JPH07100110B2 - Detergent supply device for washing machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like for supplying a detergent, particularly a powder detergent, to a detergent receiver of a washing machine or the like.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a detergent supply device such as a washing machine used for supplying this kind of powder detergent, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 54-43827, the detergent is stored and stored in a hopper as a detergent storage section. There is a method in which a certain amount of powdered detergent is dispensed, stored once, and then delivered. However, with this one,
While there is a situation that water and moisture, which are peculiar to equipment that handles water, such as washing machines, tends to harden before the powder detergent is supplied, it has become effective to eliminate it. Therefore, there is a problem that the detergent is frequently clogged and smooth and reliable supply cannot be performed.

On the other hand, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-18769, there is a method in which the powder detergent contained and stored in the hopper is delivered by the rotation of a screw-shaped delivery member. According to this, it is possible to rub the powdery detergent, which is easily hardened as described above, by rubbing it by the screw-shaped delivery member and finely supply it, and thus it is possible to supply it more smoothly and surely and more smoothly than the above. However, even with this product, a considerably large amount of detergent still adheres to the surface of the screw-shaped delivery member, and it cannot be sufficiently and reliably supplied. In addition, the powdered detergent that has solidified may be supplied as long as it is a little solid, but the screw-shaped delivery member makes it easy for even the powdered detergent that is a lump of multiple generations to be clogged, and the supply thereof is sufficient. It could not be done. Further, the screw-shaped delivery member is difficult to clean, and in particular, the detergent is liable to remain attached to every corner, which further causes the subsequent deposition and attachment of the detergent.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, none of the conventional ones can supply the powder detergent sufficiently smoothly and reliably, and further, it is difficult to clean the powder detergent and the residue of the powder detergent remains. It also had a problem that it easily occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and therefore an object thereof is to be able to deliver a powder detergent from a detergent storage portion smoothly and reliably, and to easily and sufficiently clean a delivery member. Further, it is to provide an excellent detergent supply device such as a washing machine capable of smoothly delivering even a powdered detergent which is hardened inside the detergent delivery member.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) A detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like according to the present invention includes a detergent delivery section provided at a lower end portion of a detergent storage section for accommodating and storing a powder detergent. A detergent delivery member having a shape is accommodated and arranged, and the detergent delivery member having a coil shape is rotationally driven by a drive device to deliver the powder detergent from the detergent storage section through the detergent delivery section. The detergent delivery member is characterized in that the detergent delivery member is formed to have a diameter that increases continuously or stepwise toward the outlet portion of the detergent delivery section.

(Operation) According to the above means, the detergent delivery member is configured to have a coil shape, and the powder detergent in the hopper is delivered while being finely divided,
Further, the contact area with the powder detergent can be reduced, and if the powder detergent solidified in the detergent storage portion is smaller than the coil gap dimension of the detergent delivery member, the interior of the detergent delivery member is It can be rolled up and delivered, and at the same time, powder detergent does not remain in every corner of the delivery member, and it can be easily cleaned by passing water inside it. The powdered detergent that has hardened in the detergent delivery section can also be separated from the detergent delivery section, and the interior can be smoothly advanced toward the outlet section of the detergent delivery section and delivered.

(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 5.

First of all, the washing machine main body 1 shown in FIG.
The upper cover 3 is attached to the upper cover 3, and a lid 4 is pivotally mounted on the upper cover 3 so that the lid 4 can be opened and closed.
The operation panel 5 is provided at the front front edge portion, and the trapezoidal portion 6 is provided at the rear edge portion. An operation knob 7 for setting the water level is provided at the end portion on the right side in the figure of the trapezoidal portion 6, and an operation knob 8 for setting the detergent amount is provided at the adjacent portion on the left side thereof. And the trapezoid 6
In addition, a hopper set opening 9 is formed from the portion adjacent to the left side of the operation knob 8 to the left end, and the hopper set opening 9 is connected to the hopper set opening 9 and has a V-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. A hopper receiving portion 10 whose end is open as shown in FIG. 1 is formed.

