JPH0319355Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a detergent supply device for a washing machine, etc., for supplying detergent, particularly powdered detergent, to a detergent receiving portion of the washing machine, etc.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, detergent supply devices for washing machines and the like used for supplying this type of powdered detergent have been used, for example, in the
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 43827, there is a system in which a powdered detergent stored in a hopper is dispensed in fixed quantities, stored once, and then dispensed. However, with this product, before the powder detergent is supplied, there is a problem that it tends to harden due to water and humidity, which is characteristic of equipment that handles water such as washing machines. Therefore, there was a problem in that the detergent often clogged and the detergent could not be supplied smoothly and reliably.

On the other hand, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-18769, for example, there is a system in which powdered detergent stored in a hopper is delivered by rotating a screw-like delivery member. According to this device, as described above, the powdered detergent that hardens easily can be fed by rubbing it finely with the screw-like delivery member, and thus it can be fed more smoothly, reliably, and more conveniently than the above-mentioned method. However, even with this device, a considerable amount of detergent still adheres to the surface of the screw-like delivery member.
It is not yet possible to provide a sufficiently smooth and reliable supply. Further, it is okay to supply solidified powder detergent as long as it is a small mass, but with the above-mentioned screw-shaped delivery member, even the slightly massed powder detergent tends to clog, and the supply is insufficient. It was something that could not be done. Further, the screw-shaped delivery member is difficult to clean, and there is a problem in that detergent tends to remain attached to the corners, which further induces subsequent deposition of detergent.

(Problem that the invention attempts to solve) As mentioned above, no matter what conventional
There is no one that can supply powdered detergent sufficiently smoothly and reliably, and it also has the problem that it is difficult to clean and tends to leave powdered detergent residue.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to be able to send powdered detergent from a hopper sufficiently smoothly and reliably, and to
To provide a detergent supplying device for a washing machine or the like which is excellent in practical use and allows a delivery member to be easily and sufficiently cleaned, and furthermore, powdered detergent can be supplied without being caught at a final outlet part.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving the problem) The present invention provides a detergent delivery section at the lower end of a hopper that accommodates and stores powdered detergent, and a coil-shaped detergent delivery member is provided in the detergent delivery section. The powdered detergent in the hopper is delivered from the detergent delivery section by rotating and driving the detergent delivery member by the drive device, and the powder detergent is delivered from the detergent delivery section, and the minimum width dimension thereof is larger than the distance between the coil wires of the detergent delivery member. or an equivalent supply port to the inside of the washing machine, etc.

(Function) According to the above means, the detergent delivery member has a coil-shaped configuration, which allows the powdered detergent in the hopper to be delivered in small pieces and to reduce the contact area with the powdered detergent. If the hardened powder detergent has a size smaller than the distance between the coil wires of the detergent delivery member, it can be delivered by moving inside the detergent delivery member, and it can also be delivered without getting caught at the supply port. In addition, there is no possibility that powdered detergent will remain stuck to every corner of the delivery member, and
It can be easily cleaned by passing water through it.

(Example) An example in which the present invention is applied to a detergent supply device for a washing machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. First of all, the washing machine main body 1, whose entire structure is shown in FIG.
The top cover 3 has a lid 4 pivoted to be able to be opened and closed, and an operation panel 5 located on the front edge of the lid 4. A platform 6 is provided at the rear edge. The platform part 6 is provided with an operating knob 7 for setting the water level at the right end in the figure, and an operating knob 8 for setting the amount of detergent on the left side thereof. A hot pass set opening 9 is formed from the left side of the operating knob 8 to the left end of the platform 6, and a V-shaped cross section is formed below the hot pass set opening 9 as shown in FIG. Both ends form a hopper receiving portion 10 that is open as shown in FIGS. 4 and 1. The hopper receiving part 10 accommodates a hopper 11 whose lower part has a V-shaped cross section to match the hopper receiving part 10 and whose both sides are obliquely formed through the hopper setting opening 9. The claw portion 12 formed on the left side in FIG.
3 is elastically engaged with the right side edge of the hopper setting opening 9 to prevent the hopper 11 from falling off. On the other hand, a lid 15 is pivotally mounted on the top opening of the hopper 11 so that it can be opened and closed by a shaft 16 at the rear end (see FIGS. 3 and 4). A protrusion 17 that protrudes into
A protrusion 1 having a plurality of protrusions and protruding outward from the periphery.
A stirring member 20 having a plurality of holes 19 and a plurality of holes 19 is rotatably supported with a shaft 21 passing between the front and back of the hopper 11, and furthermore, a stirring member 20 having a plurality of holes 19 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the hopper 11. The detergent delivery part 22 is formed exclusively over the cylindrical part that protrudes outward on the right side in FIG. It faces the detergent receiving section 25 in the center. The upper surface of the receiving plate 24 also serves as a water supply channel, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is provided so as to gradually descend toward a supply port 26 at the tip facing a washing tub (not shown) inside the outer box 2. There is a water supply valve 2 on the top of the rear end.
7 are installed. The supply port 26 is horizontally elongated as shown in Fig. 5, and is designed to supply water while suppressing scattering by spreading the water into a curtain shape, and its minimum width dimension is b. . A coiled detergent delivery member 28 is rotatably housed in the detergent delivery unit 22 over its entire length as shown in FIG. one is engaged with the detergent delivery member 28. Here, a is the detergent delivery member 2
The distance between the coil wires is 8, and this detergent delivery member 2
The distance a between the coil wires of No. 8 is set to be smaller than or equal to the minimum width b of the supply port 26 (a≦b). On the other hand, a transmission shaft 29 to which the base end of the detergent delivery member 28 is engaged is inserted into the end of the detergent delivery portion 22 opposite to the outlet 23, and the transmission shaft 29 is opposite to the detergent delivery member 28. Connector 3 on the side end
It has a value of 0. Corresponding to the connector 30, a motor 31 as a drive device is attached to the inner surface of the left side of the platform 6 in FIG.
Transmission pins 33 arranged at right angles to each other at the ends of the connectors 2 are removably engaged with the connector 30.

