Washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine which can easily replace a brush holder.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a washing tub in which an object to be washed is inputted; a rotation body arranged at a bottom part of the washing tub, and rotating around an axis line extending vertically; a brush holder having a shaft part fixed to an upper side of the rotation body and a brush unit extending to an inner peripheral surface side of the washing tub from the shaft part, and for rotating together with the rotation body; and a connection member for connecting the shaft part and the rotation body. The shaft part includes: a cylindrical body extending vertically; and a tabular inside flange for closing at least part of a lower end opening of the cylindrical body. The connection member can be inserted into / taken out of an internal space of the cylindrical body from an upper end opening of the cylindrical body. The connection member arranged in the internal space of the cylindrical body connects the shaft part and the rotation body by being engaged with the rotation body penetrating through the inside flange arranged on an upper surface of the rotation body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] There is known a shoe washing machine that rubs and washes shoes put into an inner tub by rotating a brush holder provided with a brush on its outer periphery in the inner tub in which detergent and water are stored (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the shoe washing machine described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of screw holes penetrating in the vertical direction are provided in a rotating plate. A brush holder installed at the center of the upper surface of the rotating plate is fixed integrally with the rotating plate by a plurality of screws inserted into these screw holes from below. Since these screws can be attached and detached only from the lower side of the rotating plate, it was necessary to remove the rotating plate from the shoe washing machine when replacing the brush holder.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a washing machine in which a brush holder can be easily replaced.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A washing machine according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a washing tub into which an object to be washed is placed, a rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub and rotating about an axis extending in the vertical direction, a shaft portion fixed above the rotating body, and a brush unit extending from the shaft portion toward the inner peripheral surface side of the washing tub. The washing machine further includes a brush holder that rotates together with the rotating body, and a connecting member for connecting the shaft portion and the rotating body. The shaft portion includes a cylindrical body extending in the vertical direction and a plate-shaped inner flange that closes at least a part of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body. The connecting member can enter and exit the internal space of the cylindrical body from the upper end opening of the cylindrical body, and the connecting member disposed in the internal space of the cylindrical body passes through the inner flange disposed on the upper surface of the rotating body and engages with the rotating body to connect the shaft portion and the rotating body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0009] [Schematic Configuration of Washing Machine 1] The schematic configuration of the washing machine 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the washing machine 1. In FIG. 1, a longitudinal section with the right front part of the washing machine 1 removed is shown to illustrate the internal structure of the washing machine 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13. The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment exemplifies a washing and dehydrating machine that washes and dehydrates the object to be washed, the shoe 9 (see FIGS. 4A, etc.).

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 includes an outer box 10, an upper surface member 20, an upper lid 30, a base member 40, a drive mechanism 50, etc. The outer shape of the outer box 10 is a rectangular tube shape that is open at the top and bottom. The upper surface member 20 is provided above the outer box 10, and the base member 40 is provided below the outer box 10. The upper lid 30 can open and close an opening that penetrates the upper surface member 20 in the vertical direction. The water tank 11 is disposed inside the outer box 10 and has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape that is open upward. A drainage portion for draining the water in the water tank 11 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 11.

[0011] Inside the water tank 11, a washing tub 12 into which the shoe 9, which is the object to be washed, is placed is provided. The washing tub 12 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape that is open upward, similar to the water tank 11, and is rotatable with respect to the water tank 11. The axis O passing through the center of rotation of the washing tub 12 extends in the vertical direction. A water draining portion is formed at the bottom of the washing tub 12, and a plurality of drainage holes are formed in the peripheral wall of the washing tub 12. Through the upper end opening of the washing tub 12, the shoe 9 is inserted into and removed from the washing tub 12 from above. A balance ring 14 is provided along the upper end opening edge of the washing tub 12.

