JP2023020272A - Laundry treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a laundry treatment device which includes an irradiation device which effectively emits light to the inside of a washing drum, does not easily come off, and allows the size of the whole product to be smaller.SOLUTION: A laundry treatment device according to an embodiment includes a water drum 12 having an opening on its front face, a rotating drum 13 which is placed inside the water drum 12 and whose front part is open, a water drum cover 30 which is formed into an annular shape and placed on the opening of the water drum 12, and an irradiation device 40 which emits light to the inside of the rotating drum 13. The water drum cover 30 has a concave portion 38 which is concave towards the rear, on its front face on the inner periphery side. The irradiation unit is attached to the concave portion 38 from the front side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to clothes processing devices.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a washing machine that illuminates the inside of a tub with an irradiation device, for example, in order to prevent laundry from being left behind. For example, a configuration is disclosed in which an irradiation device for illuminating the inside of the tub from above or below is provided around a laundry take-out opening provided in an outer box.

In a washing machine that illuminates the inside of the tub from above the outlet, an irradiation device is provided in the bellows that connects the water tank and the outlet in a watertight manner, or a through hole is opened in the water tank cover in the vertical direction to irradiate. There is a configuration in which the device is inserted into the through hole from above.

However, when the bellows is provided with the irradiation device, the bellows may vibrate due to the vibration accompanying the rotation of the rotating tub, and the irradiation device may come off. In addition, in the configuration in which the irradiation device is inserted from above the water tank cover, the width of the water tank cover in the front-rear direction becomes thicker by the width of the irradiation device in the front-rear direction, and as a result, it becomes difficult to put in and take out the laundry. , the size of the entire washing machine may become large.

JP 2006-223571 A

Therefore, a clothing processing apparatus is provided that includes an irradiation device that effectively irradiates the inside of the washing tub, is difficult to come off, and does not hinder the miniaturization of the entire product.

A laundry processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a water tank having an opening at the front, a rotating tank provided in the water tank and having an open front, a water tank cover provided in an annular shape at the opening of the water tank, and the and an irradiation device for irradiating the inside of the rotating tank. The water tank cover has a concave portion recessed toward the rear on the inner peripheral side of the front portion. The irradiation device is attached to the recess from the front.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the configuration of an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment; FIG. A block diagram showing an example electrical configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment. The figure which looked at the structure around the water-tank cover of an example of the washing machine by one Embodiment from diagonally upper front in the direction parallel to the rotating shaft of a rotating tub. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration around the water tank cover of the example of the washing machine according to one embodiment from the front obliquely below. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the water tank cover of an example of the washing machine according to one embodiment along line VV in FIG. The figure which shows roughly the structure of the circulation channel of an example of the washing machine by one Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing, by enlarging the inside of frame VII in FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an irradiation device as an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment; FIG. A diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example irradiation unit of a washing machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing, by enlarging the circle X in FIG.

One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 as a clothes processing apparatus includes an outer case 11, a water tank 12, a rotating tub 13, a rotating tub motor 14, a door 15, a bellows 16, a drainage mechanism 17, and a water supply mechanism 18. , a circulation mechanism 19 and a control device 20 . In FIG. 1 , the installation surface side of washing machine 10 , that is, the vertically lower side is the lower side of washing machine 10 , and the opposite side of the installation surface, that is, the vertically upper side is the upper side of washing machine 10 . Also, the left-right direction when the washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 . The washing machine 10 is, for example, a drum-type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 is a horizontal axis type or an oblique axis type in which the rotation axis is inclined downward toward the rear. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 is an oblique shaft drum type washing machine. The washing machine 10 may or may not have a heat pump or heater drying function, for example.

The outer box 11 is made of a member such as steel material or resin material, and is configured in a rectangular box shape as a whole, and constitutes an outer shell of the washing machine 10 . The outer case 11 has a front portion 111 and an opening 112 formed in the front portion 111 . The take-out opening 112 serves as an entrance for loading and unloading the laundry. The water tank 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, is arranged in the outer case 11, and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotating tank 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and is rotatably arranged in the water tank 12 . In this case, the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 function as a washing tub for storing the laundry. The water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 each have an opening 121 and an opening 131 facing the outlet 112 on the front surface. The opening 121 and the opening 131 communicate the inside and the outside of the washing tub. The rotary tub motor 14 is provided outside and behind the tub 12 . The rotating tub motor 14 is connected to the rotating tub 13 and rotates the rotating tub 13 by being driven.

