JPH07116384A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance safety for cover open/close operation by forming a cover to open and close an open section for taking in and out a laundry, out of the first cover element and the second cover element jointed to the free end thereof in such state as freely foldable in two, and opening and closing the cover with a drive mechanism. CONSTITUTION:When the motor 22 of a drive mechanism 29 operates and a crank arm 23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, a link 24 pushes the first cover element 11, and this element 11 stands up about a pivotal piece 13 as a shaft. According to this motion, the root section of the second cover element 12 is lifted with the free end 11b of the element 11 and the intermediate section thereof is pushed up with a lever 28. As a result, the free end of the element 12 is moved toward the upper surface of a top plate recess 4, and a cover 10 is kept open with both elements 11 and 12 folded in two. As a result of releasing the cover 10, a switch operation section on the end of the crank arm 23 actuates a switch 27 to detect complete cover open state, thereby stopping the drive mechanism 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine having an opening for loading and unloading laundry with a foldable lid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional washing machine, as shown in FIG. 12 (A), a lid 10 is attached to a base frame 1f of the washing machine.
The base of f is pivotally attached.

[0003]

In such a washing machine, when another device such as a dryer 70 is to be arranged above the washing machine, a space H for opening the lid 10f is provided above the washing machine. However, it is necessary to dispose the device 70 at a very high position with no space left, which inevitably makes it inconvenient to use the upper device 70.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it has been considered that the lid 10f is constructed so as to be folded in two as shown in FIG. 12 (B). With this configuration, when an elderly person or a child opens and closes the lid, there is a problem that a finger is easily caught between the first lid element 11f and the second lid element 12f to be injured. Therefore, the base portion of the first lid element 11f is replaced with the base frame 1f.
It is conceivable that the drive mechanism provided in the rotatably configured. However, if the first lid element 11f is to be tilted to close the lid 10f as it is, the free end 12bf of the second lid element 12f becomes the base frame upper surface 7 as shown in FIG.
Since the lid cannot be closed by contacting with 1, the both edges of the free end of the second lid element 12f should be guided by rails 72 arranged on both sides of the base frame in order to smoothly open and close. It has to be configured. Then, the arrangement of the rail 72 complicates the structure, resulting in high cost, and lint and the like tend to accumulate on the rail 72, which causes a problem of inducing a failure unless cleaning is performed frequently.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems (technical problems) of the prior art. The lid has a double-fold structure so that the height when opened is reduced, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine in which the free end of the second lid element smoothly moves back and forth during the opening / closing operation without providing a rail on the upper surface of the base frame.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the washing machine according to the present invention has a lid which can be opened and closed in an opening formed on the upper surface of a base frame of the washing machine for loading and unloading laundry. In the washing machine equipped with
From a first lid element whose base portion is pivotally attached to the base frame so that it can be undulated with respect to the base frame, and a second lid element foldably connected to the free end of the first lid element. The drive mechanism provided in the base frame is connected to the first lid element or the second lid element, and the free end of the first lid element causes the free end of the second lid element to be connected when the lid is opened and closed. The second lid element is moved back and forth by lifting so as not to contact the upper surface of the base frame.

[0007]

[Operation] When the drive mechanism operates with the lid closed,
The first lid element rises with its base as a fulcrum. The base of the second lid element is lifted by the free end of the first lid element to be folded in half with respect to the first lid element, and the free end of the second lid element is lifted from the upper surface of the base frame. To move backwards. As a result, the opening on the upper surface of the base frame is opened. When the drive mechanism is activated in the open state of the lid, the first lid element tilts in the opposite direction to the above, and the second lid element also moves in the opposite direction to close the opening.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6, reference numeral 1 is a base frame, which serves as an outer box of a washing machine and holds various internal mechanisms and members, and 2 is a case main body which is a side wall of the base frame. Reference numerals 3 respectively denote top plates constituting the upper wall. Reference numeral 4 denotes a recess for burying the lid provided in the top plate 3, 5 denotes a side wall thereof, and 6 denotes an opening for taking in and out laundry. Reference numeral 7 denotes a mounting plate on the base frame, which is a portion for mounting a drive mechanism and other members described later, and is formed integrally with the top plate 3, for example. Reference numeral 8 is a tub for putting the laundry provided therein, and the washing / dehydrating tub in the washing / dehydrating tub in a fully automatic washing machine, a washing tub or a dewatering tub in a two-tub type washing machine is exemplified. Next, 10 shows a lid for closing the opening 6. Reference numeral 11 is a first lid element in the lid, and a base portion 11a is pivotally attached to the base frame 1 so as to be capable of undulating with respect to the upper surface of the base frame 1. For example, it is rotatably attached to a pivot piece 13 integrally provided on the side wall 5. Reference numeral 14 is a holding piece for holding the first lid element 11 at a constant height position when the lid is closed, and is adapted to abut the upper surface of the recess 4, for example. Reference numeral 12 is a second lid element, and the base portion 12a is foldably connected to the free end 11b of the first lid element 11. For example, the free end 11b is hinged with a hinge portion 15. Reference numeral 16 is a holding piece provided for the second lid element 12 and has the same purpose as the holding piece 14.

