U.S. patent application number 15/573383 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-17 for washing machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is AQUA CO., LTD, QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Masahiko ASAMI, Kazushige MURAKAMI, Masafumi NISHINO.
Application Number | 20180135221 15/573383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54553381 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180135221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NISHINO; Masafumi ; et
al. |
May 17, 2018 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
A washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes: a
washing drum; a plurality of hollow balancers arranged on an inner
circumferential surface of the washing drum in an axis direction of
the washing drum; a water receiving ring unit, the water receiving
ring unit is formed by stacking multiple layers of annular water
guiding grooves, and fixed to an end in the axis direction of an
outer surface of the washing drum, and the multiple layers of
annular water guiding grooves correspond to the balancers
respectively; a plurality of water passing components for
connecting a part of the water guiding grooves with the balancers
corresponding to the water guiding grooves; and a nozzle unit for
separately injecting adjustment water into the water guiding
grooves.
Inventors: |
NISHINO; Masafumi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; MURAKAMI; Kazushige; (Tokyo, JP) ;
ASAMI; Masahiko; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AQUA CO., LTD
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD. |
Tokyo
Qingdao |
|
JP
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
54553381 |
Appl. No.: |
15/573383 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
May 13, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2016/082110 |
371 Date: |
November 10, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20130101;
D06F 37/12 20130101; D06F 37/04 20130101; D06F 35/006 20130101;
D06F 37/20 20130101; D06F 37/30 20130101; D06F 49/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20060101
D06F037/20; D06F 37/12 20060101 D06F037/12; D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00; D06F 37/30 20060101 D06F037/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2015 |
JP |
2015-098635 |
Claims
1. A washing machine, comprising: a washing drum; a plurality of
hollow balancers arranged on an inner circumferential surface of
the washing drum along an axis direction of the washing drum; a
water receiving ring unit, wherein the water receiving ring unit is
formed by stacking multiple layers of annular water guiding
grooves, and fixed to an end in the axis direction of an outer
surface of the washing drum, wherein the multiple layers of annular
water guiding grooves correspond to the balancers respectively; a
plurality of water passing components for connecting a part of the
water guiding grooves with the balancers corresponding to the water
guiding grooves; and a nozzle unit for separately injecting
adjustment water into the water guiding grooves.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the balancers
are lifting ribs for lifting washings.
3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the balancers
are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the washing
drum as a rotating drum at equal intervals, and each layer of the
water guiding grooves is formed so that an inner circumferential
surface of the water guiding groove is opened and an outer
circumferential surface of the water guiding groove is bottomed,
wherein bottom plates of each layer of the water guiding grooves of
the water receiving ring unit are eccentric relative to an axis of
the washing drum, and adjacent bottom plates are fixed in such a
manner that angle differences of the adjacent bottom plates in an
eccentric direction are the same, and eccentric top portions of the
bottom plates are provided with the water passing components.
4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein an inclined
plate inclined downward from a front end to a rear end is arranged
inside each of the lifting ribs.
5. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the bottom
plates are funnel-shaped at mounting positions of the water passing
components for being mounted on the bottom plates.
6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the
water guiding grooves comprises: an annular water guiding groove
body; and bulging portions protruding from the water guiding groove
body to a radial outer side, wherein a connecting opening
communicated with the water guiding groove body is formed in each
of the bulging portions at a lagging side of a rotation direction
of the washing drum, and each of the bulging portions is connected
with the water passing components at a leading side of the rotation
direction.
7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing
machine comprises separation components for furling water storage
regions inside the balancers in a circumferential direction of the
washing drum.
8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing
machine comprises a plurality of water storage portions, wherein
the plurality of water storage portions are mounted at an end in
the axis direction of an outer surface of the washing drum, and are
communicated with the plurality of balancers respectively.
9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing
drum is a rotating drum with a substantially horizontal axis,
wherein each of the water guiding grooves forming the water
receiving unit is formed so that an inner circumferential surface
of the water guiding groove is opened and an outer circumferential
surface of the water guiding groove is bottomed, and the nozzle
unit is arranged at a position on a lower portion of the water
receiving ring unit so that water is supplied to the water guiding
grooves.
10. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the balancers
are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the washing
drum as a rotating drum at equal intervals, and each layer of the
water guiding grooves is formed so that an inner circumferential
surface of the water guiding groove is opened and outer
circumferential surface of the water guiding groove is bottomed,
wherein bottom plates of each layer of the water guiding grooves of
the water receiving ring unit are eccentric relative to an axis of
the washing drum, and adjacent bottom plates are fixed in such a
manner that angle differences of the adjacent bottom plates in an
eccentric direction are the same, and eccentric top portions of the
bottom plates are provided with the water passing components.
11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the bottom
plates are funnel-shaped at mounting positions of the water passing
components for being mounted on the bottom plates.
12. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the
water guiding grooves comprises: an annular water guiding groove
body; and bulging portions protruding from the water guiding groove
body to a radial outer side, wherein a connecting opening
communicated with the water guiding groove body is formed in each
of the bulging portions at a lagging side of a rotation direction
of the washing drum, and each of the bulging portions is connected
with the water passing components at a leading side of the rotation
direction.
13. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing
machine comprises separation components for furling water storage
regions inside the balancers in a circumferential direction of the
washing drum.
14. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing
machine comprises a plurality of water storage portions, wherein
the plurality of water storage portions are mounted at an end in
the axis direction of an outer surface of the washing drum, and are
communicated with the plurality of balancers respectively.
15. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing
drum is a rotating drum with a substantially horizontal axis,
wherein each of the water guiding grooves forming the water
receiving unit is formed so that an inner circumferential surface
of the water guiding groove is opened and an outer circumferential
surface of the water guiding groove is bottomed, and the nozzle
unit is arranged at a position on a lower portion of the water
receiving ring unit so that water is supplied to the water guiding
grooves.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a washing machine having a
dewatering function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Some washing machines placed in ordinary families,
coin-operated laundry rooms or the like have a washing-dewatering
function or a washing-dewatering-drying function.
[0003] A washing machine having a dewatering function generates
vibration and noise due to bias of washings in a rotating drum. In
addition, since eccentricity of the rotating drum during rotation
is large when the bias of the washings is large, and a large torque
is required during the rotation, failing to start a dewatering
operation. In order to overcome the problem, a user stops operation
of the washing machine and eliminates the bias of the washings by a
manual operation.
[0004] In order to eliminate such a cumbersome operation, a
following washing machine is proposed. When it is determined by the
washing machine that the bias of the washings, i.e., a magnitude of
imbalance, is greater than a specified value, the rotating drum
decelerates in response to an output time sequence of a position
detection unit until a rotating speed at which a centrifugal force
is smaller than a gravity, so as to eliminate the bias of the
washings (with reference to patent literature 1).
[0005] In addition, another washing machine is also proposed. In
the washing machine, acceleration sensors arranged on a front
portion and a rear portion of the rotating drum are configured to
calculate a difference between vibration quantities detected, so as
to detect an imbalance state that the washings are biased to the
front portion of the rotating drum, thereby preventing imbalance
that the washings are biased to the front portion of the rotating
drum during dewatering (with reference to patent literature 2).
EXISTING TECHNICAL LITERATURES
Patent Literatures
[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication
No. 9-290089
[0007] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication
No. 2009-82558
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved
[0008] In the above patent literature 1, a centrifugal force is
reduced gradually by decelerating rotation of the rotating drum so
that washings stacked together fall by gravity. However, the
washings tangled with each other may fall by keeping a tangled
state in the existing art, so the washings cannot be unfastened.
When the rotating drum is rotated in such a state, since the
imbalance is not eliminated, the imbalance will occur again and the
rotating drum will decelerate repeatedly.
[0009] On the other hand, in the above patent literature 2, a
difference between a vibration value detected by a vibration
detection unit at a front portion and a vibration value detected by
a detection unit at a rear portion is calculated when the drum
rotates. Then, rotation of the rotating drum is decelerated or
stopped when the difference between the vibration values is greater
than a preset threshold value.
[0010] However, even through such existing art, the washings
tangled with each other still cannot be unfastened and remain in
the rotating drum, so the existing part does not a fundamental
method to eliminate the imbalance.
[0011] Further, in the above patent literatures 1 and 2, the
rotation of the rotating drum is decelerated or stopped, and
electric power is required when a dewatering operation is repeated
every time, causing a problem of increasing power consumption.
