TWI844693B - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The lining member includes: a cylindrical portion extending rearward from the front panel opening; a lip portion formed on the inner periphery of the front end of the cylindrical portion and abutting against the inner cover to seal watertightly when the cover is closed; and a flexible bulging portion bulging outward on the outer periphery by folding back forward and outward from the vicinity of the rear end of the cylindrical portion and connected to the water tank opening. In addition, the lining member is formed with a convex rib portion on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion, and the convex rib portion protrudes closer to the rotating shaft of the rotating drum than the inner periphery of the drum opening. With this structure, it is possible to prevent small pieces of laundry from flying out of the rotating drum and riding on the lining member and staying on the lining member during or at the end of washing.

Description

Drum washing machine

The present disclosure relates to a drum type washing machine for washing laundry contained in a rotating drum.

The drum washing machine described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-143795 is designed to prevent water accumulated in the water tank from leaking out of the inside or outside of the washing machine body during washing or dehydration, and the following structure is proposed: a lining member connecting these openings is provided between the opening of the water tank corresponding to the opening of the rotating drum and the opening provided on the front of the body.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the periphery of a pad member of a conventional drum-type washing machine.

In Fig. 6, a front panel 43 located inside the panel member 37, which is a member constituting the front side of the main body (not shown), has a circular front panel opening 43a formed corresponding to the drum opening of the rotary drum 34. The front panel 43 is covered with the panel member 37 at the front. In Fig. 6, the rotation axis of the rotary drum 34 is located at the top of the figure and extends almost in the left and right directions.

The water tank 35 has a rotating drum 34 built therein. The water tank opening 35a of the water tank 35 is disposed on the inner side of the opening member 38 having the front opening 38a for putting clothes in, and is located opposite to the front panel opening 43a of the front panel 43. The gap between the water tank opening 35a of the water tank 35 and the front panel opening 43a of the front panel 43 is closed by a ring-shaped cylindrical cushion member 46 made of elastic material such as rubber to prevent water from intruding into the body through the gap.

The structure is such that when the lid body 39 is closed, the outer periphery of the inner lid 53 abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the lip portion 46a of the lining member 46 to perform a seal therebetween, thereby preventing water or steam from leaking out from the outer periphery of the lid body 39.

The end of the gasket member 46 on the water tank 35 side is mounted on the outer periphery of the water tank opening 35a and is fixed by a metal wire 52. A flange 46b is formed on the end of the gasket member 46 on the front panel 43 side. By locking the mounting plate 47 to the front panel 43 from the front with screws 51, the flange 46b of the gasket member 46 is clamped and fixed by the recessed portion 43b provided on the front panel 43 and the convex portion 47a provided on the mounting plate 47.

However, in the conventional structure, as shown in FIG. 7 , there is the following problem: during washing, small laundry 19 such as children's socks may fly out from the inside of the rotary drum 34, ride on the lining member 46 and stay on the lining member 46, and there is a concern that the laundry 19 may not be washed, dehydrated, or dried.

The present invention discloses a drum type washing machine which can prevent the undesirable situation that the laundry is placed on the cushion member and stays there during or after washing.

The drum washing machine disclosed in the present invention comprises: a body, on the front side of which a front panel member is arranged; a water tank, which is swayable and elastically supported in the body, and on the front side of which a water tank opening is arranged; a rotary drum, which is rotatably built in the water tank, and on the front side of which a drum opening is arranged; and a motor, which rotationally drives the rotary drum. The invention also comprises: an opening member provided at the substantially central part of the front panel member and having a front opening; a front panel provided at the inner side of the front panel member and having a front panel opening; a cover body which covers the front panel opening in a switchable manner; an inner cover provided at the cover body and protruding from the inner side of the front panel opening; and an annular cylindrical cushion member formed of an elastic material and connected between the front panel opening and the water tank opening. In addition, a convex rib is formed in the cushion member near the drum opening, and the convex rib protrudes to be closer to the rotation axis of the rotating drum than the inner circumference of the drum opening.

With this structure, it is possible to prevent the laundry from flying out of the rotary drum, landing on the lining member and staying on the lining member.

The drum washing machine disclosed in the present invention can prevent the laundry from staying on the lining member by adding ribs to the lining member near the rotary drum inlet.

