Lint filter unit and washing machine equipped with same

Abstract

To provide a lint filter unit capable of improving easiness of removal work of the lint filter, and to provide a washing machine including the same.SOLUTION: A lint filter unit 2 includes a holder 3 provided on an inner wall surface of a washing tub, and a lint filter 4 detachably mounted on the holder 3, and it collects lint in the washing tub. The holder 3 has a part 32 to be engaged with which the lint filter 4 is engaged. The lint filter 4 is constituted including a filter net 40, and a frame 41 on which the filter net 40 is mounted. The frame 41 includes an engagement part 43 which can be engaged with the part 32 to be engaged and which can be disengaged from the part 32 to be engaged by a pressing force from the outside. At the holder 3, a guide part 5 is provided which guides the engagement part 43 to the near side with respect to the part 32 to be engaged by sliding with the engagement part 43 being disengaged from the part 32 to be engaged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lint filter unit and a washing machine equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] A lint filter unit that collects lint in a washing tub is known that includes front and rear covers that are detachably engaged with each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When removing lint, a user releases the engagement between the front and rear covers and pulls one of the front and rear covers forward to remove it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-209425 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-described conventional lint filter unit, there is room for improvement in the ease of lint removal, particularly in the ease of removing the cover by pulling it forward.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a lint filter unit that can improve the ease of removing the lint filter, and a washing machine equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the lint filter unit disclosed in this specification is a lint filter unit that comprises a holder provided on the inner wall surface of a washing tub and a lint filter that is detachably attached to the holder, and that collects lint in the washing tub, wherein the holder has an engaged portion with which the lint filter engages, and the lint filter is configured to include a filter net and a frame to which the filter net is attached, the frame has an engaging portion that can be engaged with the engaged portion and can be disengaged from the engaged portion by external pressing force, and the holder is provided with a guide portion that slides against the engaging portion that disengages from the engaged portion, thereby guiding the engaging portion toward the front relative to the engaged portion.

[0007] In addition, in the lint filter unit, the guide portion may be arranged to face the engaging portion that disengages from the engaged portion, and may be configured to include an inclined surface that slopes from the engaged portion side toward the front side.

[0008] In addition, in the lint filter unit, the engaged portion may be composed of a hole drilled in the holder, and the engaging portion may be composed of an axial portion that is removably inserted into the hole that constitutes the engaged portion.

[0009] In the lint filter unit, the holder may further include a pressing portion that presses the engaging portion in a direction in which the engaging portion is separated from the engaged portion.

[0010] Furthermore, in the lint filter unit, the pressing portion may include a push button portion that can be pressed by a user, and a rotating body that is rotatable around a rotation axis that extends in a rotation axis direction that intersects with the detachment direction, and the rotating body may have a first lever that extends from the rotation axis toward the push button portion, and a second lever that extends from the rotation axis toward the engagement portion, and when the first lever receives external pressure via the push button portion, it may rotate, causing the second lever to press the engagement portion in the detachment direction.

[0011] In the lint filter unit, the length of the first lever in the radial direction of the rotary shaft may be longer than the length of the second lever in the radial direction of the rotary shaft.

[0012] Furthermore, the lint filter unit may further include an auxiliary tool that assists the user in pressing the engaging portion in the direction of disengagement from the engaged portion to disengage it from the engaged portion, and the auxiliary tool may be configured in order to include a tip portion that abuts against the engaging portion to form a point of application, an intermediate portion that abuts against the holder to form a fulcrum, and a grip portion that forms a force point that the user grasps and applies force to.

[0013] The present specification also discloses a washing machine comprising the lint filter unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present disclosure, the ease of removing the lint filter can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a washing machine with a lint filter unit attached to a washing tub. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lint filter unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lint filter unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic view showing a part of the internal structure of the lint filter unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 10 is a schematic view showing the lint filter and its surroundings in the middle of being pulled out toward the front. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic view showing a part of the internal structure of the lint filter unit in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an assisting device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a first diagram showing an example of how to use the assistive device of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a second diagram showing an example of how to use the assistive device of FIG. 8. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an assisting tool according to a modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is a side view showing the assisting device of FIG. 11A. [Figure 12] FIG. 11B is a diagram showing an example of using the assisting tool of FIG. 11A. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a side view showing an assisting tool according to another modified example of the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components in the embodiments described below will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of those components will be omitted.

