JPH0427518Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention is a detergent for washing machines, etc., which is grounded to equipment such as washing machines and supplies detergent, especially powdered detergent, to the detergent receptacle. Regarding the supply device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a detergent supplying device for a washing machine or the like used for supplying such a powder detergent, for example,
There is one shown in Publication No. 18769.
The entire system is installed in a washing machine, and the powder detergent contained and stored in a hopper is discharged and supplied to the washing tub, etc. by a screw driven by a water wheel installed in the water supply line.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In the case of the above-mentioned conventional type, the powdered detergent stored in the hopper tends to stick to the inner surface of the hopper and the screw surface due to moisture, especially when handling water like a washing machine. Due to the high humidity characteristic of equipment, the powdered detergent is more likely to stick to the equipment. However, the only way to remove and clean it is to put your hand inside the hopper and scrape off the powdered detergent stuck to the inside of the hopper and the surface of the screw while the whole thing is still installed in the washing machine, which is extremely difficult. This is a troublesome and difficult task, so there is a problem in that sufficient removal and cleaning cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to easily and thoroughly remove powdered detergent stuck to the inner surface of the hopper and the surface of the detergent dispensing member. To provide an extremely practical detergent supply device for a washing machine, etc., which is sufficiently safe in use.

[Structure of the invention] (Means for solving the problem) The present invention combines a hopper and a detergent dispensing member for dispensing powdered detergent from the hopper, and separates the unit from the drive device that drives the detergent dispensing member. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a switch that is removable from the device and that responds to the attachment and detachment of the unit, so that the motor can be energized only when the unit is attached.

(Function) According to the above means, the unit of the hopper and the detergent dispensing member can be separated from the drive device and removed from the equipment and handled individually, and in that state, they can be cleaned as desired by washing with water or the like. Further, the motor of the drive device cannot be energized unless the unit is installed, and it is possible to avoid energizing the motor in a dangerous state where the unit is not installed.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a detergent supply device for a washing machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

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. A hot pass set opening 9 is formed in the platform part 6 from the left adjacent part of the operating knob 8 to the left end thereof, and a V-shaped cross section is formed below the hot pass set opening 9 as shown in FIG. Both ends form hopper receiving portions 10 that are open as shown in FIG. The hopper receiver 10 accommodates a hopper 11 whose lower part has a V-shaped cross section to match the hopper receiver 10 and whose both sides are obliquely formed through the hopper set 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 with a removable structure that will become clear later.

On the other hand, a lid 15 is pivotally mounted on the upper surface opening of the hopper 11 so that it can be opened and closed by a shaft 16 at the rear end (see Fig. 3), and a projection protruding in the front-rear direction is provided inside the hopper 11. It has a plurality of holes 17 and a large number of protrusions 18 projecting outward from the periphery.
A stirring member 20 having a plurality of stirring members 20 is rotatably supported with a shaft 21 passing between the front and back of the hopper 11, and furthermore, at the lower end of the hopper 11, a stirring member 20 having a plurality of stirrers 20 is rotatably supported from the inside of the hopper 11 to the outer right side in FIG. A detergent delivery part 22 is formed over the cylindrical part that protrudes from the cylindrical part, and an outlet 2 at the tip thereof.
3 faces the detergent receiving portion 25 at the substantially central portion of the upper surface of the receiving plate 24 disposed inside the platform portion 6. The upper surface of the receiving plate 24 also serves as a water supply channel, and as shown in FIG. 5, 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. A water supply valve 27 is disposed on the uppermost rear end portion. or,
A coil 28 serving as a detergent dispensing member is rotatably housed in the detergent dispensing portion 22 over its entire length as shown in FIG.
0 has one of its projections 18 engaged with the coil 28.

