JP2001017774A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of removing stains attached to the collar or cuffs of a shirt, etc., which cannot be easily removed by an existing washing machine, without troublesome pre-treatment such as hand- washing. SOLUTION: An ion removing means consisting of a room filled with sodium- type strong acid cation exchange resin and a cylindrical container with a salt slot for storing salt is mounted on the way of a water passage for feeding water into the washing tub of this washing machine. The washing machine also has a variable speed means consisting of a voltage control type PWM inverter for varying the rotation speed of an agitator inside the washing tub and a DC brushless motor 7. The chemical power of a detergent will be improved by the softening of the washing water by the ion removing means, and the rotation speed of the agitator will be increased by the voltage control type PWM inverter and the DC brushless motor 7, so that the high washing performance can be obtained and the energy saving can be achieved at the same time with their multiple effects.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine comprising a means for removing a hardness component from water used for washing, a voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means, and a DC brushless motor. The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with variable speed means for driving at a variable speed according to conditions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Washing water used for washing in a washing machine is:
Water is supplied directly from a water source represented by tap water to a washing machine with a hose or the like, and is supplied to a washing tub in the washing machine by a user's operation to be used for washing clothes.

However, for example, tap water contains anions such as hypochlorite ions for the purpose of sterilizing various bacteria, and cations such as calcium ions, magnesium ions and iron ions contained in the water source. These ions have various adverse effects on laundry, such as a decrease in detergency and coloring of clothes.

[0004] The great influence on the detergency of detergents is
It is a divalent cation such as calcium ion and magnesium ion as hardness components. Since these react with the surfactant in the detergent to form a water-insoluble metal soap, the amount of the surfactant contributing to cleaning is reduced, and the cleaning power is reduced. Further, the produced metallic soap is insoluble in water, and if the rinse is insufficient, it remains on the clothes and appears as white spots, causing yellowing and off-flavor. Further, when the adhesive is deposited on the outer wall of the washing tub, mold and the like may propagate there.

[0005] These adverse effects are particularly remarkable in the case of soap, and it has been difficult to use soap in areas having high hardness. On the other hand, most synthetic detergents used in homes contain zeolite as one of the builders in order to reduce the influence of hardness. Zeolite is water-insoluble white fine particles containing silica and alumina as main components, and has an effect of adsorbing polyvalent cations such as calcium and magnesium in water and softening water.

When calcium and magnesium ions are contained in water, when a zeolite-containing detergent is added to the water, these ions are removed. At the same time, these ions also react with the surfactant of the detergent. Soap formation cannot be completely prevented. For this reason, the effect of zeolite mixing is diminished. Originally, it is preferable to dissolve the detergent in water after removing these ions from the washing water and use it for washing. Furthermore, if a large amount of water-insoluble zeolite is mixed in the detergent as a builder, there is a problem that zeolite particles adhere to the clothes after washing and deteriorate the finish.

[0007] As a method of removing the adverse effects of these ions, there is a washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-20395. In this method, after removing ions from the supplied washing water, washing is performed by supplying water to a washing tub in which a detergent is charged.

The washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-20395 has a washing tub for washing clothes, and a water supply means for supplying water into the washing tub. Is provided with ion removing means. Also,
It is disclosed that an ion exchange resin or activated carbon is used as the ion removing means.

Further, this publication discloses that attention is paid to the limit of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for removing anions, a water supply path is provided in parallel with ion removing means, and the life is extended by selectively using the water supply path. I have.

In a washing machine, in order to remove dirt, not only a surfactant contained in the above-mentioned detergent but also a mechanical force is required. The dirt wrapped in the surfactant is separated from the clothing by the mechanical force, and the dirt is removed from the clothing. This mechanical force is applied to the clothes in the form of a frictional force when the clothes are rubbed against each other by rotating the rotating blades installed on the bottom surface of the washing tub to agitate the clothes in the washing water. That is, the dirt attached to the laundry is removed by a synergistic effect of the chemical power of the detergent and the mechanical power of the washing machine. The mechanical force is almost proportional to the product of the rotation speed of the rotor and the time.

Normally, the rotor of a washing machine is driven by a single-phase induction motor connected to a commercial power supply. In this case, the rotation speed of the rotor is determined by the commercial power frequency, the number of poles of the motor, and the speed reduction mechanism inserted between the rotor shaft and the rotor. Therefore, in a normal washing machine, the rotation speed is constant, and the adjustment of the mechanical force is performed in time. In order to adjust the mechanical force at the rotational speed, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-290592
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-163873 discloses that a PWM type inverter circuit and a DC brushless motor are mounted on a washing machine to control the rotation speed of a rotating blade.

[0012]

However, in the prior art ion removing means, no consideration is given to the flow rate required for supplying the washing water, the amount of the ion exchange resin, the particle size, or the ion removing efficiency. That is, in the washing machine described in JP-A-4-20395, a large amount of ion exchange resin is required to secure a sufficient flow rate, and it is difficult to house the ion removing means inside the washing machine or to configure it compactly. Become. On the other hand, if the amount of the ion exchange resin is reduced to make the ion exchange means compact, it is difficult to obtain a flow rate of 10 to 15 L per minute which is normally required. Also,
In order to store the ion exchange means inside the washing machine, if the ion exchange means is to be disposed below the washing machine, it is necessary to provide a long water supply passage before and after the ion exchange means, and the pressure loss in this water supply passage increases. Therefore, it becomes more difficult to secure the flow rate. In addition, since the ion-exchange resin loses its removal effect after adsorbing a certain amount of ions, it is necessary to regenerate after treating a certain amount of washing water. No consideration is given to the recycling of a limited amount of ion exchange resin that can be constructed. Also, no consideration is given to means for increasing the mechanical force applied to the clothes in the washing tub.

On the other hand, in a conventional washing machine having a variable speed means of a rotary wing described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-290592, it is necessary to adjust the rotation speed in order to increase the mechanical force given by the amount of dirt on the laundry. Sex is not considered. Also, no consideration is given to reducing power consumption when the rotation speed is increased. Further, no consideration is given to increasing the rotation speed to shorten the washing time.
In a conventional washing machine, since the DC voltage to the PWM inverter circuit is constant, the efficiency of the inverter circuit changes according to the rotation speed when the rotation speed of the rotor is varied according to the washing conditions (the amount of dirt on the laundry). . For this reason, the power consumption changes depending on the washing conditions, which is a problem in terms of power saving.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a compact ion removing means capable of removing cations contained in washing water at a flow rate of 10 L or more per minute and a variable speed means of a rotating blade. Means to increase the chemical power of the detergent, and to increase the mechanical power applied to the clothes by an efficient variable speed means to remove the dirt attached to the collar and sleeves of Y-shirts, which were difficult with conventional washing machines. To provide a washing machine that can be dropped without increasing time, without increasing fabric damage, without increasing power consumption, and without cumbersome pretreatment such as hand washing. It is in. Another object is to reduce the change in power consumption depending on the washing conditions (rotation speed).

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to the present invention comprises a container containing a material having ion exchange ability in the middle of a water supply path of the washing machine; A first room in which a first space and a second space are respectively provided on an upper side and a lower side, and a third space is provided above the first space, and a regenerant is stored above the third space. When,
A filter for preventing a regenerant from flowing out between the first room and the third space; a first passage connecting the first space and the third space; and a first passage from the first space. A check valve for preventing water from flowing into the third space through the first passage; first water supply means for supplying water to the container; and second water supply means for supplying water to the first room. An inlet for supplying water from the first water supply means into the container is provided in the second space, and an outlet for water from the container to the outer tub / wash tub is provided in the first space. And a drain port for discharging residual water in the container at the bottom of the second space, and a second passage connected to the drain port, and an outlet of the second passage is connected to the second space. It was provided below the bottom.

Water is supplied through the material having ion exchange capacity. Since the check valve is closed during water supply, water does not flow into the third space. Divalent cations such as calcium ions and magnesium ions as hardness components are removed from the washing water by the material having an ion exchange ability, and the water is supplied into the washing tub. As a result, the amount of the surfactant in the detergent added for washing is reduced in the washing water, and the washing power is not reduced.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a washing machine of the present invention comprises a DC brushless motor, a step-up DC-DC
A voltage control type inverter driving means including a voltage conversion circuit and a PWM type inverter circuit, and buttons for instructing a plurality of washing methods depending on the type of laundry or the degree of dirt are provided.

For example, a high-cleaning washing button for instructing the washing of a heavily soiled laundry, a dirt-light washing button for instructing the washing of a less-dirty laundry, a standard washing button for instructing a standard washing, An irrigated washing button for washing.

When the high-wash washing button is pressed, the DC brushless motor that rotationally drives the rotating blades fixes the duty ratio of the PWM inverter circuit by voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means, and applies the fixed voltage to the PWM inverter circuit. The rotation speed is set to be higher than the standard case, and the mechanical force applied to the laundry is increased. As a result, due to the synergistic effect of the increase in the chemical power of the detergent by the ion removing means and the increase in the mechanical power due to the high rotation speed, a high detergency is exhibited within the same washing time as the standard case. In addition, it is possible to remove collar and sleeve stains that have been difficult with a conventional washing machine without prior washing. In addition, since the flow rate is optimally fixed, even if the rotation speed is higher than the rotation speed when the standard washing button for instructing the standard washing is pressed, the PWM inverter circuit efficiency is higher than the standard washing speed. In this case, power can be saved without reduction.