[0017] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a washing machine 1 with a lint filter unit 2 attached to a washing tub 15. As shown in FIG.

[0018] In this embodiment, washing machine 1 is a so-called vertical washing machine that includes housing 12 including upper housing 10 and lower housing 11, and lid 14 that opens and closes opening 13, and houses washing tub 15 therein. A lint filter unit 2 that collects lint inside washing tub 15 is provided on the inner wall side of washing tub 15.

[0019] - Lint filter unit - Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lint filter unit 2 in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lint filter unit 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a part of the internal structure of the lint filter unit 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the lint filter 4 and its surroundings in the middle of being pulled out. In the figure, the arrow W conceptually indicates the detachment direction W of the engaging portion 43 from the engaged portion 32.

[0020] The lint filter unit 2 includes a holder 3 provided on an inner wall surface 16 of the washing tub 15, and a lint filter 4 detachably attached to the holder 3 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0021] <Holder> The holder 3 has a recess 30, a support portion 31, and an engaged portion 32 (see FIG. 3).

[0022] The recess 30 forms an accommodation space α in which the lint filter 4 is accommodated, and has a rectangular opening 33 with its longitudinal direction extending in the vertical direction.

[0023] The support portion 31 rotatably supports the lint filter 4, and is configured by a first hole 37 drilled in the vertical direction on the lower inner surface 34 of the recess 30.

[0024] The engaged portion 32 is engaged with the lint filter 4, and in this embodiment is configured by a second hole 38 drilled in the upper inner surface 35 of the recess 30 in the vertical direction.

[0025] <Lint filter> The lint filter 4 includes a bag-shaped filter net 40 and a frame 41 to which the filter net 40 is attached (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The frame 41 is attached to the opening edge of the filter net 40 to form the lint filter 4. It is preferable that the filter net 40 is firmly fixed to the frame 41 by welding or the like.

[0026] The frame 41 has a support shaft portion 42 and an engagement portion 43 (see FIG. 3).

[0027] The support shaft portion 42 is configured to be insertable into the first hole 37 that constitutes the support portion 31 of the holder 3.

[0028] The engaging portion 43 is configured to be engageable with the engaged portion 32 of the holder 3 and to be disengageable from the engaged portion 32 by an external pressing force. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 43 is configured to include a shaft portion 44 that is detachably inserted into the second hole 38 that constitutes the engaged portion 32, and an elastic hinge portion 45 that detachably supports the shaft portion 44 in the second hole 38 and bends when subjected to an external force (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The elastic hinge portion 45 is provided with a pressed surface 46 that can be pressed with a finger or the like when the user bends the elastic hinge portion 45. When the elastic hinge portion 45 bends due to an external force, the shaft portion 44 is removed from the second hole 38.

[0029] When the shaft portion 44 is inserted into the second hole 38, the engaging portion 43 engages with the engaged portion 32 (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the elastic hinge portion 45 bends and the shaft portion 44 is removed from the second hole 38, the engagement between the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 is released (see FIG. 5). Since the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 are configured as described above, the holder 3 and the frame 41 of the lint filter 4 can be engaged with each other with a simple structure.

[0030] To attach the above-described lint filter 4 to the holder 3, first, the support shaft portion 42 of the frame 41 is inserted into the first hole 37 that constitutes the support portion 31 of the holder 3, and the lint filter 4 is rotated so as to stand upright using the support portion 31 as a fulcrum, while the elastic hinge portion 45 is bent, so that the engaging portion 43 of the frame 41 engages with the engaged portion 32.

[0031] On the other hand, to remove the lint filter 4 from the holder 3, the elastic hinge portion 45 is bent to disengage the engaging portion 43 from the engaged portion 32, and the lint filter 4 is then rotated toward the user about the support portion 31 as a fulcrum to pull it out. In this embodiment, the "toward the user" refers to a direction substantially the same as the direction toward the center of the washing tub 15 in the radial direction. To improve the ease of the operation of pulling the lint filter 4 toward the user to remove it, the holder 3 is provided with a guide portion 5 (see FIGS. 3 to 5), which will be described below.