The form used to implement the invention

The following describes the implementation form of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited by the implementation form. (Implementation form)

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the external appearance of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in an embodiment.

In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the main body 1 is a curved surface with a small slope and upward retreat, and has: divided left and right side panels 2 made of sheet metal, a detachable back panel 3, a plurality of sheet metal connecting plates (partially described later) connecting the left and right side panels 2, a top panel 4 formed of synthetic resin, and a front panel member 5. Above the front panel member 5, there are provided: a switch operation unit 6 for performing various settings, and an operation panel 8 equipped with a display unit 7 for displaying the contents of the settings.

In the body 1, the water tank 9 is supported elastically by a suspension structure (not shown) so as to be swingable. In the water tank 9, the rotating drum 10 formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape is supported so as to be rotatable with the axis of the rotating shaft tilted downward from the front side toward the back side.

The peripheral wall of the rotary drum 10 has a plurality of holes 10a, and a plurality of baffles 11 for agitating the laundry protrude from the inner periphery. The rotary drum 10 is driven by a motor 12 mounted on the back side of the water tank 9 in a forward and reverse direction.

A water supply pipe 13 and a drainage pipe 14 are connected to the water tank 9 by piping, and water supply and drainage in the water tank 9 are performed by the control of a water supply valve and a drainage valve (not shown).

Furthermore, during the washing operation, the laundry stored in the rotary drum 10 is lifted upward by the baffle 11, and is peeled off from the baffle 11 at a predetermined position and falls to the water surface accumulated in the rotary drum 10, thereby completing the so-called "beating washing".

An opening member 15 having a front opening 15a for inserting laundry is provided on the curved front panel member 5 on the front side of the main body 1. The drum opening 10b of the rotary drum 10 faces the opening member 15. The front opening 15a of the opening member 15 is opened and closed by a cover 16 having an inner cover 16a made of a hard transparent material (e.g., glass material) on the inner side. The inner cover 16a is formed to protrude from the side of the rotary drum 10 and is formed to be inclined toward the center as it goes inward.

Among the plurality of connecting plates constituting the main body 1, a circular front panel opening 17a is formed on the front panel 17 located inside the front panel member 5, corresponding to the drum opening 10b of the rotary drum 10. The front panel 17 covers the front side with the front panel member 5. The inner cover 16a protrudes toward the inner side of the rotary drum 10 further than the front panel opening 17a.

The water tank opening 9a of the water tank 9 is located inside the opening member 15 having the front opening 15a for putting in the laundry, and is located opposite to the front panel opening 17a of the front panel 17. The space between the water tank opening 9a of the water tank 9 and the front panel opening 17a of the front panel 17 is connected and sealed by an annular cylindrical cushion member 18 formed of an elastic material such as rubber to prevent water from leaking from the water tank 9 into the body 1.

A lip 18a is formed on the inner periphery of the cushion member 18, and the lip 18a protrudes from the inner periphery of the front panel opening 17a of the front panel 17. When the cover 16 is closed, the lip 18a abuts against the outer periphery of the inner cover 16a of the cover 16 to seal watertightly and prevent water and steam from leaking out of the outer periphery of the cover 16. In addition, the cushion member 18 shown in FIG. 2 is different in shape from the cushion member 18 shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5. The cushion member 18 shown in FIG. 2 mainly shows the installation position in the main body 1 of the washing machine, and the shape of the cushion member 18 is shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the periphery of the pad component of the drum-type washing machine in the embodiment. Fig. 4A is a view from the A arrow in Fig. 3. Fig. 4B is a view from the B arrow in Fig. 3.

In addition, the lip 18a that is deformed to seal is shown in its natural state before deformation. In Fig. 3, the rotation axis of the rotary drum 10 is located at the top of the figure and extends almost in the left-right direction.

As shown in Figures 3, 4A, and 4B, the cushion member 18 is formed by: a cylindrical portion 18b extending rearward from the front panel opening portion 17a of the front panel 17; a lip portion 18a formed on the inner periphery of the front end portion of the cylindrical portion 18b; and a flexible bulging portion 18c that bulges out on the outer peripheral side by folding forward and outward from near the rear end of the cylindrical portion 18b and is connected to the sink opening portion 9a.

