washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine comprises a washing tank, a stirring member and a brush unit. The washing tank is for placing laundry. The stirring member is arranged at the bottom of the washing tank and rotates. The brush unit is arranged inside the washing tank and has a plurality of brush parts arranged along the rotation direction of the stirring member. Each of the plurality of brush parts has a plurality of bristle bundles. The brush parts include a long brush part and a short brush part, and the length of the plurality of bristle bundles of the short brush part is shorter than that of the long brush part.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] For example, an example of a shoe washing machine (washing machine) is described in the Utility Model Publication No. 61-190978. The shoe washing machine described in the Utility Model Publication No. 61-190978 includes a shoe rack and a brush. The shoe rack is fixed to a rotating shaft located in the center of a washing tank. The brush is fixed to a brush holder located radially outside the shoe rack. The brush is fixed in such a way that the front end side of the bristles faces the side of the shoe fixed to the shoe rack. When washing shoes, the brush fixed to the brush holder is restrained from rotating, and the shoe rack fixed to the rotating shaft is rotated. As a result, the brush and the shoes are repeatedly in contact, and the shoes are washed by the brush. Summary of the invention

[0003] Technical Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desirable to suppress uneven washing of laundry in a washing machine.

[0005] A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine capable of suppressing uneven washing of laundry.

[0006] Solutions to the problem

[0007] A washing machine comprises a washing tank, a stirring member and a brush unit. The washing tank is for placing laundry. The stirring member is arranged at the bottom of the washing tank and rotates. The brush unit comprises a plurality of brush parts arranged inside the washing tank and arranged along the rotation direction of the stirring member. Each of the plurality of brush parts comprises a plurality of bristle bundles. The brush parts comprise a long brush part and a short brush part, and the length of the plurality of bristle bundles of the short brush part is shorter than that of the long brush part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is an external perspective view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the above-mentioned washing machine.

[0010] Figure 3 It is a schematic top view of the washing tub of the above-mentioned washing machine.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the brush unit of the above-mentioned washing machine.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the short brush module in the above-mentioned brush unit.

[0013] Figure 6 A is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a plurality of bristle bundles of the short brush module in the above-mentioned brush unit. Figure 6 B is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a plurality of bristle bundles in the brush module in the above-mentioned brush unit. Figure 6 C is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of a plurality of bristle bundles of the long brush module in the above-mentioned brush unit.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a schematic configuration diagram of a brush unit according to a first modification example of the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a schematic configuration diagram of a brush unit according to a second modified example of the first embodiment.

[0016] Fig. 9 This is a schematic configuration diagram of another brush unit according to the second modification example of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an example of a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention will be described. However, the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to any of the following embodiments.

[0018] (First Embodiment)

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view of the washing machine 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washing machine 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 It is a schematic plan view showing the main part of the washing tank 12 of the first embodiment. In addition, in each figure, the brush unit 6 is schematically described, and there are cases where it is different from the actual shape.

[0020] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The washing machine 1 shown is suitable for washing laundry 70 containing solid parts (see Figure 4 , 5 As the laundry 70 including a solid part, for example, shoes, slippers, sandals and other footwear can be cited. The washing machine 1 is not particularly limited as long as the laundry 70 can be washed, but it is preferred that the laundry 70 can be washed and dehydrated. That is, the washing machine 1 is preferably a washing and dehydrating machine.

[0021] (Schematic Structure of Washing Machine 1)

[0022] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The schematic structure of washing machine 1 will be described.

[0023] like Figure 1As shown, the washing machine 1 includes an outer box 10 , an upper part 20 , an upper cover 30 and a base 40 .

[0024] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer box 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with openings at the top and the bottom. The upper member 20 is connected to the upper opening of the outer box 10 . On the other hand, the base 40 is connected to the lower opening of the outer box 10 .

[0025] The upper member 20 is provided with an opening 21 for taking out and putting in laundry 70. The opening 21 can be opened and closed by an upper cover 30 rotatably mounted on the upper member 20.

