CN112424411A

CN112424411A - Vertical washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN112424411A
Application number: CN201980044674.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 铃木肇
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd; Aqua Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-26
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Also published as: WO2020020268A1; JP2020014720A; JP7141054B2

Abstract

A vertical washing machine capable of preventing laundry from flying out and increasing the amount of laundry contained therein. A vertical washing machine (1) comprises: a washing tub (4) having an inlet/outlet (21) formed in an upper end thereof in a state of being always open; a rotary wing (5) disposed on the bottom wall (4B) in the washing tub (4); a water supply nozzle (12) facing the inlet/outlet (21); and a control unit (35). The control section (35) executes a water supply process including: a spray treatment for spraying water from a water supply nozzle (12) to the laundry (Q1) on the inlet/outlet (21) side in the washing tub (4) through a water supply valve (13); a tub rotation process of rotating the washing tub (4) by a motor (6); and a final process of storing water into the washing tub (4) through the water supply valve (13) after the spraying process and the tub rotating process. After the water supply process, the control part (35) executes the following washing process: the motor (6) rotates the rotary blade (5) in a state where water is stored in the washing tub (4), thereby stirring the laundry (Q) in the washing tub (4).

Description

Vertical washing machine

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vertical washing machine.

Background

The washing machine described in the following patent document 1 is a vertical type washing machine including: the spin dryer comprises a box-shaped box body, a cylindrical outer barrel with a bottom accommodated in the box body, a cylindrical dehydration barrel with a bottom accommodated in the outer barrel and used for accommodating washings, and a rotating wing arranged in the dehydration barrel along the bottom wall of the dehydration barrel. An opening and an outer door for opening and closing the opening are provided on the upper surface of the case. An inlet and an outlet facing the opening of the case from below and an inner door opening and closing the inlet and the outlet are provided at the upper end of the outer tub. An inlet and an outlet are arranged at the upper end of the dewatering barrel, and the inlet and the outlet are opposite to the inlet and the outlet of the outer barrel from the lower part. The outer tub and the dewatering tub have their respective inlets and outlets opened and closed together by an inner door. During the washing operation of the washing machine, the laundry in the spin-drying tub is agitated by the rotating wings.

During the washing process of the vertical washing machine, the rotating rotary wings push the washed objects upwards. Therefore, in the washing machine described in patent document 1, an inner door for closing the entrance of the spin-drying tub is provided so that the laundry on the upper side does not fly out of the entrance with the rotation of the rotary vane. In this case, the laundry cannot be accommodated in the spin-drying tub at a position higher than the inner door, and thus it is difficult to increase the amount of laundry accommodated.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 6350874

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 vertical type washing machine which can prevent laundry from flying out and increase the amount of laundry contained.

Means for solving the problems

The invention is a vertical washing machine, comprising: an outer tub capable of storing water; a driving unit generating a driving force; a washing tub disposed in the outer tub and receiving laundry, the washing tub having an entrance for the laundry formed in an upper end thereof in a constantly open state and a bottom wall provided at a lower end thereof, the washing tub being rotated by receiving a driving force of the driving unit; a rotary wing disposed on the bottom wall in the washing tub and rotated by receiving a driving force of the driving unit; a water supply nozzle facing the inlet and outlet; a water supply unit supplying water into the washing tub at least from the water supply nozzle; and a control unit controlling the driving unit and the water supply unit, the control unit performing a water supply process and a washing process, the water supply process including: a spraying process of spraying water from the water supply nozzle to the laundry at the inlet and outlet sides in the washing tub by the water supply unit; a tub rotating process of rotating the washing tub by the driving unit; and a final process of storing water into the washing tub by the water supply unit after the spraying process and the tub rotating process, the washing process being a process of: after the water supply process, the rotation wing is rotated by the driving unit in a state that water is stored in the washing tub, thereby agitating the laundry in the washing tub.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the water supply nozzle has a water injection port provided at a side surface portion of the washing tub on the rotation axis side and a lower surface portion of the water supply nozzle.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the vertical type washing machine further includes a detection unit which detects a load amount of the laundry in the washing tub before the water supply process, and the control unit omits the spray process and the tub rotation process during the water supply process in a case where the detection unit detects a load amount smaller than a prescribed value.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, in the vertical washing machine, the entrance and exit formed at the upper end of the washing tub for accommodating laundry is always open. That is, since the vertical washing machine does not have an inner door for opening and closing the doorway, the washing tub can receive laundry up to the upper end of the doorway. Therefore, the vertical washing machine can maintain the external dimension and increase the accommodating amount of the washing.

