JP2024096459A - washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of removing wrinkles from clothes.
[Solution] The device comprises an outer tub 2, a drum 3 provided within the outer tub 2, a steam generating section provided within the outer tub 2 for generating steam, an air intake port 58 for drawing in air from the outer tub 2, an air outlet port 59 for blowing the air drawn in from the air intake port 58 into the outer tub 2, and a blower fan 20 for blowing air into the drum 3, wherein the steam generating section is provided at the bottom within the outer tub 2, the air intake port 58 is provided at the top of the outer tub 2, and the blower fan 20 draws in steam generated in the steam generating section from the air intake port 58 and sends the steam to the drum 3 via the air outlet port 59.
[Selected figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing clothes, etc.

Washer-dryers generally have a washing mode in which laundry is placed into a rotatable inner tub and the washing, rinsing and spin-drying processes are carried out, a drying mode in which only the drying process is carried out, and a washing and drying mode in which the washing and drying processes are carried out consecutively. Washer-dryers come in two types: vertical types, in which the rotation axis of the inner tub is roughly perpendicular to the installation surface, and drum types, which are horizontal or slightly inclined.

Drum-type washer-dryers perform a tumbling action in which the drum rotates at a low speed during the washing and rinsing processes, lifting the laundry that has accumulated below the drum and causing it to fall from the drum. This tumbling action applies mechanical force to the laundry to wash and rinse it. During the spin-drying process, the drum rotates at high speed, and centrifugal force is used to push water out of the laundry (centrifugal spin-drying).

In addition, to improve the cleaning effect during the washing process, a circulation pump is installed to pump up the washing liquid in the washing tub (outer tub) and spray it onto the laundry, allowing the washing water with dissolved detergent and other ingredients to penetrate the laundry evenly. In this way, drum-type washing machines can ensure washing performance with less water through the tumbling action and circulation of the washing water by the circulation pump, allowing them to save water compared to top-loading washing machines.

One way to increase cleaning power is to increase the washing temperature. Increasing the temperature of the laundry and wash water increases the activity of the enzymes in the wash water and promotes the penetration of surfactants into the clothes, thereby increasing cleaning power.

Some washing machines also generate steam and apply it to the laundry, thereby raising the temperature of the detergent solution contained in the laundry.

The washing machine described in Patent Document 1 aims to break down stubborn stains such as grease and stains by applying steam to the laundry, and to achieve the above-mentioned aim, the washing machine is configured to control the operation of a steam supplying means for supplying steam into the washing and spin-drying tub, a water supplying means for supplying water into the washing and spin-drying tub, and the like, by a control means, and the control means executes a detergent liquid supplying process for supplying detergent liquid to the laundry in the washing and spin-drying tub by the detergent liquid supplying means, and a steam supplying process for supplying steam into the washing and spin-drying tub by the steam supplying means.

Patent No. 4978712

However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the steam generating section is located at the top of the washing/spinning tub, and the steam enters the washing/spinning tub by natural convection. Since it takes time for the steam to enter the washing/spinning tub, there is a risk that the temperature of the steam will drop. In addition, since it takes time for the steam to enter the washing/spinning tub due to natural convection, it may take a long time for the laundry to warm up.

Also, if you have a large load of laundry, the steam may not reach the center of the clothes, which may result in the clothes not getting hotter and dirt not being removed as effectively.

In addition, a washer-dryer that can dry clothes will have multiple heat sources, such as a heat source for heating the wash water, a heat source for generating steam, and a heat source for heating the air that dries the clothes, which can make the structure complicated.

The object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can penetrate higher temperature steam into laundry in a short time, shorten the time it takes for the laundry to heat up, and improve dirt removal.

In order to solve the above problems, the washing machine of the present invention comprises an outer tub, an inner tub provided within the outer tub, a steam generating unit provided within the outer tub to generate steam, an intake port for drawing in air from the outer tub, an exhaust port for blowing the air drawn in from the intake port into the outer tub, and a blower fan for blowing air into the inner tub, the steam generating unit being provided at the bottom of the outer tub, the intake port being provided at the top of the outer tub, and the blower fan drawing in steam generated by the steam generating unit from the intake port and blowing the steam into the inner tub from the exhaust port.

