JP2018042581A - Lighting device for washing machine and washing machine including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device capable of evenly irradiating laundry in a washing tub with light uniformly and in a vertical direction.SOLUTION: A lighting device for a washing machine irradiates the inside of a washing tub 1 with light from a light source 8a via a light guide plate 6a provided along a peripheral edge part of a door 4 for covering an opening part 1a of the washing tub 1 openably/closably. Thus, in the case of assuming ultraviolet ray irradiation, the laundry is irradiated with light 11 evenly, and variation in a sterilization effect of ultraviolet ray can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device for a washing machine.

  Patent Document 1 and the like disclose a washing machine equipped with an illumination device that illuminates the inside of a tank.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the washing machine 20 includes an outer box 21, an outer tub (washing tub) 22 that is supported and attached in the outer box 21, and a rotatable inside the outer tub 22. And a supported rotating drum 23. The laundry 24 is provided via an outer door 25 that is attached to the opening of the outer box 21 so as to be opened and closed, and an inner door 26 that is attached to the opening of the rotary drum 23 so as to be able to be opened and closed. Are put in the rotating drum 23.

  The lighting device 27 is attached to the outer door 25. The light source of the illumination device 27 includes a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, a light emitting diode, and the like, and irradiates visible light including visible light or ultraviolet light toward the laundry 24 in the rotating drum 23. When the ultraviolet light is irradiated, the laundry 24 can be sterilized.

Japanese Patent No. 4781190

  In the illuminating device 27 using a point light source such as a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, and a light emitting diode as a light source, since there is a distance from the illuminating device 27 to the rotating drum 23, the light spreads on the way, and the laundry 24 is irradiated with light. It cannot be irradiated efficiently.

  Moreover, since the irradiation direction and the irradiation range are limited due to the restriction of the light source distribution point and the light distribution characteristics of the point light source itself, it is uniform with respect to the laundry 24 in the irradiated rotary drum 23. Even if the laundry 24 is rotating in the rotating drum 23 instead of the light irradiation, the illumination device 27 cannot directly irradiate light around the peripheral edge of the rotating drum 23, so that it becomes a shadow and uneven in the light irradiation range. Occurs, and there is a problem that the disinfection effect by ultraviolet rays becomes insufficient.

  An object of this invention is to provide the illuminating device which can perform uniform and uniform irradiation of the light of the perpendicular | vertical direction with respect to the laundry in a washing tub.

  The lighting device for a washing machine of the present invention is a lighting device for a washing machine provided on a door that covers an opening of a washing tub so as to be freely opened and closed, and includes a light guide plate provided along a peripheral edge of the door, and the light guide plate. A light source that makes light incident on at least the first end surface of the first and second end surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the light plate, and the light guide plate includes the washing tub of the first and second side surfaces facing each other. Is formed with a reflecting surface on the first side surface on the opposite side, and guides the light incident from the light source toward the second end surface and reflects the light by the reflecting surface from the second side surface to the inside of the washing tub. It is characterized by emitting light.

  According to this configuration, the light from the light source is applied to the inside of the washing tub through the light guide plate provided along the peripheral edge of the door. Irradiation is uniformly applied to the internal laundry, and variation in the sterilization effect due to ultraviolet rays can be suppressed.

Schematic sectional view of the washing tub of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram of the illumination means in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the illumination means in Embodiment 1 of this invention Light guide plate in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Sectional drawing of prism of light guide plate in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the illumination state by Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the illumination state by the comparative example 1 The figure which shows the illumination state by the comparative example 2 Schematic step view of a conventional washing machine

  Hereinafter, the illuminating device for washing machines of this invention is demonstrated based on embodiment.

  FIG. 1 shows a main part of a washing machine provided with the washing machine illumination device of the present invention.

  The washing tub 1 includes an outer tub 2 and a rotating drum 3 provided inside the outer tub 2. The laundry tub 1 can be opened and closed with a door 4 made of transparent glass so that an opening 1a provided on the upward inclined surface on the laundry input side can visually recognize the state of the laundry. Is provided. The door 4 has a role of maintaining the airtightness and watertightness of the washing tub 1.

  The lighting device 5 is disposed inside the door 4 and irradiates the washing tub 1 with light having a wavelength of ultraviolet light to visible light.

  Here, the rotating drum 3 is made of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, and the surface of the rotating drum 3 reflects light, so that the radiated light from the illumination device 5 is not directly applied to the laundry by the reflected light. There will be more opportunities for light to reach.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the entire illumination device 5 is viewed from the inside of the washing tub 1 on the door 4 side. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the door 4 incorporating the lighting device 5. FIG. 4 shows details of a part of the lighting device 5.

  In FIG. 2, four light guide plates 6 a, 6 b, 6 c and 6 d are annularly arranged on the door 4 corresponding to the opening 1 a of the outer tub 2. Since all of the light guide plates 6a to 6d are the same, here, the light guide plate 6a will be described as an example.

