TWI825105B - washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine of the present invention includes: a washing tank that accommodates the items to be washed and wash water; a cover that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank; a pressing portion that is provided on the cover and can be freely expanded and contracted; and a membrane that covers the pressing portion; The pressurizing and decompressing part moves the pressing part forward and backward relative to the object to be washed accommodated in the washing tank; and the control part controls the pressurizing and decompressing part. The membrane body is made of flexible material. The membrane body is provided with a deformation absorbing portion, and the deformation absorbing portion can deform in accordance with the advancement and retreat of the object to be washed by the pressing portion.

Description

washing machine

Field of invention The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry such as clothes.

Background of the invention Generally speaking, there are upright washing machines in which laundry such as clothes is stirred in a spin tank for cleaning, and washing machines where the laundry is lifted in the direction of rotation of the spin tank and then dropped from above. Front load washing machine for slap cleaning. No matter what kind of washing machine, in addition to the chemical force of the detergent, mechanical force is also applied to the laundry to perform cleaning. In addition, as a structure for dehydrating washed laundry, centrifugal force dehydration in which water is separated from the laundry by centrifugal force caused by high-speed rotation of the rotating tank is a general structure.

These washing machines that perform cleaning by applying mechanical force to the laundry are not suitable for washing the following laundry. That is, laundry that is prone to damage to the fabric, laundry that is easily deformed due to entanglement and pulling, or laundry that is prone to deterioration in touch. Laundry that is prone to deterioration in touch generally requires hand washing, such as sweaters, cardigans, knitted woolen fabrics, scarves made of fine materials such as ultra-fine fibers, etc. In addition, in the dehydration after washing, the above-mentioned laundry is not suitable for centrifugal dehydration. Therefore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-21097 proposes a washing machine that dehydrates laundry by applying a pressing force to the laundry as described above.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the dehydration device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-21097 depressurizes the space 52 below the washing tub 51 by the pressure reducing device 53 , and causes the pressure response body 54 to be depressurized. The pressing part 56 at the lower end of the bellows-shaped telescopic part 55 moves downward. Thereby, the laundry is pressed and compressed by the pressing part 56 to perform dehydration.

Here, the cover 57 for opening and closing the upper opening of the washing tub 51 is pivotally supported on the upper end of the washing machine outer frame 58 through a shaft 59 so as to be rotatable. Furthermore, the upper end of the telescopic part 55 is attached to the inner surface of the cover 57 . With such a structure, after the final dehydration step (corresponding to the dehydration step in the embodiment of the present invention), the pressing part 56 of the pressure response body 54 is lifted to the upper position, and the telescopic part 55 is folded. End all processes below.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 52-62970 proposes a washing machine in which a pressurized body is constituted by a flexible telescopic member such as bellows, and the pressurized body is reciprocated. This washing machine uses a pressurizing body to repeatedly pressurize the laundry and washing liquid to perform pressure washing.

Summary of the invention However, in the conventional structure described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-21097, when the pressing portion 56 provided on the pressure response body 54 is moved downward to press and compress the laundry for dehydration, almost all of the water is removed from the laundry. The dehydrated water will be attracted by the pressure reducing device 53 and drained outside the machine. On the other hand, the water adhering to the bellows-shaped telescopic portion 55 will not be sucked by the pressure reducing device 53, that is, it will not be drained. Therefore, when the pressure response body 54 is lifted to the upper position, the water will still adhere to the telescopic portion 55 in the folded state and remain.

In particular, in the intermediate dehydration process (corresponding to the intermediate dehydration operation in the embodiment of the present invention) after the cleaning process (in the embodiment of the present invention, it corresponds to the washing step), since the water in the washing tub 51 will contain There is a risk that dirt or detergent components adhere to the laundry and may accumulate in the telescopic portion 55 due to long-term use. In addition, since the telescopic part 55 is folded when not in use, it is difficult for the user to wipe off dirt and the like on the telescopic part 55 , making it difficult to keep it clean.

In a washing machine that uses a telescopic pressing part to apply pressing force to the objects to be washed, which is not suitable for mechanical force to be washed, the present invention covers the pressing part with a membrane body. Prevent dirt from adhering to the pressing part. Furthermore, an object is to provide a washing machine in which the membrane body can conform to the movement of the pressing part so that the pressing force acts on the items to be washed.

The washing machine of the present invention includes: a washing tank that accommodates items to be washed and wash water; a lid that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank; a pressing portion that is provided on the lid and can be freely expanded and contracted; and a membrane that covers the pressing portion. ; a pressurizing and decompressing part to move the pressing part forward and backward relative to the object to be washed accommodated in the washing tank; and a control part to control the pressurizing and decompressing part, and the membrane body is made of a flexible material , and a deformation absorbing part is provided on the membrane body, and the deformation absorbing part can deform in accordance with the advancement and retreat of the object to be washed by the pressing part.

Thereby, the pressing part will be covered by the membrane body, thereby preventing dirt from adhering to the pressing part. In addition, the deformation absorbing part of the membrane body will respond to the movement of the pressing part, and the membrane body can easily adapt to the forward and backward movements of the pressing part to apply the pressing force to the object to be washed. In addition, the resistance when the membrane body conforms to the movement of the pressing part is reduced, and the load applied to the pressurizing and depressurizing part can be suppressed to a low level.

Form used to implement the invention The washing machine of the first invention includes: a washing tank that accommodates the items to be washed and wash water; a lid that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank; a pressing portion that is provided on the lid and can be freely expanded and contracted; and a membrane that covers the pressing portion. ; a pressurizing and decompressing part to move the pressing part forward and backward relative to the object to be washed accommodated in the washing tank; and a control part to control the pressurizing and decompressing part, and the membrane body is made of a flexible material , and a deformation absorbing part is provided on the membrane body, and the deformation absorbing part can deform in accordance with the advancement and retreat of the object to be washed by the pressing part.

Thereby, the pressing part will be covered by the membrane body, and the bellows-shaped expansion and contraction part will not be exposed to the washing tank, and the pressing part can be protected. Therefore, detergent components contained in the wash water, dirt washed off from the object to be washed, and the like will not adhere to the pressing portion, and the pressing portion can be kept clean. In addition, the deformation absorbing part of the membrane body will respond to the movement of the pressing part, and the membrane body can easily adapt to the forward and backward movement of the pressing part to apply the pressing force to the object to be washed. Furthermore, the resistance when the membrane body conforms to the movement of the pressing part can be reduced, and the load applied to the pressure-reducing part that performs the expansion and contraction operation of the pressing part can be suppressed to a low level.

In the second invention, particularly in the first invention, the pressing part is provided to be extendable when the cover is opened, and the deformation absorbing part in the membrane body deforms as the pressing part is extended.

Thereby, when not in use without washing, the pressing part can be extended with the lid opened. In addition, potential energy is given to the membrane body by the extension of the pressing part, and the membrane body expands. Thereby, the user will make the deformation absorbing part into an extended state, and can easily wipe off the water droplets or dirt attached to the membrane body.