Now, in the case of the device constructed as described above, when using it, first, the lid 15 of the hopper 11 is
Open it as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, put the powder detergent 34 into the hopper 11 in this state, and then open the lid 15.
The hopper 11 is closed and the powdered detergent 34 is left in the hopper 11. Then, when the necessary switches on the operation panel 5 are operated to wash the clothes, the motor 31 is energized before washing starts, and the energized motor 31 starts, so its rotational force is transmitted from the rotating shaft 32. It is transmitted to the transmission shaft 29 via the engagement structure between the pin 33 and the connector 30, and further transmitted from the transmission shaft 29 to the detergent delivery member 28. In this way, the detergent delivery member 28 is rotationally driven, particularly in a so-called spiral direction, and the detergent delivery member 28 that is rotationally driven in this manner is rotated in the hopper 1.
1, the powder detergent 34 is pulverized and rolled in the central cavity formed by the coiled shape, while passing through the detergent delivery section 22 to the outlet. 23, and exit from the exit 23 as shown by arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 4. The powdered detergent 34 thus dispensed is received by a detergent receiver 25 on the receiving plate 24, and is supplied to the detergent receiver 25 through a water supply valve 27 as shown by arrow B in FIG. The supply port 26 is flushed with water and
The water is then supplied into a washing tub (not shown). In particular, in the case of this embodiment, the above-mentioned water starts flowing before the powdered detergent 34 falls onto the detergent receiver 25, and continues to flow even after the powdered detergent 34 has finished discharging. Powder detergent 34 for laundry
Not only is the powder detergent 34 prevented from directly adhering to the powder detergent 34 to prevent its yellowing and staining, but also the powder detergent 34 is flushed out from the detergent receiving part 25 without leaving any residue and is prevented from becoming stuck. Further, regarding the rotation of the motor 31 and the delivery of the powder detergent 34 by the detergent delivery member 28, the time length and delivery amount can be adjusted according to the type of powder detergent 34 by operating the operation knob 8. I have to. In addition, in this case, the adjustment of the delivery amount by the operation knob 8 refers to a supplement to a predetermined basic delivery amount, and the basic delivery amount is determined according to the water level set by the operation of the operation knob 7. ing. Further, when the detergent delivery member 28 is rotationally driven as described above, the agitating member 20 that has one of the protrusions 18 engaged with the detergent delivery member 28 sequentially engages the protrusion 18 with the detergent delivery member 28. The powder detergent 34 in the hopper 11 is thereby agitated, any lumps of the powder detergent 34 are loosened, and the powder detergent 34 is smoothly introduced into the detergent delivery section 22. .

