washing machine

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention relates to a washing machine comprising: a washing tub; a rotating brush having: a rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub and rotating about an axis extending in the vertical direction; a shaft fixed to the upper side of the rotating body; and a brush unit extending from the shaft to the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub; a warm air unit; and a control unit controlling the warm air unit to perform a drying process, wherein warm air is delivered into the interior of the washing tub to dry the washed items, and the control unit performs a first step of alternately repeating a rolling process and a first rotating process during the drying process, wherein during the rolling process, the rotating brush rotates alternately in both forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tub, and during the first rotating process, the washing tub and the rotating brush rotate together.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a washing machine. Prior Technology

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-51038 discloses a shoe cleaning accessory capable of cleaning the inside of shoes and a shoe cleaning device including the shoe cleaning accessory. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The aforementioned washing machine (shoe cleaning device) does not have a drying function.

[0004] Therefore, in the aforementioned washing machine (shoe cleaning device), after washing and drying the items, it is necessary to remove the items from the washing machine and transfer them to other drying devices, which is quite complicated.

[0005] Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide, for example, a washing machine capable of performing a drying process.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention relates to a washing machine comprising: a washing tub in which a laundry is placed; a rotating brush having: a rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub and rotating about an axis extending in a vertical direction; a shaft fixed to the upper side of the rotating body; a brush unit extending from the shaft portion toward the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub; a warm air unit supplying warm air into the interior of the washing tub; and a control unit controlling the washing tub, the rotating brush, and the warm air unit, the control unit controlling the warm air unit to perform a drying process, wherein, in the drying process, warm air is supplied into the interior of the washing tub to dry the laundry, and the control unit performs a first step of alternately repeating a rolling process and a first rotating process, wherein, in the rolling process, the rotating brush rotates alternately in both forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tub, and in the first rotating process, the washing tub and the rotating brush rotate together. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0007] Figure 1 is a 3D view of the washing machine. Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of the rotating brush viewed from an oblique top. Figure 3 is a top view of the rotating brush. Figure 4A is a side view of the rotating brush. Figure 4B is a side view of the rotating brush. Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of the rotating body viewed from an oblique angle. Figure 6 is a schematic planar unfolded view of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft. Figure 7A is a top view of the washing machine. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine showing the air outlet of the heating unit. Figure 8 is a timing diagram showing the first process. Figure 9 is a timing diagram showing the second process. Figure 10 is a timing diagram showing a first variation of the first process. Figure 11 is a timing diagram showing a first variation of the second process. Figure 12 is a timing diagram showing the relationship between the internal temperature of the washing tank and the switching timing of the heater output. Figure 13A is a schematic planar development of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft during the rolling process in forward rotation. Figure 13B is a schematic planar development of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft during the rolling process in forward rotation. Figure 14A is a schematic planar development of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft during the rolling process in reverse. Figure 14B is a schematic planar development of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft during the rolling process in reverse. Implementation

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, regarding the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted. Additionally, elements not directly related to the present disclosure are sometimes omitted from the illustration.

[0009] (Simplified structure of washing machine 1) The general structure of washing machine 1 is explained below. Figure 1 is a perspective view of washing machine 1. In Figure 1, to illustrate the internal structure of washing machine 1, a longitudinal section is shown with the front right portion of washing machine 1 removed. Figure 2 is a perspective view of rotating brush 3 viewed from an oblique upper angle. Figure 3 is a top view of rotating brush 3. The washing machine 1 of this embodiment exemplifies a washer-dryer for washing, dehydrating, and drying shoes 9 (see Figure 4A, etc.).

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the washing machine 1 includes an outer casing 10, an upper surface component 20, a top cover 30, a base component 40, and a drive mechanism 50. The outer casing 10 is a rectangular cylindrical shape with openings at the top and bottom. The upper surface component 20 is located on the upper side of the outer casing 10, and the base component 40 is located on the lower side of the outer casing 10. The top cover 30 has an opening that can be opened and closed, and the opening extends vertically through the upper surface component 20. A water tank 11 is disposed inside the outer casing 10 and is a roughly cylindrical shape with a bottom that opens upwards. A drain is provided at the bottom of the water tank 11 for draining the water inside the water tank 11.

[0011] A washing tub 12 is provided inside the water tank 11 for shoes 9 to enter. Like the water tank 11, the washing tub 12 is also an upward-opening, bottomed, generally cylindrical shape, and can rotate relative to the water tank 11. An axis O passing through the center of rotation of the washing tub 12 extends vertically. A drain section is formed at the bottom of the washing tub 12, and multiple drain holes are formed on the peripheral wall and upper end of the washing tub 12. The shoes 9 enter and exit the washing tub 12 from above through the upper opening. A balancing ring 14 is provided along the edge of the upper opening of the washing tub 12.

[0012] The washing machine 1 includes a rotating body 13 disposed at the bottom of the washing tub 12, which rotates about an axis extending vertically. For example, the rotating body 13 is a disc-shaped impeller for agitating the water in the washing tub 12. The rotating body 13 is rotatable relative to the washing tub 12. The axis of rotation of the rotating body 13 is approximately aligned with the axis O of the washing tub 12. A drive mechanism 50 is provided below the washing tub 12 to rotate and drive the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13. A clutch 51 is provided between the drive mechanism 50 and the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13. The clutch 51 switches between a state where the drive mechanism 50 transmits power to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13, and a state where the drive mechanism 50 transmits power only to the rotating body 13.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the washing machine 1 includes a rotating brush 3. The rotating brush 3 has a rotating body 13, a shaft portion 60 fixed to the upper side of the rotating body 13, and brush units 7 extending from the shaft portion 60 toward the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tub 12. The axis of rotation of the rotating brush 3 passes through the center of the shaft portion 60 and is approximately aligned with the axis O of the washing tub 12. Therefore, both the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3 can rotate about the axis O.

[0014] The rotating brush 3 has multiple brush units 7. The upper end of each brush unit 7 is located below the upper opening of the washing tank 12. The lower end of each brush unit 7 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the rotating body 13. The top end of each brush unit 7 is spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tank 12. In this example, two brush units 7 protrude from the shaft portion 60 in opposite directions when viewed from above. The number, position, shape, etc., of the brush units 7 are not limited to this embodiment.

[0015] The washing machine 1 includes a control unit 90 (see Figure 1) for controlling the operation of the washing machine 1. The control unit 90 is a controller including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., but it can also be an MCU, MPU, etc. The control unit 90 controls the drive mechanism 50, the clutch 51, and the heating unit 80 (described later), thereby performing a drying process with the washing machine 1, details of which will be described later. In the operation of this example, the washing process is performed first, followed by the spin-drying process, and finally the drying process.

