JP5124544B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an unbalance reduction of a washing machine including a rotating drum. The washing machine of the present invention includes a washing machine having only a washing function and a washing / drying machine that performs washing and drying.

  A washing machine related to this unbalance reduction is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-269593 (Patent Document 1).

  The washing machine shown in Patent Document 1 is an effective invention for eliminating the imbalance caused by the lint filter.

JP-A-6-269593

The dehydrating washing machine shown in Patent Document 1 is intended to reduce imbalance by disposing a weight at a position 180 ° from the lint filter at the bottom of the washing and dehydrating tub in order to eliminate imbalance due to the lint filter. .

  However, the rotating drum including the washing and dewatering tank has various unbalance factors including the lint filter, and it is desired to adjust the unbalance with respect to the entire rotating drum. In addition, in the configuration of the cantilever support mechanism that supports one side of the rotating drum, even if a weight is arranged on the bottom surface of the rotating drum, the function of suppressing rotational vibration due to unbalance is weak, and rotational vibration can be effectively suppressed and reduced. difficult. Further, it is not easy to attach a weight for adjusting the unbalance on the bottom surface side of the rotating drum.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of effectively suppressing and mitigating rotational vibration due to unbalance of a rotating drum.

The present invention relates to a rotating drum for washing laundry, an outer tub for storing washing water and having the rotating drum installed therein, a rotating drum drive system including a driving motor for driving the rotating drum, and an outer tub for installing the outer tub. The rotary drum includes a frame and a vibration isolating mechanism that supports the outer tub on the outer frame, and the rotary drum includes a drum tub in which laundry is placed, a fluid balance ring that balances the rotation of the rotary drum, and the rotary drum. is one end of the rotation axis line direction to a rotation support mechanism of the support the cantilevered by rotary drum drive system are arranged a fluid balance ring on the other side which is opposite to the one end In the washing machine, the fluid balance ring is provided with a counterweight for adjusting the rotational balance of the rotating drum.

  According to the present invention, since the counterweight for adjusting the rotational balance of the rotating drum is provided in the fluid balance ring, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can effectively suppress and reduce rotational vibration due to unbalanced rotating drum.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire washing and drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing mechanism main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotating drum as viewed from the front side according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the front side of the washing mechanism body according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view of a fluid balance ring according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded sectional view which related to the Example of this invention and expanded the inner peripheral side part of the fluid balance ring. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a storage recess into which a counterweight is inserted as viewed from the front side according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a counterweight according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Examples according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The washing machine of the present invention includes a washing machine having only a washing function and a washing / drying machine that performs washing and drying. In this embodiment, a washing / drying machine will be described. In addition, the washing and drying machine of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the opening of the rotating drum is obliquely upward. However, the present invention can be used in various forms of washing in which the rotating drum is placed horizontally (horizontally) or vertically. Applicable to the machine.

  First, the outline | summary of the washing-drying machine based on the Example of this invention is demonstrated along FIG.

  The washing / drying machine includes an outer frame housing 1 and a washing mechanism main body that is supported by a suspension 3 and a tension spring 4 in the outer frame housing.

  The washing mechanism main body has an outer tub 2. The outer tub 2 is made of synthetic resin and stores washing water. The outer tub 2 is supported from below by a plurality of suspensions 3 at the rear of the center. Further, the upper part of the outer tub 2 is suspended and supported by the pull spring 4 so that the washing mechanism main body is supported in an anti-vibration manner.

  The suspension 3 supports the entire weight of the washing mechanism main body including the outer tub 2, has a strong elastic support structure, and is fixed to the outer frame base 20 of the outer frame housing 1. In particular, a damping mechanism is provided to absorb strong vertical vibration of the outer tub 2 generated during dehydration operation, and to suppress abnormal vibration of the outer tub 2 generated at the time of dehydration activation and unbalance vibration due to high-speed dehydration rotation (about 1700 RPM). ing.

  Further, the pulling spring 4 for supporting the outer tub 2 by suspending it from the upper part is provided to support the falling of the outer tub 2 and to prevent vertical / horizontal vibration during dehydration.

  A water supply electromagnetic valve 6 and a detergent charging case 8 are provided inside the upper side of the outer frame housing 1. The detergent charging case 8 is connected to the water supply electromagnetic valve 6 through a water injection hose 7. A water supply hose 5 is connected to the water supply electromagnetic valve 6. The tip of the water supply hose 5 is connected to a tap (not shown).

