JPH1170294A - Fully automated washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an inner tank from being rotated by tightening of a clutch spring, particularly during washing or rinsing, by smoothing washing operation. SOLUTION: A clutch spring 42 is a spring wound in the shape of a coil, fitted over a lower gear case 33 and a clutch sleeve 41, the lower end of the spring being locked to a locking part 46 formed inside a ratchet wheel 43. A clutch piece 45, when engaged with the ratchet wheel 43, rotates the ratchet wheel 43 in the direction opposite to the arrow A to twist the clutch spring 42 in the loosening direction to open the clutch spring 42. In washing and rinsing processes, the clutch piece 45 is alternately engaged with and disengaged from the ratchet wheel 43 at intervals of 5 minutes after the control of the drive of a washing motor is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic washing machine, and more particularly, to control during washing or rinsing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fully automatic washing machine, a pulsator is alternately rotated in the forward and reverse directions to wash and rinse the laundry, and both the pulsator and the dewatering tub are rotated in one direction at a high speed to dehydrate the laundry. Will be Therefore, the fully automatic washing machine is provided with a clutch mechanism for switching and transmitting the driving force of the washing motor to the pulsator and the dewatering tub.

[0003] The clutch mechanism may be constituted by, for example, a coil-shaped clutch spring wound around an outer periphery of a drive shaft to which a driving force of a washing motor is input and an outer periphery of a dehydration shaft supporting a dehydration tub. it can. The clutch spring connects the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft by tightening the outer circumferences of the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft with an elastic force that tends to shrink in the winding direction, thereby connecting the driving force of the washing motor to the drive shaft. To the dehydration shaft. Also, by being twisted and expanded in the loosening direction (the direction opposite to the direction in which the clutch spring is wound), the connection between the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft is released, and the driving force of the washing motor input to the drive shaft is released. To be transmitted to the dehydration shaft.

[0004]

However, in a washing machine in which the driving force of a washing motor is switched by a clutch mechanism and transmitted to a pulsator and a dewatering tub, each washing operation such as washing, rinsing or dewatering may not be performed well. was there. For example, in a fully automatic washing machine having the above-described clutch spring, when washing and rinsing, when the dehydration tub is rotated by the water flow generated in the dehydration tub and the force of the laundry stirred by this water flow, depending on the rotation direction, The clutch spring may be twisted in the tightening direction, and the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft may be connected. When the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft are connected, the dehydrating tub rotates positively even during washing or rinsing, and the water and the laundry in the dehydrating tub are not well stirred and the washing or rinsing ability is provided. Is caused.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fully automatic washing machine capable of performing a good washing operation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dehydrating tub and a pulsator provided in the dehydrating tub, wherein the pulsator is rotated by a washing motor alternately in a forward and reverse direction. In a fully automatic washing machine that performs washing and rinsing, and also performs dehydration by rotating a pulsator and a dehydration tub at a high speed in one direction, a driving shaft to which a driving force of a washing motor is input and a dehydration tub are connected. , A dehydrating shaft for supporting the dehydrating tub, and being wound around the outer periphery of the driving shaft and the outer periphery of the dehydrating shaft, the outer periphery of the driving shaft and the outer periphery of the dehydrating shaft are elastically compressed in the winding direction. By tightening, a coil-shaped clutch spring that connects the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft, a ratchet wheel that is loosely fitted to the drive shaft and one end of the clutch spring is locked, and a detached state that is detached from the ratchet wheel Claw wheel A clutch piece that rotates the ratchet wheel to expand the clutch spring when displaced to the engaged state, and shifts the clutch piece from the engaged state to the disengaged state at a preset timing during washing or rinsing. And a clutch piece driving means for displacing the clutch piece from the disengaged state to the engaged state when a predetermined time has elapsed thereafter.

According to this configuration, at the time of washing or rinsing, the clutch piece is displaced from the engaged state to the disengaged state at a preset timing, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the clutch piece is disengaged from the disengaged state. Displaced into the engaged state. Thereby, when the clutch piece is engaged with the ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel is rotated by the clutch piece, and the clutch spring is loosened.

Therefore, if the timing for operating the clutch pieces is set appropriately, the dewatering tub (dehydrating shaft) rotates in the tightening direction of the clutch spring under the influence of the water flow generated in the dewatering tub. However, the clutch spring can be opened before the clutch spring is completely tightened and the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft are connected. Therefore, at the time of washing and rinsing, the dehydrating tub does not rotate positively by the driving force of the washing motor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fully automatic washing machine according to the first aspect, further comprising a brake mechanism provided in connection with the dehydrating shaft to brake the rotation of the dehydration tub. is there. According to this configuration, if the rotation of the dehydration tub is braked by the brake mechanism at the time of washing or rinsing, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the dehydration tub is rotated by the influence of the water flow generated in the dehydration tub. therefore,
By completely tightening the clutch spring, the possibility that the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft are connected can be further reduced.

