U.S. patent application number 15/755053 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-23 for washing machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is AQUA CO., LTD, QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Tamotsu KAWAMURA, Haruo MAMIYA, Wataru NAKAGAWA, Takashi NAKANISHI, Hiroki SATO, Kenji YOSHIDA.
Application Number | 20180237974 15/755053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58099592 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180237974 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKANISHI; Takashi ; et
al. |
August 23, 2018 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a washing, in which a washing
drum can rotate in a manner of intersecting a perpendicular
direction. A rotating part is connected with the washing drum in a
manner of integral rotation. A nut member is connected with the
rotating part, and is in threaded connection with a threaded shaft,
and moves along a front-rear direction along with rotation of the
threaded shaft, so that the rotating part rotates. A supporting
part for supporting the threaded shaft in a manner of rotation is
fixed to a base part. A detected part arranged on the nut member
and configured to detect a rotating angle of the rotating part is
detected by a sensor. A rotation-stopping protrusion arranged on
the nut member is incorporated into a limiting part formed on the
base part and extending along the front-rear direction in a shape
of a straight line.
Inventors: |
NAKANISHI; Takashi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; KAWAMURA; Tamotsu; (Tokyo, JP) ;
YOSHIDA; Kenji; (Tokyo, JP) ; MAMIYA; Haruo;
(Tokyo, JP) ; SATO; Hiroki; (Tokyo, JP) ;
NAKAGAWA; Wataru; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
AQUA CO., LTD |
Quingdao, Shangdong
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
|
CN
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
58099592 |
Appl. No.: |
15/755053 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
August 25, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2016/096688 |
371 Date: |
February 23, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20130101;
D06F 23/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/20 20060101
D06F037/20; D06F 23/06 20060101 D06F023/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 25, 2015 |
JP |
2015-166226 |
Claims
1. A washing machine, comprising: a washing drum, accommodating
washings and is rotatable in a manner of intersecting a
perpendicular direction; a rotating part, connected to the washing
drum in a manner of integral rotation; a threaded shaft; a motor,
for rotating the threaded shaft; a nut member, forming threaded
connection with the threaded shaft and connected to the rotating
part, and moving along an axial direction of the threaded shaft
along with rotation of the threaded shaft, so that the rotating
part rotates; a supporting part, for supporting the threaded shaft
in a manner of rotation; a base part, fixed with the supporting
part; a detected part, arranged on the nut member and configured to
detect a rotating angle of the rotating part; a rotation-stopping
protrusion, arranged on the nut member; a sensor, for detecting the
detected part; and a limiting part, formed on the base part,
extending along the axial direction in a shape of a straight line
and incorporating the rotation-stopping protrusion.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the limiting
part is formed in a shape of a groove; and part of the base part
for overlocking an end part of the limiting part in the axial
direction is configured in a position in contact with the
rotation-stopping protrusion in the axial direction before the nut
member comes into contact with the supporting part.
3. The washing machine according to claim 1 [[or 2]], wherein the
base part comprises a longitudinal wall and a transverse wall which
extends transversely from the longitudinal wall and is provided
with the sensor, and the base part is configured on the washing
drum in transverse arrangement.
4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is
a non-contact sensor for detecting the detected part in a
non-contact manner.
5. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the base part
comprises a longitudinal wall and a transverse wall which extends
transversely from the longitudinal wall and is provided with the
sensor, and the base part is configured on the washing drum in
transverse arrangement.
6. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is
a non-contact sensor for detecting the detected part in a
non-contact manner.
7. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is
a non-contact sensor for detecting the detected part in a
non-contact manner.
8. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is
a non-contact sensor for detecting the detected part in a
non-contact manner.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a washing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In a clothes washing and drying machine described in a
following patent literature 1, an outer drum part assembled with a
rotating drum part with washings thrown therein is supported by a
rotation supporting plate by means of an inclined rotation
supporting shaft. The rotation supporting plate is supported by an
outer frame of the clothes washing and drying machine by means of a
hoisting rod. The outer drum part is provided with a rotation
operating rope installing part, and an operating rope connected to
the rotation operating rope installing part is coiled on a drum
arranged on an inclined rotation motor of the outer frame. With the
rotation of the inclined rotation motor, the operating rope moves
upwards or downwards. Thus, the outer drum part obliquely rotates
around the inclined rotation supporting shaft. Thus, the outer drum
part is transversely inclined when the washings are thrown into the
rotating drum part, and the outer drum part is erected along a
perpendicular direction during washing, rinse and dewatering.
[0003] In the clothes washing and drying machine described in the
patent literature 1, the rotation operating rope installing part,
the operating rope and other structures may freely move when a
member of a driving mechanism for rotating the outer drum part is
configured to assemble the driving mechanism, thereby colliding
with surrounding members and damaging the surrounding members.
Existing Technical Literature
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japan specifically disclosed No.
4-166196 Bulletin
SUMMARY
Problems to be Solved by the Disclosure
[0005] The present disclosure is based on the background, and aims
to provide a washing machine which can prevent a situation of
damaging surrounding members due to a member of a driving mechanism
for rotating a washing drum, wherein the washing drum can rotate in
a manner of intersecting a perpendicular direction.
