JP3261122B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine having a bath water suction pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been conventionally practiced to save tap water by using remaining hot water of a bath as washing water.

[0003] As an example of the usage form, there is a type in which a throw-in type bath water suction pump is inserted into a bathtub, and water in the bathtub is absorbed into the washing tub via the pump.

Another type of use is a type in which a bath water suction pump is built in a washing machine, and water in a bathtub is absorbed into the washing tub via the pump.

As a prior art for incorporating a bath water suction pump into a washing machine and using the pump to absorb water in a bathtub into the washing tub, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 57-117894 discloses a prior art.
No. 57-117895 and JP-A-6-23.
No. 190, for example.

[0006]

However, when a bath water suction pump of a throw-in type is used, there is a drawback in that the hose and the lead wire are entangled with each other, so that workability and storage are poor.

On the other hand, the type in which a bath water suction pump is built in a washing machine generally has a pump installed below the washing machine. The length of the pipe from the pump to the opening of the washing tub becomes longer, which causes cost increase.

In the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 57-117894 and 57-117895, a washing machine with a bath water suction pump that does not require a priming tank is proposed. The pump is also provided below the washing machine.

A washing machine with a bath water suction pump which does not require a priming tank is also proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-23190.

[0010] However, the publication only discloses a very simplified diagram, and there is no specific description in which part of the washing machine the pump is incorporated. It is not known at all whether the pump is installed below the washing machine or at any other place, as in the above two known examples, and it is not clear whether the pump is installed below the washing machine. Is not disclosed at all.

[0011] The present invention has been made in identifying the installation point of the bath water intake pump, it is an object of the present invention, call
A bath water feed pump that eliminates the need for a water tank is placed above the washing machine.
Can be located behind the top cover provided in the pump, reducing pump piping loss and reducing costs compared to the past, and improving the pump's moisture resistance to minimize deterioration of the pump motor over time. In addition to extending the service life of the pump motor, the length of wiring between the controller and the pump is shortened compared to the conventional one, and the rationalization can be achieved. An automatic washing machine is provided.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a washing tub having stirring blades, a washing motor arranged below the washing tub, a top cover arranged above the washing tub, and a bath for absorbing bath water. A bath water suction pump for sucking up through a hose, and a tap water supply solenoid valve, wherein the tap water supply solenoid valve and the bath water suction pump are disposed behind the top cover.
Disposed towards the part, the tap water or the bath water from above the washing tub through the water inlet to the water supply to the washing tub, the laundry by rotating the said stirring blades and the washing tub by the washing motor, Rinsing, a washing machine that performs dehydration, wherein the bath water suction pump includes a pump driving motor that rotationally drives a pump runner and a self-priming pump having a steam / water separation function. A part is located in the depression provided on the upper surface of the top cover, and the bath water suction pump is covered by a back panel provided on the rear side of the top cover. Characterized by being sandwiched via

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment of the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a top cover of a washing machine, 2 denotes a controller for controlling operation of the washing machine, and 2 Is built in the front of the top cover 1 and is composed of a microcomputer or the like including a timer.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a membrane switch that allows the operator to externally specify the operation of the washing machine.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a lid, which opens upward with the fulcrum 5 as an axis.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a laundry inlet, and 7 denotes a cover for preventing the laundry from dropping between a washing and dewatering tub (hereinafter abbreviated as a washing tub) 8 and an outer tub 9. It is provided at the top.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a dehydration hole formed in the wall of the washing tub 8.

A balance ring 11 smoothly rotates the washing tub 8 during the spin-drying operation.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a hanging rod, which is connected to the outer tank 9 via a spring 13.
Hanging up.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a stirring blade, which is installed at the bottom of the washing tub 8.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor. The power of the motor 15 is transmitted via a motor pulley 16, a belt 17, a driven pulley 18, and a clutch / reduction unit 19 to the stirring blade 14 during washing and rinsing.
During the dehydration, the washing tub 8 and the stirring blade 14 are driven together.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a leg for supporting the outer frame 21, and reference numeral 22 denotes a drain hole provided in the bottom of the outer tub 9. Downstream of the drain hole 22, a drain solenoid valve 2 that opens and closes according to a command from the controller 2 is provided.
3 and a drain hose 24.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a back panel.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a bath water suction pump whose casing is formed of a synthetic resin containing an antibacterial agent, and is incorporated in the top cover 1.

