JP6334109B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a washing machine.

  In a washing machine, it is considered to use IT (information technology) so that information on the washing machine can be acquired by an external terminal and information from the outside can be given to the washing machine. In this case, a communication device capable of wireless communication with a home terminal installed in the home is installed in the washing machine. When installing a communication device in a washing machine, it may be installed behind a front cover that is detachably attached to the front surface of the washing machine body. According to this, there is an advantage that by removing the front cover, it is possible to easily perform work when installing the communication device or performing maintenance and inspection thereof. In this case, the communication device needs to be electrically connected to the control unit of the washing machine body. However, if the communication device and the control unit are separated from each other, there is a problem that wiring processing for connecting them becomes troublesome. .

Japanese Patent No. 3915897

  In view of this, there is provided a washing machine capable of installing a communication device, having good workability such as installation, maintenance, and inspection of the communication device and facilitating wiring processing between the communication device and the control unit.

The washing machine of this embodiment includes a washing machine main body having a detachable front cover, a control unit provided inside the washing machine main body in a state of being covered from the front by the front cover, and the control unit. comprising a communication device casing the external device and the wireless communication can be a the communication to acquire information of the washing machine apparatus is detachably accommodated, a case for the communication device is attached to the control unit A case body and a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the case body. With the case body attached to the control unit, the lid is opened and closed to detach the communication device from the case body. Can be stored as possible.

The external appearance perspective view which shows the washing machine by one Embodiment, and shows the state which removed the front cover and pulled out the control unit A perspective view from the front with the communication device case attached to the control unit Rear view of communication device case and control unit A perspective view from the front lower side of the communication device case and the control unit Side view taken along the line X5-X5 in FIG. Disassembled perspective view of communication device case and IT adapter (communication device) Front view of the case body with the connector temporarily fixed to the temporary fixing part of the case body Front view of the case body with the IT adapter stored in the case body Longitudinal side view with the connector temporarily fixed to the case body and the lid closed The figure which shows roughly the electrical relationship of a control apparatus, IT adapter, and a reed switch

  Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 of this embodiment is a drum type washing machine driven by a horizontal axis. The outer box 3 constituting the outer shell of the washing machine main body 2 in the washing machine 1 includes a front frame 4, left and right side plates 5, a top plate 6, a back plate 7, and a base plate 9 having legs 8. The front cover 10 is combined to form a substantially rectangular box as a whole. Among these, the front frame 4 is inclined forwardly downward, and a door 12 that opens and closes the laundry doorway 11 is provided at a substantially central portion thereof so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction via a hinge portion. The upper part of the front frame 4 extends to the front part of the upper surface of the outer box 3, and the operation panel 13 is provided on the front part of the upper surface. A detergent case 14 is provided on the upper left part of the front frame 4 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. A lint filter device 15 is mounted on the right side of the top plate 6 so that it can be inserted and removed in the vertical direction.

  The front cover 10 has a U-shape when viewed from above, is positioned between the front frame 4 and the base plate 9 and is detachably mounted by screws 16 from the front. In this case, the front frame 4, the base plate 9, and the front cover 10 are made of synthetic resin, and the other left and right side plates 5, top plate 6, and back plate 7 are formed of a metal plate such as a steel plate.

  Inside the washing machine main body 2 (outer box 3), although not shown, a water tank that can store water, a drum that can store laundry, a motor that rotationally drives the drum, a heat pump mechanism for drying, a water supply valve, Various sensors including a drain valve and a water level sensor are disposed. The washing machine 1 can automatically perform from washing to dehydration and drying. The water tank and the drum have a horizontal shaft shape with an open front surface, are arranged in an upwardly inclined state, and each front opening portion communicates with the laundry entrance 11. The laundry is accommodated in the drum through the laundry entrance 11 so as to be put in and out of the drum.

