JP2005177462A - Washing water circulating device for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a detergent dissolving ability of a washing machine to prevent a powdered detergent supplied in a tub from remaining on laundry. <P>SOLUTION: A washing water circulating device for washing machines comprises a first tube connected to the tub, a circulating pump which is connected to the first tube and pumps the water in the tub, a second tube which is connected to the circulating pump and supplies the pumped water to the inside of the tub, a bypassing tube for connecting the first and the second tubes, and a control valve which is placed on the second tube and guides the water pumped by the circulating pump either to the tub or to the bypassing tube. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a circulation device that sucks water below a tub of the washing machine and discharges the water from the upper side.

A washing machine is a machine for removing dirt adhering to laundry using the action of detergent and water.
Such washing machines are generally classified into an agitator type, a pulsator type, and a drum type washing machine. In the agitation type, the washing bar protruding in the center of the tab is rotated to the left and right for washing. Wash using the frictional force between the two. In the drum type, water, detergent and laundry are put into the drum with a large number of tumbling leaves protruding on the inner surface, and the drum is rotated at a low speed for washing.

On the other hand, when washing laundry using the various types of washing machines, detergent is used together with water. That is, washing is performed after manually or automatically supplying detergent into a tub containing laundry and water.
However, when a powder detergent is supplied into the tub, a part of the detergent can be dissolved in water to improve the washing performance, while the other part is not completely dissolved and is caught in the laundry cloth. Thus, the powder detergent sandwiched between the cloths of the laundry decreases the washing performance of the washing machine and lengthens the washing time.
In addition, even after the laundry is completed, the powder detergent partially remains in the laundry, and the user's skin is damaged.

  The present invention has been devised to solve the above problem, and it is intended to improve the detergent dissolving ability of a washing machine so as to prevent the powder detergent supplied in the tub from remaining in the laundry. Objective.

  According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a first tube connected to a tab, a circulation pump connected to the first tube and sucking water in the tab, and connected to the circulation pump. A second tube that supplies the sucked water into the tub, a bypass tube that connects the first tube and the second tube, and water that is disposed in the second tube and is transported by the circulation pump. A washing water circulation device for a washing machine, comprising: a control valve for guiding either the tab or the bypass tube.

  According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a cabinet having a door, a tab provided in the cabinet and storing water therein, and rotatably provided in the tab. A drum into which the laundry is placed, a water supply device for supplying detergent and water into the tub, a first tube connected to the tub, and water in the tub connected to the first tube. A circulation pump for suction, a second tube connected to the circulation pump for supplying the sucked water into the tub, a bypass tube for connecting the first tube and the second tube, and the second tube. And a washing machine comprising a washing water circulation device comprising a control valve for guiding water transported by the circulation pump to one of the second tube and the bypass tube. .

  The control valve is provided at a connection portion between the second tube and the bypass tube.

  The control valve may be provided between a connection portion between the second tube and the bypass tube and the tab.

  The control valve guides the water to the bypass tube for a predetermined time at an initial stage of a washing process in which a detergent is supplied into the tub.

  The control valve guides the water to the tub after the washing process starts and a predetermined time elapses.

According to the washing water circulation device of the present invention, most of the detergent can be dissolved while the detergent and water are continuously circulated outside the tub.
And since the water and detergent which came out of the detergent box are supplied between a drum and a tab, it can prevent that a powder detergent is pinched | interposed into the cloth of a laundry.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the powder detergent from remaining in the laundry even after the washing is completed, and it is possible to prevent the user's skin from being damaged by the detergent remaining in the laundry.

In addition, since the washing water circulation device dissolves most of the detergent, the washing ability of the washing machine is improved and the washing time is shortened. In particular, the rinsing time for removing the detergent remaining in the laundry can be shortened.
And since it becomes a very simple structure, the performance of a washing machine can be improved at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention capable of specifically realizing the above object will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the present embodiment, the same names and reference numerals are used for the same components, and additional description thereof will be omitted below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a drum washing machine having a washing water circulation device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 exemplarily shows a tab disposed in a cabinet and a drum washing machine in which a drum is rotatably disposed in the tab. The washing machine according to the present invention is not limited to the drum washing machine shown, but can be equally applied to a pulsator washing machine in which the tab and the drum are provided vertically.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, an opening is formed in the front surface of the cabinet 10 forming the outer shape of the washing machine, and a door 15 is rotatably mounted on the entire surface of the cabinet 10 so as to open and close the opening. .