As described above, according to this embodiment, the powdered detergent 34 accommodated and stored in the hopper 11 can be delivered by the rotation of the coil-shaped detergent delivery member 28, and by contact with the rotating detergent delivery member 28. Needless to say, the powdered detergent 34 can be finely delivered, and especially since the detergent delivery member 28 has a coil shape with a hollow portion in the center,
Compared to a conventional screw-shaped delivery member in which a flat plate is spirally wound around a shaft, the contact area with the powdered detergent 34 is extremely small, and therefore the amount of the powdered detergent 34 that adheres to the surface is extremely small. The powder detergent 34 can be supplied smoothly and reliably without clogging the powder detergent 34. In addition, since the detergent delivery member 28 has a coil shape, the detergent can freely move inside the cavity formed in the center of the detergent delivery member 28, so that even if there is some lump, it can be removed by the screw of the detergent delivery member 28. It can be sent out like a conveyor by the acceleration action. On the other hand, in a conventional screw-shaped delivery member in which a private room-like space surrounded by walls is moved, solidified powder detergent is difficult to move and easily clogs. In addition, since the detergent delivery member 28 has a small contact area with the powdered detergent 34 as described above, the delivery force of the powdered detergent 34 based on the contact is smaller than that of the conventional screw-shaped delivery member, but this is due to the fact that the detergent delivery member 28 This can be easily and sufficiently compensated for by increasing the number of revolutions, and since the sending force is small, it is basically possible to supply small amounts in a scattering manner, avoiding supplying large amounts at once. It can be fed more conveniently and its dissolution can be faster and more uniform. Furthermore, in this case, since the above-mentioned dispersion-like supply form is adopted, even fine adjustment of the delivery amount can be made as desired. Cleaning of the detergent delivery member 28 is easier because the powdered detergent 34 does not adhere to and remain in every corner compared to the conventional screw-shaped delivery member.
Since water can be passed through the inside of 8, it can be cleaned thoroughly. Therefore, problems such as new powder detergent 34 being deposited due to the remaining powder detergent 34 will not occur.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the distance between the coil wires of the detergent delivery member 28 is a dimension a relative to the minimum width dimension b of the supply port 26, which is the final outlet of the powdered detergent 34.
is set to be smaller than or equal to that value, a lump of powdered detergent 34 larger than the minimum width dimension b of the supply port 26 will not enter the detergent delivery member 28, and therefore it will not fit into the detergent delivery portion 22. Since it is not sent out from the supply port 26 and does not reach the supply port 26, it can be smoothly supplied without being caught at the supply port 26.

In addition to the above, especially in the case of the above embodiment, if the operating protrusion 13 of the elastic claw part 14 is operated to remove the elastic claw part 13 from the edge of the hotspa set opening 9, then the elastic claw can be removed. By pulling out the part 14 from the hopper setting opening 9 and removing the claw part 12 from the edge of the hopper setting opening 9, the connector 30 is disengaged from the transmission pin 33 and the entire hopper 11 including the detergent delivery member 28 is removed. The detergent delivery member 28 and the hopper 11 can be removed and cleaned easily and as desired.

However, as mentioned above, it is not necessarily necessary in the present invention to be able to remove the entire hopper 11, and therefore, the entire hopper 11 may be provided in a fixed state, and in addition to the above-mentioned water supply. The combined supply of the powdered detergent 34a, the time width control of the water supply at that time, the adjustment of the delivery amount according to the type of the powdered detergent 34, and the presence or absence of the stirring member 20 are also selected and implemented as appropriate. Also good. Further, the drive device for rotationally driving the detergent delivery member 28 is not limited to the motor 31, and may be, for example, a water wheel operating in a water supply channel. The invention as a whole is not limited to washing machines, but can be similarly applied to all appliances that function using powdered detergent, such as dishwashers.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the invention, the powdered detergent stored in the hopper is delivered by the rotation of the coil-shaped detergent delivery member. Powdered detergent, which tends to harden due to water and humidity, which is characteristic of machines and other water-handling equipment, can be supplied smoothly and reliably as is even if there is some hardening, and the delivery member can also be easily and thoroughly cleaned. Even if the powdered detergent is formed into a lump as described above, it is possible to prevent it from entering the detergent delivery member if it exceeds the minimum width dimension of the supply port, which is the final outlet, which may cause it to get caught at the supply port. This has an excellent effect in that it can be supplied without any problems.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the main parts, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the overall external appearance of the washing machine, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the main parts.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of the same portion at a different cross-sectional position, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the supply port taken along line V-V in FIG. 4. In the figure, 11...hopper, 22...detergent delivery section,
25... Detergent receiving portion, 26... Supply port, 28... Detergent delivery member, 31... Motor (drive device), 34
. . . Powdered detergent, a . . . Dimension between the coil wires of the detergent delivery member, b . . . Minimum width dimension of the supply port.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A device for supplying powdered detergent to the inside of a washing machine, etc., which includes a hopper that accommodates and stores the powdered detergent, a detergent delivery section provided at the lower end of the hopper, and a rotatable detergent delivery section. a detergent delivery member in the form of a coil housed in the washing machine, a drive device provided to rotationally drive the detergent delivery member, and a powder detergent delivered from the detergent delivery unit into the washing machine or the like. and a supply port provided to supply the detergent, and the distance between the coil wires of the detergent delivery member is set to be smaller than or equal to the minimum width dimension of the supply port. Detergent supply device for machines etc.