A center line of the cylindrical shape of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 coincides with the rotating shaft of the rotating tank 13 . Hereinafter, the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating tub 13 will be referred to as an axial direction A, and indicated as A in the drawings. A direction perpendicular to the axial direction A of the rotary tub 13 is referred to as a radial direction. When the term "radial direction" is simply used, it refers to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction A. Among the radial directions, the direction connecting the upper and lower ends of the opening 121 is called a vertical direction B, and is indicated as B in the drawings. The direction of rotation of the rotary tub 13, that is, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction A and the radial direction is referred to as the circumferential direction. When the washing machine 10 is a drum-type washing machine with a horizontal axis, the axial direction A coincides with the front-rear direction, and the vertical direction B coincides with the vertical direction.

The door 15 is rotatably supported on the front face portion 111 by a hinge (not shown) to open and close the outlet 112 . At least a part of the door 15 is made of a transparent or translucent member so that the inside of the outer casing 11 can be seen through the door 15 from the outside. The bellows 16 is formed in an annular shape when viewed from the front and watertightly connects the outlet 112 and the water tank 12 . The bellows 16 is made of a flexible, elastic, and watertight member such as rubber.

Drainage mechanism 17 has a function of discharging water stored in water tub 12 to the outside of washing machine 10 . The drainage mechanism 17 has a drainage path 171 and a drainage valve 172 . The drain path 171 is composed of, for example, a flexible drain hose, one end of which is connected to the drain valve 172 and the other end of which is pulled out of the washing machine 10 . The drain valve 172 is composed of, for example, a liquid on-off valve that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The drain valve 172 is provided between the drain portion 122 provided at the bottom of the water tank 12 and the drain path 171 to open and close the drain path 171 .

The water supply mechanism 18 is provided above the water tank 12 inside the outer casing 11, for example. The water supply mechanism 18 receives water from an external water supply source such as a water supply, and supplies water to the water tank 12 . The water supply mechanism 18 has a connection port 181, a water supply path 182, and a water supply valve 183, for example, as shown in FIG. The connection port 181 is provided on the top surface of the outer casing 11 so as to be exposed, for example, at the left rear portion. The connection port 181 is connected to an external water source via a hose, for example. The water supply route 182 is a route that connects the connection port 181 to the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 . The water supply valve 183 is a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. In the middle of the water supply path 182, there is provided a laundry processing agent input portion (not shown) for inputting detergent, finishing agent, and the like.

The circulation mechanism 19 is provided inside the outer casing 11 and discharges the water drained from the water tank 12 back into the water tank 12 to circulate the water. The circulation mechanism 19 has a circulation channel 191 , a circulation pump 192 and a water discharge section 193 . The circulation water channel 191 is a route that connects the drainage part 122 and the water discharge part 193, pumps up water stored in the water tank 12 by the circulation pump 192, and reintroduces the water into the water tank 12 from above the water tank 12. It is a route that supplies to The circulation pump 192 is provided in the middle of the circulation water channel 191 and has a function of pumping up the water in the water tank 12 . The water discharge section 193 is the terminal end of the circulating water channel 191 , that is, the end opposite to the drainage section 122 . When the circulation pump 192 is driven with the drain valve 172 closed, the circulation pump 192 pumps up the water in the water tank 12 through the drain part 122 and supplies the water into the water tank 12 again from the water discharge part 193 . In this manner, the circulation pump 192 circulates the water stored in the water tank 12 through the circulation water channel 191 .

The control device 20 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a storage area 202 such as a CPU 201, a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, as shown in FIG. 2, and controls the entire operation of the washing machine 10. The control device 20 is electrically connected to the rotating tub motor 14, the drain valve 172, the water supply valve 183, the circulation pump 192, and the irradiation device 40, which will be described later, and controls these operations.

The water tank 12 has a body portion 123 and a water tank cover 30 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and the like. Body 123 forms the rear portion of the cylindrical portion of tub 12 . The water tank cover 30 is connected to the front end of the body 123 to form the front portion of the cylindrical portion of the water tank 12 . The water tank cover 30 includes a tubular portion 31 and a front portion 32 . The tubular portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the rear end portion of the tubular portion 31 is connected to the front end portion of the trunk portion 123 . The front surface portion 32 is formed in an annular shape approximately centering on the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 . The outer peripheral end of the front face portion 32 is connected to the front end of the cylindrical portion 31 . An inner peripheral edge of the front face portion 32 is connected to the opening 121 .

