JP6851587B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

The electric washing machine described in Patent Document 1 below includes an electric washing machine main body, an outer tub provided on the upper part of the electric washing machine main body, and an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub. A large number of water flow grooves extending from the lower part to the upper part of the inner wall are formed on the inner wall of the inner tank, and a dehydration hole penetrating the inner wall of the inner tank is provided on the upper part of each water flow groove. When the electric washing machine is dehydrated, the inner tub is rotated at high speed. As a result, the water content of the laundry in the inner tub moves to the inner wall of the inner tub by centrifugal force, is collected in the water flow groove, and flows upward in the water flow groove. The water that has flowed upward in the water flow groove flows out of the inner tank through the drain hole, flows down between the inner tank and the outer tank, and is discharged to the outside of the machine.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-56977

In the electric washing machine described in Patent Document 1, the water squeezed from the laundry in the inner tub during dehydration passes through the drain hole and then pushes the outer wall surface of the inner tub and the inner wall surface of the outer tub from the upper end of the inner tub. It runs down. Therefore, there is a risk that the outer wall surface of the inner tank and the inner wall surface of the outer tank may be soiled over a wide area, or mold may be generated over a wide area on these wall surfaces.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of suppressing the widespread generation of stains and mold around the dehydration tub and the dehydration tub due to water produced by dehydration.

The present invention is a cylindrical circumferential wall having an inner peripheral surface whose diameter gradually increases from the upper end to the lower end, and a bottom wall connected to the circumferential wall from below, penetrating the bottom wall in the vertical direction. The washing machine main body is formed with a dehydration tub in which laundry is accommodated and driven and rotated around the central axis of the circumferential wall, and a storage space for accommodating the dehydration tub. And a drainage channel provided in the washing machine main body and connected to the accommodation space from below, and a part of the drainage port is the inner circumference in the radial direction with respect to the central axis. A washing machine located at the same position as the lower end of the surface or outside the lower end of the inner peripheral surface.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a non-protruding portion that does not project inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface is provided at a portion of the bottom wall adjacent to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface from the lower side. To do.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the non-protruding portion includes a recess recessed outward in the radial direction from the lower end of the inner peripheral surface.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the recess is formed so that a region closer to the drainage port in the circumferential direction around the central axis becomes larger outward in the radial direction.

Further, the present invention has a rotating member which is arranged in the lower part of the internal space of the dehydration tank and is driven and rotated around the central axis, and a diameter of the inner peripheral surface and the rotating member which is attached to the dehydration tank. The gap filling member further includes a gap filling member that fills the gap in the direction, and the gap filling member is characterized in that a notch that penetrates the gap filling member in the vertical direction and is opened toward the inner peripheral surface is formed. And.

According to the present invention, at the time of dehydration in the washing machine, the dehydration tub containing the laundry is driven and rotated around the central axis of the circumferential wall, so that the moisture in the laundry is caused by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the dehydration tub. , It is squeezed out in the radial direction with respect to the central axis toward the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall.
Since the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall is formed so as to gradually increase in diameter from the upper end to the lower end, the water squeezed out from the laundry and reaches the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall is the inner circumference. It flows down toward the bottom wall of the dehydration tank along the slope of the surface. A part of the drainage port formed on the bottom wall is located at the same position as the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall in the radial direction, or outside the lower end, so that it is located at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall. The arriving water quickly flows down below the bottom wall through the drainage port and is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel.
In this case, the water produced by dehydration is quickly discharged to the outside of the machine without adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential wall of the dehydration tub or the inner wall surface surrounding the circumferential wall in the washing machine main body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the dehydration water from causing a wide range of stains and mold around the dehydration tank and the dehydration tank. In addition, the water squeezed out of the laundry and reaches the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall is accumulated in the dehydration tub and discharged without reattaching to the laundry, so that the dehydration effect can be improved. The eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank due to the accumulation of water in the dehydration tank can be suppressed.

Further, according to the present invention, a non-protruding portion that does not project inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface is provided at a portion of the bottom wall of the dehydration tank that is adjacent to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall from the lower side. Be done. As a result, the water that has been squeezed out of the laundry and has flowed down to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall passes through the non-protruding portion and quickly passes through the drain port to the outside of the machine without obstructing the flow. Is discharged to. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the widespread generation of dirt and mold around the dehydration tank and the dehydration tank due to the water produced by dehydration.

Further, according to the present invention, since the non-protruding portion includes a recess recessed outward in the radial direction from the lower end of the inner peripheral surface, the water squeezed out from the laundry and flows down to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall. Is separated from the laundry in the dehydration tub to the outside in the radial direction by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the dehydration tub. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water squeezed from the laundry from reattaching to the laundry, so that the dehydration effect can be further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the recess is formed so that the region closer to the drain port in the circumferential direction around the central axis of the circumferential wall of the dehydration tank becomes larger outward in the radial direction. In this case, the water that has been squeezed out of the laundry and has entered the recess from the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall is guided to the region by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the dehydration tank, so that it can easily reach the drain port. As a result, the water that has entered the recess is quickly discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain port. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the laundry in the dehydration tub from getting wet and the bottom wall of the dehydration tub from becoming dirty or moldy due to the accumulation of water in the recesses. In addition, the eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank due to the accumulation of water in the dehydration tank can be suppressed.

Further, according to the present invention, since the gap in the radial direction between the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall of the dehydration tub and the rotating member is filled by the gap filling member, laundry and foreign matter in the dehydration tub enter the gap. Can be suppressed. Since the gap filling member is formed with a notch that penetrates the gap filling member in the vertical direction and is opened toward the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall, the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall is squeezed out from the laundry. By passing through this notch, the flowing water quickly reaches the lower end of the inner peripheral surface without obstructing the flow, and is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain port. Therefore, while obtaining a certain dehydration effect, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of dirt and mold over a wide range in the dehydration tank and around the dehydration tank due to the water produced by the dehydration.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a vertical cross section of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the washing machine main body of the washing machine. FIG. 3 is a right side view of a vertical cross section of the dehydration tub included in the washing machine. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom wall of the dehydration tank. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken line circle in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dehydration tank as viewed from below. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dehydration tank and the rotating member including the vertical cross section.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a right side view of a vertical cross section of the washing machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the following, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the vertical direction Z of the washing machine 1, the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and the direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the horizontal direction of the washing machine 1. It is called X. The vertical direction Z includes an upper side Z1 corresponding to the upper side of FIG. 1 and a lower side Z2 corresponding to the lower side of FIG. The front-rear direction Y includes a front side Y1 corresponding to the left side of FIG. 1 and a rear side Y2 corresponding to the right side of FIG. The left-right direction X includes a left side X1 corresponding to the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and a right side X2 corresponding to the front side of the paper surface of FIG. The left-right direction X and the front-back direction Y are included in the lateral direction.

The size of the washing machine 1 may be about the same size as a general household washing machine, or may be small enough to be installed on a table, for example. The washing machine 1 has a substantially cylindrical overall shape having a central axis J extending in the vertical direction Z. In the following, the circumferential direction around the central axis J is referred to as the circumferential direction Q, and the radial direction with respect to the central axis J is referred to as the radial direction R. The circumferential direction Q and the radial direction R are included in the lateral direction, that is, the horizontal direction. Of the radial directions R, the direction closer to the central axis J is referred to as the radial inner R1 and the direction away from the central axis J is referred to as the radial outer R2. The washing machine 1 includes a washing machine main body 2, a door 3, a dehydration tub 4, and a rotating member 5. Hereinafter, the washing machine main body 2, the door 3, the dehydration tub 4, and the rotating member 5 will be described in this order.

The washing machine main body 2 is formed in a bottomed tubular shape. The washing machine main body 2 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 10 having a central axis that coincides with the central axis J, an extension portion 11 provided at one location on the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 10, and a lower end of the circumferential wall 10. Includes a disk-shaped bottom wall 12 coaxially connected to the edge. The space surrounded by the circumferential wall 10 from the outer side R2 in the radial direction and closed from the lower side Z2 by the bottom wall 12 is the accommodation space 2A formed in the washing machine main body 2. The accommodation space 2A is formed in a cylindrical shape having a central axis line corresponding to the central axis line J.

The area surrounded by the upper end of the circumferential wall 10 constitutes the attachment / detachment port 2B located at the upper end of the washing machine main body 2. The attachment / detachment port 2B opens the accommodation space 2A of the washing machine main body 2 to the upper side Z1. The extending portion 11 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rear side Y2 on the circumferential wall 10 and is formed in a columnar shape extending to the rear side Y2 and extending in the vertical direction Z.