The lip 18a protrudes from the inner peripheral side of the front panel opening 17a of the front panel 17, and when the lid 16 is closed, it abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the inner cover 16a on the inner side of the lid 16 to seal watertightly to prevent water and steam from leaking out from the outer periphery of the lid 16.

On the inner circumferential side of the cylindrical portion 18b of the lining member 18, a convex rib portion 18d having a triangular cross section is formed near the drum opening portion 10b of the rotating drum 10. The convex rib portion 18d protrudes near the drum opening portion 10b to be closer to the rotation axis of the rotating drum 10 than the inner circumference of the drum opening portion 10b, and the surface closer to the rotating drum 10 forms a vertical surface portion 18e that is vertical to the rotation axis of the rotating drum 10, and the surface closer to the front plate opening portion 17a forms an inclined surface portion 18f that is inclined toward the rear as it becomes the inner circumference. In the present embodiment, the height e of the convex rib portion 18d from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 18b is set to 10 mm. The height e of the rib 18d is 10 mm, which is set to have a gap without contacting the inner cover 16a when the cover 16 is closed. The rib 18d is set to be about h away from the drum opening 10b of the rotary drum 10. The dimension h is set to 10 mm, for example, in this embodiment.

The rib 18d is formed so as not to contact the inner cover 16a when the cover 16 is closed. The minimum gap i between the front end of the rib 18d and the inner cover 16a is set to 10 mm in the present embodiment. Thus, the rib 18d is touched when the cover 16 is opened or closed, which causes a sense of disharmony to the user, or does not affect the sealing performance between the lip 18a and the inner cover 16a.

Since the laundry will fall downward due to its own weight, the rib portion 18d does not have to be formed on the entire circumference of the cylindrical portion 18b of the cushion member 18. As shown in FIG. 4B, it is sufficient to form the rib portion 18d at least in an area corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member 18, where the lower semicircle of the cushion member 18 is the area facing the lower semicircle of the drum opening 10b of the rotating drum 10.

The rib 18d is formed to be divided into left and right parts in the lowermost part of the central part when viewed from the front, and a gap 18g is formed in the lowermost part. This prevents water from being still stored in the rib 18d after washing is finished, and prevents water from being attached to the laundry again when the laundry is taken out after washing is finished.

The following describes the operation and function of the drum washing machine constructed as above.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment in which laundry is loaded onto a cushion member.

When washing or drying is performed at rated capacity, the rotary drum 10 is filled with laundry. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , when small laundry 19 such as socks for children flies out of the rotary drum 10 toward the front side, the small laundry 19 will enter between the inner cover 16 a and the lining member 18 during operation.

At this time, a rib 18d having a triangular cross-section and provided near the drum opening 10b of the rotary drum 10 and closer to the rotation axis of the rotary drum 10 than the inner circumference of the drum opening 10b on the inner circumference side of the cylindrical portion 18b of the lining member 18 serves as a protective wall to prevent small laundry 19 from entering the deep space between the inner cover 16a and the lining member 18. In particular, since the rib 18d is formed with a vertical surface portion 18e that is vertical to the rotation axis of the rotary drum 10 on the surface closer to the rotary drum 10, the entry of small laundry 19 can be strongly prevented.

Furthermore, when a portion of the small laundry 19 contacts the movable portion, i.e., the rotating drum 10, it is pulled into the side of the rotating drum 10 when the rotating drum 10 rotates, and the effect of moving from the lining member 18 to the side of the rotating drum 10 can be obtained.

In addition, in the present embodiment, although the rib portion 18d is provided at a distance of about a dimension h (e.g., 10 mm) from the drum opening 10b of the rotating drum 10, the same effect as described above can be obtained even if it is provided at the position of the lining member 18 closest to the drum opening 10b of the rotating drum 10.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the annular cylindrical cushion member 18 connected between the front panel opening 17a and the water tank opening 9a and formed of an elastic material such as rubber is provided with: a cylindrical portion 18b extending rearward from the front panel opening 17a; a lip portion 18a formed on the inner periphery of the front end portion of the cylindrical portion 18b and abutting against the inner cover 16a to seal watertightly when the cover body 16 is closed; and a flexible bulging portion 18c, which bulges out on the outer peripheral side by folding forward and outward from near the rear end of the cylindrical portion 18b and is connected to the water tank opening 9a. In addition, the following structure is also set: near the roller opening portion 10b, it protrudes closer to the rotation axis of the rotating roller 10 than the inner periphery of the roller opening portion 10b, and the surface closer to the rotating roller 10 forms a vertical surface portion 18e that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating roller 10.

