JP5914295B2 - Washing machine dewatering structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dehydrating structure for a washing machine used for washing clothes and the like.

  The washing machine (also referred to as a washing device) includes a washing tub and a dehydrating unit, and the dehydrating unit has a mode in which clothes are dehydrated in the washing tub and a mode called a two-tank type in which the washing tub and the dehydrating tub are divided. There are things. Among these, the dewatering part of the embodiment in which dewatering is performed in the washing tub is such that the drum having the washing tub on the inner peripheral side rotates so that the washed water contained in the clothes is extracted from the hole of the drum by the centrifugal force. It was something to do.

JP 2002-153696 A

In the washing machine dehydration structure as described above, the clothes themselves are dehydrated by the rotation of the drum itself. For this reason, it is necessary to separately provide a driving means for rotating the drum, and it is also necessary to provide a layer for collecting the dewatered washing water drained from the drum hole on the entire outer periphery of the drum. Therefore, the electric power consumed by the rotation of the relatively heavy drum increases. Further, since the drum is rotated, it is necessary to place the center of gravity at the bottom of the washing machine to dampen the drum and to stably install the washing machine, which increases the weight of the washing machine. Furthermore, there has been a disadvantage that the washing machine must be enlarged by providing a layer for collecting the dewatered washing water.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a dehydrating structure for a washing machine that is light in weight, can be made compact in installation space, and can save power.

The present invention is a clothes dehydrating structure provided in a portable washing machine, and includes a drainage channel and a fan, and the drainage channel is provided at a lower portion of the laundry tub and communicates with the laundry tub. In addition, the washing tub side drainage channel, the external drainage channel, and the fan storage chamber are connected to each other in a continuous state, between the washing tub drainage channel and the external drainage channel. In addition, drain valves that can be opened and closed are provided between the washing tub side drainage channel and the fan storage chamber, and between the fan storage chamber and the external side drainage channel, and each drain valve is opened and closed by the control unit. a drain step of the washing tub by being controlled, a dehydrating step, a freely switchable drainage process from fan storage chamber, fan, Yes arranged freely pivoted in the fan storage chamber by rotation of the fan It is characterized by dewatering the clothes stored in the washing tub by decompressing the washing tub. .

According to the present invention , by providing a fan in the lower part of the portable washing tub, the laundry tub can be evacuated by the rotation of the fan to squeeze out moisture from the clothes. If it does in this way, since a dehydration process can be performed without rotation for the drum which has a washing tub, it is not necessary to provide a drainage layer around the drum. Therefore, the size of the washing machine can be reduced, the space can be saved, the weight is not bulky, the portability is improved, and the cleaning is easy to move. Further, the drainage channel is constituted by a washing tub side drainage channel, an external drainage channel, and a fan storage chamber. Furthermore, a drainage valve is provided between the washing tub side drainage channel and the external drainage channel, between the washing tub side drainage channel and the fan storage chamber, and between the fan storage chamber and the external drainage channel, and controls opening and closing of each. Accordingly, the drainage from the washing tub and the clothes dehydration process or the drainage from the fan storage chamber can be switched arbitrarily and reliably performed. Therefore, the clothes can be efficiently dehydrated, and the structure is more compact and simple than the conventional dewatering structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a dehydrating structure of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing a dewatering structure, and (b) is a longitudinal sectional view showing the entire washing machine according to the present embodiment. FIG. (A)-(c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the operating state of the spin-drying | dehydration structure of the washing machine of 1st embodiment. 1 shows a washing machine having a dehydrating structure of the present embodiment, (a) is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a washing tub, and (b) shows a washing machine having a dehydrating structure of the present embodiment. It is a front view. (A) in the washing machine by this implementation is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a washing tub, (b) is an enlarged view of B in (a). (A) (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the open / close state of the lid | cover of the washing tub by this implementation. The other embodiment of this spin-drying | dehydration structure is shown, (a) is a perspective view which shows a use condition, (b) is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of carrying.

Below, the dehydration structure of the washing machine by this implementation is demonstrated based on drawing.
The dewatering structure according to this embodiment is provided in a washing machine as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the dewatering structure includes a washing tub side drainage channel 1 communicating with the washing tub 9, a fan 12, a fan storage chamber 2, and an external drainage channel communicating with the outside of the washing machine. It consists of three.

