JPH07227492A - Washing machine used also as dehydrator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly dehydrate the laundry without being interrupted by the laundry by securing the rising passage of dehydrated water between the outer peripheral face of an inner basket and the inner peripheral face of a washing vessel by arranging the inner basket, in which a lot of water holes are formed on surrounding walls, near the inner peripheral face of the washing vessel. CONSTITUTION:A tub 2 is arranged inside an outer cabinet 1 and elastically supported by plural hanging mechanisms 3, and a vessel 8 for washing and dehydrating is arranged inside the tub 2. This vessel 8 is tapered so as to gradually enlarge its diameter from the lower part to the upper part and as opening parts for dehydration, a lot of holes 9 are laterally formed in a line at the upper end part. Inside a vessel 8, an inner basket 21 formed with a lot of water holes 22 on the surrounding wall is arranged closely to the inner peripheral face of the vessel 8 so as to form a clearance part 23 between the basket and the inner peripheral face of the vessel 8 and dehydration is made smooth. Further, as an operation course, a vessel washing course is added to a washing course including washing and dehydrating operations and in the vessel washing course, a stirring body 33 is driven for a period longer than the usual washing course.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water-saving type washing machine for combined use of dehydration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a washing machine for combined use of dehydration,
A water-saving type tank is provided. In this case, the tank has an opening for dehydration only in the upper part, and water is stored only inside the tank and is not stored outside, and washing is performed, and then the tank is rotated to pump water. The dehydration opening is used for dehydration.

In this case, in order to increase the dehydration rate, the tank is formed in a taper shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the lower part to the upper part to improve the pumping performance. However, when the laundry is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the tub by the centrifugal force caused by rotating the tub during the dehydration, the passage of water rising up the inner peripheral surface of the tub is blocked, and the dehydration is not performed efficiently. It was

As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to dispose an inner basket having a large number of water passage holes formed on its peripheral wall in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of this tank. In this case, the inner basket secures an ascending passage for dehydration between the inner basket and the outer peripheral surface of the tub, which enables smooth dehydration without being obstructed by the laundry.

[0005]

On the other hand, in the washing machine for combined use of dehydration, there is known a washing machine including a washing course including a washing operation and a dewatering operation as well as a washing course for washing the washing tank itself. ing. In this case, a special detergent is put into a tank together with water, and a stirring member is rotationally driven to form a water flow of tank cleaning water in the tank so that the tank is cleaned.

[0006] Here, in the case of performing the washing of the tub in the washing machine for dehydration having the above-mentioned measures for dehydration, since the ascending passage between the outer peripheral surface of the inner basket and the inner peripheral surface of the tub is narrow, There is concern that the cleaning effect on the peripheral surface and the peripheral surface of the inner basket may not be improved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to dispose an inner basket having a large number of water passage holes formed in its peripheral wall in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of this tank. Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine for combined use of dehydration, which is capable of improving the dehydration rate and satisfactorily cleaning between the tub and the inner basket.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The first means is to form a tank having a dehydration opening only in the upper part and a large number of water passage holes formed in the peripheral wall in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the tank. In addition to an inner basket and an agitator provided inside the tub, which is intermittently driven to rotate by repeated driving and stopping, the operating course includes a washing course and a dewatering operation. A course is provided, and the driving time of the stirring body in this tank cleaning course is set longer than the driving time of the stirring body during the washing operation in the washing course (the invention of claim 1).

The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the water supply level in the tank cleaning course is set to be one step lower than the highest water level of the plurality of water supply levels set in the washing course. Invention of Item 2). Third
This means is characterized in that, in the first means, the agitator is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction in the tank cleaning course (the invention of claim 3). The fourth means is characterized in that the tank is rotated intermittently in the tank cleaning course in the presence of water in the tank (invention of claim 4).

