JP4877346B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine capable of efficiently rinsing with a reduced amount of water used in a washing machine that controls and sequentially executes washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes.

  Conventionally, in order to save resources, this type of washing machine has used a rinsing method in which the washing and dewatering tub is rotated while pouring water into the garment from the upper side in the rinsing process without adding water to the washing and dewatering tub. (For example, see Patent Document 1).

  4 is a side sectional view of a conventional washing machine, FIG. 5 is a washing process of the washing machine, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a rinsing process.

  In FIG. 4, the casing 1 is provided with an outer tub 3 that is elastically suspended by a plurality of suspensions 2, and the suspension 2 absorbs vibration during dehydration. Inside the outer tub 3, a washing / dehydrating tub 4 for storing laundry is disposed so as to be rotatable around a hollow and double-structured washing shaft 5 a and dehydrating shaft 5. A pulsator 6 for stirring clothes (laundry) is rotatably disposed on the inner bottom, and a drain port 7 and a drain valve 8 are provided on the bottom.

  A large number of small holes 4 a for draining water are provided in the inner peripheral wall of the washing and dewatering tub 4. The motor 9 is attached to the bottom of the outer tub 3 and transmits the rotation to the drive mechanism 11 having a clutch mechanism and a brake mechanism via the belt 10.

  The clutch switching device (not shown) in the drive mechanism 11 simultaneously brakes and releases the dehydrating shaft 5 and brakes the dehydrating shaft 5 to drive the washing shaft 5a during washing to drive the clothes stirring pulsator 6 The dehydrating shaft 5 is released from braking, the drain valve 8 is opened, and the washing / dehydrating tub 4 is rotated.

  The washing liquid or the rinsing liquid in the outer tub 3 is drained out of the machine through the drain valve 8 at the bottom. The water level detection device 12 is formed by a pressure sensor or the like, detects the water level in the washing and dewatering tub 4, and detects the water level so that water is supplied to a predetermined water level A during washing.

  The housing cover 14 covers the upper portion of the housing 1, has an openable / closable lid 15, is provided with a control device 16 having an operation display unit, and is supplied with tap water supplied to the washing and dehydrating tub 4. A water supply valve 17 connected to a faucet or the like is provided inside.

  The control device 16 includes a microcomputer and the like, and controls the motor 9, the clutch switching device (not shown), the water supply valve 17, and the drain valve 8, and sequentially controls a series of steps of washing, rinsing, and dewatering. It is configured.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In the washing process (100), the drain valve 8 is closed, the opening / closing lid 15 is opened, clothes (laundry) is put into the washing / dehydrating tub 4 (101), the power switch is turned on (102), and the process starts. When the switch is turned on (103), the water supply valve 17 is opened (104), water is supplied to the predetermined water level A (105, 106), the motor 9 is driven (107), and the pulsator 6 is rotated to perform washing.

  When a predetermined time elapses in washing, the motor 9 is turned off (108, 109), and the washing process is finished (110).

  When the washing process is completed, in FIG. 7, in the next rinsing process (200), the drain valve 8 is opened (201), and at the same time, a clutch switching device (not shown) inside the drive mechanism unit 11 is switched to switch the dehydrating shaft. The washing and dewatering tub 4 is brought into a rotatable state via the dewatering shaft 5 while releasing the brake 5 (202).

  After the drainage is completed (203), the intermediate dehydration with the motor 9 turned on (204), the rotation of the washing and dewatering tank 4 is raised to a level of 700 to 800 r / min, the clothes are centrifugally dehydrated, and the detergent components remaining in the clothes Is removed from the clothing at the same time as the washing liquid.

  After a predetermined time (205), the motor 9 is turned off (206), the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 4 is gradually lowered, a clutch switching device (not shown) inside the drive mechanism 11 is switched, and the dewatering shaft 5 is braked. (207) The washing and dewatering tub 4 is stopped once.

  Thereafter, the clutch switching device (not shown) in the drive mechanism 11 is switched again, and the washing and dewatering tub 4 is allowed to rotate via the dewatering shaft 5 while releasing the braking of the dewatering shaft 5 (208). At the same time, the motor 9 is turned ON (209) and OFF (210) again, and the washing and dewatering tub 4 is kept at a low speed rotation of 30 to 50 r / min on average for a predetermined time, and at the same time, the water supply valve 17 is opened (211). Then, tap water or the like is supplied into the washing / dehydrating tub 4 in a shower-like manner, and water is evenly poured onto the clothes clinging to the inner wall of the washing / dehydrating tub 4, and the detergent components remaining in the clothes are diluted or permeated into the clothes. Let go.