In the third invention, especially in the first or second invention, the membrane body is configured in a bag shape with an opening, and is placed in the pressing part so that the bottom of the membrane body faces the pressing surface of the pressing part, and the membrane body The body has a peripheral portion, and the peripheral portion is held by a cover portion opposed to the peripheral edge of the opening of the washing tank. The deformation absorbing portion is located between the bottom of the membrane body and the peripheral portion and is formed in an annular shape to surround the pressing portion. .

Thereby, the membrane body can easily adapt to the forward and backward movements of the pressing part to apply the pressing force to the object to be washed. In addition, the resistance when the membrane body conforms to the movement of the pressing part can be reduced. As a result, the load applied to the pressurizing and decompressing unit can be suppressed to a low level. In addition, by disposing the deformation absorbing portion inside the peripheral edge portion of the membrane body, the resistance during deformation can be further reduced.

In the fourth invention, particularly in any one of the first to third inventions, the washing tank is provided with a side wall connected to the periphery of the bottom of the washing tank and is inclined so as to expand toward the opening, and the deformation absorbing portion is provided When the cover is closed, it will be in a position opposite to the upper part of the side wall.

Thereby, the membrane body can contact a wide range of the objects to be washed accommodated at the bottom of the washing tank, and the objects to be washed can be pressed evenly.

In the fifth invention, particularly in the third or fourth invention, the membrane body is airtightly and watertightly sealed with the washing tank at the peripheral edge portion.

Thereby, the opening of the washing tank and the cover provided with the pressing part and the membrane body can be reliably sealed and coupled. Therefore, the composition will be simplified.

The sixth invention, particularly any one of the first to fifth inventions, has a plurality of pressing parts, and the membrane body is configured to enclose the plurality of pressing parts.

Thereby, when not in use without washing, the membrane body is supported by the plurality of pressing parts and becomes a stable state. Thereby, the user can easily wipe off dirt and the like attached to the membrane body. In addition, it is possible to prevent the object being washed from being bitten between the alternately extending and contracting pressing parts.

In the seventh invention, particularly in any one of the first to sixth inventions, the membrane body is provided with a convex portion facing the pressing surface of the pressing portion.

Thereby, it is possible to prevent the membrane from being worn due to contact with the pressing portion, resulting in a thinning of the thickness of the membrane. Therefore, the durability of the membrane body can be improved.

In the eighth invention, in particular any one of the first to seventh inventions, the membrane body is provided with a connecting portion connected to the pressing surface of the pressing portion.

Thereby, when the pressing part contracts, the membrane body will also move in the direction away from the object to be washed in accordance with the movement of the pressing part. Therefore, the object to be washed, that is, the clothes, expands and contracts easily during the cleaning step, thereby improving the cleaning performance.

The ninth invention, in particular any one of the first to eighth inventions, further includes: a suction part for sucking wash water from the object to be washed; and an external air introduction part for introducing external air into the inside of the washing tank, and , the control unit will execute at least one of the washing operation and the dehydration operation. The aforementioned washing operation is performed by pressing and releasing the objects to be washed by the pressing part, so that the objects to be washed shrink and expand to perform pressure washing. , the aforementioned dehydration operation is performed by sucking the wash water and the introduced external air through the suction part to perform dehydration.

Thereby, for items to be washed that are not suitable for being cleaned or squeezed by applying mechanical force to the items to be cleaned, the items to be cleaned can be pressed for pressure washing during the cleaning step. In the dehydration step, suction dehydration can be performed by sucking wash water from the object to be washed. Thereby, at least one of washing and dehydration can be effectively performed without damaging the object to be washed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. (Embodiment 1)

Hereinafter, the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 . The washing machine 1 performs a washing operation consisting of a washing step, a rinsing step, a dehydrating step, and the like.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of the washing machine 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine 1 in the first embodiment with the lid opened. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the washing machine 1 during cleaning in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine 1 in the first embodiment during the dehydration operation. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the function of the membrane body of the washing machine 1 in the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a state where the object to be washed is not pressed. FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of a state in which the pressing part is pressurized and presses the object to be washed. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine 1 in the first embodiment in a state in which the lid is opened and the membrane is pressed by the pressing part to expand the membrane. In addition, in FIGS. 3A and 3B , the water level detection unit 17 and the like described below are omitted. In addition, in FIGS. 3A and 3B , W is used to indicate the water level of the wash water.

In FIGS. 1 to 6 , the washing machine 1 is composed of a lower water tank portion 6 and an upper cover 5 . The water tank unit 6 is provided with a square-shaped washing tank 4 having a predetermined depth. The washing tank 4 has an opening 3 formed on the upper surface, and the user takes out and puts in the object to be washed 2 through the opening 3 . The cover 5 is rotatably attached to the rear edge of the upper edge of the water tank portion 6 via a hinge 6a. The lid body 5 has a lid part 5b that opens and closes the opening 3 of the washing tank 4.

The object 2 to be washed is placed in the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4 after being arranged by the user. In this embodiment, the object to be washed 2 refers to laundry, and examples thereof include woolen fabrics such as sweaters and cardigans, scarves made of fine materials made of ultrafine fibers, and the like. The items to be washed 2 are cleaned by a general washing machine and may be easily deformed or damaged due to the mechanical force acting on the items to be washed 2 . The side wall portion 4b connected to the periphery of the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4 is inclined to extend from the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4 toward the opening 3.

A handle 5a is provided on the front of the cover 5 . When the user holds the handle 5 a and rotates the cover 5 in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 2 , the cover 5 opens and closes the opening 3 . In addition, the lid 5 is configured to be held in a state opened to a predetermined angle. After the user closes the opening 3, the cover 5 is locked by a locking device (not shown) and remains in the closed state. Furthermore, when the user opens the cover 5, the locking device is unlocked (not shown) in conjunction with the operation of the handle 5a.

A pressurizing and decompressing portion 7 is provided inside the cover 5 . In this embodiment, the pressure increasing and reducing part 7 is comprised from the 1st pressure increasing and reducing part 7a and the 2nd pressure increasing and reducing part 7b. Specifically, the first pressurizing and reducing unit 7a includes a pressing unit 8a, a pressurizing pump 10a, and an opening and closing valve 11a.

That is, the pressure increasing and reducing part 7a includes the pressing part 8a, the pressure pump 10a, and the opening and closing valve 11a. Here, the pressing part 8a is a flexible bag-like shape formed of, for example, rubber, synthetic resin, or the like into a bellows shape. The pressurizing pump 10a is connected to the pressing part 8a through the hose 9a, and supplies fluid such as gas (such as air, etc.) or liquid (such as water, aqueous solution or oil) to the inside of the pressing part 8a. The opening and closing valve 11a discharges and stops the fluid supplied to the pressing part 8a through opening and closing operations.