[0016] (Side protrusion 100) The details of the side protrusion 100 are explained below. As shown in FIG2, the side protrusion 100 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 12A of the washing tub 12 and protrudes toward the axis O. In this example, a flat mounting plate 110 that is longer in the vertical direction is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 12A of the washing tub 12 (see FIG1). The side protrusion 100 is a plate-shaped component provided on the lower part of the mounting plate 110, extending along the rotation direction C, and is symmetrical from the left and right when viewed from the axis O.

[0017] The side protrusion 100 is positioned at a height opposite to the rotating brush unit 7. In this example, the side protrusion 100 is at the same height as the lower part of the brush unit 7. The protruding end 100B of the side protrusion 100 protrudes beyond the outer periphery P of the rotating body 13 towards the axis O and is located outside the rotation trajectory T (see Figure 3). The lower part of the rotating brush unit 7 passes through the front side of the side protrusion 100 at an open interval.

[0018] (Bottom protrusion 200) Details of the bottom protrusion 200 are explained. Figures 4A and 4B are side views of the rotating brush 3. Figure 4B shows the state in Figure 4A where the rotating brush 3 is rotated 180 degrees in the rotation direction C. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rotating body 13 viewed from an oblique top.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the rotating body 13 has a bottom protrusion 200 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the rotating body 13 and extends along the rotational direction C centered on the axis O. In this example, a mounting portion 130, which is a circular recess in plan view and is fixed to the shaft portion 60, is provided at the center of the upper surface of the rotating body 13. The upper surface of the rotating body 13 curves upward radially outward from the mounting portion 130. The bottom protrusion 200 is provided on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 130 on the upper surface of the rotating body 13.

[0020] The aforementioned rotation direction C includes a first direction C1 and a second direction C2 that are opposite to each other. The first direction C1 is clockwise when viewed from above. The second direction C2 is counterclockwise when viewed from above. The bottom protrusion 200 has a first ridge line R1 extending from the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200 along the first direction C1, and a second ridge line R2 extending from the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200 along the second direction C2 and shorter than the first ridge line R1.

[0021] In this example, the bottom protrusion 200 has a ridge line R extending along the rotation direction C of the rotating body 13. The ridge line R is an imaginary line connecting the two ends of the extending direction of the bottom protrusion 200 and extending along the highest part of the surface of the bottom protrusion 200. The highest point of the ridge line R is the top 200A that forms the upper end of the bottom protrusion 200. The ridge line R slopes gradually downward from the top 200A toward both sides in the rotation direction C.

[0022] The ridge R includes a first ridge R1 and a second ridge R2 extending from the top of the ridge R towards its two ends. The first ridge R1 extends from the top 200A in a first direction C1. The second ridge R2 extends from the top 200A in a second direction C2. The angle of inclination of the first ridge R1 relative to the horizontal plane is smaller than the angle of inclination of the second ridge R2 relative to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the first ridge R1 is longer than the second ridge R2.

[0023] The bottom protrusion 200 includes a first protrusion 201 with a first ridge line R1 and a second protrusion 202 with a second ridge line R2. The first protrusion 201 is an arc-shaped portion extending from the top 200A towards a first direction C1, and the width of the protrusion extending from the upper surface of the rotating body 13 decreases as it moves towards the first direction C1. The second protrusion 202 is an arc-shaped portion extending from the top 200A to the upper surface of the rotating body 13 along a second direction C2, and the width of the protrusion extending from the upper surface of the rotating body 13 decreases as it moves towards the second direction C2.

[0024] As described above, since the shaft 60 is driven to rotate integrally with the rotating body 13, the position of the brush unit 7 relative to the rotating body 13 is fixed. That is, the position of the bottom protrusion 200 relative to the brush unit 7 is fixed. In this example, as shown in FIG3, the bottom protrusion 200 is provided within a range of approximately 180 degrees with respect to the axis O, extending across the two brush units 7 when viewed from above. The top 200 is located between the two brush units 7 when viewed from above.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200 is located above the lower end of the brush unit 7. That is, in the bottom protrusion 200, the first protrusion 201 is positioned below the brush unit 7A (described later) on the first direction C1 side, the second protrusion 202 is positioned below the brush unit 7B (described later) on the second direction C2 side, and the top 200A protrudes from below between the brush units 7A and 7B.

[0026] Furthermore, the edge line R is not limited to an edge line R parallel to the rotation direction C of the rotating body 13, as long as it intersects the axis O radially when viewed from above. For example, as long as the edge line R intersects the axis O when viewed from above, it can be a straight line, a curve with a different curvature from the rotation direction C, or a tortuous shape.

[0027] (Detailed composition of brush unit 7) The detailed structure of brush unit 7 will be described. Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of the outer peripheral surface 60A of shaft portion 60 as viewed from the radially outer side of shaft portion 60. That is, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the outer peripheral surface 60A as viewed from the radially outer side of shaft portion 60 along the rotation direction C.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 to 4B and Figure 6, 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 of the washing tank 12. Each of the plurality of brush portions 70 is composed of a single or multiple elastomers. In this example, in each of the plurality of brush portions 70, a plurality of bristle tufts extending radially outward from the shaft portion 60 are arranged on the outer peripheral surface 60A. The brush portions 70 can be made of sponge or rubber. The plurality of brush portions 70 are quadrilateral when viewed radially outward from the shaft portion 60, but can also be other shapes such as triangles, rhombuses, ellipses, etc.

[0029] The washing machine 1 includes: a first brush unit 7, which, when viewed from above, is located on the side of the top 200A of the protrusion 200 in the second direction C2; and a second brush unit 7, which, when viewed from above, is located on the side of the top 200A of the protrusion 200 in the first direction C1. In this example, the brush unit 7B located on the side of the top 200A in the second direction C2 is the first brush unit 7. The brush unit 7A located on the side of the top 200A in the first direction C1 is the second brush unit 7.

[0030] In brush units 7A and 7B, multiple brush portions 70 include a first brush portion 71 and a second brush portion 72 that are separated from each other and positioned in different vertical directions. As shown in Figures 4A and 6, in brush unit 7A, the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 extend vertically at positions where they are separated from each other in the rotational direction C. The first brush portion 71 is located further in the second direction C2 than the second brush portion 72 and offset upward relative to the second brush portion 72.

[0031] The first region 71A extending downward from the first brush section 71 has no space for multiple brush sections 70, and is arranged with the second brush section 72 in the rotation direction C. The second region 72A extending upward from the second brush section 72 has no space for multiple brush sections 70, and is arranged with the first brush section 71 in the rotation direction C.

