washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine capable of improving the cleaning and trapping properties of a foreign matter trapping section during maintenance is provided. [Solution] The washing machine comprises a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing for storing water, a drum contained in the outer tub for storing clothes, a drainage path for discharging the wash water in the outer tub, a circulation pump for returning the wash water in the outer tub to the inside of the drum, and a foreign object trap located upstream of the circulation pump for collecting foreign matter, the foreign object trap comprising a foreign object collection section 41c for collecting foreign matter, and a filter case for removably housing the foreign object collection section 41c, the foreign object collection section 41c having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction in which it is attached to and detached from the filter case.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, in drum-type washing machines equipped with a circulation pump, a foreign object trap is provided upstream of the circulation path to prevent foreign objects from clogging the runner of the circulation pump (see Patent Document 1). Such foreign object traps are often composed of a grid (mesh) or a comb to simultaneously trap lint and dirt. Furthermore, the foreign object collection section is usually cleaned by the user using their hands, tissue, a cloth, a brush, or the like after the washing machine has finished operating. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-61751 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the washing machine described in Patent Document 1, simply wiping the inside of the foreign object collection section with hands or tissues leaves lint and dirt in the corners of the foreign object collection section, and to clean it, it is necessary to clean the corners with a fine-tipped brush, etc. Furthermore, because the foreign object collection section has corners, the flow of wash water inside the foreign object collection section is disturbed during the wash cycle or when draining, causing lint and other debris to flow out of the foreign object collection section, impairing collection performance.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has an object to provide a washing machine that can improve the cleaning and trapping performance of the foreign matter trapping section during maintenance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing for storing water, an inner tub contained in the outer tub for storing clothes, a drainage path for discharging wash water from the outer tub, a circulation pump for returning wash water from the outer tub to the inside of the inner tub, and a foreign object trap located upstream of the circulation pump for collecting foreign matter, wherein the foreign object trap comprises a foreign object collection section for collecting foreign matter, and a collection case for detachably housing the foreign object collection section, and the foreign object collection section has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction of attachment and detachment to the collection case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing machine that can improve the cleaning and trapping properties of the foreign matter trapping section during maintenance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram showing the inside of the washing machine according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of washing water when the circulation pump is driven. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the foreign object trap cut at the center in the left-right direction of the filter member and viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the positional relationship between drainage slits and comb teeth. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the tip of the filter member of the foreign object trap. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a gap between a side portion of a foreign matter collection portion and a filter case in a comparative example. [Figure 11] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a gap between a side portion of the foreign matter collection portion and a filter case in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12]10 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of wash water flowing from the outer tub into the foreign matter collecting section. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications and application examples within the technical concept of the present invention are also included within its scope. Note that the following description will be based on the directions shown in FIG. 1. The direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1 is the left-right direction. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the inside of a washing machine according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, washing machine 100 is a drum-type washer-dryer and includes a housing 1, an outer tub 2 housed in housing 1 to store water, a drum 3 (inner tub) contained in outer tub 2 to store clothes, a drain hose 24 (drain path) that drains the wash water in outer tub 2, a circulation pump 20 that returns the wash water in outer tub 2 to the inside of drum 3, and a foreign object trap 40 located upstream of circulation pump 20 to collect foreign objects (lint).

[0010] The housing 1 is constructed by assembling side panels (not shown) made mainly of steel plates and resin molded parts, and reinforcing materials (not shown) on top of the base 1h to form a framework, and then attaching a front cover 1a, a lower front cover 1b, and an upper cover 1c, all made of resin molded parts, to the framework. The front cover 1a is also provided with a door 9 that is opened and closed when putting laundry (clothes) in and out.

[0011] The door 9 has a door glass 9a fixed to a resin door frame 9b, and is attached to the housing 1 by hinges (not shown) so that it can be opened and closed freely. The door frame 9b of the door 9 abuts against the periphery of a circular opening 1s formed in the housing 1. The door glass 9a is configured to have a convex shape so that it fits deeper (rearward) than the opening 1s of the housing 1.