[0012] The washing machine 1 includes a rotating body 13 disposed at the bottom of the washing tub 12 and rotating about an axis extending in the vertical direction. For example, the rotating body 13 is a disk-shaped pulsator for agitating the water in the washing tub 12. The rotating body 13 is rotatable with respect to the washing tub 12. The axis passing through the center of rotation of the rotating body 13 substantially coincides with the axis O of the washing tub 12. Below the washing tub 12, a drive mechanism 50 for rotationally driving the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 is provided. A clutch 51 is provided between the drive mechanism 50 and the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13. The state in which the power of the drive mechanism 50 is transmitted to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 and the state in which the power of the drive mechanism 50 is transmitted only to the rotating body 13 are switched by the clutch 51.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the washing machine 1 includes a brush holder 3. The brush holder 3 has a shaft portion 60 fixed to the upper side of the rotating body 13 and a brush unit 7 extending from the shaft portion 60 toward the inner peripheral surface 12A side of the washing tub 12, and rotates together with the rotating body 13. The axis passing through the center of rotation of the brush holder 3 passes through the center of the shaft portion 60 and substantially coincides with the axis O of the washing tub 12. Therefore, the washing tub 12, the rotating body 13, and the brush holder 3 are all rotatable about the axis O. The rotation direction about the axis O substantially coincides with the circumferential direction C of the washing tub 12. The circumferential direction C includes a clockwise direction C1 and a counterclockwise direction C2 in plan view.

[0014] The brush holder 3 is provided with a plurality of brush units 7. The upper end of each brush unit 7 is located below the upper end opening of the washing tub 12. The lower end of each brush unit 7 faces the upper surface of the rotating body 13 with a space therebetween from above. The tip of each brush unit 7 faces the inner peripheral surface 12A of the washing tub 12 with a space therebetween. In this example, two brush units 7 project from the shaft portion 60 in opposite directions in plan view. The number, position, shape, etc. of the brush units 7 are not limited to this embodiment.

[0015] The side protrusion 100 and the bottom protrusion 200 will be described. FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 are rotated 180 degrees in the circumferential direction C in FIG. 4A.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the side protrusion 100 protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 12A of the washing tub 12 toward the center side of the washing tub 12. The side protrusion 100 is a plate-like member fixed to the inner peripheral surface 12A of the washing tub 12. The side protrusion 100 is disposed within a height range from the lower end to the vertical center of the brush unit 7. The tip of the rotating brush unit 7 crosses the front side of the side protrusion 100.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4B, the rotating body 13 has a bottom protrusion 200 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the rotating body 13. The bottom protrusion 200 has a ridge line R that extends along the circumferential direction C, which is the rotation direction of the rotating body 13. The bottom protrusion 200 extends in an arc shape on the outer peripheral side of the shaft portion 60 around the axis 0. The bottom protrusion 200 in this example is provided over a range of approximately 180 degrees around the axis 0 so as to extend across the two brush units 7 in plan view.

[0018] The ridge line R is a virtual line that connects both ends in the extending direction of the bottom protrusion 200 and extends along the highest portion on the surface of the bottom protrusion 200. The highest position of the ridge line R is the top 200A that forms the upper end of the bottom protrusion 200. The top 200A is between the two brush units 7 in plan view. The ridge line R slopes so as to gradually descend from the top 200A toward both sides in the circumferential direction C.

[0019] The outline of the operation of the washing machine 1 will be described. The washing machine 1 includes a control unit 90 for controlling the operation of the washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1). The control unit 90 is a controller including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., but may also be an MCU, an MPU, etc. By the control unit 90 controlling the drive mechanism 50, the following operating operations are executed in the washing machine 1.

[0020] First, in the washing operation, the shoes 9 are washed in the washing tub 12 where the detergent and water are stored. Specifically, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the rotating body 13 among the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 by the clutch 51. When the power of the drive mechanism 50 is transmitted to the rotating body 13, the rotating body 13 is rotationally driven about the axis O, and the brush holder 3 also rotates integrally with the rotating body 13. The two brush units 7 provided on the brush holder 3 also rotate in the circumferential direction C about the axis O.

[0021] The rotation locus T described by the tip of the brush unit 7 rotating in the circumferential direction C is circular about the axis O and has a smaller diameter than the outer circumference P of the rotating body 13 (see FIG. 3). The brush unit 7 rotating within the rotation locus T contacts the shoes 9 on the outer peripheral side of the shaft portion 60, thereby washing the shoes 9. When the washing operation ends, the detergent and water are discharged from the water draining portion and the drain hole of the washing tub 12.

[0022] During the washing operation of this example, as the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 rotate, the shoes 9 are moved along the inner peripheral surface 12A and contact the side protruding portion 100. When the shoes 9 contact the side protruding portion 100 and bounce, the orientation and posture of the shoes 9 change greatly. As a result, the brush unit 7 can contact the outer surface of the shoes 9 evenly, so the cleaning power is improved. In addition, when the shoes 9 that have sunk in the stored water of the washing tub 12 contact the bottom protruding portion 200 that rotates together with the rotating body 13, they are bounced upward. As a result, the brush unit 7 can surely contact the shoes 9, so the cleaning power is improved.