  The light guide plate 6a has a circular arc shape in plan and is made of an elongated transparent resin having a rectangular cross section. The material of the light guide plate 6a is acrylic resin. A light emitting diode 8a as a light source is disposed in the vicinity of the first end surface 7a of the first and second end surfaces 7a, 7b in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate 6a. The light emitting diode 8a is mounted on the wiring board 9a.

  The light emitting diode 8a has a characteristic of emitting diffused light having a wavelength of visible light from ultraviolet light. Light from the light emitting diode 8a enters the light guide plate 6a from the first end surface 7a of the light guide plate 6a and propagates toward the second end surface 7b of the light guide plate 6a.

  The light guide plates 6b, 6c, 6d are also provided with light emitting diodes 8b, 8c, 8d. The light emitting diodes 8b, 8c, 8d are mounted on the wiring boards 9b, 9c, 9d.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a concave prism 10 as a reflecting surface is formed on the first side surface 7c opposite to the washing tub 1 of the first and second side surfaces 7c and 7d facing each other in the Z direction of the light guide plate 6a. 10,... Are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the formation region of the prism 10 is an arc shape of the light guide plate 6a from the one end 7a in the Y-axis direction of the light guide plate 6a to the inside of the distance S1 and from the end surface of the light guide plate 6a in the X-axis direction to the inside of the distance S2. The groove direction of the prism is perpendicular to the arc shape of the light guide plate 6a. By setting the distances S1 and S2 to at least 0.5 mm or more, it is possible to prevent bright lines, stray light, and the like due to abnormally reflected light from the prism due to shape distortion in the vicinity of the end face of the light guide plate.

  Adjacent prisms 10 are arranged at equal intervals P. The angle from the bottom surface of the prism 10 is θ1 on the side closer to the light emitting diode 8a and θ2 on the far side. For example, θ1 = θ2 = 52 °.

  The height H of the prism defined in the Z-axis direction with the surface of the light guide plate 6a having the prism 10 as a reference surface is gradually increased from the vicinity of the light emitting diode 8a toward the vicinity of the central portion in the length direction of the light guide plate 6a. It is formed to be higher.

  Since it comprised in this way, the light of the light emitting diodes 8a-8d which injected from the one end 7a of the light-guide plates 6a-6d propagates, totally reflecting inside the light-guide plates 6a-6d. The light propagating through the light guide plates 6a to 6d is reflected by total reflection at the prism 10 to change the optical path, and the light 11 is transmitted from the second side surface 7d toward the inside of the rotating drum 3 of the washing tub 1 as the light guide plate 6a. Inject from ~ 6d.

  Since the propagating light inside the light guide plates 6a to 6d is a light beam having various directions, the light reflected by the prism 10 and emitted from the light guide plates 6a to 6d is also a light beam having a wide angle.

  The light beam 11 reflected by the prism 10 is reflected by the slope having the angle θ1 and is emitted from the light guide plates 6a to 6d. The direction in which the light intensity of the light beam reflected by the prism 10 and emitted from the light guide plates 6a to 6d is the strongest is the forward direction, that is, the Z-axis positive direction. Here, the strongest direction is 0 degree in the X-axis positive direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a white reflecting plate 12 that diffuses and reflects light is disposed so as to wrap around the light guide plate 6a except for the exit surface of the light guide plate 6a. The reflecting plate 12 and the light guide plate 6a are not in close contact with each other, and there is an air layer between them, and does not prevent total internal reflection of the light guide plate 6a. The material of the reflecting plate 12 is, for example, a resin plate in which minute bubbles are mixed, and has a high reflectance close to 100%. Light leaking from the light guide plate 6a is irradiated in the forward direction, that is, the Z-axis positive direction. The same applies to the light guide plates 6b to 6d.

  Moreover, the reflecting plate 12 prevents light from leaking outside through the door 4 by shielding light in the negative Z-axis direction. In particular, when a light-emitting diode having a wavelength in the ultraviolet region is used, the influence on the human body can be suppressed by adopting a configuration in which the emitted light does not leak to the outside.

  The operation of the washing machine lighting apparatus configured as described above will be described.

  6, 7, and 8 are diagrams illustrating an irradiation region by the illumination device 5 when viewed from a schematic cross section of a washing tub of the washing machine. The same numbers as those in FIG. 1 are the same.

  FIG. 6 shows a region irradiated with illumination light in the front direction by the prism 10 of the light guide plates 6a to 6d in FIG. 5, that is, in the positive Z-axis direction.

  The irradiation region 13 is illuminated by the light beam 11 from the prism 10 of the light guide plates 6a to 6d. The direction of the light beam 11 is substantially the front direction. Here, since the light guide plates 6 a to 6 d have an arc shape as shown in FIG. 2, the irradiation region 13 is irradiated along the peripheral edge in the rotary drum 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotating drum 3 can be illuminated uniformly with point symmetry.

  During washing and drying, the laundry is lifted in the rotating direction by the rotating operation of the rotating drum 3 and repeats the stirring operation of dropping from an appropriate height. However, the laundry is collected at the peripheral edge of the rotating drum 3 by centrifugal force. Gathers in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the rotating drum 3, it is possible to irradiate the laundry with strong light by reflecting light on the metallic gloss surface of stainless steel on the inner wall of the rotating drum 3, and the sterilizing effect is enhanced.

