Drum type washing machine

Abstract

To provide a drum type washing machine which has improved operability of a handle of a door.SOLUTION: A door 20 has a handle 21 which is formed on a rear surface of the door 20, and is not exposed on a front surface side of the door 20. The handle 21 includes a movable member 211 to which a user's finger is hooked when opening the door 20. The movable member 211 is exposed to the rear surface of the door 20 from an opening provided at a first frame member 22 for forming an outside surface and the rear surface of the door 20. On a door outer peripheral side in the movable member 211, a gap G1 is provided between the outside surface of the movable member 211 and an inside surface of the first frame member 22. The gap G1 becomes narrower as the movable member 211 moves from a non-operation position to an operation position, and a gap is secured which does not become 0 even when the movable member 211 is at the operation position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drum type washing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A drum-type washing machine has a front-opening door on the front side of the housing. Patent Document 1 discloses a drum-type washing machine in which the handle of the door is not exposed on the front side of the door, thereby improving the design of the door. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 065288 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The lid or door of a washing machine is opened and closed by the user, so it is important that it is not only aesthetically pleasing but also easy to operate for the user. In particular, ease of use of the handle is important.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a drum-type washing machine with improved operability of a door handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the drum type washing machine disclosed herein is a drum type washing machine having a door on the front of the washing machine body, the door having a handle formed on the back side of the door and not exposed on the front side of the door, the handle including a movable member on which a user places his or her finger when opening the door, the movable member being exposed on the back side of the door from an opening provided in a first frame member that forms the outer surface and back side of the door, a first gap being provided between the outer surface of the movable member and the inner surface of the first frame member on the door outer periphery side, the first gap narrowing as the movable member moves from a non-operation position when not being operated by a user to an operation position when being operated by a user, and a gap that is not zero is secured even when the movable member is in the operation position. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The drum-type washing machine of the present disclosure has an advantage of improving the operability of the door handle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a drum-type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention with a door closed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the drum-type washing machine of FIG. 1 with a door open. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a door handle when the handle is not being operated by a user. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a door handle, showing a state in which the handle is being operated by a user. [Figure 6] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the transparent cover of the door. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [First embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the drum type washing machine of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are perspective views showing the appearance of a drum type washing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a washing machine) 1 according to this embodiment. The washing machine 1 has a front-opening door 20 for covering a laundry input port to a washing tub on the front side of a washing machine main body 10. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the door 20 is closed, and Fig. 2 shows a state in which the door 20 is open. In the following description, the front side, the rear side, the width direction (left and right direction), the depth direction (front and back direction), the height direction, etc. refer to the directions when the washing machine 1 is installed.

[0010] In the present invention, the term "washing machine" refers to a general device that performs various processes such as washing on the laundry. The washing machine processes the laundry, for example, washing, drying, deodorizing, and sterilizing. The laundry is not particularly limited. Examples of the laundry include cloth products. Specific examples of the laundry include clothing such as clothes, hats, and gloves, belongings such as shoes, bags, handkerchiefs, and towels, bedding such as curtains, blankets, towel blankets, and futon covers, carpets, stuffed toys, and the like.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, door 20 is a round door that matches the shape of the laundry inlet. Door 20 is pivotally supported by a hinge at one end (left side as viewed from the front in the example of Figures 1 and 2) relative to washing machine body 10 so as to be freely rotatable, and opens and closes the laundry inlet by pivoting horizontally about the hinge shaft.

[0012] On the front side of washing machine 1, door 20 does not protrude from the front side of washing machine body 10. Therefore, the front side of washing machine 1 is formed so that the front side of washing machine body 10 and door 20 are substantially flush with each other, improving the design of washing machine 1. In this way, washing machine 1, which has no unevenness between the front side of washing machine body 10 and the front side of door 20, is easy to install and easy to clean without the risk of people getting caught.

[0013] In addition, the front surface of the washing machine 1 does not have to be completely flat, and may have a vertical surface and an inclined surface formed above the vertical surface, as shown in Fig. 1, for example. In this case, the door 20 may be disposed across both the vertical surface and the inclined surface. By having an inclined surface on the upper part of the front surface of the washing machine 1, the visibility of the inside of the washing tub and the operability of the user operation parts (such as the handle 21 and the operation display panel on the upper part of the door 20 described later) are improved, and by making the lower part of the front surface of the washing machine 1 a vertical surface, the lower part of the washing machine main body 10 is prevented from protruding forward, improving the ease of installation.