[0026] The outer box 10 includes a water tank 11. The water tank 11 is a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape with an upper opening. The opening of the water tank 11 is connected to the opening 21. A drain for draining water from the water tank 11 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 11.

[0027] A washing tank 12 is arranged in the water tank 11. The washing tank 12 is also in the shape of a cylinder with a bottom and an opening at the top, similar to the water tank 11. The washing tank 12 and the water tank 11 are arranged so that their rotation axes coincide with each other. The washing tank 12 can rotate relative to the water tank 11. A dehydration portion is formed at the bottom of the washing tank 12, and a plurality of drainage holes are formed at the uppermost portion of the peripheral wall of the washing tank 12, and no drainage holes are formed in other portions of the peripheral wall of the washing tank 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. In the present invention, a plurality of drainage holes for drainage during dehydration may also be formed over substantially the entire area of ​​the peripheral wall of the washing tank 12.

[0028] A stirring member 13 is disposed at the bottom of the washing tub 12. The stirring member 13 is a member for stirring the water in the washing tub 12. The stirring member 13 is rotatable relative to the washing tub 12. The rotation axis of the stirring member 13 coincides with the rotation axis of the washing tub 12. The stirring member 13 is connected to a driving mechanism 50. The driving mechanism 50 is disposed below the washing tub 12. The stirring member 13 is rotationally driven by the driving mechanism 50.

[0029] In addition, the driving mechanism 50 drives the washing tub 12 to rotate. A clutch 51 is provided between the driving mechanism 50, the washing tub 12 and the stirring member 13. Through the clutch 51, the state in which the power of the driving mechanism 50 is transmitted to the washing tub 12 and the stirring member 13 and the state in which the power is transmitted only to the stirring member 13 are switched. In a state in which only the stirring member 13 and the driving mechanism 50 are connected through the clutch 51, the washing tub 12 can rotate relative to the water tub 11 and the stirring member 13 in two directions, the forward direction and the reverse direction. However, in the present invention, it is also possible that in a state in which only the stirring member 13 and the driving mechanism 50 are connected through the clutch 51, the washing tub 12 cannot rotate relative to the water tub 11.

[0030] A plurality of brackets are arranged in the washing tank 12. The bracket is a component for fixing the laundry 70. In the present embodiment, the plurality of brackets are rotatably arranged on the washing tank 12. Specifically, the plurality of brackets are arranged on the stirring member 13. Therefore, the plurality of brackets rotate together with the stirring member 13.

[0031] The plurality of brackets are provided at equal intervals around the rotation axis A1 of the agitator 13. The number of brackets of the agitator 13 is not particularly limited. The agitator 13 preferably has 2 to 10 brackets, and more preferably has 4 to 6 brackets, for example.

[0032] The stand portion can be constituted by, for example, a rod-shaped body or a plate-shaped body extending upward from the agitator 13. In this case, for example, the rod-shaped body or the plate-shaped body constituting the stand portion can be inserted into the laundry 70 such as shoes to fix the laundry 70.

[0033] In the present invention, “fixed” includes not only a meaning that the fixed object cannot be displaced at all relative to the fixed object, but also a meaning that the displacement of the fixed object relative to the fixed object is restricted.

[0034] (Brush unit 6)

[0035] Reference Figure 2 to Figure 6 The brush unit 6 will be described in detail.

[0036] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a brush unit 6 is provided inside the washing tank 12. The brush unit 6 has a fixing portion 61 and a plurality of brush modules 62, and is provided on the inner peripheral surface 12a of the washing tank 12. Each of the plurality of brush modules 62 has a root portion 63 and a brush portion 64 provided at the root portion 63. The brush portion 64 is composed of a plurality of bristle bundles 65 (see Figure 6 A~ Figure 6 C) composition.

