CN1229538C - Washing machine and washing method using it - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine to secure washing power to reduce uneven washing by converting dissolved wash water into detergent bubbles, and spraying the laundry in a tub with the bubbles from above, in a washing machine which efficiently removes dirt through the action of the detergent bubbles.

Description

Washing machine and washing method using it

technical field

The present invention relates to a washing machine capable of effectively removing dirt by the action of detergent foam and a washing method using the same.

Background technique

Conventionally, as a representative washing machine, washing is performed by rotating an agitating blade called a pulsation type. The structure of such a washing machine will be described below with reference to FIG. 9 .

As shown in Figure 9, the outer tank 1 encloses the washing and dehydrating tank 3 with stirring blades 2 at the bottom, and is suspended on the outer frame 5 of the washing machine by the suspension rod 4. The motor 6 drives the stirring blade 2 or the washing and dewatering tank 3 through the V-belt 7 and the speed reduction mechanism and coupling 8 . The drain valve 9 is used to discharge the washing water in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 , and the water supply valve 10 is used to supply water to the washing and dehydrating tank 3 .

Washing and dehydration tank 3 are provided with a fluid balancer 11 for reducing vibration during dehydration, and a cover 12 is provided on the top of washing and dehydration tank 3 . The control device 13 is used to control the motor 6, the drain valve 9 and the water supply valve 10, and sequentially controls various processes such as washing, cleaning, and dehydration.

The operation of the washing machine having the above-mentioned structure will be described below. The washing machine starts running after the laundry and the detergent of a prescribed amount are dropped into the washing and dehydrating tank 3 simultaneously. The control device 13 controls the water supply valve 10 to supply a predetermined amount of water into the washing and dehydrating tank 3 , and then the control device 13 drives the motor 6 to rotate the stirring blade 2 . The laundry and water in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 are stirred by the rotation of the stirring blade 2, so that the detergent will gradually dissolve in the water to become washing water, and act on the dirt of the laundry.

But, the washing machine of this structure only guarantees the cleaning power by the mechanical force of the rotation by the stirring blade 2 and stirring the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 . Therefore, the mechanical force of stirring blade 2 can be better transmitted to the washings at the bottom of the washing and dehydrating tank 3, and can make the washings obtain higher cleaning power and be difficult to transfer to the washing and dehydrating tank due to mechanical force. 3. There is a problem of uneven washing that cannot ensure sufficient cleaning power because of the laundry on the upper part.

Contents of the invention

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the first object is to ensure detergency and reduce unevenness in washing.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the washing machine of the present invention injects detergent foam from above onto the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tub for washing.

In addition, as a second purpose, a large amount of detergent foam is brought into contact with dirty clothes, so that the detergent foam can combine with more oil and dirt particles attached to the oil to remove dirt and improve cleaning power.

In order to achieve the second object, in the washing method of the present invention, mechanical force acts on the laundry in the state where the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank is covered with detergent foam.

Specifically, the washing machine of the present invention has an outer tank, a washing tank accommodated in the outer tank, a cover provided on the upper part of the outer tank, and a porous body connected to a pump and forming detergent foam. A foam generating device; it is characterized in that: the cover has a foam discharge portion with an opening toward the inside of the washing tank, the outer tank has a channel formed longitudinally along a part of the inner wall surface of the outer tank, and the channel is The upper part communicates with the foam discharge part, the bottom of the channel communicates with the inner bottom of the outer tank, and the porous body is arranged at the bottom of the channel.

In addition, the washing method of the present invention is a washing method using a washing machine having a mechanism for injecting detergent foam onto the laundry, and is characterized in that the washing is performed in the following order: the detergent is dissolved in water to make washing The stage of making washing water of water, the stage of making foam by introducing air bubbles into the washing water to form the detergent foam, and the second stage of supplying the foam from above the laundry for a predetermined time A foam supply stage, a second foam supply stage for supplying the foam after the first foam supply stage, a washing stage for rotating the stirring blade, and the second foam supply stage for supplying the foam simultaneously. washing phase.

Washing using the washing machine of the present invention enables the detergent suds to effectively and completely contact the soiled laundry, which enables the detergent suds to act on more oil and particulate dirt adhering to the oil. In addition, the washing water with high washing concentration can penetrate into a large amount of washing, which can improve the cleaning power.