[0012] It should be noted that these problems not only occur in a
drum type washing machine having the rotating drum (a washing
drum), but also may occur in a vertical washing machine.
[0013] The present disclosure aims to solve such problems in the
existing art. The present disclosure can provide a washing machine
capable of reliably eliminating the imbalance of the washing drum
during the dewatering operation, reducing generation of vibration
and noise caused by eccentricity of the washing drum and
efficiently dewatering the washings without decelerating or
stopping the rotation of the washing drum even if the bias of the
washings exists in the washing drum.
Solutions for Solving Problems
[0014] The washing machine of the present disclosure includes: a
washing drum; a plurality of hollow balancers arranged on an inner
circumferential surface of the washing drum along an axis direction
of the washing drum; a water receiving ring unit, where the water
receiving ring unit is formed by stacking multiple layers of
annular water guiding grooves, and fixed to an end in the axis
direction of an outer surface of the washing drum, the annular
water guiding grooves correspond to the balancers respectively;
water passing components for connecting a portion of the water
guiding grooves with the balancers corresponding to the water
guiding grooves; and a nozzle unit for separately injecting
adjustment water into the water guiding grooves.
[0015] Particularly, according to the present disclosure, the
balancers are lifting ribs for lifting washings. In addition,
according to the present disclosure, the balancers are arranged on
the inner circumferential surface of the washing drum, i.e., a
rotating drum, at equal intervals. Each of the water guiding
grooves is formed so that an inner circumferential surface of the
water guiding groove is opened and an outer circumferential surface
of the water guiding groove is bottomed. Bottom plates of each
layer of the water guiding grooves of the water receiving ring unit
are eccentric relative to an axis of the washing drum, and adjacent
bottom plates are fixed in such a manner that angle differences of
the adjacent bottom plates in an eccentric direction are the same.
Eccentric top portions of the bottom plates are provided with the
water passing components
[0016] In addition, according to the present disclosure, an
inclined plate inclined downward from a front end to a rear end is
arranged inside each of the lifting ribs.
[0017] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the bottom
plates are funnel-shaped at mounting positions of the water passing
components for being mounted on the bottom plates.
[0018] In addition, according to the present disclosure, each of
the water guiding grooves includes: an annular water guiding groove
body; and bulging portions protruding from the water guiding groove
body to a radial outer side. A connecting opening communicated with
the water guiding groove body is formed in each of the bulging
portions at a lagging side of a rotation direction of the washing
drum, and each of the bulging portions is connected with the water
passing components at a leading side of the rotation direction.
[0019] In addition, according to the present disclosure, separation
components for furling water storage regions inside the balancers
in a circumferential direction of the washing drum are
arranged.
[0020] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the
washing machine has water storage portions which are mounted at an
end in the axis direction of the outer surface of the washing drum
and are communicated with any one of the plurality of
balancers.
[0021] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the
washing drum is the rotating drum with a substantially horizontal
axis. Each of the water guiding grooves forming the water receiving
unit is formed so that an inner circumferential surface of the
water guiding groove is opened and an outer circumferential surface
of the water guiding groove is bottomed. The nozzle unit is
arranged at a position on a lower portion of the water receiving
ring unit so that water is supplied to the water guiding
grooves.
Effects of the Disclosure
[0022] Through the present disclosure, since the washing machine
eliminates the imbalance generated by the bias of the washings by
supplying the injected adjustment water of the selected water
guiding grooves of the water receiving ring unit integrally
rotating with the washing drum to the balancers through the water
passing components, the generation of vibration and noise in a
state of continuing to perform a normal dewatering operation can be
prevented without decelerating or stopping the rotation of the
washing drum halfway.
[0023] Since the washing machine of the present disclosure adopts
the solution that the balancers are used as the lifting ribs, two
functions of adjusting balance of the washing drum and lifting the
washings can be acquired.
[0024] Since the washing machine of the present disclosure adopts
the solution that the bottom plates of each layer of water guiding
grooves of the water receiving ring unit are eccentric relative to
the axis of the rotating drum, the water receiving ring unit can
generate a centrifugal force toward a top direction of the
eccentricity during rotation to efficiently supply the adjustment
water injected into the water guiding grooves to the balancers.
[0025] Since the inclined plates inclined from the front ends to
the rear ends are arranged inside the lifting ribs, the washing
machine of the present disclosure can efficiently discharge the
adjustment water.
[0026] Since the mounting portions of the water passing components
of the bottom plates of the water guiding grooves of the water
receiving ring unit are formed into a funnel shape, the washing
machine of the present disclosure can improve retention of the
adjustment water injected into the water guiding grooves and
efficiently supply the adjustment water to the balancers.
[0027] Since the water guiding grooves of the washing machine of
the present disclosure have the water guiding groove body and the
bulging portions, the adjustment water in the water guiding groove
body can smoothly flow into the bulging portions through the
connection openings; and the adjustment water is efficiently
supplied from the bulging portions to the balancers through the
water passing components.
[0028] Since the washing machine of the present disclosure is
provided with the separation components, the adjustment water can
be concentrated in a narrow range in the rotation direction of the
washing drum in the balancers; and the imbalance generated by the
bias of the washings can be eliminated by less adjustment water
within short time.
[0029] Since the washing machine of the present disclosure has the
water storage portions, more adjustment water can be supplied to
the vicinity of the washing drum; and a greater imbalance caused by
the bias of the washings can be eliminated stably.
[0030] Since the nozzle unit is configured at the position capable
of supplying water to the water guiding grooves on the lower
portion of the water receiving ring unit, the drum type washing
machine of the present disclosure can gently injecting the
adjustment water into the water guiding grooves from the nozzle
unit and can inhibit water splashing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an appearance of a
washing machine 1 according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an internal
structure of the washing machine 1 of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view, as viewed from the front,
illustrating a rotating drum 5 adopted by a washing machine 1 of
the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, as viewed from the rear,
illustrating the rotating drum 5 adopted by the washing machine 1
of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the rotating drum 5
adopted by the washing machine 1 of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a lifting rib 6
arranged in the rotating drum 5 of the washing machine 1 of the
present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the lifting rib 6
arranged in the rotating drum 5 of the washing machine 1 of the
present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a water receiving
ring unit 18 arranged in the rotating drum 5 of the washing machine
1 of the present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of the
water receiving ring unit 18 in FIG. 8;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a structure of the water
receiving ring unit 18 in FIG. 8;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an assembled state of the
water receiving ring unit 18 in FIG. 8;
[0042] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state of injecting
adjustment water into a nozzle unit 25 of the water receiving ring
unit 18;
[0043] FIG. 13 is a block view illustrating an electrical system of
the washing machine 1 of the present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an imbalance state of the
rotating drum 5;
[0045] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an imbalance state of the
rotating drum 5;
[0046] FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a control flow of
dewatering operation of the washing machine 1 of the present
disclosure;
[0047] FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating an internal
structure of a modified embodiment according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0048] FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating a modified
embodiment of the water receiving ring unit 18 according to the
first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0049] FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of
the water receiving ring unit 18 shown in FIG. 18;
[0050] FIG. 20 is a sectional view illustrating a modified
embodiment of lifting ribs according to the first embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 21 is a local perspective view illustrating another
modified embodiment of a water receiving ring unit according to the
first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0052] FIG. 22 is a perspective view, as viewed from the rear,
illustrating a rotating drum 5 provided in a washing machine 50
according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0053] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a water
receiving ring unit 69 shown in FIG. 22;
[0054] FIG. 24 is a sectional perspective view illustrating a water
guiding groove 68 forming the water receiving ring unit 69 shown in
FIG. 22, cut at sectional positions including a bulging portion
68b;
[0055] FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view
illustrating the washing machine 50 cut near the nozzle unit
25;
[0056] FIG. 26 is a view illustrating a lifting rib 6 arranged in
the rotating drum 5 of the washing machine 50;
[0057] FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating a control flow of
dewatering operation of the washing machine 50 according to the
second embodiment;
[0058] FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating a control flow of
dewatering operation of the washing machine 50 according to the
second embodiment;
[0059] FIG. 29 is a view illustrating a control flow of dewatering
operation of the same washing machine 50; and
[0060] FIG. 30 is a view illustrating a modified embodiment of the
washing machine 50 of the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The First Embodiment
[0061] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are
described in detail with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a front
view illustrating an appearance of a washing machine 1 according to
a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic
view illustrating an internal structure of the washing machine 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rotating drum 5 as
viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating
the rotating drum 5 as viewed from the rear. FIG. 5 is a side view
illustrating the rotating drum 5.