Solution for Solving the Problems
[0006] The present disclosure provides a washing machine,
including: a washing drum, accommodating washings and is rotatable
in a manner of intersecting a perpendicular direction; a rotating
part, connected to the washing drum in a manner of integral
rotation; a threaded shaft; a motor for rotating the threaded
shaft; a nut member, forming threaded connection with the threaded
shaft and connected to the rotating part, and moving along an axial
direction of the threaded shaft along with rotation of the threaded
shaft, so that the rotating part rotates; a supporting part, for
supporting the threaded shaft in a manner of rotation; a base part,
fixed with the supporting part; a detected part, arranged on the
nut member and configured to detect a rotating angle of the
rotating part; a rotation-stopping protrusion, arranged on the nut
member; a sensor, for detecting the detected part; and a limiting
part, formed on the base part, extending along the axial direction
in a shape of a straight line and incorporating the
rotation-stopping protrusion.
[0007] In addition, in the present disclosure, the limiting part is
formed in a shape of a groove; and part of the base part for
overlocking an end part of the limiting part in the axial direction
is configured in a position in contact with the rotation-stopping
protrusion in the axial direction before the nut member comes into
contact with the supporting part.
[0008] In addition, in the present disclosure, the base part
includes a longitudinal wall and a transverse wall which extends
transversely from the longitudinal wall and is provided with the
sensor, and the base part is configured on the washing drum in
transverse arrangement.
[0009] In addition, in the present disclosure, the sensor is a
non-contact sensor for detecting the detected part in a non-contact
manner.
Effects of the Disclosure
[0010] According to the present disclosure, in the washing machine
in which the rotating part is connected to the washing drum, which
can rotate in a manner of intersecting a perpendicular direction,
in a manner of integral rotation, the threaded shaft, the motor and
the nut member forming threaded connection with the threaded shaft
and connected to the rotating part form a driving mechanism for
rotating the washing drum. For the driving mechanism, when the
motor rotates the threaded shaft, the nut member moves along the
axial direction of the threaded shaft so that the rotating part and
the washing drum rotate. The sensor detects the detected part
arranged on the nut member, thereby detecting a rotating angle of
the rotating part.
[0011] When the nut member freely rotates around the threaded shaft
in a state that the sensor is located around the detected part, the
detected part may be collided with the sensor, thereby damaging the
sensor. Therefore, the limiting part extending along the axial
direction in the shape of the straight line is formed on the base
part fixed with the supporting part for supporting the threaded
shaft rotatably, and the rotation-stopping protrusion arranged on
the nut member is incorporated into the limiting part. In this
case, movement of the rotation-stopping protrusion is limited by
the limiting part of the base part, and thus the nut member cannot
rotate around the threaded shaft. Therefore, a situation that the
detected part is collided with the sensor can be prevented from
occurring. As a result, a situation that the sensor is damaged due
to the detected part can be prevented from occurring.
[0012] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the
limiting part is formed in a shape of a groove. In this case, since
part of the base part for overlocking an end part of the limiting
part in the axial direction is configured in a position in contact
with the rotation-stopping protrusion in the axial direction before
the nut member comes into contact with the supporting part, a
situation that the supporting part is damaged due to collision
between the nut member and the supporting part can be
prevented.
[0013] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the base
part configured on the washing drum in transverse arrangement is
provided with the sensor on the transverse wall extending from the
longitudinal wall to the transverse direction. In this case, front
end parts of screws and other fasteners for installing the sensor
on the transverse wall are exposed from the transverse wall to an
upper side or a lower side. Thus, the front end parts of the
fasteners are not extended from the longitudinal wall to the
transverse direction. Therefore, the front end parts of the
fasteners can be prevented from contacting the washing drum,
thereby realizing transverse spacing saving.
[0014] In addition, according to the present disclosure, under a
condition that the sensor is the non-contact sensor, a situation
that the sensor is damaged due to the detected part can be
prevented from occurring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram illustrating
a washing machine in an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating a driving
mechanism included in a washing machine;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a left view illustrating the driving
mechanism;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an A-A sectional view of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the driving mechanism;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a left view illustrating a driving mechanism in a
variation example; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a B-B sectional view of FIG. 6.
A LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0022] 1: Washing machine; 3: Washing drum; 6: Rotating part; 30:
Base part; 31: Supporting part; 32: Threaded shaft; 33: Motor; 35:
Nut member; 36: Sensor; 37: Longitudinal wall; 38: Transverse wall;
38C: Limiting part; 38F: Front circumferential part; 38G: Rear
circumferential part; 51D: Rotation-stopping protrusion; 52:
Detected part; X: Left-right direction; Y: Front-rear direction; Z:
Up-down direction; .theta.: Rotating angle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure are specifically
described below with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic
three-dimensional diagram illustrating a washing machine 1 in an
embodiment of the present disclosure. An up-down direction in FIG.
1 is called as an up-down direction Z of the washing machine 1; a
left-right direction in FIG. 1 is called as a front-rear direction
Y of the washing machine 1; and a transverse direction
approximately orthogonal to paper of FIG. 1 is called as a
left-right direction X. The up-down direction Z is also a
perpendicular direction. In the up-down direction Z, an upper side
is called as an upper side Z1; and a lower side is called as a
lower side Z2. In the front-rear direction Y, a right side in FIG.
1 is called as a front side Y1; and a left side in FIG. 1 is called
as a rear side Y2. In the left-right direction X, an outer side of
the paper of FIG. 1 is called as a left side X1; and an inner side
of the paper of FIG. 1 is called as a right side X2.
[0024] In the washing machine 1, although the washing machine 1
also includes a clothes washing and drying machine with a clothes
drying function, the washing machine 1 is described by taking a
washing machine which only executes washing operation without
explaining the clothes drying function as an example below. The
washing operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process and
a dewatering process. The washing machine 1 includes: a housing 2,
a washing drum 3 configured in the housing 2, a supporting frame 4,
a hoisting rod 5, a rotating part 6, an unlocking mechanism 7 and a
driving mechanism 8.