  A control unit 17 is detachably disposed at the lower part inside the washing machine main body 2 by screws 18 from the front. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the unit case 19 of the control unit 17 includes a unit case body 20 having a rectangular container shape and a unit lid 21 detachably mounted on the upper surface side of the unit case body 20. It is configured. The side wall around the unit lid 21 extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the lower part of the unit case body 20 (see FIG. 5). Inside the unit case 19, a control device 22 (see FIG. 10) mainly composed of a microcomputer is disposed.

  Although not shown, the control device 22 is configured by mounting a microcomputer, a power supply circuit, and various electronic components on a printed circuit board, and has a function as control means for controlling the entire washing machine 1. A wiring port 23 is formed in the lower left corner of the unit case 19 as shown in FIG. 4, and a large number of connecting wires 24 are passed through the wiring port 23. ing. One end of the connecting wire 24 is connected to the control device 22 in the unit case 19, and the other end is connected to an electrical device such as a motor, various sensors, a panel control unit of the operation panel 13, and the like. Wired. The control unit 17 is disposed inside the front portion of the washing machine main body 2 in a state where the control unit 17 is slightly inclined upward. The front cover 10 is mounted so as to cover the control unit 17 from the front.

  Now, in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, a communication device case 25 is provided in order to cope with IT. The communication device case 25 is attached to the front of the unit case 19 in the control unit 17 and on the left side in the vicinity of the wiring port 23. A specific mounting structure will be described later. As shown in FIG. 6, the communication device case 25 includes a case main body 26 having a rectangular container shape, and a lid 28 rotatably attached to the case main body 26 via a hinge portion 27. . The lid 28 opens and closes the opening of the case body 26. Both the case body 26 and the lid 28 are made of synthetic resin.

  Among these, the case main body 26 has a storage portion 30 for storing the IT adapter 29 that constitutes the communication device, a wire insertion port 32 through which the connection wire 31 is passed, and a serpentine wiring portion that makes the connection wire 31 meander and wire. 33 and a magnet housing portion 34 are provided. One end of the connecting wire 31 is disposed in the case main body 26 through the wire insertion port 32, and a connector 35 for connecting the IT adapter 29 is provided at the tip thereof. The other end of the connecting wire 31 is disposed outside the case body 26, and a connector 36 connected to a corresponding wire among the connecting wires 24 is provided at the tip thereof. On the back side of the case body 26, a clamp 37 (see FIG. 3) for holding the connection electric wire 31 in a state of preventing the connection electric wire 31 is also provided. There are a plurality of connection wires 31, and portions other than the end portions are collected and covered with an electrically insulating tube.

  The storage portion 30 is provided with two positioning convex portions 38 positioned diagonally, and a temporary fixing portion 39 composed of a concave portion at the bottom portion on the lower side. The temporary fixing portion 39 has a shape corresponding to the shape on the front side of the connector 35. When the IT adapter 29 is not stored in the storage unit 30, the connector 35 can be temporarily fixed by inserting and fitting the tip of the connector 35 into the temporary fixing unit 39 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. It has become. When the lid is closed as shown in FIG. 9 with the connector 35 temporarily fixed to the temporary fixing portion 39, the inner surface of the lid 28 hits the connecting wire 31 connected to the connector 35, and the connector 35 is prevented from coming off. Become so. A guide part 40 projects from the lower part of the storage part 30. The guide portion 40 has a cylindrical shape and is disposed slightly to the left of the temporary fixing portion 39. As will be described later, the guide portion 40 also serves as a screw fixing boss portion.

  The meandering wiring portion 33 and the magnet housing portion 34 are arranged on the left side of the housing portion 30, and the meandering wiring portion 33, the magnet housing portion 34 and the housing portion 30 are divided into left and right by a partition portion 41. A gap 42 is formed between the lower end portion of the partition portion 41 and the lower side wall of the case body 26, and the connecting wire 31 can be disposed in the gap 42. A meandering portion 43 is provided in the meandering wiring portion 33. The middle partition 43 extends in parallel with the partition 41. A gap 44 is also formed between the end of the middle partition portion 43 on the magnet housing portion 34 side and the side wall 34 a of the magnet housing portion 34, and the connecting wire 31 can be disposed also in this gap 44. . With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, the connecting wire 31 arranged in the case body 26 can be wired to the meandering wiring portion 33 so as to meander in the vertical direction.

