washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine in which the rotating blade does not easily rotate along with the water-spraying blade. The fully automatic washing machine includes: a washing and spin-drying tub rotatably disposed inside an outer tub; a rotating blade rotatably disposed at the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub; a water-spraying blade rotatably disposed between the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub and the rotating blade; a water-spraying passage provided on the side wall of the washing and spin-drying tub for water supplied by the rotation of the water-spraying blade; a discharge outlet for water flowing through the water-spraying passage to be discharged into the washing and spin-drying tub; and a drive unit for driving the washing and spin-drying tub, the rotating blade, and the water-spraying blade. The drive unit includes: a drive motor; a switching unit (800a) for switching between a first drive mode that transmits the rotation of the drive motor to the rotating blade and the water-spraying blade and a second drive mode that transmits the rotation of the drive motor to the water-spraying blade instead of the rotating blade; and a limiting unit (800b) for limiting the rotation of the rotating blade in the second drive mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a washing machine comprising: a rotating blade rotatably disposed at the bottom of a washing and spin-drying tub; a water conveying channel disposed on the side wall of the washing and spin-drying tub; a water-lifting wing disposed between the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub and the rotating blade, which circulates the washing liquid in the washing and spin-drying tub through the water conveying channel; and an acceleration device that makes the rotation speed of the water-lifting wing faster than the rotation speed of the rotating blade.

[0003] In the aforementioned washing machine, the speed-increasing device consists of a sun gear fixed to the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub, a planetary gear fixed to the rotating blade and rotating around the sun gear, and an outer ring gear fixed to the water-spraying blade and rotating in mesh with the outer circumference of the planetary gear. When the rotating blade rotates, this rotation is accelerated by the planetary gear and the outer ring gear and then transmitted to the water-spraying blade, which rotates at a higher speed than the rotating blade.

[0004] In the washing machine described in Patent Document 1, both the rotating blades and the water-spraying blades rotate during the washing process. Therefore, when washing delicate laundry items, there is a risk that the delicate fabric may be easily damaged due to friction from the rotating blades.

[0005] Therefore, it is considered to design the drive unit included in the drive motor to transmit the rotation of the drive motor to the water-spraying vanes instead of the rotating vanes. In this way, delicate clothes can be gently washed by circulating water in the washing and spin-drying tub caused by the rotation of the water-spraying vanes.

[0006] However, with such a structure, there is a potential problem: when the hydrofoil rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the rotor due to the viscosity of the water between the hydrofoil and the rotor blade, and the rotor blade rotates regardless of whether the drive motor is driving it.

[0007] Existing technical documents

[0008] Patent documents

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-28509 Summary of the Invention

[0010] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0011] The present invention addresses this problem by providing a washing machine in which the rotating blades do not rotate along with the water jets.

[0012] Solution for solving the problem

[0013] The main embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention comprises: a washing and spin-drying tub rotatably disposed within an outer tub; a rotating vane rotatably disposed at the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub; a water-lifting vane rotatably disposed between the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub and the rotating vane; a water-lifting passage disposed on the side wall of the washing and spin-drying tub for water supplied by the rotation of the water-lifting vane to flow through; a discharge outlet for water flowing through the water-lifting passage to be discharged into the washing and spin-drying tub; and a drive unit for driving the washing and spin-drying tub, the rotating vane, and the water-lifting vane. The drive unit includes: a drive motor; a switching unit for switching between a dual-vane drive mode and a single-vane drive mode, wherein the dual-vane drive mode is a drive mode in which the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the rotating vane and the water-lifting vane, and the single-vane drive mode is a drive mode in which the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the water-lifting vane instead of the rotating vane; and a limiting unit for limiting the rotation of the rotating vane in the single-vane drive mode.

[0014] According to the above structure, the drive unit rotates the water jet instead of the rotary vane, discharging water from the outlet while circulating the water between the washing and spin-drying tub and the water jet path, thereby cleaning delicate laundry. Therefore, it can suppress fabric damage to delicate laundry caused by washing.

[0015] Furthermore, in the single-wing drive mode where only the hydrofoil rotates, the rotation of the rotor is restricted by a limiting unit. Therefore, even if the rotor is subjected to a force that would cause it to rotate due to the viscosity of the water between the hydrofoil and the rotor when the hydrofoil rotates, the rotor rotation can be prevented.

[0016] In the washing machine of this solution, the drive unit may employ a structure comprising a rotor shaft constituting the rotor and a rotating body that rotates together with the rotor shaft. In this case, the limiting unit may include a limiting body that performs a limiting action by contacting the rotating body to limit the rotation of the rotating body and a limiting release action by moving away from the rotating body to release the rotation limitation of the rotating body.

[0017] Based on the above structure, when switching to single-wing drive mode, the limiting body performs a limiting action, restricting the rotation of the rotor. Therefore, since the rotation of the rotor shaft is restricted, even if a force is applied to the rotor to cause it to rotate, rotation can be prevented.

[0018] It should be noted that when a structure with a rotating body diameter larger than that of the rotor shaft is adopted, and a structure in which the limiting body contacts the outer periphery of the rotating body is adopted, the force applied to the limiting body when the rotor is about to rotate is reduced, making it easier to prevent the rotor from rotating.

[0019] With the above-described structure, it is further possible to employ a configuration where the limiting body includes an engaging portion and the rotating body includes a engaged portion for engaging the engaging portion in the rotational direction of the rotating body. In this case, the engaged portion has a shape that is recessed from the outer periphery of the rotating body towards the center, and the engaging portion can be inserted into the engaged portion from the outer periphery side of the rotating body. Furthermore, it is possible to employ a configuration where the two side edges of the engaged portion extending radially along the rotating body are inclined relative to the radial central axis of the engaged portion in a manner that expands towards the outer periphery of the rotating body.

[0020] When such a structure is adopted, when the rotating body rotates due to the application of a large rotational force, the engaging part easily moves from the engaged part to the outside along the tilt of the side edge, and the engagement between the engaging part and the engaged part is released. As a result, the limiting body is not easily subjected to large loads, and therefore the limiting part is not easily damaged.

[0021] In the washing machine of this solution, the rotating body can be positioned on the motor shaft of the drive motor. In this case, the switching unit may include a clutch body, which performs a fixing action to fix the rotating body to the motor shaft so that the rotation of the motor shaft is transmitted to the rotor shaft via the rotating body, and a fixing-releasing action to release the fixing of the rotating body relative to the motor shaft. Furthermore, the drive unit may include a drive device, which is included in the switching unit and the limiting unit. When switching to the dual-wing drive mode, the clutch body performs the fixing action and the limiting body performs the limiting-releasing action; when switching to the single-wing drive mode, the clutch body performs the fixing-releasing action and the limiting body performs the limiting action.

[0022] Based on the above structure, a drive device is used to perform the fixing and unfixing actions of the clutch body of the switching unit and the limiting and unlimiting actions of the limiting body of the limiting unit, thereby reducing the cost of the washing machine.

[0023] Invention Effects

[0024] According to the present invention, a washing machine is provided in which the rotating blade does not easily rotate along with the water jet.

[0025] The effects and significance of this invention will become clearer through the following description of the embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely illustrative examples of carrying out this invention, and the invention is not limited in any way by the contents described in the following embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing machine according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the main parts of a fully automatic washing machine, showing the bottom of the outer tub and the drive unit, according to an embodiment.

[0028] Figure 3 (a) is a top view of the first pulley in the embodiment. Figure 3 (b) is a bottom view of the first motor pulley in the embodiment. Figure 3 (c) is a top view of the second pulley in the embodiment.

