JP2021101784A - Washing machine for shoes and washing method of shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of washing shoes appropriately without damaging them heavily.SOLUTION: A washing machine 100 for shoes includes: an outer tank 2 capable of storing water; an inner tank 3 housed in the outer tank 2; an even number of independent individual tanks 4 which are housed in the inner tank 3 and each of which houses one shoe; and a driving part 6 rotating the individual tanks 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a shoe washing machine for washing shoes and a method for washing shoes.

In recent years, running and walking have become a boom due to growing health consciousness, and along with this, the number of people wearing sneakers is increasing.

The more often you wear sneakers, the easier it is to get dirty. Many household washing machines wash their hands at home when their sneakers get dirty, as few have the ability to wash shoes such as sneakers. However, it takes time to wash shoes such as sneakers at home.

Therefore, an increasing number of people are using coin laundry stores to wash shoes such as sneakers. That is, a coin laundry store may be equipped with a shoe washing machine that specializes in washing shoes, and by using this, shoes such as sneakers can be washed without any hassle.

The configuration of a conventional shoe washing machine is shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. The shoe washing machine shown here includes an outer tub and an inner tub arranged inside the outer tub, and a rotation shaft is erected in the center of the bottom of the inner tub. A main brush protruding in the radial direction is provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. Further, an auxiliary brush that projects upward is provided on the bottom side of the inner tank. Then, the rotation shaft is rotated while the shoes to be washed are placed in the inner tank, so that the surface of the shoes is rubbed with the main brush and the auxiliary brush to be washed.

Jikkai Sho 62-120956

Needless to say, there is one pair of shoes on the left and right (hereinafter, shoes with only left or right are called "one shoe", and the combination of one shoe on the left and one shoe on the right is called "shoes"). .. Therefore, when washing one or more pairs of shoes, two or more even-numbered shoes are put in the inner tub, and these are washed at the same time.

In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when two or more one shoes are put in the inner tank, one shoe rubs against each other when the rotation axis is rotated, or the string of one shoe becomes another one. It is inevitable that one shoe will be damaged due to entanglement. Further, if one shoe is overlapped with each other in the inner tank, the overlapped portion does not properly contact the brush, and the dirt is not sufficiently removed. That is, uneven washing occurs.

Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, if the one shoe contained in the inner tub is in a posture in which the sole of the shoe is directed toward the peripheral wall side of the inner tub, the inner tub is rotated at high speed to form a piece. When trying to dehydrate a shoe, the sole of one shoe that approaches the peripheral wall due to centrifugal force blocks the water passage hole provided in the peripheral wall. If this happens, water will not be properly discharged from the inner tank, causing uneven dehydration or insufficient dehydration. In such a case, one shoe placed in the inner tub must be repositioned so that the sole of the shoe faces the central axis side of the inner tub, and then additional dehydration must be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of appropriately washing shoes without causing great damage to the shoes.

The present invention has taken the following measures in order to achieve such an object.

That is, the shoe washing machine of the present invention
An outer tank that stores water and
The inner tank housed in the outer tank and
An even number of independent individual tanks housed in the inner tank, each containing one shoe,
The drive unit that rotates the individual tank and
It is characterized by having.

Preferably, the shoe washing machine is
The individual tank
An outer brush in which a plurality of hair-like members are formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the individual tank.
It is characterized by having.

Preferably, the shoe washing machine is
The individual tank
A hook portion that is arranged inside the individual tank and for hooking and supporting one shoe housed therein, and
An inner brush in which a plurality of hair-like members are formed on the surface of the hook portion, and
With
When the individual tank rotates around its central axis, the hook portion moves up and down accordingly.
It is characterized by that.

Preferably, in the shoe washing machine,
The drive unit
An individual rotation mode in which each of the even number of individual tanks is rotated around its central axis,
An overall rotation mode in which the even number of individual tanks is rotated around the central axis of the inner tank,
Can be executed selectively,
It is characterized by that.

The present invention also covers a method of washing shoes. That is, the method of washing the shoes is
The water supply process that collects water in the outer tank and
A washing step in which each of an even number of independent individual tanks housed in the inner tank housed in the outer tank and each containing one shoe is rotated around its central axis.
A drainage process for draining the water stored in the outer tank and
In the first dehydration step of rotating the even number of individual tanks around the central axis of the inner tank,
A second dehydration step in which each of the even number of individual tanks is rotated around its central axis,
It is characterized by having.

According to the shoe washing machine according to the present invention, an even number of independent individual tanks are housed in the inner tank, and one shoe is housed in each individual tank, so that the shoes may rub against each other. One shoe's laces do not get entangled with another, and one shoe is less likely to be damaged. In addition, since one shoe does not overlap with each other, uneven washing and dehydration are unlikely to occur. Therefore, it can be washed properly without causing great damage to the shoes.

In particular, when the individual tank is provided with an outer brush, for example, the individual tank is rotated around its central axis, so that the outside of one shoe housed therein can be scrubbed with the outer brush. At this time, since one single shoe is housed in each individual tank, the single shoes do not overlap each other, and the entire outer surface of the single shoe can come into contact with the outer brush evenly. Therefore, dirt on the outside of one shoe can be sufficiently removed.

In particular, when the individual tank is provided with a hook portion, by hooking one shoe on the hook portion, it is possible to prevent the one shoe from shifting to the peripheral wall side of the individual tank. Therefore, the individual tanks can be rotated stably. In addition, the water passage holes formed in the peripheral walls of the individual tanks are not blocked by the soles of one shoe (leading to uneven dehydration or insufficient dehydration). Further, when the hook portion is configured to move up and down when the individual tank rotates around its central axis, the inner brush provided on the hook portion is provided on the inside of one shoe hooked on the hook portion. Can be scrubbed with a brush to remove dirt on the inside of one shoe.

