The present disclosure relates to a washing machine.
In the past, one of structures for collecting lint and dust in washings during washing in a full-automatic washing machine may adopt a thread collection structure as shown in
When the impeller 540 rotates, as shown by an arrow F1, water pushed out by a water pumping blade 541 of the impeller 540 towards an outer circumferential direction is led into the circulating water path 520, flows out of the outflow opening 514, flows through the filter unit 530 and returns to the washing and dewatering drum 500. At this moment, lint and the like included in water are collected by the filter unit 530.
In addition, the filter unit 530 is pushed by a water flow generated by rotation of the impeller 540 for rotating, as shown by an arrow F2; water flowing along an inner circumferential wall of the washing and dewatering drum 500 flows into the filter unit 530 from a suction inlet 533 of a rear surface, and penetrates through the filter unit 530. At this moment, the lint and the like flowing into the filter unit 530 together with water are collected by a thread filter unit 530.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2013-141553
The water path forming member 510 can be formed by a resin material. In this case, the water path forming member 510 is prepared by forming with a mold.
The opening part 515 formed in the water path forming member 510 is connected with the circulating water path 520. Therefore, as shown by an arrow F3 in
Therefore, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine capable of increasing collection efficiency of lint and the like.
The washing machine in embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a washing and dewatering drum for containing washings; an impeller configured at a bottom of the washing and dewatering drum in a free rotation manner; a circulating water path arranged on a side surface part of the washing and dewatering drum for enabling water delivered by rotation of the impeller to flow; a resinous water path forming member configured to form the circulating water path between the resinous water path forming member and an inner circumferential wall of the washing and dewatering drum; a filter installation part formed in the water path forming member; and a filter unit installed on the filter installation part rotatably, configured to suck water returning to the washing and dewatering drum from the circulating water path and water flowing along the inner circumferential wall through a water flow generated by rotation of the impeller and enable water to pass through, and collect lint included in the passing water. Herein, the filter installation part includes a supporting shaft forming a rotating shaft of the filter unit and an opening part formed in the back of the supporting shaft and communicated with an interior of the circulating water path. Then, a wall part inhibiting outflowing of water from the opening part is formed in a surface of the water path forming member facing a surface of the circulating water path towards a side of the inner circumferential wall.
Through the above structure, since water flowing through the circulating water path can be well led into the filter unit, it is expected to increase the collection efficiency of lint and the like of the filter unit.
In the washing machine of the present embodiment, the wall part can adopt a structure surrounding a lower side, a left side and a right side of the opening part at least.
Through the above structure, water divided transiently due to collision with a wall at a lower side of the wall part can be inhibited from flowing into the opening part from the side surface, and water from the opening part can be further inhibited from flowing out.
In case of adopting the above structure, further, a gap can be formed between the wall part and the inner circumferential wall.
When such structure is adopted, in a dewatering process, even if water discharged from washings enters an interior of the wall part surrounding at least three sides of the opening part, the entering water can also flow out of the gap to the circulating water path. Therefore, water can be prevented from remaining in the interior of the wall part all the time.
For the washing machine in present embodiment, a structure that the wall part includes a protruding part can be adopted, and the protruding part has a shape of which a central part is more protruding towards an upstream side of the circulating water path than two end parts of the opening part in a left-right direction.
Through the above structure, water flowing through the circulating water path is smoothly divided towards left and right by colliding with the protruding part. Thus, since the reduction of the flow velocity of water in the circulating water path can be inhibited, the lint and the like can be well transported to the filter unit by virtue of water flow.
According to the present disclosure, a washing machine capable of increasing collection efficiency of the lint and the like can be provided.
Effects and even significances of the present disclosure are further clarified through description of embodiments shown below. However, the following embodiments are just an illustration when the present disclosure is implemented, and the present disclosure is not limited by any content described in the following embodiments.
A full-automatic washing machine in one embodiment of a washing machine in the present disclosure is described below with reference to drawings.
The full-automatic washing machine 1 includes a housing 10 forming an appearance. The housing 10 includes a square cylindrical body part 11 with opened upper and lower surfaces, an upper panel 12 covering the upper surface of the body part 11, and a bearer 13 supporting the body part 11. A throwing inlet 14 for washings is formed in the upper panel 12. The throwing inlet 14 is covered by an upper cover 15 which can be freely opened and closed.