  Here, the IT adapter 29 has a rectangular flat block shape as shown in FIG. 6, and there are two fitting holes on the rear surface side for fitting into the positioning convex portion 38 (not shown). A connector 45 is provided on the lower side, to which the connector 35 is detachably attached. Although not shown, the IT adapter 29 is provided with a communication unit and an antenna for wireless communication with an external device, for example, a home terminal (router) provided in the home.

  The IT adapter 29 accommodates the connector 35 of the connecting wire 31 by connecting the connector 35 to the connector 45 and fitting the fitting hole on the back side to the corresponding positioning projection 38 with the connector 35 facing down. It can be stored in the part 30. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the elastic engagement claw 46 provided integrally with the partition portion 41 is engaged with the surface of the IT adapter 29 to prevent the IT adapter 29 from coming off in the thickness direction. be able to. A slope is formed at the tip of the elastic engagement claw 46, and when the IT adapter 29 is stored in the storage unit 30, the back surface of the IT adapter 29 hits the slope of the elastic engagement claw 46. The claw 46 is retracted from the storage unit 30 to facilitate the storage of the IT adapter 29.

  An engagement piece 48 having an engagement hole 48 a is integrally provided on the left outer side surface of the case body 26. An elastic engagement claw 49 (see FIG. 6) that engages with the engagement hole 48a in the closed state is integrally provided on the side portion of the lid 28. A permanent magnet 50 (also see FIG. 6) is attached to the inner surface of the lid 28 at a portion corresponding to the magnet housing portion 34 in the closed state. A reed switch 51 is provided on the back side of the magnet housing portion 34. When the lid 28 is closed with respect to the case body 26, the permanent magnet 50 is accommodated in a state of being inserted into the magnet accommodating portion 34, and accordingly, the permanent magnet 50 is brought into a state close to the reed switch 51. The reed switch 51 is turned on (closed state). The reed switch 51 functions as an opening / closing detection unit of the lid 28 and also functions as an interlock switch of the communication device case 25.

  The lid 28 is provided with a concave relief portion 52 (see FIG. 2) in order to avoid interference with the elastic engagement claw 46 in a state of being closed with respect to the case body 26. The escape portion 52 projects to the outer surface side of the lid 28. Further, the lid 28 is provided with a screw attachment portion 53 at a position corresponding to the guide portion 40, and the screw 28 inserted through the screw attachment portion 53 is screwed into a hole of the guide portion 40, whereby the lid 28 is removed. It can be fixed in a closed state.

  Next, a structure for attaching the communication device case 25 to the unit case 19 of the control unit 17 will be described. Two hooks 55 are provided in the lower part of the back side of the case body 26 in the communication device case 25. Each hook piece 55 protrudes rearward and has a tip portion directed upward, thus forming an L shape. A mounting portion 56 having a screw insertion hole 56 a is provided at the upper part on the back side of the case body 26. On the other hand, a cylindrical boss portion 57 extending upward is integrally provided at the upper portion of the unit case 19 on the front side of the unit lid 21.

  Therefore, when attaching the communication device case 25 to the unit case 19, it is performed before the control unit 17 is attached to the washing machine body 2 or in a state where the control unit 17 is removed from the washing machine body 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, with the communication device case 25 positioned in front of the unit case 19, the two hooking pieces 55 on the back side of the communication device case 25 are attached to the unit lid. 21, the screw 58 inserted through the screw insertion hole 56 a of the attachment portion 56 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 56 a of the boss portion 57 in a state where the attachment portion 56 is directed to the upper surface of the boss portion 57. By screwing into the hole, the communication device case 25 can be fixedly attached to the front surface of the unit case 19 (see FIG. 5).

