WO2003006730A1

WO2003006730A1 - Washing machine employing wash board

Info

Publication number: WO2003006730A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001371
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won-Do Kim
Original assignee: Won-Do Kim
Priority date: 2001-07-11
Filing date: 2001-08-10
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Also published as: KR200251755Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a washing machine employing wash boards. The washing machine can wash articles wit a same efficiency as that of band laundry, without causing damage to the articles. In addition, the washing machine can wash evenly the entire of washing articles, with the entire surface of the washing articles being uniformly rubbed. Furthermore, the washing machine can wash articles with hot water which is heated by a heat unit built in the washing machine. The washing machine comprises a casing (30) including a plurality of guides, each guide having a guide groove and a cover, a water tank (24) containing washing articles, and including a plurality of rollers each seated on the guide groove, a lower wash board (20) provided within the water tank, and having a plurality of wedges on an upper surface of the lower wash board, an upper wash board (10) engaged to the cover, and having a plurality of wedges on an lower surface of the upper wash board, and driving means for driving the water tank.

Description

WASHING MACHINE EMPLOYING WASH BOARD

Technical Field The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine capable of rubbing washing articles linearly by employing an upper wash board and a lower wash board to increase washing efficiency.

Background Art Generally, a washing machine employs a rod and a rotating force of water to wash washing articles. Since the washing articles are not directly contacted with a washing member like hand laundry, the hardened dirty cannot be easily dissolved, and the large amount of water is required in washing machine. Furthermore, the conventional washing machine requires a significantly long time to wash the washing articles .

In order to solve the above drawbacks, one measure has been proposed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 88-9898 entitled " UPPER AND LOWER CIRCULAR WASH BOARS FOR WASHING MACHINE". According to the publication, since a lower wash board is rotated with a high rotational speed, the washing articles is continuously entangled, thereby causing damage to the washing articles. In particular, the washing articles positioned in an edge spaced outwardly from a center of the rotating wash board are properly cleaned by a considerable friction. However, the washing articles positioned in more close to the center of the rotating wash board are subjected to the weak frictional force since a radius of gyration is gradually reduced towards the center of the wash board. Therefore, the dirty of the washing articles cannot uniformly dissolved

In addition, the conventional washing machine includes a pipe for receiving hot water from the exterior to improve a washing efficiency. If there is no hot water, it is impossible to wash the washing article with the hot water.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the prior art and to provide a washing machine employing wash boards capable of washing articles with a same efficiency as that of hand laundry, without causing damage to the articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine employing wash boards capable of evenly washing the entire of washing articles, with the entire surface of the washing articles being uniformly rubbed.

Further another object of the present invention is to a washing machine employing wash boards capable of washing articles with hot water which is heated by a heat unit built in the washing machine.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a washing machine employing a wash board according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating a washing machine employing a wash board according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A- A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating a washing machine employing a wash board according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B of Fig. 4.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 are cross sectional views taken along a center of a body 100 of a washing machine employing a wash board according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The body 100 of the washing machine comprises a casing

30 having an opening and closing cover 30 thereon, a water tank 24 provided in the casing 30 and having a hot wire 26 built in a bottom of the water tank, upper and lower wash boards 10 and 20 mounted into the water tank 24, and driving means, provided under the water tank 24, for linearly reciprocating the water tank 24.

Specifically, the casing 30, which is a part of the body 100, is generally rectangular in shape, and the cover 32 is mounted onto an upper portion of the casing through a hinge so as to open and close the casing. A number of guides 50 are vertically mounted in close proximity to each corner of the casing 30. A guide groove 52 is formed on a top surface of the guide 50 in such a manner that a direction of the guide groove formed on one guide is same as that of the guide groove formed on another guide.