[0037] The fixing portion 61 is a fixing component that fixes the plurality of brush modules 62 to the washing tank 12. The fixing portion 61 is, for example, a resin molded product. The fixing portion 61 is mounted on the inner circumferential surface 12a of the washing tank 12 using, for example, screws. The fixing portion 61 has a holding mechanism that holds each brush module 62. The holding mechanism is, for example, a groove that positions and holds the root 63 of each brush module 62. In addition, the holding mechanism may also include a claw that hooks the root 63 and a screw that fixes the root 63 to the fixing portion 61, so as to prevent the brush module 62 from falling off the fixing portion 61.

[0038] The plurality of brush modules 62 are mounted on the fixing portion 61 in an array along the rotation direction D1 of the agitator 13. Each brush module 62 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface 12a of the washing tub 12 via the fixing portion 61. In the present embodiment, the brush unit 6 includes a first brush module 621, a second brush module 622, a third brush module 623, a fourth brush module 624, and a fifth brush module 625 as the plurality of brush modules 62. The plurality of brush modules 62 are arranged from one side (at the center) of the rotation direction D1 of the agitator 13. Figure 3 A first brush module 621, a second brush module 622, a third brush module 623, a fourth brush module 624 and a fifth brush module 625 are sequentially arranged.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, each brush module 62 has a root portion 63 and a brush portion 64 .

[0040] The root portion 63 is, for example, a resin molded product. The root portion 63 is formed so as to extend along the rotation axis A1 (see Figure 4 ) direction (rotation axis direction D2) is set to a rectangular plate with a long side direction (refer to Figure 5 ). The root portion 63 is fixed to the fixing portion 61. The root portion 63 is provided with a brush portion 64 so as to protrude from the surface of the agitating member 13 on the rotation axis A1 side.

[0041] like Figure 6 A~ Figure 6 As shown in C, the brush portion 64 is composed of a plurality of hair bundles 65. The hair bundles 65 are composed of a plurality of bundled hairs. The hair is an elastic, elongated linear component, for example, made of resin, silicon, metal, biological hair, etc. The plurality of hair bundles 65 are planted on the root portion 63. Each hair bundle 65 is retained on the root portion 63, for example, in a manner of protruding from a circular hole formed in the root portion 63. The plurality of hair bundles 65 are arranged in a matrix in a manner of being arranged along a column direction and a row direction orthogonal to the column direction, and the column direction is a direction along the rotation axis direction D2 of the stirring member 13. The configuration of the plurality of hair bundles 65 will be described later.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the brush portion 64 of the third brush module 623 is formed with a plurality of hair bundles 65 protruding toward the rotation axis A1 of the agitator 13. The brush portions 64 of the other first, second, fourth, and fifth brush modules 621, 622, 624, and 625 are formed with a plurality of hair bundles 65 that are substantially parallel to the plurality of hair bundles 65 of the brush portion 64 of the third brush module 623.

