JPH0410359B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a detergent supply device for a washing machine, etc., for supplying detergent, particularly powdered detergent, to a detergent receiving section of a 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 Publication No. 43827, a powder detergent stored in a hopper-shaped detergent storage section is discharged in fixed quantities, and the powder detergent is temporarily stored and then dispensed.
As shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 18769, there is a typical type of detergent which is supplied by rotating a screw-like detergent delivery member to deliver powdered detergent stored and stored in a similar detergent storage section.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) However, among the above, the former
In the method disclosed in Publication No. 43827, powder detergent tends to harden due to moisture and humidity, which is characteristic of washing machines and other equipment that handle water, before it is supplied. Therefore, there were problems in that detergent often clogged and the detergent could not be supplied smoothly and reliably. Furthermore, it has sometimes happened that the detergent is supplied in the form of large lumps, which takes a long time to dissolve and cannot contribute to cleaning effectively.

On the other hand, the latter disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-18769 allows powdered detergent that easily clumps to be fed while being loosened by a detergent delivery member, as described above.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a smoother, more reliable and more convenient supply than the above-mentioned method. However, in this case, at the end of the supply operation, the detergent delivery member delivers the powdered detergent to the full outlet of the detergent delivery section and then stops its operation.
During the subsequent operation, there was a problem in that the powder detergent spilled from the outlet of the detergent delivery section due to vibrations caused by the dehydration operation, causing the powder detergent to stick to the area where it fell. Furthermore, there is a problem in that if the particles fall into the washing tub, they fall during rinsing, reducing the rinsing effect.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to supply powder detergent smoothly, reliably, and conveniently, and to
To provide a detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like that can be used comfortably and safely without causing the problem of powdered detergent spilling out from the outlet of a detergent delivery part after the supply operation is finished.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like of the present invention has a detergent supply device installed in the washing machine or the like to accommodate and store powdered detergent at the lower end of the detergent storage section. A detergent delivery part is provided facing the receiving part, a detergent delivery member is accommodated and disposed in the detergent delivery part, and the detergent delivery member is rotationally driven by a drive device, further comprising a detergent delivery part. A lid is provided at the outlet portion of the washing machine, and the lid is opened at a position where the lid is deviated laterally from the detergent reservoir attachment part of the washing machine, etc. and covered from above by a cover when powdered detergent is supplied. It is unique in that it is closed at all other times.

(Function) According to the present invention of the above-mentioned means, the rotating detergent delivery member sends out the powdered detergent in the detergent storage part through its outlet through the detergent delivery part by its rotation, and after the supply operation by the delivery is completed, the detergent delivery part The lid that closes the outlet prevents detergent from spilling from the outlet. In addition, while there is a risk that water may enter and drip from the detergent reservoir attachment part of a washing machine, etc., the electric drive source that opens the lid is
It is located off-center from where the water drips, so there is no problem of water intrusion. Furthermore, since the electric drive source is provided in a position covered from above by the cover, there is no possibility of direct water splashing on 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, the main body 1 of the washing machine, whose entire structure is shown in FIG. In addition, an operation panel 5 is provided at the front edge in front of the lid 4, and 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. and the platform 6
In this case, a hot pass set opening 9 is formed from the left adjacent part of the operating knob 8 to the left end thereof, and below the hot pass set opening 9, as shown in FIG. A hopper receiving portion 10 is formed whose end is open as shown in FIG.

The hopper receiving part 10 has a hopper 11 which is a detergent storage part whose lower part is formed into a V-shaped cross section to match the hopper receiving part 10 and whose both sides are also formed obliquely.
The hopper is accommodated through the hopper setting port 9, and at the same time a claw portion 12 is formed on the left side of the hopper 11 in FIG.
is engaged with the left side edge of the hot pass set port 9, and has an operating protrusion 13 formed on the right side.
is elastically engaged with the right side edge of the hopper setting opening 9 to removably attach the hopper 11.
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 stirring member 20 having a plurality of protrusions 17 protruding toward the outside, a large number of protrusions 18 protruding outward from the periphery, and a plurality of holes 19 is rotatably supported by passing a shaft 21 between the front and rear of the hopper 11. It is set up. Further, at the lower end of the hopper 11, a detergent delivery part 22 is formed extending from the inside of the hopper 11 to a cylindrical part that projects outwardly to the right in FIG. is rotatably housed over its entire length,
One of the projections 18 of the stirring member 20 is engaged with this.