  The control unit 17 is inserted into the washing machine main body 2 from the front with the communication device case 25 attached to the unit case 19 as described above, and is fixed by the screws 18. Attach to. At this time, the unit case 19 of the control unit 17 is attached in a state in which the front part is inclined upward so that the front part is slightly higher than the rear part (see FIGS. 5 and 9). In this state, as shown in FIG. 9, in the communication device case 25 attached to the front portion of the unit case 19, the inner surface 60 of the side wall 26a on the lower side of the case body 26 is lowered so that the tip end side is lowered. Inclined. Further, the inner surface 61 of the side wall 28a on the lower side of the lid 28 is also inclined so that the tip end side is lowered. For this reason, even if water enters the communication device case 25 from the outside or is condensed inside to form water droplets, the water is inclined to the inner surface 60 and the inner surface 61 as shown by arrows in FIG. Therefore, the drainage can be improved.

  Next, a case where the IT adapter 29 is attached to the communication device case 25 will be described. In this case, the control unit 17 to which the communication device case 25 is attached can be performed in the state in which the control unit 17 is attached in the washing machine body 2 or in the state in which the control unit 17 is taken out from the washing machine body 2. Specifically, in either case, as shown in FIG. 6, with the lid 28 of the communication device case 25 open, first, the connection wire 31 provided in the communication device case 25 is pulled out, and the case body The connector 35 is connected to the connector 45 of the IT adapter 29 on the outside of 26.

  Then, with the connector 35 on the lower side (guide portion 40 side), the fitting hole on the back side of the IT adapter 29 is fitted to the corresponding positioning convex portion 38 and the elastic engagement claw 46 is fitted to the IT adapter 29. It is accommodated in the accommodating part 30 by engaging with the surface. In a state where the IT adapter 29 is stored in the storage portion 30, the IT adapter 29 is positioned in the lateral direction (surface direction) by fitting the fitting hole with the positioning convex portion 38, and the elastic engagement claw 46. By engaging with the surface of the IT adapter 29, the IT adapter 29 is prevented from coming off in the thickness direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting wire 31 is wired in a meandering manner along the meandering wiring portion 33 in the case body 26. At this time, a portion of the connecting wire 31 near the connector 35 is disposed below the guide portion 40 so as to pass below the connector 35. By setting it as such a structure, even if water adheres to the electric wire 31 for a connection, it can prevent that the water penetrate | invades into the connector 35 side along the electric wire 31 for a connection.

  Thereafter, the lid 28 is closed, and the elastic engagement claw 49 is engaged with the engagement hole 48a of the engagement piece 48, whereby the closed state of the lid 28 is maintained. In this closed state, the permanent magnet 50 on the lid 28 side is inserted into the magnet accommodating portion 34 of the case body 26 and comes close to the reed switch 51, and accordingly, the reed switch 51 is turned on. Then, the lid 28 is fixed in a closed state by screwing the screw 54 inserted through the screw mounting portion 53 of the lid 28 into the hole of the guide portion 40 that also serves as the boss portion. Thus, the attachment of the IT adapter 29 to the communication device case 25 is completed.

  FIG. 10 schematically shows an electrical relationship among the control device 22, the IT adapter 29, and the reed switch 51. In FIG. 10, both ends of the reed switch 51 are connected to the control device 22. Of the connection wires 31 connected to the IT adapter 29 via the connector 35, the two signal lines 31a are connected to the control device 22, and the power supply line 31b connected to the positive terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the relay switch 62a. The power supply line 31c connected to the control device 22 and connected to the negative terminal of the DC power supply is grounded. One end of the relay coil 62b constituting the relay switch 62a and the relay 62 is connected to the control device 22, and the other end is grounded.