[0010]

In the first means, the inner basket having a large number of water passage holes formed on the peripheral wall is disposed close to the inner peripheral surface of the tank, so that the outer peripheral surface of the inner basket and the inner peripheral surface of the tank are separated from each other. An ascending passage for dehydration is ensured between them, and it is possible to smoothly dehydrate without being obstructed by the laundry. Also, by setting the drive time of the agitator in the tub cleaning course to be longer than the drive time of the agitator in the washing operation in the washing course, the water flow formed in the tub (water flow of the tub cleaning water) It is stronger than the current water flow, and therefore, the water flow becomes a mortar-like shape in which the circumference rises even higher, and the tank cleaning water spreads from the bottom to the top between the inner basket and the tank. When the drive of the agitator is stopped, the water level of the tank cleaning water between the inner basket and the tank lowers. Therefore, the intermittent drive of the agitator causes the water level of the tank cleaning water between the inner basket and the tank to rise and fall. That is, the outer surface of the inner basket and the inner surface of the tank are well cleaned by the tank cleaning water reaching the upper part of the tank between the inner basket and the tank, and the vertical change of the tank cleaning water. To be done.

In the second means, the water supply level in the tank cleaning course is set to be one step lower than the highest water level of the plurality of water supply levels set in the washing course, so that a sufficient tank cleaning effect can be obtained. However, the amount of water used can be suppressed. That is, as described above, in the tank cleaning course, the water flow becomes stronger than that in the washing operation, so that even if the amount of water is smaller than that in the washing operation, the water flow has a mortar shape enough to reach the upper portion of the tank. As a result, a sufficient tank cleaning effect can be obtained with a small amount of water.

In the third means, the agitator is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction in the tank cleaning course, so that the foaming of the tank cleaning water is suppressed. That is, when the agitator is driven to rotate intermittently in one direction and in the opposite direction, the water splash may be large and the bubbling of the bath cleaning water may be large, but the agitator is intermittently driven in one direction. In the case of being rotationally driven, the problem is reduced.

In the fourth means, the tank is rotated intermittently in the tank cleaning course in the presence of water in the tank, so that a good water flow is formed between the inner basket and the tank.
The tank cleaning effect is improved.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 2 shows the entire structure of the washing machine for combined use of dehydration, in which a trough 2 is arranged in an outer box 1 and elastically supported by a plurality of (only one is shown) suspension mechanisms 3. Tub 2
A drive mechanism 5 having a motor 4 as a main component is disposed at the outer lower part of the water tank. The dehydration shaft 6 of the drive mechanism 5 is projected into the bottom of the trough 2 and the tank mounting plate 7 is fixed to the upper end thereof. is doing.

A tank 8 is provided in the trough 2, and the tank 8 is made of plastic and has a taper shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the lower part to the upper part, and the upper end part thereof is formed. Specifically, a large number of holes 9 which are openings for dehydration shown in FIG. 3 are formed in a horizontal row. Further, a drainage port 10 is formed at the center of the bottom of the tank 8, and the drainage port 10 is aligned with the water passage holes 11 formed in the center of the tank mounting board 7 to fit the tank mounting board. The bath 8 is placed on the base 7, and they are fixed thereto by a plurality of screws 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water hole 11 of the tank mounting board 7 is provided with an air trap 16 for detecting the water level of the trough 2 via a seal fitting 13, a seal 14, and a conduction cover 15.
Is communicated with the first drain port 17 adjacent to
The first drain port 17 and the air trap 16 are in communication with a drain hose 19 via a drain valve 18 shown in FIG. In addition, a second drain port 20 that directly communicates with the drain hose 19 (omitted) is formed in the trough 2 outside the conduction cover 15 (on the left side in FIG. 2).

An inner basket 21 is provided in the tank 8 for them. The inner basket 21 is made of a metal, and by rolling a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate and crimping and joining both ends thereof, the same diameter is provided from the lower end to the upper end, or the diameter at the upper end is smaller than that at the lower end. It is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a large number of water passage holes 22 are formed in its peripheral wall. Many water passage holes 22 are formed in the lower portion of the tank 8 and are formed by squeezing out from the inside to the outside, respectively.

