JP7029582B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry such as clothes.

As a conventional washing machine, there is a so-called vertical washing machine in which laundry such as clothes is stirred and washed in a rotary tub. In addition, there is a so-called drum-type washing machine in which the laundry is lifted in the rotary tub in the direction of rotation, dropped from above, and beaten to be washed. In each washing machine, the laundry is washed by applying mechanical force to knead or rub it. Further, the dehydration of the washed laundry is generally centrifugal force dehydration in which water is separated from the laundry by the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the rotary tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

These washing machines that wash laundry by applying mechanical force are those that are prone to cloth damage, those that easily lose their shape due to being pulled by the laundry, and those that tend to deteriorate in texture (generally hand-washing). For example, knitting of yarns such as sweaters and cardigans, woolen fabrics, scarves made of delicate materials made of extra-fine fibers, etc.) are not suitable for washing, and dehydration after washing is also carried out. Centrifugal dehydration is not suitable for laundry.

Centrifugal dehydration has the advantage of high dehydration efficiency. On the other hand, since there are problems of vibration and noise due to high-speed rotation of the rotary tub, it is considered to suck water from the laundry to dehydrate it in order to reduce the vibration and noise during dehydration (for example). See Patent Documents 2-4).

As shown in FIG. 11, the drum-type fully automatic washing machine described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a suction body 54 and a suction pump 55 that cover the outer peripheral wall of the drum 51 and communicate with the water passage hole 53 of the drum 51. Has been done. The drum-type fully automatic washing machine sucks water from the laundry 52 together with the air in the drum 51, and the water contained in the laundry 52 attached to the inner peripheral wall of the drum 51 is sucked through the suction body 54 by the suction pump 55. Inhale and dehydrate.

In the washing machine described in Patent Document 3, as shown in FIG. 12, between the door 64 of the washing / dehydrating tub 62 and the laundry 63 supported on the dehydration surface 66 provided with the dehydration opening 65. A movable inner lid 61 is provided. The washing machine decompresses the inside of the washing / dehydrating tub 62 sealed with the inner lid 61 to suck and dehydrate the water of the laundry 63, and by making the suction means 67 function, the inner lid 61 becomes the laundry 63. It adheres closely and exhausts and drains around the laundry 63.

In the dehydration device described in Patent Document 4, the space below the washing tub is decompressed by a decompression device, and the pressing portion provided at the lower end of the bellows-shaped expansion / contraction portion is moved downward to press and compress the laundry to dehydrate it.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-201988 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-22894 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-387 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-21097

However, in the conventional configuration described in Patent Document 2, since the moisture of the laundry 52 is sucked together with the air in the drum 51, there is a problem that the dehydration is biased. Generally, in the case of suction dehydration, the airflow passes through the flow path with the lowest resistance, so when dehydration progresses and a short-circuited airflow path that does not contain washing water is formed between the clothing structures, the airflow is passed through this short-circuited airflow path. Is concentrated. In particular, when dehydrating thick knits (knitting yarn, woolen fabrics, etc.) that have many gaps in the clothing structure, or multiple pieces of clothing that have many gaps between clothes, the bias of dehydration is remarkable, and the whole is dehydrated without bias. There was a problem that it was difficult.

Further, in the conventional configuration described in Patent Document 3, when the laundry 63 is compressed by the inner lid 61, the water contained in the fibers flows out of the fibers due to the volume change of the fibers of the laundry 63. do. The water flowing out of the laundry 63 is drained from the dehydration opening 65 provided in the dehydration surface 66 supporting the laundry 63, but the water flowing out between the fibers is held in the laundry 63. Therefore, there is a problem that the dehydration performance is low.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and does not apply mechanical force such as twisting to an object to be cleaned, which is inappropriate to be washed or squeezed by applying mechanical force to the object to be cleaned. It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of performing good dehydration.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the washing machine of the present invention has a washing tub for accommodating a object to be washed and washing water, a pressing portion for pressing the object to be washed inside the washing tub, and the object to be washed. A suction unit that sucks washing water from the washing tank, an outside air introduction unit that introduces outside air into the space inside the cleaning tank and outside the pressing unit, and a control unit that controls the washing process, rinsing process, and dehydration process. In the dehydration step until the drive of the suction unit is stopped , the control unit introduces the outside air by the suction unit while maintaining the state of pressing the object to be cleaned by the pressing unit. It is configured to suck the washing water and the introduced outside air while introducing the outside air from the portion .

As a result, the object to be cleaned can be pressed and the cleaning water can be sucked together with the outside air introduced from the object to be cleaned, and it is inappropriate to wash or squeeze the object to be cleaned by applying mechanical force to the object to be cleaned. It is possible to satisfactorily dehydrate the washed object without applying mechanical force such as twisting.

The washing machine of the present invention can satisfactorily dehydrate an object to be washed, which is inappropriate to be washed or squeezed by applying a mechanical force to the object to be washed, without applying mechanical force such as twisting. can.

Sectional drawing of the main part of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Cross-sectional view of the main part of the washing machine with the lid open (A) Schematic diagram showing the washing operation of the washing machine (b) Schematic diagram showing the washing operation of the washing machine Cross-sectional view of the main part of the washing machine during dehydration Time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration A time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Time chart showing the operation of other examples of the washing machine during dehydration Time chart showing the operation of other examples of the washing machine during dehydration A time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the main part of the washing machine in Embodiment 4 of this invention Configuration diagram of a conventional washing machine Configuration diagram of other conventional washing machines

The washing machine of the first invention has a washing tub for accommodating a washing object and washing water, a pressing portion for pressing the washing object inside the washing tub, and a suction unit for sucking washing water from the washing object. And an outside air introduction unit that introduces outside air into the inside of the washing tank, and a control unit that controls a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydration process. It is configured to press the cleaning object and to suck the cleaning water and the introduced outside air by the suction unit. With this configuration, the object to be cleaned can be pressed and the cleaning water can be sucked from the object to be cleaned together with the outside air, and it is inappropriate to wash or squeeze the object to be cleaned by applying mechanical force to the object to be cleaned. On the other hand, dehydration can be performed satisfactorily without applying mechanical force such as twisting.

In the second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first invention, the outside air introduction unit has an air volume adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of outside air introduced into the cleaning tank, and the control unit is the cleaning tank. The amount of outside air introduced inside can be adjusted by the air volume adjusting unit. With this configuration, the amount of outside air introduced according to the progress of dehydration can be optimized.

