JPH0928978A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which can realize three modes, a hitting wash mode wherein a water saving effect being equivalent to a drum type washing machine can be obtained, a frictional wash mode wherein a washing effect being the same degree of or higher than a centrifugal type washing machine can be obtained, and a dehydrating mode wherein a vibration being transmitted to a floor surface at the time of a dehydrating operation can be suppressed to the same degree with the centrifugal type washing machine. SOLUTION: On a washing/dehydrating tank 21, a thread-shaped spiral buffle 7 which extends on the internal peripheral wall of the washing/dehydrating tank 21, is integrally formed. In addition, on the bottom part of the washing/ dehydrating tank 21, a pulsator 8 which imparts a revolving force to washing water, is provided. Also, a water current-generating pump can be provided in the place of the pulsator 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine in which a washing / dehydrating tub has a vertical rotary shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a washing machine, a spiral washing machine is generally popular. In the spiral washing machine, a washing / dehydrating tub is housed in an outer tub so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis, and a pulsator for giving a swirling force to washing water is provided at the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub. By rotating the pulsator while the washing / dehydrating tub is stopped, the laundry spins in the water. In a swirl type washing machine, a large amount of water is required because the washing is performed by friction between the laundry items caused by turning, friction with the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub or friction with the pulsator.

On the other hand, a drum type washing machine is known as a washing machine which can obtain a water saving effect. In the drum type washing machine, the drum is housed in an outer tub so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, and a plurality of baffles extending in the horizontal direction are provided to project on an inner peripheral wall of the drum. Pour a relatively small amount of wash water into the drum and rotate the drum. The laundry in the drum is caught on the baffle and lifted, and then falls by gravity. Since the washing is performed by hitting the laundry on the water surface in the drum type washing machine, a small amount of washing water is required as compared with the swirling type washing machine, and the water can be saved more than the swirling type washing machine.

[0004]

However, in the drum type washing machine, it takes longer time to wash as compared with the spiral type washing machine, and since the rotating shaft is horizontal, the vibration propagated to the floor surface during the dehydration operation. It is a big problem that it causes noise. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tap-washing mode in which a water-saving effect similar to that of a drum-type washing machine can be obtained, a frictional washing mode in which a cleaning effect equivalent to or higher than that of a spiral-type washing machine can be obtained, and a floor during dehydration operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of realizing three modes of a dehydration mode capable of suppressing the vibration propagating to a surface to the same extent as that of a spiral washing machine.

[0005]

A washing machine according to the present invention is capable of rotating a washing / dehydrating tub for storing laundry in an outer tub about a vertical axis in order to suppress vibration during a dewatering operation. To house. The inner wall of the washing / dehydrating tub is provided with a screw piece capable of applying a thrust force in the vertical axis direction to the washing water as the washing / dehydrating tub rotates. Further, a turning force applying mechanism capable of giving a turning force to the washing water is provided at the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub.

The screw piece rotates integrally with the washing / dehydrating tub, and produces a thrust on the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub due to the difference in swirling speed between the washing / dehydrating tub and the washing water. The turning force applying mechanism applies a turning force to the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub to cause a difference in turning speed between the washing / dewatering tub and the washing water.

Specifically, in the washing machine according to the present invention, the washing / dewatering tub is rotated in a direction in which the thrust force of the screw piece is directed upward, and is swung so as to give a turning force in a direction opposite to the rotating direction. By operating the force applying mechanism to stop the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub by tapping and washing mode of braking the swirling of the washing water accompanying the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub, and operating the turning force applying mechanism. Friction washing mode that creates a swirling flow faster than the swirling speed in the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub, and faster than the rotation speed in the tapping mode and friction washing mode of the washing / dehydrating tub Switching operation is possible among the three modes of the spinning dehydration mode.

In the beat-wash mode, a relatively small amount of water is injected into the washing / dehydrating tub to rotate the washing / dehydrating tub in the direction in which upward thrust is generated. At least a part of the turning force applied to the washing water accompanying the rotation is canceled by the reverse turning force generated by the operation of the turning force applying mechanism, and the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub hardly turns, or ,
It turns in the same direction at a speed lower than the rotation speed of the washing / dehydrating tub. As a result, a difference in swirling speed is generated between the washing / dewatering tub and the washing water, and the upward thrust by the screw piece acts on the washing water due to the difference in the speed. The thrust causes the laundry in the washing / dehydrating tub to be lifted to a position slightly higher than the water surface, and then falls by gravity to be struck on the water surface. By repeating the above operation, the same tapping washing as in the drum type washing machine is performed.

