JP2015213626A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which comprises a small number of components with a simple configuration, and which is rational and which has excellent maintainability as it allows an electrostatic atomization generation unit to be assembled and replaced easily.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an outer tub 3 which is elastically suspended and supported in a housing 1; an inner tub 4 which has a rotation center axis in a substantially vertical direction, which is supported inside the outer tub 3 rotatably, which accommodates clothes and which has vent holes; a pulsator 6 which is provided at an inner bottom part of the inner tub 4 and which agitates clothes; a motor 8 which rotationally drives the inner tub 4 or the pulsator 6; an upper frame body 10 which is mounted at an upper part of the housing 1; a support member 11 which is provided inside the upper frame body 10 and in which blower means 27 for supplying air into the inner tub 4 and a water pouring member 29 are mounted; and an electrostatic atomization generation unit 50 which has an electrostatic atomization generation device 51 for generating charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization and electrostatic atomization driving means 52. The electrostatic atomization generation unit 50 has an upper cover and a lower cover for covering the upper cover from below, and it is fixed to the support member by being screwed from above.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that supplies charged fine particle water to sterilize clothes, deodorize, and suppress mold generation.

  Conventionally, this type of washing machine generates charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization on a water tank and a drum that is rotatably arranged in the water tank in order to sterilize the bacteria attached to the clothes and the bacteria in the circulating air. And the structure discharged | emitted in a washing tub is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1.

  The housing 1 is provided with an outer tub 3 that is elastically suspended by a plurality of suspensions 2, and an inner tub 4 that accommodates clothes and drying objects is rotatably disposed inside the outer tub 3. At the same time, a pulsator 6 that stirs clothes and a dry object is rotatably disposed at the inner bottom of the inner tank 4.

  In addition, a large number of vent holes 4 a are provided in the inner peripheral wall of the inner tank 4, and a fluid balancer 7 is provided above. A motor (driving means) 8 is attached to the outer bottom of the outer tub 3 and is connected to the inner tub 4 or pulsator via the clutch 9 and the washing / dehydrating shaft 5 for switching the transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 5 during washing or dehydrating. 6 is driven to rotate.

  The heat exchange duct 12 dehumidifies the circulating humid air (circulated air) by the cooling means 25, and one end is connected to the drainage passage port 14 provided at the lower part of the outer tub 3 via the extendable connection duct 13. The other end is connected to one end of the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 located below the drying fan 15 on the inlet side of the air circulation path 17.

  A heater 16 is provided on the top of the drying fan 15, and the outlet side of the air circulation path 17 is connected to an upper bellows-like hose 18 having an air outlet 20. An air circulation path 17 that is connected to and circulates is constituted, and the air circulation path 17, the drying fan 15, and the air jet outlet 20 constitute the air blowing means 27.

  A filter 28 is provided in the circulation air receiving chamber 26, and the circulation air is circulated through the filter 28, and the filter 28 collects lint generated from clothing.

  The air blowing means 27, a water supply valve 32 for supplying tap water into the water tank, and a water injection member 29 for allowing the tap water to pass therethrough when supplying water from the water supply valve 32 to the water tank, etc. It is attached to a support member 68 made of a plastic molding member or the like provided inward.

  The support member 68 is provided with an electrostatic atomization generator 71 (described later in FIG. 4) adjacent to the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 of the air circulation path 17 of the constituent members of the air blowing means 27. The generation unit 70 is attached and fixed by screws 82 and 77 through a waterproof plate 81 from below the support member 68. The support member 68 is attached from below the upper frame 67, screws 41 a and 41 b are screwed from the rear surface of the upper frame 67, and screws 41 c and 41 d are screwed from the upper surface of the upper frame 10, 67 and the rear portion of the support member 68 is fixed to the rear surface of the housing 1 with screws 42a and 42b.

  The outer tub 3 is provided with an outer tub cover 19 that covers the upper surface of the outer tub 3 in an airtight manner and an openable and closable inner lid 21, and an air outlet 20 is attached to the outer tub cover 19.

  An upper frame 67 having a clothing insertion port 36 is attached to the upper portion of the housing 1, and an outer lid 34 is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the clothing insertion port 36.

