CN107923105B

CN107923105B - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN107923105B
Application number: CN201680049051.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中西隆; 川村保; 吉田贤司; 佐藤弘树; 中川亘
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Asia Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Jiaonan Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Haier Asia Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-25
Filing date: 2016-08-25
Publication date: 2020-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2036-08-25
Also published as: EP3342916A4; JP2017042327A; EP3342916A1; US20180171527A1; KR20180042398A; EP3342916B1; JP6818197B2; KR102090012B1; WO2017032326A1; CN107923105A

Abstract

A washing machine (1) is provided, which can save space for arranging a washing barrel (3) and improve rigidity of a part for rotatably supporting the washing barrel (3), wherein the washing barrel (3) can rotate in a mode of intersecting with a vertical direction (Z). A washing machine (1) comprises: a washing tub (3) that can rotate in a manner intersecting the vertical direction (Z); a support member (13) which is arranged outside the washing tub (3) and supports the washing tub (3) in a rotatable manner; a bent section (13F) which is provided on the support member (13) and bent toward the washing tub (3); and an elastic support member (5) that is attached to the bent portion (13F) and elastically supports the support member (13).

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a washing machine.

Background

In the washing and drying machine described in patent document 1, a tub portion to which a rotary tub portion to which laundry is put is assembled is supported by a rotary support member via an inclined rotary support shaft. A pair of rotary supporting members are provided so as to sandwich the outer tub, and each rotary supporting member is supported by the outer frame of the washing and drying machine via a hanging rod. The outer barrel part is provided with a rotary control rope mounting part, and a control rope connected with the rotary control rope mounting part is wound on a winding drum of an inclined rotary motor arranged on the outer frame. The steering cord is moved up or down in accordance with the rotation of the tilt rotating motor, whereby the outer tub portion is tilted about the tilt rotating support shaft. Therefore, the outer tub part can be inclined transversely when the washings are thrown into the rotary tub part, and the outer tub part can be erected along the vertical direction when the washings are washed, rinsed and dehydrated.

In the washing and drying machine described in patent document 1, a portion of each rotation support member to which the hanging bar is attached is located on an outer side surface of the rotation support member on the opposite side to the outer tub side. In this way, since the hanging bar is disposed so as to protrude outward of the rotation support member, there is a possibility that the size of the washing and drying machine becomes large, and thus it is difficult to save the installation space of the washing and drying machine. Further, it is desirable to increase the rigidity of the rotation support member that rotatably supports the outer tub.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 4-166196

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can save space for installation and improve rigidity of a portion that rotatably supports a washing tub that can rotate so as to intersect with a vertical direction, in a structure including the washing tub.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention is a washing machine comprising: a washing tub for accommodating the laundry and capable of rotating in a manner of intersecting with the vertical direction; a supporting member disposed outside the washing tub to rotatably support the washing tub; a bending part provided on the support member and bending toward the washing tub; and an elastic support member attached to the bent portion and elastically supporting the support member.

The present invention is characterized by comprising a drive mechanism which is disposed between the support member and the washing tub and rotates the washing tub.

In addition, the drive mechanism includes a base portion that is formed so as to be partially bent and is attached to the support member.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that a pair of the support members are provided so as to sandwich the washing tub, and the washing machine includes a beam member that is erected between the pair of the support members.

The present invention is characterized in that a pair of the support members are provided so as to sandwich the washing tub, and the washing machine includes a support frame integrally including the pair of the support members and a bottom member erected between lower end portions of the pair of the support members.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, in a washing machine including a washing tub, a support member disposed outside the washing tub rotatably supports the washing tub, wherein the washing tub is rotatable in a manner crossing a vertical direction.

The support member is provided with a bending part bending towards the washing tub side. This can improve the rigidity of the support member. An elastic support member that elastically supports the support member is attached to the bent portion. In this case, the elastic support member is not disposed so as to protrude toward the outer side of the support member, which is the side opposite to the washing tub, but is disposed on the washing tub side, which is the inner side of the support member, so that the washing machine can be downsized. Thus, the space of the washing machine can be saved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the drive mechanism for rotating the washing tub is disposed between the support member and the washing tub, not so as to protrude outward of the support member, it is possible to achieve downsizing of the washing machine. Thus, the space of the washing machine can be saved.

Further, according to the present invention, the base portion of the drive mechanism attached to the support member is formed so as to be partially bent, whereby the rigidity can be improved. In this way, the support member is reinforced by the base portion, and thus the rigidity of the support member can be further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the beam member is provided between the pair of support members provided so as to sandwich the washing tub, whereby the rigidity of each support member can be further improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the pair of support members provided so as to sandwich the washing tub and the bottom member erected between the lower ends of the pair of support members are integrated to constitute the integrated support frame, so that the rigidity of each support member can be further improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a support member of a support frame included in the washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the washing machine.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a driving mechanism included in the washing machine.

