JP4806327B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine (electric washing machine), and more particularly, to a washing machine including a tank that stores water used for washing for reuse.

Patent Document 1 proposes a washing machine having a water storage tank (tank) for storing water used for washing in order to reuse water used for washing.
The applicant of the present application has proposed a washing machine having a mechanism for purifying and reusing water used for washing in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-2559. This washing machine is provided with a tank for storing water to be reused.
JP 2005-124626 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-2559

  In a washing machine having a tank for storing water to be reused, when water is stored in the tank, if there is a temperature difference of a certain temperature or more between the water temperature and the ambient temperature around the tank, condensation occurs on the tank surface, It has been found that water droplets generated by condensation fall along the outer surface of the tank and hang down on the floor where the washing machine is located. In particular, when a washing machine is used in a cold district, for example, in winter in Hokkaido, if the washing machine is placed indoors, the water used for washing is cold, but the indoor temperature is warm and the ambient temperature around the tank (room temperature) (Or the temperature of the air in the washing machine) is considerably higher than the temperature of the water used for washing, and the problem that condensation occurs on the outer surface of the tank is high.

Water droplets condensed on the outer surface of the tank fall along the outer surface of the tank and hang down on the floor where the washing machine is arranged. Recently, the bread for the washing machine is omitted, and the washing machine is often placed directly on the floor. When water drops dripping on the floor surface, there is a problem that the floor surface is easily wetted or mold is easily generated on the floor surface. .
In addition, water collected for reuse is water that has been used for washing, and most foreign matters (lints, dust, etc.) have been removed by filters, etc., but there is no foreign matter. . For this reason, foreign matter (lint, dust, etc.) mixed in the water stored in the tank gathers near the corner of the tank and accumulates. When the inside of the tank is soiled or the accumulated foreign matter is discharged at once. May contaminate water.

The present invention has been made based on such a background, and a main object thereof is a washing machine having a tank for storing water to be reused. Condensation occurs on the outer surface of the tank, and water droplets drip below the tank. It is to provide a washing machine that never happens.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can be used without problems in cold regions.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a washing machine having a tank for storing water to be reused, which is improved so that a large amount of foreign matter is not mixed in the tank or the water stored in the tank. Objective.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing that constitutes an outer shell, a washing tub that is provided at a relatively upper position in the housing, stores water and stores clothes, and performs washing in a relative manner. And a tank for storing water discharged from the washing tub after being used in the washing tub, by condensing water on the tank, thereby condensing on the outer surface of the tank In the case where there is a risk of occurrence of condensation, a condensation prevention means for preventing the occurrence of the condensation is provided, the condensation prevention means, a water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the water discharged from the washing tub, Atmospheric temperature detection means for detecting the temperature around the tank, determination means for determining whether or not condensation occurs when water is accumulated in the tank based on both detection temperatures, and the determination means causes condensation. When it is determined that is a washing machine water discharged from the washing tub and having an a water discharge switching means to not be supplied to the tank.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the washing machine according to the first aspect, the dew condensation preventing means includes a water temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of water discharged from the washing tub, and a temperature around the tank. Based on the atmospheric temperature detection means for detecting, the determination means for determining whether or not condensation occurs when water is accumulated in the tank based on both detection temperatures, and the determination that the determination means determines that condensation occurs And means for heating water stored in the tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the washing machine according to the first or second aspect, the determination unit determines whether or not condensation occurs based on a dew point temperature .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the washing machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the user can
A mode switch that can be selected, and includes a notification unit and a selection unit for entrusting a user with a determination as to whether or not to function the dew condensation prevention unit when the mode switch is selected.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when there is a possibility that condensation occurs in the tank, the occurrence of the condensation can be effectively prevented, and the condensation prevention means is a water temperature detected by the water temperature detection means and the ambient temperature detection means. The occurrence of condensation can be determined based on the difference between the ambient temperature and the ambient temperature, and if there is a risk of condensation, it is possible to ensure that condensation does not occur by treating the tank so that water does not accumulate. It is possible to prevent.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 2, the dew condensation preventing means can be configured to heat the water in the tank to prevent dew condensation. In particular, when used in a cold region, water can be stored in the tank and reused, and even if water is stored in the tank, the occurrence of condensation can be prevented.

In the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not condensation occurs in the invention described in claim 1 or 2 based on the dew point temperature.

In the invention described in claim 4, the user is involved in whether or not to prevent condensation. For example, even when a certain amount of electricity is charged, it is necessary to reuse the washing water, and when it is desired to prevent condensation. Control that reflects the user's intention can be performed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from diagonally upward on the front right.
In the washing machine 1, an outer shell is constituted by a slightly vertically long housing 2. A water supply port 9 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 2, and a water supply facility such as a water supply is connected to the water supply port 9. Above the front surface of the housing 1, for example, a liquid crystal display panel 100A and operation buttons 100B are arranged. The operation content and the like can be confirmed on the display of the display panel 100A, and the user can cause the washing machine 1 to perform a desired operation by operating the operation button 100B.

On the left side of the display panel 100A and the operation buttons 100B, an accommodating portion 7 for accommodating a detergent and a softening agent is disposed so as to be drawable.
When viewed from the bottom to the top, the front surface of the housing 2 is a surface in which a lower portion rises vertically and is inclined gently and obliquely backward from the middle. A door 6 is provided near the center of the front surface. The door 6 has a square shape with rounded corners when viewed from the front side, and is provided with a circular seal packing (not shown) for closing the outer tub 5 described later.

