JP6649685B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

  In recent years, for example, a drum-type washing machine has been demanded to be compact due to restrictions on an installation place and the like, and a large-capacity washing machine capable of increasing the amount of laundry that can be washed at one time has been demanded. In order to increase the capacity of the washing machine, it is necessary to increase the size of the rotating tub for storing the laundry, and when the size of the rotating tub is increased, it is necessary to increase the size of the rotating tub. The outer box forming the outer shell of the machine is also large. In order to increase the capacity without increasing the size of the outer box, it is necessary to reduce the gap between the rotary tank and the water tank and the gap between the water tank and the outer box. However, if the gap is too small, there is a concern that the water tub may easily hit the outer case and the rotary tub may easily hit the water tub due to, for example, shaking of the rotating tub due to imbalance of the laundry during dehydration.

  In addition, in the design of a lightweight and highly rigid outer box against the increase in capacity of the washing machine, thin steel plates are used for the left and right side plates, and these two side plates have a concave shape projecting toward the inner side of the outer case. It is also important to provide a convex reinforcing throttle protruding outside the outer box.

JP 2010-63893 A

  Therefore, while forming a concave or convex constriction on the side plate of the outer box to reinforce the side plate, the gap between the outer box and the water tank can be efficiently secured, contributing to downsizing and large capacity. Provide a washing machine capable of doing.

The washing machine of the present embodiment has an outer box having left and right side plates, a water tub disposed via an elastic support mechanism in the outer box with a front opening facing forward, and rotatable in the water tub. And a rotating tub that is disposed on the rotating tub and rotated by a driving unit. The side plate is provided with a concave portion for reinforcement protruding toward the inside of the outer box or a convex shape protruding toward the outside of the outer box. In the vicinity of the side plate where the gap between the inner surface of the side plate and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank is minimized, there is no concave throttle portion protruding toward the inside of the outer box, and the protrusion protrudes to the outside of the outer case. A convex constricted portion is provided. A concave throttle portion protruding toward the inside of the outer box is provided in a portion of the side plate other than the vicinity where the gap between the inner surface of the side plate and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank is minimized.

The perspective view which shows schematic structure of the water tank and side plate of the washing machine by 1st Embodiment. Longitudinal front view schematically showing the relationship between the water tank and the side plate Longitudinal side view showing the schematic configuration of the washing machine Longitudinal side view showing the upper part of the water tank and rotating tank FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a second embodiment. Figure equivalent to Figure 2 The right view which shows typically the relationship between the water tub and side plate of the washing machine by 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of a washing machine will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
(1st Embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in FIGS. 1 and 3, the washing machine 1 is a drum-type washing machine. The washing machine 1 includes an outer box 2 forming an outer shell, a water tub 3 disposed in the outer box 2, and a rotating tub 4 rotatably disposed in the water tub 3. In FIG. 1, the rotary tank 4 is omitted. The outer box 2 includes a bottom plate 5 having a substantially rectangular shape, left and right side plates 6 and 7 (see FIG. 1) arranged on both left and right sides of the bottom plate 5, and a front plate 8 (see FIG. 3) arranged on the front surface. By combining a left side surface), a rear surface plate 9 (a right side surface in FIG. 3) disposed on the rear surface portion, and a top surface plate 10 disposed on the top surface portion, a substantially rectangular box shape is formed.

  The front plate 8 constituting the front portion of the outer box 2 is formed so as to have a slightly inclined front-downward shape. The front plate 8 has a laundry entrance 11 formed slightly upward, and the laundry entrance 11 The door 12 that opens and closes is provided rotatably.

  The water tank 3 disposed in the outer box 2 includes a synthetic resin-made water tank body 13 having a bottomed cylindrical shape in which a bottom surface portion 13b on the rear side of the cylindrical tube portion 13a is closed. And a ring-shaped water tank cover 14 made of a synthetic resin disposed on the side of the front opening. The water tank 3 is elastically supported via an elastic support mechanism 16 composed of a suspension so that the direction of the axis E of the water tank 3 is oriented in the front-rear direction and the front is slightly inclined. Therefore, the axis E of the water tank 3 is inclined forward and upward with respect to the horizontal plane.