[0010] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the clutch piece driving means displaces the clutch piece from the disengaged state to the engaged state while the dewatering tub is rotating in the rotation direction during dewatering. A fully automatic washing machine according to claim 2. According to this configuration, if the dewatering tub (claw wheel) is rotating in the rotation direction at the time of dehydration at the time when the clutch piece is engaged with the ratchet wheel, this rotation causes a force in the loosening direction to act on the clutch spring. The clutch spring can be largely loosened.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the clutch piece driving means displaces the clutch piece from the engaged state to the disengaged state while the dewatering tub is rotating in the rotation direction during dehydration, and further disengages the disengaged state. 3. The fully automatic washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing machine is displaced from a state of being engaged. According to this configuration, the clutch piece is engaged / disengaged with the ratchet while the spin-drying tub is rotating in the spinning direction during spin-drying. It is not rotated. Therefore, when a one-way clutch for preventing the dewatering tub from rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation direction during dehydration is provided, no load is imposed on the one-way clutch.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dehydration tub and a pulsator provided in the dehydration tub, wherein the pulsator is alternately rotated forward and reverse by a washing motor to perform washing and rinsing. In a fully automatic washing machine in which a water tub is rotated at a high speed in one direction to perform dehydration, a driving shaft to which a driving force of a washing motor is input, a dehydration shaft connected to the dehydration tub to support the dehydration tub, and a drive Wound around the outer periphery of the shaft and the outer periphery of the dehydrating shaft, the dehydrating shaft loosens when rotated in the rotation direction of the dewatering tub during dehydration with respect to the drive shaft, and shrinks when rotated in the opposite direction. A coil-shaped clutch spring for connecting the shaft to the spin-drying shaft, a brake mechanism provided in connection with the spin-drying shaft to brake the rotation of the spin-drying tub, and a preset torque when washing or rinsing. It is a fully automatic washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a brake driving means for releasing the braking of the dewatering tank by the brake mechanism by a predetermined time timing.

According to this configuration, at the time of washing or rinsing, braking of the dehydration tub by the brake mechanism is released for a predetermined time at a preset timing. If the timing at which the dehydration tub is released from the braking and the time during which the braking is released are appropriately determined, the water flow generated in the dehydration tub and this water flow during the predetermined time during which the dehydration tub is released from the braking are set. The dehydration tub is rotated in the loosening direction of the clutch spring by receiving the force from the agitated laundry, so that the clutch spring is loosened. Thus, the same effect as the configuration according to claim 1 can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the brake driving means operates the brake mechanism while the pulsator is rotating in the direction of rotation of the dewatering tub during dewatering. It is an automatic washing machine. According to this configuration, since the brake mechanism is operated while the pulsator is rotating in the rotation direction of the dewatering tub during dewatering,
While braking of the spin tub is released, no force is applied to the spin tub in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during spin-drying, and the clutch spring may be tightened by rotation of the spin tub in the opposite direction to the spin during spin-drying. Absent.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the preset timing is at an arbitrary time set within a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes. Fully automatic washing machine described in 1. According to this configuration, since the clutch piece or the brake mechanism is activated at an arbitrary time set within a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes, the clutch piece or the brake mechanism is frequently activated to wash or rinse. There is no trouble in driving, and no problem such as the clutch piece or the brake mechanism not being operated at all during washing or rinsing.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined time is:
The fully automatic washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the time is set within a range of 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds. According to this configuration, the predetermined time is 0.5
Since it is set in the range of seconds to 10 seconds, the clutch piece is not disengaged for a long time, the braking of the dehydration tub is not released for a long time, and it does not interfere with the washing or rinsing operation . Further, there is no fear that the clutch piece does not separate from the ratchet wheel or the dewatering tub is not rotated because the operation time is too short. Therefore, the clutch spring can be reliably expanded.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a simplified configuration of a fully automatic washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of this fully automatic washing machine is constituted by a box-shaped housing 1 having an opening on the upper surface. Inside the housing 1, there are provided an outer tub 2 suspended from the housing 1 by a suspension rod (not shown) with a spring, and an inner tub 3 provided in the outer tub 2. The laundry can be accommodated in the inner tub 3 through the upper surface opening of the housing 1. The inner tub 3 is formed with a number of small holes 3 a, and the washing water supplied to the inner tub 3 is stored in the outer tub 2.

Above the outer tub 2, there is formed a detergent accommodating portion 4 for storing a detergent used for washing. The other end of the water supply channel 5 whose one end protrudes from the upper surface of the housing 1 is connected to the detergent accommodating portion 4. A water supply hose 6 extending from, for example, a water tap (not shown) is connected to a portion of the water supply channel 5 protruding from the upper surface of the housing 1. Further, a water supply valve 7 constituted by, for example, a solenoid valve is interposed in the middle of the water supply passage 5. With this configuration, when the water supply valve 7 is opened, tap water is supplied from the tap water tap (not shown) to the detergent container 4 through the water supply hose 6 and the water supply path 5. The tap water supplied to the detergent container 4 flows into the inner tank 3 together with the detergent contained in the detergent container 4, and is stored in the outer tank 2.

A drain port 8 is formed at the bottom of the outer tub 2 to discharge the washing water stored in the outer tub 2 to the outside of the machine. A drain pipe 9 extending outside the housing 1 is connected to the drain port 8. A drain valve 10 which is opened and closed by a torque motor (not shown) is provided at an intermediate portion of the drain pipe 9. When the drain valve 10 is opened, the washing water stored in the outer tub 2 is drained. Through the airplane.

