WO2013111396A1

WO2013111396A1 - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2013111396A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/076575
Authority: WO
Inventors: 福島　敦; 実雄阪本; 昌志福崎; 松本　正士
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2012-01-23
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Also published as: JP2013146492A; JP5492915B2

Abstract

A washing machine (1) is provided with: an outer box (10) which has a laundry insertion/extraction opening open at the top and opened and closed by a lid section (15) having an air suction opening (15b) formed therein; a water tank (20) which has a closed-end tube shape, is open at the top, and is received within the outer box (10); a dewatering tank (30) which is disposed within the water tank (20) in a rotatable manner; and an ion generator (18) which faces the dewatering tank (30) and which generates ions. The washing machine (1) is provided with one or more operational modes. During a predetermined operational mode, the washing machine (1) performs ion supply operation in which the dewatering tank (30) is rotated while the ion generator (18) is driven. In the ion supply operation, air which has flowed into the dewatering tank (30) through the air suction opening (15b) is caused to contain ions, and the air is swirled within the dewatering tank (30).

Description

Washing machine

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry.

A conventional washing machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This washing machine includes an ion generator that generates ions having a sterilizing and deodorizing action and an ion delivery device having a blower. Ions generated from the ion generator are sent into the dehydration tank by a blower. Thereby, the odor adhering to the laundry can be deodorized and germs can be sterilized.

JP 2009-66217 A JP 2005-192901 A

However, according to the conventional washing machine, since it has a blower, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost of the washing machine increases.

The object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of reducing the manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer box having an opening that opens a laundry doorway upward, a bottomed cylindrical water tank that is housed in the outer box and opens upward, and the water tank. In a washing machine comprising: a dehydrating tank that is rotatably arranged inside; a lid part that opens and closes the opening and has an air inlet; and an ion generator that generates ions facing the dehydrating tank, The dehydrating tank is rotated while driving the ion generator, and air containing ions is supplied into the dehydrating tank through the intake port.

According to this configuration, the air in the dehydrating tank is swirled by the rotation of the dehydrating tank, and the outside air flows into the dehydrating tank through the air inlet opening in the lid. At this time, the inflowing outside air is supplied into the dehydration tank including the ions released from the ion generator.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention, in the above configuration, performs an ion supply operation of rotating the dehydration tank while driving the ion generator during a predetermined operation course, and the ion supply operation is performed through the intake port. It is characterized in that air containing ions flowing into the dehydration tank is swirled in the dehydration tank.

According to this configuration, in the ion supply operation during a predetermined operation course, the outside air flowing into the dehydration tank via the intake port joins the air swirling in the dehydration tank including the ions released from the ion generator. . Thereby, ion spreads to the air swirling within the dehydration tank.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the number of rotations of the dewatering tank can be changed in the ion supply operation.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the ion generation surface of the ion generator is arranged in parallel to the rotation axis of the dewatering tank.

In addition, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, a plurality of dewatering holes are provided on a peripheral wall of the dewatering tank.

The washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the operation course includes a dehydration step, and the ion supply operation is performed in the dehydration step.

In addition, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, there is a sterilization course for performing only the ion supply operation.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, a pulsator is provided at the bottom of the dewatering tank, and the pulsator rotates in the ion supply operation.

Further, the washing machine of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above configuration, the dewatering tank repeats forward and reverse rotation in the ion supply operation.

According to the present invention, the outside air flowing into the dehydration tank via the intake port includes the ions released from the ion generator and merges with the air in the dehydration tank. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a blowing means for blowing air in the dehydrating tank as in the conventional example, and the manufacturing cost of the washing machine can be reduced.

The perspective view which shows the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the ion generator which concerns on embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the washing machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention from a front oblique upper perspective, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view showing the washing machine of FIG. 1 from a lateral viewpoint. In the washing machine shown in FIG. 2, the left side is the front surface and the right side is the back surface.

The washing machine 1 is a fully automatic type and includes a rectangular parallelepiped outer box 10. The outer box 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its upper and lower sides are opened. The upper open portion of the outer box 10 is covered with an upper surface plate 11. An operation unit 71 for operating the washing machine is provided on the front surface of the top plate 11, and a back panel 14 is provided on the rear surface of the top plate 11.