[0025] The housing 2 is, for example, made of metal, and is formed
in a shape of a box. A connecting surface 2C for connecting a front
surface 2A and an upper surface 2B is arranged on the housing 2.
The connecting surface 2C is, for example, an inclined surface
which drops towards the front side Y1. An outlet-inlet (not shown)
for throwing in and taking out washings from the washing machine 1
is formed in a manner of bridging the front surface 2A and the
connecting surface 2C.
[0026] The washing drum 3 includes an outer drum 10 and an inner
drum 11. The outer drum 10 is, for example, made of resin, and is
formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. An imaginary straight line
passing through a center of a circle of the outer drum 10 is a
central shaft J of the outer drum 10. In the washing process or the
rinsing process, water is stored in the outer drum 10. A circular
opening 10A through which the washings thrown in and taken out from
the washing machine 1 pass is formed in an upper end part of the
outer drum 10 on an opposite side of a bottom wall (not shown).
Metal rotating shafts 12 protruding to an outer side of the
left-right direction X are arranged one by one on left and right
side surfaces of the outer drum 10. FIG. 1 only shows the rotating
shaft 12 on the left side X1. The pair of left and right rotating
shafts 12 are configured in a same position when observed from the
left-right direction X.
[0027] The inner drum 11 is, for example, made of metal, and is
formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape smaller than the outer drum
10 by one circle. The washings are accommodated into the inner drum
11. A circular opening 11A through which the washings accommodated
into the inner drum 11 pass is formed in an upper end part of the
inner drum 11 on an opposite side of a bottom wall (not shown). The
inner drum 11 is coaxially accommodated into the outer drum 10.
Therefore, the central shaft of the inner drum 11 is the above
central shaft J. In a state that the inner drum 11 is accommodated
into the outer drum 10, an opening 11A of the inner drum 11 is
located at an inner side of an opening 10A of the outer drum 10.
The opening 10A and the opening 11A are opposite to the
outlet-inlet (not shown) of the housing 2. Thus, the washings can
be thrown in and taken out of the inner drum 11. A plurality of
through holes 11C are formed in a circumferential wall 11B and a
bottom wall of the inner drum 11; and water in the outer drum 10
can pass between the outer drum 10 and the inner drum 11 via the
through holes 11C. Therefore, a water level in the outer drum 10 is
consistent with a water level in the inner drum 11. In washing
operation, the inner drum 11 rotates around the central shaft J by
accepting a driving force from a motor (not shown) arranged in the
housing 2.
[0028] The supporting frame 4 is made of metal, and includes a pair
of left and right side plates 13 and a beam member 14 erected
between lower end parts of the pair of side plates 13.
[0029] Each side plate 13 is formed in an approximately rectangular
shape when observed from the left-right direction X, and is thin in
the left-right direction X. A washing drum 3 is configured between
the pair of side plates 13.
[0030] For the outer drum 10 of the washing drum 3, the rotating
shaft 12 protruding to the left side X1 penetrates through the side
plate 13 on the left side X1, and is supported rotatably by the
side plate 13 on the left side X1 via a bearing (not shown). For
the outer drum 10, the rotating shaft 12 (not shown) protruding to
the right side X2 penetrates through the side plate 13 on the right
side X2, and is supported rotatably by the side plate 13 on the
right side X2 via a bearing (not shown). Thus, the washing drum 3
is supported by the supporting frame 4, and can rotate around the
rotating shaft 12 in a manner of intersecting the up-down direction
Z. Specifically, with rotation of the washing drum 3, the central
shaft J of the outer drum 10 and the inner drum 11 is inclined to
the front-rear direction Y relative to the up-down direction Z. A
rotating direction of the washing drum 3 is called as a rotating
direction K.
[0031] A crossing angle at a sharp angle between an imaginary
reference shaft L extending along the up-down direction Z and the
central shaft J is a rotating angle .theta. of the washing drum 3
relative to the reference shaft L. The smaller the rotating angle
.theta., the closer to an erecting posture by the washing drum 3.
The larger the rotating angle .theta. is, the more inclined to the
front side Y1 the washing drum 3 is in such a manner that the
opening 10A of the outer drum 10 and the opening 11A of the inner
drum 11 face the front side Y1. The rotating angle .theta. can be
changed at, for example, five levels of 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30
degrees, 45 degrees and 60 degrees. In this case, as an example of
application in the washing machine 1, when the washings are thrown
in the washing drum 3 at the beginning of the washing operation,
the rotating angle .theta. is set as 45 degrees in such a manner
that throwing of the washings becomes easy; and then, under a
condition of detecting a load of the washings or supplying water to
the washing drum 3, the rotating angle .theta. is set as 5 degrees.
Then, in the washing process and the rinsing process, to promote
position alternation of the washings in the inner drum 11 to
realize efficient washing and rinsing, the rotating angle .theta.
is set to change between 5 degrees and 60 degrees.
[0032] An opening 13A penetrating through the side plate 13 along
the left-right direction X is formed in a region that the side
plate 13 on the left side X1 is closer to the lower side Z2 than
the rotating shaft 12. The opening 13A is formed in an
approximately rectangular shape which is long in the front-rear
direction Y. An accepting part 15 protruding to an outer side in
the front-rear direction Y is arranged at a front end edge and a
rear end edge of each side plate 13. The accepting part 15 can be
formed integrally with the side plate 13, and can also be installed
as, for example, another component made of resin, on the side plate
13.