[0014] A handle 21 is provided on the upper right side of the door 20 when viewed from the front, for a user to place his or her hand on when opening the door 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the handle 21 is formed on the back side along the outer periphery of the door 20 and is not exposed on the front side of the door 20. This allows the handle 21 to improve the design of the door 20 without affecting the design of the front side of the door 20. Furthermore, the elimination of unevenness on the front side of the door 20 due to the handle 21 also improves the cleanability of the door 20.

[0015] At a location on the front surface of the washing machine body 10 corresponding to the handle 21, a recess 11 is provided on the outer periphery of the handle 21, recessed rearward from the front surface of the door 20. When the user opens the door 20, the user can insert his / her hand through the recess 11 and place his / her hand on the handle 21. Furthermore, by providing the recess 11 on the front surface of the washing machine body 10, the user can easily recognize the position of the handle 21.

[0016] 2, an engagement claw 201 is provided on the rear surface of door 20. An engagement hole 101 is provided on the front surface of washing machine body 10 at a position opposite engagement claw 201. When door 20 is closed, engagement claw 201 is inserted into engagement hole 101 and engages with an engaged portion (not shown) in engagement hole 101, thereby enabling latching.

[0017] The handle 21 includes a movable member 211 (see Figs. 4 and 5) on which the user hooks his / her finger when opening the door 20. The engagement claw 201 is capable of swinging movement in conjunction with the operation of the handle 21 by the user, i.e., the operation of the movable member 211. When the user is not operating the handle 21, the engagement claw 201 is in a latched state in which it engages with the engagement hole 101, and when the user operates the handle 21, the engagement claw 201 is in an unlatched state in which it is not engaged with the engagement hole 101. As a result, when the user opens the door 20, the engagement claw 201 is in an unlatched state by operating the handle 21, and the user can open the door 20 with little force.

[0018] However, in this embodiment, since the handle 21 is not exposed on the front side of the door 20, when the user opens the door 20, the position where the user places the finger on the movable member 211 may not be the optimal position as designed. If the position where the user places the finger on the movable member 211 is not the optimal position, a problem may occur in which the pad of the finger is pinched in the gap between the movable member 211, which moves by the user's operation, and the frame member of the door 20 located on the outer periphery of the movable member 211. The door 20 of this embodiment improves the operability of the handle 21 by preventing such a problem. A specific configuration of the handle 21 of the door 20 will be described below.

[0019] Fig. 3 is a rear view of the door 20. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are cross-sectional views (cross-sectional views taken along line AA in Fig. 3) of the handle 21 of the door 20, with Fig. 4 showing the handle 21 in a state where it is not being operated by the user, and Fig. 5 showing the handle 21 in a state where it is being operated by the user. However, in Fig. 5, the user's hand (fingers) operating the handle 21 is not shown.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the handle 21 includes a movable member 211. The movable member 211 can move in response to a user's operation. Specifically, the movable member 211 moves in response to a user's operation of hooking a hand (fingers) and pulling forward. The movable member 211 moves by rotation about a predetermined rotation axis, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The handle 21 also includes a spring (not shown) disposed in front of the movable member 211, and the movable member 211 is biased toward a non-operation position (position shown in Fig. 4) (rearward) by this spring. The movable member 211 moves toward an operation position (position shown in Fig. 5) (forward) against the biasing force of the spring in response to a user's operation.

[0021] As the movable member 211 moves from the non-operating position to the operating position, the engaging claw 201 is displaced from the latched state to the unlatched state. The door 20 has an interlocking mechanism inside the door for interlocking the engaging claw 201 with the movable member 211, but a known structure can be used for this interlocking mechanism, so a detailed description will be omitted here.

[0022] The door 20 has a plurality of frame members, one of which is a first frame member 22. The first frame member 22 forms at least the side surface (outer surface) and the back surface of the door 20.

[0023] On the door outer periphery side of the movable member 211, a gap G1 (first gap) is provided between the outer surface of the movable member 211 and the inner surface of the first frame member 22. This gap G1 ensures a space necessary for the movable member 211 to rotate and moves, and becomes narrower as the movable member 211 moves from the non-operating position to the operating position. The first frame member 22 has an opening for exposing the movable member 211 to the back surface of the door 20 at the position where the handle 21 is formed, and the inner surface of the first frame member 22 refers to the side surface of the entire periphery of this opening. In addition, the outer surface of the movable member 211 refers to the inner surface of the first frame member 22, that is, the side surface of the movable member 211 facing the inner surface of the opening. For this reason, the gap G1 is formed between the outer surface of the movable member 211 on the door outer periphery side and the inner surface of the opening of the first frame member 22 on the door outer periphery side.