A front panel 2a that can be independently detached is provided below the front surface of the housing 2, and by removing the front panel 2a, the lower front portion of the washing machine 1 is exposed and provided at the lower front portion. Maintenance of the pump, the switching valve, the filter device, and the like can be easily performed.
Further, a window 130 is formed on the right side of the front panel 2 a, and the window 130 is covered with a lid 131. When the lid 131 is removed, the filter device is exposed, and the lint and the like captured by the filter device can be easily removed.

The rear of the upper surface of the housing 2 is a low step surface 2b that is lowered by one step. In the washing machine 1, since the height of the housing 2 is relatively high, the upper portion of the housing 2 may interfere with the water tap when it is installed. Therefore, even when the water tap is low, a low-level step surface 2b is formed at the rear of the upper surface so that the washing machine 1 can be arranged without hindrance.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a cross section of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side when the washing machine is cut along a vertical plane along the front-rear direction. In the following, regarding the description of the washing machine 1 and its components (components) according to this embodiment, for the sake of convenience, the left side in FIG. 2 is the front (front) side, the right side is the back (rear) side, and the upper side is the upper surface (upper). The side and the lower side are described as the bottom (lower) side, the front is the right side, and the back is the left side.

A drum 3 is disposed in the center of the housing 2.
The drum 3 has a cylindrical shape, and is coaxially accommodated in the cylindrical outer tub 5. In this embodiment, the drum 3 and the outer tub 5 constitute a washing tub, and has a so-called oblique drum arrangement structure in which the front of the drum 3 faces obliquely upward. The front end surfaces of the drum 3 and the outer tub 5 are open, and a door 6 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2 to close it. A motor (not shown) is provided behind the rear end surface of the outer tub 5, and the drum 3 is rotated around the central axis of the drum 3 by a motor (not shown).

  A water supply pipe 8 disposed in the housing 2 is connected to the water supply port 9 on the upper surface of the housing 2 via a first switching valve 44 that is a four-way valve. The other end of the water supply pipe 8 opposite to one end connected to the water supply port 9 is connected to the uppermost part of the peripheral wall of the outer tub 5, and the water supply port 9 and the inside of the outer tub 5 are connected via the water supply pipe 8. Communicate. An accommodating portion 7 for accommodating a detergent and a softening agent is disposed in the middle of the water supply pipe 8.

  The accommodating portion 7 has a box (not shown) that can be pulled out forward of the housing 2, and the inside of the box is partitioned into a detergent accommodating chamber and a softener accommodating chamber. The box is pulled out, the detergent and softener are stored in the respective storage chambers, and the box is pushed in to complete the setting of the detergent and softener. When water is supplied to the storage unit 7 from the water supply pipe 8, the detergent and / or softener stored in the detergent storage room and the softener storage room respectively are supplied to the water supplied via the water supply pipe 8. Dissolved and supplied into the outer tub 5. It is also possible to selectively supply water in which the detergent and / or softener is not dissolved into the outer tub 5.

In addition, one end of a priming pipe 48 is connected to the accommodating portion 7 in the middle of the rear side surface in the up-down direction. The other end of the priming pipe 48 is connected to a pump 33 provided in the housing 2, and supplies priming water from the housing portion 7 to the pump 33 when the pump 33 is driven to pump out water. is there.
The water supply pipe 8 branches into a detergent water supply pipe 42 and a softener water supply pipe 43 at the first switching valve 44, and the detergent water supply pipe 42 and the softener water supply pipe 43 merge in the housing portion 7.

The first switching valve 44 includes an inlet through which water from the water supply port 9 flows, a detergent water outlet 45 connected to the detergent water supply pipe 42, and a softener water outlet 46 connected to the softener water supply pipe 43. .
Therefore, by switching the first switching valve 44, the water flowing in from the inlet of the first switching valve 44 is allowed to flow from the detergent water outlet 45 to the above-described detergent storage chamber of the storage unit 7 via the detergent water supply pipe 42. Alternatively, it is possible to selectively flow from the softener water outlet 46 through the softener water supply pipe 43 to the above-described softener storage chamber of the storage unit 7.

  Next, washing and dehydration by the washing machine 1 will be specifically described. The clothes to be washed are stored in the drum 3 from the front surface of the housing 2 with the door 6 opened. After the door 6 is closed, water from the water supply pipe 8 is stored in the outer tub 5 during washing. The outer tub 5 is configured to be airtight and liquidtight, but the drum 3 has a large number of small holes formed on its peripheral surface. Therefore, when water is stored in the outer tub 5, the stored water also enters the drum 3, and cleaning water also collects in the drum 3. On the inner peripheral surface of the drum 3, baffles (not shown) project from appropriate positions. When the drum 3 is rotated by a motor (not shown), the clothes containing water in the drum 3 are lifted by a baffle (not shown), and so-called tapping which is naturally dropped is performed.

  A drainage port 10 opened rearward is formed at the lowermost end of the outer tub 5, that is, below the rear end surface, and a drainage valve 12 is attached to the rear side thereof. A drainage pipe 11 extending downward is connected to the drainage valve 12, and a filter device 14 and a second switching valve 13 are interposed in this order. A branch pipe 15 as a tank water channel is connected to the filter device 14 separately from the drain pipe 11. By switching the second switching valve 13, water passing through the filter apparatus 14 is continuously supplied to the drain pipe 11. It is possible to select whether to discharge to the outside of the housing 2 or to flow out to the branch pipe 15.