In the third aspect of the invention, particularly in the second invention, the control unit starts driving the suction unit in the dehydration step with the air volume adjusting unit closed, and after a predetermined time, the air volume adjusting unit is adjusted. It is configured so that the outside air is introduced into the inside of the washing tank by opening the portion. Due to this configuration, in the initial stage of the dehydration process in which the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned is large, the cleaning water that has flowed out due to the pressing of the object to be cleaned is sucked, and then, together with the introduced outside air, between the fibers of the object to be cleaned. Since the washing water is sucked, it can be efficiently dehydrated.

The fourth invention, in particular, in the second invention, the control unit starts driving the suction unit in the dehydration step with the air volume adjusting unit closed, and after a predetermined time, the control unit. Is configured to open the air volume adjusting unit so that the amount of outside air introduced into the inside of the washing tank is gradually increased so that the outside air is introduced into the inside of the washing tank. With this configuration, in the initial stage of the dehydration process in which the object to be cleaned contains a large amount of wash water, the wash water that has flowed out due to the pressure of the object to be cleaned is sucked, and then sucked together with the wash water between the fibers of the object to be washed. Since the amount of outside air gradually increases, it is possible to efficiently dehydrate as the dehydration progresses.

A fifth aspect of the invention, particularly in the second invention, is that the control unit starts driving the suction unit with the air volume adjusting unit open in the dehydration step, and after a predetermined time, the washing tank of the washing tank. The air volume adjusting unit is configured to adjust so that the amount of outside air introduced inside is reduced. With this configuration, in the initial stage of the dehydration step in which the amount of washing water contained in the object to be cleaned is large, the proportion of air in the suction amount increases and the suction resistance is reduced. As a result, the load on the suction unit is reduced, and the suction unit can maintain stable suction performance.

A sixth aspect of the invention is, in particular, in the first aspect, a pressurizing pump in which the pressing portion is made of a flexible material and air is supplied to the inside of the pressing portion to expand the pressing portion. The control unit is configured to drive the pressurizing pump in the dehydration step to inflate the pressing unit to press the object to be cleaned. With this configuration, the pressing portion can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned and pressed uniformly, and the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned can be forcibly pushed out.

A seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect, the pressing portion is made of a flexible material and has an on-off valve for allowing outside air to flow into the inside of the pressing portion. In the dehydration step, the suction portion is driven and the on-off valve is opened, and the pressed portion is expanded by the inflow of outside air into the inside of the pressing portion due to a decrease in pressure inside the cleaning tank to expand the object to be cleaned. It is configured to press. With this configuration, the pressing portion can be expanded by the suction portion, and the pressing portion can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned and pressed uniformly, and outside air is introduced into the object to be cleaned to achieve a predetermined dehydration performance. Can be obtained.

Eighth invention, in particular, in any one of the sixth or seventh invention, in the dehydration step, the pressing force of the pressing portion changes according to the type or amount of the object to be cleaned. It is configured as follows. With this configuration, the pressing force can be optimized according to the characteristics of the object to be cleaned.

A ninth aspect of the invention, particularly in the eighth aspect, is such that the control unit is configured to increase the pressing force by the pressing unit as the object to be cleaned is thicker or thicker in the dehydration step. be. With this configuration, even in the case of dehydration of a thick object to be washed 2 having many gaps in the clothes structure or a plurality of objects to be washed having many gaps between clothes, the clothes are brought into close contact with each other by pressing to narrow the short-circuit air passage. It is possible to reduce the bias of dehydration and dehydrate the whole without bias.

A tenth aspect of the invention, particularly in the eighth aspect, is configured such that in the dehydration step, the coarser the material to be cleaned, the greater the pressing force by the pressing portion. Is. With this configuration, even for a rough object to be washed, such as a knit, which has many gaps in the clothes structure, the clothes can be brought into close contact with each other by pressing to narrow the short-circuit air passage, reduce the bias of dehydration, and dehydrate the whole without bias. .. On the contrary, in a dense woven fabric such as a blouse or a shirt with few gaps in the clothing structure, by reducing the pressing force, wrinkles of the object to be washed due to dehydration are reduced, and the finish can be improved.

The eleventh invention, in particular, in any one of the first to tenth inventions, the control unit contracts and expands the object to be cleaned by pressing and releasing the object to be cleaned by the pressing unit in the washing step. It is configured so that a multi-directional water flow is generated inside the object to be cleaned. With this configuration, it is possible to generate a multi-directional water flow inside the object to be cleaned without stirring the object to be cleaned, and it is inappropriate to wash the object to be cleaned by applying mechanical force to the object to be cleaned. It is possible to improve the cleaning effect by suppressing cloth damage and shape loss.

The twelfth invention, in particular, in any one of the first to tenth inventions, comprises a pressure-reducing portion having a pressing portion capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the object to be cleaned inside the cleaning tank. The pressure-reducing portion includes a plurality of the pressing portions that can be expanded and contracted, a pressurizing pump that supplies air to the inside of the pressing portion, and an on-off valve that discharges the air inside the pressing portion. The unit controls the pressurizing / depressurizing unit so that the other pressing unit contracts when the at least one pressing unit expands in the washing step and expands / contracts at different timings, and the plurality of units in the dehydration step. The pressing portion of the above is simultaneously expanded to press the object to be cleaned, and the suction portion is configured to suck the washing water and the introduced outside air. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress cloth damage and shape loss of the object to be cleaned, which is inappropriate to wash or squeeze the object to be washed by applying mechanical force, and to perform good cleaning, and also to be washed. It is possible to satisfactorily dehydrate an object without applying mechanical force such as twisting.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the washing machine with the lid open. 3A and 3B are schematic views showing the operation of the washing machine during washing.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the washing machine 1 is composed of a lower water tank portion 6 and an upper lid body 5. The water tank portion 6 includes a washing tank 4 formed in a rectangular shape having a predetermined depth. An opening 3 is formed on the upper surface of the washing tub 4 so that the object to be washed 2, which is laundry such as clothes, can be taken in and out. The lid 5 is rotatably attached to the trailing edge of the upper side of the water tank 6 by a hinge 6a, and has a lid 5b that opens and closes the opening 3 of the cleaning tank 4.