The inner tank 3 also serves as a dewatering tank, and as described above, a large number of fine dewatering holes (small holes) are formed on its peripheral surface.
3a are formed. At the bottom of the inner tub 3, a pulsator 11 for stirring the washing water stored in the outer tub 2 to generate a water flow is provided. The inner tank 3 and the pulsator 11 are rotationally driven by a drive mechanism 12 provided below the outer tank 2.

The driving mechanism 12 includes a washing motor 13 for generating a rotational driving force, a small pulley 15 fixed to a rotating shaft 14 of the washing motor 13, and a bearing 16 attached to the bottom of the outer tub 2. A large pulley 18 fixed to the lower end of the drive shaft 17 held by the bearing portion 16 and an endless belt 19 wound around the small pulley 15 and the large pulley 18 are included. The driving force of the washing motor 13 is
And transmitted to the large pulley 18 via the belt 19 and further transmitted to the bearing 16 via the drive shaft 17.

The bearing 16 has an upper end connected to the bottom surface of the inner tank 3 and a rotatable support shaft 20 for supporting the inner tank 3. A wing shaft 21 whose upper end is connected to the pulsator 11 is rotatably inserted into the support shaft 20. The blade shaft 21 is always connected to the drive shaft 17, and the driving force of the washing motor 13 input to the drive shaft 17 is always transmitted to the pulsator 11. On the other hand, the support shaft 20 and the drive shaft 17 are connected via a clutch mechanism 26 (described later) provided on the bearing portion 16, and the clutch mechanism 26 allows the support shaft 20 to be input to the drive shaft 17. The driving force of the washing motor 13 is selectively transmitted.

For example, during the washing step and the rinsing step, the transmission of the driving force to the support shaft 20 is cut off by the clutch mechanism 26, and the washing motor 1
3 is transmitted only to the blade shaft 21 and the pulsator 11
Are rotated forward and backward. Thereby, a water flow is generated in the inner tub 3 to wash or rinse the laundry. Further, at the time of the spin-drying process, the clutch mechanism 26 is switched, and the driving force of the washing motor 13 input to the drive shaft 17 is also transmitted to the support shaft 20. Thereby, the inner tub 3 and the pulsator 11 are both rotated at a high speed, and the laundry in the inner tub 3 is dehydrated by centrifugal force.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the bearing portion 16. FIG. 3 is a view of the bearing portion 16 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from below, and the illustration of the large pulley 18 is omitted for simplicity. The bearing portion 16 has a mounting plate 60 that is mounted from below on the bottom surface of the outer tub 2 (see FIG. 1). The mounting plate 60 has a circular opening 60a formed substantially at the center thereof.
The oil seal 23 is press-fitted and fixed. The upper bearing 22 and the oil seal 23 hold the support shaft 20 connected to the inner tank 3 in a watertight and rotatable manner. As described above, the blade shaft 2 is provided inside the held support shaft 20.
1 is rotatably inserted. Oil seal 2
3 is fitted into an opening (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of the outer tub 2 when the bearing portion 16 is attached to the bottom surface of the outer tub 2, and water in the outer tub 2 is discharged from this opening to the outside. To prevent leakage.

The bearing portion 16 is further provided with a gear case 24 fixed to the lower end of the support shaft 20 and provided inside the gear case 24 to reduce the driving force of the washing motor 13 input from the drive shaft 17 to reduce the blade force. Reduction mechanism 25 for transmitting to shaft 21
And a clutch mechanism 26 for transmitting / cutting off the driving force of the washing motor 13 input from the drive shaft 17 to the support shaft 20.
And a brake mechanism 27 for stopping rotation of the inner tank 3.

An upper gear case 30 having a small-diameter portion 28 fitted on the outer periphery of the support shaft 20 and a large-diameter portion 29 surrounding the side of the reduction mechanism 25 is fitted to the gear case 24, and is loosely fitted to the drive shaft 17. A lower gear case 33 having a cylindrical portion 31 and a flange portion 32 projecting outward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 31 is provided. The small diameter portion 28 of the upper gear case 30 is fixed to the support shaft 20 and the lower gear case 33
Is connected to the lower end of the large-diameter portion 29 of the upper gear case 30, so that the support shaft 20 and the gear case 24 are integrally rotated. That is, in this embodiment, a dehydrating shaft is configured by the support shaft 20 and the gear case 24.

The periphery of the gear case 24 is surrounded by a bearing cover 35 fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 60 with bolts 34. A lower bearing 36 is fixed to the bearing cover 35, and the cylindrical portion 31 of the lower gear case 33 is rotatably held by the lower bearing 36. The bearing cover 35 holds a one-way clutch 61 that is fitted over the cylindrical portion 31 of the lower gear case 33 above the lower bearing 36. One-way clutch 6
Numeral 1 allows the lower gear case 33 to rotate in the direction of arrow A and prevents the lower gear case 33 from rotating in the direction opposite to arrow A.

The reduction gear 25 has a sun gear 37 fixed to the upper end of the drive shaft 17, a fixed gear 38 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 29 of the upper gear case 30, and a sun gear 3.
7 and a planetary gear 39 that meshes with the fixed gear 38 and rotates around the sun gear 37. Planetary gear 3
9 is a gear holder 4 having one end fixed to the lower end of the blade shaft 21.
It is rotatably held by 0.

