Washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine in which clothes are hardly damaged.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes a cylindrical water tub having a closed back side that is one side in a direction in which a central axis extends, a rotary tub provided concentrically with the water tub in the water tub and configured to rotate with respect to the water tub, a door configured to open and close an opening of the water tub, and an annular cover attached to an end portion of the water tub on a front side. The cover includes a cover body having a door side surface facing the door side, and a protrusion protruding from an opposite surface of the cover body opposite to the door side surface toward the back side in a region closer to the central axis than the front end of the rotary tub. The cover body includes a first inclined surface that is located on an upstream side of the convex portion in a rotation direction of the rotary tub and is inclined with respect to the central axis from a front side of a base end portion of the convex portion toward a base end portion side of the convex portion toward a downstream side, and a second inclined surface that is located on the upstream side of the first inclined surface in the rotation direction and extends inward from an outer side of the convex portion toward the upstream side in a radial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to washing machines. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an example of a drum-type washing machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-137641 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In drum-type washing machines, clothes may fly out of the rotating tub as it rotates. If clothes get caught between the rotating tub and the non-rotating part, they may be damaged.

[0005] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine that is less likely to damage clothes, for example. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cylindrical water tub whose rear end, which is one side in a direction along a central axis, is closed, a rotatable tub that is concentric with the water tub within the water tub and rotates relative to the water tub, a door that can open and close the opening of the water tub, and an annular cover attached to a front end of the water tub. The cover includes a cover body with a door side facing the door, and a convex portion that protrudes toward the rear from the surface of the cover body opposite the door side in an area closer to the central axis than the tip of the rotatable tub. The cover body includes a first inclined surface located upstream of the convex portion in the direction of rotation of the rotatable tub and inclined with respect to the central axis from a front side of a base end of the convex portion toward the base end of the convex portion toward the downstream side, and a second inclined surface located upstream of the first inclined surface in the direction of rotation and extending radially inward from the outside of the convex portion toward the upstream side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, for example, a washing machine that is less likely to damage clothes can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine with the door open. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a washing machine. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the water tank, the gasket, and the cover. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the water tank and cover. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the door, cover, and water tank taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cover and the water tank taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of the water tank and a cover. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the cover. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of a portion of the cover. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an enlarged view of the upper part of the cover. [Figure 17] 17 is a schematic view of the upper part of the cover as viewed from the arrow XVII shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 18] 18 is a schematic view of the upper part of the cover as viewed from the arrow XVIII shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view showing an enlarged view of the upper part of the cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1, etc.) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same functions will be referred to by the same reference numerals, and the description will be used interchangeably. In the following description, the side of the washing machine 1 on which the door 12 (see FIG. 1) is provided will be referred to as the front side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the rear side. The front-to-rear direction will sometimes be referred to as the depth direction. The right side and left side are the directions when the washing machine 1 is viewed from the front side to the rear side. The left-to-right direction will sometimes be referred to as the width direction. The direction perpendicular to each of the depth direction and width direction will be referred to as the height direction.

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

[0011] (Washing machine 1) Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the washing machine 1 with a door 12 open. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washing machine 1.

[0012] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, washing machine 1 has housing 11. Housing 11 houses each component of washing machine 1. As shown in Fig. 3, housing 11 contains water tub 13, spin tub 14, etc.

[0013] (Aquarium 13) Water tub 13 is substantially cylindrical with one side (rear side: R side) in the direction in which central axis A extends closed. Water is poured into water tub 13 and stored therein. An outlet is connected to water tub 13, and the water stored in water tub 13 can be discharged via the outlet. Water tub 13 is swingably mounted within housing 11 by a damper, spring, etc. (not shown). Water tub 13 cannot rotate relative to housing 11. Note that in washing machine 1, central axis A is inclined diagonally upward toward the front side. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. Central axis A may extend horizontally.

[0014] Water tub 13 opens on the other side in the direction in which central axis A extends (front side: F side). Housing 11 is configured to expose the opening of water tub 13. Door 12 is rotatably attached to housing 11. Door 12 opens and closes the opening of water tub 13 that is exposed from housing 11. Door 12 has outer portion 12a located outside housing 11, and inner portion 12b that is connected to outer portion 12a and extends into water tub 13. Inner portion 12b protrudes from outer portion 12a to the R side. The R side portion of inner portion 12b is located within water tub 13.

