Lint filter unit and washing machine

Abstract

To provide a filter unit which can easily perform cleaning of lint.SOLUTION: A lint filter unit 100 includes a front cover 10, a rear cover 30 and an intermediate plate 50 positioned between the front cover 10 and the rear cover 30. The front cover 10 includes a water passing window 12 through which washing water passes, and a filter member 13 for filtering mixed matter in the washing water which passes through the water passing window. In the rear cover 30, an upper part is rotatably connected to an upper part of the front cover 10, and can displace between a closed state of being in parallel with the front cover 10 and an open state in which a lower part is separated from a lower part of the front cover 10. The intermediate plate 50, in a state where the rear cover 30 is closed, is positioned having a fixed gap with a front plate 11, and in a state where the rear cover 30 is opened, it is inclined so that a front surface faces downward. At the rear cover 30, an inlet 36 is formed for introducing the circulating washing water to a gap 55 between the intermediate plate 50 and the front plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and particularly to a lint filter for capturing lint.

Background Art

[0002] In household washing machines, it is recommended to clean the lint accumulated in the lint filter after each wash, but cleaning is time-consuming and troublesome. Also, due to reasons such as not wanting to touch the wet lint after washing, cleaning is often neglected. However, leaving the lint filter uncleaned can cause problems such as the inability to capture lint or lint adhering to the laundry.

[0003] Most conventional lint filters were of the type that could not be removed without touching the accumulated lint, but in recent years, those that can be removed without directly touching the lint have been proposed.

[0004] Patent Document 1 proposes a lint filter that can easily and cleanly remove lint. The lint filter proposed in Patent Document 1 has a two-part structure consisting of a front cover and a rear cover. When removing lint, the two parts are separated, and the lint adhering to the rear cover is scraped off with the front cover. This lint filter does not require direct contact with the lint when removing it, but it requires three steps: a. disassembling and removing the two parts, b. scraping the lint accumulated on one part with the other part, and c. reassembling the two parts as they were. Therefore, the operation for removing lint is complicated, and there are difficulties in use such as not being able to scrape it cleanly if the scraping method is incorrect.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a lint filter unit that allows for easy cleaning of lint accumulated in the lint filter, and a washing machine equipped with the lint filter unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a lint filter unit that is detachably attached to a circulating water channel for circulating wash water provided on the side of a washing and spin-drying tub, and captures lint contained in the wash water, wherein the lint filter unit includes a front cover, a rear cover, and an intermediate plate located between the front cover and the rear cover, wherein the front cover has a vertically elongated front plate, a water passage window formed in the front plate through which wash water passes from the back side to the front side of the front plate, and a filter member attached to the water passage window for filtering impurities in the wash water passing through the water passage window, and the rear cover has its upper part rotatably connected to the upper part of the front cover and is parallel to the front cover The intermediate plate is displaceable between a closed state and an open state in which its lower part is separated from the lower part of the front cover. The upper end of the intermediate plate is held so as to be movable up and down along the front cover, and its lower end is rotatably connected to the lower end of the rear cover. When the rear cover is closed, the intermediate plate is positioned behind the front plate, parallel to the rear cover, and with a certain gap between it and the front plate. When the rear cover is open, the upper end moves downward along the front cover and tilts so that its front faces downward. The rear cover is characterized by having an inlet formed at the top for introducing circulating laundry water into the gap between the intermediate plate and the front plate.

[0008] The present invention is characterized in that the water passage windows formed in the front panel include a plurality of water passage windows arranged in the central and lower regions of the front panel when viewed from the front.

[0009] The present invention is characterized in that the rear cover includes a rear plate that, when the rear cover is closed, faces the water passage window at a certain gap behind the front plate, a number of pins are erected on the front surface of the rear plate, projecting perpendicularly from the front surface, and a number of small holes are formed in the intermediate plate to receive the number of pins when the rear cover is closed.