Here, 24 is an outlet located at the right end of the detergent delivery section 22 in the figure, and a lid support protrusion 2 is provided above the outlet 24, to which a lid 26 for opening and closing the outlet 24 is attached. It is pivoted so that it can move up and down for opening and closing. Reference numeral 27 denotes a torsion coil spring that is wound around the lid support protrusion 25. One end of this spring is hooked onto the upper surface of the detergent delivery section 22, and the other end is connected to the lid 2.
6, the detergent delivery part 22 is attached to the lid 26.
By applying a rotational force in the direction of the outlet 24, the lid 26
The outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22 is normally closed. 28 is a platform 6 facing the lid 26;
The support piece 29 protrudes from the inner surface of the washing machine, and is attached to the support piece 29, which is an electric drive source, such as an electromagnet, installed at a position that extends laterally from the hot pass set opening 9, which is the detergent reservoir attachment part of the washing machine, and is covered from above by the cover. In contrast to the electromagnet 29, the cover 26 is made entirely or partly of a magnetic material, so that the cover 26 is magnetically attracted by the electromagnet 29 in the opening direction.

Thus, the detergent delivery section 2 provided with the lid 26 as described above.
The outlet 24 of 2 is located in the detergent receiving portion 3 located approximately in the center of the upper surface of the receiving plate 30 disposed inside the platform portion 6.
I am facing 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the receiving plate 30 also serves as a water supply channel, and there is a supply port 3 at the tip facing the washing tub (not shown) inside the outer box 2.
2, and a water supply valve 33 is disposed on the uppermost rear end portion thereof. On the other hand, the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22
A transmission shaft 34 to which the base end of the detergent delivery member 23 is engaged is inserted into the end opposite to the transmission shaft 34.
A connector 35 is attached to the end opposite to the detergent delivery member 23 . and the connector 35
Correspondingly, a motor 36, which is a drive device, is attached to the inner surface of the left side of the platform 6 in FIG.
8 is removably engaged with the connector 35.

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 39 into the hopper 11 in this state, and then open the lid 15.
is closed, and the powdered detergent 39 is left in the hopper 11 with the powdered detergent 39 stored therein. When the necessary switches on the operation panel 5 are operated to perform washing, the water supply valve 33 is first energized and water supply starts.In this situation, the electromagnet 29 and motor 36 are then energized, and among them, the electromagnet 29 and the motor 36 are energized. As a result, the lid 26 is magnetically attached and operates to open the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the rotational force of the motor 36 is transmitted from the rotation shaft 37 to the transmission shaft 34 via the engagement structure between the transmission pin 38 and the connector 35, and further from the transmission shaft 34 to the detergent delivery member 2.
3. In this way, the detergent delivery member 23 is driven to rotate, particularly in a so-called spiral direction, and the detergent delivery member 23, which has been rotationally driven in this manner, moves while contacting the powdered detergent 39 in the hopper 11, thereby discharging the powdered detergent. While loosening the detergent 39, the detergent is advanced through the inside of the detergent delivery section 22 toward the outlet 24, and then taken out from the opened outlet 24 as shown by arrow A in FIGS. 5 and 4. The powdered detergent 39 thus dispensed is transferred to the receiving plate 3.
0, which falls into the detergent receiver 31 above the detergent receiver 31, where it is flushed away by water supplied through the water supply valve 33 as shown by arrow B in FIG.
The water is supplied together with the water from the supply port 32 into a washing tub (not shown). In addition, especially in the case of this embodiment, when the detergent delivery member 23 is rotationally driven as described above,
The stirring member 20, which has one of its protrusions 18 engaged with the detergent delivery member 23, rotates so that its protrusions 18 are sequentially engaged with the detergent delivery member 23, thereby removing the powder in the hopper 11. Stir the detergent 39,
If there is a lump of powdered detergent 39, it is loosened and the powdered detergent 39 is smoothly introduced into the detergent delivery section 22.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the hopper 11
Powdered detergent 39 accommodated and stored in (detergent storage section)
The powder detergent 39 can be delivered by rotating the detergent delivery member 23, and the powder detergent 39 can be delivered while being loosened by contact with the rotating detergent delivery member 23, so it is not possible to dispense a fixed amount of detergent from the conventional detergent storage section, store it once, and then dispense it. Powder detergent 3 compared to what is supplied
9 can be supplied smoothly and reliably without clogging, and in powder form without clumping.