With this structure, the inner basket 21 is further close to the inner peripheral surface of the tank 8 as shown in FIG. 3, and a void portion 23 is formed between the inner basket 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the tank 8. . The upper end of the inner basket 21 is fixed to the tank 8 by fixing it with a balance ring 24 at a portion directly above the hole 9 of the tank 8 by a screw 25, and the lower end of the inner basket 21 is attached to the tank mounting plate 7 at the bottom of the tank 8. Inner boss 27 formed coaxially with fixed outer boss 26
It is also fixed to the tank 8 by fixing it to the tank 8 at the same time, and is also connected to the tank mounting board 7 at the same time.

In addition, the inner basket 2 extends from the lower end of the inner basket 21 to the drainage port 10 of the tank 8.
A bottom cover 29, which is separate from 1, is made of, for example, plastic. This bottom cover 31 has a plurality of screws 3 attached to the tank 8.
It is fixed by 0, and has a space 31 between the bottom of the tank 8 and the space 31 between the inner basket 21 and the drain of the tank 8. Tank 8
It is connected to the drainage port 10 of. Here, the washing shaft 32, which is rotated at the time of washing, projects from the spin-drying shaft 6 into the bottom of the tub 8, and the agitator 33 is fixed to the upper end of the washing shaft 32.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical configuration, and the control circuit 34 as a control means is configured to include a microcomputer and each A / D converter and the like. A switch input is provided from a switch input unit 35 having various switches provided, and a water level detection signal is provided from a water level sensor 36 which detects the water level in the tank 8 based on the air pressure in the air trap 16. It is like this. This control circuit 34
In addition to the above-mentioned motor 4, the equipment controlled by
There is a hoisting motor 37, a water supply valve 38 provided inside the upper cover 1a (see FIG. 2), a display unit 39 and a buzzer 40 both provided on the operation panel, and the motor 4, the drain valve 18, and the hoisting motor. The drive circuit 37 is controlled by a drive circuit 41. The switch input section 35 includes a switch for designating a washing course, a switch for designating a tub cleaning course, and the like.

When the hoisting motor 37 is not driven (hereinafter, this is called a washing mode), the driving mechanism 5 controls so that the rotational force of the motor 4 can be decelerated and transmitted to the stirring body 33. At the same time, the drain valve 18 is kept closed, and when the hoisting motor 37 is driven (hereinafter, this is referred to as a dehydration mode), it is transmitted to both the tank 8 and the agitator 33 without deceleration (still at high speed). The drain valve 18 is controlled to be opened and the drain valve 18 is opened.

The control circuit 34 controls the above-mentioned equipment in accordance with an operation program stored in the microcomputer. The operation course includes a washing course including a washing operation and a dehydration operation, the tub 8 and the inner basket 21. There is a tank cleaning course for cleaning etc. now,
FIG. 5 shows an example of the washing course, which includes a washing operation, a draining operation, an intermediate dewatering operation, a dewatering rinsing operation, a rinsing operation, a draining operation, and a final dewatering operation. In the above washing operation, a plurality of water levels such as "high water level", "medium water level", "low water level" and "small water level" are set in advance as the water supply level, and the water level is set alternatively by the user or automatically. It is supposed to be done. In this washing operation, the motor 4 is intermittently turned on / off in the forward and reverse directions to intermittently rotate the stirring body 33 in the forward and reverse directions. At this time, the ON time of the motor 4, which is the drive time of the stirring body 33, is, for example, 1.5 to 2.0 seconds, and the disconnection time of the motor 4, which is the non-drive time of the stirring body 33, is 1.0 seconds, for example. .

On the other hand, the bath cleaning course is shown in FIG.
As can be seen from the figure, a. Water supply operation, b. Washing operation,
c. Residual water dehydration operation, d. Dehydration operation, e. Water supply operation, f.
Rinse operation, g. Water supply dehydration operation, h. Residual water dehydration operation,
i. Includes dehydration operation. Each operation will be described.