[0029] Figure 4 The embodiment shows a longitudinal sectional view of the drive unit surrounding the first clutch mechanism.

[0030] Figure 5 (a) is a perspective view of the first clutch mechanism section of the embodiment. Figure 5 (b) is a perspective view of the first clutch mechanism section in the embodiment before the clutch lever is assembled to the lever support. Figure 5 (c) is a perspective view of the latch in the embodiment. Figure 5 (d) is the front view of the cam in the embodiment.

[0031] Figure 6 (a) is a schematic diagram of the embodiment showing the state of switching from the first clutch mechanism to the first drive mode. Figure 6 (b) is a schematic diagram of the implementation, showing the state of switching from the first clutch mechanism to the second drive mode. Figure 6 (c) is a schematic diagram of the implementation embodiment showing the state of switching from the first clutch mechanism to the third drive mode.

[0032] Figure 7 The embodiment shows a longitudinal sectional view of the drive unit surrounding the second clutch mechanism.

[0033] Figure 8 The following is a bottom view of the drive unit surrounding the second clutch mechanism, illustrating an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a bottom view of the drive unit in an embodiment where the first pulley, the second pulley, and the clutch mechanism have been removed from the periphery of the second clutch mechanism section.

[0035] Figure 10 (a) is a perspective view of the clutch mechanism inverted according to the embodiment. Figure 10 (b) is a perspective view of the clutch body according to the embodiment. Figure 10 (c) is a perspective view of the clutch receiving part in the embodiment with its top and bottom reversed.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0037] 1: Fully automatic washing machine (washing machine); 20: Outer tub; 22: Washing and spin-drying tub; 24: Rotating vane; 25: Water jetting vane; 27a: Discharge outlet; 28: Water jetting path; 30: Drive unit (drive section); 100: Drive motor; 130: Motor shaft; 400: Rotating vane shaft; 620: First motor pulley (rotating body); 624: Engaged part; 624a, 624b: Side edge; 800: First clutch mechanism part; 800a: Switching part; 800b: Restricting part; 810: Clutch body; 840: Latch (restricting body); 842: Engaged part; 860: Rod drive device (drive device); L: Central shaft. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Hereinafter, a fully automatic washing machine 1, which is an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a side sectional view of a fully automatic washing machine 1.

[0040] The fully automatic washing machine 1 has a housing 10 that forms its appearance. The housing 10 includes: a square cylindrical body 11 with open upper and lower surfaces, a top panel 12 covering the upper surface of the body 11, and feet 13 supporting the body 11. An inlet 14 for putting in laundry is formed on the top panel 12. The inlet 14 is covered by a top cover 15 that can be opened and closed freely.

[0041] Inside the housing 10, a generally cylindrical outer tub 20 with an open upper surface is elastically suspended and supported by four suspension rods 21 equipped with vibration damping devices. Inside the outer tub 20, a generally cylindrical washing and dehydrating tub 22 with an open upper surface is disposed. Numerous dehydration holes 22a are formed throughout the circumference of the side wall of the washing and dehydrating tub 22. A balancing ring 23 is provided at the top of the washing and dehydrating tub 22.

[0042] A generally circular rotating vane 24 is disposed at the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub 22. Multiple blades 24a extending radially from the center are formed on the upper surface of the rotating vane 24. Furthermore, a generally disc-shaped water-lifting vane 25 is disposed at the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub 22 between the rotating vane 24 and the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 22. Multiple blades 25a extending radially from the center are formed on the lower surface of the water-lifting vane 25, which is the side facing the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 22. A generally circular recess 26, corresponding to the shape of the water-lifting vane 25, is formed in the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 22, and the water-lifting vane 25 is accommodated in this recess 26. Furthermore, multiple water inlets 22b are formed in the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 22 at the location of the recess 26.

[0043] A water-spraying hood 27 is fitted to the side wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 22, thereby providing water-spraying channels 28 extending vertically and arranged at three circumferential locations at approximately equal intervals. The lower end of each water-spraying channel 28 is connected to a recess 26. A slit-shaped discharge port 27a is formed on the upper part of each water-spraying hood 27.

[0044] A drive unit 30 for driving the washing and spin-drying tub 22, the rotating vane 24, and the water-spraying vane 25 is disposed at the bottom of the outer tub 20. During the washing and rinsing processes, depending on the progress of the washing operation, the drive unit 30 sometimes rotates the rotating vane 24 and the water-spraying vane 25, and sometimes only rotates the water-spraying vane 25. Furthermore, during the spin-drying process, the drive unit 30 rotates the washing and spin-drying tub 22, the rotating vane 24, and the water-spraying vane 25 as a whole. The drive unit 30 corresponds to the drive section of the present invention. The detailed structure of the drive unit 30 is described below.

[0045] A cylindrical drain outlet 20a is formed at the bottom of the outer tub 20. A drain valve 40 is connected to the drain outlet 20a. A drain hose 41 is connected to the drain valve 40. That is, the drain outlet 20a and the drain hose 41 form a drain path, and the drain valve 40 is arranged in this drain path. When the drain valve 40 is opened, the water stored in the washing and spin-drying tub 22 and the outer tub 20 is discharged outside the machine through the drain hose 41.

[0046] A water supply unit 50 for supplying tap water to the washing and spin-drying tub 22 is disposed at the rear of the top panel 12. The water supply unit 50 has a water supply valve 51. The water supply valve 51 is connected to a faucet. When the water supply valve 51 is opened, tap water is introduced into the water supply unit 50 from the faucet. The introduced tap water flows out into the washing and spin-drying tub 22 from the water inlet 52 of the water supply unit 50.

[0047] Next, the structure of the drive unit 30 will be described in detail.

[0048] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the bottom of the outer tub 20 and the main parts of the fully automatic washing machine 1, including the drive unit 30. It should be noted that... Figure 2 The illustration of the hanging rod 21 is omitted.

[0049] Reference Figure 2 The drive unit 30 includes: a drive motor 100, a dehydration drum shaft 200, a water pump shaft 300, a rotary blade shaft 400, a bearing unit 500, a first transmission mechanism 600, a second transmission mechanism 700, a first clutch mechanism 800, and a second clutch mechanism 900.

[0050] The drive motor 100 is an external rotor type DC brushless motor that generates torque to drive the washing and spin-drying tub 22, the rotary vane 24, and the water-lifting vane 25. The drive motor 100 includes a rotor 110 and a stator 120. A motor shaft 130 is mounted in the center of the rotor 110. The motor shaft 130 is rotatably supported on a support portion 150 via upper and lower rolling bearings 141 and 142. It should be noted that the drive motor 100 can also be an internal rotor type DC brushless motor or other types of motors.

[0051] The spin-drying drum shaft 200, the water-lifting blade shaft 300, and the rotating blade shaft 400 respectively constitute the rotating shafts of the washing and spin-drying drum 22, the water-lifting blade 25, and the rotating blade 24.

[0052] The dehydration drum shaft 200 is formed by combining three components: an upper part, a middle part, and a lower part. The dehydration drum shaft 200 is hollow, with its central part bulging outward to form a brake drum 201.

[0053] The pumping rotor shaft 300 is inserted into the dehydration drum shaft 200. The upper part of the pumping rotor shaft 300 protrudes upward from the dehydration drum shaft 200, and the lower part of the pumping rotor shaft 300 protrudes downward from the dehydration drum shaft 200. The pumping rotor shaft 300 is hollow, and its interior is for the insertion of the rotating rotor shaft 400.

[0054] The upper part of the rotary wing shaft 400 protrudes upward from the hydrofoil shaft 300, and the lower part of the rotary wing shaft 400 protrudes downward from the hydrofoil shaft 300.