[0062] The washing machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a
horizontal drum type washing machine including a main body 2, an
outer drum 3 wrapped in the main body 2, a door body 4 mounted on
the main body 2, and a rotating drum 5 wrapped in the outer drum 3.
An opening 2a is formed on a front surface of the main body 2 to
take out/put in the washings. The door body 4 is arranged on the
opening 2a and can be opened or closed freely, so as to maintain
the opening in a closed state or an opened state.
[0063] The outer drum 3 shown in FIG. 2 is formed in a
substantially bottomed cylinder shape. Specifically, the outer drum
3 includes: a disk-shaped bottom 3b; a cylindrical side wall 3c
connected with an outer edge of the bottom 3b; an annular throttle
portion 3d connected with the side wall 3c; and a cylindrical
opening wall 3e connected with the throttle portion 3d and forming
an opening 3a opposite to the opening 2a of the main body 2. The
outer drum 3 has an axis 51 extending in a substantially horizontal
direction. The outer drum 3 is arranged so that the opening 3a is
opposite to the opening 2a of the main body 2.
[0064] The rotating drum 5 is arranged in an inner space of the
outer drum 3. The rotating drum 5 is formed to have a substantially
bottomed cylinder shape (with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5).
Specifically, the rotating drum 5 includes: a disk-shaped bottom
5c; a cylindrical side wall 5d connected with an outer edge of the
bottom 5c; an annular throttle portion 5e connected with the side
wall 5d; and a cylindrical opening wall 5f forming an opening 5a
connected with the throttle portion 5e. An axis center of the
rotating drum 5 is consistent with the axis 51 of the outer drum 3.
A plurality of through holes 5b penetrating through the entire side
wall 5d are formed in the side wall 5d of the rotating drum 5.
[0065] The door body 4 is arranged on the opening 2a on the front
surface of the main body 2, and can be opened or closed freely. As
shown in FIG. 2, the door body 4 closes the opening 2a of the main
body 2 so that a convex portion 4a on a back surface of the door
body 4 enters the opening 3a of the outer drum 3 and the opening 5a
of the rotating drum 5 to prevent the washings in the rotating drum
5 from flying out.
[0066] The washing machine 1 further includes a driving portion D
and a water receiving ring unit 18. The driving portion D includes
a bearing 7, a main shaft 8, a belt pulley 9, a drum motor 10 and a
transmission belt 11 which are fixed to the bottom 3b of the outer
drum 3. The bearing 7 is arranged at the center of the bottom 5c of
the rotating drum 5. One end of the main shaft 8 is fixed to the
bottom 5c of the rotating drum 5, and the other end is fixed to the
belt pulley 9. The main shaft 8 is pivotally supported by the
bearing 7 and is a rotatable. An axis center of the main shaft 8 is
consistent with the axis S1.
[0067] The drum motor 10 has an output shaft 10a. The transmission
belt 11 is erected between the belt pulley 9 and the output shaft
10a. A torque of the drum motor 10 is transmitted to the belt
pulley 9 and the main shaft 8 by the transmission belt 11, so as to
rotate the rotating drum 5.
[0068] In addition, an acceleration sensor 12 is arranged on the
outer drum 3 at positions corresponding to the top end of the
rotating drum 5, and is configured to detect accelerations in a
horizontal direction and a vertical direction. On the other hand, a
proximity switch 14 is provided to detect a sensor tag 13 arranged
on the belt pulley 9. In addition, the outer drum 3 is connected to
a drain pipe 15 for discharging retained dewatering liquid W to the
outside of the main body 2. The dewatering liquid W can be
discharged to the outside of the main body 2 by opening and closing
an electromagnetic valve 16.
[0069] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a lifting rib 6
arranged in the rotating drum 5 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a
sectional view illustrating the lifting rib 6 arranged in the
rotating drum 5 shown in FIG. 3.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, the lifting rib 6 includes: a lifting
rib body 6d; a tubular rod 6a connected with any one of water
passing components 24a, 24b and 24c shown in FIG. 4 for supplying
adjustment water described later; and a tubular rod 6b for
discharging the adjustment water retained in the lifting rib 6. In
addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of such lifting ribs 6
(three in the present embodiment) are arranged in the rotating drum
5 in a manner of extending parallel to a direction of the axis S1
(with reference to FIG. 2). Each lifting rib body 6d is formed as a
hollow body triangularly protruding from the side wall 5d of the
rotating drum 5 to the axis S1, and configured to lift the washings
while being rotationally driven by the rotating drum 5. The
plurality of lifting ribs 6 are arranged in a circumferential
direction of the rotating drum 5 at equal intervals. In the present
embodiment, the plurality of lifting ribs 6 are arranged in the
circumferential direction of the rotating drum 5 at intervals of
120.degree..
[0071] Due to such a structure, the plurality of lifting ribs 6 can
change a weight of the rotating drum 5 by the adjustment water at
mounting positions of the lifting ribs 6, and can perform functions
of a balancer when the bias of the washings occurs during
dewatering described later. In addition, in machine types without
the lifting ribs 6, a plurality of elongated hollow bodies can be
arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the rotating drum
5 in the direction of the axis Si as the above structure. It should
be noted that the tubular rod 6b is arranged on the rear portion at
the top side of the lifting rib 6. Thus, the adjustment water
retained in the lifting rib 6 can be discharged to the outside of
the rotating drum 5.
[0072] Next, a structure of the water receiving ring unit 18 for
supplying the adjustment water to the lifting ribs 6 is described.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the water receiving ring
unit 18 arranged in the rotating drum 5. FIG. 9 is a perspective
view illustrating the assembly of the water receiving ring unit 18
in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a structure of the water
receiving ring unit 18 in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an
assembled state of the water receiving ring unit 18 in FIG. 8.
[0073] The water receiving ring unit 18 is fixed to the back
surface of the rotating drum 5 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The
water receiving ring unit 18 shown in FIG. 8 is configured to have
an annular shape, and is formed by stacking three layers
(corresponding to the number of the lifting ribs 6 arranged in the
rotating drum 5) of water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c with an
opened inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential
surface closed by a bottom plate along the direction of the axis Si
(with reference to FIG. 2) of the rotating drum 5.
[0074] The water receiving ring unit 18 is formed by assembling
plates shown in FIG. 9. The water receiving ring unit 18 is
integrated in a state of clamping circular bottom plates 21 with
the same shape between circular ring plates 20 with the same shape.
Thus, three layers of water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c which
have the bottom plates 21 as bottom surfaces and have the ring
plates 20 as side walls are formed. In this case, a position of
each of the bottom plates 21 in FIG. 10 is represented by a dot
dash line, a dotted line and a double-dot line. Centers of the
bottom plates 21 are eccentric from centers RC of the ring plates
20 for distance (d), and form eccentric centers EC.
[0075] The ring plates 20 and the bottom plates 21 are assembled as
shown by the dot dash lines, the dotted lines and the double-dot
lines shown in FIG. 11 in such a manner that an angle difference in
an eccentric direction of the adjacent bottom plates 21 is
120.degree., and then tubular rods 22a, 22b and 22c connected with
the water passing components 24a, 24b and 24c (with reference to
FIG. 4) are fixed on eccentric top portions of the bottom plates 21
located on an outer end of the ring plates 20. The water receiving
ring unit 18 adopting such a structure is fixed so that the centers
RC of the ring plates 20 are consistent with the axis S1 (with
reference to FIG. 2) of the rotating drum 5. Thus, each of the
bottom plates 21 of each of the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and
19c is eccentrically configured about the axis S1 of the rotating
drum 5 at the angle difference of 120.degree..
[0076] The tubular rods 22a, 22b and 22c of the water receiving
ring unit 18 adopting the above structure are connected with one
end of the water passing components 24a, 24b and 24c as shown in
FIG. 4 respectively, and the other ends of the water passing
components 24a, 24b and 24c are connected to the tubular rods 6a of
the lifting ribs 6 respectively. It should be noted that the
lifting ribs 6 are mounted to the water passing components 24a, 24b
and 24c at bottom sides of the lifting ribs 6. Thus, the retention
of the adjustment water supplied to the lifting ribs 6 in a
centrifugal direction can be improved.
