washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of stably supplying air bubbles.SOLUTION: A washing machine comprises an outer tank 2, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed in the outer tank 2, a motor to drive the drum 3, a blower fan 30 to send air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 that makes connection between the outer tank 2 and the blower fan 30 for circulating the air, a discharge port 25 to discharge dry air into the drum 3 for drying, a discharge nozzle 82 that supplies air to a lower part of the outer tank 2 to generates bubbles, and a damper unit 50 that switches the air channel between the discharge port 25 for drying and the discharge nozzle 82. The sealable pressure to the discharge port 25 for drying of the damper unit 50 (P2-Penv) is higher than the pressure rise of the blower fan 30 (P1-P0).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, there is described a washing machine including a water tank, a drum rotatably provided in the water tank, a drum motor for rotationally driving the drum, a bubble generating unit capable of generating bubbles in water by supplying air to the washing water stored in the water tank, a fan for supplying air to the bubble generating unit, and a damper capable of selectively switching between a state of supplying the wind generated by the fan to the bubble generating unit and a state of supplying it to the drum.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the washing machine described in Patent Document 1, when the fan is driven, the damper may open because it cannot withstand the pressure, and air cannot be supplied to the bubble generating unit, resulting in a risk of not being able to generate bubbles. Also, there is a risk that the pressure (pressure increase) of the fan is insufficient for the pressure required to generate bubbles, resulting in a decrease in the supply amount of bubbles.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and aims to provide a washing machine capable of stably supplying bubbles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention comprises an outer tank, a rotatable drum enclosed within the outer tank, a drive unit for driving the drum, a blower for supplying air into the drum, a duct for circulating air between the outer tank and the blower, a drying outlet for discharging drying air into the drum, a bubble generating unit for supplying air to the lower part of the outer tank to generate bubbles, and an airflow switching unit for switching the airflow path between the drying outlet and the bubble generating unit. The bubble generating unit has a discharge nozzle, which is positioned around the lowest point of the drum within the outer tank and has a plurality of discharge ports that open horizontally, the diameter of which is greater than or equal to the diameter of the through-hole of the drum. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can stably and efficiently supply foam. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is an external perspective view showing the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the inside of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a heat pump unit. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a washing machine. [Figure 6] This is a rear view showing the internal structure of the washing machine. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing a damper device. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing a bubble generating device. [Figure 9] This graph shows the relationship between the pressure and airflow of a blower fan. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view showing the impeller of a blower fan. [Figure 11] This is the flat surface of the impeller. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in Figure 11. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view showing the discharge duct with a damper device installed. [Figure 14]It is a cross-sectional view of the damper device in an open state. [Figure 15] It is a cross-sectional view of the damper device in a closed state. [Figure 16] It is a perspective view showing the discharge nozzle. [Figure 17] It is a perspective view showing a modified example of the discharge nozzle. [Figure 18] It is a perspective view showing another modified example of the discharge nozzle. [Figure 19] It is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the discharge nozzles. [Figure 20] It is a schematic diagram when using the discharge nozzle as a comparative example. [Figure 21] It is a schematic diagram when using the discharge nozzle of the present embodiment. [Figure 22] It is a flowchart showing the washing operation of the washing machine of the present embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modified examples and application examples are also included within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. In the following, the description will be based on the directions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the washing machine according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 100 is a drum-type washing and drying machine. On the upper part of a synthetic resin base 1h, side plates 1a and reinforcing members 1b (see FIG. 2) provided on the left and right sides and the back side mainly formed of steel plates are combined to form a skeleton, and further, a front cover 1c, a lower front cover 1f, and an upper cover 1e made of resin molded products are attached thereto to form the housing 1. In addition, a door 9 that is opened and closed when taking in and out laundry is provided on the front cover 1c.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the washing machine according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 2 shows a state in which the front cover 1c, the lower front cover 1f, the water supply unit 70, the detergent case, etc. are removed. As shown in Figure 2, the housing 1 has an outer tub 2 located almost in the center. This outer tub 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The outer tub 2 is constructed by attaching a tub cover 2b to the front opening 2a1 of the outer tub body 2a. The rear of the tub cover 2b is connected to the front opening 2a1 of the outer tub body 2a, and a circular opening 2b1 is formed at the front for loading and unloading laundry.

[0011] Furthermore, a rotatably supported drum 3 (see Figure 3) is provided inside the outer tank 2. The drum 3 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and is positioned so that the opening is located at the front. The rotation axis of the drum 3 is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side. The rotation axis of the drum 3 may also be configured to be approximately horizontal.

[0012] The inner wall of the cylindrical section, which forms the side wall of the drum 3, is provided with multiple lifters 3a (see Figure 8) for lifting laundry. The drum 3 also has numerous through holes 3b (see Figure 19) in the cylindrical section for centrifugal dewatering and ventilation.

[0013] Door 9 consists of a door frame 9b (see Figure 1) with a door glass 9a (see Figure 1) fixed to it, and is attached to the housing 1 by a hinge 9c (see Figure 1). A fluid balancer (not shown) is provided around the outer circumference of the opening of the drum 3 to reduce vibrations caused by the unbalanced laundry during the spin cycle.

[0014] A bellows 10 made of elastic rubber is attached to the tub cover 2b. The rear edge of the bellows 10 is attached to the opening 2b1, and the front edge of the bellows 10 is attached to the housing 1 on the back of the door frame 9b (see Figure 1). When the door 9 is closed, the door 9 is tightly sealed to the bellows 10, maintaining watertightness between the inside of the outer tub 2 and the door 9. This prevents water leakage during washing, rinsing, and spinning.

[0015] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the housing 1 is provided with a ventilation duct 20 that guides airflow to the laundry in the drum 3. This ventilation duct 20 is equipped with a blower fan 30 and a heat pump unit 40. The blower fan 30 is located downstream of the heat pump unit 40. The ventilation duct 20 also includes an intake duct 21 that connects the back of the outer tub 2 to the heat pump unit 40, and a discharge duct 22 that connects the outer tub 2 to the blower fan 30. The intake duct 21 has an air passage that connects the outer tub 2 to the heat pump unit 40. The discharge duct 22 has an air passage that connects the blower fan 30 to the drying outlet 25. Drying filters 6a and 6b are provided between the outer tub 2 and the intake duct 21.