[0055] The bearing unit 500 includes: a mounting platform 510 having a generally rectangular planar shape; and a bearing housing 520 mounted from below to the center of the mounting platform 510. A circular bearing recess 511 is formed in the center of the upper surface of the mounting platform 510. A rolling bearing 531 is disposed within the bearing recess 511.

[0056] The bearing housing 520 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with a narrower diameter at its bottom 521. A rolling bearing 532 is disposed at the bottom 521 of the bearing housing 520. A flange 522 is formed at the upper end of the bearing housing 520, and the flange 522 is threadedly fixed to the mounting base 510 (see reference). Figure 8 Furthermore, a support portion 523 for supporting the rod shaft (described later) is formed at the upper end of the bearing housing 520.

[0057] The dewatering drum shaft 200, which is rotatably inserted into the pumping vane shaft 300 and the rotating vane shaft 400, has its upper part rotatably supported by the bearing recess 511 of the mounting platform 510 via the rolling bearing 531, and its lower part rotatably supported by the bottom 521 of the bearing housing 520 via the rolling bearing 532. The brake drum 201 of the dewatering drum shaft 200 is housed within the bearing housing 520.

[0058] Mounting platform 510 is fitted to the bottom wall of outer tub 20. Spin-dry tub shaft 200 extends into the interior of outer tub 20. Inside outer tub 20, spin-dry tub shaft 200 is fixed to washing and spin-drying tub 22. Furthermore, water-lifting blade shaft 300 and rotating blade shaft 400 extend into the interior of washing and spin-drying tub 22. Inside washing and spin-drying tub 22, water-lifting blade shaft 300 is fixed to water-lifting blade 25, and rotating blade shaft 400 is fixed to rotating blade 24.

[0059] On the mounting platform 510, the drive motor 100 is mounted on the side of the bearing housing 520 with the motor shaft 130 facing downwards. In addition, on the mounting platform 510, a drain valve 40 is mounted on the side opposite to the drive motor 100 relative to the bearing housing 520.

[0060] Figure 3 (a) is a top view of the first pulley 610. Figure 3 (b) is a bottom view of the first motor pulley 620. Figure 3 (c) is a top view of the second pulley 710.

[0061] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 In (a) and (b), the first transmission mechanism 600 includes: a first pulley 610, a first motor pulley 620, and a first transmission belt 630 connecting the first pulley 610 and the first motor pulley 620.

[0062] The first pulley 610 is fixed below the outer barrel 20 to the lower part of the rotating blade shaft 400 exposed from the pumping shaft 300. The first pulley 610 includes a disc-shaped pulley portion 611 and a clutch boss portion 612 fitted to the upper center of the pulley portion 611. A plurality of engaging recesses 613 with predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction are formed on the upper end surface of the clutch boss portion 612.

[0063] The first motor pulley 620 includes: a cylindrical pulley portion 621; a cylindrical hub portion 622 integrally formed on the upper side of the pulley portion 621; and an annular flange portion 623 integrally formed on the lower side of the pulley portion 621. The first motor pulley 620 can rotate together with the rotary blade shaft 400, which is equivalent to the rotating body of the present invention.

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown in (b), a locking portion 624 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 623 of the first motor pulley 620. The locking portion 624 has a shape that is recessed from the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 623 of the first motor pulley 620 toward the center. The two side edges 624a and 624b of the locking portion 624, which extend radially along the flange portion 623, are inclined relative to the radial central axis L of the locking portion 624 in a manner that expands toward the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 623. That is, the locking portion 624 is a generally trapezoidal recess.

[0065] The first motor pulley 620 is rotatably supported by the motor shaft 130 of the drive motor 100. That is, the hub 622 of the first motor pulley 620 is mounted to the top end of the motor shaft 130 via two rolling bearings 640. The first motor pulley 620 rotates smoothly relative to the motor shaft 130 via the rolling bearings 640.

[0066] The outer diameter of the pulley portion 611 of the first pulley 610 is larger than the outer diameter of the pulley portion 621 of the first motor pulley 620. A first transmission belt 630 is wound between the pulley portion 611 of the first pulley 610 and the pulley portion 621 of the first motor pulley 620.

[0067] When the first motor pulley 620 is fixed to the motor shaft 130 by the switching action of the first clutch mechanism 800, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the rotor shaft 400 through the first transmission mechanism 600. At this time, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is reduced according to the reduction ratio determined by the ratio of the outer diameters of the pulley 611 and the pulley 621.

[0068] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 (c) The second transmission mechanism 700 includes: a second pulley 710, a second motor pulley 720, and a second transmission belt 730 connecting the second pulley 710 and the second motor pulley 720.

[0069] The second pulley 710 is disc-shaped and fixed below the outer barrel 20 to the lower part of the water-lifting blade shaft 300 exposed from the dewatering barrel shaft 200. The second pulley 710 is positioned above the first pulley 610 in a parallel manner. A groove 711 for the second drive belt 730 to be wound is formed on the outer periphery of the second pulley 710. In addition, a plurality of through holes 712 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction are formed on the second pulley 710. The through holes 712 have a shape and a size that are substantially the same as those of the engaging recesses 613.

[0070] The second motor pulley 720 has a disc-shaped lower surface that is open, and is fixed above the first motor pulley 620 of the motor shaft 130. A groove 721 for the second drive belt 730 to be wound is formed on the outer periphery of the second motor pulley 720.

[0071] The outer diameter of the second pulley 710 is equal to the outer diameter of the second motor pulley 720. A second transmission belt 730 is wound between the second pulley 710 and the second motor pulley 720.

[0072] Through the second transmission mechanism 700, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft 300 at the same speed.

[0073] The first clutch mechanism 800 switches between a first drive mode, a second drive mode, and a third drive mode. In the first drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the rotor shaft 400 via the first transmission mechanism 600 and to the hydrofoil shaft 300 via the second transmission mechanism 700, and the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 is unrestricted. In the second drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft 300 via the second transmission mechanism 700, but not via the first transmission mechanism 600, and the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 is restricted. In the third drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft 300 via the second transmission mechanism 700, but not via the first transmission mechanism 600, and the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 is unrestricted.

[0074] The first and second drive modes are performed when switching to an independent drive mode via the second clutch mechanism 900. The third drive mode is performed when switching to an integrated drive mode via the second clutch mechanism 900. In the independent drive mode, as described later, the rotor shaft 400 and the hydrofoil shaft 300 are not integrated and can rotate independently. Therefore, in the first drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to both the rotor 24 and the hydrofoil 25. On the other hand, in the second drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the hydrofoil 25 instead of the rotor 24. Moreover, in the second drive mode, the rotation of the rotor 24 is restricted. The first drive mode corresponds to the dual-wing drive mode of the present invention, and the second drive mode corresponds to the single-wing drive mode of the present invention.

[0075] Figure 4 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the drive unit 30 surrounding the first clutch mechanism section 800. Figure 5 (a) is a perspective view of the first clutch mechanism section 800. Figure 5 (b) is a perspective view of the first clutch mechanism 800 before the clutch lever 830 is assembled onto the lever support 850. Figure 5 (c) is a perspective view of latch lever 840. Figure 5 (d) is the front view of cam 862.

[0076] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5(a) through (d), the first clutch mechanism 800 includes: a clutch body 810, a spring 820, a clutch lever 830, a latch lever 840, a lever support 850, a lever drive device 860, and a mounting plate 870. The clutch body 810, spring 820, clutch lever 830, and lever drive device 860 constitute a switching section 800a, which switches between a first drive mode in which the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to both the rotor 24 and the water-lifting deflector 25, and a second drive mode in which the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the water-lifting deflector 25 but not to the rotor 24. Furthermore, the latch lever 840 and lever drive device 860 constitute a limiting section 800b for limiting the rotation of the rotor 24 in the second drive mode. The latch lever 840 corresponds to the limiting body of the present invention, and the lever drive device 860 corresponds to the drive device of the present invention.