The hopper receiving portion 10 accommodates a hopper 11 which is a detergent storing portion whose lower portion is formed in a V-shaped cross section in conformity with the hopper receiving portion 10 and whose both side surfaces are also inclined through a hopper set opening 9. At the same time, the claw portion 12 formed on the left side portion in FIG. 1 of the hopper 11 is engaged with the left side edge portion of the hopper set opening 9, and the elastic claw portion 14 having the operation protrusion 13 formed on the right side portion is set in the hopper. The right side edge of the mouth 9 is elastically engaged to prevent the hopper 11 from falling off. On the other hand, a lid 15 is pivotally installed at the upper opening of the hopper 11 so that it can be opened and closed by a rear end shaft 16 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). An agitating member 20 having a plurality of protruding portions 17 and a plurality of protruding portions 18 protruding to the outside of the periphery and further having a plurality of holes 19 is rotatably supported by a shaft 21 placed in front of and behind the hopper 11. In addition, at the lower end of the hopper 11, the hopper is
A detergent delivery portion 22 is formed from inside 11 to a tubular portion that protrudes outwardly on the right side in FIG. 1, and an outlet 23 at the tip of the detergent delivery portion 22 is located in the upper surface of a receiving plate 24 disposed inside the platform portion 6. However, it faces the detergent receiving part 25 in the substantially central part. The upper surface of the receiving plate 24 also serves as a water supply channel, and is provided so as to gradually descend and incline toward the supply port 26 at the end facing the washing tub (not shown) in the outer box 2 as shown in FIG. A water supply valve 27 is provided on the uppermost rear end.

A detergent delivery member 28 in the form of a coil is rotatably accommodated in the detergent delivery section 22 over its entire length as shown in FIG. One is engaged with the detergent delivery member 28. Here, the detergent delivery member 28 is directed toward the outlet 23 portion of the detergent delivery section 22 (on the right side in both of FIGS. 1 and 5) as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The diameter is continuously increased, and the hopper receiving portion 10 and the detergent delivery portion 22 are also formed so as to continuously increase in diameter toward the outlet 23. Thus, the outlet of the detergent delivery member 28
A transmission shaft 29 is attached to an end opposite to the 23 side, and the transmission shaft 29 is inserted into a portion of the detergent delivery section 22 opposite to the outlet 23, and a connector is provided at the protruding end thereof. Wearing 30. A motor 31, which is a driving device, is attached to the inner surface of the left side in FIG. 1 of the trapezoidal portion 6 corresponding to the connector 30, and a transmission pin provided at the tip of the rotary shaft 32 in a right-angled cross shape. 33 is detachably engaged with the connector 30.

Now, in the case of the one configured as described above, in use, first, the lid 15 of the hopper 11 is opened as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 3, and the powder detergent 34 is put in the hopper 11 in this state, and then, With the lid 15 closed, the powder detergent 34 is placed in the hopper 11.
It is stored inside. Then, when a necessary switch on the operation panel 5 is operated to perform washing, the motor 31 is energized prior to the start of washing, and the energized motor 31 is activated, so that its rotational force is transmitted from the rotary shaft 32. It is transmitted to the transmission shaft 29 through the engagement structure of the pin 33 and the connector 30, and further transmitted from the transmission shaft 29 to the detergent delivery member 28. Thus, the detergent delivery member 28 is rotationally driven especially in the so-called screwing direction, and the detergent delivery member 28 thus rotationally driven moves while contacting with the powder detergent 34 in the hopper 11, thereby While making the detergent 34 finer and rolling it in the central cavity having the coil shape, the detergent delivery portion 22 is advanced toward the outlet 23, and from the outlet 23, the detergent is discharged. Put out as indicated by arrow A in the figure. The powdered detergent 34 thus discharged is received by the detergent receiving portion 25 on the receiving plate 24, and is supplied through the water supply valve 27 in the detergent receiving portion 25 as shown by an arrow B in FIG. It is made to flow by water, and is supplied from the supply port 26 into the washing layer (not shown) together with the water. When the detergent delivery member 28 is rotationally driven as described above, the stirring member 20 having one of the protrusions 18 engaged with the detergent delivery member 28 engages the protrusion 18 with the detergent delivery member 28 in sequence. As a result, the powder detergent 34 in the hopper 11 is stirred and
If there are 34 lumps, they can be loosened and smoothly introduced into the detergent delivery section 22.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the powder detergent 34 contained and stored in the hopper 11 can be delivered by the rotation of the detergent delivery member 28 having a coil shape.
The powder detergent 34 can be delivered while being finely divided by contact with 28, and in particular, when the detergent delivery member 28 has a coil shape having a hollow portion in the center, a flat plate is spirally formed around the shaft. The contact area with the powder detergent 34 is extremely smaller than that of the conventional delivery member in the form of a screw wound around, and therefore the amount of the powder detergent 34 adhering to the surface thereof is also very small and none. If the powder detergent 34 is not clogged, the supply can be performed smoothly and surely. Further, since the detergent delivery member 28 has a coil shape, the detergent can freely roll inside the hollow portion formed in the center thereof, and therefore even if it is a little clump, the detergent delivery member 28 can be screwed. It can be delivered like a conveyor by the action. On the other hand, in the case of the conventional screw-shaped delivery member of the type in which the private room-shaped space whose entire periphery is surrounded by the wall moves, the solidified powder detergent is difficult to roll and easily clogs. In addition, the detergent delivery member 28
Since the contact area with the powder detergent 34 is small as described above, although the output of the powder detergent 34 based on this contact is smaller than that of the conventional screw-shaped delivery member, it is possible to increase the rotation speed of the delivery member 28. It can be easily and sufficiently supplemented, and in addition, since the output power is small, basically it is possible to supply small amounts in a scattered manner and avoid supplying a large amount at one time, so supply well And its dissolution can be more rapid and more uniform. Further in this case,
Since the above-mentioned sporadic supply form is adopted, even fine adjustment of the delivery amount can be desired. Further, cleaning of the detergent delivery member 28 can be easily performed because the powder detergent 34 does not remain attached to every corner as compared with the conventional screw-shaped delivery member, and the detergent delivery member 28 having a coil shape can be easily cleaned. You can pass water through the inside of the so that you can clean it thoroughly. Therefore, again, a new powder detergent due to the remaining residue
The problem of deposits of 34 does not occur.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the detergent delivery member 28
Since the coil is formed in a coil shape so as to have a diameter that continuously increases toward the outlet 23 of the detergent delivery section 22, for example, the powder detergent 34 within the detergent delivery member 28 when not used for a long time. Even when the liquid has hardened, the hardened powdered detergent 34
It is possible to improve the separation of the detergent delivery member 28 in the direction of the outlet 23 of the detergent delivery member 28, and it is possible to smooth the delivery, so that clogging of the powder detergent 34 can be prevented more reliably.