The object to be cleaned 2 is shaped and accommodated by the user in the bottom 4a of the cleaning tank 4. In the present embodiment, the object to be washed 2 is a general washing in which a mechanical force acts on the object to be washed 2, for example, a woolen fabric such as a sweater or a cardigan, or a scarf made of a delicate material made of ultrafine fibers. It is effective to use a machine that easily loses its shape or hurts when washed with a machine.

A handle 5a is provided on the front surface of the lid 5. The lid 5 is configured so that the user holds the handle 5a and rotates it in the direction of the arrow R1 to open and close the opening 3 and hold the lid 5 in an open state. When the opening 3 is closed, the lid 5 is locked by a locking device (not shown) and held in the closed state. Further, when opening, the lock device is unlocked by operating the handle 5a.

A pressurizing / reducing unit 7 is provided inside the lid 5. In the present embodiment, the pressurizing / depressurizing section 7 is composed of two sets of a first pressurizing / depressurizing section 7a and a second pressurizing / depressurizing section 7b. Specifically, the first pressurizing / reducing unit 7a includes a pressing unit 8a, a pressurizing pump 10a, and an on-off valve 11a. The second pressurizing / reducing unit 7b includes a pressing unit 8b, a pressurizing pump 10b, and an on-off valve 11b.

The pressurizing / reducing unit 7 (7a, 7b) includes a flexible bag-shaped pressing portion 8 (8a, 8b) formed of rubber, synthetic resin, or the like in a bellows shape, and the pressing portion 8 (8a, 8b). A pressurizing pump 10 (10a, 10b) that communicates with the hose 9 (9a, 9b) and supplies a fluid such as gas or liquid to the inside of the pressing portion 8 (8a, 8b), and the pressing portion 8 (8a, It is composed of on-off valves 11 (11a, 11b) for discharging the fluid supplied to 8b). Hereinafter, the symbols a and b indicating a plurality of symbols will be omitted unless otherwise specified.

The two pressurizing / reducing portions 7 are provided side by side inside the lid 5. The pressing portion 8 is attached to the cleaning tank 4 side of the lid 5, is provided so as to be expandable and contractible by expanding and contracting, and is freely advancing and retreating with respect to the object to be cleaned 2 housed in the bottom 4a of the cleaning tank 4. It is configured. The pressing portion 8 has a pressing surface 8c that presses the object to be cleaned 2 and a bellows-shaped expansion / contraction portion 8d. Further, the pressing portion 8 extends to the extent that the pressing surface 8c reaches the bottom portion 4a of the cleaning tank 4.

The pressurizing / reducing unit 7 is provided with a constant pressure release valve (not shown) that opens when the inside of the pressing unit 8 reaches a predetermined pressure and discharges the pressure to the outside. The constant pressure release valve prevents the pressing portion 8 from being pressurized beyond a predetermined pressure. In this embodiment, the fluid supplied to the inside of the pressing portion 8 will be described as air.

The lid portion 5a is provided with a deformable hollow packing 12 in an annular shape on the outside of the pressing portion 8. When the lid portion 5a is closed together with the lid body 5, the packing 12 comes into close contact with the sealing portion 13 formed in a concave shape along the peripheral edge portion of the opening portion 3 of the cleaning tank 4. As a result, when the lid portion 5a is closed, the inside of the washing tank 4 becomes a watertight and airtight space, and when the washing, rinsing and dehydration steps are executed, water or air is discharged from the opening 3 to the outside. Does not leak to.

The lid 5 is provided with a water supply path 16 for supplying washing water to the washing tank 4. A water supply valve 14 is provided in the water supply path 16 and communicates with the inside of the cleaning tank 4 via the detergent case 15. By opening and closing the water supply valve 14, tap water (washing water) is supplied and stopped inside the washing tank 4.

Further, the water level detecting unit 17 is provided so as to communicate with the inside of the cleaning tank 4. The water level detection unit 17 detects when the water level detection tank 18 having an opening above, the float 19 which moves up and down according to the fluctuation of the water level inside the water level detection tank 18, and the float 19 rises to a predetermined position. It has a water level switch 20 to perform.

A drain hole 21 for discharging the washing water used in the washing step or the like is formed in the bottom portion 4a of the washing tank 4. The drain hole 21 communicates with the drainage path 23 provided with the drain valve 22. By opening and closing the drain valve 22, the washing water inside the washing tank 4 is drained and stopped.

Further, the water tank portion 6 is provided with an overflow path 24 for draining the washing water inside the washing tank 4 to the outside when the water level inside the washing tank 4 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined level. The overflow path 24 has an overflow hole 24a at the upper part of the washing tank 4, and is connected to the drainage path 23 on the downstream side of the drain valve 22.

A check valve (not shown) is provided in the overflow path 24. The check valve is configured to open the overflow path 24 in the discharge direction and seal it in the inflow direction. That is, in the washing step and the rinsing step, the check valve allows the washing water flowing out from the overflow hole 24a to pass through and is discharged to the outside, but in the dehydration step, the suction pump 27 described later is used inside the washing tank 4. It is configured to prevent outside air from flowing into the cleaning tank 4 when air is sucked.

At substantially the center of the bottom 4a of the cleaning tank 4, a suction port 25 is provided which is covered by the object to be cleaned 2 when the object to be cleaned 2 is set inside the cleaning tank 4. The dehydration path 26 is provided so as to communicate with the suction port 25. Further, a suction pump 27, which is a suction unit for sucking the washing water from the object to be washed 2, is provided so as to communicate with the dehydration path 26.

When the cleaning water is sucked from the object 2 to be cleaned by the suction pump 27, the air inside the cleaning tank 4 is also sucked. At that time, an outside air introduction unit 28 for introducing outside air from the outside of the cleaning tank 4 into the inside of the cleaning tank 4 is provided. The outside air introduction unit 28 may be provided with an opening above the cleaning water level stored inside the cleaning tank 4, and in the present embodiment, the outside air introduction unit 28 is provided in the water level detecting unit 17 communicating with the inside of the cleaning tank 4. Has been done. The outside air introduction unit 28 is provided with an air volume adjusting valve 29, which is an air volume adjusting unit that can adjust the introduced air volume. The air volume adjusting valve 29 has a narrow air passage area portion in the flow path like a needle valve, and can adjust the air volume sucked by the suction pump 27. The introduced outside air may be introduced directly from the outside of the washing machine 1 or may be introduced via the internal space of the washing machine 1.