The water tank 24 is disposed on the guide 50 so that the water tank 24 can reciprocate linearly along the guide grooves 52 of the guide. The water tank 24 includes a number of rollers 28 provided under the bottom of the water tank. The heat wire 26 is built in the bottom of the water tank 24 as described above. The lower wash board 20 is provided on the bottom of the water tank. The lower wash board 20 is provided on its upper surface with a number of wedges. Preferably, the lower wash board 20 may be made of a soft resin material so as not to damage the washing articles. The upper wash board 10 is stationarly disposed above the lower wash board 20 within the water tank and is engaged to a frame 16. The upper wash board 10 is provided on its lower surface with a number of wedges, and, preferably, may be made of a soft resin material. Each wedge of the upper wash board is formed with a horizontally penetrating aperture 14. A shaft rod 18 is coupled to the center of the frame, and is formed with a female threaded portion 19 therein. The upper wash board 10 is coupled to the cover 32 by a vertical movement adjusting equipment.

Specifically, the vertical movement adjusting equipment includes an adjusting rod 34 positioned on a center of the cover 32, the adjusting rod 34 having one end protruded from an upper surface of the cover and engaged with a knob 36, and the other end formed with a male threaded portion which is threadly engaged with the female threaded portion 19 of the shaft rod 18 attached to the upper wash board. Accordingly, if the knob 36 is rotated, the adjusting rod 34 coupled to the knob 36 is thus rotated. At that time, the shaft rod is vertically ascended or descended, so that the upper board 10 is vertically moved.

Meanwhile, the water tank 24 is horizontally reciprocated along the guide grooves 52 formed on the guide by the driving means mounted onto the bottom of the water tank 24. The driving means includes a rotary plate 42 positioned under the water tank 24 and driven by a motor 40 through a belt 44. The rotary plate 42 is engaged with a rod 46 via a connecting pin 48. Specifically, one end of the rod 46 is pivotally engaged to the rotary plate, and the other end of rod 46 is pivotally engaged to the bottom of the water tank 24.

The operation of the washing machine employing the wash board according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be explained. When the cover 32 is opened, the upper wash board 10 engaged to the cover is left from the body together with the cover. And then, water, a detergent and washing articles are put into the water tank 24. After the cover is closed, the knob 36 is rotated to move the upper wash board 10 so that the washing articles are properly compressed by the upper and lower wash boards 10 and 20 according to the volume of the washing articles. If a switch (not shown) is turned on to operate the motor 40, the rotary plate 42 which is connected to the motor via the belt 44 is rotated, and simultaneously the water tank 24 is horizontally reciprocated by the rod 46 pivotally connected to the water tank and the rotary plate. Therefore, the washing articles are rubbed between the stationary upper wash board 10 and the horizontally movable wash board 20, so that the washing articles are kneaded and rubbed such as the simulation of kneading and rubbing action in the hand laundry. At that time, the apertures 14 formed in the wedges of the upper wash board 10 serve as a role of a passage through which the washing water mixed with the detergent flows according to the vibration of the water tank 24, thereby increasing the washing efficiency. If the heat wire 26 provided in the bottom of the water tank is operated, the washing water contained in the water tank is heated, so that the heated washing water dissolves quickly hardened dirty.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken along a center of a body 200 of a washing machine employing a wash board according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As will be shown in the figures, a casing 31, which is a part of the body 200, is generally circular in shape, and includes a cover 33 thereon. A number of guides 51 are radially disposed around the center of the casing. A guide groove 53 is formed on a top surface of the guide 51 in such a manner that a curvature of the guide groove 53 is same as that of the guide 51.

A water tank 25 is disposed on the guide 51 so that the water tank 25 can reciprocately rotate along the guide grooves 53 of the guide. The water tank 25 includes a number of rollers 28 provided under the bottom of the water tank. The heat wire 26 is built in the bottom of the water tank 25. A lower wash board 22 is provided on the bottom of the water tank. The lower wash board 22 is provided on its upper surface with a number of wedges. Preferably, the lower wash board 22 may be made of a soft resin material so as not to damage the washing articles. An upper wash board 12 is disposed above the lower wash board 22 within the water tank and is engaged to a frame 17. The upper wash board 12 is provided on its lower surface with a number of wedges, and, preferably, may be made of a soft resin material. Each wedge of the upper wash board is formed with a horizontally penetrating aperture 15. A shaft rod 18 is coupled to the center of the frame, and is formed with a female threaded portion 19 therein. The upper wash board 12 is coupled to the cover 33 by a vertical movement adjusting equipment.