  The water tank cover 14 integrally has a projecting portion 14b projecting inward at the front of a cylindrical portion 14a, and has a front opening 14c at the center of the projecting portion 14b. An annular bellows 17 is provided between the front of the aquarium cover 14 and the back side of the front plate 8 of the outer box 2, and the front opening 14 c of the aquarium cover 14 communicates with the laundry entrance 11. I have.

  Here, the configuration of the connecting portion 15 of the water tank body 13 and the water tank cover 14 will be described with reference to FIG. A large-diameter step portion 18 is formed at the front end of the cylindrical portion 13a of the water tank main body 13. The large-diameter step portion 18 is formed in a stepped shape so as to slightly protrude outward in the radial direction so that the inner diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 13a. A fitting recess 19 having an open rear portion is provided on the outer peripheral side of the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 14a of the water tank cover 14, and an inner extension portion 19a forming the inside of the fitting recess 19 projects rearward. ing.

  The water tank cover 14 is connected to the front part of the water tank body 13 by inserting the distal end of the large-diameter step portion 18 of the water tank body 13 into the fitting concave portion 19 of the water tank cover 14 and fitting the same. In this case, the inner extension 19 a of the water tank cover 14 is located inside the large-diameter step 18 of the water tank main body 13. The step-like convex portion 20 that forms the outside of the fitting concave portion 19 protrudes most outward in the radial direction of the water tank 3. In this case, the cylindrical portion 13a of the water tank main body 13 and the cylindrical portion 14a of the water tank cover 14 constitute the peripheral wall of the water tank 3, and the step-like convex portion 20 is located on the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 and is directed radially outward. It is the most protruding part.

  In this case, the inner peripheral surface 13c of the cylindrical portion 13a of the water tank main body 13 made of synthetic resin has a draft angle such that the diameter of the front opening portion is larger than that of the bottom portion 13b due to the mold release during molding. Have been. The inner peripheral surface 14d of the cylindrical portion 14a of the synthetic resin water tank cover 14 is also formed with a draft such that the diameter of the opening on the rear surface side is larger than that on the front side due to the mold release during molding. I have. For this reason, in the water tank 3, the inner diameter of the connecting portion 15 portion between the cylindrical portion 13a of the water tank main body 13 and the cylindrical portion 14a of the water tank cover 14 is formed larger than other portions.

  The rotating tub 4 disposed in the water tub 3 includes a cylindrical body 22, a bottom member 23 provided to close a rear portion of the body 22, and an end on the front opening side of the body 22. It has a bottomed cylindrical shape with its rear side closed by an annular balance ring 24 provided. Similarly to the water tank 3, the rotary tank 4 is also arranged so that the axial direction is directed in the front-rear direction, and the front is slightly inclined. The balance ring 24 is configured by a liquid balancer in which a liquid is sealed. An opening 24 a of the balance ring 24 communicates with the laundry entrance 11 through the front opening 14 c of the water tub 3. In the rotating tub 4, laundry is stored so as to be able to be taken in and out through the laundry doorway 11, the front opening 14 c of the water tub 3, and the opening 24 a of the balance ring 24.

  A front end of a rotating shaft 25 is connected to a central portion of the rotating tank 4 on the rear surface side of the bottom member 23. The rear end of the rotating shaft 25 projects rearward through a bearing housing 26 provided at the center of the bottom surface portion 13b of the water tank 3. The rotating shaft 25 is rotatably supported by a bearing 27 provided in a bearing housing 26. The rear end of the rotating shaft 25 is connected to the rotor 29 of the motor 28 so as to rotate integrally. The stator 30 of the motor 28 is fixedly provided on the outer peripheral portion of the bearing housing 26. The motor 28 includes a stator 30 and a rotor 29 rotated with respect to the stator 30. In this case, the motor 28 is configured by an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. The rotating tub 4 is configured to be directly driven to rotate by a rotor 29 of a motor 28. The motor 28 constitutes driving means for driving the rotary tank 4 to rotate.

