JP2021069528A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which can perform air passage switching with high reliability, and which can suppress deterioration of drying finish.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an air blowing unit for blowing air; a first air blowing path in which the blown air passes; a second air blowing path different from the first air blowing path; and an air passage switching part for switching the direction in which the air which is made to pass to the first air blowing path or the second air blowing path flows. The air passage switching part includes a shielding plate for shielding the air passage, and a leak prevention part provided on the air passage downstream side with respect to the shielding plate and at the position coming into contact with the shielding plate. In the shielding plate, the surface on which the air hits is inclined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry such as clothes.

The air passage switching mechanism during the drying operation of a conventional washing machine shields each path of the air passage by using a shielding member and allows air to flow into the selected air passage, and the sealing portion by the shielding member is upstream of the shielding member. A leak prevention member was provided on the side, and a contact portion was provided on the downstream side of the shielding member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5546979

However, when the leak prevention member and the contact portion are provided as described above, there is a problem that the air passage is obstructed and the wind damage is increased, so that the dry finish is deteriorated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of highly reliable air passage switching and capable of suppressing deterioration of a dry finish.

In order to solve the above problems, the washing machine of the present invention includes a blower unit that blows air, a first blower path through which the blown wind passes, a second blower path different from the first blower path, and the above. The air passage switching unit includes a first air passage path or an air passage switching unit that switches the flow direction of the wind passing through the second air blowing path, and the air passage switching unit has a shielding plate that shields the air passage and the shielding plate. Further, it has a leak prevention portion provided on the downstream side of the air passage and at a position where it comes into contact with the shielding plate, and the shielding plate is configured such that the surface exposed to the wind is inclined.

Further, the blower unit has a blower unit for sending wind, a first blower path through which the blown wind passes, and a second blower path different from the first blower path, and the blower unit has the first blower. An air passage switching unit that switches the flow direction of the air passing through the path or the second air passage, and a first air outlet that blows the air switched by the air passage switching unit to the first air passage. The configuration is such that the wind switched by the air passage switching unit has a second air outlet for blowing air to the second air passage.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of highly reliable air passage switching and capable of suppressing deterioration of a dry finish.

It is a block diagram of the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state in which the wind blows from above in the washing machine. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the state in which the wind blows from below in the washing machine. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air passage switching part at the time of selecting the 2nd air passage in the washing machine. It is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air passage switching part at the time of selecting the 1st air passage in the washing machine. It is sectional drawing of the leakage prevention part in the washing machine. It is a perspective view of the shielding plate in the washing machine. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the mounting structure of the air passage switching part in the washing machine.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

The washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment examples, but also includes various modifications and application examples in the technical concept of the present invention.

<Washer / dryer>
FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of a washing machine (washing / drying machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washer / dryer 1 is a vertical washer (vertical washer / dryer) in which the axis of rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub 8 (inner tub) is substantially vertical. An upper surface cover 2a is provided on the upper portion of the housing 2 of the washer / dryer 1, and an outer lid 3 is provided on the upper surface cover 2a. By opening the outer lid 3 to the rear side, the opening 2b is opened so that clothes and the like (laundry) can be taken in and out of the washing / dehydrating tub 8.

On the back side (rear side) of the upper surface cover 2a, a water supply hose connection port 4 from a water tap and a water absorption hose connection port (not shown) for sucking the remaining hot water of the bath are provided.

The washer / dryer 1 includes a washing / dehydrating tub 8, an outer tub 9, a driving device 10, a detergent / finishing agent charging device 11, a water supply unit 7, a drying duct 12, and the like in the housing 2.

The washing / dehydrating tub 8 has a bottomed cylindrical shape and has a body plate 8a made of a stainless steel plate or the like. The body plate 8a is formed with a large number of through holes 8a1 (only a part of which is shown) for water passage and ventilation. The washing / dehydrating tub 8 is provided with rotary wings 8b on the inner bottom surface.

The outer tub 9 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is configured by coaxially including the washing / dehydrating tub 8 and providing the outer tub cover 9a on the upper portion thereof. The user of the washer / dryer 1 can take in and out the laundry from the opening 2b into the washing / dehydrating tub 8 by opening the lid member 9c of the outer lid 3 and the outer tub cover 9a.

The drive device 10 is arranged in the center of the outside of the bottom surface of the outer tank 9. The drive device 10 has a motor 10a and a clutch mechanism 10b, and is configured such that the rotary shaft 10c of the drive device 10 penetrates the outer tub 9 and is coupled to the washing / dehydrating tub 8 and the rotary blade 8b. .. The clutch mechanism 10b has a function of transmitting the rotational power of the motor 10a to at least one of the washing / dehydrating tank 8 and the rotary blade 8b. The motor 10a includes a rotation detection device 5 composed of a Hall element or a photo interrupter for detecting the rotation thereof, and a motor current detection device 6 for detecting the current flowing through the motor 10a.

