Washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which has excellent visibility in a tub.SOLUTION: A washing machine 100 includes a tub 3, a housing 1, and a door 4. The tub 3 opens toward the front. The housing 1 stores the tub 3, and has a front surface part 13 positioned in front of the tub 3. The door 4 is mounted in such a manner that a second opening 31 is openable / closable with respect to the housing 1, and covers at least a part of the front surface part 13 including a region where the second opening 31 is provided. The door 4 has a transmission part 41 which reaches up to the upper side more than the second opening 31 from the lower side more than the second opening 31 and reaches up to the right side more than the second opening 31 from the left side more than the second opening 31, and transmits visible light. A surface of the transmission part 41 includes a curve part 43 which is positioned so as to cover at least a part of the front of the second opening 31 of the tub 3, and protrudes frontward in a plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a washing machine having a spin tub provided in a housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 135019 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for improved visibility inside the washing machine tub.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with excellent visibility inside the tub. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a washing machine includes a tub, a housing, and a door. The tub opens forward. The housing houses the tub and has a front surface located in front of the tub. The door is attached to the housing so as to be able to open and close the opening, and covers at least a part of the front surface including the area where the opening is provided. The door has a transparent portion that extends from below the opening to above the opening and from the left side of the opening to the right side of the opening, and transmits visible light. The surface of the transparent portion is positioned so as to cover the front of at least a part of the tub in the opening direction, and includes a curved portion that protrudes forward in a plan view. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, for example, visibility inside the tub of a washing machine can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a washing machine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a washing machine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a washing machine according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a washing machine according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] A washing machine 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the washing machine 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the washing machine 100 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the washing machine 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] The washing machine 100 is a machine that washes laundry. The type of laundry is not particularly limited. The laundry may be, for example, clothing, shoes, belongings such as a bag, etc. The washing machine 100 may be a machine that only has a washing function that reduces dirt on the laundry, or may be a machine that has other functions such as a drying function, a sterilizing function, a deodorizing function, etc. in addition to the washing function. The washing machine 100 is, for example, a machine used to wash laundry such as clothing.

[0012] 1 and 2, the washing machine 100 includes a housing 1, a water tub (not shown) and tub 3 that open forward, and a door 4. The washing machine 100 is placed on a floor surface G.

[0013] In the present invention, "opening toward the front" refers to the case where the opening direction faces the front side, and includes, for example, opening diagonally upward toward the front. In the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, in a state where the washing machine 100 is installed, the side where the door is provided is the "front", the side opposite the door is the "rear", the right side as seen from a user standing facing the door is the "right", the left side is the "left", the left-right direction is the "width direction", the front-rear direction is the "depth direction", and the up-down direction is the "height direction".

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, housing 1 houses a water tub and tub 3. Housing 1 has a bottom surface 11, a top surface 12, a front surface 13, a rear surface 14, and a pair of side surfaces 15 (see Fig. 1). When washing machine 100 is placed on floor surface G, bottom surface 11 faces floor surface G. Bottom surface 11 is located below the water tub and tub 3.

[0015] Top surface portion 12 faces bottom surface portion 11 in the height direction. Top surface portion 12 is located above the water tank and tank 3.

[0016] The front surface portion 13 is located in front of the water tub and the tub 3. As shown in FIG. 2 etc., the front surface portion 13 has a first opening 131. The first opening 131 is an opening for inserting the laundry. The first opening 131 penetrates the front surface portion 13 in the front-rear direction. In detail, the first opening 131 penetrates the front surface portion 13 in a direction extending slightly diagonally upward toward the front. The first opening 131 faces a second opening 31 of the tub 3 described later. In other words, the housing 1 has a first opening 131 that opens toward the tub 3. The first opening 131 and the second opening 31 are provided so as to be substantially continuous with each other.

[0017] The first opening 131 has a circular shape when viewed from the front. The housing 1 is provided with a packing (not shown). The packing is a component for ensuring substantial airtightness between the door 4 and the tub 3 when the door 4 is closed. The packing is made of, for example, rubber or a resin such as a soft resin. The first opening 131 may be determined by the outer shape of the packing.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion 14 is disposed behind the water tank and the tank 3 .