In addition, since the washing machine of the present invention can effectively use the washing effect achieved by the foam of the washing water, it has a control device that stores the optimum washing method in advance. The control device has the function of controlling the washing process.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing detergent molecules.

Fig. 4 shows a model diagram of a state where detergent molecules are dissolved in water.

Fig. 5 is a model diagram when air bubbles pass through washing water.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a water supply device for a washing machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a circuit block diagram of a washing machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional washing machine.

Detailed ways

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)

As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer tank 14 is provided with a rotatably disposed washing and dehydrating tank 15 inside, and is suspended on a washing machine shell 17 by a suspension rod 16 . The motor 18 rotates and drives the washing and dehydrating tank 15 and the stirring blade 21 arranged at the inside bottom of the washing and dehydrating tank 15 through the V-belt 19 and the speed reduction mechanism 20 .

A cover body 22 is provided on an upper portion of the outer tank 14 and formed with a foam discharge portion 23 . The foam discharge portion 23 has an opening toward the inside of the washing and dehydrating tub 15 . A longer channel 24 is formed longitudinally by blocking a portion of the outer groove 14 . The bottom of the channel 24 communicates with the inner bottom of the outer tank 14 , and the upper part of the channel 24 communicates with the foam discharge part 23 formed on the cover 22 . A porous body 25 communicating with a pump 27 through a tube 26 is provided at the bottom of the channel 24 . The foam generator of Example 1 is composed of a pipe 26 , a pump 27 and a porous body 25 .

The water supply valve 28 is used to supply water to the washing and dehydrating tank 15 , and the drain valve 29 is used to drain the washing water in the outer tank 14 .

The control device 30 is constituted by a dotted line portion as shown in FIG. 2 . The control mechanism 31 is a microcomputer, controls the action of the motor 18, the pump 27, the water supply valve 28 and the drain valve 29 through the power conversion mechanism 32, and sequentially controls a series of processes such as washing, cleaning, and dehydration. The input setting mechanism 33 is used to set the operation process. Information from the input setting means 33 is input by the control means 31, and the information is displayed by the display means 34 to inform the user. The storage unit 35 stores necessary data under the control of the control unit 31 . It also has a commercial power supply 36 and a power switch 37 .

The operation of the washing machine of the first embodiment will be described below. When washing and detergent are put into washing and dewatering tank 15, the washing machine starts running, and control mechanism 31 makes water supply valve 28 work and starts water supply, and simultaneously washing and dehydrating tank 15 also starts to rotate. Before the water level in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 reaches the set water level, the washing and dehydrating tank 15 rotates. In the case of supplying water while rotating the washing and dehydrating tank 15 in this way, the charged detergent is dissolved in the water by the stirring force generated by the rotating of the washing and dehydrating tank 15 .

When reaching the set water level, the water supply valve 28 stops working, and the control mechanism 31 makes the pump 27 work, so that air is sent into the porous body (porous element) 25 located in the washing water at the bottom of the passage 24 through the pipe 26. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1 , the air sent into the porous body 25 turns into air bubbles and rises when discharged from the porous body 25 , and generates detergent foam when it reaches the washing water surface. Detergent foam rises through the passage 24 and is continuously poured from the foam discharge portion 23 of the cover 22 onto the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tub 15 . In this way, the washing methods for effectively and flexibly utilizing the foam are stored in the storage mechanism 35, and the various processes of washing are controlled by the control device 30 according to the stored methods.

The detergent foam will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 3 , if the detergent molecule 200 is represented by a model, it can be seen that it is composed of a hydrophilic group 202 and an lipophilic group 204 . The state in which the detergent is dissolved in water is shown in FIG. 4 below. Detergent molecules 200 are in formation on the water surface, and complete detergent molecules exist in the water as a single or cluster of molecules. In addition, once the detergent molecules on the water surface are eliminated, the detergent molecules in the water will immediately move to the water surface for replenishment.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 , when the air bubbles 210 are sent into the washing water, the air bubbles 210 will rise to the water surface, and the bubbles that keep the shape of the detergent molecules 200 aligned as a foam film are generated on the water surface. 220. That is, since the foam 220 is generated by listing the detergent molecules 200 on the surface as much as possible, a foam having a higher detergent concentration is formed. At this time, the detergent molecules in the liquid will move towards the surface of the water to supplement the detergent molecules carried away by the foam. Therefore, if the air bubbles 210 are continuously fed, the foam 220 is also continuously generated. At this time, the lipophilic groups 204 are arranged inwardly or outwardly on the foam film.

