Impeller type roll mode washing method and washing machine adopting the method

Abstract

A rolling mode washing method using pulsator and a washing machine using the method are disclosed. The method performs several times of lifting and dropping laundries with ribs on the two slantedly arranged pulsators, and then repeating the above process in different direction. A side auxiliary force is provided to the laundries by at least one pulsator during washing. The exchange of inner and outer laundries is significantly enhanced such that the detergency of laundries is significantly enhanced due to performing the washing process of multi-direction rolling. A rolling effect which is better than that of a drum washing machine can be achieved in an upright tub washing machine. Meanwhile, because the balance mode of upright tub washing machine is adopted, the difficulties of balance control in high speed of rotation are significantly decreased. The individual disadvantages of a drum washing machine and a pulsator washing machine can be overcome and the advantages of them can be combined by the above washing method and the washing machine, and furthermore the advantages of multi-direction rolling are achieved.

1 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator includes washing, rinsing etc., during washing or rinsing, water is supplied to a specified position, starting a motor to drive the pulsators to rotate for washing; wherein the washing method has at least two laundry rolling surfaces. 
     
     
         2 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing method has at least two laundry rolling surfaces alternating but not simultaneous performed, more than one rollings of laundries are performed on one rolling surface, and which are then switched to be performed on another rolling surface, this cycle is repeated till the end of the washing, the number of rollings on different rolling surfaces may be the same or not the same. 
     
     
         3 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein a laundry rolling surface is formed by a pair of adjacent pulsators slantedly arranged, the ribs on the pulsators lift, drop and relift the laundries in a nearly continuous laundry flow mode, the process repeats itself at least for once; another laundry rolling surface alternating but not simultaneously performed is formed by another pair of adjacent pulsators slantedly arranged, the ribs on the pulsators lift, drop and relift the laundries in a nearly continuous laundry flow mode, the process also repeats itself at least for once; there is at least one pulsator providing a side auxiliary force. 
     
     
         4 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein an imaginary plane  21  is formed by the rolling surface in rolling direction, the two imaginary planes formed by the two rolling surfaces have an inclination angle of 20-160°, preferably 80-140°, and more preferably 120°. 
     
     
         5 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 3 , wherein each process repeats itself for at least 3-50 times, preferably 5-30 times. 
     
     
         6 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 3 , wherein one pulsator of a pair of pulsators or one pulsator of another pair of pulsators is preferably a common one. 
     
     
         7 . A rolling mode washing method using pulsator according to  claim 3 , wherein the ribs on one pair of adjacent pulsators lift and furl laundries, which are then cast, dispersed and dropped due to the gravitational and inertial forces. 
     
     
         8 . A washing machine for realizing the washing method according to one of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the washing machine includes a control panel, a house, a damping suspender  14  for outer tub suspended within the house, the inner tub is rotatably arranged in the outer tub, the inner tub and the pulsator are driven through a motor and a reduction gear train, wherein the pulsator has a rotation speed of 10-90 rpm, preferably 30-70 rpm, more preferably 45-60 rpm; the number of the ribs arranged on the pulsators from the center to the edge is 1-8, preferably 2-6; the inclination angle θ formed by the cross-section of pulsator and the horizontal plane is 0-80°, preferably 40-65°, more preferably 55-60°, the number of pulsators is 3-6, preferably 3-4, more preferably 3. 
     
     
         9 . A washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the pulsators are rotatably arranged between the center and the side wall of inner tub, and are slantedly located therebetween in such a way that a part of the pulsator near the side wall of the inner tub is arranged higher and another part of the pulsator near the center of the inner tub is arranged lower, the axis of the center driving shaft of the pulsator is intersected with the center axis of the inner tub, the acute angle of the two axes is less than 0-90°, preferably 10-60°, and more preferably 15-45°. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the pulsator includes a base surface and the ribs arranged thereon, the maximum thickness of the rib is equal to 10-90% of the maximum thickness of the whole pulsator, preferably 25-45%; the base surface is a planar plate type or arc type and coincides with the shape of the contacting part of the inner tub.