[0032] The second brush unit 7 extends upward in a stepped manner along the second direction C2. Specifically, the brush unit 7A also includes a third brush portion 73, a fourth brush portion 74, and a fifth brush portion 75. The third brush portion 73 extends along the rotational direction C between the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72, and is connected to the lower part of the first brush portion 71 and the upper part of the second brush portion 72. The fourth brush portion 74 extends from the upper part of the first brush portion 71 in the second direction C2. The fifth brush portion 75 extends from the lower part of the second brush portion 72 in the second direction C2. Thus, when viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft portion 60, the brush unit 7A extends upward in a stepped manner along the second direction C2.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 to 4B and Figure 6, brush units 7A and 7B are separated from each other in the rotational direction C. Specifically, brush units 7A and 7B are respectively disposed on the semi-circular surfaces 161 and 162 of the shaft portion 60. The semi-circular surfaces 161 and 162 are two regions obtained by dividing the outer peripheral surface 60A of the shaft portion 60 into two equal parts in a manner arranged along the rotational direction C. As described above, the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200 is located between brush units 7A and 7B when viewed from above (see Figure 2).

[0034] As shown in Figures 4B and 6, the shape of brush unit 7B is equal to the shape of brush unit 7A rotated 180 degrees when viewed from the radially outer side of shaft portion 60. Therefore, in brush unit 7B, the first brush portion 71 is further along the first direction C1 than the second brush portion 72. The first brush portion 71 is located at a position offset downward relative to the second brush portion 72.

[0035] The first brush unit 7 extends upward in a stepped manner along the second direction C2. Specifically, in brush unit 7B, 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 from the lower part of the first brush portion 71 along the first direction C1. The fifth brush portion 75 extends from the upper part of the second brush portion 72 along the first direction C1. Thus, when viewed from the radially outer side of the shaft portion 60, brush unit 7B extends upward in a stepped manner along the second direction C2.

[0036] The step of the first brush unit 7 is located above the step of the second brush unit 7. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, in the stepped brush unit 7A, the third brush portion 73 forms a step connecting the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72. In the stepped brush unit 7B, the third brush portion 73 forms a step connecting the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72. The third brush portion 73 of brush unit 7B is located above the third brush portion 73 of brush unit 7A.

[0037] (Heating unit 80) Details of the heating unit 80 are explained below. Figure 7A is a top view of the washing machine 1. In Figure 7A, to illustrate the heating unit 80, a portion of the upper surface component 20 of the washing machine 1 is shown as a top view with the heating unit 80 removed. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine 1 showing the air outlet 83a of the heating unit 80. Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view along line AA of Figure 7A. In Figure 7B, a portion of the washing machine 1 is omitted from the illustration.

[0038] As shown in Figure 7A, the washing machine 1 includes a warm air unit 80 that blows warm air into the washing tub 12. The warm air unit 80 is, for example, a fan heater including a fan 81 and a heater 82. The warm air unit 80 includes a fan shroud 83 that houses the fan 81 and the heater 82. The fan 81 is, for example, a centrifugal fan. The heater 82 is, for example, a PTC heater. Air drawn into the fan shroud 83 is heated by the heater 82 and then delivered to the interior of the washing tub 12 via an outlet 83a.

[0039] As shown in Figure 7B, the air outlet 83a of the fan shroud 83 is located above the washing tub 12. The air outlet 83a is an opening that opens downward toward the washing tub 12. When viewed from above, the air outlet 83a is off-center from the axis O passing through the rotation center of the washing tub 12. In this embodiment, the air outlet 83a is located above the rear part of the washing tub 12.

[0040] (Washing process) A summary of the washing process is provided. In the washing process, the shoes 9 are washed in a washing tank 12 containing detergent and water. During the washing process, a rolling process P1, described later, is performed in which the rotating brush 3 rotates alternately in both forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tank 12. In the rolling process P1, the shoes 9 are washed by contacting the rotating brush unit 7 with the shoes 9 located on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 60. When the washing process is completed, the detergent and water are discharged from the drain section and drain hole of the washing tank 12.

[0041] (Dehydration treatment) A summary of the dehydration process is provided. In the dehydration process, the shoes 9 are dehydrated while the washing tank 12 is dry. The dehydration process includes a first rotation process P2, described later, in which the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 rotate as a unit. In the first rotation process P2, centrifugal force is applied to the shoes 9 located within the washing tank 12 by rotating the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 at high speed, thus dehydrating them.

[0042] (Drying process) The details of the drying process are explained below. During the drying process, the shoes 9 are dried in the washing tub 12, where detergent and water have been drained. The control unit 90 of the washing machine 1 controls the heating unit 80 to perform the drying process by sending warm air into the washing tub 12 to dry the shoes 9. During the drying process, the control unit 90 controls the heating unit 80 to continuously send warm air into the washing tub 12.

[0043] The control unit 90 performs a first process S1 and a second process S2, which is a subsequent process to the first process S1, in the drying process. Figure 8 is a timing diagram showing the first process S1. Figure 8 is a timing diagram showing the operation of each component in the first process S1: drive mechanism 50 (motor), clutch 51, fan 81, and heater 82. Figure 9 is a timing diagram showing the second process S2. Figure 9 is a timing diagram showing the operation of each component in the second process S2: drive mechanism 50 (motor), clutch 51, fan 81, and heater 82.

[0044] (Details of the first process) As shown in Figure 8, the first process S1 is a process of alternately repeating the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2. In the rolling process P1, the rotating brush 3 rotates alternately in the forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tank 12. In the first rotation process P2, the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 rotate together. Hereinafter, for ease of explanation, the process of performing the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2 once in sequence will be referred to as process Sa. In the first process S1, process Sa is repeated multiple times (10 times in this embodiment).

[0045] First, the control unit 90 controls the drive mechanism 50 to perform the rolling process P1. In the rolling process P1, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the rotating body 13 in the washing tank 12 and the rotating body 13 via the clutch 51. The power of the drive mechanism 50 is transmitted to the rotating body 13, which drives the rotating brush 3 to rotate around the axis O.

[0046] The rotation trajectory T traced by the front end of the brush unit 7 rotating in the rotation direction C is a circle centered on the axis O and is smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery P of the rotating body 13 (see Figure 3). The brush unit 7 rotating within the rotation trajectory T can contact the shoe 9 located on the outer periphery of the shaft portion 60.