Next, 20 is a drive mechanism for opening and closing the lid,
For example, a link push-pull type drive mechanism is shown. Reference numeral 21 is a substrate of the drive mechanism 20, reference numeral 22 is a motor attached to the substrate 21, and for example, a geared motor is used from the viewpoint of obtaining a driving force and an operation speed suitable for opening and closing the lid. Reference numeral 23 is a crank arm attached to the rotating shaft 22a of the motor 22, and 24 is the first lid element 11
One end 24a is pivotally attached to the tip end of the crank arm 23, and the other end 24b is pivotally attached to the side wall of the first lid element 11 between the base 11a and the free end 11b. is there. 25 is a switch operation piece, for example, a crank arm
It consists of a part of the tip of 23. 26 is a lid closing completion detection switch, 27 is an opening completion detection switch, and each uses a micro switch for high reliability.
Reference numerals a and 27a indicate respective actuators. Next is 28 second
A lever for lifting the lid element is shown, and one end 28a is pivotally attached to the base frame 1, for example, a pin 29 on the side wall 5,
The other end 28b is pivotally attached to the second lid element 12, for example, a pin 30 fixed to the second lid element 12 is fitted with a long hole 31 provided in the other end 28b. The pivotal positions of the one end 28a and the other end 28b and the length of the lever 28 are selected so that the second lid element 12 moves back and forth in the state shown in FIG. 7 as the first lid element 11 opens and closes. next
33 is an operation switch mechanism for instructing the opening / closing operation of the lid, 34 is a switch, 34a is its actuator, 35 is a pushing piece for pushing the actuator 34a, and 36
Indicates an operating body for manual operation, for example, a button for pressing operation, and by pressing the button 36, the switch 34 is operated, for example, closed.

Next, FIG. 8 showing the circuit configuration of the washing machine will be described. This circuit allows the drive mechanism 20 to interchangeably perform an operation for opening the lid 10 and an operation for closing the lid 10 by simply operating the one switch 34 in the same manner.
The operation of the washing machine can be performed only when the lid 10 is completely closed. In the figure, 40 is a power supply fuse, 41, 42 and 43 are first, second and third control relays, respectively, which are well-known and the reference numeral with the suffix a indicates each coil. Reference numerals with b to e indicate respective switches, respectively. A washing machine control device 44 controls a washing motor, a water supply valve, a drain valve, and the like in the washing machine.

The opening / closing operation of the lid 10 by the drive mechanism 20 having the above structure will be described. Motor 22 from the state of FIG.
Is activated and the crank arm 23 rotates in the direction of arrow 51,
The link 24 pushes the first lid element 11, which is the pivot piece
Around 13 is raised as shown by arrows 52 to 55 in FIG. This movement of the first lid element 11 causes the base portion 12a of the second lid element 12 to be lifted by the free end 11b of the first lid element 11 and the intermediate portion to be pushed up by the lever 28. As a result, as indicated by reference numerals 56 to 59, the second lid element 12 is rearward (right in the figure) in a state where the free end 12b thereof is lifted so as not to contact the upper surface of the base frame, for example, the upper surface 4a of the top plate recess 4. Towards)). In this way, the lid 10 is brought into the open state as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and the switch operation portion 25 operates the opening completion detection switch 27 to drive the drive mechanism.
20 is stopped by electric control as described later.

In the opened state, laundry is put in and taken out through the opening 6. In this case, since the first lid element 11 is connected to the drive mechanism 20, it is fixedly held in the open state,
Further, since the second lid element 12 connected to it is held by the lever 28, the second lid element 12 is held obliquely and stably without wobbling as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the laundry to be thrown over the opening 6 hits the second lid element 12, the laundry can be guided by the surface of the second lid element 12 and directed toward the opening 6.

When the motor 22 is operated from the state of FIG. 3 and the crank arm 23 rotates in the direction of arrow 60, the link 24 pulls the first lid element 11, and the first lid element 11 is indicated by arrows 52 to 55 in FIG. Is knocked down in the opposite direction. Due to this movement of the first lid element 11, the base portion 12a of the second lid element 12 has a free end 11b of the first lid element 11.
Since the free end 12b is lifted up so as not to contact the upper surface 4a of the top plate recess 4 because the intermediate portion is lifted up by the lever 28, the direction indicated by reference numerals 56 to 59. On the contrary, it is moved forward. In this way, the lid 10 is brought into the closed state as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the switch operation portion 25 operates the closing completion detecting switch 26, and the drive mechanism 20 is stopped by the electric control as described later.

Next, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on (E). It should be noted that the circuits shown by thick solid lines in FIGS. 8 and 9 are circuits in which power is supplied. When the lid 10 is closed, the circuit is in the state shown in FIG. 8, and the washing machine control device 44 can be energized. When the button 36 is pressed to open the lid 10 and the switch 34 is closed,
The energization circuit is as shown in FIG. 9A, and the operation of the second relay 42 energizes the motor 22 and disconnects the energization of the washing machine controller 44. After that, the second relay 42 is in the self-holding state as shown in (B), and the motor 22 is continuously energized. At this time, the closing completion detection switch 26 is switched as shown in the figure. When the lid 10 is in the opening completion state, the opening completion detection switch 27 opens as shown in (C), the second relay 42 recovers, and the power supply to the motor 22 is stopped. In this case, the power supply to the washing machine control device 44 is also cut off.