Further, in this case, at the base of the detergent delivery member 28, the diameter of the detergent delivery member 28 is reduced contrary to the above, and a space is provided between the detergent delivery member 22 and the inner surface of the portion on the side opposite to the outlet 23. This also has the effect of preventing clogging of the powder detergent 34 there.

FIG. 6 shows a different embodiment of the present invention. Instead of the detergent delivery member 28, the outlet 23 of the detergent delivery section 22 is shown.
It shows a detergent delivery member 35 formed so as to gradually increase in diameter toward a portion (right side in the figure). Even if such a detergent delivery member 35 is used, the powder detergent solidified inside thereof is shown.
It is possible to obtain the same effect as the above in sending 34. In this case, the detergent delivery member 35 may have a large diameter not only in one step but in several steps or multiple steps.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the agitating member 20 may be provided only with one that requires it, and The drive device that rotationally drives the detergent delivery member 28 is not limited to the motor 31, and may be, for example, a water turbine that operates in the water supply passage. Further, the detergent receiving portion is not limited to the detergent receiving portion 25 on the receiving plate 24, and may be in the washing tub, that is,
The powder detergent 34 may be directly supplied into the washing tub. And, as a whole, the present invention is not limited to the washing machine, but can be similarly applied to all the devices that function using the powder detergent such as the dishwasher.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, a detergent delivery member having a coil shape is provided in the detergent delivery section provided at the lower end of the detergent storage section for storing and storing the powder detergent. The detergent delivery member having the coiled shape is housed and rotatably driven by the drive device to deliver the powder detergent from the detergent storage section through the detergent delivery section. It is possible to supply a powder detergent that is easy to harden due to water and moisture, which is peculiar to the equipment that handles the product, smoothly and reliably, and even if it is a little hard, it can be supplied as it is, and at the same time, the delivery member can be easily and sufficiently cleaned. Since the detergent delivery member is formed to have a diameter that increases continuously or stepwise toward the outlet portion of the detergent delivery portion, a powder detergent solidified inside the detergent delivery member is used. It has an excellent effect that it can be delivered smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view of a main portion, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a washing machine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view, FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of the same portion at different sectional positions, FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the detergent delivery member alone, and FIG. 6 shows a different embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. In the figure, 11 is a hopper (detergent storage section), 22 is a detergent delivery section, and 23
Is an outlet, 25 is a detergent receiving portion, 28 is a detergent delivery member, 31 is a motor (driving device), 34 is powder detergent, and 35 is a detergent delivery member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detergent storage unit for supplying a powder detergent to the inside of a washing machine or the like, and a detergent storage unit for storing and storing the powder detergent, and a detergent delivery unit provided at a lower end portion of the detergent storage unit. A detergent delivery member in the form of a coil that is rotatably accommodated in the detergent delivery section, and a drive device that is provided to rotate the detergent delivery member. A detergent supply device for a washing machine or the like, which is formed so as to have a diameter that increases continuously or stepwise toward the outlet portion of the detergent delivery section.