[0023] After the above washing operation, the following dehydration operation is performed. Specifically, first, in the washing tub 12 from which the detergent and water have been discharged, a rolling operation of rotating the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 is executed in the same manner as the washing operation. In the rolling operation of this example, the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 are alternately rotated forward and backward for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times. The shoes 9 on the rotating body 13 are moved along the inner peripheral surface 12A as the rotating body 13 rotates or is pushed by the rotating brush unit 7. The shoes 9 thus moved are peeled off from the inner peripheral surface 12A by contacting the side protruding portion 100. Even when the shoes 9 are in a state where they are stuck to the inner peripheral surface 12A and difficult to move, when the shoes 9 contact the bottom protruding portion 200 that rotates with the rotating body 13, they are peeled off from the inner peripheral surface 12A.

[0024] Next, a tub rotation operation of rotating the washing tub 12 from which the detergent and water have been discharged is executed. In the tub rotation operation, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 by the clutch 51. The power of the drive mechanism 50 is transmitted to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13, and the washing tub 12 is rotationally driven about the axis O. Centrifugal force acts on the shoes 9 in the washing tub 12, and the shoes 9 are dehydrated. Since the tub rotation operation of this example is executed in a state where the shoes 9 are peeled off from the washing tub 12 by the above-described rolling operation, the shoes 9 can be effectively dehydrated.

[0025] [Detailed Configuration of Brush Unit 7] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4B, each of the two brush units 7 includes a plurality of brush portions 70 extending from the shaft portion 60 toward the inner peripheral surface 12A side of the washing tub 12. Each of the plurality of brush portions 70 is composed of a single or a plurality of elastic bodies. In this example, in each of the plurality of brush portions 70, a plurality of tufts of hair extending radially outward of the shaft portion 60 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface 60A. The brush portion 70 may be made of sponge or rubber product. Each of the plurality of brush portions 70 is square-shaped when viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft portion 60, but may have other shapes such as triangular shape, rhombus shape, and elliptical shape.

[0026] In the following description, when distinguishing between the two brush units 7 provided in the washing machine 1, they are referred to as brush units 7A and 7B. In the brush units 7A and 7B, the plurality of brush parts 70 include a first brush part 71 and a second brush part 72 which are provided at different vertical positions and are separated from each other.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4A, in the brush unit 7A, the first brush part 71 and the second brush part 72 extend vertically at positions separated from each other in the circumferential direction C. The first brush part 71 is in the counterclockwise direction C2 with respect to the second brush part 72 and is offset upward with respect to the second brush part 72. The first region 71A extending downward from the first brush part 71 is a space where no plurality of brush parts 70 are provided and is aligned with the second brush part 72 in the circumferential direction C. The second region 72A extending upward from the second brush part 72 is a space where no plurality of brush parts 70 are provided and is aligned with the first brush part 71 in the circumferential direction C.

[0028] The brush unit 7A further includes a third brush part 73, a fourth brush part 74, and a fifth brush part 75. The third brush part 73 extends along the circumferential direction C between the first brush part 71 and the second brush part 72 and is connected to the lower part of the first brush part 71 and the upper part of the second brush part 72. The fourth brush part 74 extends from the upper part of the first brush part 71 in the counterclockwise direction C2. The fifth brush part 75 extends from the lower part of the second brush part 72 in the counterclockwise direction C2. That is, in the brush unit 7A, it is integrally formed by the first brush part 71 to the fifth brush part 75, and these five brush parts 70 are continuously connected. The brush unit 7A extends so as to meander obliquely upward along the counterclockwise direction C2 when viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft part 60.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the brush units 7A and 7B are circumferentially separated from each other in the circumferential direction C. Specifically, the brush units 7A and 7B are respectively provided on the half circumferential surfaces 161 and 162 of the shaft portion 60. The half circumferential surfaces 161 and 162 are two regions that bisect the outer circumferential surface 60A of the shaft portion 60 in the circumferential direction C. Since the top 200A of the bottom surface protrusion 200 described above is between the two brush units 7 in plan view (see FIG. 2), it is separated from all the brush portions 70.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 4B, the shape of the brush unit 7B is equal to the shape obtained by rotating the brush unit 7A by 180 degrees when viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft portion 60. Therefore, in the brush unit 7B, the first brush portion 71 is in the clockwise direction C1 with respect to the second brush portion 72. The first brush portion 71 is offset downward with respect to the second brush portion 72. The third brush portion 73 is connected to the upper part of the first brush portion 71 and the lower part of the second brush portion 72. The fourth brush portion 74 extends in the clockwise direction C1 from the lower part of the first brush portion 71. The fifth brush portion 75 extends in the clockwise direction C1 from the upper part of the second brush portion 72.