The dehydration path 26 is provided with a gas-liquid separation unit 30 that separates the air inside the washing tank 4 from the washing water sucked from the object to be washed 2 and stores the sucked washing water. The gas-liquid separation unit 30 is composed of a pressure-resistant container, has a secondary side ventilation port 31 communicating with the dehydration path 26 above, and has a primary side ventilation port 33 communicating with the suction pump 27 through the suction path 32. ..

A barrier 34 is provided between the primary side ventilation port 33 and the secondary side ventilation port 31. The barrier 34 is formed so as to project downward from the top surface of the gas-liquid separation portion 30, and the washing water sucked into the gas-liquid separation portion 30 from the secondary side ventilation port 31 enters the primary side ventilation port 33. To prevent.

A dehydration drainage port 35 is provided at the bottom of the gas-liquid separation unit 30. The dehydration drainage port 35 communicates with a dehydration drainage path 37 having a dehydration drainage valve 36 that can be opened and closed. An overflow detection unit 38 is provided at a predetermined height on the inner wall of the gas-liquid separation unit 30. The overflow detection unit 38 is composed of, for example, a pair of electrodes or the like, and detects that the amount of wash water stored inside the gas-liquid separation unit 30 has reached a predetermined amount. When the overflow detection unit 38 detects the wash water, the dehydration drain valve 36 is opened and the wash water is drained. The overflow detection unit 38 is provided so that a constant space exists between the lower end of the barrier 34 and the water surface when wash water is detected.

The control unit 39 is arranged on the inner side surface portion of the lid body 5. Further, the operation display unit 40 is provided on the upper surface of the control unit 39. The control unit 39 controls the pressurizing pump 10, the on-off valve 11, the water supply valve 14, the drain valve 22, the suction pump 27, the air volume adjusting valve 29, the dehydration drain valve 36, etc., and sequentially performs the washing step, the rinsing step, and the dehydration step. Control and perform a washing operation.

The operation and operation of the washing machine 1 configured as described above will be described below.

The user inputs the selection of the driving course, the time of each process, and the like from the operation display unit 40 provided on the front portion of the upper surface of the lid body 5. The control unit 39 executes the steps from washing to dehydration as a series of operations based on the set contents. The user can arbitrarily select such as performing only the washing process. It should be noted that this setting work may be performed after setting the object to be cleaned 2 described later.

After unlocking by operating the handle 5a, the user opens the lid 5 and sets the object to be cleaned 2 in the bottom portion 4a of the cleaning tank 4 in an adjusted shape. Depending on the size of the object to be cleaned 2, it may be folded and set. When the setting of the object to be cleaned 2 is completed, the lid 5 is closed and locked, the control unit 39 starts the operation according to the operation course set by the operation display unit 40.

In the first washing step of the operation course, the control unit 39 first performs a water supply operation. When the control unit 39 opens the water supply valve 14, tap water and detergent are supplied as cleaning water from the water supply path 16 to the inside of the cleaning tank 4. At this time, the washing water gradually permeates the object to be cleaned 2 and is contained between the fibers of the object to be cleaned 2. The control unit 39 closes the water supply valve 14 when the washing water is supplied to the inside of the washing tank 4 to a predetermined water level and the water level switch 20 of the water level detecting unit 17 detects the predetermined water level.

When the water supply is completed, the control unit 39 first closes the on-off valve 11a of the first pressurizing / reducing unit 7a and drives the pressurizing pump 10a for a predetermined time or until the inside of the pressing unit 8a reaches a predetermined pressure. do. As a result, air is supplied to the inside of the pressing portion 8a to expand the pressing portion 8a. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the expansion / contraction portion 8d extends and the pressing portion 8a extends toward the object to be cleaned 2, the object to be cleaned 2 below the pressing portion 8a is pressed by the pressing surface 8c. .. The pressed portion of the object to be cleaned 2 is compressed and becomes thinner. At this time, the control unit 39 opens the on-off valve 11b of the second pressurizing / reducing unit 7b to allow the pressing unit 8b to contract.

As the object to be cleaned 2 is compressed and changes in volume due to the expansion of the pressing portion 8a, the cleaning water contained inside the object to be cleaned 2 is pushed out from the object to be cleaned 2. As a result, a water flow is generated inside the object to be cleaned 2, and the dirt adhering to the object to be cleaned 2 is removed from the fibers by the water flow.

Further, the washing water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 moves inside the object to be cleaned 2 from below the pressing portion 8a to below the pressing portion 8b in the direction indicated by the arrow A. Then, the washing water moving in this way pushes up the pressing surface 8c of the pressing portion 8b while expanding the object 2 below the pressing portion 8b, and from the opened on-off valve 11b to the inside of the pressing portion 8b. The air is discharged and the pressing portion 8b is contracted.

Next, the control unit 39 closes the on-off valve 11b of the second pressurizing / reducing unit 7b and drives the pressurizing pump 10b for a predetermined time or until the inside of the pressing unit 8b reaches a predetermined pressure. Air is supplied to the inside of 8b to inflate the pressing portion 8b. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the expansion / contraction portion 8d is extended and the pressing portion 8b is extended toward the object to be cleaned 2, the pressing surface 8c is the pressing surface 8c below the pressing portion 8b. The part pressed by is compressed and the thickness becomes thin. At this time, the control unit 39 opens the on-off valve 11a of the first pressurizing / reducing unit 7a to allow the pressing unit 8a to contract.

As the object to be cleaned 2 is compressed and its volume changes due to the expansion of the pressing portion 8b, the cleaning water contained inside the object to be cleaned 2 is pushed out from the object to be cleaned 2. As a result, a water flow is generated inside the object to be cleaned 2, and the dirt adhering to the object to be cleaned 2 is removed from the fibers by the water flow.

Further, the washing water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 moves inside the object to be cleaned 2 from below the pressing portion 8b to below the pressing portion 8a in the direction indicated by the arrow B. Then, the washing water moving in this way pushes up the pressing surface 8c of the pressing portion 8a while expanding the object 2 below the pressing portion 8a, and from the open on-off valve 11a to the inside of the pressing portion 8b. The air is discharged and the pressing portion 8a is contracted.

As described above, in the washing step, the pressing portion 8a and the pressing portion 8b are alternately expanded and contracted at different timings (for example, the pressing portion due to the expansion of the pressing portion 8a and the depressurization due to the contraction of the pressing portion 8b are depressurized for 1 second. By repeating the pressurization by the expansion of the 8b and the depressurization by the contraction of the pressing portion 8a for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), the push-washing effect can be exerted on the object to be washed 2. That is, it is possible to remove dirt by generating a multi-directional water flow inside the object to be cleaned 2 without the mechanical force of stirring, tapping, or the like acting on the object to be cleaned 2.