[0016] The heat pump unit 40 dehumidifies and heats the high-temperature, high-humidity air that has passed through the laundry and been discharged from the outer tub 2 during drying operation, making it high-temperature, low-humidity. The dehumidified and heated hot air (drying air) is blown onto the laundry in the drum 3 through the discharge duct 22 by the blower fan 30 and through the drying outlet 25 located at the top of the outer tub 2. The hot air blown onto the laundry becomes high-temperature, high-humidity air and returns to the heat pump unit 40 through the intake duct 21. Alternatively, a water-cooled dehumidification mechanism may be used instead of the heat pump unit 40 to cool and dehumidify the high-temperature, high-humidity air.

[0017] Furthermore, the washing machine 100 is equipped with a water supply unit 70 (water supply means) for supplying water into the outer tub 2, a water level sensor 71 for detecting the water level in the outer tub 2, and a control device 90 (control unit) for controlling the water supply unit 70, the blower fan 30, and the like.

[0018] The water supply unit 70 is equipped with multiple solenoid valves, including a water supply solenoid valve. By opening the first solenoid valve, water is supplied to the powder detergent dispensing chamber and liquid detergent dispensing chamber of the detergent case via the water supply pipe. By opening the second solenoid valve, water is supplied to the fabric softener dispensing chamber via the water supply pipe. By opening the third solenoid valve, water is supplied directly to the water inlet 2c (see Figure 2) of the outer tank 2 via the water supply pipe.

[0019] The water level sensor 71 detects the water level inside the outer tank 2 by connecting an air trap (not shown) at the lowest part of the rear end face of the outer tank 2 via a tube (not shown) to the sensor unit (not shown). The signal detected by the water level sensor 71 is output to the control device 90.

[0020] A recessed portion 2d is provided at the inner bottom of the outer tank 2, directly below the vertical line. This recessed portion 2d is roughly concave and extends in the axial direction of the drum 3. A drain port 2d2 is provided at the bottom surface 2d1 of the recessed portion 2d.

[0021] Furthermore, a circulation pump 11 is provided below the outer tub 2. This circulation pump 11 has the function of drawing in the wash water from the outer tub 2 through the drain port 2d2 via hose 11a, pumping it up to the top of the outer tub 2 via hose 11b, and spraying it onto the laundry in the drum 3. It is fixed to the base 1h (see Figure 1) side of the housing 1. The wash water enters the suction port side of the circulation pump 11 through the drain port 2d2 in the recessed part 2d of the outer tub 2 and the lint filter 13 (see Figure 2). After being pressurized by the circulation pump 11, it is sprayed into the drum 3 from a spray nozzle (not shown). In addition, the drain port 2d2 in the recessed part 2d is connected to a drain hose 12a via the lint filter 13 (see Figure 2) and a drain valve 12, allowing the water in the recessed part 2d to be discharged outside the machine.

[0022] The control device 90, although not shown in the diagram, is composed of electronic circuits including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and various interfaces. It reads the program stored in the ROM, loads it into the RAM, and the CPU executes various processes. The control device 90 also controls the water supply unit 70 and the damper device 50, and acquires the detected value from the water level sensor 71.

[0023] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the heat pump unit. As shown in Figure 4, the heat pump unit 40 comprises a compressor 41, a heat exchanger for heat dissipation to air (condenser 42), a pressure reducing device 43 (expansion valve, etc.), and a heat exchanger for dehumidifying air (evaporator 44). These components are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping 45 to form a refrigerant circuit 46, which is housed in a resin casing 47. The refrigerant flows in the direction of the arrow indicated by F in the figure, in the order of compressor 41, condenser 42, pressure reducing device 43, evaporator 44, and then returns to the compressor 41.

[0024] The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 41 flows into the condenser 42, where it condenses and liquefies by releasing heat into the circulating air. The liquefied refrigerant is depressurized by an expansion valve (pressure reducing device 43) adjusted to a predetermined opening, becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state, and flows into the evaporator 44. The refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 44 evaporates and vaporizes by absorbing heat from the circulating air. The vaporized refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 41, where it is compressed again to become a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit 46, and as the refrigerant, for example, a single HFC refrigerant, a mixed HFC refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, a natural refrigerant (for example, CO2 refrigerant), etc., can be used.

[0025] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a washing machine. The dashed arrows in Figure 5 indicate the airflow. As shown in Figure 5, the heat pump unit 40 is fixed to the base 1h (see Figure 2) at the rear of the housing 1, below the outer tub 2. The circulating air that has been dehumidified and heated in the heat pump unit 40 passes through the blower fan 30 and the discharge duct 22 from the bottom to the top of the outer tub 2, and is blown onto the laundry inside the drum 3 (see Figure 3) from the drying outlet 25 located at the top of the outer tub 2 (tub cover 2b).

[0026] The blower fan 30 is located below the outer tank 2 and consists of a fan case 31, an impeller 32 (see Figure 8), and a drive motor 33 that rotates the impeller 32. The drive motor 33 is mounted on one side of the fan case 31. A spiral-shaped scroll channel 31a is formed inside the fan case 31. The blower fan 30 has the function of recovering the airflow discharged from the impeller 32 (see Figure 8) as static pressure while slowing it down.

[0027] The discharge duct 22 has a rear duct 22a that extends vertically along the rear side of the outer tank 2, and an upper duct 22b that extends front-to-back along the top of the outer tank 2. The upper duct 22b is also equipped with a damper device 50 for switching the airflow path to the discharge nozzle 82 (foaming discharge port), which will be described later. The upper duct 22b and the outer tank 2 are connected via a bellows pipe 26 for vibration absorption.

[0028] Figure 6 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the washing machine. In Figure 6, the airflow is indicated by dashed arrows. As shown in Figure 6, the suction duct 21 has an air passage 21a that curves downward from the upper rear of the outer tank 2, and an air passage 21b that extends straight downward in the vertical direction. The air passage 21b is connected to the heat pump unit 40 via a bellows pipe 27.