When the wash button is pressed, the rotating speed of the DC brushless motor for rotating the rotating blades is set to a lower speed than that of the standard case by the voltage-controlled inverter driving means and applied to the laundry. Decrease mechanical power. As a result, the detergency is generally reduced, but the cleaning power is maintained by the effect of increasing the chemical power of the detergent by the ion removing means, and washing with less damage to the cloth can be performed.

When the rinsing washing button is pressed,
The DC brushless motor that rotates the rotating blades is set at a higher speed than the standard case and at a lower speed than the high-washing washing by the voltage-controlled inverter driving means, and increases the mechanical power to a medium level. As a result, the same detergency as the standard can be obtained in a short time without the ion removing means. If the effect of increasing the chemical force of the detergent by the ion removing means can be achieved, the time can be further reduced. As a result, washing can be performed with a short cleaning time, low power consumption, and less damage to the cloth while maintaining the cleaning power.

At the time of water supply for the final rinse, water is supplied from the second water supply means to the first room. Part of the injected water passes through the filter while dissolving the regenerant and accumulates in the third space. At this time, the water is still being supplied and the check valve is closed, so that the solution in which the regenerant is dissolved does not flow down to the first space. When the water supply in the final rinsing step is stopped, the water in the container is discharged from the water outlet through the second passage by the head of the water surface in the container and the second passage outlet. Then, the check valve opens, and the solution in the third space flows down from the first passage to the first space, passes through the material having ion exchange capacity, the second space, and the second passage to the outer tank. The discharged material having the ion exchange ability is automatically regenerated. Since the second passage outlet is located below the bottom of the second space, most of the solution flowing down into the container is discharged.

As a result, the ion removing means maintains the ion removing ability even in the next washing.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

The exterior is composed of an outer frame 1 made of steel plate and a top cover 17 mounted on the outer frame 1 and the like. The outer tub 4 which is a water receiving tank is suspended in the outer frame 1 from the upper four corners of the outer frame 1 by the suspension rod 2 and the vibration isolator 3 including a coil spring and a sliding ring, and is washed in the washing process. Water and rinsing water in the rinsing process (hereinafter referred to as washing water)
Accumulate. In the outer tub 4, a washing and dewatering tub 5 made of stainless steel (hereinafter, referred to as a washing tub) is rotatably provided. A number of dehydration holes 5a are provided on the side surface of the washing tub 5, a rotatable blade 6 is rotatably provided at a central bottom portion, and a balancer 5b is provided at an upper edge portion. A support plate 10 is attached to the bottom surface of the outer tub 4, and a driving device is fixed to the support plate 10.

The driving device comprises an inner rotor type DC brushless motor 7 and a transmission 9 in which a gear reduction mechanism and a clutch mechanism are incorporated. A DC brushless motor 7 is arranged below the transmission 9, and an input shaft of the transmission 9 is fastened to a rotating shaft (rotor) of the DC brushless motor 7. The transmission 9 has two coaxial output shafts, and the rotation of the DC brushless motor 7 is transmitted to only one of the output shafts by a clutch mechanism (not shown) in the transmission. The two output shafts of the transmission 9 penetrate the bottom wall of the outer tub 4 in a watertight manner and protrude into the outer tub 4, and are connected to the rotary wing 6 and the washing tub 5, respectively. The driving device keeps the washing tub 5 stationary during the washing process and the rinsing process, and reduces the rotation of the DC brushless motor 7 by the gear reduction mechanism of the transmission 9, and
Is rotated clockwise (forward) and counterclockwise (reverse).
In the dehydrating step, the rotation of the DC brushless motor 7 is transmitted to the washing tub 5 without being reduced by the gear reduction mechanism, and is rotated in one direction.

A water level sensor tube 12 for transmitting the water pressure in the outer tank to a water level sensor 11 is provided below the outer tank 4 side surface. A drain valve 13 for draining the washing water is provided on the bottom surface of the outer tub 4. When the drain valve is opened, the washing water is discharged to the outside of the washing machine by a drain hose 16 connected thereto.

A top cover 17 is provided above the outer frame 1. The top cover 17 includes an inlet 17a for charging laundry, an ion removing unit, a water tap 26, a rear storage box 17b for storing a water supply solenoid valve, and a front operation box 17c for storing electric components such as a microcomputer. Be composed. Input 17
a is provided with a lid 18.

An operation panel 19a shown in FIG. 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the front operation box 17c, and a control unit 19b containing a microcomputer or the like is provided below the operation panel 19a. In the front operation box 17c, there is provided a water level sensor 11 for detecting whether or not water has accumulated to a specified water level by detecting the water pressure in the outer tub 4. On the operation panel 19a, a power switch 20, various displays 21, various operation buttons 22, a buzzer 23, and the like are arranged. A user operates the washing machine with the operation buttons 22, and the operation state is displayed on the display. 21 and a buzzer 23. Further, a water softening display 24 composed of a light emitting diode for displaying an ion removal process (softening), a salt input display 25 composed of a light emitting diode for displaying a notification of regeneration of the ion removing means, a standard washing button for instructing a normal washing process 80, a high-wash washing button 81 for instructing a washing process of a heavily soiled laundry, and a dirt-light washing button 8 for instructing a washing process of a less-dirty laundry.
2. There is provided a washing button 83 for instructing a washing process for washing laundry with little dirt in a short time.

FIG. 4 is a plan view (a cross section indicated by a line BB in FIG. 1) of the rear portion of the rear storage box 17b, which is a main component of the present invention, when the upper lid of the rear storage box 17b is removed. Side is omitted).

A water tap 26 for connecting a hose from a water tap or the like is connected to the rear storage box 17b, followed by a water supply solenoid valve 27, a salt water injection solenoid valve 63, and an ion removing means 28 composed of a cylindrical container 60. Bath water suction pump 45 for absorbing bath water, inclined flow path 4 for flowing washing water into washing tub 5
6 etc. are stored. On the upstream side of the inclined flow path 46, a room A47 and a room B48 opening to the flow path 46 are provided.
The outlet of the water supply solenoid valve 27 is the water inlet 2 of the ion exchange means 28.
The outlet of the salt injection electromagnetic valve 63 is connected to the salt injection port 60h of the ion exchange means 28. The discharge port 29b of the ion exchange means 28 is connected to the room A47. As shown in FIG.
And consideration is given to flow path loss due to longer piping. Further, in order to prevent the depth of the rear storage box 17b from expanding, the bath water suction pump 45 is arranged on the opposite side of the ion removing means 28 with the inclined flow path 46 interposed therebetween.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the ion removing means 28 which is a main component of the present invention. (A) of the figure shows the ion removing means 2
8 is an overall perspective view, and (b) is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

The ion removing means 28 comprises a cylindrical container 60 and a lid 6
It is composed of 1. The cylindrical container 60 is divided into five rooms. From above, a salt input room 60a, a salt water input room 60a and a salt water chamber 60 separated by a salt particle outflow prevention filter 60g.
k, an upper room 60b provided with a discharge port 29b, a resin room 29e whose upper and lower surfaces between the water inlet 29a and the discharge port 29b are separated by a mesh filter 29d, and a lower room 60c provided with a water inlet 29a. A resin room 29e between the water inlet 29a and the outlet 29b (between the upper chamber 60b and the lower chamber 60c) is filled with a sodium-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin 31 (hereinafter referred to as ion exchange resin).

The ion exchange resin 31 may be in the form of fibers, in addition to the commonly used beads. The mesh filter 29d is provided to prevent foreign matter from entering the resin room 29e or to prevent the ion-exchange resin 31 from flowing into the resin room 29e.
e. In addition, ion exchange resin 3
The provision of the upper chamber 60b and the lower chamber 60c in the upper and lower portions of 1 prevents water from passing through only a part of the ion-exchange resin 31 layer, allows water to flow uniformly throughout the ion-exchange resin layer, and improves efficiency. This is because metal ions are often adsorbed. Water enters the lower room 60c through the water inlet 29a, and enters the lower room 60c.
After filling, the inside of the ion exchange resin 31 layer is uniformly raised,
It goes out to the upper room 60b, fills the upper room 60b, and flows out from the discharge port 29b. Further, the upper chamber 60b is necessary for temporarily storing the salt water so that the salt solution for regeneration flows uniformly throughout the entire 31 layers of the ion exchange resin.

The volume of the resin room 29e is designed to be about 10% larger than the required amount (volume) of the ion exchange resin, so that when the resin room 29e is filled with the ion exchange resin 31, a slight gap is formed in the upper part of the room. . This prevents the accumulation of minute dust that has passed through the mesh filter between the ion-exchange resins by giving the movement that the ion-exchange resin is lifted by the flow of water at the time of water supply and falls down when the water supply stops. That's why.