[0077] With such a structure, when the adjustment water is injected
into the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c by the solution
described later, if the rotation of the water receiving ring unit
18 exceeds a critical rotating speed at which the centrifugal force
is generated, the adjustment water injected into the water guiding
grooves 19a, 19b and 19c flows down to the tubular rods 22a, 22b
and 22c while being subjected to a load in the centrifugal
direction.
[0078] The water receiving ring unit 18 is provided with three
water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c and three lifting ribs 6
corresponding thereto to form the balancers. Moreover, angles
between the eccentric top portions of the bottom plates 21 of the
water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c having the axis Si of the
rotating drum 5 as the center and angles between the lifting ribs 6
are 120.degree.. It should be noted that the bottom plates 21 of
the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c are designed in a
circular shape as a preferred shape of the present embodiment, but
can also be designed in an oblong shape including ellipse or a
polygonal shape as long as the same function can be obtained.
[0079] The adjustment water injected into the water guiding grooves
19a, 19b and 19c of the water receiving ring unit 18 adopting the
above structure flows to the eccentric top portions by the
centrifugal force, and is supplied from the tubular rods 22a, 22b
and 22c to the lifting ribs 6 through the water passing components
24a, 24b and 24c. The supplied adjustment water is retained on wall
surfaces in a centrifugal direction in the lifting ribs 6. The
adjustment water is supplied to the lifting ribs 6 in this way so
as to increase the weight of the lifting ribs 6. Thus, the
imbalance of the rotating drum 5 can be eliminated without
decelerating or stopping the rotation of the washing drum 5 as long
as the adjustment water is supplied to the lifting ribs 6 so as to
disperse agglomerates of the washings described later, thereby
preventing generation of vibration and noise in a state of
continuing to perform a normal dewatering operation. In addition,
thus, the rotating speed of the rotating drum 5 can be increased to
start the dewatering operation.
[0080] As the dewatering operation is ended, the rotating speed of
the rotating drum 5 is reduced; the centrifugal force in the
lifting ribs 6 is also attenuated gradually; and the adjustment
water becomes unaffected to the centrifugal force, moves in the
lifting ribs 6 and is discharged from the tubular rod 6b by the
gravity.
[0081] Next, a nozzle unit 25 for injecting the adjustment water
into the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c is described. FIG.
12 is a view illustrating the nozzle unit 25 for injecting the
adjustment water into the water receiving ring unit 18. The nozzle
unit 25 includes three nozzles 25a, 25b and 25c configured toward
the bottom plates 21 of the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c
as shown in FIG. 12. The nozzles 25a, 25b and 25c are configured to
be inclined toward the rotating direction of the water receiving
ring unit 18. Thus, when the adjustment water is injected from the
nozzles 25a, 25b and 25c, the adjustment water is injected along
curved surfaces of the bottom plates 21 of the water guiding
grooves 19a, 19b and 19c, thus the adjustment water will not
scatter in the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c and can be
injected successfully.
[0082] The adjustment water is tap water supplied to the nozzles
25a, 25b and 25c through electromagnetic valves 26a, 26b and 26c
shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that the electromagnetic valves
26a, 26b and 26c can also be reversing electromagnetic valves.
[0083] Next, operation control of the washing machine 1 of the
present disclosure is described. FIG. 13 is a block view
illustrating an electrical system of the washing machine 1 of the
present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an imbalance
state of the rotating drum 5. FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the
imbalance state of the rotating drum 5. A controller 30 includes a
central processing unit (CPU) 31 for controlling the entire system.
The central processing unit 31 is connected with a memory 32 which
stores the following setting values required for rotation control
of the rotating drum 5: a low-speed rotation setting value (N1)
before the start of the dewatering operation; a high-speed rotation
setting value (N2) after the start of the dewatering operation; an
imbalance quantity setting value (m1) during low-speed dewatering
operation and an imbalance quantity setting value (m2) during
high-speed dewatering operation.
[0084] The central processing unit 31 is configured to output a
control signal to a rotating speed controller 33, and further
output the control signal to a motor controller (motor control
circuit) 34 to perform the rotation control of a drum motor 10. It
should be noted that the rotating speed controller 33 inputs a
signal indicating the rotating speed of the drum motor 10 from the
motor controller 34 in real time as a control element. An imbalance
quantity detector 35 and an imbalance position detector 36 are
connected with the acceleration sensor 12. The imbalance position
detector 36 is connected with the proximity switch 14.
[0085] Thus, when the sensor tag 13 is detected by the proximity
switch 14 (with reference to FIG. 2), the imbalance quantity (M) is
calculated by the imbalance quantity detector 35 according to
magnitudes of the acceleration in the horizontal direction and the
vertical direction transmitted from the acceleration sensor 12, and
the imbalance quantity is output to an imbalance quantity
determination portion 37. On the other hand, the imbalance position
detector 36 is configured to calculate an angle of an imbalance
direction according to the signal indicating a position of the
sensor tag 13 input from the proximity switch 14, and output a
signal of the imbalance position to a water injection controller
38.
[0086] When the signals indicating the imbalance quantity and the
imbalance position transmitted from the imbalance quantity
determination portion 37 and the imbalance position detector 36 are
input, the water injection controller 38 determines whether to
supply water to a certain lifting rib 6 in the rotating drum 5
according to a prestored control program and the amount of supplied
water. Then, the selected electromagnetic valves 26a, 26b and 26c
are opened to inject the adjustment water. When imbalance is
generated in the rotating drum 5, injection of the adjustment water
from the selected nozzles 25a, 25b and 25c to the water guiding
grooves 19a, 19b and 19c of the water receiving ring unit 18 is
started based on the calculation of the imbalance quantity. When
the imbalance is eliminated by the lifting ribs 6, the injection of
the adjustment water is stopped. Thus, the generation of vibration
and noise can be prevented in a state of continuing to perform the
dewatering operation without decelerating the rotation of the
rotating drum 5.
[0087] It should be noted that the determination regarding the
lifting ribs 6 made by the water injection controller 38 is shown
in for example FIG. 14. When washing agglomerates LD as the
imbalance elements are located between the lifting rib 6 at
position B and the lifting rib 6 at position C of the rotating drum
5, the adjustment water is supplied to the lifting rib at position
A. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, when the washing agglomerates
LD are located near the lifting rib 6 at position A, the adjustment
water is supplied to the lifting ribs 6 at positions B and C.
[0088] Next, a control flow of the dewatering operation of the
washing machine 1 of the present disclosure is described below with
reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is the flow
chart illustrating the control flow of the dewatering operation of
the washing machine 1 of the present disclosure.
[0089] <Step S1>
[0090] In step S1, the CPU 31 starts a dewatering process when
receiving an input signal from a dewatering button (not shown) or
receiving a signal for starting the dewatering process during
washing mode operation. The process proceeds to a step S2.
[0091] <Step S2>
[0092] In step S2, the CPU 31 notifies the rotating speed
controller 33 of a signal for starting a low-speed rotation (N1).
The rotating speed controller 33 transmits the control signal to
the motor controller 34 based on the notification. The motor
controller 34 is energized based on the control signal to drive the
drum motor 10. Thus, the rotating drum 5 is rotationally driven at
a preset rotating speed (100 rpm-400 rpm in the present
embodiment). The process proceeds to step S3.
[0093] <Step S3>
[0094] In step S3, the CPU 31 reads from the imbalance position
detector 36, and determines whether a signal indicating that the
sensor tag 13 has been detected is received from the proximity
switch 14 by the imbalance position detector 36. The process
proceeds to step S4 when the sensor tag 13 has been detected. Step
S3 is repeated when the sensor tag 13 is not detected.
[0095] <Step S4>
[0096] In step S4, the CPU 31 reads from the imbalance quantity
detector 35 to acquire the acceleration in the horizontal direction
and the vertical direction given by the acceleration sensor 12, and
performs preset calculation to calculate the imbalance quantity M,
and detects an imbalance position by the imbalance position
detector 36. The process proceeds to step S5.
[0097] <Step 5>
[0098] In step S5, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity M
with an imbalance quantity setting value (m1) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is greater than m1. When M is greater
than m1, the process proceeds to step S6. When M is not greater
than m1, the process proceeds to step S7. The imbalance quantity
setting value (m1) is a threshold value of a preset imbalance
quantity at which the high-speed rotation of the rotating drum 5
may be started. In step S5, M being not greater than m1 means that
the imbalance quantity M is a value at which the high-speed
rotation of the rotating drum 5 may be started. In other words, M
being not greater than m1 means that the imbalance of the rotating
drum 5 is improved or does not exist from the beginning.
