JP3744553B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry by heating a washing liquid in a water tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a washing machine, as a method for reducing the remaining undissolved detergent and improving the cleaning power, a method of supplying hot water previously heated in a gas water heater or an electric water heater into the water tank, or water supplied in the water tank There is a method of heating later.
The former method requires large-scale construction such as piping for supplying heated hot water into the water tank. Therefore, as the latter method, a washing machine has been proposed in which a heating element (seeds heater) is directly installed in the water tank to heat the water in the water tank (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-75087).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-75087, for example, a sheathed heater (charging unit) is installed in a water tank to directly heat the supplied water so as to prevent mechanical parts and water leakage for protecting the sheathed heater. In addition, there is a problem of electric shock due to electric leakage or the like because an AC power source flows through the sheathed heater.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a highly safe washing machine with low risk of electric leakage and the like by indirectly heating the washing water in the aquarium with an external induction heating coil. To do.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which a conductive blade member is provided with a circulation blade to forcibly circulate the induction-heated washing water, thereby reducing undissolved detergent remaining in the washing water and washing. The present invention provides a washing machine that improves the power and contains less detergent components in the waste water.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a water tank provided in a washing machine body, stirring means for stirring the washing water and the laundry to be poured into the water tank, and a conductive material provided at a position where the washing water is immersed inside the water tank. A magnetic member, and an induction heating coil provided outside the water tank and at a position facing the conductive magnetic body member, and indirectly heats the washing liquid in the water tank via the conductive magnetic member. In the washing machine, the stirring means includes a stirring blade for stirring the washing water and the laundry and a drive shaft for rotationally driving the stirring blade at the bottom of the water tank, and the conductive magnetic member is the stirring blade of the stirring means. Installed on the drive shaft at a position closer to the water tank wall surface, further comprising a circulation blade on the conductive magnetic member, and when the stirring means is rotationally driven, the circulation blade of the conductive magnetic member is rotationally driven to Washing induction heated by an induction heating coil A washing machine, characterized in that for forced circulation of water.
[0006]
Also, a water tub built in the washing machine main body, a rotatable conductive magnetic member provided at a position where the washing water is immersed inside the water tub, and a plurality of circulating blades formed on the dielectric magnetic member And a power source for rotationally driving the induction magnetic member, and an induction heating coil provided at a position outside the water tub and facing the conductive magnetic material member, the washing liquid in the water tub being used as the conductive magnetic material. The washing machine is characterized in that it is indirectly heated through a body member, and the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic body member are rotationally driven to forcibly circulate the heated washing water.
[0007]
A circulating water passage that is installed on a side surface in the water tank and circulates washing water, and a housing that is connected to the circulating water passage and surrounds the circulation blade of the conductive magnetic plate, and the circulation blade of the conductive magnetic member is driven to rotate. Accordingly, it is preferable that the washing water is configured to function as a pump for circulating the washing water throughout the water tank through the circulation water channel.
[0008]
In the present invention, a thyristor inverter circuit or a transistor inverter circuit is used as an alternating power source for generating an alternating magnetic flux by causing an alternating current to flow through the induction heating coil. Joule heat due to eddy currents is generated in the conductive magnetic member installed in the water tank by the alternating magnetic field generated from the induction heating coil to indirectly heat the washing water.
[0009]
As the stirring means, a pulsator (stirring blade) is usually used. A conductive magnetic member is provided below the pulsator.
In addition, as the conductive magnetic member, for example, a circular stainless steel plate or a rust-proof iron plate is used, and a plurality of circulation blades are integrally formed on the disc to forcibly circulate washing water. Can do. By forming a housing on this circulation blade, it functions as a pump. By connecting a circulation channel to the side of the water tank and connecting to this pump, washing liquid with high detergent concentration can be quickly and evenly distributed with the detergent in the entire water tank. It can be mixed.
[0010]
In addition to the above configuration, a motor for connecting and rotating the pulsator and the conductive magnetic member to the drive shaft, an electromagnetic valve for supplying or discharging water, an alternating power source, a controller for controlling the motor and the electromagnetic valve, And an operation unit for instructing an operation procedure of the washing machine.