The upper surface of the bottom wall 12 has a central portion 12A located around the central axis J, an outer peripheral portion 12B surrounding the central portion 12A from the radial outer side R2 and located lower than the central portion 12A, and a radial portion R. Includes an intermediate portion 12C located between the central portion 12A and the outer peripheral portion 12B. The central portion 12A, the outer peripheral portion 12B, and the intermediate portion 12C are formed in an annular shape extending in the circumferential direction Q. The central portion 12A and the outer peripheral portion 12B extend substantially flat along the lateral direction, but the intermediate portion 12C is inclined with respect to the lateral direction so as to shift toward the lower Z2 toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction, and the central portion 12A It is erected between the outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 12B. The central portion 12A is formed with a circular opening 12D having a central axis that coincides with the central axis J, and an annular flange portion 12E that protrudes to the upper side Z1 while edging the opening 12D.

The bottom wall 12 having such an upper surface portion is a hollow body, although it becomes thicker in the vertical direction Z as it approaches the central axis J. The bottom wall 12 includes a fixing portion 13, a supporting portion 14, a drive shaft 15, a motor 16, a drainage channel 17, and a drainage mechanism 18.

The fixing portion 13 is formed in an annular shape extending along the circumferential direction Q, and is fixed to the bottom wall 12 just below the central portion 12A on the upper surface portion of the bottom wall 12. The fixing portion 13 may be regarded as a part of the bottom wall 12. A cylindrical tubular portion 13A is formed on the lower surface portion of the fixed portion 13 so as to extend to the lower side Z2 while edging the inner peripheral surface of the fixed portion 13.

The support portion 14 integrally includes a disc-shaped disc portion 14A having a central axis line corresponding to the central axis J and a cylindrical tubular portion 14B protruding from the center of the lower surface portion of the disc portion 14A to the lower side Z2. .. A through hole 14C extending to the lower side Z2 is formed in the central portion of the upper surface portion of the disk portion 14A. The internal space of the tubular portion 14B is a part of the through hole 14C.

In the support portion 14, the disk portion 14A is fitted into the inner space of the fixed portion 13 from the upper side Z1, the tubular portion 14B passes through the inside of the fixed portion 13, and the lower end portion of the tubular portion 14B is the tubular portion 13A of the fixed portion 13. It is in a state of protruding from the inside of the lower Z2. The support portion 14 is rotatably supported by a bearing 19 inserted between the tubular portion 13A and the tubular portion 14B. The gap between the fixing portion 13 and the tubular portion 14B in Z1 above the bearing 19 is closed by an annular sealing member 20 such as an oil seal. The gap between the disk portion 14A and the fixing portion 13 is closed by another sealing member 21. The upper surface portion of the disk portion 14A is exposed from the opening 12D of the central portion 12A of the upper surface portion of the bottom wall 12 to the upper side Z1.

The drive shaft 15 is formed in a columnar shape having a central axis that coincides with the central axis J. A concave receiving portion 15A recessed to the lower side Z2 is formed on the upper end surface of the drive shaft 15. The cross section of the receiving portion 15A when cut along the lateral direction is a substantially polygonal shape such as a hexagon (see FIG. 2 described later). The drive shaft 15 is inserted into the through hole 14C of the support portion 14. The upper end surface of the drive shaft 15 is arranged so as to be exposed from the through hole 14C to the upper side Z1 in the upper surface portion of the disk portion 14A of the support portion 14, and the lower end portion of the drive shaft 15 is arranged below the tubular portion 14B of the support portion 14. It is placed so as to protrude from Z2. The drive shaft 15 is rotatably supported by a bearing 22 inserted between the drive shaft 15 and the support portion 14. The gap between the disk portion 14A and the upper end portion of the drive shaft 15 is closed by an annular seal member 23 such as an oil seal.

The motor 16 is fixed to the fixing portion 13 from the lower side Z2. A control unit 24 configured by a my computer or the like is provided at an arbitrary position on the washing machine main body 2, and the motor 16 generates a driving force by controlling the drive by the control unit 24. The driving force generated by the motor 16 is selectively transmitted to each of the support portion 14 and the drive shaft 15. As a result, each of the support portion 14 and the drive shaft 15 is separately driven and rotated along the circumferential direction Q around the central axis J.

The drainage channel 17 extends within the bottom wall 12. One end of the drainage channel 17 is arranged as an outlet 17A at one position on the outer peripheral portion 12B on the upper surface of the bottom wall 12 (see FIG. 2), and the other end of the drainage channel 17 (not shown) is a washing machine. It is pulled out of the main body 2. Strictly speaking, the outlet 17A is formed so as to straddle the outer peripheral portion 12B and the intermediate portion 12C at the boundary between the outer peripheral portion 12B and the intermediate portion 12C on the upper surface portion of the bottom wall 12, and is formed with respect to the accommodation space 2A of the washing machine main body 2. Is connected from the lower Z2. The lower surface of the bottom wall 12 is provided with legs 25 that come into contact with the mounting surface when the washing machine 1 is mounted on a mounting surface such as a floor. The leg portion 25 may also be provided on the lower surface portion of the extension portion 11.

The drainage mechanism 18 includes a pin 26 extending in the vertical direction Z and an actuator 27 configured by a solenoid or the like to slide the pin 26 in the vertical direction Z. The pin 26 is arranged at one position on the outer peripheral portion 12B on the upper surface portion of the bottom wall 12, specifically, at the position of the rear side Y2 displaced by 180 degrees from the outlet 17A in the circumferential direction Q (see FIG. 2). The tip portion 26A of the upper side Z1 of the pin 26 is exposed from the bottom wall 12 to the upper side Z1. The pin 26 can slide in the vertical direction Z between the upper position (see FIG. 1) and the lower position (not shown) of Z2 below the upper position according to the drive of the actuator 27. The drive of the actuator 27 is controlled by the control unit 24. The pin 26 is usually located in the lower position.

Next, the door 3 will be described. The door 3 opens and closes the attachment / detachment port 2B of the washing machine main body 2. In the door 3, the door main body 30 formed in a disk shape having a thickness in the vertical direction Z and the door connecting portion 31 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rear side Y2 in the door main body 30 to the rear side Y2 are integrally integrated. Including. The outer diameter of the door main body 30 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the circumferential wall 10 of the washing machine main body 2. The door connecting portion 31 is connected to the upper end portion of the extending portion 11 via a connecting shaft 32 extending in a tangential direction with respect to the circumferential direction of the door main body portion 30. As a result, the door 3 is supported by the washing machine main body 2. The door 3 is rotatable around the connecting shaft 32 between a horizontal closed position (see FIG. 1) and a substantially vertical open position (not shown).

In the closed position door 3, the door main body 30 is arranged coaxially with the washing machine main body 2, and the attachment / detachment port 2B of the washing machine main body 2 is closed from the upper side Z1 to seal the accommodation space 2A of the washing machine main body 2. To do. In the door 3 in the open position, the door body 30 is displaced from the attachment / detachment opening 2B to the rear side Y2, so that the door 3 does not exist directly above the attachment / detachment opening 2B, and the entire area of the attachment / detachment opening 2B is opened to the upper side Z1. Door.

Next, the dehydration tank 4 will be described. FIG. 3 is a right side view of a vertical cross section of the dehydration tank 4. The dehydration tank 4 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The dehydration tank 4 is attached to a cylindrical circumferential wall 35 having a central axis that coincides with the central axis J, an annular ring member 36 coaxially attached to the upper end of the circumferential wall 35, and a ring member 36. It includes a handle 37 and a disk-shaped bottom wall 38 coaxially connected to the lower end edge of the circumferential wall 35 from the lower side Z2.

The circumferential wall 35 is made of metal, for example. The thickness of the circumferential wall 35 in the radial direction R is constant over almost the entire area of the vertical direction Z and the circumferential direction Q, and the circumferential wall 35 is reduced in diameter toward the upper side Z1. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface 35A and the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 are formed so as to gradually increase in diameter from the upper end 35C to the lower end 35D of the circumferential wall 35. The inclination angles of the outer peripheral surface 35A and the inner peripheral surface 35B with respect to the vertical direction Z are at least 1 degree or more, but are small values of about several degrees. In this embodiment, at least the inner peripheral surface 35B may be formed so as to gradually increase in diameter from the upper end 35C to the lower end 35D, and the outer peripheral surface 35A may extend vertically.