Moreover, like the above-mentioned pressurization and decompression part 7a, the second pressurization and decompression part 7b includes the pressing part 8b, the pressurization pump 10b, and the opening and closing valve 11b. Here, the pressing part 8b is a flexible bag-like shape formed of, for example, rubber, synthetic resin, or the like. The pressurizing pump 10b is connected to the pressing part 8b through the hose 9b, and supplies fluid such as gas or liquid into the inside of the pressing part 8b. The opening and closing valve 11b discharges and stops the fluid supplied to the pressing part 8b through opening and closing operations. In addition, in this embodiment, the washing machine is described as being configured with two pressurization and decompression parts, but it may be configured with one pressurization and decompression part, or it may be configured with three or more pressurization and decompression parts. Can.

From now on, the symbols indicating plural a and b will sometimes be omitted for labeling unless special distinction is required. For example, the pressurization and decompression part 7 means the pressurization and decompression part 7a and the pressurization and decompression part 7b. Similarly, the pressing part 8, the hose 9, the pressurizing pump 10, the opening and closing valve 11, the pressing surface 80, and the telescopic part 90 described later respectively represent the pressing part 8a and the pressing part 8b, the hose 9a and the hose 9b, Pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b, opening and closing valves 11a and 11b, pressing surfaces 80a and 80b, expansion and contraction parts 90a and 90b.

The pressure and pressure reducing parts 7 are arranged in an array on the inside of the cover 5 . The pressing part 8 is installed on the washing tank 4 side of the cover 5 and expands and contracts. That is, the pressing part 8 is provided to be able to expand and contract, and is configured to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the object 2 accommodated in the bottom 4 a of the washing tank 4 . As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B , each of the pressing parts 8 a and 8 b has pressing surfaces 80 a and 80 b that press the object to be washed 2 and bellows-shaped expansion and contraction parts 90 a and 90 b. Moreover, the pressing parts 8a and 8b extend until the pressing surfaces 80a and 80b reach the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4.

The pressure increasing and reducing unit 7 is provided with a constant pressure release valve (not shown). When the pressure inside the pressing part 8 reaches a predetermined pressure, the constant pressure release valve opens to discharge the fluid to the outside. This prevents the pressing portion 8 from being pressurized beyond a predetermined pressure. In addition, in this embodiment, the fluid supplied to the inside of the pressing part 8 is demonstrated as air.

The pressing part 8 is covered with a membrane 41 made of a flexible material such as rubber. The membrane body 41 is set to a thickness (for example, 2 to 3 mm) that ensures sufficient strength to withstand repeated pressing on the object to be washed 2 . As shown in FIG. 5A , the membrane body 41 is formed in a bag shape with an opening. Furthermore, the membrane body 41 is placed on the pressing part 8 in such a manner that the bottom part 42 of the membrane body 41 faces the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 . In addition, the membrane body 41 is arranged such that the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 is located between the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 and the object to be washed 2 . Here, in the annular peripheral portion 43 provided at the opening of the membrane body 41, the cross section of the outward opening of the membrane body 41 is formed into a U-shape (C-shape). Thereby, the peripheral edge part 43 of the membrane body 41 is fitted into the cover part 5b which opposes the peripheral edge of the opening part 3 of the washing tank 4, and is held.

Furthermore, in the opening 3 , a sealing portion 44 is provided at the peripheral portion 43 of the membrane body 41 . When the cover 5 is closed, the washing tank 4 and the cover 5b are airtightly and watertightly sealed by the sealing portion 44 . Therefore, when the cover 5b is closed, the inside of the washing tank 4 becomes an airtight and watertight sealed space. Thereby, it is possible to prevent water or air from leaking from the opening 3 to the outside when performing the steps of cleaning, rinsing, and dehydration.

The membrane body 41 is provided with a deformation absorbing portion 45 that expands and contracts in the direction in which the pressing portion 8 advances or retreats with respect to the object to be washed 2 . That is, the deformation absorbing part 45 can deform in accordance with the forward and backward movement of the pressing part 8 . In addition, the deformation absorbing portion 45 is located between the bottom 42 and the peripheral portion 43 of the membrane body 41, and is provided at a position facing above the side wall portion 4b of the washing tank 4 that is inclined when the lid 5 is closed. That is, the deformation absorbing portion 45 is formed in an annular shape to surround the pressing portion 8 and deforms as the pressing portion 8 expands and contracts.

Here, the deformation absorbing portion 45 is formed to bulge upward in an arc shape. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the deformation absorbing portion 45 is provided in an S-shape (including a substantially S-shape) so as to be located inside the peripheral edge portion 43 of the membrane body 41 . Thereby, the resistance when the membrane body 41 deforms in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the pressing part 8 can be reduced. Along with this, the load applied to the pressure-reducing portion 7 that expands and contracts the pressing portions 8a and 8b is suppressed to a low level. In addition, the cover 5 is provided with a release hole 46 so that when the shape of the membrane 41 changes, the air inside surrounded by the cover 5 and the membrane 41 can be discharged to the outside.

Furthermore, the cover 5 is provided with a water supply path 16 for supplying wash water to the wash tank 4 . A water supply valve 14 is provided in the water supply path 16 and communicates with the inside of the washing tank 4 through the detergent box 15 . Therefore, by opening and closing the water supply valve 14, the supply of tap water (wash water) into the inside of the washing tank 4 is performed and stopped.

The water level detector 17 detects the water level W of the wash water accumulated in the wash tank 4 (refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The water level detection part 17 is provided in communication with the inside of the washing tank 4 . For example, the water level detection part 17 has a water level detection tank 18, a float 19, and a water level switch 20. The water level detection tank 18 is a tank having an opening at the upper side. The buoy 19 will float up and down in response to changes in the water level in the water level detection tank 18 . The water level switch 20 detects the water level when the buoy 19 rises to a predetermined position.

A drainage hole 21 is formed in the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4 for draining the washing water used in the washing step and the like. The drain hole 21 is connected to a drain path 23 provided with a drain valve 22. By opening and closing the drain valve 22, the wash water in the wash tank 4 is drained and stopped.

An overflow path 24 is provided in the water tank portion 6 to drain the wash water in the wash tub 4 to the outside when the water level in the wash tub 4 reaches a predetermined level or higher. The overflow path 24 has an overflow hole 24 a in the upper part of the washing tank 4 , for example, and is connected to the drainage path 23 on the downstream side of the drain valve 22 .

In addition, a check valve (not shown) is provided in the overflow path 24 . The check valve is configured to open the overflow path 24 in the discharge direction of the washing water in the washing tank 4 and to close the overflow path 24 in the inflow direction. That is, in the cleaning step and the flushing step, the check valve allows the wash water flowing out from the overflow hole 24a to pass and be discharged to the outside. On the other hand, the check valve is configured to prevent external air from flowing into the washing tank 4 when the suction pump 27 sucks the air in the washing tank 4 as will be described later during the dehydration operation of the rinsing step and the dehydration step. internal inflow.

A suction port 25 is provided in the central portion (including the substantially central portion) of the bottom 4 a of the washing tank 4 . When the object to be washed 2 is placed inside the washing tank 4 , the suction port 25 will be covered by the object to be washed 2 . The dehydration path 26 is provided in communication with the suction port 25 . In addition, the suction pump 27 is provided in communication with the dehydration path 26 . When the washing water is sucked from the object to be washed 2 by the suction pump 27, the air in the washing tank 4 is also sucked.