  When washing is too easy, the water supply electromagnetic valve 6 is opened, and water necessary for washing and washing is supplied from the water injection hose 7 to the detergent charging case 8.

  A detergent necessary for washing is put into the detergent charging case 8. Further, at the time of rinsing, a softening finishing agent for improving the finish of the laundry is put into the case portion for storing the finishing agent provided in the detergent charging case 8 and automatically put into the outer tub 2 when necessary. At the time of washing, the detergent is dissolved in the detergent charging case 8 by the water supplied from the water injection hose 7, flows through the flexible hose 10, and is charged into the inside from the upper part of the outer tub 2.

  The rotating drum 11 has a drum tank 11 a and a fluid balance ring 13. The rotating drum 11 is rotatably installed in the outer tub 2. The drum tank 11a has a cylindrical body, a back side wall, and a front opening. The fluid balance ring 13 attached and fixed to the opening of the drum tank 11a has a ring shape, and has a loading port 11b through which the laundry is taken in and out of the rotating drum 11. The rotating drum 11 is disposed so that the front side faces the front side of the outer frame casing 1 and the back side wall portion faces the rear side of the outer frame casing 1.

  Since the cylindrical outer tub 2 and the similarly cylindrical rotating drum 11 are placed so that the cylindrical axis is concentric, the gap between the outer periphery of the rotating drum 11 and the inner periphery of the outer tub 2 is uniform. The charging port 11 b of the rotary drum 11 is arranged so as to face the charging port 11 c provided on the front side of the outer frame housing 1.

  The outer tub 2 and the rotating drum 11 are arranged so as to be inclined so that the front end side where the charging port 11b of the rotating drum 11 is provided is upward and the rear end side is downward. This inclination angle (angle of the axial center line with respect to the horizontal line) θ is 15 degrees. Although an inclination angle of about 15 degrees is desirable for taking out the laundry, the inclination angle θ can be selected within a range of about (5 to 30) degrees.

  The outer frame housing 1 is provided with an outer lid 12 that opens and closes the insertion port 11c. When the laundry is put in and out of the rotating drum 11, the outer lid 12 is opened and closed.

  The bellows 21 is attached in a watertight manner to the mouth edge of the inlet 11 c of the outer frame housing 1 and the inner edge of the inlet 11 d of the outer tub 2. The water-tightness between the outer frame housing 1 and the outer tub 2 is maintained by the bellows 21 made of rubber (elastic body). Since the inner side of the outer lid 12 is in close contact with the bellows 21, no water leaks from the inlet 11c of the outer frame housing 1 to the outside.

  The rotating drum 11 has a plurality of dewatering holes 14 in the body portion of the drum tank 11a. At the time of dehydration, water contained in the laundry is dehydrated into the outer tub 2 by centrifugal force through the dehydration hole 14. A plurality of (three) lifters 16 disposed at equal intervals on the inner periphery are provided on the body portion of the drum tank 11a. The lifter 16 extends along the direction of the rotational axis of the rotary drum 11. The height of the lifter 16 is generally the same height over the longitudinal direction.

  A DC brushless motor 19 as a drive motor of a rotary drum drive system that drives the rotary drum 11 to rotate is attached and fixed to the rear outer surface of the outer tub 2. The rotating drum 11 has a flange 17 formed of metal on the outer surface of the rear side wall portion of the drum tank 11a. A main shaft 18 provided on the flange 17 is coupled to a rotor of a DC brushless motor 19. Thus, the rotary drum 11 is rotatably supported by the outer tub 2 via the DC brushless motor 19.

  The drainage hose 23 of the drainage channel is provided so that one end communicates with the lower rear portion of the outer tub 2, and the other end side extends through the outer frame base 20 of the washing / drying machine and is inserted into the drainage hole of the house. The A drainage electromagnetic valve 22 is provided in the middle of the drainage hose 23, and the drainage electromagnetic valve 22 is opened to drain the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 2.

  Next, the main part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotary drum 11 includes a drum tank 11 a and a fluid balance ring 13. The drum tank 11a is made of stainless steel, and the fluid balance ring 13 is made of synthetic resin. The drum tank 11a has a body part, a back side wall part, and a front opening. When the rotary drum 11 is placed vertically, the rear side wall portion becomes the bottom portion, and the front opening portion becomes the upper opening portion. The rotary drum 11 is supported by the drive motor via a flange 17 provided on the outer side surface of the back side wall. That is, the rotating drum 11 supports one end side (back side wall portion and flange 17) in the rotation axis direction with a rotating drum driving system including a driving motor, and fluid balance to the other end side opposite to the one end side. A ring 13 is arranged. This is a so-called cantilevered rotation support mechanism, and is provided with a fluid balance ring 13 at the opening of the drum tank 11a opposite to the support side so as to suppress the rotation imbalance.