[0031] [Washing mode of the object to be washed] In the above washing operation, water and detergent are stored in the washing tub 12, and as the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 rotate, the brush unit 7 repeats forward and reverse rotations in the circumferential direction C. During forward rotation, the brush unit 7 rotates in the clockwise direction C1. During reverse rotation, the brush unit 7 rotates in the counterclockwise direction C2. The brush unit 7 rotates relative to the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tub 12 and wipes the dirt on the shoes 9, which are the objects to be washed in the washing tub 12. Since each of the brush units 7A and 7B includes the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 provided at different vertical positions and separated from each other, the shoes 9 can be washed in the following manner.

[0032] During forward rotation, the brush units 7A and 7B move in the clockwise direction C1 and come into contact with the shoe 9. In the brush unit 7A shown in Fig. 4A, when the shoe 9 contacts the second brush portion 72, the shoe 9 is likely to escape upward toward the second region 72A without a brush due to the elasticity of the second brush portion 72. The shoe 9 that has escaped to the second region 72A comes into contact with the first brush portion 71 that moves in the clockwise direction C1. Similarly, in the brush unit 7B shown in Fig. 4B, when the shoe 9 contacts the first brush portion 71, the shoe 9 escapes to the first region 71A without a brush and is likely to come into contact with the second brush portion 72 that moves in the clockwise direction C1.

[0033] During reverse rotation, the brush units 7A and 7B move in the counterclockwise direction C2 and come into contact with the shoe 9. In the brush unit 7B shown in Fig. 4B, when the shoe 9 contacts the second brush portion 72, the shoe 9 is likely to escape downward toward the second region 72A without a brush due to the elasticity of the second brush portion 72. The shoe 9 that has escaped to the second region 72A comes into contact with the first brush portion 71 that moves in the counterclockwise direction C2. Similarly, in the brush unit 7A shown in Fig. 4A, when the shoe 9 contacts the first brush portion 71, the shoe 9 escapes to the first region 71A and comes into contact with the second brush portion 72 that moves in the counterclockwise direction C2.

[0034] In this way, in the brush units 7A and 7B, the shoe 9 in contact with each can be moved upward or downward, and both the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 separated from each other in the circumferential direction C can be brought into contact with the shoe 9. As a result, it is possible to suppress the shoe 9 from following the brush units 7A and 7B, and the shoe 9 can be cleaned in two steps by the two brush portions 70 separated from each other in the circumferential direction C.

[0035] The first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 can move in the circumferential direction C from a state separated from the shoe 9 in the circumferential direction C and come into contact with the shoe 9. As a result, the tips of the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 are likely to come into contact with the shoe 9, and the contact friction applied to the shoe 9 increases, so it is easy to obtain a large cleaning force. Furthermore, by allowing the shoe 9 to escape to the first region 71A or the second region 72A without a brush, the orientation and posture of the shoe 9 are likely to change, and the outer surface of the shoe 9 can be evenly cleaned by the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72.

[0036] In each of the brush units 7A and 7B, the third brush portion 73 extends along the circumferential direction C between the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72. Therefore, when the shoe 9 moving in the circumferential direction C contacts the third brush portion 73, the shoe 9 receives a large reaction force from the third brush portion 73 and easily moves to the first brush portion 71 or the second brush portion 72 without a brush. As a result, the shoe 9 can be reliably moved upward or downward, and the shoe 9 can be washed in two steps by the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 separated from each other in the circumferential direction C. When a plurality of shoes 9 are washed or dehydrated simultaneously, the plurality of shoes 9 can be dispersed so as not to overlap each other, thereby improving the washing effect and the dehydration effect.

[0037] During the washing operation, as the rotating body 13 rotates, the bottom surface protrusion 200 also rotates in the circumferential direction C. The shoe 9 on the rotating body 13 rides on the bottom surface protrusion 200 rotating in the circumferential direction C and is guided upward along the ridge line R. Since the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protrusion 200 is separated from the plurality of brush portions 70, the shoe 9 can move to the top portion 200A without being interfered by the plurality of brush portions 70. The bottom surface protrusion 200 can lift the shoe 9 submerged in the stored water to the height of the top portion 200A.