Therefore, when the air in the washing tank 4 is sucked, the outside air is introduced into the washing tank 4 from the outside of the washing tank 4 through the external air introduction part 28 . The outside air introduction part 28 only needs to be provided with an opening above the level of the washing water accumulated in the washing tank 4 . For example, in FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 4 , the external air introduction part 28 is provided above the water level detection part 17 communicating with the inside of the washing tank 4 . In addition, in FIGS. 3A and 3B , the outside air introduction part 28 is disposed above the washing tank 4 . The outside air introduction part 28 is provided with an air volume adjustment valve 29 which is an air volume adjustment part capable of adjusting the introduced air volume. The air volume adjustment valve 29 has a narrow air path area portion in the flow path, for example, like a needle valve, and can adjust the air volume sucked by the suction pump 27 . In addition, the external air introduced into the washing tank 4 through the external air introduction part 28 can be directly introduced from the outside of the washing machine 1, or can also be introduced through the internal space of the washing machine 1.

The dehydration path 26 is provided with a gas-liquid separation unit 30 . The gas-liquid separation unit 30 separates the air in the washing tank 4 from the wash water sucked from the object to be washed 2 and stores the sucked wash water. The gas-liquid separation unit 30 is constituted by, for example, a pressure-resistant container, and includes a primary vent 33 and a secondary vent 31 . The primary side vent 33 is connected to the suction pump 27 through the suction path 32 . The secondary side vent 31 is connected to the dehydration path 26 from above. In addition, a barrier 34 is provided between the primary vent 33 and the secondary vent 31 . The barrier rib 34 is formed to protrude downward from the top surface of the gas-liquid separation part 30 . This prevents the wash water sucked into the gas-liquid separation part 30 from the secondary vent 31 from intruding into the primary vent 33 .

The dehydration drain port 35 is provided at the bottom of the gas-liquid separation part 30 . The dehydration drain port 35 is connected to a dehydration drain path 37 having a dehydration drain valve 36 that can be opened and closed freely.

The overflow detection part 38 is provided at a predetermined height on the inner wall of the gas-liquid separation part 30 . Specifically, the height position of the water overflow detection part 38 is preferably within the range of 1/2 to 4/5 relative to the maximum water level that the gas-liquid separation part 30 can store.

The overflow detection part 38 is composed of, for example, a pair of electrodes. When the water overflow detection part 38 detects that the water stored in the gas-liquid separation part 30 has reached a predetermined amount, it will open the dehydration drain valve 36 . Thereby, the wash water is drained toward the outside of the washing machine 1 through the dehydration drainage path 37 .

Here, when the wash water contains foam, if the foam adheres and remains on the barrier 34, it will become a main cause of odor. In order to prevent the foam from remaining, the overflow detection part 38 is configured so that when the wash water is detected, there will be a certain space between the lower end of the barrier 34 and the wash water surface. That is, the overflow detection part 38 detects a predetermined amount that takes into account the amount of foam contained in the wash water.

The control part 39 is a side part provided inside the cover 5 . Furthermore, the operation display unit 40 is provided on the upper surface of the control unit 39 . The control unit 39 controls various components to execute the washing operation based on the input information.

Specifically, the control unit 39 will be input with the water level of the washing water in the washing tank 4 detected by the water level detection unit 17 and the gas-liquid separation unit 30 detected by the overflow detection unit 38 . Information such as the amount of washing water inside.

Furthermore, the control part 39 will control the pressurizing pump 10, the on-off valve 11, the water supply valve 14, the drain valve 22, the suction pump 27, the air volume adjustment valve 29, the dehydration drain valve 36, etc. based on the input information, and control cleaning. steps, rinsing steps, and dehydration steps to perform the washing operation. In addition, as will be described later, in this embodiment, the washing process is composed of at least one of a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step.

Here, the pressing part 8 is configured to be extendable when the cover 5 is opened. Therefore, the pressing part 8 is provided with an extension setting part (not shown) for setting the extension operation of the pressing part 8 . The extension setting part pressurizes the pressing part 8 through the user's manual operation when the cover 5 is opened. Thereby, the bellows-shaped telescopic part 8d becomes an extended state, and the pressing part 8 expands. The extension setting part is provided in the operation display part 40 for performing various settings during the washing operation. In addition, the extension setting part and the operation display part 40 may be provided separately.

Hereinafter, the operation and function of the washing machine 1 configured as above will be described.

First, the user inputs setting contents such as the selection of the washing course or the time of each step through the operation display unit 40 provided on the front surface of the upper surface of the cover 5 . The control unit 39 executes the operations of each of the washing step, the rinsing step, and the dehydrating step as a washing course according to the setting content. At this time, the user can arbitrarily choose to only perform the washing process such as the washing step. In addition, the user can also perform the setting operation after placing the object to be washed 2 described below.

After the user operates the handle 5a to unlock the locking device, the user will open the cover 5 and arrange the shape of the object 2 to be washed and place it on the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4. In addition, the user can also fold and place the object 2 according to the size of the object 2 to be washed. When the placement of the objects to be washed 2 is completed, the lid 5 is closed, and the locking device is locked, the washing tank 4 will be in a sealed state by the sealing portion 44 provided at the peripheral portion 43 of the membrane body 41 . Then, the control unit 39 starts operation according to the operation stroke set by the operation display unit 40 .

In addition, when the cover 5 is closed, when the membrane 41 passes through the opening 3 of the washing tank 4 , the membrane 41 will be placed in the washing tank 4 in a state where the pressing part 8 is not pressurized. The bottom 4a is in contact with the object 2 to be washed. Moreover, as the cover 5 is closed, the degree of contact with the object to be washed 2 will increase, and the membrane 41 will be pushed back and deformed. At this time, since the membrane body 41 is provided with the deformation absorbing portion 45 , the membrane body 41 is prevented from swelling outward and biting into the gap formed by the cover body 5 and the opening 3 . That is, by changing the shape of the deformation absorbing portion 45, the lid 5 can be reliably closed without difficulty.

First, as a washing course, the operation and function of the washing machine 1 when only the washing step is set will be described.

The control part 39 will execute the cleaning step. The cleaning step consists of water supply action and cleaning action. The control unit 39 will first open the water supply valve 14 to perform water supply operation. Thereby, the tap water and the detergent put into the detergent box 15 are supplied as wash water from the water supply path 16 to the inside of the washing tank 4 . At this time, the wash water slowly penetrates into the object to be washed 2 and becomes contained between the fibers of the object to be washed 2 .

Then, the control unit 39 uses the water level switch 20 of the water level detection unit 17 to detect that the washing water is supplied to a predetermined water level inside the washing tank 4 and closes the water supply valve 14 .

After the water supply operation is completed, the control unit 39 will execute the cleaning operation. In the cleaning operation, the control unit 39 first closes the opening and closing valve 11a of the first pressure increasing and reducing unit 7a, and drives the pressurizing pump 10a for a predetermined time or until the pressing unit 8a reaches a predetermined pressure. Thereby, air is supplied to the inside of the pressing part 8a, and the pressing part 8a expands. As shown in FIG. 3A , the telescopic part 90 a is extended, and the pressing part 8 a is extended toward the object to be washed 2 . As a result, the portion of the object 2 below the pressing part 8a that is pressed by the pressing surface 80a via the membrane 41 is compressed and becomes thinner.