In the housing 10, an outer drum 20 is elastically suspended and supported by four hanger rods not shown in figures. A washing and dewatering drum 21 is configured in the outer drum 20. The outer drum 20 and the washing and dewatering drum 21 are slightly inclined forward. The washing and dewatering drum 21 rotates by taking a rotating shaft R slightly inclined forward relative to a vertical direction as a center. The housing 10 is provided with a protruding part 10a correspondingly protruding forward to a degree that an upper part of the outer drum 20 protrudes forward.
A plurality of dewatering holes 21b are formed in an inner circumferential wall 21a of the washing and dewatering drum 21. In addition, a plurality of water through holes 21c are formed in a bottom surface of the washing and dewatering drum 21. Further, a balancing ring 22 is arranged on an upper part of the washing and dewatering drum 21.
An impeller 23 is configured at a bottom of the washing and dewatering drum 21. A plurality of blades 23a which radially extend from a center of a surface are formed on the surface of the impeller 23. In addition, a plurality of water drawing blades 23b which radially extend from a center of a back are formed in a back of the impeller 23. The water drawing blades 23b are configured in a pump chamber 24 formed between the back of the impeller 23 and the bottom surface of the washing and dewatering drum 21.
A circulating water path 25 extending towards upper and lower directions along the inner circumferential wall 21a of the washing and dewatering drum 21 is formed by a water path forming member 26 and the inner circumferential wall 21a. A lower end part of the circulating water path 25 is connected with the pump chamber 24. A filter unit 27 is detachably mounted on the circulating water path 25, i.e. the water path forming member 26 forming the circulating water path 25. The filter unit 27 collects lint and dust generated from washings during washing.
A drive unit 30 for generating a torque and driving the washing and dewatering drum 21 and the impeller 23 is configured at an outer bottom of the outer drum 20. The drive unit 30 includes a drive motor 31 and a transmission mechanism part 32. The transmission mechanism part 32 includes a clutch mechanism. Due to a switching operation performed by the clutch mechanism, the torque of the drive motor 31 is only transmitted to the impeller 23 to enable the impeller 23 to rotate only in a washing process and a rinsing process; while in a dewatering process, the torque of the drive motor 31 is transmitted to the impeller 23 and the washing and dewatering drum 21 to enable the impeller 23 and the washing and dewatering drum 21 to integrally rotate. In addition, the transmission mechanism part 32 has a speed reducing mechanism. In the washing process and the rinsing process, the impeller 23 rotates at a rotating speed of the drive motor 31 being reduced according to a reduction ratio of the speed reducing mechanism.
A water outlet part 20a is formed at the outer bottom of the outer drum 20. A drainage valve 40 is arranged at the water outlet part 20a and is connected with a drainage hose 41. When the drainage valve 40 is opened, water stored in the washing and dewatering drum 21 and the outer drum 20 is discharged out of the machine by the drainage hose 41.
A water supply unit 50 used for supplying running water into the washing and dewatering drum 21 is configured on a rear part of the upper panel 12. The water supply unit 50 is connected with a water supply valve 51. The water supply valve 51 is connected with a water faucet. Detergents are thrown into the water supply unit 50 during washing operation. The running water is guided into the water supply unit 50 when the water supply valve 51 is opened. The guided-in running water flows out of the water supply unit 50 after mixed with detergents in the water supply unit 50, and is supplied into the washing and dewatering drum 21.
The full-automatic washing machine 1 performs washing operations in various operating modes. The washing operations include washing process, intermediate dewatering process, rinsing process and final dewatering process.
In the washing process and the rinsing process, the impeller 23 rotates to a right direction and a left direction in a state that water is stored in the washing and dewatering drum 21. A water flow is produced in the washing and dewatering drum 21 due to the rotation of the impeller 23. Washings are cleaned by the produced water flow and detergents contained in water in the washing process. Washings are rinsed by the produced water flow in the rinsing process.
In the intermediate dewatering process and the final dewatering process, the washing and dewatering drum 21 and the impeller 23 integrally rotate at a high speed. Washings are dewatered by virtue of an action of a centrifugal force generated by the washing and dewatering drum 21.
The full-automatic washing machine 1 in the present embodiment is characterized in a thread collection structure composed of the circulating water path 25 and the filter unit 27. The thread collection structure is described below in detail.
The filter unit 27 is provided with a thread filter 110 and a filter box 120. The thread filter 110 is formed by a bag body of mesh fabrics. The filter box 120 is formed into a hollow lengthwise cube shape, and a rear surface of the filter box 120 is used as an opening of a suction inlet 121. An installation opening part 122 is formed in a front surface of the filter box 120, and the thread filter 110 is installed on the installation opening part 122.