[0099] <Step S6>
[0100] In step S6, the CPU 31 transmits a water injection starting
signal to the water injection controller 38, and starts to inject
the adjustment water into the lifting ribs 6. In addition, when an
action of step 6 is a second cycle, the electromagnetic valves 26a
to 26c opened in the initial step S6 kept opened.
[0101] Specifically, when a detection result of the imbalance
position is as shown in FIG. 14 and the washing agglomerates LD are
present between the lifting ribs 6, the CPU 31 opens one of the
electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c corresponding to the lifting rib
6 located at a position opposite to the washing agglomerates LD,
and starts to inject water into the lifting rib 6 located at the
position opposite to the washing agglomerates LD.
[0102] In addition, when the detection result of the imbalance
position is as shown in FIG. 15 and the washing agglomerates LD are
present in the vicinity of one lifting rib 6, the CPU 31 opens the
electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c corresponding to the lifting ribs
6 except for the lifting rib 6, and starts to inject water into the
lifting ribs 6 except for the lifting rib 6 located in the vicinity
of the washing agglomerates LD. Then, the process returns to step
S3.
[0103] <Step S7>
[0104] In step S7, the CPU notifies the water injection controller
38 of an instruction for closing the electromagnetic valves 26a to
26c, and stops supplying the adjustment water to the lifting ribs.
Then, the process proceeds to step S8. It should be noted that the
electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c are in a closed state when step
S6 is not carried out, so the process directly proceeds to step S8
without any operation.
[0105] <Step S8>
[0106] In step S8, the CPU 31 controls the rotating drum 5 to start
the high-speed rotation. Specifically, the CPU 31 notifies the
rotating speed controller 33 of a signal for starting the
high-speed rotation. The rotating speed controller 33 transmits a
control signal to the motor controller 34 based on the
notification. The motor controller 34 is energized based on the
control signal to drive the drum motor 10. Thus, the rotating drum
5 is rotationally driven at a preset high speed (500 rpm-800 rpm in
the present embodiment). The process proceeds to step S9.
[0107] <Step S9>
[0108] In step S9, the CPU 31 reads from the imbalance position
detector 36, and determines whether the sensor tag 13 has been
detected by the proximity switch 14. When it is determined that the
sensor tag 13 has been detected by the proximity switch 14, the
process proceeds to step S10. When it is determined that the sensor
tag 13 has not been detected by the proximity switch 14, step S9 is
repeated.
[0109] <Step S10>
[0110] In step S10, the CPU 31 reads from the imbalance quantity
detector 35 to acquire the acceleration in the horizontal direction
and the vertical direction given by the acceleration sensors 12,
performs the preset calculation to calculate the imbalance quantity
M, and detects the imbalance position by the imbalance position
detector 36. The process proceeds to step S11.
[0111] <Step S11>
[0112] In step S11, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity M
with the imbalance quantity setting value (m2) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is greater than m2. When M is greater
than m2, the process proceeds to step S12. When M is not greater
than m2, the process proceeds to step S13.
[0113] The imbalance quantity setting value (m2) is a threshold
value of a preset imbalance quantity at which no problem occurs
even if the rotating speed of the rotating drum 5 is increased to a
preset high rotating speed. In step S11, M being not greater than
m2 means that the imbalance quantity M is a value at which the
rotating drum 5 can rotate at a high speed. In other words, M being
not greater than m2 means that a degree of the imbalance of the
rotating drum 5 is improved so that the rotating drum 5 can rotate
at the high speed, or the imbalance capable of interfering with a
degree of the high-speed rotation does not exist from the
beginning.
[0114] <Step S12>
[0115] In step S12, the CPU 31 transmits a water injection start
signal to the water injection controller 38, so as to inject the
adjustment water into the lifting rib 6. Further, in the case where
the operation of step 12 is the second cycle, the electromagnetic
valves 26a to 26c opened in the initial step 12 kept opened.
[0116] Specifically, when the detection result of the imbalance
position in step S10 is as shown in FIG. 14 and the washing
agglomerate LD is present between the lifting ribs 6, the CPU 31
opens one of the electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c corresponding to
the lifting rib 6 at the position opposite to the washing
agglomerates LD, and water is injected into the lifting rib 6
located at the position opposite to the washing agglomerates
LD.
[0117] In addition, when the detection result of the imbalance
position in step S10 is as shown in FIG. 15 and the washing
agglomerate LD is present near one of the lifting ribs 6, the CPU
31 opens the electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c corresponding to
another lifting rib 6 except for this lifting rib 6, and water is
injected into the another lifting rib 6 except for the lifting rib
6 located near the washing agglomerate LD. Then, the process
returns to step S9.
[0118] <Step S13>
[0119] In step S13, the CPU 31 notifies the water injection
controller 38 of the instruction for closing the electromagnetic
valves 26a to 26c, and stops supplying the adjustment water to the
lifting ribs 6. Then, the process proceeds to step S14. It should
be noted that the electromagnetic valves 26a to 26c are in the
closed state when step S12 is not carried out, so the process
directly proceeds to step S8 without any operation.
[0120] <Step S14>
[0121] In step S14, the CPU 31 reads from a timing portion (not
shown) to determine whether the elapsed time from which the
rotating drum 5 reaches the preset high rotating speed exceeds a
set time preset for the dewatering operation. When the elapsed time
exceeds the set time for the dewatering operation, the process
proceeds to step S15. When the elapsed time does not exceed the set
time for the dewatering operation, the process returns to step
S9.
[0122] <Step 15>
[0123] In step 15, the rotating speed controller is notified of a
signal for ending the dewatering operation. The rotational driving
of the drum motor 10 is stopped so as to end the dewatering
operation.
[0124] During the ending of the dewatering operation, the supplied
adjustment water in the lifting ribs 6 can be completely discharged
to the outside with slow rotation until the rotation of the
rotating drum 5 is stopped, and is returned to the initial state.
The process can be controlled repeatedly and correctly.
[0125] By the above flow of the dewatering operation, since a
solution of detecting the imbalance state of the rotating drum 5 at
two stages including the low-speed rotation and the high-speed
rotation and trying to eliminate the imbalance state is adopted,
the washing machine 1 capable of preventing the generation of
vibration and noise in any process from the start of the dewatering
operation to the end can be designed.
[0126] The first embodiment of the present disclosure is described
above, but a structure of the first embodiment is not limited to
the above structure, and various modifications can be made. For
example, FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an internal structure of a
modified embodiment of the first embodiment of the present
disclosure. As shown in FIG. 17, the following solution can also be
adopted: a branch pipe 116 is separated from the drain pipe 15; and
dewatering liquid W retained at the bottom of the outer drum 3 is
recycled by a pump 17 to be reused as the adjustment water, so as
to improve economic benefits. Namely, the following structure can
also be adopted: the dewatering liquid W pressed and fed by the
pump 17 is used as the adjustment water, to be supplied to the
nozzles 25a, 25b and 25c through the electromagnetic valves 26a,
26b and 26c.
[0127] It should be noted that a structure that the water receiving
ring unit 18 is composed of three water guiding grooves 19a, 19b
and 19c and three balancers 6 are arranged correspondingly is
adopted in the above embodiment, but the present disclosure is not
limited thereto, and a structure having more than two balancers 6
and a corresponding amount of water guiding grooves can also be
adopted.
[0128] As described in detail above, the washing machine 1 of the
present disclosure can provide the adjustment water to the lifting
ribs 6 by the centrifugal force generated by the water receiving
ring unit 18 rotated together with the rotating drum 5, so as to
eliminate the imbalance of the rotating drum 5. Since the
generation of the centrifugal force of the water receiving ring
unit 18 is independent of a configuration state of the rotating
drum 5, the present disclosure not only is implemented in the
horizontal drum type washing machine of the present embodiment, but
also may be implemented in a vertical drum type washing machine and
an inclined drum type washing machine.
[0129] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a modified embodiment of the
water receiving ring unit 18. FIG. 19 is a perspective view
illustrating the assembly of the water receiving ring unit 18 in
FIG. 18.
[0130] The water receiving ring unit 18 adopts a water guiding
groove integrally formed a circular water guide ring 23 having a "
"-shaped cross section, to realize a structure equivalent to the
ring plates 20 and the bottom plates 21 in the first embodiment.