In particular, if the drive unit can selectively execute the individual rotation mode and the overall rotation mode, the variation of operation can be increased. That is, when the whole rotation mode is executed, each individual tank is rotated with a relatively large turning radius, so that a large centrifugal force can be applied to one shoe housed therein. On the other hand, when the individual rotation mode is executed, each individual tank is rotated with a relatively small turning radius, but high-speed rotation is possible by that amount. For example, in the overall rotation mode, the individual tank is rotated greatly to blow off the water contained in one shoe to some extent to reduce its weight, and then in the individual rotation mode, the individual tank is rotated at high speed to remain in the one shoe. By performing two-step dehydration, such as further blowing off the water, one shoe can be sufficiently dehydrated evenly. This eliminates the need for additional dehydration, saves the trouble of performing additional dehydration, and shortens the time required for dehydration as compared with the conventional case.

Further, according to the shoe washing method according to the present invention, an even number of independent individual tanks are housed in the inner tank, and one shoe is housed in each individual tank, so that the shoes may rub against each other. , The string of one shoe does not get entangled with another, and one shoe is less likely to be damaged. In addition, since one shoe does not overlap with each other, uneven washing is unlikely to occur. Therefore, it can be washed properly without causing great damage to the shoes. Further, in this shoe washing method, dehydration is performed by a two-step process of a first dehydration step and a second dehydration step. In the first dehydration step, each individual tank is rotated with a relatively large turning radius. , A large centrifugal force can be applied to the one shoe housed here to blow off the water contained in the one shoe. Since the weight of one shoe is reduced by this first dehydration step, each individual tank can be rotated at high speed in the subsequent second dehydration step, and each individual tank is rotated at high speed in the second dehydration step to form one shoe. The remaining water can be further blown off. By performing such two-step dehydration, one shoe can be sufficiently dehydrated evenly. This eliminates the need for additional dehydration, saves the trouble of performing additional dehydration, and shortens the time required for dehydration as compared with the conventional case.

The side view which shows the whole of the washing machine for shoes which concerns on embodiment. A perspective view of the outer tank, the inner tank, and the four individual tanks housed therein, as viewed diagonally from above. Top view of FIG. 2 A side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow A in FIG. A side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow B in FIG. A side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow C in FIG. Top view and side sectional view of individual tanks. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view seen from the direction of arrow D in FIG. A block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the control unit. A perspective view of the hook brush unit viewed from diagonally above. Top view and side view of the hook brush unit. The figure for demonstrating the structure of the connection part. The figure for demonstrating the mode in which the connection part transmits the rotational movement of a support part to a brush part. The figure which shows the flow of operation that a shoe washing machine washes a shoe. The figure which shows the state which the 1st output shaft is not rotated and the 2nd output shaft is rotated in the opposite direction. The figure which shows the state which the 1st output shaft is not rotated and the 2nd output shaft is rotated in the forward direction. The figure which shows the state which the 2nd output shaft is not rotated and the 1st output shaft is rotated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. Configuration>
The shoe washing machine according to the embodiment is a device for washing shoes, and is installed in, for example, a coin laundry store. The configuration of this shoe washing machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entire shoe washing machine 100. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer tank 2 and the inner tank 3 arranged in a nested manner and the four individual tanks 4 housed therein as viewed from diagonally above. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow A in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow C in FIG.

The shoe washing machine 100 includes a housing 1, an outer tub 2 housed in the housing 1, an inner tub 3 housed in the outer tub 2, and an even number housed in the inner tub 3 (4 in this embodiment). The individual tank 4, the hook brush unit 5 provided inside each individual tank 4, the drive unit 6 for rotating the individual tank 4, the control unit 7 for controlling each of these units, and the like are provided.

(Case 1)
The housing 1 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member that forms an accommodation space inside, and is provided with a lid 11 for closing / opening an opening formed on the upper surface thereof. In addition, an operation unit 12 for receiving various operations from the user is arranged in the housing 1.

(Outer tank 2)
The outer tank 2 is a storage tank for storing water, and is elastically supported inside the housing 1 by a hanging rod (not shown). The outer tank 2 is a cylindrical member whose upper surface is opened and whose bottom surface is closed, and is arranged in such a posture that its central axis L2 extends substantially vertically.

Above the outer tank 2, a water supply pipe 21 having one end connected to an external water supply facility or the like is arranged so that the water supply port faces the opening of the outer tank 2. A water supply valve 211 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 21, and when the water supply valve 211 is opened, water supplied from an external water supply facility or the like is supplied to the outer tank via the water supply pipe 21. It flows into the inner tank 3 housed in 2. The water that has flowed into the inner tank 3 passes through the water passage holes (not shown) formed here, flows out to the outer tank 2, and also passes through the water passage holes 41 formed in the individual tanks 4. It flows into the individual tank 4.

Further, the other end of the drain pipe 22 whose one end is connected to an external drainage facility or the like is connected to the bottom of the outer tank 2. A drain valve 221 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 22, and when the drain valve 221 is opened, the water in the outer tank 2 is drained through the drain pipe 22.

(Inner tank 3)
The inner tank 3 is a so-called dehydration tank, and is nested inside the outer tank 2. Like the outer tank 2, the inner tank 3 is a cylindrical member whose upper surface is opened and whose bottom surface is closed, and the inner tank 3 is arranged so that its central axis L3 is coaxial with the central axis L2 of the outer tank 2. Will be done. The peripheral wall of the inner tank 3 is perforated with a large number of water passage holes (not shown) over almost the entire circumference.

(Individual tank 4)
The individual tank 4 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7. FIG. 7 is a plan view (FIG. 7 (a)) and a side sectional view (FIG. 7 (b)) of the individual tank 4.

The individual tank 4 is a tank for accommodating one single shoe S. Specifically, the individual tank 4 is a bottomed cylindrical member having an open upper surface, and forms a necessary and sufficient storage space inside for accommodating one general one shoe S.