The clutch mechanism 26 includes a lower gear case 3
A clutch sleeve 41 fixed to the drive shaft 17 between the third pulley 18 and the large pulley 18, a clutch spring 42 wound around the clutch sleeve 41 and the cylindrical portion 31 of the lower gear case, and an outer periphery of the clutch spring 42 The ratchet wheel 43 is loosely fitted, and a clutch piece 45 that engages / disengages a pawl portion 44 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ratchet wheel 43 is provided.

The clutch spring 42 is a coil-wound spring, which is fitted over the cylindrical portion 31 of the lower gear case 33 and the clutch sleeve 41,
The lower end is locked by a locking portion 46 formed inside the ratchet 43. The clutch spring 42 tightens the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 with the elastic force of contracting in the winding direction, and the clutch sleeve 41
And the lower gear case 33. Then, when the clutch sleeve 41 is twisted in the loosening direction (the direction opposite to the winding direction of the clutch spring 42), the lower portion is loosened, so that a gap is formed between the clutch sleeve 41 and the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33. Cancel.

The clutch piece 45 is centered on a swing shaft 47 attached to the bearing cover 35, and the tip thereof is
3 can be displaced between an engaged state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) and a disengaged state in which the tip is separated from the claw 44 (a state shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). Is provided. The clutch piece 45 rotates the ratchet wheel 43 in the direction opposite to the arrow A when displacing from the disengaged state to the engaged state. As a result, the clutch spring 42 is twisted in the loosening direction, and the connection between the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 is released.

The upper gear case 3 is mounted on the brake mechanism 27.
0, a brake band 48 bent in a substantially U shape along the outer peripheral surface of the brake band 48, a brake shoe 49 attached to a contact surface of the brake band 48 with the upper gear case 30, and a pivot shaft 47. A brake lever 50, which is freely supported and interlocks with the clutch piece 45, is provided. The brake band 48 has one end fixed to the bearing cover 35 by a bolt 51 and the other end locked to a brake lever 50.

Brake lever 50 and clutch piece 45
A brake spring 52 is provided on the swing shaft 47 that supports the brake lever 50. The elastic force of the brake spring 52 urges the brake lever 50 in the direction in which the brake band 48 is pulled. Therefore, when no force other than the brake spring 52 is acting on the brake lever 50, the brake band 48 is pulled in the direction along arrow A, and the brake shoe 49 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the upper gear case 30. And upper gear case 3
Rotation of 0 is stopped. Further, the clutch piece 45 is displaced to the engaged state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 by the elastic force of the brake spring 52, and the rotation of the ratchet wheel 43 is also stopped.

At the rear end of the brake lever 50, a wire 5
3, a torque motor 54 is connected. The torque motor 54 is driven at the time of spin-drying, and pulls the wire 53 toward the torque motor 54, thereby displacing the brake lever 50 from a state shown by a solid line to a state shown by a two-dot chain line. As a result, the brake band 48 connected to the brake lever 50 is loosened, and the upper gear case 3
0 braking is released. Further, the clutch piece 45 is displaced from the engaged state shown by the solid line to the disengaged state shown by the two-dot chain line, and the ratchet wheel 43 enters the free rotation state.

During the spin-drying process, the torque motor 54 is turned on, the brake band 48 is loosened, the clutch piece 45 is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 43, and the lower gear case 33 and the ratchet wheel 43 are freely rotated. Has become. Further, the clutch spring 42 is wound around the clutch sleeve 41 by its elastic force, and the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 are connected.

Therefore, when the driving force of the washing motor 13 is input to the drive shaft 17 and the drive shaft 17 and the clutch sleeve 41 are rotated in the direction of arrow A, the rotation of the clutch sleeve 41 is reduced via the clutch spring 42 to the lower part. The power is transmitted to the gear case 33. And the lower gear case 3
The rotation of 3 is transmitted to the support shaft 20 via the upper gear case 30, and the inner tank 3 connected to the support shaft 20 is rotated at high speed in the direction of arrow A.

At this time, since both the drive shaft 17 and the upper gear case 30 are rotated at the same speed, the planetary gear 3
9 rotates around the sun gear 37 at the same speed as the drive shaft 17. As a result, the blade shaft 21 is moved to the upper gear case 30.
And the pulsator 11 fixed to the blade shaft 21 is rotated at a high speed. That is, at the time of the spin-drying process, the inner tub 3 and the pulsator 11 are integrally rotated at a high speed, and the laundry in the inner tub 3 is dehydrated by centrifugal force.

At the end of the spin-drying process, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the washing motor 13 was turned off,
The torque motor 54 is turned off. When the torque motor 54 is turned off, the brake lever 50 is displaced by the elastic force of the brake spring 52, so that the upper gear case 30 is braked, and the clutch piece 45 is displaced to the engaged state to brake the ratchet wheel 43. Is done. At this time, the ratchet wheel 43 is rotated by the clutch piece 45 in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and the clutch spring 42 is twisted in the loosening direction.
The clutch spring 42 is loosened. As a result, a gap is formed between the clutch spring 42 and the clutch sleeve 41, and the connection between the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 by the clutch spring 42 is released.

On the other hand, during the washing process and the rinsing process,
The torque motor 54 is turned off, the brake shoe 49 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the upper gear case 30, and the upper gear case 30 is braked. Further, the clutch piece 45 is engaged with the claw portion 44 of the ratchet wheel 43, and the ratchet wheel 43 is braked. Further, the clutch spring 42 is sufficiently loosened, and a sufficient gap is formed between the clutch sleeve 41 and the clutch spring 42.