In the central portion of the top plate 11, an opening 11a for putting laundry into the washing machine 1 is opened. The opening 11a is opened and closed by a lid 15 pivotally supported by a hinge 15a provided at the front end of the back panel 14. A packing (not shown) is provided on the periphery of the lid portion 15, and the space between the opening portion 11 a and the lid portion 15 is sealed. By rotating the lid 15 up and down to open and close the opening 11a, the laundry can be put into and taken out of the dehydration tank 30 described later. The lid portion 15 has a plurality of air inlets 15b formed in a slit shape.

Also, an ion generator 18 is installed on the inner surface of the lid 15 at the rear of the intake port 15b. The ion generation surface 180a (see FIG. 3) is disposed in the vicinity of the intake port 15b, and the ion generation surface 180a faces the air flowing into the dehydration tank 30 through the intake port 15b. Thus, positive ions and negative ions generated from the ion generation surface 180a are reliably supplied to the air flowing into the dehydration tank 30 through the intake port 15b. Further, the ion generation surface 180 a is arranged in parallel to the rotation axis of the dehydration tank 30. As a result, positive ions and negative ions generated from the ion generation surface 180 a face the air swirling in the dehydration tank 30. Thereby, ion can be efficiently discharged also to the swirling air.

Inside the outer box 10, a dewatering tank 30 and a water tank 20 that houses the dewatering tank 30 are housed. The dewatering tank 30 stores water in which detergent is dissolved or water for rinsing (hereinafter collectively referred to as “washing water”). Both the water tank 20 and the dewatering tank 30 are formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an open upper surface, and are arranged concentrically with the water tank 20 on the outside and the dewatering tank 30 on the inside, with the axes thereof being vertical.

The water tank 20 is suspended by a suspension member 21. Suspension members 21 are provided at a total of four locations connecting the lower outer surface of the water tank 20 and the inner corners of the outer box 10, and support the water tank 20 so that it can swing within a horizontal plane.

The dewatering tank 30 has a peripheral wall extending upward in a tapered shape, and there is no opening for allowing liquid to pass through the peripheral wall except for a plurality of dewatering holes 31 arranged in an annular shape at the top. That is, the dewatering tank 30 is formed in a so-called “no hole” type. An annular balancer 32 is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the dewatering tub 30 to suppress vibration when the dewatering tub 30 is rotated at a high speed for dewatering the laundry. A pulsator 33 for causing the washing water to flow in the tank is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the dewatering tank 30.

A drive unit 40 is attached to the lower surface of the water tank 20. The drive unit 40 includes a motor 41 and a clutch / brake mechanism 43. The motor 41 can rotate forward and backward, and a motor-side pulley 41 b is attached to the motor shaft 41 a of the motor 41. A clutch / brake side pulley 43 b is attached to the dehydrating shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 of the clutch / brake mechanism 43. The motor-side pulley 41 b and the clutch / brake-side pulley 43 b are connected by a belt 42.

The clutch / brake mechanism 43 is operated by electromagnetic force, and selectively connects one of the dehydrating shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 to the motor 41. The clutch / brake mechanism 43 brakes the rotation of the dehydrating shaft 44 by electromagnetic force and releases the brake.

The dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 have a double shaft structure, and the dewatering shaft 44 is disposed outside and the pulsator shaft 45 is disposed inside. The dewatering shaft 44 penetrates the water tank 20 and is connected to the dewatering tank 30 to support the dewatering tank 30. The pulsator shaft 45 passes through the water tank 20 and the dewatering tank 30 and is connected to the pulsator 33 to support the pulsator 33. Seal members for preventing water leakage are disposed between the dewatering shaft 44 and the water tank 20 and between the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45, respectively.

A drain hose 60 for draining the water in the water tank 20 and the dehydration tank 30 to the outside of the outer box 10 is attached to the bottom of the water tank 20. The dewatering tank 30 is provided with a plurality of drain holes 62 on the same circumference, and each drain hole 62 and the drain hose 60 are connected by a drain duct 61. A drain valve 63 is provided in the drain duct 61. When the drain valve 63 is opened, the water in the dehydration tank 30 is drained through the drain duct 61 and the drain hose 60. Further, the water that flows out from the dehydration tank 30 during dehydration passes through between the peripheral wall of the water tank 20 and the peripheral wall of the dehydration tank 30 and is drained from the drain hose 60.