In the vertical washing machine, water is sprayed from a water supply nozzle to laundry on an inlet and outlet side in a washing tub by a spray process in a water supply process before a washing process, and the washing tub is rotated by a tub rotation process. The laundry located at the inlet and outlet sides in the washing tub is wetted in all directions by the spray treatment and the tub rotation treatment, and is deviated to the lower side of the inlet and outlet, thereby functioning as a cover such as the inner door. Therefore, even if the rotating wing rotating in the washing process after the water supply process pushes up the laundry in the washing tub, the laundry in the washing tub can be prevented from flying out from the entrance.

Further, according to the present invention, the water jetting port is provided in the water supply nozzle at the side surface portion on the rotation axis side of the washing tub and the lower surface portion of the water supply nozzle, and therefore, the water jetted from the jetting port is easily sprayed onto the laundry located at the inlet and outlet side of the washing tub. Thus, in the spray process, the laundry located at the outlet side in the washing tub can be effectively wetted by the water sprayed from the spray port of the water supply nozzle.

Further, according to the present invention, in case that the load amount of the laundry in the washing tub is less than a prescribed value, the spraying process and the tub rotating process are omitted during the water supply. In other words, in the case of a large capacity in which the load amount of the laundry is a predetermined value or more, the spraying process and the tub rotating process are performed during the water supply process, and thus the laundry in the washing tub can be prevented from flying out of the inlet and outlet.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of a vertical type washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a water supply nozzle included in the vertical type washing machine.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the water supply nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of a washing tub and a water supply nozzle included in the vertical type washing machine.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the vertical washing machine.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a washing operation performed in the vertical washing machine.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a water supply process during the washing operation.

Fig. 8 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of the vertical type washing machine in a washing operation.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a vertical washing machine; 3: an outer tub; 4: a washing tub; 4B: a bottom wall; 5: a rotary wing; 6: a motor; 12: a water supply nozzle; 12A: a lower surface portion; 12B: a front side portion; 13: a water supply valve; 21: an entrance and an exit; 29: an ejection port; 35: a control unit; 39: a rotational speed reading device; j: the rotation axis of the washing tub 4; q: washing the article; q1: the laundry on the side of the doorway 21.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical right side view of a vertical type 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 vertical washing machine 1, the horizontal direction in fig. 1 is referred to as a front-rear direction Y of the vertical washing machine 1, and a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in fig. 1 is referred to as a horizontal direction X of the vertical washing machine 1. 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 left side in fig. 1 is referred to as a front side Y1, and the right side in fig. 1 is referred to as a rear side Y2. In the left-right direction X, the back side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a left side X1, and the front side of the drawing sheet of fig. 1 is referred to as a right side X2.

The vertical washing machine 1 includes: the washing machine includes a casing 2, an outer tub 3, a washing tub 4, a rotary wing 5, a motor 6 as an example of a driving unit, a transmission mechanism 7, a water guide cover 8, a water discharge passage 9, a water discharge valve 10, a water supply passage 11, a water supply nozzle 12, and a water supply valve 13 as an example of a water supply unit.

The case 2 is made of, for example, metal and is formed in a box shape. The portion of the case 2 constituting the upper end portions of the upper surface 2A and the rear surface 2B is an upper panel, and may be configured to be detachably attached to the case 2. An opening 14 communicating the inside and outside of the case 2 is formed in a front region of the upper surface 2A. The box 2 is provided with a tube portion 15 that wraps the opening portion 14 and extends downward Z2. The inner space of the cylindrical portion 15 is a part of the opening 14. A door 16 for opening and closing the opening 14 is provided on the upper surface 2A. In the upper surface 2A, a display operation portion 17 including a liquid crystal operation panel and the like is provided in a region around the opening portion 14. The user of the vertical washing machine 1 can freely select the operation conditions of the washing operation performed in the vertical washing machine 1, or instruct the vertical washing machine 1 to start or stop the washing operation, or the like, by operating the display operation unit 17. The display operation unit 17 displays information for the user.