  After supplying water for a predetermined time (212), the water supply valve 17 is turned OFF (213), the drain valve 8 is turned OFF (214), a clutch switching device (not shown) inside the drive mechanism 11 is switched, and the dehydrating shaft 5 is braked. (215) The washing / dehydrating tub 4 is stopped and the rinsing process is terminated (216).

  When the rinsing process is completed, a dehydration process for removing moisture contained in the clothes is performed by high-speed centrifugal dehydration in which the rotation of the washing and dehydrating tub 4 is raised to a level of 700 to 800 r / min, and the series of processes is completed.

As described above, in the conventional rinsing method, for example, when the laundry has an 8 kg capacity, about 15 to 25 L of water is poured into the clothes in a shower-like manner with respect to the amount of water of about 50 to 70 L at the water level A in the washing process. By adopting the configuration, the rinsing effect was obtained with the least amount of water used.
JP-A-8-117478

  However, in the conventional configuration, when water is poured into clothing in the rinsing process, the rinsing time control is generally performed by opening and closing the water supply valve for a predetermined time. Rinse unevenness occurs because the flow rate decreases and the amount of water injected into the garment is not supplied, especially when there is a large amount of cloth, etc. There was a problem to do.

  Another object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to obtain an efficient and stable rinsing effect with a small amount of water even under a low tap water pressure condition.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a washing machine that can improve the appearance of rinsing and appeal that it is well supported.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, in the washing machine of the present invention, the washing and dewatering tub has a lower blade formed on the outer periphery of the lower part, the upper cover has two upper inlets and outlets, provided the lower inlet of the two places corresponding to the prior SL top cover to the vessel, one of the lower inlet is provided substantially the bottom inner peripheral surface of the outer tub and the other substantially at the center in the circumferential surface of the outer tub provided with, and a lower inlet and an upper portion inlet of the two locations respectively provided water supply portion of the two places which communicates, on the water level of the washing and dewatering in the water tank to the water discharge valve in the closed state in the rinsing operation a predetermined level At the time of arrival, the washing and dewatering tub is driven to rotate , and when the water level is lower than the lower inlet provided in the substantially central inner peripheral surface, water is sprinkled into the washing and dewatering tub from one outlet. for near or high water level in the lower inlet provided in the substantially central inner peripheral surface 2 It is obtained so as to watering from the discharge port of the place.

  As a result, the amount of water supplied to the clothing does not fluctuate due to the level of the tap water pressure, and the predetermined amount of water is forcedly circulated to remove the detergent and the like contained in the clothing in the washing and dewatering tub from the upper cover discharge port. Therefore, it is possible to secure stable rinsing performance and reduce the amount of water used.

  The washing machine of the present invention is not affected by variations in tap water pressure, can ensure stable rinsing performance, and can reduce the amount of water used.

The first invention is fixed to a motor for driving a pulsator, a washing / dehydrating tub in which the pulsator is rotatably disposed on an inner bottom, an outer tub containing the washing / dehydrating tub, and an upper portion of the outer tub A drive mechanism means having a clutch mechanism for selectively switching the rotation of the pulsator and the washing and dewatering tub at the bottom of the outer tub, a drain opening provided at the bottom of the outer tub, and opening and closing the drain opening A drain valve, a water supply valve for controlling water supply to the washing and dehydrating tub, a water level detecting device for detecting a water level in the washing and dehydrating tub, the motor, the drive mechanism means, the drain valve, It has an operation of water supply means and a control device for controlling each process of washing, rinsing and dehydration, the washing / dehydrating tub forms a back blade on the outer periphery of the lower part, and the upper cover has two upper inlets and outlets. an outlet, the said outer tub before The lower inlet of the two places corresponding to the upper cover is provided, with one of the lower inlet is provided substantially the bottom inner peripheral surface of the outer tub and the other provided substantially at the center in the circumferential surface of the outer tub, two locations when the lower inlet and an upper portion inlet respectively provided water supply portion of the two places which communicates, the water level of the washing and dewatering in the water tank to the water discharge valve in the closed state in the rinsing operation has reached a predetermined water level, The washing and dewatering tub is driven to rotate , and when the water level is lower than the lower inlet provided in the substantially central inner peripheral surface, water is sprinkled into the washing and dewatering tub from one discharge port, and the substantially central inner periphery is sprinkled. by for near or high water level in the lower inlet provided on a surface has a structure and the washing machine water is sprayed from the discharge port of the two places, that amount of water supplied to the garment by high and low water pressure fluctuates There is no It is possible to remove the detergent or the like contained in the clothes in the washing and dewatering tank than over the discharge port, it can be reduced with the use amount of water to ensure a stable rinsing performance.