The present invention provides a washing machine that can penetrate higher temperature steam into laundry in a short time, shorten the time it takes for the laundry to heat up, and improve dirt removal.

1 is an external perspective view showing a drum type washer-dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side showing an internal structure of the drum-type washing machine of Example 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side showing the internal structure of the drum type washer-dryer during drying operation in the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side showing the internal structure of the drum type washing machine of Example 2. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side showing the internal structure of the drum type washer-dryer during drying operation in Example 2. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side showing the internal structure of the drum type washer-dryer according to the third embodiment. FIG.

Example 1
Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum type washer/dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of the internal structure of the drum type washer/dryer on the right side as viewed from the front according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the external appearance will be described. A skeleton is formed by combining a side plate 1a made mainly of a steel plate and a resin molded product, and a reinforcing material (not shown) on the upper part of a base 1h, and a front cover 1c and a top cover 1e are further attached thereon to form a housing 1. A door 9 for inserting and removing laundry 207 is provided on the front cover 1c, and a rear cover 1d is attached to the rear.

Next, we will explain the general structure of a washing machine and the operation and role of each component in the washing process.

The outer tub 2 is located approximately in the center of the inside of the housing 1. The outer tub 2 is supported by a damper 5 at the bottom. Inside the outer tub 2, a drum 3, which is an inner tub equipped with a rotation mechanism, is provided, and laundry 207 is inserted by opening the door 9.

The door 9 has a door glass 9a fixed to a door frame 9b, and is attached to the housing using hinges (not shown). A number of lifters for lifting the laundry 207 are provided inside the rotatable drum 3. A fluid balancer may be provided at the opening of the drum 3 as necessary to reduce vibrations caused by imbalance of the laundry 207 during spin-drying. The drum 3 is directly connected to the motor M10 via a main shaft 211 connected to a flange. Alternatively, a so-called belt drive configuration may be used in which a pulley fixed to the main shaft and a motor fixed to the outer layer are connected via a belt to drive the drum.

An elastic rubber bellows is attached to the opening of the outer tub 2. This rubber bellows maintains the airtight seal between the outer tub 2 and the door 9. This prevents water leakage when water is not being used, such as during washing, rinsing, and spin-drying. The rotatable drum 3 also has many small holes (not shown) on the side that allow air, steam, water during spin-drying, etc. to pass through.

Operation switches 12 and 13 for turning the power on and off and selecting the operating mode are shown on the front, but they may be placed on other surfaces, such as the top surface.

Between the bottom of the drum 3 (the inner tank) and the outer tank 2, there is a heating section 50 (steam generating section) and a water receiving section 15, which is a flow path space for temporarily storing water around the heating section 50. If a PTC heater is used for the heating section 50 provided in the flow path space, the output will automatically decrease if the heater temperature overheats, preventing dry burning. In addition, if a sheath heater is used, it is recommended to combine it with a temperature sensor to prevent overheating.

In addition, water or wash water is directly or indirectly dripped onto the heating unit 50 to generate steam (including water vapor and water particles liquefied from the water vapor). The water is supplied from a water injection unit 11 provided in the flow path space. The water injection unit 11 may be shaped like a nozzle to spray the water on the surface of the heating unit 50 and evaporate it. By spraying the water in a mist, the heating time for the water is shortened and the water evaporates quickly.

Alternatively, a mesh-like structure may be placed on the surface of the heating unit 50 so that the water spreads over the entire surface of the heating unit 50. By wetting the entire surface, the heating time of the water is shortened and the water evaporates quickly.

Water may be added to the heating section 50 up to a level where part of the surface of the heating section 50 is covered with liquid, and then the heating may be used to generate steam.

The flow path space is provided with an air supply means for supplying air into the flow path space. The air supply means blows the air circulating inside the outer tub 2 onto the heating section 50. Specifically, air is sucked in through an air intake port 58 (intake port) provided at the front upper part, passes through a ventilation duct 29 (drying duct), and is blown out onto the heating section 50 from an air outlet port 59 (outlet port) provided at the bottom of the outer tub 2.

An example of the operation during a washing run is explained below.

During washing, water is poured into the outer tub 2 through the water supply valve. The water from the water supply valve passes through the detergent dispenser 7, mixes with the detergent, and collects in the water receiver 15 at the bottom of the outer tub.