[0033] Hoisting rods 5 are formed in a shape of a rod having a
friction damper 16 at the lower end part. Four hoisting rods 5 are
arranged, and one hoisting rod is respectively configured at four
corners in the housing 2 when observed from top from the upper side
Z1. The hoisting rods 5 are in a suspended state from the upper
part of the housing 2, and specifically from a metal outer frame
(not shown) forming part of the housing 2. In two hoisting rods 5
arranged front and back on the left side X1, a lower end part of
the hoisting rod 5 on the front side Y1 is connected with the
accepting part 15 at the front side Y1 of the side plate 13 on the
left side X1, and a lower end part of the hoisting rod 5 on the
rear side Y2 is connected with the accepting part 15 at the rear
side Y2 of the side plate 13 on the left side X1. In two hoisting
rods 5 arranged front and back on the right side X2, a lower end
part of the hoisting rod 5 on the front side Y1 is connected with
the accepting part 15 at the front side Y1 of the side plate 13 on
the right side X2, and a lower end part of the hoisting rod 5 (not
shown) on the rear side Y2 is connected with the accepting part 15
(not shown) at the rear side Y2 of the side plate 13 on the right
side X2. Thus, the supporting frame 4 having the side plates 13,
the washing drum 3 supported by the supporting frame 4, and the
motor (not shown) for rotating the inner drum 11 are elastically
supported by the housing 2 via the hoisting rods 5.
[0034] The rotating part 6 is an approximately fan-shaped metal
plate which is thin in the left-right direction X and protrudes to
the front side Y1 when observed from the left-right direction X.
The rotating part 6 has an outer circumferential edge 6A which is
formed in a circular arc shape along the rotating direction K and
protrudes to the front side Y1. A through hole 6B penetrating
through the rotating part 6 along the left-right direction X is
formed in a position on the rotating part 6 consistent with a
center of curvature of the outer circumferential edge 6A. A
plurality of concave parts 6C are formed in the outer
circumferential edge 6A, and five concave parts 6C are formed
herein. The concave parts 6C are sunken towards the through hole
6B, penetrate through the rotating part 6 along the left-right
direction X, and are configured in arrangement along the rotating
direction K. A spacing between adjacent concave parts 6C can be
fixed or different due to the position of the rotating part 6. In
the present embodiment, corresponding to the rotating angle .theta.
set as 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees and 60
degrees, in the rotating part 6 under a posture in FIG. 1, two
concave parts 6C located on a rear-most side Y2 and an adjacent
position are spaced by 10 degrees in the rotating direction K,
i.e., in the circumferential direction using the through hole 6B as
a center; and the spacing between other adjacent concave parts 6C
is fixed as 15 degrees.
[0035] The rotating part 6 is configured to be closer to the left
side X1 than the side plate 13 on the left side X1. The rotating
shaft 12 of the outer drum 10 of the washing drum 3, protruding to
the left side X1 and penetrating through the side plate 13 on the
left side X1, is inserted into the through hole 6B of the rotating
part 6, and is fixed to the rotating part 6. Thus, the rotating
part 6 is connected to the washing drum 3 in a manner of integral
rotation via the rotating shaft 12.
[0036] In the rotating part 6 under the posture in FIG. 1, at the
rear end of the outer circumferential edge 6A, an extending part 6D
protruding to the lower side Z2 and specifically protruding to the
outer side of a radial direction R of the rotating part 6 using the
through hole 6B as a center is integrally arranged. The extending
part 6D is formed in a shape of a plate which is long in the radial
direction R and thin in the left-right direction X. A guiding hole
6E which is long in the radial direction R and penetrates through
the extending part 6D along the left-right direction X is formed in
the extending part 6D. Both ends of a long edge direction of the
guiding hole 6E are in a blocked state. The guiding hole 6E in the
up-down direction Z is located in the same position as the opening
13A of the side plate 13 on the left side X1. Regardless of a value
of the rotating angle .theta. from 5 degrees to 60 degrees, the
guiding hole 6E is always opposite to the opening 13A from the left
side X1.
[0037] The unlocking mechanism 7 is fixed to a left side surface of
the side plate 13 on the left side X1. The unlocking mechanism 7
includes a body part 17 and a locking part 18. An actuator (not
shown) composed of a solenoid and the like is arranged on the body
part 17. The locking part 18 is formed in a shape of a protrusion
protruding from the body part 17 to the rear side Y2, and strictly
protruding to the rear upper side, and is supported by the body
part 17 in a manner of sliding to the front-rear direction Y. The
actuator of the body part 17 is operated, so that the locking part
18 slides between an entering position for entering to the
rear-most side Y2 and an exiting position for exiting to a
front-most side Y1.
[0038] The locking part 18 in FIG. 1 is in the entering position.
Under a condition that any concave part 6C of the rotating part 6
is in the same position as the locking part 18 in the rotating
direction K, the locking part 18 enters the entering position,
thereby being embedded into the concave part 6C in the same
position in the rotating direction K. Thus, rotation of the
rotating part 6 and the washing drum 3 is locked. In this state,
when the locking part 18 exits to the exiting position, since the
locking part 18 leaves the concave part 6C, the rotating part 6 and
the washing drum 3 are unlocked.
[0039] In FIG. 1, the locking part 18 in the entering position is
in a state of being embedded into the concave part 6C located at
the upper-most side Z1 and the front-most side Y1. At this moment,
in a state that the rotating angle .theta. is 60 degrees, the
rotation of the rotating part 6 and the washing drum 3 is locked.
As the concave part 6C into which the locking part 18 is embedded
becomes another concave part 6C located at the rear side Y2, the
rotating angle .theta. is decreased; and in a state that the
locking part 18 is embedded into the concave part 6C at the
rear-most side Y2, the rotating angle .theta. is 5 degrees. In this
state, the rotation of the rotating part 6 and the washing drum 3
is locked.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating the
driving mechanism 8. with reference to FIG. 2, the driving
mechanism 8 includes a base part 30, a supporting part 31, a
threaded shaft 32, a motor 33, a coupling 34, a nut member 35 and a
sensor 36.