[0077] The clutch body 810 is disposed on the motor shaft 130 between the first motor pulley 620 and the second motor pulley 720. The clutch body 810 includes a clutch portion 811, a surrounding portion 812, and a rolling bearing 813. The clutch portion 811 has a generally cylindrical shape, configured such that the outer diameter of the lower side portion 811a is larger than the outer diameter of the upper side portion 811b. A engaging recess 814 is formed in the lower side portion 811a, having an inner diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the hub portion 622 of the first motor pulley 620. A first spline 815 is formed all around the inner circumference of the engaging recess 814. Corresponding to the first spline 815, a spline 625 is formed all around the outer circumference of the hub portion 622 of the first motor pulley 620.

[0078] A second spline 816 is formed throughout the entire circumference of the inner circumference of the upper side portion 811b. Corresponding to the second spline 816, a spline 131 is formed throughout the entire circumference of the outer circumference of the motor shaft 130, between the first motor pulley 620 and the second motor pulley 720. The vertical dimension of the spline 131 is larger than the vertical dimension of the second spline 816.

[0079] The second spline 816 of the clutch part 811 engages with the spline 131 of the motor shaft 130. Through this engagement, the clutch part 811 is in a state in which it can move relative to the motor shaft 130 in the axial direction of the motor shaft 130 and can rotate together with the motor shaft 130.

[0080] The surrounding portion 812 is formed in a circular shape and surrounds the clutch portion 811 via a rolling bearing 813 in a manner that allows the clutch portion 811 to rotate. The clutch portion 811 rotates smoothly relative to the surrounding portion 812 via the rolling bearing 813. A pair of shaft portions 817 facing away from each other are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the surrounding portion 812.

[0081] The clutch body 810 moves to an engaged position, where the first spline 815 of the clutch portion 811 engages with the spline 625 of the hub portion 622 of the first motor pulley 620, thereby fixing the first motor pulley 620 to the motor shaft 130. Furthermore, the clutch body 810 moves to a disengaged position, where the engagement between the first spline 815 and the spline 625 is released, thereby releasing the first motor pulley 620 from the motor shaft 130. When the clutch body 810 is in the disengaged position, almost the entire clutch body 810 is housed within the second motor pulley 720.

[0082] Spring 820 is positioned between clutch body 810 and second motor pulley 720, applying force to clutch body 810 toward first motor pulley 620, i.e., the engaged position side.

[0083] The clutch lever 830 includes a lever body 831, a pair of arms 832, and an operating plate 833. The lever body 831 is generally square. An opening 831a is formed in the center of the lever body 831, and shaft holes 831b are formed at the left and right ends. The pair of arms 832 extend from the lever body 831 toward the clutch body 810, and a receiving portion 832a at the top end receives the shaft portion 817 of the surrounding portion 812 from below. The operating plate 833 is provided on the side of the lever body 831 opposite to the arms 832 and protrudes toward the lever drive device 860.

[0084] The latch 840 includes a lever body 841, a locking portion 842, and an operating piece 843. The latch 840 performs a limiting action by contacting the flange portion 623 of the first motor pulley 620 to limit the rotation of the first motor pulley 620, and a limiting action by moving away from the flange portion 623 to release the rotation limitation of the first motor pulley 620.

[0085] The rod body 841 includes a cylindrical portion 842b having a shaft hole 841a and an arm portion 841c extending downward from the cylindrical portion 841b. A locking portion 842 is provided at the top of the arm portion 841c and has a shape corresponding to the locking portion 624 of the first motor pulley 620, i.e., a generally trapezoidal column shape. An operating plate 843 extends from the upper part of the rod body 841 toward the rod drive device 860. A hemispherical protrusion 843a is formed on the lower surface of the operating plate 843.

[0086] The lever support portion 850 includes: a pair of support plates 851 extending from the mounting plate 870; and a support shaft 852 fixed to the top ends of the pair of support plates 851, passing through the shaft hole 831b of the clutch lever 830 and the shaft hole 841a of the latch rod 840. The lever support portion 850 supports the clutch lever 830 and the latch rod 840 so that they can rotate about the support shaft 852. In the lever support portion 850, springs 853 are arranged on both sides of the latch rod 840. The springs 853 are helical springs that exert force on the latch rod 840 in the rotational direction that brings its engagement portion 842 closer to the flange portion 623 of the first motor pulley 620.

[0087] The lever drive device 860 includes a torque motor 861 and a cam 862. The torque motor 861 generates power, i.e., torque, for the cam 862. The cam 862 is disc-shaped and rotates about a horizontal axis by the torque of the torque motor 861. On the front of the cam 862, a nearly elliptical annular cam groove 863 and a nearly D-shaped circular cam recess 864 located inside the cam groove 863 are formed by two layers of ribs 862a and 862b on the outer and inner sides. The centers of the cam groove 863 and the cam recess 864 are offset from the rotation center of the cam 862. The operating plate 833 of the clutch lever 830 is accommodated inside the cam groove 863, and the operating plate 843 of the latch lever 840 is accommodated inside the cam recess 864. Inside the cam recess 864, the protrusion 843a of the operating plate 843 contacts the inner rib 862b.

[0088] The rod drive device 860 is fixed to the mounting plate 870. The mounting plate 870 is fixed to the mounting platform 510 of the bearing unit 500.

[0089] Figure 6 (a) is a diagram schematically showing the state of the first clutch mechanism 800 switching to the first drive mode. Figure 6 (b) is a diagram schematically showing the state of switching from the first clutch mechanism section 800 to the second drive mode. Figure 6 (c) is a diagram schematically showing the state of switching from the first clutch mechanism section 800 to the third drive mode.

[0090] When the cam 862 rotates due to the operation of the torque motor 861, as Figure 6 As shown in (a) to (c), the operating plate 833 of the clutch lever 830 is guided by the cam groove 863 to rotate downward or upward, and the arm 832 of the clutch lever 830 rotates in the opposite direction to the operating plate 833, i.e., upward or downward. Furthermore, the operating plate 843 of the latch lever 840 is guided by the cam recess 864 to rotate downward or upward, and the engaging portion 842 of the latch lever 840 rotates towards or away from the flange 623 of the first motor pulley 620.

[0091] In the first drive mode, such as Figure 6 As shown in (a), in the clutch lever 830, the operating plate 833 is pushed up to its uppermost position by the cam groove 863, and the receiving portion 832a of the arm 832 is pressed down. Consequently, the clutch body 810 is pressed down to the engaged position by the force applied by the spring 820, and the first spline 815 is engaged with the spline 625, with the first motor pulley 620 fixed to the motor shaft 130. The rotation of the motor shaft 130 is transmitted to both the second motor pulley 720 and the first motor pulley 620, and then via these two pulleys to both the hydrofoil shaft 300 and the rotor shaft 400. Furthermore, in the latch lever 840, the operating plate 843 is pushed up to its uppermost position by the cam recess 864, and the engaging portion 842 rotates away from the flange portion 623 without contacting it. In this state, the rotation of the first motor pulley 620 is unrestricted, and therefore the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 and the rotor 24 is unrestricted.