Due to the expansion of the pressing part 8 a, the object to be washed 2 is compressed and its volume changes. With this, the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 is squeezed out from the object to be washed 2 . Thereby, a water flow is generated inside the object to be washed 2 , and dirt adhering to the object to be washed 2 is separated from fibers and the like by the water flow and is removed.

At this time, the control part 39 opens the opening and closing valve 11b of the second pressure increasing and reducing part 7b, so that the pressing part 8b can contract. Therefore, the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 moves from below the pressing part 8 a to below the pressing part 8 b in the direction indicated by arrow A (see FIG. 3A ) inside the object to be washed 2 Move. Then, the wash water moved in this way will push the pressing surface 80b of the pressing part 8b upward while expanding the object to be washed 2 below the pressing part 8b. Thereby, air is discharged from the opened on-off valve 11b, and the pressing part 8b contracts.

Next, the control part 39 closes the on-off valve 11b of the second pressure increasing and reducing part 7b, and drives the pressure pump 10b for a predetermined time or until the pressing part 8b reaches a predetermined pressure. Thereby, air is supplied to the inside of the pressing part 8b, and the pressing part 8b expands. As shown in FIG. 3B , when the telescopic part 90 b is extended and the pressing part 8 b extends toward the object to be washed 2 , the part of the object to be washed 2 below the pressing part 8 b is pressed by the pressing surface 80 b through the membrane 41 . will be compressed and the thickness will become thinner.

Due to the expansion of the pressing part 8 b, the object to be washed 2 is compressed and its volume changes. With this, the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 is squeezed out from the object to be washed 2 . Thereby, a water flow is generated inside the object to be washed 2, and dirt adhering to the object to be washed 2 is separated from the fibers by the water flow and is removed.

At this time, the control part 39 opens the opening and closing valve 11a of the first pressure increasing and reducing part 7a, so that the pressing part 8a can contract. Therefore, the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 moves from below the pressing part 8b to below the pressing part 8a in the direction shown by arrow B (see FIG. 3B) inside the object to be washed 2. Move. Then, the washing water moved in this way will push the pressing surface 80a of the pressing part 8a upward while expanding the object to be washed 2 below the pressing part 8a. Thereby, air is discharged from the opened on-off valve 11a, and the pressing part 8a contracts.

In this way, during the cleaning operation, the pressing part 8a and the pressing part 8b are repeatedly expanded and contracted at different time points that become interactive (for example, the pressing part 8a is pressed for one second by the expansion of the pressing part 8b, and the pressing part 8b is pressed for one second by the expansion of the pressing part 8b. The shrinkage is performed by depressurizing for 1 second) for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes), thereby exerting a pressure washing effect on the object 2 to be washed. That is, the mechanical force caused by stirring or beating cleaning will not act on the object to be washed 2, and multi-directional water flow can be generated inside the object to be washed 2 to remove dirt.

At this time, since the membrane body 41 is provided to enclose the pressing parts 8a and 8b, it is possible to prevent the object 2 from being bitten between the two pressing parts 8a and 8b. In addition, in the pressing parts 8a and 8b, since the bellows-shaped expansion and contraction parts 90a and 90b are covered by the membrane body 41, the expansion and contraction parts 90a and 90b will not come into contact with the cleaning water including dirt in the washing tank 4. water to keep it clean. In addition, water droplets or dirt attached to the membrane body 41 can be easily wiped off by the user, thereby keeping it clean.

As described above, the case where only the cleaning step is performed as the washing course has been explained.

Next, a description will be given of a case where the washing process from the washing step to the dehydration step is consistently executed. After the above-mentioned cleaning step, the control unit 39 will then execute the rinsing step and dehydration step described below.

In the rinsing step, for example, the water-retaining rinsing action is performed after the spin-drying action. Hereinafter, the dehydration operation in the rinsing step will be labeled as the intermediate dehydration operation. As will be described later, the dehydration operation is also performed in the dehydration step. The dehydration operation in this dehydration step is called the final dehydration operation to distinguish it from the intermediate dehydration operation in the rinsing step.

In addition, the rinsing step can also be repeated several times. The intermediate dehydration action can also be performed between repeated rinse steps.

The intermediate dehydration actions include: drainage, compression, and suction. First, the control unit 39 performs drainage. That is, by opening the drain valve 22 through the control unit 39 , the wash water in the wash tank 4 will be drained from the drain hole 21 through the drain path 23 to the outside of the washing machine 1 .

After the drainage is completed, the control unit 39 performs compression. That is, the control unit 39 closes the opening and closing valves 11a and 11b while the drain valve 22 is open, and drives the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b. Thereby, the object to be washed 2 is pressed and compressed due to the expansion of the pressing parts 8a and 8b, and part of the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 is forcibly discharged.

After the compression is completed, the control unit 39 performs suction. That is, the control unit 39 closes the drain valve 22 and drives the suction pump 27 while the object to be washed 2 is pressed. Thereby, the outside air passes through the air volume adjustment valve 29 and is introduced into the inside of the washing tank 4 from the outside air introduction part 28 . By the introduced external air, the washing water and air in the washing tank 4 are sucked from the suction port 25 and transported to the gas-liquid separation part 30 through the dehydration path 26 . In addition, the sucked air will be discharged toward the outside of the washing machine 1 by the suction pump 27 . On the other hand, the wash water accumulates in the gas-liquid separation unit 30 . Thereby, the object to be washed 2 is dehydrated.

In the rinsing step, after the intermediate dehydration operation, the water storage rinsing operation is subsequently performed by the control unit 39 . First, the control unit 39 performs water supply. The control unit 39 opens the water supply valve 14 and supplies a predetermined amount of wash water into the wash tank 4 . At this time, all the detergent in the detergent box 15 will be used up in the above-mentioned cleaning steps. Therefore, the clean water used during the water storage and rinsing action is tap water.

Then, similarly to the cleaning operation, the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b are driven to alternately repeat the expansion and contraction of the pressing parts 8a and 8b. Thereby, the detergent concentration of the wash water inside the object 2 will be diluted. Above, the rinsing step is completed.

Repeat this rinsing step multiple times (for example, 2 times). At this time, the same intermediate dehydration operation as described above is also performed between the first rinsing step and the second rinsing step.

Next, after performing the above-mentioned rinsing step, the control unit 39 will perform a dehydration step.

In the dehydration step, dehydration action is performed. Hereinafter, the dehydration operation in the dehydration step will be labeled as the final dehydration operation. The final dehydration actions include: drainage, compression, and suction.

First, the control unit 39 drains the wash water used in the flushing step. That is, by opening the drain valve 22 by the control unit 39 , the wash water in the wash tub 4 will be drained from the drain hole 21 through the drain path 23 to the outside of the washing machine 1 . At this time, the control part 39 opens the outside air introduction part 28, and the inside of the washing tank 4 is connected with the outside. As a result, the wash water will be drained smoothly. In addition, by the control unit 39, the air volume adjustment valve 29 is opened, both the opening and closing valves 11a and 11b are closed, and the dehydration drain valve 36 is closed.