When the water covers the heating unit 50, the heating unit 50 is operated and heating begins. The state in which the heating unit 50 is covered is determined by storing the amount of water flowing from the water supply valve in advance in memory and determining whether a specified amount of water has been added. Alternatively, a water level sensor (water level detection unit) may be provided.

When the water level exceeds the bottom of the drum 3, the drum is rotated at a slow speed to wash the laundry 207. Rotating at a slow speed prevents the clothes from sticking to the drum 3 (inner tub) and allows for effective washing. Also, by changing the direction of rotation of the drum to move the clothes, the way the clothes hit the drum can be changed, allowing the clothes to be washed entirely.

When the drum 3 is rotated, the detergent liquid that has soaked into the laundry 207 is squeezed out, but if the amount of detergent liquid accumulates enough to fill the water receiving section 15, the detergent liquid will soak into the laundry 207 again due to the stirring action of the detergent liquid as the drum 3 rotates.

If necessary, the circulation pump is driven to forcibly spray the squeezed out washing liquid onto the laundry 207. The washing liquid soaks into the laundry again, making it easier to remove dirt. Also, the washing performance can be improved by raising the temperature of the washing water.

Raising the temperature to around 30-40°C increases the activity of the enzymes in the detergent, making it easier to remove dirt. Also, raising the temperature to over 60°C can kill odor-causing bacteria on clothes, preventing odors.

To raise the temperature of the laundry 207 and the wash water, as shown in FIG. 3, the drying heater 501 may be operated and the air blower fan 21 may be driven to generate hot air to warm the wash water and laundry 207. By blowing air onto the laundry 207, the clothes are less likely to tangle, improving the washing performance. In FIG. 3, the air circulation direction is opposite to that in FIG. 2. An air intake 58 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 2, and air passes through the ventilation duct 29, is heated by the drying heater 501, and is blown out from the air outlet 60 (outlet) provided at the front upper part of the outer tub 2.

After the laundry 207 has been washed, the wash water is drained and the drum is rotated at high speed to spin the laundry.

During the rinsing process, water is supplied, the drum rotates, and the water is spin-dried several times to remove detergent from the clothes. If the heating unit 50 is operated at this time to raise the water temperature, the detergent that has soaked into the clothes will diffuse into the water faster, shortening the rinsing time.

During the washing and rinsing process, less water can be used by installing a valve 6 between the water receiving section 15 and the blower fan 20 to prevent water from entering the ventilation duct 29. If less water is used, the time it takes for the water to accumulate can be shortened, and so the washing time can be shortened. Also, if less water is used, less energy is needed to heat the water, which also saves energy.

The drying process is explained using Figure 3.

In the drying process, the drying heater 501 and the blower fan 20 are driven to generate hot air to dry the clothes. At the beginning of the drying process, the laundry 207 contains a lot of water, so the laundry 207 is heavy. As the drying progresses and the moisture content of the laundry 207 decreases, the blower fan 21 may be operated. By blowing air into the drum 3 from above and below, the laundry 207 is less likely to wrinkle. If the drying heater 501 is operated at this time, the air from below also becomes hot air, so the laundry can be dried in a shorter time. In addition, the air hits the entire inner surface of the water receiving section 15 and the outer layer, so that the inside of the washing machine is dry after the laundry 207 has been dried, and this prevents mold and the generation of odors caused by mold.

When drying clothes that are easily damaged by heat, you can prevent damage to the fabric by running only the blower fan.

The steam function has three functions: washing laundry, cleaning the drum, and removing wrinkles from clothes. Each is explained below.

(Washing laundry)
With the clothes placed in the drum 3, the surface of the heating unit is wetted with water, and the heating unit is operated to generate steam. At this time, the blower fan 21 is operated to send steam into the inside of the drum 3.
When the laundry 207 absorbs the steam, the fibers loosen and dirt comes off more easily. When the clothes are not very dirty or the clothes are delicate, the drum 3 is rotated with steam inside the drum 3 to remove dirt from the clothes. The temperature of the clothes also rises, making it easier to remove dirt.

After generating steam, water is poured into the water receiving section 15 to wet the laundry 207, and then the laundry is rinsed to remove further dirt. This reduces the amount of water used, which saves water, and since no detergent is used, the burden on sewage treatment can be reduced. Furthermore, if the amount of detergent can be reduced, the rinsing process time can be shortened, and the washing time can be shortened.

