented and discharged from the drain hose 36 to the outside of the machine.

  Removal of lint and the like captured by the lint collection unit 24 is performed by pulling the lint collection unit 24 forward from the casing 22 by operating a detachable cap 45 disposed at the lower part of the outer box 1.

  Therefore, the same configuration as described above is a configuration in which foreign matter, lint, and the like are prevented from adhering to the clothing, and those separated from the clothing are naturally collected during drainage.

  Furthermore, in another example of the drum-type washing machine, in order to collect lint more efficiently, a water circulation path is formed by a circulation pump, and the circulation water pumps up washing water at the bottom of the rotating drum where the lint stays. There has been proposed one that collects lint in a circulation path cycle that is supplied to a lint collection unit provided in an upper portion of the outer box (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a drain valve 54 for controlling the opening and closing of the washing water discharge is formed at the bottom of the outer tub 53 in which the rotary drum 52 is provided. A drainage hose 55 to be guided is connected, and a circulation pump 56 for circulating the washing water at a position different from the drainage valve 54 is disposed at the bottom of the outer tub 53.

  The water circulation flow path configuration from the discharge side of the circulation pump 56 is connected via a circulation path 57 to a lint collection case 60 provided with a lint collection unit 59 provided on the upper side of the outer box 58.

  Further, the return flow path for returning the washing water to the rotary drum 52 includes a return flow pipe 61 piped so that the upper end communicates with the lint collection case 60 and a water spout 62 provided at the lower end of the return flow pipe 61. It is configured by directing inward of the tank 53 and the rotating drum 52.

  The water supply of the washing water does not pass through the lint collection part 59 via the water supply pipe 65 by operating the water supply electromagnetic valve 64 from the water supply hose (not shown) connected to the water supply port 63 on the upper surface of the outer box 58, Water is poured into the rotary drum 52 from the lint collection case 60 via the return pipe 61.

  In the washing operation, with the drain valve 54 at the bottom of the outer tub 53 closed, the water supply electromagnetic valve 64 is operated to supply water, and the motor 66 rotates to rotate the rotating drum 52 to stir the clothes. When the circulation pump 56 is operated intermittently or continuously during this washing operation, the washing water is supplied from the bottom of the outer tub 53 through the circulation path 57 of the water circulation passage into the lint collection case 60 provided on the upper side of the outer box 58. The lint is collected in the lint collection section 59 and collected when passing, and the wash water from which the lint has been removed is returned to the rotary drum from the sprinkling port 62 provided at the lower end of the return pipe 61, Lint adherence is prevented.

  The removal of lint and the like captured by the lint collection unit 59 is performed by pulling the lint collection unit 59 forward from the lint collection case 60 by opening the removable cap 51 disposed in front of the upper portion of the outer box 58. .

  As described above, in the conventional drum type washing machine, the washing water is supplemented by the drainage operation of the washing water having the configuration shown in Patent Document 1, or the washing water is used by the circulation pump having the configuration shown in Patent Document 2. Lint is supplemented by the circulation of

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-58779 JP 2007-282963 A

  However, in the conventional washing machines of the two cited examples, the lint collection part or the like is clogged unless the foreign matter and lint are sufficiently removed from the lint collection part, the lint collecting ability is reduced, and the lint remaining in the clothing There is a problem that cannot be reduced.

  That is, the cleaning (maintenance) of the lint collection unit is dependent on the user of the washing machine, and when the cleaning is forgotten or insufficiently cleaned, the lint collection unit is blocked with foreign matter or lint. The problem of causing a decrease and the example of Patent Document 2 have a problem that lint cannot be collected because washing water does not sufficiently circulate in the water circulation path.