The outer tub 3 is made of, for example, resin and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The tub 3 is disposed in the casing 2 and elastically supported by the casing 2 via a hanger (not shown). The outer tub 3 has: a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 3A disposed along the vertical direction Z; a bottom wall 3B that blocks the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the lower side Z2; and a ring-shaped annular wall 3C that borders an upper end edge of the circumferential wall 3A and protrudes toward the center side of the circumferential wall 3A. Inside the annular wall 3C, a port 18 communicating with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the upper side Z1 is formed. The doorway 18 faces the opening 14 of the box body 2 from the lower side Z2, and communicates with the opening 14. The annular wall 3C is not provided with an inner door for opening and closing the doorway 18, and the doorway 18 is always open. The bottom wall 3B is formed into a substantially horizontally extending disk shape, and a through hole 3D penetrating the bottom wall 3B is formed at a center position of the bottom wall 3B. The outer tub 3 can store water.

The washing tub 4 is made of, for example, metal, is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape one turn smaller than the outer tub 3, and is coaxially arranged in the outer tub 3. The washing tub 4 in a state of being accommodated in the outer tub 3 is rotatable about a rotation axis J extending in the vertical direction Z through the center of the washing tub 4. The rotation axis J is also the center of the outer tub 3, and the rotation direction of the washing tub 4 coincides with the circumferential direction P around the rotation axis J. Hereinafter, the radial direction about the rotation axis J is referred to as a radial direction R, and the side of the radial direction R away from the rotation axis J is referred to as a radial direction inner side R1 and a radial direction outer side R2.

The washing tub 4 can accommodate laundry Q therein. The washing tub 4 has: a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 4A disposed along the vertical direction Z; and a bottom wall 4B provided at a lower end of washing tub 4 to block a hollow portion of circumferential wall 4A from lower side Z2.

The inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A of the washing tub 4 is the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub 4. An annular balance ring 19 extending in the circumferential direction P is fitted to an upper end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A. The balance ring 19 is, for example, a hollow body made of resin. The balance ring 19 contains a liquid for balancing the rotation of the washing tub 4 in a free-flowing manner. An annular rib 20 protruding upward Z1 and extending in the circumferential direction P is provided on the upper end surface of the balance ring 19. The upper end of the rib 20 is inserted through the inlet 18 of the tub 3, and the upper end of the rib 20 protrudes from the inlet 18 to the upper side Z1. The balancing ring 19 and the ribs 20 constitute the upper end of the washing tub 4. The area enclosed by the balance ring 19 and the rib 20 is an access opening 21 formed at the upper end of the washing tub 4. The doorway 21 faces the opening 14 of the box body 2 from the lower side Z2, and communicates with the opening 14. The upper end of the doorway 21 is located at the same height as the doorway 18. The user takes in the laundry Q from the upper side Z1 to the washing tub 4 through the opened opening 14, the entrances and exits 18 and 21.

The inlet/outlet 21 of the washing tub 4 is always opened, like the inlet/outlet 18 of the outer tub 3. That is, since the vertical washing machine 1 does not have an inner door for opening and closing the doorway 21, the laundry Q can be accommodated in the washing tub 4 up to the upper end of the doorway 21, that is, the upper end of the rib 20. Thus, the washing tub 4 can accommodate as much as 1kg to 2kg of the laundry Q, as compared with the case where the inner door is present. Thereby, the vertical washing machine 1 can maintain the outer size and increase the containing amount of the laundry Q. That is, the vertical washing machine 1 can achieve both downsizing and large capacity. The rib 20 functions as a mark indicating the upper limit position of the laundry Q that can be stored.

The bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4 is formed in a disc shape, extends substantially parallel to the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3 at an interval on the upper side Z1, and has a through hole 4C penetrating the bottom wall 4B at a center position of the bottom wall 4B coinciding with the rotation axis J. A tubular support shaft 25 is provided on the bottom wall 4B, and the support shaft 25 surrounds the through hole 4C and projects toward the lower side Z2 along the rotation axis J. The support shaft 25 is inserted through the through hole 3D of the bottom wall 3B of the tub 3, and the lower end of the support shaft 25 is positioned below the bottom wall 3B Z2. A plurality of through holes 4D different from the through holes 4C are formed in the circumferential wall 4A and the bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4. The water in the outer tub 3 flows between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4 through the through hole 4D. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 is identical to the water level in the washing tub 4. The through-holes 4D may be provided only in the bottom wall 4B, not in the circumferential wall 4A.