[0015] As shown in Figure 2, a packing 15 is attached to the tip of the F side of water tub 13. When door 12 is closed, packing 15 comes into contact with inner portion 12b of door 12, effectively closing the opening of water tub 13 and preventing water from leaking from water tub 13 to the F side.

[0016] (Rotating tank 14) As shown in FIG. 3, a rotatable tub 14 is disposed inside the water tub 13. Laundry is placed in the rotatable tub 14. For this reason, the rotatable tub 14 is sometimes called, for example, a washing tub. The rotatable tub 14 has a plurality of through-holes, which allow liquids such as water, detergent, and fabric softener stored in the water tub 13 to enter the rotatable tub 14. This allows water and other liquids to be supplied to the laundry placed in the rotatable tub 14.

[0017] Like water tub 13, rotating tub 14 is cylindrical with one side (R side) in the direction in which central axis A extends closed. Rotating tub 14 and water tub 13 are arranged concentrically. Rotating tub 14 and water tub 13 share a common central axis A. Rotating tub 14 is configured to have a smaller diameter than water tub 13. A rotation mechanism (not shown) is connected to rotating tub 14. The rotation mechanism is configured, for example, by a motor. Rotating tub 14 is rotated relative to water tub 13 by the rotation mechanism.

[0018] The rotation mechanism may, for example, rotate the spin tub 14 only in one direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise, about the central axis A, or may be configured to rotate in both directions, either clockwise or counterclockwise. For example, the rotation mechanism may be controlled to repeatedly perform one rotation operation that rotates the spin tub 14 in the clockwise direction and another rotation operation that rotates the spin tub 14 in the counterclockwise direction. For example, in the laundry washing process, the spin tub 14 may be rotated alternately in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. For example, in the laundry tumbling and drying processes, the spin tub 14 may be rotated at a low speed in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. For example, in the laundry spin-drying process, the spin tub 14 may be rotated at a high speed in one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

[0019] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which, during the laundry dewatering process, spin tub 14 rotates at high speed in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front side (F side) to the back side (R side) in the direction of extension of central axis A. In the following description, the clockwise direction that is the rotation direction of spin tub 14 during the dewatering process is referred to as rotation direction D, and is shown in FIG. 4 and other figures.

[0020] The rotating tub 14 includes a tub body 14a and a balancer 14b. The tub body 14a is generally cylindrical and closed at the rear end in the direction of extension of the central axis A. The bottom wall of the tub body 14a of the rotating tub 14 is connected to the rotation mechanism.

[0021] The balancer 14b is connected to the tip of the tank body 14a, specifically, to the tip on the near side in the direction of extension of the central axis A. The balancer 14b rotates together with the tank body 14a. The balancer 14b functions as a weight to stabilize the rotation of the rotating tank 14. The balancer 14b is formed in an annular shape centered on the central axis A. The radially inner end of the balancer 14b extends further inward (toward the central axis A) than the peripheral wall of the tank body 14a.

[0022] (Cover 20) FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of water tub 13, gasket 15, and cover 20. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of water tub 13 and cover 20. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of door 12, cover 20, and water tub 13 taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of cover 20 and water tub 13 taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of water tub 13 and cover 20. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of cover 20. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of cover 20. FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of cover 20. FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of cover 20. FIG. 14 is a schematic back view of cover 20. FIG. 15 is a schematic back view of a portion of cover 20. FIG. 16 is a schematic front view enlarging the upper part of the cover. Fig. 17 is a schematic view of the upper part of the cover as seen from the arrow XVII shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a schematic view of the upper part of the cover as seen from the arrow XVIII shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a schematic rear view in which the upper part of the cover is enlarged.

[0023] Next, the cover 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, cover 20 is attached to water tub 13. Cover 20 is attached to the front end (F side) of water tub 13. Cover 20 is made of an annular plate. Cover 20 extends radially inward (toward central axis A) from the F side tip of water tub 13. Cover 20, which is non-rotatable with respect to water tub 13 in the direction of extension of central axis A, and balancer 14b, which forms part of rotating tub 14, face each other with a gap in between in the direction of extension of central axis A.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the cover 20 has a cover body 210 and a protrusion 220.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8 , cover body 210 extends radially inward (toward central axis A) from an attachment portion for water tub 13. Cover 20 has an attachment portion, an intermediate portion that extends radially inward from the attachment portion in a direction perpendicular to central axis A, and a tip portion 210a that extends from the inner end of the intermediate portion toward the rear side (R side). A gap G is formed between tip portion 210a and balancer 14b. At least a portion of tip portion 210a and balancer 14b may face each other in the direction of extension of central axis A, or may be located at different positions in the radial direction when viewed from the direction of extension of central axis A. For example, tip portion 210a may be located slightly radially inward relative to balancer 14b. It is preferable that the portion of tip portion 210a closest to central axis A in the radial direction be closer to central axis A than the portion of balancer 14b closest to central axis A in the radial direction.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the cover body 210 has a door side surface 211 facing the door 12 and an opposite surface 212 opposite to the door side surface 211.