The control unit 39 performs compression after the water drainage is completed. That is, the control unit 39 drives both the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b almost simultaneously (including at the same time) in a state where the drain valve 22 is opened and both the opening and closing valves 11a and 11b are closed. Thereby, air is supplied to the inside of the pressing parts 8a and 8b, and the object to be washed 2 is pressed and compressed due to the expansion of the pressing parts 8a and 8b. Therefore, part of the wash water contained in the object to be washed 2 is forcibly drained and drained from the drain hole 21 through the drain path 23 to the outside of the washing machine 1 . Due to the structure and function of the pressing portion 8, the pressing surface 80 can be brought into close contact with the object to be washed 2 through the membrane 41 and can be pressed evenly. That is, the washing water contained in the inside of the object to be washed 2 can be forcibly squeezed out.

After the compression is completed, the control unit 39 performs suction. That is, the control unit 39 stops the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b and after the predetermined time T1 (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed, the drain valve 22 is closed and driven while the object to be washed 2 is pressed. Attraction pump 27. Thereby, the air and water inside the washing tank 4 will be sucked into the gas-liquid separation part 30 . At this time, as shown in FIG. 4 , the washing tank 4 will be decompressed from the atmosphere, and the membrane 41 will press the object to be washed 2 due to the pressure difference. The outside air will be introduced into the inside of the washing tank 4 from the outside air introduction part 28, and the outside air will invade into the inside of the object to be washed 2 that has been pressed through the membrane 41. The pressure inside the washing tank 4 is maintained at a predetermined pressure by, for example, a constant pressure release valve, and the object to be washed 2 is maintained in a state of being pressurized by a certain pressure.

The outside air introduced into the washing tank 4 from the outside air introduction part 28 will squeeze out the washing water remaining between the fibers of the object to be washed 2 . Then, the external air is sucked together with the washing water and moves toward the suction port 25 . The clean water transported to the suction port 25 by the external air remains in the fiber due to surface tension. However, the wash water is separated from the fibers by the shear force caused by the air flow, and is transported from the suction port 25 to the dehydration path 26 toward the gas-liquid separation unit 30 .

The air sucked together with the wash water enters the gas-liquid separation part 30 from the secondary vent 31 and is drawn out from the primary vent 33 provided on the upper part of the gas-liquid separation part 30 by the suction pump 27 discharge. In addition, the wash water will fall from the secondary vent 31 due to gravity, and will not invade the primary vent 33 through the barrier 34 provided between the primary vent 33 and the secondary vent 31 , will be stored in the gas-liquid separation part 30.

Here, when the washing water and air inside the washing tank 4 are sucked, they will pass through the path with the least resistance. Therefore, when the dehydration operation is performed, a short circuit path that does not contain washing water may be formed on the object 2 to be washed, and the flow of air may be concentrated on the short circuit path. As a result, the attraction of wash water will not progress. However, in this embodiment, the object 2 to be washed is uniformly pressurized by a certain pressure at any time via the membrane body 41 by the pressing parts 8a and 8b, so the formation of a short-circuit air path is suppressed. As a result, the suction and dehydration of the wash water can be performed without stagnation along with the external air introduced into the inside of the wash tank 4 .

In this way, the pressing part 8 can be expanded by the suction pump 27 . Furthermore, in the membrane body 41, a deformation absorbing portion 45 is provided above the inclined portion of the side wall portion 4b of the washing tank 4. Thereby, the deformation absorbing part 45 changes its shape by extending and contracting in the direction of the advancement and retreat of the pressing part 8, and can easily adapt to the movement of the pressing part 8. In addition, the surface of the membrane body 41 that comes into contact with the object to be washed 2 is configured to be smooth. Therefore, the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 can be brought into close contact with the object to be washed 2 via the membrane body 41 and can be pressed evenly. Thereby, external air will be introduced into the interior of the object to be washed 2, and a predetermined dehydration performance can be obtained.

In addition, in the dehydration step, the wash water may exceed the set amount and accumulate in the gas-liquid separation part 30. When the overflow detection unit 38 detects this situation, the control unit 39 stops driving the suction pump 27 . Then, the dehydration drain valve 36 is opened to drain the wash water accumulated in the gas-liquid separation unit 30 to the outside of the washing machine 1 . Then, after the wash water is drained, the control unit 39 closes the dehydration drain valve 36 again and drives the suction pump 27 . Thereby, the control unit 39 sucks the wash water together with the external air introduced into the wash tank 4 .

The control part 39 will open the on-off valve 11 after the above-mentioned suction has elapsed for a predetermined time T2 (for example, 4 minutes). In addition, the control unit 39 stops driving the pressurizing pump 10 and the suction pump 27 .

Thereby, the air in the pressing part 8 is discharged from the opening and closing valve 11, and the pressure inside the washing tank 4 returns to the atmospheric pressure. The object to be washed 2 will be released from the pressing by the pressing part 8, and the dehydration step will be completed.

Through the above series of actions, after the dehydration step is completed, the control unit 39 will discharge the wash water accumulated in the gas-liquid separation unit 30 through the dehydration drainage path 37 to end the washing process.

In addition, the above-mentioned final dehydration operation is the same operation as the intermediate dehydration operation. Here, the intermediate dehydration operation includes an intermediate dehydration operation performed during the rinsing step and an intermediate dehydration operation performed between repeated execution of the rinsing step a plurality of times. In addition, the predetermined times T1 and T2 are also set to be optimal in each intermediate dehydration operation.

After the dehydration step is completed, the cover 5 will be opened by the user, and the object to be washed 2 will be taken out from the washing tank 4 . In addition, it is configured so that the lid 5 can be maintained in an open state when it is not in use and is not being washed. In this state, the user operates the extension setting part to extend the pressing part 8 and maintain the membrane body 41 in an extended state. Thereby, the membrane body 41 becomes a stable state pressed by the pressing part 8 . The user can easily wipe off the water droplets or dirt attached to the membrane body 41 . Thereby, the membrane body 41 that presses on the object to be washed 2 can be kept clean.

Furthermore, both the pressurizing pumps 10a and 10b are driven to supply air into the inside of the pressing parts 8a and 8b, so that both the pressing parts 8a and 8b are extended. As a result, the membrane body 41 expands and the deformation absorbing portion 45 extends, so that the membrane body 41 can be pushed out in a stable state. Thereby, the user can easily wipe off the dirt attached to the membrane body 41 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the pressure-reducing part 7 is composed of a flexible pressing part 8 , a pressurizing pump 10 that supplies air to the inside of the pressing part 8 to expand it, and the pressing part 8 It is composed of an opening and closing valve 11 that causes the internal air to be discharged and contracted. However, it is not limited to this. For example, instead of the on-off valve 11, a pressure reduction pump (not shown) may be used to reduce the pressure to contract the pressing part 8. Furthermore, the pressure pump 10 may be reversed and used as a pressure reduction pump.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the fluid supplied into the inside of the pressing part 8 to expand the pressing part 8 is air, it is not limited to this and may be other gases or liquids. In the case of a gas, it is convenient to suck in the surrounding air with a pressurized pump or the like as in this embodiment, and there are few restrictions on exhausting the gas. On the other hand, when it is a liquid, water, an aqueous solution, oil, etc. can be used. In addition, it is preferable to have a reservoir for storing liquid. Since the density of liquid is higher than that of air and its elasticity is not as great as that of gas, the pressing part 8 can be reliably expanded.