[0038] [Connection Structure of Brush Holder 3 and Rotating Body 13] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 10, the connection structure of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 will be described. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13. Specifically, the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 in FIG. 5 are sectional views cut by a vertical plane passing through the axis O and the top portion 200A. FIG. 6 is a developed plan view of the parts of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shaft portion 60 viewed obliquely from below. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotating body 13 viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 viewed in the direction of the arrow A-A in FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 viewed in the direction of the arrow B-B in FIG. 6.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the shaft portion 60 of the brush holder 3 has a cylindrical body 61 extending in the vertical direction and a plate-like inner flange 62 that closes at least a part of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body 61. The inner flange 62 of this example has a flange plate 621, a plurality of stepped portions 622, and an opening 623. The flange plate 621 is an annular plate extending inward from the edge of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body 61. The plurality of stepped portions 622 are portions recessed upward from the flange plate 621. The opening 623 is a circular hole penetrating the central portion of the flange plate 621 in the vertical direction. The opening 623 may have other opening shapes or may not have the opening 623. Further, the shaft portion 60 has a semi-spherical lid 69 that is detachable from the upper end opening of the cylindrical body 61.

[0040] In this example, three stepped portions 622 are provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the flange plate 621. As shown in FIG. 6, the three stepped portions 622 are arranged so as to form three points of an isosceles triangle with a short base in a plan view. One stepped portion 622 forming the apex of the isosceles triangle is between the end portion on the counterclockwise direction C2 side of the brush unit 7A and the end portion on the clockwise direction C1 side of the brush unit 7B when viewed from the axis O. That is, this stepped portion 622 faces the gap sandwiched between the brush units 7A and 7B with the cylindrical body 61 interposed therebetween in a plan view.

[0041] The two stepped portions 622 at both ends of the base of the isosceles triangle overlap with the portion on the clockwise direction C1 side of the brush unit 7A and the portion on the counterclockwise direction C2 side of the brush unit 7B, respectively, when viewed from the axis O. That is, these two stepped portions 622 face the brush units 7A and 7B, respectively, with the cylindrical body 61 interposed therebetween in a plan view.

[0042] The plurality of small holes penetrating the inner flange 62 in the vertical direction are a plurality of mounting holes 62A and a plurality of drain holes 62B. Each mounting hole 62A is a hole for mounting a connecting member 80 described later. Each drain hole 62B is a hole for discharging the water inside the shaft portion 60 to the lower side of the rotating body 13.

[0043] In this example, a total of eight mounting holes 62A and a total of eight drain holes 62B are provided in the inner flange 62 such that the mounting holes 62A and the drain holes 62B are arranged alternately one by one along the outer periphery of the opening 623. The total of eight mounting holes 62A are arranged annularly at equal intervals from each other, and the total of eight drain holes 62B are arranged annularly at equal intervals from each other. Among the total of eight mounting holes 62A, three mounting holes 62A penetrate through the three stepped portions 622 respectively, and the remaining five mounting holes 62A penetrate through the flange plate 621. All of the total of eight drain holes 62B penetrate through the flange plate 621.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, a holder mounting portion 130 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the rotating body 13. The holder mounting portion 130 has a support plate 131, a plurality of convex portions 132, a shaft support portion 133, and a peripheral wall portion 139. The peripheral wall portion 139 is a cylindrical shape extending upward from the upper surface of the rotating body 13 about the axis O. The support plate 131 is a circular plate forming the bottom inside the peripheral wall portion 139. The lower end portion of the shaft portion 60 can be fitted into the recess surrounded by the peripheral wall portion 139 and the support plate 131. The plurality of convex portions 132 are cylindrical shapes protruding upward from the support plate 131. The shaft support portion 133 is a hole penetrating the center of the support plate 131 in the vertical direction, and a rotating shaft for rotating the rotating body 13 is attached from below.

[0045] In this example, three convex portions 132 are provided near the outer periphery of the support plate 131. These three convex portions 132 are arranged corresponding to the three stepped portions 622 provided in the brush holder 3. As shown in FIG. 6, the three convex portions 132 are arranged so as to form three points of an isosceles triangle with a short base in a plan view, similar to the three stepped portions 622. One convex portion 132 forming the apex of the isosceles triangle overlaps with the top 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200 when viewed from the axis O. That is, this convex portion 132 faces the top 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200 across the peripheral wall portion 139 in a plan view.