[0024] Here, the position where the user places his / her finger on the movable member 211 is considered to be the optimum position in design, where the pad of the finger touches the inside of the outer periphery of the movable member 211 on the back surface of the movable member 211. However, in reality, the position where the finger is placed may not be the optimum position. For example, the user may place his / her finger on the movable member 211 so that the pad of the finger is placed outside the outer periphery of the movable member 211, in other words, so that the pad of the finger is placed in the gap G1.

[0025] When the movable member 211 is moved toward the operating position with the user's finger placed against the movable member 211 so that the pad of the finger is caught in the gap G1, the gap G1 narrows with the pad of the finger touching the gap G1. In this case, if the gap G1 at the operating position is 0 or close to 0, the pad of the finger may be caught in the gap G1, causing discomfort to the user. In contrast, in the door 20 of this embodiment, the gap G1 is secured to a degree that the pad of the finger is not caught even in the movable member 211 at the operating position.

[0026] When the movable member 211 moves from the non-operation position to the operation position, a part of the movable member 211 abuts against the frame member of the door 20, thereby restricting the movement of the movable member 211 beyond the operation position. In other words, when a user operates the movable member 211 to move in order to open the door 20, the movable member 211 is positioned at the operation position by coming into a predetermined abutment state against the frame member.

[0027] In the door 20, the movement of the movable member 211 in the operating position is restricted by abutment with a frame member arranged on the front side of the movable member 211. In the example of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the second frame member 23 is arranged on the front side of the movable member 211, and the movable member 211 is positioned at the operating position by abutting against the second frame member 23. More specifically, the movable member 211 has legs 211a extending forward at an edge on the outer periphery side of the door, and at the operating position, the tips (front end portions) of the legs 211a abut against the rear surface of the second frame member 23.

[0028] The second frame member 23 is a member that holds the transparent cover 24 disposed on the front surface of the door 20. The transparent cover 24 is held on the door 20, for example, by adhering the vicinity of the peripheral portion of the transparent cover 24 to the front surface of the second frame member 23 with double-sided tape or the like.

[0029] In this manner, in the door 20 of this embodiment, the movable member 211 can be positioned at the operation position by abutting against the second frame member 23 disposed in front of the movable member 211. This ensures a non-zero gap G1 even when the movable member 211 is in the operation position, and prevents the pad of a finger from being pinched in the gap G1, improving the operability of the door 20. It is preferable that the gap G1 when the movable member 211 is in the operation position is in the range of 4 mm to 10 mm. It is also preferable that, when the movable member 211 is in the operation position, the outer side surface of the movable member 211 and the inner side surface of the first frame member 22 that form the gap G1 are substantially parallel to each other, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0030] The movable member 211 is also positioned at the non-operating position by abutting against the frame member. In this embodiment, a convex rib 211b formed to protrude toward the outer periphery of the door is provided at the tip of the leg 211a of the movable member 211. The movable member 211 can be positioned at the non-operating position by engaging this rib 211b with the tip (front end) of a wall surface 221 that is part of the inner surface of the first frame member 22 and faces the leg 211a. In this case, a convex rib 221a formed to protrude toward the inner periphery of the door may be provided at the tip of the wall surface 221, and the rib 211b of the movable member 211 may be engaged with the rib 221a of the first frame member 22.

[0031] The legs 211a and the ribs 211b of the movable member 211 are preferably formed over the entire width in the circumferential direction of the door 20. As a result, when the movable member 211 is in the operating position, there is no gap between the movable member 211 and the second frame member 23 over the entire width in the circumferential direction of the door 20, and it is possible to suppress the intrusion of dust, foreign matter, etc. into the inside of the door. Similarly, it is preferable that the wall surface 221 and the ribs 221a of the first frame member 22 are also formed over the entire width in the circumferential direction of the door 20. As a result, when the movable member 211 is in the non-operating position, there is no gap between the movable member 211 and the first frame member 22 over the entire width in the circumferential direction of the door 20, and it is possible to suppress the intrusion of dust, foreign matter, etc. into the inside of the door.