  By opening the drain port 10 toward the rear of the outer tub 5 and disposing the drain valve 12 behind it, the positions of the drain port 10 and the drain valve 12 are substantially equal to the height of the lowermost end of the outer tub 5. Can be in position. Thereby, the drainage port 10 and the drainage valve 12 do not enter the arrangement space of the various components arranged below the outer tub 5, and a wide arrangement space of the various components can be secured. In particular, when the washing machine 1 is operated, the outer tub 5 vibrates. Therefore, when the drain port 10 and the drain valve 12 fixed to the outer tub 5 protrude downward from the outer tub 5, Since the drainage valve 12 vibrates together with the vibration 5, it is necessary to open a lower space in consideration of the vibration. In this embodiment, since the drainage port 10 and the drainage valve 12 are arranged using the rear of the outer tub 5, the lower space of the outer tub 5 can be used well for arranging other components.

When the drain valve 12 and the second switching valve 13 are “open”, the water in the outer tub 5 is discharged out of the housing 2. On the other hand, when the drain valve 12 is “opened” and the second switching valve 13 is “closed”, the water in the outer tub 5 flows out to the branch pipe 15 via the filter device 14.
Then, after the water in the outer tub 5 is discharged, the drum 3 is dehydrated and rotated (high-speed rotation) by a motor (not shown), and the moisture contained in the clothes is dehydrated.

  The washing machine 1 according to this embodiment can perform drying in addition to washing and dehydration. For this purpose, an outlet 17 of the drying air passage 16 is connected below the rear end face of the outer tub 5. The drying air passage 16 extends obliquely upward along the rear end surface of the outer tub 5, wraps forward along the upper portion of the outer tub 5, extends forward along the upper peripheral surface of the outer tub 5, and the tip thereof is An inlet 18 is connected to the front peripheral surface of the outer tub 5. Thereby, the inside of the outer tub 5 and the dry air passage 16 communicate with each other. In the drying air passage 16, a region extending obliquely upward along the rear end surface of the outer tub 5 functions as a dehumidifying pipe 19. When the clothes are dried, the moisture contained in the clothes is vaporized into steam, and the hot and humid air in the drum 3 containing the steam exits from the outlet 17 and moves upward in the dehumidifying pipe 19. In order to measure the temperature of the air, a thermistor B is provided in the outlet 17. In the dehumidifying pipe 19, the water supplied from the heat exchange water supply pipe 49 is dropped. Specifically, the heat exchange water supply pipe 49 has one end connected to the first switching valve 44 and the other end connected to the upper portion of the dehumidifying pipe 19. Therefore, by switching the first switching valve 44, the water from the water supply port 9 is dropped into the dehumidifying pipe 19 from the heat exchange water supply pipe 49. Apart from the heat exchange water supply pipe 49, water can also be supplied into the dehumidification pipe 19 from a heat exchange tank water supply pipe 24 as a dehumidification water channel.

  When water falls in the dehumidifying pipe 19, the water and hot and humid air exchange heat, and the hot and humid air is cooled and dehumidified. The water that has been liquefied when dehumidified falls through the dehumidifying pipe 19, and then reaches the drain port 10 through the outer tank 5 from the outlet 17. A filter 20 is inserted into the drying air passage 16 on the downstream side of the dehumidifying pipe 19 when viewed in the air flow direction, and a blower 21 is further provided on the downstream side thereof. By rotating the blower 21, the air in the drum 3 exits from the outlet 17, moves in the drying air passage 16, and is supplied again into the drum 3 from the inlet 18. A heater 22 is inserted downstream of the blower 21 in the drying air passage 16. The air passing through the drying air passage 16 is dehumidified in the dehumidifying pipe 19, and then heated by the heater 22 and supplied from the inlet 18 to the drum 3.

  A tank 4 is provided below the drum 3. This tank 4 is for storing water after being used in the outer tub 5, and is a tank having a sealed structure. In order to guide the water in the outer tub 5 to the tank 4, the other end of the branch pipe 15 opposite to one end connected to the filter device 14 is opened in the tank 4. Specifically, a water storage valve 25 is inserted in the middle of the branch pipe 15, and the branch pipe 15 extends obliquely upward from the filter 14 toward the water storage valve 25 in the range from the filter 14 to the water storage valve 25. The water storage valve 25 extends downward and penetrates the upper surface of the tank 4, and the other end of the branch pipe 15 is arranged in the vertical direction in the tank 4.

Therefore, the water in the outer tub 5 is guided into the tank 4 by closing the second switching valve 13 and opening the drain valve 12 and the water storage valve 25.
Further, one end of an air bleeding hose 51 is connected to the tank 4. The air bleeding hose 51 extends upward from the tank 4 through the rear of the outer tub 5, and the other end is connected to the upper portion of the dehumidifying pipe 19. Thereby, the inside of the tank 4 and the dry air path 16 are connected.

The tank 4 is provided with a pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 as an overflow channel (tank overflow channel) having an inlet 26 opened in the tank 4. A check valve 28 is interposed in the middle of the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27. The outlet side of the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 joins the downstream side of the second switching valve 13 of the drain pipe 11.
The pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 is also connected with an overflow pipe 23 as a washing tank overflow channel. Therefore, when a predetermined amount or more of water is supplied into the outer tub 5, the predetermined amount or more of the water overflows to the outside of the outer tub 5 through the overflow pipe 23 and is discharged outside the machine through the drain pipe 11. The

In order to circulate the water stored in the tank 4, the tank 4 has an outlet 31 and an inlet 30, and a circulation pipe 32 that communicates between the outlet 31 and the inlet 30. In the circulation pipe 32, a pump 33, a third switching valve 34, and an ejector 35 are inserted in order from the outlet 31 toward the inlet 30 so as to follow the water flow direction.
The third switching valve 34 is a five-way valve, and switches so that water discharged from the pump 33 and flowing in from one direction flows out in any of the four directions. That is, it has a first outlet 36, a second outlet 37, a third outlet 38 and a fourth outlet 39 for returning water from the inlet 30 to the tank 4 via the ejector 35.