An elastic sheet 123 capable of bending downward is formed on an upper end part of the filter box 120, and an upper supporting shaft 124 protruding upward is formed on an upper surface of the elastic sheet 123. In addition, an operation sheet 125 is formed on a front end part of the elastic sheet 123. A user can enable the elastic sheet 123 to bend downward by pressing the operation sheet 125 with a finger. Further, a lower shaft hole 126 is formed at a lower end part of the filter box 120.
The water path forming member 26 is formed by a resin material, extends up and down and is slightly bulged forward. A surface of the water path forming member 26 faces towards an interior of the washing and dewatering drum 21, and a back of the water path forming member 26 faces towards an interior of the circulating water path 25. A filter installation part 201 sunk into a shape corresponding to the filter box 120 of the filter unit 27 is formed on the surface of the water path forming member 26.
A lower supporting shaft 202 protruding upward is formed at a bottom 201a of the filter installation part 201, and an upper shaft hole 203 is formed at a top 201b of the filter installation part 201. The lower supporting shaft 202 is equivalent to a supporting shaft of the present disclosure.
On a rear surface 201c of the filter installation part 201, a plurality of outflow openings 204 are formed at a central part and a place of the central part slightly close to the bottom. In addition, on the rear surface 201c of the filter installation part 201, a recess 205 is formed in an upper part. When the filter unit 27 is installed on the filter installation part 201, a rear part of the elastic sheet 123 of the filter unit 27 is accommodated in the recess 205.
Then, on the rear surface 201c of the filter installation part 201, a square opening part 206 slightly bigger than the lower supporting shaft 202 is formed in a position of a back of the lower supporting shaft 202. The water path forming member 26 is formed with a mold by molding. As shown in
On the surface of the water path forming member 26, a plurality of right flow paths 207 and left flow paths 208 sinking like the filter installation part 201 and extending towards a left-right direction are respectively formed at left and right sides of the filter installation part 201.
A double-structured water path division rib 209 is formed on the back of the water path forming member 26 by facing a rear. An inner region of the water path division rib 209 forms the circulating water path 25. Then, on the back of the water path forming member 26, around the opening part 206, a water-blocking wall part 210 is formed towards the rear, namely, towards a side of an inner circumferential wall 21a of the washing and dewatering drum 21. The water-blocking wall part 210 is equivalent to a wall part of the present disclosure. The water-blocking wall part 210 is formed into a square cylinder shape in a form of surrounding four sides of the opening part 206, and has a lower wall 211, an upper wall 212, a left wall 213 and a right wall 214. As shown in
The filter unit 27 is installed on the filter installation part 201 of the water path forming member 26. When installing the water path forming member 26, the user firstly embeds the lower supporting shaft 202 of the filter installation part 201 into the lower shaft hole 126 of the filter unit 27. Next, the user presses the operation sheet 125 of the filter unit 27, to enable an upper part of the filter unit 27 to move rearward while enabling the elastic sheet 123 to bend downward in a manner of enabling the upper supporting shaft 124 to be lower than the upper shaft hole 203 of the filter installation part 201. Then, when the upper supporting shaft 124 reaches a position of the upper shaft hole 203, the user releases bending of the elastic sheet 123 to embed the upper supporting shaft 124 into the upper shaft hole 203. The filter unit 27 is fixed to the water path forming member 26 in a following state: the filter unit 27 can only rotate by a specified angle towards a right direction or a left direction by taking the upper supporting shaft 124 and the lower supporting shaft 202 as rotating shafts when observed from a front surface of the water path forming member 26.
Next, with reference to
In the washing process or rinsing process, when the impeller 23 rotates, water between the washing and dewatering drum 21 and the outer drum 20 penetrates through the water through holes 21c and is sucked into the pump chamber 24 and pushed out towards a circumferential direction by virtue of a drawing action performed by the water drawing blades 23b. As shown by an arrow F1, water pushed out ascends in the circulating water path 25, flows out of the outflow ports 204, and returns into the washing and dewatering drum 21 through the thread filter 110 of the filter unit 27. At this moment, the lint and the like included in water are collected by the thread filter 110.