[0043] In each of the multiple brush modules 62 (except the third brush module 623 in the present embodiment), the length dimension of the multiple hair bundles 65 is the same. The "length dimension of the hair bundle 65" in the present disclosure refers to the representative value (for example, average value, median value, maximum value, etc.) of the length of the multiple hairs that constitute the hair bundle 65 (the dimension protruding from the root 63). That is, the length dimensions of the multiple hair bundles 65 in a brush section 64 are the same. Here, "the same length dimension" is not limited to the case of strictly the same value, but also includes the case where the value is different within the error range. In the following description, the representative value (for example, average value, median value, maximum value, etc.) of the length dimension of the multiple hair bundles 65 in a brush module 62 is also referred to as the brush size.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the brush sizes (lengths of the plurality of bristle bundles 65) of the plurality of brush modules 62 are different from each other. The plurality of brush modules 62 are divided into a long brush module 62L, a short brush module 62S, and a medium brush module 62M according to the size of the brush. The long brush module 62L has a long brush portion 64L as the brush portion 64, and has the largest brush size among the plurality of brush modules 62. The short brush module 62S has a short brush portion 64S as the brush portion 64, and has the smallest brush size among the plurality of brush modules 62. The medium brush module 62M has a medium brush portion 64M as the brush portion 64, and has a brush size that is smaller than the size of the long brush module 62L and larger than the size of the short brush module 62S. That is, when the brush size of the long brush portion 64L is L1, the brush size of the middle brush portion 64M is L2, and the brush size of the short brush portion 64S is L3, the relationship among the brush sizes L1 to L3 is L1>L2>L3.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the first brush module 621 and the fifth brush module 625 are long brush modules 62L, the second brush module 622 and the fourth brush module 624 are medium brush modules 62M, and the third brush module 623 is a short brush module 62S. That is, the long brush module 62L is located on the end side (outside) of the rotation direction D1 of the stirring member 13 among the multiple brush modules 62. The short brush module 62S is located on the middle side (inside) of the rotation direction D1 of the stirring member 13 among the multiple brush modules 62, in other words, between the two long brush modules 62L. The medium brush module 62M is located between the long brush module 62L and the short brush module 62S among the multiple brush modules 62. That is, the multiple brush modules 62 are configured such that the brush size decreases from the end side to the middle side in the rotation direction D1 of the stirring member 13.

[0046] In addition, if Figure 5As shown, in this embodiment, the short brush module 62S (third brush module 623) is configured such that the lengths of the plurality of hair bundles 65 of the short brush portion 64S (brush portion 64) are different in the rotation axis direction D2 of the stirring member 13. In this embodiment, the short brush portion 64S is configured such that the lengths of the plurality of hair bundles 65 increase as they move away from the bottom 121 of the washing tank 12 (see Figure 2 That is, among the plurality of bristle bundles 65 of the short brush portion 64S, the bristle bundle 65 closest to the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12 has the shortest length, and the bristle bundle 65 farthest from the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12 has the longest length. In the present embodiment, the short brush portion 64S is configured such that the length of the bristle bundle 65 gradually becomes longer as it moves away from the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12. In addition, the short brush portion 64S may also be configured such that the length of the bristle bundle 65 gradually becomes longer as it moves away from the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12.

[0047] In addition, if Figure 6 A~ Figure 6 As shown in C, in the present embodiment, the long brush module 62L, the short brush module 62S and the middle brush module 62M are configured such that the densities of the multiple hair bundles 65 possessed by the brush portion 64 are different from each other. In the present disclosure, "the density of the multiple hair bundles 65" refers to the number of hair bundles 65 (hair) per unit area. In the present embodiment, in the long brush module 62L, the short brush module 62S and the middle brush module 62M, although the size of the root 63 is the same, the number of the multiple hair bundles 65 provided on the root 63 is different. Among the multiple brush modules 62, the density of the multiple hair bundles 65 of the long brush module 62L is the smallest. Among the multiple brush modules 62, the density of the multiple hair bundles 65 of the short brush module 62S is the largest. Among the multiple brush modules 62, the density of the multiple hair bundles 65 of the middle brush module 62M is greater than the density of the long brush module 62L and less than the density of the short brush module 62S.

[0048] Specifically, if Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1A , the short brush section 64S of the short brush module 62S is configured so that all of the multiple hair bundles 65 arranged in the column direction (rotation axis direction D2) are adjacent to the hair bundles 65 in the adjacent column. In other words, in the short brush section 64S, each of the multiple hair bundles 65 is continuously arranged in the column direction and the row direction orthogonal to the column direction to be adjacent to at least one hair bundle 65.

[0049] like Figure 6As shown in FIG. 1B , the number of hair bundles 65 in the middle brush portion 64M of the middle brush module 62M is half the number of hair bundles 65 in the short brush portion 64S. The middle brush portion 64M is configured so that the positions of the hair bundles 65 in the row direction are different in two adjacent columns of the hair bundles 65. In other words, each of the hair bundles 65 of the middle brush portion 64M is spaced apart in the column direction and the row direction so as not to be adjacent to the hair bundles 65.

