JPH0410836B2 - - 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.

(Problem 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. However, detergent is not designed to work properly, and as a result, detergent often becomes clogged and the detergent cannot 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
This is an excellent washing machine that can be used comfortably without causing the problem of powdered detergent spilling out from the outlet of the detergent delivery section after the supply operation is completed, and in addition, it is also possible to easily clean the detergent storage section. An object of the present invention is to provide a detergent supply device.

[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 storage section that is easily removably provided in the main body of the washing machine or the like and that accommodates and stores powdered detergent. A detergent delivery part is provided at the lower end portion facing the detergent 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, a lid is provided at the outlet of the detergent delivery section, and the lid is opened by an electric drive source when powdered detergent is supplied, and is closed at all other times, and the electric drive source is connected to the washing machine. The detergent reservoir is configured so that it can be left in the main body of the device and removed from the main body of the device.

(Function) According to the present invention of the above-mentioned means, the rotating detergent delivery member sends out the powdered detergent in the detergent reservoir from the outlet through the detergent delivery part by its rotation, and after the supply operation by the delivery is completed, The lid that closes the outlet of the detergent delivery section by driving the electric drive source prevents the detergent from spilling from the outlet. Furthermore, when cleaning the detergent reservoir, the detergent reservoir can be easily removed, and the detergent reservoir can be removed while leaving the electrical drive source for driving the lid in the main body of the washing machine or other device. Therefore, the detergent reservoir can be cleaned as desired without worrying about the electric drive source getting wet.

(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 shown in its entirety in FIG. 2 has an outer shell made up of an outer box 2 and an upper cover 3 attached thereto. 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. A hot pass set opening 9 is formed in the platform part 6 from the left side of the operating knob 8 to the left end thereof, and below the hot pass set opening 9, there is a cross section V as shown in FIG. A hopper receiving portion 10 is formed which is shaped like a letter and whose both ends are 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 in 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, thereby fixing the hopper 11 for easy removal.

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), and inside the hopper 11, A stirring member 20 having a plurality of protrusions 17 protruding in the front-rear direction, a large number of protrusions 18 protruding outward from the periphery, and a plurality of holes 19 can be rotated by passing the shaft 21 between the front and rear of the hopper 11. It is supported and arranged. 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.
A coil-shaped detergent delivery member 23 is rotatably housed in the detergent delivery unit 22 over its entire length, and the protrusion 1 of the stirring member 20 is connected to the detergent delivery member 23 .
8 is engaged.

Here, 24 is an outlet located at the right end in the figure of the detergent delivery section 22, and a lid support protrusion 25 is provided above the outlet 24, and a lid 26 for opening and closing the outlet 24 is attached to this. 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 hooked onto the outer surface of the lid 26 to close the lid. Detergent delivery section 2 at 26
Applying rotational force in the direction of the outlet 24 of the lid 2,
6 normally closes the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22. Reference numeral 28 indicates a support piece protruding from the inner surface of the platform 6 facing the lid 26, and 29 is an electric drive source such as an electromagnet attached thereto. The material of the part is made of a magnetic material, so that the lid 26 is magnetically attracted by the electromagnet 29 in the opening direction.

As described above, the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22 provided with the lid 26 is located on the upper surface of the receiving plate 30 disposed inside the table-like section 6, especially at the detergent receiving section 31 located approximately in the center thereof. I'm making it happen. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the receiving plate 30 also serves as a water supply channel.
It is provided so as to be inclined gradually downward toward a supply port 32 at the tip facing a washing tub (not shown) inside the outer box 2, and a water supply valve 33 is disposed on the uppermost rear end. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
A power transmission shaft 34 having a proximal end thereof engaged therein is inserted, and a connector 35 is attached to the end of the power transmission shaft 34 on the opposite side from the detergent delivery member 23. Corresponding to the connector 35, a motor 36, which is a driving device, is attached to the inner surface of the left side of the platform 6 in FIG. A transmission pin 38 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 rotated, particularly in a so-called spiral direction, and the detergent delivery member 23 rotationally driven in this manner,
It moves in contact with the powdered detergent 39 in the hopper 11 and loosens the powdered detergent 39 while advancing inside the detergent delivery section 22 toward the outlet 24 and from the opened outlet 24 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 4. Put it out as shown in A. The powdered detergent 39 thus dispensed falls into the detergent receiver 31 on the receiving plate 30, and is supplied to the detergent receiver 31 through the water supply valve 33 as shown by arrow B in FIG. The washing machine is flushed with water, and is supplied together with the water from the supply port 32 into the washing tub (not shown).