  A drain valve 22 for draining the water in the outer tub 3 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 3 and connected to the heat exchange duct 12 and the connection duct 13 through the drain duct 23, and the connection duct 13 and the heat exchange duct 12 are connected. The drainage from is guided to the drainage duct 23 and the drainage valve 22 and drained from the drainage hose 24 to the outside of the machine.

  The control device 30 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the back surface portion (back cover) 40 of the housing 1 and is covered and protected by the cover 35, and controls the operation of each electrical component via the load driving means 31. Control means 33 for controlling the steps of washing, rinsing, dehydration and drying. Further, the electrostatic atomization generator 71 is controlled via the electrostatic atomization driving means 72. Further, the input setting unit 37 and the display unit 38 constitute an operation display unit 39.

  In the above configuration, the basic operation from washing to drying will be described.

  In the washing process, the outer lid 34 is opened, the inner lid 21 is opened, clothes and detergent are put into the inner tub 4, and when the operation is started, water is supplied to a predetermined water level, and then the motor 8 is driven. At this time, the power of the motor 8 is transmitted to the pulsator 6 through the washing shaft by the clutch 9 of the transmission mechanism, and the garment in the inner tub 4 is agitated by the rotation of the pulsator 6. Washing of clothes is performed by stirring the clothes in the inner tub 4 by mechanical force acting on the clothes, or by contact with the inner wall of the inner tub 4 or the pulsator 6, and water flow.

  In the dehydration process, after the washing is completed, the drain valve 22 is opened and the water in the inner tub 4 is drained from the drain hose 24, and then the clutch 9 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydration side to This is performed by separating the moisture from the garment by transmitting it to the inner tub 4 and rotating it and applying centrifugal force to the garment.

  In the drying process, the clutch 9 is switched to the washing side, the motor 8 is driven and transmitted to the pulsator 6, the pulsator 6 is rotated forward and reverse, the clothes are stirred and the air blowing means 27 including the drying fan 15 and the like, Warm air is sent to the air outlet 20 by the heater 16. The warm air blown into the inner tub 4 from the air outlet 20 evaporates moisture from the clothing, then exits from the inner tub 4 to the inside of the outer tub 3, and then passes through the connection duct 13 from the drainage passage port 14. To the heat exchange duct 12.

  When the warm air containing moisture from the clothing deprives of moisture passes through the inner wall of the outer tub 3 and the heat exchange duct 12, the cooling water 25 installed on the side of the housing 1 flows into the outer tub 3 In other words, the outer wall of the heat exchange duct 12 is cooled, and the moist warm air is dehumidified and enters the circulation wind receiving chamber 26, passes through the filter 28, and returns to the drying fan 15. By circulating the warm air in this circulation path, the clothes in the inner tub 4 can be dried.

  When the electrostatic atomization generator 71 is operated when the drying fan 15 is driven, the charged fine particle water is discharged from the air outlet 20 on the outlet side of the air circulation path 17 to the clothes inside the inner tub 4. .

Here, the detailed configuration of the electrostatic atomization generation unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The electrostatic atomization generation unit 70 is an electrostatic atomization generator 71 and an electrostatic atomization which is a control circuit. Driving means 72
And an electrostatic atomization unit mounting plate 75 opened downward. The electrostatic atomization generating device 71 is configured by screwing the mounting plate A76 with a screw 77, and the electrostatic atomization driving means 72 is The attachment plate B78 is screwed with screws 79a and 79b, thereby being fixedly attached to the inside of the electrostatic atomization unit attachment plate 75 from the open portion.
Furthermore, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 70 is integrated with the support member 68 by screws 82 and 77 via a waterproof plate 81 that covers an air inlet 80 described later from below the support member 68 and prevents water droplets and the like from entering. It is attached to the boss parts 83a and 83b that are configured from below.

  Although not shown, the electrostatic atomization generator 71 and the electrostatic atomization drive means 72 as a control circuit are electrically connected by a lead wire or a connection connector.

  An air inlet 80 is formed in the lower part of the electrostatic atomization generator 71 in the mounting plate A76, and the side wall of the electrostatic atomization unit mounting plate 75 is charged at a position lower than the electrostatic atomization generator 71. A fine particle water discharge port 73 is formed, and the charged fine particle water discharge port 73 communicates with the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 of the constituent member of the blowing means 27.