[0010] The present invention is characterized in that the front cover has left and right side walls that protrude rearward from both left and right sides of the front plate, guide grooves are formed in each of the left and right side walls to guide the vertical movement of the upper end of the intermediate plate, and the intermediate plate is provided with projections that protrude to the left and right from the upper end and engage with the guide grooves.

[0011] The present invention is characterized in that, in the left and right side walls, the guide groove includes a straight, elongated groove whose upper end is located near the front plate and which extends rearward so as it moves downward, it moves away from the front plate.

[0012] The present invention is characterized in that the guide groove includes an additional groove that is smoothly connected to the lower end of the straight elongated groove and whose angle is changed in a direction away from the front plate.

[0013] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a housing that forms the outer shape, a water tank supported within the housing, a washing and dewatering tank rotatably mounted within the water tank, a circulation channel for circulating washing water provided on the side of the washing and dewatering tank, and the lint filter unit attached to the circulation channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the washing water circulating in the circulating water channel is poured from above into a gap partitioned between the front plate and the intermediate plate through an inlet formed above the rear cover. The washing water poured into the gap returns to the washing and spin-drying tub through a water passage window formed in the front plate. A filter member is attached to the water passage window. Therefore, as the washing water passes through the water passage window, the washing water is filtered by the filter member, and impurities in the washing water, mainly lint, are captured by the filter member. More specifically, lint adheres to the back side of the filter member.

[0015] In the spin-drying process that follows the washing process, the wash water is drained and the washing / spin-drying tub rotates at high speed. As a result, lint attached to the back side of the filter component is peeled off the filter component by centrifugal force and sticks to the front side of the intermediate plate.

[0016] To clean the lint filter unit, remove it from the circulation water channel and open the rear cover relative to the front cover. With the rear cover open, the intermediate plate is tilted so that its front faces downwards. Therefore, lint that has been detached from the filter material by centrifugal force and stuck to the front of the intermediate plate will easily fall off due to gravity or with a light impact. Thus, lint cleaning can be easily performed.

[0017] According to the present invention, since multiple water passage windows are formed in the front panel, the laundry water that flows into the gap between the front panel and the intermediate panel and passes through the multiple water passage windows is filtered by the filter members provided in each water passage window, and lint is captured. By providing multiple water passage windows, efficient lint capture can be achieved by the filter members in each water passage window.

[0018] Since multiple water passage windows are located in the central and lower areas of the front panel, the laundry water poured from above into the gap between the front panel and the intermediate panel passes through the water passage windows with force. Therefore, the filter members installed in the water passage windows efficiently capture lint.

[0019] According to the present invention, a large number of small holes are formed in the intermediate plate, and pins standing on the rear plate protrude from these small holes. In the dehydration process, the lint of the filter member is peeled off from the filter member by centrifugal force and adheres to the front side of the intermediate plate. However, the small holes and pins can suppress the adhesion of the lint to the intermediate plate.

[0020] When the lint filter unit is removed from the circulation water channel and displaced to the state where the rear cover is opened, the intermediate plate rotates around the lower end of the rear cover, and the upper end of the intermediate plate moves in a direction away from the rear plate. Therefore, the pins come out of the small holes of the intermediate plate, and the lint adhering to the pins is scraped off by the small holes.

[0021] Therefore, the lint adhering to the intermediate plate can be dropped more easily.

[0022] According to the present invention, since the front cover is provided with left and right side wall portions and guide grooves are formed in the left and right side wall portions, when the rear cover is opened, the upper end of the intermediate plate is guided by the guide grooves and smoothly moves downward.

[0023] According to the present invention, since the guide groove includes a linear long groove extending so as to move away from the front plate as it goes downward, the front side of the intermediate plate can be directed downward.

[0024] Furthermore, if an additional groove whose angle is changed in the direction away from the front plate is provided, when the rear cover is closed, the upper end of the intermediate plate easily moves along the guide groove, and the operation of closing the rear cover can be performed smoothly.