In particular, in the case of this embodiment, when the detergent delivery member 23 is driven to rotate as described above, the stirring member 2 with one of the protrusions 18 engaged with the detergent delivery member 23
0 rotates so that its protrusions 18 are sequentially engaged with the detergent delivery member 23, thereby stirring the powder detergent 39 in the hopper 11, loosening any lumps of powder detergent 39, and The detergent 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)
can be delivered by the rotation of 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 that it can be delivered in fixed amounts from the conventional detergent storage section and once stored. Compared to the one that is supplied from outside, the powder detergent 39 can be smoothly and reliably filled without clogging.
In addition, it can be conveniently supplied in powder form without solidification.

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 etc. due to subsequent operation, the powder detergent 39 can be returned from the outlet 24 of the detergent delivery section 22. This prevents the powdered detergent 34 from spilling, and in this way prevents the powdered detergent 34 from getting stuck, especially on the detergent receiver 31 in the case of this embodiment. It also prevents water from falling into the washing tub, especially during the post-supply process, especially during the rinsing process, thereby preventing the rinsing effect from deteriorating. In general, it can be used comfortably without being bothered by these problems.

In addition, in the case of the above configuration, the hopper 11
Washing is as easy as pushing the operating protrusion 13 to remove the elastic claw part 14 from the right side edge of the hot pack opening 9 as shown in FIG. 6, and then removing the claw part 12 from the left side edge of the hot pack opening 9. It can be removed from the machine body 1, and in this case, the electromagnet 29
remains in the washing machine main body 1, and remove the washing machine main body 1.
The entire hopper 11 can be removed from the washing machine body 1, leaving the electromagnet 29 in the washing machine body 1.
1 is removed, the hopper 11 can be washed completely without worrying about the electromagnet 29 getting wet, etc.
You can do the cleaning you want.

Particularly in the case of this embodiment, when the hopper 11 is removed as described above, the detergent delivery member 23 can also be removed from the washing machine main body 1 by disconnecting it from the transmission pin 38 and eventually the motor 36 using the connector 35. Therefore, cleaning of the detergent delivery member 23 can be performed as desired along with cleaning of the hopper 11.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, 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. , and if the detergent delivery member 23 also has a coil shape,
Since the powdered detergent 39 is likely to come out through the cavity after the supply is finished, the value of the lid 26 is even higher. Therefore, it may be formed into this screw shape. In addition, the supply of the powdered detergent 39 together with the water supply described above, the presence or absence of the two stirring members, etc. can be appropriately selected and implemented. It is not limited to part 31, but may be in the washing tub,
That is, the powdered detergent 39 may be directly supplied 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. 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.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like of the present invention, the detergent is easily removed from the main body of the washing machine or the like and accommodates and stores the powdered detergent. A detergent delivery part is provided at the lower end of the storage part in a direction facing the detergent receiving part, a detergent delivery member is accommodated and disposed in the detergent delivery part, and the detergent delivery part is rotationally driven by a drive device, and A lid is provided at the outlet of the detergent delivery section, and the lid is opened by an electric drive source when powdered detergent is supplied, and is closed at all other times. Since the detergent storage part can be removed from the main body of the device, the powdered detergent, which tends to harden due to water and humidity, which is characteristic of washing machines and other water-handling devices, can be supplied smoothly, reliably, and conveniently. In addition, it can be used comfortably without causing the problem of powdered detergent spilling out from the outlet of the detergent delivery section after the supply operation is completed, and in addition, the detergent storage section can be easily removed from the main body of the device. In addition to being easy to clean, the detergent reservoir can be cleaned as desired without worrying about the electric drive source getting wet.

[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 part at different cross-sectional positions, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the whole in the state when detergent is being supplied, and Fig. 6 is a cutaway front view of the main part during removal of the detergent reservoir. It is. In the figure, 11 is a hopper (detergent storage part), 12 is a claw part, 14 is an elastic claw part, 22 is a detergent delivery part, 23 is a detergent delivery member, 24 is an outlet of the detergent delivery part, 26 is a lid, and 27 is a twisting part. A coil spring, 29 an electromagnet (electric drive source), 31 a detergent receiver, 36 a motor (drive device), and 39 a powder detergent.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detergent reservoir for supplying powdered detergent to a detergent receiving section of a washing machine, etc., which is easily removable on the main body of the washing machine, etc., and which accommodates and stores the powdered detergent, and this detergent reservoir. a detergent delivery section provided at the lower end facing the detergent receiving section; a detergent delivery member rotatably accommodated in the detergent delivery section; and a detergent delivery member provided to rotate the detergent delivery member. and a lid provided at the outlet of the detergent delivery section so as to normally close the outlet, and an electric drive source that opens the lid when the powdered detergent is supplied. 1. A detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like, characterized in that the detergent supplying device for a washing machine or the like is configured such that the detergent storage section can be removed from the main body of the washing machine or the like while leaving the electric drive source in the main body of the device.