By this structure, small laundry 19 such as children's socks can be prevented from flying out from the side of the rotary drum 10 during or at the end of washing, and completely boarded and stayed on the lining member 18, so that the laundry is not subjected to adverse conditions such as washing, dehydration, and drying.

The rib portion 18d is formed by forming the drum opening 10b side as a vertical surface portion 18e and the front panel opening 17a side as an inclined surface portion 18f, and is formed so as not to contact the inner cover 16a when the cover body 16 is closed.

Thereby, the protective wall for the small laundry 19 flying out from the rotary drum 10 side toward the inner cover 16a side can prevent the small laundry 19 from staying on the inner cover 16a side.

The rib portion 18d is configured as follows: it is formed at least in a range corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member 18, and the lower semicircle of the cushion member 18 is a range facing the lower semicircle of the drum opening 10b.

With this structure, only at the position where the small laundry 19 is actually likely to fly out from the rotary drum 10 side toward the inner cover 16a side, the protective wall for the small laundry 19 can prevent the small laundry 19 from staying on the inner cover 16a side.

The rib portion 18d is configured such that the lowermost portion of the central portion is divided into left and right portions when viewed from the front.

This configuration can prevent water from being accumulated in the rib portion 18d, and prevent water from being attached to the laundry again when the laundry is taken out after washing.

As described above, the first disclosure comprises: a main body, which is equipped with a front panel component on the front side; a water tank, which is elastically supported in the main body so as to be freely swingable, and has a water tank opening on the front side; a rotating drum, which is freely rotatably built into the water tank and has a drum opening on the front side; and a motor, which rotationally drives the rotating drum. The invention also comprises: an opening member provided at the center of the front panel member and having a front opening; a front panel provided at the inner side of the front panel member and having a front panel opening; a cover body which covers the front panel opening in a switchable manner; an inner cover provided at the cover body and protruding from the inner side of the front panel opening; and an annular cylindrical cushion member formed of an elastic material and connected between the front panel opening and the water tank opening. In addition, a convex rib is formed in the cushion member near the drum opening, and the convex rib protrudes closer to the rotation axis of the rotating drum than the inner circumference of the drum opening.

With this structure, it is possible to prevent small laundry items such as children's socks from flying out of the rotary drum and landing on the lining member and staying on the lining member during or after washing.

The second disclosure, especially the rib portion of the first disclosure, can also form a surface closer to the rotating drum to be perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating drum.

With this structure, the ribs act as protective walls for small pieces of laundry flying out from the inside of the rotary drum, thereby preventing the small pieces of laundry from staying on the lining member.

The convex ribs of the third disclosure, especially the first disclosure, can also be formed at least in a range corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member.

With this structure, the ribs act as protective walls for the small laundry pieces at the locations where the small laundry pieces are likely to fly out from the inside of the rotary drum toward the inner cover side, thereby preventing the small laundry pieces from staying on the inner cover side.

The convex ribs of the fourth disclosure, especially the second disclosure, can also be formed at least in a range corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member.

With this structure, the ribs act as protective walls for the small laundry pieces at the locations where the small laundry pieces are likely to actually fly out from the inside of the rotary drum toward the inner cover side, thereby preventing the small laundry pieces from staying on the inner cover side.

The fifth disclosure is that the convex rib portion disclosed in any one of the first to fourth disclosures can also be formed by dividing the lowermost part of the central part.

With this structure, it is possible to prevent water from being still stored in the convex ribs, and to prevent water from being attached to the laundry again when the laundry is taken out after washing.

The 6th disclosure is that the gasket component disclosed in any one of the 1st to 4th items may also include: a cylindrical portion extending rearward from the front panel opening; a lip portion formed on the inner periphery of the front end portion of the cylindrical portion and abutting the inner cover when the cover is closed; and a flexible bulging portion bulging on the outer peripheral side by folding back forward and outward from near the rear end of the cylindrical portion and connected to the sink opening.