[0025] According to the present invention, a washing machine capable of easily performing the cleaning process of lint can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a view drawn with the components other than the washing and dehydrating tub omitted. [Figure 2]This is a plan view of a washing and dewatering tub according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2) of a washing and dewatering tub according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the rear. [Figure 6] This is a front view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 6) of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear side, showing the rear cover in the open position. [Figure 9] This is a right side view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the rear cover in an open state. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of a lint filter unit according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front, with the rear cover open. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0028] [Washing machine description] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The washing machine 1 includes a housing 2 that constitutes the outer shape, and a washing and dewatering tub 3 rotatably mounted inside a vibration-damping water tank (not shown) provided within the housing 2. In Figure 1, components other than the washing and dewatering tub 3 are omitted or simplified in the depiction.

[0029] Figure 2 is a plan view of the washing and spin-drying tub 3, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the washing and spin-drying tub 3 (a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2).

[0030] Referring to Figures 1-3, the washing and dewatering tub 3 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, with numerous dewatering holes 4 formed in its side walls, and a fluid balancer 5 for vibration reduction is provided around the opening at the top. A rotor 6 is positioned at the bottom center of the washing and spin-drying tub 3. Multiple agitation protrusions 7 are radially formed on the upper surface of the rotor 6 for agitating the washing water and laundry. A water-lifting blade 8 is provided on the lower surface of the rotor 6 to draw up water through rotation.

[0031] A drive unit (not shown) is connected below the washing and spin-drying tub 3, and this drive unit rotates either the washing and spin-drying tub 3 and the rotor blade 6, or only the rotor blade 6.

[0032] A circulating water channel 9 is configured in the inner side wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 3 to circulate the washing water. When the rotor blade 6 rotates, the washing water is pumped up by the water-lifting blade 8 on the underside of the rotor blade 6 and sent into the circulating water channel 9, where it rises.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lint filter unit 100 is positioned on the inner wall of the washing and spin-drying tub 3, facing the inside of the washing and spin-drying tub 3. The lint filter unit 100 is detachably attached to the circulating water channel 9 and captures lint contained in the washing water circulating in the circulating water channel 9.

[0034] [Explanation of the lint filter unit] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lint filter unit 100 from the front, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lint filter unit 100 from the rear. Figure 6 is a front view of the lint filter unit 100, and Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lint filter unit 100 (a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 6). Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lint filter unit 100 from the rear with the rear cover 30 open. Figure 9 is a right side view of the lint filter unit 100 with the rear cover 30 open. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lint filter unit 100 from the front with the rear cover 30 open.

[0035] Referring to Figures 4 to 10, the lint filter unit 100 includes three components: a front cover 10, a rear cover 30, and an intermediate plate 50 located between the front cover 10 and the rear cover 30, which serves to collect lint.

[0036] The front cover 10 has, for example, a vertically elongated front panel 11. The front panel 11 is straight in the vertical direction and is a plate shape with both the left and right sides slightly curved backward in the left and right directions. The front panel 11 may also be a flat plate that is straight in the left and right directions, or it may be a curved plate shape that is gently convex in the left and right directions and curves gently concave in the left and right directions and curves

[0037] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the front panel 11 has multiple water passage windows 12 in the central and lower areas when viewed from the front. When viewed from the front, each water passage window 12 is a vertically elongated rectangle with rounded corners, and a total of 16 water passage windows 12 are arranged in a row, for example, four in the left-right direction and four in the up-down direction. Each water passage window 12 is open to allow wash water to pass from the back side to the front side of the front panel 11, and a filter member 13 is fitted inside to filter out impurities in the wash water passing through. The filter member 13 may be a net member formed in a mesh shape from, for example, nylon or polyester. Note that the filter member 13 is shown in light gray only in the front view of Figure 6, and is omitted in the other figures for the sake of drawing notation.

[0038] The front panel 11, when viewed from the front, has eight elongated rectangular sections 14 with rounded corners, similar in shape to the water passage windows 12, arranged in a sequence of four horizontally and two vertically. These eight rectangular sections 14 are decorative elements placed in the upper area of ​​the front panel 11, and each rectangular section 14 is not a water passage window through which laundry water can pass.