As described above, the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment 1 is provided with the washing tank 4 that houses the objects to be washed 2 and the washing water; the lid 5 that opens and closes the opening 3 of the washing tank 4; and the pressing part 8 that is provided in the washing tank 4. The cover 5 is retractable; the membrane 41 covers the pressing part 8; the pressurizing and decompressing part 7 moves the pressing part 8 forward and backward relative to the object to be washed 2 accommodated in the washing tank 4; and the control part 39 controls The pressure-reducing part 7 and the membrane body 41 are made of a flexible material, and a deformation absorbing part 45 is provided in the membrane body 41. The deformation absorbing part 45 can conform to the pressure of the pressing part 8 on the object to be washed 2 Deformed by advancing or retreating.

With this structure, the pressing part 8 is covered with the membrane body 41, and the bellows-shaped expansion and contraction part 8d is not exposed to the washing tank 4, and the pressing part 8 can be protected. Therefore, the detergent components contained in the wash water, dirt washed off from the object 2 to be washed, etc. will not adhere to the pressing part 8 and can be kept clean. In addition, the deformation absorbing part 45 of the membrane body 41 responds to the movement of the pressing part 8, and the membrane body 41 can easily adapt to the forward and backward movement of the pressing part 8 to apply the pressing force to the object 2 to be washed. In addition, the resistance when the membrane body 41 conforms to the movement of the pressing part 8 can be reduced, and the load applied to the pressure-pressure-reducing part 7 that performs the expansion and contraction operation of the pressing part 8 can be suppressed to a low level.

In addition, the pressing part 8 is provided to be extendable when the cover 5 is opened, and in the membrane body 41, the deformation absorbing part 45 is deformed as the pressing part 8 is extended.

With this structure, when not in use without washing, the pressing part 8 can be extended with the lid 5 opened. In addition, potential energy is given to the membrane 41 by the expansion of the pressing part 8, and the membrane 41 expands. Thereby, the user puts the deformation absorbing portion 45 into an extended state and can easily wipe off the water droplets or dirt attached to the membrane body 41 .

In addition, the membrane body 41 is configured in a bag shape with an opening, and is placed in the pressing part 8 so that the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 faces the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 , and the membrane body 41 has a peripheral part 43 The aforementioned peripheral portion 43 is held by the cover portion 5b facing the peripheral edge of the opening 3 of the washing tank 4, and the deformation absorbing portion 45 is located between the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 and the peripheral portion 43, and is formed in an annular shape to surround it. around the pressing part 8.

With this configuration, the membrane body 41 can easily adapt to the forward and backward movements of the pressing part 8 to apply the pressing force to the object to be washed 2 . In addition, the resistance when the membrane body 41 conforms to the movement of the pressing part 8 can be reduced. As a result, the load applied to the pressure-pressure-reducing part 7 can be suppressed to a low level. In addition, by disposing the deformation absorbing portion 45 inside the peripheral portion 43 of the membrane body 41, the resistance during deformation can be further reduced.

In addition, the washing tank 4 is inclined so that the side wall portion 4b is connected to the periphery of the bottom 4a of the washing tank 4 and expands toward the opening 3, and the deformation absorbing portion 45 is provided opposite to the upper part of the side wall portion 4b. s position. With this configuration, the membrane body 41 can be brought into contact with a wide range of the object 2 accommodated in the bottom 4 a of the washing tank 4 . Therefore, the object to be washed 2 can be pressed evenly.

In addition, the membrane body 41 is airtightly and watertightly sealed with the washing tank 4 at the peripheral edge portion 43 . With this configuration, the opening 3 of the washing tank 4 and the cover 5 provided with the pressing part 8 and the membrane 41 can be reliably sealed and coupled, and the structure can be simplified.

In addition, a plurality of pressing parts 8 are provided, and the plurality of pressing parts 8 are enclosed in the membrane body 41 . With this structure, when not in use without washing, the membrane body 41 is supported by the plurality of pressing parts 8 and becomes a stable state. Thereby, the user can easily wipe off dirt and the like attached to the membrane body 41 . Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the object 2 from being bitten between the alternately extending and contracting pressing parts 8 .

In addition, it further has: a suction pump 27 to suck the wash water from the object to be washed 2; and an external air introduction part 28 to introduce the external air into the inside of the washing tank 4. In addition, the control part 39 executes the washing step (washing). Operation) and dehydration step (dehydration operation), the washing step is performed by pressing and releasing the object to be washed 2 by the pressing part 8 to shrink and expand the object to be washed 2 Pressure washing, the aforementioned dehydration step is performed by sucking the wash water and the introduced external air by the suction pump 27 to perform dehydration.

With this configuration, the object 2 to be washed 2 is not suitable for being cleaned or squeezed by applying mechanical force to the object 2 . In the cleaning step, the object 2 is pressed to perform pressure washing. In the dehydration step, washing water can be sucked from the object 2 to perform suction dehydration. Thereby, at least one of washing and dehydration can be effectively performed without damaging the object 2 to be washed.

That is, in the washing step or the rinsing step, the object to be washed 2 is pressed and released by the pressing part 8 to cause the object to be washed 2 to shrink and expand, so that the object to be washed can be stirred without stirring. In the case of 2, multi-directional water flow is generated inside the object 2 to be washed. Thereby, it is possible to suppress damage or deformation of the cloth of the object to be washed 2, which is not suitable for cleaning by applying mechanical force to the object to be washed 2, so that the fabric can be washed satisfactorily.

In addition, in the dehydration step, the plurality of pressing parts 8 are simultaneously expanded to press the object to be washed 2 . In addition, by sucking the washing water and the introduced external air by the suction pump 27, it is possible to suppress damage or deformation of the fabric 2 of the object to be washed 2 that is not suitable for twisting by applying mechanical force to the object to be washed 2. , and perform dehydration well. (Embodiment 2)

7 is a schematic diagram of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The feature of the second embodiment is that the convex portion 47 is provided on the inner surface of the membrane body 41 to face the pressing surface 80 of the pressing portion 8 . Other structures are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same structures are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is referred to Embodiment 1.

In FIG. 7 , a convex portion 47 protruding toward the pressing surface 80 side of the pressing portion 8 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 . The convex portion 47 is formed to have a thickness that is, for example, twice the thickness of the bottom portion 42 (for example, 2 to 3 mm). In order not to impair the flexibility of the bottom 42, the convex portions 47 have a relatively small area and are provided in plural numbers at intervals.