[0046] The two convex portions 132 at both ends of the base of the isosceles triangle are, when viewed from the axis O, located at positions away from the bottom surface protrusion 200 in the clockwise direction C1 and at positions away from the bottom surface protrusion 200 in the counterclockwise direction C2. That is, these two stepped portions 622 do not face the bottom surface protrusion 200 with the peripheral wall portion 139 interposed therebetween in plan view.

[0047] The plurality of small holes penetrating the holder mounting portion 130 in the vertical direction are a plurality of mounting holes 130A and a plurality of drain holes 130B. Each mounting hole 130A is a hole for mounting a connecting member 80 described later. Each drain hole 130B is a hole for discharging the water inside the shaft portion 60 to the lower side of the rotating body 13. Note that a plurality of drain holes for draining water downward from the rotating body 13 are also provided on the outer peripheral side of the holder mounting portion 130 on the upper surface of the rotating body 13.

[0048] In this example, a total of eight mounting holes 130A are provided in the holder mounting portion 130 corresponding to the total of eight mounting holes 62A provided in the shaft portion 60. A plurality of drain holes 130B are provided in the holder mounting portion 130, and a total of eight of these drain holes 130B correspond to the total of eight drain holes 62B provided in the shaft portion 60. These total eight mounting holes 130A and total eight drain holes 130B are provided such that the mounting holes 130A and the drain holes 130B are alternately arranged one by one along the outer periphery of the shaft support portion 133. Among the total eight mounting holes 130A, three mounting holes 130A penetrate the three convex portions 132 respectively, and the remaining five mounting holes 130A penetrate the support plate 131. All of the plurality of drain holes 130B penetrate the support plate 131.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the brush holder 3 can be connected to the rotating body 13 by the following steps. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the operator fits the lower end of the shaft portion 60 into the concave portion of the holder mounting portion 130 from above so that the inner flange 62 is close to the support plate 131. At this time, the operator fits the lower end of the shaft portion 60 into the concave portion of the holder mounting portion 130 so that the three stepped portions 622 are in a positional relationship that substantially coincides with the three convex portions 132 in plan view.

[0050] As a result, within the recess of the holder mounting portion 130, the three convex portions 132 provided on the holder mounting portion 130 fit into the three stepped portions 622 provided on the shaft portion 60 from below. The circumferential wall portion 139 surrounding the shaft portion 60 restricts the horizontal movement of the shaft portion 60. At the same time, the rotation of the shaft portion 60 in the circumferential direction C is restricted by each convex portion 132 fitted into each stepped portion 622. That is, even before the shaft portion 60 is fixed by the connecting member 80, it is accurately positioned with respect to the rotating body 13.

[0051] When the shaft portion 60 is positioned as described above, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, the eight mounting holes 62A provided in the shaft portion 60 are respectively arranged above the eight mounting holes 130A provided in the holder mounting portion 130 and communicate with each other vertically. Eight connecting members 80 can be respectively attached to the eight sets of mounting holes 62A and 130A that communicate vertically. The connecting member 80 in this example is a screw having a head and a shaft portion.

[0052] The connecting member 80 can be inserted into and removed from the internal space of the cylindrical body 61 through the upper end opening of the cylindrical body 61. The operator arranges the connecting member 80 in the internal space of the cylindrical body 61 through the upper end opening of the cylindrical body 61 from which the lid 69 has been removed. In this example, the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 61 is sized such that a human hand can enter (for example, 100 mm) so that the connecting member 80 can be easily inserted into and removed from the internal space of the cylindrical body 61.

[0053] The operator attaches the eight connecting members 80 to the eight sets of mounting holes 62A and 130A respectively in the internal space of the cylindrical body 61. In each connecting member 80, with its head in contact with the upper surface of the inner flange 62, its shaft portion is locked across the mounting holes 62A and 130A. The connecting member 80 thus arranged in the internal space of the cylindrical body 61 penetrates the inner flange 62 arranged on the upper surface of the rotating body 13 and engages with the rotating body 13, thereby connecting the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13.

[0054] The shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13 that are connected to each other are provided with a plurality of fastening portions 500 to which a plurality of connecting members 80 are respectively attached. Each of the plurality of fastening portions 500 includes a set of mounting holes 62A and 130A that communicate vertically, and one connecting member 80 attached thereto. The plurality of fastening portions 500 include the following first fastening portion 510 and second fastening portion 520.