[0039] The upper parts of both the left and right sides of the front cover 10 are curved inward from each other, and an elastic locking clip 15 is integrally formed with the front cover 10 at the center of the upper end. Below the locking clip 15, a finger recess 16 is formed to facilitate operation of the locking clip 15.

[0040] The lower edge of the front cover 10 is provided with a bottom wall 17 that extends to the rear. A locking projection 18 is provided on the front of the lower surface of the bottom wall 17.

[0041] When installing the lint filter unit 100 into the circulating water channel 9, the locking projection 18 on the lower edge of the front cover 10 is fitted into the mounting area of ​​the circulating water channel 9, and the upper part of the front cover 10 is displaced backward (towards the circulating water channel 9). Then, the hook 151 of the locking clip 15 is fitted into the circulating water channel 9, completing the installation of the lint filter unit 100 into the circulating water channel 9.

[0042] To remove the lint filter unit 100 from the circulation channel 9, grasp the locking clip 15, release the engagement of the hook 151, displace the upper part of the front cover 10 forward, and then lightly lift the front cover 10 upward so that the locking projection 18 is disengaged from the circulation channel 9.

[0043] Referring primarily to Figures 5 and 8, the front cover 10 is provided with side wall portions 19 that protrude rearward from near the left and right edges of the front panel 11. The left and right side wall portions 19 have a symmetrical shape.

[0044] The rear cover 30 includes a right side plate 31, a left side plate 32, an upper connecting portion 33 connecting above the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32, and a rear plate 34 closing the space between the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32. The upper connecting portion 33 connects above the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 at the rear side of each side plate 31, 32, and its lower side 331 is located above the rear cover 30. The rear plate 34 connects the space between the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 at the front side of each side plate 31, 32. The upper side 341 of the rear plate 34 is located at a certain dimension below in the vertical direction and at the front side of the lower side 331 of the upper connecting portion 33.

[0045] Therefore, on the back surface of the rear cover 30, a vertically long water channel 35 for washing water surrounded by the right side plate 31, the left side plate 32, and the rear plate 34 is partitioned. At the upper end of this water channel 35, a water inlet 36 for washing water partitioned by the gap between the upper side 341 of the rear plate 34 and the lower side 331 of the upper connecting portion 33 is formed.

[0046] The dimension W1 between the outer surfaces of the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 of the rear cover 30 and the dimension W2 between the inner surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 19 of the front cover 10 are such that W1 < W2. Therefore, the rear cover 30 fits between the left and right side wall portions 19 of the front cover 10.

[0047] The upper parts of the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 of the rear cover 30 are respectively rotatably connected to the upper parts of the side wall portions 19 of the front cover 10, for example, by a support shaft pin 37. And the rear cover 30 is displaceable between a closed state parallel to the front cover 10 (the state shown in FIGS. 4 to 7) and an open state where the lower part of the rear cover 30 is separated rearward from the lower part of the front cover 10 (the state shown in FIGS. 8 to 10).

[0048] The intermediate plate 50 has, for example, a flat plate with a vertically long rectangular shape in front view, where the width in the left - right direction is slightly smaller than the dimension W3 between the inner surfaces of the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 of the rear cover 30, and the length in the vertical direction is approximately equal to the height of the rear plate 34.

[0049] The lower end of the intermediate plate 50 is provided with a connecting member 51 that rotatably connects to the lower end of the rear cover 30. The connecting member 51 may also include connecting pins 52 that rotatably connect both sides of the lower end of the intermediate plate 50 to the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 of the rear cover 30.

[0050] The upper end of the intermediate plate 50 is movable up and down along the front cover 10. More specifically, the left and right side walls 19 of the front cover 10 are each provided with sliding grooves 20 that serve as guide grooves. The upper end of the front cover 10 is then guided up and down by the sliding grooves 20.

[0051] The upper end 201 of the sliding groove 20 is located near the front plate 11, that is, towards the front of the side wall 19. The lower end 203 of the sliding groove 20 is located towards the rear of the side wall 19.