[0019] The pair of side portions 15 shown in Fig. 1 are disposed on the right and left sides of the water tank and tank 3 shown in Fig. 2. The end portions in the width direction of the bottom portion 11 and the end portions in the width direction of the top portion 12 are connected by the side portions 15.

[0020] The water tub is, for example, displaceably disposed within the housing 1. The water tub stores water or an aqueous solution such as wash water or rinse water. The water tub is cylindrical with a closed bottom. An opening is formed at the front end of the water tub, and a bottom wall is formed at the rear end. The central axis of the water tub extends obliquely upward toward the front. Therefore, in the water tub, the position of the centroid of the opening is higher than the position of the centroid of the bottom surface.

[0021] The tub 3 can accommodate items to be washed, such as clothes. The tub 3 is disposed in the water tub. The tub 3 can rotate relative to the water tub. Like the water tub, the tub 3 is cylindrical (bottomed cylindrical) with a closed bottom. The diameter of the tub 3 is smaller than that of the water tub. The tub 3 is disposed coaxially with the water tub inside the water tub. The tub 3 is provided rotatably around the central axis. Thus, the tub 3 is a rotating tub that can rotate around a rotation axis that passes through the first opening 131 and extends obliquely upward toward the front. The rotation axis of the tub 3 is preferably inclined in the range of 3° to 10° with respect to the horizontal direction (depth direction), and more preferably in the range of 5° to 10°. Specifically, in this embodiment, the rotation axis of the tub 3 is inclined at 8° with respect to the depth direction.

[0022] The central axis of the tank 3 substantially coincides with the rotation axis of the tank. As shown in Fig. 2, the tank 3 includes a second opening 31, a bottom wall portion 32, and a plurality of baffles (not shown). The second opening 31 is formed at the front end of the tank 3, and the bottom wall portion 32 is formed at the rear end of the tank 3. In other words, the tank 3 has the second opening 31 facing the first opening 131. A plurality of water passage holes (not shown) are formed in the peripheral wall of the tank 3.

[0023] The tank 3 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a rotating shaft 33. The torque of the motor is transmitted to the tank 3 via the rotating shaft 33, causing the tank 3 to rotate.

[0024] The door 4 is attached to the housing 1. The door 4 is provided so as to cover the first opening 131, and is attached to the housing 1 so as to be able to open and close the first opening 131. When the door 4 is in a closed state, it covers at least a part of the outer surface of the front surface part 13 of the housing 1, including the area where the first opening 131 is provided. The outer surface of the front surface part 13 corresponds to an example of the front surface of the front surface part 13.

[0025] 1 to 3, the door 4 extends from the left side of the left end of the first opening 131 to the right side of the right end. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the door 4 extends from below the lower end of the first opening 131 to above the upper end. In other words, the door 4 covers substantially the entire front surface of the housing 1 in the width direction.

[0026] The door 4 covers substantially the entire front surface of the housing 1 in the height direction, except for a portion of the portion located below the first opening 131 of the housing 1 in the height direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the door 4 is divided in the height direction into an upper portion and a side portion with the upper end portion of the first opening 131 as the boundary. The side view shape of the upper portion of the door 4 is substantially linear. Specifically, the side view shape of the upper portion of the door 4 extends obliquely upward from the upper end portion of the first opening 131 toward the rear. The side view shape of the lower portion of the door 4 is substantially linear. Specifically, the side view shape of the lower portion of the door 4 extends vertically downward from the upper end portion of the first opening 131.

[0027] The shape of the door 4 in a front view is substantially rectangular, specifically, rectangular with chamfered or rounded corners.

[0028] The door 4 is supported at the right end or the left end so as to be rotatable in both directions, forward and backward, with respect to the housing 1. The opening 31 of the tank 3 is opened and closed with the rotation of the door 4. The door 4 has a transmitting portion 41. The transmitting portion 41 extends from below the first opening 131 to above the first opening 131. In other words, the transmitting portion 41 extends from below the second opening 31 to above the second opening 31. Moreover, the transmitting portion 41 extends from the left side of the second opening 31 to the right side of the second opening 31, and covers substantially the entire front side of the first opening 131.