(Cleaning of the tank)
During normal washing, water splashes onto the top of the outer tub, but as there is no water flow over the surface, dirt and mold are likely to remain on the surface.

When steam is generated without laundry 207 or the like being placed inside the drum 3, the steam can be distributed over the surface of the drum 3 and the inner wall surface of the outer tub 2, making it easier to peel off dirt and mold adhering to the inner wall surface. In addition, by raising the temperature of the inner wall surface, bacteria adhering to the inner wall surface can be killed, preventing odors.

After spreading the Storm, it is a good idea to send air into the drum 3 to evaporate any moisture adhering to the inner walls, etc. Maintaining a dry state will help prevent mold growth. Sending in warm air will help dry things out more quickly.

After the steam has been distributed, if water is supplied at a high water level and the drum 3 is rotated, dirt and mold on the inner wall surface can be easily removed. Even in this case, if air is sent into the inside of the drum 3 after draining, and the drum 3 and outer tub 2 are also dried, mold growth can be prevented.

(Removing wrinkles from clothes)
Clothes that are folded and stored may develop wrinkles over time at the folded parts. Also, if clothes are dried with creases still on them, wrinkles may form at the creases.

Wrinkles in clothing can be reduced or removed with steam.

With clothes placed in the drum 3, steam is generated by the heating unit 50. The generated steam is sent into the drum 3 by the blower fan 20, which moistens the clothes. After the clothes are moistened, the air blower fan 21 at the top of the drum 3 blows air into the inside of the drum 3, which dries the clothes and removes wrinkles from the clothes. If both the upper and lower blower fans (blower fans 20, 21) are used at this time, the clothes tend to spread out inside the drum 3, making it easier to remove wrinkles.

In other words, in this embodiment, the heating unit 50 heats the water or wash water, generates steam, and heats the air, all in the same heating unit.

Example 2
Example 2 is an example of a structure in which a part of the ventilation duct 291 for introducing steam is branched. The structure is shown in Fig. 4. By branching, steam can easily pass to the upper part of the outer tub 2, so that the steam can be spread over the entire inner wall of the outer tub 2. Since the steam can be spread over the entire outer tub 2, unevenness in the removal of dirt from the inner wall can be eliminated, and the entire dirt can be removed.

This structure has air intakes from the outer tub 2 to the ventilation duct 29 at both the front and rear of the upper part. The flow path at the rear of the upper part is called a branch. In Figure 4, there are two intakes, one at the front and one at the rear of the drum, so the air is turbulent inside the drum and steam is taken in from multiple intakes (two intakes), so the steam is distributed throughout the entire interior of the drum.

The cleaning method and steam generation method are the same as in Example 1, so they will not be described here.

The configuration during drying is shown in Figure 5. The air outlet 60 from the air blower fan 21 to the inside of the drum 3 may be located at the top of the drum 3 as in Figure 3, since the drum 3 rotates and agitates the air. If the air outlet 60 from the air blower fan 21 to the inside of the drum 3 is located below the drum 3, air circulation becomes easier, and the drying time can be shortened. In addition, the laundry 207 is exposed to the wind and spreads out, making it less likely to wrinkle.

Example 3
The third embodiment is an example of a structure that can heat water, generate steam, and produce warm air for drying the laundry 207 with a single drying heating section 501. The structure is shown in FIG.

When washing, the water is heated in the drying heater section 501. Washing with warm water improves dirt removal.

During steam washing, steam is generated to heat the laundry 207. As the steam penetrates the laundry 207, dirt adhering to the clothes loosens, making it easier to remove the dirt.

When steam drying, steam is generated to remove wrinkles that occur when clothes are folded.

Wrinkles can be removed from clothes by penetrating steam into them and then blowing air through them to evaporate them.

When cleaning the steam tank, steam is generated to remove dirt, mold, etc. that has adhered to the inner surface of the drum 3 and the outer layer.

When drying laundry, the clothes are dried with warm air passing through the heating unit 50. By blowing warm air, the clothes can be dried quickly. For clothes that are damaged by heat, it is better to blow only air without turning on the heating unit 50.