  Moreover, if it was going to avoid the said subject, the lint collection | recovery part had to be cleaned whenever it uses a washing machine, and there also existed the subject of the convenience and the convenience.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and in a drum-type washing machine, effectively collects lint and eliminates a lint collection operation that imposes a burden on the user, and is a maintenance-free drum type The purpose is to provide a washing machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the drum type washing machine of the present invention includes a rotating drum that is rotatably provided in an outer tub, a drain port that discharges washing water to the bottom of the outer tub, and the drain port. A circulation pump for sucking washing water from, a pump suction pipe connecting the drain port and the circulation pump, an elastic flexible mesh filter configured in the pump suction pipe, and a circulation pump A circulation path for returning discharge water of washing water into the rotary drum and the outer tub, a drain valve for discharging washing water from the drain port to the outside of the machine, and a control device for controlling a series of steps such as washing to rinsing The mesh filter is configured to deform lint from clothing after being collected and attached to the concave shape due to the suction force of the circulation pump, and to collect and attach the lint with elasticity that restores to a normal shape when the circulation pump is stopped and gradually reduced. By separating and opening the drain valve for a predetermined time, it was controlled so that lint was discharged as part of the drainage of the wash water, so that lint was efficiently attached and collected, and drained during washing or rinsing. The lint can be discharged out of the machine along with the washing water that is collected, so that the collected lint removal process can be made maintenance-free, and it is restored to the initial state where there is no lint adhesion to the mesh filter at every drainage. Since the circulation pump can be operated, the lint collection effect on the mesh filter can always be maintained, and lint and foreign matter adhesion to the laundry can be greatly reduced.

  The drum type washing machine of the present invention can realize a maintenance-free washing machine that efficiently collects lint and discharges lint out of the main body with a part of washing water used at the time of washing or rinsing. .

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine of Embodiment 1 of this invention Control circuit block diagram of drum-type washing machine Side sectional view of a conventional drum type washing machine described in Patent Document 1 Side sectional view of a conventional drum type washing machine described in Patent Document 2

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outer tub provided in an outer box, a rotary drum rotatably provided in the outer tub, a drain outlet for discharging washing water to the bottom of the outer tub, and washing from the drain outlet. A circulation pump for sucking water, a pump suction pipe connecting the drain port and the circulation pump, a flexible mesh filter having elasticity in the pump suction pipe, and washing water from the circulation pump A circulation path for returning the discharged water into the rotary drum and the outer tub, a drain valve for discharging washing water from the drain port to the outside of the machine, and a control device for controlling a series of steps such as washing to rinsing. The mesh filter is deformed into a concave shape by the suction force of the circulation pump, and removes lint and the like that are collected and attached with elasticity to be restored to a normal shape when the circulation pump is stopped, and the drain valve is set for a predetermined time. Open With this configuration, it is possible to control so that the lint is discharged by a part of the drainage of the wash water, and the lint is efficiently attached and collected, and the lint is removed together with the wash water drained during washing or rinsing. The collected lint removal process can be made maintenance-free.

  In addition, since the circulation pump can be operated by returning to the initial state where there is no lint adhesion to the mesh filter at every drainage, the lint collection effect on the mesh filter can be maintained at all times, and lint and foreign matter adhesion to the laundry are greatly increased. Can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the control device estimates a lint adhesion amount by detecting a change in an energization current value of the circulation pump caused by a pressure change between the mesh filter and the circulation pump. At the same time, when it was determined that there was a large amount of adhesion, the lint discharging function was improved more efficiently by removing lint from the mesh filter by stopping the circulation pump and opening the drain valve. Is.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the pump suction pipe has a pressure sensor inward, and the control device detects a change in pressure when the circulation pump is operating, thereby attaching lint. When the amount is estimated and when it is determined that there is a large amount of adhesion, the lint discharge function can be performed more efficiently by removing lint from the mesh filter by stopping the circulation pump and opening the drain valve. Is an improvement.

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

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum-type washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an outer tub 73 is supported by a suspension 72 so as to be freely slidable from the bottom of the outer box 71 in the outer box 71 of the drum type washing machine, and further inside the outer tub 73 is a cylindrical shape serving as a washing tub. The rotating drum 74 is housed so as to be freely rotatable by the operation of the drive motor 75 disposed on the back of the outer tub 73.

  A drain port 76 for discharging washing water is formed at the bottom of the outer tub 73, and the drain port 76 is a drain valve that controls the opening and closing of a water channel from a drain pipe 78 piped downward via a pipe branch part 77. 79, and a drain hose 90 for discharging washing water from the drain valve 79 to the outside of the machine.