The rotary blade 5, a so-called pulsator, is formed in a disk shape with the rotation axis J as a center, and is disposed on the bottom wall 4B in the washing tub 4. The rotary wing 5 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 5A protruding upward Z1 and radially arranged around the rotation axis J on the upper surface facing the inlet 21 of the washing tub 4. A plurality of back blades 5B radially arranged around the rotation axis J are provided on the lower surface of the rotary wing 5. The rotary wing 5 is provided with a rotary shaft 26 extending from the center thereof along the rotation axis J to the lower side Z2. The rotation shaft 26 is inserted through the hollow portion of the support shaft 25, and the lower end of the rotation shaft 26 is located at a lower side Z2 of the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3.

The motor 6 is an electric motor such as an inverter motor. The motor 6 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the tub 3 in the casing 2. The motor 6 has an output shaft 27 that rotates about the rotation axis J, and generates a driving force to output the driving force from the output shaft 27.

A known clutch may be used as the transmission mechanism 7. The transmission mechanism 7 is interposed between the lower end portions of the support shaft 25 and the rotary shaft 26 and the upper end portion of the output shaft 27 protruding upward Z1 from the motor 6. The transmission mechanism 7 selectively transmits the driving force output from the output shaft 27 of the motor 6 to one or both of the support shaft 25 and the rotary shaft 26. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the support shaft 25, the washing tub 4 receives the driving force of the motor 6 and rotates about the rotation axis J. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 26, the rotary wing 5 receives the driving force from the motor 6 and rotates around the rotation axis J.

The water guide cover 8 is in the form of a groove extending upward Z1 from the lower end of the circumferential wall 4A of the washing tub 4, and is made of, for example, resin, and is formed in an arc shape convexly curved inward in the radial direction R1 in a plan view cross section. The upper end of the water guide cover 8 is disposed at a height position just before the gimbal ring 19. The water guide cover 8 is fixed to the circumferential wall 4A so as to cover a portion of the circumferential wall 4A where the through-hole 4C is not formed from the radially inner side R1. Accordingly, water extraction passage 28 is formed between water guide cover 8 and circumferential wall 4A, and water extraction passage 28 extends from the lower end of circumferential wall 4A to upper side Z1 to the upper end of water guide cover 8 in washing tub 4. A plurality of water guide covers 8 may be provided, and in this case, a plurality of water suction passages 28 may be provided.

The lower end of the water suction passage 28 is connected from the radially outer side R2 to a space S in the inner space of the washing tub 4 in which the lower end of the back blade 5B of the rotary vane 5 is arranged. The lower end of the water suction path 28 is an inlet 28A communicating with the space S. A through hole 8A penetrating the water guide cover 8 in the radial direction R is formed in the upper end portion of the water guide cover 8. The portion exposed from the through hole 8A to the radial inner side R1 at the upper end portion of the water pumping path 28 serves as an outlet 28B.

The drainage channel 9 is a hose connected to the bottom wall 3B of the tub 3 from the lower side Z2. The water in the tub 3 is discharged from the drain path 9 to the outside of the body. The drain valve 10 is provided in the middle of the drain passage 22. The drain valve 10 is opened and closed to start or stop the drainage. The opened drain valve 10 is in an operating state and the closed drain valve 10 is in an inoperative state. The vertical washing machine 1 includes a torque motor 30 for opening and closing the drain valve 10. The torque motor 30 operates in conjunction with the rotation of the washing tub 4.