[0029] The rear duct 22a of the discharge duct 22 has multiple fixing parts 22c formed therein for screw-fixing the discharge duct 22 to the rear side plate 1a (see Figure 2) of the housing 1. These fixing parts 22c are located on the upper part of the rear duct 22a (above the rotation center of the outer tank 2).

[0030] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the damper device. As shown in Figure 7, the damper device 50 is integrated with the discharge duct 22 and can be installed as a single component. The damper device 50 is attached to the discharge duct 22 via a damper fixing piece 51.

[0031] Furthermore, the damper device 50 is located behind the upper duct 22b. Thus, the damper device 50 is positioned above the outer tub 2. Note that the "above the outer tub 2" does not necessarily have to be directly above the outer tub 2; it does not need to be at a height where water does not come into contact with the damper device 50. The water referred to here is the water used for washing during a washing cycle, and high-temperature, high-humidity water during a drying cycle.

[0032] Furthermore, the upper duct 22b has a fixing portion 22d formed in front of the damper device 50 for fixing the discharge duct 22 to the reinforcing member 1b (see Figure 2). In other words, the upper duct 22b is screwed to the reinforcing member 1b of the housing 1.

[0033] Furthermore, a connection port 22e is formed at the end of the upper duct 22b, which connects to the bellows pipe 26 (see Figure 5). Also, a connection port 22f is formed at the end of the rear duct 22a, which connects to the outlet of the blower fan 30.

[0034] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a bubble generating device. Figure 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the pressure and airflow of the blower fan. In Figure 8, the white arrows indicate the airflow when generating bubbles. As shown in Figure 8, the bubble generator 80 is a device that generates bubbles by supplying air to the bottom of the outer tub 2. It comprises a blower pipe 81 branched from the discharge duct 22 and a discharge nozzle 82 connected to the blower pipe 81 and located at the bottom of the outer tub 2. Air is supplied from a position lower than the water level of the detergent water stored in the outer tub 2, causing foaming and rotating the drum 3 to wash the clothes inside the drum 3. By providing such a bubble generator 80 and generating bubbles, the cleaning power for the laundry inside the drum 3 can be increased. Furthermore, when drying clothes, the damper device 50 switches the airflow path to the drying outlet 25 and supplies air into the drum 3.

[0035] Furthermore, the upstream end of the air supply pipe 81 is connected between the damper device 50 of the discharge duct 22 and the air supply fan 30. The downstream end of the air supply pipe 81 is connected by passing through a recess 2d provided in the lower part of the outer tank 2.

[0036] In the bubble generator 80 configured in this way, when the damper device 50 is closed, air pressurized by the blower fan 30 is sent from the discharge duct 22 through the blower pipe 81 and into the detergent water W (wash water) accumulated at the bottom of the outer tub 2 from the discharge nozzle 82. The air in the detergent water becomes bubbles 83 formed by a film of detergent solution and comes into contact with the laundry immersed in the detergent water.

[0037] Furthermore, during the drying process, the damper device 50 opens, and the air discharged from the blower fan 30 passes through the rear duct 22a and the upper duct 22b, and high-temperature, low-humidity air is blown onto the laundry inside the drum 3 from the drying outlet 25.

[0038] By the way, in order to generate bubbles in the detergent solution from the discharge nozzle 82 in the bubble generator 80, a predetermined pressure condition is required. In other words, if the pressure from the discharge nozzle 82 is too weak, bubbles cannot be generated. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the pressure on the air intake side of the blower fan 30 is P0, the pressure on the air discharge side of the blower fan 30 is P1, the air upstream side of the damper device 50 is P2, the pressure inside the drum 3 is P3, and atmospheric pressure is Penv, the damper sealing pressure is made higher than the boosted pressure of the blower fan 30. The boosted pressure of the blower fan 30 is the differential pressure between the pressure on the air intake side and the pressure on the air discharge side of the blower fan 30, and can be expressed as P1-P0. The differential pressure P1-P0 can also be determined from the static pressure generated by the fan at zero airflow in the fan characteristics shown in Figure 9. The damper sealing pressure can be expressed as the pressure (P2-Penv) at which the flap 53a (opening / closing member) of the damper device 50 begins to move, after being increased by the blower fan 30. Here, atmospheric pressure Penv is subtracted from the air upstream pressure P2 of the damper device 50 because the increased pressure (P1-P0) of the blower fan 30 is defined as a differential pressure, and this is done to match the dimensions. Furthermore, the pressure at which the flap 53a begins to move is defined as the inflection point at which P2 begins to decrease even when the rotation speed of the blower fan 30 is increased to increase the pressure, or the pressure at which the end of the flap 53a vibrates due to air leakage and produces abnormal noise, or the pressure at which the flap 53a rotates to an angle (5°) or more that can be visually confirmed, and does not include minute movements of the flap 53a or air leaks that do not interfere with the generation of bubbles from the discharge nozzle 82. This allows the air-upstream pressure P2 of the damper device 50 to be increased, so the pressure boost from the blower fan 30 can be used as power for bubble generation in the drum 3, thereby increasing the number of bubbles.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pressure required to generate bubbles from the discharge nozzle 82 in the bubble generator 80 is to set the pressure increase of the blower fan 30 (P1-P0) higher than the pressure required to generate bubbles. By setting it this high, bubbles can be reliably generated from the discharge nozzle 82. The pressure required to generate bubbles must exceed the sum of the pressure losses, which include the pressure loss in the blower pipe 81, the pressure loss in the discharge nozzle 82, the head difference due to the water level during washing (see Figure 8), the pressure loss due to the sudden contraction of the airflow path (for example, the connection point between the discharge duct 22 and the blower pipe 81, where the cross-section of the airflow path suddenly becomes smaller), and the pressure loss due to the bending of the airflow path. Specifically, this can be determined by measuring the maximum pressure difference (P2-P3) at the start of foaming to generate bubbles.

[0040] Thus, in this embodiment, a blower that can easily generate pressure is preferred, and a centrifugal type was used as the blower fan 30. Furthermore, in order to obtain an even higher pressure difference (pressure boost), a blower fan 30 equipped with the impeller shown in Figures 10 to 12 was used.