[0012] The outer tub 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and is elastically supported by multiple dampers (not shown) provided at the bottom. An outer tub cover 4 is attached to the front opening (door 9 side) formed on the front side of the outer tub 2.

[0013] The rear side of the outer tub cover 4 is connected to the front opening of the outer tub 2, and a circular opening 4a through which laundry is put in and taken out is formed at the front. A rubber door packing (also called a bellows) 10 made of an elastic material is attached to the outer tub cover 4. This door packing 10 is formed in a roughly annular shape, with the rear opening edge attached to the opening 4a of the outer tub cover 4 and the front opening edge attached to the edge of the opening 1s of the housing 1. When the door 9 is closed, the door glass 9a is tightly attached to the door packing 10, maintaining a watertight seal between the outer tub 2 and the door 9. This prevents water leakage during washing, rinsing, and spin drying.

[0014] The drum 3 is cylindrical and has a bottom, and is capable of accommodating laundry (clothes). An opening 3a is located at the front of the drum 3. A fluid balancer (not shown) is provided around the outer periphery of the opening 3a of the drum 3 to reduce vibrations caused by imbalance of the laundry during spin-drying. A plurality of lifters (not shown) for lifting the laundry are provided inside the drum 3. The drum 3 is directly connected to a motor (not shown) for driving the drum. The cylindrical sidewall of the drum 3 has numerous small holes (not shown) for centrifugal spin-drying and ventilation. The rotation axis O of the drum 3 is inclined so that the front side is higher than the rear side. The rotation axis of the drum 3 may be configured to be substantially horizontal.

[0015] A blower duct 25 (circulating air passage) is provided at the rear of the outer tub 2, connecting the outer tub 2 with a blower fan 26 (air blowing means). The blower duct 25 guides airflow to the laundry inside the drum 3, and one end is connected to the lower rear surface of the outer tub 2. The blower fan 26 is connected to the other end of the blower duct 25 via a drying filter 27. The blower fan 26 and the drying filter 27 are fixed to the housing 1. The air generated by the blower fan 26 is heated by a heater 28, becomes hot air, and is then discharged into the drum 3 through an outlet nozzle 29. The hot air blown onto the laundry becomes hot and humid air, is drawn into the blower duct 25, and is cooled and dehumidified by a water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) provided in the blower duct 25, becoming low-temperature air. A heat pump may be used instead of the heater and the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism.

[0016] Circulation pump 20 is provided below outer tub 2 and fixed to the base 1h side of housing 1. Wash water is sent from drain outlet 2b in water receiving portion 2a (see FIG. 2) provided at the bottom of outer tub 2 to foreign object trap 40 through piping 21. Drain outlet 2b also communicates with drain hose 24 (drain path) via piping 21, foreign object trap 40, and drain valve 23, allowing water in outer tub 2 to be drained outside the machine.

[0017] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of wash water when the circulation pump is operating, and does not show the drainage path. 2, circulation pump 20 is configured with electric motor 20a and impeller 20b. When washing or rinsing, impeller 20b is rotated by the driving force of electric motor 20a, and as shown by the arrow, wash water is sucked in from drain outlet 2b at the bottom of outer tub 2, passes through piping 21 and circulation path 31, and is supplied in a shower-like manner into drum 3 from discharge outlet 31a provided at the top of outer tub cover 4 (see FIG. 1).

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lint filter device. As shown in Fig. 3, the foreign object trap 40 is configured to include a filter member 41 that collects lint and a filter case 42 (collection case) that detachably houses the filter member 41. The filter member 41 is formed with a knob 41a, and the filter member 41 can be attached to the filter case 42 by turning the knob 41a in one direction. The filter member 41 can be removed from the filter case 42 by turning the knob 41a in the other direction. Note that Fig. 3 shows the filter member 41 attached to the filter case 42.