On the other hand, a power transmission shaft 2 to which a proximal end of a coil 28 is attached is attached to an end of the detergent delivery section 22 opposite to the outlet 23.
A connector 30 is attached to the end of the transmission shaft 29 opposite to the coil 28 to prevent the coil 28 from coming out.
These are integrated into a unit. Corresponding to the connector 30, a rotating shaft 32 of the motor 31 is provided on the inner surface of the left side of the platform 6 in FIG.
A driving device 34 having transmission pins 33 arranged at right angles is provided at the tip of the transmission pin 33.
is removably engaged with the connector 30, so that the entire unit of the hopper 11 and coil 28 can be separated from the drive device 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, a switch 37 consisting of an upper and lower pair of a movable contact piece 35 and a fixed contact piece 36 is attached to the inner surface of the platform part 6 of the upper cover 3.
An operation receiver 38 attached to the tip of the upper movable contact piece 35 is positioned directly below a hole 39 formed at the lowest part of the hopper receiver 10. Further, from the hole 39, an operating protrusion 40 protrudes from the lowermost part of the hopper 11 when the aforementioned unit is installed, and presses the operating receiver 38 of the switch 37 to bring the movable contact piece 35 into fixed contact. It is in contact with the piece 36. In this state, the switch 37 is in the closed state, and the switch 37 is electrically connected to the sixth switch.
The motor 31 is connected to the power source 41 as shown in the figure.
It is connected in series with the timer 42 and the like.

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 43 into the hopper 11 in this state, and then open the lid 15.
is closed and the powdered detergent 43 is stored in the hopper 11. When the necessary switches on the operation panel 5 are operated to perform washing, the motor 31, which is the drive source of the drive device 34, is energized via the switch 37 in the closed state, prior to the start of washing. , energized motor 3
1 is activated, its rotational force is transmitted from the rotation shaft 32 to the transmission shaft 29 via the engagement structure between the transmission pin 33 and the connector 30, and further transmitted from the transmission shaft 29 to the coil 28. Thus the coil 28
The coil 28 is rotated, particularly in a so-called spiral direction, and the coil 28 rotated in this manner moves while contacting the powdered detergent 43 in the hopper 11, finely dissolving the powdered detergent 43 into the detergent delivery section 22. Proceed inside toward exit 23, and exit from exit 23. The powdered detergent 43 thus dispensed is received by the detergent receiving portion 25 on the receiving plate 24 as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 5 as well as in FIG. It is flushed by water supplied as shown by the arrow B in FIG.

In particular, in the case of this embodiment, the above-mentioned water starts flowing before the powdered detergent 43 falls onto the detergent receiver 25, and continues to flow even after the powdered detergent 43 has finished discharging. Not only is it possible to prevent the powdered detergent 43 from directly adhering to the laundry, thereby preventing its yellowing and staining, but also to prevent the powdered detergent 43 from becoming stuck by flushing it out from the detergent receiver 25 without leaving any residue. I try not to.
Further, regarding the rotation of the motor 31 and the delivery of the powdered detergent 43 by the coil 28, the time length and delivery amount can be adjusted according to the type of the powdered detergent 43 by operating the operating knob 8. There is. 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 coil 28 is driven to rotate as described above, the stirring member 20, which has one of the protrusions 18 engaged with the coil 28, rotates so that the protrusion 18 is sequentially engaged with the coil 28, This agitates the powdered detergent 43 in the hopper 11, loosens it, and allows it to be smoothly introduced into the detergent delivery section 22.

When the need for cleaning arises, in the case of the above-described structure, if the operating piece 13 of the elastic claw part 14 is operated to remove the elastic claw part 14 from the edge of the hot spacing opening 9, the rest is done in the first place. As shown in the figure, by pulling out the elastic claw part 14 from the hopper setting opening 9, and then removing the claw part 12 from the edge of the hopper setting opening 9 and pulling it out, the unit of the hopper 11 and the coil 28 can be removed from the platform part 6 and then by removing the claw part 12 from the edge of the hopper setting opening 9. It can be removed from the washing machine, and the unit can also be separated from the motor 31 by separating the connector 30 from the folding transmission pin 33, so that the hopper 11 and coil 28 can be handled individually and connected to them. Cleaning to remove the stuck powder detergent 43 can be carried out easily and as desired, especially by washing with water, and therefore it can be cleaned thoroughly.
In addition, the unit of hopper 11 and coil 28 is
It is also effective in making it easier to exchange those services. Furthermore, the drive device 3
4, the motor 31, which is its drive source, is left in the platform 6, so water when washing the hopper 11 and the coil 28 does not come into contact with the motor 31, and its electrical insulation properties are reduced. Can be maintained well.

