Manual washing machine

Abstract

A manual washing machine provides operability prioritizing torque in a washing step and a rinsing step, and operatively prioritizing high-speed operation in a dewatering step. A manual washing machine according to an embodiment includes a driving power transmission member configured to transmit the rotation of an operating unit to the drum; and a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is arranged between a rotational center shaft of the operating unit and a rotation transmission shaft configured to transmit the rotation from the operating transmission member to the drum. The transmission mechanism allows the rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft to be changed with respect to the rotational speed of the operating unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manual washing machine comprising:
 a tank including an opening in an upper end thereof;   a drum rotatably mounted on the tank;   an upper lid that covers the opening in the upper end of the tank;   an operating unit rotatably mounted on the upper lid;   a driving power transmission member configured to transmit a rotation of the operating unit to the drum; and   a transmission mechanism arranged between a rotational center shaft of the operating unit and a rotation transmission shaft that transmits the rotation to the drum from the driving power transmission member, and configured to to be capable of changing a rotational speed of the rotation transmission shaft with respect to a rotational speed of the operating unit.   
     
     
         2 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:
 a ring gear formed in an inner face of the operating unit;   a first gear mounted on a rotational center shaft of the operating unit; and   a driven gear mounted on the rotation transmission shaft,   and wherein, by shifting a position of the operating unit, the transmission mechanism is switchable between a high-speed operation mode in which the ring gear meshed with the driven gear and a low-speed operation mode in which the first gear is meshed with the driven gear.   
     
     
         3 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:
 a first position that provides the high-speed operation mode;   a second position that provides the low-speed operation mode; and   a junction portion that couples the first position and the second position,   and wherein the junction portion allows the transmission mechanism to be switched between the high-speed operation mode and the low-speed operation mode while preventing an inappropriate shift in position of the operating unit.   
     
     
         4 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the ring gear and the first gear are arranged such that, when the operating unit is shifted in position in a state in which the rotation of the operating unit is stopped, a state in which both the ring gear and the first gear are detached from the driven gear is maintained, so as to smoothly mesh the corresponding gears. 
     
     
         5 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first seat portion configured as a bottom face of the tank or otherwise formed in the bottom face thereof; and   a second seat portion defined by an standing face that intersects with the bottom face of the tank,   wherein the manual washing machine can be operated in an operating mode that is switchable between a first operating mode in which the first seat portion is set on a horizontal plane such that an axis of rotation of the drum extends in a vertical direction and a second operating mode in which the second seat portion is set on a horizontal plane such that an axis of rotation of the drum extends in a horizontal direction.   
     
     
         6 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a drain port positioned in the vicinity of the second seat portion in the second operating mode in which the second seat portion is set on the horizontal plane;   a feed-water inlet arranged away from the second seat in the second operation mode in which the second seat portion is set on the horizontal plane; and   a cap configured to prevent water flow from the drain port.   
     
     
         7 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein a first drain opening is formed in the bottom face of the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the first drain opening is arranged at a position away from the second seat portion. 
     
     
         9 . The manual washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a water-stop member is provided between an inner face of an outer-circumferential portion of the upper lid and an upper end of an outer-circumferential face of the tank.