[0041] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the impeller of the blower fan, Figure 11 is a plan view of the impeller, and Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in Figure 11. Note that a fan case 31 (see Figure 5) housing the impeller can be of a known shape. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the impeller 32 is composed of a shroud plate 32a, a hub plate 32b, and a plurality of blades 32c that are sandwiched between the shroud plate 32a and the hub plate 32b by crimping.

[0042] The shroud plate 32a is formed from a circular metal plate. The shroud plate 32a has a cylindrical intake opening 32a1 formed in its radial center for drawing in air. The intake opening 32a1 is formed to protrude outward on the opposite side of the hub plate 32b in the axial direction. The shroud plate 32a also has through holes (not shown) formed around the intake opening 32a1 that engage with claws 32c1 formed on each vane 32c.

[0043] The hub plate 32b is formed from a circular metal plate, and has a hole 32b1 in its radial center for fixing a rotation axis (not shown). The hub plate 32b, like the shroud plate 32a, also has through holes (not shown) that engage with claws (not shown) formed on each of the vanes 32c.

[0044] The blade 32c is formed with a curve that recedes in the opposite direction to the rotational direction from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side.

[0045] The blower fan 30 (see Figure 5) equipped with the impeller 32 configured in this way is a centrifugal type and is a high-pressure type blower with higher pressure rise performance than airflow performance. Incidentally, axial flow type fans such as propeller fans have a large airflow but low pressure rise performance. In this embodiment, the impeller 32 rotates at high speed, drawing air in from the intake port (not shown) of the fan case 31 (see Figure 5) in the direction of the rotation axis, and discharging it outwards through the blades 32c between the shroud plate 32a and the hub plate 32b.

[0046] As shown in Figure 12, the diameter R1 (inlet diameter) of the suction opening 32a1 is set to be less than or equal to half the outer diameter R2 of the impeller 32. By using an impeller 32 with a relatively small diameter R1 relative to its outer diameter R2, it becomes easier to increase the pressure.

[0047] The washing machine 100 configured in this way includes an outer tub 2, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed within the outer tub 2, a motor M (drive unit) for driving the drum 3, a blower fan 30 (blower) for sending air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 (duct) for circulating air between the outer tub 2 and the blower fan 30, a drying outlet 25 for discharging drying air into the drum 3, a discharge nozzle 82 (bubble generation unit) for supplying air to the bottom of the outer tub 2 to generate bubbles, and a damper device 50 (airflow switching unit) for switching the airflow path between the drying outlet 25 and the discharge nozzle 82. The sealing pressure of the damper device 50 to the drying outlet 25 is set higher than the boost pressure (P1-P0) of the blower fan 30. This avoids the risk that when the blower fan 30 is driven, the damper device 50 may not be able to withstand the pressure and open, preventing air from being supplied to the discharge nozzle 82, and enabling a stable supply of bubbles into the drum 3.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the pressure boosting (P1-P0) of the blower fan 30 in the washing machine 100 is set higher than the pressure required to create foam. According to this, when the discharge duct 22 is sealed by the flap of the damper device 50, it becomes possible to stably supply bubbles into the drum 3.

[0049] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the sealing pressure at the drying outlet 25 of the damper device 50 is set higher than the boosted pressure (P1-P0) of the blower fan 30, and the boosted pressure (P1-P0) of the blower fan 30 is set higher than the pressure required to generate bubbles. This makes it possible to supply bubbles into the drum 3 more stably.

[0050] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the discharge duct with a damper device installed. As shown in Figure 13, the damper device 50 switches the airflow between the drying outlet 25 (see Figure 5) and the discharge nozzle 82 (see Figure 8). It comprises a flap 53a (opening / closing member) that opens and closes the discharge duct 22, a motor 53b (drive source) that drives the flap 53a, a shaft 53c that transmits the driving force of the motor 53b to the flap 53a, and a biasing member 53d that biases the flap 53a in the closing direction. A rectangular opening 22s is formed through the discharge duct 22. The biasing member 53d is inserted through this opening 22s. Thus, in this embodiment, the flap 53a is located inside the discharge duct 22, while the drive unit, the motor 53b and shaft 53c, are located outside the discharge duct 22.

[0051] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the damper device in the open position. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the damper device in the closed position. In Figures 14 and 15, the joint 52 to which the air supply pipe 81 (see Figure 8) is connected is shown by a dashed line. As shown in Figure 14, the flap 53a is formed in a rectangular shape and is configured to operate with one side 53a1 perpendicular to the upstream airflow direction as a pivot point. The other side 53a2 perpendicular to the downstream airflow direction is configured to move vertically. Inside the discharge duct 22, there is a stepped contact portion 22t that the other side 53a2 of the flap 53a abuts against, and stepped contact portions 22u that the left and right edges of the flap 53a abut against.

[0052] The shaft portion 53c is a cam member that connects the output shaft of the motor 53b to one end of the biasing member 53d, and the biasing member 53d moves eccentrically due to the rotational movement of the motor 53b. The other end of the biasing member 53d is rotatably connected to the back surface (top surface) of the flap 53a. The biasing member 53d is composed of a coil spring 53d1 and a spring case 53d2 that houses the coil spring 53d1. The coil spring 53d1 is housed in a compressed state within the spring case 53d2 and is always biased in the direction of closing the flap 53a.

[0053] When the damper device 50 is open, the flap 53a is rotated counterclockwise by the driving force of the motor 53b, receiving the elastic force of the biasing member 53d, and drying air flows in the direction of the white arrow. At this time, the outer edge of the flap 53a closes the entire opening 22s, preventing the air blown from the blower fan 30 from leaking out of the discharge duct 22 through the opening 22s. Note that the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the joint 52 to which the blower pipe 81 is connected is very small compared to the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge duct 22 during drying operation, so the amount of air flowing into the blower pipe 81 is small, and the amount of air required during drying operation is not impaired.