Therefore, when the driving force of the washing motor 13 is input to the drive shaft 17 and the drive shaft 17 and the clutch sleeve 41 are rotated, idling occurs between the clutch sleeve 41 and the clutch spring 42. Therefore, the rotation of the clutch sleeve 41 (drive shaft 17) is not transmitted to the lower gear case 33, and the inner tank 3 fixed to the support shaft 20
Does not rotate.

The rotation of the drive shaft 17 is transmitted to a planet gear 39 via a sun gear 37 fixed to the drive shaft 17.
At this time, the upper gear case 3 on which the fixed gear 38 is formed
Since 0 is braked, the planetary gear 39
8 and revolve around the sun gear 37. The revolution of the planet gear 39 is transmitted to the blade shaft 21 via the gear holder 40, and rotates the blade shaft 21 at low speed. Therefore, when the washing motor 13 is driven to rotate alternately in the forward and reverse directions,
The pulsator 11 fixed to the blade shaft 21 is rotated alternately in the direction of arrow A and in the opposite direction. Thereby, the inner tank 3
A water flow is generated therein, and the laundry is washed and rinsed by the water flow.

When the water flow is generated in the inner tub 3 in this manner, the stopped inner tub 3 may rotate by receiving the force from the generated water flow and the laundry stirred by the water flow. Therefore, in the fully automatic washing machine according to this embodiment, as described above, the rotation of the inner tub 3 in the direction of arrow A during washing and rinsing is braked by the brake mechanism 27, and the rotation of the inner tub 3 in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A is controlled by the one-way clutch. 6
1 is being braked.

However, this one-way clutch 6
If 1 is not high precision, for example, when the washing step or the rinsing step is repeatedly performed without performing the dehydration step,
The position of the inner tub 3 may gradually change in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during dehydration, and the loosened clutch spring 42 may be twisted in the tightening direction. Then, a predetermined angle (for example, 10 ° to
If twisted by more than 15 °), the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 are connected to each other, causing a problem that the inner tub 3 is positively rotated.

Therefore, in the fully automatic washing machine according to this embodiment, as described below, the torque motor 54 is turned on for a predetermined time at a predetermined timing during the execution of the washing step and the rinsing step (the rinsing step). By turning it off later, the ratchet wheel 44 is rotated by the clutch piece 45,
The clutch spring 42 is expanded. As a result, the accuracy of the one-way clutch 61 is relatively poor, and even if the clutch spring 42 is gradually twisted in the tightening direction, the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33
Since the clutch spring 42 is expanded before the connection is made, the inner tub 3 does not actively rotate during the washing process or the rinsing process. This is one of the features of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the fully automatic washing machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows only a characteristic portion of the fully automatic washing machine. A series of washing operations including the steps of water supply, washing, rinsing, draining and dehydrating are executed under the control of the CPU 55. CP
U55 has a ROM 5 in which a program for controlling the driving of the washing motor 13 and the torque motor 54 is stored.
6. RAM 57 functioning as a work area when CPU 55 executes a program stored in ROM 56;
Also, a timer 58 for measuring the drive time and stop time of the washing motor 13 is connected. This timer 58
Is not necessarily a hard timer, but may be a soft timer created on a program.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the washing operation executed by the CPU 55. Referring to FIG. 5, when the washing operation is started, first, an amount of washing water necessary for the washing process is stored in outer tub 2 (step S).
1). Next, the drive control of the washing motor 13 is started (step S2), and the pulsator 11 is moved by the arrow A shown in FIG.
Rotated alternately in direction and vice versa. As a result, a water flow is generated in the inner tub 3 and the laundry in the inner tub 3 is washed.

The drive control of the washing motor 13 is started, and for example, 5 minutes is set in the timer 58 (step S3), and the timer 58 starts counting time (step S4). Until the timer 58 times out (step S5), a preset washing time (for example, 12 minutes) after the drive control of the washing motor 13 is started.
(Step S)
6).

When the timer 58 times out (YES in step S5), the torque motor 54 is switched from off to on (step S7). When the torque motor 54 is turned on, the brake lever 50 is displaced from the state shown by the solid line to the state shown by the two-dot chain line as described with reference to FIGS. The brake band 48 is loosened. As a result, the braking of the upper gear case 33 (the inner tank 3) is released, and the inner tank 3 is freely rotated in the direction of arrow A. Further, when the torque motor 54 is turned on, the clutch piece 45 is displaced from the engaged state shown by the solid line to the disengaged state shown by the two-dot chain line, and the ratchet wheel 43 enters the free rotation state. As a result, the clutch spring 42 is wound around the clutch sleeve 41 by its elastic force, and connects the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33. Therefore, the drive shaft 17
When the driving force of the washing motor 13 is input to the inner tub 3, the inner tub 3 is positively rotated in the direction of arrow A together with the pulsator 11. At this time, the rotation of the inner tank 3 in the direction opposite to the arrow A is
Blocked by one-way clutch 61.

When the torque motor 54 is turned on,
For example, 5 seconds are set in the timer 58 (step S
8), the timer 58 is started (step S9).
Then, five seconds elapse after the torque motor 54 is turned on, and the timer 58 times out (step S
10 (YES), the torque motor 54 is switched from on to off (step S11).