Fig. 5 is a left side view of the support member and the drive mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to a modification.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a washing machine; 3: a washing tub; 4: a support frame; 5: an elastic support member; 8: a drive mechanism; 13: a support member; 13F: a bent portion; 14: a beam member; 30: a base part; 60: a bottom member; z: and (4) the up-down direction.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vertical direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a vertical direction Z of the washing machine 1, the horizontal direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and the horizontal direction substantially orthogonal to the paper surface in fig. 1 is referred to as a horizontal direction X. The up-down direction Z is also the vertical direction. Among the vertical directions Z, the upper side is referred to as an upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as a lower side Z2. Of the front-rear direction Y, the right side in fig. 1 is referred to as a front side Y1, and the left side in fig. 1 is referred to as a rear side Y2. In the left-right direction X, the front side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a left side X1, and the back side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a right side X2.

Although the washing machine 1 includes a washing and drying machine having a drying function, the washing machine 1 will be described below by taking as an example a washing machine that omits the drying function and performs only a washing operation. The washing operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process. The washing machine 1 includes: a cabinet 2, a washing tub 3 disposed in the cabinet 2, a support frame 4, an elastic support member 5, a rotation part 6, a lock releasing mechanism 7, and a driving mechanism 8.

The casing 2 is made of, for example, metal and is formed in a box shape. The housing 2 is provided with a coupling surface 2C that couples the front surface 2A and the upper surface 2B. The connecting surface 2C is, for example, an inclined surface that descends toward the front side Y1. An entrance (not shown) for putting laundry into and taking laundry out of the washing machine 1 is formed so as to straddle the front surface 2A and the coupling surface 2C.

The washing tub 3 includes an outer tub 10 and an inner tub 11. The outer tub 10 is made of, for example, resin, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. An imaginary straight line passing through the center of the outer tub 10 is the central axis J of the outer tub 10. In the washing process and the rinsing process, the outer tub 10 stores water therein. A circular opening 10A through which laundry put into and taken out of the washing machine 1 passes is formed in an upper end portion of the outer tub 10 on the opposite side of the bottom wall (not shown). The metallic rotation shafts 12 protruding outward in the left-right direction X are provided one by one on the left and right side surfaces of the tub 10. In fig. 1, only the rotation axis 12 of the left side X1 is illustrated. The pair of left and right rotating shafts 12 are disposed at the same position when viewed in the left-right direction X.

The inner tub 11 is made of, for example, metal, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape one turn smaller than the outer tub 10. The laundry is accommodated in the inner tub 11. A circular opening 11A through which the laundry accommodated in the inner tub 11 passes is formed at an upper end portion of the inner tub 11 opposite to the bottom wall (not shown). The inner tub 11 is coaxially housed in the outer tub 10. Therefore, the central axis of the inner barrel 11 is the central axis J. In a state where the inner tub 11 is accommodated in the outer tub 10, the opening 11A of the inner tub 11 is located inside the opening 10A of the outer tub 10. The opening 10A and the opening 11A face an entrance (not shown) of the cabinet 2, and laundry can be put into and taken out of the inner tub 11. A plurality of through holes 11C are formed in the circumferential wall 11B and the bottom wall of the inner tub 11, and water in the outer tub 10 flows between the outer tub 10 and the inner tub 11 through the through holes 11C. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 10 is identical to the water level in the inner tub 11. During the washing operation, the inner tub 11 is rotated about the central axis J by receiving a driving force from a motor (not shown) provided in the cabinet 2.

The support frame 4 is made of metal, and includes a pair of left and right support members 13 and a beam member 14 bridged between lower end portions of the pair of support members 13. Between the pair of support members 13, the washing tub 3 is disposed. Therefore, the pair of support members 13 are disposed outside the washing tub 3 so as to sandwich the washing tub 3 from the left-right direction X. Each support member 13 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the left-right direction X and is formed in a plate shape that is thin in the left-right direction X. In other words, each support member 13 has a plate thickness in the left-right direction X, which is a direction facing the washing tub 3.

The outer tub 10 of the washing tub 3 has a rotation shaft 12 protruding to the left side X1, which penetrates the support member 13 of the left side X1 and is rotatably supported by the support member 13 of the left side X1 via a bearing (not shown). The tub 10 has a rotation shaft 12 (not shown) projecting to the right side X2, which penetrates the support member 13 of the right side X2, and is rotatably supported by the support member 13 of the right side X2 via a bearing (not shown). Accordingly, washing tub 3 is supported by left and right support members 13 of support frame 4, and can rotate about rotation shaft 12 so as to intersect vertical direction Z. Specifically, as the washing tub 3 rotates, the central axes J of the outer tub 10 and the inner tub 11 are inclined in the front-rear direction Y with respect to the vertical direction Z. The direction of rotation of the washing tub 3 is referred to as the direction of rotation K.

An acute intersection angle between imaginary reference axis L extending in vertical direction Z and central axis J is a rotation angle θ of washing tub 3 with respect to reference axis L. As rotation angle θ becomes smaller, washing tub 3 is closer to the upright posture, and as rotation angle θ becomes larger, washing tub 3 is inclined toward front side Y1 so that opening 10A of outer tub 10 and opening 11A of inner tub 11 face front side Y1. The rotation angle θ can be changed in five stages of, for example, 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees. In this case, as an example of application to the washing machine 1, when laundry is put into the washing tub 3 at the start of washing operation, the rotation angle θ is set to 45 degrees so that the putting in of the laundry becomes easy, and then, when the load amount of the laundry is detected or water is supplied to the washing tub 3, the rotation angle θ is set to 5 degrees. Then, in the washing and rinsing processes, the rotation angle θ is set to vary between 5 degrees and 60 degrees in order to facilitate the position alternation of the laundry in the inner tub 11 to achieve efficient washing and rinsing.

In a region of the support member 13 on the left side X1 on the lower side Z2 with respect to the pivot shaft 12, an opening 13A penetrating the support member 13 in the left-right direction X is formed. The opening 13A is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the front-rear direction Y. Referring to fig. 2, which is a perspective view of the support member 13 on the left side X1, a circular opening 13B into which the rotating shaft 12 is inserted and the rotating unit 6 is positioned, and a rectangular opening 13C into which the lock release mechanism 7 is fitted, which is located on the front side Y1 of the opening 13B, are formed on the upper side Z1 of the opening 13A of the support member 13 on the left side X1.

Each support member 13 is formed with an inclined portion 13D having a front upper side corner cut off obliquely, and the entire region of the upper end portion closer to the rear side Y2 than the inclined portion 13D constitutes a flange portion 13E bent at substantially right angle to the side opposite to the washing tub 3 side in the left-right direction X. Here, the side of washing tub 3 in left-right direction X refers to the inside of support member 13, and is right side X2 in the case of support member 13 of left side X1, and left side X1 in the case of support member 13 of right side X2. Conversely, the side opposite to the side of washing tub 3 in left-right direction X refers to the outside of support member 13, and is left side X1 in the case of support member 13 of left side X1, and right side X2 in the case of support member 13 of right side X2.

Each support member 13 is integrally provided with a bent portion 13F bent toward the washing tub 3. The bent portion 13F includes a front bent portion 13G, a rear bent portion 13H, and a lower bent portion 13I. The front bent portion 13G is formed in a belt shape extending in the vertical direction Z by bending almost the entire region of the front end portion of the support member 13 closer to the lower side Z2 than the inclined portion 13D toward the washing tub 3 at a substantially right angle. The rear bent portion 13H is formed in a belt shape extending in the vertical direction Z by bending almost the entire rear end portion of the support member 13 to a substantially right angle toward the washing tub 3. The lower bent portion 13I is formed in a belt shape extending in the front-rear direction Y by bending the entire lower end portion of the support member 13 substantially at a right angle toward the washing tub 3.

These bent portions 13F can improve the rigidity of the support member 13, particularly the bending rigidity in the left-right direction X. The flange portion 13E provided at the upper end portion of the support member 13 also contributes to improvement in rigidity of the support member 13. Since the rigidity of the support member 13 is increased in this way, the resonance frequency of the entire support frame 4 including the support member 13 is increased, and thus, the vibration of the support frame 4 can be suppressed particularly during the spin-drying process when the inner tub 11 rotates at a high speed.

In the front side bent portion 13G and the rear side bent portion 13H, the upper side portion 13J is narrower in the left-right direction X than the lower side portion 13L by forming a slit 13K by cutting the two bent portions from the washing tub 3 side along the up-down direction Z, respectively. The cutout 13K is located at a position reachable by the washing tub 3 vibrating in the washing operation. Therefore, the washing tub 3 can be prevented from contacting the front-side bent portion 13G and the rear-side bent portion 13H during the washing operation. In an upper region of the lower portion 13L, a plurality of large or small through holes 13M are formed to penetrate the lower portion 13L in the front-rear direction Y. The end edge of the lower side region of the lower side portion 13L on the washing tub 3 side is formed in the following manner: and is inclined toward the opposite side of the washing tub 3 side as it goes toward the lower side Z2. Thereby, the lower area of the lower portion 13L becomes narrower in the left-right direction X as it goes to the lower side Z2.