The foam 220 thus produced is brought into contact with the surface of the dirty laundry or passed through the laundry so that when the oil and the particulate dirt attached to the oil binds to the aforementioned lipophilic groups 204 and is carried away by the detergent. In addition, once the bubbles 220 are broken while passing through the clothes, the washing water with high washing concentration will penetrate into the clothes as a result, and the dirt on the clothes can be removed more easily as a result. Such a practice can effectively wash clothes.

That is, make the washing water form foam, and make the foam pass through the surface of the washing or in the washing, so that the oil and the particle dirt on the oil can be removed, or when the foam is broken in passing through the washing, then the high washing The washing water with the concentration of detergent will penetrate into the washing, which can also improve the cleaning power.

In addition, since the volume of the washing water increases due to the formation of foam, a small amount of washing water can play the role of detergent components for the dirt of the laundry. Moreover, since the detergent foam is injected from the top of the washing, it can also play a good role in the dirt of the washing that is difficult to transmit to the mechanical force above the washing and dehydrating tank 15, thus reducing the friction between the top and bottom of the washing tank. Uneven washing.

(Example 2)

Example 2 illustrates another embodiment of a washing machine using the foam of the present invention.

The washing machine of Embodiment 2 is characterized by having a water supply device and a control device, and other parts are described with the same symbols as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 9 .

As shown in FIG. 6, the water supply valve 38 and the water supply device 39 are built in the rear part of a washing machine together. As shown in FIG. 7 , the water supply device 39 passes the water supplied from the water supply valve 38 through the detergent box 40 , and then supplies the water from the discharge port 41 into the washing and dehydrating tank 3 . The detergent box 40 is provided with an inlet 42 protruding from the bottom surface. The inlet 42 has a gap 300 and is covered by a cover 43 . A porous body 44 is provided at the bottom of the detergent box 40 . The porous body 44 is connected to a pump 46 through a tube 45 . The foam generator of Example 2 is composed of a porous body 44 , a pipe 45 and a pump 46 .

The configuration of the control device 47 is indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 8 . The control mechanism 48 is a microcomputer, controls the work of the motor 6, the drain valve 9, the water supply valve 38 and the pump 46 through the function conversion mechanism 49, and controls a series of processes such as washing, cleaning and dehydration in sequence. The input setting mechanism 50 is used to set the operation process, etc., and the control mechanism 48 inputs information from the input setting mechanism 50, and based on the information, it is displayed by the display mechanism 51 to inform the user. The storage unit 52 stores necessary data under the control of the control unit 48 . It also has a commercial power supply 53 and a power switch 54 .

The operation of the washing machine of the second embodiment will be described below. When the laundry is put into the washing and dehydrating tank 3, and the detergent is also put into the detergent box 40, the washing machine starts to run. The control mechanism 48 starts the water supply valve 38 to supply a predetermined amount of water. Once the water supply is stopped after the specified amount of water is supplied, the control mechanism 48 operates the pump 46, and at this time, air is sent into the foaming part 44 located in the washing water through the pipe 45.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , the air sent into the porous body 44 rises as air bubbles 210 when discharged from the porous body 44 , and forms washing foam after reaching the washing water surface. The detergent foam is discharged from the detergent box 40 and injected into the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 through the discharge port 41 .

After the pump 46 worked for a certain period of time, the control mechanism 48 made the water supply valve 38 work, opened the water supply again, and implemented the washing process after reaching the set water level. The water in the detergent box 40 is poured into the washing and dehydrating tank 3 from the discharge port 41 by the principle of siphon.

The washing methods for effective and flexible use of the foam are stored in the storage mechanism 52, and the various washing processes are controlled by the control device 47 according to the stored methods.

In the manner described above, detergent suds are generated from the wash water and allowed to contact the surface of the dirty laundry or pass through the interior of the laundry. In this way, the oil and the particulate dirt attached to the oil are combined with the detergent molecules and can be carried away. In addition, when the bubbles once burst while passing through the laundry, they can become wash water with a high detergent concentration and penetrate into the laundry, thereby obtaining high detergency. In addition, since the volume of the washing water increases due to the generation of detergent foam, the detergent components can effectively act on the dirt of the laundry even with a small amount of washing water. And because the detergent foam is injected from above, the dirt of the laundry that is difficult to transmit to the mechanical force at the top of the washing and dehydrating tank 3 can also play the role of washing water, thus reducing the phenomenon of uneven washing.