[0055] As described above, three of the eight mounting holes 62A are provided in a stepped portion 622 that extends above the flange plate 621. Three of the eight mounting holes 130A are provided in a convex portion 132 that extends above the support plate 131. The first fastening portion 510 includes the mounting hole 62A in the stepped portion 622, the mounting hole 130A in the convex portion 132, and one connecting member 80 attached thereto. The second fastening portion 520 includes the mounting hole 62A in the flange plate 621, the mounting hole 130A in the support plate 131, and one connecting member 80 attached thereto.

[0056] Here, when the brush holder 3 rotates, the centrifugal force of the brush units 7A and 7B acts on the shaft portion 60, and this centrifugal force tends to act in the radial direction of the axis O. In this example, a total of eight fastening portions 500 including three first fastening portions 510 and five second fastening portions 520 are provided. Since these fastening portions 500 are arranged in the circumferential direction C centered on the axis O, the connection state with the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13 can be stably maintained even when the above centrifugal force acts.

[0057] Further, since the brush units 7A and 7B extend in the vertical direction, when the brush holder 3 rotates, the shaft portion 60 is likely to vibrate due to the load of the brush units 7A and 7B. In this example, the first fastening portion 510 and the second fastening portion 520 connect the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13 to each other at different heights. Also, the first fastening portion 510 located above the second fastening portion 520 connects the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13 to each other at a position closer to the center of gravity of the brush units 7A and 7B. Therefore, even when the above vibration acts, the connection state with the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13 can be stably maintained.

[0058] As described above, each of the three stepped portions 622 and the three convex portions 132 forms an isosceles triangle with a short base in plan view. Therefore, unless the operator aligns the vertices of the isosceles triangle formed by the three stepped portions 622 with the vertices of the isosceles triangle formed by the three convex portions 132 in plan view, each convex portion 132 cannot be fitted into each stepped portion 622. That is, the appropriate mounting positions of the three stepped portions 622 with respect to the rotating body 13 are defined at one position corresponding to the three convex portions 132.

[0059] Therefore, the operator can arrange the shaft portion 60 in an accurate positional relationship with respect to the rotating body 13 by arranging the shaft portion 60 so that the three stepped portions 622 and the three convex portions 132 are aligned. In the shaft portion 60 arranged in this way, when viewed from the axis O, since the stepped portion 622 and the convex portion 132 forming the vertex of the isosceles triangle face the same side, the gap sandwiched between the brush units 7A and 7B is arranged on the same side as the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200.

[0060] In other words, in plan view, the first fastening portion 510 forming the vertex of the isosceles triangle and the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200 are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the axis O, and no brush unit 7 is provided in the radial direction. Therefore, even if the shapes of the brush holder 3 and the rotating body 13 are complicated, the brush holder 3 can be accurately and easily attached to the rotating body 13 so as to be in an appropriate arrangement where the brush unit 7 does not interfere with the top portion 200A.

[0061] Further, the first fastening portion 510 forming the vertex of the isosceles triangle and the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200 are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the axis O, that is, the first fastening portion 510 is provided at a position where the distance is shorter with respect to the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200. At the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200, stress tends to be applied more strongly than at other locations, such as when the shoe 9 is bounced upward or when the shoe 9 is moved together with the side protruding portion 100. The first fastening portion 510 forming the vertex of the isosceles triangle is at a higher position than the other second fastening portions 520 and is also close to the height of the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200. Thereby, the brush holder 3 can be reliably held against the stress applied to the top portion 200A of the bottom surface protruding portion 200.

[0062] Also, in a plan view, the line segment connecting the axis O and the center of gravity of the brush unit 7 intersects the line segment connecting the two first fastening parts 510. For example, let the line segment connecting the first fastening part 510 forming the vertex of an isosceles triangle and the first fastening part 510 on the clockwise direction C1 side of this vertex be line segment L1 (see Fig. 6). In this case, the line segment connecting the center of gravity of the brush unit 7A and the axis O intersects the line segment L1 in a plan view. Therefore, the load of the brush unit 7A can be stably supported by the two first fastening parts 510 at both ends of the line segment L1.

[0063] Similarly, let the line segment connecting the first fastening part 510 forming the vertex of an isosceles triangle and the first fastening part 510 on the counterclockwise direction C2 side of this vertex be line segment L2 (see Fig. 6). In this case, the line segment connecting the center of gravity of the brush unit 7B and the axis O intersects the line segment L2 in a plan view. Therefore, the load of the brush unit 7B can be stably supported by the two first fastening parts 510 at both ends of the line segment L2.

