JP7011379B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates mainly to a washing machine that can be suitably used for home use.

Conventionally, in a vertical washing machine, the outer tub and the inner tub are prevented from swinging around the resonance point by supporting four places of the outer tub with hanging rods (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such a hanging rod extends diagonally upward from the lower end of the outer tank and suspends and supports the outer tank via a vibration damping spring. The dead space is used as a storage place.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-253626

However, in the case of the structure to which the suspension rod is applied as described above, there is a potential problem that the possibility of abnormal noise cannot be eliminated because the suspension rod component and the outer tank are in sliding contact with each other. Recently, in addition to the design appearance, there is also a request to make the case of the washing machine transparent to show the inside from the viewpoint of visualization of the washing state and visibility of the faulty part. In order to meet these demands, the hanging rods are an obstacle and the support structure needs to be reviewed.

Therefore, as a new support structure, it is conceivable to support the vertical washing machine with a damper from under the outer tub as in the so-called drum type washing machine. In that case, it is first conceivable to install the damper near the bottom wall of the case in consideration of the propagation of vibration to the case, but when such a structure is applied, the position of the outer tank is lower than that of the suspension rod structure. Therefore, if the height position of the operation plate of the case lid is the same as that of the hanging rod structure, the distance between the outer tub / inner tub and the opening of the case lid is wider than that of the washing machine to which the hanging rod is applied. It invites a new challenge of getting rid of it.

An object of the present invention is to effectively solve such a problem, and to suppress vibration during operation to the extent that it is comparable to a structure to which a hanging rod is applied, while having an unprecedented support structure. The purpose is to provide a washing machine that can be used.

In view of the above problems, the present invention has taken the following measures.

That is, the washing machine of the present invention has a substantially cylindrical shape that accommodates an inner tub that accommodates laundry and has an opening on the inner tub side, an outer tub that accommodates the inner tub, and the inner tub and the outer tub. A washing machine having a case, which is erected from the bottom wall of the case and supports the lower end of the outer tub while absorbing the vibration of the outer tub, and the opening on the inner tub side and the upper end of the case. A hopper provided between the formed lid-side opening and guiding the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid-side opening to the inner tub-side opening is provided, and the lower end of the hopper is the upper end of the inner tub. Above the portion, it is attached to the upper end portion of the outer tank , and a gap is formed between the upper end portion of the hopper and the case, and the hopper is connected to the lower end portion connected to the upper end portion of the inner tank. It has a large-diameter upper end portion whose diameter gradually increases upward from the lower end portion, and at least a portion of the case facing the hopper and the hopper are transparent or translucent. It is a feature.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that the hopper is made of a material having a lower specific gravity than the outer tub and the inner tub.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the hopper functions as a raising tank for storing water having a water level higher than that of the upper end of the inner tank.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the hopper has an extension portion extending from the inner circumference of the outer tank to the opening on the inner tank side, and a hopper main body integrally erected from this extension portion. And.

According to the present invention described above, it is provided between the damper standing from the bottom wall of the case and supporting the lower end of the outer tank while absorbing the vibration of the outer tank, and the opening on the inner tank side and the opening on the lid side. By providing a hopper for guiding the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid-side opening to the inner tank-side opening, the suspension rod is eliminated, and abnormal noise caused by the sliding contact between the suspension rod and the outer tank is provided. By removing the generation and supporting it by bringing it closer to the bottom wall of the case via a damper, the influence of vibration on the case caused by the tilting moment can be effectively suppressed. In addition, by interposing a hopper between the case and the inner tub, it is possible to appropriately guide the loading and unloading of the laundry even if the distance between the inner tub side opening and the lid side opening is widened.
Further, according to the present invention, the hopper has a substantially tapered shape having a lower end portion continuous with the upper end portion of the inner tank and a large diameter upper end portion having a gradually increasing diameter from the lower end portion upward. In other words, since it has an inverted truncated cone shape or a roughly mortar shape, the opening area of the upper end portion of the hopper can be made larger than that of the inner tub, and the convenience of taking in and out the laundry is further improved.
Further, according to the present invention, at least the portion of the case facing the hopper and the hopper are transparent or translucent, which leads to visualization of the washing state and improvement of visibility of the faulty part in addition to the design appearance.