[0050] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 3 , in the long brush portion 64L of the long brush module 62L, the number of bristle bundles 65 is half the number of bristle bundles 65 of the medium brush portion 64M, in other words, one quarter the number of bristle bundles 65 of the short brush portion 64S. In the long brush portion 64L, the number of columns of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 is half the number of columns of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 of the medium brush portion 64M, and each of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 is spaced apart in the column direction and the row direction so as not to be adjacent to the bristle bundles 65.

[0051] The short brush portion 64S of the short brush module 62S is configured to have a higher rigidity (bending rigidity) than the long brush portion 64L of the long brush module 62L. That is, the short brush portion 64S is configured to be less likely to deform (harder to bend) than the long brush portion 64L.

[0052] As described above, the brush size of the short brush portion 64S is shorter than that of the long brush portion 64L. Furthermore, the density of the plurality of hair bundles 65 in the short brush portion 64S is greater than that of the long brush portion 64L. Thus, the short brush portion 64S becomes more rigid than the long brush portion 64L. In addition, the rigidity of the hairs constituting the hair bundles 65 in the short brush portion 64S and the long brush portion 64L may be different from each other. For example, the hairs of the hair bundles 65 constituting the short brush portion 64S may be thicker than the hairs of the hair bundles 65 constituting the long brush portion 64L. Thus, the short brush portion 64S becomes more rigid than the long brush portion 64L. In addition, the materials of the hairs constituting the hair bundles 65 in the short brush portion 64S and the long brush portion 64L may be different. For example, the hairs of the hair bundles 65 constituting the short brush portion 64S may be made of a material that is harder (more rigid) than the hairs of the hair bundles 65 constituting the long brush portion 64L. Thereby, the short brush portion 64S becomes more rigid than the long brush portion 64L.

[0053] (General Description of Operation of Washing Machine 1)

[0054] Next, an outline of the operation of washing machine 1 will be described.

[0055] (Washing of laundry 70)

[0056] The washing of the washing object 70 such as shoes is performed in a state where detergent and water are accumulated in the washing tank 12. During the washing of the washing object 70, only the stirring member 13 of the washing tank 12 is driven to rotate by the driving mechanism 50. Thus, the brush 6 rotates relative to the washing object 70 fixed on the bracket portion provided on the stirring member 13. As a result, the brush 6 contacts the washing object 70 and washes the washing object 70. In addition, when washing the washing object 70, as long as the washing tank 12 and the bracket portion can rotate relative to each other, the washing tank 12 can be set to be non-rotatable relative to the water tank 11, or it can be set to be rotatable relative to the water tank 11.

[0057] In the present embodiment, the brush unit 6 includes two long brush modules 62L (first and fifth brush modules 621 and 625), two medium brush modules 62M (second and fourth brush modules 622 and 624), and one short brush module 62S (third brush module 623) as a plurality of brush modules 62. The long brush portion 64L of the long brush module 62L, the medium brush portion 64M of the medium brush module 62M, and the short brush portion 64S of the short brush module 62S have different brush sizes. Thus, the positions at which the long brush module 62L, the medium brush module 62M, and the short brush module 62S contact the object 70 to be washed are different from each other.

[0058] Here, shoes (hereinafter also referred to as shoes 70) are set as an example of the laundry 70. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the shoe 70 is fixed to a bracket provided on the stirring member 13 in such a manner that the sole 71 faces the inner side (rotation axis A1 side) of the washing tub 12. Figure 4 As shown, the brush unit 6 comes into contact with the upper portion 72 and the side portion 73 of the shoe 70 .