  The body 22 of the rotary tub 4 is formed of, for example, a stainless steel plate in a cylindrical shape. A bottom member 23 is connected to a rear end by screwing, and a balance ring 24 is connected to a front end by screwing. The outer diameter of the bottom member 23 and the outer diameter of the balance ring 24 are set to be substantially the same. The body 22 has a large-diameter portion 31 having a larger outer diameter than the bottom member 23 and the balance ring 24 at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the body 22 is formed in a so-called middle swelling state in which an intermediate portion before and after both ends before and after the balance ring 24 and the bottom member 23 are connected is formed in a so-called middle swelling state, and is called an expand drum. Is in the form of

  An outer diameter changing portion 32 is formed at the front portion of the body 22 so that the outer diameter changes gradually from the large diameter portion 31 toward the connection portion with the balance ring 24, and also at the rear portion. An outer diameter changing portion 33 is formed so that the outer diameter changes gradually from the large diameter portion 31 toward the connection portion with the bottom member 23. The outer diameter changing portion 32 at the front and the outer diameter changing portion 33 at the rear are both tapered.

  In this case, in the body 22, a starting portion 34 that changes from the large-diameter portion 31 that is the maximum outer-diameter portion to the front outer-diameter change portion 32 is disposed near the connecting portion 15 between the water tank body 13 and the water tank cover 14. I have. Further, in the body 22, a starting point 35 at which the large-diameter portion 31 which is the maximum outer-diameter portion changes to the outer-diameter changing portion 33 at the rear is disposed near the bottom of the water tank main body 13. A large number of holes 36 for dehydration are formed in the body 22.

  Next, the configuration of the left and right side plates 6, 7 in the outer box 2 will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. In this case, the right and left side plates 6 and 7 are basically left-right symmetric, and therefore, the right side plate 7 will be mainly described.

  The side plate 7 is formed of a thin steel plate and has a substantially rectangular shape. The side plate 7 is provided with a plurality of squeezed portions 37 for a hook portion and a plurality of squeezed portions 38 for reinforcement. The squeezing portions 37 for the handle portion are provided at a total of three places, that is, a rear part of the upper part of the side plate 7 and two places before and after the lower part. Each of the narrowed portions 37 is rectangular and formed in a concave shape protruding toward the inside of the outer box 2 (the side approaching the water tank 3), and an opening 37a for handling is formed in the region.

  A plurality of reinforcing squeezing portions 38 are provided on the upper and lower portions of the side plate 7. Each of the throttles 38 has a rectangular shape extending in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a concave shape protruding toward the inside of the outer box 2 (the side approaching the water tank 3). The side plate 7 is not provided with a reinforcing throttle portion 38 and a hand-held throttle portion 37 at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the gap between the inner surfaces of the left and right side plates 6 and 7 and the outer surfaces of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 (the cylindrical part 13 a of the water tank body 13 and the cylindrical part 14 a of the water tank cover 14) It becomes the smallest near the left and right sides of the step-shaped protrusion 20 of the connecting portion 15 in the water tank 3. The portion of the step-like convex portion 20 closest to the inner surfaces of the side plates 6 and 7 is referred to as a proximity portion 20a.

  In the present embodiment, a concave portion is provided on the left and right side plates 6 and 7 at a portion facing the adjacent portion 20a where the gap between the inner surface of the side plates 6 and 7 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank 3 is minimized. The throttle portions 37 and 38 are not provided, and serve as a throttle portion non-formed portion 39. The area of the narrowed portion non-formed portion 39 is an area larger than a range in which the proximity portion 20a can move in the water tub 3 during a washing operation or a dehydrating operation. As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical width A1 of the narrowed portion non-formed portion 39 is the vertical width A2 of the concave narrowed portion 38 and the space between the upper and lower portions of two adjacent narrowed portions 38. It is set wider than A3 (A1> A2, A3).