An annular flange member 40 extending in the circumferential direction Q while edging the lower end portion is integrally provided at the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface 35A of the circumferential wall 35. The flange member 40 is made of, for example, resin. The lower portion 40A of the flange member 40 has a diameter larger than that of the upper portion 40B of the flange member 40, and is arranged so as to project from the lower end 35D of the circumferential wall 35 to the lower side Z2 over the entire area in the circumferential direction Q. In the flange member 40, the boundary portion between the lower portion 40A and the upper portion 40B is a lateral portion 40C extending in the radial direction R. The cross section of the flange member 40 when cut at one location on the circumference is formed in a substantially crank shape.

An annular gap filling member 41 extending in the circumferential direction Q while edging the lower end portion is attached to the lower end portion of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35. The gap filling member 41 is made of, for example, resin. The gap filling member 41 integrally includes a vertical portion 41A extending vertically along the inner peripheral surface 35B and a horizontal portion 41B protruding radially inward R1 from the lower end portion of the vertical portion 41A. Therefore, the cross section of the gap filling member 41 when cut at one place on the periphery is formed in a substantially L shape. The lower end of the vertical portion 41A is at substantially the same position as the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B in the vertical direction Z. A plurality of notches 41C penetrating the vertical portion 41A in the vertical direction Z are formed in the gap filling member 41 side by side in the circumferential direction Q. In each notch 41C, the entire area in the vertical direction Z is opened toward the inner peripheral surface 35B of the radial outer side R2.

The ring member 36 is made of, for example, resin. The ring member 36 includes a lower portion 36A that borders the upper end portion of the outer peripheral surface 35A of the circumferential wall 35, and an upper portion 36B that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 to both the upper side Z1 and the radial inner side R1. Including integrally. Therefore, the cross section of the ring member 36 when cut at one position on the circumference is formed in a substantially crank shape. By assembling the fastening member 42 such as a bolt penetrating the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 35 to the lower portion 36A, the ring member 36 is fixed to the upper end portion of the circumferential wall 35 and forms a part of the dehydration tank 4. The area surrounded by the upper portion 36B constitutes the doorway 4A located at the upper end of the dehydration tank 4.

Gripping portions 43 are integrally provided at two locations on the ring member 36 that are displaced by, for example, 180 degrees in the circumferential direction Q. Each grip portion 43 is formed in a block shape extending in the circumferential direction Q as a part of the upper portion 36B of the ring member 36. In each grip portion 43, both side surfaces in the radial direction R are formed in a concave curved curved surface shape (see FIG. 7 described later). In the ring member 36, a step 36C is formed by the upper surface of the lower portion 36A and the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 36B. The steps 36C are formed in an arc shape extending in the circumferential direction Q between the two grip portions 43, and there are two steps 36C with the central axis J in between (see FIG. 7). Each step 36C is opened to the outer side R2 and the upper side Z1 in the radial direction.

The handle 37 is formed in an arc shape extending in the circumferential direction Q by a wire or the like, and exists one at each step 36C. Both ends 37A of each handle 37 are bent inward R1 in the radial direction. At the upper portion 36B of the ring member 36, one through hole 36D extending in the radial direction is formed at a position corresponding to both end portions 37A of each handle 37 in the circumferential direction Q, and both end portions 37A of each handle 37 are formed. It is inserted one by one from the radial outer side R2 into the through holes 36D that match in the circumferential direction Q. As a result, each handle 37 is supported by the ring member 36 and can rotate around both end portions 37A. Specifically, each handle 37 has a storage position that is horizontal and stored in the step 36C as shown in FIG. 3, and a drawer position (not shown) that is pulled out from the step 36C to the upper side Z1 and becomes substantially vertical. Rotate between.

The bottom wall 38 is made of resin, for example, and has a plate thickness direction corresponding to the vertical direction Z. The bottom wall 38 has a central portion 38A located around the central axis J, an outer peripheral portion 38B that surrounds the central portion 38A from the radial outer side R2 and is located lower than the central portion 38A, and a central portion 38A in the radial direction R. The intermediate portion 38C located between the outer peripheral portion 38B and the outer peripheral portion 38B is integrally included. The central portion 38A, the outer peripheral portion 38B, and the intermediate portion 38C are formed in an annular shape extending in the circumferential direction Q and have substantially the same plate thickness. The central portion 38A and the outer peripheral portion 38B extend flatly along the lateral direction, but the intermediate portion 38C is inclined in the lateral direction so as to shift toward the upper side Z1 toward the inner side R1 in the radial direction, and the central portion 38A and the outer portion 38A and the outer portion 38A. It is erected between the peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge of the outer peripheral portion 38B. Therefore, the upper surface portions of the central portion 38A and the outer peripheral portion 38B are flat along the lateral direction, but the upper surface portion of the intermediate portion 38C is inclined with respect to the lateral direction.

At the center of the central portion 38A, a circular through hole 38D that penetrates the central portion 38A in the vertical direction Z is formed. The inner peripheral surface 38E bordering the through hole 38D in the central portion 38A is formed in a tapered shape that shrinks in diameter toward the lower side Z2. In the central portion 38A, a cylindrical tubular portion 38F that protrudes from the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface portion to the lower side Z2 and surrounds the through hole 38D is integrally formed.

A circular drainage port 38G that penetrates the outer peripheral portion 38B in the vertical direction Z is formed at one location on the circumference of the outer peripheral portion 38B. The inner peripheral surface 38H bordering the drainage port 38G on the outer peripheral portion 38B is formed in a tapered shape whose diameter decreases toward the lower side Z2. Therefore, the drainage port 38G is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape whose diameter is reduced toward the lower side Z2. A cylindrical guide portion 38I is formed on the lower surface portion of the outer peripheral portion 38B so as to surround the drainage port 38G and project to the lower side Z2. The outer peripheral portion 38B is integrally provided with an outer edge portion 38J that borders the outer peripheral edge over the entire area and extends to the upper side Z1. The outer edge portion 38J is in contact with the lower portion 40A of the flange member 40 of the circumferential wall 35 from the radial inner side R1. A fastening member 44 such as a bolt penetrates the lower portion 40A from the radial outer side R2 and is assembled to the outer peripheral portion 38B. As a result, the bottom wall 38 is fixed to the circumferential wall 35. The space surrounded by the circumferential wall 35 from the outer side R2 in the radial direction and closed from the lower side Z2 by the bottom wall 38 is the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4. The internal space 4B is opened from the doorway 4A to the upper side Z1. As the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 gradually expands in diameter toward the lower side Z2, the internal space 4B gradually widens toward the radial outer side R2 toward the lower side Z2. Laundry is stored in the internal space 4B.

With reference to FIG. 4, which is a plan view of the bottom wall 38, in the bottom wall 38, the central portion 38A and the intermediate portion 38C have a central axis line that coincides with the central axis J, and the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35. It is formed in an annular shape of a perfect circle coaxially arranged with the upper end 35C (see the one-dot chain line circle) and the lower end 35D (see the broken line circle). On the other hand, the outer peripheral portion 38B and its outer edge portion 38J are formed in a substantially elliptical ring having a long axis L (see the two-dot chain line) passing through the central axis J and the center of the drainage port 38G, and the long axis. The midpoint of L, that is, the center K of the outer peripheral portion 38B does not coincide with the central axis J, and is arranged so as to be offset from the central axis J to the drain port 38G side. The lower portion 40A (see FIG. 3) of the flange member 40 surrounding the outer edge portion 38J of the outer peripheral portion 38B having such a substantially elliptical contour is also formed in a substantially elliptical ring shape that coincides with the outer edge portion 38J in a plan view. Will be done.

The length L1 of the major axis L at the substantially elliptical annular outer peripheral portion 38B is larger than the diameter D1 of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 at the lower end 35D. The end L2 on the long axis L opposite to the drain port 38G side is arranged so as to substantially coincide with one location on the periphery of the lower end 35D in a plan view. Therefore, in the region of the bottom wall 38 below the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B, as shown with hatching in FIG. 4, a substantially annular shape extending along the lower end 35D in a plan view is formed. A recess 38K recessed from the lower end 35D to the outer side R2 in the radial direction is formed. The recess 38K is a space that is sandwiched from the vertical direction Z by the lateral portion 40C (see FIG. 3) and the outer peripheral portion 38B of the flange member 40, and is closed from the radial outer side R2 by the outer edge portion 38J of the outer peripheral portion 38B. Therefore, the lower end of the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4 is formed. In the range from the upper end 35C to the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B, the internal space 4B gradually widens toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction toward the lower Z2 as described above, and the lower end portion of the lower Z2 below the lower end 35D. Then, it is formed so as to expand one step toward the outer side Z2 in the radial direction by the concave portion 38K (see FIG. 3).