The water guide rings 23 formed in this way are stacked to form the
water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c, thereby forming a water
receiving ring unit 18A. The water guide rings 23 formed in this
way have the same shape. Therefore, similar to the first
embodiment, the water guiding grooves 19a, 19b and 19c are
eccentrically configured at the angle difference of 120.degree.
about the axis S1 of the rotating drum 5; and the tubular rods 22a,
22b and 22c are fixed on the eccentric top portions of the bottom
plates 21. The water receiving ring unit 18 is formed in this way,
so that the amount of eccentricity can be set freely, and a range
of the eccentricity is not limited by an amplitude of the ring
plates 20 like the first embodiment.
[0131] In addition, FIG. 20 is a sectional view illustrating
another example of the lifting rib 6 arranged in the rotating drum
5. An inclined plate 6c inclined downward from a front end to a
rear end is arranged in the lifting rib 6. As the dewatering
operation is ended, the rotating speed of the rotating drum 5 is
reduced; then, the centrifugal force in the lifting rib 6 is also
attenuated gradually; and the adjustment water becomes unaffected
to the centrifugal force, moves in the lifting rib 6 and is
discharged from the tubular rod 6b. At this time, the inclined
plate 6c is arranged inside the lifting rib 6 in advance to promote
discharge of the adjustment water particularly in a horizontal
drum, and discharge water efficiently without remaining the
adjustment water in the lifting rib 6.
[0132] FIG. 21 is a view illustrating a modified embodiment of the
water receiving ring unit 18. The bottom plates 21 are formed into
a funnel shape first as shown in FIG. 21 by mounting portions of
the tubular rods 22a, 22b and 22c, so as to improve retention of
the adjustment water.
The Second Embodiment
[0133] FIGS. 22-26 are views illustrating a washing machine 50 of
the second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is a
perspective view illustrating the rotating drum 5 provided in the
washing machine 50 of the present embodiment viewed from the back
surface. FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
water guiding groove 68. Hereinafter, structures different from
that of the first embodiment are described. Moreover, in FIGS.
22-26, the same reference numerals are given to the structures same
as those of the first embodiment.
[0134] In the present embodiment, a plurality of water guiding
grooves 68 constituting the water receiving ring unit 69 are not
eccentric with each other, and are configured into a concentric
circle shape. In addition, as shown in FIG. 22, each of the water
guiding grooves 68 has water guide bodies 68a and bulging portions
68b. The water guide bodies 68a are components which have an
annular shape, opened inner circumferential surfaces and
substantially " "-shaped cross sections. At positions near the
lifting ribs 6 corresponding to the water guiding grooves 68, a
plurality of (total three in the present embodiment) bulging
portions 68b are formed from bottoms of the water guide bodies 68a
in a circumferential direction at equal intervals in a protruding
manner. The bulging portions 68b are connected with the lifting
ribs 6 through cylindrical water passing components 74. The water
receiving ring unit 69 is configured to concentrically and
circularly fix a plurality of (three in the present embodiment)
water guiding grooves 68 and the rotating drum 5 at a bottom 5c of
the rotating drum 5 in an stacking state.
[0135] Such a water receiving ring unit 69 is formed by assembling
a plurality of plates as shown in FIG. 23. Examples of the
plurality of plates may include a cylindrical ring plate 71, a
plurality of (two in the present embodiment) circular plate-like
first side plates 70 having outer circumferences substantially same
as that of the ring plate 71 in length, a pair of substantially
circular plate-like second side plates 72 having side plate bodies
72b and protruding portions 72a, and bulging components 73 formed
by two ends of bent belt-like plates.
[0136] Openings 71b or notches 71a constituting connecting ports
described later are formed at a plurality of (three in the present
disclosure) positions in a circumferential direction of the ring
plate 71 at equal intervals. The openings 71b are formed at central
portions in an axis direction of the ring plates 71. The notches
71a are formed at two ends in the axis direction of the ring plates
71.
[0137] Each of the second side plates 72 includes: side plate
bodies 72b having an outer circumference and an inner circumference
substantially the same as those of the first side plates 70 in
length; and protruding portions 72a protruding to radial outer side
of the side plate bodies 72b. The protruding portions 72a are
formed at a plurality of (three in the present embodiment)
positions in the circumferential direction of the side plate bodies
72b in an approximately rectangular shape in which protruding ends
72a1 outline a gentle arc. In addition, an arc-shaped notch 72a2
constituting a water passing port 68b1 described later is formed at
one end side of the protruding end 72a1 of the protruding portion
72a of one of the pair of second side plates 72. The notch 72a2 is
connected with a water passing component 74.
[0138] These plates are integrated in such a manner that the
protruding portions 72a are overlapped with the openings 71b or the
notches 71a, the pair of second side plates 72 clamp the ring
plates 71 in which two first side plates 70 are embedded, and the
bulging components 73 are further mounted between the pair of
protruding portions 72a and 72a. Thus, the ring plates 71 are used
as bottom surfaces; the first side plates 70 and the second side
plates 72 or two first side plates 70 are used as bottom walls; and
three water guiding grooves 68 in which the bulging portions 68b
are formed by the protruding portions 72a and the bulging
components 73 are stacked, thereby forming the water receiving ring
unit 69.
[0139] FIG. 24 is a local sectional perspective view illustrating
the water guiding grooves 68 cut in cross section positions
including the bulging portions 68b. The bulging portions 68b of the
water guiding grooves 68, as shown in FIG. 24, have the water
passing ports 68b1 connected with the water passing components 74
shown in FIG. 22 on a leading side in a rotating direction X of the
rotating drum 5, and have connecting openings 68a1 communicated
with interiors of the water guide bodies 68a on a lagging side in
the rotating direction X of the rotating drum 5. The connecting
openings 68a1 are opened to a degree greater than the water passing
ports 68b1, and are opened at about two thirds of the bulging
portions 68b from one end of each of the bulging portions 68b to
the rotating direction X.
[0140] The adjustment water is injected into the water guiding
groove body 68a of such water guiding grooves 68 through the nozzle
unit 25 as required during dewatering process, but the injected
adjustment water may be rolled up more or less in the water guiding
groove body 68a rotating at a high speed, and most adjustment water
may be retained at lower portions of the water guiding groove body
68a. Moreover, when the bulging portions 68b are rotated to
positions of the lower portions constituting the water receiving
ring unit 69, the adjustment water flows down to the bulging
portions 68b through the connecting openings 68a1. Then, the
adjustment water is pushed to side walls 68b2 of the bulging
portions 68b located on the lagging side in the rotating direction
X, smoothly flows into the water passing ports 68b1 located on the
leading side in the rotating direction X through the centrifugal
force, and is supplied to the lifting ribs (bag body lifting ribs)
6 through the water through the water passing components 74 by
water pressure.
[0141] In this way, the water guiding grooves 68 have the annular
water guiding groove body 68a and the bulging portions 68b
protruding from the water guiding groove body 68a to a radial outer
side. The bulging portions 68 is provided with the openings 68a1
connected with the water guiding groove body 68a on the lagging
side in the rotating direction X of the rotating drum 5. The water
passing components 74 are connected to the leading side in the
rotating direction X. Therefore, the adjustment water can
efficiently flow into the water through components 74 and the
lifting ribs 6 from the bulging portions 68b by means of the
gravity and the centrifugal force, so as to eliminate the imbalance
(bias load) generated by the bias of the washings within a short
time.
[0142] FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view
illustrating a washing machine 50 cut near the nozzle unit 25. As
shown in FIG. 25, in the present embodiment, the nozzle unit 25
having the nozzles 25a to 25c is arranged at the lower portion of
the water receiving ring unit 69 (the lower portion of the rotating
drum 5). The adjustment water is injected into the water guiding
groove body 68a in the rotating direction X through the nozzles 25a
to 25c from above. Such a nozzle unit 25 is arranged at a position
on the lower portion of the water receiving ring unit 69 so that
water is supplied to the water guiding grooves 68. A water
supplying position is set at the lower portion of the rotating drum
5. Thus, the adjustment water can be gently injected into the water
guiding groove body 68a of the water guiding grooves 68 rotating at
the high speed by the nozzle unit 25, so that the water is hardly
splashed during injection.