  A tab 20 is horizontally disposed in the cabinet 10. Here, the tab 20 is elastically supported in the internal space by a spring (not shown) and a damper (not shown). The tab 20 is disposed such that the opened front face faces the opening of the cabinet 10. Water is supplied and stored in the tab 20 thus arranged.

  A drum 30 is rotatably disposed in the internal space of the tab 20. For this purpose, a motor 25 is arranged in the cabinet 10 to rotate the drum 30. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the shaft of the motor 25 is directly connected to the drum 30. In this case, the shaft passes through the tab 20. However, although not shown, the motor 25 can rotate the drum 30 indirectly. In this case, the drum 30 and the motor 25 are connected by a belt, for example.

  A number of through holes (not shown) are formed in the drum 30. Accordingly, the water stored in the tab 20 enters and exits the internal space of the drum 30 through the through hole. A large number of tumbling ribs (not shown) protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the drum 30 (not shown). The stirring rib acts to lift and drop the laundry upward when the drum 30 rotates.

  On the other hand, the washing machine is provided with a water supply device 40 so as to supply detergent and water into the tab 20. The water supply device 40 includes a water supply source such as a water tap, a water supply hose 45 connected to the tab 20, and a detergent box 41 provided to communicate with the water supply hose 45.

  Accordingly, when water is supplied to the tab 20 through the water supply hose 45 in a state where the detergent is supplied to the detergent box 41, the detergent is supplied into the tab 20 together with the water. Here, the detergent box 41 may be configured to automatically supply an appropriate amount of detergent to the water supply hose 45 or the tab 20.

  Meanwhile, it is preferable that the water supply device 40 supplies the detergent and water between the tab 20 and the drum 30. If it does so, water and a detergent collide with the drum 30, and a detergent melt | dissolves well. In addition, the powder detergent that does not melt completely flows along the outer surface of the drum 30 and then accumulates on the bottom surface of the tab 20 to prevent the powder detergent from being directly supplied to the laundry and being caught in the laundry cloth. be able to.

  On the other hand, a drain 21 is formed below the tab 20, and a drain pipe (not shown) is connected to the drain 21. A drainage pump (not shown) is connected to the drainage pipe in order to discharge the water flowing out from the tab 20 through the drainage port 21 and the drainage pipe to the outside. Of course, a drainage hose (not shown) communicating with the outside is connected to the drainage pump. Accordingly, when the drain pump is activated, the water in the tub 20 is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 through the drain port 21, the drain pipe, the drain pump, and the drain hose.

  Meanwhile, the washing machine according to the present invention is further provided with a washing water circulation device 100. The washing water circulation device 100 plays a role of improving the washing and rinsing performance by discharging the water in the tab 20 to the outside and then supplying the water into the tab 20 again. In addition, the washing water circulation device 100 according to the present invention also serves to quickly dissolve most of the detergent when the detergent is put into the tub 20. Hereinafter, the washing water circulation device 100 serving as the role will be described in more detail.

  The washing water circulation device 100 according to the present invention includes a water circulation unit and a flow path control unit. Here, the water circulation part serves to supply water in the tab 20 again after discharging the water in the tab 20 to the outside of the tab 20. The flow path control unit further serves to circulate the water discharged to the outside of the tab 20 to the outside of the tab 20 or guide it into the tab 20. Hereinafter, the water circulation section and the flow path control section will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the water circulation unit includes a circulation channel and a circulation pump 130. Here, the circulation flow path is provided such that both ends thereof communicate with the tab 20, and the circulation pump 130 is connected to the circulation flow path.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the circulation flow path communicating with the tab 20 includes two tubes. One of them is the first tube 110 connected to the drain port 21 of the tab 20 or the lower portion of the tab 20, more specifically, the bottom surface, and the other is the second tube 120 communicating with the upper portion of the inside of the tab 20. It is.

  Here, when the first tube 110 is connected to the drain port 21 or the lower portion of the tab 20, the powder detergent sinking on the bottom surface of the tab 20 can be easily guided into the first tube 110.

  Meanwhile, the first tube 110 and the second tube 120 are connected to the circulation pump 130, respectively. The circulation pump 130 includes an impeller 135 that sucks water in the tab 20, and a motor 131 that is axially coupled to the impeller 135 and rotates the impeller 135.

  With the above structure, the water sucked into the first tube 110 by the circulation pump 130 is again supplied into the tab 20 by the second tube 120. Here, the second tube 120 may spray water sucked by the circulation pump 130 into the drum 30. Accordingly, the energy generated when water falls can be increased, and the washing performance and the ability to dissolve the detergent of the washing machine can be improved.