The recess 38K is an example of a non-protruding portion of the bottom wall 38 that is adjacent to the lower end 35D from the lower side Z2 and does not protrude inward R1 in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface 35B. The recess 38K is formed so that the region closer to the drain port 38G in the circumferential direction Q becomes larger, that is, deeper toward the radial outer side R2. Therefore, in the recess 38K, the drainage port region 38L that coincides with the drainage port 38G in the circumferential direction Q is the largest toward the radial outer side R2. On the other hand, the recess 38K becomes smaller, that is, shallower in the radial direction R as it moves away from the drainage port 38G in the circumferential direction Q and approaches the end L2 of the long axis L. The recess 38K may be interrupted at the end L2. In this case, the inner peripheral surface 38M of the outer peripheral portion 38J of the outer peripheral portion 38B at the end L2 is continuously inside the lower end 35D as another example of the non-protruding portion described above. It is arranged flush with the peripheral surface 35B (see FIG. 3).

At least a part of the drainage port 38G is arranged so as to overlap the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B in a plan view. Therefore, a part of the drainage port 38G overlaps with the drainage port area 38L of the recess 38K in a plan view, and is located on the radial outer side R2 of the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B. Alternatively, no portion of the drainage port 38G may be located radially outside R2 of the lower end 35D, and the edge of the drainage port 38G may be located at the same position as the lower end 35D in the radial direction R.

With reference to FIG. 3, the dehydration tank 4 further includes a support shaft 50 attached to the bottom wall 38, a connecting member 51, an opening / closing mechanism 52, and a leg member 53. The support shaft 50 is made of metal, has a central axis corresponding to the central axis J, and is formed in a columnar shape extending in the vertical direction Z. A lower engaging portion 50A is formed at the lower end of the support shaft 50, and an upper engaging portion 50B is formed at the upper end of the support shaft 50. The cross section when each of the upper engaging portion 50B and the lower engaging portion 50A is cut along the lateral direction is a substantially polygonal shape such as a hexagon. The intermediate portion 50C between the lower engaging portion 50A and the upper engaging portion 50B on the support shaft 50 has a circumferential outer peripheral surface extending in the circumferential direction Q. The intermediate portion 50C is thicker than the upper engaging portion 50B and the lower engaging portion 50A. At the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion 50C, one annular groove 50D extending in the circumferential direction Q is formed. On the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion 50C, an annular flange portion 50E that projects to the outer side R2 in the radial direction and then bends to the lower side Z2 is integrally formed on the Z2 below the groove 50D.

The support shaft 50 penetrates the bottom wall 38 at the central axis J by being inserted into the through hole 38D in the central portion 38A of the bottom wall 38. In the support shaft 50, the lower engaging portion 50A projects to the lower Z2 from the central portion 38A, and the upper engaging portion 50B projects to the upper Z1 from the central portion 38A. Further, in the support shaft 50, the groove 50D is located at substantially the same height as the through hole 38D, and the flange portion 50E is located at substantially the same height as the cylinder portion 38F of the lower Z2 in the central portion 38A. It is in a state of being surrounded by the portion 38F from the radial outer side R2 in a non-contact manner.

The connecting member 51 is made of metal. The connecting member 51 is formed in a disk shape having a central axis line corresponding to the central axis line J and a plate thickness direction corresponding to the vertical direction Z. The outer diameter of the connecting member 51 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the tubular portion 38F. At the center of the connecting member 51, a through hole 51A is formed through the connecting member 51 in the vertical direction Z. The upper surface of the connecting member 51 includes a cylindrical inner cylinder 51B that borders the through hole 51A and protrudes to the upper Z1, and a cylindrical outer cylinder 51C that surrounds the inner cylinder 51B and protrudes to the upper Z1. Is integrally formed.

The connecting member 51 is attached to the central portion 38A of the bottom wall 38 from the lower side Z2. At this time, the outer peripheral portion of the connecting member 51 is in contact with the lower end surface of the tubular portion 38F of the central portion 38A from the lower side Z2. A fastening member 54 such as a bolt penetrates the outer peripheral portion of the connecting member 51 from the lower side Z2 and is assembled to the tubular portion 38F. As a result, the connecting member 51 is coaxially fixed to the central portion 38A and becomes a part of the bottom wall 38.

In the connecting member 51, the intermediate portion 50C of the support shaft 50 is inserted into the through hole 51A. The lower engaging portion 50A of the support shaft 50 protrudes from the through hole 51A and protrudes to Z2 below the lower surface portion of the connecting member 51. In the connecting member 51, the inner cylinder portion 51B is internally fitted to the flange portion 50E of the intermediate portion 50C, and the outer cylinder portion 51C is internally fitted to the cylinder portion 38F. The support shaft 50 is in a state of being positioned in the vertical direction Z with respect to the connecting member 51 by being hooked on the inner cylinder portion 51B by the flange portion 50E from the upper side Z1. In the connecting member 51, the bearing 55 is arranged in the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 51A and the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion 50C. As a result, the support shaft 50 is supported by the connecting member 51 and the bottom wall 38 in a state of being rotatable around the central axis J.

An annular seal member 56 is fitted in the gap in the radial direction R between the flange portion 50E of the support shaft 50 and the outer tubular portion 51C of the connecting member 51 surrounding the flange portion 50E. Further, on the lower end surface of the tubular portion 38F of the bottom wall 38, an annular groove 38O extending in the circumferential direction Q is formed in the radial inner side R1 of the screw hole 38N to which the fastening member 54 is assembled. Another annular sealing member 57 is fitted into the groove 38O. In the bottom wall 38, a gap is formed at the boundary between adjacent members through the through hole 38D and toward Z2 below the bottom wall 38, and this gap is closed by the seal member 56 and the seal member 57. Therefore, when water is stored in the dehydration tank 4, it is possible to prevent the water in the dehydration tank 4 from leaking through the gap.

The opening / closing mechanism 52 is a mechanism for opening / closing the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4. With reference to FIG. 5 in which the portion surrounded by the broken line circle in FIG. 1 is enlarged and FIG. 6 which is a perspective view of the dehydration tank 4 viewed from the lower side Z2, the opening / closing mechanism 52 includes the fixing member 60 and the rotation. It includes a moving member 61, a rotating shaft 62, a weight member 63, an urging member 64, a support member 65, a water blocking member 66, and a sandwiching portion 67.

The fixing member 60 integrally includes a horizontal portion 60A having a plate thickness direction corresponding to the vertical direction Z and a vertical portion 60B protruding from the horizontal portion 60A to the lower side Z2. The lateral portion 60A is fixed to a portion of the outer peripheral portion 38B of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4 adjacent to the guide portion 38I from the inner side R1 in the radial direction from the lower side Z2 via a fastening member 68 such as a bolt. There are a pair of vertical portions 60B, and they are arranged side by side in the tangential direction T with respect to the circumferential direction Q.

The rotating member 61 is formed in the shape of a flat plate lever, and is arranged directly below the drain port 38G and the guide portion 38I. In the rotating member 61, the end portion of the radial inner R1 is sandwiched by a pair of vertical portions 60B. The rotating shaft 62 extends in the tangential direction T and connects the rotating member 61 and the pair of vertical portions 60B. As a result, the rotating member 61 is connected to the bottom wall 38 via the rotating shaft 62 and the fixing member 60 in a posture tilted so as to shift toward the lower side Z2 toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction, and the rotating member 61 is connected to the bottom wall 38 via the rotating shaft 62 and the fixing member 60. It can rotate up and down around.

The weight member 63 is made of metal, for example, and has a flat plate-shaped horizontal portion 63A having a plate thickness direction consistent with the rotating member 61 and a pair of vertical portions extending from both ends of the horizontal portion 63A in the tangential direction T to the upper side Z1. Including 63B integrally. A protruding portion 63C projecting to the upper side Z1 is integrally provided on the upper surface portion of the lateral portion 63A. A hole 63D (see FIG. 5) is formed in the protruding portion 63C so as to penetrate the protruding portion 63C along the radial direction R. The lateral portion 63A is overlapped from the upper side Z1 with respect to the portion of the rotating member 61 that is radially outer R2 from the rotating shaft 62, that is, the portion of the rotating member 61 that is farther from the central axis J than the rotating shaft 62. , Is fixed to the portion via a fastening member 69 such as a bolt.