[0047] In this embodiment, during the rolling process P1, the rotating brush 3 is alternately rotated twice in both forward and reverse directions. During forward rotation, the brush unit 7 rotates in the first direction C1. During reverse rotation, the brush unit 7 rotates in the second direction C2. The brush unit 7 rotates relative to the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tank 12, contacting the shoe 9 being washed within the washing tank 12 to change the posture and orientation of the shoe 9, thereby ensuring that water accumulated inside the shoe 9 is drained without leakage. Furthermore, while the rotating brush 3 is alternately rotated twice in both forward and reverse directions during the rolling process P1, this is not a limitation; the rotation may be performed only once, or it may be repeated multiple times.

[0048] During forward rotation, brush units 7A and 7B move in the first direction C1 while contacting the shoe 9. In brush unit 7A shown in Figure 4A, when the shoe 9 contacts the second brush part 72, due to the elasticity of the second brush part 72, the shoe 9 easily retreats upward towards the unbrushed second region 72A. The shoe 9, retreating to the second region 72A, then contacts the first brush part 71 moving in the first direction C1. Similarly, in brush unit 7B shown in Figure 4B, when the shoe 9 contacts the first brush part 71, the shoe 9 easily retreats towards the unbrushed first region 71A and contacts the second brush part 72 moving in the first direction C1.

[0049] During the reversal, brush units 7A and 7B move in the second direction C2 while contacting the shoe 9. In brush unit 7B shown in Figure 4B, when the shoe 9 contacts the second brush portion 72, due to the elasticity of the second brush portion 72, the shoe 9 easily retreats downward towards the unbrushed second region 72A. The shoe 9, retreating to the second region 72A, contacts the first brush portion 71 moving in the second direction C2. Similarly, in brush unit 7A shown in Figure 4A, when the shoe 9 contacts the first brush portion 71, the shoe 9 retreats to the first region 71A and contacts the second brush portion 72 moving in the second direction C2.

[0050] In this way, within brush units 7A and 7B, the shoes 9 that are in contact with each other can be moved upward or downward, so that the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72, which are separated from each other in the rotation direction C, come into contact with the shoes 9. As a result, the shoes 9 can be prevented from following the brush units 7A and 7B, and the posture and orientation of the shoes 9 can be easily changed.

[0051] The first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 can move in the rotational direction C from a state where they are separated from the shoe 9 to a state where they come into contact with the shoe 9. As a result, the tips of the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72 easily come into contact with the shoe 9, increasing the contact friction applied to the shoe 9, thus making it easier to change the posture and orientation of the shoe 9. Furthermore, by moving the shoe 9 into the first region 71A or the second region 72A where there is no brush, the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 can be changed.

[0052] In each of the brush units 7A and 7B, the third brush portion 73 extends along the rotational direction C between the first brush portion 71 and the second brush portion 72. Therefore, when the shoe 9, which is moving along the rotational direction C, comes into contact with 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 region 71A or the second region 72A where there is no brush. As a result, the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 can be changed.

[0053] Furthermore, as the rotating brush 3 rotates, the shoe 9 moves along the inner circumferential surface 12A and comes into contact with the side protrusion 100. By contacting the side protrusion 100 and bouncing up, the orientation and posture of the shoe 9 can be significantly changed. Additionally, when the shoe 9, which is sinking in the water stored in the washing tank 12, comes into contact with the bottom protrusion 200, which rotates together with the rotating body 13, it bounces upwards. Thus, the brush unit 7 can reliably contact the shoe 9, thereby enabling significant changes in the orientation and posture of the shoe 9.

[0054] After performing the rolling process P1, the control unit 90 performs the first rotation process P2. In the first rotation process P2, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 via 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 and the rotating brush 3 are driven to rotate integrally around the axis O. In the first rotation process P2, the drive mechanism 50 (motor) is rotated at, for example, 800 rpm. As described above, by rotating the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3 at high speed, centrifugal force acts on the shoes 9 located in the washing tub 12 to dehydrate them. That is, the first rotation process P2 is a dehydration rotation. In the first rotation process P2, the drying performance of the washing machine 1 is improved by discharging the humid air in the washing tub 12 from the gap provided between the upper surface component 20 and the upper cover 30.

[0055] The first rotation process P2 includes: a pre-process, in which the drive mechanism 50 (motor) is driven to rotate the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3; and a post-process, in which the drive mechanism 50 (motor) is stopped, and the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3 are rotated by inertia. In the post-process, when the speed of the drive mechanism 50 (motor) drops to a predetermined value, the clutch 51 switches from a state connected to both the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 to a state connected only to the rotating body 13, thereby effectively reducing the speed of the rotating brush 3.

[0056] As described above, by performing the rolling process P1, the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 can be easily changed, allowing all water accumulated inside the shoe 9 to be drained without leakage. Furthermore, by changing the posture and orientation of the shoe 9, the problem of reduced dehydration caused by the sole of the shoe 9 facing the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tub 12 can be easily solved. Additionally, the overlapping of multiple shoes 9 can be easily eliminated. Furthermore, warm air can be easily blown evenly across the entire surface of the shoe 9. Moreover, by alternately repeating the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2, dehydration of the shoe 9 can be performed while repeatedly changing its posture and orientation, thus effectively eliminating the aforementioned problems. Therefore, the drying performance of the washing machine 1 can be improved.

[0057] Furthermore, in the first process S1, the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2 are repeated in the order of rolling process P1 and first rotation process P2, but it is not limited to this. As long as the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2 are repeated alternately, for example, they can also be repeated in the order of first rotation process P2 and rolling process P1.

[0058] Furthermore, although the heater 82 and fan 81 are turned on in the first process S1, it is not limited to this. The heater 82 and fan 81 can be turned off until process Sa or rolling process P1 is performed at least once. As a result, heating from a state where water has accumulated inside the shoe 9 can be suppressed, and the drying efficiency of the shoe 9 brought about by the heater 82 can be improved.

[0059] (Details of the second process) As shown in Figure 9, the second process S2 is the process of performing a second rotation process P3 that rotates the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3 as a whole. In the second rotation process P3, similarly to the first rotation process P2, the drive mechanism 50 is connected to the washing tub 12 and the rotating body 13 via a clutch 51, and the washing tub 12 and the rotating brush 3 are driven to rotate as a whole around axis O. In the second rotation process P3, the drive mechanism 50 (motor) rotates at, for example, 50 to 100 rpm. That is, the rotational speed of the drive mechanism 50 (motor) in the second rotation process P3 is less than the rotational speed of the drive mechanism 50 (motor) in the first rotation process P2.

[0060] As described above, in the second rotation process P3, the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 rotate at a low speed, thereby enabling the warm air delivered to the washing tank 12 to be blown evenly onto the shoes 9.