  Next, the flow path control unit includes a bypass tube 140 and a flow path switching unit. Here, both ends of the bypass tube 140 are connected to the circulation flow path through which water pumped outside the tab 20 flows. More specifically, one end of the bypass tube 140 is connected to the first tube 110, and the other end of the bypass tube 140 is connected to the second tube 120.

  The flow path changing unit is provided to the circulation flow path, more specifically, the second tube 120. Water pumped outside the tab 20 by the circulation pump 130 is either the tab 20 or the bypass tube 140. Guide to one side.

  In the present invention, the control valve 150 is presented at the flow path switching unit. Here, the control valve 150 is provided at a connection portion of the second tube 120 and the bypass tube 140 as shown in FIG. 1, or as shown in FIG. The connection point between the second tube 120 and the bypass tube 140 and the tab 20 may be provided.

  If the control valve 150 is provided at a connection portion between the second tube 120 and the bypass tube 140, the control valve 150 may use a three-way valve.

  In this case, if the control valve 150 closes the second tube 120 and connects the bypass tube 140 and the circulation pump 130 as shown in FIG. 2A, the pumped water is guided to the bypass tube 140. Is done.

  The water guided to the bypass tube 140 passes through the first tube 110 and the circulation pump 130 and is then guided to the bypass tube 140 again. Accordingly, the water pumped by the circulation pump 130 continues to circulate outside the tub 20.

  On the other hand, if the control valve 150 closes the bypass tube 140 to allow the circulation pump 130 and the tab 20 to communicate with each other as shown in FIG. It is guided to the tab 20 through the tube 120.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the control valve 150 is provided between the tab 20 and the connection portion of the second tube 120 and the bypass tube 140, the control valve 150 is an on-off valve. Is used.

  In this case, when the control valve 150 is closed, the water pumped by the circulation pump 130 cannot pass through the second tube 120 and is guided to the bypass tube 140.

  Then, the water guided to the bypass tube 140 passes through the first tube 110 and the circulation pump 130 and is then guided to the bypass tube 140 again. Accordingly, the water pumped by the circulation pump 130 continues to circulate outside the tab 20.

  Meanwhile, if the control valve 150 is opened, the water pumped by the circulation pump 130 passes through the second tube 120 and then is supplied into the tub 20.

  As described above, the washing water circulation apparatus 100 according to the present invention having the flow path control unit circulates water pumped outside the tab 20 only outside the tab 20 or supplies the water to the tab again.

  The reason why the water in the tub 20 is continuously circulated outside in this way is that the powder detergent put into the tub 20 at the beginning of the washing process can be mostly dissolved in a short time. That is, when the detergent is put into the tub 20, water and detergent are pumped outside the tub 20, and then continuously circulated outside the tub 20. It melts quickly by the generated frictional force. Accordingly, if the water in the washing water circulation device 100 is supplied into the tub 20 after the detergent is melted, not only can the powder detergent be caught between the cloths of the laundry, but also the washing time can be reduced by reducing the washing time. Can be improved.

  On the other hand, the time for the washing water to circulate in the washing water circulation device 100 is preset in the control unit in the washing machine. At this time, the controller may control the time for circulating the water and the detergent outside the tab 20 to be different from each other in order to dissolve the detergent according to the amount of laundry and the amount of detergent.

  On the other hand, the control unit can control the same time for circulating water and detergent outside the tab 20 regardless of the amount of laundry and detergent. In addition, the control unit may control to repeatedly supply the water and the detergent inside the tab 20 after being circulated outside the tab 20 for a predetermined time.

Meanwhile, an operation process of the washing machine including the washing water circulation device 100 according to the present invention will be described below.
First, the door 15 is opened and the laundry is put into the drum 30. When the washing machine is moved by closing the door 15, external water flows into the detergent box 41 through the water supply hose 45. The detergent box 41 can be dissolved in water supplied with a prepared detergent, and the dissolved water is supplied between the tab 20 and the drum 30 through the water supply hose 45.

  Then, water and detergent supplied between the tab 20 and the drum 30 slide along the outer peripheral surface of the drum 30 and accumulate on the bottom surface of the tab 20. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the detergent that does not melt from coming into direct contact with the laundry and the detergent being caught between the laundry cloths.

  At the beginning of the washing process in which water and detergent are supplied into the tub 20, the circulation pump 130 is activated. At this time, the control valve 150 guides the water passing through the first tube 110 and the circulation pump 130 to the bypass tube 140 as shown in FIG. 2A.