The urging member 64 is, for example, a torsion coil spring wound around a rotating shaft 62. The urging member 64 has two arm portions 64A extending from a portion wound around the rotating shaft 62. One arm portion 64A is inserted into the hole 63D formed in the protruding portion 63C of the weight member 63, and the other arm portion 64A is inserted into the hole 60C formed in the lateral portion 60A of the fixing member 60 (FIG. 5). reference). The urging member 64 in this state always urges the rotating member 61 downward.

The support member 65 is made of metal, for example, and has a cylindrical main body portion 65A having a central axis extending in the vertical direction Z, and is bent from the lower end of the main body portion 65A to both outer sides in the tangential direction T and then bent to the upper side Z1. It integrally includes a pair of overhanging portions 65B. The main body portion 65A includes the lower portion 65C, the intermediate portion 65D, and the upper portion 65E in this order from the lower side Z2. The outer diameter of the main body portion 65A is set so as to decrease stepwise in the order of the lower portion 65C, the intermediate portion 65D, and the upper portion 65E. The outer diameter of the lower portion 65C is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the guide portion 38I of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4. The outer diameter of the middle portion 65D is slightly smaller than the inner diameter at the lower end of the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38. The upper portion 65E includes the first upper portion 65F, the second upper portion 65G, and the third upper portion 65H in this order from the lower side Z2. The outer diameter of the upper portion 65E is set so as to decrease stepwise in the order of the first upper portion 65F, the second upper portion 65G, and the third upper portion 65H. On the lower surface of the lower portion 65C, an annular recess 65I recessed into the upper Z1 and a protrusion 65J protruding into the lower Z2 within the recess 65I are formed.

The support member 65 is arranged directly above the rotating member 61, and the main body portion 65A of the support member 65 is below the guide portion 38I and the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4 with play. It is fitted from Z2. Specifically, in the support member 65, the lower portion 65C is fitted into the guide portion 38I, and the intermediate portion 65D and the upper portion 65E are fitted into the drain port 38G. The support member 65 can move in the vertical direction Z by being guided by the guide portion 38I at the lower portion 65C. The pair of overhanging portions 65B in the support member 65 are arranged so as to sandwich the guide portion 38I from both sides in the tangential direction T in a non-contact manner. A pair of vertical portions 63B of the weight member 63 fixed to the rotating member 61 are arranged outside the tangential direction T with respect to the pair of overhanging portions 65B of the support member 65. The adjacent vertical portion 63B and the overhanging portion 65B are connected by a connecting shaft 70 extending in the tangential direction T. Since the insertion hole (not shown) through which the connecting shaft 70 is inserted in the overhanging portion 65B is a long hole that is long in the vertical direction Z, the connecting shaft 70 moves up and down in this insertion hole to move the weight member 63 and the support member. It is connected to 65 with some play at least in the vertical direction Z. The support member 65 is urged toward the lower side Z2 together with the rotating member 61 and the weight member 63 by the urging member 64.

The water stop member 66 is, for example, a rubber valve, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a central axis extending in the vertical direction Z. A through hole 66A that penetrates the water stop member 66 in the vertical direction Z is formed at the center of the water stop member 66. At the lower end of the through hole 66A, the inner diameter is one step larger. The outer peripheral surface 66B of the water blocking member 66 is formed in a tapered shape whose diameter decreases toward the lower side Z2. Therefore, the water blocking member 66 has a substantially truncated cone shape as a whole, strictly speaking. The water stop member 66 is placed on the intermediate portion 65D of the main body portion 65A of the support member 65 from the upper side Z1. In the main body portion 65A, the first upper portion 65F is fitted into the lower end portion of the through hole 66A from the lower side Z2, the second upper portion 65G is arranged in the through hole 66A, and the third upper portion 65H protrudes from the through hole 66A to the upper side Z1. Is placed. The annular convex portion 66C formed on the inner peripheral surface of the water stop member 66 that partitions the through hole 66A is crushed by the second upper portion 65G, so that the water stop member 66 and the second upper portion 65G in the through hole 66A are crushed. The gap is closed. A convex portion 66D similar to the convex portion 66C is also formed on the outer peripheral surface 66B.

The sandwiching portion 67 is, for example, an annular washer, and is placed on the upper surface portion of the water blocking member 66 from the upper side Z1. The third upper portion 65H of the main body portion 65A of the support member 65 is inserted into the hole at the center of the sandwiching portion 67. Another washer 75 is placed on the sandwiching portion 67, and a fastening member 71 such as a bolt is assembled to the upper portion 65E of the support member 65 through the sandwiching portion 67 and the inside of the washer 75. As a result, the water blocking member 66 is fixed to the main body portion 65A and the sandwiching portion 67 in a state of being sandwiched from the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the water blocking member 66 is connected to the rotating member 61 via the supporting member 65, and is urged toward the lower side Z2 together with the rotating member 61, the weight member 63, and the supporting member 65 by the urging member 64. To.

The water stop member 66 is arranged at the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4. The water stop member 66 can move in the vertical direction Z between the open position and the closed position together with the support member 65 in response to the rotation of the rotating member 61. The water stop member 66 shown in FIG. 5 is in the open position, and the outer peripheral surface 66B of the water stop member 66 is separated from the inner peripheral surface 38H bordering the drain port 38G on the bottom wall 38 to the upper side Z1. Therefore, when the water blocking member 66 is in the open position, the drainage port 38G is opened by widening the gap between the outer peripheral surface 66B and the inner peripheral surface 38H. The water stop member 66 reaches the closed position when it descends from the open position as the rotating member 61 rotates to the lower side Z2 (see FIG. 3). In the water blocking member 66 in the closed position, the convex portion 66D of the outer peripheral surface 66B is crushed by the inner peripheral surface 38H, and the outer peripheral surface 66B is brought into close contact with the entire area of the inner peripheral surface 38H in the circumferential direction from the upper side Z1. Therefore, when the water blocking member 66 is in the closed position, the drain port 38G is closed. As described above, the water blocking member 66 urged toward the lower side Z2 is in a state of being urged toward the closed position.

The leg member 53 is made of metal, for example, and there are a plurality of leg members 53. With reference to FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the three leg members 53 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction Q, for example, at equal intervals on the lower surface portion of the outer peripheral portion 38B of the bottom wall 38. Each leg member 53 integrally includes a curved portion 53A that protrudes to the lower side Z2 and is curved along the circumferential direction Q, and a pair of bent portions 53B that are bent from both ends of the curved portion 53A in the radial direction R1. Including. Each leg member 53 is fixed to the bottom wall 38 by the fastening member 72 such as a bolt penetrating the bent portion 53B and being assembled to the bottom wall 38. Of the three leg members 53, one leg member 53C is located 180 degrees away from the opening / closing mechanism 52 in the circumferential direction Q, specifically, at a position where the central axis J is sandwiched between the bottom wall 38 and the drain port 38G. Be placed. For example, a flat plate-shaped counterweight 73 is fixed to a portion of the lower surface of the bottom wall 38 surrounded by the leg member 53C.

Although not shown in FIG. 6, a protective member 74 (see FIG. 3) having a shape similar to that of the leg member 53 is attached around the opening / closing mechanism 52 on the lower surface of the bottom wall 38. The opening / closing mechanism 52 is protected from both sides in the circumferential direction Q and the radial outer side R2 by the protective member 74. The lower ends of the leg members 53 and the protective member 74 are located at the lowermost Z2 in the dehydration tank 4. Therefore, when the single dehydration tank 4 is mounted on a mounting surface such as a floor surface, the lower ends of the leg members 53 and the protective member 74 come into contact with the mounting surface, so that the connecting member 51 and the opening / closing mechanism Since the 52 is separated from the mounting surface, it is possible to prevent the connecting member 51 and the opening / closing mechanism 52 from colliding with the mounting surface and being damaged.

With reference to FIG. 1, the dehydration tub 4 is housed in the storage space 2A of the washing machine main body 2. In the dehydration tub 4, the connecting member 51 of the bottom wall 38 is fitted into the opening 12D of the central portion 12A of the bottom wall 12 of the washing machine main body 2 from the upper side Z1 and is fitted into the disk portion 14A of the support portion 14 in the bottom wall 12. On the other hand, they are connected so that they can rotate integrally. Therefore, when the support portion 14 is driven and rotated by the motor 16, the dehydration tank 4 is driven and rotated around the central axis J together with the support portion 14. Further, in the support shaft 50 rotatably supported by the bottom wall 38, the support shaft 50 is driven by the lower engaging portion 50A being fitted into the receiving portion 15A of the drive shaft 15 of the washing machine main body 2 from the upper side Z1. It is integrally rotatably connected to the shaft 15. When the drive shaft 15 is driven and rotated by the motor 16, the support shaft 50 is driven and rotated around the central axis J together with the drive shaft 15. In the bottom wall 12 of the washing machine main body 2, the outer peripheral portion 12B and the intermediate portion 12C face the bottom wall 38 in the accommodation space 2A from the lower side Z2 at a distance.