This also increases the amount of water sprayed to two locations depending on the amount of water in the washing / dehydration tank at the time of rinsing. In addition, by changing the water spray location and the amount of water sprayed, it is possible to secure an appropriate amount of circulating water. Further, it is possible to improve the cleaning power and the rinsing power by sprinkling the circulating water according to the amount of water, and to appeal the performance of the circulating cleaning and the circulating rinsing according to the amount of water to the user.

  In addition, particularly when the water level is low and the water level is low, water is sprayed from one upper discharge port into the washing and dewatering tank, so that a sufficient rinsing effect can be obtained even with a small amount of water, and the water saving effect is also enhanced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the thing of the same structure as a prior art example attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description. Further, the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a side sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a washing process of the washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a rinsing process of the washing machine.

  In FIG. 1, a washing and dewatering tub 18 is provided with a large number of small holes 18a on the inner peripheral wall, and a pulsator 6 for stirring clothes is rotatably arranged on the inner bottom portion, and the water level reaches a predetermined water level A during the washing process. Water is poured and the clothes are washed by rotating the pulsator 6. Also, a plurality of fin-shaped back blades 19 are formed radially downward on the outer bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 18.

  The outer tub 20 encloses the washing / dehydration tub 18 in a rotatable manner, and is provided with a drain port 7 and a drain valve 8 for draining internal water at the bottom, and an inner wall between the outer tub 20 and the washing / dehydration tub 18. 21 is constituted. The inner wall 21 and the side wall of the outer tub 20 form a tubular water supply portion 23 that allows water to pass therethrough, and a lower inlet 22 is provided at the bottom of the inner wall 21, and water flowing from the lower inlet 22 It is possible to supply water upward through the section 23.

  On the upper opening edge of the outer tub 20, a donut-shaped plate-like upper cover 26 having an opening 30 for putting clothes in the center is fixed.

  A part of the upper cover 26 includes a water injection part 27 in which a plurality of holes serving as water passages for water to be injected from the water supply valve 17 into the washing and dewatering tub 18 are formed, and the inside of the lower washing and dewatering tub 18. An upper inflow port 28 that has a directed upper cover discharge port 29 and is fixed in a watertight manner at a position corresponding to the upper end of the water supply unit 23 formed by the side wall and the inner wall 21 of the outer tub 20 is provided.

  Accordingly, the water supply from the water supply valve 17 passes through the upper cover discharge port 29 from the water injection part 27 of the upper cover 26 to the inside of the washing and dehydrating tank 18 and from the water supply part 23 on the side wall of the outer tank 20 to Water is sprinkled into the washing and dewatering tub 18 from the upper cover discharge port 29 via the upper inflow port 28.

  Therefore, when the washing and dewatering tub 18 is rotated in a state where water of a low water level that does not allow the pulsator 6 to be completely immersed is stored in the outer tub 20 as shown at the water level B in FIG. The water is agitated by the pumping action of the plurality of back blades 19, is fed to the water feeding part 23 from the lower inlet 22, and is sprinkled as a circulating water stream into the washing and dewatering tub 18 from the upper cover discharge port 29.

  The control device 25 includes a microcomputer and controls a series of processes such as washing, rinsing, and dehydration. Further, the water level detection device 24 is constituted by a pressure sensor or the like, communicates with the lower part of the outer tub 20, converts the water pressure in the outer tub 20 into an electric signal, and compares it with each water level set value preset in the control device 25. The water level of the washing water in the washing and dewatering tub 18 is detected, and a predetermined water level A during washing, a low water level B during rinsing, and the like are detected.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In the washing process (400), the drain valve 8 is closed, and clothes (laundry) is put into the washing / dehydrating tub 18 (401), the power switch is turned on (402), and the start switch is turned on (403). Then, the water supply valve 17 is opened (404), water is supplied to a predetermined water level A (405), the water supply valve is closed (406), and the motor 9 is driven (407). At this time, the motive power of the motor 9 is transmitted to the pulsator 6 through the washing shaft 5a, and the pulsator 6 rotates, so that the dirt adhering to the clothes is removed by the stirring force and the water flow force. Is turned off (408, 409) and the washing process is finished (410).