[0059] Specifically, the brush size L1 of the long brush portion 64L is set to a size that the front end of the long brush portion 64L contacts the side portion 73 of the shoe 70. The brush size L3 of the short brush portion 64S is formed to a size that the front end of the short brush portion 64S contacts the vamp portion 72 of the shoe 70. The brush size L2 of the middle brush portion 64M is set to a size that the front end of the middle brush portion 64M contacts the portion between the vamp portion 72 and the side portion 73 of the shoe 70. Thus, the front end of each brush portion 64 contacts the portion of the shoe 70 corresponding to the brush size (the vamp portion 72, the side portion 73, etc.) with the shoe 70 as the center, thereby washing the shoe. That is, the washing machine 1 of this embodiment can suppress uneven cleaning of the three-dimensional shaped laundry 70 (shoe 70) by having a plurality of brush portions 64 with different brush sizes.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, if Figure 3 , Figure 4As shown, a long brush portion 64L, a middle brush portion 64M, a short brush portion 64S, a middle brush portion 64M, and a long brush portion 64L are sequentially arranged from one side of the rotation direction D1. Therefore, even when the object 70 to be washed rotates in any direction of forward rotation and reverse rotation with the rotation axis A1 as the center, the object 70 to be washed contacts the long brush portion 64L, the middle brush portion 64M, and the short brush portion 64S in descending order of brush size. Therefore, since the long brush portion 64 is supported by the adjacent middle brush portion 64M whose brush size is smaller than that of the long brush portion 64L, the object 70 to be washed that moves with the rotation can be restrained from bending toward the middle brush portion 64M side. Similarly, since the middle brush portion 64M is supported by the adjacent short brush portion 64S whose brush size is smaller than that of the middle brush portion 64M, the object 70 to be washed that moves with the rotation can be restrained from bending toward the short brush portion 64S side. Thus, the front ends of the middle brush portion 64M and the short brush portion 64S that come into contact with the laundry 70 after the long brush portion 64L are easily brought into contact with the laundry 70. Therefore, uneven cleaning of the laundry 70 can be suppressed.

[0061] In addition, in the present embodiment, the short brush portion 64S, the middle brush portion 64M, and the long brush portion 64L are configured in the order of high rigidity. That is, among the plurality of brush portions 64, the long brush portion 64L that first contacts the object 70 to be washed has the lowest rigidity. Thus, the impact of the collision between the brush unit 6 and the object 70 to be washed can be mitigated by the long brush portion 64L, and the load applied to the brush unit 6 and the object 70 to be washed can be reduced.

[0062] In addition, when the object 70 to be washed is a shoe 70, the brush size of the long brush portion 64L is set to a size that allows the front end portion to contact the side portion 73 of the shoe 70. The side portion 73 of the shoe 70, especially the portion of the side portion 73 close to the sole 71, may become dirty due to the attachment of solid objects such as sand, soil, and mud to the surface of the shoe 70. Even when the force of contact with the brush portion 64 is relatively small, these solid objects can be easily removed. Therefore, even when the long brush portion 64L is less rigid than the short brush portion 64S, the dirt on the side of the shoe 70 can be removed, and uneven cleaning can be suppressed.

[0063] In addition, the short brush portion 64S has a greater density and higher rigidity of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 than the long brush portion 64L. Thus, the contact force between the front end of the short brush portion 64S and the vamp portion 72 of the shoe 70 can be increased, and the cleaning performance can be improved. For example, even if the vamp portion 72 of the shoe 70 is made of cloth and is stained with dirt, the vamp portion 72 can be effectively cleaned and uneven cleaning can be suppressed.

[0064] In addition, in this embodiment, if Figure 5As shown, the shoe 70 is fixed in a manner such that the toe portion 74 faces the opposite side of the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12 (the side of the opening 21). Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the upper portion 72 of the shoe 70 is inclined away from the sole 71 as it moves from the toe portion 74 toward the heel portion 75. Figure 5 As shown, the plurality of bristles 65 of the short brush portion 64S are configured so that the length dimension becomes longer as the distance from the bottom 121 of the washing tub 12 increases. That is, the front end of the short brush portion 64S is inclined in a manner along the inclination of the vamp portion 72 of the shoe 70. Thus, since the front end of the short brush portion 64S can efficiently contact the inclined vamp portion 72, the vamp portion 72 can be cleaned efficiently and uneven cleaning can be suppressed.