In addition, for example, by shifting the dehydration tub 4 in the circumferential direction Q and lifting it, the lock of the dehydration tub 4 with respect to the support portion 14 may be released, and the dehydration tub 4 may be separated from the washing machine main body 2. In this case, the dehydration tub 4 is locked to the support portion 14 and attached to the washing machine main body 2 by the procedure opposite to the detachment procedure. When the dehydration tub 4 is attached to or detached from the washing machine main body 2, the grip portion 43 of the dehydration tub 4 is gripped by the user. Further, the user can move the dehydration tank 4 after detachment by itself by rotating the handle 37 of the dehydration tank 4 to the above-mentioned take-out position (not shown) and then grasping the handle 37.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dehydration tank 4 and the rotating member 5 including a vertical cross section around the bottom wall 38. Next, the rotating member 5 will be described. Most of the rotating members 5 are made of resin and are formed in a disk shape having a central axis line corresponding to the central axis line J. The rotating member 5 includes a disk-shaped main body 80 that forms most of the rotating member 5, and a detachable mechanism 81 for attaching and detaching the rotating member 5 to and from the dehydration tank 4. In the upper surface portion of the main body portion 80, the central portion 80A in the radial direction R is formed so as to bulge toward the upper side Z1. At the center of the central portion 80A, a recess 80B that is hemispherically recessed toward the lower Z2 is formed. On the outer peripheral portion 80C surrounding the central portion 80A on the upper surface portion of the main body portion 80, a plurality of raised portions 80D rising to the upper side Z1 are formed side by side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction Q. A large number of through holes 80E are formed in the outer peripheral portion 80C so as to penetrate the main body portion 80 in the vertical direction Z.

One through hole 80E is also formed at the bottom of the recess 80B. In the central portion 80A, one insertion hole 80F penetrating the main body portion 80 in the vertical direction Z is formed at two locations sandwiching the through hole 80E at the bottom of the recess 80B. In the central portion 80A, a space 82 surrounded by the outer peripheral portion 80C and opened from the lower surface portion of the main body portion 80 to the lower side Z2 is formed on the lower side Z2 of the recess 80B. The two insertion holes 80F are in a state of communicating with the space 82 from the upper side Z1.

The attachment / detachment mechanism 81 is a so-called ball lock mechanism, and includes a holding member 83, a lock member 84, and an elevating member 85. The holding member 83 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a central axis line corresponding to the central axis line J, and is fixed to the central portion 80A in the space 82. The internal cross section of the holding member 83 when cut along the lateral direction is formed in a substantially polygonal shape substantially matching the cross section of the upper engaging portion 50B (see FIG. 4) of the support shaft 50 of the dehydration tank 4. At the lower end of the holding member 83, a plurality of circular holding holes 83A penetrating the holding member 83 in the radial direction R are formed side by side in the circumferential direction Q.

The lock member 84 is, for example, a metal ball, and there are a plurality of lock members 84 corresponding to the holding holes 83A of the holding member 83, and one lock member 84 is fitted into each holding hole 83A. Each lock member 84 can move in the radial direction R in a state where it cannot be disengaged from the fitted holding hole 83A.

The elevating member 85 includes an upper part 86 and a lower part 87. The upper portion 86 extends along the radial direction R between two insertion holes 80F in the main body 80, is bent, and is inserted into each insertion hole 80F from the upper side Z1. The lower portion 87 is arranged in the space 82. The lower portion 87 is connected to both ends inserted from the upper side Z1 into each insertion hole 80F in the upper portion 86. A through hole 87A through which the holding member 83 is inserted from the upper side Z1 is formed in the lower portion 87. An annular convex portion 87B protruding inward R1 in the radial direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 87 in the through hole 87A.

The elevating member 85 can be elevated and lowered between the lock position shown in FIG. 7 and the release position (not shown) of Z1 above the lock position. In the elevating member 85 at the lock position, the convex portion 87B is at the same position as each lock member 84 in the vertical direction Z, and by pressing each lock member 84 from the radial outer side R2, a part of each lock member 84 is removed. It protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the holding member 83 to the inner side R1 in the radial direction. The elevating member 85 is always urged toward the lock position by an urging member such as a spring provided in the rotating member 5.

Such a rotating member 5 is arranged in the lower part of the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4. The upper engaging portion 50B of the support shaft 50 of the dehydration tank 4 is inserted into the holding member 83 of the rotating member 5 from the lower side Z2, so that the rotating member 5 is moved in the circumferential direction Q with respect to the support shaft 50. It is fixed so that it cannot move relative to each other. Further, in the rotating member 5, the convex portion 87B of the elevating member 85 at the lock position presses each lock member 84 from the radial outer side R2, so that a part of each lock member 84 is from the inner peripheral surface of the holding member 83. It protrudes to the inner side R1 in the radial direction and fits into the groove 50D of the support shaft 50. As a result, the rotating member 5 is fixed so as not to be relatively movable in the vertical direction Z with respect to the support shaft 50. Therefore, the rotating member 5 is locked to the support shaft 50 and is integrally rotatably supported around the central axis J by the support shaft 50. When the drive shaft 15 is driven and rotated by the motor 16 of the washing machine main body 2 (see FIG. 1), the rotating member 5 is driven and rotated around the central axis J together with the drive shaft 15 and the support shaft 50.

The main body 80 of the rotating member 5 in the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4 is surrounded by the vertical portion 41A of the gap filling member 41 from the radial outer side R2 in a non-contact manner, and faces the horizontal portion 41B of the gap filling member 41 from the upper side Z1. It is in a state of being. The vertical portion 41A is in a state of filling a gap in the radial direction R between the main body portion 80 and the lower end portion of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35. As a result, it is possible to prevent the laundry S and foreign matter arranged in the region above the main body 80 and the vertical portion 41A in the internal space 4B from entering the gap.

The rotating member 5 in this embodiment is removable from the dehydration tank 4. In that case, when the user pulls the upper portion 86 of the rotating member 5 mounted on the dehydration tank 4 to the upper side Z1 as shown in FIG. 7, the elevating member 85 rises to the release position (not shown). Then, in the elevating member 85 at the release position, the convex portion 87B shifts to the upper side Z1 of each lock member 84 and does not press each lock member 84 from the radial outer side R2, so that each lock member 84 is moved to the radial outer side R2. By moving, the holding member 83 does not protrude from the inner peripheral surface, and is displaced from the groove 50D of the support shaft 50 to the outer side R2 in the radial direction. As a result, the lock of the rotating member 5 with respect to the support shaft 50 is released. Then, when the user continuously pulls the upper portion 86 toward the upper side Z1 to lift the rotating member 5, the upper engaging portion 50B of the support shaft 50 is disengaged from the holding member 83 of the rotating member 5. When the user moves the rotating member 5 to Z1 above the entrance / exit 4A of the dehydration tank 4, the rotating member 5 is separated from the dehydration tank 4. There may be a configuration in which the rotating member 5 is non-detachably fixed to the dehydration tank 4.

Next, the washing operation executed by the washing machine 1 will be described. The washing operation includes a washing step, a rinsing step after the washing step, and a dehydration step. The rinsing and dehydrating steps may be performed multiple times, in which case the dehydrating step may be performed after each rinsing step.

With reference to FIG. 1, prior to the start of the washing operation, the user opens the door 3 to open the attachment / detachment port 2B of the washing machine main body 2 and the entrance / exit 4A of the dehydration tub 4 to the upper side Z1 to release the laundry S. The door 3 is closed after being accommodated in the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4 from the doorway 4A. At this time, if necessary, detergent may be added to the internal space 4B. Since the laundry S in the internal space 4B is arranged in the region above Z1 above the main body 80 and the vertical portion 41A as described above, it is located above Z1 from the recess 38K of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tub 4. Then, when the user operates an operation unit (not shown) such as a switch provided on the surface of the door 3, the control unit 24 starts the washing process.

At the beginning of the washing process, the control unit 24 supplies water to the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4 by, for example, a water supply mechanism (not shown) provided on the door 3. The water supply mechanism includes a water supply channel connected to the faucet and a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply channel under the control of the control unit 24. As described above, when the laundry S is put into the dehydration tank 4, water may be supplied by pouring water drawn from a bucket into the dehydration tank 4, for example. Further, the dehydration tub 4 in which water is drawn in advance and stored in the internal space 4B may be attached to the washing machine main body 2 prior to the start of the washing operation. In this case, the dehydration tub 4 itself is a bucket. Become.