The water supply path 11 is a hose, and one end thereof is connected to a tap water. The other end of the water supply path 11 is disposed in the case 2 and connected to the water supply nozzle 12.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the water supply nozzle 12. Fig. 3 is a front view of the water supply nozzle 12 as viewed from the radially inner side R1, specifically, from the front side Y1. The water supply nozzle 12 is formed in a box shape long in the left-right direction X, and has a plurality of ejection openings 29. The water supply nozzle 12 is configured by combining a lower portion constituting a substantially lower half portion and an upper portion constituting a substantially upper half portion. The plurality of injection ports 29 include: a plurality of lower ejection ports 29A provided so as to be distributed over the entire area of the lower surface portion 12A of the water supply nozzle 12; and a plurality of lateral injection ports 29B provided in the water supply nozzle 12 at substantially the lower half of the front surface portion 12B of the radially inner side R1. For example, three rows of 19 lower injection ports 29A arranged in the left-right direction X are arranged in the front-rear direction Y. For example, a row of 19 lateral ejection ports 29B arranged in the left-right direction X is provided. The diameter of each jet port 29 is, for example, 5mm or less.

A right end portion of the rear surface portion of the water supply nozzle 12 is provided with a substantially triangular projecting portion 12C projecting toward the rear side Y2 in a bottom view. The lower surface of the projection 12C is flush with the lower surface 12A of the water supply nozzle 12, and the upper surface of the projection 12C is flush with the upper surface 12D of the water supply nozzle 12. A tubular coupling portion 12E protruding upward Z1 is provided on the upper surface of the protruding portion 12C. The other end of the water supply passage 11 is connected to the connection portion 12E.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the washing tub 4 and the water supply nozzle 12. The water supply nozzle 12 is fixed to the upper panel, for example, in the case 2. The water supply nozzle 12 is located near the inlet/outlet 21 of the washing tub 4 in the vertical direction Z and is arranged to overlap with the rear half region of the inlet/outlet 21 in plan view. That is, the water supply nozzle 12 is disposed facing the inlet/outlet 21 from the upper side Z1. The water supply valve 13 (see fig. 1) includes, for example, an electromagnetic valve. The water supply valve 13 is provided in the middle of the water supply path 11 and is opened and closed to start or stop water supply. The opened water supply valve 13 is in an operating state and the closed water supply valve 13 is in an inactive state. When the water supply valve 13 is opened, the tap water from the faucet flows into the water supply nozzle 12 through the water supply path 11, and is ejected from each of the ejection ports 29 of the water supply nozzle 12 and supplied into the washing tub 4. That is, water is supplied into the washing tub 4 from the water supply nozzle 12.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vertical washing machine 1. The vertical washing machine 1 includes a control unit 35 as an example of a control unit and a detection unit. The control unit 35 is configured as a microcomputer including, for example, a CPU36, a memory 37 such as a ROM or a RAM, and a timer 38 for timing, and is built in the casing 2 (see fig. 1).

The vertical washing machine 1 further includes a rotation speed reading device 39 and a water level sensor 40 as an example of the detection means. The rotation speed reading device 39 and the water level sensor 40, as well as the motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the drain valve 10, the water supply valve 13, and the display operation unit 17 described above are electrically connected to the control unit 35, respectively.

The rotation speed reading device 39 is a device that reads the rotation speed of the motor 6, strictly speaking, the rotation speed of the output shaft 27 of the motor 6, and includes, for example, a hall IC. The rotation speed read by the rotation speed reading device 39 is input to the control unit 35 in real time. The control unit 35 controls the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the motor 6 based on the input rotation speed, thereby controlling the motor 6 to rotate at a desired rotation speed. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the washing tub 4 is the same as the rotation speed of the motor 6, and the rotation speed of the rotary wing 5 is a value obtained by multiplying the rotation speed of the motor 6 by a predetermined constant such as a reduction ratio in the transmission mechanism 7. In short, the rotation number reading device 39 reads the rotation speed of the motor 6, and also reads the rotation speeds of the washing tub 4 and the rotary wing 5.

The water level sensor 40 is a sensor for detecting the water levels of the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4, and the detection result of the water level sensor 40 is inputted to the control part 35 in real time. As an example of the water level sensor 40, a pressure type water level sensor for detecting the water level in the washing tub 4 based on the pressure in the outer tub 3 can be used.

The controller 35 controls the transmission mechanism 7 to switch the transmission destination of the driving force of the motor 6 to one or both of the washing tub 4 and the rotary wing 5. The controller 35 controls opening and closing of the drain valve 10 and the water supply valve 13. When the user operates the display operation unit 17 to select an operation condition or the like, the control unit 35 receives the selection. The control unit 35 controls the display operation unit 17 according to the display content.

The controller 35 controls the operations of the motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the drain valve 10, and the water supply valve 13 to perform the washing operation. The washing operation has a water supply process of supplying water to the washing tub 4, a washing process of washing the laundry Q in the washing tub 4, a rinsing process of rinsing the laundry Q after the washing process, and a dehydration process of dehydrating the laundry Q by rotating the washing tub 4 after the rinsing process. The vertical washing machine 1 may be a washing and drying machine that performs a drying process for drying the laundry Q after the dehydration process. In the present embodiment, the rinsing process is performed twice, and the first rinsing process is referred to as a first rinsing process, and the second rinsing process is referred to as a second rinsing process.

When the user puts the laundry Q into the washing tub 4 and instructs to start the washing operation, the control unit 35 starts the washing operation. The user may put the detergent into the washing tub 4 before or after putting the laundry Q. Referring to the flowchart of fig. 6, first, control unit 35 detects the amount of laundry Q in washing tub 4, that is, the load amount (step S1). As an example of load amount detection, the control unit 35 detects the load amount based on the variation in the rotation speed of the motor 6 read by the rotation speed reading device 39 when the washing tub 4 is rotated stably at a low speed. Controller 35 then supplies water and determines the water level of the water stored in washing tub 4 based on the load amount detected immediately before. This water level is referred to as a washing water level. The relationship between the washing water level and the load amount is previously obtained by an experiment or the like and stored in the memory 37.

The control portion 35 performs the water supply process after detecting the load amount (step S2). Specifically, referring to the flowchart of fig. 7, first, the control unit 35 checks whether or not the load amount detected immediately before is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S21). When the load amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the volume of the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is large, and among the laundry Q, the laundry Q1 on the upper side Z1 is located near the upper end of the entrance 21 of the washing tub 4, that is, the upper end of the rib 20 (see fig. 1).

When the load amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (yes in step S21), the control unit 35 repeats the ejection process (step S22) and the tub rotation process (step S23) a predetermined number of times (for example, four times). As an example of the spray treatment, controller 35 opens water supply valve 13 for 20 seconds while washing tub 4 and rotary wing 5 are stationary. Thus, the tap water from the faucet is sprayed from each of the spray ports 29 of the water supply nozzle 12 to the laundry Q1 on the inlet/outlet 21 side in the washing tub 4. As a result, only the laundry Q1 on the upper side Z1 of the laundry Q in washing tub 4 is wetted. Specifically, in the laundry Q1, water (see the thick chain line arrow in fig. 8) ejected from the lower ejection port 29A to the lower side Z2 is poured onto a region immediately below the lower ejection port 29A of the water supply nozzle 12. In addition, in the laundry Q1, water (see the thick two-dot chain line arrow in fig. 8) sprayed from the horizontal spray ports 29B toward the front lower side is sprayed to the front area located around the horizontal spray ports 29B of the water supply nozzle 12. The front region is located on the front side of the just-under region. The water from the lower jet port 29A may be sprayed to the front region, and the water from the lateral jet port 29B may be sprayed to the directly-below region.

The injection pressure of the water from each injection port 29 is set to such a degree that the water injected from the injection port 29 to the laundry Q1 is not splashed from the inlet/outlet 21 to the outside of the washing tub 4. As a result, shower-like water having a low intensity is discharged from each of the discharge ports 29. As an example of the tub rotation process, the control unit 35 switches the transmission mechanism 7 as necessary so that the driving force of the motor 6 is transmitted to the washing tub 4, and then drives the motor 6 so as to rotate the washing tub 4, for example, 1/4 cycles. Since the region of laundry Q1 sprayed with water from injection port 29 is shifted in circumferential direction P by the tub rotation process, the region of laundry Q1 not wetted by the water from water supply nozzle 12 is arranged at a position where it can be sprayed with water. Accordingly, by repeating the spraying process and the tub rotating process, the wetted area of the laundry Q1 is changed, and thus the entire laundry Q1 is uniformly wetted.

In the tub rotation process, the torque motor 30 operates in conjunction with the rotation of the washing tub 4 to open the drain valve 10. The amount of water sprayed from the water supply nozzle 12 in the spraying process is set to a small amount to the extent that only the laundry Q1 is wetted. For example, of the water supply amounts corresponding to the above-described washing water levels, about 1/4 is allocated as the water supply amount for the spray treatment, and in this case, the amount of water discharged from the water supply nozzle 12 in one spray treatment is, for example, about 4L. Thereby, all the water ejected from the water supply nozzle 12 in the ejection process is absorbed by the laundry Q1. Therefore, even if the drain valve 10 is opened during the tub rotation process, the water sprayed from the water supply nozzle 12 is not discharged from the water discharge path 9, and therefore, the detergent previously put into the washing tub 4 can be prevented from flowing out from the water discharge path 9 along with the sprayed water.

After repeating the ejection process and the tub rotation process four times (yes in step S24), the control unit 35 executes the final process (step S25). On the other hand, when the load amount of the laundry Q is smaller than the predetermined value (no in step S21), the control unit 35 omits the spray process and the tub rotation process and executes only the final process. As a final process, the control part 35 continuously opens the water supply valve 13 in a state where the drain valve 10 is closed. This causes the water to be supplied into the washing tub 4, and the water level in the washing tub 4 rises. For example, a branch (not shown) branched from the water supply path 11 and connected to the outer tub 3 may be provided, and water may be supplied from the branch into the washing tub 4 without passing through the water supply nozzle 12 in the final treatment. When the water level in washing tub 4 rises to the washing water level determined immediately before, controller 35 closes water supply valve 13 to end the final treatment. When the water is stored into the washing tub 4 by the final treatment, the water supply process is finished.

Next, with reference to fig. 6, in a state where water is stored in washing tub 4, controller 35 executes a washing process (step S3). Specifically, after switching the transmission mechanism 7 as necessary to transmit the driving force of the motor 6 to the rotary wing 5, the control unit 35 drives the motor 6 to rotate the rotary wing 5 in a state where the washing tub 4 is to be stationary. Thereby, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is agitated and washed by the rotating blade 5. Moreover, the dirt of the laundry Q is decomposed by the detergent dissolved in water.

During washing, water in space S on the bottom wall 4B side in washing tub 4 is pushed radially outward R2 by back blade 5B of rotating rotor blade 5, is sent to inlet 28A of water suction passage 28, is drawn up in water suction passage 28, and is sprayed from above through outlet 28B to laundry Q1 in washing tub 4 (see thick dotted arrow in fig. 8). This removes or decomposes the dirt present in the portion of the laundry Q1 that is exposed upward to the water surface in the washing tub 4. The water poured onto the laundry Q1 circulates in such a manner as to flow into the space S and be again poured onto the laundry Q1 through the water suction path 28.

Then, when a predetermined washing time has elapsed, the control unit 35 opens the drain valve 10 to perform drainage of the washing tub 4. When the draining of the washing tub 4 is completed, the washing process is ended.

As shown in fig. 8, laundry Q1 located on the inlet/outlet 21 side in washing tub 4 is wetted in all directions by the spray process and the tub rotation process during the water supply process, and deviates toward inlet/outlet 21, more specifically, toward lower side Z2 of the lower end of gimbal ring 19, and functions as a lid such as the above-described inner door. Therefore, even if the rotating wing 5 rotating in the washing process after the water supply process tries to push up the laundry Q in the washing tub 4, the laundry Q1 functioning as a lid prevents the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 from flying out of the doorway 21.

In particular, since the water injection port 29 is provided in the front surface portion 12B and the lower surface portion 12A of the water supply nozzle 12, the water injected from the water injection port 29 is likely to be sprayed on the laundry Q1 located on the inlet/outlet 21 side of the washing tub 4. Thus, in the spray treatment, the laundry Q1 located on the inlet/outlet 21 side in the washing tub 4 can be effectively wetted with the water sprayed from the spray port 29 of the water supply nozzle 12.

On the other hand, in the case where the load amount of the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is less than the prescribed value (no in step S21), the spraying process and the tub rotating process are omitted during the water supply. In other words, only in the case of a large capacity in which the load amount of the laundry Q is a predetermined value or more, that is, only in the case where the possibility that the laundry Q flies out from the doorway 21 is high (yes in step S21), the spraying process and the tub rotating process are executed during the water supply. Thus, even when a large amount of laundry Q is stored in the washing tub 4 of the compact vertical washing machine 1, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 can be prevented from flying out of the doorway 21 during the washing process. It should be noted that the spraying process and the tub rotating process may be performed also in the case where the load amount of the laundry Q is less than a prescribed value.