[0061] Below is an example of the processing time for each step of the drying process. In this embodiment, the overall drying process takes approximately 60 minutes. The processing time for the first step S1 is approximately 20 minutes, and the processing time for the second step S2 is approximately 40 minutes. More specifically, the processing time for each step Sa in the first step S1 is approximately 2 minutes. In step Sa, the processing time for each of the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2 is approximately 1 minute. The processing time for the second rotation process P3 in the second step S2 is approximately 40 minutes.

[0062] In the above configuration, the proportion of time spent on the rolling process P1 during the drying process is less than the proportion of time spent on processes other than the rolling process P1 during the drying process. In one example above, the cumulative time for the repeated rolling process P1 is approximately 10 minutes, and the total time for processes other than the rolling process P1 is approximately 50 minutes. As described above, by reducing the proportion of time that the rotating brush 3 alone rotates relative to the overall drying process, damage caused by friction between the shoe 9 and the brush unit 7 can be suppressed, and the shoe 9 can be dried.

[0063] (The first variation of the first process) The first process S1a will be described. The first process S1a is a first variation of the first process S1. Figure 10 is a timing diagram showing the first process S1a. Figure 10 is a timing diagram showing the operation of the drive mechanism 50 (motor), clutch 51, fan 81, and heater 82 in the first process S1a. In the first process S1a, the rolling processing time changes according to the elapsed time of the first process S1a, which is different from the first process S1.

[0064] As shown in Figure 10, the first process S1a includes: process Sa, which involves repeating a rolling process P1 twice, alternating between forward and reverse rotation of the rotating brush 3; and process Sb, which involves performing a rolling process P1a once, alternating between forward and reverse rotation of the rotating brush 3. That is, process Sb differs from process Sa only in that the rolling process time is shorter. The control unit 90 switches from process Sa to process Sb based on the elapsed time of the first process S1a. For example, the control unit 90 repeats process Sa five times, and then repeats process Sb five times.

[0065] As described above, in the latter half of the first step S1a, by switching from step Sa to step Sb, the contact time between the shoe 9 and the brush unit 7 can be reduced during the latter half of the dehydration process of the shoe 9. Therefore, damage to the shoe 9 can be prevented, and dehydration can be performed.

[0066] Furthermore, in the first step S1a, the contact time between the shoe 9 and the brush unit 7 is shortened by reducing the number of alternating forward and reverse rotations of the rotating brush 3. However, this is not a limitation; as long as the contact friction applied to the shoe 9 can be reduced, the rotation amount and rotation speed of the rotating brush 3 can be appropriately changed. In addition, in the first step S1a, the rolling processing time is different in the first half and the second half of the step. However, this is not a limitation; for example, the rolling processing time can be gradually shortened according to the elapsed time of the first step.

[0067] In addition, in the first process S1a, the rolling processing time is changed according to the elapsed time of the first process S1a, but it is not limited to this. As long as the proportion of the rolling processing time in the first process can be shortened, for example, the time of the first rotation processing can be changed, or the time of the rolling processing can be changed, or the time of the first rotation processing can be changed.

[0068] (First variation of the second process) The second process S2a will be described. The second process S2a is a first variation of the second process S2. Figure 11 is a timing diagram showing the second process S2a. Figure 11 is a timing diagram showing the operation of the drive mechanism 50 (motor), clutch 51, fan 81, and heater 82 in the second process S2a. The second process S2a differs from the second process S2 in that it includes the rolling process P1.

[0069] As shown in Figure 11, in the second process S2a, the control unit 90 performs a rolling process P1 during the second rotation process P3. Here, performing the rolling process P1 during the second rotation process P3 means temporarily interrupting the second rotation process P3 and performing the rolling process P1. In this embodiment, the rolling process P1 is performed once during the second rotation process P3.

[0070] As described above, by performing a rolling process P1 during the second rotation process P3, the control unit 90 can blow warm air evenly across the entire surface of the shoe 9 while changing its posture and orientation, thereby improving the drying performance of the washing machine 1. Furthermore, the control unit 90 performs the rolling process P1 once during the second rotation process P3, but is not limited to this; it may also perform the rolling process P1 multiple times during the second rotation process P3.

[0071] (Temperature control based on heater unit 80) Using Figure 12, the internal temperature control of the washing tub 12 based on the heating unit 80 will be explained. Figure 12 is a timing diagram showing the relationship between the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 and the switching timing of the output of the heater 82. In Figure 12, the vertical lines represent the internal temperature of the washing tub 12, and the horizontal lines represent the elapsed time during the drying process. In this embodiment, the control unit 90 obtains the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 through a temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the washing tub 12. In this embodiment, the output of the heater 82 can be changed in two stages, for example, "weak" and "strong". When the drying process begins, the control unit 90 sets the output of the heater 82 to "strong" so that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 is close to the target temperature T1.

[0072] The control unit 90 of the washing machine 1 compares the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 with the target temperature T1 to determine whether to switch the output of the heater 82. The target temperature T1 is, for example, the temperature at which the shoes 9 will not be damaged by heat. In this embodiment, the target temperature T1 is, for example, 60°C.

[0073] The control unit 90 compares the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 with the target temperature T1. If it determines that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 exceeds the target temperature T1, it switches the output of the heater 82 to "weak" and maintains the "weak" state for a predetermined time. That is, after switching the output of the heater 82 to "weak," the control unit 90 does not switch the output of the heater 82 for a predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 10 minutes. This prevents the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 from frequently switching the output of the heater 82 around the target temperature T1, thus extending the relay life of the heater 82.

[0074] Furthermore, when the output of heater 82 is switched to "weak," the control unit 90 compares the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 with the target temperature T1 at predetermined intervals until it determines that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 is below the target temperature T1. If the control unit 90 determines that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 is below the target temperature T1, it compares the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 with the target temperature T1 continuously after switching the output of heater 82 to "strong." On the other hand, if the control unit 90 determines that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 exceeds the target temperature T1, it repeats the comparison of the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 with the target temperature T1 at predetermined intervals until it determines that the internal temperature of the washing tub 12 is below the target temperature T1 while maintaining the output of heater 82 at "weak."

[0075] In this embodiment, considering the lifespan of the heater 82's relay, the specified time is set in such a way that the number of times the output of the heater 82 is switched from "weak" to "strong" during the drying process is limited to a maximum of 3 times. Therefore, it can also be appropriately changed according to the drying process time and the lifespan of the heater 82's relay.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a threshold (target temperature T1) is used for temperature control of the heating unit 80, but it is not limited to this. For example, two thresholds (upper limit temperature and lower limit temperature) can also be used for fluctuation control. In addition, it is not limited to ON / OFF control, but can also be linearly controlled based on the current value.

