washing machine

Abstract

In a washing machine equipped with a vertical tub and a drying function that dries the laundry inside the tub by blowing out hot air from an outlet at the top of the tub, uneven drying of the laundry is suppressed. [Solution] The washing machine comprises a housing having an opening on its top surface, a lid provided to open and close the opening, a tub with an upward-facing opening housed inside the housing, and a drying unit provided in the housing above the tub. The drying unit has a downward-facing outlet for blowing hot air into the tub. The outlet is provided with a separation plate that divides a portion of the hot air blown downward from the outlet into directions other than downward.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a washing machine with a drying function that includes a vertical tub. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0003] Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2021-45434 Specification Summary of the Invention Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the washing machine described in Patent Document 1, during a drying operation, hot air blown out from a discharge port above the tub is blown only in one downward direction, so uneven drying of laundry tends to occur. Although it is also disclosed that air is blown out from another discharge port provided at the lower part of the tub, this requires a complicated mechanism.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to suppress uneven drying of laundry in a washing machine with a drying function that includes a vertical tub and dries laundry in the tub by hot air blown out from a discharge port above the tub. Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A washing machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a housing having an opening on a top surface thereof; a lid provided to open and close the opening; a tub accommodated in the housing and having an upward opening; and a drying unit provided on the housing above the tub. The drying unit has a downward discharge port for blowing hot air into the tub. The discharge port is provided with a separation plate that divides a portion of the warm air blown downward from the discharge port into directions other than downward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, in a washing machine equipped with a vertical tub and a drying function that dries the laundry inside the tub by blowing out hot air from an outlet at the top of the tub, uneven drying of the laundry can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine. [Figure 2] This is a schematic plan view of a washing machine. [Figure 3] This is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine with the lid removed. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing the XX section in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram. [Figure 6] This is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of the separation plate of the embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic perspective view showing another variation of the separation plate of the embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic perspective view showing the hanger locking mechanism on the inside of the lid. [Figure 9] This is a schematic perspective view illustrating the ironing unit inside the lid. [Figure 10] Another schematic perspective view illustrating the ironing unit inside the lid. [Figure 11] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the ironing unit inside the lid. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of a portion of Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, members having substantially common functions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] In the following description, the tip side of the lid 12 of the washing machine 1 is defined as the front side, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side. The front-rear direction may be referred to as the depth direction. The right side and the left side are directions when the washing machine 1 is viewed from the front side toward the rear side. The left-right direction may be referred to as the width direction. A direction perpendicular to each of the depth direction and the width direction is defined as the height direction.

[0011] In the present disclosure, the term "washing machine" refers to all devices that perform various processes such as washing on laundry. Examples of laundry processing in a washing machine include washing, drying, deodorization, and sterilization. The washing machine of the present embodiment is a washing machine with a drying function, also called a washer-dryer. Laundry is not particularly limited. Examples of laundry include fabric products. Specific examples of laundry include, for example, clothing such as clothes, hats, and gloves, personal items such as shoes, bags, handkerchiefs, and towels, bedding such as curtains, blankets, cotton blankets, and duvet covers, carpets, stuffed animals, and the like.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the washing machine 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the washing machine 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the washing machine 1 with the lid 12 removed.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 includes a housing 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 10 accommodates a tub 11 into which water, chemicals such as detergent, laundry, and the like are put. The tub 11 is a so-called bottomed cylindrical shape with one end closed. In the present embodiment, the tub 11 is a tub having an upward opening and is called a vertical tub. The tub 11 is housed in the housing 10 such that the opening of the tub 11 is exposed when the lid 12 is opened.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the central axis of the tub 11 extends along the vertical direction. The washing machine 1 having the tub 11 of this aspect may be referred to as a vertical washing machine.

[0015] The tub 11 may be constituted by a single tub, for example. Alternatively, the tub 11 may be constituted by a plurality of tubs including an outer tub and an inner tub arranged concentrically, for example.

[0016] A balancer 13 is attached to an upper portion of the tub 11. The balancer 13 is annular in a plan view. The balancer 13 is connected to an opening of the tub 11. The tub 11 and the balancer 13 are provided integrally. The tub 11 and the balancer 13 are suspended in a housing 10. The tub 11 and the balancer 13 are swingably suspended from the housing 10. The balancer 13 is a weight for suppressing vibration and swinging of the tub 11, for example, when the tub 11 rotates at a high speed and is likely to vibrate or swing, such as during spin-drying.

[0017] The opening of the tub 11 exposed from the balancer 13 when viewed from above communicates with an opening 10a provided in an upper portion of the housing 10. In a plan view, the opening 10a exposes at least a part of the opening of the tub 11.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the housing 10 has the opening 10a on a top surface thereof. A lid 12 is attached to the housing 10. The lid 12 is provided to be capable of opening and closing the opening 10a. The lid 12 is rotatable relative to the housing 10 about a rotation axis A1. The rotation axis A1 extends along a width direction of the washing machine 1. A distal end portion of the lid 12 (a portion away from the rotation axis A1) is rotatable relative to the housing 10 about the rotation axis A1. As mainly shown in FIG. 1, when the lid 12 is in a closed state, the opening 10a is covered by the lid 12. When the lid 12 is in an open state, the opening 10a is exposed from the lid 12, and laundry or the like can be put into or taken out of the tub 11 via the opening 10a and the balancer 13.

[0019] (Drying Unit) Hereinafter, details of the drying unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

[0020] The drying unit 2 has the function of supplying warm air into the tub 11 to dry the laundry inside the tub 11. The drying unit 2 has an outlet for blowing air into the tub 11. The drying unit 2 comprises, for example, an upper unit 3 including a heater and a fan, and a lower unit 4 consisting of a fan case having an outlet 4a (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0021] The drying unit 2 is installed in the casing 10 above the tub 11. In a top-loading washing machine, the drying unit 2, which supplies hot air into the tub 11 to dry the laundry inside, is structurally often installed above the tub 11, and is particularly often installed towards the back of the upper part of the tub.

[0022] When the drying unit 2 is installed above the tank 11 in this manner, the hot air is blown downward from the outlet 4a into the tank 11. The downward direction from which the hot air is blown is, for example, vertically downward, but it may also be diagonally downward and forward. Thus, the drying unit 2 has a downward-facing outlet 4a for blowing hot air into the tank 11.

[0023] In this embodiment, the discharge port 4a is provided with a separation plate 41 that separates a portion of the warm air blown downward from the discharge port 4a into directions other than downward. These other directions may be one or more directions (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0024] In conventional systems, when all the hot air blown from the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2 is directed downwards, uneven drying of the laundry is likely to occur. In contrast, in this embodiment, by providing a separation plate 41 at the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2, a portion of the hot air is diverted to flow in directions other than downwards, thus reducing uneven drying of the laundry. This allows for a reduction in drying time.

[0025] Furthermore, when the hot air separated by the separation plate 41 is directed upwards towards the tank 11, the hot air is also sent into the housing 10 near the top of the tank 11, allowing that area to be dried. This also has the effect of suppressing mold growth in the complex structural parts of the housing 10 near the top of the tank 11. Examples of complex structural parts include the bellows-shaped connecting packing that connects the tank 11 to the upper structure.

[0026] Referring to Figures 4 to 7, the separation plate 41 extends downward from, for example, the rear side of the outer circumference of the discharge port 4a. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the separation plate 41 has bent portions 411 and 412 that are bent towards the front side so as to extend in a direction other than downward from a certain point. The bent portions 411 and 412 allow a portion of the hot air blown downward from the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2 to flow in directions other than downward, as shown by the black and white arrows in Figures 4 to 7.

[0027] The separation plate 41 may be integrally molded with the lower unit 4, such as a fan case having an outlet 4a, or the separation plate 41 may be configured to be attached to the outlet 4a of the lower unit 4.

[0028] By adjusting the bending angle of the bent sections 411 and 412, it is possible to adjust the direction in which some of the warm air is directed, other than downwards. For example, some of the warm air can be directed diagonally upwards and forwards, as in the case of the bent section 411 which is bent diagonally upwards and forwards, or some of the warm air can be directed forwards, as in the case of the bent section 412 which is bent forwards (see Figure 7(b)). Referring to Figure 5, the angle θ between the tip of the bent portion 411, which is bent diagonally upward and forward, and the horizontal direction to the front is preferably 30 to 45 degrees.

[0029] Referring to Figure 5, it is preferable that the front ends of the bent portions 411 and 412 are located behind the wall portion that forms the rear end of the opening 10a of the housing 10. This configuration prevents the laundry from coming into contact with the bent portions 411 and 412 when removing the laundry from the tub 11. As a result, the laundry can be easily removed from the tub 11 even with the separation plate 41 attached. Furthermore, if the separation plate 41 is integrated with the lower unit 4 of the drying unit 2, it does not become an obstacle when fitting the lower unit 4 from top to bottom along the rear side of the wall portion during the manufacturing process of the washing machine 1.

[0030] Furthermore, by widening the width of the separation plate 41, the proportion of warm air flowing in directions other than downwards (for example, diagonally upwards and forwards) can be increased. By narrowing the width of the separation plate 41, the proportion of warm air flowing downwards can be increased.

[0031] As shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(c), the separation plate 41 may be provided with side walls 41a and 41b. The side walls 41a and 41b can increase the proportion of warm air guided in directions other than downwards.