When the torque motor 54 is turned off, the brake lever 50 is displaced by the elastic force of the brake spring 52, and the upper gear case 30 is braked. 43 is braked. At this time, the ratchet wheel 43 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A by the clutch piece 45 and the clutch spring 42 is twisted in the loosening direction, so that the clutch spring 42 is loosened, and the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 Is disconnected. Thereafter, the process returns to step S3.

When returning to step S3, 5 minutes is newly set in the timer 58, and the above-mentioned steps S3 to S11
Is repeated. That is, every time 5 minutes have elapsed since the start of the drive control of the washing motor 13, the torque motor 54 is turned on.
Is turned off. If 12 minutes have elapsed since the start of the drive control of the washing motor 13 while the processes of steps S3 to S11 are repeatedly performed, it is determined in step S6 that the washing process has been completed, and The driving of the motor 13 is stopped (Step S12). Next, the washing water stored in the outer tub 2 is drained (step S13).

After the washing of the laundry is performed and the washing water in the outer tub 2 is drained, the rinsing step (step S14) and the final dehydrating step (step S14) are performed.
After 15), the washing operation ends. Although a detailed description is omitted, in the rinsing process performed in step S14, the water and the laundry stored in the outer tub 2 are washed with the pulsator 1
In the case where the laundry is rinsed by stirring in step 1, that is, so-called rinsing is performed, the above-described control of steps S2 to S13 is executed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the pre-rinsing in the washing step and the rinsing step, every five minutes after the drive control of the washing motor 13 is started, the torque motor 54 is operated for only five seconds. Turned on. When the torque motor 54 is switched from on to off, the ratchet wheel 43 is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A by the clutch piece 45, whereby the clutch spring 42 is twisted in the loosening direction and the clutch spring 4
2 is loosened.

Therefore, even if the one-way clutch 6
Inaccuracy of 1 and inner tank 3 during washing or rinsing
Is gradually changed in the direction opposite to the rotation direction during dehydration, the clutch spring 42 is expanded before the clutch spring 42 is completely tightened and the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case 33 are connected. You. therefore,
During the washing process and the rinsing process, the inner tub 3 does not continuously and positively rotate. That is, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the positive continuous rotation of the inner tub 3 during the washing step and the rinsing step can be prevented without requiring a high-precision one-way clutch.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of a bearing provided in a fully automatic washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, parts that are the same as the parts shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted below. In the configuration according to the above-described first embodiment, the clutch piece 45 that is engaged / disengaged with the ratchet wheel 43 and the brake lever 50 that operates the brake band 48 are one in one.
Are linked by two torque motors 54. On the other hand, in the configuration according to the second embodiment, the clutch piece 45 and the brake lever 50 are individually operated by the torque motors 70 and 71, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6, the clutch piece 45 is pivoted about a swing shaft 47 attached to the bearing cover 35.
An engagement state in which the tip is engaged with a claw portion 44 of the ratchet wheel 43;
The tip is displaceably provided in a detached state in which the tip is detached from the claw portion 44. The clutch piece 45 is moved by the elastic force of the pawl spring 72 provided on the swing shaft 47,
Are urged in a direction to engage with. Also, the clutch piece 4
5 is provided with a claw torque motor 7 via a wire 73.
0 is connected. With this configuration, when the pawl torque motor 70 is turned on, the clutch piece 45 is displaced from the engaged state to the disengaged state against the elastic force of the pawl spring 72, and the ratchet wheel 43 enters a free rotation state. When the claw torque motor 70 is switched from on to off, the clutch piece 45 is displaced from the disengaged state to the engaged state by the elastic force of the claw spring 72.

The swinging shaft 4 for supporting the clutch piece 45
7, a brake lever 50 to which one end of a brake band 48 is connected is rotatably supported. The brake lever 50 is urged in a direction to pull the brake band 48 by a brake spring 74 provided on the swing shaft 47. Further, a brake torque motor 71 is connected to the rear end of the brake lever 50 via a wire 75. With this configuration, when the brake torque motor 71 is in the off state, the brake spring 7
4. The brake band 48 is pulled by the elastic force of 4, the brake shoe 49 comes into close contact with the lower gear case 33, and the inner tank 3
Is braked. On the other hand, when the brake torque motor 71 is turned on, the brake lever 50 is displaced against the elastic force of the brake spring 74, and the brake lever 50 is displaced.
Is loosened, and the braking of the inner tank 3 is released.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the washing operation in the fully automatic washing machine according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, under the control of the CPU 55, every five minutes after the start of the washing or rinsing stroke, the torque motor 54 is turned on for 5 seconds and then turned off, and the ratchet wheel 43 is turned off. Is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow A by the clutch piece 45, whereby the clutch spring 42 is loosened. In contrast, this second
In the embodiment, under the control of the CPU, every 5 minutes after the start of the washing process or the rinsing process,
Only the brake torque motor 71 is turned on for 5 seconds, and the brake band 48 for braking the rotation of the inner tank 3 is provided.
Is loosened. Then, while the brake band 48 is loosened, the inner tank 3 is loosened (in the direction of arrow A) of the clutch spring 42 under the influence of the water flow generated in the inner tank 3 and the like. The spring 42 is loosened. Hereinafter, the operation of the washing machine according to the second embodiment will be described according to the flow of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 with reference to FIG.