[0041] The base part 30 is formed by, for example, bending a metal
plate, and integrally includes a longitudinal wall 37 and a pair of
upper and lower transverse walls 38. The longitudinal wall 37 is
formed in a shape of a rectangular plate which is thin in the
left-right direction X and long in the front-rear direction Y. Each
transverse wall 38 is formed in a shape of a rectangular plate
which is thin in the up-down direction Z and long in the front-rear
direction Y. In a pair of transverse walls 38, the transverse wall
38 on the upper side Z1 is continuous from an entire region of the
upper end of the longitudinal wall 37 and extends to the left side
X1, and the transverse wall 38 on the lower side Z2 is continuous
from an almost entire region of the lower end of the longitudinal
wall 37 and extends to the left side X1.
[0042] The left end part of each transverse wall 38 serves as a
flange part 38A and is formed in a manner of being bent into an
approximately right angle to the outer side of the up-down
direction Z of the entire region throughout the front-rear
direction Y. The flange part 38A of the transverse wall 38 on the
upper side Z1 is formed in a manner of bending to the upper side
Z1, and the flange part 38A of the transverse wall 38 on the lower
side Z2 is formed in a manner of bending to the lower side Z2. A
threaded hole 38B is formed in each flange part 38A. An
accommodating space 30A encircled by the longitudinal wall 37 and a
pair of upper and lower transverse walls 38 is formed on the base
part 30. The supporting part 31, the threaded shaft 32, the
coupling 34, the nut member 35 and the sensor 36 are accommodated
in the accommodating space 30A.
[0043] A limiting part 38C is formed on a part of the transverse
wall 38 on the upper side Z1 closer to the right side X2 than the
flange part 38A. The limiting part 38C is formed in a shape of a
groove slenderly extending along the front-rear direction Y in a
shape of a straight line. Therefore, a long edge direction of the
limiting part 38C is the front-rear direction Y, and a short edge
direction of the limiting part 38C is the left-right direction X.
The limiting part 38C is formed by penetrating through the
transverse wall 38 on the upper side Z1 along the up-down direction
Z in the present embodiment, but can also be a concave part sunk to
the upper side Z1 without penetrating through the transverse wall
38. The base part 30 has an opening 30B formed by continuously
cutting away a part to enable the transverse wall 38 of the upper
side Z1 to be closer to the right side X2 than the limiting part
38C and the upper end part of the longitudinal wall 37. Since part
of the base part 30 is removed through the opening 30B, integral
light weight of the base part 30 can be realized.
[0044] The base part 30 is configured between the side plate 13 on
the left side X1 and the washing drum 3 in a manner of being
parallel to the washing drum 3 along the left-right direction X,
and a pair of upper and lower flange parts 38A are configured
oppositely from circumferential parts of the openings 13A of the
side plates 13 on the right side X2 and the left side X1 (with
reference to FIG. 1). Screws 39 (with reference to FIG. 1)
assembled on the side plate 13 on the left side X1 are also
assembled on the threaded hole 38B of each flange part 38A. Thus,
the base part 30 is fixed to the side plate 13 on the left side X1.
The accommodating space 30A of the base part 30 is exposed from the
side plate 13 on the left side X1 to the left side X1 via the
opening 13A (with reference to FIG. 1).
[0045] A pair of supporting parts 31 are arranged separately along
the front-rear direction Y.
[0046] The supporting part 31 on the front side Y1 is configured on
the front end part of the longitudinal wall 37 of the base part 30,
and the supporting part 31 on the rear side Y2 is configured on the
rear end part of the longitudinal wall 37. Each supporting part 31
is formed by, for example, bending the metal plate. Each supporting
part 31 integrally includes a body part 40 and a base part 41. The
body part 40 is in a shape of a plate which is thin in the
front-rear direction Y, and is configured to protrude from the left
side surface of the longitudinal wall 37 of the base part 30 to the
left side X1. A bearing 42 which is annular when observed from the
front-rear direction Y is installed on the body part 40 in a manner
of penetrating through the body part 40 along the front-rear
direction Y. The base part 41 is in a shape of a plate which is
thin in the left-right direction X. The supporting part 31 on the
front side Y1 is configured in such a manner that the base part 41
extends from the lower end of the body part 40 to the front side
Y1, and is overlapped with the front end part of the longitudinal
wall 37 when observed from the left side X1. The supporting part 31
on the rear side Y2 is configured in such a manner that the base
part 41 extends from the lower end of the body part 40 to the rear
side Y2, and is overlapped with the rear end part of the
longitudinal wall 37 when observed from the left side X1. By
assembling the screws 43 on the base part 41 and the longitudinal
wall 37, each supporting part 31 is fixed to the base part 30.
[0047] The threaded shaft 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape
slenderly extending along the front-rear direction Y, and a screw
thread 32A which extends helically is formed on an almost entire
region of the outer circumferential surface. It should be noted
that in each figure except FIG. 2, to facilitate illustration, a
figure of the screw thread 32A of the threaded shaft 32 is omitted.
The rear end part of the threaded shaft 32 is inserted into the
annular bearing 42 of the supporting part 31 on the rear side Y2.
In this state, the threaded shaft 32 is supported on both ends by a
pair of front and rear supporting parts 31 in a manner of
rotation.