[0028] The door side surface 211 has a first surface 211a, a second surface 211b, and a third surface 211c. The first surface 211a is located on the outermost side of the door side surface 211. The first surface 211a extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the central axis A extends. The second surface 211b is connected to the inner end of the first surface 211a. The second surface 211b extends in a direction inclined with respect to the direction in which the first surface 211a extends. The second surface 211b extends from the connection with the first surface 211a toward the central axis A and toward the R side beyond the first surface 211a. The third surface 211c is connected to the inner end of the second surface 211b. The third surface 211c extends toward the R side along the direction in which the central axis A extends.

[0029] A gap is formed between the door side surface 211 and the door 12. In addition, a gap is also formed between the door side surface 211 and the packing 15.

[0030] 5, the cover 20 has an inner portion 210b that is provided in a portion in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis A side and that protrudes radially inward more than other portions. Specifically, the inner portion 210b is provided in a region located above the central axis A when viewed in the direction in which the central axis A extends. The inner portion 210b is provided in an arc shape centered at a center point located vertically below the central axis A when viewed in the direction in which the central axis A extends. The portion of the inner portion 210b that has the largest radial dimension is located on a vertical line that passes through the central axis A.

[0031] As shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 19, the opposite surface 212 is the surface facing the R side, and a protrusion (hump) 220 protruding from the opposite surface 212 toward the rear (R side) is provided at the tip of the rotating tub 14, specifically, at a region closer to the central axis A than the tip of the balancer 14b on the central axis A side. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the protrusion 220 has an elongated shape that is elongated in the circumferential direction centered on the central axis A. Specifically, the protrusion 220 has an elongated shape that follows the inner edge of the inner portion 210b. The protrusion 220 is provided in a flat or arc shape when viewed in the direction of the central axis A.

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, etc., the convex portion 220 has an approximately trapezoidal shape, having an upstream portion located at the most upstream side in the rotation direction D, where the height along the extension direction of the central axis A increases toward the downstream side, a central portion located downstream of the upstream portion, where the height along the extension direction of the central axis A is approximately constant, and a downstream portion located downstream of the central portion, where the height along the extension direction of the central axis A decreases toward the downstream side.

[0033] (1st slope 213) 10, 14, 15, 17 to 19, the cover main body 210 has a first inclined surface 213. As shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 17 and 19, the first inclined surface 213 is visible when viewed from the R side, and the visible portion forms the opposite surface 212.

[0034] The first inclined surface 213 is located upstream of the convex portion 220 in the rotation direction D. The first inclined surface 213 extends downstream in the rotation direction D from the front side (F side) of the base end of the convex portion 220 to the base end side (rear side (R side)) of the convex portion 220 in a direction inclined with respect to the central axis A. The first inclined surface 213 is located on the F side of the convex portion 220. The first inclined surface 213 extends downstream to the R side on the F side of the convex portion 220.

[0035] (Second slope 214) As shown in Figures 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 to 18, etc., the second inclined surface 214 is provided upstream of the first inclined surface 213 in the rotational direction D. The second inclined surface 214 extends radially inward (toward the central axis A) from outside the convex portion 220 toward the downstream side of the rotational direction D. When viewed in the direction in which the central axis A extends, the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214 are substantially continuous in the circumferential direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, when viewed in the direction in which the central axis A extends, the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214 may be spaced apart or overlap each other in the circumferential direction.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 to 18, the second inclined surface 214 is provided on the door side surface 211 and is visible when viewed from the F side. The second inclined surface 214 is formed upstream of the inner portion 210b in the rotation direction D and extends radially outward from the inner end edge of the door side surface 211 toward the upstream side of the rotation direction D. The first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214 are located on an imaginary circle along which the inner end edge of the inner portion 210b extends when viewed from the direction in which the central axis A extends. As described above, the protrusion 220 is also substantially located on this imaginary circle. Therefore, the first inclined surface 213, the second inclined surface 214, and the protrusion 220 are located on the same imaginary circle when viewed from the direction in which the central axis A extends.