[0032] In the handle 21, it is preferable that the door outer peripheral edge of the movable member 211 is higher than the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22 in the non-operating position, and is at approximately the same height as the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22 in the operating position. Here, the height refers to the amount of protrusion toward the rear in the thickness direction of the door 20 (the front-rear direction when the door 20 is closed). In other words, "the door outer peripheral edge of the movable member 211 is higher than the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22" means that "the door outer peripheral edge of the movable member 211 protrudes rearward from the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22", and "the door outer peripheral edge of the movable member 211 and the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22 are at approximately the same height" means that "the door outer peripheral edge of the movable member 211 and the edge of the opening of the first frame member 22 protrude rearward to the same extent". Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, when the opening edge portion of the first frame member 22 has an inclined surface or a curved surface, the extension of this inclined surface or curved surface can be considered to be "the height of the opening edge portion of the first frame member 22."

[0033] With this configuration, when a user operates the handle 21, the door outer periphery side edge of the movable member 211 is higher than the opening edge of the first frame member 22 until the movable member 211 reaches the operating position, so that the first frame member 22 does not get in the way and the user can easily apply force only to the movable member 211, improving the operability of the handle 21. In addition, after the movable member 211 reaches the operating position, the door outer periphery side edge of the movable member 211 is at approximately the same height as the opening edge of the first frame member 22, so that the user's finger hits the first frame member 22, and the force applied to the movable member 211 can be reduced. In other words, it is possible to prevent excessive force from being applied to the movable member 211 that has reached the operating position, and to prevent damage to the movable member 211, etc.

[0034] Second Embodiment In the handle 21, even on the door inner periphery side of the movable member 211, a gap G2 (second gap) is provided between the outer surface of the movable member 211 and the inner surface of the first frame member 22 (see Figs. 4 and 5). This gap G2 also ensures a space necessary for the movable member 211 to rotate, but the gap G2 narrows as the movable member 211 returns from the operating position to the non-operating position.

[0035] In the door 20 of this embodiment, the movable member 211 in the non-operation position has a gap G2 that prevents the pad of the finger from being pinched. This makes it possible to prevent the pad of the finger from being pinched in the gap G2 when the movable member 211 is returned to the non-operation position, even when the user places the finger on the movable member 211 so that the pad of the finger is caught in the gap G2. In other words, by ensuring the gap G2 that is not zero even when the movable member 211 is in the non-operation position, the pad of the finger is not pinched in the gap G2, and the operability of the door 20 can be improved.

[0036] Third Embodiment 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the peripheral portion of the transparent cover 24 of the door 20. In the door 20 of this embodiment, the transparent cover 24 is a resin molded product made of transparent resin (e.g., acrylic resin) using a mold. Also, a film 241 is insert-molded into the transparent cover 24. In the example of FIG. 6, the film 241 is disposed as a surface layer of the transparent cover 24, but the film 241 may be disposed as an internal layer of the transparent cover 24.

[0037] The film 241 has a central portion as a transparent portion 241a and a peripheral portion as a non-transparent portion 241b. The transparent cover 24 allows the inside of the washing tub to be seen in the area corresponding to the transparent portion 241a. On the other hand, the non-transparent portion 241b of the film 241 serves as a screen for the members arranged on the back side of the transparent cover 24. In the door 20 of this embodiment, the second frame member 23 is arranged on the back side of the transparent cover 24. In this case, if the entire surface of the transparent cover 24 is a transparent area, the double-sided tape for attaching the transparent cover 24 to the second frame member 23 and the engagement claws for assembling the second frame member 23 to the first frame member 22 are visible, and the aesthetic appearance of the door 20 is deteriorated. The non-transparent portion 241b is provided in the film 241, and the double-sided tape and the engagement claws on the back side of the transparent cover 24 are hidden by the non-transparent portion 241b, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the door 20.

[0038] In addition, at the peripheral portion of the transparent cover 24, a flange portion 242 is formed so as to be warped rearward from the main surface of the transparent cover 24. The film 241 is also present in the flange portion 242. Since the film 241 is a flat film before being insert molded into the transparent cover 24, a buckling stress occurs in the film 241 in the circumferential direction at the flange portion 242. This buckling stress causes wrinkles to occur in the film 241 at the flange portion 242. The occurrence of wrinkles at the flange portion 242 becomes more noticeable as it moves away from the main surface of the transparent cover 24 and closer to the end of the flange portion 242. If the wrinkles in the film 241 are visible from the outside, the aesthetic appearance of the door 20 is degraded.