Further , according to the present invention, since the hopper is made of a material having a lower specific gravity than that of the outer tank and the inner tank, the natural frequency can be increased by reducing the weight of the member supported by the damper. , Vibration during normal dehydration can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since the hopper functions as a raising tank for storing water having a water level higher than that of the upper end of the inner tank, the same effect as that of raising the volume of the inner tank can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, it is assumed that the hopper has an extending portion extending from the inner circumference of the outer tank to the opening on the inner tank side, and a hopper main body integrally erected from the extending portion. Therefore, the strength of the hopper can be effectively increased regardless of the material used.

The perspective view which shows the appearance of the washing machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Another perspective view according to the same embodiment. A side sectional view according to the same embodiment. The operation explanatory diagram which concerns on the same embodiment. Same as above. Enlarged view of part A according to FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer shape of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an external view showing a state visually recognized in the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main internal structure of the washing machine 1. In FIG. 3, the driving portion, the control-related portion, and the control-related portion of the washing machine 1 are not shown as appropriate.

The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment can be suitably used at home, for example, and has an inner tub 4 for accommodating laundry, an outer tub 3 for accommodating the inner tub 4, an inner tub 4, and an outer tub. It has a case 2 for accommodating the tank 3 so that it can be clearly seen from the outside. In addition to the outer tub 3, the inner tub 4, and the case 2, the washing machine 1 has a hopper 7 attached to the upper part of the outer tub 3, a damper 6 attached to the lower side of the outer tub 3, and an upper end of the outer tub 3. It has a labyrinth portion 8 provided between the inner tank 4 and the inner tank 4.

The washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a bottom wall 21 provided for accommodating the outer tub 3 and supporting the outer tub 3 from below, and has a case main body 20 having an open upper end and an upper end of the case main body 20. A fixed lid 24 to be fixed and a lid operably provided on the fixed lid 24 to selectively open the upper end of the case body 20 to the outside and to open the inner tank side opening 43 formed at the upper end of the inner tank 4 upward. A case 2 having a movable lid 25 capable of forming a side opening 28 in the fixed lid 24, a damper 6 standing upright from the bottom wall 21 and supporting the lower end of the outer tank 3 while absorbing the vibration of the outer tank 3. It is characterized by being provided with a hopper 7 provided between the inner tank side opening 43 and the lid side opening 28 to guide the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid side opening 28 to the inner tank side opening 43.

Hereinafter, the structure of each component constituting the washing machine 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is separated from the outer tank 3 housed therein by a substantially uniform dimension in a plan view. The case 2 has a case main body 20 mainly composed of a cylindrical tubular body 22 whose upper end is open, and a bottom wall 21 provided at the lower end of the case main body 20, that is, the tubular body 22 and supporting the outer tank 3 from below. A fixed lid 24 that is fixed to the upper end of the case body 20 and has a circular ring shape in a plan view, and an upper end portion of the inner tank 4 that is operably provided on the fixed lid 24 and is provided so that the upper end of the case body 20 is selectively opened to the outside. It has a movable lid 25 having a substantially perfect circular shape in a plan view, which can form a lid-side opening 28 that opens the inner tank-side opening 43 formed in the above.

The case body 20 has a tubular body 22 having a tubular shape made of, for example, a transparent or translucent resin such as acrylic, and a wiring cover 23 provided above and below the tubular body 22 for accommodating various wirings. And a bottom wall 21 that indirectly supports the outer tank 3 from below on the bottom surface side of the case body 20. The fixed lid 24 has a lid-side opening 28 opened on the inner peripheral side in a substantially perfect circular shape, and has a hinge portion 26 that supports the movable lid 25 so as to be openable and closable. A water supply unit 27 is provided at a position displaced from the hinge portion 26 in the circumferential direction to supply water toward the inner tank 4.