[0092] In the second drive mode, such as Figure 6 As shown in (b), in the clutch lever 830, the operating plate 833 is pressed down to its lowest position by the cam groove 863, and the top part of the arm 832, i.e., the receiving part 832a, is pushed upward. As a result, the clutch body 810 is pushed upward to the disengaged position against the force applied by the spring 820, and the first spline 815 of the clutch body 810 is disengaged from the spline 625 of the first motor pulley 620, meaning the first motor pulley 620 is not fixed to the motor shaft 130. The rotation of the motor shaft 130 is transmitted to the second motor pulley 720 and then to the hydrofoil shaft 300, but not to the first motor pulley 620, nor to the rotor shaft 400 via the first motor pulley 620. Furthermore, in the latch 840, the operating piece 843 is pulled down to its lowest position by the force applied by the cam recess 864 and the spring 853, and the engaging part 842 rotates towards the flange 623 and contacts the outer periphery of the flange 623. In this state, when the first motor pulley 620, i.e., the flange 623, rotates and the engaging part 624 comes to the position of the engaging part 842, the engaging part 842 inserts into the engaged part 624 from the outer periphery side. Thus, the engaging part 842 and the engaged part 624 engage circumferentially with the first motor pulley 620, and the rotation of the first motor pulley 620 is restricted. As a result, the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 and the rotor 24 is restricted.

[0093] In the third drive mode, such as Figure 6As shown in (c), in the clutch lever 830, the operating plate 833 is pressed down to its lowest position by the cam groove 863. Thus, similar to the second drive mode, the first spline 815 of the clutch body 810 is disengaged from the spline 625 of the first motor pulley 620. As a result, the rotation of the motor shaft 130 is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft 300 via the second motor pulley 720 but not via the first motor pulley 620 to the rotor shaft 400. Furthermore, in the latch lever 840, the operating plate 843 is pushed up to its highest position by the cam recess 864. Thus, similar to the first drive mode, the engaging portion 842 is not in contact with the flange portion 623, the rotation of the first motor pulley 620 is unrestricted, and the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 and the rotor 24 is unrestricted.

[0094] Figure 7 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing the drive unit 30 surrounding the second clutch mechanism section 900. Figure 8 This is a bottom view showing the drive unit 30 surrounding the second clutch mechanism section 900. Figure 9 This is a bottom view of the drive unit 30, showing the periphery of the second clutch mechanism 900 with the first pulley 610, the second pulley 710, and the clutch mechanism 910 removed. Figure 10 (a) is a three-dimensional view of the clutch mechanism 910 with the top and bottom reversed. Figure 10 (b) is a perspective view of the clutch body 950. Figure 10 (c) is a perspective view of the clutch receiving part 970 with the top and bottom reversed.

[0095] It should be noted that, Figure 8 For ease of explanation, the diagram shows a section cut above the second pulley 710, comprising the dewatering barrel shaft 200, the water-lifting blade shaft 300, the rotating blade shaft 400, and the clutch body 950. Figure 9 For ease of explanation, the bearing housing 520 is shown only in cross-section of its body.

[0096] Reference Figures 7 to 10 (c) The second clutch mechanism 900 includes a clutch mechanism 910 and a drive device 920 for driving the clutch mechanism 910. The clutch mechanism 910 and the drive device 920 switch between an integrated drive mode and an independent drive mode. In the integrated drive mode, the rotating vane 24 and the water-spraying vane 25 can rotate as a unit with the washing and spin-drying tub 22. In the independent drive mode, the rotating vane 24 and the water-spraying vane 25 can rotate relative to the washing and spin-drying tub 22.

[0097] Furthermore, the second clutch mechanism 900 includes a braking mechanism 930 for braking the dehydration drum shaft 200 and an opening / closing mechanism 940 for opening and closing the drain valve 40. The drive unit 920 is used to drive the braking mechanism 930 and the opening / closing mechanism 940.

[0098] The clutch mechanism 910 includes a clutch body 950, a moving mechanism 960, and a clutch receiving part 970.

[0099] The clutch receiving portion 970 is cylindrical and fixed to the bottom 521 of the bearing housing 520. An annular protrusion 971 is formed on the lower surface of the clutch receiving portion 970.

[0100] The clutch body 950 is disposed on the dehydration drum shaft 200 between the clutch receiving portion 970 and the second pulley 710. The clutch body 950 is formed as a cylinder with an outer diameter larger at the upper end than the outer diameter of other parts, and has a hub portion 951 on the inner side. A plurality of engaging protrusions 952 are formed at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction and protrude downward toward the second pulley 710. The engaging protrusions 952 have a cross-sectional shape that is substantially the same as that of the engaging recess 613 and the through hole 712. In addition, annular protrusions 953 that engage with the protrusions 971 of the clutch receiving portion 970 are formed all around the inner circumference of the upper end of the clutch body 950. Moreover, splines 954 are formed all around the inner circumference of the hub portion 951.

[0101] A spline 214 is formed on the outer circumference of the shaft 200 between the bearing housing 520 and the second pulley 710. The vertical dimension of the spline 214 is larger than the vertical dimension of the spline 954 on the hub 951.

[0102] The spline 954 of the hub 951 engages with the spline 214 of the dehydration barrel shaft 200. Through this engagement, the clutch body 950 is in a state in which it can move relative to the dehydration barrel shaft 200 in the axial direction of the dehydration barrel shaft 200 and can rotate together with the dehydration barrel shaft 200.

[0103] The moving mechanism 960 includes: a first spring 961, a first rod 962, a rod support 963, a relay wire 964, a second rod 965, a rod shaft 966, a second spring 967, and a connecting body 968. The moving mechanism 960 moves the clutch body 950 between an integrated drive mode and an independent drive mode.

[0104] The first spring 961 is disposed between the clutch body 950 and the rolling bearing 532 of the bearing housing 520, and applies force to the clutch body 950 toward the second pulley 710 side, i.e. the restricted position side.

[0105] The first lever 962 includes a generally semi-circular head 981 along the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the clutch body 950 that is lower than the upper end, and a lever portion 982 extending upward from the head 981. Pressing portions 983 are formed at the top ends on both sides of the head 981, which contact the upper end of the clutch body 950 from below and press the upper end upward.

[0106] The rod support portion 963 includes a pair of support plates 963a integrally formed with the clutch receiving portion 970 and a support shaft 963b fixed to the top end of the pair of support plates 963a and passing through the lower end of the rod portion 982, supporting the first rod 962 so that it can rotate about the support shaft 963b.

[0107] A relay wire 964 connects the first rod 962 and the second rod 965. A spring 964a is integrally formed at the middle position of the relay wire 964. One end of the relay wire 964 is fitted to the upper end of the rod portion 982 of the first rod 962.

[0108] The rod shaft 966 is supported by the support portion 523 of the bearing housing 520 and extends downward. A second rod 965 is rotatably mounted on the lower part of the rod shaft 966. An arm portion 965a is formed on the second rod 965, extending in a direction away from the spin-drying drum shaft 200. A mounting pin 965b is formed at the middle position of the arm portion 965a, and the other end of the relay wire 964 is mounted on the mounting pin 965b. It should be noted that the rod shaft 966 is also used in the braking mechanism 930.

[0109] The second spring 967 is a helical spring, assembled on the rod shaft 966, so that the second rod 965 is rotated in the direction in which the rod portion 982 of the first rod 962 is pulled, thereby applying force to the second rod 965.

[0110] A connecting body 968 is disposed between the drive device 920 and the drain valve 40, and has a first connecting portion 968a and a second connecting portion 968b. An arm 965a of a second rod 965 is connected to the first connecting portion 968a. Furthermore, a first mounting portion 968c is provided at the end on the drive device 920 side of the connecting body 968, and a second mounting portion 968d is provided at the end on the drain valve 40 side.