[0054] As shown in Figure 15, when the damper device 50 is closed, the shaft portion 53c rotates clockwise by the driving force of the motor 53b, causing the flap 53a to close the air passage of the discharge duct 22 to the drying outlet 25 (see Figure 5). That is, the other side 53a2 of the flap 53a contacts the contact portion 22t of the discharge duct 22 from the downstream side. Also, the left and right sides of the flap 53a contact the contact portion 22u of the discharge duct 22 (see Figure 14) from the downstream side. As a result, the entire air passage of the discharge duct 22 is closed without any gaps by the flap 53a.

[0055] At this time, the flap 53a is biased in the closing direction by the biasing member 53d, increasing the force that closes the flap 53a. As a result, the airflow path from the blower fan 30 to the drying outlet 25 is blocked before the flap 53a, and air flows into the blower pipe 81 leading to the discharge nozzle 82. Furthermore, when the flap 53a is open, the force that closes the flap 53a is further increased by the reaction force of the biasing member 53d, so that air leakage into the discharge duct 22 is minimized and air can flow into the blower pipe 81 leading to the discharge nozzle 82. When the flap 53a is closed, the opening 22s communicates with the inside of the housing 1, but since the airflow path of the discharge duct 22 is closed by the flap 53a, no air leaks out from the opening 22s.

[0056] In the washing machine 100 configured in this way, the damper device 50 includes a flap 53a (opening / closing member) that opens and closes the discharge duct 22, a motor 53b (drive source) that drives the flap 53a, and a biasing member 53d that biases the flap 53a in a direction that seals the air passage to the drying discharge port 25 when closing it. The flap 53a seals the discharge duct 22 by the biasing force of the biasing member 53d. By providing the biasing member 53d in this way, it becomes less likely for a gap to form between the discharge duct 22 and the flap 53a. Moreover, it can absorb dimensional errors of each component such as the damper device 50. In addition, the average sealing pressure when sealing the discharge duct 22 increases, and it becomes easier to satisfy the aforementioned pressure relationship equation.

[0057] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the biasing member 53d is a coil spring 52d (spring). This makes it easier to stably press the flap 53a. Note that an elastic material such as rubber may be used instead of a spring.

[0058] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the blower fan 30 is of the centrifugal type (see Figures 10 to 13). This makes it easier to generate pressure, increases the pressure boost in the blower fan 30, and allows for a stable supply of bubbles into the drum 3.

[0059] Furthermore, the washing machine 100 includes a housing 1, an outer tub 2 located inside the housing 1, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed within the outer tub 2, a blower fan 30 (air blower) that blows air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 (duct) through which air blown from the blower fan 30 flows, a drying outlet 25 connected to the discharge duct 22 that blows air into the outer tub 2, a discharge nozzle 82 (bubble generating unit) connected to the discharge duct 22 and provided inside the outer tub 2, and a damper device 50 (air path switching unit) that switches the air path between the drying outlet 25 and the discharge nozzle 82. This damper device 50 is located at the top of the outer tub 2. This makes it possible to avoid malfunction of the damper device 50 due to water adhering to it.

[0060] Furthermore, the washing machine 100 includes a water supply unit 70 (water supply means) that supplies water to the outer tub 2, a water level sensor 71 that detects the water level in the outer tub 2, and a control device 90 (control unit) that controls the water supply from the water supply unit 70 based on the value detected by the water level sensor 71. The damper device 50 (airflow switching unit) is positioned higher than the maximum water level controlled by the control device 90. This ensures that water does not adhere to the damper device 50, thus preventing the damper device 50 from malfunctioning.

[0061] In this embodiment, the damper device 50 is positioned higher than the maximum water level controlled by the control device 90. However, the damper device 50 may also be positioned higher than the central axis of the outer tub 2. Furthermore, in the case of a washing machine equipped with an overflow, the damper device 50 may be positioned higher than the overflow. Such configurations are also included in this embodiment.

[0062] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the damper device 50 includes a flap 53a that opens and closes the discharge duct 22, and a shaft portion 53c that rotatably supports the flap 53a. The flap 53a is located inside the discharge duct 22, and the shaft portion 53c is located outside the discharge duct 22. As a result, since the drive portion (shaft portion 53c) is located outside the discharge duct 22, failure of the damper device 50 can be avoided.

[0063] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the damper device 50 is fixed to the discharge duct 22, and the discharge duct is fixed to the housing 1. This makes it possible to avoid failure of the damper device 50 due to vibration of the outer tub 2.

[0064] Furthermore, the washing machine 100 is equipped with a heat pump unit 40 that generates drying air to be sent into the outer tub 2, with the damper device 50 positioned above the outer tub 2 and the heat pump unit 40 positioned below it. This arrangement improves the installation efficiency of the damper device 50 and the heat pump unit 40, making the washing machine 100 more compact.

[0065] Figure 16 is a perspective view showing the discharge nozzle. As shown in Figure 16, the discharge nozzle 82A (bubble generation section) has a cylindrical body 82a and a discharge port 82b (foaming discharge port) formed through the cylindrical body 82a. The inner wall 82a1 of the cylindrical body 82a is circular in shape when viewed from the axial direction of the cylindrical body 82a. Multiple discharge ports 82b are formed and are arranged in a line from the inlet 81a of the air supply pipe 81 toward the end face 82c of the cylindrical body 82a. These discharge ports 82b are formed to open in the horizontal direction (see dashed line). Also, all discharge ports 82b are at the same height and are formed in the center in the height direction H. Note that the number of discharge ports 82b is not limited to 5, but may be 4 or less, or 6 or more. Also, the diameters of the discharge ports 82b do not all have to be the same, and may be different. Also, the discharge ports 82b are not limited to a circular shape, but may be other shapes such as elongated holes, squares, or triangles.

[0066] Furthermore, a fan-shaped (approximately semi-circular) discharge port 82d is formed on the end face 82c of the cylindrical body 82a. The arc portion of this discharge port 82d is formed to include the lower end of the inner wall 82a1.

[0067] As a result, the air introduced from the air supply pipe 81 into the cylindrical body 82a is discharged horizontally from each discharge port 82b, as indicated by the white arrows. In addition, the air introduced from the air supply pipe 81 into the cylindrical body 82a is discharged horizontally from the fan-shaped discharge port 82d.