3 is a view of the bellows 16 and the water tank cover 30 viewed from the front and in a direction parallel to the axial direction A. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bellows 16 and the water tank cover 30 as viewed diagonally from the lower right. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3. FIG. The bellows 16 is formed with a predetermined length in the depth direction, and has a front end portion 161 , a rear end portion 162 , a cylindrical portion 163 , a bulging portion 164 and an engaging portion 165 .

The front end portion 161 is an end portion on the front side of the bellows 16 and is formed in an annular shape and connected to the outlet 112 . The rear end portion 162 is the end portion on the opposite side to the front end portion 161 of the bellows 16 , i.e., the rear end portion, and is formed in an annular shape forming a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 . It connects with the part 32 . The front portion 32 of the aquarium cover 30 functions as a mounting surface to which the rear end portion 162 of the bellows 16 is mounted. The cylindrical portion 163 has a cylindrical inner surface extending rearward from the front end portion 161 . The bulging portion 164 connects the tubular portion 163 and the engaging portion 165 . The bulging portion 164 extends radially outward and forward from a rear end portion of the tubular portion 163 . The bulging portion 164 extends radially outward and forward from the radial front end portion of the engaging portion 165 . The bulging portion 164 as a whole has a cross-sectional shape that bulges forward and radially outward. The engaging portion 165 connects the bulging portion 164 and the rear end portion 162 . The engaging portion 165 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape, and has a groove shape that is recessed radially outward at the front end portion.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the position of the circulating water channel 191 inside the water tank cover 30. As shown in FIG. The circulation water channel 191 extends upward from the circulation pump 192 and passes inside the water tank cover 30 . The circulating water channel 191 enters the inside of the water tank cover 30 from the lower part of the water tank cover 30 and extends to the upper part of the water tank cover 30 in a circular arc on the rear side of the front part 32 , that is, the inner side of the water tank 12 . The circulating water channel 191 is branched into two, in this case a plurality, at the upper portion of the water tank cover 30 and each extends to a plurality, in this case two, openings 33 provided radially inward at the upper portion of the front face portion 32 . The water discharge part 193 is connected to the opening 33 and discharges water through the opening 33 toward the inside of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 .

In this case, the water tub cover 30 has an outer peripheral wall portion 34, an inner peripheral wall portion 35, and a rear plate 36, as shown in FIG. The outer peripheral wall portion 34 and the inner peripheral wall portion 35 are formed so as to protrude rearward from the inner side of the front surface portion 32 at portions from the radially outer side of the front surface portion 32 . The rear plate 36 is formed in a fan-shaped plate shape when viewed from the front, and is connected to the tip portions of the outer peripheral wall portion 34 and the inner peripheral wall portion 35 from the rear side, that is, the inside of the water tank 12 . The circulating water channel 191 passes through a space formed between the outer peripheral wall portion 34 , the inner peripheral wall portion 35 and the rear plate 36 .

The water tank cover 30 further has ears 37 , recesses 38 and grooves 39 . The ear portion 37 has an annular shape when viewed from the front and protrudes forward from the front portion 32 of the water tank cover 30 . The ear portion 37 is provided radially outward of the opening portion 121 . The recessed portion 38 is provided in a portion of the inner side of the front portion 32 in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the recess 38 is provided above the top of the opening 121 . The concave portion 38 is formed by recessing the inner diameter side end portion, in this case the lower end portion, of the front portion 32 toward the rear, that is, toward the inside with respect to the water tank 12 . The outer diameter side end of the recess 38 , in this case the upper end, is connected to the rear end of the ear portion 37 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the groove portion 39 is formed in a groove shape by recessing a portion of the front surface of the front surface portion 32, that is, a portion of the outer surface with respect to the water tank 12, in the thickness direction. It extends upward from the central portion in the left-right direction.

A front end portion of the ear portion 37 protrudes radially outward. The projecting front end portion of the ear portion 37 is fitted into the groove shape of the engaging portion 165 of the bellows 16 . As a result, together with fixing the rear end portion 162 and the front portion 32 together, the bellows 16 is prevented from coming off the water tank cover 30 and from moving in the axial direction A and radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 8 and the like, the concave portion 38 has an outer peripheral surface portion 381 , a back surface portion 382 , and one or a plurality of, in this case two, portions to be fastened 383 . The outer peripheral surface portion 381 forms a surface on the radially outer peripheral side of the recessed portion 38, in this case, an upper surface. The back portion 382 forms the back side of the recess 38 , that is, the center side surface with respect to the water tub 12 . The fastened portions 383 are provided at both circumferential ends of the back portion 382, in this case, near the left and right ends. The fastened portion 383 is formed in a cylindrical shape that protrudes forward from the back surface portion 382 and is open at the front, and has a female screw groove formed on the inner surface thereof.