In the friction washing mode, a relatively large amount of water is injected into the washing / dehydrating tub, the washing / dehydrating tub is stopped or rotated, and the turning force applying mechanism is operated to wash water in the washing / dehydrating tub. A swirling flow faster than the swirling speed in the hit-and-wash mode is generated. As a result, a swirling speed difference is generated between the washing / dehydrating tub and the washing water, and due to the speed difference, an upward or downward thrust by the screw piece acts on the washing water in addition to the swirling force. For example, when an upward thrust is generated, the laundry swirls along the screw piece and ascends, and then descends at the center of the washing / dehydrating tub. Cleaning is performed by friction with the inner peripheral wall of the dehydration tank. On the other hand, when a downward thrust is generated, the laundry is swung down along the screw piece and descends, and then rises in the central portion of the washing / dehydrating tub. By repeating the above operation, the same frictional washing as in the spiral washing machine is performed.

In the dewatering mode, centrifugal force is generated in the laundry in the washing / dehydrating tub by rotating the washing / dehydrating tub at a speed higher than the rotation speed in the tap washing mode and the friction washing mode. The centrifugal force presses the laundry against the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub, and drains the washing water, for example, from a large number of holes provided in the wall surface of the washing / dehydrating tub for dehydration. Here, since the rotation axis of the washing / dehydrating tub is vertical, the vibration propagating to the floor surface is as small as that of the spiral washing machine.

【The invention's effect】

According to the washing machine of the present invention, in the tap washing mode, it is possible to obtain the same water saving effect as in the drum type washing machine, and in the friction washing mode, the same degree as that of the spiral washing machine, or that It is possible to obtain the above cleaning effect, and in the dehydration mode, it is possible to suppress the vibration propagating to the floor surface to the same extent as in the spiral washing machine.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A detailed description will be given based on one embodiment with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment A washing machine of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 has a spiral baffle (7) formed as a screw piece for applying a thrust force in the vertical axis direction to washing water as the washing / dehydrating tub (21) rotates. , A pulsator (8) as a turning force imparting mechanism that gives a turning force to washing water
It is equipped with.

An outer tub (2) is suspended by a hanging rod (3) inside the frame (1), and the upper part of the frame (1) is washed into a washing / dehydrating tub (21). A lid (11) for putting things in is openably and closably attached.

A washing / dehydrating tub (21) is housed inside the outer tub (2) rotatably around a vertical axis. Laundry / dehydration tank
On the wall surface of (21), a large number of holes (not shown) are opened over the entire area, and drainage is possible during the dehydration operation.
A screw-shaped spiral baffle (7) is integrally formed on the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). Washing / dehydrating tank
The bottom of (21) has a pulsator that gives the washing water a swirling force.
(8) is equipped.

A washing / dehydrating tub driving motor (4) and a pulsator driving motor (5) are attached to the back surface of the outer tub (2). The washing / dehydrating tub drive motor (4) is connected to the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub (21) via a power transmission mechanism including a driving pulley (42), a belt (43) and a driven pulley (44). . The pulsator drive motor (5) is connected to the drive pulley (5
2), the belt (53) and the driven pulley (54) are connected to the pulsator drive shaft (81) via a power transmission mechanism.

A well-known fluid balancer (6) is attached to the upper portion of the outer tub (2) to return the center of gravity to the center of rotation when the center of gravity of the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is eccentric. .

The washing water in the washing / dehydrating tank (21) is injected through the water supply nozzle (12) and discharged through the drain valve (13).

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control system of the above washing machine. By operating the mode selection key (14), a command for selecting one of the tap washing mode, the friction washing mode, and the dehydration mode is supplied to the control circuit (10), and the control circuit (10) responds to the instruction. Control signals S1 and S2 are sent to each motor drive circuit (41) (51). As a result, the motor drive circuit
Drive currents I1 and I2 are supplied from the motors (41) and (51) to the washing / dehydrating tub drive motor (4) and the pulsator drive motor (5), respectively, and the respective motors are rotationally driven as described later.

In the tap-wash mode, the washing / dewatering tub (2
A relatively small amount of water is injected into 1) and the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is rotated in the direction in which upward thrust is generated, that is, counterclockwise. On the other hand, the pulsator (8) is rotated at a low speed in the opposite direction to the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). The turning force given to the washing water by the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tank (21) is pulsator (8).
Part of the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is canceled by the turning force generated by the reverse rotation of the
It turns in the same direction at a speed sufficiently lower than the rotation speed of 1). As a result, a difference in swirling speed is generated between the washing / dewatering tub (21) and the washing water, and the upward thrust force of the spiral baffle (7) acts on the washing water due to the speed difference.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the laundry in the tap washing mode. The laundry (22) is subjected to the centrifugal force associated with the low-speed turning described above, and at the same time, the upward thrust force of the spiral baffle (7) similar to that of the washing water (23) acts, whereby the laundry (22) is ) Is lifted to a position slightly higher than the water surface as shown by arrow A in the figure, and then falls by gravity as shown by arrow B and is struck on the water surface. By repeating the above operation, the laundry (22) is subjected to the same tapping washing as the drum type washing machine.

In the friction washing mode, a relatively large amount of water is injected into the washing / dehydrating tub (21) for the purpose of obtaining a washing effect comparable to or higher than that of the spiral washing machine.
While the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is stopped, rotate the pulsator (8) in one direction to generate swirling flow in the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub (21) that is faster than the swirling speed in the tap-wash mode. Let As a result, in addition to the turning force, the washing water is subjected to upward or downward thrust by the spiral baffle (7).