The outer tub 3 is a bottomed cylindrical member arranged inside the case 2, and can store washing water inside. The outer tank 3 is interposed between the outer tank body 31 for storing water, the outer tank cover 32 provided at the upper end of the outer tank body 31, and the outer tank body 31 and the outer tank cover 32. It has a packing water sealing portion 34 for preventing water leakage to the outside. The packing water sealing portion 34 has a water sealing member 36 provided on the lower side of the outer tank cover 32, and a packing 35 for preventing water leakage. Further, a specific configuration in the vicinity of the packing water sealing portion 34 will be described later.

The inner tank 4 is a bottomed cylindrical member that is arranged coaxially with the outer tank 3 in the outer tank 3 and is rotatably supported. The inner tub 4 is a normal one capable of accommodating laundry inside and having a large number of water passage holes on the wall surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper end side of the inner peripheral surface of the inner tank 4, a balancer 41 projecting inward in an annular shape and three baffles 42 projecting inward below the balancer 41 are provided. It is provided. In the vertical fully automatic washing machine 1 as in the present embodiment, the pulsator (stirring blade) 5 driven by the drive device 50 illustrated by the imaginary line is rotatably arranged in the center of the bottom of the inner tub 4. ..

The pulsator 5 is a normal one having a substantially disk-shaped pulsator main body and a plurality of blade portions formed on the upper surface of the pulsator main body. Such a pulsator 5 agitates the washing water stored in the outer tub 3 to generate a water flow. Although the position of the drive device 50 is shown only by an imaginary line in the figure, a motor (not shown) is mainly used, and a drive shaft extending toward the bottom of the inner tank 4 is rotated to rotate the inner tank 4 and the drive device 50. Rotate the pulsator 5. The washing machine 1 mainly rotates only the pulsator 5 in the washing step, and integrally rotates the inner tub 4 and the pulsator 5 at high speed in the dehydration step.

In the present embodiment, the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4 are supported by the bottom wall 21 of the case 2 from below via the damper 6 in the case 2. The outer tank 3 is not supported by a hanging rod from the side or above. That is, the washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment further improves the visibility of the laundry from above by avoiding the arrangement of the hanging rods, and this point will be described in detail later.

The damper 6 is for effectively reducing the vibration generated in the outer tank 3 during operation while supporting the outer tank 3 during operation from below. The damper 6 includes an inner shaft 61 fixed to the bottom wall 21 of the case 2, an outer shaft 62 fixed to the outer tank 3 side while covering the outside of the inner shaft 61, and the lower end and the lower end of the outer shaft 62. It has a spring 63 which is a compression coil spring for reducing the vibration propagated to the case 2 by being interposed on the bottom wall 21 side of the case 2 and appropriately expanding and contracting in response to the vertical movement or vibration of the outer tank 3. .. Further, a cushion rubber 64 is provided between the outer shaft 62 and the outer tank 3 and between the inner shaft 61 and the bottom wall 21. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the damper 6 is arranged at or near the position of the maximum diameter within a range that does not protrude from the bottom of the outer tank 3 in a plan view. Further, in the present embodiment, the spring 63 has a low spring constant so that the spring does not come into close contact with the spring 63 during dehydration and the outer tank 3 does not tilt during operation.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the hopper 7 is provided so as to intervene from the upper side of the outer tank 3, specifically, the lid side opening 28 of the fixed lid 24 to the inner tank side opening 43. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hopper 7 is provided between the lid side opening 28 and the inner tank side opening 43 to guide the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid side opening 28 to the inner tank side opening 43. It functions as a water receiving guide and guides the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid side opening 28 to the inner tank side opening 43.