The rear surface portion 382 is provided to the same extent as the rear plate 36 or closer to the center of the water tank 12 than the rear plate 36 in the depth direction of the water tank 12 . The upper portion of the back portion 382 forms a plane parallel to the radial direction and is located substantially on the same plane as the back plate 36 . The lower portion of the back surface portion 382 is inclined with respect to the axial direction A and the radial direction and positioned closer to the center of the water tank 12 than the rear plate 36 with respect to the depth direction of the water tank 12 .

The washing machine 10 further comprises an irradiation device 40 . The concave portion 38 functions as a housing portion that houses the irradiation device 40 . The irradiation device 40 has a function of illuminating the inside of the washing tub, particularly the inside of the rotating tub 13 . The irradiation device 40 is electrically connected to the control device 20 and is turned on or off under the control of the control device 20 .

The irradiation device 40 includes an irradiation unit 41, a holder 42, and a device cover 50, as shown in FIG. The irradiation unit 41 is a component of the irradiation device 40 that has an irradiation function. That is, the irradiation unit 41 is electrically connected to the control device 20 and receives control of the control device 20 to irradiate or stop. The holder 42 is made of a flexible and watertight member, such as rubber, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with an upper and lower opening and holds the irradiation unit 41 inside. The device cover 50 accommodates therein the holder 42 and the irradiation unit 41 held by the holder 42 .

The irradiation unit 41 includes a substrate 411, a light emitting element 412, a case 413, and lead wires 414, as shown in FIG. A substrate 411 has a light emitting element 412 such as an LED mounted thereon and is enclosed in a case 413 . The case 413 constitutes the outer shell of the irradiation unit 41, and has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a tip portion 413a is formed in a hemispherical shape. An end portion of the case 413 opposite to the tip portion 413a is referred to as a head portion 413b. The irradiation unit 41 is at least partially or wholly made of a transparent member. In this embodiment, the tip portion 413a and the cylindrical portion are made of a transparent member. The irradiation unit 41 is made of quartz glass, for example. A lead wire 414 is connected to the substrate 411 , and the lead wire 414 is drawn out from a hole (not shown) provided in the upper end of the case 413 .

The irradiation unit 41 is configured to be able to irradiate either or both of ultraviolet light and visible light. In this embodiment, the irradiation unit 41 can irradiate both ultraviolet light and visible light. The control device 20 may be configured to selectively irradiate ultraviolet rays and visible rays, or may be configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays and visible rays simultaneously. In this embodiment, the control device 20 can simultaneously irradiate ultraviolet light and visible light. Specifically, the light emitting element 412 includes a light emitting element that emits white light and ultraviolet light. In addition, the control device 20 can irradiate ultraviolet rays during or after execution of at least one of the washing process, rinsing process, dehydration process, and drying process. As a result, the laundry and the inside of the washing tub are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays.

As shown in FIG. 9, the irradiation unit 41 is installed so that the irradiation direction of the light emitting element 412 is directed toward the inner part of the washing tub. That is, the optical axis L of the light emitting element 412 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction so as to be lowered toward the rear. The optical axis L is also inclined with respect to the axial direction A and the vertical direction B. As shown in FIG. As a result, the light emitted from the light-emitting element 412 is efficiently applied to the clothes positioned deep inside the rotary tub 13, and is reflected inside the rotary tub 13 made of stainless steel, for example, so that the inside of the rotary tub 13 is further illuminated. It can be sterilized effectively.

In this embodiment, the light emitting element 412 is fixed so that the optical axis L is perpendicular to the substrate 411 , and the substrate 411 is fixed perpendicular to the cylindrical axial direction of the case 413 . Therefore, the irradiation unit 41 is installed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and the vertical direction so as to be lowered toward the rear, and also with respect to the axial direction A and the vertical direction B. As shown in FIG. The angle formed by the optical axis L and the horizontal plane is appropriately set according to the irradiation angle of the light emitting element 412, and can be set, for example, within the range of 50° to 60°.

