【発明の詳細な説明】[Detailed description of the invention]
［発明の技術分野］
本発明は洗濯機等の機器に設置されてその洗剤受部に洗
剤特に粉末洗剤を供給するところの洗濯機等の洗剤供給
装置に関する。[Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a detergent supply device for a washing machine, etc., which is installed in a device such as a washing machine and supplies detergent, particularly powdered detergent, to a detergent receiving portion thereof.
【発明の技術的背景】[Technical background of the invention]
従来より、この種粉末洗剤の供給に用いる洗濯機等の洗
剤供給装置としては、例えば特公昭４２−１８７６９号
公報に示すものが存する。このものは、全体に洗濯機に
設置され、その中でホッパ内に収容され貯留された粉末
洗剤を、給水路中に設けた水車により駆動されるスクリ
ューにより出して洗濯槽内等に供給するようになってい
る。
［背景技術の問題点］
上記従来のものの場合、ホッパ内に貯留された粉末洗剤
が湿気で該ホッパの内面部やスクリューの表面部にこび
りつき易く、特に洗濯機のように水を扱う機器にあって
はそれ特有の湿気の多さのために上記粉末洗剤のこびり
つきも一層生じ易いという事情を存している。ところが
その除去清掃については、全体が洗濯機に設置されたま
まの状態でホッパ内に手を入れその内面部及びスクリュ
ーの表面部からこびりついた粉末洗剤を掻き落とすとい
う方法をとるしかなく、それは非常に煩わしく且つ困難
な作業となるため、充分な除去清掃ができないという問
題点を有していた。
［発明の目的コ
本発明は上述の問題点を解決すべくなされたものであり
、従ってその目的は、ホッパの内面部及び洗剤出し部材
の表面部にこびりついた粉末洗剤の除去清掃が容易且つ
充分にできる優れた洗剤供給装置を提供するにある。
［発明の概要］
本発明は、ホッパとこのホッパから粉末洗剤を出す洗剤
出し部材とをユニット化し、そのユニットを洗剤出し部
材を駆動する駆動装置に対し分離可能に設けると共に機
器に対し取外し可能に設けることにより、そのユニット
従ってホッパと洗剤出し部材とを駆動装置から分離し且
つ機器から取外して単独に扱い、その状態にて水洗い等
によりそれらの掃除が所望にできるようにしたことを特
徴とするものである。
［発明の実施例］
以下本発明を洗濯機の洗剤供給装置に適用した一実施例
につき第１図乃至第５図を参照して説明する。先ず第２
図に全容を示す洗濯機本体１は、外殻を外箱２に上カバ
ー３を被着することによって構成しており、上カバー３
には蓋４を開閉可能に枢設する他に、この蓋４前方の前
縁部に位置して操作パネル５を設け、後縁部に台状部６
を設けている。台状部６には図中右側の端部に水位設定
用の操作摘み７を設けており、その左隣部に洗剤量設定
用の操作摘み８を設けている。そして台状部６にあって
操作摘み８の左隣部から左端部にかけては、ホッパセッ
ト口９を形成すると共に、このホッパセット口９に連ね
てその下方に第３図に示す如く断１Ｉｊｖ字状を成し両
側端が第４図に示す如く開放するホッパ受部１０を形成
している。ホッパ受部１０には、下部をホッパ受部１０
に合わせて断面Ｖ字状に形成すると共に両側面をも斜状
に形成したホッパ１１を、ホッパセット口９を通して収
容しており、同時にホッパ１１の第４図中左側部に形成
した爪部１２をホッパセット口９の左側縁部に係合させ
、右側部に形成した操作突片１３を有する弾性爪部１４
をホッパセット口９の右側縁部に弾性係合させて、ホッ
パ１１の脱落防止を、後述にて明らかとなる取外し可能
な構造にて図っている。一方、ホッパ１１の上面開放口
には蓋１５を後端の軸１６（第３図参照）によって開閉
可能に枢設しており、又、ホッパ１１の内部には前後方
向に突出する突起部１７を複数有すると共に周囲外方に
突出する突起部１８を多数有し史に孔１９をも複数有す
る撹拌部材２０を、軸２１をホッパ１１の前後間にわた
して回転可能に支承配設しており、更にホッパ１１の下
端部にはホッパ１１内から専ら第４図中右側外方へ突出
した筒状部にかけて洗剤送出部２２を形成し、その先端
の出口２３は前記台状部６の内方に配設した受板２４の
上面なかでもその略中央部の洗剤受部２５に臨んでいる
。受板２４は上面が給水路を兼ねるものであり、第５図
に示す如く前記外箱２内の図示しない洗濯槽に臨む先端
の供給口２６に向がい漸次下降傾斜するように設けられ
ていて、その最上部である後端部上には給水弁２７を配
設している。又、上記洗剤送出部２２内には、洗剤出し
部拐であるコイル２８を第４図に示す如くその全長にわ
たって回転可能に収容配設しており、前記撹拌部材２０
はその突起部１８の一つを該コイル２８に係合させてい
る。一方、洗剤送出部２２の出口２３とは反対側の端部
に、はコイル２８の基端部を係着した伝動軸２９を挿設
し、この伝動軸２９のコイル２８とは反対側の端部には
コネクタ３０を取着して、コイル２８の抜止めをし、以
てコイル２８をホッパ１１と一体化し、それらのユニッ
ト化をしている。そしてそのコネクタ３０に対応して前
記台状部６の第４図中左側部内面には駆動装置であるモ
ータ３１を取着し、その回転軸３２の先端部に直角交差
状に設けた伝動ビン３３を上記コネクタ３０に取外し可
能に係合させており、従って又上記ホッパ１１とコイル
２８とのユニット全体としてもモータ３１に対し分離可
能ならしめている。
さて、上述の如く構成したものの場合、その使用に当た