As the control unit, a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an I / O port is used. As the operation unit, a flat key panel for instructing operation and an LED display for displaying an operation status are used.
[0011]
[Action]
According to the configuration of the present invention, a conductive magnetic member at a position where the washing water is immersed in a water tub provided with stirring means for stirring the washing water and the laundry in the washing machine main body, and a conductive magnetic material member outside the water tub. When an induction current is supplied from an alternating power source to the induction heating coil to generate an alternating magnetic field, the alternating magnetic field causes a vortex in the conductive magnetic member installed in the water tank. Joule heat due to electric current is generated and the washing water can be indirectly heated.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine with high safety without the risk that the charging unit is exposed to the water in the aquarium.
[0012]
The stirring means includes a stirring blade for stirring the washing water and the laundry and a drive shaft for rotationally driving the stirring blade at the bottom of the water tank, and the conductive magnetic member is closer to the water tank wall than the stirring blade of the stirring means. If it is installed on a drive shaft at a certain position and further provided with a circulation blade on the conductive magnetic member, when the stirring means is rotationally driven, the circulation blade of the conductive magnetic member is rotationally driven to The washing water induction-heated by the induction heating coil can be forcedly circulated.
Accordingly, the washing water can be efficiently heated evenly, the remaining undissolved detergent can be reduced, and the cleaning power can be improved.
[0013]
A circulating water passage that is installed on a side surface in the water tank and circulates washing water; and a housing that is connected to the circulating water passage and surrounds the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic member, and the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic member rotates. If it is configured to function as a pump that circulates the washing water through the circulating water channel by driving it, the pump can be formed of the conductive magnetic member itself.
Therefore, the detergent that tends to accumulate at the bottom of the water tank is stirred with hot washing water by the pumping function of the conductive magnetic plate itself, so that the detergent can be efficiently dissolved.
Further, by circulating the high-temperature washing liquid, it becomes possible to mix the washing liquid having a high detergent concentration with the washing liquid in the entire water tank quickly and uniformly, and the cleaning power can be improved.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this. The present invention is mainly suitable for use in a washing machine that heats and washs washing water in an aquarium, and each component is “electric leakage due to dielectric heating of washing water in an aquarium with an induction heating coil and a conductive magnetic material. In addition to achieving a “washing machine that is free of dangers such as a washing machine”, a washing machine in which the conductive magnetic material further includes a pump function for circulating the washing liquid to dissolve the detergent more efficiently and improve the cleaning power Can be provided [0015]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 indicates a washing machine body.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a water tank made of non-magnetic plastic or the like, and is fixed inside the washing machine body 10.
2 is an agitating blade (pulsator) for agitating laundry such as washing water and cloth, 2a is a drive shaft for rotationally driving the agitating blade (pulsator), and the agitating blade 2 is driven and supported by the inner bottom of the water tank 1 It is fixed to the shaft 2a.
3 is a conductive magnetic body (induction magnetic body) made of magnetic stainless steel (SUS430, etc.) and has a circulating blade 3a (see FIG. 3), fixed to the drive shaft 2a to which the stirring blade 2 is fixed, and the bottom of the water tank 1 Abut.
[0016]
Reference numeral 4 denotes an induction heating coil, and a spiral induction heating coil 4 as shown in FIG. 2 is provided at a position facing the induction magnetic body 3 on the outer wall of the water tank 1. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the shape of the induction heating coil 4.
A high frequency power source 5 supplies a high frequency current to the induction heating coil 4, and a thyristor inverter circuit or a transistor inverter circuit is used.
This type of inverter circuit includes a resonance capacitor to be added to the induction heating coil 4, a power transistor (thyristor) for switching and driving these, a high-frequency oscillation circuit, a diode bridge for smoothing commercial AC current, a choke coil, a smoothing Consists of a capacitor and the like (not shown).
When a high frequency current is supplied from the high frequency power source 5 to the dielectric heating coil 4, the dielectric heating coil 4 generates an alternating magnetic flux, and Joule heat due to an eddy current is generated in the conductive magnetic plate 3 in contact with the water tank by this alternating magnetic field. Inductively heat the wash water.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the shape of the conductive magnetic body 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the flat plate portion of the conductive magnetic body 3 is provided with a circulating blade 3a. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a pump constituted by a circulating blade 3a of a conductive magnetic body 3 and a housing 3b.
As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom of the water tank 1 is formed by a housing 3b and a discharge port 3c surrounding the circulating blade 3a of the conductive magnetic body 3, and operates as a pump by the rotation of the circulating blade 3a. The discharge port 3c of the pump is connected to the circulating water channel 6 outside the wall surface of the water tank 1 shown in FIG. Washing water passing through the circulation channel 6 is formed so as to return to the water tank 1 from the upper part of the water tank 1.
[0018]
A power source 7 rotationally drives the drive shaft 2a, and includes a motor 7a, a pulley and the like (not shown).
8 is an electromagnetic valve for draining washing water at the end of washing, and an electromagnetic valve 8 is provided at the drain 1 a of the water tank 1. Drainage is stopped by the electromagnetic valve 8 during washing.
An upper surface plate 10 a provided with a lid or the like is provided at the upper part of the washing machine body 10, and a leg 10 b for supporting the whole is provided at the lower part of the washing machine body 10.
[0019]
In addition, an operation unit 11 for instructing an operation procedure of the washing machine is built in the upper surface plate 10a. As the operation unit 11, a flat key panel for inputting an operation instruction and an LED display for displaying an operation state are used (see FIG. 6).
On the upper surface plate 10a, according to an operation instruction from the operation unit 11, a high-frequency power source 5, a power source 7 that rotationally drives the stirring blade 2 and the conductive magnetic body plate 3, an electromagnetic valve 8 that drains water, an electromagnetic valve that supplies water, or the like The control part 12 which controls is built in (refer FIG. 6).
[0020]
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a fully automatic washing machine for home use. As shown in FIG. 5, the induction magnetic body 3 is provided between the dewatering tank 9 and the water tank 1, the circulating water channel 6 is provided on the outer wall of the dewatered water tank 1, and the circulating water is placed inside the dewatering tank 9. It is configured to flow.
A hole 9a that flows out from the dehydrating tank 9 to the water tank 1 is provided in the lower part of the stirring blade 2 at the bottom of the dehydrating tank 9 and near the drive shaft 2a, and is formed by the circulating blade 3a of the conductive magnetic body 3 and the water tank 1. It becomes the water supply part to the pump.
[0021]
In addition, the drive shaft 2 has a clutch mechanism 7b for switching the rotation of the drive source 7 such as the motor 7a between the case where only the stirring blade 2 and the conductive magnetic body 3 are moved and the case where the dehydration tank 9 is also moved.
5 is exactly the same as the washing machine shown in FIG. 1 except that it includes a clutch mechanism 7b that switches connection / disconnection between the dewatering tub 9 and the drive shaft 2a, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0022]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the washing machine of the present invention. In FIG. 6, as the control unit 12, a microcomputer 12a including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a timer, an I / O port, and a drive circuit for driving various loads is used. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the output of the high frequency power source, a control program for controlling the sequence of the washing machine, and the like.
A temperature detection sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the washing water and an abnormal temperature rise is provided on the bottom or side of the outer wall of the water tank 1 and is configured to be monitored by the control unit 12.
[0023]
The operation content of the washing machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
When washing and water are put into the aquarium 1 at the time of washing, detergent is added, and an instruction is input from the operation unit 12, the control unit 12 operates the power source 7 and rotationally drives the drive shaft 2a. The stirring blade 2 fixed to the drive shaft 2a is rotated to dissolve the detergent.
Next, the control unit 12 performs control so that a high-frequency current flows from the high-frequency power source 5 to the induction heating coil 4, whereby an eddy current flows in the conductive magnetic body 3 to generate Joule heat.
The washing water around the conductive magnetic body 3 is heated by this induction heating (Joule heat).
At this time, the control unit 12 detects and monitors the temperature of the washing water and the abnormal temperature rise by the temperature detection sensor 13 and controls the high-frequency power source 5.
[0024]
While the power source 7 is operating, the induction magnetic body 3 rotates with the rotation of the drive shaft 2 a, and water moves by receiving the rotational force of the circulating blade 3 a provided on the induction magnetic body 3.
Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the circulation water channel 6 is formed by providing a portion of the housing 3 b in which the gap between the bottom of the water tank 1 and the induction magnetic body 3 is uniform and a portion of the discharge port 3 c that is partially enlarged. The water pressure that can discharge the washing water in the direction of. That is, a pump function can be comprised by the shape of the induction magnetic body 3 and the water tank 1 wall surface.
The washing water discharged from the pump passes through the circulation water channel 6 and is lifted to the upper part of the water tank 1, and is poured again into the water tank 1 from the upper part of the water tank 1.
The washing water passing through the circulation channel 6 is heated when passing around the heated induction magnetic body 3, and is forcedly circulated and stirred in the water tank 1 by the function of this pump function.
[0025]
Usually, the detergent that is not dissolved in the water tank 1 accumulates at the bottom of the water tank 1, but by the rotation of the circulating blade 3 a of this induction magnetic body 3, it is directly agitated with the surrounding locally warm water. Can be dissolved efficiently.
Accordingly, the detergent can be dissolved without raising the temperature of the entire washing water in the water tank 1 so much, so that the cleaning power is increased and the washing time is shortened, so that power consumption can be saved.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the washing machine in a water tank can be indirectly heated by an external induction heating coil, and there can be provided a highly safe washing machine without the danger that a charging part will be exposed to the water in a water tank. Therefore, since a mechanism for protecting the charging unit is not necessary, the heating mechanism is simplified.
Further, by providing the conductive magnetic member with the circulation blade, the induction heated washing water can be forcedly circulated, and the detergent can be dissolved without raising the temperature of the whole washing water so much. Accordingly, the cleaning power can be increased with a small amount of detergent, so that the washing time can be shortened and the power consumption can be saved.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine that solves the danger caused by the exposure of the charging unit, is safe, consumes low power, and has a small amount of detergent and can be washed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a washing machine of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the shape of the induction heating coil 4;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the shape of a conductive magnetic body 3;
4 is a cross-sectional view of a pump constituted by a circulating blade 3a of a conductive magnetic body 3 and a housing 3b. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a home fully automatic washing machine.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the washing machine of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water tank 1a Drain port 2 Stirring blade 2a Drive shaft 3 Conductive magnetic body 3a Circulating blade 3b Housing 3c Discharge port 4 Induction heating coil 5 High frequency power supply 6 Circulating water channel 7 Power source 7a Motor 7b Clutch mechanism 8 Electromagnetic valve 9 Dehydration tank 10 Washing machine Main body 10a Top plate 10b Leg 11 Operation unit 12 Control unit 13 Temperature detection sensor

Claims (3)

A water tub built in the washing machine body, agitation means for agitating the wash water and laundry put into the water tub, and a conductive magnetic member provided at a position where the wash water is immersed inside the water tub And an induction heating coil provided outside the water tank and at a position facing the conductive magnetic body member, and a washing machine that indirectly heats the washing liquid in the water tank via the conductive magnetic body member. And
The stirring means includes a stirring blade for stirring the washing water and the laundry and a drive shaft for rotationally driving the stirring blade at the bottom of the water tank, and the conductive magnetic member is closer to the water tank wall than the stirring blade of the stirring means. Installed on a drive shaft at a certain position, further provided with a circulating blade on the conductive magnetic member, and when the stirring means is driven to rotate, the circulating blade of the conductive magnetic member is driven to rotate by induction heating coil. A washing machine characterized in that forced washing water is circulated . A circulating water channel that is installed on a side surface in the water tank and circulates washing water; and a housing that is connected to the circulating water channel and surrounds the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic material member, and the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic material member is rotationally driven. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is configured to function as a pump for circulating the washing water throughout the water tank through the circulation channel . A water tub built in the washing machine body, a rotatable conductive magnetic member provided at a position where the washing water is immersed inside the water tub, and a plurality of circulating blades formed on the dielectric magnetic member; A power source for rotationally driving the induction magnetic member; and an induction heating coil provided at a position outside the water tank and facing the conductive magnetic member; In addition, the washing machine is characterized in that the heated washing water is forcibly circulated by rotating the circulating blades of the conductive magnetic material member indirectly through heating.

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