The salt 62 has been previously charged by the user into the salt charging chamber 60a. The amount of salt put in is
Approximately 150 g. This is equivalent to about seven times of 20 g of salt required for one time of the regeneration treatment of the ion exchange resin 31 described later, and the user needs to put the salt 62 once a week. A salt particle outflow prevention filter 60g having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the salt input room 60k is provided between the salt input room 60a and the salt water room 60k to prevent the salt particles from flowing out into the salt water room 60k. Accordingly, the area of the salt particle outflow filter 60g can be increased, and the salt water flows down through the entire surface of the filter into the salt water chamber 60k, so that the flow rate of the salt water can be secured.

A salt injection pipe 60i from a salt injection port 60h is opened in the salt injection chamber 60a. The salt water room 60k and the upper room 60b are separated by a partition wall 60d, and the partition wall 60d is provided with a hole 60e through which the salt water passes. This hole 6
0e, a check valve 60f is provided on the upper room 60b side, and when the water is supplied to the washing tub 5, the check valve 60f is
e to prevent water from flowing from the upper chamber 60b to the salt water chamber 60k. A salt water discharge port 29c is provided on the bottom of the lower room 60c so as to penetrate the bottom of the rear storage box 17b. The salt water discharge pipe 64 connected to the salt water discharge port 29c has an outer tank as shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the lower part of the tank 4 to discharge the salt water into the outer tank.

A concave groove 61a is provided on the inner circumference of the lid 61, and an air hole 61b is formed on the upper surface. A convex portion 61j is provided on the outer circumference of the upper portion of the cylindrical container 60, and the lid 61 is fixed to the convex portion 60j of the cylindrical container 60 so that the concave groove 61a fits therein. The lid 61 projects from the upper surface of the rear storage box 17b, so that the lid 61 can be easily opened and closed. Further, the lid 61 is made of a transparent member such as an acrylic resin so that the remaining amount of salt consumed in a process of regenerating the ion exchange resin for each washing described later can be easily checked.

The hose from the tap is connected to the tap 26. Tap water is supplied to the cylindrical container 6 by opening and closing the water supply solenoid valve 27.
It is guided to the water inlet 29a of 0, fills the lower chamber 60c, and then passes through the room 29e filled with the ion exchange resin 31 while ascending. Tap water is softened here, that is, calcium and magnesium ions are removed, fills the upper chamber 60b, and flows out from the outlet 29b. Then, the water flows down from the room A47 to the inclined flow passage 46 and is supplied to the outer tub 4 (the washing tub 5). Water from the bath is pumped out by a hose connected to the bath water inlet 45a. The bath water is supplied with tap water from the tap tap 26 by first opening the electromagnetic valve 27 and supplying the ion removing means 2.
8. A part of the water is pumped from the priming port 45b to the bath water suction pump 45 through the room A47. Thereafter, the pump motor is rotated to take in the bath water from the bath water supply port 45a, and the inclined flow path 4 from the discharge port 45c through the room B48.
6 and water is supplied to the washing tub 5 from here.

The installation of the ion removing means 28 composed of the cylindrical container 60 in the rear storage box 17b in which the water tap 26 is installed can shorten the length of the water supply pipe, reduce the flow path loss, and reduce the flow rate, This is because the water supply time can be reduced. Since tap water passes through the room 29e filled with the ion-exchange resin 31 in the water supply, the pressure loss in filling the resin is large. In order to cover even a small amount of this loss, it is desirable that the pipe length from the water tap to the cylindrical container 60 be 100 mm or less. The washing water supply flow rate of the conventional washing machine is 10 to 15 liters / minute, depending on the tap water pressure, and the above consideration is necessary to obtain a flow rate close to this in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a washing machine control section mainly composed of the microcomputer 50. The microcomputer 50 is also connected to the operation button input circuit 51 and the water level sensor 11, and receives a user's button operation and an information signal of the washing water level in the washing tub. The output from the microcomputer 50 is connected to a drive circuit 52 and supplies commercial power to the bath water pump 45, the water supply solenoid valve 27, the drain valve 13 and the like, and controls the opening / closing or rotation thereof. Further, in order to inform the user of the operation of the washing machine, it is also connected to notification means such as a buzzer 23 and a display 21. Power supply circuit 53
Rectifies and smoothes a commercial power supply to create a DC power supply required for the microcomputer 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a light emitting diode which lights up to indicate the soft water treatment. The light emitting diode 54 is mounted on the front operation box 17c and lights up when water is passed through the ion exchange resin to notify the user with the water softening display 24 that the water softening process is being performed. Reference numeral 55 denotes a light-emitting diode that lights up to indicate salt injection. The light emitting diode 55 is mounted on the front operation box 17c, and is turned on when it is necessary to input salt to the ion removing means, and notifies the user of the salt input with the salt input display 25.

Bridge rectifier circuit 7 connected to commercial power supply
1 is a full-wave rectifier for commercial power, which is used for power factor improvement and boosting.
It is input to the C-DC conversion circuit 72. The DC-DC conversion circuit 72 chops this rectified voltage with a semiconductor element such as an IGBT to improve the power factor of the commercial power supply, and supplies the boosted DC voltage to the PWM inverter circuit 73. This output voltage is varied by the microcomputer 50 by controlling the duty of the driving rectangular wave of the semiconductor element. The PWM inverter circuit 73 outputs 3
Creates a phase PWM rectangular wave voltage and generates a DC brushless motor 7
To rotate it.

FIG. 7 shows the details of the step-up DC-DC conversion circuit and the PWM inverter circuit which are the voltage control type PWM inverter driving means of the DC brushless motor 7 which are the main components of the present invention.

The bridge rectifier circuit 71 bridge-rectifies the commercial power supply to create a full-wave rectified waveform having a peak value of 141V. The DC-DC conversion circuit 72 converts this full-wave rectified waveform into IG
The energy stored in the reactor 72b is chopped by the BT 72a and supplied to the capacitor 72d via the diode 72c to boost the voltage and improve the power factor of the commercial power input.

The PWM inverter circuit 73 includes an IGBT module 73a and a drive circuit 73b.
A PWM signal is applied to the gate terminal of T, and the DC voltage output from the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 is chopped.
A three-phase alternating current is supplied to each UVW phase field winding of the brushless motor 7. The IGBT module 73 is a three-arm three-phase bridge inverter circuit, and each arm includes a pair of IGBTs and a flywheel diode connected in anti-parallel to each of the IGBTs. Each gate terminal of the IGBT is driven by the PWM signal of the drive circuit 73b.

The DC brassless motor 7 has three sets of hall elements 8 as means for detecting the position of the rotor, and each hall element is arranged for every 120 electrical degrees. The position of the rotor is detected by the Hall element 8 and transmitted to the microcomputer 50. The microcomputer calculates and outputs a PWM signal flowing through each IGBT from the information on the rotor position and the rotation speed, and outputs the PWM signal.
b, a PWM rectangular wave voltage having a peak value of approximately an input DC voltage is applied to the field windings of each phase of the UVW of the stator. At this time, the current flowing through each winding becomes a sine wave due to the inductance and capacity of the motor winding. That is, a three-phase sinusoidal current is supplied to each winding. If the UVW phase currents have a phase relationship of 120 degrees in this order, the DC brushless motor 7 rotates clockwise. For example, in the phase relationship of reversing the UV phase described above, the DC brushless motor 7 rotates counterclockwise.

As is well known, the PWM inverter circuit 73 supplies a three-phase AC current to the motor by converting the input DC voltage into a PWM rectangular wave voltage signal and applying the converted voltage to the winding of the motor as described above. . Considering a sine-wave three-phase voltage that supplies a current equivalent to the three-phase current value, the equivalent sine-wave voltage is determined by the input DC voltage and the duty of the PWM signal. This duty is I
This determines the GBT flow rate. This flow rate and PWM
The efficiency of the inverter circuit 73, that is, the ratio of the input power to the circuit and the input power to the DC brushless motor 7, which is the output power, increases as the duty ratio, that is, the duty, increases, as shown in FIG. It is also apparent that the maximum value of the equivalent sine wave voltage is limited by the input DC voltage.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional DC brushless motor drive circuit. This is different from the present embodiment in that a large-capacity reactor 90 inserted into a commercial power supply line and a
2 and a PWM inverter circuit 73 similar to the embodiment. In other words, instead of having the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 of the present embodiment, it has a large-capacity reactor 90 of about 10 mH and a double-voltage rectifying / smoothing circuit 91 for obtaining a high DC voltage of 282 V in order to improve the power factor. The voltage doubler rectifying / smoothing circuit 91 is of a capacitor input type, and as shown in FIG. 10A, the waveform of the current flowing to the commercial power supply is distorted, and the power factor is deteriorated.
Since the deterioration of the power factor causes malfunction of other electric devices connected to the commercial power supply, each country has a guideline for harmonic regulation. Therefore, the power factor is improved by the large-capacity reactor 90, and the regulation is cleared. However, large capacity reactor 90
Is expensive, and the insertion loss due to its resistance component is large. For practical reactors, the power factor is only 50 to 60%.

The DC-DC conversion circuit 72 of the present embodiment chops a pulse wave (full-wave rectified) voltage as an input at a high frequency (several tens of kHz) by the IGBT 72a, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the current becomes almost proportional to the voltage waveform of the commercial power supply, and the commercial power supply current waveform without distortion can be obtained with a simple filter, and a power factor of 99% can be achieved. That is, the power factor can be greatly improved, and malfunction of other electric devices can be prevented. In this sense, the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 is a power factor improvement circuit, and is also an active filter circuit in the sense that the filtering operation (power factor improvement) by a conventional large-capacity reactor is performed by chopping with a semiconductor.
Incidentally, the reactor 72b of the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 has a small size of several tens of μH, and the loss due to the resistance is extremely small. And the efficiency of this conversion circuit is 95% or more.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the torque rotation speed characteristic of the DC brushless motor 7. The case where the input DC voltage to the PWM inverter circuit 73 is used as a parameter is shown by a solid line. The dashed line shows the case where the DC voltage is fixed at 300 V, the duty of the PWM signal is changed, and the equivalent three-phase sine wave voltage to the motor is used as a parameter. This is the same as setting the duty as a parameter. Thus, D
The C brushless motor 7 has the same characteristics as a so-called DC motor when including the PWM inverter circuit 73. When a load is applied to the DC brushless motor 7, the motor rotates at the rotation speed at the intersection of the straight line of the torque rotation speed characteristic and the load line as shown in the figure. Therefore, in order to change the rotation speed, it is only necessary to change the DC voltage or the duty of the PWM signal.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The full-wave rectified voltage of the bridge rectifier circuit 71 is applied to the DC-DC converter 7
In step 2, it is converted to a DC voltage. At this time, the minimum value of the DC voltage is set to 160 V obtained by adding a predetermined value (19 V) to the peak 141 V of the full-wave rectified voltage. Plus predetermined value (19V)
This is to ensure that the IGBT 72a is always chopped to ensure a minimum power factor improvement operation. This 160V
To increase the voltage above, the microcomputer 50
To control the drive circuit 72e in the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 to change the duty of the gate terminal drive signal of the IGBT 72a. Increasing the duty increases the output DC voltage value.

FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor 7, the DC voltage to the PWM inverter circuit, that is, the output setting DC voltage of the DC-DC conversion circuit 72, and the duty, that is, the duty ratio, in this embodiment. When the rotation speed is less than about 800 rpm, the DC voltage is fixed at 160 V,
The rotation speed of the DC brushless motor 7 is varied by changing the duty (conduction rate) of the PWM signal. At a rotation speed of about 800 rpm or more, the duty (conduction rate) of the PWM signal is set to the highest fixed value, and the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor 7 is varied by changing the output DC voltage of the DC-DC conversion circuit 72. The efficiency of the PWM inverter circuit 73 at this time is shown by a solid line (a) in FIG. 13 as a relationship with the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor 7. FIG.
In the case of the conventional circuit shown in FIG.
In order to change the rotation speed by changing the duty of the signal and changing the equivalent sine wave applied voltage, the broken line (b) in FIG.
The circuit efficiency is as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, since the circuit efficiency can be improved by the difference between the solid line and the broken line, power can be saved. In particular, this is effective in widening the variable speed range while maintaining high circuit efficiency.

Next, the operation of the ion removing means 28 according to the present invention will be described. When the user puts the laundry in the washing tub 5, presses the power switch 19, and operates the standard washing button 80 or the high washing washing button 81, the microcomputer 50 measures the amount of the laundry with the cloth amount sensor, and the measurement result. Is displayed on the display 21 to inform the user of the amount of water and the amount of detergent corresponding to. The user puts an appropriate amount of detergent into the washing tub 5 with reference to the display. Thereafter, the microcomputer 50 opens the water supply electromagnetic valve 27. Tap water passes through a water supply solenoid valve 27 from a water tap 26 and a cylindrical container 60 from a water inlet 29a.
Into the lower room 60c. The inflowing tap water fills the lower chamber 60c, then rises in the room 29e by the pressure, and passes through the space between the sodium-type strongly acidic cation exchange resins 31 filled with the room 29e sandwiched between the mesh filters 29d. Flows out into the upper room 60b. Then, the upper chamber 60b is filled and flows out from the discharge port 29b, and the room A
47, accumulates in the outer tub 4 (the washing tub 5) through the ramp 46.

A part of the tap water flowing into the lower chamber 60c does not pass through the ion-exchange resin 31 and is discharged from the salt water outlet 29.
The water flows into the outer tub 4 through the salt water drainage pipe 64 connected to the outer tank 4. If the inside diameter of the salt water discharge port 29c is 2 mm, the flow rate through the salt water discharge pipe 64 at a feed water flow rate of 15 / min is about 0.5 L / min. This amount is about 3% of the water supply amount and has little effect. If the inner diameter of the salt water discharge port 29c is further reduced, the influence can be further reduced. However, since the salt water for regeneration is difficult to discharge due to the capillary phenomenon, the above-mentioned about 2 mm is optimal. If there are no cost or space issues,
Needless to say, it is better to provide a valve in the middle of the salt water discharge pipe 64 and close this valve during the supply of water.

While tap water passes through the ion exchange resin 31, calcium ions and magnesium ions contained therein are removed by an ion exchange action. During this washing water supply, the light emitting diode 54 is turned on, and the display or notification of ion removal is performed using the water softening display 24 or the buzzer 23. During the water supply, the upper chamber 60b of the ion exchange means 28 is filled with tap water, and due to this pressure, the ball of the check valve 60f rises and closes the hole 60e. For this reason, tap water does not enter the salt water room 60k during water supply. Except at the time of water supply, the upper chamber 60b is at atmospheric pressure, so the ball of the check valve 60f falls by its own weight, and the hole 60e is in an open state.

Hereinafter, when the high cleaning washing button 81 is pressed,
The case of washing dirty laundry will be described. When rotating the rotating blades in the washing and rinsing process, the motor speed is reduced to about 1/7 by the gear reduction mechanism in the transmission as described above. The microcomputer 50, which has learned that the specified amount of washing water has been supplied into the outer tub 4 by the water level sensor 11, closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 and stops water supply. Then, a PWM signal having a fixed duty is sent to the PWM inverter circuit 73 in order to rotate the rotor 6 forward and backward. This signal drives each gate of the IGBT module 73a via the drive circuit 73b. At the same time, the microcomputer 50 sends a duty signal to the DC-DC conversion circuit 72, and sets the input DC voltage of the PWM inverter circuit 73 to a predetermined value. As a result, the rotor 6 starts to rotate forward and backward, and the washing starts. At this time, the high cleaning washing button 8
If 1 is pressed and washing is started, the rotation speed of the rotor is 150 rpm (the rotation speed of the motor is 150 rpm).
DC voltage of about 25 so as to be 1050 rpm (× 7).
0V is set. When the standard washing button 80 is pressed, a DC voltage of about 150 V is set so that the rotation speed of the rotor becomes 110 rpm (the number of rotations of the motor is 110 rpm × 7, 770 rpm).

Since the washing water supplied into the washing tub 5 does not contain cations such as calcium and magnesium, it reacts with the surfactant in the detergent supplied to form insoluble metal soap or for washing. It does not reduce the amount of surfactant that contributes and does not reduce the detergency. After the water supply is completed, the water remaining in the ion exchange means 28 is slowly discharged to the outer tank 4 from the salt water discharge pipe 64 connected to the salt water discharge port 29c.

As a result, during washing, the chemical strength of the surfactant is increased in the washing water in the washing tub. The rotation speed of the rotor is 15 rpm from 110 rpm for standard washing.
It is set to a state that has increased to 0 rpm. The washing is performed by stirring the laundry in the washing water in which the detergent is dissolved. A high detergency, which will be described later, can be obtained by the synergistic effect of the increase in the chemical force and the increase in the mechanical force accompanying the increase in the rotation speed.

Sodium type strongly acidic cation exchange resin 31
Is a synthetic resin in which an ion exchange group such as a sulfonic acid group is bonded to a crosslinked three-dimensional polymer substrate by a chemical bond, as is well known. When tap water containing divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium flows between the cation exchange resins, sulfonic acid groups, which are ion exchange groups of the cation exchange resin, and cations in the tap water are ion-exchanged, As a result, cations in tap water are removed. Chemical formulas 1 and 2 show the ion exchange reaction formulas of the sodium-type strongly acidic ion exchange resin.

[0061]

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[0062]

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Here, R is a polymer substrate of an ion exchange resin. Sodium-type ion-exchange resin uses -SO3 anion as fixed ion and Na cation as counter ion, and removes multivalent cations such as calcium and magnesium contained in water by utilizing ion selectivity. I do. In the case of a strongly acidic cation exchange resin at a low concentration and at room temperature, the ion selectivity is higher for ions having higher valence, and is higher for ions having higher valence at the same valence. The ions contained in the natural water are in the order shown in Chemical formula 3.

[0064]

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Calcium and magnesium ions in water passing through the ion exchange resin are removed by adsorbing on the resin by the reaction from the left side to the right side of Chemical Formulas 1 and 2. Conversely, calcium,
When high-concentration salt water is passed through the resin to which magnesium ions are adsorbed, calcium and magnesium ions are desorbed by the reaction from the right side to the left side in Chemical Formulas 1 and 2, and the resin returns to its original state and is regenerated.