[0048] The motor 33 is an ordinary electric motor, and has an
output shaft 44 protruding to the rear side Y2 and configured
coaxially with the threaded shaft 32. The motor 33 is provided with
a platy bracket 45 which is thin in the front-rear direction Y,
from the rear side Y2. The output shaft 44 is exposed from the
bracket 45 to the rear side Y2. The output shaft 44 is opposite,
from the front side Y1, to part of the front end part of the
threaded shaft 32 extending further to the front side Y1 than the
body part 40 of the supporting part 31 on the front side Y1. An
upper end part and a lower end part of a left end part of the
bracket 45 serve as a pair of upper and lower flange parts 45A, and
is bent into an approximately right angle to the rear side Y2. A
threaded hole 45B is formed in each flange part 45A.
[0049] The motor 33 is configured between the side plate 13 on the
left side X1 and the washing drum 3 in a position closer to the
front side Y1 than the base part 30, the flange parts 45A of the
bracket 45 are configured oppositely from circumferential parts of
the openings 13A of the side plates 13 on the right side X2 and the
left side X1 (with reference to FIG. 1). By assembling screws 46
(with reference to FIG. 1) assembled on the side plate 13 on the
left side X1 to the threaded hole 45B of each flange part 45A, the
motor 33 is fixed to the side plate 13 on the left side X1 via the
bracket 45. The motor 33 in this state is exposed from the side
plate 13 on the left side X1 to the left side X1 via the opening
13A (with reference to FIG. 1).
[0050] The coupling 34 includes: a cylindrical output part 47
externally embedded into a rear end part of the output shaft 44 of
the motor 33 in a manner of integral rotation, a cylindrical input
part 48 externally embedded into a front end part of the threaded
shaft 32 in a manner of integral rotation, and a buffer part 49
configured between the output part 47 and the input part 48.
[0051] The cylindrical output part 47 has a plurality of protrusion
parts 47A arranged along the circumferential direction and
protruding to the rear side Y2. The cylindrical input part 48 has a
plurality of protrusion parts 48A arranged along the
circumferential direction and protruding to the front side Y1. The
protrusion part 47A and the protrusion part 48A are in a state of
being arranged alternately one by one in the circumferential
directions of the output part 47 and the input part 48. The buffer
part 49 is configured between the adjacent protrusion part 47A and
the protrusion part 48A. The buffer part 49 is composed of rubber,
a spring and other elastic bodies. The output shaft 44 and the
threaded shaft 32 are connected via the coupling 34 in a manner of
integral connection. Therefore, when the motor 33 is driven to
rotate the output shaft 44, the threaded shaft 32 and the output
shaft 44 rotate integrally.
[0052] The nut member 35 includes a body part 50, a connecting part
51 and a detected part 52. The body part 50 is formed on an annular
nut having a screw thread 50A (with reference to FIG. 4 below)
which extends helically on the inner circumferential surface, and
is externally embedded into the threaded shaft 32 in such a manner
that the screw thread 50A and the screw thread 32A of the threaded
shaft 32 are in mutual threaded connection. When the threaded shaft
32 rotates with the driving of the motor 33, the nut member 35
integrally moves along the axial direction of the threaded shaft
32, i.e., the front-rear direction Y along with rotation of the
threaded shaft 32.
[0053] The connecting part 51 is formed, for example, by bending a
metal plate, and integrally includes a first part 51A, a second
part 51B and a third part 51C. The first part 51A is formed in a
shape of a plate which is thin in the front-rear direction Y and
extends to the up-down direction Z, and is fixed to the body part
50 through the screws 53. At an upper end edge of the first part
51A, a rotation-stopping protrusion 51D protruding to the upper
side Z1 is integrally arranged, and the rotation-stopping
protrusion 51D is incorporated into the limiting part 38C (with
reference to FIG. 4) of the transverse wall 38 of the upper side Z1
of the base part 30. The second part 51B is formed in a shape of a
plate which is thin in the left-right direction X and extends to
the up-down direction Z, protrudes from the left end edge of the
first part 51A to the front side Y1, is configured to extend from
the accommodating space 30A of the base part 30 to the left side
X1, and is opposite to the body part 50 from the left side X1 (with
reference to FIG. 4). A through hole 51E penetrating through the
second part 51B along the left-right direction X is formed in the
second part 51B.
[0054] The second part 51B is opposite to the extending part 6D of
the rotating part 6 from the right side X2. A connecting pin 54
(with reference to FIG. 1) of the guiding hole 6E inserted into the
extending part 6D from the left side X1 is inserted into the
through hole 51E. The connecting pin 54 cannot be taken out of each
through hole 51E and guiding hole 6E. The nut member 35 is
connected with the rotating part 6 via the connecting pin 54.
Therefore, when the nut member 35 moves along the front-rear
direction Y along with rotation of the threaded shaft 32, the
rotating part 6 is pulled to the front-rear direction Y by the nut
member 35, so as to rotate with the washing drum 3. When the
rotating part 6 rotates, the connecting pin 54 moves along the long
edge direction of the guiding hole 6E in the guiding hole 6E. The
third part 51C is formed in a shape of a plate which is thin in the
up-down direction Z, protrudes from the lower end edge of the first
part 51A to the front side Y1, and is opposite to the body part 50
from the lower side Z2.
[0055] The detected part 52 is formed in a shape of a plate which
is thin in the left-right direction X, and integrally includes a
fixing part 52A and a front end part 52B. The fixing part 52A is
configured in a manner of overlapping with the third part 51C of
the connecting part 51 from the lower side Z2, and is fixed to the
third part 51C through the screws 55. The front end part 52B is
also called as a limiting part, and is formed in a shape of a rod
extending from the front end part of the fixing part 52A to the
right side X2.