In addition, as shown in
It should be noted that, in the dewatering process, a situation that water discharged from washings enters into the interior of the water-blocking wall part 210 through the opening part 206 may occur. In this case, the entering water flows into the circulating water path 25 from a gap S between the water-blocking wall part 210 and the inner circumferential wall 21a. Therefore, it is not easy to remain water in the water-blocking wall part 210 all the time.
Through the present embodiment, the above can inhibit a situation that part of water flowing through the circulating water path 25 flows out of the opening part 206 through the water-blocking wall part 210 arranged on the back of the water path forming member 26. Therefore, since water flowing through the circulating water path 25 can be led in the filter unit 27 well, it is expected to increase the collection efficiency of lint and the like of the filter unit 27.
In addition, through the present embodiment, since the water-blocking wall part 210 adopts a structure of surrounding four sides of the opening part 206, water transiently divided at a lower wall 211 can be inhibited from flowing into the opening part 206 from a side surface and water from the opening part 206 can be further inhibited from flowing out.
Further, through the present embodiment, since a gap S is formed between the water-blocking wall part 210 and the inner circumferential wall 21a of the washing and dewatering drum 21, water entering the interior of the water-blocking wall part 210 in the dewatering process can flow out of the gap S and flow into the circulating water path 25, and water can be prevented from remaining in the interior of the water-blocking wall part 210 all the time.
Although embodiments regarding the present disclosure are described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. In addition, various changes besides the above can also be made to embodiments of the present disclosure.
The water-blocking wall part 210A in the present change embodiment is only composed of a lower wall 211 extending towards a left-right direction at a lower edge of the opening part 206. The width of the water-blocking wall part 210A is set to be bigger than the horizontal width of the opening part 206. Water rising in the circulating water path 25 is divided towards left and right by colliding with the water-blocking wall part 210A, and flows through outer left and right sides of the opening part 206 to reach the outflow opening 204.
Therefore, through the present change embodiment, a situation that part of water flowing through the circulating water path 25 flows out of the opening part 206 can also be inhibited, and it is expected to increase the collection efficiency of lint and the like of the filter unit 27.
The water-blocking wall part 210B of the present change embodiment includes a protruding part 215 below the lower wall 211. The protruding part has a rough V shape of which a central part is more protruding towards an upstream side of the circulating water path 25 than left and right ends. Water rising in the circulating water path 25 is divided towards left and right by colliding with the protruding part 215, and flows through the left and right sides of the water-blocking wall part 210B to reach the outflow opening 204.
Therefore, through the present change embodiment, a situation that part of water flowing through the circulating water path 25 flows out of the opening part 206 can also be inhibited, and it is expected to increase the collection efficiency of lint and the like of the filter unit 27.
Further, through the present change embodiment, water flowing through the circulating water path 25 is smoothly divided towards left and right by colliding with the protruding part 215. Thus, since the reduction of the flow velocity of water in the circulating water path 25 can be inhibited, the lint and the like can be transported to the filter unit 27 by virtue of water flow well.
In addition to the water-blocking wall part 210 of the above embodiment, the water-blocking wall part 210A of the above change embodiment I and the water-blocking wall part 210B of the above change embodiment II, the wall part for inhibiting water from the opening part 206 from flowing out can also be configured to be associated with the opening part 206, e.g., various water-blocking wall parts 210C-210I as shown in
For example, as shown in
Then, as shown in
Then, in the above embodiment, the water path forming member 26 extends upward to a position of the balancing ring 22. A position closer to the top than the filter unit 27 plays a function as a baffle plate rubbed by washings stirred through the passing water flow. However, an upper position does not play the function of the circulating water path 25, so can be removed.
Further, in above embodiments, the outer drum 20 and the washing and dewatering drum 21 are inclined forward, but can also be not inclined.
Although a full-automatic washing machine 1 in the above embodiment does not have a clothes drying function, the present disclosure is also applicable to a full-automatic washing machine with the clothes drying function.
In addition, various changes can be properly made to embodiments of the present disclosure within a scope of technical concepts shown in claims.
21: Washing and dewatering drum; 21a: Inner circumferential wall; 23: Impeller; 25: Circulating water path; 26: Water path forming member; 27: Filter unit; 201: Filter installation part; 202: Lower supporting shaft (supporting shaft); 206: Opening part; 210: Water-blocking wall part (wall part); 210A-210I: Water-blocking wall part (wall part); 215: Protruding part; 216: Protruding part.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-060098 | Mar 2015 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2016/077120 | 3/23/2016 | WO | 00 |