A plurality of individual tanks 4 are housed inside the inner tank 3. When washing shoes, it is normal to wash the left and right one shoe S at the same time, so that the number of individual tanks 4 housed inside the inner tank 3 is an even number. As will be described later, the shoe washing machine 100 can be formed by using an existing washing machine, and considering the size of the inner tub of the existing washing machine, the number of individual tubs 4 may be two or two. The number is preferably four. Further, considering the symmetry, the number is particularly preferably four rather than two. In this embodiment, four individual tanks 4 are provided.

The four individual tanks 4 are provided independently so as to be separated from each other, and are laid out so as to have symmetry with respect to the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3. Specifically, each individual tank 4 is arranged at a position where each central axis L4 comes to the apex of a square arranged concentrically with the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3 when viewed from above.

A large number of water passage holes 41 are perforated in the peripheral wall of each individual tank 4 over almost the entire circumference. Further, a storage frame portion 42 is formed on the lower surface of each individual tank 4. As will be described later, the accommodation frame portion 42 accommodates the tip of the shaft portion 643 that protrudes from the cover portion 644 that is inside the inner tank 3 and is arranged on the bottom surface thereof, whereby each individual tank 4 is accommodated. Is supported at each of the above-mentioned positions inside the inner tank 3 in a posture in which the central axis L4 extends substantially vertically.

A plurality of outer brushes 43 arranged at substantially equal pitches along the circumferential direction are provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the individual tank 4. Each outer brush 43 is a member for scrubbing the outside of the one shoe S housed in the individual tank 4, and is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the individual tank 4 at a substantially equal pitch along the axial direction thereof. It is composed of a large number of hair-like members 431. Each hair-like member 431 is formed of an elongated and elastic member, and is gently bent in the forward direction AR1 described later from the base end portion fixed in the normal direction of the peripheral wall of the individual tank 4 toward the tip portion. It is postponed.

(Hook brush unit 5)
The hook brush unit 5 is provided inside each individual tank 4, and is a member for locking the one shoe S housed therein and scrubbing the inside thereof. The configuration of the hook brush unit 5 will be described later.

(Drive unit 6)
The drive unit 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6. The drive unit 6 is a mechanism for rotating the individual tank 4 (specifically, rotating the individual tank 4 around its central axis L4, or together with the inner tank 3 around its central axis L3). The motor 61 and the power distribution unit 62 are arranged below the inner tank 3. A first pulley 611 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 61, and a second pulley 621 is attached to the input shaft of the power distribution unit 62, respectively, and there is no end between the first pulley 611 and the second pulley 621. The belt 63 is hung around. As a result, the power can be transmitted from the motor 61 to the power distribution unit 62.

The power distribution unit 62 includes a clutch mechanism, and selectively switches the output destination of the driving force input from the motor 61 through the pulleys 611 and 621 to the first output shaft 621 or the second output shaft 622. be able to. Both output shafts 621 and 622 are arranged coaxially with the central shaft L3 of the inner tank 3, but the first output shaft 621, which is relatively outside, is connected to the center of the lower surface of the inner tank 3 and is relative to each other. The second output shaft 622, which is substantially inside, is provided so as to penetrate the bottom of the inner tank 3 and project into the inner tank 3, and is connected to the center of a drive gear 641 (described later) arranged therein. To.

The drive unit 6 further includes a gear unit 64. The gear unit 64 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 8. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken from the direction of arrow D in FIG.

The gear unit 64 includes a drive gear 641 and a plurality of driven gears 642 provided around the drive gear 641 in mesh with the drive gear 641. However, the number of driven gears 642 arranged is the same as that of the individual tank 4, and is four in this embodiment.

The drive gear 641 and the four driven gears 642 are arranged inside the inner tank 3 and on the bottom surface thereof. The central shaft of the drive gear 641 is arranged concentrically with the central shaft L3 of the inner tank 3, and the second output shaft 622 of the drive unit 6 is connected thereto. On the other hand, each driven gear 642 is provided corresponding to each individual tank 4. That is, each driven gear 642 is arranged at a position where the central axis overlaps with the central axis L4 of any of the individual tanks 4 when viewed from above. Then, each driven gear 642 is connected to the corresponding individual tank 4 via the shaft portion 643. The shaft portion 643 is a long member having a notched circular shape in which a part of a circular cross section is cut out along the chord, and is formed through the center of the driven gear 642 at the lower end and the lower surface of the individual tank 4 at the upper end. It is accommodated in the notch circular accommodating frame portion 42 (see FIG. 7) formed in. As a result, the rotation of the driven gear 642 is transmitted to the corresponding individual tank 4.

The drive gear 641 and the four driven gears 642 are housed in the cover portion 644 so as to be shielded from the water in the inner tank 3. Specifically, the cover portion 644 is a flat, substantially cylindrical member having an open lower surface and a closed upper surface, and is an inner tank 3 while accommodating a drive gear 641 and four driven gears 642 inside. It is liquidtightly connected to the bottom of the. The cover portion 644 is formed with a through hole through which a shaft portion 643 connected to each driven gear 642 is inserted, and the space between each through hole and the shaft portion 643 is hermetically sealed by a seal portion 645.

The operation of the drive unit 6 having such a configuration will be described. First, when the power distribution unit 62 switches the output destination of the driving force to the first output shaft 621, when the motor 61 is driven, the drive gear 641 connected to the second output shaft 622 rotates around the shaft. The inner tank 3 connected to the first output shaft 621 rotates around its central shaft L3 without rotating. Then, the four individual tanks 4 provided in the inner tank 3 rotate around the axis of the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3 (hereinafter, such a rotation mode is also referred to as "overall rotation mode"). ..

On the other hand, when the power distribution unit 62 switches the output destination of the driving force to the second output shaft 622, when the motor 61 is driven, the inner tank 3 connected to the first output shaft 621 does not rotate. , The drive gear 641 connected to the second output shaft 622 rotates around its central shaft. Then, the four driven gears 642 provided in mesh with the drive gear 641 rotate in the same direction with each other in synchronization. As a result, the four individual tanks 4 rotate in the same direction in synchronization with each other around the central axis L4 (hereinafter, such a rotation mode is also referred to as an "individual rotation mode").