[0029] The transmission part 41 transmits visible light. Here, "visible light" refers to light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more and 700 nm or less. "Transmitting visible light" means transmitting at least a part of light having at least a part of the wavelengths of visible light. "Transmitting visible light" includes the case where only a part of the wavelength range of the visible wavelength range (400 nm or more and 700 nm or less) is substantially transmitted. In addition, "transmitting visible light" includes the case where the transmittance of visible light is less than 100%. In other words, "transmitting visible light" means that the maximum transmittance of light in at least a part of the wavelength range of the wavelength range of 400 nm or more and 700 nm or less is greater than 0%, and is preferably 10% or more, and further preferably 30% or more. In this embodiment, the transmission part 41 has a visible light transmittance that allows the user to visually recognize the inside of the tank 3. Here, "visible" includes not only the case where the shape, color, etc. of the object in the tank 3 can be completely recognized, but also the case where the object is visible to the extent that the presence of the object in the tank 3 can be confirmed.

[0030] 2, the door 4 further has a non-transparent portion 42 located outside the transmissive portion 41. The non-transparent portion 42 is provided so as to surround the transmissive portion 41, which is provided in a substantially circular shape with a larger diameter than the first opening 131 in a front view. The non-transparent portion 42 is a portion having a light transmittance such that the portion of the door 4 opposite to the user is substantially invisible. Specifically, the non-transparent portion 42 does not substantially transmit visible light.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the surface 4s of the transmitting portion 41 is positioned so as to cover at least a portion of the front of the tank 3 in the direction of the second opening 31. Moreover, the surface 4s of the transmitting portion 41 includes a curved portion 43 that protrudes forward in a plan view. In other words, the surface 4s of the transmitting portion 41 has a center of curvature behind the transmitting portion 41. This can improve the visibility of the inside of the tank 3 for a user facing the first opening 131. Specifically, the reflectance of light on the surface 4s of the transmitting portion 41 can be reduced, and the incidence rate of light from the user's eyes can be increased. Therefore, the visibility of the inside of the tank 3 can be improved.

[0032] When a user views the inside of the tank 3 from diagonally forward, the angle of incidence with respect to the surface including the curved portion 43 protruding forward is smaller than that of a surface (flat surface) that does not include the curved portion 43. According to Snell's law, the reflectance of light tends to decrease as the angle of incidence of light decreases, and increases as the angle of incidence of light increases. In other words, by including the curved portion 43 protruding forward in a plan view, the surface of the transmitting portion 41 can reduce the reflectance of light and increase the transmittance. Therefore, the visibility of the inside of the tank 3 can be improved.

[0033] In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the door 4 does not have a curved portion in the vertical direction in a side view. When a user looks into the inside of the tub 3 from diagonally above, the absence of a curved surface in the vertical direction prevents distortion. This prevents a decrease in visibility into the inside of the tub 3.

[0034] 3, the door 4 extends from a position to the left of the left end, which is one end in the width direction of the second opening 31, to a position to the right of the right end, which is the other end in the width direction. Therefore, the area in which visibility is improved by the curved portion 43 is expanded in the width direction. In other words, the visibility of the tub 3 can be improved over a wide range in the width direction. From this perspective, it is preferable that the curved portion 43 extends from a position to the left of the left end, which is one end in the width direction of the second opening 31, to a position to the right of the right end, which is the other end in the width direction.

[0035] The washing machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the washing machine of the first embodiment.