[0111] The braking mechanism 930 includes a brake band 931, a brake lever 932, and a spring 933. A brake shoe 934 is attached to the back of the brake band 931. The brake band 931 is wound around the brake drum 201 of the dehydration drum shaft 200 within the bearing housing 520. Two holes 524 are formed on the support 523 side of the bearing housing 520. One end of the brake band 931 extends out of the bearing housing 520 through one hole 524 and is fixed to the bearing housing 520 by a screw 935. The other end of the brake band 931 extends out of the bearing housing 520 through the other hole 524 and is fixed to the brake lever 932 by a pin 936.

[0112] The brake lever 932 is rotatably mounted on the upper part of the lever shaft 966. An arm 932a is formed on the brake lever 932, extending in a direction away from the spin tub shaft 200. The arm 932a is connected to a second connecting portion 968b of the connecting body 968.

[0113] Spring 933 is a helical spring, mounted on rod shaft 966, which applies force to brake lever 932 in a manner that causes brake band 931 to rotate in the direction it is pulled. In this state, the rotation of brake drum 201 is stopped because brake shoe 934 of brake band 931 is in contact with brake drum 201.

[0114] The opening / closing mechanism 940 includes a working body 941 and a connecting rod 942. The working body 941 is inserted into the valve chamber 42 of the drain valve 40 and connected to the valve body 43, which is movably disposed within the valve chamber 42. One end of the connecting rod 942 is connected to the working body 941, and the other end is fitted to the second mounting portion 968d of the connecting body 968. When the working body 941 and the connecting rod 942 move toward or away from the drain valve 40, the valve body 43 closes or opens the drain port 44 connected to the drain port portion 20a.

[0115] The drive unit 920 includes a torque motor 921, a cam 922, and a connecting wire 923. The torque motor 921 generates power, i.e., torque, for operating the moving mechanism 960, braking mechanism 930, and opening / closing mechanism 940 of the clutch mechanism 910. The cam 922 is disc-shaped and rotates about a horizontal axis by the torque of the torque motor 921. A mounting portion 924 is provided on the outer periphery of the front side of the cam 922. One end of the connecting wire 923 is fitted to the mounting portion 924, and the other end is fitted to the first mounting portion 968c of the connecting body 968.

[0116] In independent drive mode, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the first rod 962's rod portion 982 is pulled by the second rod 965 via the relay wire 964, pushing the head 981 of the first rod 962 upwards. The pressing portion 983 of the head 981 contacts the clutch body 950, pushing the clutch body 950 upwards, and the concave-convex portion 953 of the clutch body 950 engages with the concave-convex portion 971 of the clutch receiving portion 970. Thus, the spin-drying drum shaft 200 is fixed to the bearing housing 520 and cannot rotate, while the rotating blade shaft 400 and the water-lifting blade shaft 300 can rotate independently of the spin-drying drum shaft 200. That is, the rotating blade 24 and the water-lifting blade 25 can rotate independently of the washing and spin-drying drum 22.

[0117] In independent drive mode, the brake shoe 934 of the brake band 931 contacts the brake drum 201, and the spin-dry tub shaft 200, i.e., the washing and spin-drying tub 22, is stopped by the braking mechanism 930. In addition, the drain valve 40 is in a state where the valve body 43 is closed by the opening and closing mechanism 940.

[0118] When switching from independent drive mode to integrated drive mode, cam 922 rotates via torque motor 921, and connecting body 968 is pulled towards drive device 920 by connecting wire 923. Consequently, second rod 965 rotates towards drive device 920 against the force of second spring 967, and first rod 962 rotates under pressure from relay wire 964, its head 981 being pressed down. Figure 7 As shown by the dotted line, the clutch body 950 is pressed down by the force applied by the first spring 961, disengaging the engagement of the protrusions 953 and 971, and engaging the engagement protrusion 952 of the clutch body 950 through the through hole 712 of the second pulley 710 and engaging with the engagement recess 613 of the first pulley 610. Thus, the rotary blade shaft 400 and the water-lifting blade shaft 300 are fixed to the spin-drying drum shaft 200, and the spin-drying drum shaft 200, the rotary blade shaft 400, and the water-lifting blade shaft 300 can rotate as a whole. That is, the washing and spin-drying drum 22, the rotary blade 24, and the water-lifting blade 25 can rotate as a whole.

[0119] In integrated drive mode, when the connecting body 968 moves towards the drive unit 920, the brake lever 932 rotates towards the drive unit 920 against the force applied by the spring 933, the brake band 931 loosens, and the brake shoe 934 disengages from the brake drum 201. As a result, the spin-dry tub shaft 200, i.e., the washing and spin-drying tub 22, is not stopped by the braking mechanism 930. Furthermore, in the opening and closing mechanism 940, the working body 941 and the connecting rod 942 move away from the drain valve 40. As a result, the valve body 43 of the drain valve 40 is opened.

[0120] The fully automatic washing machine 1 performs various washing processes. In addition to the standard washing process for standard laundry items, the washing process also includes a delicate washing process for delicate laundry items. The washing process sequentially executes the rinsing process, the intermediate spin-drying process, the rinsing process, and the final spin-drying process.

[0121] During the washing process, the drive mode is switched to independent drive mode via the second clutch mechanism 900. As a result, the washing and spin-drying tub 22 is fixed in a non-rotating state, while the rotating blades 24 and the water-spraying blades 25 can rotate independently relative to the washing and spin-drying tub 22. It should be noted that the switch to independent drive mode occurs at the end of the final rinsing process of the previous washing cycle. At this time, the drive motor 100 is stopped by the braking mechanism 930, and the inertially rotating washing and spin-drying tub 22 is braked.

[0122] Furthermore, during the washing process, when the washing process is in a standard state, the drive mode is switched to the first drive mode via the first clutch mechanism 800. This results in the rotation of the drive motor 100 being transmitted to both the rotating vane 24 and the water-spraying vane 25. Moreover, the rotation of the rotating vane 24 is unrestricted.

[0123] With the washing and spin-drying tub 22 filled with water containing detergent, the drive motor 100 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise intermittently. This causes the rotating vane 24 and the water-lifting vane 25 to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise intermittently. At this time, the water-lifting vane 25 rotates at a higher speed than the rotating vane 24.

[0124] The rotation of the rotating blade 24 generates a vortex within the washing and dehydration tub 22. The laundry inside the tub 22 is cleaned by being agitated or rubbed against each other by the vortex. Furthermore, the laundry is also cleaned by friction from the blades 24a of the rotating blade 24.

[0125] When the water jets 25 rotate, water between the washing and spin-drying tub 22 and the outer tub 20 is drawn into the recess 26 through the water inlet 22b. The drawn-in water is pushed out by the water jets 25 and sent to each water channel 28, flowing through each water channel 28 and being released into the washing and spin-drying tub 22 from each outlet 27a. The laundry on the water surface side of the washing and spin-drying tub 22 is washed by the falling water. It should be noted that the cleaning properties of the detergent are also utilized during the washing process.

[0126] Thus, through the vortex caused by the rotation of the rotating blade 24 and the water circulation caused by the rotation of the water jet 25, the standard laundry is cleaned well.

[0127] On the other hand, during the washing process, when the washing process is in the degreasing state, the drive mode is switched to the second drive mode via the first clutch mechanism 800. As a result, the rotation of the drive motor 100 is transmitted to the water jet 25 instead of the rotating blade 24. Furthermore, the rotation of the rotating blade 24 is restricted.

