阅读说明：本技术 洗衣机 (Washing machine ) 是由 饭塚亚纪子 今成正雄 松井康博 上野真司 根本昭夫 于 2020-03-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供能够用更高温的蒸汽以短时间浸透洗涤物,且能够缩短洗涤物的温度上升时间、提高污垢的去除率的洗衣机。该洗衣机构成为,包括：箱体；供衣物投入的内桶；收纳内桶的外桶；在内桶的底部与外桶之间,设置有对所供给的水或者洗涤水进行加热的加热部的流路空间部；和向加热部上送入空气的空气送入单元。(The invention provides a washing machine which can permeate washings by steam with higher temperature in a short time, shorten the temperature rise time of the washings and improve the removal rate of dirt. The washing machine is composed of: a box body; an inner tub into which laundry is put; an outer barrel for accommodating the inner barrel; a flow path space part of a heating part for heating the supplied water or washing water is arranged between the bottom of the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and an air feeding unit for feeding air to the heating portion.)

1. A washing machine, characterized by comprising:

a box body;

an inner tub into which laundry is put;

an outer tub for accommodating the inner tub;

a flow path space part provided with a heating part for heating the supplied water or washing water between the bottom of the inner tub and the outer tub; and

and an air feeding unit for feeding air to the heating part.

2. A washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the heating part has a function of generating steam.

3. A washing machine as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that:

the function of generating steam is to generate steam by scattering the water or the washing water on the heating unit or by directly spraying the water or the washing water on the heating unit.

4. A washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that:

the heating part may perform a function of heating water or washing water, a function of generating steam, and a function of heating air by the same heating part.

5. A washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

the air supply unit sucks air in the tub from the suction port, and blows the air out from the blowing port to the heating portion through the ventilation duct.

6. The washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

the suction inlet is provided with a plurality of suction inlets.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry and the like.

Background

The washing and drying machine generally comprises: a washing mode, wherein washing objects are put into a rotatable inner barrel to carry out a washing process, a rinsing process and a dewatering process; a drying mode in which only the drying step is performed; and a washing/drying mode in which the washing step and the drying step are continuously performed. The washing and drying machine has a vertical type in which a rotation shaft of an inner tub is substantially vertical to an installation surface, and a drum type in which the rotation shaft is horizontal or slightly inclined.

In the drum-type washing and drying machine, the drum is rotated at a low speed in the washing step and the rinsing step, and the laundry accumulated below the drum is lifted up and dropped from above the drum. The mechanical force is applied to the laundry by the tumbling motion to perform washing and rinsing. In the dewatering step, centrifugal dewatering is performed in which the drum is rotated at a high speed and water is squeezed out of the laundry by centrifugal force generated by the rotation.

In the washing step, a circulation pump is provided to improve the washing effect, and the washing liquid in the washing tub (outer tub) is pumped up and applied to the laundry, so that the laundry is generally soaked with the washing water in which the detergent and the like are dissolved. In this way, the drum-type washing machine can ensure the washing performance even with a small amount of water by the tumbling motion and the circulation of the washing water by the circulation pump, and thus can save water as compared with the vertical washing machine.

One of the methods for increasing the cleaning temperature is to increase the cleaning temperature. By increasing the temperature of the laundry and the washing water, the action of enzymes contained in the washing water can be increased, and the penetration of the surfactant into the laundry can be promoted, whereby the detergency can be improved.

In addition, steam may be generated to bring the steam into contact with the laundry, thereby raising the temperature of the detergent liquid contained in the laundry.

In order to achieve the above object, the washing machine described in patent document 1 is configured such that the steam supply means for supplying steam into the washing/dehydrating tub, the water supply means for supplying water into the washing/dehydrating tub, and the like are controlled by the control means, and the control means performs a detergent liquid supply step of supplying detergent liquid to the laundry in the washing/dehydrating tub by the detergent liquid supply means and a steam supply step of supplying steam into the washing/dehydrating tub by the steam supply means.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 4978712

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, in the invention described in patent document 1, the steam generating unit is located above the washing and dehydrating tub, and the steam is naturally supplied to the washing and dehydrating tub, so that it takes time for the steam to enter the washing and dehydrating tub, and the temperature of the steam may be lowered. In addition, since it takes time for the steam to enter the washing and dehydrating tub due to natural convection, it may take time for the laundry to be heated.