[0065] When washing laundry 70 , washing tub 12 and the stand portion may rotate relative to each other, and washing tub 12 may be non-rotatable or rotatable relative to water tub 11 .

[0066] (Dehydration of laundry 70)

[0067] After washing the laundry 70, the laundry 70 may be optionally dehydrated. Specifically, when washing of the laundry 70 is completed, detergent and water are discharged from the washing tub 12 via the dehydration portion and the drain hole provided in the washing tub 12. Then, the stirring member 13 and the washing tub 12 are integrally driven to rotate by the driving mechanism. As a result, centrifugal force acts on the laundry 70 fixed to the bracket portion provided in the stirring member 13, thereby dehydrating the laundry 70.

[0068] Furthermore, for example, when the laundry object 70 is a shoe 70, it is preferable to fix the shoe 70 to the bracket portion in a manner that the opening of the shoe 70 faces radially outward. In this way, water in the shoe 70 can be effectively discharged to the outside.

[0069] (Variation Example)

[0070] The following describes a modified example of the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment. The modified example described below can be applied to a suitable combination with the above embodiment or other modified examples. In addition, in the following description, the same reference numerals are attached to the same configuration as the above embodiment, and the description is appropriately omitted.

[0071] (First Modification)

[0072] In the above example, the plurality of brush portions 64 are arranged in parallel with each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Figure 7 As shown, the plurality of brush portions 64 may also be configured in at least two non-parallel arrangements.

[0073] In the brush unit 6 of this modified example, the two long brush parts 64L and the two middle brush parts 64M are configured in a manner not parallel to the short brush part 64S. The long brush part 64L is configured to face outwards as it moves away from the short brush part 64S from the base end toward the front end. The middle brush part 64M is configured to face inwards as it moves closer to the short brush part 64S from the base end toward the front end.

[0074] In this modification, the long brush portion 64L is configured to face outward, so that the front end faces the object 70 approaching the brush unit 6. Thus, the front end of the long brush portion 64L is easily brought into contact with the object 70, and the cleaning power can be improved.

[0075] In addition, the long brush portion 64L is configured to face outward away from the middle brush portion 64M and the short brush portion 64S, so that even if the long brush portion 64L bends inward along with the object to be washed 70, the long brush portion 64L can be prevented from obstructing the contact between the front ends of the middle brush portion 64M and the short brush portion 64S and the object to be washed 70.

[0076] (Second Modification)

[0077] In the above example, the plurality of brushes 64 include three types of brushes 64 (long brush 64L, middle brush 64M, and short brush 64S) of different sizes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The brush unit 6 may include at least two types of brushes 64 of different sizes.

[0078] For example, Figure 8 As shown, the brush unit 6 may include two long brush portions 64L and three short brush portions 64S as the plurality of brush portions 64. The three short brush portions 64S are disposed between the two long brush portions 64L in the rotation direction D1. The two short brush portions 64L are configured to face outward away from the short brush portions 64S.

[0079] In the present modification, by increasing the number of the short brush portions 64S, the vamp portion 72 of the shoe 70 on which dirt is easily accumulated can be cleaned efficiently.

[0080] In addition, if Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , the brush unit 6 may include five brush portions 64 having different brush sizes. Fig. 9In the example shown, the brush unit 6 has a long brush module 62L, a short brush module 62S and three first to third medium brush modules 62M1 to 62M3. The first to third medium brush modules 62M1 to 62M3 respectively have first to third medium brush parts 64M1 to 64M3. The brush sizes of the first to third medium brush parts 64M1 to 64M3 are different from each other. Among the first to third medium brush parts 64M1 to 64M3, the brush size of the first medium brush part 64M1 is the shortest, and the brush size of the third medium brush part 64M3 is the longest.