  Therefore, the water and the detergent pumped outside the tab 20 by the circulation pump 130 will circulate outside the tab 20 for a predetermined time, so that most of the detergent dissolves. Meanwhile, as described above, the drum 30 can be rotated and stopped at a low speed in the initial stage of the washing process in which water and detergent are supplied into the tub 20 to dissolve the detergent.

  After a predetermined time elapses after the washing process starts, the control valve 150 guides the water to the tub 20 as shown in FIG. 2B. Then, the water in which the detergent is dissolved is supplied into the tab 20 after passing through the second tube 120.

  On the other hand, when a certain amount of water is supplied into the tab 20, the drum 30 is rotated by the motor 25. If the drum 30 rotates, the laundry is lifted by the tumbling rib and then dropped. Therefore, the washing is performed with the contaminants separated from the laundry by the chemical action of the detergent, the impact energy when dropped by the tumbling rib, and the frictional force generated by the water flow generated when the drum 30 rotates.

  While washing is performed as described above, the washing water circulation device 100 pumps the water in the tab 20 and then sprays it into the tab 20 again. Thus, the friction and impact energy generated when the water sprayed into the tab 20 falls improves the washing ability of the washing machine.

  After washing is performed while the drum 30 rotates for a certain time, the drum 30 and the circulation pump 130 are stopped. And the dirty water after washing is drained to the outside. During the drainage process, the drainage pump (not shown) is operated, and dirty water in the tab 20 is discharged to the outside through the drainage hose (not shown).

  After the drainage is completed, the drainage pump is stopped, new water is supplied into the tub 20 through the water supply hose 45, and the drum 30 is rotated to perform the rinsing process. During the rinsing process, the drum 30 rotates and the circulation pump 130 is operated to perform rinsing through a process similar to the washing process.

  The laundry that has been washed by repeating rinsing and draining is dehydrated in a drum that rotates at high speed. On the other hand, if the washing machine is equipped with a heater, a blower, and the like, the laundry after dehydration is completely dried using hot air.

  Although several embodiments have been described above, the fact that the present invention can be embodied in other various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention is usually in the art. It is self-evident to those who have knowledge of.

  Accordingly, the above-described embodiments are not to be considered as limiting, but must be considered exemplary, and all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents are included within the scope of the invention. It is.

1 is a configuration diagram simply showing a drum washing machine equipped with a washing water circulation device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram simply showing a position of a control valve and a flow of water when the washing water circulation device of FIG. 1 dissolves detergent. It is the block diagram which showed the position of the control valve and the flow of water when the washing-water circulation apparatus of FIG. 2 circulates the water in a tub simply. It is a block diagram which shows simply the modified example of the drum washing machine of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cabinet 15 Door 20 Tab 30 Drum 40 Water supply apparatus 100 Washing water circulation apparatus 110 1st tube 120 2nd tube 130 Circulation pump 140 Bypass tube 150 Control valve

Claims (10)

A first tube connected to the tab;
A circulation pump connected to the first tube and sucking water in the tub;
A second tube connected to the circulation pump to supply pumped water into the tub;
A bypass tube connecting the first tube and the second tube;
A washing water circulation device for a washing machine, comprising a control valve arranged in the second tube and guiding water sucked by the circulation pump to one of the tab and the bypass tube.   The washing water circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve is provided at a connection portion between the second tube and the bypass tube.   The washing water circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the control valve is provided between a connection portion of the second tube and the bypass tube and the tab.   The washing water circulation device of claim 1, wherein the control valve guides the water to the bypass tube for a predetermined time at an initial stage of a washing process in which a detergent is supplied into the tub.   The washing water circulation device of claim 1, wherein the control valve guides the water to the tub after a predetermined time has elapsed since a washing process is started. A cabinet with a door;
A tab provided in the cabinet to store water therein;
A drum provided rotatably in the tub and into which the laundry is placed;
A water supply device for supplying detergent and water into the tub;
A first tube connected to the tub, a circulation pump connected to the first tube to suck water in the tub, and a second tube connected to the circulation pump to supply sucked water into the tub. , A bypass tube connecting the first tube and the second tube, and a control provided to the second tube and guiding water transported by the circulation pump to either the second tube or the bypass tube A washing machine comprising a washing water circulation device including a valve.   The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the control valve is provided at a connection portion between the second tube and the bypass tube.   The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the control valve is provided between a connection portion between the second tube and the bypass tube and the tab.   The washing machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein the control valve guides the water to the bypass tube for a predetermined time at an initial stage of a washing process in which a detergent is supplied into the tub.   The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the control valve guides the water to the tub after a predetermined time elapses after the washing process starts.

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