  The pump suction pipe 91 branched from the pipe branching portion 77 in the substantially horizontal direction is connected to the suction side 94 of the circulation pump 93, and the discharge side 95 of the circulation pump 93 is further circulated toward the upper side of the outer box 71. Is piped. The circulation path 96 is connected to the connection pipe 97 and the discharge pipe 98 in an inverted U shape at the upper part of the outer box 71, and forms a water spray port 99 directed inward of the rotary drum 74 below the discharge pipe 98.

  In addition, a flexible mesh filter 92 having elasticity is provided in the pump suction pipe 91 in the vicinity of the pipe branching portion 77 below the drain port 76. When the circulation pump 93 is driven, the left side of the mesh filter 92 is sucked by the suction force. Collect lint on the side.

  The control device 101 controls the drive motor 75, the drain valve 79, the circulation pump 93, and the like, and controls a series of processes such as washing to rinsing.

  The operation of the drum type washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

  With the drain valve 79 closed and predetermined washing water or rinsing water supplied to the outer tub 73 and the rotating drum 74, the rotating drum 74 is rotated by the drive motor 75 to control the washing or rinsing process. . At this time, the circulation pump 93 is operated in a predetermined sequence in the washing process or the rinsing process.

  Washing water or rinsing water in the outer tub 73 is sucked from the pipe branching portion 77 from the drain port 76 by the circulation pump 93 through the pump suction pipe 91, lint adheres to the left surface of the mesh filter 92, and is collected. The washing water after the lint removal is discharged from the circulation pump 93 to the inside of the rotary drum 74 through the circulation path 96 and the connection pipe 97 and the discharge pipe 98 in the upper U-shaped upper portion of the outer box 71 and the water spray port 99.

  By repeating the water circulation of the washing water by the circulation pump 93 as described above, lint is efficiently collected.

  Here, lint and foreign matter cover the surface of the mesh filter 92, the inside of the pump suction pipe 91 becomes negative pressure, and the flexible mesh filter 92 having elasticity has a convex shape toward the circulation pump 93 side. Deform.

  When the operation of the circulation pump 93 is stopped at a specified time, the inside of the pump suction pipe 91 is gradually reduced by the backflow pressure of the washing water remaining in the circulation path 96 and the like, and the mesh filter 92 is restored to the original regularity. The shape is restored by an abrupt operation, or the shape is reversely deformed as shown by a reverse convex shape 100 indicated by a dotted line in FIG.

  The lint adheres to the left side of the mesh filter 92 and is separated from the vicinity of the pipe branching portion 77 by the elasticity in the operation to return to the original normal shape and the reverse deformation by the abrupt operation. Further, when the drain valve 79 is opened for a predetermined time almost at the same time, the foreign matter and lint that have left and floated near the pipe branching portion 77 are discharged from the drain hose 90 to the outside of the washing machine together with the drain of the washing water. By repeating the above action, lint is efficiently discharged.

  As described above, in Embodiment 1, a flexible mesh filter having elasticity is supplemented with lint by the suction force of the circulation pump, and is captured by restoring the mesh filter due to pressure fluctuation caused by stopping the circulation pump. By automatically removing the lint and discharging it out of the machine, maintenance-free operation that does not require the lint collection work by the operator as in the past can be realized.

  In addition, by stopping the circulation pump and controlling the drain valve, it is possible to always return to the initial state with very little lint adhesion to the mesh filter, so that the lint collection effect on the mesh filter can be maintained at all times and Lint and foreign matter adhesion can be greatly reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In FIG. 1, a control device 101 that controls a series of steps such as washing to rinsing has a function of detecting an energization current value of the circulation pump 93. FIG. 2 is a control circuit block diagram of the drum type washing machine in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the control device 101 controls display means and input setting means 107 that are visually recognized and operated by the user, and a microcomputer that issues an operation signal to the power switching means 106 based on a command from the input setting means 107. It is comprised by the control means 103 comprised by components. The power switching means 106 controls power supply from the power source 105 to the circulation pump 93, the drain valve 79, the drive motor 75, and the like.

  Furthermore, the control device 101 includes a current detection unit 104 that detects the energization current value of the circulation pump 93, and inputs the information to the control unit. The current detection means 104 is constituted by, for example, a circuit that detects a magnetic field generated by a current by a Hall element, and the control means 103 processes data from the current detection means 104 by an internal microcomputer or the like, and the result Based on the above, a control command is issued to the power switching means 106.