[0036] In the present embodiment 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the housing 1 includes a support portion 5. The support portion 5 supports the door 4 on the housing 1. The door 4 is configured to be rotatable around the left end portion, which is one end portion in the width direction. The door 4 is rotatable around the support portion 5. The door 4 has a curved portion 43 at the right end portion, which is the other end portion in the width direction. When the radius of the rotation trajectory of the door 4 around the support portion 5 is radius R, the radius R1 of the door 4 having the curved portion 43 at the right end portion is shorter than the radius R2 of the door 4 not having the curved portion 43 at the right end portion. Therefore, the space required for the opening and closing operation of the door 4 can be reduced. In other words, the constraints on the arrangement of the washing machine 100 can be reduced.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the door 4 has a curved portion 43 at the left end, which is one side end in the width direction. When the washing machine 100 is arranged with the side portion 15 on one side in the width direction close to the wall of the room, there is a risk that the door 4 cannot be opened. In other words, when a corner protruding forward is formed on one side portion in the width direction of the door 4, the corner moves to one side in the width direction from the support portion 5 by the opening operation of the door 4. When the corner moves to one side in the width direction from the support portion 5, the corner interferes with the wall of the room. Therefore, by forming the one side end in the width direction of the door 4 into the curved portion 43, the part (corner) protruding forward is eliminated, and interference with the wall of the room can be avoided. Therefore, the constraints on the arrangement of the washing machine 100 can be further reduced.

[0038] In the first embodiment, curved portions 43 are formed on one side and the other side in the width direction of the door 4. In addition, no curved portion 43 is formed in the center of the width direction of the door 4 in a plan view. Therefore, when a user views the inside of the tub 3 from the front, visibility can be improved.

[0039] [Embodiment 2] A second embodiment of the washing machine 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that it has an in-tub light 6. The following describes the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment, and the rest of the description of the first embodiment is incorporated in the second embodiment.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the washing machine 100 of the second embodiment. Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of the washing machine 100 of the second embodiment.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, the housing 1 has a tub light 6. The tub light 6 illuminates the inside of the tub 3. The tub light 6 is attached to the rear side of the door 4 via an attachment portion 7. When the door 4 is closed, the tub light 6 is located inside and above the first opening 131. Specifically, the tub light 6 is disposed opposite a position near the top of the second opening 31. Therefore, the tub light 6 irradiates light onto the items to be washed in the tub 3. This improves the visibility of the items to be washed by the user.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, the interior tank light 6 is close to the surface of the door 4 in a side view. Therefore, the vertical light L1 has a larger angle of incidence than the light of an interior tank light that is not close to the surface of the door 4. Therefore, more of the light L1 from the interior tank light 6 is reflected by the surface of the door 4 and enters the tank 3. As a result, the visibility of the user is improved.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 6, the light L2 in the width direction has a smaller angle of incidence than the light reflected from the door 4, whose surface is not curved in the width direction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of light L2 that is reflected from the surface of the door 4 and travels beyond the tub 3 to the outside in the width direction. In other words, it is possible to increase the amount of light L2 that is reflected from the surface of the door 4 and enters the tub 3 out of the light from the interior tub light 6. As a result, the user's visibility is improved.

[0044] [Embodiment 3] With reference to Fig. 7, a third embodiment of the washing machine 100 will be described. The third embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment in that it has a plurality of operation units 44. Below, the differences between the third embodiment and the first embodiment will be described, and the rest of the description of the first embodiment will be applied to the third embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the washing machine 100 according to the third embodiment.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, door 4 has a plurality of operation units 44. The plurality of operation units 44 are mechanisms for allowing a user to operate washing machine 100. Typically, operation unit 44 has, for example, at least one input unit, and washing machine 100 can be controlled by a user operating the input unit. The input unit may be, for example, a button. Operation unit 44 may be, for example, configured with a touch panel, or may be configured with a mechanical button that is displaced in the direction of pressure.