As described above, the membrane body 41 of this embodiment is provided with the convex portion 47 on the inner surface facing the pressing surface 80 of the pressing portion 8 .

This structure prevents the membrane body 41 from being worn due to contact with the pressing part 8 and causing the membrane body 41 to become thinner, thereby improving the durability of the membrane body 41 . (Embodiment 3)

8 is a schematic diagram of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The characteristic of the third embodiment is that the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 and the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 are connected. Other structures are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same structures are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is referred to Embodiment 1.

In FIG. 8 , a fixing portion 48 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 . The fixing portion 48 is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the pressing surface 80 provided on the pressing portion 8 . In addition, the pressing part 8 and the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 are connected by a fixing part 48 (also called a connecting part). Here, the fixing part 48 may be provided on the entire outer circumference of the pressing surface 80 or may be provided on a part of the outer circumference.

As mentioned above, in the membrane body 41 of this embodiment, the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 and the bottom part 42 of the membrane body 41 are connected.

With this structure, when the pressing part 8 contracts, the membrane body 41 also moves in the direction away from the object to be washed 2 in accordance with the movement of the pressing part 8. Therefore, the object to be washed 2, that is, the clothes, expands during the washing process. , shrinkage will become easier. This will improve the cleaning performance.

In addition, in this embodiment, one fixing part 48 is used in the description, but the invention is not limited to this. The number of fixing parts 48 may be plural.

In addition, the connection between the bottom 42 of the membrane body 41 and the pressing surface 80 of the pressing part 8 may also be in a different form from the fixing part 48. For example, the bottom 42 and the pressing surface 80 may be surface-joined.

In addition, each of the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with other embodiments.

As described above, the washing machine of the present invention is very useful as a washing machine because the membrane body can be adapted to the movement of the pressing portion to apply pressing force to the object to be washed.

1: washing machine 2: Things to be washed 3:Opening part 4: Washing tank 4a, 42: bottom 4b: Side wall part 5: Cover 5a: Grip 5b: cover 6:Sink Department 6a:Hinge part 7: Pressurization and decompression part 7a: 1st pressurization and decompression section 7b: 2nd pressurization and decompression section 8, 8a, 8b, 56: pressing part 8d, 55, 90, 90a, 90b: telescopic part 9, 9a, 9b: hose 10, 10a, 10b: pressurized pump 11, 11a, 11b: opening and closing valve 14:Water supply valve 15: Detergent box 16:Water supply path 17:Water level detection department 18:Water level detection tank 19:buoy 20:Water level switch 21: Drainage hole 22:Drain valve 23: Drainage path 24: Overflow path 24a: Overflow hole 25: Suction mouth 26: Dehydration path 27: Attraction pump 28: External air introduction part 29: Air volume adjustment valve 30: Gas-liquid separation part 31: Secondary side vent 32: Attraction path 33: Primary side vent 34:Barrier 35: Dehydration drain outlet 36: Dehydration drain valve 37: Dehydration drainage path 38: Overflow detection department 39:Control Department 40: Operation display part 41:Membrane body 43: Peripheral part 44: Confined part 45:Deformation absorbing part 46:Release hole 47:convex part 48: Fixed part 51:Sink 52: Space below 53:Pressure reducing device 54: Pressure response body 57: cover 58: Washing machine outer frame 59:Shaft 80, 80a, 80b: pressing surface A, B, R1: Arrow W: water level of wash water

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine in a state in which the lid is opened in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 3A is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the washing machine during cleaning in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 3B is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the washing machine during cleaning in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine in the dehydration operation in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 5A is a schematic diagram showing the function of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the function of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in a state where the cover is opened and the membrane body is stretched by the pressing part. 7 is a schematic diagram of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 8 is a schematic diagram of the membrane body of the washing machine in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a structural diagram of a conventional dewatering device.

1: washing machine

2: Things to be washed

4: Washing tank

4a: Bottom

4b: Side wall part

5: Cover

5a: Grip

5b: cover

6:Sink Department

7a: 1st pressurization and decompression section

7b: 2nd pressurization and decompression section

8a, 8b: pressing part

9a, 9b: hose

10a, 10b: Pressurized pump

11a, 11b: opening and closing valve

14:Water supply valve

15: Detergent box

16:Water supply path

17:Water level detection department

18:Water level detection tank

19:buoy

20:Water level switch

21: Drainage hole

22:Drain valve

23: Drainage path

24: Overflow path

24a: Overflow hole

25: Suction mouth

26: Dehydration path

27: Attraction pump

28: External air introduction part

29: Air volume adjustment valve

30: Gas-liquid separation part

31: Secondary side vent

32: Attraction path

33: Primary side vent

34:Barrier

35: Dehydration drain outlet

36: Dehydration drain valve

37: Dehydration drainage path

38: Overflow detection department

39:Control Department

40: Operation display part

41:Membrane body

45:Deformation absorbing part

46:Release hole

Claims (9)

A washing machine is provided with: a washing tank that accommodates items to be washed and wash water; a lid that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank; a pressing portion that is provided on the lid and is retractable; and a membrane that covers the pressing portion. a pressurizing and decompressing part to move the pressing part forward and backward relative to the object to be washed before being accommodated in the washing tank; and a control part to control the pressurizing and decompressing part, and the membrane body has an adjustable It is made of flexible material, and is provided with a deformation absorbing portion on the membrane body. The deformation absorbing portion can deform in accordance with the advancement and retreat of the object to be washed by the pressing portion. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the pressing part is configured to be elongated when the cover is opened, and in the membrane body, the deformation absorbing part deforms as the pressing part is elongated. The washing machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the membrane body is formed into a bag shape with an opening, and is placed in the pressing part in such a manner that the bottom of the membrane body faces the pressing surface of the pressing part, and the membrane body The body has a peripheral portion, and the peripheral portion is held by a cover portion opposed to the peripheral edge of the opening of the washing tank. The deformation absorbing portion is located between the front bottom and the peripheral portion of the membrane body and is configured in an annular shape. And surround the periphery of the aforementioned pressing part. The washing machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing tank is connected to the periphery of the bottom of the washing tank with a side wall portion and is inclined to expand toward the opening, and the deformation absorbing portion is provided on the bottom of the washing tank. The position where the lid faces the upper part of the side wall when it is closed. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the membrane body is airtightly and watertightly sealed with the washing tank at the peripheral edge portion. The washing machine of claim 1 or 2 has a plurality of pressing parts, and the membrane body contains the plurality of pressing parts. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the membrane body is provided with a convex portion opposite to the pressing surface of the pressing portion. In the washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, the membrane body is provided with a connecting portion connected to the pressing surface of the pressing portion. The washing machine of claim 1 or 2 further has: a suction part to suck the washing water from the object to be washed; and an external air introduction part to introduce external air into the inside of the washing tank, and the control part At least one of a washing operation and a dehydration operation is performed, and the washing operation is performed by pressing and releasing the object to be washed by the pressing part to shrink and expand the object to be washed, thereby performing pressure washing. In the dehydration operation, the suction part sucks the wash water and the introduced external air to perform dehydration.