[0019] The filter case 42 includes a substantially cylindrical housing portion 42a in which the filter member 41 is mounted, a connection portion 42b connected to the piping 21 (see FIG. 2) extending from the outer tank 2 (see FIG. 1), and a connection portion 42c (see FIG. 7) connected to the drain hose 24 (see FIG. 1). A circulation pump 20 is attached to the side surface of the filter case 42.

[0020] The circulation pump 20 has an impeller case 20c that houses an impeller 20b (see FIG. 2). The impeller case 20c is formed with a connection portion 20d that is connected to a circulation path 31 (see FIG. 2). The impeller case 20c is also configured to communicate with a housing portion 42a of a filter case 42.

[0021] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the filter member. Fig. 4 shows the filter member 41 as viewed from the rear side (back side) toward the front side (near side). Fig. 4 does not show a mesh that collects foreign matter such as lint. 4, filter member 41 is made of synthetic resin and includes a substantially cylindrical base portion 41b that is inserted into housing portion 42a (see FIG. 3) of filter case 42, and a foreign matter collecting portion 41c that extends rearward from base portion 41b. In addition, base portion 41b is provided with an annular packing (sealing member) 41d that prevents wash water from leaking out from a gap between filter case 42 and filter member 41 when filter member 41 is attached to filter case 42.

[0022] The foreign matter collection portion 41c has a pair of frame portions 41e, 41e spaced apart from each other and extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction, and a frame portion 41f extending linearly at the leading (rear) ends of the frame portions 41e to connect the frame portions 41e. The foreign matter collection portion 41c also has U-shaped ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j. A bottom rib 41m is formed on the bottom of the foreign matter collection portion 41c, connecting the ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j. These ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j are U-shaped when viewed from the direction of attachment to and detachment from the filter case 42. In other words, the ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j are rounded from the bottom surface to the left and right side surfaces. In other words, ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j do not have any right-angled or acute-angled corners. Rib 41g is formed integrally with back surface 41b1 of base 41b. Furthermore, a substantially semicircular wall portion 41k is formed on the front side of rib 41i. Rib 41j is formed integrally with wall portion 41k.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a top view of the foreign matter collecting section. As shown in FIG. 5, bottom rib 41m is formed extending in the front-rear direction from the lowest end of foreign matter collection portion 41c. Bottom rib 41m extends from rear surface 41b1 to rib 41j. Mesh 41n (filter) for collecting foreign matter such as lint and dirt is formed in the area (six areas in this embodiment) surrounded by frame portions 41e, 41e, ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, 41j, and bottom rib 41m. That is, mesh 41n is formed in the space surrounded by frame portion 41e, bottom rib 41m, rib 41g, and rib 41h. Mesh 41n is also formed in the space surrounded by frame portion 41e, bottom rib 41m, rib 41h, and rib 41i. Mesh 41n is also formed in the space surrounded by frame portion 41e, bottom rib 41m, rib 41i, and rib 41j. In this way, the mesh 41n (filter) is formed smoothly and continuously from the bottom rib 41m toward the left and right frame portions 41e. In other words, no rib is formed between the bottom rib 41m and the frame portion 41e.

[0024] The mesh 41n has a mesh size that is mainly sufficient to capture lint, and is formed, for example, by arranging metal wires in a lattice (mesh) pattern. The mesh 41n is coarser than conventional meshes (70 mesh), for example, 40 mesh. The mesh 41n is not limited to a metal mesh, and may be formed by arranging resin in a lattice pattern. The mesh 41n is preferably larger than 30 mesh, since lint easily clogs if it is smaller than 30 mesh.

[0025] Thus, mesh 41n of foreign matter collection portion 41c has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction of attachment to and detachment from filter case 42, similar to the shapes of ribs 41g, 41h, 41i, and 41j. That is, foreign matter collection portion 41c of this embodiment does not include a U-shaped cross section having a right-angled (approximately right-angled) boundary between the bottom and side surfaces. Furthermore, foreign matter collection portion 41c of this embodiment does not include a V-shaped cross section having a sharp-angled bottom surface.