  The fluid balance ring 13 reduces the vibration of the unbalancer due to the laundry 9 during the dehydrating operation. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fluid balance ring 13 includes a fluid storage portion 30 and a storage recess 31 in which the counterweight 33 is stored. The counterweight 33 is for adjusting the rotational balance of the rotary drum 11. Details will be described later. The fluid storage unit 30 includes a plurality of fluid storage chambers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, and 30e. The annular fluid storage chambers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, and 30e are arranged in the radial direction and are concentrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the drum tank 11a.

  The fluid storage chambers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, and 30e are provided with ribs (not shown) in the radial direction so that the fluid does not flow freely without resistance in the circumferential direction. As the fluid for filling the fluid storage chamber, an aqueous solution of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride or the like is used as a material that has a high specific gravity and does not decay.

  The fluid balance ring support plate 40 is formed of a stainless steel plate, and the outer peripheral end is fastened to the opening end of the drum tank 11a by folding. Since the fluid balance ring is supported by the fluid balance ring support plate 40, the fluid balance ring is firmly supported so as to withstand strong vibration, unlike the case where the fluid balance ring is directly attached to the drum tank 11a. The outer tank cover 32 is provided so as to cover the fluid balance ring 13 from the outside. The outer tub cover 32 is attached and supported on the front side (opening end side) of the outer tub 2 at the outer peripheral side.

  The fluid balance ring 13 is provided with a storage recess 31 into which the counterweight 33 is inserted. The counterweight 33 is attached to the lighter weight because the rotational balance of the rotary drum 11 is unbalanced. Thereby, the imbalance of rotation balance is adjusted and the rotating drum 11 without rotation imbalance can be provided. Further, the counterweight 33 is appropriately weighted according to the unbalance of the rotation balance, so that the unbalance adjustment of the rotation balance is performed more appropriately. In this way, by adjusting the rotational imbalance existing in the rotating drum itself with the counterweight, it is possible to provide a washing / drying machine with less vibration even in the dewatering operation by the high speed dewatering rotation of the rotating drum (about 1700 RPM).

  The rotational unbalance of the rotating drum 11 is measured with an unbalance measuring machine. With this measurement, the unbalanced weight of the rotational balance of the rotating drum 11 and the position of the unbalanced and lighter weight can be known. The balance of rotation of the rotary drum 11 is adjusted by selecting a counterweight 33 having a weight corresponding to the unbalanced weight and setting the counterweight 33 in the storage recess 31 at the lighter weight. When there are a plurality of lighter weight positions, adjustment is made by selecting a counterweight 33 having a weight corresponding to the unbalanced weight and setting it at each position.

  Further, the measurement is performed again after adjusting the rotation balance. When the adjustment of the rotation balance is insufficient, the counterweight 33 is attached and readjustment is performed. Although the rotation balance is adjusted by the rotating drum itself, it is also possible to adjust the rotation balance by measuring the rotation unbalance of the rotating body in which the rotating drum and the drive motor are integrated. However, in the assembled state of the washing mechanism main body in which the rotary drum and the drive motor are connected, there are problems that must be overcome by measuring the rotational imbalance, attaching the counterweight, and the like.

  The storage recess 31 is provided so that the insertion port for inserting the counterweight 33 faces the outer tank cover 32 provided so as to cover the fluid balance ring 13 from the outside. For this reason, unlike the case where the insertion opening of the storage recess is provided inward of the drum tank 11a, the laundry moving around in the drum tank 11a does not come into contact with the storage recess 31 or the counterweight 33 to be damaged. Further, unlike the case where the storage recess is provided on the outer peripheral side of the fluid balance ring 13, a sufficient gap can be secured between the storage recess 31 or the counterweight 33 and the outer tub 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the storage recess 31 is formed by a storage inner peripheral wall 31a, a storage outer peripheral wall 31b, and a partition wall 31c. The small-diameter storage inner peripheral wall 31a and the large-diameter storage outer peripheral wall 31b are concentrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis of the drum tank 11a, like the fluid storage chamber. The partition walls 31c are provided radially at equal intervals between the small-diameter storage inner peripheral wall 31a and the large-diameter storage outer peripheral wall 31b. For this reason, a plurality (32) of the storage recesses 31 partitioned by the partition wall 31c are arranged at equal intervals on a circumference centering on the rotation axis of the rotary drum.