  Further, between the charged fine particle water discharge port 73 of the electrostatic atomization unit mounting plate 75 and the electrostatic atomization generator 71, a shielding wall 84 hangs downward with a gap from the bottom surface of the mounting plate A76. The rib-shaped tip is formed to be lower than the lower end of the charged fine particle water discharge port 73 and shields the charged fine particle water discharge port 73 and the electrostatic atomization generator 71 in a waterproof manner.

  The operation in the process of discharging charged fine particle water in the configuration of the electrostatic atomization generating unit 70 will be described. Note that the sterilization / deodorization operation course for discharging charged fine particle water is a process controlled in the same manner as the drying process, but only the heater 16 does not operate.

  When the electrostatic atomization driving means 72, which is a control circuit, is driven by an instruction from the control means 33, the electrostatic atomization generating device 71 operates, and the air flowing in from the air inlet 80 is changed into the electrostatic atomizing generating device. 71 is supplied as dew condensation water to a discharge electrode (not shown), and a high voltage is applied thereto to generate a large amount of negatively charged nanometer-size charged fine particle water.

  The sterilization / deodorization course that discharges charged fine particle water is not energized to the heater 16, but is the same as the drying process, so that the wind that has passed through the clothing in the inner tub 4 passes through the heat exchange duct 12. Then, the air enters the circulating air receiving chamber 26, passes through the filter 28, goes to the drying fan 15, and is returned to the inner tank 4 through the upper bellows-like hose 18 from the air outlet 20. There is.

  For this reason, the electrostatic atomization chamber 85 formed by the electrostatic atomization attachment plate 75 and the attachment plate A76 communicated with the circulation air receiving chamber 26 and the charged fine particle water discharge port 73 is a circulation path through which the circulation air flows. In contrast, since the volume is small, a negative pressure state occurs. Thus, when the circulating wind is flowing, the generated charged fine particle water is sucked into the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 from the charged fine particle water discharge port 73, and the sucked charged fine particle water rides on the flow of the circulating wind. Then, it is discharged into the inner tub 4 and penetrates deeply into the fiber of the clothes being stirred, so that sterilization and deodorization are performed.

JP2011-193961A

However, in the conventional configuration, when assembling, replacing, or maintaining the electrostatic atomization generating unit, the screws are first removed and temporarily fixed in a substantially vertical direction so that the front surface of the upper frame is upward. It is necessary to unscrew the support member and take it out, and a space for standing the upper frame in a substantially vertical direction with the support member attached and a temporary fixing operation are required.

  In addition, there are relatively many components such as a structure for stopping the electrostatic atomizing power means and a waterproof plate for preventing water entry, and the structure is relatively expensive.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and can easily assemble and replace an electrostatic atomization generating unit with a small number of parts and a simple configuration while retaining an intrusion prevention function such as water. An object is to provide a washing machine that is rational and excellent in maintainability.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a washing machine of the present invention has an outer tub elastically suspended in a housing, a rotation center axis in a substantially vertical direction, and rotatably supported in the outer tub. An inner tub containing clothes and having a vent hole, a pulsator provided at the inner bottom of the inner tub for stirring the clothes, a driving means for rotationally driving the inner tub or the pulsator, and an upper frame attached to the upper part of the housing And an air atomization generation that generates charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization, and a support member that is provided inside the rear portion of the upper frame and that supplies air into the inner tank and a water injection member. An electrostatic atomization generation unit having an apparatus and electrostatic atomization drive means, the electrostatic atomization generation unit having an upper cover and a lower cover that covers the upper cover from below, and from above The support member is screwed and fixed.

  As a result, when replacing or maintaining the electrostatic atomization generating unit, it is possible to remove the upper frame body by removing the upper frame and removing the screw from above. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine with excellent maintainability because it does not require the work to stand and temporary fixing.

  The washing machine of the present invention has a reasonable number of parts and a simple configuration while maintaining the function of preventing the intrusion of water droplets, etc., and can be easily assembled and replaced with an electrostatic atomization generating unit with excellent rationality and maintainability. Washing machine can be provided.