The outer box 10 is provided with an extension 16 extending downward from the periphery of the opening 11a. The extending portion 16 has a substantially vertical vertical portion 16a formed in an annular shape and a horizontal portion 16b extending substantially horizontally from the lower end of the vertical portion 16a. An annular bellows-like elastic body 17 is attached to the lower surface of the horizontal portion 16b. The extending portion 16 and the upper surface of the water tank 20 are connected by the elastic body 17, and the vibration of the water tank 20 due to the rotation of the dewatering tank 30 or the like is absorbed. Further, the horizontal portion 16b of the extending portion 16 is provided with a water supply port (not shown). The water supply port is connected to city water via a water supply valve 77 (see FIG. 4).

Further, the extending portion 16 and the elastic body 17 constitute a shielding portion that shields between the periphery of the opening 11 a and the upper surface of the water tank 20. A sealed space is formed between the water tank 20 and the opening 11a by the shielding portion. Thereby, the inner cover which opens and closes the upper surface of the water tank 20 is not required, and the lid portion 15 can be closed to perform washing.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view in which a part of the ion generator 18 is broken. The ion generator 18 is covered with a housing 180 made of an insulator. A substrate 183 is provided in the housing 180. On the substrate 183, needle-

like discharge electrodes

181a and 181b are arranged apart from each other, and

annular counter electrodes

182a and 182b facing the

discharge electrodes

181a and 181b are arranged.

Ion generators

18a and 18b are formed between the

discharge electrodes

181a and 181b and the

counter electrodes

182a and 182b, respectively.

The housing 180 is provided with a through-hole (not shown) facing the discharge electrode 181a and a through-hole 185b facing the discharge electrode 181b to form an ion generation surface 180a. As a result, the

ion generators

18 a and 18 b are exposed to the outside of the housing 180. A high voltage (for example, about 2 kV) having a negative polarity or a positive polarity is applied to the

discharge electrodes

181a and 181b with respect to the

counter electrodes

182a and 182b, respectively. Thereby, negative ions and positive ions are generated in the

ion generators

18a and 18b, for example, by corona discharge.

For example, a positive voltage is applied to one of the discharge electrodes 181b, and ions generated by ionization combine with moisture in the air to generate positive cluster ions whose charges mainly consist of H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m. A negative voltage is applied to the other discharge electrode 181a, and ions generated by ionization are combined with moisture in the air to generate negatively clustered ions mainly composed of O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n. Here, m and n are arbitrary natural numbers. H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m and O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n aggregate around the surface of the laundry, the attached bacteria attached to the dehydration tank 30 and the water tank 20, and the odor component.

Then, as shown in the formulas (1) to (3), the active species [.OH] (hydroxyl radical) and H ₂ O ₂ (hydrogen peroxide) are agglomerated on the surface of the microorganism or the like by collision. Destroy airborne bacteria and odor components. Here, m ′ and n ′ are arbitrary natural numbers. Further, when the voltage applied to the

discharge electrodes

181a and 181b is further increased, ions are released from the

ion generating portions

18a and 18b by the discharge.

H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m + O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) n → OH + 1 / 2O ₂ + (m + n) H ₂ O (1)
^{_{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m '+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'
→ 2 OH + O ₂ + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H ₂ O (2)
^{_{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m '+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'
→ H ₂ O ₂ + O ₂ + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H ₂ O (3)

In the washing machine 1 configured as described above, when the dehydration tank 30 is rotated while the lid 15 is closed and the ion generator 18 is driven (ion supply operation), the air turns inside the dehydration tank 30. The air pressure decreases near the rotating shaft of the swirling air, and the outside air flows into the dehydration tank 30 through the intake port 15b. The inflowing outside air contains the ions released by the ion generator 18 and heads toward the dehydration tank 30 and joins with the air swirling the dehydration tank 30. Thereby, ions can be distributed in the dehydration tank 30. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a blowing means for blowing air in the dehydration tank 30 as in the conventional example, and the manufacturing cost of the washing machine 1 can be reduced.