[0037] 10, the downstream end of the second inclined surface 214 is located further back (toward the R side) than the upstream end of the first inclined surface 213. The downstream end of the second inclined surface 214 is disposed to face the upstream end of the first inclined surface 213.

[0038] (Wall 215) 10 and 14 to 19, the cover main body 210 has a wall surface 215. The wall surface 215 is located radially outward of the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214. The wall surface 215 faces radially inward. The wall surface 215 extends toward the R side in the direction in which the central axis A extends, from the outer periphery of the door side surface 211, through the second inclined surface 214 and the first inclined surface 213, to the opposite surface 212.

[0039] (Rib 230) As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the cover main body 210 has a rib 230. The rib 230 protrudes toward the rear (R side) from an outer portion 212a (see FIGS. 14 and 15) of the opposite surface 212, which is located upstream of the protruding portion 220 and radially outward of the protruding portion 220. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the rib 230 has a first portion 231 and a second portion 232. The first portion 231 is provided in an arc shape along an imaginary circle centered on the central axis A. The second portion 232 is connected to the downstream end of the first portion 231. The second portion 232 extends in a direction inclined toward the central axis A from the connection portion with the first portion 231 toward the downstream side of the rotation direction D. The downstream end of the rib 230 (the end of the second portion 232) is spaced apart from the convex portion 220 when viewed from the direction in which the central axis A extends. Specifically, the downstream end of the rib 230 is spaced apart from the convex portion 220 in the circumferential direction and also in the radial direction. The distance between the downstream end of the rib 230 and the central axis A is longer than the distance between the upstream end of the convex portion 220 and the central axis A. The downstream end of the convex portion 220 is located on an extension of the second portion 232 of the rib 230.

[0040] In washing machine 1, when spin tub 14 continuously rotates in one direction, such as during the spin cycle, laundry may be thrown out of spin tub 14 due to centrifugal force acting on the laundry in spin tub 14. If the thrown laundry is positioned between spin tub 14 and non-rotating components such as water tub 13, gasket 15, or door 12, friction may occur between the laundry and water tub 13, gasket 15, door 12, etc., potentially damaging the laundry. As described above, in washing machine 1, gaps are formed between cover 20 and door 12 or gasket 15. Gaps are also formed between balancer 14b, which forms part of water tub 13, and cover 20. If laundry gets caught in these gaps, the laundry is likely to be severely damaged.

[0041] In washing machine 1, laundry that moves to the front side of cover 20 while rotating inside rotatable tub 14 along with the rotation of rotatable tub 14 is returned to the rear side of cover 20 by first inclined surface 213 and second inclined surface 214 formed on the front and rear sides of cover 20, and wall surface 215 provided on the outer periphery of these inclined surfaces. Furthermore, laundry that has been returned to the rear side of cover 20 is returned to the rear side (R side) of rotatable tub 14 by convex portion 220 located in an area closer to central axis A than the tip end (balancer 14b) of rotatable tub 14. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the laundry due to friction.

[0042] The principle by which the laundry is returned to the R side by the convex portion 220 will be described in detail below.

[0043] 9 and 10, when the rotational tub 14 is rotating in the rotation direction D, laundry moving from the upstream side toward the protruding portion 220 along the rotation direction D is guided toward the protruding portion 220 by the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214. For example, when a part of laundry such as clothes is caught in a gap (see FIG. 6) between the door 12 or the packing 15 and the cover 20 and rotates in the rotation direction D and comes into contact with the protruding portion 220, as shown in FIG. 9, the protruding portion 220 protrudes from the cover main body 210 toward the rear (R side), and therefore, a force toward the rear is applied by the protruding portion 220 to the rotating laundry. As a result, the part of the laundry that had been caught in the gap is pulled out of the gap, and the laundry is returned to the rear while rotating.