The holder 42 is formed with a bent cross-sectional shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10 . The holder 42 includes a first portion 421 and a second portion 422 . The first portion 421 constitutes a radially outer portion, ie, an upper portion of the holder 42 in this case, when attached to the recess 38, and has a first opening 421a at its upper end. The cylindrical outer wall of the first portion 421 extends in the vertical direction B, that is, along the front surface portion 32 . Here, extending in a direction along the front surface portion 32 means extending in a direction substantially parallel to the front surface portion 32, and substantially parallel includes parallel. In this case, the cylindrical outer wall of the first portion 421 extends parallel to the vertical direction B, that is, parallel to the front portion 32 . The first opening 421 a opens upward and communicates the inside and outside of the holder 42 .

The second portion 422 constitutes a radially inner portion, ie, in this case the lower portion of the holder 42 when attached to the recess 38, and has a second opening 422a at its lower end. A tubular outer peripheral wall of the second portion 422 extends in a direction inclined with respect to the axial direction A and the vertical direction B. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the outer peripheral wall of the second portion 422 extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape of the case 413 . That is, the outer peripheral wall of the second portion 422 extends in the direction along the optical axis L. As shown in FIG. In this case, the outer peripheral wall of the second portion 422 extends parallel to the axial direction of the cylindrical shape of the case 413, that is, substantially parallel to the optical axis L.

The diameter of the second portion 422 is set smaller than the diameter of the first portion 421 . That is, a stepped portion 423 is formed between the first portion 421 and the second portion 422 . The stepped portion 423 forms a surface extending inwardly of the holder 42 and perpendicular to the second portion 422 . The head portion 413 b of the case 413 of the irradiation unit 41 is in close contact with the step portion 423 while being inserted into the holder 42 . At least a portion of the cylindrical portion of the case 413 near the head portion 413 b is in close contact with the second portion 422 .

The device cover 50 is formed in a container shape with openings on the radially inner side, the outer side, and the rear side. The device cover 50 has a front portion 51 , a frame portion 52 , and side portions 53 and 54 . The front portion 51 constitutes the front surface of the device cover 50 . The frame portion 52 is formed in a rectangular frame shape elongated in the circumferential direction, in this case, the lateral direction, and is provided on the radially outer surface, in this case, the upper surface of the device cover 50 . The side portions 53 and 54 form circumferential surfaces of the device cover 50, that is, left and right surfaces in this case.

The front portion 51 faces the bulging portion 164 of the bellows 16 as shown in FIG. 10 and the like. The front portion 51 includes a first surface 511 and a second surface 512 . The first surface 511 constitutes the radially outer portion, in this case the upper portion, of the front face 51 and extends generally parallel to the radial direction. The second surface 512 constitutes the radially inner part, in this case the lower part, of the front part 51 and extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction A and the radial direction. The second surface 512 extends substantially parallel to the irradiation unit 41 and the second portion 422 of the holder 42 . With the device cover 50 fixed to the water tank cover 30 , the second surface 512 extends parallel to the lower portion of the rear portion 382 of the recess 38 . That is, the irradiation unit 41, the second portion 422 of the holder 42, the second surface 512 of the device cover 50, and the lower portion of the back surface portion 382 of the recess 38 form surfaces that are substantially parallel to each other. In this case, the irradiation unit 41, the second portion 422 of the holder 42, the second surface 512 of the device cover 50, and the lower portion of the back surface portion 382 of the recess 38 form a surface substantially parallel to the optical axis L of the light emitting element 412. ing.

The first surface 511 has a protrusion 511a and one or more, in this case two, holes 511b. The protruding portion 511a protrudes forward from the first surface 511 and forms a curved surface along the outer peripheral wall of the first portion 421 of the holder 42 and the outer peripheral wall of the upper portion of the second portion 422. . The two holes 511b are provided at both ends in the circumferential direction of the first surface 511, that is, at the left and right ends in this case, and pass through the first surface 511 in the thickness direction. In this case, the two holes 511b are provided on the left and right sides of the projecting portion 511a.

Each of the fastening portions 383 is provided at a position corresponding to the hole 511b when the recess 38 accommodates the apparatus cover 50 in the recess 38 . The device cover 50 is fixed to the water tank cover 30 from the front by a fastening member 60 such as a male screw that is inserted through the hole 511 b and the fastening portion 383 . That is, the irradiation device 40 is attached to the recess 38 from the front.

When the holder 42 is inserted into the device cover 50 , the first surface 511 is in close contact with the first portion 421 of the holder 42 and extends along the first portion 421 . In this case, the first surface 511 extends parallel to the first portion 421 . When the holder 42 is inserted into the device cover 50 , at least a portion of the second surface 512 is in close contact with the second portion 422 of the holder 42 and extends along the second portion 422 . In this case, at least a portion of the second surface 512 extends parallel to the second portion 422 .