The loading device 11 is provided on the front side of the upper surface cover 2a. Detergent and finishing agent are charged between the outer tub 9 and the washing / dehydrating tub 8 together with tap water by the charging hose 11a.

The water supply unit 7 is provided on the back side of the upper surface cover 2a. The water supply unit 7 supplies tap water from the water supply hose connection port 4 to the input device 11 and the water-cooled dehumidification mechanism (not shown). Further, the water supply unit 7 receives tap water from the water supply hose connection port 4 and bath water from the water absorption hose connection port from between the outer tub 9 and the washing / dehydrating tub 8 to the inside of the outer tub 9 via the water injection hose 11b. Water can be injected into. Further, the water supply unit 7 can inject tap water from the water supply hose connection port 4 into the upper part of the washing / dehydrating tank 8 via the washing hose 11c.

The drop portion 9 m provided on the bottom surface of the outer tub 9 is connected to the washing water drainage channel 15 via a drain valve 14.

A drain hose (not shown) for sending drainage to the outside of the machine is connected to the washing water drainage channel 15.

Incidentally, by closing the drain valve 14, it is possible to store wash water and rinse water in the outer tank 9. Further, by opening the drain valve 14, the water (washing water, rinsing water) in the outer tub 9 can be drained to the outside of the washer / dryer 1 via the washing water drainage channel 15.

The drying duct 12 is installed vertically inside the back surface of the housing 2, and the lower part of the duct is connected to the recess 9 m of the outer tank 9 by a rubber bellows tube 12a. A water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) is built in the drying duct 12, and the water supply unit 7 supplies cooling water (tap water) to the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism. The cooling water flows down the wall surface of the drying duct 12, enters the drop portion 9 m, passes through the washing water drainage channel 15, and is discharged to the outside of the machine.

The washing / dehydrating tub 8 is provided with a balance ring (also referred to as a fluid balancer) 8c formed of a synthetic resin or the like on the upper end edge of the body plate 8a. The balance ring 8c is configured by enclosing a fluid having a large specific gravity inside the balance ring 8c, and when the eccentricity occurs due to the bias of the laundry during the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub 8, the fluid moves in the balance ring 8c. It has the function of canceling the eccentricity and maintaining the balance of rotation.

The outer tank cover 9a has a substantially semicircular input port and is attached to the upper end edge of the outer tank 9. The input port is provided with a lid member 9c attached so as to be openable and closable.

The outlet of the drying duct 12 is connected to the intake port of the blower unit 13, and the outlet of the blower unit 13 is connected to the heater 16 which is a heating unit. The outlet of the heater 16 is connected to the air passage switching unit 30, and is the first air passage (see FIG. 2) or the first air blowing path through which the wind passes through the air passage switching unit 30. It is branched to the second air passage (see FIG. 3), which is a ventilation route different from the route. As shown in FIG. 2, the first air passage is connected to the first discharge port 18 via a rubber bellows tube 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the second air passage is connected to the second discharge port 22 via a rubber bellows pipe 21. That is, the air passage switching unit 30 switches the direction in which the wind passing through the first air passage or the second air passage flows.

That is, when the blower unit 13 is driven, the air in the outer tub 9 flows into the drying duct 12 through the drop portion 9m. Then, the air cooled and dehumidified by water in the drying duct 12 is discharged from the blower unit 13, then heated by the heater 16, and then becomes high-temperature and low-humidity air, which is also used for washing from the first discharge port 18 or the second discharge port 22. It is blown into the dehydration tank 8.

Although not shown, a temperature sensor is located between the drop portion 9 and the drain valve 14 to detect the temperature of the washing water and the temperature of the air discharged from the washing water drainage channel 15 to the outside of the machine during the drying operation. Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the blower unit 13 of the main body is arranged behind the upper surface from the center of the main body. The first outlet 18 is arranged on the front surface side of the main body from the second outlet 22.

If a wash-drying course or drying course is set, perform drying. In this drying, the drain valve 14 is left open, and the air blower unit provided behind the drying duct 12 is provided while rotating the rotary blades 8b in the forward and reverse directions with the washing and dehumidifying tank 8 stationary as in the washing process. By operating 13, the air in the outer tub 9 is sucked out from the drop portion 9 m into the drying duct 12, and when passing through the drying duct 12, water cooling and dehumidification is performed in the drying duct 12, and the lint filter is applied. It is carried out by collecting lint through (not shown), heating it with a heater 16, and then blowing it into the washing tub 8 from the first discharge port 18 or the second discharge port 22. Drying is performed while monitoring the temperature of warm air with a temperature sensor, and ends when the rate of temperature change reaches a predetermined value.