[0128] With water containing detergent stored in the washing and spin-drying tub 22, the drive motor 100 rotates. This causes the water-spraying vane 25 to rotate while the rotating blade 24 remains stationary. At this time, the drive motor 100 and the water-spraying vane 25 can rotate continuously in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, or they can rotate intermittently. Even when the drive motor 100 and the water-spraying vane 25 rotate intermittently, they can also rotate clockwise or counterclockwise intermittently.

[0129] The laundry inside the washing and spin-drying tub 22 is washed by being agitated by detergent-containing water discharged from the outlet 27a of the water supply channel 28. Furthermore, a water flow is generated within the washing and spin-drying tub 22 from the surface side to the bottom side, passing over the laundry and thus washing it. During this time, the rotating blades 24 are not driven by the drive motor 100, therefore no eddies are generated, and friction between the laundry items is minimal. Additionally, the laundry is less likely to be rubbed by the blades 24a of the rotating blades 24.

[0130] Here, when the water-spraying blade 25 rotates, the viscosity of the water between the water-spraying blade 25 and the rotating blade 24 transmits a force to the rotating blade 24 to make it rotate. However, since the rotation of the rotating blade 24 is restricted as described above, it is possible to prevent the rotating blade 24 from rotating along with the water-spraying blade 25.

[0131] Furthermore, the two side edges 624a and 624b of the engaging portion 624 of the first motor pulley 620 are inclined relative to the central axis L. Therefore, when the rotating blade 24 is subjected to a large rotational force for some reason and this rotational force is transmitted to the first motor pulley 620 and the first motor pulley 620 rotates, the engaging portion 842 is easily pushed outward from the engaging portion 624 along the aforementioned inclination, and the engagement between the engaging portion 842 and the engaging portion 624 is released. As a result, the latch 840 is not easily subjected to large loads, and therefore the limiting portion 800b is not easily damaged.

[0132] Thus, through the water circulation caused by the rotation of the water jets 25, delicate laundry items are cleaned well in a way that minimizes fabric damage.

[0133] It should be noted that during the finishing process, the intermittent rotation of the rotating blades 24 for short periods of time can also be used to move the laundry little by little while efficiently bringing the circulating water into contact with the laundry.

[0134] During the rinsing process, similar to the washing process, in the standard washing cycle, the rotary vane 24 and the water jet 25 rotate. Through the vortex effect caused by the rotation of the rotary vane 24 and the water circulation caused by the rotation of the water jet 25, standard laundry is thoroughly rinsed. Furthermore, in the de-icing cycle, only the water jet 25 rotates. Through the water circulation caused by the rotation of the water jet 25, delicate laundry is thoroughly rinsed in a way that minimizes fabric damage.

[0135] It should be noted that during the rinsing process, immediately after the intermediate dehydration process ends, the switch to independent drive mode is performed. Through the braking mechanism 930, the drive motor 100 is stopped, and the inertial rotating washing and dehydration tub 22 is braked.

[0136] During the intermediate and final dehydration processes, the drive mode is switched to an integrated drive mode via the second clutch mechanism 900. This results in the dehydration drum shaft 200, the water jet shaft 300, and the rotating blade shaft 400 being engaged, allowing the washing and dehydration drum 22, the rotating blade 24, and the water jet 25 to rotate as a single unit. Furthermore, the drive mode is switched to a third drive mode via the first clutch mechanism 800. This results in the rotation of the drive motor 100 being transmitted to the water jet shaft 300 via the second transmission mechanism 700 instead of the rotating blade shaft 400 via the first transmission mechanism 600. The rotating blade shaft 400 then rotates without restriction.

[0137] When switching to integrated drive mode, drain valve 40 is opened by opening / closing mechanism 940. This allows water to drain from both the washing and spin-drying tub 22 and the outer tub 20.

[0138] After drainage, the drive motor 100 rotates at high speed in one direction. Since no speed increase or decrease occurs in the second transmission mechanism 700, the water-lifting blade shaft 300, the spin-drying drum shaft 200 integrated with the water-lifting blade shaft 300, and the rotating blade shaft 400 rotate at the same speed as the drive motor 100. Thus, the washing and spin-drying drum 22, the rotating blade 24, and the water-lifting blade 25 rotate together at high speed, the same speed as the drive motor 100. Through the centrifugal force generated in the washing and spin-drying drum 22, the laundry is dehydrated.

[0139] <Effects of the Implementation Method>

[0140] According to this embodiment, the drive unit 30 rotates the water jet 25 without rotating the rotary vane 24, discharging water from the outlet 27a while circulating the water between the washing and spin-drying tub 22 and the water discharge path 28, thereby cleaning delicate laundry items. This helps to prevent fabric damage to delicate laundry items caused by washing.

[0141] Furthermore, in the second drive mode where only the hydrofoil 25 rotates, the rotation of the rotor 24 is restricted by the limiting part 800b. Therefore, when the hydrofoil 25 rotates, even if the rotor 24 is subjected to a force that would cause it to rotate due to the viscosity of the water between the hydrofoil 25 and the rotor 24, the rotor 24 can be prevented from rotating.

[0142] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when switching to the second drive mode, the latch 840 performs a limiting action, restricting the rotation of the first motor pulley 620. Therefore, since the rotation of the rotor shaft 400 is restricted, even if a force is applied to the rotor 24 to cause it to rotate, rotation of the rotor 24 can be prevented.

[0143] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the latching portion 842 of the latch 840 engages with the latched portion 624 at the outer periphery of the first motor pulley 620, which is larger than the diameter of the rotor shaft 400. Therefore, the force applied to the latch 840 when the rotor 24 is about to rotate is reduced, making it easier to prevent the rotor 24 from rotating.

[0144] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the two side edges 624a and 624b of the engaging portion 624 of the first motor pulley 620 are inclined relative to the central axis L. Therefore, when the first motor pulley 620 rotates due to a large rotational force, the engaging portion 842 is easily pushed outward from the engaging portion 624 along the aforementioned inclination, and the engagement between the engaging portion 842 and the engaging portion 624 is released. Therefore, the latch 840 is not easily subjected to large loads, and thus the limiting portion 800b is not easily damaged.

[0145] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the fixing and fixing release actions implemented by the clutch body 810 of the switching part 800a and the limiting and limiting release actions implemented by the latch 840 of the limiting part 800b are performed by a lever drive device 860, thereby reducing the cost of the fully automatic washing machine 1.

[0146] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, etc. In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above.

[0147] For example, in the above embodiment, a lever drive device 860 performs the fixing and unfixing actions implemented by the clutch body 810 of the switching unit 800a, and the limiting and unlimiting actions implemented by the latch bar 840 of the limiting unit 800b. However, it is also possible that the switching unit 800a and the limiting unit 800b are each provided with a drive device that performs the fixing and unfixing actions implemented by the clutch body 810 and a drive device that performs the limiting and unlimiting actions implemented by the latch bar 840, respectively.

[0148] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rotation of the rotating body that rotates together with the rotor 24, namely the first motor pulley 620, is limited by the limiting part 800b. However, a structure in which the same rotating body as the first motor pulley 620, namely the first pulley 610, is limited by the limiting part, may also be used. Alternatively, a structure in which a dedicated rotating body, not a pulley but limited by the limiting part, is provided on the rotor shaft 400 may also be used. Furthermore, the limiting part of the present invention is not limited to a rotating body; it may also be a member that limits the rotation of the rotor 24 by limiting the rotation of any rotating portion of the drive path from the drive motor 100 to the rotor 24, or it may be a member that directly acts on the rotor 24 to limit its rotation.