A commercially available compact water softener used in a laboratory or the like has an ion exchange resin amount of 1 to 2 L and a processing flow rate of 10 L / h.
A capacity of about L (0.16 L per minute) is generally used.
As described above, in a home washing machine, water is supplied directly from a faucet to a washing tub at a flow rate of 10 L or more per minute in order to shorten the water supply time. For this reason, the water supply time becomes too long with the processing flow rate of the above-mentioned commercially available small water softener, so that it is inevitable to use the batch-processed water using a time other than the washing once stored in a water storage tank. In addition, the volume of ionic resin of 1 to 2 L is too large to be mounted (built-in) in a home washing machine. That is, it is necessary to solve the above-mentioned problems of the processing flow rate of the ion exchange resin and the amount of the resin in the home washing machine.

According to water supply statistics carried out in the past, of the number of cases investigated, half had a total hardness of 40 ppm or less, and as many as 15% exceeded 100 ppm. The arithmetic mean is 54.5 ppm.

FIG. 14 shows the hardness distribution of purified water throughout the country (based on the statistics of water supply in 1994 issued by the Japan Water Works Association), and the relationship between the cleaning rate and the hardness when using a compact type synthetic detergent containing zeolite. Shown as parameters. The hardness distribution takes into account the amount of purified water per day at each water purification plant. For example, about 20% of the total purified water amount is 40 to 40%.
It can be seen that it is between 50 ppm. Assuming that the amount of water purification at each water treatment plant is proportional to the number of households, about 20% of all households are 4
This means that 0 to 50 ppm tap water is used. The national average hardness is 52.9 ppm, 98% of the total
Is 100 ppm or less.

With respect to the cleaning rate, at a detergent concentration of 0.067 wt% (% by weight), which is a detergent amount specified by the detergent maker, the cleaning rate is reduced by about 50% by halving the average hardness of 52.9 ppm.
Can also be increased. Hardness 100ppm
By halving this, the amount of detergent is doubled (concentration 0.1
(33 wt%), and a cleaning rate equivalent to that obtained when the amount is 33 wt% is obtained. In other words, the washing rate when the detergent amount (concentration) is twice the standard can be obtained with the standard detergent amount by decreasing the hardness. As described above, the detergency of the washing machine can be greatly improved by removing calcium ions and magnesium ions which are hardness components. Further, when the same cleaning rate as that when tap water is used as it is is sufficient, the amount of detergent used can be reduced by water softening. Further, in an area where the hardness is 40 ppm or more, it is not necessary to use the detergent more than necessary, and the effect on the environment is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the hardness is 40 ppm or less, the cleaning rate is almost constant, and when the hardness is more than 40 ppm, the cleaning rate decreases. When the hardness is 40 ppm or less, the zeolite contained in the synthetic detergent adsorbs almost all of the hardness components and the surfactant sufficiently acts, so that the cleaning rate becomes almost constant. The activator reacts with the hardness component to produce metallic soap, and the amount of surfactant decreases by that amount, resulting in a decrease in the cleaning rate. Therefore, when a synthetic detergent containing zeolite is used for washing, it is desirable to remove calcium ions and magnesium ions of the hardness components from the washing water to about 40 ppm. On the other hand, in the case of soap, unlike FIG. 14, the cleaning rate decreases as the hardness increases. Therefore, it is preferable to remove the hardness component as much as possible.

The ion exchange performance of the ion exchange resin is determined by the ion exchange capacity, the ion exchange rate and the like. When the ion exchange resin is used in the washing machine, as described above, the processing flow rate is required to be 10 to 15 L / min, and the resin amount is required to be as small as possible so that the washing machine can be mounted. For this purpose, the ion exchange rate may be increased as much as possible to secure the processing flow rate, and the ion exchange capacity may be increased to reduce the resin amount. The ion exchange capacity and the ion exchange rate vary depending on the degree of crosslinking of the ion exchange resin, the resin structure (gel type, porosity), the resin diameter, and the like. However, the higher the degree of cross-linking, the higher the ion exchange capacity, but the lower the ion exchange rate, and if the porous structure is used, the higher the ion exchange rate than the gel type, but the lower the ion exchange capacity. Thus, it is difficult to simultaneously improve both performances by the degree of crosslinking and the structure of the ion exchange resin.

FIG. 15 shows the change in the leaked ion concentration with respect to the flow rate of the sodium-type strongly acidic ion exchange resin having a degree of crosslinking of 8% which is most commonly used for water softening. This is the result of an experiment using the diameter as a parameter. Raw water total hardness is 100 ppm, flow rate is 1
5 L / min. The hardness component leaks in any case of the tested resin amount and resin diameter, and the concentration differs depending on the resin amount and resin diameter. The leakage ion concentration at the initial stage of water flow is
For the same resin diameter, the smaller the resin amount, the smaller the resin amount. When the resin amount is the same, the smaller the resin diameter, the smaller the resin amount.

FIG. 16 shows the leaked ion concentration at the initial stage of water passage in FIG. 15 as a function of the total surface area of the ion exchange resin (calculated value).
This is the result of rearranging. From the figure, it can be seen that the leaked ion concentration is almost inversely proportional to the total surface area of the ion exchange resin, and that the ion exchange rate is proportional to the total surface area of the ion exchange resin. Since the total surface area of the ion exchange resin is proportional to the amount of the ion exchange resin and inversely proportional to the diameter of the ion exchange resin, the amount of the resin can be reduced by reducing the diameter of the resin. The change in the leaked ion concentration is almost constant in the initial stage of water flow, but when the flow rate increases, it suddenly increases from a certain point and finally loses ion exchange capacity and becomes the same as the raw water. The ion exchange capacity is represented by an area surrounded by a leak ion concentration line and a raw water ion concentration line (for example, in the case of a resin amount of 100 mL and a resin diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, an area surrounded by ABCA in the figure). However, regardless of the resin diameter, it is proportional only to the amount of resin.

The ion exchange capacity of the ion exchange resin in FIG. 15 is 2.0 meq / mL-R (2.0 equivalents per 1 mL of ion exchange resin), and CaCO 3 / mL of resin is used.
100 mg of the hardness component can be removed in conversion. Suppose now that tap water having a total hardness of 100 ppm is flowed at a flow rate of 15 L / min to soften a water volume of 88 L for one high water level of a fully automatic washing machine with a rated capacity of 9 kg. Assuming that water softening may be performed up to 40 ppm which does not affect the detergency of the synthetic detergent containing zeolite, the hardness component to be removed is 5.28 g (CaC
O3 conversion), and considering only the ion exchange capacity, the required minimum resin amount may be as small as 52.8 mL. But,
Considering the ion exchange rate, it is not possible to soften water up to 40 ppm with this amount of resin. Actually, as shown in the figure, 100 mL for a resin diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, 150 mL for a resin diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 mm, and 0.3 to 1.
If there is no 260 mL resin amount in 1 mm, it cannot be reduced to 40 ppm or less. However, by setting the resin diameter to 0.1 to 0.2 mm or 0.3 to 0.5 mm, the processing flow rate can be reduced to 15 / min.
Even with L, the resin amount can be reduced to 100 to 150 mL, and it can be mounted on a home washing machine.

FIG. 17 shows tap water (total hardness 100 ppm) at a flow rate of 15 L / min using an ion exchange means using an ion exchange resin having a resin diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mm and a resin amount of 100 mL.
Is the relationship between the leaked ion concentration and the flow rate when flowing water.
The black circles in the figure indicate the first time of water flow, that is, the case where the ion exchange resin is new. Up to a flow rate of 50 L, the leaked ion concentration is constant at about 12 ppm. From this, the leaked ion concentration starts increasing, but the leaked ion concentration is maintained at 40 ppm or less until the water flow rate reaches 100 L. And the water flow is 15
At 0 L, the ion exchange capacity is lost, and the leaked ion concentration becomes the same as the raw water hardness. Therefore, the above-mentioned regeneration treatment with salt water is required. This reproduction process will be described later. When water is supplied to a high water level (water volume is 88 L) by a fully automatic washing machine having a rated capacity of 9 kg, the hardness of the washing water becomes about 1 as indicated by a circle in the figure.
At 8 ppm, the cleaning performance does not decrease due to the hardness.

FIG. 18 shows the number of rotations of the rotor, time, and ion based on the cleaning of artificially contaminated cloth using a conventional single-phase induction motor driven by a commercial power supply (50 Hz) (evaluation method for washing performance of a washing machine specified in JIS). The detergency as a result of an experiment using water softening for washing as a parameter using the removing means is shown by a bar graph. Compared to the standard (rotor blade rotation speed 110 rpm, time 9 minutes, washing water hardness 100 ppm, detergency 1), other conditions were the same as in a, and only the rotation speed of the rotor blade was 1.36 times (150 rpm). (Shown by b), the detergency becomes 1.25. Similarly, only time is doubled (18
Min) (denoted by c), the detergency is 1.29.
Similarly, when the water whose hardness is reduced by 60% by the ion removing means is used as the washing water (indicated by d), the detergency becomes 1.26. Similarly, when the detergent amount, that is, the detergent concentration is 1.2 times (denoted by e), the cleaning rate becomes 1.09.