[0143] FIG. 26 is a view illustrating the lifting ribs 6 arranged
in the rotating drum 5. Specifically, FIG. 26(a) is a longitudinal
sectional perspective view partially illustrating the vicinity of
the lifting ribs 6 of the washing machine 50; FIG. 26(b) is a
perspective view illustrating the lifting ribs 6; and FIG. 26(c) is
a sectional view illustrating the lifting ribs 6 cut in a direction
orthogonal to a long-side direction.
[0144] As shown in FIG. 26, in the present embodiment, separation
components (spacers) 56 for furling water storage regions T inside
the lifting ribs 6 in the rotating direction (circumferential
direction) of the rotating drum 5 are arranged. The separation
components 56 are box-like components opened toward the axis S1 of
the rotating drum 5, and have a length in the long-side direction
approximately equal to the length in the long-side direction of the
lifting ribs 6. In addition, a length W1 of the separation
components 56 in the rotating direction of the rotating drum 5 is
configured to be about half of a length W2 of the lifting ribs 6 in
the rotating direction of the rotating drum 5. In addition, in the
present embodiment, a water supply openings 6e inserted by the
water passing components 74 are formed in end surfaces in the
long-side direction of the lifting ribs 6 in the vicinity of
opening edges 56a of the separation components 56 as shown in FIG.
26(a).
[0145] The adjustment water flowing into such lifting ribs 6
through the water passing components 74 is stored in the separation
components 56 configured at central portions in the rotating
direction of the lifting ribs 6 until an inflow volume exceeds a
volume of the separation components 56. Thus, as shown by dotted
lines in FIG. 26(c), since the adjustment water is concentrated in
a narrow range in the rotating direction of the lifting ribs 6, as
shown by double-dot lines in FIG. 26, compared with a case of
supplying the adjustment water to the lifting ribs 6 without the
separation components 56, diffusion of the adjustment water in the
rotating direction of the rotating drum 5 can be inhibited.
Although the centrifugal force applied to the adjustment water
during dewatering is a composite force of centrifugal forces
respectively acting on the distributed water, the adjustment water
is also concentrated to a narrow region in the rotating direction
of the rotating drum 5, and the closer the directions of the
centrifugal forces are, the larger the synthesized vector is.
Therefore, the bias load of the washings can be eliminated
efficiently by less adjustment water. When a volume of the supplied
adjustment water exceeds the volume of the separation components
56, the adjustment water overflows from opening ends 56a of the
separation components 56 and is gradually accumulated from the
radial outer side of the rotating drum 5 to an inner side. Then,
when the rotating speed of the rotating drum 5 is reduced and the
centrifugal force is reduced, for example, to end the dewatering,
the adjustment water in the lifting ribs 6 located on an upper
portion of the rotating drum 5 flows to an axis S1 (with reference
to FIG. 2) side by the gravity and is discharged out of the lifting
ribs 6 through the water passing components 74.
[0146] Since the separation components 56 for furling the water
storage regions T inside the lifting ribs 6 in the circumferential
direction of the rotating drum 5 are configured in this way, the
adjustment water can be concentrated in the narrow range in the
rotating direction of the rotating drum 5 in the lifting ribs 6,
and the imbalance generated by the bias of the washings can be
eliminated by less adjustment water within the short time.
[0147] FIGS. 27 and 28 are flow charts illustrating control of the
washing machine 50 of the second embodiment. FIG. 29 is a view
illustrating a control flow of the dewatering operation of the
washing machine 50.
[0148] In the present embodiment, when the CPU 31 receives the
input signal from the dewatering button (not shown) or receives the
signal for starting the dewatering process during washing mode
operation, the process proceeds to step SP1, and the dewatering
process is started. It should be noted that, in the present
embodiment, the control of constituent elements in the controller
30 as recorded in the first embodiment is omitted.
[0149] <Step SP1>
[0150] In step SP1, the CPU 31 controls the rotating drum 5 to
accelerate after the rotating drum 5 reverses slowly.
[0151] <Step SP2>
[0152] In step SP2, the CPU 31 controls the rotating drum 5 to
rotate at a low speed based on the low-speed rotation setting value
(N1).
[0153] <Step SP3>
[0154] In step SP3, the CPU 31 controls to detect the imbalance
quantity (M) based on an acceleration value (an x component of the
acceleration sensor) given by the acceleration sensor 12.
[0155] <Step SP4>
[0156] In step SP4, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity (M)
with an imbalance quantity setting value (ma) stored in the memory
32 to determine whether M is less than ma. When it is determined
that M is less than ma, the process proceeds to step SP6. On the
other hand, when it is determined that M is not less than ma, the
process proceeds to step SP5. Herein, the imbalance quantity
setting value (ma) is a threshold value indicating that a bias
degree of the washings is too great to be eliminated even if the
adjustment water is supplied to the lifting ribs 6. Namely, the
case of proceeding to step SP5 means a case that the bias degree of
the washings is too great to be eliminated even if the adjustment
water is supplied to the lifting ribs 6.
[0157] <Step SP5>
[0158] In step SP5, the process returns to step SP1 after the
rotation of the rotating drum 5 is stopped by the CPU 31, and
repeats the steps SP1 to SP4.
[0159] <Step SP6>
[0160] In step SP6, the process proceeds to step SP7 when the CPU
31 determines that the elapsed time after starting the low-speed
rotation is greater than a set time preset for performing low-speed
rotating process.
[0161] <Step SP7>
[0162] In step SP7, the CPU 31 controls the rotating drum 5 to
rotate at the high speed based on the high-speed rotation setting
value (N2).
[0163] <Step SP8>
[0164] In step SP8, the CPU 31 controls to detect the imbalance
quantity (M) and the imbalance position (N) based on the
acceleration value given by the acceleration sensor 12.
[0165] <Step SP9>
[0166] In step SP9, the CPU 31 replaces an electromagnetic valve X,
a region Y and an electromagnetic valve Z shown in FIG. 29 with
values in a parameter table according to the imbalance position
(N). In FIG. 29, a cross section of the rotating drum 5 is divided
into six equal parts in the circumferential direction, and a
positional relationship relative to the lifting ribs 6 is
schematically shown. The lifting rib 6 marked as 25a indicates the
lifting rib 6 which is supplied with the adjustment water through
the nozzle 25a shown in FIG. 25. Similarly, the lifting rib 6
marked as 25b indicates the lifting rib 6 which is supplied with
the adjustment water through the nozzle 25b shown in FIG. 25; and
the lifting rib 6 marked as 25c indicates the lifting rib 6 which
is supplied with the adjustment water through the nozzle 25c shown
in FIG. 25.
[0167] <Step SP10>
[0168] In step SP10, the CPU 31 controls the electromagnetic valve
X recorded in the parameter table of FIG. 29 to be opened. For
example, when the imbalance position (N) is in a region I, the
electromagnetic valve X is an electromagnetic valve 25c
corresponding to the lifting rib 6 arranged opposite to the region
I. Thus, the adjustment water is supplied to the lifting rib 6
corresponding to the electromagnetic valve X, a capacity and a
position of the bias load are changed.
[0169] <Step SP11>
[0170] In step SP11 shown in FIG. 28, the CPU 31 calculates the
imbalance quantity (M) and the imbalance position (N) again based
on the acceleration value given by the acceleration sensor 12.
[0171] <Step SP12>
[0172] In step SP12, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity (M)
with the imbalance quantity setting value (ma) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is less than ma. When it is determined
that M is less than ma, the process proceeds to step SP13. On the
other hand, when it is determined that M is not less than ma, the
process proceeds to step SP21 described later. Namely, when it is
determined that the bias degree of the washings is too great to be
eliminated even if the adjustment water is supplied to the lifting
ribs 6, the process proceeds to step SP21.
[0173] <Step SP13>
[0174] In step SP13, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity (M)
with an imbalance quantity setting value (mb) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is less than mb. When it is determined
that M is less than mb, the process proceeds to step SP23 described
later. On the other hand, when it is determined that M is not less
than mb, the process proceeds to step SP14 described later. Herein,
the imbalance quantity setting value (mb) is less than the
imbalance quantity setting value (ma), and is a threshold value
indicating that the bias degree of the washings is too small to
produce noise even if the adjustment water is not supplied to the
lifting ribs 6. Namely, when it is determined that the bias load is
small or does not exist, and the noise is not produced even if the
water is not supplied to the lifting ribs 6, the process proceeds
to step SP23.