A tank drain pipe 40 is connected to the second outlet 37, and the tank drain pipe 40 is joined downstream of the check valve 28 of the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27.
One end of the heat exchange tank water supply pipe 24 described above is connected to the third outlet 38. The other end of the heat exchange tank water supply pipe 24 is connected to the upper portion of the dehumidifying pipe 19.
One end of a tank water supply pipe 41 as a recycle water channel is connected to the fourth outlet 39, and the other end of the tank water supply pipe 41 is connected to the water supply pipe 8 through the accommodating portion 7.

Therefore, by switching the third switching valve 34, the water in the tank 4 can be pumped out by the pump 33 and circulated through the circulation pipe 32.
Further, by switching the third switching valve 34, the water in the tank 4 can be pumped out by the pump 33 and drained outside the apparatus through the tank drain pipe 40, the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 and the drain pipe 11.

Further, by switching the third switching valve 34, the water in the tank 4 can be pumped out by the pump 33 and supplied to the dehumidifying pipe 19 via the heat exchange tank water feed pipe 24. The water and the hot and humid air in the dehumidifying pipe 19 can be subjected to heat exchange to cool and dehumidify the hot and humid air.
Furthermore, by switching the third switching valve 34, the water in the tank 4 can be pumped out by the pump 33, sent from the tank water supply pipe 41 to the water supply pipe 8, and stored in the outer tub 5 for reuse in washing. .

  An ozone generator 47 is provided in the vicinity of the tank 4. In the figure, the ozone generator 47 is shown in the upper front part of the tank 4, but actually, the ozone generator 47 is provided in the upper rear part of the tank 4. The ozone generator 47 is an apparatus that generates ozone by performing silent discharge on air taken in through a filter (not shown). The air that has passed through the ozone generator 47 contains ozone.

  In this embodiment, air containing ozone output from the ozone generator 47 is supplied to the ejector 35 using the first supply path 53. The ozone supplied through the first supply path 53 is mixed with the water in the circulating tank 4 in the ejector 35. More specifically, in the ejector 35, the air containing ozone supplied from the first supply path 53 is mixed as fine bubbles in the water due to the negative pressure generated when water passes through the ejector 35. And when the pigment | dye, the odor component, and various germs are contained in water, these are oxidized by ozone and the water in the tank 4 is decolored, deodorized, and disinfected.

  When ozone continues to be supplied to the water in the tank 4 via the ejector 35, the pressure in the tank 4 increases with the supply of ozone, and the water is pushed out of the tank 4 by the supplied ozone. Since the ozone generator 47 outputs not only ozone but also air containing ozone, the air containing ozone is mixed into water in the ejector 35 as fine bubbles. Of the fine bubbles mixed in the water, ozone disappears due to the oxidation reaction in water, but the air gradually accumulates in the tank 4 and pressurizes the water in the tank 4. A part of the air in the tank 4 is released to the drying air passage 16 by the air bleeding hose 51, but when the atmospheric pressure in the tank 4 rises, the water in the tank 4 flows from the inlet 26 to the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 and The water is discharged out of the housing 2 through the drain pipe 11. The amount of water discharged varies according to the amount of ozone supplied to the tank 4.

The discharged water is water purified by the supplied ozone, and the ozone has disappeared due to the oxidation reaction. Therefore, the discharged water is purified and harmless water.
Further, as described above, the pressure adjusting drain pipe 27 and the inside of the outer tub 5 communicate with each other via the overflow pipe 23. For this reason, the water stored in the tank 4 stops being drained according to the difference between the air pressure in the tank 4 and the air pressure in the outer tub 5, and the water in the tank 4 is excessively discharged outside the housing 2. Can be prevented.

  The air containing ozone generated by the ozone generator 47 is further supplied to the drying air passage 16 by the second supply passage 54. The given position is the downstream side of the filter 20 in the drying air passage 16 and the upstream side of the blower 21 (the suction side of the blower 21). When the blower 21 rotates, the suction side becomes negative pressure, and air containing ozone is sucked into the blower 21 through the second supply path 54. Then, ozone is mixed into the air circulated through the drying air passage 16, and the ozone is supplied from the inlet 18 to the drum 3. The air is circulated through the drying air passage 16 when the clothes in the drum 3 are dried. For this reason, ozone is supplied with respect to the clothing to be dried, and the odor component and various germ components adhering to the clothing are oxidized, deodorized, or sterilized by the supplied ozone.

  Thus, in the washing machine 1 according to this embodiment, the ozone generated by the ozone generator 47 is utilized in two ways. One is that the water after use in the drum 3 and the outer tub 5 is stored in the tank 4 and used for purification such as decolorization, deodorization, sterilization, and decomposition of dirt. In addition to the purification of water, ozone is supplied to the drum 3 during the drying operation, which is used for deodorization and sterilization of the clothes to be dried.