(Example 3)

In Embodiment 3, the control mechanism 31 shown in FIG. 2 is used to control the washing and dehydration tank 15 while the pump 27 is operated, and the detergent foam is supplied to the washing and dehydration tank 15 from above. things. Other constitutions are the same as in Embodiment 1.

The operation of the washing machine of the third embodiment will be described below.

When laundry and detergent are thrown into the washing and dewatering tank 15, the washing machine starts to run. At this moment, the control mechanism 31 makes the water supply valve 28 work and starts water supply. Simultaneously, the washing and dehydrating tank 15 also starts to rotate. The washing and dehydration tank 15 rotates before the water level in the washing and dehydration tank 15 reaches the set water level. When water is supplied while the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is rotated in this way, the injected detergent is dissolved in the water by the agitation force provided by the rotation of the washing and dehydrating tank 15 .

Stop the water supply when reaching the set water level, but the washing and dehydration tank 15 continues to rotate. The control mechanism 31 operates the pump 27, and air is sent into the porous body 25 in the washing water through the pipe 26. The air sent into the porous body 25 rises as air bubbles when discharged from the porous body 25 , and generates detergent foam when it reaches the washing water surface. The detergent foam rises through the passage 24 and is poured from the foam discharge portion 22 of the cover 22 onto the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tub 15 .

That is, when the washing and dehydrating tank 15 rotates, since the foam discharge part 23 for discharging detergent foam is provided on the upper part of the washing and dehydrating tank 15, the discharged detergent foam will be completely injected into the rotating and moving washing machine. in things. As a result, the wash water acts on a wide range of dirt on the laundry, thus reducing uneven washing.

The washing method for effectively utilizing the foam is stored in the storage mechanism 35, and the various washing processes are controlled by the control device 30 according to the stored method.

And, in the present embodiment, the pump 27 is operated while the washing and dehydrating tank 15 of the above-mentioned embodiment 1 is rotated, and the detergent foam is supplied from above to the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15, or the above-mentioned implementation is performed. The pump 46 is operated while the washing and dehydrating tank 3 of Example 2 is rotated, and the detergent foam is supplied to the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 from above, and the same effect can be obtained.

(Example 4)

In Embodiment 4, the pump 27 is operated while the stirring blade 21 is rotated by the control mechanism 31 shown in FIG. Other constitutions are the same as in Embodiment 1.

The operation of the washing machine of the fourth embodiment will be described below.

When laundry and detergent are put into washing and dewatering tank 15, the washing machine starts running, and control mechanism 31 makes water supply valve 28 work and starts water supply. Meanwhile, washing and dehydrating tank 15 also starts to rotate. The washing and dehydration tank 15 rotates before the water level in the washing and dehydration tank 15 reaches the set water level. When water is supplied while rotating the washing and dehydrating tank 15 , the charged detergent is dissolved by the stirring force generated by the rotating of the washing and dehydrating tank 15 .

The water supply valve 28 stops working when reaching the set water level. The motor 18 is operated by the control mechanism 31 to rotate the stirring blade 21 . At the same time, the pump 27 is operated by the control mechanism 31 so that air is sent into the porous body 25 in the washing water through the pipe 26 . The air sent into the porous body 25 rises as air bubbles when it is discharged from the porous body 25, and forms detergent foam after reaching the washing water surface. Detergent foam rises through the passage 24 and is poured from the foam discharge portion 23 of the cover 22 onto the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tub 15 .

At this time, since the stirring blade 21 rotates, the position of the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is also changed, so that all the detergent foam is poured onto the laundry. As a result, the detergent water can act on a wide range of laundry stains, reducing uneven washing.

The washing methods that effectively utilize the bubbles are stored in the storage mechanism 35, and each process of washing is controlled by the control device 30 according to the stored methods.

And the pump 27 is operated while the stirring blade 21 of the above-mentioned embodiment 1 is rotated so that the detergent foam is supplied to the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 from above, but the stirring of the above-mentioned embodiment 2 can also be made. The pump 46 is operated while the blades 2 are rotated to supply the detergent bubbles to the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 from above, and the same action and effect can be obtained in this embodiment.