In this way, the drive unit 6 switches the output destination of the driving force of the motor 61 between the first output shaft 621 and the second output shaft 622, so that the four individual tanks 4 are the central shafts of the inner tank 3. An overall rotation mode for rotating around L3 and an individual rotation mode for rotating each of the four individual tanks 4 around its central axis L4 can be selectively executed.

(Control unit 7)
The control unit 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 in addition to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the control unit 7.

The control unit 7 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer or the like, and includes a CPU 71 as a central arithmetic processing unit, a memory 72 composed of a volatile storage device such as a RAM, a storage unit 73 composed of a non-volatile storage device such as a ROM, the Internet, and the like. It is configured to include a communication unit 74, which is a network interface for communicating with an external device via the communication network of the above. The storage unit 73 stores a program for executing a series of operations in the shoe washing machine 100, various parameters and control flags used for executing the program, and the like. The control unit 7 is connected to each unit (specifically, a water supply valve 211, a drain valve 221 and a motor 61, a power distribution unit 62, etc.) included in the shoe washing machine 100, and is stored in the storage unit 73. Each of these parts is controlled according to the program.

<2. Hook brush unit 5>
Next, the hook brush unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hook brush unit 5 viewed from diagonally above. FIG. 11 is a plan view (FIG. 11 (a)) and a side view (FIG. 11 (b)) of the hook brush unit 5. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the connection portion 53.

The hook brush unit 5 is provided inside each individual tank 4, and is a member for locking the one shoe S housed therein and scrubbing the inside thereof, and is a support portion 51 and a brush portion 52. And a connection portion 53.

The support portion 51 is a member that supports the brush portion 52, and is inside the individual tank 4, and has a base portion 511 fixed on the bottom surface thereof, a shaft portion 512 erected from the base portion 511, and a shaft. A disk-shaped support disk 513 provided at the upper end of the portion 512 is provided. The base portion 511, the shaft portion 512, and the support disk 513 are all arranged coaxially with the central shaft L4 of the individual tank 4.

The brush portion 52 includes a substantially conical main body portion (hook portion) 521. The hook portion 521 is a member for hooking and supporting the one shoe S housed inside the individual tank 4. That is, the one shoe S is supported inside the individual tank 4 by the hook portion 521 being inserted into the inside thereof (see FIG. 5). The hook portion 521 is formed with a slit 522 that is cross-shaped when viewed from above and reaches the vicinity of the bottom portion of the hook portion 521 when viewed from the side. The four portions divided by the slit 522 are elastically deformed in the direction approaching the central axis, so that the portion on the tip end side of the hook portion 521 is reduced in diameter.

A large number of hair-like members 5231 are evenly provided on the entire peripheral surface of the hook portion 521. Each hair-like member 5231 is formed of an elongated and elastic member, and extends outward in the radial direction of the hook portion 521. These hair-like members 5231 form an inner brush 523 for scrubbing the inside of the one shoe S housed in the individual tank 4.

The connecting portion 53 is a portion that connects the support portion 51 and the brush portion 52, and is a pair of lower slope portions 531 and 531 formed on the side of the support portion 51 and a pair of upper portions formed on the side of the brush portion 52. It is provided with slope portions 532 and 532.

The pair of lower slope portions 531, 531 are provided on the upper surface of the support disk 513 so as to face each other with the center thereof interposed therebetween. Each lower slope portion 531 is a protruding portion of a ridge and is formed along the peripheral edge of the support disk 513 when viewed from above. Further, each lower slope portion 531 is connected to an inclined surface 531a and an inclined surface 531a that rise while drawing a gentle arc when viewed from the side, and is connected to a substantially horizontally extending top surface 531b and a top surface 531b. It is provided with a wall surface 531c that vertically descends.

On the other hand, the pair of upper slope portions 532 and 532 are provided on the bottom surface of the hook portion 521 so as to face each other with the center thereof interposed therebetween. Each upper slope portion 532 has a shape in which the lower slope portion 531 is turned upside down, and is provided at a position corresponding to the lower slope portion 531. That is, each upper slope portion 532 is a protruding portion of the ridge, and when viewed from below, a virtual circle defined on the bottom surface of the hook portion 521 (that is, concentric with the bottom surface and having the same diameter as the support disk 513. It is formed along the periphery of a virtual circle). Each upper slope portion 532 is connected to an inclined surface 532a and an inclined surface 532a that descend while drawing a gentle arc when viewed from the side, and is connected to a substantially horizontally extending top surface 532b and a top surface 532b, and is substantially vertical. It is provided with a wall surface 532c that stands up on the floor.

The pair of lower slope portions 531 and 531 and the pair of upper slope portions 532 and 532 are housed in the cover portion 533 so as to be shielded from the water in the inner tank 3. Specifically, the cover portion 533 is an inverted cylindrical member, and a cylindrical recess is formed on the upper surface thereof. The cover portion 533 is liquid-tightly connected to the lower surface of the hook portion 521 while accommodating a pair of lower slope portions 531 and 531 and a pair of upper slope portions 532 and 532 inside the recess.

As described above, the base portion 511 of the support portion 51 is fixed to the individual tank 4. Therefore, when the individual tank 4 rotates around its central axis L4, the support portion 51 also rotates together with the individual tank 4, and this rotational operation is transmitted to the brush portion 52 via the connecting portion 53. A mode of this transmission will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a mode in which the connecting portion 53 transmits the rotational movement of the supporting portion 51 to the brush portion 52.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, it is assumed that the support portion 51 rotates in the forward direction AR1 from a state in which the inclined surface 531a of the lower slope portion 531 is close to the inclined surface 532a of the upper slope portion 532. However, the forward direction AR1 referred to here is a direction from the end of the lower slope portion 531 of the support portion 51 on the side of the wall surface 531c toward the end on the side of the inclined surface 531a. Further, the direction opposite to the forward direction AR1 is referred to as the reverse direction AR2.