The ions generated from positive ions and negative ions adhere to the laundry and can be sterilized, mold-proof, deodorized and the like. Further, air containing ions flows into a space surrounded by the peripheral walls of the water tank 20 and the dehydration tank 30 through a plurality of dehydration holes 31 provided on the side wall of the dehydration tank 30. Thereby, positive ions and negative ions perform sterilization, mold prevention, deodorization and the like of the dehydration tank 30 and the water tank 20, and keep them in a good hygienic state.

In the ion supply operation, the pulsator 33 may be rotated by the motor 41 together with the rotation of the dehydration tank 30. Thereby, the convection wind speed of the air swirling inside the dehydration tank 30 is increased, and the ions in the dehydration tank 30 are increased, so that effects such as sterilization, mold prevention, and deodorization can be further enhanced. Further, by repeating forward and reverse rotation of the dehydrating tank 30, the convection of the air swirling inside the dehydrating tank 30 can be changed to raise ions.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the washing machine 1. The washing machine 1 is provided with a control unit 70 that controls each unit. The control unit 70 has a control board (not shown), and is arranged on the upper back of the outer box 10. A motor 41, a clutch / brake mechanism 43, a water supply valve 77, an ion generator 18, an operation unit 71, a display unit 72, a lid opening / closing sensor 73, a water level sensor 74, and a storage unit 79 are connected to the control unit 70.

The operation unit 71 includes various operation buttons such as a power key, a start key, a course selection key, and an ion concentration selection key. In response to an input from the operation unit 71, the control unit 70 executes the program. The power key instructs to turn on the power, the start key instructs the start of washing, the course selection key selects the operation of the washing course, and the ion concentration selection key sets the rotation speed of the dehydration tank 30 to high speed and low speed. Select from two types.

The display unit 72 is provided in the operation unit 71 and displays an operation screen and an operation state of the washing machine 1. The lid opening / closing sensor 73 detects the opening / closing state of the lid portion 15. The water level sensor 74 detects the water level in the dehydration tank 30.

The storage unit 79 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores operation programs for a plurality of operation courses of the washing machine 1. The operation course of the washing machine 1 is provided with a plurality of washing courses and a plurality of non-washing courses. In the washing course, the laundry is put into the dehydrating tub 30 and the motor 41 is driven, and in the non-washing course, the motor 41 is driven without putting the laundry into the dehydrating tub 30.

The laundry course includes, for example, a laundry dehydration course for washing and dehydrating laundry, a dehydration course for performing only laundry dehydration, and a sterilization course for performing only laundry sterilization.

In the laundry dehydration course, water is supplied to the dehydration tank 30 in which the laundry is put, and the pulsator 33 is rotated by the motor 41 so that the laundry washing and rinsing steps are performed. Further, when the washing tub 30 is rotated at a high speed by the motor 41, a dehydration process of the laundry is performed. In the washing process, detergent and laundry are put into the dewatering tank 30, the drain valve 63 is closed, the water supply valve 77 is opened, and water is supplied to the dehydration tank 30 from the water supply port. When a predetermined amount of water accumulates in the dewatering tank 30, the water supply valve 77 is closed by detection of the water level sensor 74. Next, the pulsator shaft 45 is connected to the motor 41 by the clutch / brake mechanism 43 to drive the motor 41. Thereby, the pulsator 33 rotates, the water in the dewatering tank 30 is stirred, and the laundry is washed.

When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the washing operation, the drain valve 63 is opened to drain the water in the dewatering tank 30, and the dewatering shaft 44 is connected to the motor 41 by the clutch / brake mechanism 43. Thereby, the dehydrating tank 30 is rotated at a high speed by the drive of the motor 41 and the dehydrating operation is performed. Water splashed from the laundry due to the high-speed rotation of the dewatering tank 30 flows out from the drainage duct 61 and the dewatering hole 31. In the dehydration process, the ion generator 18 is driven to perform the ion supply operation. Thereby, the laundry can be sterilized while dehydrating the laundry.