[0056] The sensor 36 is a sensor for detecting the rotating angle
.theta. of the washing drum 3 according to a position of the nut
member 35 in the front-rear direction Y, and as a sensor 36, can be
selected from an optical sensor and other optical non-contact
sensors. When the optical sensor is used, a groove 36A sunken to
the right side X2 and penetrating through the sensor 36 along the
front-rear direction Y is formed in the left side surface of the
sensor 36. The sensor 36 is in such a state that light transects
the groove 36A along the up-down direction Z. The quantity of the
sensors 36 is the same as the quantity of the concave parts 6C of
the rotating part 6. In other words, five sensors are arranged in
the present embodiment, and each groove 36A is configured in a
lower region of the longitudinal wall 37 of the base part 30 in
arrangement along the front-rear direction Y in a manner of
overlapping when observed from the front-rear direction Y. Each
sensor 36 is fixed to the longitudinal wall 37 through the screw
56. The front end part 56A of the screw 56 is configured to extend
from the longitudinal wall 37 to the right side X2 (with reference
to FIG. 4). The spacing between adjacent sensors 36 is set
correspondingly to the spacing between adjacent concave parts 6C.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, although the spacing between
the adjacent sensors 36 in the four sensors 36 on the rear side Y2
is fixed, the spacing between two sensors 36 located on the
front-most side Y1 and the rear adjacent position is narrower than
the spacing between other adjacent sensors 36.
[0057] When the nut member 35 moves along the front-rear direction
Y along with rotation of the threaded shaft 32, the front end part
52B of the detected part 52 arranged on the nut member 35
penetrates through the groove 36A of each sensor 36. Although
detection light of the groove 36A is blocked by the front end part
52B in a state that the front end part 52B is embedded into the
groove 36A, the front end part 52B does not contact the sensor 36
when penetrating through the groove 36A.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, in a state that the front end part 52B
of the detected part 52 is embedded into the groove 36A of the
sensor 36 on the rear-most side Y2, the above locking part 18 is
located at the upper-most side Z1 and is in the same position as
the concave part 6C on the front-most side Y1 in the rotating
direction K; and the rotating angle .theta. of the washing drum 3
is 60 degrees (with reference to FIG. 1). In another aspect, in a
state that the front end part 52B of the detected part 52 is
embedded into the groove 36A of the sensor 36 on the front-most
side Y1, the locking part 18 is in the same position as the concave
part 6C on the rear-most side Y2 in FIG. 1 in the rotating
direction K; and the rotating angle .theta. of the washing drum 3
is 5 degrees. When the rotating angle .theta. is any angle of 5
degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees and 60 degrees, the
front end part 52B of the detected part 52 is in a state of being
embedded into the groove 36A of a certain sensor 36. Therefore,
five sensors 36 uniformly detect the detected part 52 on the nut
member 35 in a non-contact manner, thereby detecting the rotating
angle .theta. from 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees
and 60 degrees.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a left view illustrating the driving mechanism 8.
FIG. 4 is an A-A sectional view of FIG. 3. With reference to FIG.
4, each sensor 36 includes a groove bottom 36B and a pair of groove
side surfaces 36C, wherein the groove bottom 36B is divided into a
groove 36A from the right side X2, and a pair of groove side
surfaces 36C extend parallelly from the groove bottom 36B to the
left side X1. The groove bottom 36B is erected between right end
edges of the pair of groove side surfaces 36C, an outline of the
groove 36A when observed from the front-rear direction Y is formed
by the groove bottom 36B and the pair of groove side surfaces 36C.
The front end part 52B of the detected part 52 in a state of being
embedded into the groove 36A from the left side X1 is configured
away from both of the groove bottom 36B and the groove side
surfaces 36C. Herein, a clearance between each of the groove bottom
36B and the groove side surfaces 36C and the front end part 52B is
called as a clearance 60.
[0060] The rotation-stopping protrusion 51D is inserted into the
limiting part 38C of the transverse wall 38 of the upper side Z1 of
the base part 30 from the lower side Z2 in a manner of having a
slight backlash in the short edge direction of the limiting part
38C, i.e., the left-right direction X. Therefore, a clearance 61 is
set between a left side circumferential part 38D of the transverse
wall 38 for overlocking the limiting part 38C from the left side X1
and the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D; a clearance 62 is set
between a right side circumferential part 38E of the transverse
wall 38 for overlocking the limiting part 38C from the right side
X2 and the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D; and the clearance 61
and the clearance 62 are smaller than the clearance 60. Namely, in
a state that the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D is incorporated
into the limiting part 38C, a backlash of the rotation-stopping
protrusion 51D in the short edge direction of the limiting part 38C
is smaller than a backlash of the detected part 52 in the groove
36A of the sensor 36. Specifically, dimensions of the clearance 61
and the clearance 62 in the left-right direction X are smaller than
the clearance 60 between the groove bottom 36B and the front end
part 52B in the left-right direction X, and smaller than a
dimension of the clearance 60 between the groove side surfaces 36C
and the front end part 52B in the up-down direction Z.
[0061] When the driving mechanism 8 is assembled, the nut member 35
is sometimes in a free state relative to the threaded shaft 32. In
this case, it can be contemplated that in a state that the detected
part 52 is embedded into the groove 36A of the sensor 36, the nut
member 35 rotates freely around the threaded shaft 32. In addition,
it can be contemplated that in the washing operation process of the
washing machine 1, especially in the dewatering process, the nut
member 35 rotates around the threaded shaft 32 due to vibration.