The washing tub-side drainage channel 1 communicates with a drainage port 10 provided at the bottom of the washing tub 9. Moreover, the washing tub side drainage channel 1 is connected to each of the fan storage chamber 2 and the external side drainage channel 3, and first to third drainage valves 5 to 7 are provided at respective connection locations. Each of the first to third drain valves 5 to 7 can be switched between open and closed by the control unit 35 shown in FIG.
The controller 35 is provided with a dehydration switch 56 on a panel disposed on the front side of the washing machine, and will be described in detail later by inputting the dehydration switch 56. Control is performed to appropriately change the combination of opening and closing 5-7 in a predetermined pattern. As a result, the drainage of the washing water in the washing process of the washing tub 9, the drainage discharged from the clothing 36 in the dehydration process, and the drainage of the water staying in the fan storage chamber 2 are performed.

Next, the fan 12 and the fan storage chamber 2 will be described. The fan 12 is a rotator that radially arranges a plurality of blade portions, is mounted in the fan storage chamber 2 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal axis, and is controlled so that the rotation direction can be switched by the drive motor 11. .
The fan storage chamber 2 is formed so that the wall portion surrounds the fan 12 corresponding to the shape of the fan 12. In addition, a fan storage chamber side drainage channel 4 that merges with the external drainage channel 3 is provided at the lower part of the fan storage chamber 2, and the fan storage chamber side drainage channel 4 allows water collected in the fan storage chamber 2 to be collected. The external drainage channel 3 is fed into the external side drainage channel 3 so that the third drainage valve 7 can switch between closing and opening the channel. The external side drainage channel 3 extends in the vertical direction from the washing tub side drainage channel 1 and drains water from the washing tub 9 and the fan storage chamber 2 to the outside of the washing machine.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the first to third drain valves 5 to 7 have a washing tub side drain channel 1 and an external side drain channel 3. Are connected to each other (first drain valve 5), where the washing tub side drainage channel 1 and the fan storage chamber 2 are continuous (second drain valve 6), fan storage chamber 2 and fan storage chamber side drainage channel 4 It is provided at each of the consecutive locations (third drain valve 7).
Each of the first to third drain valves 5 to 7 has a substantially circular lid member that rotates axially, so that the washing tub side drain channel 1, the external drain channel 3, and the fan storage chamber side drain channel 4 It matches the inner periphery of the flow path. Thereby, it becomes possible to block | close or open each drainage channel 1,3,4 by switching each drainage valve 5-7. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily control the drainage of dehydrated water that accumulates in the washing tub 9 and the fan storage chamber 2 and the reception of water from the washing tub 9.

The operation procedure of the dewatering structure formed as described above will be described below.
As a first procedure, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 2 (a), after the washing of the clothing 36 is completed in the washing tub 9, the washing tub side drainage channel 1 and the external side drainage channel 3 are connected. The first drain valve 5 to be controlled is opened, the second drain valve 6 to control the washing tub side drain channel 1 and the fan storage chamber 2, the fan storage chamber 2 and the third drain valve 7 to control the external drain channel 3. Block. Thereby, the water in the washing tub 9 is drained out of the washing machine.
As a second procedure, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2B, after the water in the washing tub 9 is drained, the washing tub side drainage channel 1 and the fan storage chamber 2 are controlled. 2 The drain valve 6 is opened, and the first drain valve 5 that controls the washing tub side drain channel 1 and the external drain channel 3, the fan storage chamber 2, and the third drain valve that controls the external drain channel are closed. As a result, the inside of the washing tub 9 is gradually depressurized and finally becomes a state close to a vacuum, and the moisture absorbed by the clothes 36 is dehydrated.
As a third procedure, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 2 (c), after the dehydration of the garment 36 is completed, the first drainage channel 1 and the external drainage channel 3 are controlled. The drainage valve 5, the second drainage valve 6 that controls the washing tub side drainage channel 1 and the fan storage chamber 2 are closed, and the third drainage valve 7 that controls the fan storage chamber 2 and the external drainage channel 3 is opened. Thereby, the moisture remaining in the fan storage chamber 2 can be discharged out of the washing machine.

  By controlling the open / close state of the first to third drain valves 5 to 7 as described above, the drainage of the washing tub 9, the dehydration of the clothing 36, and the drainage of the fan storage chamber 2 can be selectively switched. it can. In the second procedure described above, the inside of the washing tub 9 is depressurized by the rotation of the fan 12 and the washing tub 9 is brought into a vacuum state. Squeezed out. The squeezed moisture flows from the fan storage chamber 2 into the external drainage channel 3 and is drained outside the washing machine.