[0068] Figure 17 is a perspective view showing a modified discharge nozzle. As shown in Figure 17, the discharge nozzle 82B (bubble generation section) has a discharge port 82e (foaming discharge port) formed by penetrating the cylindrical body 82a. Multiple discharge ports 82e are formed and are arranged in a line at equal intervals from the inlet 81a of the air supply pipe 81 toward the end face 82c of the cylindrical body 82a. These discharge ports 82e are formed adjacent to the lowest surface 82a2 of the cylindrical body 82a. Adjacent to the lowest surface 82a2 means that the lowest surface 82a2 of the cylindrical body 82a and the lowest surface 82e1 of the discharge port 82e coincide in the height direction. In addition, the discharge ports 82e are formed to open in the horizontal direction, similar to the discharge nozzle 82A described above.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in Figure 17, the example described was one in which all five discharge ports 82e are formed adjacent to the lowest surface 82a2 of the cylindrical body 82a. However, it is sufficient if at least one discharge port 82e is adjacent to the lowest surface 82a2 of the cylindrical body 82a.

[0070] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing other variations of the discharge nozzle. As shown in Figure 18, the discharge nozzle 82C (bubble generation section) has the same shape as the discharge nozzle 82A described above, but without the discharge port 82d (foaming discharge port). The discharge nozzle 82C does not have a discharge port (foaming discharge port) formed on the end face 82c facing the inlet 81a. However, a discharge port 82b1 is located near the end face 82c.

[0071] By the way, in the discharge nozzle shown in Figure 18, if only the discharge port 82b closest to the inlet port 81a is provided, the area downstream of the nearest discharge port 82b will become a stagnant area, making it difficult for water to drain even when air is supplied. Therefore, in this embodiment, the discharge port 82b1 is formed on the side opposite the inlet port 81a. Note that the side opposite the inlet port 81a does not necessarily have to be formed on the surface opposite the inlet port 81a; it can be in the vicinity of the opposing surface.

[0072] Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the discharge nozzles. Figure 19 shows the discharge nozzle 82D positioned in the recess 2d of the outer tank 2. As shown in Figure 19, the discharge nozzle 82D (bubble generation section) is composed of a cylindrical body 82f with a circular inner wall cross-section and a discharge port 82g (foaming discharge port) formed through the cylindrical body 82f. The cylindrical body 82f is formed extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (front-to-back direction) of the drum 3. Multiple discharge ports 82b are formed (five in this embodiment) and are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. The discharge ports 82b are also formed to open horizontally and forward. Furthermore, the discharge nozzle 82D is integrally formed by resin molding of the recessed portion 2d. This ensures that the discharge nozzle 82D is stably held inside the outer tank 2.

[0073] Furthermore, the discharge nozzle 82D is positioned on the rear side of the drum 3 (the rear side in the axial direction of the drum 3) and around the lowest point 3s of the drum 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the discharge nozzle 82D is not positioned throughout the entire space constituting the recessed portion 2d, nor is it positioned throughout the entire axial direction of the drum 3. Also, "around the lowest point 3s" means a part of the recessed portion 2d in the left-right direction, including the lowest point 3s.

[0074] Furthermore, the discharge nozzle 82D is connected to a connection part 81b (inlet) formed on the back surface 2e of the outer tank 2. The connection part 81b is connected to the central part in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 82f. This connection part 81b communicates with the air supply pipe 81 (see Figure 8), and air from the air supply pipe 81 is introduced. Note that the discharge ports 82b located at both ends in the direction of alignment (direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction) are located on the side opposite to the connection part 81b (inlet).

[0075] Furthermore, the diameter R10 (discharge port diameter) of the discharge port 82b of the discharge nozzle 82D is greater than or equal to the diameter R20 (dewatering hole diameter) of the through hole 3b of the drum 3. In other words, the discharge port 82b is formed to be the same size as or larger than the through hole 3b. However, if the diameter of the bubbles coming out of the discharge port 82b is too small, the bubbles will hit the flat surface of the drum 3, making it difficult for them to enter the through hole 3b of the drum 3. Also, if the diameter of the bubbles is too small, the probability of hitting a place in the drum 3 where there is no through hole 3b increases, making it difficult for them to escape through the through hole 3b. Conversely, as in this embodiment, if the diameter of the bubbles is large, the bubbles will hit in a way that covers the through hole 3b. To explain further, if bubbles with a diameter much larger than the through hole 3b are generated, the bubbles will cover several of the through holes 3b, making it easier for the bubbles to escape through the through hole 3b. In other words, by creating a bubble that is relatively large, the probability of the bubble passing through hole 3b can be increased.

[0076] The washing machine 100 configured in this way includes an outer tub 2, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed within the outer tub 2, a blower fan 30 (air blower) that blows air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 (duct) through which air blown from the blower fan 30 flows, a drying outlet 25 connected to the discharge duct 22 that blows air into the outer tub 2, and a discharge nozzle 82 (bubble generating part) connected to the discharge duct 22 and provided inside the outer tub 2. The discharge nozzle 82 has discharge ports 82b and 82e (foaming discharge ports) facing horizontally (see Figures 16 and 19). This makes it easier to drain water from the discharge nozzle 82 through the discharge ports 82b and 82e, and eliminates the reduction in washing performance and the generation of unpleasant odors due to dirt accumulation inside the discharge nozzle 82.

[0077] Furthermore, the washing machine 100 is equipped with multiple discharge ports 82e (foaming discharge ports), and at least one of the discharge ports 82e is adjacent to the lowest surface 82a2 of the discharge nozzle 82B (bubble generating section) (see Figure 17). This makes it easier to discharge any remaining water from the discharge nozzle 82.

[0078] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the discharge nozzle 82 has an inlet 81a through which air is introduced, and the discharge ports 82b and 82e are formed on the side opposite to the inlet 81a. As a result, the holes are formed downstream of the air passage, making it less likely for water to remain inside the discharge nozzle 82.