Specifically, the vertical movement adjusting equipment includes an adjusting rod 34 positioned on a center of the cover 33, the adjusting rod 34 having one end protruded from an upper surface of the cover and engaged with a knob 36, and the other end formed with a male threaded portion which is threadly engaged with the female threaded portion 19 of the shaft rod 18 attached to the upper wash board. Accordingly, if the knob 36 is rotated, the adjusting rod 34 coupled to the knob 36 is thus rotated. At that time, the shaft rod is vertically ascended or descended, so that the upper board 12 is vertically moved.

Meanwhile, the water tank 25 is reciprocatedly rotated along the guide grooves 53 formed on the guide by driving means mounted onto the bottom of the water tank 25. The driving means includes, as shown in Fig. 5, a rotary plate 43 positioned under the water tank 25 and driven by a motor 40 through a belt 44. The rotary plate 42 is engaged with a rod 47 through a connecting pin. Specifically, one end of the rod 47 is pivotally engaged to the rotary plate, and the other end of rod 47 is pivotally engaged to the bottom of the water tank 25.

The operation of the washing machine employing the wash board according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be explained. When the cover 33 is opened, the upper wash board 12 engaged to the cover is left from the body together with the cover. And then, water, a detergent and washing articles are put into the water tank 25. After the cover is closed, the knob 36 is rotated to move the upper wash board 12 so that the washing articles are properly compressed by the upper and lower wash boards 12 and 22 according to the volume of the washing articles. If a switch (not shown) is turned on to operate the motor 40, the rotary plate 43 which is connected to the motor via the belt 44 is rotated, and simultaneously the rod 47 is linearly moved according to a crank operating principle. The water tank 25 is reciprocatedly rotated by the rod 47 pivotally connected to the water tank and the rotary plate. Therefore, the washing articles are rubbed between the stationary upper wash board 12 and the horizontally movable wash board 22, so that the washing articles are kneaded and rubbed like the simulation of kneading and rubbing action in the hand laundry. At that time, the apertures 15 formed in the wedges of the upper wash board 12 serve as a role of a passage through which the washing water mixed with the detergent flows according to the vibration of the water tank 25, thereby increasing the washing efficiency. If the heat wire 26 provided in the bottom of the water tank is operated, the washing water contained in the water tank is heated, so that the heated washing water dissolves quickly hardened dirty.

Industrial Applicability As apparent from the above description, the washing machine simulates the kneading action and rubbing action in hand laundry by employing the stationary upper board and the linearly movable or rotatable lower wash board, wherein the washing articles are disposed between the upper and lower wash boards. Furthermore, the movement of the lower wash board causes the water contained in the water tank to be whiled, thereby providing an additional washing effect to wash more cleaner and quickly the washing articles. In particular, the provision of the heating unit in the body of the washing machine can address a drawback that hot water has to be put into the water tank.

Claims

1. A washing machine employing a wash board, the washing machine comprising: a casing including a plurality of guides, each guide having a guide groove and a cover; a water tank containing washing articles, and including a plurality of rollers each seated on the guide groove; a lower wash board provided within the water tank, and having a plurality of wedges on an upper surface of the lower wash board; an upper wash board engaged to the cover, and having a plurality of wedges on an lower surface of the upper wash board; and driving means for driving the water tank.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water tank includes in a bottom thereof a heat wire for radiating heat.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper and lower wash boards are generally rectangular or circular in shape.

4. The washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper and lower wash boards are made of a soft resin material.

5. The washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each wedge of the upper wash board is formed with a penetrating aperture.

6. The washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving means includes a rotary plate positioned under a center of the water tank and driven by a motor, and a rod engaged to the rotary plate via a connecting pin, one end of the rod pivotally engaged to a portion of the rotary plate and the other end of rod pivotally engaged to the bottom of the water tank.

7. The washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driving means includes a rotary plate positioned under an edge of the water tank and driven by a motor, and a rod engaged to the rotary plate via a connecting pin, one end of the rod pivotally engaged to a portion of the rotary plate and the other end of rod pivotally engaged to the bottom of the water tank.