  Since a large number of storage recesses 31 arranged at equal intervals are provided, an appropriate position for attaching the counterweight 33 can be selected. Further, since the storage recess 31 is a recess surrounded by the storage inner peripheral wall 31a, the storage outer peripheral wall 31b, and the partition wall 31c, the position of the inserted counterweight 33 is maintained. The position of the counterweight 33 does not shift, and the balance of rotation does not occur after adjustment.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the housing recess 31 is provided with a boss 34 that protrudes from the back side (bottom side) toward the outside. The counterweight 33 inserted into the storage recess 31 is received by the boss portion 34. By screwing a screw 36 (stopper) inserted into a screw through hole 35 (shown in FIGS. 8 and 6) penetrating through the center of the counterweight 33 into a screw hole of the boss portion 34, the counterweight 33 is stored in the storage recess. 31 is fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the boss portion 34 has four reinforcing ribs 34 a and 34 b on the outer periphery. The reinforcing rib 34 a is formed in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular storage recess 31. The reinforcing rib 34b is formed in the short direction of the rectangular storage recess 31. The reinforcing rib 34 b is connected to the inner wall surface of the storage recess 31, but the reinforcing rib 34 a does not reach the inner wall surface of the storage recess 31. For this reason, the counterweight 33 stored in the storage recess 31 is pushed out of the storage recess 31 so that the other end in the longitudinal direction of the counterweight 33 is lifted by pressing the end (one) in the longitudinal direction of the counterweight 33. Since the exchange of the counterweight 33 is easy, the adjustment work of the rotation balance is easily performed. In addition, if the length of the counterweight 33 is somewhat shorter than the length of the storage recess 31, the counterweight 33 can be easily replaced.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the insertion port of the storage recess 31 is lowered such that the edge of the insertion port recedes from the front end surface of the storage inner peripheral wall 31 a and the front end surface of the fluid storage unit 30. The front end face of the partition wall 31c and the front end face of the storage outer peripheral wall 31b are flush with the insertion opening edge. The thickness of the counterweight 33 is selected so that the head of the screw 36 for stopping the counterweight 33 does not protrude outward from the edge of the insertion opening of the storage recess 31. This is to prevent the laundry from coming into contact with the front end face of the partition wall 31 c, the screw 36 or the counterweight 33.

  That is, the front end surface of the storage inner peripheral wall 31a forming the storage recess 31 and the inner peripheral side end portion 32a of the outer tub cover 32 are opposed to each other via a gap (about 3 mm). The front end surface of the storage inner peripheral wall 31a and the inner peripheral end portion 32a are annular. The inner wall 31a for storing on the rotating side serves as the charging port 11b of the rotating drum 11, and the inner peripheral side end 32a on the non-rotating side serves as the loading port 11d of the outer tub 2. That is, since the front end surface of the partition wall 31c, the head of the counterweight 33 or the locking screw 36 is in a position retracted from the front end surface of the storage inner peripheral wall 31a, the end of the laundry moving around on the rotary drum 11 is the gap. Even if it enters from (about 3 mm), it is avoided that the laundry contacts the front end face of the partition wall 31c, the counterweight 33 or the head of the fixing screw 36.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the counterweight 33 is formed by stacking steel plate counterweight pieces 37. The rectangular counterweight piece plate 37 has concavity and convexity portions 35a for coupling at target positions on both sides with the central screw hole 35 as the center. The uneven portion 35a is formed by pressing the counterweight piece plate 37 in the thickness direction with an extrusion jig. The counterweight piece plate 37 has a depressed surface, and the opposite side surface protrudes (convex) to form an uneven portion 35a.

  Adjacent irregularities fit into the counterweight piece plates 37 to be stacked. By this fitting, a plurality of counterweight piece plates 37 are combined to form a counterweight 33. The counter-weight piece plate 38 for the end has a slot 38a for coupling at target positions on both sides with the screw hole 35 at the center as the center. The projections of the concavo-convex portions 35a are fitted into the slots 38a. By this fitting, the counterweight piece plate 37 and the end counterweight piece plate 38 are coupled to form the counterweight 33.