Next, a washing machine to which the dewatering structure according to the present embodiment is applied will be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the washing tub 9 that is a main part of the washing machine includes a drum 31, a lid 40, and fins 32 and 33.

  The drum 31 is installed substantially horizontally, and is composed of a cylindrical outer peripheral wall portion 41b and both side wall portions 41a that block both sides of the outer peripheral wall portion 41b, and houses clothing 36 therein. Therefore, a hollow washing tub 9 is formed. Further, a lid support portion 41 c is provided at the center position on the outer peripheral side of the both side wall portions 41 a of the drum 31. In addition, on the upper part of the drum 31, there is provided a charging port 9 a for the clothes 36 to the washing tub 9, and a lid 40 for opening or closing the charging port 9 a is provided. Further, an uneven portion 37 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 31, and a plurality of the uneven portions 37 are arranged below the inner peripheral surface of the drum 31 with a gap.

The lid 40 has a semicircular arc shape that curves along the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall portion 41b of the drum 31 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). It has a connection part rotatably connected to a lid support part 41c provided on both side wall parts 41a. Thus, the lid 40 is pivotally supported on the outer peripheral side of the both side wall portions 41 a so as to be rotatable in the horizontal axis, and moves along the outer peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall portion 41 b of the drum 31. Further, the charging port 9a of the drum 31 is provided with a sealing material 42 along the outer peripheral portion of the outer peripheral wall portion 41b so as to surround the charging port 9a. Thereby, when the lid 40 is rotated to the position of the insertion port 9a, the sealing material 42 on the side of the insertion port 9a is adsorbed to the recess 40a on the inner peripheral surface of the lid 40, whereby the watertightness of the washing tub 9 in the drum 31 is secured. Sex is maintained. Further, the sealing material (drum side sealing material) 42 on the inner peripheral surface of the lid 40 and the outer peripheral portion of the charging port 9a is adapted to be unevenly fitted when the lid 40 is closed, so that the watertightness of the washing tub 9 is improved. The structure is further enhanced.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fins 32 and 33 are constituted by a rotating member 43 and a guide member 44 on both sides. The rotating member 43 has a disk shape with one side gently bulging. Further, the rotating member 43 is provided with a blade part 43a, which causes the washing tub 9 to make a swirling flow, and is substantially on one side of the rotating member 43 (side facing the washing tub 9). There are four locations at 90 ° intervals. Further, the rotating member 43 is formed so as to be rotated in any of the forward and reverse rotation directions by the rotation motor 46, and the water flow is concentrated at the center against the centrifugal force regardless of the rotation direction. It is intended to turn. The guide member 44 has a rod shape, and a plurality of concave and convex groove portions 44a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip portion thereof. Further, a plurality of guide members 44 are attached at intervals along the outer peripheral portion on the one surface side of the rotating member 43. In the present embodiment, they are attached at four positions at almost 90 ° intervals (see FIG. 4A). In addition, one of the fins 32 and 33 (the fin on the right side in the drawing) 32 and 33 of the one and the other is such that the rotating member 43 is formed of a material having elasticity or flexibility such as silicon. Furthermore, on the side of the rotating member 43 facing the side wall of the drum 31, ribs 45 are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer periphery. By doing so, the rotating member 43 is deformed so as to warp to the side wall portion side of the drum 31 by the water pressure during rotation as the fins 32 and 33 rotate. At this time, the rib 45 of the rotating member 43 hits the side wall portion of the drum 31 and elastically tries to return the rotating member 43 to the washing tub 9 side, so that the guide member 44 included in the rotating member 43 swings irregularly. The inside of the washing tub 9 is rotated while moving.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 35 is disposed on the front side of the case body 59 of the washing apparatus according to the present embodiment. On the operation panel 35a, the power switch 53, the cleaning time setting timer 54, The operation switch 55 and the above-described dehydration switch 56 are provided. Further, the washing apparatus according to the present embodiment operates by turning on the power switch 53 of the control unit 35 and setting the cleaning time setting timer 54 to an appropriate time and then pressing the operation switch 55. As for the control unit 35, in the present embodiment, a series of flows from cleaning to dehydration is performed at an arbitrary set time. However, the cleaning state can be set such that the cleaning and dehydration can be switched individually, the number of times of rinsing in the cleaning process, and the adjustment of the cleaning power by increasing and decreasing the rotation speed of the fins 32 and 33 during the cleaning process. It can also be set to perform the process in various procedures, such as those set according to the user's preference.