  In the outer box 2, the width B1 (see FIG. 2) is desirably 610 mm or less, and is set to 600 mm in the present embodiment so that the washing machine 1 can be easily carried in and installed. The minimum gap C1 (see FIG. 2) between the inner surfaces of the side plates 6 and 7 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 is desirably 20 mm or less, and is set to 15 mm in the present embodiment. In order to accommodate a lot of clothes, it is necessary to secure the internal capacity of the rotary tub 4. The inner diameter of the maximum portion of the rotary tub 4 is desirably 530 mm or more, and is set to 540 mm in the present embodiment. The maximum inner diameter of the water tank 3 is desirably 540 mm or more, and is set to 550 mm in the present embodiment, in consideration of the amount of tilting of the rotary tank 4 during high-speed dehydration. And when the inside diameter of the largest part of the water tank 3 is 550 mm, the maximum outer shape (proximal part 20a) of the water tank 3 is 570 mm.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
By using thin steel plates for the left and right side plates 6 and 7 in the outer box 2, the outer box 2 is reduced in weight, and the left and right side plates 6 and 7 are provided with a plurality of concave concave portions 38 for reinforcement. By this provision, the strength of the side plates 6 and 7 can be improved, and the generation of vibration and noise can be suppressed.

  In addition, a portion of the left and right side plates 6 and 7 facing the adjacent portion 20a where the gap between the inner surfaces of the side plates 6 and 7 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 is minimized, Since there is no concave throttle portion protruding inward, a gap between the adjacent portion 20a and the side plates 6 and 7 can be efficiently secured, which contributes to compactness and large capacity. It becomes possible.

  The region of the non-constricted portion 39 on the left and right side plates 6 and 7 where the concave constricted portion 38 is not provided is a step-shaped convex on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 and closest to the inner surface of the side plates 6 and 7. By setting the area larger than the movable range of the proximity part 20a of the part 20, even if the proximity part 20a moves in the vertical direction or the front-back direction due to the shaking of the water tub 3 during the washing operation or the dehydration operation, the proximity part 20a Can be prevented from hitting the inner surfaces of the side plates 6 and 7.

(2nd Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. In the left and right side plates 6 and 7, a convex throttle portion 41 protruding to the outside of the outer box 2 is provided at a portion where the narrow portion is not formed. The aperture portion 41 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The width A4 in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5) is the width A2 in the vertical direction of another concave aperture portion 38 (see FIG. 1). It is set wider than the interval A3 between the upper and lower portions of the individual aperture portions 38 (see FIG. 1) (A4> A2, A3). The length of the throttle 41 in the front-rear direction is set to be substantially the same as the length of the throttle 38 immediately below the throttle 41 in the front-rear direction. In addition, the convex narrowed portion 41 is formed in a region larger than the range in which the proximity portion 20a of the step-shaped convex portion 20 closest to the inner surface side of the side plates 6 and 7 is movable on the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3. .

In the upper and lower portions of the left and right side plates 6 and 7, a plurality of hand-held apertures 37 and a plurality of concave recessed apertures 38 for reinforcement are provided as in the first embodiment.
According to the present embodiment, the outer sides of the left and right side plates 6 and 7 oppose the proximity portion 20a where the gap between the inner surface of the side plates 6 and 7 and the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the water tank 3 is minimized. Since the convex throttle portion 41 protruding to the outside of the box 2 is provided, a gap between the close portion 20a and the narrow portion 41 can be more easily secured, and the close portion 20a and the side plates 6 and 7 can be hit. Has the advantage that it can be further avoided.