  Furthermore, by reflecting the light reflected by the stainless steel metallic gloss surface of the inner surface of the rotating drum 3 again on the surface of the door 4 on the washing tub 1 side, the light irradiated inside the rotating drum 3 can be reflected a plurality of times. Therefore, light can be used effectively and the sterilization effect can be enhanced.

  As Comparative Example 1, FIG. 7 does not use the illuminating device 5 using the light guide plates 6a to 6d of FIG. 5 of the present invention. An irradiation area 15 with illumination light in the direction is shown. Since the irradiation region 15 irradiates the vicinity of the rotation center of the rotary drum 3, that is, the optical axis Z1, a radiation intensity distribution is formed concentrically and is not uniform.

  As a comparative example 2, FIG. 8 does not use the lighting device 5 using the light guide plates 6a to 6d of FIG. 5 of the present invention, but, for example, a light emitting diode 16 having a relatively large directivity angle and a relatively directivity angle. The irradiation region 17 by the illumination light in the positive direction of the Z-axis when Since the irradiation area 17 irradiates the vicinity of the rotation center of the rotating drum 3, that is, the optical axis Z1, a radiation intensity distribution is formed concentrically, but the intensity decreases because it irradiates a wide range. This causes unevenness in the light irradiation range, and the sterilization effect by ultraviolet rays becomes insufficient.

As described above, according to the illumination device for a washing machine of the present invention, when ultraviolet irradiation is assumed,
Since it is possible to irradiate the laundry with uniform and strong light, it is possible to suppress variation in the sterilization effect due to ultraviolet rays.

  2 and 4, one light emitting diode 8a as a light source is provided on the end face of one light guide plate 6a, but a plurality of light emitting diodes may be arranged. The same applies to the light emitting diodes 8b, 8c and 8d of the light guide plates 6b, 6c and 6d.

  Although the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined surface of the prism 10 is set to 52 °, the light efficiency in the forward direction, that is, the positive direction of the Z axis can be secured by 80% or more if the inclination angle θ1 is within ± 10 °. The inclination angle θ1 of the 10 slopes may be in the range of 42 ° to 62 °. Further, although the light efficiency is lowered, the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined surface of the prism 10 may be in the range of 30 ° to 65 °.

  Although the intervals of the prisms 10 in FIG. 5 are equal, the prism intervals can be made unequal by adjusting the prism height H.

  Further, although the light guide plates 6b to 6d have a rectangular cross section in FIG. 1, a structure having an angle inclination may be used in order to provide a draft at the time of molding.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light guide diodes 8a to 8d as light sources provided at one end of each of the light guide plates 6a to 6d and the light guide plates 6a to 6d are configured. It can be composed of a light source provided at one end of the light guide plate.

  In the above embodiment, a light emitting diode as a light source is disposed only at one end of the light guide plate and light is incident on the light guide plate. However, light emitting diodes as light sources are disposed at both ends of the light guide plate, respectively. It is also possible to configure so that light enters from the light.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a UV filter 18 that attenuates ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light to the door 4 is provided outside the light guide plates 6 b to 6 d, so that the light guide plates 6 b to 6 d are connected to the rotating drum 3. Even when it is irradiated with ultraviolet light, it is possible to reduce ultraviolet radiation to the outside of the washing machine.

  The present invention contributes to improving the performance of a washing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing tub 2 Outer tub 3 Rotating drum 4 Door 5 Illumination device 6a-6d Light guide plate 7a 1st end surface 7b 2nd end surface 7c 1st side surface 7d 2nd side surface 8a-8d Light emitting diode 9a-9d Wiring board 10 Prism 11 Light 12 Reflector 13 Irradiation area

Claims (6)

A lighting device for a washing machine provided on a door that covers an opening of a washing tub so as to be freely opened and closed,
A light guide plate provided along the peripheral edge of the door;
A light source that makes light incident on at least the first end face of the first and second end faces in the longitudinal direction of the light guide plate,
The light guide plate has a reflective surface formed on the first side surface opposite to the washing tub of the first and second side surfaces facing each other,
An illumination device for a washing machine that guides light incident from the light source toward the second end surface, reflects the light by the reflection surface, and emits light from the second side surface into the washing tub.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the light guide plate has an arc shape in a planar shape, and an irradiation area by light emitted from the second side surface of the light guide plate is set in the vicinity of a peripheral edge of the washing tub. Lighting equipment.   2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the light guide plate is configured by a concave prism formed on the first side surface, and emits light in a direction perpendicular to the second side surface. Lighting device. The light guide plate is composed of a plurality of light guide plates,
The lighting device for a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed at one end of each light guide plate.   The lighting device for a washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the light reflected by the inner wall of the washing tub is reflected toward the washing tub by the surface of the door on the washing tub side.   A washing machine equipped with the washing machine illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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