[0026] Furthermore, foreign matter collection portion 41c is formed with comb-tooth portion 41p in front of frame portion 41f at the rear end. Comb-tooth portion 41p is configured with five cylindrical protrusions 41p1 arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. Note that protrusions 41p1 are not limited to being cylindrical, and may have other shapes such as a plate shape.

[0027] Furthermore, foreign matter collection unit 41c has four cylindrical protrusions 41q formed on frame 41f. These protrusions 41q are arranged with two protrusions 41q on each side. Providing these protrusions 41q can prevent lint and other debris from flowing out to the rear (deeper) side.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the foreign matter collecting section. 6, the wall portion 41k is formed with drainage slits 41r that extend linearly in the left-right direction. The drainage slits 41r are configured to intersect with the comb-tooth portions 41p (protrusions 41p1).

[0029] Furthermore, when frame portions 41e and 41f are horizontally positioned, the curved portion of U-shaped rib 41g is located lower than the curved portion of U-shaped rib 41h. The curved portion of rib 41h is located lower than the curved portion of U-shaped rib 41i. The curved portion of rib 41i is located lower than the curved portion of semicircular wall portion 41k. Thus, the cross-sectional area of ​​the U-shape of foreign matter collection portion 41c is configured to gradually decrease from the front side (near side) to the rear side (deep side).

[0030] The drainage slit 41r is formed so that its opening becomes wider from the front side (the back side of the paper) to the rear side (the front side of the paper). The drainage slit 41r is configured to overlap with the protrusion 41p1 in the front-to-rear direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 6).

[0031] Ribs 41s that protrude laterally are formed on the left and right frame portions 41e. Furthermore, ribs 41t that protrude upward are formed on the top surface of the frame portions 41e, including the ribs 41s.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the foreign matter trap taken at the center in the left-right direction of the filter member and viewed from the side. 7, the foreign object trap 40 is disposed in the housing 1 (see FIG. 1) so that the connection portions 42b and 42c of the filter case 42 extend horizontally in the front-to-rear direction. The connection portion 42c is located below the connection portion 42b. The connection portions 42b and 42c extend in the same direction, toward the rear.

[0033] The accommodation portion 42a of the filter case 42 is inclined so that the front side (front side) is higher than the back side (rear side). Furthermore, by inserting the filter member 41 into the accommodation portion 42a of the filter case 42, the filter member 41 is arranged at an incline so that the front side (front side) is higher than the back side (rear side). Furthermore, because the foreign object trap 40 is installed in the lower part of the housing 1 (see FIG. 1), the filter member 41 is arranged so that it faces upward at a predetermined angle (e.g., 30°), and the user's operability in attaching and detaching the filter member 41 is not impaired.

[0034] Furthermore, an intake port 42d communicating with the circulation pump 20 (see FIG. 1) is formed on a side surface of the accommodation portion 42a of the filter case 42. This intake port 42d is, for example, a circular hole, and is positioned so as not to overlap with the foreign matter collection portion 41c in a side view of FIG. 7 (a side view from the axial direction of the intake port 42d).

[0035] The connecting portion 42b is tubular and has a horizontal axial direction, and is connected to the upper part of the housing portion 42a. The connecting portion 42c is tubular and has a horizontal axial direction, and is connected to the lower part of the housing portion 42a.

[0036] Furthermore, the accommodation portion 42a is formed with a protruding portion 42e that protrudes toward the filter member 41. When the filter member 41 is attached to the filter case 42, the tip of the protruding portion 42e abuts against the protruding portion 41p1 or is disposed opposite the protruding portion 42e with a small gap therebetween.

[0037] In foreign object trap 40 configured as described above, when circulation pump 20 is driven (ON) during the washing or rinsing cycle, water (wash water) stored in outer tub 2 (see FIG. 1) is introduced into foreign object collection section 41c of filter member 41 through connection portion 42b. Lint and other foreign objects entrained in the wash water are captured and accumulated by mesh 41n of foreign object collection section 41c. The wash water also escapes through mesh 41n of foreign object collection section 41c. The wash water is then sucked through suction port 42d and discharged by circulation pump 20 into drum 3 (see FIG. 2) through circulation path 31 (see FIG. 2). When the washing or rinsing cycle is completed, circulation pump 20 stops, drain valve 23 (see FIG. 1) is opened, and the wash water is discharged from washing machine 100 through connection portion 42c and drain hose 24 (see FIG. 1).