In addition, when the amount of laundry is large, the central portion of the laundry may not be contacted with the steam, and the temperature of the laundry may not be increased, so that the dirt removing ability may not be improved.

In addition, in the case of a washing and drying machine capable of drying laundry, the structure may become complicated due to a plurality of heat source units including a heat source unit for heating washing water, a heat source unit for generating steam, a heat source unit for heating air for drying laundry, and the like.

The invention aims to provide a washing machine which can permeate washings by steam with higher temperature in a short time, shorten the temperature rise time of the washings and improve the dirt removal rate.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, a washing machine according to the present invention includes: a box body; an inner tub into which laundry is put; an outer barrel for accommodating the inner barrel; a flow path space part of a heating part for heating the supplied water or washing water is arranged between the bottom of the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and an air feeding unit for feeding air to the heating portion.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine capable of allowing laundry to be soaked with steam having a higher temperature for a short time, shortening a temperature rise time of the laundry, and improving a dirt removal rate.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing and drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side of the internal structure of the drum-type washing machine according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side of the internal structure of the drum-type washing and drying machine in the drying operation in example 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side surface showing the internal structure of the drum-type washing machine according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side of the internal structure of the drum-type washing and drying machine in the drying operation in example 2.

Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side surface showing the internal structure of the drum-type washing and drying machine according to example 3.

Detailed Description

(example 1)

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washing and drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of the right side surface of the drum-type washing and drying machine, as viewed from the front in embodiment 1 of the present invention. First, the appearance will be described. A side plate 1a mainly made of a steel plate and a resin molded product, a reinforcement (not shown), and the like are combined to form a framework on the upper portion of the base 1h, and a front cover 1c and an upper cover 1e are attached thereto to form the box body 1. The front cover 1c is provided with a door 9 for taking in and out the laundry 207, and the back cover 1d is attached to the back surface.

Next, the operation and function of each component of the washing machine and the washing process will be described.

An outer tub 2 is provided at a substantially central portion of the inside of the cabinet 1. The tub 2 is supported by a damper 5 at a lower portion. The drum 3, which is an inner tub having a rotation mechanism, is provided inside the tub 2, and the laundry 207 can be put in by opening the door 9.

In the door 9, a door glass 9a is fixed to a door frame 9b and is attached to the cabinet using a hinge (not shown). Inside the rotatable drum 3, a plurality of lifters capable of lifting the laundry 207 are provided. A fluid balancer may be provided in the opening of drum 3 as necessary to reduce vibration due to unbalance of laundry 207 during dewatering. The drum 3 is directly connected to the motor M10 via the main shaft 211 coupled to the flange. Alternatively, a pulley fixed to the main shaft and a motor fixed to the tub may be coupled via a belt to drive the drum, so-called belt drive structure.

A rubber bellows made of an elastic body is attached to an opening of the outer tub 2. The bellows made of rubber functions to maintain the outer tub 2 and the door 9 sealed. Thus, water leakage can be prevented when water is used in washing, rinsing, dewatering, and the like. The rotatable drum 3 is provided with a large number of small holes (not shown) in the side surface thereof for allowing air, steam, water during dehydration, and the like to pass therethrough.

The operation switches 12 and 13 for turning ON/OFF the power supply and selecting the operation mode are shown ON the front surface, but may be arranged ON another surface, for example, the upper surface.

Between the bottom of drum 3, which is an inner tub, and tub 2, there are provided heating unit 50 and water receiving unit 15, which is a flow path space portion for temporarily storing water around heating unit 50. When the PTC heater is used as the heating unit 50 provided in the flow path space, the power is automatically reduced when the heater temperature is too high, and thus, dry burning can be prevented. In the case of using a sheath heater or the like, it is sufficient to prevent overheating in combination with a temperature sensor.