From this result, it can be seen that the effect of the ion removing means on the cleaning has almost the same effect as doubling the mechanical force to the standard. It can also be seen that increasing the mechanical force by increasing the speed of the rotor by 1.36 times and increasing the mechanical force by doubling the time have the same effect on cleaning. This means that in order to obtain the same washing power as the reference, that is, the rotating speed of the rotor in the standard washing, if the speed of the rotating blade is multiplied by 1.36, the time can be reduced by half.

On the other hand, the subjective evaluation by the housewife monitor showed that the housewife monitor could not give the impression that the stains on the collars, sleeves, and the like had fallen unless the cleaning power in the above experiment was 1.6 or less. I have. In other words, the housewife gave up because it was impossible to remove collar and sleeve stains such as Y-shirts with a conventional washing machine. This indicates that it is necessary to set the detergency in the experiment to 1.6 in order to solve the problem.

In order to obtain this cleaning power, if only the mechanical force is used, it is necessary to triple the time from the results shown in FIG. 18 if the reference and the rotation speed are the same. If the time is the same as the reference, the rotation speed must be about twice as high.

However, an increase in the mechanical force leads to an increase in damage to the cloth and a deterioration in the finish of the laundry. Furthermore, in order to increase the tangling of the cloth, much labor is required to take out the laundry from the washing tub after the washing is completed. Furthermore, there is also an increase in noise due to an increase in rotation speed and an increase in power consumption due to an increase in time. In other words, relying only on mechanical power is too unrealistic.

In the present embodiment, the detergency is increased by water softening by the ion removing means, and the practical rotation speed of the rotor is increased by a factor of 1.3, and as shown by f in FIG. .57 can be obtained. This is applied when the high cleaning washing button 81 is pressed.
The operation settings of the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 and the PWM inverter circuit 73 at this time are as described above.
Even when rotating at a speed of 0 rpm, it is possible to further save power by improving the circuit efficiency as compared with the conventional case.

Further, in order to obtain the same detergency as the above-mentioned standard (standard), it is known that if the speed of the rotor is increased by 1.36 times, the time can be reduced by half.
m, that is, at a speed 1.2 times the reference, and the time can be reduced by 40% of the reference. This is applied when the sew washing button 83 is pressed. This time also D
The operation settings of the C-DC conversion circuit 72 and the PWM inverter circuit 73 are as described above. Even if the rotating blade is rotated at a speed of 130 rpm, further power saving can be achieved by improving the circuit efficiency.

When the dirt-reduced washing button is pressed, the DC-DC conversion circuit 72 is fixed to the minimum DC voltage output, the duty is reduced by the PWM inverter circuit 73, and the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor is reduced to the standard. It is set to a lower speed than normal, and reduces the mechanical power applied to the laundry. As a result, the detergency is generally reduced, but the cleaning power is maintained by the effect of increasing the chemical power of the detergent by the ion removing means, and washing with less damage to the cloth can be performed.

The effect of softening the washing water is that the foaming of the detergent is improved. This is particularly noticeable with powdered soap. By further increasing the rotation speed, the washing water is well agitated, and the dissolution of air in water is promoted, so that foaming is further improved. For this reason, the laundry is wrapped in foam and floats, and even if the amount of washing water is small, the chance of contact friction between the laundry increases. In other words, less washing water increases the mechanical power applied to the laundry.

In standard washing, 5 kg of laundry and 56
L, if a detergent amount of 37 g with a detergent concentration of 0.067 wt% is used, in high-wash washing, the same laundry amount of 5 kg is replaced by 45 L of water, and the detergent concentration is 1.2 times as large as that of the same detergent amount of 37 g. 0.08 wt%. By doing so, a high detergency of 1.62 can be obtained as shown by g in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, a high-cleaning washing course is provided for heavyly soiled laundry, and 60 to 70% (approximately 5 kg) of the rated capacity of the laundry is provided by the ion removing means. High washing power is achieved by softening the washing water and increasing the rotating speed of the rotor. When washing is done in a hurry, a snoring washing course is provided, and the number of revolutions is increased to shorten the time.

When the washing process is completed, the microcomputer 50 opens the drain valve 13 and drains the washing water in the outer tub 4. After draining, the process shifts to the dehydration process. In the dehydrating step, the microcomputer 50 is connected to the solenoid 9 of the transmission 9.
a is controlled to rotate the washing tub 5 at high speed by the three-phase induction motor 7. During this time, the drain valve 13 is open.

After the completion of the dehydrating step, the drain valve 13 is closed, and then the operation proceeds to the rinsing step. The rinsing step is usually performed once or twice, depending on the method. In the so-called rinsing, in which water is temporarily stored in the outer tub 4 and then the rotating blades 6 are rotated to dilute the detergent remaining in the clothes, that is, the so-called rinsing requires approximately the same amount of water as the previous washing water supply. Therefore, the amount of water passing through the ion removing means 28 is 88 L in the previous washing water supply and 8 L in this rinsing.
8L × 2 times, a total of 264L.

As shown in FIG. 17, since the ion exchange capacity is lost when the flow rate is 150 L, the hardness becomes the same as that of the raw water during the first rinse water supply. However, since the rinsing step has no effect on the hardness, water having high hardness may be supplied. The water supply during the rinsing step is exactly the same as during the washing step except for the final rinsing step.
Next, a final rinsing step in which water is accumulated and a regeneration process of the ion exchange resin 31 performed in the final rinsing step will be described.

First, the water supply solenoid valve 27 is opened, and tap water is passed through the ion removing means 28 in the same manner as in the above-mentioned washing water supply, and the outer tank 4 is opened.
Supply rinse water inside. When the tap water fills the upper chamber 60b of the ion removing means and the check valve 60f closes the hole 60e (this is determined by elapse of a predetermined time after opening the water supply electromagnetic valve 27), The microcomputer 50 opens the salt injection electromagnetic valve 63. Tap water passes through a salt injection solenoid valve 63, a salt injection port 60h, and a salt injection pipe 60.
From i, it flows into the salt input room 60a. Salt injection pipe 60i
Is preferably shaped so that tap water is poured into the salt 62 like a shower. The amount of water injected is 60
A small volume of ~ 70 mL is sufficient. This amount is set based on the amount of salt required to make the washing water for at least one tub (88 L) have a hardness of 40 ppm or less. The amount of water injected is 60 i
The flow path is reduced by reducing the inner diameter of the filter, or by inserting a throttle (not shown) in the middle of the salt injection path, thereby reducing the flow rate and controlling and adjusting the opening time of the salt injection electromagnetic valve 63. After the elapse of a predetermined amount of time, for example, 60 mL (to the broken line B in FIG. 5), the microcomputer 50
The water injection is stopped by controlling the salt injection electromagnetic valve 63. At this time, the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 is still open, and water supply is continuing. The tap water injected into the salt charging chamber 60a flows into the salt water chamber 60k through the salt particle outflow prevention filter 60g while dissolving the salt 62, since the air holes 61b are provided on the upper surface of the lid 61. Since the stop valve 60f closes the hole 60e, the inflow stops when the salt water chamber 60k becomes full.

When the water level sensor 11 detects that a predetermined amount of water has been supplied to the outer tub 4, the microcomputer 50
Closes the water supply solenoid valve 27 to stop the water supply,
Rotate forward and backward to stir the laundry and start rinsing. Since no mechanical force is required in the rinsing step, the rotation speed of the rotor may be the same as in the standard washing. When the water supply is stopped, the tap water in the cylindrical container 60 is moved from the salt water discharge port 29c to the salt water discharge pipe 64 by the head due to the difference in height between the level of the tap water (broken line A in FIG. 5) and the outlet of the salt water discharge pipe 64. It gradually flows out of the street. At the same time, air enters the upper chamber 60b from the discharge port 29b, and the upper chamber 60b becomes atmospheric pressure.
The ball of the check valve 60f falls by its own weight, and the hole 60e opens.
Then, the salt water in the salt water room 60e gradually flows down into the upper room 60b from the hole 60e, and the salt water in which the salt 62 is dissolved is supplied from the salt water input room 60a to the salt water room 60k. This continues until there is no more tap water injected into the salt input room 60a.

At this time, about 20 to 22 g of salt is dissolved in the salt water flowing into the salt water chamber 60k, and the concentration becomes about 26 wt%. This concentration is approximately equal to the saturated concentration of the salt (the solubility of the salt is 35.7 g per 100 mL of water at 0 ° C.). After this, the salt water flows down the 31 layers of the ion exchange resin, and
After passing through 0c, the water is discharged from the brine discharge port 29c through the brine discharge pipe 64 into the outer tank 4 containing rinsing water, and diluted with the rinse water. When the salt water flows through the ion exchange resin 31, a reaction from the right side to the left side of Chemical Formulas 1 and 2 occurs,
At the time of water supply, calcium ions and magnesium ions ion-exchanged by passage of tap water are replaced with sodium ions in the salt water. As a result, the ion-exchange resin 31 is regenerated, the ion-exchange ability is restored, and the ion-exchange resin 31 can be used for water supply in the next washing step. Calcium ions and magnesium ions are discharged into rinse water together with salt water.