[0052] Furthermore, an angle change point 202 is formed in the middle of the slide groove hole 20, towards the lower part. The slide groove hole 20 includes an upper groove hole 21 that extends linearly diagonally backward downward from the upper end 201 to the angle change point 202, away from the front plate 11, and a lower groove hole 22 that extends diagonally backward from the angle change point 202 to the lower end 203.

[0053] The upper end of the intermediate plate 50 is provided with retaining pins 53 that protrude to the left and right, and the retaining pins 53 are guided into the sliding groove 20, allowing the sliding groove 20 to move from the upper end 201 to the lower end 203, and from the lower end 203 to the upper end 201.

[0054] Furthermore, the lint filter unit 100 according to this embodiment has a number of pins 38 that protrude perpendicularly from the front of the rear plate 34. In addition, the intermediate plate 50 has a number of small holes 54 that receive the pins 38 erected on the rear plate 34.

[0055] As shown in Figure 7, when the rear cover 30 is closed, the intermediate plate 50 is positioned so as to overlap the front of the rear panel 34 without any gaps. At this time, the numerous pins 38 erected on the rear panel 34 pass through the numerous small holes 54 drilled in the intermediate plate 50 and protrude forward from the front of the intermediate plate 50.

[0056] Furthermore, a gap 55 of a certain dimension D is secured between the back of the front panel 11 and the front of the intermediate panel 50.

[0057] When the lint filter unit 100 is attached to the circulation channel 9, the rotation of the rotor blade 6, through the action of the water-lifting blade 8, pumps the wash water into the circulation channel 9. The wash water rising in the circulation channel 9 passes through a water channel 35 partitioned behind the rear cover 30 of the lint filter unit 100 and flows into a gap 55 through an inlet 36 formed above the rear plate 34. The wash water flowing into the gap 55 then flows downward, hitting numerous pins 38, and returns to the washing and spin-drying tub 3 through a water-passing window 12 formed in the front plate 11. As the wash water passes through the water-passing window 12, impurities in the wash water, mainly lint, are filtered and captured by the filter member 13 attached to the water-passing window 12.

[0058] The lint captured by the filter member 13 is detached from the filter member 13 by centrifugal force during the subsequent dewatering process as the washing and dewatering tub 3 rotates at high speed, and adheres to the front surface of the intermediate plate 50.

[0059] To clean the lint filter unit 100, remove the lint filter unit 100 from the circulation water channel 9. Then, open the rear cover 30 from the front cover 10. When the rear cover 30 is opened, the intermediate plate 50 tilts so that its front faces downwards. Therefore, lint that has been detached from the filter member 13 by centrifugal force and is stuck to the front of the intermediate plate 50 will easily fall off the intermediate plate 50 due to gravity or by a light impact.

[0060] Furthermore, it is desirable that about 20% of the pins 38 erected on the rear panel 34 be low enough that their tips protrude from the small holes 54 in the intermediate plate 50 when the rear cover 30 is closed. This is because it allows space to accumulate lint below the intermediate plate 50.

[0061] Referring primarily to Figures 5, 8, and 9, the rear cover 30 has notched grooves 40 cut upward from the lower rear in the lower parts of the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32, and a spring portion 41 is provided in part of the side plates 31 and 32. An operating portion 42 is formed at the lower end of the spring portion 41, and a projection 43 that protrudes outward is formed on its side surface.

[0062] On the other hand, a notch 25 is formed in the lower part of the side wall portion 19 of the front cover 10, cut out in a roughly semicircular shape from the rear at a position corresponding to the operating portion 42 of the rear cover 30, and a small hole 26 is formed at a position corresponding to the projection 43, into which the projection 43 engages.

[0063] To open the rear cover 30, pinch the operating parts 42 formed on the right side plate 31 and the left side plate 32 with your fingers, bend the spring part 41 inward, disengage the projection 43 from the small hole 26, and then rotate the rear cover 30 in that state.

[0064] Conversely, when the rear cover 30 is closed, the projection 43 fits into the small hole 26, holding the rear cover 30 in a closed position.