  When the washing process is completed, in the next rinsing process (500) in FIG. 3, the drain valve 8 is opened (501), and at the same time, the clutch of the drive mechanism unit 11 (not shown) by the clutch switching device (not shown). The washing and dewatering tub 18 is made rotatable through the dewatering shaft 5 while releasing the braking of the dewatering shaft 5 (502).

  After draining is completed (503), the motor 9 is turned on (504), the rotation of the washing and dewatering tank 18 is started up to a level of 700 to 800 r / min, the clothes are centrifugally dehydrated, and the detergent component remaining in the clothes is the washing liquid. At the same time, the clothes are separated from the clothes, passed through the washing / dehydrating tub 18 through a large number of small holes 18a provided on the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub 18, and discharged from the drain port 7 through the drain valve 8 to the outside of the machine. Perform dehydration.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed (505), the motor 9 is turned off (506), the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 18 is gradually lowered, the clutch switching device (not shown) inside the drive mechanism 11 is switched, and the dewatering shaft 5a is braked. (507) The washing and dewatering tub 18 is stopped once and the drain valve 8 is turned off, that is, the water can be stored in the outer tub 20 (508).

  The clutch switching device (not shown) in the drive mechanism 11 is switched again, and the washing and dewatering tub 18 is made rotatable via the dewatering shaft 5a while releasing the braking of the dewatering shaft 5a (509). The water supply valve 17 is opened (510) to supply water (511, 512) to a low predetermined water level B near the outer periphery of the pulsator 6.

  Thereafter, the motor 9 is turned ON again (513), and the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 18 is held at a rotational speed of about 180 to 200 r / min for a predetermined time (514). At this time, the rinsing liquid is agitated in the circumferential direction by the back blade 19, flows into the lower inlet 22, rises in the water feeding section 23, passes through the upper inlet 28, and passes through the upper cover outlet 29 to the washing and dewatering tub 18. Water is sprinkled on the clothes in the washing and dewatering tank 18 from above.

  It penetrates into the clothes and passes through the centrifugal force, and at the same time, the detergent component inside the clothes is detached from the clothes, and is removed from the washing / dehydrating tub 18 through the small holes 18a provided in the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub 18 to the bottom of the outer tub 20. The clothes fall down and are swept up again by the back blade 19, pass through the lower inlet 22, the water supply part 23, and the upper inlet 28 in order, and then the clothes in the washing / dehydration tub 18 from the upper part of the washing / dehydration tub 18 through the upper cover discharge port 29. By repeating the forced circulation operation of spraying water for a predetermined time (514), the detergent components remaining in the entire clothing can be diluted uniformly.

  After a predetermined time (514), the motor 9 is turned off (515), the clutch (not shown) of the drive mechanism 11 is switched by a clutch switching device (not shown), and the dehydrating shaft 5a is braked (516). 18 is stopped and the rinsing process is terminated (517).

  When the rinsing process is completed, the water contained in the clothes is removed by high-speed centrifugal dehydration in which the rotation of the washing and dehydrating tub 4 is raised to a level of 700 to 800 r / min, and the centrifuging is performed for a longer time than the intermediate dehydration time during the rinsing process. Dehydrating and final squeezing completes the entire sequence of washing, rinsing and dehydration.

  As described above, in the case of 8 kg capacity in the rinsing process, for example, the water level of about 15 to 25 L indicated by the low water level B in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the pulsator 6 is temporarily used in the rinsing process for the water level of about 50 to 70 L at the water level A in the washing process. The rinsing liquid is forcibly circulated by rotating the reservoir / washing / dehydrating tub 18, thereby irrigating, penetrating, detaching, and again irrigating, penetrating, detaching, and rinsing the detergent components remaining in the entire garment. Can be increased.

  In addition, by rinsing and storing a small amount of water, unlike the method in which water is poured into clothing by controlling the opening time of the water supply valve 17, even if the tap water pressure is low, there is no fluctuation in the amount of water that is supplied and rinsing is uneven. Can be prevented, and a stable rinsing performance can be secured with a small amount of water used.