[0079] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the discharge nozzle 82 (bubble generating part) is a cylindrical body with a circular inner wall. This minimizes the surface area of ​​the lowest part of the inner wall, making it easier for water to be discharged from the discharge nozzle 82.

[0080] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram showing the case when using a discharge nozzle as a comparative example, and Figure 21 is a schematic diagram showing the case when using the discharge nozzle of this embodiment. Incidentally, the discharge nozzle 200 shown in Figure 20 (see thick line) is positioned parallel to the outer surface of the drum 3. With such a discharge nozzle 200, the space between the bottom of the drum 3 and the outer tub 2 becomes narrow. When the space between the bottom of the drum 3 and the outer tub 2 becomes narrow in this way, there is less space to hold the air bubbles present on the outside of the drum 3. As a result, when the drum 3 rotates during the dewatering operation, the outer wall surface of the drum 3 and the air bubbles near the outer wall surface of the drum 3 are more likely to come into contact with each other, increasing the risk of excessive foaming.

[0081] Therefore, as shown in Figure 21, the washing machine 100 includes an outer tub 2, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed within the outer tub 2, a blower fan 30 that blows air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 through which air blown from the blower fan 30 flows, a drying outlet 25 connected to the discharge duct 22 that blows air into the outer tub 2, and a discharge nozzle 82D connected to the discharge duct 22 and provided inside the outer tub 2. The discharge nozzle 82D is located at least towards the back of the drum 3 and around the lowest point 3s of the drum 3 (see Figure 19). This makes it possible to make the discharge nozzle 82D small, thus securing a wide space between the bottom of the drum 3 and the outer tub 2 (see Figure 21), making it difficult for air bubbles to come into contact with the drum 3, and suppressing the abnormal generation of air bubbles (avoiding an increased risk of excessive foaming).

[0082] Furthermore, in the case of a washing machine 100 in which the rotation axis of the drum 3 is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side, by positioning the discharge nozzle 82D at the rear of the outer tub 2, some of the air bubbles that could not pass through the through-hole 3b into the drum 3 move along the inclination of the drum 3 due to buoyancy. As a result, air bubbles pass into the drum 3 from the through-hole 3b located further forward (towards the clothes loading opening), allowing foam to be efficiently generated inside the drum 3 without wasting any air bubbles.

[0083] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the diameter (discharge port diameter) R10 of the discharge port 82b of the discharge nozzle 82D is greater than or equal to the diameter (spin-drying port diameter) R20 of the through-hole 3b of the drum 3 (see Figure 19). This increases the probability that bubbles will pass through the through-hole 3b, allowing for efficient generation of foam inside the drum 3.

[0084] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, a connection portion 81b is formed on the back surface 2e of the outer tub 2, which is connected to the discharge nozzle 82D via the discharge duct 22 (see Figure 19). This makes it easier to install the discharge nozzle 82D on the rear (back) side of the outer tub 2.

[0085] Figure 22 is a flowchart showing the washing operation of the washing machine according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 22, in step S10, the control device 90 performs laundry quantity sensing. This laundry quantity sensing is a process of detecting the weight (amount of laundry) of the laundry placed in the washing machine 100. Specifically, the drum 3 is rotated by driving the drum drive motor M, and the weight is calculated based on the rotational speed of the motor M and the motor current value. For example, as the weight of the laundry increases, the load required to rotate the drum 3 increases, and more motor current is needed for the motor M. Therefore, the weight of the laundry can be calculated from the motor current and rotational speed of the motor M.

[0086] In step S20, the control device 90 executes the first water supply process (first water supply). Specifically, the control device 90 opens the water supply solenoid valve (not shown) of the water supply unit 70 to start supplying water to the outer tub 2, raising the water level in the outer tub 2, and drives the motor M to rotate the drum 3 in forward and reverse directions at a predetermined rotational speed to change the laundry. The control device 90 also controls the circulation pump 11 to a predetermined rotational speed and sprays the detergent solution sucked from the outer tub 2 in a shower-like manner from the discharge port (not shown) located at the top of the outer tub 2, allowing the detergent solution to soak into the clothes. When the control device 90 determines that the predetermined water level has been reached by the water level sensor 71, it closes the water supply solenoid valve of the water supply unit 70 and stops the water supply. Thus, in the first water supply process, the clothes do not absorb water immediately upon contact with the water after the water supply begins; there is a certain time lag before they absorb the water.

[0087] In step S30, the control device 90 executes a high-concentration washing process. Specifically, the control device 90 controls the motor M to rotate the drum 3 in forward and reverse directions at a predetermined rotational speed to change the clothes. The control device 90 also controls the circulation pump 11 to a predetermined rotational speed and sprays the detergent solution sucked from the outer tank 2 in a shower-like manner from a discharge port (not shown) located at the top of the outer tank 2, allowing the detergent solution to soak into the clothes. The control device 90 then executes the high-concentration washing process until a predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, the high-concentration washing process is also a process that waits for the water to soak into the clothes (a process that compensates for the time difference until water absorption).

[0088] In step S40, the control device 90 executes the second water supply step (second water supply). That is, the control device 90 opens the water supply solenoid valve (not shown) of the water supply unit 70 and starts supplying water to the outer tank 2. Then, when the control device 90 determines that the predetermined water level has been reached by the water level sensor 71, it closes the water supply solenoid valve of the water supply unit 70 and stops the water supply. In this second water supply step, the water level may have dropped depending on the condition of the clothes. In this way, by executing the second water supply step, it is confirmed whether the water level has been reached in the first water supply step, and if it has not been reached, water is supplied up to the desired water level. Note that in the second water supply step, water may be supplied while the drum 3 is rotating.

[0089] In step S50, the control device 90 executes the foam washing process. Specifically, the control device 90 controls the damper device 50 to operate the flap 53a, thereby closing (or reducing) the opening area of ​​the discharge duct 22 toward the drying outlet 25. The control device 90 then controls the blower fan 30 to start blowing air into the outer tub 2. At this time, since the opening area of ​​the discharge duct 22 toward the drying outlet 25 is narrowed by the flap 53a of the damper device 50, air is blown into the flow path (blower pipe 81) toward the outlets 82b and 82e at high pressure. As a result, the detergent solution in the outer tub 2 forms foam (bubbles) due to the air blown by the blower fan 30. In addition, the drum 3 is rotated in forward and reverse directions to wash the clothes while adhering foam to the surface.