In this case, first, the inclined surface 531a of the lower slope portion 531 comes into contact with the inclined surface 532a of the upper slope portion 532. Since a force that hinders rotation acts on the brush portion 52 due to resistance received from water by itself or the one shoe S hooked on the brush portion 52, rotation occurs between the brush portion 52 and the support portion 51. There will be a delay. That is, the brush portion 52 rotates in the opposite direction AR2 relative to the support portion 51. Here, since the brush portion 52 and the support portion 51 are in contact with each other via the inclined surfaces 532a and 531a, the brush portion 52 makes the inclined surface 532a of the upper slope portion 532 along the inclined surface 531a of the lower slope portion 531. While sliding, it moves relative to the support portion 51. That is, the brush portion 52 moves vertically upward with respect to the support portion 51 while rotating relative to the support portion 51 in the opposite direction AR2.

As the rotation of the support portion 51 progresses, as shown in FIG. 13B, the top surface 531b of the lower slope portion 531 comes into contact with the top surface 532b of the upper slope portion 532. In this case, the brush portion 52 rotates relative to the support portion 51 in the opposite direction AR2 while sliding the top surface 532b of the upper slope portion 532 along the top surface 531b of the lower slope portion 531.

As the rotation of the support portion 51 further progresses, each upper slope portion 532 formed on the brush portion 52 falls between the pair of lower slope portions 531 and 531 formed on the support portion 51. That is, the brush portion 52 moves vertically downward with respect to the support portion 51. In this way, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 13 (a).

In this way, when the support portion 51 rotates in the forward direction AR1, the brush portion 52 performs one ascending / descending operation while rotating 180 ° relative to the support portion 51. That is, while the support portion 51 rotates in the forward direction AR1, the brush portion 52 repeatedly moves up and down. In this way, the connecting portion 53 converts the rotational movement of the support portion 51 that rotates in the forward direction AR1 into an elevating movement of the brush portion 52 and transmits the rotation operation.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the support portion 51 rotates in the reverse direction AR2 from the state shown in FIG. 13 (a). In this case, the wall surface 531c of the lower slope portion 531 is in contact with the wall surface 532c of the upper slope portion 532. As described above, since the force that hinders the rotation of the brush portion 52 acts on the brush portion 52, the support portion 51 receives a resistance that hinders the rotation from the brush portion 52 to the AR2 in the reverse direction. Is rotated in the reverse direction AR2, the brush portion 52 is integrated with the support portion 51 and is rotated in the reverse direction AR2.

In this way, when the support portion 51 rotates in the reverse direction AR2, the brush portion 52 is integrated with the support portion 51 and rotates in the reverse direction AR2. That is, the connecting portion 53 transmits the rotational operation of the supporting portion 51 rotating in the reverse direction AR2 to the brush portion 52 as it is.

<3. Operation>
Next, the operation of the shoe washing machine 100 for washing the shoes will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of the operation. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which the first output shaft 621 is not rotated and the second output shaft 622 is rotated in the reverse direction AR2. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state in which the first output shaft 621 is not rotated and the second output shaft 622 is rotated in the forward direction AR1. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which the second output shaft 622 is not rotated and the first output shaft 621 is rotated.

First, the user opens the lid 11 of the housing 1 and puts the left piece S of the shoe to be washed into one individual tank 4. At this time, the user hooks the one shoe S on the brush portion 52 so that the brush portion 52 of the hook brush unit 5 provided in the individual tank 4 is inserted into the one shoe S. Similarly, the user puts the right one shoe S into another individual tank 4. Since the shoe washing machine 100 is provided with four individual tanks 4, two pairs of shoes can be washed at a time, but when only one pair of shoes is washed, they are adjacent to each other in consideration of symmetry. It is preferable to put each shoe S in the opposite individual tank 4 instead of the matching individual tank 4. When all the shoes S to be washed are put into the individual tub 4, the user closes the lid 11 of the housing 1, inserts a coin or the like, and inputs an instruction to start washing via the operation unit 12. ..

When the instruction to start washing is input via the operation unit 12, a series of operations related to washing the shoes is started. In a series of operations described below, the control unit 7 reads out a program (and parameters corresponding thereto) stored in the storage unit 73, and controls each unit included in the shoe washing machine 100 according to the program. It is executed by doing.

Step S1: Water supply step First, the control unit 7 locks the lid 11 and opens the water supply valve 211. Then, the water supplied from the external water supply facility or the like flows into the inner tank 3 housed in the outer tank 2 via the water supply pipe 21. The water that has flowed into the inner tank 3 passes through the water passage holes (not shown) formed here, flows out into the outer tank 2 and is stored here, and the water passage formed in the individual tank 4 is formed. It passes through the hole 41 and flows into the individual tank 4. When a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) elapses from the start of water supply and the water level in the outer tank 2 reaches a predetermined height, the control unit 7 closes the water supply valve 211 and stops the water supply.

Step S2: Washing Step Subsequently, the control unit 7 drives the motor 61 with the output destination of the power distribution unit 62 as the second output shaft 622. However, the rotation direction of the output shaft of the motor 61 at this time is such that each of the driven gears 642 is rotated in the forward direction AR1. Here, since each driven gear 642 and the drive gear 641 are external gears, the output shaft of the motor 61 is rotated in the reverse direction AR2 in order to rotate the driven gear 642 in the forward direction AR1. The rotation speed at this time is preferably 720 rpm, for example.

At this time, the driving force of the motor 61 is not transmitted to the first output shaft 621, but is transmitted only to the second output shaft 622. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the drive gear 641 rotates in the reverse direction AR2 while the inner tank 3 is stationary without being rotated. Then, the four driven gears 642 provided in mesh with the drive gear 641 rotate in the forward direction AR1 in synchronization, and the four individual tanks 4 synchronize with each other around the central axis L4. Rotate in the forward direction AR1 (individual rotation mode). As a result, the outside (outer surface) of the one shoe S housed in the individual tank 4 is scrubbed by the outer brush 43 formed in the individual tank 4.