[0038] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the drainage slits and the comb teeth, and Fig. 8 shows a state in which the foreign matter collecting portion 41c is cut at rib 41j in front of wall portion 41k. As shown in Fig. 8, the length L1 of the drainage slit 41r is shorter than the distance L2 between the left and right ends of the comb tooth portion 41p. The left and right ends P1, P2 of the drainage slit 41r are located more inward than the ends P10, P20 of the comb tooth portion 41p. The left end P1 of the drainage slit 41r is located between the left-end protrusions 41p1. The right end P2 of the drainage slit 41r is located between the right-end protrusions 41p1.

[0039] All five protrusions 41p1 of the comb-tooth portion 41p are formed to have the same length (height), and all protrusions 41p1 protrude above the upper surface of the frame portion 41f.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the tip of the filter member of the foreign object trap. As shown in Fig. 9, the drainage slit 41r is narrow in the vertical direction on the side where the protrusion 41p1 is provided (the front side), and the vertical width increases toward the rear side (the back side). By making the front opening wider than the rear opening rather than narrowing both the front and rear openings of the drainage slit 41r, it is possible to improve the ease of cleaning when lint gets clogged in the drainage slit 41r. Furthermore, by narrowing the front opening of the drainage slit 41r, it becomes more difficult for lint to be discharged through the drainage slit 41r, improving collection efficiency.

[0041] The wall portion 41k has an inclined surface 41k1 formed at its upper portion, which slopes upward from the bottom toward the drainage slit 41r side. A protrusion 41p1 protrudes upward from this inclined surface 41k1.

[0042] When the filter member 41 is attached to the filter case 42, the frame portion 41e is located below the protrusion 42e of the housing portion 42a.

[0043] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the gap between the side of the foreign matter collection part and the filter case in a comparative example, and Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the gap between the foreign matter collection part and the filter case in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10 as a comparative example, a frame portion 100a of the filter member is formed with a gap S100 (the portion enclosed by two circles in FIG. 10 ) between the frame portion 100a of the filter member and the filter case 42 (the housing portion 42a) such that the gaps are in contact with each other at points in a cross-sectional view. However, because the filter member is a resin-molded product, it may be deformed due to changes in molding conditions or temperature during molding, which may cause the gap S100 to widen. In such a case, lint may leak out of the gap S100 (see the arrow in FIG. 10 ), deteriorating the collection performance. Therefore, in this embodiment, a shape shown in FIG. 11 is used to prevent the collection performance from deteriorating. That is, in this embodiment, a frame portion 41e is formed with ribs 41s that protrude outward in the left-right direction, and ribs 41t that protrude upward in the up-down direction are formed so that the ribs extend in both the width and height directions, resulting in a gap S1 (the portion enclosed by two lines in FIG. 11 ) where the gaps are in contact with each other at lines in a cross-sectional view. In addition, since the ribs 41s and 41t of the frame portion 41e extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 11, the gap S1 is configured to be in face-to-face contact. As a result, even if the foreign matter collection portion 41c warps (deforms) in the width direction (left-to-right direction in FIG. 11), the gap S1 can be prevented from widening, effectively preventing lint (such as thread waste) from leaking out from the gaps on both the left and right sides of the foreign matter collection portion 41c. Note that the warping of the foreign matter collection portion 41c in the width direction refers to deformation of the left and right frame portions 41e shown in FIG. 5 in a direction that brings them closer to each other. As a result, lint and dirt are concentrated in the foreign matter collection portion 41c, improving collection performance.