The hopper 7 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent resin-based integrally molded product, and has a substantially cone-shaped or tapered hopper main body 71 and extends outward from the lower end portion of the hopper main body 71. It has an extension portion 72 to be formed. The diameter of the opening portion, which is the inner edge of the extending portion 72, is a diameter substantially corresponding to the opening on the inner tank 4 side. Further, the hopper main body 71 has a large diameter upper end portion 73 that opens larger than the inner tank side opening 43 at the upper end thereof, a folded end 74 provided at the large diameter upper end portion 73, and a vertical intermediate position of the hopper main body 71. It is an opening provided at an arbitrary position, and has an overflow hole 75 for setting an upper limit water level in the washing step and the rinsing step. The hopper 7 may have a lighter weight structure than the outer tub 3 because the hopper 7 may use a resin material having a lower specific density than the material used for the outer tub 3.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, on the outside of the overflow hole 75, an overflow for discharging water from the overflow hole 75 to the outside of the machine in order to prevent water from being stored above the overflow hole 75. The pipe 76 is connected. The overflow pipe 76 mainly has an elliptical portion curved in a plan view in order to effectively utilize the circumferentially curved space between the cylindrical case 2 and the outer tank 3. Further, since the mechanism and structure for discharging water from the overflow pipe 76 to the outside of the machine are existing, the description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner circumference of the lid-side opening 28 of the fixed lid 24 has a shape and a size that opens substantially the entire inner tank-side opening 43 upward, and the inner tank 4 has a shape and a size. The shape and size are such that substantially the entire inner tank side opening 43 provided at the upper end portion is opened upward. In other words, the opening edge of the lid side opening 28 is positioned outside any part of the opening edge of the inner tank side opening 43.

Then, in the present embodiment, the hopper 7 functions as a raising tank for storing water having a water level higher than that of the upper end of the inner tank 4. That is, the hopper 7 functions as a washing tub. In addition, as described above, in the present embodiment, since the tubular body 22, the movable lid 25, and the hopper 7 of the case body 20 are transparent or translucent, the vicinity of the water surface raised to the hopper 7 via the fixed lid 24 during washing. It is easy to visually recognize the laundry in the vicinity of the water surface from the side via the tubular body 22 and the hopper 7. In other words, it gives good visualization of the laundry. In addition, by making the tubular body 22 transparent or translucent, the visualization of internal mechanical parts is also improved. This improves the convenience of the user's grasp of the operating state and maintenance work.

Further, in the present embodiment, the hopper 7 functions as a raising tank at the time of washing, but by forming the hopper 7 into a substantially cone shape, that is, a tapered shape, the laundry is guided into the inner tank 4 which is the dehydration tank at the time of dehydration, and the inner tank is surely formed. It can be stored in 4.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the damper 6 is arranged in the lower part of the outer tank 3 and the hopper 7 as a raising tank is lightweight so that the natural vibration of the portion supported by the damper 6 is generated. The number can be increased, and vibration during dehydration can be further reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the hopper 7 is fixed to the outer tank 3, it cannot rotate, while the inner tank 4 is of course configured to be rotatable, but nevertheless, the inner tank 4 and the hopper 7 There is no water leakage from between.

That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the labyrinth portion 8 is formed in a region extending over the upper ends of the hopper 7, the outer tank 3, and the inner tank 4, and is provided on the extending portion 72 of the hopper 7. It has an upper rib 81 extending downward in the vertical direction, a lower rib 82 provided at the upper end of the inner tank 4 extending upward in the vertical direction, and an air collecting portion 83. The packing 35 is provided at the upper end of the outer tank 3 and at a position vertically above the virtual plane including the tip of the upper rib 81, and seals the upper end of the outer tank 3 and the extending portion 73. .. As a result, it is possible to prevent the air in the air collecting portion 83 from exceeding the packing 35 and going out of the outer tank 3.

When water is stored above the balancer 41 in the inner tank 4, the liquid level in the labyrinth portion 8 is formed on substantially the same plane as the tip of the upper rib 81, and the liquid level and the liquid level above the liquid level are formed. Therefore, an air collecting portion 83 is formed between the extending portion 72 and the inner peripheral surface of the extending portion 72. By forming the air pool portion 83, even if the water in the hopper 7 tries to move outward from between the upper and lower ribs 81 and 82, the air pool portion is already formed in the vicinity of the packing 35, and the water The movement to the outside is strongly suppressed by the air collecting portion 83. Further, since the packing 35 is provided, even if water infiltrates beyond the air collecting portion 83, it can be prevented from flowing out to the outside of the outer tank 3. As a result, the number of fastening parts required for connecting the outer tank 3 and the hopper 7 is effectively reduced.