Further, when each individual tank 4 rotates in the forward direction AR1 around its central axis L4, the support portion 51 of the hook brush unit 5 provided here rotates in the forward direction AR1 integrally with the individual tank 4. However, when the support portion 51 rotates in the forward direction AR1, the connection portion 53 of the hook brush unit 5 converts the rotation operation into an elevating operation of the brush unit 52 and transmits the rotation operation. Therefore, when each individual tank 4 rotates in the forward direction AR1 around its central axis L4, the brush portion 52 moves up and down accordingly. At this time, the one shoe S does not follow the brush portion 52 because it is in contact with the outer brush 43 on its outer surface and is hindered from moving up and down. That is, the brush portion 52 moves up and down relative to the one shoe S, whereby the inside (inner surface) of the one shoe S is scrubbed by the inner brush 523 formed on the brush portion 52.

Step S3: Drainage and dehydration step When a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) has elapsed from the start of the washing step of step S2, the control unit 7 keeps the drainage valve 221 open and stores it in the outer tank 2. Drain the water. Further, the control unit 7 drives the motor 61 by switching the rotation direction from the reverse direction AR2 to the forward direction AR1 while keeping the output destination of the power distribution unit 62 as the second output shaft 622. The rotation speed at this time is preferably, for example, about 720 rpm.

Also at this time, the driving force of the motor 61 is not transmitted to the first output shaft 621 but is transmitted only to the second output shaft 622. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the drive gear 641 rotates in the forward direction AR1 while the inner tank 3 is stationary without being rotated. Then, the four driven gears 642 provided in mesh with the drive gear 641 rotate in the opposite direction AR2 in synchronization, and the four individual tanks 4 synchronize with each other around the central axis L4. Rotate in the reverse direction AR2 (individual rotation mode).

When each individual tank 4 rotates in the reverse direction AR2 around its central axis L4, the support portion 51 of the hook brush unit 5 provided here rotates in the reverse direction AR2 integrally with the individual tank 4. When the support portion 51 rotates in the reverse direction AR2, the connection portion 53 of the hook brush unit 5 transmits the rotation operation to the brush portion 52 as it is. That is, when each individual tank 4 rotates in the reverse direction AR2 around its central axis L4, the brush portion 52 is integrated with the support portion 51 (and thus the individual tank 4) and rotates in the reverse direction AR2. The one shoe S is in contact with the outer brush 43 on its outer surface and is in contact with the inner brush 52 on its inner surface, and the outer brush 43 and the inner brush 523 rotate in synchronization with each other around the central axis L4 of the individual tank 4. Then, it is rotated by both brush portions 43 and 523 and rotates around the central axis L4 of the individual tank 4. As a result, the water contained in the one shoe S is shaken off and discharged from the water passage hole 41, and the one shoe S is dehydrated.

Step S4: Water supply step When a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes and 22 seconds) has elapsed from the start of the drainage and dehydration steps of step S3, the control unit 7 opens the water supply valve 211 and supplies water to the outer tank 2. Let's get started.

Step S5: Rinse step When a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) elapses from the start of water supply and the water level in the outer tank 2 reaches a predetermined height, the control unit 7 sends the predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). ), By keeping the water supply valve 211 in the open state, water injection rinsing is performed on the one shoe S in the individual tank 4.

Step S6: First dehydration step When a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute and 45 seconds) has elapsed from the start of the rinse step of step S5, the control unit 7 keeps the drain valve 221 open and stores it in the outer tank 2. The motor 61 is driven with the output destination of the power distribution unit 62 as the first output shaft 621 while draining the water. The rotation speed at this time is preferably 720 rpm, for example.

At this time, the driving force of the motor 61 is not transmitted to the second output shaft 622, but is transmitted only to the first output shaft 621. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the drive gear 641 does not rotate around its central axis, and the inner tank 3 rotates around its central axis L3. Then, the four individual tanks 4 provided in the inner tank 3 do not rotate around their own central axis L4, but rotate around the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3 (overall rotation mode). As a result, the one shoe S housed in the individual tank 4 also rotates around the central axis L4, and the water contained in the one shoe S is shaken off by the centrifugal force and discharged from the water passage hole 41. The shoe S is dehydrated.

Step S7: Second dehydration step When a predetermined time (for example, 2 minutes and 30 seconds) has elapsed from the start of the first dehydration step of step S6 and the one shoe S is dehydrated to some extent, the control unit 7 distributes power. The output destination of the unit 62 is switched from the first output shaft 621 to the second output shaft 622 to drive the motor 61. However, the rotation direction of the output shaft of the motor 61 at this time is a direction in which each driven gear 642 is rotated in the reverse direction AR2 (that is, the forward direction AR1). Further, the rotation speed at this time is assumed to be higher than the rotation speed in the first dehydration step. The rotation speed is preferably, for example, about 1080 rpm.

At this time, the driving force of the motor 61 is not transmitted to the first output shaft 621, but is transmitted only to the second output shaft 622. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the drive gear 641 rotates at high speed in the forward direction AR1 while the inner tank 3 is stationary without being rotated. Then, the four driven gears 642 provided in mesh with the drive gear 641 rotate at high speed in the opposite direction AR2 in synchronization, and the four individual tanks 4 synchronize around the respective central axes L4. Rotates at high speed in the reverse direction AR2 (individual rotation mode).

As described above, when each individual tank 4 rotates in the reverse direction AR2 around its central axis L4, the brush portion 52 is integrated with the support portion 51 (and thus the individual tank 4) and rotates in the reverse direction AR2. Therefore, the one shoe S is rotated by the outer brush 43 and the inner brush 523 at a high speed around the central axis L4 of the individual tank 4. As a result, the water remaining in the one shoe S is sufficiently shaken off and discharged from the water passage hole 41, and the one shoe S is finally dehydrated.

When a predetermined time (for example, 1 minute and 30 seconds) has elapsed from the start of the second dehydration step in step S7, the control unit 7 stops driving the motor 61. Then, when the rotation of each individual tank 4 is stopped, the lock of the lid 11 is released. As a result, a series of operations related to washing the shoes is completed.