In the washing step, the object to be washed 2 is repeatedly expanded and compressed to promote the permeation of the washing water into the inside of the clothes structure. As the washing water is absorbed by the object to be washed 2 in this way, the water level inside the washing tank 4 drops, and the float 19 lowers, so that the detection of the water level switch 20 may be cut off. If the detection of the water level switch 20 is cut off, the desired cleaning performance may not be obtained. Therefore, the control unit 39 may supply water until the water level switch 20 detects the water level again. The object to be cleaned 2 further absorbs the washing water, and when the water level drops, the water supply is performed again. At this time, when the object to be cleaned 2 is thick or the number of sheets is large, the amount of water absorbed by the object to be cleaned 2 is large, so that the number of times of re-water supply due to the decrease in water level increases. Based on the number of times of re-water supply, the amount such as the thickness or the number of objects to be cleaned 2 can be estimated.

When a washing course that consistently executes from the washing step to the dehydration step is set, the control unit 39 executes the rinsing step and the dehydration step after the washing step.

In the rinsing step, rinsing is usually performed a plurality of times using fresh tap water supplied from the water supply path 16 to the inside of the washing tank 4. In each rinse, for example, a drainage operation, an intermediate dehydration operation, and then a trial rinse operation are performed. In the rinsing step, the control unit 39 controls the pressurizing pump 10, the on-off valve 11, the water supply valve 14, the drain valve 22, the suction pump 27, the air volume adjusting valve 29, the dehydration drain valve 37, and the like.

In the drainage operation, the drain valve 22 is opened, and the washing water inside the washing tank 4 is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. In the intermediate dehydration operation, with the drain valve 22 open, the on-off valves 11a and 11b are closed, the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b are driven, and the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed by the expansion of the pressing portions 8a and 8b. It is compressed and a part of the washing water contained in the object to be washed 2 is forcibly discharged.

In the trial rinsing operation, the water supply valve 14 is opened and a predetermined amount of washing water is supplied to the inside of the washing tank 4. After that, as in the washing step, the pressure pumps 10a and 10b are driven, the expansion and contraction of the pressing portions 8a and 8b are alternately repeated, and the detergent concentration of the washing water inside the object to be washed 2 is diluted. This rinsing process is repeated a plurality of times (eg, twice).

The control unit 39 executes the dehydration step after executing the rinsing step. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the washing machine during dehydration. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration. In the dehydration step, a drainage operation and a final dehydration operation are performed.

First, the control unit 39 performs a drainage operation. The drain valve 22 is opened, and the washing water inside the washing tank 4 is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. At this time, the outside air introduction unit 28 is opened, the inside of the washing tank 4 is communicated with the outside, and the washing water is smoothly discharged. The air volume adjusting valve 29 is open, the on-off valves 11a and 11b are both closed, and the dehydration drain valve 36 is closed.

The control unit 39 performs a final dehydration operation after the drainage operation is completed. As shown in FIG. 5, the pressure pumps 10a and 10b are both driven with the drain valve 22 opened and the on-off valves 11a and 11b both closed. Air is supplied to the inside of the pressing portions 8a and 8b, and the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed and compressed by the expansion of the pressing portions 8a and 8b. As a result, a part of the washing water contained in the object to be washed 2 is forcibly discharged, and is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. With such a configuration and action of the pressing portion 8, the pressing surface 8c can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 and uniformly pressed, and the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 is forcibly pushed out. Can be done.

Next, after a predetermined time T1 (for example, 1 minute) after the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b are driven, the drain valve 22 is closed while the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed, and the suction pump 27 is driven. As a result, the outside air is introduced from the outside air introduction portion 28 into the inside of the cleaning tank 4, and the outside air invades the inside of the object to be cleaned 2 pressed by the pressing portions 8a and 8b. The pressure inside the pressing portions 8a and 8b expanded by driving the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b was maintained at a predetermined pressure by, for example, a constant pressure release valve, and the object to be cleaned 2 was pressurized at a constant pressure. The state is maintained.

The outside air introduced into the inside of the cleaning tank 4 from the outside air introduction unit 28 is sucked together while pushing out the cleaning water remaining between the fibers of the object to be cleaned 2, and moves to the suction port 25. The washing water carried to the suction port 25 by the outside air tends to stay on the fibers due to surface tension. However, it is separated from the fiber by the shearing force of the air flow and is carried from the suction port 25 to the gas-liquid separation unit 30 through the dehydration path 26. The air sucked together with the washing water enters the gas-liquid separation section 30 from the secondary side ventilation port 31, and is discharged by the suction pump 27 from the primary side ventilation port 33 provided in the upper part of the gas-liquid separation section 30. The washing water falls from the secondary side ventilation port 31 due to gravity, and does not enter the primary side ventilation port 33 by the barrier 34 provided between the primary side ventilation port 33 and the secondary side ventilation port 31. Water is stored in the liquid separation unit 30.

When the wash water and air inside the wash tank 4 are sucked, they pass through the path with the least resistance. Therefore, when dehydration progresses and a short-circuit path that does not contain the wash water is formed in the object to be cleaned 2, the air flow concentrates on this short-circuit path, and the suction of the wash water does not proceed. However, in the present embodiment, since the object to be cleaned 2 is constantly pressurized at a constant pressure by the pressing portions 8a and 8b, the formation of a short-circuit air passage is suppressed and the object to be cleaned 2 is introduced into the cleaning tank 4. The suction and dehydration of the washing water proceeds with the outside air without stagnation. In this way, the pressing portion 8 can be expanded by the suction pump 27, and the pressing surface 8c of the pressing portion 8 can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 to uniformly press the inside of the object to be cleaned 2. The outside air is introduced into the room to obtain a predetermined dehydration performance.

The control unit 39 sucks the washing water together with the outside air introduced into the washing tank 4 by the suction pump 27, and when the predetermined time T2 (for example, 4 minutes) elapses, the on-off valves 11a and 11b are opened and the pressurizing pump 10a is opened. Stop driving 10b and the suction pump 27. As a result, the air inside the pressing portions 8a and 8b is discharged from the on-off valves 11a and 11b, and the object to be cleaned 2 is released from being pressed by the pressing portions 8a and 8b, and the dehydration step is completed.