っては、先ずホッパ１１の蓋１５を第３図に二点鎖線で
示すように開け、この状態でホッパ１１内に粉末洗剤３
４を容れ、その後に蓋１５を閉じて、」二記粉末洗剤３
４がホッパ１１内に貯留された状態として置く。そして
洗濯をすべく操作パネル５の必要なスイッチを操作する
と、洗濯が開始されることに先んじてモータ３１が通電
され、通電されたモータ３１は起動するから、その回転
力が回転軸３２から伝動ビン３３とコネクタ３０との係
合構造を介して伝動軸２９に伝達され、更にこの伝動軸
２９からコイル２８に伝達される。
斯くしてコイル２８が回転特にいわゆる螺進方向に回転
駆動されるもので、斯様に回転駆動されたコイル２８は
ホッパ１１内の粉末洗剤３４と接触しつつ動いて該粉末
洗剤３４を細かくしながら洗剤送出部２２内を出口２３
に向かって進め、そしてその出口２３から出す。而して
出された粉末洗剤３４ａは第４図の他第５図に示す如く
受は板２４上の洗剤受部２５に受けられるもので、この
洗剤受部２５に於いて給水弁２７を通じて第５図中矢印
で示すように供給される水により流され、その水と共に
供給口２６から図示しない洗濯槽内へと供給される。尚
、特に本実施例の場合、上述の水は粉末洗剤３４ａが洗
剤受部２５上に落ちる前から流し始めて且つ粉末洗剤３
４ａの流し出しを終えてからち更に流し続けるようにし
、これによって洗濯物に粉末洗剤３４ａが直接併行する
のを防止してその黄変やいたみを防止するようにするの
みならず、特にはその粉末洗剤３４ａを洗剤受部２５か
ら残さず流し出しこびりつかせることのないようにして
いる。又、前記モータ３１の回転ひいてはコイル２８に
よる粉末洗７１ｉＩ＋３４の送出については、その時間
的長さ従って送出量を操作摘み８の操作によって粉末洗
剤３４の種類に合わせて調節できるようにしている。加
えてこの場合、上記操作摘み８による送出量の調節は所
定の基本送出量に対する補足を指し、その基本送出量は
操作摘み７の操作によって設定される水位に応じて決定
されるようにしている。更にコイル２８が前述の如（回
転駆動されるとき、該コイル２８に突起部１８の一つを
係合させた撹拌部材２０はその突起部１８を順次コイル
２８に係合させるようにして回転し、これによってホッ
パ１１内の粉末洗剤３４を撹拌し、それをほぐすと共に
洗剤送出部２２への導入が円滑に行なわれるようにして
いる。
そして掃除の必要を生じたとき、上記構成のものに於い
ては、弾性爪部１４の操作片１３を操作して該弾性爪部
１４をホッパセット口９の縁部から外せば、後は第１図
に示すようにその弾性爪部１４部分をホッパセット口９
から抜き出し、更に爪部１２をホッパセット口９の縁部
から外して抜き出すことにより、ホッパ１１とコイル２
８とのユニットを台状部６ひいては洗濯機から取外すこ
とができ、又、この折り伝動ピン３３からコネクタ３０
を解離させて上記ユニットをモータ３１から分離するこ
ともできるので、それによりそれらホッパ１１及びコイ
ル２８を単独に扱ってそれらにこびりついた粉末洗剤３
４を取り除く掃除を特に水洗い等により容易にそして所
望に行なうことができ、従って又充分に掃除できるもの
である。
加えてホッパ１１とコイル２８とのユニットは、それら
のサービス交換時に於いてもそれを容易になさしめ得る
点で効果ををする。更に駆動装置がモータ３１である本
実施例に於いては、それを台状部６内に残すのであるか
ら、ホッパ１１及びコイル２８を水洗いするときの水が
モータ３１にかからず、その電気絶縁性を良好に維持す
ることができる。
ここで、第６図及び第７図は本発明の異なる実施例を示
したもので、上述の爪部１２及び弾性爪部１４に代えホ
ッパセット口９の両側縁部に夫々スプリング３５．３５
により付勢して設けた爪３６．３６を、ホッパ１１の両
側面部に設けた凹部３７．３７に係合させてホッパ１１
の保持をするようにすると共に、モータ３１から洗剤送
出部材２８への回転力の伝達も回転軸３２に取着した駆
動ギヤ３８と伝動軸２９に取着した従動ギヤ３９との噛
合により行なわれる構造としたものであり、このもので
もその爪３６．３６を第７図に示すように操作して凹部
・３７．３７との係合を解除すれば、ホッパ１１とコイ
ル２８とのユニットを上述同様に取外すことができ、又
、この折り同時に駆動ギヤ３８から従動ギヤ３９を解離
させて上記ユニットをモータ３１から分離させることも
」二述同様にできるので、これにてもホッパ１１及びコ
イル２８の水洗い等による掃除を容易且つ充分に行なう
ことができる。
尚、前述の給水と併せた粉末洗剤３４ａの供給並びにそ
の折りの給水の時間幅制御及び粉末洗剤３４の種類に応
じた送出量の調節、そして撹拌部材２０の有無等の点に
ついてはそれらを適宜選定して実施するようにしても良
い。更に洗剤受部は受板２４上の洗剤受部２５に限られ
ず洗濯槽内であっても良いもので、即ち、粉末洗剤３４
は洗濯槽内に直接供給されるものであっても良い。又、
洗剤出し部材としても前述のコイル２８に限られず、従
来のスクリューや或いは弁等であっても良いもので、こ
れら洗剤出し部材を駆動する駆動装置としてもモータ３
１には限られず、例えば給水路中で作動する水車等であ
っても良い。そして全体としても洗濯機には限られず、
食器洗浄機など粉末洗剤を使用して機能する機器のすべ
てに同様に適用して実施することができる。
この他、本発明は上記し且つ図面に示した実施例にのみ
限定されるものではなく、要旨を逸脱しない範囲内で適
宜変更して実施し得る。
［発明の効果コ
以上の記述にて明らかなように本発明によれば、ホッパ
と洗剤出し部材とを駆動装置から分離し且つ機器から取
外して単独に扱い、その状態にて水洗い等によりその掃
除が所望にできるというのであるから、ホッパの内面部
及び洗剤出し部材の表面部にこびりついた粉末洗剤の除
去清掃が容易且つ充分にでき、しかもそれらのサービス