  Further, in the present invention, in addition to providing the water supply section 23 also at the rear of the washing machine as shown in FIG. 1, the water supply section 23a is also provided at the front of the washing machine. A lot of water can be circulated and the rinsing performance is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper cover 26 has two upper inlets 28, 28a and outlets 29, 29a, and the outer tank 20 has two lower portions corresponding to the upper cover 26 on the inner peripheral surface of the bottom. In addition to providing the inlets 22 and 22a, two water supply portions 23 and 23a that connect the lower inlets 22 and 22a and the upper inlets 28 and 28a of the upper cover 26 are provided, and the lower portions of the two One of the inlets 22 and 22a (lower inlet 22) is provided with an inlet 22 on the inner peripheral surface of the bottom of the outer tank, and the other part (lower inlet 22a) flows on the substantially inner peripheral surface of the outer tank. By providing the inlet 22a, when the water level is lower than the inlet 22a provided at the substantially central inner peripheral surface, water is sprayed from one upper discharge port 29 into the washing and dewatering tub, and provided at the substantially central inner peripheral surface. Water level near or near inlet 22a In the case of high water level, by spraying water from the two upper outlets 29 and 29a, the amount of water sprayed can be increased to two locations depending on the amount of water in the washing / dehydrating tank at the time of rinsing. Can appeal to the person.

  In particular, if the water is sprayed from the two upper discharge ports 29 and 29a when the water level is low, a sufficient amount of circulating water may not be obtained and the rinsing force may be reduced. When water is sprinkled from the outlet 29a, a sufficient amount of circulating water corresponding to the amount of water can be obtained, and a sufficient rinsing effect can be obtained even with a small amount of water.

  In other words, it is difficult to forcibly spray water from two places when the water level is low. If the water level is low, water is sprayed from one place without difficulty. It is possible to sprinkle water, change the water sprinkling location and the amount of water sprinkled depending on the water level, ensure appropriate circulating water volume, improve the cleaning power and rinsing power by sprinkling the circulating water according to the water volume, Even in this case, it is possible to appeal the performance of circulating cleaning and rinsing according to the amount of water.

Side sectional view of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Flow chart of washing process of the washing machine Flow chart of rinsing process of the washing machine Side sectional view of a conventional washing machine Flow chart of washing process of the washing machine Flow chart of rinsing process of the washing machine

6 Pulsator 7 Drain port 8 Drain valve 9 Motor 11 Drive mechanism (drive mechanism means)
17 Water supply valve 18 Washing and dewatering tank 19 Back blade 20 Outer tank 22, 22a Lower inlet 23, 23a Water supply unit 24 Water level detection device 25 Control device 26 Upper cover 28, 28a Upper inlet 29, 29a Upper cover discharge port

Claims (1)

A motor for driving the pulsator; a washing and dewatering tub in which the pulsator is rotatably disposed on the inner bottom; an outer tub containing the washing and dehydrating tub; an upper cover fixed to the upper portion of the outer tub; Drive mechanism means having a clutch mechanism for selectively switching the rotation of the pulsator and the washing / dehydrating tub at the bottom of the tub, a drain port provided at the bottom of the outer tub, a drain valve for opening and closing the drain port, A water supply valve for controlling the water supply to the washing and dewatering tub, a water level detection device for detecting the water level in the washing and dewatering tub, and the operations of the motor, the drive mechanism means, the drain valve, the water supply means, etc. A control device for controlling each process of washing, rinsing and dewatering, the washing and dewatering tub forms a back blade on the outer periphery of the lower part, the upper cover has two upper inlets and outlets, the outer tank before Symbol top cover The lower inlet of the response was two locations provided, one of said lower inlet is provided substantially the bottom inner peripheral surface of the outer tub, the other is provided substantially at the center in the circumferential surface of the outer tub, lower flow of two locations inlet and an upper portion inlet respectively provided water supply portion of the two places which communicates, when the water level of the rinsing in the washing and dewatering tank and the water discharge valve in the closed state in the process has reached a predetermined water level, the washing and When the dehydrating tub is driven to rotate and the water level is lower than the lower inlet provided in the substantially central inner peripheral surface, water is sprinkled from the one outlet into the washing and dehydrating tub, and provided in the substantially central inner peripheral surface. washing machine is configured to be sprinkled from the outlet of the two places in the case of near or high water level in the lower inlet was.