[0047] The multiple operating units 44 are disposed on the upper portion 4a of the door 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper portion 4a is located substantially above the first opening 131. The upper portion 4a is inclined toward the rear. The upper portion 4a is curved and protrudes forward in a plan view.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 7, the multiple operation units 44 are arranged along the width direction. When the multiple operation units 44 are arranged at equal intervals on the upper side portion 4a, the distance in the width direction between the operation unit 44 and the adjacent operation unit 44 is set to distance d1. When the same number of operation units 44 of the same size as those of the third embodiment are arranged at equal intervals on the door of a comparative washing machine having the same specifications as the washing machine 100 of the third embodiment except for the door surface shape, the distance in the width direction between the operation unit 44 and the adjacent operation unit 44 is set to distance d2. The door surface of the comparative washing machine is flat in a plan view. In this case, the width dimension of the door 4 is larger than the width dimension of the door of the comparative washing machine. Therefore, the distance d1 is larger than the distance d2. As a result, the user's erroneous operation of the operation unit 44 can be suppressed. In addition, when the same number of operation units as those of the third embodiment are arranged at the same separation distance on the door of the comparative washing machine, the operation unit 44 can be formed larger than the operation unit of the comparative washing machine. Therefore, the user's erroneous operation of the operation unit 44 can be suppressed.

[0049] [Embodiment 4] A fourth embodiment of the washing machine 100A will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The fourth embodiment is mainly different from the first embodiment in that it has a curved shape in side view. Hereinafter, the differences between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment will be described, and the rest of the description of the first embodiment will be applied to the fourth embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the washing machine 100A of the fourth embodiment.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 8, the door 4A has a transparent portion 41A that transmits visible light. The surface of the transparent portion 41A has a second curved portion 45 in a side view. The second curved portion 45 protrudes forward. In other words, the door 4A has the second curved portion 45 that protrudes forward in a side view. Therefore, the reflectance of light on the surface of the transparent portion 41A can be reduced, and the incidence rate of light from the eyes of a user who views the inside of the tank 3 from above can be increased. Therefore, the visibility inside the tank 3 can be improved.

[0052] The second curved portion 45 reaches below the intersection P between the rotation axis 33 of the tub 3 and the surface of the door 4A. The second curved portion 45 reaches from the lower part of the tub 3 to substantially the upper end part of the tub 3 in the height direction. The second curved portion 45 is inclined backward in the region above the intersection P, and is inclined backward in the region below the intersection P.

[0053] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist of the present invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each of the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components across different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings are mainly shown in a schematic manner for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown in the drawings are different from the actual ones due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are only examples and are not particularly limited, and various changes are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the configuration of the present invention.

[0054] As described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8, in the first to fourth embodiments, the curved portions 43 are formed on one and the other side portions in the width direction of the door 4, and the curved portion 43 is not formed in the center portion in the width direction of the door 4 in a plan view. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The door 4 may be formed to have a curved portion from one end portion in the width direction to the other end portion in the width direction. This can further reduce the light reflectance on the surface and further increase the incidence rate of light from the eyes of the user who views the inside of the tub 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: Housing 3: Tank 4: Door 4A: Door 6: Tank interior light 31 :Aperture 41:Transparent part 41A:Transparent part 43: Curved section 44:Operation unit 100: Washing machine 100A: Washing machine

Claims

1. A tank opening toward the front; a housing that houses the tank and has a front surface located forward of the tank; a door attached to the housing so as to be capable of opening and closing the opening and covering at least a portion of the front surface including an area where the opening is provided; Equipped with the door has a transparent portion that extends from below the opening to above the opening and from the left side of the opening to the right side of the opening, and transmits visible light; The surface of the transmission portion is positioned so as to cover the front of at least a portion of the tub in an opening direction and includes a curved portion that protrudes forward in a plan view.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the door extends from a position on one side of the opening in the width direction that is further than the one end of the opening in the width direction to a position on the other side of the opening in the width direction that is further than the other end of the opening in the width direction.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the door is configured to be rotatable about one side end in a width direction, and the door has the curved portion at the other side end in the width direction.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the door has the curved portion at one side end in the width direction.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door has the curved portion from one widthwise side end to the other widthwise side end.

6. The door has a plurality of operating parts, The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of operation parts are arranged along a width direction.

7. The housing has an interior light for illuminating the interior of the tank, The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interior light is disposed opposite an upper portion of the opening.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door does not have the curved portion in a vertical direction in a side view.

9. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the door has a curved portion in a vertical direction in a side view.

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