[0077] Furthermore, although the control unit 90 uses a threshold (target temperature T1) for temperature control throughout all steps of the drying process, it is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 90 may also control the heater to make the internal temperature of the washing tank 12 higher in the second rotation process P3 compared to the first rotation process P2. In this case, for example, in the first rotation process P2, the target temperature T1 is used for the aforementioned temperature control, and in the second rotation process P3, a target temperature T2 that is, for example, 3 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than the target temperature T1 is used for the aforementioned temperature control. Thus, in the second rotation process P3, where the primary purpose is to dry the shoes 9, the shoes 9 can be dried effectively. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 90 may also control the heater 82 to make the internal temperature of the washing tank 12 higher in the second process S2 compared to the first process S1. In this case, for example, in the first process S1, the target temperature T1 is used for the aforementioned temperature control, and in the second process S2, the target temperature T2 is used for the aforementioned temperature control. Alternatively, for example, the control unit 90 may also control the heater 82 to make the internal temperature of the washing tank 12 higher in the first process S1 compared to the second process S2. In this case, for example, in the first step S1, the target temperature T2 is used for the temperature control described above, and in the second step S2, the target temperature T1 is used for the temperature control described above. Thus, in the second step S2 of drying the shoe 9, by lowering the internal temperature of the washing tank 12, drying can be carried out while suppressing damage to the shoe 9.

[0078] (Behavior of Shoe 9 based on scrolling processing) The behavior of shoe 9 based on the rolling process P1 described above will be explained. Figures 13A and 13B are schematic plan views of the outer peripheral surface 60A of the shaft portion 60 in the rolling process P1 during forward rotation. Figures 14A and 14B are schematic plan views of the outer peripheral surface 60A of the shaft portion 60 in the rolling process P1 during reverse rotation. Figures 13A and 14A illustrate the behavior of shoe 9 when the side protrusion 100 does not act. Figures 13B and 14B illustrate the behavior of shoe 9 when the side protrusion 100 acts.

[0079] During the rolling process P1, the shoe 9 on the rotating body 13 is pressed by the rotating brush unit 7 as the rotating body 13 rotates, thereby moving along the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tank 12 where no water has accumulated. Even when the shoe 9 is attached to the inner circumferential surface 12A and does not move easily, it will peel off from the inner circumferential surface 12A when it comes into contact with the bottom protrusion 200 that rotates together with the rotating body 13.

[0080] In this example, the steps of brush units 7A and 7B are at different heights. Specifically, in brush unit 7A, since the third brush portion 73 constituting the step is located at a relatively low position, the second brush portion 72 located on the lower side is shorter in the vertical direction, and the first brush portion 71 located on the upper side is relatively longer in the vertical direction. In brush unit 7B, since the third brush portion 73 constituting the step is located at a relatively high position, the second brush portion 72 located on the upper side is shorter in the vertical direction, and the first brush portion 71 located on the lower side is relatively longer in the vertical direction. Based on this configuration, the shoe 9 can easily perform the following behavior during the rolling process P1.

[0081] As shown in Figure 13A, when the rotating body 13 rotates clockwise, the brush unit 7 and the bottom protrusion 200 move in the first direction C1. When the shoe 9 on the rotating body 13 is located on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7A, the shoe 9 first contacts the second brush portion 72 of the brush unit 7A. At this time, since the shoe 9 can easily pass over the second brush portion 72, which is shorter in the vertical direction, the shoe 9 moves upward toward the unbrushed second area 72A and climbs onto the third brush portion 73, which forms the step portion. The shoe 9, which has climbed onto the third brush portion 73, contacts the first brush portion 71, which moves in the first direction C1. Since the shoe 9 has difficulty passing over the first brush portion 71, which is longer in the vertical direction, it passes through the first brush portion 71 in a transverse manner along the second direction C2. The shoe 9, having passed through the brush unit 7A, then contacts the first brush portion 71 of the brush unit 7B, which is located on its second direction C2 side. At this time, since the shoe 9 is in contact with the upper end of the first brush part 71, the shoe 9 moves upward toward the first area 71A without brush and climbs onto the third brush part 73 of the step part that constitutes the brush unit 7B.

[0082] On the other hand, when the shoe 9 on the rotating body 13 is located on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7B, the shoe 9 first contacts the first brush portion 71 of the brush unit 7B, but since the first brush portion 71 is relatively long in the vertical direction, it is difficult to cross over. Therefore, in this example, in order to assist the shoe 9 in moving to a higher position, a bottom protrusion 200 is provided on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7B. In the bottom protrusion 200, the inclination angle of the first ridge line R1 extending from the top 200A towards the first direction C1 side with respect to the horizontal plane is smaller than the inclination angle of the second ridge line R2 extending from the top 200A towards the second direction C2 side with respect to the horizontal plane. That is, since the first protrusion 201 has a gentler slope than the second protrusion 202, the shoe 9 located on the rotating body 13 can easily climb up and roll.

[0083] Therefore, when the rotating body 13 rotates clockwise, the shoe 9 located on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7B climbs onto the first protrusion 201 and rolls diagonally upward. Then, the shoe 9 is released diagonally upward from the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200 towards the brush unit 7B. The top 200A is positioned above the fourth brush portion 74 located at the lower end of the brush unit 7B; therefore, the shoe 9 released from the top 200A does not interfere with the fourth brush portion 74 but contacts the first brush portion 71. Then, the shoe 9 moves upward along the first brush portion 71, moving from the first region 71A to the third brush portion 73. Therefore, even if the first brush portion 71 of the brush unit 7B is longer in the vertical direction, the shoe 9 crosses the first brush portion 71 and climbs onto the third brush portion 73 that constitutes the step portion of the brush unit 7B.

[0084] As shown in Figure 14A, when the rotating body 13 reverses, the shoe 9 clinging to the brush unit 7A falls from the third brush part 73 toward the first direction C1 and moves onto the rotating body 13. The shoe 9 clinging to the brush unit 7B falls from the third brush part 73 toward the first direction C1, and then rolls on the first protrusion 201 of the bottom protrusion 200 and moves onto the rotating body 13.

[0085] Thus, in the rolling process P1, the shoe 9 is moved to a higher position along the stepped brush units 7A and 7B by a forward rotation, and to a lower position by a reverse rotation, thereby causing the shoe 9 to shift significantly in the rotational direction C and the vertical direction. As a result, the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 change considerably, and the arrangement of multiple shoes 9 varies in a dispersed manner within the washing tank 12, thus improving the dehydration effect of the subsequent first rotating process P2.

[0086] Furthermore, when the rotating body 13 rotates clockwise, there is a possibility that the shoe 9 may be trapped between the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tank 12 and the brush unit 7, or between the inner circumferential surface 12A and the bottom protrusion 200. In this case, by reversing the rotation of the rotating body 13, the trapped shoe 9 can be released towards the first direction C1. Figure 14 shows the state in which the shoe 9 trapped between the brush unit 7B and the inner circumferential surface 12A is released from the first brush section 71 towards the first direction C1.

[0087] Furthermore, when the rotating body 13 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and the side protrusion 100 provided on the washing tank 12 comes into contact with the shoe 9, the behavior of the shoe 9 is sometimes different from the above-described situation. As shown in FIG13B, when the rotating body 13 rotates clockwise, as the brush unit 7 and the bottom protrusion 200 rotate, the side protrusion 100 moves relative to the shoe in the second direction C2.

[0088] When the side protrusion 100 contacts the shoe 9 located on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7B, the shoe 9 is pressed relative to the brush unit 7B side. Thus, the shoe 9 is either extended obliquely upwards as in FIG. 13A, or pressed against the first brush portion 71 of the brush unit 7B. In the latter case, since the first brush portion 71 is longer in the vertical direction, the shoe 9 does not interfere with the third brush portion 73 located at the upper end of the first brush portion 71, and instead passes transversely through the first brush portion 71 along the second direction C2.

[0089] Furthermore, when the side protrusion 100 contacts the shoe 9 located on the first direction C1 side of the brush unit 7A, the shoe 9 is pressed relative to the brush unit 7A side. Among the shoes 9 pressed in the above manner, some shoes 9 pass through the lower part of the brush unit 7A (the lower side of the third brush part 73) in the second direction C2 and move onto the bottom protrusion 200.

[0090] As shown in Figure 14B, when the rotating body 13 reverses, the side protrusion 100 moves relative to the brush unit 7 and the bottom protrusion 200 in the first direction C1 as the brush unit 7B rotates. When the side protrusion 100 contacts the shoe 9 located on the second direction C2 side of the brush unit 7B, the side protrusion 100 is pressed by the first brush part 71 of the brush unit 7B. Since the first brush part 71 is longer in the vertical direction, the shoe 9 does not interfere with the third brush part 73 located at the upper end of the first brush part 71, and passes through the first brush part 71 in a transverse manner along the first direction C1. At this time, the shoe 9, sandwiched between the side protrusion 100 and the bottom protrusion 200, passes through the first brush part 71 by being lifted along the steep slope of the second protrusion 202.

[0091] Furthermore, when the side protrusion 100 contacts the shoe 9 located on the second direction C2 side of the brush unit 7A, the shoe 9 is pressed relative to the brush unit 7A side. Among the shoes 9 pressed in the above manner, some shoes 9 pass through the lower part of the brush unit 7A (the lower side of the third brush part 73) towards the first direction C1.

[0092] Thus, during the rolling process P1, the side protrusion 100 contacts the shoe 9, thereby significantly changing the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 retained on the rotating body 13, and causing multiple shoes 9 to disperse in different directions, or allowing the shoes 9 to pass through the brush unit 7. As a result, the dehydration effect of the first rotating process P2 can be improved.

[0093] (Rotation amount during rolling processing) The details of the rotation amount in the rolling process P1 will be explained. The effect of a forward rotation that lifts the shoe 9 to a higher position is more difficult to achieve than the effect of a reverse rotation that lowers the shoe 9 to a lower position. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the rolling process P1, the rotating body 13 rotates with a first rotation amount in the first direction C1, and then rotates with a second rotation amount smaller than the first rotation amount in the second direction C2. By making the first rotation amount during forward rotation larger than the second rotation amount during reverse rotation, the effects of both forward and reverse rotation can be balanced and effectively utilized.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to reliably utilize the forward rotation to lift the shoe 9 to a higher position, a relatively large rotation amount is set for the first rotation amount, for example, the first rotation amount is greater than half a rotation (180 degrees) of the rotating body 13. On the other hand, if the rotation amount during reverse rotation is too large, there is a risk that the shoe 9 falling from one brush unit 7 may get caught with other brush units 7 and be damaged, or that the shoe 9 sandwiched between the side protrusion 100 and the bottom protrusion 200 may not be smoothly lifted along the steep slope of the second protrusion 202, thus posing a risk of damage to the shoe 9. Therefore, a relatively small rotation amount is set for the second rotation amount, for example, the second rotation amount is less than half a rotation (180 degrees) of the rotating body 13.

[0095] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two brush units 7A and 7B are provided, and these brush units 7A and 7B are of different shapes. Therefore, during forward rotation, the amount of lifting of the shoe 9 in each brush unit 7A and 7B is different. Therefore, the following structure is adopted: the movement of the shoe 9 through the brush units 7 is moderately generated, and the shoe 9 is easily lifted by both brush units 7A and 7B.

[0096] Specifically, the shoe 9, embedded between the rotation trajectory T of the brush unit 7 and the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tank 12, is less susceptible to interference from the inner circumferential surface 12A and the brush unit 7, making it difficult for its position and posture to change. Therefore, by providing a side protrusion 100 on the inner circumferential surface 12A, the shoe 9, moving together with the rotating body 13, makes moderate contact with the side protrusion 100 rotating in the rotation direction C. As a result, the shoe 9 in contact with the side protrusion 100 moves in the rotation direction C, promoting movement between the brushes. In addition, at this time, since the shoe 9 rolls towards the axis O, the posture of the shoe 9 also changes.

[0097] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13B and 14B, the upper end 100A of the side protrusion 100 is located above the top 200A of the bottom protrusion 200. Therefore, even when the shoe 9 passes over the bottom protrusion 200 and moves together with the rotating body 13, the side protrusion 100, which moves in the rotation direction C, can still contact the shoe 9. Thus, the movement of the shoe 9 in the rotation direction C facilitates the movement between the brushes.

[0098] In summary, in one method of the rolling process, the first rotation amount is set to the degree of one rotation of the rotating body 13, so that approximately one opportunity is provided for the shoe 9 to be lifted or moved between brushes during forward rotation. For example, the control unit 90 rotates the rotating body 13 in the first direction C1 with a first rotation amount of 2 / 3 rotation (240 degrees) to 4 / 5 rotation (288 degrees). In addition, in order to properly disperse the shoes 9 that are lifted or hooked on the side protrusions 100 due to the movement during forward rotation, and to suppress damage to the shoes 9 caused by the above-mentioned over-rotation, the rotation amount during reverse rotation is set to be smaller than that during forward rotation. For example, the control unit 90 rotates the rotating body 13 in the second direction C2 with a second rotation amount of 1 / 3 rotation (120 degrees) to 2 / 5 rotation (144 degrees).