[0081] The first to third middle brush sections 64M1 to 64M3 are arranged between the short brush section 64S and the long brush section 64L in the rotation direction D1. From the short brush section 64S side, the first middle brush section 64M1, the second middle brush section 64M2 and the third middle brush section 64M3 are arranged in order. Fig. 9 In the illustrated example, the plurality of brush portions 64 are arranged such that the brush size becomes longer (or shorter) from one direction toward the other direction in the rotation direction D1.

[0082] (Other Modifications)

[0083] Other modified examples of the brush unit 6 are listed below.

[0084] Although in the above example, the plurality of brush parts 64 are arranged in a manner that the brush size decreases from the end side toward the center side in the rotation direction D1 of the agitator 13, it is not limited to this. For example, the brush unit 6 may also include a long brush part 64L, two middle brush parts 64M, and two short brush parts 64S, and the short brush part 64S, the middle brush part 64M, the long brush part 64L, the middle brush part 64M, and the short brush part 64S are arranged in sequence from one side of the rotation direction D1. That is, the plurality of brush parts 64 are arranged in a manner that the brush size increases from the end side toward the center side in the rotation direction D1 of the agitator 13.

[0085] Although the brush unit 6 includes five brush portions 64 in the above example, the number of the brush portions 64 is not limited to five, and the brush unit 6 may include at least two brush portions 64 having different brush sizes. For example, the brush unit 6 may include three brush portions 64, namely, two long brush portions 64L and one short brush portion 64S disposed between the two long brush portions 64L.

[0086] In the above example, the plurality of brush parts 64 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of root parts 63, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The brush part 64 may be provided on a common root part 63 with other brush parts 64. For example, two or more brush parts 64 may be provided on one root part 63.

[0087] Although in the above example, Figure 5 As shown, the short brush portion 64S is configured so that the lengths of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 are different along the rotation axis direction D2, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the lengths of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 may be fixed.

[0088] Although in the above example, Figure 6 A~ Figure 6 As shown in C, the densities of the plurality of bristle bundles 65 in the long brush portion 64L, the middle brush portion 64M, and the short brush portion 64S are different from each other, but may be the same.

[0089] Although the hair bundle 65 is composed of a plurality of hairs in the above example, it may be composed of a single hair.

[0090] In the above example, the washing machine includes one brush unit 6 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, and two or more brush units 6 may be included.

[0091] Although in the above example, the brush unit 6 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 12a of the washing tank 12, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the brush unit 6 may be provided on a cylindrical portion protruding from the stirring member 13 in a manner coaxial with the rotation axis A1. In this case, since the brush unit 6 is configured to rotate, it is preferred that the object to be washed 70 is not fixed or is fixed on the inner circumferential surface 12a of the washing tank 12.

Claims

1. A washing machine, characterized in that: have: A washing tank for placing laundry; a stirring member, which is disposed at the bottom of the washing tank and rotates; a brush unit, which is arranged inside the washing tank and has a plurality of brush parts arranged along the rotation direction of the stirring member, Each of the plurality of brush parts has a plurality of bristle bundles, The plurality of brush portions include a long brush portion and a short brush portion, wherein the short brush portion is disposed closer to the center of the rotation direction than the long brush portion, and the length dimension of the plurality of bristle bundles of the short brush portion is shorter than the length dimension of the plurality of bristle bundles of the long brush portion.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of brush parts include two long brush parts; and the short brush part, The short brush portion is arranged between the two long brush portions in the rotation direction of the agitator.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The short brush portion has a higher density of the plurality of bristle bundles than the long brush portion.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The short brush portion is more rigid than the long brush portion.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The short brush portion is configured such that, in the rotation axis direction of the agitator, the length of the plurality of bristle bundles increases as they become farther from the bottom of the washing tub.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The plurality of brush parts are provided so that the lengths of the plurality of bristle bundles become shorter from one side in the rotation direction toward the center side.

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