An annular portion 521 is formed in the center portion of the frame portion 52 in the circumferential direction, that is, in this case, in the center portion in the left-right direction. The upper end portion of the first portion 421 of the holder 42 is inserted and held inside the annular portion 521 . The diameter of the annular portion 521 is set longer than the radial side, that is, the short side of the frame portion 52 , and a portion of the annular portion 521 protrudes forward from the frame portion 52 . A projecting portion 511 a is formed radially inwardly of the annular portion 521 .

The annular portion 521 is formed with a notch 521a on one side in the circumferential direction, in this case, on the left side. The holder 42 has a protrusion 421b formed at the upper end of the first portion 421 and protruding outward from the first opening 421a. With the holder 42 inserted into the device cover 50, the protrusion 421b is fitted into the notch 521a. This prevents the holder 42 from rotating inside the device cover 50 .

When the irradiation unit 41 is housed in the holder 42 and the device cover 50 and fixed to the aquarium cover 30 with the fastening member 60 , the irradiation device 40 is inserted into the recess 38 . That is, at least a portion of the irradiation unit 41, at least a portion of the holder 42, and at least a portion of the device cover 50 are located inside the recess 38 and closer to the rear side than the front portion 32, that is, closer to the center of the water tank 12. . As a result, the entire depth direction of the irradiation device 40 does not protrude forward beyond the water tank cover 30 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the depth dimension of the water tank cover 30 from increasing by the depth dimension of the irradiation device 40 as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the ears 37 are provided with holes 371 positioned above the recesses 38 . The hole portion 371 penetrates the ear portion 37 in the thickness direction and communicates the space above and below the water tank cover 30 , thereby communicating the inside and outside of the washing tub in the outer box 11 . The hole portion 371 functions as a passage for guiding the lead wire 414 drawn out from the irradiation unit 41 upwardly of the water tank cover 30 .

The hole 371 is closed by the engaging portion 165 of the bellows 16 except for the gap through which the lead wire 414 passes, ie, the rear portion of the hole 371 in this case. Further, when the irradiation device 40 is fixed to the water tank cover 30 , the upper end of the holder 42 , that is, the upper end of the first portion 421 is in close contact with the water tank cover 30 . That is, the upper end portion of the first portion 421 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface portion 381 of the recess 38 or the radially inner surface of the ear portion 37, in this case, the lower surface. The inside and outside of the washing tub are kept watertight in the outer box 11 by the flexible and watertight bellows 16 and the holder 42 . This prevents water and steam in the washing tub from leaking out of the washing tub through the holes 371 .

The axial length dimension of the cylindrical shape of the case 413 is set longer than the axial length dimension of the cylindrical shape of the second portion 422 , and when the case 413 is inserted into the holder 42 , the distal end portion of the case 413 413 a is exposed outside the holder 42 . Therefore, blocking of the ultraviolet rays or visible rays emitted from the irradiation unit 41 by the holder 42 is suppressed.

On the other hand, the length dimension of the cylindrical shape of the case 413 in the axial direction is set shorter than the length dimension of the inclined surface of the second surface 512 of the device cover 50 , and the case 413 is accommodated in the holder 42 and the device cover 50 . Therefore, the irradiation unit 41 is not exposed radially inward from the device cover 50 . Therefore, the user is prevented from looking directly at the irradiation unit 41 . Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the laundry from hitting the irradiation unit 41 during operation, or the user from accidentally touching the irradiation unit 41 when loading or unloading the laundry. there is

As described above, the lead wires 414 extend above the aquarium cover 30 through the grooves 39 provided in the front face portion 32 . A circulating water channel 191 passes through the rear side of the front portion 32 , that is, the inner side of the water tank 12 . The control device 20 can control the drain valve 172 and the circulation pump 192 to allow water to flow through the circulation channel 191 . When the lead wire 414 has reached a high temperature or is likely to reach a high temperature, the control device 20 causes water to flow through the circulating water passage 191 to lower the temperature of the lead wire 414 and suppress the overheating state. can.

Furthermore, the circulating water channel 191 is located in a region extending radially outward from the concave portion 38 . Further, openings 33 are provided on both circumferential sides of the concave portion 38 and are connected to the water discharging portions 193 . That is, the irradiation device 40 is attached near the circulation water channel 191 . Therefore, when the temperature of the irradiation device 40 is high or is likely to be high, the control device 20 reduces the temperature of the irradiation device 40 by causing water to flow through the water circulation path 191 to suppress overheating. can do.