[0099] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the side protrusions 100 and the bottom protrusions 200 are provided one by one, but multiple side protrusions 100 and multiple bottom protrusions 200 may also be provided. The first rotation amount and the second rotation amount can be set to more ideal values ​​according to the number of side protrusions 100 and bottom protrusions 200. For example, when n side protrusions 100 and n bottom protrusions 200 are provided at equal intervals, the first rotation amount during clockwise rotation may be set to 1 / n rotation degree, and the second rotation amount during counterclockwise rotation may be set to 1 / 2n rotation degree.

[0100] In the above configuration, the washing machine 1 includes: a washing tub 12 into which shoes 9 are placed; a rotating brush 3 having a rotating body 13, a shaft portion 60, and a brush unit 7, the rotating body 13 being disposed at the bottom of the washing tub 12 and rotating about an axis O extending in the vertical direction, the shaft portion 60 being fixed to the upper side of the rotating body 13, and the brush unit 7 extending from the shaft portion 60 toward the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tub 12; a warm air unit 80 that delivers warm air into the interior of the washing tub 12; and a control unit 90 that controls the washing tub 12, the rotating brush 3, and the warm air unit 80. The control unit 90 controls the warm air unit 80 to perform a drying process by delivering warm air into the interior of the washing tub 12 to dry the shoes 9. The control unit 90 performs a first process S1 in the drying process, in which a rolling process P1 and a first rotation process P2 are alternately repeated. In the rolling process P1, the rotating brush 3 is rotated alternately in the forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tank 12. In the first rotation process P2, the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 are rotated together.

[0101] As described above, by performing the rolling process P1, the posture and orientation of the shoe 9 can be changed, allowing water accumulated inside the shoe 9 to drain completely, eliminating the problem of reduced dehydration caused by the sole of the shoe 9 facing the inner circumferential surface 12A of the washing tub 12, eliminating the overlap of multiple shoes 9, and easily distributing warm air evenly across the entire surface of the shoe 9. Furthermore, by alternately repeating the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2, dehydration of the shoe 9 can be performed while repeatedly changing its posture and orientation, thus effectively eliminating the aforementioned problems. Therefore, the drying performance of the washing machine 1 can be improved.

[0102] The control unit 90 adjusts the time of at least one of the rolling process P1 and the first rotation process P2 based on the elapsed time of the first process S1. For example, by shortening the time of the rolling process P1, the contact time between the shoe 9 and the brush unit 7 in the latter half of the dehydration process of the shoe 9 can be reduced. Therefore, damage to the shoe 9 can be suppressed, and dehydration can be performed.

[0103] In the drying process, the control unit 90 executes the second process S2 after the first process S1. In the second process S2, the control unit 90 executes a second rotation process P3, in which the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 rotate as a unit, at a speed lower than that of the first rotation process P2. As a result, in the second rotation process P3, the washing tank 12 and the rotating brush 3 rotate at a low speed, thereby allowing the warm air delivered to the washing tank 12 to be evenly distributed on the shoes 9.

[0104] The second process S2 includes a rolling process P1. The control unit 90 performs the rolling process P1 during the second rotation process P3 in the second process S2. As a result, warm air can be blown evenly onto the shoes 9 while changing their posture and orientation, thus improving the drying performance of the washing machine 1.

[0105] The warm air unit 80 includes a heater 82. The control unit 90 controls the second rotation process P3 to make the internal temperature of the washing tank 12 higher than that of the first rotation process P2. As a result, the shoes 9 can be dried effectively in the second rotation process P3, which is mainly for drying shoes 9.

[0106] The proportion of time spent on the rolling process P1 during the drying process is less than the proportion of time spent on processes other than the rolling process P1 during the drying process. As described above, by reducing the proportion of time that the rotating brush 3 alone rotates relative to the overall drying process, damage caused by friction between the shoe 9 and the brush unit 7 can be suppressed, and the shoe 9 can be dried.

[0107] (Remark) This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of this invention. Moreover, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical methods disclosed in each embodiment.

[0108] The washing machine 1 of this embodiment can perform washing and spin-drying processes, but is not limited to these; it can perform at least one of washing and spin-drying processes. For example, the washed item is not limited to shoes 9, but can be any three-dimensional object, preferably a three-dimensional object with a sole. In addition, the tumbling process is not limited to being performed during washing and drying processes; for example, it can also be performed during spin-drying. As a result, since the arrangement and orientation of the shoes 9 located in the washing tub 12 can be changed, the shoes 9 can be effectively dehydrated.

[0109] 1: Washing machine 3: Rotating brush 7: Brush Units 12: Washing tub 13: Solid of Revolution 60: Shaft 80: Heating Unit 82: Heater 90: Control Department P1: Scrolling Processing P1a: Scrolling Processing P2: First rotation processing P3: Second Rotation Processing S1: First Process Sa: Process S1a: First process S2: Second process S2a: Second process

Claims

1. A washing machine, wherein, include: A washing tub into which shoes, the items to be washed, are placed; A rotating brush includes: a rotating body disposed at the bottom of the washing tub and rotating about an axis extending vertically; a shaft fixed to the upper side of the rotating body; and a brush unit extending from the shaft towards the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub; a warm air unit that delivers warm air into the washing tub; and a control unit that controls the washing tub, the rotating brush, and the warm air unit. The control unit controls the warm air unit to perform a drying process in which warm air is delivered into the washing tub to dry the washed items. In the drying process, the control unit performs a first step of alternately repeating a rolling process and a first rotating process, wherein in the rolling process, the rotating brush rotates alternately in both forward and reverse directions relative to the washing tub, and in the first rotating process, the washing tub and the rotating brush rotate together. The control unit shortens the rolling process time based on the elapsed time of the first step.

2. The washing machine as described in claim 1, wherein, In the drying process, the control unit performs a second process after the first process. In the second process, the control unit performs a second rotation process, in which the washing tank and the rotating brush rotate together at a rotation speed lower than that of the first rotation process.

3. The washing machine as described in claim 2, wherein, The second step includes the rolling process, and the control unit performs the rolling process during the second rotation process in the second step.

4. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein, The warm air unit includes a heater, and the control unit controls the heater so that the internal temperature of the washing tub is higher in the second rotation process than in the first rotation process.

5. The washing machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The proportion of time spent in the drying process undergoing the rolling process is less than the proportion of time spent in the drying process undergoing processes other than the rolling process.

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