JP4801535B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hanging means for a water tank of a washing machine.

  Generally, a washing machine suspends a water tub from its four corners in an outer box by means of suspending means, a washing / dehydration tub having a stirring blade at the bottom is provided in the water tub, and a gear is provided below the washing / dehydration tub. The motor is arranged through a mechanism such as a clutch, and the water tank is suspended from the four corners of the upper part of the outer box by a suspension means mainly composed of a suspension rod. An inner tub serving as both a washing tub and a dewatering tub is provided.

Although shown also in the following patent document 1, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the conventional structure of the hanging means is shown in the upper four corners of the outer box 1 in the washing machine (only one is shown). The support plate 2 having the concave portion 2a is provided, respectively, while the lower support portion 4 having the insertion hole 4a is integrally provided on the outer peripheral portion of the lower portion of the water tank 3 disposed in the outer box 1. Yes.
JP 2000-237491 A (FIGS. 12 and 13)

  The lower part of the suspension bar 5 is inserted through the insertion hole 4 a of the lower support part 4. A spring receiving member 7 is attached to the lower end portion of the suspension bar 5 via a washer wire 6 so as to prevent it from coming off. A spring 8, a damper case 9 and a rubber made of a compression coil spring are disposed above the spring receiving member 7 in order from the bottom. The made damper member 10 and the lower receiving member 11 are mounted in a state of being inserted through the suspension rods 5 respectively, and the lower receiving member 11 located at the uppermost part slides on the lower surface of the lower support portion 4 from below. It comes into contact with each other as possible. Further, grease 12 as a lubricant is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the damper member 10 and the lower outer peripheral surface of the suspension bar 5 corresponding thereto.

  On the other hand, a hemispherical upper receiving member 13 is attached to the upper end portion of the suspension bar 5, and this upper receiving member 13 is slidably contacted and supported by the spherical concave portion 2 a of the support plate 2. It comes to become. The suspension rod 5, the upper receiving member 13, the lower receiving member 11, the damper member 10, the damper case 9, the spring 8, the spring receiving member 7, the washer wire 6, and the grease 12 constitute a suspension means 14. The water tank 3 is suspended by the four sets of suspending means 14 so as to be movable up and down on the outer box 1.

  In the washing process and dehydration process, a large vibration is generated in the washing / dehydrating tank and the water tank due to imbalance due to the garment that is the laundry in the washing / dehydrating tank. I am trying not to communicate with you.

  The upper receiving member 13 and the lower receiving member 11 at the upper end of the suspension bar 5 are both fixedly provided. As a result, the suspension length of the suspension bar 5 is constant.

  The shape of the washing / dehydrating tub is a cylindrical shape that is long in the vertical direction, and when the water tub is supported vertically so that the rotation center axis of the washing / dehydrating tub faces the vertical direction, the hanging length is A certain hanging rod 5 is suitable. On the other hand, it is not suitable for supporting the water tank so as to be inclined obliquely toward the front.

  On the other hand, if the washing / dehydration tub or water tank is oriented vertically, there is a tendency for the rotational movement of the clothes to be less during washing and drying, and as a result, the clothes are moved vertically in the washing / dehydration tank. It was difficult to change the clothes, and it was easy for wrinkles to occur and uneven drying.

  In addition, most of the washing process was a simple horizontal water flow, and the washing effect was not sufficient.

  Furthermore, since the washing and dewatering tub is a long cylindrical shape, when the tub with such a shape is arranged vertically, it is difficult to take out the bottom of the garment in the tub. It was.

  The present invention eliminates the inconvenience of the conventional example, and can easily and reliably suspend and support the water tank. As a result, the clothes in the washing and dewatering tank can be easily changed in the vertical direction during the drying process. And the occurrence of drying unevenness can be prevented, the water flow can be complicated in the washing process, and a further washing effect can be expected, and the clothes can be easily taken out from the washing / dehydrating tank. The purpose is to provide a washing machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a washing / dehydration tub in which a water tub is suspended from the four corners of the outer box by means of suspending and a stirring blade is disposed at the bottom in the water tub. In a washing machine in which a motor is disposed below a dewatering tub via a mechanism such as a gear and a clutch, the suspension means is driven by a drive unit that is incorporated so as to face one suspension means. To do.

Since the aquarium is suspended from the outer box by means of a suspension bar that allows the suspension length to be adjusted at all or part of the four corners in the outer box, the suspension length can be changed. In the outer box, the water tank can be suspended and supported so that the front side is lowered. Therefore, the center axis of rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub is not in the vertical direction, but in an oblique direction, so that the clothes in the washing / dehydrating tub can be easily rotated in the vertical direction during the drying process, and generation of wrinkles and drying unevenness is suppressed. be able to.
Moreover, since the drive unit is incorporated in opposition to the suspension rod, the drive unit can be driven by a power source having a small amount of electric power compared to a case where a plurality of suspension rods are driven by one drive unit.

  In addition, since the rotation center axis of the washing / dehydrating tank is inclined in the washing process, the water flow becomes complicated and the washing effect is increased.