With this structure, the sealing property can be maintained.

The seventh disclosure is that the cushion component of the fifth disclosure may also include: a cylindrical portion extending rearward from the front panel opening; a lip portion formed on the inner periphery of the front end portion of the cylindrical portion and abutting against the inner cover when the cover is closed; and a flexible bulging portion bulging on the outer peripheral side by folding back forward and outward from near the rear end of the cylindrical portion and connected to the sink opening.

With this structure, the sealing property can be maintained.

The drum washing machine of the present invention is provided with ribs on the lining member, so that small pieces of laundry can be prevented from flying out of the rotating drum, riding on the lining member and staying on the lining member, resulting in undesirable conditions such as small pieces of laundry not being washed, dehydrated, and dried at the end of the operation. Therefore, it can be applied to other washing machines such as vertical washing and drying machines.

1: Main body 2: Left and right side panels 3: Back panel 4: Top panel 5: Front panel component 6: Switch operation part 7: Display part 8: Operation panel 9,35: Sink 9a,35a: Sink opening 10,34: Rotating drum 10a: Hole 10b: Drum opening 11: Baffle 12: Motor 13: Water supply pipe 14: Drain pipe 15,38: Opening component 15a,38a: Front opening 16,39: Cover 16a,53: Inner cover 17, 43: Front panel 17a, 43a: Front panel opening 18, 46: Pad member 18a, 46a: Lip 18b: Cylindrical part 18c: Protruding part 18d: Rib 18e: Vertical face 18f: Inclined face 18g: Gap 19: Small laundry 37: Panel member 43b: Recess 46b: Flange 47: Mounting plate 47a: Protrusion 51: Screw 52: Metal wire A, B: Arrow e: Height h: Dimension i: Minimum gap

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drum washing machine in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the periphery of a cushion member of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a diagram from the perspective of arrow A in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 4B is a diagram from the perspective of arrow B in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in an embodiment in which laundry is loaded onto a cushion member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the periphery of a pad member of a conventional drum-type washing machine.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional drum-type washing machine showing a state where laundry is loaded onto a cushion member.

9: Sink

9a: Sink opening

10: Rotating drum

10b: Drum opening

16: Cover

16a: Inner cover

17: Front panel

17a: Front panel opening

18: Pad components

18a: Lips

18b: Cylindrical part

18c: bulge

18d: ribs

18e: vertical face

18f: tilted face

A,B:arrow

e: height

h: size

i: minimum gap

Claims (5)

A drum washing machine comprises: a body, a front panel member being arranged on the front side; a water tank being swayable and elastically supported in the body, and having a water tank opening on the front side; a rotary drum being rotatably built in the water tank, and having a drum opening on the front side; a motor for rotating and driving the rotary drum; an opening member being arranged at the center of the front panel member, and having a front opening; a front panel being arranged at the inner side of the front panel member, and having a front panel opening; a cover body, and ... The cover covers the front panel opening freely; the inner cover is provided on the cover body and protrudes from the inner side of the front panel opening; and the annular cylindrical cushion member is formed of elastic material and connected between the front panel opening and the water tank opening. In addition, in the cushion member, a convex rib is formed near the drum opening, the convex rib protrudes closer to the rotation axis of the rotating drum than the inner circumference of the drum opening, and the convex rib is formed by dividing the lowermost part of the central part. As in claim 1, the drum washing machine, wherein the rib portion is formed such that the surface closer to the rotating drum is perpendicular to the rotating axis of the rotating drum. As in claim 1, the drum washing machine, wherein the rib is formed at least in a range corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member. As in claim 2, the drum washing machine, wherein the rib is formed at least in a range corresponding to the lower semicircle of the cushion member. A drum washing machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the padding member comprises: a cylindrical portion extending rearward from the front panel opening; a lip portion formed on the inner periphery of the front end of the cylindrical portion and abutting against the inner cover when the cover is closed; and a flexible bulging portion bulging outward from the vicinity of the rear end of the cylindrical portion toward the front and outward and connected to the water tank opening.

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