[0044] In the washing machine 1, a first inclined surface 213 and a second inclined surface 214 are provided on the cover body 210. These inclined surfaces 213, 214 suitably guide the laundry toward the convex portion 220. In detail, the second inclined surface 214, which is located upstream of the convex portion 220 and the first inclined surface 213 in the rotation direction D, faces radially inward from the radially outer side of the convex portion 220 toward the downstream side of the rotation direction D. Therefore, the laundry rotating in the rotation direction D first comes into contact with the second inclined surface 214, and is guided from the radially outer side of the convex portion 220 toward the radially inner side.

[0045] Thereafter, the laundry comes into contact with first inclined surface 213, which is located upstream of convex portion 220 in the rotation direction D and downstream of second inclined surface 214 in the rotation direction D. First inclined surface 213 is inclined with respect to central axis A from the front side (F side) of the base end of convex portion 220 toward the base end side of convex portion 220 toward the downstream side in the rotation direction D. First inclined surface 213 extends inclined from the front side (F side) of convex portion 220 toward convex portion 220 in the rotation direction D. Therefore, when the laundry is transferred from the downstream end of second inclined surface 214 to this first inclined surface 213, the laundry rotating in rotation direction D moves toward the opposite surface 212 of cover 20 in the direction in which central axis A extends, and is guided to the rear side where convex portion 220 is located. At this time, the laundry is pressed against wall surface 215 provided on the outer periphery of second inclined surface 214 by centrifugal force, and is guided to the downstream end without falling off second inclined surface 214. Since the upstream end of first inclined surface 213 is located on the near side (F side) of the downstream end of second inclined surface 214 and wall surface 215 is connected to the outer periphery of first inclined surface 213, the laundry moves smoothly to first inclined surface 213 while being pressed against wall surface 215.

[0046] Therefore, laundry that has overflowed door side surface 211 of cover 20 can be moved to opposite surface 212 of cover 20. Then, laundry that has passed first inclined surface 213 is positioned just before convex portion 220 in rotation direction D. Therefore, in washing machine 1, laundry reliably and appropriately contacts convex portion 220. Therefore, convex portion 220 pushes the laundry back toward the rear with high reliability. Therefore, laundry can be easily removed from the gap between the rotating object and the non-rotating object.

[0047] In this way, by separately providing first inclined surface 213, which moves laundry radially inward, and second inclined surface 214, which moves laundry toward the rear, even if the thickness of cover 20 along the direction in which central axis A extends is thin, laundry can be more appropriately guided to protrusion 220 and pushed back toward the rear. If cover 20 can be made thinner, the depth of water tub 13 and spin tub 14 can be increased accordingly, thereby increasing their volumes. Therefore, the washing capacity of washing machine 1 can be increased.

[0048] From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214 are provided so as not to overlap in the rotation direction. In addition, it is preferable that the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214 are provided so as to overlap partially or entirely in the direction in which the central axis A extends.

[0049] In washing machine 1, wall surface 215 is provided radially outward of first inclined surface 213. Wall surface 215 faces inward in the radial direction. Therefore, wall surface 215 effectively prevents laundry rotating in contact with first inclined surface 213 from moving radially outward again. Therefore, laundry is suitably guided by convex portion 220.

[0050] As described above, laundry that has moved to door side surface 211 of cover 20 is guided radially inward by second inclined surface 214 and wall surface 215, which are formed from the outer periphery of door side surface 211, due to rotation during spin-drying. Wall surface 215 is formed to communicate with the downstream end of second inclined surface 214 and the upstream end of first inclined surface 213. Laundry is delivered along wall surface 215 from the downstream end of second inclined surface 214 to the upstream end of first inclined surface 213, and then moved toward opposite surface 212 by first inclined surface 213. Therefore, wall surface 215 functions as a passage connecting the front (door side surface 211) side and the back (opposite surface 212) side of cover 20. For this reason, it is preferable that wall surface 215 have a certain width in the front-to-rear direction. However, if this width is too large, the strength of cover body 210 may be insufficient or the thickness of cover body 210 may increase. Therefore, the remaining thickness, which is thick enough to maintain strength, is used as the wall surface 215 .

[0051] In this embodiment, the wall surface 215 on the outer periphery of the second inclined surface 214 and the wall surface 215 on the outer periphery of the first inclined surface 213 are not continuous surfaces but have discontinuities that protrude radially inward in a front view. With this configuration, laundry guided by the wall surface 215 of the second inclined surface 214 temporarily leaves the wall surface 215 at the discontinuities and is thrown radially inward. The extension of the throwing direction is located radially inward from the convex portion 220. Therefore, relatively light laundry is thrown radially inward from the wall surface 215 and returned to the spin tub 14. On the other hand, relatively heavy laundry again abuts against the wall surface 215 due to centrifugal force, but is guided by the first inclined surface 213 and the wall surface 215 toward the base end of the convex portion 220 and is returned radially inward by the convex portion 220.