  In this configuration, when the connector 35 of the connection wire 31 is connected to the IT adapter 29 and the lid 28 is closed with the IT adapter 29 stored in the storage unit 30 of the communication device case 25, the reed switch 51 is turned on. When the ON signal from the reed switch 51 is input, the control device 22 energizes the relay coil 62b to turn on the relay switch 62a. Based on this, power is supplied to the IT adapter 29 via the connector 35. Further, in this state, when the lid 28 of the communication device case 25 is opened, the reed switch 51 is switched to the off state as the permanent magnet 50 is separated from the reed switch 51. Then, the control device 22 cuts off the relay coil 62b and turns off the relay switch 62a. Based on this, the supply of power to the IT adapter 29 is stopped.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
First, the washing machine main body 2 having the detachable front cover 10, the control unit 17 provided inside the washing machine main body 2 while being covered from the front by the front cover 10, and the external device provided in the control unit 17 In this case, the communication apparatus case 25 is detachably accommodated with the IT adapter 29 capable of wireless communication with the home terminal. According to this, the IT adapter 29 can be installed on the communication device case 25 by removing the front cover 10 that can be easily attached and detached without moving the washing machine body 2 which is a heavy object, or the IT adapter. 29 can be maintained and inspected, and these operations can be easily performed. In addition, since the communication device case 25 is attached to the control unit 17, the communication device case 25 and the control unit 17 are close to each other, and the connection line electrically connecting them may be short. For this reason, it is possible to easily perform the wiring process of the connection line between the communication device case 25 and the control unit 17 and to make it difficult for noise to enter the connection line. Since the communication device case 25 is attached near the wiring port 23 in the control unit 17, wiring processing can be further facilitated.

  The communication device case 25 includes a case main body 26 attached to the control unit 17 and a lid 28 that can be opened and closed with respect to the case main body 26. With the case main body 26 attached to the control unit 17, the lid The IT adapter 29 can be detachably accommodated in the case body 26 by opening and closing 28. According to this, since the IT adapter 29 can be attached to and detached from the case main body 26 with the communication device case 25 attached to the control unit 17, the IT adapter 29 can be attached, detached, maintained, and inspected further. It can be done easily.

  The communication device case 25 is provided with a connector 35 that can be connected to the IT adapter 29, and a temporary fixing portion 39 for temporarily fixing the connector 35 is provided inside the communication device case 25. In a state where the IT adapter 29 is not housed in the communication device case 25, the connector 35 is fitted into the temporary fixing portion 39 to be temporarily fixed, and the lid 28 is closed. In this state, even if the washing machine 1 is operated and vibration is generated in the washing machine main body 2 during the washing operation or the dehydrating operation, the connector 35 can be prevented from rattling in the communication device case 25, and the vibration caused rattling. Sound generation and damage can be prevented. In addition, since the connector 35 can be prevented from rattling in the communication device case 25, damage and disconnection of the connecting wire 31 connected to the connector 35 can also be prevented. In addition, when the inner surface of the lid 28 hits the connecting wire 31 connected to the connector 35, the connector 35 can be prevented from coming out of the temporary fixing portion 39 (see FIG. 9).

  The communication device case 25 is provided with a connection wire 31 to which a connector 35 that can be connected to the IT adapter 29 is connected, and the connection wire 31 is meandered in a meandering manner inside the communication device case 25. A wiring portion 33 is provided. According to this, when the connector 35 is connected to the IT adapter 29, the connecting wire 31 has a sufficient length to pull it out of the communication device case 25. This can be easily performed outside the case 25. After the connection, the connecting wire 31 is meandered in the meandering wiring portion 33 and wired, so that the storage form can be improved even if the connecting wire 31 is long, and the connecting wire 31 is externally connected. Even if it is pulled, the tensile force can hardly be transmitted to the connection portion of the connector 35.