Referring to fig. 6, the control part 35 rotates the washing tub 4 at a high speed as a dehydration process after the washing process, that is, an intermediate dehydration process (step S4). During the dehydration, the torque motor 30 operates in conjunction with the rotation of the washing tub 4, opening the drain valve 10. The laundry in the washing tub 4 is dehydrated by a centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the washing tub 4. The water seeped out of the laundry by the dehydration is discharged to the outside of the washing machine through the drainage path 9. At the final stage of the intermediate dehydration process, the control portion 35 switches the transmission mechanism 7 to stop the motor 6 so that the driving force of the motor 6 is not transmitted to the washing tub 4, and thus, the washing tub 4 is rotated inertially. At the end of the intermediate dehydration process, the control part 35 closes the drain valve 10.

Next, as the first rinsing process, the control unit 35 performs, for example, spray rinsing (step S5). Specifically, the controller 35 intermittently opens the water supply valve 13 with the drain valve 10 closed, thereby spraying water from the water supply nozzle 12 into the washing tub 4. In this state, the control unit 35 rotates the washing tub 4 at a low speed of, for example, 30rpm so that the shower is distributed over all corners of the laundry Q. Thereby, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is rinsed in all directions. After that, the control part 35 performs the same intermediate dehydrating process as step S4 (step S6). It should be noted that each intermediate dehydration process may be regarded as a part of the treatment in the immediately following rinsing process.

Next, the control section 35 executes the second rinsing process (step S7). As an example of the second rinsing process, the controller 35 may perform the shower rinsing as in the first rinsing process, or may perform the agitation rinsing of the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 by supplying water into the washing tub 4 to the washing water level and then rotating the rotary wing 5.

Finally, the control section 35 performs the same final dehydration process as the intermediate dehydration process (step S8). Wherein the rotation conditions of the washing tub 4 in the intermediate dehydration process and the final dehydration process may be different, and particularly, the maximum rotation speed of the washing tub 4 in the final dehydration process is higher than the maximum rotation speed of the washing tub 4 in the intermediate dehydration process. The washing operation is ended as the final dehydration process is ended.

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

Although the rotation axis J of the washing tub 4 of the vertical washing machine 1 is arranged to extend vertically along the vertical direction Z in the above-described embodiment (see fig. 1), the vertical washing machine 1 also includes a structure in which the rotation axis J is arranged slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction Z.

Claims

A vertical washing machine, characterized by comprising:

an outer tub capable of storing water;

a driving unit generating a driving force;

a washing tub disposed in the outer tub and receiving laundry, the washing tub having an entrance for the laundry formed in an upper end thereof in a constantly open state and a bottom wall provided at a lower end thereof, the washing tub being rotated by receiving a driving force of the driving unit;

a rotary wing disposed on the bottom wall in the washing tub and rotated by receiving a driving force of the driving unit;

a water supply nozzle facing the inlet and outlet;

a water supply unit supplying water into the washing tub at least from the water supply nozzle; and

a control unit controlling the driving unit and the water supply unit,

the control unit performs a water supply process and a washing process,

the water supply process includes: a spraying process of spraying water from the water supply nozzle to the laundry at the inlet and outlet sides in the washing tub by the water supply unit; a tub rotating process of rotating the washing tub by the driving unit; and a final process of storing water into the washing tub by the water supply unit after the spraying process and the tub rotating process,

the washing process is as follows: after the water supply process, the rotation wing is rotated by the driving unit in a state that water is stored in the washing tub, thereby agitating the laundry in the washing tub.
The vertical washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

the water supply nozzle has a water injection port provided at a side surface portion of the washing tub on the rotation axis side and a lower surface portion of the water supply nozzle.
Vertical washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

further comprising a detection unit for detecting the load amount of the laundry in the washing tub before the water supply process,

the control unit omits the spraying process and the tub rotating process during the water supply in a case where the detecting unit detects a load amount less than a prescribed value.