A. Water supply operation: Water is supplied to a water level that is one step lower than the highest water level of the wash operations in the washing course, that is, "medium water level". b. Washing operation: After the above-mentioned water supply operation, after the detergent for bath washing is automatically or by the user put in the bath, the hoisting motor 37 is set to the washing mode, and the motor 4 is intermittently turned on / off. The stirring body 33 is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction. At this time, the motor 4 which is the drive time of the stirring body 33
Is on for 8 seconds and the motor 4 which is the non-driving time for the stirring body 33 is off for 2 seconds. After repeating this 10 times, the motor 4 is turned off for 2 minutes. Repeat this cycle. The on-time (8 seconds) in this case is longer than the on-time of the motor 4 (drive time of the agitator 33) during the washing operation of the washing course. This washing operation is performed for 20 minutes. c. Residual water dehydration operation: When the above-described cleaning operation is completed, the winding motor 37 is set to the dehydration mode and the motor 4 is intermittently turned on and off while draining is started in a state where the tank cleaning water is contained in the tank 8. The tank 8 is intermittently rotated in one direction.
In this case, the motor 4 has an on-time of 1 second and an off-time of 5 seconds. This is performed until the drainage is completed (for example, drainage is completed when a predetermined time has elapsed).

D. Dehydration operation: With the winding motor 37 in the dehydration mode, the motor 4 is continuously turned on in one direction to rotate the tank 8 at high speed. In this case, the execution time is 1
I have a minute. e. Water supply operation: This is the same as the above-mentioned “a. Water supply operation”. f. Rinsing operation: After the water supply operation described above, the hoisting motor 3
In the washing mode 7, the motor 4 is intermittently turned on and off to intermittently rotate the stirring body 33 in one direction. At this time, the ON time of the motor 4 which is the drive time of the stirring body 33 is 8 seconds, and the power-off time of the motor 4 which is the non-drive time of the stirring body 33 is 1 second. Is also long. This rinse operation is performed for 3 minutes. g. Water supply dehydration operation: The winding motor 37 is set in the dehydration mode, and the tank 8 is rotated while supplying water for 2 minutes (the motor 4 has an on time of 1 second and an off time of 5 seconds). Also in this case, the dehydration operation is performed in a state where the tank 8 contains the tank cleaning water. At this time, the drain valve 18 is opened. h. Residual water dehydration operation: This is the "c. Residual water dehydration operation" described above.
Is the same as. i. Dehydration operation: This is the same as the above-mentioned "d. Dehydration operation".

Now, in the case of the above-mentioned configuration,
Since the hole 9 as the dehydration opening exists only in the upper portion of the tub 8, water is stored only in the tub 8 during the washing operation in the washing course to perform washing, while the tub 8 is rotated during the dehydration operation. Although it is the same as the conventional one that the water is pumped up and dehydrated from the hole 9,
By disposing the substantially cylindrical inner basket 21 close to the inner peripheral surface of the tank 8, the inner basket 2
1 and the inner peripheral surface of the tank 8 between the water holes 22 of the inner basket 21.
A drainage ascending path (void 23) is secured from the above, so that even when the laundry is pressed against the inner basket 21 by the centrifugal force during the dehydration operation, the laundry is not hindered and smoothly washed. It can be dehydrated, and the dehydration efficiency can be improved.

On the other hand, in the tank cleaning course, the agitator 3
The driving time of 3 is 8 seconds, so that the driving time of the stirring body 33 during the washing operation in the washing course (in this case, 1.5 to
By setting it longer than 2.0 seconds, the water flow formed in the tank 8 becomes stronger than the water flow during the washing operation. Therefore, as shown by the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIGS. 2 and 3, the water flow has a mortar shape in which the circumference rises even higher and reaches the entire area between the inner basket 21 and the tank 8 from below to above. Then, when the drive of the stirring body 33 is stopped, the water level between the inner basket 21 and the tank 8 is lowered, so that the water level of the tank cleaning water between the inner basket 21 and the tank 8 is increased or decreased, that is, , Inner basket 21
Between the tank 8 and the tank 8, the tank cleaning water fully reaches the upper part of the tank 8 and the vertical change of the tank cleaning water cleans the outer surface of the inner basket 21 and the inner surface of the tank 6 well. The effect is improved.