When the washing water flows into the gas-liquid separation unit 30 in excess of the set amount during the dehydration step, the control unit 39 detects this by the overflow detection unit 38, stops the suction pump 27, and closes the dehydration. The drain valve 36 is opened to drain water to the outside.

In the present embodiment, the pressurizing / reducing unit 7 includes a flexible pressing portion 8, a pressurizing pump 10 that supplies air to the inside of the pressing portion 8 to expand the pressure, and the inside of the pressing portion 8. It is composed of an on-off valve 11 that discharges air and contracts it. However, the pressure is not limited to this, and for example, depressurization for contracting the pressing portion 8 may be performed by a decompression pump (not shown) instead of the on-off valve 11. Further, the pressurizing pump 10 may be reversed and used as a depressurizing pump.

In the present embodiment, the fluid supplied to the inside of the pressing portion 8 to expand the pressing portion 8 is air, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other gases or liquids may be used. In the case of a gas, the surrounding air may be taken in by a pressure pump or the like as in the present embodiment, and there are few restrictions when exhausting, which is convenient. In the case of liquid, water, aqueous solution, oil, etc. can be used. In addition, it is desirable to have a reservoir to store the liquid. Since the liquid has a higher density than air and is not as elastic as a gas, the pressing portion 8 can be reliably expanded.

As described above, in the washing machine of the present embodiment, the washing tub 4 for accommodating the object to be washed 2 and the washing water, the pressing portion 8 for pressing the object to be washed 2 inside the washing tub 4, and the object to be washed A suction pump 27 that sucks washing water from 2; an outside air introducing unit 28 that introduces outside air into the inside of the washing tank 4, and a control unit 39 that controls each process of washing, rinsing, and dehydration are provided, and the control unit 39 is provided. In the dehydration step, the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed by the pressing portion 8 and the cleaning water and the introduced outside air are sucked by the suction pump 27. With this configuration, the object to be cleaned 2 can be pressed and the cleaning water can be sucked from the object to be cleaned 2 together with the outside air, and it is inappropriate to apply mechanical force to the object to be cleaned 2 to wash or squeeze it. The object to be cleaned 2 can be satisfactorily dehydrated without applying mechanical force such as twisting.

Further, the pressing unit 8 is made of a flexible material and has a pressure pump 10 that supplies air to the inside of the pressing unit 8 to expand the pressing unit 8, and the control unit 39 is in the dehydration step. , The pressurizing pump 10 is driven to inflate the pressing portion 8 to press the object to be cleaned 2. With this configuration, the pressing portion 8 can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 and uniformly pressed, and the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 can be forcibly pushed out.

At this time, the control unit 39 may increase the pressing force by the pressing unit 8 as the object 2 to be cleaned is thicker or larger. With this configuration, even in the dehydration of a thick object to be cleaned 2 having many gaps inside the clothes structure and a plurality of objects to be washed 2 having many gaps between clothes, the clothes are brought into close contact with each other by pressing and a short-circuit air passage is provided. Can be narrowed, the bias of dehydration can be reduced, and the whole can be dehydrated without bias. In the present embodiment, the thickness and amount of the object to be washed 2 can be estimated from the number of times of re-water supply shown in the washing step, but may be detected by other means. For example, a pressure detecting unit (not shown) that detects the pressure inside the pressing unit 8 is provided, and the higher the pressure inside the pressing unit 8 when air is supplied to the inside of the pressing unit 8 for a predetermined time, the higher the pressure inside the pressed unit 8 is. It can be estimated that the thickness and amount of 2 are large. Alternatively, the operation display unit 40 is provided with a driving course setting button according to the amount (“large”, “small”, etc.) and type (“knit”, “shirt”, etc.) of the object to be cleaned 2 so that the user can select it. It may be configured in.

Further, in the washing step, the control unit 39 contracts and expands the object to be cleaned 2 by pressing and releasing the object 2 to be cleaned by the pressing unit 8, so that water flow in multiple directions is generated inside the object to be washed 2. It is composed. With this configuration, it is possible to generate a multi-directional water flow inside the object to be cleaned 2 without stirring the object to be cleaned 2, and it is inappropriate to apply mechanical force to the object to be cleaned 2 to wash the object to be cleaned. It is possible to suppress the cloth damage and shape loss of the cleaning object 2 and enhance the cleaning effect.

Further, a pressure-reducing unit 7 having a pressing unit 8 that can move forward and backward with respect to the object to be cleaned 2 in the cleaning tank 4 is provided, and the pressure-reducing unit 7 has a plurality of pressing units 8 (8a, which can expand and contract. 8b), a pressurizing pump 10 that supplies air to the inside of the pressing portion 8, and an on-off valve 11 that discharges the air in the pressing portion 8, and the control unit 39 presses at least one in the washing step. When the part 8a expands, the other pressing part 8b contracts, and the pressurizing and depressurizing part 7 is controlled so as to expand and contract at different timings. It is configured to suck the washing water and the introduced outside air by the suction pump 27 while pressing the. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress cloth damage and shape loss of the object to be cleaned 2 which is inappropriate to be washed or squeezed by applying a mechanical force to the object to be cleaned 2, and it is possible to perform good cleaning. The object to be cleaned can be satisfactorily dehydrated without applying mechanical force such as twisting.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 7 and 8 are time charts showing the operation of another example of the washing machine during dehydration. In the dehydration step, a drainage operation and a final dehydration operation are performed. The feature of this embodiment is that the amount of air introduced into the cleaning tank 4 from the outside air introduction unit 28 can be adjusted. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 6, in the dehydration step, a drainage operation and a final dehydration operation are performed. First, the control unit 39 performs a drainage operation. The drain valve 22 is opened, and the washing water inside the washing tank 4 is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. At this time, the outside air introduction unit 28 is opened, the inside of the washing tank 4 is communicated with the outside, and the washing water is smoothly discharged. The air volume adjusting valve 29 is open, the on-off valve 11 is closed, and the dehydration drain valve 36 is closed.

The control unit 39 performs a final dehydration operation after the drainage operation is completed. As shown in FIG. 6, the pressure pump 10 is driven in a state where the drain valve 22 is opened and the on-off valve 11 is closed. Air is supplied to the inside of the pressing portion 8, and the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed and compressed by the expansion of the pressing portion 8. As a result, a part of the washing water contained in the object to be washed 2 is forcibly discharged, and is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. With such a configuration and action of the pressing portion 8, the pressing surface 8c can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 and uniformly pressed, and the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 is forcibly pushed out. Can be done.