[0149] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the limiting part 800b adopts the following structure: the latch 840 contacts the first motor pulley 620, and its engaging part 842 engages with the engaged part 624 of the first motor pulley 620, thereby limiting the rotation of the rotating blade 24 by limiting the rotation of the first motor pulley 620. However, the structure of the limiting part 800b is not limited to the above structure. For example, the limiting part 800b may also adopt the following structure, which uses a so-called disc brake: a pair of clamping members clamp the two sides of the outer peripheral edge of the flange 623 of the first motor pulley 620, and this pair of clamping members has friction members on the surfaces that contact these two surfaces, thereby limiting the rotation of the first motor pulley 620. In this case, the pair of clamping members constitute a limiting body that limits the rotation of the rotating body.

[0150] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the hydrofoil shaft 300 does not include a speed reduction mechanism or a speed increase mechanism, and is composed of a single shaft. However, the hydrofoil shaft 300 may also adopt a structure including an input shaft fixed to the second pulley 710, an output shaft fixed to the hydrofoil 25, and a speed reduction mechanism or speed increase mechanism disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft.

[0151] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a structure is adopted in which the rotary vane shaft 400 is inserted into the water-lifting vane shaft 300. However, a structure in which the water-lifting vane shaft 300 is inserted into the rotary vane shaft 400 in the opposite direction to the above structure can also be adopted. In this case, since the water-lifting vane 25 would cause obstruction, the rotary vane shaft 400 cannot be directly fixed to the rotary vane 24. Therefore, in this case, the rotary vane shaft 400 and the rotary vane 24 can also be connected by a connecting part that encloses the water-lifting vane 25. The connecting part is provided with an inlet and an outlet for water to flow into and out of the connecting part when the water-lifting vane 25 rotates. In addition, the second transmission mechanism 700 is disposed above the first transmission mechanism 600. It should be noted that when adopting a structure in which the water-lifting vane shaft 300 is inserted into the rotary vane shaft 400, the rotary vane shaft 400 is not a single shaft but adopts a structure including an input shaft fixed to the first pulley 610, an output shaft fixed to the rotary vane 24, and a speed-reduction mechanism or speed-increasing mechanism provided between the input shaft and the output shaft.

[0152] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first clutch mechanism 800 is provided on the motor shaft 130 side. However, the first clutch mechanism 800 may also be provided on the rotor shaft 400 side. In this case, the first pulley 610 is rotatable relative to the rotor shaft 400, and the clutch body 810 is disposed on the rotor shaft 400. In this structure, when switching to the second drive mode, the first pulley 610 idles while the rotor shaft 400 does not rotate; when switching to the first drive mode, the first pulley 610 rotates together with the rotor shaft 400.

[0153] Furthermore, as long as the switching section 800a of the first clutch mechanism section 800 can switch between the first drive mode and the second drive mode, a structure other than that listed in the above embodiments can also be adopted.

[0154] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the discharge port 27a is located at the upper part of the water conveyance channel 28, but it can also be located at other positions such as the central part. In addition, the discharge port 27a can be of any shape. Furthermore, the number of water conveyance channels 28 can be arbitrary.

[0155] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first transmission mechanism 600 is composed of a first pulley 610, a first motor pulley 620, and a first transmission belt 630, and the second transmission mechanism 700 is composed of a second pulley 710, a second motor pulley 720, and a second transmission belt 730. However, the first transmission mechanism 600 may also be composed of a first motor gear disposed on the motor shaft 130 and a first gear disposed on the rotor shaft 400 and meshing with the first motor gear, and the second transmission mechanism 700 may also be composed of a second motor gear disposed on the motor shaft 130 and a second gear disposed on the hydrofoil shaft 300 and meshing with the second motor gear.

[0156] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, an example of applying the present invention to a fully automatic washing machine 1 without a clothes drying function has been shown. However, the present invention can also be applied to a fully automatic washer-dryer combo equipped with a clothes drying function.

[0157] Furthermore, various modifications can be made to the embodiments of the present invention within the scope of the technical concept shown in the technical solution.

Claims

1. A washing machine, characterized in that, have: The washing and spin-drying tub is rotatably mounted inside the outer tub. A rotating blade is rotatably disposed at the bottom of the washing and spin-drying tub; A water-spraying wing is rotatably disposed between the bottom wall of the washing and spin-drying tub and the rotating wing; A water conveyance path is provided on the side wall of the washing and dehydration tub, through which water supplied by the rotation of the water conveyance blades flows; The outlet allows water flowing through the water discharge path to be discharged into the washing and dehydration tub; as well as The drive unit is used to drive the washing and dehydrating tub, the rotating blades, and the water-lifting blades. The drive unit includes: Drive motor; The switching unit switches between a dual-wing drive mode and a single-wing drive mode. The dual-wing drive mode transmits the rotation of the drive motor to both the rotor and the water-lifting blades. The single-wing drive mode transmits the rotation of the drive motor to the water-lifting blades instead of the rotor. A limiting part is used to limit the rotation of the rotor in the single-wing drive mode to prevent the rotor from rotating along with the water-lifting blade.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit includes: Rotary wing shaft, constituting the rotation axis of the rotary wing; and The rotating body rotates together with the rotating wing shaft. The limiting part includes: The limiting body performs a limiting action by contacting the rotating body to limit the rotation of the rotating body, and a limiting release action by moving away from the rotating body to release the rotation limitation of the rotating body.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting body includes an engaging portion. The rotating body includes a engaged portion for engaging with the engaging portion in the rotational direction of the rotating body. The engaging portion has a shape that is recessed from the outer periphery of the rotating body toward the center. The engaging part is inserted into the engaging part from the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body. The two sides of the engaging portion extending radially along the rotating body are inclined relative to the radial central axis of the engaging portion in a manner that expands toward the outer periphery of the rotating body.

4. The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The rotating body is mounted on the motor shaft of the drive motor. The switching unit includes: The clutch body performs a fixing action to fix the rotating body to the motor shaft so that the rotation of the motor shaft is transmitted to the rotary blade shaft via the rotating body, and a fixing-releasing action to release the fixing of the rotating body relative to the motor shaft. The drive unit includes a drive device contained in the switching unit and the limiting unit. When switching to the dual-wing drive mode, the clutch body performs the fixing action and the limiting body performs the limiting release action. When switching to the single-wing drive mode, the clutch body performs the fixing release action and the limiting body performs the limiting action.

5. The washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The diameter of the rotating body is larger than the diameter of the rotating wing shaft, and the limiting body is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body.

6. The washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive unit further includes a first transmission mechanism, a second transmission mechanism, and a hydrofoil shaft. The first transmission mechanism is used to transmit the rotation of the drive motor to the rotary rotor shaft, and the second transmission mechanism is used to transmit the rotation of the drive motor to the hydrofoil shaft. The hydrofoil shaft constitutes the rotation axis of the hydrofoil. In the dual-wing drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the rotary rotor shaft via the first transmission mechanism and to the hydrofoil shaft via the second transmission mechanism. In the single-wing drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft via the second transmission mechanism instead of the rotary rotor shaft via the first transmission mechanism.

7. The washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switching unit can also switch to a third driving mode, which is a driving mode in which the rotation of the drive motor is not transmitted to the rotary blade but to the water-lifting blade, and the rotary blade can rotate.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that, The drive unit further includes a first transmission mechanism, a second transmission mechanism, and a hydrofoil shaft. The first transmission mechanism is used to transmit the rotation of the drive motor to the rotary wing shaft, and the second transmission mechanism is used to transmit the rotation of the drive motor to the hydrofoil shaft. The hydrofoil shaft constitutes the rotation axis of the hydrofoil. In the third drive mode, the rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the hydrofoil shaft via the second transmission mechanism instead of the first transmission mechanism to the rotary wing shaft.

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