In addition, the heating unit 50 directly or indirectly drops the supplied water or washing water to generate steam (including steam and fine particles of water obtained by liquefying the steam) (a function of generating steam). The water is supplied from a water injection portion 11 provided in the flow path space portion. The water injection part 11 may be formed in a nozzle shape, and water may be dispersed on the surface of the heating part 50 to be evaporated. By forming a mist to be dispersed, the heating time of water can be shortened and the evaporation of water can be accelerated.

Alternatively, a mesh-like structure may be provided on the surface of the heating section 50, and water may be distributed over the entire surface of the heating section 50. By wetting the whole surface, the heating time of water can be shortened and the water evaporation is accelerated.

Water may be added to a water level at which a part of the surface of the heating portion 50 is covered with the liquid, and the steam may be generated by heating.

The flow path space portion is provided with an air feeding means for feeding air into the flow path space portion. The air supply unit is a mechanism for blowing air circulating in the outer tub 2 to the heating unit 50, and specifically, air is sucked from an air suction port 58 provided in a front upper portion and blown out to the heating unit 50 from an air blowing port 59 provided in a bottom portion of the outer tub 2 through the ventilation duct 29.

An example of the operation during the washing operation will be described.

In washing, water is supplied into the outer tub 2 from the water supply valve. The water from the water supply valve enters through the detergent input part 7 while being mixed with the detergent, and is stored in the water receiving part 15 at the bottom of the tub.

When water passes over the heating unit 50, the heating unit 50 is operated to start heating. The state of covering the heating unit 50 is determined by storing the amount of water flowing from the water supply valve in a memory in advance and determining whether or not a predetermined amount of water is input. Or a water level sensor may be provided.

When the water level exceeds the bottom of the drum 3, the drum is rotated at a low speed to wash the laundry 207. By rotating at a low speed, the laundry is prevented from sticking to drum 3, and effective washing can be performed. In addition, when the rotation direction of the drum is changed to move the laundry, the contact manner of the laundry to the drum can be changed, and the whole laundry can be washed.

When the drum 3 is rotated, the washing liquid that has penetrated into the laundry 207 is pushed out, and if the washing liquid is stored to such an extent that the water receiving portion 15 can be filled, the detergent liquid penetrates into the laundry 207 again by the lifting operation of the washing liquid accompanying the rotation of the drum 3.

Then, the circulation pump is driven as necessary to forcibly disperse the squeezed washing liquid to the laundry 207. The washing liquid penetrates into the laundry again, and the dirt is easily removed. In addition, the temperature of the washing water is increased, thereby improving the washing performance.

When the temperature is raised to about 30 to 40 ℃, the activity of enzymes contained in the detergent is improved, and thus the dirt is easily removed. In addition, when the temperature is raised to 60 ℃ or higher, bacteria attached to the laundry as a source of odor can be sterilized, and thus odor can be prevented.

In order to raise the temperature of the laundry 207 and the washing water, as shown in fig. 3, the drying heater 501 is operated to drive the fan 21 for air blowing to generate hot air, thereby heating the washing water and the laundry 207. By blowing air to the laundry 207, the laundry is less likely to be entangled, and the washing performance can be improved. The circulation direction of the air in fig. 3 is opposite to that of fig. 2. The air inlet 58 is provided at the bottom of the tub 2, and the air is heated by the drying heater 501 through the ventilation duct 29 and blown out from the air outlet 60 provided at the front upper portion of the tub 2.

After the washing of the laundry 207 is completed, the washing water is drained, and then the drum is rotated at a high speed to perform dehydration.

In the rinsing step, water supply, rotation of the drum, and dehydration are repeated a plurality of times to remove the detergent from the laundry. In this case, when the water temperature is raised by operating the heating unit 50, the speed of diffusion of the washing components permeating into the laundry into the water is increased, and thus the rinsing time can be shortened.