In particular, according to this embodiment, the water supply level in the tub cleaning course is one step lower than the highest water level of the plurality of water supply levels set in the washing course ("medium water level").
Since it is set to (1), the amount of water used can be suppressed while obtaining a sufficient tank cleaning effect. That is, as described above, in the tank cleaning course, the water flow becomes stronger than that in the washing operation, so that even if the amount of water is smaller than that in the washing operation, the water flow reaches the upper portion of the tank 8 in a mortar shape. Now, Fig. 2 shows the state of water flow formation at "medium water level". In this case, a rise of 70 mm was observed from "medium water level", and as a result, sufficient tank cleaning effect was obtained with a small amount of water. To be Note that FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the drive time of the stirring body 33 and the rising height from the “medium water level”. As can be seen from the figure, the longer the driving time of the stirring body 33, the higher the height of the stirring body 33, and the water tends to overflow when the driving time exceeds 8 seconds.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the stirring body 33 is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction in the tank cleaning course, it is possible to suppress the foaming of the tank cleaning water. That is, when the agitator 33 is driven to rotate intermittently in one direction and in the opposite direction, the water splash may be large and the bubbling water of the tank may be foamed. In the present embodiment, which is driven to rotate intermittently, the problem is reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the tank 8 is intermittently rotated (so-called residual water dehydration rotation) in the tank cleaning course in the presence of water in the tank 8, the inner basket 21 and the tank 8 are separated from each other. Water flows are well formed in the vertical and horizontal directions, which further improves the tank cleaning effect.

In the above embodiment, the water supply level in the washing course is set at four stages, but it may be set at a plurality of stages other than this. Further, the dehydration opening is not limited to the hole 9, but a gap may be formed between the tank and the balance ring, and this gap may be used as the dehydration opening. Furthermore, although the tank 8 is intermittently rotated while draining water in the tank cleaning course, the configuration is changed to intermittently rotate the tank 8 when the drainage is stopped (while water is still stored in the tank 8). May be.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. According to the invention of claim 1, by disposing the inner basket having a large number of water passage holes formed in the peripheral wall in the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the tank, the inner basket outer peripheral surface and the tank inner peripheral surface are formed. An ascending path for dehydration is secured between them, so that the laundry can be smoothly dehydrated without being hindered by the laundry. Also, by setting the drive time of the agitator in the tub cleaning course longer than the drive time of the agitator in the washing operation in the washing course, the tub cleaning water can reach the upper part between the tub and the inner basket sufficiently. In addition to being able to change the temperature, it can be changed up and down, and the tank cleaning effect can be enhanced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the water supply level in the tub cleaning course is set to be one step lower than the highest water level of the plurality of water supply levels set in the washing course. The amount of water used can be suppressed while obtaining it.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the bath cleaning course, the stirring member is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction, so that the foaming of the bath cleaning water can be suppressed.

According to the invention of claim 4, in the tank cleaning course, the tank is rotated intermittently in a state where water exists in the tank, so that a good water flow is formed between the inner basket and the tank, and the tank cleaning is performed. The effect is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a process diagram of a tank cleaning course showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the washing machine broken away.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

[Figure 5] Itinerary of the laundry course

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the drive time of the stirring body and the rising height from the “medium water level”.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 is a motor, 8 is a tank, 9 is a hole (dehydration opening), 21 is an inner basket, 22 is a water passage hole, 33 is an agitator, and 34 is a control circuit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tank having a dehydration opening only in an upper portion,
An inner basket which is arranged close to the inner peripheral surface of the tank and has a large number of water passage holes formed in the peripheral wall, and an agitator which is provided inside the tank and is intermittently driven to rotate by repeating driving and stopping. In addition to the washing course including the washing operation and the dehydration operation as a driving course, a tub washing course is provided, and the driving time of the stirring body in this tub washing course is set to the stirring body during the washing operation in the washing course. A washing machine that also serves as a dehydrator that is set longer than the drive time. 2. The washing machine for combined use of dehydration according to claim 1, wherein the water supply level in the tank cleaning course is set to be one step lower than the highest water level of the plurality of water supply levels set in the washing course. 3. The washing machine for combined use of dehydration according to claim 1, wherein the agitator is intermittently driven to rotate in one direction in the bath cleaning course. 4. The washing machine for combined use of dehydration according to claim 1, wherein the tub is rotated intermittently in the tub cleaning course in the presence of water in the tub.