[0044] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of wash water flowing from the outer tub into the foreign matter collecting section 41c, with frame 41e of foreign matter collecting section 41c held horizontally. During washing and rinsing, wash water discharged from outer tub 2 flows into foreign object collection section 41c from above through connection section 42b. If the foreign object collection section has a corner where the bottom and side surfaces form a right angle (for example, a U-shape in cross section), the flow of wash water becomes turbulent within the foreign object collection section when the wash water is introduced into the foreign object collection section, making it easier for lint to flow outward from the foreign object collection section. In contrast, if foreign object collection section 41c has a U-shape in cross section as shown in FIG. 12, the wash water that flows into foreign object collection section 41c reaches the bottom of foreign object collection section 41c and begins to swirl upward along the curved surface of the U-shape, as indicated by the thick arrow. This swirling of wash water within foreign object collection section 41c makes it easier for lint to remain within foreign object collection section 41c, improving lint collection.

[0045] As described above, washing machine 100 of this embodiment includes housing 1, outer tub 2 housed in housing 1 to store water, drum 3 housed in outer tub 2 to store clothes, drain hose 24 for draining wash water from outer tub 2, circulation pump 20 for returning wash water from outer tub 2 to the inside of the drum, and foreign object trap 40 provided upstream of circulation pump 20 to collect foreign matter. Foreign object trap 40 includes foreign object collection portion 41c for collecting foreign matter, and filter case 42 for detachably housing foreign object collection portion 41c. Foreign object collection portion 41c has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction in which it is attached to and detached from filter case 42 (see FIG. 4). This allows the wash water to swirl along the U-shaped curved surface of the foreign matter collection section 41c, thereby improving the collection of foreign matter such as lint, and by making the collection surface of the foreign matter collection section 41c U-shaped in cross section, there are no corners, which also improves cleaning ability.

[0046] Washing machine 100 also includes housing 1, outer tub 2 housed in housing 1 for storing water, drum 3 housed in outer tub 2 for storing clothes, drain hose 24 for draining wash water from outer tub 2, circulation pump 20 for returning wash water from outer tub 2 to drum 3, and foreign object trap 40 located upstream of circulation pump 20 for collecting foreign matter. Foreign object trap 40 includes foreign object collection portion 41c for collecting foreign matter and filter case 42 for detachably housing foreign object collection portion 41c. Foreign object collection portion 41c is smoothly formed from its bottom surface to its side surface (see FIG. 4). This improves the ability to collect foreign matter and to clean foreign object collection portion 41c, similar to the case of a U-shaped cross section.

[0047] Furthermore, foreign matter collection portion 41c has wall portion 41k formed at its rear end, and wall portion 41k has drainage slits 41r extending in the left-right direction (see FIG. 4), which can promote drainage from foreign matter collection portion 41c.

[0048] Furthermore, the wall portion 41k is formed with comb-tooth portions 41p in front of the drainage slits 41r (see FIG. 8), which can prevent lint from flowing out through the drainage slits 41r.

[0049] The drainage slit 41r and the comb tooth portion 41p are arranged to intersect, and the length L1 of the drainage slit 41r is shorter than the distance L2 (the distance between both ends) between both ends P10, P20 of the comb tooth portion 41p. Furthermore, the ends P1, P2 on both sides of the drainage slit 41r are located inside the both ends P10, P20 of the comb tooth portion 41p (see FIG. 8). This makes it possible to prevent lint and dirt from flowing out of the foreign matter collection portion 41c through the drainage slit 41r.

[0050] Furthermore, the gap S1 between the frame portion 41e (side portion) of the foreign matter collection portion 41c and the filter case 42 is changed from a point-to-point facing shape to a face-to-face facing shape (see FIG. 11). That is, in FIG. 11, the frame portion 41e (side portion) and the filter case 42 are configured to face-to-face, rather than point-to-point facing as in FIG. 10 of the comparative example. More specifically, in FIG. 11, the outer inclined surface of the frame portion 41e and the inner inclined surface of the filter case 42a face-to-face, narrowing the gap S1 diagonally upward to the right (widening the gap S1 diagonally downward to the left). This prevents the gap S1 from widening even when warping (deformation) occurs in the width direction, effectively preventing lint from leaking out from both the left and right sides of the foreign matter collection portion 41c. As a result, lint and dirt are collected in the foreign matter collection portion 41c, improving collection performance.