Each time the salt is regenerated, the salt 62 in the salt charging chamber 60a is consumed by about 20 g and gradually decreases. The user confirms the amount of salt remaining in the salt-injection space or 60a through the transparent lid 61, and opens the lid 61 as soon as it is exhausted, and replenishes it.

The salt water was stirred for the rinsing step (3 to 4 hours).
All flow down into the outer tub 4 within minutes. At this time, salt water room 6
It is better to reduce the amount of salt water discharged from the salt water discharge pipe 64 than the amount of salt water supplied from 0k. This is to allow the salt water to collect in the upper room 60b. By doing so, the salt water passes uniformly without passing through only a part of the ion exchange resin 31 layer, and efficient regeneration can be performed. For this reason, (1) a salt particle outflow prevention filter 60 which is an obstacle to the passage of salt water
g so as to allow a sufficient amount of salt water to pass therethrough. In an embodiment, the brine passes within about one minute.

(2) Adjust the diameter of the hole 60e to the salt water discharge port 20c.
Or larger than the inside diameter of the salt water discharge pipe 64. In the embodiment, the diameter of the hole 60e is 3 mm, and the inner diameter of the salt water discharge port 20c is 2 mm.

Further, the flowing time of the salt water varies depending on the position of the outlet 64a of the salt water discharge pipe 64. This is because the flow of the salt water is caused by the salt water level in the cylindrical container 60 and the salt water discharge pipe 6.
This is because it is determined by the head with the fourth outlet 64a. Accordingly, the farther the outlet 64a is from the bottom of the lower chamber 60c, the shorter the flowing time of the salt water. In the case where the inner diameter of the salt water discharge port 20c is 2 mm, the outlet 64a is set to be about 150 mm from the bottom of the lower chamber 60c.
Most of the salt water in which the salt of
It flows down from the inside to the outer tank 4. In addition, although a slight amount of salt water remains between ion exchange resins due to surface tension,
There is almost no effect on the next washing. Of course, after the salt water flows down, a step of opening the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 and passing 1-2 L of tap water to wash out the salt water remaining between the ion exchange resins may be added. After the final rinsing step and the ion exchange resin regeneration step are completed, drain the rinsing water, and then perform the dehydration step.
Complete the entire washing process.

In this embodiment, the water flows upward from the lower room 60c toward the upper room 60b during water supply, and the water in which the salt is dissolved flows downward from the upper room 60b toward the lower room 60c during regeneration. (The flow direction of water is reverse at the time of water supply and at the time of regeneration). Flowing the water for regeneration down
This is because the water for regeneration can be flowed by gravity, so that the structure of the ion removing means 28 can be simplified. In addition, when the supply water flows upward, when the water flows from the upper room 60b toward the lower room 60c, the water pressure (0.3 to 8 kgf / cm 2) acts on the upper room 60b, and the check valve 60f Is required to have a structure that can withstand this pressure, leading to a complicated structure and a reduction in reliability. Furthermore, it is generally known that reversing the flow of water between water supply and regeneration is advantageous in terms of regeneration efficiency.

The ion-exchange resin 31 regenerated as described above
Next, the leakage ion concentration when tap water (total hardness of 100 ppm) is passed at the next water supply is shown by black squares in FIG. Immediately after the start of water flow, the leaked ion concentration is the same as the first time (at the time of new product), but increases earlier than the first time, and increases to 40 pp at 60 L or less.
m, and the ion exchange capacity is lost at about 90 L. Although the hardness exceeds 40 ppm in the washing water supply, the hardness of the washing water accumulated in the outer tub 4 is about 38 ppm even at a high water level (water volume 88 L) as shown by a white square mark in FIG. Therefore, by performing the above-mentioned regenerating treatment, it is possible to obtain washing water having a hardness of 40 ppm or less, which does not decrease the washing performance when a synthetic detergent containing zeolite is used, for one high water level tank. In the subsequent rinsing step, the hardness of the supplied water becomes the same as that of the raw water because the ion exchange capacity is lost, but there is no influence on the rinsing performance. That is, since the ion exchange resin amount is set so that the ion exchange capacity is saturated in the washing water supply, it is not possible to adsorb more ions than necessary, so that the ion removing means can be downsized and the amount of salt for regeneration can be reduced. Connect.

The fact that the leaked ion concentration after the second time is higher than that at the first time indicates that not all of the ion-exchange groups have been regenerated in the above-mentioned regeneration treatment. The initial ion exchange capacity obtained from FIG. 17 is about 10 g (CaCO 3 conversion). In order to exchange all of these with sodium ions in the salt water, about 12 g of salt is required if Chemical Formulas 1 and 2 are used. The amount of salt supplied in the above regeneration process is about 20-22 g
Is a sufficient amount. If the amount of water injected into the salt is less than 60 mL, the hardness at the time of 88 L water supply will exceed 40 ppm. Therefore, the amount of water injected into the salt must be at least 60 mL. For the second and subsequent times after the regeneration treatment, the ion exchange capacity is about 5.5 g (in terms of CaCO3), and the regeneration rate is 55
%. In order to increase the regeneration rate, the amount of injected water and the amount of salt water may be increased. However, as mentioned above, the reproduction rate is 55%.
In this case, just one tank (88 L) can be processed, and if the regeneration rate is further increased, salt will be wasted. Therefore, the amount of water injected into the salt is 60 mL, and 7
0 mL is sufficient.

According to the present regeneration method, ion-exchanged calcium ions and magnesium enter the rinse water together with a small amount but high concentration of salt water. For this reason, the hardness of the rinsing water is higher than that supplied. However, there is no problem because the hardness component does not affect the rinsing performance. About 6.5 g of the salt dissolved in 60 mL of water in 20 g is used for regenerating the ion exchange resin, and 13.5 g is discharged into the rinse water. However, since it is diluted with a large amount of rinsing water, there is no possibility that rust is generated on stainless steel or the like constituting the washing tub 5. Incidentally, the amount of water used in a fully automatic washing machine having a capacity of 8 kg is about 25 to 88 L. If diluted with this water, the concentration becomes 0.054 to 0.015 wt%, which is lower than 0.9 wt% of physiological saline.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the resin diameter and the resin amount of the ion exchange resin are optimized, the water supply flow rate is 15 L.
Per minute, a small and inexpensive ion removing means having a predetermined amount of ion removing performance only at the time of washing and supplying water can be realized, and can be mounted on a washing machine. In addition, during rinsing water supply, since there is no ion removing ability and no extra ions are adsorbed, the amount of salt for regeneration can be reduced. The regeneration treatment of the ion-exchange resin was automatically performed during the final rinsing step using a salt water in which salt in any household was dissolved. For this reason, the user only has to perform a simple operation of putting about 150 g of salt into the salt-feeding room once a week (once every seven washings), and no extra labor is required. Further, since the salt is very inexpensive, there is almost no regeneration cost.

[0102] The hardness of the washing water that has passed through the ion removing means is greatly reduced, the chemical power of the detergent can be increased, and the cleaning performance can be greatly improved.

Further, for heavy laundry,
By increasing the rotation speed of the rotor, the mechanical power is increased, and the cleaning power can be improved by 60% in synergy with the above-mentioned improvement of the chemical power. At this time, the improvement of the chemical power by the ion removing means has the effect of suppressing the increase in the washing time and the increase in the power consumption in the washing, and it has been conventionally difficult to suppress the cloth damage and entanglement of the laundry in a realistic range. It is possible to remove collar and sleeve stains such as Y-shirts with only a washing machine without pre-treatment such as hand washing.

In the above description, the tap water was injected into the salt 62 during the water supply in the final rinsing step. However, the same effect can be obtained by performing the following. The water supply electromagnetic valve 27 is opened, and water in the final rinsing step is supplied into the outer tank 4. Water level sensor 1
When the microcomputer 50 detects that a predetermined amount of water has been supplied to the outer tub 4 in step 1, the microcomputer 50 closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 to stop water supply, rotates the rotary wing 6 forward and reverse to stir and rinse the laundry. Start. When the water supply stops, the cylindrical container 6
The tap water in 0 flows out through the discharge port 29b and the brine discharge pipe 64, and the water level in the upper room 60b decreases. At the same time, the ball of the check valve 60f falls under its own weight, and the hole 6
0e opens. When the water level in the upper chamber 60b falls below the outlet 29b, all the tap water flows out from the salt water discharge pipe 64. The water level in the upper chamber 60b is equal to the discharge port 29b.
When the pressure drops further (broken line A in FIG. 5), the microcomputer 50 opens the salt water injection valve 63 and supplies a specified amount of water to the salt inlet chamber 60a. The water supplied to the salt input chamber 60a dissolves the salt 62 while dissolving the salt 62.
g, flows into the salt water room 60k, and gradually flows down from the hole 60e into the upper room 60b. At this time, the upper room 60
Since the water level in b is lower than the discharge port 29b, the salt water flowing down to the upper chamber 60b does not flow out of the discharge port 29b and is wasted, and all the supplied salt water passes through the ion exchange resin 31. Therefore, the ion exchange resin 31
Has the advantage that it can be efficiently reproduced.