The principal part disassembled perspective view of the washing-drying machine in embodiment of this invention Cross section of the main part of the electrostatic atomization generating unit of the washing and drying machine Schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine Main part exploded perspective view of the washing and drying machine in the washing and drying machine Cross section of the main part of the electrostatic atomization generating unit of the washing and drying machine

  The first invention includes an outer tub elastically suspended in a housing, an inner tub having a central axis of rotation in a substantially vertical direction, rotatably supported in the outer tub, containing clothes, and having a vent hole; A pulsator for agitating clothing provided in the inner bottom of the inner tub, a driving means for rotationally driving the inner tub or the pulsator, an upper frame mounted on the upper part of the housing, and a rear inner part of the upper frame A static member having a blower means for supplying air into the inner tank and a support member equipped with a water injection member, an electrostatic atomization generator for generating charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization, and an electrostatic atomization drive means. An electrostatic atomization generating unit, and the electrostatic atomization generating unit has an upper cover and a lower cover that covers the upper cover from below, and is screwed and fixed to the support member from above. is there.

As a result, when replacing or maintaining the electrostatic atomization generating unit, it is possible to remove the upper frame body by simply removing the screw from above and removing the upper frame body. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine with excellent maintainability because it does not require the work to stand and temporary fixing.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the electrostatic atomization unit is inserted into the support member from the front-rear direction and screwed to the support member from above, thereby saving space despite being fixed from above. The electrostatic atomization unit can be attached and detached, and a space-efficient and rational design such as disposing the suspension support portion in the space below the electrostatic atomization generating unit as in the past is possible.

  According to a third invention, in the first or second invention, the electrostatic atomization unit houses the electrostatic atomization generation device and the electrostatic atomization drive means, and the electrostatic atomization generation device is attached to the casing. The upper cover provided with a charged particulate water discharge port at a position below and a lower cover that forms a waterproof plate that prevents water droplets from entering the air inlet and the air inlet below. The intrusion prevention function can be realized with a small number of parts and a simple configuration of the electrostatic atomization generator, the electrostatic atomization drive means, and the upper and lower covers, and a rationally designed washing machine can be provided.

  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.

The basic configuration of the washing / drying machine is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of main parts of a washing / drying machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of an electrostatic atomization generating unit part of the washing / drying machine.

  1 and 2, an electrostatic atomization generation unit 50 houses an electrostatic atomization generator 51 and an electrostatic atomization drive means 52 that is a control circuit, and generates electrostatic atomization when attached to the housing 1. An upper cover 54 provided with a charged fine particle water discharge port 53 on a side surface at a position below the device 51, an air inlet 55 below the electrostatic atomization generator 51, and further below it to the air inlet 55. A lower cover 57 that forms a waterproof plate 56 that prevents intrusion of water droplets is formed.

  The electrostatic atomization generator 51 is held from below by inserting it into the upper cover 54 and screwing the lower cover 57 with screws 58a and 58b.

  Further, the electrostatic atomization driving means 52 is potted 59 after being attached to the upper surface of the upper cover 54 to take a waterproof measure.

  Further, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 50 is inserted into the support member 11 from the front and is attached from above with screws 60a and 60b through screw holes 61a and 61b of the support member 11. In this state, the charged fine particle water discharge port 53 communicates with the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 of the constituent member of the blowing means 27.

  Although not shown, the electrostatic atomization generator 51 and the electrostatic atomization drive means 52 as a control circuit are electrically connected by a lead wire or a connection connector.

  Further, between the charged fine particle water discharge port 53 of the upper cover 54 and the electrostatic atomization generator 51, the shielding wall 62 has a gap between the bottom surface of the lower cover 57 and hangs downward. The rib-shaped tip is formed so as to be lower than the lower end of the charged fine particle water discharge port 53 and shields the charged fine particle water discharge port 53 and the electrostatic atomization generator 51 in a waterproof manner.

  The operation in the step of discharging charged fine particle water in the configuration of the electrostatic atomization generating unit 50 will be described. The sterilization / deodorization operation course (hereinafter referred to as nanoecourse) that discharges charged fine particle water is a process that is controlled in the same manner as the drying process, but is set so that only the heater 16 does not operate.