交換等も容易にできるという優れた効果を奏するもので
ある。Conventionally, as a detergent supply device such as a washing machine used for supplying this type of powdered detergent, there exists, for example, the one shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 18769/1983. This device is installed throughout the washing machine, and the powdered detergent stored in the hopper is discharged by a screw driven by a water wheel installed in the water supply channel and supplied to the washing tub. It has become. [Problems with the Background Art] In the case of the above-mentioned conventional method, the powdered detergent stored in the hopper tends to stick to the inner surface of the hopper and the surface of the screw due to moisture, which is particularly problematic in equipment that handles water such as washing machines. However, due to the high humidity inherent thereto, the powdered detergent is more likely to stick. However, the only way to remove and clean it is to put your hand inside the hopper and scrape off the powdered detergent stuck to the inside of the hopper and the surface of the screw while the whole thing is still installed in the washing machine, which is extremely difficult. This is a troublesome and difficult task, so there is a problem in that sufficient removal and cleaning cannot be performed. [Purpose of the Invention] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to easily and thoroughly remove powdered detergent stuck to the inner surface of the hopper and the surface of the detergent dispensing member. Our aim is to provide an excellent detergent supply device that can [Summary of the invention] The present invention unitizes a hopper and a detergent dispensing member for dispensing powdered detergent from the hopper, and provides the unit so as to be separable from a drive device that drives the detergent dispensing member, and to be removable from equipment. By providing this unit, the hopper and the detergent dispensing member can be separated from the drive device and removed from the equipment to be handled independently, and in this state, they can be cleaned as desired by washing with water or the like. It is something. [Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a detergent supply device for a washing machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, the second
A washing machine main body 1, the entire structure of which is shown in the figure, has an outer shell constructed by attaching an upper cover 3 to an outer box 2.