[0032] The width of the side wall may be wide, as shown in Figure 6(b) side wall 41a, or narrow, as shown in Figure 6(c) side wall 41b. Both side walls may be closed at the top, and the separation plate 41 may be configured in a cylindrical shape, as shown in Figure 6d). By adjusting the width and shape of the side walls, etc., the ratio of warm air guided in directions other than downwards can be adjusted.

[0033] As shown in Figure 7(a), the separation plate may be composed of a plurality of separate separation plates 41. Also, as shown in Figure 7(b), the separation plate 41 may have a plurality of bent portions 411, 412 with different bending angles. The separation plate may be composed of a plurality of separate separation plates having bent portions with different bending angles. With this configuration, the separation plate 41 directs the hot air blown downward from the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2 in various directions, allowing the hot air to circulate throughout the entire tub 11, reducing uneven drying of the laundry and improving drying efficiency.

[0034] The configuration of the separation plate 41 is not limited to the above specific example, as long as it can direct a portion of the hot air blown downward from the discharge port 4a of the drying unit 2 in a direction other than downward.

[0035] (Hanger locking part) As shown in Figure 8, the washing machine of this embodiment may be provided with a hanger locking portion 121 on the inside of the lid 12 for suspending laundry inside the tub 11. The hanger locking portion 121 is the part to which the hanger 5 is locked. In Figure 8, the hanger locking portion 121 has two holes, and two hangers 5 can be suspended from these holes. As shown in Figure 8, with the lid 12 open, the hangers 5 on which the laundry is hung are suspended from the hanger locking portion 121, and then the lid 12 is closed, resulting in the laundry being suspended inside the tub 11 by the hangers 5.

[0036] In this case, if all the hot air blown out from the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2 is blown in one direction downwards, the hot air will only hit the lower part of the laundry suspended in the tub 11. Furthermore, the flow of hot air in the front-to-back direction is blocked by the laundry suspended at the very back of the tub 11, which tends to result in uneven drying of the laundry. In contrast, in this embodiment, by providing a separation plate 41 at the outlet 4a of the drying unit 2, a portion of the hot air is diverted to flow in directions other than downwards, such as diagonally upwards, thus reducing uneven drying of the laundry. This makes it possible to shorten the drying time of the laundry suspended in the tub 11.

[0037] (Ironing Unit) Referring to Figures 9 to 12, the washing machine 1 of this embodiment may include an ironing unit inside the lid 12, which includes a support stand 61 and a mesh plate 62 provided inside the support stand 61. Here, the mesh plate 62 is provided inside the support stand 61 so that the laundry can be dried while sandwiched between the support stand 61 and the mesh plate 62. The support base 61 is made of a material such as an ironing board. The mesh plate 62 is made of a mesh structure that allows hot air to pass through.

[0038] In this embodiment, by providing a separation plate 41 at the discharge port 4a of the drying unit 2, during drying operation, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 11, a portion of the hot air blown downward from the discharge port 4a of the drying unit 2 can be directed diagonally upward and forward. As a result, the laundry can be efficiently dried by the hot air blown through the mesh plate 62 while it is sandwiched and pressed between the support stand 61 and the mesh plate 62. For example, the laundry can be dried without wrinkles, as if it had been ironed. This eliminates the need to iron the laundry separately after washing and drying.

[0039] The mesh plate 62 is openable and closable, and can be opened from the front end relative to the lid 12 and the base 61, as shown in Figure 9. In this state, laundry such as a handkerchief can be spread flat between the base 61 and the mesh plate 62, and by closing the mesh plate 62 to the state shown in Figure 10, the laundry can be sandwiched between the base 61 and the mesh plate 62.

[0040] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included. Configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described herein are also included in the scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1: Washing machine 10: Cabinet 10a: opening 11: Tank 12: Lid 121: Hanger locking part 13: Balancer 2: Drying unit 3: Upper unit 4: Lower unit (fan case) 4a:Discharge port 41: Separation plate 41a, 41b: Side wall 41c: 411,412: Folding section 5: Hanger 6: Ironing Unit 61: Stand 62: Mesh Plate 7: Laundry A1: Rotation axis

Claims

1. A housing having an opening on the top surface, A lid is provided that can open and close the aforementioned opening, A tank having an upward-facing opening housed within the aforementioned housing, The tank is further comprising a drying unit provided in the housing above the tank, The drying unit has a downward-facing outlet for blowing hot air into the tank, The discharge port is provided with a separation plate that divides a portion of the warm air blown downward from the discharge port into directions other than downward. washing machine.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the separation plate has a bent portion that extends downward from the rear side of the outer circumference of the discharge port and is bent towards the front side so as to extend in the other direction.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the lid is provided with a hanger locking portion for locking a hanger for hanging laundry inside the drum.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an ironing unit inside the lid, which includes a support stand and a mesh plate provided inside the support stand. The mesh plate is positioned inside the support so that the laundry can be dried while sandwiched between the support and the mesh plate.

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