Next, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is closed at the same time as the pressurizing pump 10 is driven, and after a predetermined time T1 (for example, 1 minute), the drain valve 22 is closed while the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed, and suction is performed. The pump 27 is driven. After a predetermined time T3 (for example, 5 seconds) after the suction pump 27 is driven, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is opened and outside air is introduced into the cleaning tank 4. In the present embodiment, the amount of outside air introduced by the air volume adjusting valve 29 is adjustable, and the control unit 39 optimally adjusts the outside air introduced according to the progress of dehydration. be able to.

As described above, in the dehydration step, the control unit 39 starts driving the suction pump 27 with the air volume adjusting valve 29 closed, and after a predetermined time, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is opened to allow outside air to flow inside the cleaning tank 4. It is configured to be introduced. With this configuration, in the initial stage of the dehydration step in which the washing water contained in the object 2 to be cleaned is large, the washing water that has flowed out due to the pressing of the object 2 to be cleaned is sucked, and then the fibers of the object 2 to be cleaned are sucked together with the introduced outside air. Since the washing water between them is sucked, it can be efficiently dehydrated.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the present embodiment. In the dehydration step, the pressure pump 10 is driven and the air volume adjusting valve 29 is closed at the same time as in FIG. 6, and after a predetermined time T1 (for example, 1 minute), the drain valve is pressed while the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed. 22 is closed and the suction pump 27 is driven. After a predetermined time T3 (for example, 5 seconds) after the suction pump 27 is driven, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is adjusted and opened so that the amount of outside air introduced from the outside air introduction unit 28 gradually increases, and the cleaning tank 4 is opened. The outside air is introduced inside the.

As a result, in the initial stage of the dehydration step in which the cleaning water contained in the object 2 to be cleaned is large, the cleaning water that has flowed out due to the pressing of the object 2 to be cleaned is sucked, and then together with the cleaning water between the fibers of the object 2 to be cleaned. Since the amount of outside air sucked gradually increases, it is possible to efficiently dehydrate as the dehydration progresses.

FIG. 8 further shows another example of the present embodiment. In the dehydration step, the pressure pump 10 is driven and the air volume adjusting valve 29 is closed at the same time as in FIG. 6, and after a predetermined time T1 (for example, 1 minute), the drain valve is pressed while the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed. 22 is closed and the suction pump 27 is driven. After a predetermined time T3 (for example, 5 seconds) after the suction pump 27 is driven, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is adjusted and opened so that the amount of outside air introduced from the outside air introduction unit 28 gradually decreases, and the cleaning tank 4 is opened. Outside air is introduced inside.

As a result, in the initial stage of the dehydration step in which the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 is large, the proportion of air in the suction amount increases and the suction resistance is reduced. As a result, the load on the suction pump 27 is reduced, and the suction pump 27 can maintain stable suction performance.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the operation of the washing machine during dehydration according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is configured so that the pressure inside the cleaning tank 4 is reduced by the drive of the suction pump 27, so that the outside air flows into the inside of the pressing portion 8 and the pressing portion 8 expands. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 9, in the dehydration step, a drainage operation and a final dehydration operation are performed. First, the control unit 39 performs a drainage operation. The drain valve 22 is opened, and the washing water inside the washing tank 4 is drained from the drain hole 21 to the outside through the drainage path 23. At this time, the outside air introduction unit 28 is opened, the inside of the washing tank 4 is communicated with the outside, and the washing water is smoothly discharged. The air volume adjusting valve 29 is open, the on-off valve 11 is closed, and the dehydration drain valve 36 is closed.

The control unit 39 performs a final dehydration operation after the drainage operation is completed. As shown in FIG. 9, the air volume adjusting valve 29 and the drain valve 22 are closed, the on-off valve 11 is opened, and the suction pump 27 is driven. However, since the air volume adjusting valve 29 is closed, the outside air is not introduced into the cleaning tank 4 from the outside air introduction unit 28, and the inside of the cleaning tank 4 is depressurized to a lower pressure than the outside.

Therefore, due to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cleaning tank 4, outside air flows into the inside of the pressing portion 8 from the opened on-off valve 11, the pressing portion 8 expands, and the object to be cleaned 2 is pressed and compressed. Will be done. As a result, a part of the washing water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 is forcibly discharged, and drained from the drain hole 21 to the drain valve 22 through the drainage path 23. With such a configuration and action of the pressing portion 8, the pressing surface 8c can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 and uniformly pressed, and the cleaning water contained in the object to be cleaned 2 is forcibly pushed out. Can be done.

Further, after a predetermined time T3 (for example, 5 seconds) after the suction pump 27 is driven, the air volume adjusting valve 29 is adjusted and opened so that the amount of outside air introduced from the outside air introduction unit 28 gradually increases, and the cleaning is performed. Outside air is introduced into the inside of the tank 4. The outside air flowing into the inside of the washing tank 4 from the outside air introducing portion 28 is sucked together while pushing out the washing water remaining between the fibers of the object to be cleaned 2, and moves to the suction port 25. The washing water carried to the suction port 25 by the outside air tends to stay on the fibers due to surface tension. However, it is separated from the fiber by the shearing force of the air flow, is carried from the suction port 25 to the gas-liquid separation section 30 through the dehydration path 26, and is stored in the gas-liquid separation section 30.

Due to the characteristics of the suction pump 27, by keeping the amount of outside air introduced at a predetermined amount, the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cleaning tank 4 can be kept within a predetermined range, and the stable dewatering performance of the object to be cleaned 2 can be kept. Can be obtained.