When the nut member 35 rotates, the front end part 52B of the
detected part 52 which sways in the up-down direction Z with the
rotation of the nut member 35 may collide with the groove bottom
36B and the groove side surfaces 36C of the sensor 36, thereby
damaging the sensor 36 located around the detected part 52.
[0062] Therefore, as mentioned above, the rotation-stopping
protrusion 51D arranged on the nut member 35 is incorporated into
the limiting part 38C formed on the base part 30 and extending
along the front-rear direction Y in a shape of a straight line; and
the backlash of the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D in the short
edge direction of the limiting part 38C is set to be smaller than
the backlash of the detected part 52 in the groove 36A of the
sensor 36. In this case, before the detected part 52 collides with
the sensor 36, the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D firstly
contacts the circumferential part of the limiting part 38C of the
base part 30, i.e., the above left side circumferential part 38D
and the right side circumferential part 38E. Therefore, movement of
the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D in the short edge direction of
the limiting part 38C is limited. Thus, the nut member 35 cannot
rotate around the threaded shaft 32. Therefore, the detected part
52 can be prevented from colliding with the sensor 36. As a result,
a situation that the sensor 36 is damaged due to the detected part
52 can be prevented from occurring.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the driving mechanism 8.
With reference to FIG. 5, a part of the transverse wall 38 of the
upper side Z1 of the base part 30 for overlocking the end part of
the limiting part 38C in the front-rear direction Y includes: a
front side circumferential part 38F for overlocking the front end
of the limiting part 38C and a rear side circumferential part 38G
for overlocking the rear end of the limiting part 38C. The front
side circumferential part 38F is configured in a position in
contact with the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D from the front
side Y1 firstly before the nut member 35 comes into contact with
the supporting part 31 (with reference to FIG. 2) on the front side
Y1. The rear side circumferential part 38G is configured in a
position in contact with the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D from
the rear side Y2 firstly before the nut member 35 comes into
contact with the supporting part 31 (with reference to FIG. 2) on
the rear side Y2. Therefore, the front side circumferential part
38F is located in a position at least closer to the rear side Y2
than the body part 40 (with reference to FIG. 2) of the supporting
part 31 on the front side Y1, and the rear side circumferential
part 38G is located in a position at least closer to the front side
Y1 than the body part 40 (with reference to FIG. 2) of the
supporting part 31 on the rear side Y2.
[0064] In this case, before the nut member 35 comes into contact
with the supporting part 31, the front side circumferential part
38F and the rear side circumferential part 38G as stopping parts
firstly come into contact with the rotation-stopping protrusion
51D. Therefore, the supporting part 31 can be prevented from being
deformed or the bearing 42 (with reference to FIG. 2) arranged on
the supporting part 31 can be prevented from being damaged due to
collision between the nut member 35 and the supporting part 31.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a left view illustrating the driving mechanism 8
in a variation example. FIG. 7 is a B-B sectional view of FIG. 6.
In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a same reference numeral is given to a same
part as a described part in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, and illustration of
the part is omitted. Although the sensor 36 is installed on the
longitudinal wall 37 in above embodiments, the sensor 36 can be
installed on one of the pair of upper and lower transverse walls 38
like variation examples shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In FIG. 6 and
FIG. 7, as an embodiment, the sensor 36 is installed on the
transverse wall 38 on the lower side Z2 from the upper side Z1 in a
posture of enabling the groove 36A to face the upper side Z1. In
this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the front end part 56A of the screw
56 used for installing the sensor 36 on the transverse wall 38
penetrates through the sensor 36 and the transverse wall 38 on the
lower side Z2 from the upper side Z1, and is exposed from the
transverse wall 38 to the lower side Z2. Thus, the front end part
56A of the screw 56 does not extend from the longitudinal wall 37
to the left-right direction X. Therefore, the front end part 56A of
the screw 56 can be prevented from contacting the washing drum 3,
thereby realizing spacing saving in the left-right direction X. It
should be noted that under a condition that the sensor 36 is
installed on the transverse wall 38 on the upper side Z1 from the
lower side Z2 in a posture of enabling the groove 36A to face the
lower side Z2, the front end part 56A of the screw 56 used for
installing the sensor 36 on the transverse wall 38 on the upper
side Z1 is exposed from the transverse wall 38 on the upper side Z1
to the upper side Z1.
[0066] The present disclosure is not limited to embodiment
described above, and can be changed in various modes within a scope
recorded in claims.
[0067] For example, the sensor 36 is not limited to the
above-mentioned non-contact sensor, and can also be a contact
sensor. Under a condition that the sensor is the contact sensor, as
mentioned above, the rotation of the nut member 35 around the
threaded shaft 32 is limited. Therefore, a damaged degree of the
sensor 36 due to contact between the detected part 52 of the nut
member 35 and the sensor 36 can be prevented.
[0068] In addition, the limiting part 38C, which is incorporated
into the rotation-stopping protrusion 51D of the nut member 35, of
the base part 30 may not be formed on the above transverse wall 38
on the upper side Z1, and can be formed on the transverse wall 38
on the lower side Z2, and can also be formed on the longitudinal
wall 37.
[0069] In addition, the detected part 52 may not be installed on
the third part 51C of the connecting part 51 of the nut member 35,
and the third part 51C performs a function of the detected part
52.
[0070] In addition, the above screw can be replaced with rivets and
other fasteners.
[0071] In addition, as long as the movement of the nut member 35 in
the front-rear direction Y, i.e., the rotation of the washing drum
3, can be limited when the driving of the motor 33 is stopped, the
unlocking mechanism 7 and the concave part 6C of the rotating part
6 can be omitted. Thus, stepless adjustment can be made to the
rotating angle .theta..
* * * * *