According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 as the clothes processing apparatus includes the water tub 12, the rotating tub 13, the water tub cover 30, and the irradiation device 40. The water tank 12 has an opening 121 on its front surface. The rotating tank 13 is provided inside the water tank 12 and has an open front portion. The water tank cover 30 is provided in an annular shape at the opening 121 of the water tank 12 . The irradiation device 40 is configured to be able to irradiate the inside of the rotating tank 13 . The water tank cover 30 has a concave portion 38 recessed rearward on the inner peripheral side of the front portion 32 . The irradiation device 40 is attached to the recess 38 from the front.

According to this, the irradiation device 40 can be arranged without projecting the depth of the water tank cover 30 forward. Therefore, the influence on the depth of the washing machine 10 as a whole can be reduced. Further, since the irradiation device 40 is fixed to the water tank cover 30 fixed to the water tank 12 , the irradiation device 40 is less likely to be affected by the vibration of the rotating tank 13 . Therefore, the irradiation device 40 is less likely to come off even if the rotary tub 13 vibrates, and can suppress the breakage of the lead wire 414 . Furthermore, the illumination device 40 can be provided such that at least a portion thereof is located behind the front face portion 32 . Therefore, the irradiation is performed from a position closer to the rotating tub 13, and the deep portion of the rotating tub 13 is likely to be irradiated. Therefore, there is provided a laundry processing apparatus provided with the irradiation device 40 that effectively irradiates the inside of the washing tub, does not come off easily, and does not hinder the miniaturization of the entire product.

The irradiation device 40 has an irradiation unit 41 , a holder 42 and a device cover 50 . The irradiation unit 41 generates light such as visible light or ultraviolet light. The holder 42 is made of a member having flexibility and watertightness and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with an upper portion and a lower portion opened, and holds the irradiation unit 41 inside. The device cover 50 accommodates the holder 42 inside. The holder 42 is fixed in close contact with the water tank cover 30 by attaching the device cover 50 to the concave portion 38 while the holder 42 housing the irradiation unit 41 inside is housed in the device cover 50 .

According to this, since the holder 42 having flexibility and watertightness is in water-tight contact with the water tank cover 30, water and steam from the inside of the washing tank, that is, the inside of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13, can be kept inside the outer box and the washing machine. Intrusion to the outside of the tank can be suppressed.

Here, a case where the irradiation unit 41 is attached parallel to the front surface portion 32 of the water tank cover 30 and the holder 42 is not bent will be considered. In this case, when the irradiation unit 41 is pressed from the inside in the radial direction, for example, from below in this case, the holder 42 has flexibility, so the irradiation unit 41 may move parallel to the front surface portion 32 or the lead wire 414 may move excessively. There is a risk that it may be bent. If such a situation occurs frequently, the lead wire 414 may be disconnected.

On the other hand, the holder 42 has a first portion 421 whose cylindrical axis extends along the front surface portion 32 of the water tub cover 30, and is provided radially inward of the rotary tub 13 from the first portion 421. It has a second portion 422 that is inclined so that the axis of the cylindrical shape is radially inward of the rotary tub 13 as it goes rearward. The irradiation unit 41 is inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 along the inclination of the second portion 422 .

According to this, since the irradiation unit 41 is inclined to face the inner part of the rotary tub 13, it is possible to evenly irradiate not only the front side of the rotary tub 13 near the irradiation unit 41 but also the inside of the rotary tub 13. can. Furthermore, compared to the case where the irradiation unit 41 is attached parallel to the front surface portion 32 of the water tank cover 30, even if the irradiation unit 41 is pressed from the inside in the radial direction, the bending of the holder 42 disperses the force. do. Therefore, movement of the irradiation unit 41 is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the irradiation unit 41 from falling off from the water tank cover 30, and also prevent the lead wire 414 from breaking. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of malfunctions of the irradiation device 40 .

Note that the device cover 50 contacts the second portion 422 of the holder 42 and extends along the second portion 422 , and contacts the first portion 421 of the holder 42 and extends along the first portion 421 . and a first surface 511 that is slanted with respect to the second portion 422 of 42 . Therefore, even if the irradiation unit 41 is pressed in a direction parallel to the second portion 422 of the holder 42, the first portion 421 of the holder 42 and the first surface 511 of the device cover 50 are tilted from above. It prevents the irradiation unit 41 from moving along the inclined surface. Therefore, the irradiation unit 41 is configured to be more difficult to come off.