  Further, by tilting the water tank forward, the upper opening surface of the tank faces obliquely toward the user when taking out the clothes in the washing / dehydration tank, and the height in front of the washing / dehydration tank is lowered. This makes it easier to see the inside of the tank and facilitates the work of taking out clothes.

  In addition, since a certain amount of coupling length can be secured when the suspension rod is screw-coupled, the upper portion can be firmly supported with the suspension rod tilted even when the suspension rod is slanted and the water tank is suspended and supported.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a first embodiment of the washing machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the same, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a hanging means which is a main part of the washing machine. As already described, the washing machine suspends the water tub 3 from the four corners of the washing machine 1 by means of suspending means 14 in the outer box 1, and although not shown, the washing and dewatering tub provided with a stirring blade at the bottom is the water tub. A motor 33 is disposed below the washing and dewatering tub via a mechanism such as a gear and a clutch.

  In the present invention, as the suspending means 14, as shown in FIG. 3, a male screw 16 part is formed on the upper part of the suspension bar 5 incorporating a vibration-proof part 15 at the lower part, and this male screw 16 part is formed into a female screw. The hanging length can be adjusted by screwing into the rotating body 18.

  The male screw 16 made of a synthetic resin outer peripheral screw tube is manufactured by insert molding with the main body of the suspension bar 5. In that case, heat shrinkage at the time of insert molding or heat shrinkage due to the ambient temperature during use. It is necessary to devise a measure to alleviate (the temperature at the time of drying is 70 ° C. in a washing dryer).

  Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the male screw 16 by the outer peripheral screw tube is divided in the length direction, or slits 23 having a width equal to or smaller than the pitch of the screw 16a are formed at intervals. Correspond to heat shrinkage.

  The female screw rotating body 18 may be fixedly provided on a flange-like suspension plate 24 projecting from the inside of the outer box 1, but a spherical seat is provided below, and this is attached to the suspension plate of the outer box 1. Engage with 24 spherical recesses (not shown).

  The vibration isolating portion 15 may be the same as the conventional example shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, but as another conventional example, a spring 27 is provided between the upper spring receiver 29 and the lower spring receiver 30 as shown in FIG. The elastic member 31 may be fitted on the outer periphery of the spring 27. In the figure, 28 is a rubber spring.

  The elastic member 31 is made of a rubber member. By this, the steel wire of the spring member and the rubber member are frictionally slid to attenuate the vibration, thereby suppressing the vibration during the dehydration process.

  The vibration isolating portion 15 is locked to a flange 25 that protrudes laterally from the side of the water tank 3. Thereby, the suspending means 14 is suspended between the outer case 1 and the water tank 3.

  The suspending means 14 capable of adjusting the suspending length by screwing the male screw 16 portion of the present invention into the female screw rotating body 18 is arranged at the four corners in the outer box 1. It is not necessary to arrange the suspending means 14 having the structure described above, and the suspension means 14 is provided at least at the two corners on the rear side, and the two front sides are also used as the suspending means 14 by the conventional suspension rod 5 (see FIG. 10) by the spherical seat 26. Good.

  Next, the operation will be described. The suspension means 14 in which the male screw 16 portion of the present invention is screwed into the female screw rotating body 18 can move the suspension bar 5 up and down via the male screw 16 by rotating the female screw rotating body 18. Thus, the length of the suspension bar 5 can be adjusted.

  If the suspension rod 5 arranged at the rear part is shortened in this way, the rear part of the water tank 3 is lifted. Note that. On the front side, there is a conventional suspension rod 5 with a spherical seat 26. This spherical seat 26 serves as a tilting fulcrum.

  As a result, since the water tank 3 is inclined obliquely toward the front, the clothes in the washing and dewatering tank are efficiently switched in the vertical direction, and the drying efficiency is improved. In addition, by inclining the water tank 3 during the washing process, the direction of the water flow becomes complicated and the washing effect increases.

  Further, when the clothes are taken out from the washing / dehydrating tub at the end of the washing, the water tub 3 is inclined toward the front, so that the front side of the upper opening of the washing / dehydrating tub is at a low position and at the same time, It becomes easier to see and clothes can be taken out easily.

  Although not shown in the drawings as the second embodiment, the suspending means 14 in which the portion of the male screw 16 of the present invention is screwed into the female screw rotating body 18 is provided at at least two front corners, and the rear. The two places on the side may be the suspension means 14 by the conventional suspension rod 5 by the spherical seat 26 shown in FIG.

  In this case, if the suspension bar 5 arranged at the front is lengthened, the water tank 3 is inclined obliquely toward the front.

  Furthermore, as a third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the female screw rotating body 18 is a rotating body, and this is rotationally driven by a drive unit 17, so that the suspension length can be automatically adjusted. You can also.

  The drive unit 17 is based on a DC motor, and the female screw rotating body 18 is based on a fitting gear meshing with the motor. A drive unit (actuator) 19 is formed by the drive unit 17 and the female screw rotating body 18, and this is incorporated as an integral part on the upper part of the suspension bar 5.