FIG. 4 shows the operation of the laundry in the friction washing mode. When the pulsator (8) is rotated in the direction in which a downward thrust is generated, that is, counterclockwise, the laundry (22) is rotated counterclockwise while the spiral baffle (7) is indicated by arrow A in the figure. Then, as shown by arrow B, it ascends at the center of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). In the process, the laundry (22) is rubbed between the laundry,
Cleaning is performed by friction with the washing / dehydrating tank (21) or friction with the pulsator (8). When the pulsator (8) is rotated clockwise, the laundry (22) ascends while swirling along the spiral baffle (7) and descends at the center of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). The same friction washing effect can be obtained with.

In the dewatering mode, the drain valve (13) is opened to drain the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub (21), and then the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is rotated in a tapping mode and a friction washing mode. Rotate in one direction faster than speed.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of the laundry in the dehydration mode. Due to the high speed rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub (21), a centrifugal force acts on the laundry (22) in the washing / dehydrating tub (21), which causes the laundry (22) to wash as shown in the drawing. The washing water which is pressed against the inner peripheral wall of 21) and adheres to the laundry (22) is discharged to the outer tub (2) through a large number of holes (not shown) of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). Where laundry / dehydration tanks (21)
Since the rotation axis is vertical, the vibration propagating to the floor surface is as small as that of the spiral washing machine.

Second Embodiment A washing machine of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 is a pulsator of the above embodiment.
It is equipped with a water flow generation pump (9) instead of (8).

As shown in FIG. 6, a water flow generating pump (9) for giving a swirling force to the wash water is attached to the lower part of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). Other specific configurations and control system configurations are
Since it is the same as that of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

The water flow generating pump (9) gives a swirling force to the washing water by discharging the sucked washing water in the circumferential direction of the washing / dehydrating tub (21), and swirling it by adjusting the pump output. Change the strength of power. That is, the washing / dehydrating tub (21) is rotated or stopped as in the above embodiment, and in the tap washing mode, the washing water sucked by the water flow generating pump (9) is compared with the rotating direction of the washing / dehydrating tub (21). Discharge in the opposite direction with a relatively weak force, and in the friction washing mode, a relatively strong force is generated so as to generate a swirling flow in the wash water.

According to the above-mentioned two embodiments, it is possible to obtain the same water-saving effect as in the drum type washing machine in the tap washing mode, and in the friction washing mode, at the same level as that of the swirling type washing machine or It is possible to obtain the above-described cleaning effect, and further, in the dehydration mode, it is possible to suppress the vibration propagating to the floor surface to the same extent as in the spiral washing machine.

The description of the above embodiment is for the purpose of describing the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof.
In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, the screw piece is not limited to the continuous screw-shaped spiral baffle (7), but may be one having intermittently formed screw threads.

In the friction washing mode, it is also possible to periodically switch the rotating direction of the spiral baffle (7) between the forward and reverse directions.

Further, in the tap washing mode, it is possible to employ a system in which the pulsator (8) is stopped and the swirling water is swung by the fluid resistance of the pulsator (8).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a washing machine in an embodiment including a pulsator.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the laundry in the tap washing mode in the above-mentioned embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the laundry in the friction washing mode in the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the laundry in the dehydration mode in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a washing machine in an embodiment including a water flow generation pump.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Frame (2) Outer tub (3) Hanging rod (4) Washing / dehydrating tub drive motor (5) Pulsator drive motor (6) Fluid balancer (7) Spiral baffle (8) Pulsator (9) Water flow generation pump

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A washing machine having an outer tub in which a washing / dehydrating tub for storing laundry is rotatably driven about a vertical axis, wherein an inner wall of the washing / dehydrating tub has a washing / dehydrating tub. A screw piece that can apply vertical thrust to the washing water as it rotates is formed, and at the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub, a turning force that can give the washing water a turning force is applied. A washing machine characterized by having a mechanism. 2. The washing / dehydrating tub is rotated in a direction in which the thrust of the screw piece is directed upward, and the turning force applying mechanism is operated so as to apply a turning force in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation, thereby performing washing / demounting. A tapping and washing mode that brakes the swirling of the washing water accompanying the rotation of the water tub, and the washing / dehydrating tub is stopped or rotated, and the turning force applying mechanism is operated to tap the washing water in the washing / dehydrating tub. Switching between three modes: a friction washing mode that creates a swirling flow faster than the swirling speed in the mode, and a dewatering mode that rotates the washing / dewatering tank at a higher speed than in the friction washing mode. The washing machine according to claim 1, which is operable. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the screw piece is a screw-shaped spiral baffle (7) extending on the inner peripheral wall of the washing / dehydrating tub. 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the turning force applying mechanism is a pulsator (8). 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the turning force applying mechanism is a water flow generating pump (9).