  The area where the convex constricted portion 41 is provided on the left and right side plates 6 and 7 is located on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank 3 and near the step-shaped convex portion 20 closest to the inner surface side of the side plates 6 and 7. By setting the area larger than the movable range of the movable section 20a, even if the proximity section 20a moves in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction due to the shaking of the water tub 3 during the washing operation or the dehydration operation, the proximity section 20a has a convex aperture. It is possible to avoid hitting the portion 41.

  Further, in the left and right side plates 6 and 7, the strength of the left and right side plates 6 and 7 can be further improved by providing the narrowed portion 41 in the narrowed portion non-formed portion 39 of the first embodiment, thereby further reducing the generation of vibration and noise. It can be suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. In the right side plate 7, a plurality of concave throttle portions 38 provided on the upper and lower portions are inclined so as to be parallel to the axis E of the water tank 3 which is inclined forward and upward with respect to the horizontal plane. Along with this, the area of the narrowed portion non-formed portion 39 is also inclined so as to be parallel to the axis E of the water tank 3. Although not shown, the left side plate 6 has the same configuration as the right side plate 7.

  According to the present embodiment, the gap between the adjacent portion 20a and the side plates 6 and 7 on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank 3 can be more preferably secured. In the left and right side plates 6 and 7, similarly to the second embodiment, a convex narrowed portion 41 protruding outside the outer box 2 is provided in the area of the narrowed portion non-formed portion 39 with the axis E of the water tank 3. You may make it provide so that it may become parallel.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described second embodiment, the portions provided with the convex aperture portions 41 on the left and right side plates 6 and 7 are deeper than the other concave aperture portions 38 instead of the convex aperture portions 41. You may make it provide the 2nd concave throttle part which is shallow. The depth of the second concave throttle portion is shallower than that, for example, about 2 mm when the depth of the other concave throttle portion 38 located above and below is, for example, 3 mm.

  The reinforcing concave apertures 38, the convex apertures 41, and the second concave apertures on the side plates 6, 7 are not limited to the form extending in the front-rear direction, but may be, for example, the form extending in the vertical direction. .

  As described above, according to the washing machine of the present embodiment, the gap between the outer box and the water tub is formed while forming the concave or convex throttle portion on the side plate of the outer box to reinforce the side plate. Efficiency can be secured and it is possible to contribute to downsizing and large capacity.

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

  In the drawing, 1 is a washing machine, 2 is an outer box, 3 is a water tub, 4 is a rotary tub, 6 and 7 are side plates, 13 is a water tub main body, 13a is a cylinder (peripheral wall), 14 is a water tub cover, and 14a is a cylinder. Part (peripheral wall part), 15 is a connecting part, 16 is an elastic support mechanism, 20 is a step-like convex part, 20a is a proximity part, 28 is a motor (driving means), 37 is a hand-drawn concave throttle part, and 38 is reinforcement Reference numeral 39 denotes a constricted portion where no constricted portion is formed, and 41 denotes a convex constricted portion for reinforcement.

Claims (3)

An outer box having left and right side plates,
A water tank arranged via an elastic support mechanism with the front opening facing forward in this outer box;
A rotating tank that is rotatably disposed in the water tank and is rotated by a driving unit.
The side plate is provided with a concave reinforcing portion protruding toward the inner side of the outer box or a convex reinforcing narrowing portion protruding toward the outer side of the outer box,
In the side plate, in the vicinity where the gap between the inner surface of the side plate and the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank is minimized, there is no concave throttle portion protruding toward the inner side of the outer box. Provide a convex throttle part protruding to the outside,
In the side plate, a portion other than the vicinity where the gap between the inner surface of the side plate and the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank is minimized is provided with a concave throttle portion protruding toward the inner side of the outer box. Machine. The area on the side plate where the concave constricted portion is not provided is a region on the outer surface of the peripheral wall portion of the water tank, which is larger than a range in which a proximity portion closest to the inner surface side of the side plate is movable. Washing machine. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an axis of the water tank is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, and the throttle portion is inclined along an axis of the water tank .

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