27 is a bath water absorption hose containing an antibacterial agent,
The rear end is attached to a bath water inlet 26a provided on the upper surface of the pump 26 via an O-ring 28.

In FIG. 2, which shows the internal structure of the washing machine by removing the back panel indicated by the reference numeral 25 in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1a denotes a water inlet provided in the top cover 1 for supplying tap water into the washing tub and a bath water supply. A tap water inlet and a bath water inlet having a common mouth and a bath water inlet, and a softener is also supplied from the tap water inlet and the bath water inlet 1a.

4 is a lid, 26 is a pump, 26a is a bath water inlet, 26b is a bath water discharge pipe, 29 is a lid switch, 30
Is a tap water tap, and 31 is a water supply solenoid valve for supplying tap water into the washing tub 8.

The back panel 25 is attached to the top cover 1 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 3 as viewed from the X-X direction by attaching the components, 1 is a top cover, 25 is a back panel, 26 is a pump, 26
a is a bath water suction port of the pump 26, 25a is a hub of the back panel 25, and the pump 26 is
The top cover 1 and the back panel 25 are sandwiched between the top cover 1 and the back panel 25. The claw provided on the back panel 25 is hooked on the engaging portion of the top cover 1, and is fixed by screws (not shown). You.

In FIG. 4 showing the internal structure of the bath water suction pump 26, reference numeral 26a denotes a bath water suction port of the pump 26;
b is a bath water discharge pipe, 26c is a casing, 26d is a pump motor, 26e is a runner, 26f is a mechanical seal, 26g is a water absorption chamber, 26h is a gas-water separation chamber, 26i is a partition plate, and is provided on the upper surface of the pump 26. Bath water inlet 2
6a is also used as a priming water suction port.

Reference numeral 26j denotes a check valve provided at the outlet of the bath water inlet 26a. The upper end surface of the bath water inlet 26a is higher than the lower surface of the bath water outlet 26k.

The bath water absorbed in the water absorption chamber 26g of the pump 26 is sent to the air / water separation chamber 26h via the runner 26e by the same water supply method as that of the conventional pump of this type, and is sent to the water / water separation chamber 26h. The sent bath water is then supplied into the washing tub 8 via the bath water discharge pipe 26b.

In FIG. 5 showing an operation panel provided on the top cover 1, 33 is a power switch, 34 is a tap water start / pause button, 35 is a bath water start / pause button, and 36 is a guideline for indicating a water saving amount. In the present embodiment, the use of bath water, water-saving rinsing, etc., when a process that can save water compared to normal operation, the amount of water saving,
When the power switch 33 is turned on, for example, the water saving amount is displayed on the indication unit 36 in units of kiloliters.

This display is cleared to zero when the counter of the display section 36 overflows, and starts counting again.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the washing machine also shown in FIG.
The power switch 33 in FIG. 5 is turned on (step 10 in FIG. 7).
1) The bath water course is started by pressing the bath water start / pause button 35 (step 102).

Then, first, the pump motor current Ip becomes 1
It is detected whether the current is not less than ampere (step 10).
3) If the current is 1 amperage or more, the pump motor is turned off because the lock current has flowed, and the tap water supply solenoid valve 3 is turned off.
1 is turned on (step 104), an abnormality is notified by appropriate means such as a synthesized sound or a combination of a synthesized sound and a character for 15 seconds (step 105), and then the abnormality is stored in a memory (step 106). The process shifts to a water supply process using water (step 107), and a series of washing processes is performed based on a normal program.

When a series of washing steps is completed, the power switch 33 is automatically turned off (step 10).
8).

When the washing machine is to be used next time (step 109), the power switch 33 is turned on and the abnormality of the pump motor 26d is notified again (step 1).
10).