A washing machine 10 as a clothes processing apparatus includes an outer box 11 and a bellows 16 . The outer box 11 has an outlet 112 on the front surface 111 and accommodates the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 therein. The bellows 16 has a front end 161 connected to the outlet 112 and a rear end 162 attached to the front surface 32 , which is the attachment surface of the water tank cover 30 . The irradiation device 40 is mounted behind the front surface portion 32, at least a part of which is the mounting surface.

According to this, the irradiation device 40 is provided behind the mounting surface of the bellows 16 and near the center of the rotary tub 13 . Therefore, the irradiation device 40 has a configuration that makes it easier to deliver the irradiation light to the innermost part of the rotary tub 13 . Moreover, it is not necessary to route the lead wire 414 to a great extent in order to pass it between the bellows 16 and the front surface portion 32, which is the mounting surface. Therefore, workability during manufacturing is improved, and the length of the lead wire 414, which is positioned near the inside of the washing tub and may be exposed to water or steam, can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of malfunctions of the irradiation device 40 .

Here, when the irradiation unit 41 is irradiated for a long period of time, or when the light emitting element 412 is a high-output LED, the irradiation unit 41 may generate heat depending on the circumstances.

On the other hand, the washing machine 10 as a clothes processing apparatus has a circulating water channel 191 . The circulating water channel 191 passes through the inside of the water tank cover 30 and connects the water discharge part 122 provided at the bottom of the water tank 12 and the water discharge part 193 that discharges water to the water tank 12 from above. The irradiation device 40 and the circulating water channel 191 are arranged to overlap in the radial direction of the water tank cover 30 so that the irradiation device 40 is positioned radially inside the circulating water channel 191 .

According to this, since the circulating water path 191 runs near the irradiation device 40 , the irradiation device 40 can be cooled by water flowing near the irradiation device 40 during operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the irradiation device 40, the lead wire 414, or the structure around the irradiation device 40 from becoming excessively hot. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of malfunctions of the irradiation device 40 .

In the embodiment described above, the recess 38 is provided above the top of the opening 121, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recess 38 may be provided at a position offset in the left-right direction from the top of the opening 121 . Moreover, in this embodiment, the number of irradiation devices 40 is one, but the number is not limited to this. A plurality of, for example, two irradiation devices 40 may be provided symmetrically.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Washing machine (clothes processing apparatus), 11... Outer box, 111... Front part, 112... Outlet, 12... Water tank, 122... Drainage part, 13... Rotating tank, 16... Bellows, 161... Front end part, 162... Rear end part 19... Circulation mechanism 191... Circulating water channel 193... Water discharge part 30... Water tank cover 31... Cylindrical part 32... Front part (mounting surface) 38... Recessed part 40... Irradiation device 41... Irradiation unit 42 Holder 421 First part 422 Second part 50 Cover

Claims (5)

a water tank having an opening in the front;
a rotary tank provided in the water tank and having an open front;
a water tank cover provided in an annular shape at the opening of the water tank;
and an irradiation device that irradiates the inside of the rotating tank,
The water tank cover has a recess recessed toward the rear on the inner peripheral side of the front surface,
The clothing processing apparatus, wherein the irradiation device is attached to the concave portion from the front. The irradiation device is
an irradiation unit that generates a light beam;
a holder formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with an upper portion and a lower portion opened by a member having flexibility and watertightness, and holding the irradiation unit therein;
a device cover that accommodates the holder inside,
2. The holder is fixed in close contact with the water tank cover by attaching the device cover to the recess in a state in which the holder housing the irradiation unit inside is housed in the device cover. 3. The clothing processing apparatus according to . The holder is formed to be bent, and has a first portion with a cylindrical axis extending along the front surface of the water tub cover, and a first portion provided radially inward of the rotating tub from the first portion, and has a cylindrical shape. and a second portion that is inclined so that the axis of
The clothes processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation unit is inclined with respect to the axis of the rotating tub along the inclination of the second portion. an outer box having an outlet on the front side and containing the water tank and the rotating tank;
a bellows that watertightly connects the outlet and the water tank cover,
The bellows has a front end connected to the outlet and a rear end attached to the mounting surface of the water tank cover,
The clothing processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the irradiation device is mounted such that at least a portion of the irradiation device is located behind the mounting surface. A circulating water passage that passes through the inside of the water tank cover and connects a drainage part provided at the bottom of the water tank and a water discharge part that discharges water from above to the water tank,
5. The irradiation device and the circulating water channel are arranged to overlap in the radial direction of the water tank cover such that the irradiating device is positioned radially inside the circulating water channel. A garment processing apparatus as described.

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