Here, in the dehydration tub 4, the water stop member 66 in the closed position comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 38H of the drainage port 38G in the bottom wall 38 from the upper side Z1 to close the drainage port 38G. Water can be stored only in No. 4 for washing (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, in a conventional washing machine provided with a dehydration tub which is a rotating body in which a large number of drain holes are formed on a circumferential wall and a water tub which is a stationary body which accommodates the dehydration tub and stores water, a drainage mechanism is provided in the water tub. It is necessary to fill not only the inside of the dehydration tank but also the gap between the water tank and the dehydration tank with water during the washing operation. Compared to such a conventional washing machine, the washing machine 1 which does not have a drain hole in the circumferential wall 35 of the dehydration tub 4 and can store water only in the dehydration tub 4 for washing has a simple structure and is washed. The amount of water used during operation can be reduced.

Further, in the water blocking member 66 that closes the drain port 38G by being brought into close contact with the inner peripheral surface 38H of the drain port 38G from the upper side Z1, the weight of the water in the dehydration tank 4 is increased to the upper side Z1 together with the own weight of the water stopping member 66. Joins the water blocking member 66 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the more water accumulates in the dehydration tank 4, the better the adhesion of the water blocking member 66 to the inner peripheral surface 38H of the drain port 38G. Further, by utilizing the weights of the rotating member 61 and the weight member 63 connected to the water blocking member 66, the adhesion of the water blocking member 66 at the closed position to the inner peripheral surface 38H of the drain port 38G is further improved. Can be done. As a result of the above, the drainage port 38G can be reliably closed by the water blocking member 66, and water can be reliably stored in the dehydration tank 4.

Further, by utilizing the urging force of the urging member 64 that urges the rotating member 61 downward, the water is stopped at the closed position with respect to the inner peripheral surface 38H of the drain port 38G without increasing the weight of the weight member 63. The adhesion of the member 66 can be further improved. As a result, while suppressing the weighting of the dehydration tank 4 by increasing the weight of the weight member 63, the drainage port 38G can be reliably closed by the water blocking member 66, and water can be reliably stored in the dehydration tank 4. .. If the adhesion of the water blocking member 66 can be ensured to the minimum necessary without using the urging force of the urging member 64, the urging member 64 can be omitted. Even if the urging member 64 is omitted, the water blocking member 66 can be lowered from the open position to the closed position depending on its own weight and the weight of the support member 65 and the like.

Then, when the control unit 24 confirms that water has accumulated up to a predetermined water level in the internal space 4B by a water level sensor (not shown) or the like, the control unit 24 drives and rotates the drive shaft 15 by driving the motor 16. As a result, only the rotating member 5 connected to the drive shaft 15 via the support shaft 50 is driven and rotated around the central axis J. Then, the laundry S located on the upper side Z1 of the rotating member 5 in the internal space 4B touches the raised portion 80D of the rotating rotating member 5 or rides on the water flow generated by the rotating member 5 in the internal space 4B. Is agitated by. As a result, dirt is removed from the laundry S. Further, when the detergent is put into the internal space 4B, the dirt on the laundry S is decomposed by the detergent.

After the rotating member 5 has rotated for a predetermined time, the control unit 24 stops the rotation of the rotating member 5 and then raises the pin 26 of the drainage mechanism 18 from the lower position up to now to the upper position shown in FIG. Then, the tip portion 26A of the pin 26 pushes up the rotating member 61 of the opening / closing mechanism 52 of the dehydration tank 4 from the lower side Z2, so that the water blocking member 66 connected to the rotating member 61 is moved from the closed position so far. It rises to the open position and opens the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4. Therefore, the water in the internal space 4B passes through the drain port 38G, is received by the intermediate portion 12C on the upper surface portion of the bottom wall 12 of the washing machine main body 2, and flows down along the intermediate portion 12C, and then flows down the outer peripheral portion 12B. It travels to the exit 17A and is discharged from the drainage channel 17 to the outside of the machine.

Since the outer peripheral portion 12B of the bottom wall 12 is not a flat surface but is formed so as to gradually descend toward the outlet 17A, the water that flows down from the drainage port 38G and travels through the outer peripheral portion 38B stays in the middle. It is possible to reach the exit 17A without fail. With reference to FIG. 2, the outlet 17A is in a rotationally symmetric position 180 degrees offset from the pin 26 of the drainage mechanism 18. Therefore, in the outer peripheral portion 12B, the portion clockwise toward the exit 17A in plan view (see the arrow on the alternate long and short dash line) and the portion counterclockwise toward the exit 17A (see the arrow on the alternate long and short dash line) are horizontal. The inclination angle with respect to the direction can be the same, and the height difference between the pin 26 and the outlet 17A can be minimized. Therefore, the outlet 17A can be reached in the shortest distance regardless of whether the water flows clockwise to the outlet 17A on the outer peripheral portion 38B or counterclockwise to the outlet 17A. The outlet 17A may be arranged at the same position as the pin 26 in the circumferential direction Q.

With reference to FIG. 1, when the drainage of the dehydration tank 4 is completed as described above, the control unit 24 lowers the pin 26 to the lower position, so that the water stop member 66 returns to the closed position (see FIG. 3). This completes the washing process. If the pin 26 is not at the same position as the rotating member 61 in the circumferential direction Q when the rotation of the rotating member 5 is stopped, the control unit 24 rotates the dehydration tank 4 by driving the motor 16. , The rotating member 61 is aligned with the pin 26 in the circumferential direction Q. In this regard, the washing machine 1 may include a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the rotating member 61 in the circumferential direction Q.

After the washing step, the control unit 24 starts the rinsing step. In the rinsing step, the control unit 24 first supplies water to the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4. When the control unit 24 confirms that water, strictly speaking, tap water has accumulated in the internal space 4B to a predetermined water level, it drives and rotates only the drive shaft 15 by driving the motor 16. As a result, the laundry S in the internal space 4B is sooted by the water flow generated in the internal space 4B by the rotating rotating member 5. After the rotating member 5 has been rotated for a predetermined time, the control unit 24 raises the pin 26 of the drainage mechanism 18 to the upper position and moves the water stop member 66 to the open position as described above, thereby causing the dehydration tank 4 to move. Drain. When the drainage of the dehydration tank 4 is completed, the control unit 24 lowers the pin 26 to the lower position and returns the water stop member 66 to the closed position. This completes the rinsing process.

After the rinsing process, the control unit 24 starts the dehydration process and drives the motor 16 to drive and rotate only the support unit 14. As a result, the dehydration tank 4 supported by the support portion 14 is driven and rotated around the rotation axis corresponding to the central axis J. At this time, the pin 26 of the drainage mechanism 18 is in a lower position so as not to come into contact with the rotating dehydration tank 4 (see FIG. 5). When the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the dehydration tub 4 acts on the laundry S, the moisture in the laundry S is squeezed out and blown toward the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 toward the outer R2 in the radial direction. Since the inner peripheral surface 35B is formed so as to be inclined so as to gradually increase in diameter from the upper end 35C to the lower end 35D, the moisture squeezed out from the laundry and reaches the inner peripheral surface 35B is directed downward by centrifugal force. The component of and gravity act. As a result, this water becomes water droplets and flows down toward the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4 along the inclination of the inner peripheral surface 35B.

Then, when the rotation speed of the dehydration tank 4 rises to a predetermined value, in the opening / closing mechanism 52 of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4, the rotating member 61 causes a centrifugal force generated in the weight member 63 as the dehydration tank 4 rotates. Will try to move to the outer R2 in the radial direction, and will rotate upward against the urging force of the urging member 64. Then, the support member 65 connected to the rotating member 61 rises together with the water blocking member 66 in conjunction with the upward rotation of the rotating member 61, so that the water blocking member 66 is closed until now. It rises from the position to the open position and opens the drain port 38G of the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4 (see also FIG. 5). Therefore, the water squeezed out from the laundry S in the dehydration tank 4 and flows down to the bottom wall 38 flows out through the drain port 38G and is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel 17 as described above. In the bottom wall 38 of the rotating dehydration tank 4, the counterweight 73 balances with the weight member 63, so that the eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank 4 by the weight member 63 can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of vibration due to the eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank 4.