When the washing operation is started and the amount of washing water necessary for the washing process is stored in the outer tub 2 (step T).
1) The drive control of the washing motor 13 is started (step T2), and the pulsator 11 is alternately rotated in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 2 and in the opposite direction to start washing of the laundry. In addition, the drive control of the washing motor 13 is started, and for example, 5 minutes is set in a timer connected to the CPU (step T3), and time counting by this timer is started (step T4). Until the timer times out (YES in step T5), it is repeatedly determined whether or not the washing process is completed (step T5).
6).

When five minutes are counted by the timer (YES in step T5), the torque motor 7 for braking is
1 is turned on (step T7). When the brake torque motor 71 is turned on, the brake lever 50 is displaced against the elastic force of the brake spring 74, and the brake band 48 connected to the brake lever 50 is loosened. As a result, the braking of the upper gear case 33 (the inner tank 3) is released, and the inner tank 3 is freely rotated in the direction of arrow A. The rotation of the inner tank 3 in the direction opposite to the arrow A is prevented by the one-way clutch 61. Therefore, while the brake band 48 is loosened, the inner tank 3 is gradually rotated in the direction of arrow A under the influence of the water flow or the like. As a result, the clutch spring 42 is twisted in the loosening direction,
The clutch spring 42 is expanded.

At the same time when the brake torque motor 71 is turned on, for example, 5 seconds are set in the timer (step T8), and time measurement for 5 seconds is started (step T9). After 5 seconds have elapsed since the brake torque motor 71 was turned on (YE in step T10).
S), the brake torque motor 71 is switched from on to off (step T11). At this time, the clutch spring 42 is sufficiently loosened by the rotation of the inner tank 3, and in this state, the inner tank 3 is braked, whereby
The clutch spring 42 is held in a loose state. Thereafter, the process returns to step T3.

When returning to step T3, the above-described processing of steps T3 to T11 is repeatedly performed. Then, while the processing of steps T3 to T11 is repeatedly performed,
When 12 minutes have elapsed since the start of the driving control of the washing motor 13, it is determined in step T6 that the washing process has been completed, and the driving of the washing motor 13 is stopped (step T12). Next, the washing water stored in the outer tub 2 is drained (step T13).

After the washing of the laundry is performed in this manner and the washing water in the outer tub 2 is drained, a rinsing step (step T14) and a final dehydrating step (step T14) are performed.
After 15), the washing operation ends. Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, step T
When the rinsing is performed in the rinsing process performed in step 14, the control in steps T2 to T13 described above is performed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the rinsing in the washing step and the rinsing step,
Every five minutes after the drive control of the washing motor 13 is started, the brake torque motor 71 is turned on for only five seconds, and the brake band 48 for braking the rotation of the inner tub 3 is loosened. During the five seconds during which the braking of the inner tank 3 is released, the inner tank 3 is slightly rotated in the direction of arrow A by the water flow generated when the pulsator 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and the clutch sleeve 41 and the lower gear case are rotated. 3
3 is loosened.

That is, the operation is different from that of the above-described first embodiment, but as a result, the clutch spring 42 is periodically loosened during the washing stroke and the rinsing stroke as in the above-described first embodiment. There is an effect that the tank 3 is prevented from continuously and positively rotating. Since the rotation of the inner tank 3 in the direction opposite to the arrow A is prevented by the one-way clutch 61, the inner tank 3 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A while the brake of the inner tank 3 is released. Therefore, the clutch spring 42 does not tighten.

Although the two embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is turned on for only 5 seconds every 5 minutes after the start of the washing operation or the rinsing operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is changed so that the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is turned on every time an arbitrarily set time has elapsed since the start of the washing process or the rinsing process. You may. In this case, the torque motor 5
4 or the torque motor 71 for braking is prevented from being frequently turned on / off, and the torque motor 54 or the torque motor 71 for braking is turned on / off at least once during the washing and rinsing steps. Is
In consideration of the entire time of the washing step or the rinsing step, it is preferable that the setting is made so that it is turned on at an arbitrary time within a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes after the start of the washing step or the rinsing step.

It is not always necessary to turn on the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 periodically (for example, every five minutes). For example, when three minutes have elapsed since the start of the washing or rinsing step. The torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is turned on / off at a predetermined timing, for example, the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is turned on / off again after a lapse of 5 minutes.
May be turned on / off.

Further, the ON time of the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 does not need to be limited to 5 seconds as described above, and the torque motor 54 or the brake torque motor 71 is turned ON for an arbitrarily set time. It may be changed as follows. However, the torque motor 54
Alternatively, since the washing or rinsing performance is slightly reduced while the brake torque motor 71 is on, the on time of the torque motor 54 is preferably as short as possible. However, if the ON time of the torque motor 54 is too short, the clutch piece 45 will not separate from the ratchet wheel 43 in the first embodiment, or the inner tub 3 will not be rotated in the second embodiment, and the clutch spring 42 May not be expanded. In consideration of the above, it is preferable that the ON time of the torque motor 54 be set to an arbitrary time of 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, if the inner tub 3 (claw wheel 43) is rotating in the direction of arrow A when the torque motor 54 is turned off, the rotation in the direction of arrow A causes the clutch to rotate. When the piece 45 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 43, a force in the loosening direction is applied to the clutch spring 42, and the clutch spring 42 is largely loosened. Therefore, the torque motor 54 is preferably turned off while the inner tank 3 (pulsator 11) is rotating in the direction of arrow A.