In addition to the lid 4 being pivoted to allow opening and closing, an operation panel 5 is provided at the front edge in front of the lid 4, and a platform 6 is provided at the rear edge.
has been established. The platform part 6 is provided with an operating knob 7 for setting the water level at the right end in the figure, and an operating knob 8 for setting the amount of detergent on the left side thereof. A hopper set opening 9 is formed from the left side of the operation knob 8 to the left end of the platform 6, and a section 1Ijv is formed below the hopper set opening 9 as shown in FIG. It forms a hopper receiving part 10 which is shaped like a hopper and whose both ends are open as shown in FIG. The lower part of the hopper receiving part 10 is
A hopper 11, which is formed to have a V-shaped cross section and oblique sides in accordance with the above, is accommodated through the hopper set opening 9, and at the same time, a claw portion 12 formed on the left side of the hopper 11 in FIG. is engaged with the left side edge of the hopper set port 9, and has an operating protrusion 13 formed on the right side.
is elastically engaged with the right side edge of the hopper set opening 9 to prevent the hopper 11 from falling off with a removable structure that will become clear later. On the other hand, a lid 15 is pivotally mounted on the top opening of the hopper 11 so that it can be opened and closed by a shaft 16 at the rear end (see FIG. 3), and a protrusion 17 that protrudes in the front-rear direction is provided inside the hopper 11. A stirring member 20 having a plurality of projections 18 protruding outward from the periphery and a plurality of holes 19 is rotatably supported with a shaft 21 passing between the front and rear of the hopper 11. Further, at the lower end of the hopper 11, a detergent delivery part 22 is formed extending from the inside of the hopper 11 to a cylindrical part that projects outwardly to the right in FIG. It faces the detergent receiving portion 25 at the substantially central portion of the upper surface of the receiving plate 24 disposed in the upper surface thereof. The upper surface of the receiving plate 24 also serves as a water supply channel, and as shown in FIG. 5, it is provided so as to be inclined gradually downward toward a supply port 26 at the tip facing a washing tub (not shown) inside the outer box 2. A water supply valve 27 is disposed on the uppermost rear end portion. A coil 28 serving as a detergent dispensing section is rotatably housed in the detergent dispensing section 22 over its entire length as shown in FIG.
has one of its protrusions 18 engaged with the coil 28. On the other hand, a transmission shaft 29 to which the proximal end of a coil 28 is engaged is inserted into an end of the detergent delivery section 22 opposite to the outlet 23, and an end of the transmission shaft 29 opposite to the coil 28 is inserted. A connector 30 is attached to the portion to prevent the coil 28 from coming off, thereby integrating the coil 28 with the hopper 11 and making them into a unit. Corresponding to the connector 30, a motor 31 serving as a drive device is attached to the inner surface of the left side of the platform 6 in FIG. 33 is removably engaged with the connector 30, so that the entire unit of the hopper 11 and coil 28 can be separated from the motor 31. Now, in the case of the device constructed as described above, when using it, first open the lid 15 of the hopper 11 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
4, then close the lid 15 and add powder detergent 3.
4 is stored in the hopper 11. Then, when the necessary switches on the operation panel 5 are operated to wash the clothes, the motor 31 is energized before washing starts, and the energized motor 31 starts, so its rotational force is transmitted from the rotating shaft 32. The signal is transmitted to the transmission shaft 29 through the engagement structure between the bin 33 and the connector 30, and further transmitted from the transmission shaft 29 to the coil 28. In this way, the coil 28 is rotated, particularly in a so-called spiral direction, and the coil 28 rotated in this manner moves while contacting the powdered detergent 34 in the hopper 11 to finely powder the powdered detergent 34. while the inside of the detergent delivery section 22 is opened at the outlet 23.
Proceed towards it and exit through exit 23. The powdered detergent 34a thus dispensed is received in a detergent receiving portion 25 on the plate 24 as shown in FIG. 4 and also in FIG. It is flushed away by the supplied water as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, and is supplied together with the water from the supply port 26 into the washing tub (not shown). In particular, in the case of this embodiment, the above-mentioned water starts flowing before the powder detergent 34a falls onto the detergent receiver 25, and
After the washing is finished, the powder detergent 34a is continued to be washed.This not only prevents the powdered detergent 34a from being applied directly to the laundry and prevents yellowing and staining of the laundry. The powdered detergent 34a is flushed out from the detergent receiving part 25 without leaving any residue, so that it does not become stuck. Further, regarding the rotation of the motor 31 and the delivery of the washing powder 71iI+34 by the coil 28, the time length and delivery amount can be adjusted according to the type of powder detergent 34 by operating the operating knob 8. In addition, in this case, the adjustment of the delivery amount by the operation knob 8 refers to a supplement to a predetermined basic delivery amount, and the basic delivery amount is determined according to the water level set by the operation of the operation knob 7. . Furthermore, when the coil 28 is rotated as described above, the stirring member 20 that has one of the protrusions 18 engaged with the coil 28 rotates so that the protrusion 18 is sequentially engaged with the coil 28. This agitates the powdered detergent 34 in the hopper 11, loosens it, and allows it to be smoothly introduced into the detergent delivery section 22.When cleaning becomes necessary, the above-mentioned structure is used. If the elastic claw part 14 is removed from the edge of the hopper set opening 9 by operating the operation piece 13 of the elastic claw part 14, then the elastic claw part 14 can be removed from the hopper set opening as shown in FIG. Mouth 9
hopper 11 and coil 2 by removing the claw part 12 from the edge of the hopper set opening 9 and pulling it out.
8 can be removed from the platform 6 and thus the washing machine, and the connector 30 can be removed from the folding transmission pin 33.
It is also possible to separate the unit from the motor 31 by disassociating the hopper 11 and the coil 28, so that the hopper 11 and the coil 28 can be handled individually and the powdered detergent 3 stuck to them can be removed.
4 can be easily and desirably cleaned, especially by washing with water, and therefore can be cleaned thoroughly. In addition, the unit of hopper 11 and coil 28 is advantageous in that it can be easily replaced during service. Furthermore, in this embodiment in which the drive device is the motor 31, since it is left in the platform 6, water when washing the hopper 11 and the coil 28 does not come into contact with the motor 31, and its electricity is Good insulation can be maintained. Here, FIGS. 6 and 7 show different embodiments of the present invention, in which springs 35 and 35 are installed at both side edges of the hopper set port 9, respectively, in place of the above-mentioned claws 12 and elastic claws 14.
The claws 36.36, which are biased by the
At the same time, rotational force is transmitted from the motor 31 to the detergent delivery member 28 by meshing a drive gear 38 attached to the rotating shaft 32 and a driven gear 39 attached to the transmission shaft 29. Even with this structure, if the claws 36, 36 are operated as shown in FIG. 7 to release the engagement with the recess 37, 37, the unit of the hopper 11 and the coil 28 can be assembled as described above. The hopper 11 and the coil 28 can be removed in the same manner, and the driven gear 39 can also be separated from the drive gear 38 at the same time as the unit is folded to separate the unit from the motor 31. can be easily and thoroughly cleaned by washing with water or the like. Note that the supply of the powdered detergent 34a in conjunction with the aforementioned water supply, the time width control of the water supply at that time, the adjustment of the delivery amount according to the type of the powdered detergent 34, and the presence or absence of the stirring member 20 may be adjusted as appropriate. It may be selected and implemented. Further, the detergent receiving portion is not limited to the detergent receiving portion 25 on the receiving plate 24, but may be placed inside the washing tub.
may be supplied directly into the washing tub. or,
The detergent dispensing member is not limited to the above-mentioned coil 28, but may also be a conventional screw, valve, etc. The motor 3 can also be used as a drive device for driving these detergent dispensing members.
1, and may be, for example, a water turbine that operates in a water supply channel. And overall, it is not limited to washing machines,
It can be applied and implemented similarly to all appliances that function using powdered detergent, such as dishwashers. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be implemented with appropriate changes within the scope of the invention. [Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the hopper and the detergent dispensing member are separated from the drive device and removed from the equipment to be handled separately, and in that state, they can be cleaned by washing with water or the like. This has the excellent effect of making it possible to easily and thoroughly remove powdered detergent stuck to the inner surface of the hopper and the surface of the detergent dispensing member, and also to easily service and replace them. It is something to play.
【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]
第１図乃至第５図は本発明の一実施例を示し、第１図は
主要部分の取外し途中の状態に於ける縦断正面図、第２
図は洗濯機に於ける全体の外観斜視図、第３図は主要部
分の設置状態に於ける縦断側面図、第４図Ｉよ同部分の
同状態に於ける縦断正面図、第５図は同部分の第３図と
は異なる断面位置での縦断側面図であり、そして第６図
及び第７図は本発明の異なる実施例を示した夫々略第４
図及び第１図相当図である。
図中、１１はホッパ、１２は爪部、１３は操作片、１４
は弾性爪部、２５は洗剤受部、２８はコイル（洗剤出し
部材）、３０はコネクタ、３１はモータ（駆動装置）、
３３は伝動ビン、３４は粉末洗剤、３６は爪、３８は駆
動ギヤ、３９は従動ギヤを示す。1 to 5 show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view in a state where the main parts are being removed, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the overall appearance of the washing machine, Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the main parts in the installed state, Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the same parts as shown in I, and Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the same parts as shown in I. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of the same part at a different cross-sectional position from FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 and FIG.
1 and a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1. In the figure, 11 is a hopper, 12 is a claw, 13 is an operating piece, and 14
25 is an elastic claw part, 25 is a detergent receiver, 28 is a coil (detergent dispenser), 30 is a connector, 31 is a motor (drive device),
33 is a transmission bottle, 34 is a powder detergent, 36 is a claw, 38 is a drive gear, and 39 is a driven gear.