  In addition, the outer tub 5 containing the drum 3 has a liquid-tight and air-tight structure, and the ozone generated by the ozone generator 47 is generated by the tank 4 and the outer tub 5 in the overflow pipe 23 and the air vent hose 51. Due to the connected structure, it flows between the tank 4 and the outer tub 5 but does not leak from the housing 2 to the outside. Therefore, it can be set as the apparatus which is safe and has no inconvenience in use, in which the ozone smell does not drift outside.

Further, a control board 156 for controlling the operation of the washing machine 1 is disposed in a lower space in the housing 2, for example, a position near the front upper side of the tank 4. The control board 156 is provided with a thermistor A for detecting the temperature around the outside of the tank 4.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tank 4 alone as viewed from the upper left diagonally, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower container 4a that is a component of the tank 4, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tank 4. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the center of the tank 4 along the line AA in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 illustrates a joining structure of the lower container 4a and the upper container 4b, which are constituent elements of the tank 4. It is an expanded partial sectional view for doing.

The configuration of the tank 4 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
As an example, the tank 4 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a shallow lower container 4a having an open top surface and an upper container 4b having a large vertical dimension (depth) having an open bottom surface. They are combined so that they face each other, and are integrated by joining. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, a lower flange 141 projecting outward is provided around the opening of the lower container 4a. The upper container 4b is also provided with an upper flange 142 projecting outward around the opening. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower flange 141 of the lower container 4a and the upper flange 142 of the upper container 4b are brought into contact with the lower upper part and welded, and the lower container 4a and the upper container 4b are integrated. Yes.

  In this embodiment, a water droplet catching collar 143 is formed using the upper flange 142 provided in the upper container 4b. The upper flange 142 has a rising portion 140 that rises upward from its outer edge, and a flange 143 is formed using the upper flange 142 and the rising portion 140. As described above, the tank 4 is provided for collecting water discharged from the outer tub 5 and reusing the water. However, when the water is stored in the tank 4, the tank 4 is stored. If there is a temperature difference of a certain temperature or more between the water temperature of the water and the ambient temperature around the tank 4, condensation occurs on the outer surface of the tank 4, and the condensed water drops fall along the outer surface of the tank 4 The machine 1 may hang down on the floor where the machine 1 is placed. In particular, when the washing machine 1 is used in winter in a cold region, the frequency of the above-described water droplets dropping increases.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the upper container 4b and the condensed water drops fall along the outer surface of the upper container 4b, the water drops are received by the ridge 143. The collar 143 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the lower end of the upper container 4b. That is, the flange 143 is formed so as to surround the periphery of the side surface of the tank 4 closer to the lower side. Accordingly, when the water droplets generated on the outer surface of the upper container 4b fall along the outer surface of the upper container 4b, all are received by the ridge 143. As described above, the upper container 4b is larger in depth (vertical dimension) and has a larger amount (number) of water droplets condensed on the outer surface, but these water droplets are outside the upper container 4b. When dripping along the surface, all water drops are received by the trough 143. When the number of water droplets received by the ridge 143 increases, water accumulates in the ridge 143 and the water flows along the ridge 143.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a water collecting portion 144 is formed on the front left side of the lower container 4a. The water collecting portion 144 is a concave portion having a predetermined capacity, and the upper surface thereof is continuous with the lower flange 141 of the lower container 4a. As shown in FIG. 3, the ridge 143 formed in the upper container 4 b has a cut-out portion 140 that rises upward from the edge of the flange 142 at a position corresponding to the water collection portion 144. For this reason, the water flowing along the trough 143 flows into the water collecting portion 144 from the position where the rising portion 140 is cut out.

In addition, when the ridge 143 is formed, if the horizontal position of the ridge 143 surrounding the upper container 4b is the lowest in the front left position, the water collected by the ridge 143 is collected. It flows along 143 smoothly and flows toward the front left side of the upper container 4b. Then, the water collects in the water collecting unit 144.
It is not always necessary to incline the ridge 143. Even if the ridge 143 extends horizontally, if the water accumulated in the ridge 143 increases, the water is naturally collected from the position where the rising portion 140 is cut out. It flows into 144. Further, when the tank 4 is attached to the washing machine 1 and the arrangement structure in which the tank 4 is slightly tilted so that the front left side of the tank 4 is slightly lowered, the water accumulated in the basket 143 can be comfortably provided. In addition, the water can be smoothly collected in the water collecting unit 144.

Usually, the amount of water when water droplets generated by condensation gather in the water collection unit 144 is not so large and often disappears from the water collection unit 144 due to natural evaporation.
However, a configuration may be adopted in which a drainage structure can be added to the water collection unit 144 so that there is no problem even if a large amount of water accumulates in the water collection unit 144.
For example, the drainage structure is provided with an outlet hole projection 145 in which an outlet hole communicating with the bottom surface of the water collecting portion 144 is formed, and the outlet hole projection 145 is cut halfway to connect a drainage tube (not shown). The structure which can drain the water collected in the water collection part 144 outside the apparatus can be illustrated.

In the above-described embodiment, the flange 143 is formed using the upper flange 142, but instead, a dedicated flange surrounding the peripheral surface of the tank 4 may be provided. Such a dedicated soot is preferably provided in the lower part as much as possible in the height direction of the entire tank 4 so as to receive as much water droplets as possible due to condensation on the surface of the tank 4.
In addition, the ridge 143 and the water collecting portion 144 are communicated by notching the rising portion 140 of the ridge 143, but instead, a hole is made in the upper flange 142 of the ridge 143, and the water is collected below the hole. The structure which provides the water part 144 may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the tank 4 has a central portion of the inner bottom surface of the lower container 4 a that is recessed to form a bowl-shaped recess 146 as a recess. A cylindrical body 147 is connected to the front side of the bowl-shaped recess 146, and an outlet 31 for taking out water from the tank 4 is formed by the cylindrical body 147. Therefore, the water accumulated in the bowl-shaped recess 146 that is the most depressed position in the tank 4 is pumped out from the outlet 31.

  As described with reference to FIG. 2, the water stored in the tank 4 is filtered by the filter device 14 and flows into the tank 4 from the water channel 15A shown in FIG. Although the water stored in the tank 4 is filtered by the filter device 14, it is water that has been used for rinsing in the outer tub 5, and foreign matter such as tiny lint and dust may be mixed therein. . These foreign substances contained in water are likely to gather in the most recessed bowl-shaped recess 146 in the tank 4. And when the water in the tank 4 is pumped out, it is pumped out from the outlet 31 communicating with the bowl-shaped recess 146, so that the foreign matter is also pumped out together, and the foreign matter stays in the tank 4 for a long time, A large amount of foreign matter can be prevented from staying in the tank 4.

  In other words, the water stored in the tank 4 contains some foreign matter, but when the foreign matter is pumped out of the tank 4, the foreign matter is pumped out together with the water. Moving together. For this reason, the foreign matter contained in the water stored in the tank 4 is reused together with the water. That is, even if some foreign matter is contained in the water, the harmful effect caused by the foreign matter contained in the water is eliminated by adopting a configuration in which the foreign matter is circulated together with the water.

Further, foreign matter is prevented from being accumulated in the tank 4 and a large amount of foreign matter remains in the tank 4. A configuration for this will be described below.
As described with reference to FIG. 2, the water pumped out from the outlet 31 can be led to four different paths by switching the third switching valve 34, and one of the paths is passed through the circulation path 32. It can be circulated to return to the tank 4 again. When pumped out from the outlet 34 and circulated back into the tank 4, it enters the tank 4 from the inlet 30 (see FIG. 3). Here, the inlet 30 has a vertical flow path 148 that guides water into the tank 4 vertically from top to bottom. In the lower part of the vertical channel 148, as a water guiding means (flow guiding channel), a flow changing channel 149 for changing the flow of water flowing vertically from top to bottom in a substantially horizontal direction (FIG. 6).

8 and 9 show specific configuration examples of the vertical flow path 148 and the flow change flow path 149 which is a water guiding means (flow guiding flow path). FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the configuration of the tank 4 when cut along BB in the plan view of the tank 4 shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the vertical flow path 148 guides water flowing from the inlet 30 in the vertical direction from top to bottom. The water that is guided to the vertical flow path 148 and flows from the top to the bottom collides with the flow change flow path 149 provided below the vertical flow path 148, and is changed from the vertical direction to the substantially horizontal direction by the flow change flow path 149. The flow is changed. The flow change flow path 149 has a so-called elbow shape, and changes the flow direction of water by approximately 90 ° so that the inflowing water is directed in a substantially horizontal direction in the tank 4.

  In this embodiment, the inlet 30 is provided at the front left end portion of the tank 4, and water circulating from the front left corner in the tank 4 flows in. The water flowing in from the inlet 30 flows vertically downward through the flow path 148, and the flow is changed from the vertical to the horizontal direction by the flow changing flow path 149, so that the water flowing in the horizontal direction is left in the tank 4. It proceeds in the horizontal direction along the peripheral surface, and flows in the tank 4 so as to spiral in a clockwise direction in plan view. As described above, when the water in the tank 4 is circulated, when the circulated water flows into the tank 4, a foreign substance is accumulated in the corners of the tank 4 by flowing in a vortex in the tank 4. The foreign matter is collected to the center of the bottom surface of the tank by the swirling water flow. And since the foreign material which gathered in the bowl-shaped recessed part 146 mentioned above in the center of the bottom face in the tank 4 is pumped out from the exit 31 as mentioned above, a foreign material does not remain in the tank 4.

  That is, in the tank 4, when reused water is collected, fine foreign matters contained in the water are likely to accumulate in the corners of the tank. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the water in the tank is circulated, a spiral water flow is generated by the water flowing in by the circulation so that foreign matter does not accumulate in the corners of the tank 4. Thereby, a bad effect such as a large amount of foreign matter accumulating in the tank does not occur.

  In the above description, it has been described that the water flowing from the inlet 30 flows from the vertical flow path 148 through the flow change flow path 149 (elbow structure) along the inner peripheral surface of the tank 4. However, the water guiding means is not limited to the configuration (elbow structure) of the flow changing flow path 149 described above. For example, any shape and configuration may be used as long as it is a flow path that guides inflowing water in a substantially horizontal direction and flows along the inner peripheral surface of the tank 4.

Moreover, the inlet of the inflowing water is not limited to the inlet from which the water in the tank is pumped out for circulation as in the above-described embodiment, but is discharged from the outer tank 5 and flows into the tank 4. It may be an entrance. That is, a flow guide channel for generating a spiral water flow in the water may be provided at various water inlets to the tank 4.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the tank 4. A large number of ribs are formed on the outer bottom surface of the tank 4 in a lattice shape so that the tank 4 does not deform due to the weight or pressure of water when water accumulates in the tank 4. In the region colored in light gray on the outer bottom surface of the tank 4 (hereinafter referred to as the bottom region 151), a wrinkle is formed. By forming the bottom surface in the bottom surface area 151 of the tank 4, the surface area of the bottom surface area 151 is remarkably increased, and even if condensation occurs in the bottom surface area 151, the amount of water that can adhere to the bottom surface area 151 increases. In this case, it is difficult to form water droplets, and it is difficult for water droplets to drop from the bottom region 151.

In this embodiment, the tank 4 is an example in which both the lower container 4a and the upper container 4b are made of synthetic resin. However, for example, the upper container 4a is made of stainless steel, and dirt adheres to the upper container 4a. It is also possible to make it difficult, or to make the entire tank 4 made of stainless steel.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing electrical components necessary for the condensation prevention process in the washing machine 1, and FIGS. 12 and 13 show the control contents of the condensation prevention process performed using the components shown in FIG. It is a flowchart showing.

In the washing machine 1, by adopting the structure described above, it is difficult for condensation to occur in the tank 4, and even if water droplets due to condensation adhere to the outer surface of the tank 4, the water droplets drip below the tank 4. A structure that never happens is adopted. In addition, in the washing machine 1, electrical processing control is performed so that condensation does not occur on the outer surface of the tank 4.
First, with reference to FIG. 11, the components necessary for the dew condensation prevention process will be described. The control unit 155 is a control center of the washing machine 1 and is an electronic circuit configured by a microcomputer or the like. Condensation prevention means is realized by the control program of the control unit 155. A display panel 100A, operation buttons 100B, a blower 21, a heater 22, a third switching valve 34, a pump 33, the thermistor A, and the thermistor B are electrically connected to the control unit 155. In FIG. 11, only the components necessary for the dew condensation prevention process are shown. Here, the thermistor A is for measuring the ambient temperature around the tank 4. In this embodiment, as described above, the thermistor A is attached to the control board 156 of the washing machine 1 disposed in the lower space in the housing 2. It is implemented (see FIG. 2). The thermistor B is disposed in the vicinity of the outlet 17 of the drying air passage 16 for detecting the end of drying when the washing machine 1 performs a drying operation (see FIG. 2). The thermistor B is provided at a position where the final rinse water is submerged in a state where water is accumulated in the outer tub 5.

  In this embodiment, the thermistor A measures the in-machine temperature of the washing machine 1 at the initial stage of operation or immediately after the start of the operation, and uses it as the ambient temperature of the tank 4. Further, the thermistor B detects the temperature of the rinse water at the end of the final rinse. Whether or not condensation occurs on the surface of the tank 4 when the water used for the final rinse is stored in the tank 4 can be determined based on the detection temperature of the thermistor A and the detection temperature of the thermistor B, as will be described later. Is possible.

  First, the mode selection process will be described with reference to FIG. In the mode selection process, various modes are displayed on the display panel 100A (step S1). The user can check various modes displayed on the display panel 100A and select and set a desired mode. For example, among the various modes displayed on the display panel 100A, the “cold region mode” can be selected and set by operating the operation button 100B.

The control unit 155 determines whether or not the cold region mode has been selected (step S2). If the cold region mode is selected, the control unit 155 inquires of the display panel 100A whether or not to perform dew condensation prevention processing. It is displayed (step S3).
This inquiry display
(1) Condensation prevention A: When condensation occurs, water is not accumulated in the tank. (2) Condensation prevention B: Heat the tank water using a heater (electricity is required).
Which one will you choose?
Can be exemplified.

In response to the inquiry display of the dew condensation prevention process, when the user inputs from the operation button 100B that the dew condensation prevention A is selected, it is determined that the dew condensation prevention A has been selected by the control unit 155 (step S4). ), The condensation prevention process A is set (step S5).
Here, the dew condensation prevention process A is the atmosphere around the tank 4 detected by the thermistor A when the control board 156 is not heated by the operation at the initial stage of the washing machine 1 or immediately after the start of the operation. When the temperature difference between the temperature (that is, room temperature) and the temperature of water used for the final rinse immediately before being supplied to the tank 4 at the end of the final rinse detected by the thermistor B is, for example, a predetermined temperature or more When the water temperature is lower than the dew point temperature (dew point temperature will be described later), the water used for the final rinse discharged from the outer tub 5 is not led to the tank 4 by switching the second switching valve 13. This is a process for preventing condensation on the outer surface of the tank 4 by performing a process of draining outside the machine.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is negative and the controller 155 determines in step S6 that the condensation prevention B has been selected, the condensation prevention process B is set (step S7). The temperature detection timing by the thermistor A and the thermistor B in the condensation prevention process B is also the same as in the case of the condensation prevention process A.
Note that if the determination in step S2 is negative or the determination in step S6 is negative, other processing is performed (step S8).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the content of the condensation prevention process B.
In the dew condensation prevention process B, the blower 21 and the heater 22 are turned on by the control unit 155 (step S11), and the third switching valve 34 causes the water in the tank 4 pumped by the pump 33 to flow through the tank water supply pipe 24 for heat exchange. It is made to supply to the upper part of the dehumidification pipe 19 of the drying air path 16 (step S12). Then, the pump 33 is turned on (step S13). As a result, the water in the tank 4 is pumped out by the pump 33, passes through the heat exchange tank water supply pipe 24, falls from the upper side to the lower side in the dehumidifying pipe 19, and accumulates in the outer tub 5. It circulates to the tank 4 through the device 14 and the branch pipe 15. On the other hand, since the blower 21 and the heater 22 are turned on, the air in the outer tub 5 passes through the dehumidifying pipe 19 from the outlet 17, is heated by the heater 22, and returns to the outer tub 5 from the inlet 18. Do. And in the dehumidification pipe 19, the water given from the tank water supply pipe 24 for heat exchange is heat-exchanged with the circulating hot air, and is warmed. The warmed water then returns to tank 4.