[0064] Furthermore, when the shaft part 60 is positioned as described above, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, the eight drain holes 62B provided in the shaft part 60 are respectively arranged above the eight drain holes 130B provided in the holder mounting part 130 and communicate with each other vertically. The drainage path composed of a total of eight sets of drain holes 62B and drain holes 130B that communicate vertically can drain the water in the shaft part 60 to the lower side of the rotating body 13. Similarly, the drain hole 130B communicating with the opening 623 of the shaft part 60 can also drain the water in the shaft part 60 to the lower side of the rotating body 13 as a drainage path. Thereby, for example, even when the internal space of the shaft part 60 is used as a washing space for small items (such as shoelaces), smooth water supply and drainage to the internal space of the shaft part 60 can be realized.

[0065] [Remarks] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment, new technical features can be formed.

[0066] The washing machine 1 of this embodiment has exemplified a washing and dehydrating machine, but at least one of washing and dehydrating may be possible. For example, the object to be washed is not limited to the shoe 9 and may be any three-dimensional solid object. The shape, quantity, and arrangement of the fastening portions 500 are not limited to the above embodiment. A plurality of fastening portions 500 may be provided at the same height, a plurality of fastening portions 500 may have a shape other than an isosceles triangle in plan view, or there may be only one fastening portion 500. The connecting member 80 is not limited to a screw and may be any component that can connect the shaft portion 60 and the rotating body 13. The shaft portion 60 is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be a square tube shape.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0067] 1 Washing machine, 3 Brush holder, 7 Brush unit, 12 Washing tub, 13 Rotating body, 60 Shaft portion, 61 Cylindrical body, 62 Inner flange, 62B Drain hole, 80 Connecting member, 200 Bottom surface protruding portion, 500 Fastening portion, 510 First fastening portion, 520 Second fastening portion

Claims

1. A washing tub into which an object to be washed is placed, A rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub and rotating about an axis extending in the vertical direction, It has a shaft portion fixed above the rotating body and a brush unit extending from the shaft portion to the inner peripheral surface side of the washing tub, and a brush holder that rotates together with the rotating body, A connecting member for connecting the shaft portion and the rotating body, provided with, The shaft portion has a cylindrical body extending in the vertical direction and a plate-shaped inner flange that closes at least a part of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body, The connecting member can enter and exit the internal space of the cylindrical body from the upper end opening of the cylindrical body, The connecting member disposed in the internal space of the cylindrical body penetrates the inner flange disposed on the upper surface of the rotating body and engages with the rotating body to connect the shaft portion and the rotating body, The shaft portion and the rotating body connected to each other are provided with a plurality of fastening portions to which the plurality of connecting members are respectively attached, The plurality of fastening portions include a first fastening portion and a second fastening portion, and the first fastening portion is located above the second fastening portion, A washing machine.

2. A washing tub into which an object to be washed is placed, A rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub, with a rotating shaft attached to a through hole formed on an axis extending in the vertical direction and rotating about the axis, It has a shaft portion fixed above the rotating body and a brush unit extending from the shaft portion to the inner peripheral surface side of the washing tub, and a brush holder that rotates together with the rotating body, A connecting member for connecting the shaft portion and the rotating body, provided with, The shaft portion has a cylindrical body extending in the vertical direction and a plate-shaped inner flange that closes at least a part of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body, The connecting member can enter and exit the internal space of the cylindrical body from the upper end opening of the cylindrical body, The connecting member disposed in the internal space of the cylindrical body engages with the rotating body through the inner flange disposed on the upper surface of the rotating body, thereby connecting the shaft portion and the rotating body. The shaft portion and the rotating body connected to each other include a plurality of fastening portions to which the plurality of connecting members are respectively attached. The plurality of fastening portions are provided around the axis. Washing machine.

3. The rotating body has a bottom surface protruding portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the rotating body and extends along the rotation direction centered on the axis. It includes three of the first fastening portions that form an isosceles triangle with a short base in a plan view. In a plan view, the first fastening portion forming the apex of the isosceles triangle and the top of the bottom surface protruding portion are arranged in the radial direction of the axis, and the brush unit is not provided in the radial direction. The washing machine according to claim 1.

4. In a plan view, the line segment connecting the axis and the center of gravity of the brush unit intersects the line segment connecting the two first fastening portions. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 3.

5. The inner flange is provided with a drain hole for discharging the water in the shaft portion to the lower side of the rotating body. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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