[0032] The guide portion 5 slides against the engaging portion 43 as it disengages from the engaged portion 32, thereby guiding the engaging portion 43 toward the front relative to the engaged portion 32. The guide portion 5 includes an inclined surface 50 disposed on the side of the recessed bottom surface 36 of the recess 30 that faces the opening 33. In this embodiment, the inclined surface 50 is disposed to face the engaging portion 43 as it disengages from the engaged portion 32 in the disengagement direction W, and is inclined from the engaged portion 32 side toward the outer surface 3a of the holder 3, which is the front side. In this embodiment, the disengagement direction W is the direction in which the shaft portion 44 of the engaging portion 43 is removed from the second hole 38 that constitutes the engaged portion 32. When the engaging portion 43 disengages from the engaged portion 32, the engaging portion 43 slides against the inclined surface 50, thereby being guided toward the front along the inclination of the inclined surface 50.

[0033] As the engaging portion 43 is guided toward the front relative to the engaged portion 32, the lint filter 4 tilts toward the front, making it possible to easily pull the lint filter 4 toward the front, thereby improving the ease of removing the lint filter 4.

[0034] Furthermore, since the guide portion 5 is configured to include the inclined surface 50 as described above, the engaging portion 43 disengaging from the engaged portion 32 can be guided toward the front side of the engaged portion 32 with a simple structure.

[0035] The configuration of the guide portion 5 is not limited to the above, and the key point is that it is sufficient to be able to guide the engaging portion 43, which is disengaging from the engaged portion 32, toward the front side relative to the engaged portion 32. For example, the guide portion 5 may be configured such that the second hole 38 constituting the engaged portion 32 is drilled toward the front side so that the direction W of disengagement of the engaging portion 43 from the engaged portion 32 faces toward the front side.

[0036] The configuration of the engaging portion 43 of the lint filter 4 is not limited to the above, and may be configured to hook onto the engaged portion 32 of the holder 3, for example.

[0037] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

[0038] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the internal structure of the lint filter unit 2 in embodiment 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the rotor 61. In the figure, an arrow R conceptually indicates the rotation direction R of the rotor 61.

[0039] In the second embodiment, the holder 3 further includes a pressing portion 6 that presses the engaging portion 43 of the frame 41 in a direction W in which the engaging portion 43 is separated from the engaged portion 32 (see FIG. 6).

[0040] The pressing part 6 is configured to include a push button part 60 that is provided on the upper surface 3b of the holder 3 and can be pressed by a user's finger or the like, and a rotating body 61 that is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 62 that extends in a rotation axis direction δ that intersects with the removal direction W (see FIG. 6). The rotation axis 62 is supported by a support part 3c that is attached to the inner surface of the outer surface 3a of the holder 3.

[0041] The push button portion 60 is formed in a cantilever shape by a notch 63 and a half notch 64 formed on the upper surface 3b of the holder 3.

[0042] The rotating body 61 is disposed in an internal space β formed below the upper surface 3b of the holder 3, and has a first lever 65 and a second lever 66 extending radially outward from a rotating shaft 62 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The first lever 65 extends from the rotating shaft 62 toward the push button portion 60, and the second lever 66 extends from the rotating shaft 62 toward the shaft portion 44 of the engaging portion 43.

[0043] A pressed piece 67 that receives pressure from the outside is formed at the tip of the first lever 65. In this embodiment, the length D1 of the first lever 65 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 62 is set to be longer than the length D2 of the second lever 66 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 62.

[0044] When the first lever 65 receives an external pressing force via the push button portion 60, the rotating body 61 rotates in the rotation direction R, and the second lever 66 presses the engaging portion 43 in the removal direction W. In other words, when the push button portion 60 is pressed, the pressing portion 6 presses the engaging portion 43 in the removal direction W with the rotating body 61. By pressing the push button portion 60 of the pressing portion 6, the engagement between the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 is released, and the lint filter 4 can be removed from the holder 3.