  In the figure, reference numerals 20 and 21 denote dust-proof cases as a sealed case for protecting the drive portion of the suspension bar 5 from dust and moisture at the upper and lower positions of the drive unit (actuator) 19, and 22 a spherical surface formed on the lower surface of the drive unit (actuator) 19. The seat.

  When the female screw rotating body 18 is made of a synthetic resin, at least a tooth portion as a fitting portion is made of metal and is formed by an insert. This fitting portion can be applied with a sliding material (for example, grease) or the insert portion of the gear can be made of a porous metal so that the sliding material can be oiled and injected automatically.

  The suspending means 14 incorporating the drive unit (actuator) 19 of the present invention is arranged at the four corners in the outer case 1, but the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9 are suspending means 14 according to the configuration of the present invention at all four corners. It is a case where it arranges.

  Next, the operation will be described. The suspension means 14 incorporating the drive unit (actuator) 19 can move the suspension bar 5 up and down via the external thread 16 by rotating the internal thread rotating body 18 by the drive unit 17. The length can be adjusted.

  Further, since the suspension bar 5 is held by the washing machine main body via the spherical seat 22, it can operate flexibly with respect to the circumferential movement of the water tank 3 that occurs during operations such as washing and dehydration. Therefore, the driving unit 17 that drives the female screw rotating body 18 has a structure in which an extra load (load / vibration of the water tank 3) other than driving is not applied.

  For example, at the time of the drying process, at the time of the washing process, or at the end of washing, the rear part of the water tank 3 can be lifted by driving the drive unit (actuator) 19 to shorten the suspension rod 5 disposed at the rear part.

  As a result, the aquarium 3 is inclined obliquely forward, so that the washing / dehydrating tub in the aquarium 3 has its rotation center axis changed from a vertical direction to an oblique direction, and the clothes in the washing / dehydrating tub can be efficiently moved up and down. The direction is changed and the drying efficiency is improved. Further, by inclining the water tank 3 during the washing process, the direction of the water flow becomes complicated, and the washing effect increases.

  Furthermore, when clothes are taken out from the washing / dehydrating tub at the end of washing, if the water tub 3 is tilted forward, the front side of the upper opening of the washing / dehydrating tub becomes low and the washing / dehydrating tub is easy to see. This makes it easier to take out clothes.

  On the other hand, during the dehydration process, the water tub 3 is positioned horizontally and the rotation central axis of the washing / dehydrating tub is held in the vertical direction, so that the washing / dehydrating tub is rotated horizontally to effectively utilize the centrifugal force and the dewatering efficiency is improved. Do not drop.

It is explanatory drawing of the side surface which shows 1st Embodiment of the washing machine of this invention. It is explanatory drawing by the side of the plane which shows 1st Embodiment of the washing machine of this invention. It is a front view of the suspension means which is the principal part of the washing machine of this invention. It is a vertical front view of the principal part of a suspending means. It is a vertical front view which shows the part of the external thread of a hanging rod upper part. It is a perspective view which shows the part of the external thread of a suspension bar upper part. It is a perspective view of a hanging rod It is explanatory drawing by the side of the plane which shows 1st Embodiment of the washing machine of this invention. It is explanatory drawing by the side of the plane which shows 1st Embodiment of the washing machine of this invention. It is the vertical front view which abbreviate | omitted one part which shows the prior art example of a suspension means. It is the disassembled perspective view which abbreviate | omitted a part of main part which shows the other conventional example of a suspending means. It is the vertical front view which abbreviate | omitted one part of the main part which shows the other conventional example of a suspending means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer box 2 Support plate 2a Recessed part 3 Water tank 4 Lower support part 4a Insertion hole 5 Hanging rod 6 Washer wire 6a Hook part 7 Spring receiving member 8 Spring 9 Damper case 10 Damper member 11 Lower receiving member 12 Grease 13 Upper receiving member 14 Hanging Lowering means 15 Anti-vibration part 16 Male screw 16a Screw 17 Drive part 18 Female screw rotating body 19 Drive unit (actuator)
20, 21 Dust-proof case 22 Spherical seat 23 Slit 24 Suspension plate 25 Flange 26 Spherical seat 27 Spring 28 Rubber spring 29 Upper spring receiver 30 Lower spring receiver 31 Elastic member 33 Motor

Claims (2)

An outer box ,
A water tank swingably supported in the outer box ;
A washing and dewatering tank disposed rotatably in the water tank ;
A suspension means that is arranged at a corner of the outer box, incorporates a vibration-proof portion at a lower portion of a suspension rod that supports the water tank, disposes a drive unit at the upper portion, and drives the suspension rod up and down in the longitudinal direction ;
In a washing machine equipped with
When taking out clothes from the washing and dewatering tub, the drive unit is operated so that the length of the suspension bar arranged at the rear is shorter than the length of the suspension bar arranged at the front. Washing machine.
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drying operation is operated in a state where the water tank is inclined .

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