The timing at which the torque motor 54 is turned on is determined when the inner tub 3 is rotating in the direction opposite to the arrow A, even when the inner tub 3 is rotating in the direction of the arrow A. There may be. However, if the torque motor 54 is turned on / off between the time when the inner tank 3 starts rotating in the direction of arrow A and the time when the rotation direction is reversed, the inner tank 3 actively rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A. The one-way clutch 61 for preventing rotation of the inner tank 3 in the direction opposite to the arrow A is not provided.
It is more preferable since no burden is imposed on the user.

In the second embodiment, if the brake torque motor 71 is turned on / off while the pulsator 11 is rotating in the direction of arrow A, braking of the inner tank 3 is released. In the meantime, no force in the direction opposite to the arrow A (the direction opposite to the rotation direction at the time of spin-drying) acts on the inner tank 3, and the clutch spring 42 is not tightened by the rotation in the direction opposite to the arrow A. Therefore, the one-way clutch 61 for preventing the rotation of the inner tank 3 in the direction opposite to the arrow A can be omitted.

The rotation direction of the inner tub 3 can be determined from a drive control signal given from the CPU 55 to the washing motor 13. In addition, since the rotation mode of the pulsator 11 in the washing step and the rinsing step is predetermined, the rotation direction of the inner tank 3 (pulsator 11) can be determined by referring to the elapsed time from the start of the washing step and the rinsing step. Can also be determined.

[0073]

According to the present invention, even when the transmission of the driving force to the dehydrating shaft is switched by the clutch spring, the washing operation such as easy washing and rinsing can be performed well.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a simplified configuration of a fully automatic washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a bearing unit provided in the fully automatic washing machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view of the bearing unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the fully automatic washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a washing operation executed by the CPU.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a bearing provided in a fully automatic washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the fully automatic washing machine according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 inner tub (dehydration tub) 11 pulsator 13 washing motor 17 drive shaft 20 support shaft (dehydration shaft) 24 gear case (dehydration shaft) 27 brake mechanism 42 clutch spring 43 pawl wheel 45 clutch piece 47 swing shaft 48 brake band 52 brake Spring 54 Torque motor (clutch piece driving means) 55 CPU 56 ROM 57 RAM 58 Timer 71 Brake torque motor (brake driving means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] A pulsator having a dehydrating tub and a pulsator provided in the dehydrating tub, wherein the pulsator is alternately rotated by a washing motor to perform washing and rinsing; In a fully automatic washing machine that spins and spins, a driving shaft to which a driving force of a washing motor is input, a spinning shaft connected to the spinning tub to support the spinning tub, an outer periphery of the driving shaft and a spinning shaft Wound around the perimeter of
By tightening the outer periphery of the drive shaft and the outer periphery of the dehydrating shaft with an elastic force that is shrunk in the winding direction, a coil-shaped clutch spring connecting the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft is loosely fitted to the drive shaft. A ratchet wheel to which one end of the clutch spring is locked, and a clutch piece that opens the clutch spring by rotating the ratchet wheel when displacing from the disengaged state from the ratchet wheel to the engaged state engaged with the ratchet wheel. During the washing or rinsing, the clutch piece is displaced from the engaged state to the disengaged state at a preset timing,
A clutch piece driving means for displacing the clutch piece from the disengaged state to the engaged state when a predetermined time has elapsed thereafter. 2. The fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a brake mechanism provided in connection with the dehydrating shaft for braking the rotation of the dehydration tub. 3. The clutch piece driving means according to claim 2, wherein the clutch piece driving means displaces the clutch piece from the disengaged state to the engaged state while the dewatering tub is rotating in the rotation direction during dehydration. Fully automatic washing machine. 4. The clutch piece driving means displaces the clutch piece from the engaged state to the disengaged state while the dewatering tub is rotating in the rotation direction during dehydration, and further displaces the clutch piece from the disengaged state to the engaged state. 3. The fully automatic washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing is performed. 5. A dehydration tub and a pulsator provided in the dehydration tub, wherein the pulsator is alternately rotated by a washing motor in the forward and reverse directions to perform washing and rinsing, and the pulsator and the dehydration tub are moved in one direction at a high speed. In a fully automatic washing machine that spins and spins, a driving shaft to which a driving force of a washing motor is input, a spinning shaft connected to the spinning tub to support the spinning tub, an outer periphery of the driving shaft and a spinning shaft The dehydrating shaft is loosened when rotated in the direction of rotation of the dehydrating tub during dehydration with respect to the drive shaft, and contracts when rotated in the opposite direction to connect the drive shaft and the dehydrating shaft. A coil-shaped clutch spring, a brake mechanism provided in connection with the spin-drying shaft, for braking the rotation of the spin-drying tub, and a brake at a preset timing during washing or rinsing. Automatic washing machine which comprises a brake driving means for releasing the braking of the dewatering tank by structure a predetermined time. 6. A fully automatic washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said brake driving means operates the brake mechanism while the pulsator is rotating in the direction of rotation of the dewatering tub during dewatering. 7. The fully automatic washing according to claim 1, wherein the preset timing is at an arbitrary time set within a range of 1 minute to 10 minutes. Machine. 8. The fully automatic washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is set within a range of 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds.