JP2000093691A - Washing machine with sterilizing function by electric field - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the sterilizing efficiency in washing by equipping a circulation passage for washing solution to generate the circulation of the washing solution by agitating the washing solution, electrodes to generate an electric field in the washing solution, and a power source to supply a voltage to the electrodes and sterilizing the washing solution by the generation of the electric field. SOLUTION: Washing solution 7 in the washing tub 2 is agitated by an agitating blade 4 rotated by a motor 5 to form water flows in the centrifugal and centripetal directions during a washing process. The washing solution 7 is circulated via a washing solution circulation passage 3 by the water flows. A filter to collect paper trash and rubbish is equipped in the circulation passage 3 as well as electrodes 6 for sterilization formed of a conductive metal material. The electrodes 6 are formed of plate or line shape electrode pieces and generate a high electric field by applying reverse polarities alternately in between the electrode pieces mutually faced at a distance. The sterilization of the washing solution 7 is carried out by the electric field generated by the electrodes 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine provided with a sterilizing function for sterilizing microorganisms by an electric field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional washing machine is designed with the expectation that a consumer will sterilize with a chlorine-based detergent or the like, and aims to remove dirt such as mud by a physical force such as stirring. It was what it was.

A conventional washing machine having a sterilizing function using electricity is, for example, a washing machine with an electrolytic sterilizing function disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-80185.

In this method, an electrode is provided in a washing tub to perform electrolysis in a washing machine, thereby enabling sterilization by an electrolysis product. Indirectly, a liquid in the washing machine has a sterilizing effect. Sterilization technique.

[0005]

A conventional washing machine which does not have a sterilizing function and relies on the use of a detergent by the user has a problem in terms of hygiene.

[0006] In addition, the conventional technology using a sterilization method using electrolytic sterilization also has a problem that it is necessary to provide new parts such as a pump and a circuit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a washing machine capable of improving sanitizing efficiency in washing by maintaining hygiene for laundry and water flow by sterilizing means using an electric field. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a washing liquid circulating path in which the washing liquid is circulated by agitating the washing liquid; An electrode to be provided and a power supply for supplying a voltage to the electrode are provided, and the cleaning liquid is sterilized by generating an electric field.

Further, in the washing machine according to the second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the voltage applied to the electrode may be one of a high voltage pulse, a DC voltage, an AC voltage, or a combination thereof. It was done.

Further, in the washing machine according to the third configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the voltage applied to the electrode is changed to an extremely short pulse waveform which rises immediately and falls or a waveform having a pulse width of several tens μs or more. This is a high voltage pulse.

Further, a washing machine according to a fourth configuration of the present invention is the washing machine according to the first configuration, wherein the electrodes are formed of metal.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the washing machine according to the first or fourth aspect, wherein the surface of the electrode is coated with a conductive or non-conductive non-metallic substance.

[0013] Also, in the washing machine according to the sixth configuration of the present invention, in the fourth configuration, the metal surface forming the electrode is coated with a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the metal.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a housing of a washing machine, 2 is a washing tub, 3 is a washing liquid circulation path, 4 is a stirring blade, 5 is a motor, 6 is an electrode, and 7 is a washing liquid. The washing liquid 7 in the washing tub 2 is stirred by the stirring blades 4 to form a centrifugal or centripetal water flow. This water flow causes the cleaning liquid 7 to pass through the cleaning liquid circulation path.
Circulates. Some filters are provided at the upper opening of the cleaning liquid circulation path 3 to collect paper waste and dust.

In the washing machine of the present invention, an electrode 6 made of a conductive material such as a sterilizing metal or non-metal is provided in a part of the washing liquid circulation path 3, and a voltage is applied to the electrode 6 to wash the washing liquid 7.
Sterilize. The laundry is hygienically washed with the sterilized clean washing liquid 7. Since all the cleaning liquids 7 in the washing tub 2 pass through the cleaning liquid circulation path 3, all the cleaning liquids 7 are sterilized. Since the electrode 6 is not exposed in the washing tub 2, it does not hinder the washing, and the user does not get an electric shock.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a structural example of the electrode 6. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a power supply for applying a voltage to the electrode 6. The power source 8 is formed of a plate-like electrode piece 61 as shown in FIG. 2 or a linear electrode piece 62 as shown in FIG.
2 are insulated from each other and alternately applied with voltages of opposite polarities. As shown in FIG. 2, when the electrode piece 61 is formed in a plate shape, a uniform electric field can be generated on one surface of each electrode, and the generated electric field strength per applied voltage can be increased. Also,
When the electrode piece 62 is linear as shown in FIG. 4, a strong electric field can be locally generated, and when a high voltage is applied,
Discharge can be generated. The configuration in which voltage is alternately applied to each of the electrode pieces 61 and 62 can reduce electromagnetic waves radiated to the outside, and can reduce shielding of electromagnetic waves. In order to reduce the radiated electromagnetic waves, it is preferable to set the potential generated by the power supply 8 to a midpoint ground where positive and negative equal voltages are applied.

The electrodes 6 may be stacked in a plurality of stages in the water flow direction as shown in FIGS. An electrode in which a plurality of electrodes are stacked has an effect of stirring the water flow, and can sterilize uniformly.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 6 and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the connection method. FIG. 6 shows an electrical connection method, and FIG. 7 shows an assembly structure. As shown in FIG. 6, all the electrode pieces 63 in one layer are connected to the same potential,
As shown in FIG. 7, a potential is applied between the two layers of electrodes. FIG.
Although FIG. 7 shows an example of a two-layer electrode, a larger number of layers may be stacked and a voltage may be alternately applied to each layer.
From the viewpoint of shielding electromagnetic waves, it is preferable that the voltage applied alternately is set to the midpoint ground where positive and negative equal voltages are applied, and the outermost layer is used as the ground potential for shielding. This connection method is based on each electrode piece 63 of the electrode 6.
Are made equipotential for each layer, so that it is not necessary to insulate the electrode pieces 63 in each layer from each other, and the structure is simple.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another example of the configuration of the electrode 6. FIG. The electrode shown in FIG. 8 includes a multi-layered concentric cylindrical electrode piece 64, and the electrode pieces are insulated from each other and a voltage is alternately applied. The electrode shown in FIG. 9 is obtained by stacking a plurality of layers of the concentric cylindrical electrodes shown in FIG. 8 in the water flow direction.
The electrode pieces 65 in the layer may be insulated from each other as shown in FIG. 8 and alternately applied with voltages of opposite polarities. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. A voltage may be applied to the layers by connecting them to the same potential.

Embodiment 3 This embodiment relates to the form of the applied voltage of the power supply 8. As a form of the voltage applied to the sterilizing electrode 6 of the washing machine of the present invention, any form of a high voltage pulse, an AC voltage, and a DC voltage is effective for sterilization.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views showing an example of a high-voltage pulse applied to the sterilizing electrode 6. FIG. The high-voltage pulse is a rectangular wave as shown in FIG. 10 or a pulse waveform that attenuates exponentially as shown in FIG. 11 (hereinafter referred to as an exponential pulse waveform), and has a pulse width of a rectangular wave. , The time interval of the DC portion, that is, the time interval in which the voltage rises and maintains the value when the voltage converges to the predetermined voltage, and the time interval corresponding to the half width of the voltage (the voltage rises , The value of which is 1/2 of the maximum value, the time interval after the value reaches the maximum value, and then falls and returns to 1/2 of the maximum value) is defined as the pulse width. The high-voltage pulse sterilization method is a method in which a high-voltage pulse having a pulse width of 0 to several ms in a rectangular wave and a pulse width of several ns to several ms in an exponential pulse waveform is applied to an electrode, and several kV / cm to several millimeters in washing water. A strong electric field of 10 kV / cm is generated.

A voltage is directly generated in the cells by the strong electric field, and the cells are sterilized by destruction of cell membranes or metabolic functions. Under conditions where discharge occurs, elution of the electrode metal, explosion noise, and the like may become a problem. Therefore, pulse application is normally performed within a voltage range in which discharge does not occur. Further, the shorter the pulse rise time, the better the sterilization effect, and the more efficient the sterilization, using a pulse having a rise time on the order of ns.

When the same energy is applied, the sterilizing effect is not the same depending on the pulse width. Therefore, in order to improve the energy efficiency, the pulse width is almost zero (a waveform that rises and falls immediately) or a pulse width of several tens μs or more is used.

Further, under the same pulse application conditions, the increase in temperature is accompanied by an increase in pulse width, but an appropriate increase in temperature promotes the removal of stains by the detergent. And DC as in
The bactericidal effect related to the electrolytic product of the component is added, and the bactericidal efficiency is improved. If the electrolysis product becomes a problem, it is necessary to provide a process such as washing with ordinary tap water.

In the method of applying a DC voltage or an AC voltage, an electric current of the order of mA / cm ² is passed through the cleaning liquid, and sterilization is performed by an electrolytic product or a metal eluted from the electrode. The applied voltage in this case does not need to be a high voltage,
It may be about V. Silver and copper are effective for sterilization using metal ions. When elution of the electrode metal is not desired, it is preferable to apply AC instead of DC. The AC frequency is also effective at the commercial frequency, but is more preferably on the order of kHz.
Further, when the frequency is in the order of MHz, the movement of ions is suppressed, so that the electrolysis of the sterilizing electrode is extremely unlikely to occur, or the electrolysis does not occur, and the elution of the electrode metal can be almost or completely eliminated. The direct current or alternating current method has the advantage of less electromagnetic interference than the high voltage pulse method. In the AC method or the high-voltage pulse method, the output potential reference may be set to the midpoint ground in order to reduce electromagnetic interference.

These various voltage applying methods are effective when used alone or in combination. By performing various voltage application methods in a time-sharing manner and using a plurality of sterilization mechanisms in combination, the sterilization effect can be further enhanced.

In order to apply these voltages, a power supply 8
May be a multifunctional power supply capable of generating various voltages.

Embodiment 4 This embodiment relates to a constituent material of an electrode. When the electrode is formed of a metal and the elution of the electrode metal is not desired, stainless steel is suitable as the electrode metal. Also, gold (Au) as an electrode material,
If a metal such as platinum (Pt) having a lower ionization tendency than iron or copper is used, or a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the metal forming the electrode, for example, a metal plated with gold or platinum is used, the electrode becomes Metal elution can be further suppressed. Further, the electrodes may be coated with a non-metallic substance such as a conductive paint to prevent metal elution.

In the high voltage pulse method and the alternating current method, it is not always necessary that the paint is conductive. In this case, a non-conductive paint, a ceramic paint, or the like can be used. Further, an electrode made of aluminum and anodized with aluminum may be used.

[0030]

In the washing machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the washing liquid circulates through the washing liquid by stirring the washing liquid, and the electrode provided in the circulation path to generate an electric field in the washing liquid. And a power supply for supplying a voltage to the electrodes, and the cleaning liquid is sterilized by the generation of an electric field. Therefore, the cleaning liquid is sterilized by the electric field generated in the cleaning liquid, and washing can be performed hygienically.

Further, in the washing machine according to the second configuration of the present invention, the voltage applied to the electrode is one of a high voltage pulse, a DC voltage, and an AC voltage, or a combination thereof. The sterilization mechanism can be selected or used in the sterilization of the cleaning solution by the method, so that the sterilization effect can be enhanced.

In the washing machine according to the third configuration of the present invention, the voltage applied to the electrode is a high-voltage pulse having a very short pulse waveform that rises immediately and falls or a waveform having a pulse width of several tens μs or more. Therefore, high-efficiency sterilization can be realized, and the generation of products due to electrolysis such as a detergent dissolved in the selected solution can be avoided.

Further, in the washing machine according to the fourth configuration of the present invention, since the electrodes are formed of metal, the electrodes can be easily formed and processed.

Further, in the washing machine according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the surface of the electrode is coated with a conductive or non-conductive non-metallic substance, and elution of the electrode or the metal forming the electrode into the washing liquid is performed. As a result, the eluted electrode or metal can be prevented from attaching to the laundry.

Further, in the washing machine according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the metal surface forming the electrode is coated with a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the metal, and the electrode metal is introduced into the cleaning liquid. Since elution is prevented, the eluted electrode metal can be prevented from attaching to the laundry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode using a multi-plate electrode.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrode in which two sets of multiple flat plate electrodes are arranged in a hierarchical manner with respect to a water flow.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode using a multi-line electrode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an electrode in which two sets of multi-line electrodes are arranged hierarchically with respect to a water flow.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode using the same polarity multi-line electrode.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an electrode in which two sets of homopolar multi-line electrodes are arranged in a hierarchy with respect to a water flow.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode using a multiple cylindrical electrode.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an electrode in which two sets of multiple cylindrical electrodes are arranged hierarchically with respect to a water flow.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a high voltage pulse waveform.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a high-voltage pulse waveform.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 housing of washing machine, 2 washing tub, 3 washing liquid circulation path, 4
Stirrer blades, 5 motors, 6 electrodes, 7 cleaning liquid, 8 power supply, 61-65 electrode pieces.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning liquid circulation path which generates circulation of a cleaning liquid by stirring the cleaning liquid, an electrode provided in the circulation path, for generating an electric field in the cleaning liquid, and a power supply for supplying a voltage to the electrode, A washing machine that sterilizes cleaning liquid by generating an electric field. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applied to the electrode is one of a high voltage pulse, a DC voltage, and an AC voltage, or a combination thereof. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the voltage applied to the electrode is a high-voltage pulse having an extremely short pulse waveform falling immediately after rising or a waveform having a pulse width of several tens μs or more. 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is formed of a metal. 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the electrode is coated with a conductive or non-conductive non-metallic substance. 6. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a metal surface forming the electrode is coated with a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the metal.