<4. Effect>
The shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment is housed in an outer tub 2 for storing water, an inner tub 3 (large drum) housed in the outer tub 2, and an inner tub 3, each of which is one. It includes an even number of independent individual tanks 4 (small drums) for accommodating one shoe S, and a drive unit 6 for rotating the individual tanks 4.

According to this configuration, an even number of independent individual tanks 4 are housed in the inner tank 3, and one piece S is housed in each individual tank 4, so that the piece shoes S may rub against each other or a certain piece. The string of the shoe S does not get entangled with another one shoe S, and the one shoe S is less likely to be damaged. Further, since the one shoes S do not overlap each other, uneven washing and dehydration are unlikely to occur. Therefore, it can be washed properly without causing great damage to the shoes.

Further, in the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment, the individual tub 4 includes an outer brush 43 in which a plurality of hair-like members 431 are formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the individual tub 4.

According to this configuration, the individual tank 4 is rotated around its central axis L4, so that the outside of the one shoe S housed therein can be scrubbed with the outer brush 43. At this time, since one single shoe S is housed in each individual tank 4, the single shoes S do not overlap each other, and the entire outer surface of the single shoes S comes into contact with the outer brush 43 evenly. be able to. Therefore, the dirt on the outside of the one shoe S can be sufficiently removed.

Further, in the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment, the individual tub 4 is arranged inside the individual tub 4, and the hook portion 521 for hooking and supporting the one shoe S housed therein and the hook. An inner brush 523 having a plurality of hair-like members 5231 formed on the surface of the portion 521 is provided, and when the individual tank 4 rotates around its central axis L4, the hook portion 521 moves up and down accordingly. It is composed.

According to this configuration, by hooking the one shoe S on the hook portion 521, it is possible to prevent the one shoe S from shifting to the peripheral wall side of the individual tank 4. Therefore, the individual tank 4 can be rotated stably. Further, the water passage hole 41 formed in the peripheral wall of the individual tank 4 is not blocked by the sole of the one shoe S (leading to uneven dehydration or insufficient dehydration). .. Further, since the hook portion 521 moves up and down when the individual tank 4 rotates around its central axis L4, the inside of the one shoe S hooked on the hook portion 521 is provided in the hook portion 521. The dirt on the inside of the one shoe S can be removed by scrubbing with the brush 523.

Further, in the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment, the drive unit 6 has an individual rotation mode in which each of the even number of individual tanks 4 is rotated around its central axis L4, and an even number of individual tanks 4. Can be selectively executed as an overall rotation mode in which the inner tank 3 is rotated around the central axis L3.

With this configuration, variations in operation can be increased. That is, when the overall rotation mode is executed, each individual tank 4 is rotated with a relatively large turning radius, so that a large centrifugal force can be applied to the one shoe S housed therein. On the other hand, when the individual rotation mode is executed, each individual tank 4 is rotated with a relatively small turning radius, but high-speed rotation is possible by that amount. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, the individual tank 4 is greatly rotated in the overall rotation mode to blow off the water contained in the one shoe S to some extent to reduce its weight, and then the individual tank is reduced in the individual rotation mode. By performing two-step dehydration such as rotating 4 at a high speed to further blow off the water remaining in the one shoe S, the one shoe S can be sufficiently dehydrated evenly. This eliminates the need for additional dehydration, saves the trouble of performing additional dehydration, and shortens the time required for dehydration as compared with the conventional case.

Further, the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment is provided with the power distribution unit 62, so that the individual rotation mode and the overall rotation mode can be realized by one motor 61, so that the configuration is simplified. ..

Further, the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment includes a gear unit 64, whereby a plurality of individual tanks 4 are rotated by one motor 61, so that the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is configured. Is simplified.

Further, the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment includes a connecting portion 53 in which the hook brush unit 5 switches the moving mode of the brush portion 52 according to the rotation direction of the individual tub 4. As a result, the brush 52 functions as an element for cleaning the inner surface of the one shoe S in the washing step of step S2, and the brush 52 is used in the drainage and dehydration step of step S3 and the second dehydration step of step S7. It can function as an element that promotes rotation.

Further, the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment is used in an existing washing machine (that is, a housing, an outer tub supported inside the housing, an inner tub provided inside the outer tub, and an inner tub). It can be obtained by modifying an existing washing machine equipped with a pulsator provided, a first output shaft connected to an inner tub, a drive unit for selectively rotating a second output shaft connected to the pulsator, and the like. .. That is, in order to obtain the shoe washing machine 100 from such an existing washing machine, first, the pulsator is removed from the existing washing machine. Then, the gear unit 64 is arranged in the portion where the pulsator is arranged, and the drive gear 641 is connected to the second output shaft to which the pulsator is connected. Further, the individual tank 4 is connected to the upper end of the shaft portion 643 connected to each driven gear 642 provided in mesh with the drive gear 641. By doing so, a shoe washing machine 100 can be obtained. In this way, by using what was mounted on the existing washing machine as it is as the housing 1, the outer tub 2, the inner tub 3, and the drive unit 6, the washing machine for shoes can be easily used from the existing washing machine. You can get 100. For example, if the gear unit 64 and the group of individual tanks 4 are unitized in advance, this modification can be performed more easily by simply replacing the gear unit 64 with the pulsator of the existing washing machine. However, the shoe washing machine 100 does not necessarily have to be obtained by modifying an existing washing machine, and may be manufactured from scratch with parts dedicated to it.

Further, the shoe washing method according to the above embodiment includes a water supply step (step S1) in which water is stored in the outer tank 2 and an inner tank 3 housed in the outer tank 2, each of which is one shoe. A washing step (step S2) in which each of an even number of independent individual tanks 4 accommodating S is rotated around the central axis L4, and a draining step (step S3) in which the water stored in the outer tank 2 is drained. The first dehydration step (step S6) in which the even number of individual tanks 4 are rotated around the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3, and each of the even number of individual tanks 4 is rotated around the central axis L4. A second dehydration step (step S7) is provided.