[0052] As described above, in this embodiment, relatively light laundry is thrown directly from the wall surface 215 of the second inclined surface 214 inward in the radial direction, and relatively heavy laundry is returned by the protrusion 220 inward in the radial direction.

[0053] From the viewpoint of effectively guiding laundry to the convex portion 220 by the first inclined surface 213 and the second inclined surface 214, it is preferable that the downstream end of the second inclined surface 214 in the rotation direction D is located further back (towards R) than the upstream end of the first inclined surface 213.

[0054] In washing machine 1, first inclined surface 213 and second inclined surface 214 are continuous in the circumferential direction when viewed from the direction in which central axis A extends. Therefore, laundry moves smoothly between first inclined surface 213 and second inclined surface 214 and favorably toward convex portion 220. Therefore, convex portion 220 pushes the laundry back more reliably, and damage to the laundry can be more effectively suppressed.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 15, washing machine 1 is provided with rib 230 in addition to convex portion 220, first inclined surface 213, and second inclined surface 214 that guide laundry to convex portion 220. Rib 230 protrudes toward the rear (R side) from a portion of opposite surface 212 that is located at outer portion 212a. Second portion 232 of rib 230 extends radially inward toward convex portion 220 in rotation direction D. The downstream tip of second portion 232 is spaced apart from convex portion 220. Therefore, for example, laundry that has become lodged in gap G between spin tub 14 and cover 2 as shown in FIG. 8 is ejected from gap G by rib 230. This prevents laundry from being caught in gap G and being damaged.

[0056] From the viewpoint of more suitably returning the laundry discharged from the gap G by the rib 230 into the spin tub 14, it is preferable that the downstream end of the rib 230 is separated from the protruding portion 220 in the circumferential direction and also in the radial direction. Furthermore, it is preferable that the downstream end of the protruding portion 220 is located on an extension line of the second portion 232 of the rib 230. This is because the laundry that comes into contact with the rib 230 can be more easily discharged from the gap G without being hindered by the protruding portion 220.

[0057] In washing machine 1, rib 230 is provided upstream of protrusion 220 in rotation direction D, and therefore laundry discharged from gap G by the action of rib 230 is pushed back to the rear by protrusion 220. This effectively prevents laundry that has entered gap G from re-entering gap G and being damaged.

[0058] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. Furthermore, configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1: Washing machine 2: Cover 12: Door 13: Aquarium 14: Rotating tank 14a: Tank body 14b: Balancer 15: Packing 20: Cover 210: Cover body 211: Door side 212: Opposite side 213: 1st slope 214:Second slope 215: Wall 220: Convex part 230: Rib

Claims

1. A cylindrical tank whose inner side, which is one side of the direction in which the central axis extends, is closed; a rotating tub provided concentrically with the water tub within the water tub and rotating relative to the water tub; a door that can open and close the opening of the water tank; an annular cover attached to the front end of the water tank; Equipped with The cover is a cover body having a door side facing the door; a protrusion protruding from a surface of the cover body opposite to the door side surface toward the rear side in an area closer to the central axis than the tip end of the rotating tub; and The cover body is a first inclined surface located upstream of the convex portion in the rotation direction of the rotatable tub, the first inclined surface inclining with respect to the central axis from a side in front of a base end of the convex portion toward a base end of the convex portion toward a downstream side; a second inclined surface located upstream of the first inclined surface in the rotation direction and extending radially inward from the outer side of the convex portion toward the downstream side; Including a washing machine.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are continuous in the circumferential direction when viewed from the direction in which the central axis extends.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the cover body further includes a wall surface located radially outward of the first inclined surface and facing radially inward.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a downstream end of the second inclined surface is located closer to the front than an upstream end of the first inclined surface.

5. the opposite surface includes an outer portion that abuts on the upstream side of the convex portion and is positioned outward in the radial direction, The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover body further includes a rib that protrudes from the outer portion toward the rear side, extends radially inward toward the convex portion, and is arranged so that a downstream end thereof is spaced apart from the convex portion.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has an elongated shape that is elongated in the circumferential direction.

Images