A switch 34 is provided to close the open lid 10.
When is closed again, the circuit becomes as shown in (D), and the operation of the third relay 43 energizes the motor 22. After that, as shown in (E), the third relay 43 is in the self-holding state, the power supply to the motor 22 is continued, and in the process, the opening completion detection switch 27 is closed as shown in the figure. When the lid 10 is completely closed soon, the closing completion detection switch 26
Is switched as shown in FIG. 8, the third relay 43 is restored, and the power supply to the motor 22 is stopped. Also, the washing machine control device 44 is ready to be energized again.

Next, FIGS. 10 and 11 showing different examples of the drive mechanism for opening and closing the lid will be described. This drive mechanism 45
Indicates an arm rotation type drive mechanism, and the second cover element 12 is driven by the drive arm 63. In the figure, 46 is a case, 47 is a drive motor, and for example, a geared motor is used for the same purpose as described above. 48 is a motor
A crank attached to the drive shaft 47a of 47, a rack 49 that can be moved back and forth, and a connecting member 50 for transmitting the driving force of the crank 48 to the rack 49, and a drive piece 48a of the crank 48 in the fitting hole 50a.
Are fitted. Reference numeral 61 is a drive shaft, and an integrally attached gear 62 is meshed with the rack 49 so as to rotate by the forward and backward movement of the rack 49. The drive arm 63 has its base portion fixed to the drive shaft 61, and its tip end portion pivotally attached to the side wall of the second lid element 12 between the base portion 12a and the free end 12b. Reference numerals 64 and 65 are a closing completion detecting switch and an opening completion detecting switch for the same purpose as described above, respectively.

In such a structure, the motor
When the rack 49 advances and retreats due to the rotation of 47, the drive arm 63 performs a rotation operation to apply a driving force to the second lid element 12, thereby making the first lid element 11 and the second lid element 12 different from those in the above-described embodiment. Do the same. In addition, the parts which are considered to have the same or equivalent configurations as those in the previous figure in terms of function are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the previous figure, and redundant description is omitted.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lid 10
Is divided into a first lid element 11 and a second lid element 12 in the front-rear direction and can be folded in two, so that the height of the upper end of the lid 10 can be made very low when the lid 10 is open. effective.

Moreover, opening and closing of the lid 10 can be performed only by controlling the drive mechanisms 20, 45, for example, by operating the button of the switch 34, and the first lid element 11 and the second lid element 12 are folded in two and are complicated. Since it is not necessary to reach out to the lid 10 that makes various movements, there is an effect that even an elderly person or a child can safely open and close it.

Furthermore, the drive mechanism 20, 45 is connected to the first lid element 11 or the second lid element 12 so that the free end 12b of the second lid element 12 can be moved in a hanging manner. 12 smooth opening and closing operations can be performed without the need to install a guide rail as in the conventional case, and there is an effect that the upper surface of the base frame of the washing machine can be cleaned.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view with a lid open.

4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the opening / closing operation of the lid.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram.

9A to 9E are explanatory diagrams of circuit operation.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment.

11 is a horizontal sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 12A is a side view showing a state of use of a conventional washing machine, and FIG. 12B is a side view showing a state of use of a washing machine having a folding lid.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing an operation state when only the first lid element is rotated, and FIG. 13B is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example in which the second lid element is guided by a rail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base Frame 6 Opening 10 Lid 11 1st Lid Element 12 2nd Lid Element 20 Link Push-pull Drive Mechanism 28 Lever 45 Arm Rotation Drive Mechanism

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A washing machine having a base frame of a washing machine, wherein an opening formed in an upper surface of the base frame for loading and unloading laundry is provided with a lid that can be opened and closed. And a second lid element that is foldably connected to the free end of the first lid element. The first lid element includes: Alternatively, a drive mechanism provided on the base frame is connected to the second lid element so that the second end can be held by the free end of the first lid element when the lid is opened and closed.
A washing machine characterized in that the lid element is lifted so that its free end does not come into contact with the upper surface of the base frame and the second lid element is moved back and forth. 2. A washing machine having a base frame of a washing machine, wherein an opening formed in the upper surface of the base frame for loading and unloading laundry is provided with a lid that can be opened and closed. A link push-pull type drive mechanism provided on the second lid element, and the other end of a lever, one end of which is pivotally attached to the base frame, is pivotally attached to the second lid element so that the free end of the second lid element is A washing machine characterized in that the second lid element is moved back and forth by lifting so as not to contact the upper surface. 3. A washing machine having a base frame of a washing machine, wherein a lid is openably and closably provided in an opening formed on an upper surface of the base frame for loading and unloading laundry, and the second lid element is provided with a base frame. In order to move the second lid element back and forth by connecting the drive arm in the arm rotation type drive mechanism and lifting the second lid element so that its free end does not contact the upper surface of the base frame when the lid is opened and closed. A washing machine characterized by the above.