Furthermore, when the unit of the hopper 11 and the coil 28 is removed as described above, in the switch 37, the pressure on the operation receiver 38 by the operation protrusion 40 is released, and the movable contact piece 35 returns to the fixed contact position. The switch 37 is separated from the piece 36 and the switch 37 is opened, thereby causing the motor 31 of the drive device 34 to
Since the motor 31 cannot be energized, it is possible to avoid starting the motor 31 in a dangerous state where the transmission pin 33 and the like can be touched when the above-mentioned unit is removed, making it much safer.

Here, FIGS. 7 and 8 show different embodiments of the present invention, in which springs 44 and 44 are attached to both side edges of the hotspot set opening 9, respectively, in place of the above-mentioned claws 12 and elastic claws 14. Claws 4
5 and 45 are engaged with recesses 46 and 46 provided on both side surfaces of the hopper 11 to hold the hopper 11, and the rotational force from the motor 31 to the detergent delivery member 28 is also transmitted to the rotation shaft 32. A driving gear 47 attached to the transmission shaft 29 and a driven gear 48 attached to the transmission shaft 29
Even in this case, if the claws 45, 45 are operated as shown in FIG. 8 to release the engagement with the recesses 46, 46, the hopper 11 and the coil 28 The hopper 11 can be removed in the same manner as described above, and the driven gear 48 can be disengaged from the drive gear 47 at the same time as described above to separate the unit from the motor 31. Also, the coil 28 can be easily and sufficiently cleaned by washing with water or the like. Further, in this case, the switch 37 responds to the attachment and detachment of the unit in the same manner as described above, thereby achieving the same safety effect as described above.

In addition, the supply of the powder detergent 43 in conjunction with the above-mentioned water supply, the time width control of the water supply, and the powder detergent 4
Regarding the adjustment of the delivery amount according to the type of No. 3, the presence or absence of the stirring member 20, etc., these may be selected and implemented as appropriate. Further, the detergent receiving portion is not limited to the detergent receiving portion 25 on the receiving plate 24, but may be placed inside the washing tub, that is, the powdered detergent 43 may be directly supplied into the washing tub. Further, the detergent dispensing member is not limited to the above-mentioned coil 28, but may be a conventional screw, valve, or the like. 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, particularly in terms of the specific configuration of the switch 37, etc., without departing from the gist. obtain.

[Effects of the invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the invention, the hopper and detergent dispensing member unit can be separated from the drive device, removed from the equipment, and handled independently.
In that state, it can be cleaned as desired by washing with water, etc., so powdered detergent stuck to the inner surface of the hopper and the surface of the detergent dispensing member can be removed and cleaned easily and thoroughly, and moreover, such service replacement etc. It is easy to do this, and it is also possible to maintain good electrical insulation of the motor of the drive device, and the motor of the drive device cannot be energized unless the above unit is installed, and it is possible to maintain good electrical insulation of the motor of the drive device. Since energization can be avoided, there is an excellent effect that sufficient safety in use can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 1 is a vertical front view of the main parts in the middle of removal, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of the washing machine, Figure 3 is a vertical side view of the main parts installed, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional front view of the same part in the same state, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same part at a different cross-sectional position from FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram.
7 and 8 are views corresponding to FIG. 4 and FIG. 1, respectively, showing different embodiments of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a hopper, 12 is a claw part, 13 is an operating piece, 14 is an elastic claw part, 25 is a detergent receiving part, 28 is a coil (detergent dispenser), 30 is a connector, 31 is a motor, and 34 is a drive device , 37 is a switch, 43
45 is a powder detergent, 45 is a claw, 47 is a driving gear, and 48 is a driven gear.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A device that is grounded to equipment such as a washing machine and supplies powdered detergent to its detergent receiver, and includes a hopper that accommodates and stores the powdered detergent, and a hopper that discharges the powdered detergent from the hopper toward the detergent receiver. and a detergent dispensing member as a unit, and a drive device whose driving source is a motor that drives the detergent dispensing member, and the unit is provided separably from the drive device and detachable from the device. 1. A detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like, characterized in that the detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like is provided with a switch that responds to attachment/detachment of the unit so that the motor can be energized only when the unit is attached.