In step 101, the pump motor 2
If the current of 6d is equal to or smaller than 1 amp, it is detected whether or not the pump motor current Ip is equal to or larger than 0.3 amp (step 111).

Since the air is still entrained immediately after the start of the start of the pump motor 26d, the current is 0.3 amperes or less. In this case, in step 112, two minutes have elapsed after the start of the operation of the pump motor 26d. The process returns to step 103 if two minutes have not yet elapsed.

In step 112, if the pump motor current Ip is equal to or less than 0.3 amps even after 2 minutes from the start of the operation of the pump motor 26d, there is no water in the bathtub or the tip of the hose 27 is disconnected. Assuming that the user forgot to put in the bathtub, the tip of the hose 27 has risen from the surface of the bathtub, or that the bath water has run out during the water absorption, the power supply to the bath water suction pump motor 26d is turned off, and the supply of tap water is stopped. On the water-absorbing solenoid valve 31 (step 1)
13), the process shifts to a water supply process using tap water (step 114).

In step 111, the pump motor 2
If the pump motor current Ip becomes 0.3 amperes or more within 2 minutes after the start of the operation of 6d, it is detected in step 115 whether the water level in the washing tub 8 has reached the specified water level,
If the specified water level is reached, move to the washing and stirring process,
If the specified water level has not been reached, the routine returns to step 103.

The washing course includes a standard course called washing → drainage → dehydration → shower rinsing → drainage → dehydration → pool rinse → drainage → dehydration, and other handmade courses. If selected, standard course,
Both handmade courses use bath water for "washing",
When the “rinsing” step is performed twice or more, the water saving effect of tap water can be further enhanced by using bath water in addition to the final “rinsing”.

A bath water suction pump 26 is provided in the top cover 1.
The length of the pipe between the pump 26 and the opening of the washing tub 8 can be reduced as compared with the case where the pump is installed below the washing machine, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. .

The pump 26 is enclosed in the top cover 1 in a hermetically sealed state, thereby improving the moisture resistance of the pump 26, minimizing the deterioration of the pump motor 26d over time, prolonging its life and reducing noise. This is also effective.

Since the pump 26 is built in the top cover 1, the wiring between the controller 2 and the pump 26 can be shortened and streamlined as compared with the case where the pump 26 is installed below the washing machine. it can.

By mounting the pump 26 by sandwiching it between the top cover 1 and the back panel 25, the mounting work can be simplified.

If the water inlet for supplying tap water into the washing tub 8 and the water inlet for bath water supply are shared, the number of parts can be reduced accordingly.

If the water suction port 26a of the pump 26 is provided on the upper surface of the top cover 1, the bath water suction hose 27 can be taken out 360 ° forward from the upper part of the water suction port 26a.
Excellent in terms of usability.

Bath water inlet 2 provided on the upper surface of pump 26
If 6a is also used as a priming water suction port, in addition to the above-described effects, a separate priming port and a cap for closing the priming port are not required, and the number of parts can be reduced accordingly.

If the upper end surface of the bath water suction port 26a of the pump 26 is higher than the lower surface of the bath water discharge port 26k, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, even if the check valve 26j in the pump chamber causes minute water leakage. However, priming does not decrease.

If the rated current is not reached after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the pump 26, if control means for turning off the power to the pump motor 26d is provided, the presence or absence of bath water and the tip of the water absorption hose 27 can be controlled. Uplift from the water surface, etc. can be known by current detection of the motor 26d, compared to the conventional method of detecting the presence or absence of bath water and the rising of the tip of the water absorption hose from the water surface during the water supply time up to a certain water level. Since the detection can be performed in a short time and the failure of the water level detection switch and the drain valve 23 can be detected, the pump motor 26
The useless operation time of d can be shortened as much as possible, and the life of the pump 26 can be extended.

If the rated current is not reached after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the pump 26, the power supply to the pump motor 26d is turned off and the electromagnetic valve 3 for supplying tap water is supplied.
If a control means for turning on 1 is provided, in addition to the above effects,
A series of washing steps can be performed to the end without interruption.