According to this configuration, an even number of independent individual tanks 4 are housed in the inner tank 3, and one single shoe S is housed in each individual tank 4, so that this can be done without causing great damage to the shoes. Can be washed properly. Further, in this configuration, dehydration is performed by a two-step process of a first dehydration step and a second dehydration step. In the first dehydration step, each individual tank 4 is rotated with a relatively large turning radius. A large centrifugal force can be applied to the one-shoe S housed in the one-shoe S to blow off the water contained in the one-shoe S. Since the weight of the one shoe S is reduced by this first dehydration step, each individual tank 4 can be rotated at high speed in the subsequent second dehydration step, and each individual tank 4 is rotated at high speed in the second dehydration step. The water remaining in the one shoe S can be further blown off. By performing such two-step dehydration, it is possible to sufficiently dehydrate the one shoe S evenly. This eliminates the need for additional dehydration, saves the trouble of performing additional dehydration, and shortens the time required for dehydration as compared with the conventional case.

<5. Modification example>
In the above embodiment, the number of individual tanks 4 provided in the inner tank 3 is four, but the number of individual tanks 4 is not limited to this. However, as described above, since shoes are used by one pair on the left and right, it is preferable that the number of individual tanks 4 is an even number. Regardless of the number of individual tanks 4, it is preferable that each individual tank 4 is arranged so as to have symmetry with respect to the central axis of the inner tank 3. For example, when two individual tanks 4 are provided, each individual tank 4 is arranged so that the center of the line segment connecting the respective central axes L4 coincides with the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3 when viewed from above. Is preferable. Further, for example, when n individual tanks 4 are provided (where n is an integer of 3 or more), each individual tank 4 has its central axis L4 concentric with the central axis L3 of the inner tank 3 when viewed from above. It is preferable that it is arranged at a position so as to come to the apex of the arranged regular n-sided diameter. Further, considering the size of the inner tub of the existing washing machine, the number of individual tubs 4 is preferably 2 or 4, but for example, a relatively small individual tub specialized for washing children's shoes. If it is the tank 4, it is possible to arrange six or more of them.

In the above embodiment, the user may input a tub washing instruction via the operation unit 12 prior to putting the shoes to be washed into the shoe washing machine 100. Upon receiving the instruction, the control unit 7 cleans the tank. Specifically, the control unit 7 supplies water to the outer tank 2 with the water supply valve 211 open, and rinses the inner tank 3 and the individual tank 4 with water. When washing with water for a predetermined time is executed, the control unit 7 opens the drain valve 221 and drains the water inside the outer tank 2. After the tub washing is completed, the user may put the shoes to be washed into the shoe washing machine 100 and input the washing start instruction via the operation unit 12.

In the shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment, the outer brush 43 may be omitted. Further, the hook brush unit 5 may be omitted. Further, in the hook brush unit 5, the inner brush 523 may be omitted. When the inner brush 523 is omitted, the connecting portion 53 does not have to convert the rotational movement of the support portion 51 rotating in the forward direction AR1 into an elevating movement of the brush portion 52 and transmit it.

The shoe washing machine 100 according to the above embodiment is provided with the power distribution unit 62 to realize the individual rotation mode and the overall rotation mode with one motor 61. However, the power distribution unit 62 is used. A motor dedicated to each rotation mode may be provided without the provision.

In the above embodiment, the central axes L2, L3, and L4 of the outer tank 2, the inner tank 3, and each individual tank 4 are all arranged along the vertical direction, but these are arranged in the diagonal direction or in the diagonal direction. It may be arranged along the horizontal direction.

In the above embodiment, the shoe washing machine 100 is installed in a coin laundry store, but it goes without saying that the shoe washing machine 100 is not included in a coin laundry store (for example, a home, a factory, a commercial facility, etc.). ) May be installed.

Other configurations can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Needless to say, the configurations exemplified in each embodiment can be partially combined with each other.

1 Housing 2 Outer tank 3 Inner tank 4 Individual tank 41 Water flow hole 42 Storage frame part 43 Outer brush 431 Hairy member 5 Hook brush unit 51 Support part 52 Brush part 521 Hook part 522 Slit 523 Inner brush 5231 Hairy member 53 Connection part 531 Lower slope part 532 Upper slope part 6 Drive part 61 Motor 62 Power distribution part 621 1st output shaft 622 2nd output shaft 63 Endless belt 64 Gear unit 641 Drive gear 642 Drive gear 643 Shaft part 7 Control part 100 For shoes Washing machine

Claims (5)

An outer tank that stores water and
The inner tank housed in the outer tank and
An even number of independent individual tanks housed in the inner tank, each containing one shoe,
The drive unit that rotates the individual tank and
A washing machine for shoes, which is characterized by being equipped with. The shoe washing machine according to claim 1.
The individual tank
An outer brush in which a plurality of hair-like members are formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the individual tank.
A washing machine for shoes, which is characterized by being equipped with. The shoe washing machine according to claim 1 or 2.
The individual tank
A hook portion that is arranged inside the individual tank and for hooking and supporting one shoe housed therein, and
An inner brush in which a plurality of hair-like members are formed on the surface of the hook portion, and
With
When the individual tank rotates around its central axis, the hook portion moves up and down accordingly.
A washing machine for shoes that features this. The shoe washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The drive unit
An individual rotation mode in which each of the even number of individual tanks is rotated around its central axis,
An overall rotation mode in which the even number of individual tanks is rotated around the central axis of the inner tank,
Can be executed selectively,
A washing machine for shoes that features this. The water supply process that collects water in the outer tank and
A washing step in which each of an even number of independent individual tanks housed in the inner tank housed in the outer tank and each containing one shoe is rotated around its central axis.
A drainage process for draining the water stored in the outer tank and
In the first dehydration step of rotating the even number of individual tanks around the central axis of the inner tank,
A second dehydration step in which each of the even number of individual tanks is rotated around its central axis,
A method of washing shoes, characterized in that.

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