  When the electrostatic atomization driving means 52, which is a control circuit, is driven by an instruction from the control means 33, the electrostatic atomization generating device 51 is operated, and the air flowing in from the air inlet 55 is changed into the electrostatic atomizing generating device. 51 is supplied as dew condensation water to a discharge electrode (not shown), and a high voltage is applied thereto to generate a large amount of negatively charged nanometer-size charged fine particle water.

  The nano-ease that discharges the charged fine particle water is not energized to the heater 16, but is a process similar to the drying process. In the nano e-course, the wind that has passed through the clothing in the inner tub 4 passes through the heat exchange duct 12, enters the circulation wind receiving chamber 26, passes through the filter 28, and then goes to the drying fan 15. A large circulating air flow is generated that is returned to the inner tank 4 from the air outlet 20 via the hose 18.

  The electrostatic atomization chamber 63 formed by the upper cover 54 and the lower cover 57 communicates with the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 and the charged fine particle water discharge port 53, but has a small volume with respect to the circulation path through which the circulating wind flows. Therefore, it will be in a negative pressure state. Thus, the generated charged fine particle water is sucked into the circulating wind receiving chamber 26 from the charged fine particle water discharge port 53 by the flow of the circulating wind, and the sucked charged fine particle water rides on the flow of the circulating wind. It is discharged into the tank 4 and penetrates deeply into the fibers of the clothes being stirred, so that sterilization and deodorization are performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when replacing or maintaining the electrostatic atomization generating unit, it is possible to remove the upper frame body, remove the screw from above, and pull it out in the forward direction. Therefore, the work of standing the upper frame together with the supporting member in the substantially vertical direction and temporary fixing are not required, and the maintenance is extremely excellent. In addition, the space below the electrostatic atomization unit does not affect the removal despite being fixed from above, so the electrostatic atomization unit can be attached and detached in a space-saving manner. Thus, a rational design with good space efficiency can be achieved, for example, by disposing a suspension support portion.

  Moreover, by deploying the member to which the support member is attached in units, it is possible to unify the units to be tightened from above and improve productivity.

  In addition, a waterproof plate that prevents water droplets from entering the air inflow section is formed on the lower cover, so that water and other intrusion prevention functions can be added to the electrostatic atomization generator and electrostatic atomization without increasing the number of parts. It can be realized with a small number of parts such as a driving means and upper and lower covers and a simple configuration, and a rationally designed washing machine can be provided.

  In addition, although this Embodiment demonstrated taking the washing-drying machine as an example, you may use for the washing machine except the drying function.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can perform the electrostatic atomization generation unit provided with the electrostatic atomization generator having the discharge electrode at high productivity and at the same time, and at the same time, attach or replace the unit. Since the repair service can be easily performed, it can be applied to uses such as a washing dryer and a dryer.

1 Housing 3 Outer tank 4 Inner tank 6 Pulsator 8 Motor (drive means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Upper frame 11 Support member 27 Blowing means 29 Water injection member 33 Control means 50 Electrostatic atomization generation unit 51 Electrostatic atomization generation apparatus 52 Electrostatic atomization drive means 53 Charged particulate water discharge port 54 Upper cover 55 Air inflow port 56 Waterproof plate 57 Lower cover

Claims (3)

An outer tub elastically suspended in the housing, an inner tub having a central axis of rotation in a substantially vertical direction, rotatably supported in the outer tub, containing clothes, and having a vent hole; A pulsator for stirring clothes provided at the bottom, a driving means for rotationally driving the inner tub or the pulsator, an upper frame mounted on the upper part of the housing, and air in the upper tub provided in the upper frame A support member equipped with a blowing means to supply and a water injection member, an electrostatic atomization generator that generates charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization, and an electrostatic atomization generation unit having electrostatic atomization drive means, The electrostatic atomization generating unit has a top cover and a bottom cover that covers the top cover from below, and is screwed and fixed to the support member from above. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic atomizing unit is inserted into the support member from the front-rear direction and is screwed onto the support member from above. The electrostatic atomization unit houses an electrostatic atomization generator and electrostatic atomization driving means, and has an upper cover provided with a charged fine particle water discharge port at a position below the electrostatic atomization generator, and below The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing machine comprises an air inflow portion and a lower cover that forms a waterproof plate that prevents water droplets from entering the air inflow portion.

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