The counterweight 33 made of the plurality of counterweight piece plates 37 and the counterweight piece plate 38 for the end is joined by the concave and convex portions 35a and the slot 38a, so that it does not collapse into pieces and is inserted into the storage concave portion 31. It is easy to take out and adjust the rotation balance. The counterweight 33 is inserted into the storage recess 31 with the counterweight piece plate 38 for the end facing inside. Since the counterweight piece plate 38 for the end has no projection, the sitting on the boss portion 34 (including the reinforcing rib) is stabilized. At the same time, the counterweight piece plate 38 placed on the outside of the counterweight 33 inserted in the storage recess 31 has a concave surface of the concave and convex portion 35a, so that it can come into contact with laundry etc. as compared with the case where the convexity comes to the surface. The nature becomes less. Further, the weight of the counter weight 33 can be adjusted by changing the number of the counter weight piece plates 37 to be stacked. For this reason, the rotation balance of the rotating drum 11 can be easily adjusted.

  As described above, the rotary drum 11 is a cantilever-supported rotary support mechanism in which one end side (the rear side wall portion and the flange 17) in the rotation axis direction is supported by a rotary drum drive system including a drive motor. . Then, by providing the fluid balance ring 13 on the front side of the rotating drum 11 that is the opposite side of the support portion supported by the main shaft 18 included in the rotating drum driving system, the rotating unbalance that occurs in the laundry unevenly distributed on the rotating drum 11. The vibration of is relaxed. The vibration of the rotational unbalance exhibits a swing vibration in which the front side of the rotating drum 11 having the fluid balance ring 13 has a large amplitude with the support portion as a fulcrum. Since the counterweight 33 is provided in the fluid balance ring 13 placed on the front side of the rotating drum 11 where the amplitude of the swing vibration is increased, the suppression of vibration due to rotational unbalance acts greatly. For this reason, the rotational balance of the rotating drum can be adjusted with a small amount of counterweight.

  Further, the adjustment of the rotational imbalance is inexpensive because the storage recess to which the counterweight is attached is provided in the inner peripheral portion of the fluid balance ring. That is, since the storage concave portion is added to the inner peripheral side of the fluid storage portion in the fluid balance ring, only the dimensional shape of the inner periphery of the fluid balance ring is changed. Since there is no change in the dimensional shape on the outer peripheral side, there is no need to change the dimensions of the drum tank and the outer tank, and the cost is reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame housing | casing 2 Outer tank 3 Suspension 4 Pull spring 11 Rotating drum 13 Fluid balance ring 30 Fluid storage part 31 Storage recessed part 31a Inner peripheral wall 31b with small diameter Large outer peripheral wall 31c with large diameter Partition wall 32 Outer tank cover 33 Counterweight 34 Boss part 35 Screw through hole 36 Screw 37 Counterweight piece plate 40 Fluid balance ring support plate

Claims (6)

A rotating drum for washing laundry,
An outer tub for storing washing water and placing the rotating drum therein;
A rotating drum driving system including a driving motor for driving the rotating drum;
An outer frame for placing the outer tub,
Provided with an anti-vibration mechanism for anti-vibration support of the outer tub on the outer frame,
The rotating drum has a drum tub in which the laundry is put, and a fluid balance ring that balances the rotation of the rotating drum,
And the rotary drum, one end of the rotation axis line direction to a rotation support mechanism of the cantilevered was supported by the rotary drum driving system, the fluid balance on the other side which is opposite to the one end Arranging the ring,
In the washing machine,
A washing machine comprising a fluid balance ring provided with a counterweight for adjusting the rotational balance of the rotary drum. The washing machine according to claim 1,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a weight of the counterweight provided in a lighter weight with an unbalanced rotational balance is a weight corresponding to the unbalanced weight. The washing machine according to claim 1,
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight is configured by stacking steel counterweight pieces. The washing machine according to claim 3,
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight piece plate has a concavity and convexity portion for bonding formed in an overlapping direction. The washing machine according to claim 1,
The fluid balance ring has a plurality of storage recesses formed at equal intervals on a circumference centered on the rotation axis of the rotary drum, and the outer tank is provided with an outer tank cover that covers the fluid balance ring from the outside. The washing recess is characterized in that the insertion recess into which the counterweight is inserted faces the outer tub cover. The washing machine according to claim 1,
The fluid balance ring has a plurality of storage recesses formed at equal intervals on a circumference centering on the rotation axis of the rotary drum, and includes a counterweight stopper inserted into the storage recess, The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the head of the stopper and the counterweight are located on the inner side of the mouth edge of the insertion opening of the storage recess.

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