In the steps from washing to rinsing, valve 6 is provided between water receiving unit 15 and fan 20, and water used can be reduced if water cannot enter ventilation pipe 29. If the amount of water used is reduced, the time required for accumulation of water can be shortened, and thus the washing time can be shortened. In addition, if less water is used, the energy required to heat the water is reduced, and energy can be saved.

The drying step will be described with reference to fig. 3.

In the drying step, the drying heater 501 and the fan 20 are driven to generate hot air, thereby drying the clothes. In the initial stage of the drying process, the laundry 207 contains a large amount of water, and thus the laundry 207 is heavy. When the drying is continuously performed, the fan 21 may be moved while the moisture contained in the laundry 207 is reduced. Inside the drum 3, wind is blown from above and below, and the laundry 207 is less likely to wrinkle. In this case, when the drying heating unit 501 is operated, the air from below is also changed into hot air, and drying can be performed in a shorter time. Further, by blowing air to the entire water receiving part 15 and the inner surface of the tub, the inside of the washing machine becomes dry after the drying of the laundry 207 is completed, and thus, the generation of mold and odor due to mold can be prevented.

In addition, when drying clothes that are easily damaged by heat, damage to the cloth due to heat can be prevented by moving (operating) only the fan.

The steam operation includes 3 operations of washing the laundry, washing the tub, and removing wrinkles from the laundry. The following description is made separately.

(washing of laundry)

The surface of the heating portion is wetted with water in a state where the laundry is put in the drum 3, and the heating portion is operated to generate steam. At this time, the fan 21 is operated to send the steam into the drum 3.

The laundry 207 absorbs the steam, whereby the fibers are loosened and the dirt is easily released.

When the dirt of the laundry is small, or when the laundry is fashionable (the laundry is easily damaged and sensitive to heat, etc.), etc., the drum 3 is rotated in a state where the steam is present in the drum 3, and the dirt of the laundry is removed. In addition, since the temperature of the laundry is increased, the dirt is easily dropped.

After the steam is generated, water is put into water receiving unit 15 to wet laundry 207, and the dirt is further removed by rinsing. Water can be saved because the amount of water used is reduced, and the burden on sewage treatment can be reduced because no detergent is used. In addition, if the amount of the detergent is reduced, the time of the rinsing step can be shortened, and the washing time can be shortened.

(cleaning of barrel)

In the upper part of the outer tub, water is splashed in normal washing, but since the flow of water flowing on the surface is not generated, dirt or mold is likely to remain when the dirt or mold is formed.

If steam is generated in a state where laundry 207 or the like is not put in the drum 3, the steam spreads over the surface of the drum 3 and the inner wall surface of the tub 2, and dirt, mold, or the like adhering to the inner wall surface or the like can be easily peeled off. Further, the inner wall surface becomes high in temperature, and bacteria attached to the inner wall surface and the like can be sterilized, and odor can be prevented.

After the steam is distributed, air may be fed into the drum 3 to evaporate moisture adhering to the inner wall surface and the like. By keeping the dried state, mold growth can be suppressed. When warm air is delivered, drying can be performed as quickly as possible.

Further, when water is supplied at a high water level after the steam is distributed, and the drum 3 is rotated, dirt, mold, and the like on the inner wall surface are easily detached. In this case, after the water is drained, air is supplied into the drum 3 and dried including the tub 2, so that mold can be suppressed.

(wrinkle removal of clothes)

The folded clothes generate wrinkles in the folded portion as time passes. In addition, if the clothes are dried with creases, wrinkles are generated in the crease portions.

Wrinkles carried on the laundry can be reduced or removed using the steam.