Since the first discharge port 18 is located on the upper surface of the outer tank 9 and it is necessary to blow the entire upper surface of the clothes, the air passage cross-sectional area is larger than that of the second discharge port 22. Therefore, although it is difficult to obtain the effects of high speed and high pressure, it is possible to send wind with a large air volume.

The second discharge port 22 is located at the lower part of the side surface of the outer tank 9, and it is necessary to lift and spread the clothes. Therefore, the air passage cross-sectional area is larger than that of the first discharge port 18 so that high-speed and high-pressure wind can be blown out. Is getting smaller.

During the dry operation, the air passage switching unit 30 appropriately switches between the first air passage and the second air passage.

When the wind is sent from the first discharge port 18 through the first air passage, it is blown from the upper part of the outer tub 9 toward the upper surface of the clothes.

By rotating the washing / dehydrating tub 8 or the rotary blade 8b, which is a washing tub, the entire clothes are heated while being agitated and dried.

When the air is sent from the second discharge port 22 through the second air passage, the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub 8 is stopped, and the warm air outlet hole 23 and the second discharge port 22 are stopped at a position facing each other. ..

The wind blown from the second discharge port 22 is blown from below toward the clothes through the blow holes 23, and the clothes are lifted in accordance with the rotation of the rotary blades 8b. Further wind exposure to the lifted garment spreads the garment and reduces wrinkles that occur during drying.

At this time, since the second discharge port 22 is behind the first discharge port 18, it is located close to the blower unit 13, and the pressure loss of the wind sent out from the blower unit can be made relatively small.

Further, since the second discharge port 22 is behind the first discharge port 18, it is located closer to the heater 16 than before, and the air heated by the heater 16 can be washed and removed without lowering the temperature relatively. It becomes possible to blow out to the water tank 8.

Since high-speed, high-pressure wind is blown from the second discharge port 22, the noise at the time of blowing tends to be large. This time, by arranging the second discharge port 22 behind the main body from the first discharge port 18, it is possible to make it difficult for noise to be transmitted by separating the position of the second discharge port 22 from the user.

In the washer / dryer having such a configuration, the characteristic configuration of the present invention and its operation will be described next. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air passage switching portion 30, showing the position of the shielding plate 31 when the second air passage is selected. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air passage switching portion 30, showing the position of the shielding plate 31 when the first air passage is selected. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a part A in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the shielding plate 31. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a case where the air passage switching unit 30 is provided in the air blowing unit 13.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the air passage switching portion 30 when the second air passage is selected, and the wind is sent from the upper direction of the drawing. The shielding plate 31 is appropriately rotated by a drive motor (not shown) via a shaft to switch the air passage.

When selecting the second air passage, it is necessary to send high-speed and high-pressure wind, so it is necessary to eliminate leakage to the first air passage as much as possible. Therefore, the shielding plate 31 is provided with an inclination so that the wind can easily flow into the second air passage.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an inclination is provided on the surface of the shielding plate 31 where the wind hits. That is, the wind flows from the upper direction of the figure. For example, when the second air passage is selected, the wind flows to the second air passage by providing an inclination from the upstream direction to the downstream direction of the second air passage. It is possible to obtain an effect of easily suppressing leakage to the first air passage. Further, even though the air passage has a convex portion, it is possible to relatively reduce the wind damage.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the shielding plate 31. A sealing packing 32 is incorporated in the shielding plate 31 in the circumferential direction, and the packing 32 comes into contact with the inner surface of the air passage and plays a role of sealing. The mounting shape of the packing 32 is not limited to this, and may be another shape such as surface contact.

A leak prevention portion 33 is provided on the downstream side of the air passage with respect to the shielding plate 31 and on the inner wall of the air passage that abuts on the shielding plate 31. This has a structure in which it comes into contact with the shielding plate 31. The leakage prevention portion 33 causes a high-speed wind to hit the shielding plate 31, and the shielding plate 31 is pressed against the leakage prevention portion 33 by the wind pressure, so that the reliability of leakage prevention is improved.

Further, the fact that the shielding plate 31 is pressed against the leakage prevention portion 33 by the wind means that the shielding plate 31 is supported by the leakage prevention portion, so that there is a risk that the shielding plate is pushed by the high-speed wind and the shaft portion is damaged. Can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air passage switching portion 30 when washing the second air passage, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the air passage switching portion 30 when the first air passage is selected. It has been sent.