[0175] <Step SP14>
[0176] In step SP14, when the CPU 31 determines that the elapsed
time from which the electromagnetic valve X is opened is greater
than a set time, the process proceeds to step SP15. Herein, the set
time is a time required for one lifting rib 6 being filled with the
adjustment water.
[0177] <Step SP15>
[0178] In step SP15, the CPU 31 determines whether the imbalance
position (N) is a region Y represented by the parameter table of
FIG. 29. When it is determined that the imbalance position (N) is
the region Y, the process proceeds to step SP16. When it is
determined that the imbalance position (N) is not the region Y, the
process returns to step SP11. For example, if the initial imbalance
position (N) in step SP11 is the region I, the imbalance position
(N) is always the region I as long as no calculation is performed
again, and the process returns to step SP16. Since a result of the
recalculation in step SP16 is changed over time when the
electromagnetic valve X supplies the water, the imbalance position
(N) is changed from the region I to a region V when the weight of
the lifting rib 6 corresponding to the electromagnetic valve 25c is
increased, and the imbalance position (N) is changed to the region
Y when step SP15 is repeated multiple times.
[0179] <Step SP16>
[0180] In step SP16, the CPU 31 controls the electromagnetic valve
X recorded in the parameter table of FIG. 29 to be closed, and
controls an electromagnetic valve Z to be opened.
[0181] For example, when the initial imbalance position (N) is the
region I, the electromagnetic valve X is the electromagnetic valve
25c corresponding to the lifting rib 6 arranged opposite to the
region I, and the electromagnetic valve Z is the electromagnetic
valve 25b corresponding to the lifting rib 6 located at a position
closer to the region I than the lifting rib 6 corresponding to the
electromagnetic valve 25c. Thus, the adjustment water is supplied
to the lifting rib 6 corresponding to the electromagnetic valve Z,
and the capacity and the position of the bias load are changed.
[0182] <Step SP17>
[0183] In step SP17, the CPU 31 calculates the imbalance quantity
(M) and the imbalance position (N) again based on the acceleration
value given by the acceleration sensor 12.
[0184] <Step SP18>
[0185] In step SP18, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity (M)
with the imbalance quantity setting value (ma) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is less than ma. When it is determined
that M is less than ma, the process proceeds to step SP19. On the
other hand, when it is determined that M is not less than ma, the
process proceeds to step SP21 described later. Namely, when it is
determined that the bias degree of the washings is too great to be
eliminated even if more adjustment water is supplied to the lifting
ribs 6, the process proceeds to step SP21.
[0186] <Step SP19>
[0187] In step SP19, the CPU 31 compares the imbalance quantity (M)
with the imbalance quantity setting value (mb) stored in the memory
32, to determine whether M is less than mb. When it is determined
that M is less than mb, the process proceeds to step SP23 described
later. Namely, when it is determined that the degree of the bias
load is eliminated by supplying the water to the lifting ribs 6 so
that no noise is produced, the process proceeds to step SP23. On
the other hand, when it is determined that M is not less than mb,
the process proceeds to step SP20.
[0188] <Step SP20>
[0189] In step SP20, when the CPU 31 determines that the elapsed
time from which the electromagnetic valve Z is opened is greater
than the above set time, the process proceeds to step SP21. On the
other hand, the process returns to step SP17 when it is determined
that the elapsed time from which the electromagnetic valve Z is
opened is not greater than the set time.
[0190] <Step SP21>
[0191] In step SP21 shown in FIG. 27, the CPU 31 enables all the
electromagnetic valves X, Y and Z to be in the closed state.
[0192] <Step SP22>
[0193] In step SP22, the process returns to step SP1 after the CPU
31 controls the rotating drum 5 to stop rotating.
[0194] Thus, when it is determined that the degree of the bias load
is too great to be eliminated by supplying the water to the lifting
ribs 6, operations in the steps SP21 and 22 are performed, and the
dewatering process is restarted from the first step.
[0195] <Step SP23>
[0196] In step SP23 shown in FIG. 28, the CPU 31 enables all the
electromagnetic valves X, Y and Z to be in the closed state.
[0197] <Step SP24>
[0198] In step SP24 shown in FIG. 28, the CPU 31 controls the
rotating drum 5 to rotate at a maximum speed for a specified time,
to perform the dewatering process. Then, the dewatering process is
ended.
[0199] Thus, in the present embodiment, the water is firstly
supplied to the lifting rib 6 which is located at the position
farthest from the initially detected imbalance position (N) and
greatly affected by the adjustment of the imbalance quantity (M)
and position (N). At the end of the water supply to the lifting rib
6, changes of the imbalance quantity (M) and position (N) generated
due to the water supply are considered, and the water is supplied
to a second lifting rib 6 as needed. Thus, a case that the
adjustment water is not quantitatively supplied to each of the
lifting ribs 6 due to resistances of wall surfaces of the water
guiding grooves 68 like a case that the water is supplied to the
plurality of lifting ribs 6 simultaneously is not considered; a
difference between speeds at which the water is supplied to the
lifting ribs 6 is not adjusted by opening and closing the
electromagnetic valves 16, so the number of times of opening and
closing of the electromagnetic valves 16 is small, and the
reduction of durability lives of the electromagnetic valves 16 can
be inhibited.
[0200] The second embodiment of the present disclosure is described
above, but the structure of the second embodiment is not limited to
the above structure, and various modifications can be made.
[0201] For example, as shown in FIG. 30, the following structure
can be adopted: a plurality of water storage tanks (bags) 80 as the
water storage portions are arranged on the bottom 5c of the
rotating drum 5. FIG. 30 is a view illustrating a modified
embodiment of the second embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 30(a) is a
perspective view illustrating a modified embodiment viewed from the
bottom 5c of the rotating drum 5; and FIG. 30(b) is a local
sectional perspective view illustrating the modified embodiment cut
near the water storage tanks 80 and the lifting ribs 6. The water
storage tanks 80 are hollow components arranged on the radial outer
side of the water receiving ring unit 69 and arranged at the
positions corresponding to the lifting ribs 6 by means of a blind
region of the water receiving ring unit 69. The water storage tanks
80 are communicated with the corresponding lifting ribs 6 through
communication ports 80a. The adjustment water flows in from the
lifting ribs 6 by the centrifugal force. The adjustment water
flowing into the water storage tanks 80 is discharged to the
lifting ribs 6 through the communication ports 80a when the
rotating speed of the rotating drum 5 is reduced to reduce the
centrifugal force.
[0202] In this way, the plurality of water storage tanks 80 as the
water storage portions are mounted on the end surface in the axis
51 direction of the outer surface of the rotating drum 5,
specifically mounted on the bottom 5c of the rotating drum 5, and
are respectively communicated with the plurality of lifting ribs 6,
so more adjustment water can be accumulated by increasing the
volume of the lifting ribs 6 by means of the water storage tanks
80; and the bias load can be eliminated safely even if the washing
agglomerates are relatively large during dewatering.
[0203] In addition, the structure of the first embodiment and the
structure of the second embodiment can also be combined with each
other to constitute the present disclosure.
[0204] Further, the structure of the above embodiment can be
applied to a vertical washing machine. In this case, for example,
the structure is constituted in such a manner that the water
receiving ring unit is configured below the washing drum extending
on the axis in a vertical direction, upper surfaces or lower
surfaces of the water guiding grooves are opened, and the
adjustment water is supplied to the water guiding grooves from
above or below.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0205] 1, 50: washing machine; 2: main body; 3: outer drum; 4: door
body; 5: rotating drum (washing drum); 6: lifting rib (balancer);
7: bearing; 8: main shaft; 9: belt pulley; 10: drum motor; 11:
transmission belt; 12: acceleration sensor; 13: sensor tag; 14:
proximity switch; 15: drain pipe; 16: electromagnetic valve; 17:
pump; 18, 69: water receiving ring unit; 19a: water guiding groove;
19b: water guiding groove; 19c: water guiding groove; 20: ring
plate; 21: bottom plate; 22a: tubular rod; 22c: tubular rod; 23:
water guide ring; 24a: water passing component; 24b: water passing
component; 24c: water passing component; 25: nozzle unit; 26a:
electromagnetic valve; 26b: electromagnetic valve; 26c:
electromagnetic valve; 30: controller; 56: separation component;
68: water guiding groove; 68a: water guiding groove body; 68a1:
connecting opening; 68b: bulging portion; 74: water passing
component; 80: water storage tank (water storage portion); and T:
water storage region.
* * * * *