  In this washing machine 1, for example, a washing / drying course is selected, and when a series of processing such as washing, rinsing, dehydrating, and drying of laundry is performed, the heater 22 and the blower 21 are turned on when final dehydration is started. It is turned on and a heat treatment called preheat treatment is performed, and the washing tub (in the drum 3 and the outer tub 5) and the laundry are warmed, thereby improving the dehydration effect and the efficiency of the subsequent drying treatment. Is achieved.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the dew condensation prevention process B is started from the middle of the final dehydration accompanied by the preheating process or at the end of the final dehydration. Thereby, the warm air in the washing tub heated by the preheat, especially the dehumidifying pipe 19 can be effectively used.
When the inventor of the present invention has confirmed by a test, when the dew condensation prevention treatment is performed in the washing machine 1, the water temperature of the water in the tank 4 rises by about 1 ° C. in one minute when the tank 4 is filled with water. It was confirmed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the water in the tank 4 has reached the dew point temperature (step S14). Here, the dew point temperature is a temperature at which dew condensation can occur on the outer surface of the tank 4. In general, the dew point temperature can be calculated by the following formula (1).

In the above formula (1), the humidity is not actually measured. For example, it is preferable to set the humidity to 80% as a fixed value in order to simplify the condensation prevention process. When the humidity is a fixed value of 80%, the humidity condition can be regarded as the worst condition, that is, the condition where condensation is very likely to occur. Under such conditions, the dew point temperature is calculated based on the above equation (1).
When the temperature of the water stored in the tank 4 reaches the dew point temperature or higher, no condensation occurs on the outer surface of the tank 4. Therefore, when the water in the tank 4 is warmed until the dew point temperature is reached, the blower 21, the heater 22, and the pump 33 are turned off (step S15), and the dew condensation prevention process ends.

In this invention, it was set as the structure which a user can select whether the dew condensation prevention process B shown in FIG. 13 is performed. As described above, when the condensation prevention process B is performed, the user is asked whether or not the condensation prevention process B is performed. In performing the condensation prevention process B, an electric charge such as energization of the heater 22 is performed. Because it becomes necessary.
In the embodiment described above, whether or not to perform the dew condensation prevention process is determined based on the detection temperature of the thermistor A and the thermistor B, whether or not the water temperature in the tank 4 with respect to the atmospheric temperature of the tank 4 is less than the dew point temperature. Although an example of performing is described, instead of this, it is determined that there is a possibility that condensation may occur when the detected temperature of the thermistor A and the detected temperature of the thermistor B are merely different from a predetermined temperature. It is good also as a structure which performs a process.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

It is a perspective view of the washing machine concerning one embodiment of this invention, and is the figure seen from the front right diagonal upper part. It is the schematic sectional side view which looked at the cross section when the washing machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was cut | disconnected by the vertical surface along the front-back direction from the side. It is the perspective view which looked at the tank 4 single-piece | unit from diagonally forward left. 4 is a perspective view of a lower container 4a that is a component of a tank 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a tank 4. FIG. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tank 4 along the line AA of FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view for explaining a joint structure between a lower container 4a and an upper container 4b that are constituent elements of a tank 4. FIG. In the top view of the tank 4 shown in FIG. 5, it is the perspective view of the state which looked at the structure of the tank 4 when cut | disconnected by BB from the back diagonally right side. It is the elements on larger scale in FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tank 4. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing electrical components necessary for dew condensation prevention processing in the washing machine 1. FIG. It is a flowchart showing the control content of the dew condensation prevention process performed using the component shown in FIG. It is a flowchart showing the control content of the dew condensation prevention process performed using the component shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Washing machine 2 Housing 3 Drum (washing tub)
5 Outer tub (washing tub)
4 tank 4a lower container 4b upper container 141 lower flange 142 upper flange 143 樋 144 water collecting part 146 bowl-shaped recessed part 149 flow changing flow path 151 bottom area 155 control part

Claims (4)

A housing constituting the outer shell;
A washing tub provided in a relatively upper position in the housing for storing water and storing clothes;
A washing machine including a tank for storing water discharged from the washing tub after being used in the washing tub, provided relatively below in the housing;
Condensation prevention means for preventing the occurrence of condensation when there is a risk of condensation on the outer surface of the tank by storing water in the tank,
The dew condensation prevention means
Water temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of water discharged from the washing tub;
Atmosphere temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature around the tank;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not condensation occurs when water is accumulated in the tank based on both detection temperatures;
When the determining means determines that condensation occurs, drainage switching means for preventing water discharged from the washing tub from being supplied to the tank;
Washing machine characterized in that it comprises a. The dew condensation preventing means is a water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of water discharged from the washing tub,
Atmosphere temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature around the tank;
A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not condensation occurs when water is accumulated in the tank based on both detection temperatures;
A means for heating the water stored in the tank based on the fact that the determination means determines that condensation occurs;
The washing machine according to claim 1 , comprising: The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the determining means determines whether or not condensation occurs based on a dew point temperature . Having a mode switch that can be selected by the user;
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit and a selection unit for entrusting a user with a determination as to whether or not to function the dew condensation prevention unit when the mode switch is selected. Washing machine.

Images