In a state where laundry is put into drum 3, steam is generated by heating unit 50. The fan 20 sends the generated steam into the inside of the drum 3, thereby enabling the laundry to be wetted. After the clothes are wetted, air is blown into the drum 3 by an air blowing fan 21 located above the drum 3 to dry the clothes, thereby removing wrinkles from the clothes. In this case, if both the upper and lower fans (fans 20 and 21) are used, the laundry is more easily stretched in the drum 3, and wrinkles are more easily removed.

That is, in the present embodiment, the heating unit 50 can perform the operations of heating water or washing water, generating steam, and heating air by the same heating unit.

(example 2)

Example 2 is an example of a structure in which a part of the vent pipe 291 for introducing steam is branched. The construction is shown in fig. 4. The steam is easily passed to the upper part of the tub 2 by the branching, so that the steam can be spread over the entire inner wall of the tub 2. Since the steam can be distributed throughout the entire outer tub 2, problems such as uneven falling of dirt on the inner wall can be solved, and the entire dirt can be fallen.

This is a structure in which the air intake port from the tub 2 to the ventilation duct 29 is located both in the front of the upper part and in the rear of the upper part. The flow path at the rear of the upper part is branched. In fig. 4, since the suction ports are provided at 2 positions in front and rear of the drum, air in the drum is disturbed, and steam can be taken in from the plurality of suction ports (the suction ports at 2 positions), and thus the steam can be distributed throughout the entire drum interior.

The cleaning method and the steam generation method are the same as those in example 1, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 5 shows a structure in the case of drying. Since air blowing port 60 from air blowing fan 21 to the inside of drum 3 is rotated by drum 3 and the air is agitated, it can be positioned above drum 3 as in fig. 3. When the air outlet 60 of the air blowing fan 21 to the inside of the drum 3 is provided below the drum 3, the air is more easily circulated, and thus the drying time can be shortened. In addition, since the laundry 207 is blown and stretched, wrinkles are not easily generated.

(example 3)

Example 3 is an example of a structure in which heating of water, steam generation, and generation of warm air for drying the laundry 207 can be performed by a single heating unit 501. This structure is shown in fig. 6.

At the time of washing, water is heated by the heating portion 501. The dropping of dirt can be improved by washing with hot water.

In the steam washing, steam is generated to heat the laundry 207. The steam permeates the laundry 207, whereby dirt attached to the laundry is loosened, and the dirt is easily detached.

In the steam drying, the wrinkles formed on the laundry in the folded state can be removed by generating the steam.

The steam is impregnated into the laundry and then air is supplied to evaporate the steam, thereby enabling wrinkles of the laundry to be removed.

When the steam tank is cleaned, steam is generated to remove dirt, mold, and the like adhering to the inner surfaces of the drum 3 and the tub.

When the laundry is dried, the laundry is dried by the heated air passing through the heating part 50. By feeding warm air, the laundry can be dried as quickly as possible. In the case of heat-damaged laundry, only air may be blown without driving the heating unit 50.

By providing the outside air intake port 100 in a part of the duct 29, air having a lower humidity than the inside of the drum 3 can be taken in, and the drying time can be shortened. Further, if a mechanism for exchanging heat with water and air is provided in a part of duct 29, the steam in duct 29 can be liquefied to reduce the humidity, and hence laundry 207 can be dried in a shorter time.

The heating unit 50 may be disposed between the bottom of the drum 3 and the tub, or the drying heating unit 501 may be disposed in a plurality of units. (the number of heating units in the figure is 1, and a plurality of heating units may be arranged.)

In addition, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a drum-type washing machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to the drum-type washing machine, and may be applied to other washing machines, for example, a vertical-type washing machine. In the case of the vertical washing machine, for example, the door glass 9a is not required and a lid of the inner tub is required, and the components are slightly different.

Description of reference numerals

1 case body

2 outer barrel

3 roller

6 valve

7 detergent feeding part

9 door

11 water injection part

12. 13 operating switch

15 water-bearing part

20 Fan

21 Fan

29 ventilating pipe

291 ventilating pipe

50 heating part

58 air intake

59 air outlet

60 air outlet

501 heating unit for drying

207 washing article

100 an external air inlet.