The air volume adjusting valve 29 may be, for example, a constant pressure release valve that opens when the force generated by the pressure difference becomes larger than the tension of the spring. As a result, basically, due to the characteristics of the suction pump 27, the air volume becomes constant, and the same effect can be realized.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the pressing unit 8 is made of a flexible material and has an on-off valve 11 for introducing outside air into the pressing unit 8, and the control unit 39 is dehydrated. In the process, the suction pump 27 is driven and the on-off valve 11 is opened, and the pressing portion 8 is expanded by the inflow of outside air into the pressing portion 8 due to the pressure drop inside the cleaning tank 4, so that the object 2 to be cleaned is squeezed. It is configured to be pressed. With this configuration, the pressing portion 8 can be expanded by the suction pump 27, and the pressing surface 8c of the pressing portion 8 can be brought into close contact with the object to be cleaned 2 to uniformly press the inside of the object to be cleaned 2. The outside air is introduced and a predetermined dehydration performance can be obtained.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the washing machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The feature of this embodiment is that the coarser the material to be cleaned 2, the greater the pressing force by the pressing portion 8 in the dehydration step. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 10, an air volume detecting unit 41 for detecting the flow rate of the air flow passing through the suction path 32 is provided. The control unit 39 detects the air volume when the suction pump 27 is operated in the dehydration step by the air volume detection unit 41, and estimates the roughness of the object to be cleaned 2. When the object to be washed 2 is a coarse material having a large stitch such as a knit, the clothing structure has many relatively wide gaps, so that an air passage is easily formed and the air volume becomes large. On the contrary, when the object to be washed 2 is a dense material having a small texture such as a blouse, the clothes structure has a small gap, so that the ventilation resistance is large and the air volume is small. Utilizing this phenomenon, it can be estimated that the material to be cleaned 2 is a coarser material as the air volume is larger. When the air volume detected by the air volume detecting unit 41 is large and the object to be cleaned 2 is presumed to be a coarse material, the control unit 39 increases the pressing force by the pressing unit 8.

With this configuration, even in a coarse object 2 having a large gap in the clothes structure such as a knit, the clothes can be brought into close contact with each other by pressing to narrow the short-circuit air passage, reduce the bias of dehydration, and dehydrate the whole without bias. can. On the contrary, in a dense woven fabric such as a blouse or a shirt having a small gap, by reducing the pressing force, wrinkles of the object to be washed 2 due to dehydration are reduced, and the finish can be improved.

At this time, the determination of the roughness of the object to be cleaned 2 is not limited to the above method, and may be performed by another method. For example, a pressure detection unit (not shown) that detects the pressure inside the gas-liquid separation unit 30 is provided, and the control unit 39 has the lower the pressure inside the gas-liquid separation unit 30 in the dehydration step, the more the object 2 to be cleaned is. It may be configured to be presumed to be coarse. This is generally based on the tendency that the suction pressure decreases as the suction air volume of the pump increases, and the same estimation as that of the configuration for detecting the air volume is realized by detecting the pressure. Alternatively, the operation display unit 40 may be provided with a driving course setting button according to the type of the object to be cleaned 2 (“knit”, “shirt”, etc.), and may be configured to be selected by the user.

It should be noted that each of the above embodiments can be implemented in combination with other embodiments.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention dehydrates an object to be washed, which is inappropriate to be washed or squeezed by applying a mechanical force to the object to be washed, without applying mechanical force such as twisting. It is useful as a washing machine because it can perform well.

1 Washing machine 2 Items to be washed 4 Washing tank 7 (7a, 7b) Pressurized and depressurized part 8 (8a, 8b) Pressing part 10 (10a, 10b) Pressurizing pump 11 (11a, 11b) On-off valve 27 Suction pump (suction) Department)
28 Outside air introduction part 29 Air volume adjustment valve (air volume adjustment part)
39 Control unit

Claims (12)

A washing tank that houses the object to be washed and washing water,
A pressing portion that presses the object to be cleaned inside the washing tank,
A suction unit that sucks cleaning water from the object to be cleaned,
An outside air introduction portion that introduces outside air into the space inside the cleaning tank and outside the pressing portion.
It is equipped with a control unit that controls the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process.
In the dehydration step until the drive of the suction unit is stopped , the control unit maintains the state in which the object to be cleaned is pressed by the pressing unit, and the suction unit causes the outside air from the outside air introduction unit to the outside air . A washing machine configured to suck the washing water and the introduced outside air while introducing the washing machine. The outside air introduction unit has an air volume adjusting unit that adjusts the amount of outside air introduced into the washing tank, and the control unit adjusts the amount of outside air introduced inside the cleaning tank by the air volume adjusting unit. The washing machine according to claim 1, which is configured to be possible. In the dehydration step, the control unit starts driving the suction unit with the air volume adjusting unit closed, and after a predetermined time, the air volume adjusting unit is opened to introduce outside air into the washing tank. 2. The washing machine according to claim 2. In the dehydration step, the control unit starts driving the suction unit with the air volume adjusting unit closed, and after a predetermined time, the amount of outside air introduced into the inside of the washing tank is gradually increased. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the air volume adjusting unit is opened to introduce outside air into the washing tub. In the dehydration step, the control unit starts driving the suction unit with the air volume adjusting unit open, and after a predetermined time, the air volume is reduced so that the amount of outside air introduced into the inside of the washing tank is reduced. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting unit is configured to adjust. The pressing portion is made of a flexible material and has a pressurizing pump that supplies air to the inside of the pressing portion to expand the pressing portion.
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives the pressurizing pump in the dehydration step to inflate the pressing unit to press the object to be cleaned. The pressing portion is made of a flexible material and has an on-off valve for allowing outside air to flow into the pressing portion.
In the dehydration step, the control unit drives the suction unit and opens the on-off valve, and expands the pressing unit by inflow of outside air into the inside of the pressing unit due to a decrease in pressure inside the washing tank. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is configured to press the object to be washed. The washing machine according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control unit is configured to change the pressing force of the pressing unit according to the type or amount of the object to be cleaned in the dehydration step. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the pressing force by the pressing unit as the object to be washed is thicker or thicker in the dehydration step. The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to increase the pressing force by the pressing unit as the material to be cleaned is a coarser material in the dehydration step. The control unit is configured to contract and expand the object to be cleaned by pressing and releasing the object to be cleaned by the pressing unit in the washing step, and to generate a multi-directional water flow inside the object to be washed. Item 5. The washing machine according to any one of Items 1 to 10. A pressurizing / depressurizing section having a pressing section that can move forward and backward with respect to the object to be cleaned inside the washing tank is provided.
The pressurizing / depressurizing portion includes a plurality of pressing portions that can expand and contract, a pressurizing pump that supplies air to the inside of the pressing portion, and an on-off valve that discharges air inside the pressing portion.
In the washing step, the control unit controls the pressurizing / depressurizing unit so that the other pressing unit contracts when the at least one pressing unit expands and expands / contracts at different timings. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the plurality of pressing portions are simultaneously inflated to press the object to be cleaned and the suction portion is configured to suck the washing water and the introduced outside air. washing machine.

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