Referring to fig. 3, which is a perspective view of washing machine 1 viewed from lower side Z2, receptacle 15 is fixed one by one to an upper region of lower portion 13L of each of front bent portion 13G and rear bent portion 13H. The receiving portion 15 is made of, for example, resin, and is formed in a box shape slightly long in the vertical direction Z. The receiving portion 15 is formed with a recess 15A recessed from its lower surface to the upper side Z1. The receiving portion 15 is disposed to face the lower portion 13L of the front folded portion 13G from the front side Y1, and to face the lower portion 13L of the rear folded portion 13H from the rear side Y2. The receiving portion 15 is positioned on the lower portion 13L by fitting a claw (not shown) provided on the receiving portion 15 into a part of the through hole 13M (see fig. 2) in the upper region of the lower portion 13L. The receiving portion 15 is fixed to the lower portion 13L by assembling a screw (not shown) penetrating through another through hole 13M in the upper region of the lower portion 13L to the positioning portion 15.

The elastic support member 5 is also called a hanger bar, and is formed in a vertically long bar shape having a friction damper 16 at a lower end portion. Four elastic support members 5 are provided, and one is disposed at each of four corners in the housing 2 in a plan view seen from the upper side Z1. These elastic support members 5 are suspended from an upper portion of the housing 2, more specifically, from a metal outer frame (not shown) constituting a part of the housing 2.

Of the two elastic support members 5 arranged in the front-rear direction on the left side X1, the lower end portion of the elastic support member 5 on the front side Y1 is coupled to the receiving portion 15 of the front side bent portion 13G of the support member 13 provided on the left side X1, and the lower end portion of the elastic support member 5 on the rear side Y2 is coupled to the receiving portion 15 of the rear side bent portion 13H of the support member 13 provided on the left side X1. Of the two elastic support members 5 arranged in the front-rear direction on the right side X2, the lower end of the elastic support member 5 on the front side Y1 is coupled to the receiving portion 15 of the front-side bent portion 13G of the support member 13 provided on the right side X2, and the lower end of the elastic support member 5 (not shown) on the rear side Y2 is coupled to the receiving portion 15 (not shown) of the rear-side bent portion 13H of the support member 13 provided on the right side X2.

The lower end portions of the elastic support members 5 are coupled to the receiving portion 15 by fitting into the recess 15A of the receiving portion 15 from the lower side Z2, and are attached to the front bent portion 13G and the rear bent portion 13H via the receiving portion 15. The rod-like portion of the elastic support member closer to the upper side Z1 than the lower end portion penetrates the receiving portion 15, extends toward the upper side Z1 of the receiving portion 15, and is connected to the outer frame (not shown). Thus, the support frame 4 having the support member 13, the washing tub 3 supported by the support frame 4, and the motor (not shown) for rotating the inner tub 11 are elastically supported by the elastic support member 5.

The elastic support member 5 attached to the front-side bent portion 13G and the rear-side bent portion 13H bent from the support member 13 toward the washing tub 3 in the left-right direction X is not disposed so as to protrude outward of the support member 13 on the side opposite to the washing tub 3, but disposed on the side of the washing tub 3, i.e., inside the support member 13. This can reduce the size of the washing machine 1 in the left-right direction X. This can save the installation space of the washing machine 1. Therefore, even in the washing machine 1 having a structure for rotating the washing tub 3, such as the rotating unit 6, the lock release mechanism 7, and the drive mechanism 8, the size can be controlled to be the same as that of a normal washing machine not having such a structure, and therefore, the washing machine can be installed in a waterproof tray having an existing size.

The beam members 14 are formed in a columnar shape elongated in the left-right direction X, and two are provided. The beam members 14 are respectively bridged between the front end portions and between the rear end portions of the lower bent portions 13I of the pair of support members 13. This can further improve the rigidity of each support member 13 and the rigidity of the entire support frame 4. Therefore, since the twisting between the pair of support members 13 can be suppressed, the load imposed on the rotating shaft 12 of the washing tub 3 due to the twisting can be suppressed.

The turning portion 6 is a metal plate which is thin in the left-right direction X and is formed in a substantially fan shape bulging toward the front side Y1 when viewed in the left-right direction X. The rotating portion 6 has an outer peripheral edge 6A formed in an arc shape along the rotating direction K and bulging toward the front side Y1. A through hole 6B penetrating the rotating portion 6 in the left-right direction X is formed in the rotating portion 6 at a position that coincides with the center of curvature of the outer peripheral edge 6A. A plurality of, here five, recesses 6C are formed in the outer peripheral edge 6A. These concave portions 6C are recessed in the through holes 6B, penetrate the rotating portion 6 in the left-right direction X, and are arranged in line in the rotating direction K. The interval between adjacent recesses 6C may be constant or may vary depending on the position of the rotating portion 6. In the present embodiment, in the rotating portion 6 in the posture of fig. 3, two recesses 6C located on the rearmost side Y2 and the positions immediately before the rearmost side Y2 are spaced apart by 10 degrees in the rotating direction K, that is, in the circumferential direction around the through hole 6B, and the other adjacent recesses 6C are uniformly spaced apart by 15 degrees, corresponding to the rotation angle θ set at 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees.

The rotating unit 6 is disposed closer to the left side X1 than the support member 13 of the left side X1. The rotation shaft 12 of the outer tub 10 of the washing tub 3, which protrudes to the left X1 and penetrates the support member 13 of the left X1, is inserted through the through hole 6B of the rotation part 6 and fixed to the rotation part 6. Thus, the rotating portion 6 is integrally rotatably connected to the washing tub 3 via the rotating shaft 12.

In the rotating portion 6 in the posture of fig. 3, an extension portion 6D protruding downward Z2, specifically, outward in the radial direction R of the rotating portion 6 around the through hole 6B is integrally provided at the rear end of the outer peripheral edge 6A. The extension portion 6D is formed in a plate shape that is long in the radial direction R and thin in the left-right direction X. The extension portion 6D is formed with a guide hole 6E that is long in the radial direction R and penetrates the extension portion 6D in the left-right direction X. Both ends of the guide hole 6E in the longitudinal direction are in a closed state. The guide hole 6E is located at the same position in the vertical direction Z as the opening 13A of the support member 13 on the left side X1. The guide hole 6E always faces the opening 13A from the left side X1 regardless of the rotation angle θ being 5 to 60 degrees.

The lock release mechanism 7 is fixed to the left side surface of the support member 13 of the left side X1. The lock release mechanism 7 includes a main body portion 17 and a lock portion 18. An actuator (not shown) such as a solenoid is provided in the main body 17. The lock portion 18 is formed in a convex shape protruding rearward and upward from the main body portion 17 to the rear side Y2, and is supported by the main body portion 17 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction Y. The actuator of the main body portion 17 operates to slide the lock portion 18 between an entry position entering toward the rearmost side Y2 and a withdrawal position withdrawing toward the foremost side Y1.

The locking portion 18 of fig. 3 is in the entry position. When any one of the recesses 6C of the rotating portion 6 is located at the same position as the lock portion 18 in the rotating direction K, the lock portion 18 enters the entering position and fits into the recess 6C at the same position in the rotating direction K. Thereby, the rotation of the rotating part 6 and the washing tub 3 is locked. In this state, when the locking portion 18 is retracted to the retracted position, the locking portion 18 is separated from the recess 6C, and thus the locking of the rotating portion 6 and the washing tub 3 is released.

In fig. 3, the lock 18 in the entry position is in a state of being fitted into the recess 6C located on the uppermost side Z1 and located on the frontmost side Y1. At this time, the rotation of the rotating part 6 and the washing tub 3 is locked in a state where the rotation angle θ (refer to fig. 1) is 60 degrees. As the recess 6C into which the lock 18 is fitted becomes the other recess 6C located at the rear side Y2, the rotation angle θ becomes smaller, and in a state where the lock 18 is fitted into the recess 6C of the rearmost side Y2, the rotation angle θ becomes 5 degrees, and the rotation of the rotating part 6 and the washing tub 3 is locked.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism 8. Referring to fig. 4, driving mechanism 8 is a mechanism for rotating washing tub 3, and includes base portion 30, support portion 31, threaded shaft 32, motor 33, coupling 34, nut member 35, and sensor 36.

The base portion 30 is formed by bending a metal plate, for example, and integrally includes a vertical wall 37 and a pair of upper and lower lateral walls 38. The vertical wall 37 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is thin in the left-right direction X and long in the front-rear direction Y. The lateral wall 38 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is thin in the vertical direction Z and long in the front-rear direction Y. Of the pair of lateral walls 38, the lateral wall 38 of the upper side Z1 extends continuously from the entire upper end region of the vertical wall 37 toward the left side X1, and the lateral wall 38 of the lower side Z2 extends continuously from the entire lower end region of the vertical wall 37 toward the left side X1.

The left end portion of each lateral wall 38 is formed as a flange portion 38A so as to be bent substantially at right angles outward in the vertical direction Z over the entire region in the front-rear direction Y. The flange 38A of the lateral wall 38 of the upper Z1 is formed so as to bend toward the upper Z1, and the flange 38A of the lateral wall 38 of the lower Z2 is formed so as to bend toward the lower Z2. Each flange 38A has a threaded hole 38B formed therein.

In this way, the base portion 30 is formed so as to be partially bent in a crank shape at the boundary line between the vertical wall 37 and the horizontal wall 38 and the peripheral edge of the flange portion 38A. The base portion 30 has a housing space 30A surrounded by a vertical wall 37 and a pair of upper and lower lateral walls 38. In the housing space 30A, the support portion 31, the threaded shaft 32, the coupling 34, the nut member 35, and the sensor 36 are housed.

Base portion 30 is disposed between support member 13 of left side X1 and washing tub 3 so as to be aligned in left-right direction X with respect to washing tub 3, and a pair of upper and lower flange portions 38A are disposed so as to face the peripheral edge portions of opening 13A of support member 13 of left side X1 from right side X2 (see fig. 1). The screw 39 (see fig. 1) attached to the support member 13 on the left side X1 is also attached to the screw hole 38B of each flange portion 38A, whereby the base portion 30 is attached to the support member 13 on the left side X1. Since the base portion 30 formed by partially bending as described above can improve rigidity, the support member 13 is reinforced by the base portion 30. This can further improve the rigidity of the support member 13. The housing space 30A of the base portion 30 is exposed from the support member 13 on the left side X1 to the left side X1 through the opening 13A (see fig. 1).

The pair of supporting portions 31 are provided so as to be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction Y, the supporting portion 31 of the front side Y1 is disposed at the front end portion of the vertical wall 37 of the base portion 30, and the supporting portion 31 of the rear side Y2 is disposed at the rear end portion of the vertical wall 37. Each support portion 31 is formed by bending a metal plate, for example. Each support portion 31 integrally includes a main body portion 40 and a base portion 41. The body portion 40 is plate-shaped and thin in the front-rear direction Y, and is disposed so as to protrude from the left side surface of the vertical wall 37 of the base portion 30 toward the left side X1. The ring-shaped bearing 42 is attached to the main body 40 so as to penetrate the main body 40 in the front-rear direction Y. The base 41 is a plate-like thin in the left-right direction X. The support portion 31 of the front side Y1 has a base portion 41 extending from the lower end of the body portion 40 toward the front side Y1 and arranged to overlap the front end of the vertical wall 37 from the left side X1. The support portion 31 of the rear side Y2 has a base portion 41 extending from the lower end of the body portion 40 to the rear side Y2 and arranged to overlap the rear end portion of the vertical wall 37 from the left side X1. The respective support portions 31 are fixed to the base portion 30 by assembling screws 43 to the base portion 41 and the vertical wall 37.

The screw shaft 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in an elongated manner in the front-rear direction Y, and has a screw thread 32A extending in a spiral shape over substantially the entire outer peripheral surface thereof. In the drawings other than fig. 4, the thread 32A of the threaded shaft 32 is not shown for convenience of explanation. The front end of the screw shaft 32 is inserted into the annular bearing 42 of the support part 31 of the front side Y1, and the rear end of the screw shaft 32 is inserted into the annular bearing 42 of the support part 31 of the rear side Y2. In this state, the screw shaft 32 is supported at both ends by the pair of front and rear support portions 31 in a rotatable manner.

The motor 33 is a general electric motor, and has an output shaft 44 projecting toward the rear side Y2 and disposed coaxially with the screw shaft 32. A plate-shaped bracket 45 that is thin in the front-rear direction Y is attached to the motor 33 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 disposed opposite to the portion of the distal end portion of the screw shaft 32 that protrudes toward the front side Y1 from the main body portion 40 of the support portion 31 of the front side Y1 from the front side Y1. An upper end portion and a lower end portion of a left end portion of the bracket 45 are bent at substantially right angles to the rear side Y2 as a pair of upper and lower flange portions 45A, and a screw hole 45B is formed in each flange portion 45A.

Motor 33 is disposed between support member 13 of left side X1 and washing tub 3 on front side Y1 with respect to base portion 30, and flange portions 45A of bracket 45 are disposed facing each other from right side X2 to the peripheral edge portion of opening 13A of support member 13 of left side X1 (see fig. 1). The motor 33 is fixed to the support member 13 of the left side X1 via the bracket 45 by also attaching the screws 46 (see fig. 1) attached to the support member 13 of the left side X1 to the screw holes 45B of the respective flange portions 45A. The motor 33 in this state is exposed to the left side X1 from the support member 13 of the left side X1 through the opening 13A (see fig. 1).

The coupling 34 includes: a cylindrical output portion 47 externally fitted to a rear end portion of the output shaft 44 of the motor 33 so as to be integrally rotatable, a cylindrical input portion 48 externally fitted to a front end portion of the screw shaft 32 so as to be integrally rotatable, and a buffer portion 49 disposed between the output portion 47 and the input portion 48. The cylindrical output section 47 has a plurality of protruding sections 47A arranged along the circumferential direction thereof and protruding toward the rear side Y2. The cylindrical input portion 48 has a plurality of protruding portions 48A arranged along the circumferential direction thereof and protruding toward the front side Y1. The protruding portions 47A and the protruding portions 48A are alternately arranged one by one in the circumferential direction of the output portion 47 and the input portion 48. Between the adjacent protruding

portions

47A and 48A, a buffer portion 49 is disposed. The buffer portion 49 is made of an elastic body such as rubber or a spring. The output shaft 44 and the threaded shaft 32 are connected via the coupling 34 so as to be integrally rotatable. Therefore, when the motor 33 is driven so that the output shaft 44 rotates, the screw shaft 32 rotates integrally with the output shaft 44.

The nut member 35 includes a body 50, a coupling portion 51, and a detection portion 52. The main body portion 50 is formed as a ring-shaped nut having a screw thread (not shown) extending spirally on an inner peripheral surface thereof, and is externally fitted to the screw shaft 32 so as to be screwed to the screw thread 32A of the screw shaft 32. When the screw shaft 32 is rotated by the driving of the motor 33, the nut member 35 moves as a whole in the axial direction of the screw shaft 32, i.e., the front-rear direction Y, as the screw shaft 32 is rotated.

The coupling portion 51 is formed by bending a metal plate, for example, and integrally includes a first portion 51A, a second portion 51B, and a third portion 51C. The first portion 51A is formed in a plate shape that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and extends in the up-down direction Z, and is fixed to the main body 50 by a screw 53. The second portion 51B is formed in a plate shape that is thin in the left-right direction X and extends in the up-down direction Z, and is disposed so as to protrude from the left end edge of the first portion 51A toward the front side Y1 and protrude from the housing space 30A of the base portion 30 toward the left side X1, and faces the main body portion 50 from the left side X1 (see also fig. 6 described later). The second portion 51B is formed with a through hole 51D penetrating the second portion 51B in the left-right direction X.

The second portion 51B faces the extension portion 6D of the rotating portion 6 from the right side X2, and the coupling pin 54 (see fig. 1) inserted into the guide hole 6E of the extension portion 6D from the left side X1 is inserted into the through hole 51D. The coupling pin 54 cannot be removed from each through hole 51D and the guide hole 6E, and the nut member 35 is coupled to the rotating portion 6 via the coupling pin 54. Therefore, when the nut member 35 moves in the front-rear direction Y with the rotation of the screw shaft 32, the rotating portion 6 is pulled in the front-rear direction Y by the nut member 35, thereby rotating with the washing tub 3. When the rotating portion 6 rotates, the coupling pin 54 moves in the guide hole 6E along the longitudinal direction of the guide hole 6E. The third portion 51C is formed in a plate shape that is thin in the vertical direction Z, protrudes from the lower end edge of the first portion 51A to the front side Y1, and faces the main body portion 50 from the lower side Z2.

The detection section 52 is formed in a plate shape that is thin in the left-right direction X, and integrally includes a fixing section 52A and a distal end section 52B. The fixing portion 52A is disposed so as to overlap the third portion 51C of the coupling portion 51 from the lower side Z2, and is fixed to the third portion 51C by a screw 55. The distal end portion 52B is also referred to as a stopper, and is formed in a rod shape extending from the distal end portion of the fixing portion 52A to the right side X2.

The sensor 36 is a sensor for detecting the rotation angle θ of the washing tub 3 based on the position of the nut member 35 in the front-rear direction Y, and an optical non-contact sensor such as an optical sensor can be used as the sensor 36. When the optical sensor is used, a groove 36A that is recessed toward the right side X2 and penetrates the sensor 36 in the front-rear direction Y is formed on the left side surface of the sensor 36, and the sensor 36 detects light in a state where the groove 36A is cut transversely in the vertical direction Z. The number of the sensors 36 is the same as the number of the recesses 6C of the rotating portion 6, in other words, there are five sensors in the present embodiment, and the respective grooves 36A are arranged in the front-rear direction Y in the lower region of the vertical wall 37 of the base portion 30 so as to overlap each other when viewed from the front-rear direction Y. Each sensor 36 is fixed to the vertical wall 37 by a screw 56. The interval between adjacent sensors 36 is set so as to correspond to the interval between adjacent recesses 6C. Therefore, in the present embodiment, although the intervals between adjacent sensors 36 among the four sensors 36 on the rear side Y2 are fixed, the intervals between two sensors 36 located on the frontmost side Y1 and the positions adjacent thereto are narrower than the intervals between the other adjacent sensors 36.

When the nut member 35 moves in the front-rear direction Y with the rotation of the screw shaft 32, the front end portion 52B of the detected portion 52 provided to the nut member 35 passes through the groove 36A of each sensor 36. In a state where the tip portion 52B is fitted into the groove 36A, the detection light of the groove 36A is blocked by the tip portion 52B.

As shown in fig. 4, in a state where front end portion 52B of detected part 52 is fitted into groove 36A of sensor 36 on rearmost side Y2, lock part 18 is located on uppermost side Z1 and at the same position as recess 6C of foremost side Y1 in rotation direction K, and rotation angle θ of washing tub 3 is 60 degrees (see fig. 1). On the other hand, in a state where front end portion 52B of detected part 52 is fitted in groove 36A of sensor 36 on foremost side Y1, lock part 18 is located at the same position in rotation direction K as recess 6C of rearmost side Y2 in fig. 1, and rotation angle θ of washing tub 3 is 5 degrees. When the rotation angle θ is any one of 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees, the distal end portion 52B of the detection portion 52 is in a state of being fitted into the groove 36A of any one of the sensors 36. Therefore, the five sensors 36 collectively detect the detected portion 52 of the nut member 35 in a non-contact manner, thereby detecting which of 5 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees the rotation angle θ is.

Fig. 5 is a left side view of the support member 13 and the drive mechanism 8 of the left side X1, and fig. 6 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 5. In fig. 6, the front side bent portion 13G is illustrated by a broken line for convenience of explanation. Referring to fig. 6, although drive mechanism 8 is arranged such that second portion 51B of connection portion 51 protrudes to left side X1 from support member 13 of left side X1, drive mechanism 8 is almost entirely arranged inside support member 13 of left side X1, that is, between support member 13 and washing tub 3. Specifically, most of the driving mechanism 8 excluding the second portion 51B is disposed so as to be housed inside the outlines of the front side bent portion 13G and the rear side bent portion 13H of the support member 13 on the left side X1 when viewed from the front-rear direction Y. In this way, since the drive mechanism 8 is disposed between the support member 13 and the washing tub 3, instead of being disposed so as to protrude outward of the support member 13, the washing machine 1 can be downsized in the left-right direction X. This can save the installation space of the washing machine 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of washing machine 1 of a modification as viewed from lower side Z2. In the above-described embodiment, the support frame 4 includes a pair of support members 13 and a columnar beam member 14 (see fig. 3) that is bridged between the pair of support members 13. Instead, as shown in fig. 7, the support frame 4 may be a U-shaped integral member integrally including the pair of support members 13 and a flat plate-like bottom member 60 bridged between the lower end portions of the pair of support members 13. The integrated object support frame 4 can improve the rigidity of each support member 13 and also improve the rigidity of the entire support frame 4. Therefore, since the twisting between the pair of support members 13 can be suppressed, the load imposed on the rotating shaft 12 of the washing tub 3 due to the twisting can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims.

Further, the lock release mechanism 7 and the recess 6C of the rotating portion 6 may be omitted as long as the movement of the nut member 35 in the front-rear direction Y, that is, the rotation of the washing tub 3 can be restricted when the driving of the motor 33 is stopped. This allows stepless adjustment of the rotation angle θ.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a washing tub for accommodating the laundry and capable of rotating in a manner of intersecting with the vertical direction;

a supporting member disposed outside the washing tub to rotatably support the washing tub;

a bending part provided on the support member and bending toward the washing tub; and

an elastic support member attached to the bent portion and elastically supporting the support member;

the supporting member is formed with an inclined part which cuts off the angle of the front upper side in an inclined way, and the whole area of the upper end part which is closer to the rear side than the inclined part forms a flange part which is bent to a nearly right angle towards the outer side of the supporting member;

the bending part comprises a front bending part, a rear bending part and a lower bending part; the front side bent part is formed into a belt shape extending along the vertical direction by bending almost the whole area of the front end part of the supporting member which is closer to the lower side than the inclined part to the washing tub side to form a nearly right angle; the rear side bent part is formed into a belt shape extending along the vertical direction by bending almost the whole area of the rear end part of the supporting member to the washing tub side to form a right angle; the lower bent portion is formed in a band shape extending in the front-rear direction by bending the entire lower end portion of the support member to a substantially right angle toward the washing tub.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein,

the washing machine comprises a driving mechanism which is arranged between the supporting member and the washing barrel and rotates the washing barrel.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein,

the drive mechanism includes a base portion that is formed so as to be partially bent and that is attached to the support member.

4. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a pair of the supporting members are provided to sandwich the washing tub,

the washing machine includes a beam member erected between a pair of the support members.

5. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

a pair of the supporting members are provided to sandwich the washing tub,

the washing machine includes a support frame which is an integrated body support frame integrally having a pair of the support members and a bottom member erected between lower end portions of the pair of the support members.