[0090] In this way, generating bubbles (foam) on the laundry inside drum 3 enhances the cleaning power. This is because the detergent concentration is high at the interface (plateau boundary) where the bubbles are in close contact, and when the bubbles burst, a high concentration of detergent solution is delivered to the laundry. At the same time, the impact when the bubbles burst creates mechanical force on the laundry, further enhancing the cleaning effect. In addition, the lubricating effect of the bubbles can suppress damage to the fabric caused by friction between clothes.

[0091] In step S60, the control device 90 executes the rinsing process. Specifically, the control device 90 opens the drain valve 12 to drain the water from the outer tub 2, and when the water level in the outer tub 2 is detected by the water level sensor 71 to fall below a predetermined level, it rotates the drum 3 at high speed while keeping the drain valve 12 open to dewater the clothes. When the control device 90 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed, it ends the dewatering, closes the drain valve 12, and opens the water supply solenoid valve of the water supply unit 70 to supply water to the outer tub 2. When the control device 90 detects that the water has been supplied to a predetermined level by the water level sensor 71, it stops the water supply, controls the motor M to rotate the drum 3 in forward and reverse directions, and performs rinsing while changing the clothes.

[0092] In step S70, the control device 90 executes a dewatering process. Specifically, the control device 90 opens the drain valve 12 to drain the water from the outer tub 2, and when the water level in the outer tub 2 is detected by the water level sensor 71 to fall below a predetermined level, the control device 90 rotates the drum 3 at high speed while keeping the drain valve 12 open to dewater the laundry contained in the clothes. Then, when the control device 90 determines that a predetermined time has elapsed, it terminates the dewatering process.

[0093] The washing machine 100 configured in this way includes an outer tub 2, a rotatable drum 3 enclosed within the outer tub 2, a water supply unit 70 (water supply means) for supplying water into the outer tub 2, a blower fan 30 (blower) for blowing air into the drum 3, a discharge duct 22 through which air blown from the blower fan 30 flows, a drying outlet 25 connected to the discharge duct 22 for blowing air into the outer tub 2, a discharge nozzle 82 connected to the discharge duct 22 and provided inside the outer tub 2, a damper device 50 (air volume adjustment unit) for controlling the amount of air supplied to the drying outlet 25, and a control device 90 (control unit) for controlling the water supply unit 70 and the damper device 50. The washing machine has a first water supply step (step S20) and a second water supply step (step S40) for supplying water to the outer tub 2 by the water supply unit 70. The control device 90 performs a second water supply process after the first water supply process, and then performs a foam washing process (step S50) after the second water supply process (generating bubbles from the discharge nozzle 82). This allows foaming to occur when the clothes are sufficiently saturated with water (when there is a sufficient water level), creating conditions that make it easier to efficiently remove dirt from the clothes. As a result, the washing effect by foaming can be enhanced.

[0094] Furthermore, in the washing machine 100, the control device 90 switches the damper device 50 (airflow switching section) after the second water supply process (step S40). This allows foam to be generated when the clothes are sufficiently saturated with water, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect through foaming. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 cabinet 2 Outer tank 2a Outer tank body 2b Tank cover 3 Drums 3b Through hole 3s lowest point 21 Intake duct 22 Discharge duct (duct) 22a Rear duct 22b Upper duct 22s aperture 25 Drying outlet 30. Blower fan (air blower) 32 Impellers 40 Heat pump units 50 Damper device (airflow switching section) 53a Flap (opening / closing member) 53b Motor (drive source) 53c Shaft 53d Biasing member 53d1 Coil spring (spring) 70 Water supply unit (water supply means) 71 Water level sensor 80 Bubble Generator 81 Air pipe 81a Inlet 81b Connection section 82, 82A, 82B, 82C, 82D Discharge nozzle (bubble generation part) 82a cylinder 82a1 inner wall 82a2 Bottom surface 82b, 82e Discharge port (discharge port for foaming) 90 Control device (control unit) 100 Washing Machines M Motor (drive unit) R1 Bore diameter (suction port diameter) R2 outer diameter R10 diameter (discharge port diameter) R20 pore diameter (dehydration pore diameter) S20 Water supply process 1 (first water supply process) S40 Water supply process 2 (second water supply process) S50 Foaming cleaning process (generating bubbles from the bubble generation unit)

Claims

1. Outer tank and The outer tank includes a rotatable drum, A drive unit for driving the drum, A blower that sends air into the drum, A duct that connects the outer tank and the blower in a way that allows air to circulate between them, The drum contains a drying outlet for discharging drying air, A bubble generating unit is provided at the bottom of the outer tank to supply air and generate bubbles, The system includes an airflow switching unit that switches the airflow between the drying outlet and the bubble generating unit, The bubble generating unit has a discharge nozzle, The discharge nozzle is positioned around the lowest point of the drum within the outer tank and has a plurality of discharge ports that open horizontally. A washing machine characterized in that the diameter of the discharge port is greater than or equal to the diameter of the through hole in the drum.

2. In the washing machine according to Claim 1, A washing machine characterized in that the sealing pressure at the drying outlet of the airflow switching section is higher than the pressure increase of the blower.

3. In the washing machine according to Claim 1, The washing machine is characterized in that the pressure increase of the blower is higher than the pressure required to generate bubbles.

4. In a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The airflow switching unit comprises an opening / closing member for opening and closing the duct, a drive source for driving the opening / closing member, and a biasing member that biases the airflow to the drying outlet in a closing direction when the opening / closing member is closed. The washing machine is characterized in that the opening and closing member seals the duct by the biasing force of the biasing member.

5. In the washing machine according to claim 4, The washing machine is characterized in that the biasing member is a spring.

6. In the washing machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, The aforementioned blower is a centrifugal type washing machine.

7. In the washing machine according to claim 6, The blower is characterized in that the intake diameter of the impeller is half or less of the outer diameter of the impeller.

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