If the rated current is not reached after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the pump 26, if a means for turning on the water-absorbing solenoid valve 31 for supplying tap water is provided while the pump motor 26d is energized, The washing process can be performed to the end without interruption, and the tip of the water-absorbing hose 27 once comes out of the surface of the bath water, and then sinks below the surface of the water again, so that the bath water can be absorbed. In such a case, the bath water can be used again as washing water, which is useful for saving tap water.

If a means for turning off the power supply to the pump motor 26d is provided when the lock current of the pump motor 26d is detected, the motor burnout at the time of locking the pump motor can be prevented, and the pump performed by the conventional PTC can be prevented. The detection can be performed instantaneously as compared with the motor lock detection, and the life of the pump motor 26d can be extended.

If a means for turning off the power supply to the pump motor 26d and turning on the water absorption solenoid valve 31 for supplying tap water when the lock current of the pump motor 26d is detected is provided, in addition to the above effects, A series of washing steps can be performed to the end without interruption.

The above effect can be achieved by providing a means for notifying the abnormality simultaneously with the detection of the lock current of the pump motor 26d and for notifying the abnormality of the pump motor 26d when the power switch 33 is turned on next time the washing machine is used. in addition,
The user is immediately notified of the locked state of the pump motor 26d, and if the user does not take any countermeasures, the user is informed again to that effect, and the pump 26 is repeatedly used in the locked state. It is possible to prevent the life of the pump motor 26d from being shortened.

If the casing 26c of the pump 26 is formed of a synthetic resin containing an antibacterial agent, even if priming water for self-priming is left in the pump casing 26c for a long time, the remaining Bacteria can be prevented from growing and spoiling in water.

If the bath water suction hose 27 is a rubber hose or a synthetic resin hose containing an antibacterial agent, it is possible to prevent bacteria from adhering to a hose that is used repeatedly for a long period of time.

When a process that can save water compared to normal operation such as bath water use and water saving rinsing is performed, the amount of saving water is stored, and if a means for displaying the integrated amount is provided, the degree of the saving within a certain period is provided. The user can be intuitively notified whether tap water has been saved. ♀

[0060]

According to the present invention, the priming tank is not required.
The required bath water feed pump is located at the top of the washing machine.
It can be placed behind the pump cover, the piping loss of the bath water suction pump is smaller than before, the cost can be reduced, and the pump's moisture resistance is improved to minimize the deterioration of the pump motor over time, Along with extending the service life of the pump motor, the wiring between the controller and the pump has been shortened compared to the conventional one, and the rationalization can be achieved. You can get a washing machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an entire internal structure showing an embodiment of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the display panel with a back panel indicated by reference numeral 25 removed from FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view when the back panel 25 is attached to the top cover 1 of FIG. 2 and viewed from the XX direction.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of a bath water suction pump 26.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an operation display panel provided on a top cover indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit diagram of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Top cover, 8 ... Washing tub (washing and dewatering tub), 25
... back panel, 26 ... bath water suction pump.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Miyao 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Living Equipment Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobumasa Tanaka 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. Living Equipment Division (56) References JP-A-6-238089 (JP, A) JP-A-57-192595 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) D06F 39/08 321 D06F 39/08 301

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A washing tub having stirring blades, a washing motor arranged below the washing tub, a top cover arranged above the washing tub, and a bath water suction pump for sucking bath water through a suction hose. , and a tap water supply solenoid valve, and placing the solenoid valve and the bath water intake pump for tap water supply to parts on towards after the top cover, the tap water or the bath water from the upper side of the washing tub A washing machine that supplies water into a washing tub through a water inlet, and performs washing, rinsing, and dehydration by rotating the stirring blades and the washing tub with the washing motor, and the bath water suction pump is a pump. The bath water suction pump includes a pump driving motor that rotationally drives the runner and a self-priming pump having a water / water separation function. A part of the bath water suction pump is located in a depression provided on an upper surface of the top cover, and the bath Water absorption pon Washing machine, characterized in the covered back panel which is provided on the rear side of the top cover, it is held through the rubber vibration isolator by this back panel said top cover.