In this embodiment, the case where the rotating blades are driven by washing is described as an example in which the driving by the voltage control type PWM inverter circuit and the DC brushless motor is effective in reducing the power consumption. It is apparent that the above is effective even when the rotation of the DC brushless motor 7 is directly transmitted to the washing tub and rotated. That is, in the case of spinning at a rotation speed of 800 rpm or more, the duty ratio of the PWM inverter circuit is optimally fixed and the DC-DC conversion circuit 72
It is obvious that the number of rotations may be varied by controlling the output DC voltage.

It is also apparent that the rotary blade is driven in the rinsing process in the same manner as in the washing, which is effective in reducing the power consumption.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0108]

According to the present invention, there is provided an ion removing means which comprises a material having an ion exchange capacity in a compact form, and which can be used after being regenerated while being attached to a washing machine; By providing a variable speed means using a voltage-controlled PWM inverter and a DC brushless motor for changing the speed depending on the soiling of the laundry, the chemical power and the mechanical power in washing are both increased while suppressing power consumption. A washing machine having high washing performance can be provided without increasing power consumption. In addition, it is possible to remove stains on collars and sleeves of Y-shirts and the like, which has been difficult with conventional washing machines.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation panel diagram of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inside of the rear storage box according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view of an ion removing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an electrical connection block diagram of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an electrical connection block diagram of the fully automatic washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a voltage-controlled PWM inverter according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a conventional PWM inverter.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between voltage and current in a commercial power supply.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between torque and rotation speed of a DC brushless motor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the duty ratio of a PWM inverter circuit, the input DC voltage, and the number of rotations.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of rotations and circuit efficiency.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between hardness and a cleaning rate.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a water flow rate and leakage hardness.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ion exchange resin surface area and the leakage hardness.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the relationship between the water flow rate after the initial and the regeneration and the leakage hardness.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a difference in detergency according to washing conditions.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 ... Outer tub, 5 ... Washing and dewatering tub, 7 ... DC brushless motor, 8 ... Hall sensor, 17b ... Rear storage box, 26 ...
Water tap, 27: solenoid valve for water supply, 28: ion removal means,
29a ... water inlet, 29b ... outlet, 29c ... salt water outlet, 29d ... mesh filter, 29e ... resin room, 3
1: ion exchange resin, 50: microcomputer, 6
0: cylindrical container, 60a: salt charging room, 60b: upper room, 60c: lower room, 60d: partition wall, 60e: hole, 6
0f: check valve, 60g: salt particle outflow prevention filter, 60h
... Salt injection port, 60i ... Salt injection pipe, 60k ... Salt water room, 6
0r: air hole, 61: lid, 61b: air hole, 62: salt,
63 ... salt water injection solenoid valve, 64 ... salt water discharge pipe, 71 ... bridge rectification circuit, 72 ... step-up DC-DC conversion circuit, 7
3: PWM inverter circuit, 80: standard washing button, 8
1: high washing button, 82: small washing button, 83
… Sorry washing button.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 3, 2000 (2000.8.3)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

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[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Change

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[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to the present invention comprises an outer frame, and a vibration isolator supported by the outer frame.
And an outer tub serving as a water receiving tank, and a bottom center included in the outer tub.
A washing tub having washing blades and spin-drying with rotating blades, and the outer tub
A water supply means for supplying water to the inside, and a drainage for draining water in the outer tank.
Controls each step of washing, rinsing and dewatering with water means
In a washing machine provided with a process control means, a voltage control type P
Equipped with WM inverter drive means and DC brushless motor
In addition, it has ion exchange capability in the middle of the water supply path of the water supply means.
The container containing the material and the water supplied by the water supply means are
A channel formed in the container so as to touch the material.
As a washing course controlled by the process control means,
Standard washing course, which is a usual washing process, and the standard washing course
High washing washing course with higher washing power than
The process control means, when executing a high washing washing course,
Less water than when performing a standard laundry course
To the washing tub through a flow path formed in the container.
While washing, increase the rotation speed of the rotor and wash
This is to control the process to be performed.

[Procedure amendment 3]

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[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0019] In the case of a high cleaning washing course is rotating <br/> rotation speed of the rotating blades is set faster than the standard, increase the mechanical force applied to laundry. As a result, due to the synergistic effect of the increase in the chemical power of the detergent by the ion removing means and the increase in the mechanical power due to the high rotation speed, a high detergency is exhibited within the same washing time as in the standard case. In addition, it is possible to remove collar and sleeve stains that have been difficult with a conventional washing machine without prior washing. Also standard washing
Even faster than the rotational speed of the case of the scan, figure Rukoto without power saving reduces the PWM type inverter circuit efficiency
Can be In addition, a material with ion exchange capacity
The liquefied water improves the foaming of the detergent, so the laundry
It will be wrapped and floated, and even with a small amount of washing water
Increase the mechanical power applied to laundry.
Can be In addition, reduce the amount of washing water
Thereby, the detergent concentration can be increased.

[Procedure amendment 7]

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[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Deleted

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[Procedure amendment 11]

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[0108]

According to the present invention, the ion removing means
Synergistic increase in chemical power of detergent and increase in mechanical power due to high rotation speed
By the effect, it is possible to provide a washing machine having a high cleaning ability without increasing time and power consumption. In addition,
Water softened with a material that has on-exchange ability creates detergent foam.
As it does better, the laundry will be wrapped in foam and float,
Even with a small amount of washing water, the chance of contact friction between laundry increases,
It can increase the mechanical power applied to the laundry,
Reduce the amount of water to increase the detergent concentration
Purification power can be increased. In addition, it is possible to remove stains on collars and sleeves of Y-shirts and the like, which has been difficult with conventional washing machines.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Osugi 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within the Electrification Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. No. 1-1 Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Isao Hiyama 1-1-1, Higashitagacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Atsushi Hosokawa Ibaraki Prefecture 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Koibuchi 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Yuichiro Takamune 1-1-1 Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Hitachi, Ltd.Electrical Equipment Division (72) Inventor Shiro Obayashi 502, Kandachi-cho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki F-term in Machinery Research Laboratory, Hitachi Ltd. BA22 BA25 BB12 CA02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An outer frame, an outer tub supported by the outer frame for vibration isolation and serving as a water receiving tub, and a washing tub included in the outer tub and having a rotating blade at the center of a bottom for washing and dewatering. A water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub, a drainage means for draining water from the outer tub, and a process control means for controlling each of washing, rinsing and dehydration steps. A washing machine comprising a type PWM inverter driving means and a DC brushless motor, wherein washing is performed by variably controlling the rotation speed of the rotary blade. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said voltage control type PWM inverter driving means comprises a step-up type DC-DC conversion circuit and a PWM inverter circuit connected thereto. 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor is controlled by varying an output DC voltage of the step-up DC-DC conversion circuit. 4. A washing machine according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of operation buttons for instructing a plurality of washing steps, wherein an output DC voltage of said step-up DC-DC conversion circuit is varied for each of said plurality of operation buttons. A washing machine for changing the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor in accordance with the plurality of operation buttons. 5. An outer frame, an outer tub which is supported by the outer frame and is used as a water receiving tub, and a washing tub which is included in the outer tub and has a rotary wing at a center of a bottom for washing and dewatering. A water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub, a drainage means for draining water from the outer tub, and a step control means for controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration; A container containing a material having ion exchange ability in the middle of a water supply path of the means, a flow path formed in the container so that water supplied by the water supply means contacts the material, and a voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means And a DC brushless motor, wherein the voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means variably controls the rotation speed of the rotary blade to perform washing. 6. An outer frame, an outer tub supported by the outer frame for vibration isolation and serving as a water receiving tub, and a washing tub included in the outer tub and having a rotating blade at the center of a bottom for washing and dewatering. A water supply means for supplying water into the outer tub, a drainage means for draining water from the outer tub, and a step control means for controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration; A container containing a material having ion exchange ability in the middle of the water supply path of the means, a flow path formed in the container so that water supplied by the water supply means touches the material, and A first room for regenerating the material,
Below the first room, a second room separated from the first room by a filter, water injection means for injecting water into the first room, and water supplied by touching the material are supplied to the second room. A passage for preventing the inflow into the room 2 and for allowing the solution in which the regenerant is dissolved by the water injection means to flow down from the second room to the material; a voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means; A washing machine comprising: a DC brushless motor; wherein the washing is performed by variably controlling the rotation speed of the rotary blade by the voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means. 7. An outer frame, an outer tub supported by the outer frame for vibration isolation and serving as a water receiving tub, and a washing tub included in the outer tub and having a rotating blade at the center of the bottom for washing and dewatering. A top cover provided on the upper surface of the outer frame so as to have an opening through which laundry can be taken in and out of the washing tub, water supply means for supplying water to the outer tub, and water in the outer tub In a washing tub provided with drainage means for draining water, and a step control means for controlling each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration, a container containing a material having ion exchange capacity in the middle of a water supply path of the water supply means, A plurality of washing processes are instructed to the flow path formed in the container so that water supplied by the water supply means contacts the material, a voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means, a DC brushless motor, and the top cover. A plurality of operation buttons; A washing machine wherein the voltage-controlled PWM inverter driving means controls the rotation speed of the DC brushless motor differently for each of the buttons for each button.