[0051] In this embodiment, the number of ribs 41h and 41i is reduced to increase the area of ​​the window in which mesh 41n is provided. However, by using a 40-mesh filter, which is coarser than conventional filters, for the filter of foreign matter collection portion 41c, the diameter of each metal wire can be increased. This allows the strength of the mesh to be added to the shape of the resin portion of foreign matter collection portion 41c, thereby increasing the strength of foreign matter collection portion 41c.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the area of ​​the window where mesh 41n is formed can be increased, which makes it easier for collected lint to form clumps and fall off foreign matter collection portion 41c, improving ease of maintenance.

[0053] In addition, in this embodiment, ribs 41h, 41i are provided that connect the bottom and side surfaces of the foreign matter collection portion 41c together, so that lint that adheres to the side surfaces and is difficult to remove when the foreign matter collection portion 41c is shaken can be connected and removed, improving ease of maintenance.

[0054] Furthermore, while conventional sieves with small mesh openings (e.g., 70 mesh) can capture small lint, they are prone to clogging and poor drainage. On the other hand, sieves with large mesh openings (e.g., 30 mesh or less) can prevent poor drainage, but small lint passes through the mesh, and the lint gets tangled in the mesh lines, making them difficult to clean. In this embodiment, a 40 mesh sieve is used, allowing for good collection, drainage, and cleaning.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modifications. For example, although the present embodiment has been described using a drum-type washer-dryer as an example, it can also be applied to a drum-type washing machine without a drying function. Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described using an example in which the filter member 41 is attached to the filter case 42 by screwing it in, the filter member 41 does not have to be attached by screwing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 chassis 2 Outer tank 3 Drum (inner tank) 20 Circulation Pump 23 Drain valve 24 Drain hose (drainage path) 40 Foreign object trap 41 Filter member 41c Foreign matter collection section 41k wall 41n mesh (filter) 41r Drainage slit 41p Comb teeth part 41p1 Protrusion 42 Filter case (collection case) 42a Storage section 42b, 42c Connection 100 washing machines

Claims

1. The washing machine comprises a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing for storing water, an inner tub housed in the outer tub for storing clothes, a drainage path for draining the wash water in the outer tub, a circulation pump for returning the wash water in the outer tub to the inside of the inner tub, and a foreign object trap provided upstream of the circulation pump for collecting foreign objects, the foreign matter trap includes a foreign matter collection section that collects foreign matter, and a collection case that detachably houses the foreign matter collection section; The foreign matter collection unit has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the direction in which it is attached to and detached from the collection case.

2. The washing machine comprises a housing, an outer tub housed in the housing for storing water, an inner tub housed in the outer tub for storing clothes, a drainage path for draining the wash water in the outer tub, a circulation pump for returning the wash water in the outer tub to the inside of the inner tub, and a foreign object trap provided upstream of the circulation pump for collecting foreign objects, the foreign matter trap includes a foreign matter collection section that collects foreign matter, and a collection case that detachably houses the foreign matter collection section; The foreign matter collecting portion is formed smoothly and continuously from the bottom surface to the side surface of the filter.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, The foreign matter collecting portion has a wall portion formed at a rear end thereof, The washing machine is characterized in that a drainage slit extending in the left-right direction is formed in the wall portion.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, The washing machine is characterized in that a comb-tooth portion is formed in the wall portion in front of the drain slit.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, The drainage slit and the comb tooth portion are arranged to intersect with each other, The length of the drain slit is shorter than the distance between both ends of the comb tooth portion, and both ends of the drain slit are located more inward than both ends of the comb tooth portion.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, A washing machine characterized in that the gap between the side of the foreign matter collecting part and the collecting case is changed from a point-to-point opposing shape to a surface-to-surface opposing shape.

Images