[0039] In this embodiment, wrinkles in the film 241 that occur on the flange portion 242 are covered and hidden by the first frame member 22, thereby preventing a decrease in the aesthetic appearance of the door 20.

[0040] Specifically, the first frame member 22 is disposed on the outer periphery of the door relative to the flange portion 242 of the transparent cover 24, and the second frame member 23 is disposed on the inner periphery of the door. That is, the flange portion 242 is disposed so that at least its end is sandwiched between the first frame member 22 and the second frame member 23. At this time, the tip (front end) of the first frame member 22 is located forward of the parting line PL of the transparent cover 24. It is preferable that the tip of the first frame member 22 is located 1 mm or more forward of the parting line PL. The parting line is a line along which a mold is divided when a molded product is removed from the mold.

[0041] In this way, by positioning the first frame member 22 on the outer periphery of the door relative to the flange portion 242 and positioning the tip of the first frame member 22 forward of the parting line PL of the transparent cover 24, wrinkles in the film 241 that occur at the flange portion 242 can be made to be invisible from the outside.

[0042] It is possible that the end of film 241 insert molded into transparent cover 24 may be partially exposed from parting line PL, but by positioning first frame member 22 on the door outer periphery side relative to flange portion 242 and positioning the tip of first frame member 22 forward of the parting line PL of transparent cover 24, it is possible to make the end of film 241 occurring at flange portion 242 or parting line PL invisible from the outside.

[0043] In addition, in the door 20, it is preferable that the protrusion amount L of the transparent cover 24 from the tip of the first frame member 22 is 5 mm or less. As described above, wrinkles in the film 241 that occur in the flange portion 242 become more noticeable the farther away from the main surface of the transparent cover 24, so by reducing the protrusion amount L of the transparent cover 24, the wrinkles in the film 241 become less visible.

[0044] Furthermore, in the transparent cover 24, an R (radius) is usually provided between the main surface of the transparent cover 24 and the flange portion 242, but the tip of the first frame member 22 may be positioned forward of the radius end of the transparent cover 24. In this case, the radius end refers to the end of the radius between the main surface of the transparent cover 24 and the flange portion 242 on the flange portion 242 side.

[0045] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments, but should be determined based on the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Washing machine 10 Washing machine body 20 Doors 21 Handle 211 Movable parts 211a Legs 211b Rib 22 First frame member 221 Wall 221a Rib 23 Second frame member 24 Transparent cover 241 Film 242 Flange G1 Gap (First Gap) G2 Gap (Second Gap)

Claims

1. A drum-type washing machine having a door on the front of the washing machine body, The door has a handle formed on a back side of the door and not exposed on a front side of the door, the handle includes a movable member on which a user places his or her finger when opening the door; The movable member is exposed to the rear surface of the door through an opening provided in a first frame member that forms the outer surface and rear surface of the door, A first gap is provided between an outer surface of the movable member and an inner surface of the first frame member on a door outer periphery side of the movable member, The first gap narrows as the movable member moves from a non-operating position when not being operated by the user to an operating position when being operated by the user, and a gap that is not zero is secured even when the movable member is in the operating position.

2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, The drum-type washing machine, wherein the movable member is positioned at the operation position by abutment with a second frame member arranged on a front side of the movable member.

3. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, The drum-type washing machine is characterized in that the first gap is in a range of 4 mm to 10 mm when the movable member is in an operating position.

4. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, a door outer circumferential edge portion of the movable member protruding rearward beyond the opening edge portion of the first frame member in a non-operating position, and protruding rearward to the same extent as the opening edge portion of the first frame member in an operating position.

5. The drum type washing machine according to claim 2, The movable member has a leg portion extending forward from the outer peripheral edge of the door and formed across the entire circumferential width of the door, and is positioned in an operating position by abutting the tip of the leg portion against the back surface of the second frame member.

6. The drum type washing machine according to claim 5, A protruding rib is provided at the tip of the leg portion and projects toward the outer periphery of the door, The drum-type washing machine is characterized in that the movable member is a part of the inner surface of the first frame member, and is positioned in a non-operating position by engaging the rib with a wall surface facing the leg portion.

7. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, A second gap is provided between an outer surface of the movable member and an inner surface of the first frame member on the door inner peripheral side of the movable member, The second gap narrows as the movable member returns from the operating position to the non-operating position, and a gap that is not zero is secured even when the movable member is in the non-operating position.

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