Since the first air passage is a larger air volume type than the second air passage, it does not need to be as airtight as the second air passage. Therefore, the leak prevention portion 33 provided on the downstream side of the shielding plate 31 when the second air passage is selected is not provided on the second air passage. When the second air passage is selected (see FIG. 4), by not providing a convex portion in the second air passage, the wind damage is further reduced, and the air blowing efficiency of the wind in the second air passage is improved, so that the speed is increased. High pressure wind can be blown.

When the first air passage is selected, there is no leakage prevention unit 33 on the second air passage, but as shown in FIG. 4, the wind passes in a straight line, so that an unreasonable load is not applied to the shielding plate 31 and there is a risk of failure. There are few.

Further, since the wind passes through in a straight line, the pressure applied to the packing 32 is reduced, and the possibility of leakage is reduced.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the leakage prevention portion 33 (enlarged view of the portion A in FIG. 5).

By providing it perpendicular to the first air passage, when the shielding plate 31 comes into contact with the air passage other than the selected air passage, it is prevented that the wind leaks to the first air passage as shown in FIG. doing. The leak prevention unit 33 may be inclined.

With these structures, it is possible to obtain the effect of preventing wind leakage without providing the two shapes of the leakage prevention portion and the contact portion in the air passage as in the conventional case.

In the above contents, the air passage switching unit 30 is provided outside the blower unit, but as shown in FIG. 8, it can also be provided inside the blower unit 13.

In the blower unit 13 of FIG. 8, the air blown out by the rotation of the fan motor passes through the heater 16 and is the first blower port 40 which is the output port to the first air passage and the second air outlet which is the output port of the second air passage. It flows to any of the air outlets 41. Whether the wind flows through the first air passage or the second air passage is controlled by switching the shielding plate 31 of the air passage switching portion. Further, the first air passage and the second air passage are provided in the direction perpendicular to the direction of blowing from the fan motor, and the wind blown out by the rotation of the fan motor is the output port of the first air passage and the output port of the second air passage. It hits the wall in front of and flows to the first air passage and the second air passage.

When switching the shielding plate 31, it is possible to prevent the wind from flowing on the unselected air passage by providing the convex leakage prevention portion 33 or the concave leakage prevention portion 33a on the air passage. You can. The shape of the leakage prevention portion is not limited to these, and any shape may be used as long as it can prevent leakage. However, it is desirable that the shape is small with respect to the air passage and has a slope so that the wind damage does not increase when the wind flows.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of highly reliable air passage switching and capable of suppressing deterioration of the dry finish.

1 Washer / dryer 8 Washing / dehydrating tank 9 Outer tank 8b Rotating blade 13 Blower unit 12 Drying duct 16 Heater 17 Bellows pipe 18 1st discharge port 21 Bellows pipe 22 2nd discharge port 23 Discharge hole 30 Air passage switching part 31 Shielding Plate 32 Packing 33 Leakage prevention part 33a Leakage prevention part 40 1st air outlet 41 2nd air outlet

Claims (5)

A blower unit that sends wind and
The first ventilation path through which the blown wind passes, and
A second ventilation path different from the first ventilation path,
A wind path switching unit for switching the flow direction of the wind to be passed through the first blower path or the second blower path is provided.
The air passage switching unit is
A shielding plate that shields the air passage and
It has a leak prevention portion provided on the downstream side of the air passage and at a position where it comes into contact with the shielding plate with respect to the shielding plate.
The shielding plate is a washing machine characterized in that the surface exposed to the wind is inclined. A blower unit that sends wind and
The first ventilation path through which the blown wind passes, and
It has a second air passage different from the first air passage, and has
The blower unit
An air passage switching unit that switches the direction in which the wind passes through the first air passage or the second air passage, and
The first air outlet and the first air outlet, in which the air switched by the air passage switching unit is blown to the first air passage,
The second air outlet, in which the air switched by the air passage switching unit is blown to the second air passage,
A washing machine characterized by having. The washing machine according to claim 1.
A washing machine in which the inclination of the shielding plate is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side through which the wind flows. The washing machine according to claim 2.
The air passage switching portion has a shielding plate that shields the air passage, and a leak prevention portion that is provided on the downstream side of the air passage and at a position that abuts on the shielding plate with respect to the shielding plate. The board is a washing machine characterized by the fact that the surface exposed to the wind is inclined. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2.
A washing machine characterized in that the leak prevention portion has a convex shape or a concave shape.

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