After the supply is finished, the motor 36 is cut off and the electromagnet 29 is cut off, so that the detergent delivery member 23 stops rotating and stops delivering the powder detergent, and the lid 26 is released from the magnetic force of the electromagnet 29 and the torsion coil spring 2
7 is returned to its original state and closes the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22. Therefore, even if it is subjected to vibrations due to subsequent operation, the powder detergent 39 will not spill from the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22. In this way, the powdered detergent 34 can be prevented from getting stuck, especially on the detergent receiving part 31 in this embodiment, and the washing tub can be removed through the receiving plate 30 having the detergent receiving part 31. In particular, it can prevent the water from falling into the washing tub during the post-feeding process, especially the rinsing process, thereby preventing the rinsing effect from deteriorating. , it can be used comfortably without being bothered by these problems.

In addition, there is a risk that water may infiltrate and drip from the hopper set port 9, which is the detergent reservoir attachment part of the washing machine, not only when the hopper 11 is attached, but also when it is removed. The electromagnet 29 that opens the lid 26 as shown in FIG.
Since it is provided at a position laterally away from the hot pass set port 9, it is located away from the water dripping destination, and there is no problem of water intrusion. Furthermore, since the electromagnet 29 is provided in a position where it is covered from above by the cover, it is not directly exposed to water.
Therefore, it can be used electrically safely.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and in particular, the electric drive source for opening the lid 26 may be other than the electromagnet 29, for example, a motor or the like. Moreover, if the detergent delivery member 23 is also in the shape of a coil, the powder detergent 39 will easily come out through the cavity after the supply is finished, so the value of the lid 26 will be even higher. However, since the powdered detergent 39 tends to come out quite easily after the supply is finished, it may be in the shape of a screw. In addition, the supply of the powdered detergent 39 together with the water supply described above, the presence or absence of the agitating member 20, etc. can be appropriately selected and implemented. 31
However, the powder detergent 39 may be supplied directly into the washing tub. Further, the drive device for rotationally driving the detergent delivery member 23 is not limited to the motor 36, and may be, for example, a water wheel operating in a water supply channel. And overall, it is not limited to washing machines,
It can be applied and implemented similarly to all equipment that functions using powdered detergent, such as dishwashers.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the detergent supply device for a washing machine, etc. of the present invention, the detergent supplying device for a washing machine, etc., is attached to the lower end of the detergent storage part that is attached to the washing machine, etc. and accommodates and stores powdered detergent. A detergent delivery part is provided facing the detergent receiving part, a detergent delivery member is housed and disposed in the detergent delivery part, and the detergent delivery member is rotationally driven by a drive device. A lid is provided, and the lid is opened at the time of supplying powdered detergent by an electric drive source provided at a position laterally away from the detergent reservoir attachment part of the washing machine etc. and covered from above by the cover, and is opened at all other times. Since this design has been designed to block the powder detergent, which tends to harden due to water and humidity, which is characteristic of washing machines and other water-handling equipment, it is possible to supply the powder detergent smoothly, reliably, and conveniently. This product has the effect of being comfortable to use without causing the problem of powdered detergent spilling out from the outlet of the detergent delivery section after washing, and furthermore, it is safe to use because water does not get into the electric drive source. It is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view of the main parts, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of the washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of the main parts.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same portion at a different cross-sectional position, and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the whole in a state in which detergent is being supplied. In the figure, 9 is the hopper set port (detergent storage part attachment part of a washing machine, etc.), 11 is the hopper (detergent storage part), 22
23 is a detergent delivery part, 23 is a detergent delivery member, 24 is an outlet of the detergent delivery part, 26 is a lid, 27 is a torsion coil spring, 29 is an electromagnet (electric drive source), 31 is a detergent receiving part, 36 is a motor (driver) (apparatus), 39 indicates a powdered detergent.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detergent reservoir for supplying powdered detergent to a detergent receiving section of a washing machine, etc., which is attached to the washing machine, etc. and accommodates and stores the powdered detergent, and a detergent reservoir at the lower end of the detergent reservoir. A detergent delivery part provided facing the receiving part, a detergent delivery member rotatably housed in the detergent delivery part, and a drive device provided to rotationally drive the detergent delivery member. At the same time, a lid is provided at the outlet of the detergent delivery portion so as to normally close the outlet, and a lid is provided at a position laterally away from the attachment portion of the detergent storage portion of the washing machine etc. and covered from above by a cover. 1. A detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like, comprising an electric drive source that opens the lid when the powdered detergent is supplied.