As described above, the washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a damper 6 that is erected from the bottom wall 21 of the case 2 and supports the lower end of the outer tub 3 while absorbing the vibration of the outer tub 3 and the inner tub side. Suspended by eliminating the hanging rod by providing a hopper 7 provided between the opening 43 and the lid-side opening 28 to guide the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid-side opening 28 to the inner tank-side opening 43. By removing the generation of abnormal noise caused by the sliding contact between the rod and the outer tank 3 and supporting it close to the bottom wall 21 of the case 2 via the damper 6, the effect of vibration on the case 2 caused by the tilting moment. Is effectively suppressed. In addition, by interposing the hopper 7 between the case 2 and the inner tub 4, even if the distance between the inner tub side opening 43 and the lid side opening 28 is widened, it is possible to appropriately guide the loading and unloading of the laundry. It is possible.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the hopper 7 has a substantially tapered shape having a lower end portion continuous with the upper end portion of the inner tank 4 and a large diameter upper end portion 73 having a gradually increasing diameter from the lower end portion upward. In other words, since it has an inverted truncated cone shape or a roughly mortar shape, the opening area of the upper end portion of the hopper 7 can be made larger than that of the inner tank 4, and the convenience of taking in and out the laundry is further improved. It has become a thing.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since at least a part of the case 2 and the hopper 7 are transparent or translucent, in addition to the design appearance, the visualization of the washing state and the visibility of the faulty part are improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the hopper 7 is made of a material having a smaller specific gravity than the outer tank 3 and the inner tank 4, the damper 6 can be made by reducing the weight of the member supported by the damper 6. The natural frequency of the supported part can be increased, and the vibration during normal dehydration is reduced.

According to the present embodiment, since the hopper 7 functions as a raising tank for storing water having a water level higher than the upper end of the inner tank 4, the volume of the inner tank 4 is raised while using a simple configuration. It has the same effect as the one that was done.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the hopper 7 is extended from the inner circumference of the outer tank 3 to the inner tank side opening 43, and the hopper main body 71 is integrally erected from the extension portion 72. Therefore, although a lightweight material is used, the strength of the hopper 7 is effectively increased as a shape that does not easily bend.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configuration of the present embodiment is not limited to that described above, and various modifications are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which three dampers are arranged is disclosed, but of course, it may be a mode that can support the outer tank, and does not interfere with a mode in which four or more dampers are applied, for example.

Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the hopper is fixed to the outer tank is disclosed, but of course, the configuration in which the hopper is arranged on the case side, specifically, the configuration in which the hopper is fixed to the fixing lid or the case body is also possible. good.

Other configurations can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 ... Washing machine 2 ... Case 20 ... Case body 22 ... Bottom wall 24 ... Fixed lid 25 ... Movable lid 28 ... Lid side opening 3 ... Outer tank 4 ...・ ・ Inner tank 43 ・ ・ ・ Inner tank side opening 6 ・ ・ ・ Damper 7 ・ ・ ・ Hopper

Claims (4)

A washing machine having an inner tub for accommodating laundry and having an opening on the inner tub side, an outer tub for accommodating the inner tub, and a substantially cylindrical case for accommodating the inner tub and the outer tub. ,
A damper that is erected from the bottom wall of the case and supports the lower end of the outer tank while absorbing the vibration of the outer tank.
A hopper provided between the inner tank side opening and the lid side opening formed at the upper end of the case to guide the loading and unloading of laundry from the lid side opening to the inner tank side opening is provided.
The lower end of the hopper is attached to the upper end of the outer tank above the upper end of the inner tank , and a gap is formed between the upper end of the hopper and the case.
The hopper has a lower end portion connected to the upper end portion of the inner tank and a large-diameter upper end portion having a gradually larger diameter upward from the lower end portion.
A washing machine characterized in that at least a portion of the case facing the hopper and the hopper are transparent or translucent. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the hopper is made of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of the outer tub and the inner tub. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hopper functions as a raising tank for storing water having a water level higher than that of the upper end of the inner tank. The hopper is characterized by having an extending portion extending from the inner circumference of the outer tank to the opening on the inner tank side, and a hopper main body integrally erected from the extending portion. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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