Here, unlike the present embodiment, a comparative example is assumed in which the drainage port 38G on the bottom wall 38 is closed from the lower side Z2 by the water blocking member 66. In the comparative example, a large force is required to move the water blocking member 66 against the water pressure in the dehydration tank 4 to close the drain port 38G, and a large centrifugal force is required to open the drain port 38G accordingly. is required. In this case, in order to generate a large centrifugal force, the rotation speed of the dehydration tank 4 must be increased more than necessary, so that the water squeezed out from the laundry S is removed by the time the rotation speed of the dehydration tank 4 increases. It may accumulate in the water tank 4 and cause eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank 4. However, in the present embodiment having a configuration in which the drainage port 38G is closed from the upper side Z1 by the water blocking member 66, these problems can be avoided.

Then, after the dehydration tank 4 has rotated for a predetermined time, the control unit 24 stops the rotation of the dehydration tank 4. Then, as the centrifugal force becomes smaller, the rotating member 61 and the supporting member 65 return to their original positions due to the urging force of the urging member 64, so that the water blocking member 66 returns from the open position to the closed position (see FIG. 3). ). As a result, the dehydration process is completed and the entire washing operation is completed. After the washing operation is completed, the user opens the door 3 and collects the laundry S in the dehydration tub 4. As an example, the user may separate the dehydration tub 4 itself containing the laundry S from the washing machine main body 2. In that case, the user rotates the handle 37 of the dehydration tank 4 to the drawer position (not shown), grabs the handle 37 and takes the dehydration tank 4 to, for example, a clothesline, and the dehydration tank 4 Dry the laundry S inside.

Regarding drainage in the dehydration step, as described above, a part of the drainage port 38G formed on the bottom wall 38 is at the same position as the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35, or the lower end 35D. Located on the outside. That is, the lower end 35D and a part of the drainage port 38G are at the same position in the radial direction R, and one point on the circumference of the lower end 35D overlaps with a part of the drainage port 38G in a plan view (see FIG. 4). Therefore, referring to FIG. 5, the water that has reached the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 quickly passes through the drainage port 38G at the same position in the radial direction R as shown by the thick broken line arrow. It flows down to Z2 below the bottom wall 38, and is discharged to the outside of the machine through a drainage channel 17 (see FIG. 1). In this case, the water produced by dehydration does not adhere to the outer peripheral surface 35A of the circumferential wall 35 of the dehydration tub 4 or the inner wall surface 10A surrounding the circumferential wall 35 in the circumferential wall 10 of the washing machine main body 2, and quickly goes out of the machine. It is discharged. Therefore, since it is possible to reduce the portion of the washing machine 1 to which water adheres due to dehydration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of dirt and mold over a wide area around the dehydration tub 4 and the dehydration tub 4 due to this water, and remove the water. The surroundings of the water tank 4 and the dehydration tank 4 can be kept clean. Further, the water squeezed out from the laundry S and reaches the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 is accumulated in the dehydration tank 4 and discharged without reattaching to the laundry S, so that the dehydration effect is obtained. It is possible to suppress the eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank 4 due to the accumulation of water in the dehydration tank 4.

Further, in the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tank 4, a recess 38K recessed from the lower end 35D to the outer side R2 in the radial direction and an outer peripheral portion 38B are formed in a portion adjacent to the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 from the lower side Z2. An inner peripheral surface 38M (see FIG. 3) that is flush with the inner peripheral surface 35B at the outer edge portion 38J is provided as the above-mentioned non-protruding portion. In FIG. 5, the convex portion 40D slightly protruding from the end portion of the radial inner R1 in the lateral portion 40C of the flange member 40 into the concave portion 38K toward the lower side Z2 is arranged so as to be flush with the inner peripheral surface 35B. By doing so, it forms an example of a non-protruding portion.

The water squeezed out from the laundry S during dehydration and flows down to the lower end 35D of the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 passes through these non-protruding portions at the lower end of the internal space 4B of the dehydration tank 4. As a result, the water is quickly discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain port 38G without being obstructed by the downward flow. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of dirt and mold over a wide range around the dehydration tank 4 and the dehydration tank 4 due to the water produced by dehydration. Further, if the drainage port 38G is arranged closer to the recess 38K side, that is, the outer side R2 in the radial direction so that a part of the drainage port 38G overlaps with the recess 38K in a plan view, the drainage port 38G is placed at the destination of the water flowing down the inner peripheral surface 35B. Therefore, the drainage efficiency at the drainage port 38G can be improved. It is preferable that the non-protruding portion is provided on the bottom wall 38 over the entire area in the circumferential direction Q, but there may be a configuration in which the non-protruding portion is provided only on a part in the circumferential direction Q.

Further, a part of the water squeezed out from the laundry S during dehydration and flowing down to the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 is subjected to centrifugal force in the dehydration tank 4 in the recess 38K as shown by the thick broken line arrow. It is separated from the laundry S inside to the outer side R2 in the radial direction. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water squeezed from the laundry S from reattaching to the laundry S, so that the dehydration effect can be further improved.

With reference to FIG. 4, the recess 38K is formed so that the region closer to the drain port 38G in the circumferential direction Q becomes larger toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction. In this case, the water squeezed out from the laundry S and entered the recess 38K from the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 is guided to the region, specifically, the drainage port region 38L by centrifugal force (thick broken line). (Refer to the arrow), it becomes easier to reach the drain port 38G. As a result, the water that has entered the recess 38K is quickly discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain port 38G. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the laundry S in the dehydration tub 4 from getting wet and the bottom wall 38 of the dehydration tub 4 from becoming dirty or moldy due to the accumulation of water in the recess 38K. Further, it is possible to suppress the eccentric rotation of the dehydration tank 4 due to the accumulation of water in the dehydration tank 4.

With reference to FIG. 5, the gap filling member 41 that fills the gap in the radial direction R between the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 of the dehydration tank 4 and the rotating member 5 penetrates the gap filling member 41 in the vertical direction Z. A notch 41C opened toward the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 is formed. In this case, the water squeezed out from the laundry S during dehydration and flowing down the inner peripheral surface 35B of the circumferential wall 35 is obstructed by passing through the notch 41C as shown by the thick broken line arrow. Instead, it quickly reaches the lower end 35D of the inner peripheral surface 35B and is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain port 38G. Therefore, while obtaining a certain dehydration effect, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of dirt and mold over a wide range around the dehydration tank 4 and the dehydration tank 4 due to the water generated by the dehydration.

Further, if the drainage is discharged from the drainage port 38G in the dehydration tank 4 in all of the washing step, the rinsing step and the dehydration step as described above, the configuration related to the water stoppage and drainage in the dehydration tank 4 is the drainage port 38G. Since it is only necessary to provide it in one place, the structure can be simplified.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

For example, the washing machine 1 may be separately provided with an outer tub (not shown) arranged in the storage space 2A of the washing machine main body 2 and accommodating the dehydration tub 4.

Further, the washing machine 1 may be a dehydrator that executes only the dehydration step.

1 Washing machine 2 Washing machine body 2A Storage space 4 Dehydration tank 5 Rotating member 17 Drainage channel 35 Circumferential wall 35B Inner peripheral surface 35C Upper end 35D Lower end 38 Bottom wall 38G Drainage port 38K Recessed 38M Inner peripheral surface 40D Convex part 41 Gap filling member 41C Notch J Central axis Q Circumferential direction R Radial direction R2 Radial direction Outer side Z Vertical direction Z2 Lower side

Claims (3)

A cylindrical circumferential wall having an inner peripheral surface whose diameter gradually increases from the upper end to the lower end, and a bottom wall connected to the circumferential wall from below, and a drainage port penetrating the bottom wall in the vertical direction. A drainage tub that contains the formed bottom wall, contains laundry, and is driven and rotated around the central axis of the circumferential wall.
A washing machine main body in which a storage space for accommodating the dehydration tub is formed, and
Includes a drainage channel provided in the washing machine body and connected to the accommodation space from below.
In the radial direction with respect to the central axis, a part of the drainage port is located at the same position as the lower end of the inner peripheral surface or outside the lower end of the inner peripheral surface .
Said bottom at a portion adjacent the lower side to the lower end of the inner peripheral surface at the wall, the recess is Ru provided recessed from the lower end of the inner circumferential surface outwardly in the radial direction, a washing machine. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is formed so that a region closer to the drain port in the circumferential direction around the central axis becomes larger outward in the radial direction. A rotating member arranged in the lower part of the internal space of the dehydration tank and driven and rotated around the central axis.
Further including a gap filling member attached to the dehydration tank and filling a gap in the radial direction between the inner peripheral surface and the rotating member.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the gap filling member is formed with a notch that penetrates the gap filling member in the vertical direction and is opened toward the inner peripheral surface.

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