Flocculation apparatus of washing machine with self-cleaning function, and washing machine

Abstract

A flocculation apparatus ( 5 ) of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function and the washing machine are disclosed. The flocculation apparatus ( 5 ) includes a flocculation container ( 1 ) and a stirring mechanism, further includes a washing mechanism for scouring an inner wall of the flocculation container, the washing mechanism includes a water throwing impeller ( 12 ) and a drive motor ( 13 ) for driving the water throwing impeller ( 12 ) to rotate; and the stirring mechanism includes a stirring motor ( 14 ) installed outside the flocculation container ( 1 ), a stirring shaft ( 15 ) extending into the flocculation container ( 1 ) and a stirring impeller ( 16 ) installed on the stirring shaft ( 15 ). The washing machine includes an outer drum ( 3 ); and the outer drum ( 3 ), the flocculation apparatus ( 5 ), and a filter apparatus ( 6 ) are sequentially and circularly communicated with one another through a pipeline ( 4 ).

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function, comprising a flocculation container and a stirring mechanism, and further comprising a washing mechanism for scouring an inner wall of the flocculation container, wherein the washing mechanism comprises a water throwing impeller and a drive motor for driving the water throwing impeller to rotate, and the inlet water is thrown by the water throwing impeller to the inner wall of the flocculation container to perform washing. 
     
     
         2 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 1 , wherein the stirring mechanism comprises a stirring motor installed outside the flocculation container, a stirring shaft extending into the flocculation container and a stirring impeller installed on the stirring shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive motor is the stirring motor, and the water throwing impeller is coaxially installed on the stirring shaft and is positioned between the stirring motor and the stirring impeller. 
     
     
         4 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 2 , wherein a bending direction of the stirring impeller is opposite to a rotation direction of the stirring impeller in a stirring process. 
     
     
         5 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 1 , wherein the water throwing impeller comprises a turntable and blades arranged on an upper surface of the turntable, wherein the blades extend from the center of the turntable towards a peripheral direction, and the upper surface of the turntable is divided by every two adjacent blades into a plurality of fan-shaped regions for throwing the water. 
     
     
         6 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper surface of the turntable of the water throwing impeller is further provided with an annular retaining rib concentric with a center of the turntable, and one end of each blade extends from the annular retaining rib towards the peripheral direction. 
     
     
         7 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 5 , wherein the flocculation container is provided with a water guide trough; one end of the water guide trough is communicated with a water inlet of the flocculation container, the other end of the water guide trough is extended to be above the water throwing impeller, and water discharged from the water guide trough is guided onto the fan-shaped regions of the water throwing impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 1 , wherein the flocculation container is provided with a water inlet, a flocculant dispensing opening, a flocculation water outlet and a sewage drain outlet, wherein an inner surface of a bottom of the flocculation container is an inclined surface, and the flocculation water outlet and the sewage drain outlet are arranged near a lower side of the inclined surface. 
     
     
         9 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 8 , wherein the flocculation container is provided with at least one water overflow opening, and preferably provided with two water overflow openings, wherein one water overflow opening is arranged above a side part of the flocculation container, and the other water overflow opening is arranged on the top of the flocculation container. 
     
     
         10 . The flocculation apparatus of a washing machine with a self-cleaning function according to  claim 1 , wherein the flocculation container comprises a box body with an opening at the upper portion of the box body and an upper cover plate covering the opening of the box body, wherein the upper cover plate is provided with a water inlet and a flocculant dispensing opening, the drive motor is installed on the upper cover plate, and an annular convex rib is arranged on a lower surface of the upper cover plate corresponding to the periphery of a shaft of the drive motor. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine having the flocculation apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an outer drum, wherein the outer drum, the flocculation apparatus, and a filter apparatus are sequentially and circularly communicated with one another through a pipeline, wherein:
 the flocculation apparatus comprises a flocculation container communicated with the outer drum and a flocculant dispenser for dispensing flocculants into the flocculation container, and the water is discharged from the outer drum into the flocculation container to be flocculated; and   the filter apparatus comprises a filter container and a filter mechanism arranged inside the filter container, wherein the filter container is respectively communicated with the flocculation container and the outer drum, and the flocculated water in the flocculation container is filtered by the filter mechanism and is then discharged into the outer drum to be reused.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the filter mechanism is rotatably arranged inside the filter container, and the filter apparatus further comprises a self-cleaning mechanism utilizing an inlet water flow to drive the filter mechanism to rotate and to spray and wash the filter mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the filter mechanism comprises a cylindrical filter frame and a filter screen arranged on the filter frame, two ends of the filter frame are pivotally connected with the filter container, one end of the filter frame is a rotary connector, and the other end of the filter frame is axially sealed; and an inclination angle α is formed between an axial rotation direction of the filter mechanism and a horizontal plane, the inclination angle α satisfies with 0≦α<30°. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the filter container is provided with a filtered water inlet communicated with the flocculation container, a filtered water outlet for discharging the filtered water, and a sewage drain outlet for discharging the washing waste water, and the filtered water outlet is communicated with the rotary connector of the filter mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the self-cleaning mechanism comprises a spray head, the spray head is installed on the filter container, and a direction of sprayed water acts on a surface of the filter mechanism to drive the filter mechanism to rotate. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the self-cleaning mechanism further comprises a paddle arranged on the surface of the filter mechanism, and the paddle is configured to correspond to the spray direction of the spray head so as to transfer a driving force for driving the rotation of the filter mechanism by the water flow.