By providing an outside air intake 100 in part of the ventilation duct 29, air with a lower humidity than that inside the drum 3 can be taken in, shortening the drying time. In addition, by providing a mechanism for exchanging heat with water or air in part of the ventilation duct 29, the steam inside the ventilation duct 29 can be liquefied to reduce the humidity, allowing the laundry 207 to dry in a shorter time.

The heating section 50 may be located between the bottom and the outer layer of the drum 3, and the drying heating section 501 may be divided into a plurality of sections. (Although the drawing shows one heating section, a plurality of heating sections may be arranged.)
In addition, the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a drum-type washing machine, but it is not limited to the drum-type washing machine, and can also be used in washing machines of other shapes, such as a vertical washing machine. In the case of a vertical washing machine, for example, the door glass 9a is not required, but an inner cover or the like is required, and the components are somewhat different.

Reference Signs List 1: Housing 2: Outer tub 3: Drum 6: Valve 7: Detergent dispenser 9: Door 11: Water inlet 12, 13: Operation switch 15: Water receiver 20: Blower fan 21: Blower fan 29: Ventilation duct 291: Ventilation duct 50: Heater 58: Air inlet 59: Air outlet 60: Air outlet 501: Drying heater 207: Laundry 100: Outside air intake

Claims (11)

The outer tank and
An inner tank provided in the outer tank;
A steam generating unit provided in the outer tank for generating steam;
An intake port for sucking air into the outer tank;
an outlet for blowing the air drawn in from the suction port into the outer tub;
A blower fan that blows air into the inner tank,
The steam generating section is provided in a lower portion of the outer tub,
The suction port is provided at an upper portion of the outer tank,
The washing machine, characterized in that the blower fan draws in steam generated in the steam generating section through the suction port and sends the steam to the inner tub through the outlet. The outer tank and
An inner tank provided in the outer tank;
A steam generating unit provided in the outer tank for generating steam;
a drying duct having an intake port for sucking in air from the outer tub and an outlet port for blowing air supplied by a blower fan into the outer tub;
The blower fan draws in steam from the outer tub through the suction port and blows the steam to the inner tub through the outlet port.
The steam generating unit is provided at the bottom of the outer tub,
The washing machine, wherein the suction port is provided at an upper portion of the outer tub at a position higher than the steam generating portion. The outer tank and
An inner tank provided in the outer tank;
A water injection unit that supplies water to the outer tank;
A blower fan for supplying air to the outer tank;
A steam generating unit is provided in the outer tank and generates steam.
The steam generating section is provided in a lower portion of the outer tub,
The blower fan is provided at a position higher than the steam generating unit,
The air conditioner has an intake port for sucking in air from the outer tub and an outlet port for blowing air into the outer tub,
Driving the water injection unit to supply water to the steam generation unit;
Operate the steam generating unit to generate steam;
The washing machine is characterized in that the blower fan is operated to suck steam from within the outer tub through the suction port and blow the steam into the inner tub through the outlet. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The steam generating unit includes:
a heater for heating the water stored in the outer tank;
The heater is disposed below the inner tub when the washing machine is installed. The washing machine according to claim 2,
The steam generating section is not provided in the drying duct but is provided below the inner bottom surface of the inner tank,
The washing machine is characterized in that the suction port is provided above the blowing port. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The washing machine further includes a water level detection unit that detects a water level in the outer tub,
A washing machine characterized in that water is supplied to the steam generating section disposed below the inner tub, the steam generating section is operated to generate steam, and the blower fan is operated to send the steam into the inner tub. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The washing machine further includes a water level detection unit that detects a water level in the outer tub,
A washing machine characterized in that water is supplied to the steam generating section disposed below the inner tub, the steam generating section is operated to generate steam, and then the blower fan is operated to send the steam into the inner tub. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A steam step of blowing steam into the outer tank;
A drying process for drying the object to be treated contained in the outer tub. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The steam generating unit includes:
a heater for heating the water stored in the outer tank;
The heater is
The washing machine is characterized in that, in an installed state of the washing machine, the washing machine cover is disposed horizontally below the inner tub. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The steam generating unit is not provided in the blower fan, but is provided below the bottom of the inner tub,
The washing machine is characterized in that the suction port is provided above the blowing port. In the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The washing machine, wherein the blower fan includes a drying heater for heating the air to be supplied.