  In the operation of the circulation pump 93 during the washing process or the rinsing process, the control device 101 detects the energization current value of the circulation pump 93, and when the energization current value exceeds a predetermined value, foreign matter or It is determined that lint has adhered and collected abnormally.

That is, when a large amount of lint or the like adheres to the mesh filter 92 and the pressure inside the pump suction pipe 91 becomes negative, the load on the motor of the circulation pump 93 increases and the energization current value increases.

  By detecting this increase in energization current value, it is assumed that there is a large amount of foreign matter or lint attached, and the control device 101 stops the circulation pump 93, removes lint and the like from the mesh filter 92, and temporarily opens the drain valve 79. Then, lint is discharged to the outside of the main body as part of the drainage of the washing water.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the degree of adhesion of lint or the like to the mesh filter 92 is estimated by detecting the energization current value of the circulation pump 93, and when it is determined that there is a large amount of adhesion, By stopping the circulation pump 93 and opening the drain valve 79, the lint and the like are discharged from the mesh filter 92. By repeatedly performing this action during the washing machine process, the lint is discharged more efficiently. .

(Embodiment 3)
In FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a pressure sensor 102 is configured in a pump suction pipe 91 between a mesh filter 92 and a circulation pump 93.

  In the control circuit block diagram of FIG. 2, the control means 103 processes the data from the pressure sensor 102 which is also the pressure detection means by an internal microcomputer or the like, and issues a control command to the power switching means 106 based on the result.

  The pressure sensor 102 detects the pressure inside the pump suction pipe 91 during the washing or rinsing process. When the circulation filter 93 is in operation, if the mesh filter 92 is clogged with lint or the like, the flow rate is reduced. It is detected that the pressure in the pump suction pipe 91 is reduced by the suction.

  When the amount of decrease in the detected pressure value exceeds a predetermined value, the control device 101 determines that an excessive amount of foreign matter or lint has adhered to and collected on the surface of the mesh filter 92, and stops the circulation pump 93 and the drain valve. By opening 79, lint or the like is discharged from the mesh filter 92.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when the pressure in the pump suction pipe 91 is detected by the pressure sensor, the degree of adhesion of lint or the like to the mesh filter 92 is estimated, and a large amount of adhesion is determined. In this case, lint and the like are discharged from the mesh filter 92 by stopping the circulation pump 93 and opening the drain valve 79. By repeatedly performing this operation during the washing machine process, lint is discharged more efficiently. Is.

  As described above, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention enables a maintenance-free configuration that efficiently attaches and collects lint and releases lint out of the main body together with water drained during washing or rinsing. Therefore, it is convenient and can improve the washing performance and is useful, and can also be applied to uses such as a vertical washing machine, a washing / drying machine, and a commercial washing machine.

71 Outer box 73 Outer tank 74 Rotating drum 76 Drain port 79 Drain valve 91 Pump suction pipe 92 Mesh filter 93 Circulation pump 96 Circulation path 101 Controller 102 Pressure sensor

Claims (3)

An outer tub provided in an outer box, a rotating drum rotatably provided in the outer tub, a drain outlet for discharging washing water to the bottom of the outer tub, and a circulation pump for sucking washing water from the drain outlet A pump suction pipe connecting the drain port and the circulation pump, a flexible mesh filter having elasticity in the pump suction pipe, and the washing water discharge water from the circulation pump rotating the water A drum and a circulation path to be returned into the outer tub, a drain valve for discharging washing water from the drain port to the outside of the machine, and a control device for controlling a series of processes such as washing to rinsing, and the mesh filter, The drain pump is deformed into a concave shape by the suction force of the circulation pump, and the lint etc. collected and attached with elasticity that is restored to the normal shape by stopping the circulation pump is removed, and the drain valve is opened for a predetermined time. Beam type washing machine. The control device estimates a lint adhesion amount by detecting a change in the energization current value of the circulation pump caused by a pressure change between the mesh filter and the circulation pump. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein lint or the like is detached from the mesh filter by stopping the circulation pump and opening the drain valve. The pump suction pipe has a pressure sensor inward, and the control device estimates a lint adhesion amount by detecting a change in pressure during operation of the circulation pump, and determines that a large amount of adhesion is present. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein lint or the like is detached from the mesh filter by stopping the circulation pump and opening the drain valve.