In the dehydration course, only the dehydration operation is performed while performing the ion supply operation. In the sterilization course, only the ion supply operation is performed without supplying water to the dehydration tank 30 after the clothes are put in. Thereby, deodorization and sterilization of dry clothing can be performed. The sterilization course may be executed without putting clothes on. Thereby, the dehydration tank 30 and the water tank 20 can be sterilized, mold-proof, deodorized, and the like.

According to the present embodiment, the outside air flowing into the dehydration tank 30 through the intake port 15b joins the air swirling in the dehydration tank 30 including the ions released from the ion generator 18. Thereby, ions can be distributed to the air swirling in the dehydration tank 30. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a blowing means for blowing air in the dehydrating tank 30 as in the conventional example, and the manufacturing cost of the washing machine can be reduced.

Further, since the ion generation surface 180a of the ion generator 18 is arranged perpendicular to the rotation axis of the dehydration tank 30, ions are efficiently released from the ion generation surface 180a to the air swirling in the dehydration tank 30. The

Also, a plurality of dewatering holes 31 are provided in the peripheral wall of the dewatering tank 30, and air containing ions swirling in the dewatering tank 30 flows out to the water tank 20 side through the dewatering holes 31. Thereby, sterilization of the dehydration tank 30 and the water tank 20, mold prevention, deodorization, etc. can also be performed and these can be maintained in a favorable sanitary state.

Further, the pulsator provided at the bottom of the dehydration tank 30 may be rotated in the ion supply operation. Thereby, the convection wind speed of the air swirling inside the dehydration tank 30 is increased, and the ions in the dehydration tank 30 are increased, thereby enhancing the effects of sterilization, mold prevention, deodorization and the like.

Further, the dehydration tank 30 may repeat forward and reverse rotation in the ion supply operation. Thereby, ion can be raised by changing the convection of the air swirling inside the dehydration tank 30.

The washing machine 1 of the present invention is not limited to the “no hole” type. In the case of the “with holes” type having a plurality of dewatering holes 31 on the peripheral wall of the dewatering tank 30, ions that rotate in the dewatering tank 30 through the plurality of dewatering holes 31 provided on the peripheral wall of the dewatering tank 30 in the ion supply operation. The air containing the water flows out to the water tank 20 side. Thereby, sterilization of the dehydration tank 30 and the water tank 20, mold prevention, deodorization, etc. can also be performed and these can be maintained in a favorable sanitary state. Further, in the two-tank washing machine, the lid 15 of the dehydration tank 30 may be provided with the air inlet 15b and the ion generator 18 may be provided.

The present invention can be widely used in washing machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 10 Outer box 11 Top plate 11a Opening part 14 Back panel 15 Cover part 15b Intake port 16 Extension part 16a Vertical part 16b Horizontal part 18 Ion generator 20 Water tank 30 Dehydration tank 32 Balancer 33 Pulsator 40 Drive unit 41 Motor 42 Belt 43 Clutch / brake mechanism 44 Dewatering shaft 61 Drain duct 71 Operation section

Claims

An outer box having an opening that opens the doorway of the laundry upward, a bottomed cylindrical water tank that is housed in the outer box and opens upward, and a dewatering tank that is rotatably disposed in the water tank In the washing machine comprising: a lid portion that opens and closes the opening and has an air inlet; and an ion generator that generates ions facing the dehydration tank, the dehydration tank while driving the ion generator The washing machine is characterized in that air containing ions is supplied into the dehydration tank through the intake port.
An ion supply operation of rotating the dehydration tank while driving the ion generator during a predetermined operation course is performed, and the air containing the ions flowing into the dehydration tank through the intake port in the ion supply operation The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is swirled in a dewatering tank.
The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the number of rotations of the dewatering tank can be changed in the ion supply operation.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an ion generation surface of the ion generator is arranged in parallel to a rotation axis of the dewatering tank.
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of dewatering holes are provided in a peripheral wall of the dewatering tank.
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the operation course includes a dehydration step, and the ion supply operation is performed in the dehydration step.
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a sterilization course for performing only the ion supply operation.
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a pulsator is provided at the bottom of the dewatering tank, and the pulsator rotates in the ion supply operation.
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the dewatering tank repeats forward and reverse rotation in the ion supply operation.