  The control unit 17 can be removed from the washing machine body 2 with the communication device case 25 attached to the unit lid 21 of the control unit 17, and the unit lid 21 of the control unit 17 and the lid of the communication device case 25 can be removed. Each can be opened and closed independently. According to this, while the communication device case 25 is still attached to the unit lid 21 of the control unit 17, work such as inspection in the communication device case 25 or the unit case 19 can be performed, and maintenance is easy. Can be improved.

Since the front cover 10 that covers the communication device case 25 from the front is made of synthetic resin, when the wireless communication is performed between the IT adapter 29 housed in the communication device case 25 and the home terminal in the home, Attenuation can be minimized.
Since the communication device case 25 is provided with the clamp 37 that holds the connection wire 31 in a state of preventing the connection, the connection wire 31 can be prevented from being inadvertently disconnected from the communication device case 25.

(Other embodiments)
The communication device case 25 is configured to be attached to the unit lid 21 side of the unit case 19 in the control unit 17, but may be configured to be attached to the unit case body 20 side depending on the configuration of the unit case 19.

  In the communication device case 25, as means for detecting the opening / closing of the lid 28, the permanent magnet 50 and the Hall element may be used instead of the permanent magnet 50 and the reed switch 51. It is also possible to use a tact switch that is turned on by pressing the operating element.

  As described above, according to the washing machine of the present embodiment, the communication device can be installed in the communication device case or the communication device can be maintained by removing the front cover that can be easily detached from the washing machine body. Can be inspected, and those operations can be easily performed. Moreover, since the communication device case is provided in the control unit, the communication device case and the control unit are close to each other, and the connection line for electrically connecting them may be short. For this reason, it is possible to easily perform the wiring process of the connection line between the communication device case and the control unit, and there is an advantage that noise can hardly enter the connection line.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawings, 1 is a washing machine, 2 is a washing machine body, 3 is an outer case, 10 is a front cover, 17 is a control unit, 19 is a unit case, 20 is a unit case body, 21 is a unit lid, 22 is a control device, 23 is a wiring port, 25 is a case for a communication device, 26 is a case body, 27 is a lid, 29 is an IT adapter (communication device), 31 is a connecting wire, 33 is a meander wiring portion, 35 is a connector, 37 is a clamp, Reference numeral 39 is a temporarily fixed portion, 40 is a guide portion, 50 is a permanent magnet, 51 is a reed switch, and 60 and 61 are inner surfaces.

Claims (6)

A washing machine body having a detachable front cover;
A control unit provided inside the washing machine body in a state covered from the front by the front cover;
A communication device case that is provided in the control unit and capable of wireless communication with an external device and in which a communication device that acquires information on the washing machine is detachably housed,
The communication device case includes a case main body attached to the control unit and a lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the case main body, and the lid is opened and closed with the case main body attached to the control unit. The communication device can be detachably stored in the case main body. The communication device case is provided with a connector for electrically connecting the communication device and the control unit, and when the communication device is not housed in the communication device case, the communication device case includes the communication device case. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a temporary fixing portion for temporarily fixing the connector. The communication device case is provided with a connection wire to which a connector for electrically connecting the communication device and the control unit is connected, and the connection wire is meandered inside the communication device case. 3. A washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a meandering wiring portion for wiring. The control unit includes a unit case body and a unit lid that can be opened and closed with respect to the unit case body, and the communication device case is attached to the unit case body or the unit lid,
The control unit can be removed from the washing machine main body with the communication device case attached to the unit case main body or the unit lid of the control unit, and the unit lid and the communication of the control unit. the lid of the device casing is washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the respectively possible independently opened and closed. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the front cover that covers the communication device case from the front is made of synthetic resin. The communication device case is provided with a connection wire to which a connector for electrically connecting the communication device and the control unit is connected, and the communication device case is in a state of preventing the connection wire from being detached. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a clamp for holding is provided.

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