(Example 5)

In embodiment 5, the control mechanism 31 shown in Figure 2 makes the pump 27 work according to the set time, and under the state that the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is covered with foam, the stirring blade 21 is rotated so as to clean the laundry. The pump 27 is operated while performing the action of the mechanical force. Other constitutions are the same as in Embodiment 1.

The operation of the washing machine of Embodiment 5 will be described below.

Washing and detergent are thrown into the washing and dehydrating tank 15 and the washing machine starts running, and the control mechanism 31 makes the water supply valve 28 work and starts water supply. At the same time, the washing and dehydrating tank 15 also starts to rotate. The washing and dehydration tank 15 rotates before the water level in the washing and dehydration tank 15 reaches the set water level. In this way, when the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is rotating while supplying water, the detergent thrown in is dissolved by the agitation force generated by the rotation of the washing and dehydrating tank 15 .

When reaching the set water level, the water supply valve 28 stops working, the control mechanism 31 makes the pump 27 work, and the air will be sent into the porous body 25 in the washing water through the pipe 26. The air sent into the porous body 25 rises as air bubbles when it is discharged from the porous body 25, and forms foam after reaching the water surface. The foam rises through the passage 24 and is poured from the foam discharge portion 23 of the cover 22 onto the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tub 15 .

The pump 27 is stopped after working by the control mechanism 31 according to the set time. At this time, the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is in a state covered with foam. In this state, the motor 18 is driven by the control mechanism 31 to start the stirring blade 21 and the pump 27 at the same time.

At this time, since the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is covered with foam, the mechanical force is applied to the laundry, so more contact between the detergent foam and the dirty laundry can be made, and more cleaning can be achieved. Excess oil and dirt particles attached to the oil combine with the detergent molecules and are carried away. In addition, it can penetrate washing water into many clothes at a high concentration, so it can improve the detergency.

The washing methods for effectively and flexibly using the foam are stored in the storage mechanism 35, and the various processes of washing are controlled by the control device 30 according to the stored methods.

And in this embodiment, the pump 27 of the above-mentioned embodiment 1 is operated according to the set time, and the washing in the washing and dehydrating tank 15 is covered with foam, and the pump 27 is operated while the stirring blade 21 is rotated. However, it is also possible to make the pump 46 of the above-mentioned embodiment 2 work according to the set time, and make the pump 46 work while the stirring blade 2 is rotated under the state that the laundry in the washing and dehydrating tank 3 is covered with foam, and the same effect can be obtained. and effects.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, all single-tank washing machines have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be applied to double-tank washing machines. In addition, in the examples, the use of the washing and dehydrating tank has been described, but only the washing tank may be used. In the embodiment, the porous body is immersed in the washing water in order to form foam, and the air from the pump is sent into the porous body, but it may also be a mechanism for generating air bubbles in the washing water, not limited to the use of the porous body. Body impregnation to foam.

Claims (4)

1. A washing machine comprising: An outer tank, a washing tank accommodated in the outer tank, a cover provided on the upper part of the outer tank, and a foam generating device having a porous body communicated with a pump and forming detergent foam; characterized in that: The cover has a foam discharge portion having an opening toward the inside of the washing tank, the outer tank has a passage formed longitudinally along a part of the inner wall surface of the outer tank, The upper part of the passage communicates with the foam discharge part, the bottom of the passage communicates with the inner bottom of the outer tank, and the porous body is arranged at the bottom of the passage. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing tank is a washing and dehydrating tank. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: having a control device for controlling the operation of the washing machine, said control device has a storage mechanism for storing predetermined instructions, and A control mechanism that outputs command signals in accordance with instructions from the storage mechanism. 4. A washing method, which is a washing method using a washing machine having a mechanism for injecting detergent foam onto laundry, characterized in that washing is performed in the following order: The stage of making washing water by dissolving the detergent in water to make washing water, a foam-making stage of introducing air bubbles into the washing water to form the detergent foam, a first foam supply stage in which the foam is supplied from above the laundry for a predetermined period of time, a second foam supply phase supplying said foam after said first foam supply phase, a washing stage that rotates the stirring blades, and The washing phase is carried out simultaneously with a second suds supplying phase in which the suds are supplied.

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