  The washing device of the above embodiment has a structure that can be carried and has portability. Specifically, referring to FIG. 3B, the handle 57 is attached so as to straddle both sides of the case body 59. The entire handle 57 has a generally U-shaped downward shape, and has a handle attachment portion 58 having a ring shape at one end and the other end, and the handle attachment portion 58 is rotatable. Are attached to the motor space of the drum 31 in the case body 59. Further, an extension cable (not shown) for connecting a power source is attached to the battery 61, and power is supplied from a household power source or the like. In addition, the code | symbol 60 in FIG.3 (b) is an outer cover which exposes the drum 31 by the washing apparatus case body 59 outside. Moreover, the code | symbol 61 in FIG.3 (b) is an extension pipe for draining from the drain outlet 10 out of the washing apparatus by this implementation. Reference numeral 62 denotes a base of the washing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The washing apparatus can be stably installed by placing the center of gravity at the bottom, and a battery is built therein.

Moreover, the dehydrating structure of the present invention can be attached to a washing machine in which the washing tub 9 is foldable as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). Specifically, in the washing machine, the washing tub 9 is formed of a bag made of a flexible material. The bag body 71 has a lid 73 at the opening and is supported by a frame 72. The dehydrating structure of the present invention is built into the bottom of the washing tub 9 made of the bag body. In such a washing machine, the bag-shaped washing tub 9 is folded when not used or transported. However, the dehydrating structure 80 according to the present embodiment is arranged at the bottom of the bag-shaped washing tub 9, thereby The folding of the washing tub 9 is not blocked without being buffered to 72 or the like. Further, since the fan 12 and the like are arranged substantially horizontally, the washing tub 9 can be arranged in parallel with the frame 72 when the washing tub 9 is folded.
The dehydrating structure 80 of the present embodiment has a fan 81 that rotates in the vertical axis at the center of a substantially horizontal base, and further has a drain port 82 on the outer periphery thereof. In addition, a dust pocket 74 is provided on the inner peripheral side of the bag body 71 to collect yarn waste, dust, and the like discharged from the clothing 36 during the cleaning process. The switching between the operation and the cleaning process and the dehydration process is controlled by the control unit 35 provided on the outer periphery of the bag body 71. The control unit 35 includes a power switch 53, a timer 54, and an operation switch. 55 and a dehydration switch 56.

  The dewatering structure of the present invention can be a fixed type like a general washing machine, in addition to the portable ones as in the above embodiments. In this case, connect the water supply hose attached to the washing machine to a water supply device (faucet, shower device), etc. at home or business, and further extend the drainage hose attached to the washing machine to a drainage ditch etc. Used in. In addition, the fan of the washing tub 9 may be one in which the drum is horizontally placed and the fan is rotated by rotating the horizontal axis (see FIG. 3B), or the fan is rotated by the vertical axis (see FIG. 3). 6 (a) (b)). The dewatering structure is not particularly limited as long as the washing tub can be evacuated.

1 Washing tub side drainage channel (drainage channel)
2 Fan housing (drainage)
3 External drainage channel (drainage channel)
4 Fan enclosure side drainage channel (drainage channel)
5 First drain valve (drain valve)
6 Second drain valve (drain valve)
7 Third drain valve (drain valve)
9 Washing tub 12 Fan 36 Clothing

Claims (1)

A dehydrating structure for clothes provided in a portable washing machine,
It has a drainage channel and a fan,
The drainage channel is provided in the lower part of the washing tub, communicates with the washing tub and is opened to the outside, and the washing tub side drainage channel, the external drainage channel, and the fan storage chamber are in continuous communication with each other. It is possible to control opening and closing between the washing tub side drainage channel and the external drainage channel, between the washing tub side drainage channel and the fan storage chamber, and between the fan storage chamber and the external drainage channel. Each drainage valve is provided, and each drainage valve can be switched between a draining process of the washing tub, a dehydrating process, and a draining process from the fan storage chamber by being controlled by a control unit.
A fan is disposed in a fan storage chamber so as to be axially rotatable, and a dewatering structure characterized in that the clothes stored in the washing tub are dehydrated by decompressing the washing tub by rotation of the fan.

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