[0045] Since the holder 3 is provided with the pressing portion 6 as described above, the user can remove the lint filter 4 from the holder 3 by pressing the push button portion 60 facing the upper surface 3b of the holder 3. Therefore, compared to the case where the engagement portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 are released from the engagement by bending the elastic hinge portion 45 as described in the first embodiment, the engagement between the engagement portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 can be easily released by a pushing action, and therefore the ease of the work of removing the lint filter 4 can be improved.

[0046] Furthermore, since the pressing portion 6 is configured to include the push button portion 60 and the rotating body 61 as described above, the pressing force by the user can be converted into a force that presses the engagement portion 43 in the removal direction W with a simple structure.

[0047] Furthermore, since the length D1 of the first lever 65 in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 62 is longer than the length D2 of the second lever 66 in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 62, the engagement between the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 can be released with less force using the principle of leverage, thereby improving the ease of removing the lint filter 4.

[0048] (Embodiment 3) Hereinafter, only the differences between the third embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

[0049] 8 is a perspective view showing the assisting tool 7 in embodiment 3. In the figure, an arrow F conceptually indicates the direction in which the assisting tool 7 falls when in use.

[0050] In the third embodiment, the lint filter unit 2 further includes an auxiliary tool 7 that assists the user in pressing the engaging portion 43 in the disengaging direction W from the engaged portion 32 to disengage it from the engaged portion 32 .

[0051] The auxiliary tool 7 is configured by arranging in order a tip part 70, a middle part 71, and a grip part 72. The auxiliary tool 7 is made of synthetic resin or the like (see FIG. 8).

[0052] When the assisting device 7 is in use, the tip portion 70 comes into contact with the elastic hinge portion 45 to form the point of action portion 7a. The outer peripheral surface 73 of the tip portion 70 is formed in a cylindrical shape that comes into contact with the elastic hinge portion 45 of the engaging portion 43. The outer peripheral surface 73 is subjected to an anti-slip treatment such as knurling.

[0053] The intermediate portion 71 forms a fulcrum portion 7b by coming into contact with the holder 3 when the assisting tool 7 is in use. The intermediate portion 71 is formed in a rod shape.

[0054] The grip portion 72 constitutes a force point portion 7c to which the user grips and applies force when using the assisting device 7. The grip portion 72 is formed in a rod shape coaxial with the intermediate portion 71.

[0055] Fig. 9 is a first diagram showing an example of use of the assisting tool 7 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a second diagram showing an example of use of the assisting tool 7 in Fig. 8.

[0056] To press the engaging portion 43 using the auxiliary tool 7 described above to separate it from the engaged portion 32, first, as shown in FIG. 9, the tip portion 70 of the auxiliary tool 7 is inserted between the holder 3 and the lint filter 4 and brought into contact with the pressed surface 46 of the elastic hinge portion 45. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, with the tip portion 70 in contact with the elastic hinge portion 45, the auxiliary tool 7 is tilted in the tilting direction F so that the grip portion 72 is aligned with the outer surface 3a of the holder 3. At this time, the portion of the tip portion 70 that abuts against the elastic hinge portion 45 forms the application point portion 7a. Furthermore, the portion of the intermediate portion 71 that abuts against the corner 3d formed by the upper inner surface 35 and the outer surface 3a of the holder 3 forms the fulcrum portion 7b, and the portion of the grip portion 72 where the user grips and applies force forms the force point portion 7c. The assisting tool 7 operates on the principle of leverage, and when the user applies force to the gripping portion 72, the force is applied at the point of application 7a to press the engaging portion 43 in the disengaging direction W, causing it to disengage from the engaged portion 32.

[0057] Since the lint filter unit 2 is provided with the above-described auxiliary device 7, the engagement between the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 can be easily released by rotating the auxiliary device 7, compared to the case where the engagement between the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 32 is released by bending the elastic hinge portion 45 described in the above embodiment 1, and thus the ease of the work of removing the lint filter 4 can be improved.

[0058] Fig. 11A is a perspective view showing an auxiliary tool 7 in a modified example of embodiment 3. Fig. 11B is a side view showing the auxiliary tool 7 of Fig. 11A. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of how to use the auxiliary tool 7 of Fig. 11A.