[0065] As described above, by providing the rear cover 30 with a spring portion 41, an operating portion 42, and a protrusion 43, the rear cover 30 can be opened and closed easily and reliably.

[0066] [Variations of lint filter units] The lint filter unit 100 described above as an embodiment has a configuration in which multiple pins 38 are erected on the rear plate 34 and small holes 54 are formed in the intermediate plate 50 to receive the pins 38.

[0067] However, instead of the above configuration, the rear plate may not have pins erected on it, and therefore, the intermediate plate may not have small holes. In this case, the front surface of the intermediate plate may be made a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction so that lint that has peeled off the filter member 13 and stuck to the front surface of the intermediate plate can easily fall off the intermediate plate. Alternatively, the front surface of the intermediate plate may be made a surface that is gently wavy in the vertical or horizontal direction, for example.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 1. Washing machine 2. Enclosure 3. Washing and spin-drying tub 6 rotor blades 8. Water pumping blades 9 Circulation waterway 10 Front cover 11 Front plate 12 Water-permeable windows 13 Filter components 19 Side wall section 20 Slide grooves 30 Rear cover 31 Right side plate 32 Left side plate 33 Upper connection part 34 Rear plate 341 Top 35 waterways 36 Entrance 37. Support pin 38 pins 50 Intermediate plate 51 Connecting member 52 Connecting pins 53 Retaining pins 54 Small hole 55 gaps 100 lint filter unit

Claims

1. A lint filter unit that is detachably attached to a circulating water channel for circulating wash water, located on the side of a washing and spin-drying tub, and captures lint contained in the wash water, The lint filter unit includes a front cover, a rear cover, and an intermediate plate located between the front cover and the rear cover. The front cover comprises a vertically elongated front panel, a water passage window formed in the front panel through which washing water passes from the back side to the front side of the front panel, and a filter member attached to the water passage window for filtering impurities in the washing water passing through the water passage window. The rear cover is rotatably connected at its upper end to the upper end of the front cover, and is displaceable between a closed state parallel to the front cover and an open state where its lower end is separated from the lower end of the front cover. The intermediate plate is held at its upper end so as to be movable up and down along the front cover, and at its lower end it is rotatably connected to the lower end of the rear cover. When the rear cover is closed, it is positioned behind the front plate, parallel to the rear cover, and with a certain gap between it and the front plate. When the rear cover is open, the upper end moves downward along the front cover, and it tilts so that its front faces downward. The lint filter unit is characterized in that the rear cover has an inlet formed at the top for introducing circulating wash water into the gap between the intermediate plate and the front plate.

2. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the water passage windows formed in the front panel include a plurality of water passage windows arranged in the central and lower regions of the front panel when viewed from the front.

3. The rear cover includes a rear panel that, when the rear cover is closed, faces the water passage window at a certain gap behind the front panel. Numerous pins are erected on the front surface of the rear panel, protruding perpendicularly from the front surface. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate plate has a number of small holes formed therein to receive the number of pins when the rear cover is closed.

4. The aforementioned front cover is The front panel has left and right side wall portions that protrude rearward from both left and right sides, Guide grooves are formed in the left and right side walls, respectively, to guide the vertical movement of the upper end of the intermediate plate. The lint filter unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate plate is provided with projections that protrude from the upper end to the left and right sides and engage with the guide grooves.

5. The lint filter unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide groove in the left and right side wall portions includes a straight, elongated groove whose upper end is located near the front plate and which extends rearward so as it goes downward, it moves away from the front plate.

6. The lint filter unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide groove is smoothly connected to the lower end of the straight elongated groove and includes an additional groove whose angle is changed in a direction away from the front plate.

7. The casing that makes up the external form, A water tank supported within the aforementioned housing, A washing and dewatering tub is rotatably installed inside the aforementioned water tank, A circulating water channel for circulating washing water is provided on the side of the washing and dewatering tub, A washing machine comprising a lint filter unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is attached to the circulating water channel.

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