[0059] 11A and 11B, the grip portion 72 of the assisting tool 7 may be inclined toward the user relative to the intermediate portion 71. This allows the user to grip the grip portion 72 at a more natural angle and apply force more comfortably when gripping the grip portion 72 and applying force, as shown in Fig. 12, compared to the case shown in Fig. 10.

[0060] FIG. 13 is a side view showing an assisting tool 7 according to another modification of the third embodiment.

[0061] 13, a hook portion 74 may be provided on the side of the intermediate portion 71. As a result, if a place where the hook portion 74 can be hooked is provided on the housing 12 of the washing machine 1 or the like, the auxiliary tool 7 can be stored in a convenient location.

[0062] The material of the assisting tool 7 is not limited to the above, and for example, the tip portion 70 may be made of rubber or the like to prevent slipping, and the middle portion 71 and the gripping portion 72 may be made of synthetic resin or the like.

[0063] The above-described embodiments and examples are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments and examples, but should be defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 washing machine 15 Washing machine 16 Inner wall surface 2 Lint filter units 3 Holder 30 recess 31 Support part 32 Engaged part 33 Opening 34 Lower inner surface 35 Upper inner surface 36 Concave bottom surface 37 Hole 1 38 2nd hole 4 Lint filter 40 Filter Net 41 frames 42 Support shaft part 43 Engagement part 44 Shaft 45 Elastic hinge part 46 Pressed surface 5 Guide section 50 Slope 6 Pressing part 60 Push button 61 Rotating body 62 Rotation axis 65 First Lever 66 Second Lever 67 Pressurized piece 7. Assistive devices 7a Point of action 7b Fulcrum part 7c Emphasis point 70 Tip 71 Middle section 72 Gripping part 73 Outer surface 74 Hook part F Lodging direction W Detachment direction α Containment Space β internal space δ Rotation axis direction

Claims

1. A lint filter unit comprising: a holder provided on an inner wall surface of a washing tub; and a lint filter detachably attached to the holder, and configured to collect lint in the washing tub, The holder is an engagement portion with which the lint filter is engaged; The lint filter is The filter net is configured to include a frame to which the filter net is attached, The frame is an engaging portion that can be engaged with the engaged portion and can be disengaged from the engaged portion by an external pressing force; The holder includes: A lint filter unit characterized by comprising a guide portion that slides against the engaging portion disengaging from the engaged portion to guide the engaging portion toward the front side relative to the engaged portion as viewed from the user.

2. 2. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, A lint filter unit characterized in that the guide portion is arranged to face the engaging portion that disengages from the engaged portion, and is configured to include an inclined surface that slopes from the engaged portion side toward the front side.

3. 2. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, the engaged portion is formed by a hole drilled in the holder, The lint filter unit according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion includes a shaft portion that is detachably inserted into the hole that constitutes the engaged portion.

4. 2. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, The holder is The lint filter unit further comprises a pressing portion that presses the engaging portion in a direction of separation from the engaged portion.

5. 5. The lint filter unit according to claim 4, The pressing portion is a push button section that can be pressed by a user; a rotating body provided rotatably about a rotation axis extending in a rotation axis direction intersecting the removal direction, The rotating body is A lint filter unit having a first lever extending from the rotating shaft toward the push button portion and a second lever extending from the rotating shaft toward the engagement portion, wherein when the first lever receives external pressure via the push button portion, it rotates and the second lever presses the engagement portion in the removal direction.

6. 6. The lint filter unit according to claim 5, A lint filter unit, wherein the length of the first lever in the radial direction of the rotary shaft is longer than the length of the second lever in the radial direction of the rotary shaft.

7. 2. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, The device further includes an auxiliary tool that assists a user in pressing the engaging portion in a direction to separate the engaging portion from the engaged portion, The auxiliary tool is a lint filter unit characterized in that it is configured in order to include a tip portion that abuts against the engagement portion to form a point of application, an intermediate portion that abuts against the holder to form a fulcrum portion, and a grip portion that forms a force point portion that the user grasps and applies force to.

8. A washing machine comprising the lint filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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