JP2004257657A - Bathroom sterilizing device and bathroom sterilizing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bathroom sterilizing device and a bathroom sterilizing method capable of removing/sterilizing bacteria and mold adhered to the wall surfaces of a bathroom by cluster ions. <P>SOLUTION: When the completion of the automatic operation of a bath is notified from a bath water heater 40, first the inside of the bathroom is ventilated/dried so that charges are not escaped from the periphery of bacteria adhered to the wall surfaces of the bathroom along the wetted wall surfaces. Next, negative ions are discharged to neutralize the positive ions remaining in the bathroom. Lastly, the cluster ions are discharged for sterilization. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathroom disinfection apparatus and a bathroom disinfection method for disinfecting a bathroom, and more particularly to a bathroom disinfection apparatus and a bathroom disinfection method for removing mold in a bathroom by cluster ions including substantially the same number of positive ions and negative ions. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a device such as an air purifier having a function of disinfecting air and suppressing mold by releasing a large amount of cluster ions composed of substantially the same number of positive ions and negative ions into the air (Patent Documents) 1). The principle is that when the released cluster ions attach to bacteria or fungi floating in the air, hydroxyl radicals having extremely strong activity are generated, the bacteria are inactivated, and the bacteria are eliminated.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-102327
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the bathroom has high humidity and mold is easily generated, it is convenient if bacteria and mold generated in the bathroom can be removed by cluster ions. However, even if cluster ions are released to the bathroom after the end of bathing, for fungi that are generated and propagated on the bathroom wall etc., the charges attached to the bacteria and fungi will escape through the wall, No eradication effect could be obtained.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a bathroom disinfection apparatus and a bathroom disinfection method capable of removing and disinfecting bacteria and mold attached to the bathroom wall surface by cluster ions. It is aimed at.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The gist of the present invention to achieve this object lies in the inventions in the following items.
[1] In a bathroom disinfection device for disinfecting a bathroom,
Drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.) for drying the bathroom;
Cluster ion emitting means (26a) for generating cluster ions composed of substantially the same number of positive ions and negative ions and releasing the cluster ions to the bathroom;
Control means (21) for controlling the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.) and the cluster ion emitting means (26a),
The control means (21) activates the cluster ion emitting means (26a) after the bathroom is dried by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.), and executes a bathroom sanitization operation. Bathroom sanitizer with features.
[0007]
[2] further comprising ventilation means (13) for ventilating the bathroom,
The control means (21) is provided with the ventilation means before drying the bathroom by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.) or in parallel with the drying operation by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.). (13) The bathroom disinfection device according to [1], wherein the device is operated.
[0008]
[3] further comprising negative ion releasing means (26b) for releasing negative ions into the bathroom,
The control means (21) activates the negative ion releasing means (26b) before releasing cluster ions to neutralize positive ions in the bathroom, [1] or [2]. Bathroom sanitizer.
[0009]
[4] The control means (21) starts the disinfection operation based on receiving a signal indicating the end of the automatic bath operation from the control unit of the bath pot (40). ], [2] or the bathroom disinfection apparatus of [3].
[0010]
[5] In a bathroom disinfection method for disinfecting a bathroom,
A method of disinfecting a bathroom, comprising releasing at least the same number of cluster ions comprising positive ions and negative ions to the bathroom after drying the bathroom at least.
[0011]
[6] The method for disinfecting a bathroom according to [5], wherein the bathroom is ventilated before drying the bathroom or in parallel with the drying operation of the bathroom.
[0012]
[7] The method of sanitizing a bathroom according to [5] or [6], wherein negative ions are released before cluster ions are released to neutralize positive ions in the bathroom.
[0013]
[8] The bathroom disinfection method according to [5], [6] or [7], wherein the bathroom disinfection operation is started based on the completion of the automatic bath operation.
[0014]
Next, the operation of the invention described in each of the above items will be described.
The control means (21) of the bathroom disinfecting device, when disinfecting the bathroom, after drying the bathroom by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.), releases cluster ions by the cluster ion releasing means (26a). Execute In recent years, bathrooms have many unit baths, and their wall surfaces are usually made of plastic or tile (ceramic). The material forming these wall surfaces is a non-conductor (insulator), and if there is no moisture on the surface, electric charges do not escape along the wall surface. Therefore, by drying the bathroom by drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.) and cutting off the escape path of the electric charge, cluster ions are released to inactivate and remove / remove bacteria adhered and propagated on the wall surface. Bacteria.
[0015]
If the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.) is operated in parallel with the release of the cluster ions, the cluster ions can be released while flying the moisture on the surface of the bacterial mass, and a higher effect can be obtained. Can be obtained. Although the grown bacterial mass cannot be removed at a time, the mycelium on the surface and near the surface is killed by the attachment of the cluster ions, and the surface of the bacterial mass becomes less sticky. As a result, it is lightly rubbed or easily removed or the surface is peeled off at about the water pressure of the shower, so that traces of mold disappear from the bathroom wall surface.
[0016]
If the bathroom is ventilated before drying the bathroom by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.), or in parallel with the drying operation by the drying means (12, 22, 23, etc.), the air with high humidity may It is discharged from the inside and the drying of the wall surface is promoted.
[0017]
By the way, around the waterfalls and fountains, there are many negative ions and many positive ions. At waterfalls and fountains, ions are not generated by electrical means, so the same number of negative ions and positive ions should have been generated, but in fact there are much more negative ions. This is because small water droplets negatively charged by the Raynard effect float and diffuse around and emit electrons to the surroundings (observation decks, benches, etc.), but the positively charged water droplets are large and difficult to float and become mist-like For example, it may fall on a waterfall pot or the like, and the number of negative ions and positive ions may differ depending on the location. This is presumed to be the cause of the large number of positive ions in water plumes and water plumes directly below the fountain, and the presence of many negative ions in the observation deck around the waterfall and benches around the fountain.
[0018]
If you take a shower vigorously, the same number of negative ions and positive ions are generated due to the Raynard effect. However, after the end of the shower, the increase of positive ions is measured rapidly. For this reason, small water droplets negatively charged by the Raynard effect float and diffuse around and collide with the wall before emitting electrons to the surroundings, losing charge, and positively charged water droplets become mist-like in the bathroom It is presumed to float inside. In other words, the bathroom is in the same state as a fog or cloud filled with steam (water vapor), which is filled with plus ions. Presumed to be in the same state as in
[0019]
Even when cluster ions are released in a bathroom filled with this fume (steam), the number of negative ions in the cluster ions is reduced by the number of positive ions in the fume and about the same number of negative ions required for sterilization. Positive ion balance is lost. Therefore, ventilation is performed before or simultaneously with drying the bathroom, and steam is discharged outside the bathroom before cluster ions are released. Thereby, the ion balance of the cluster ions is maintained, and a high sterilization effect is secured.
[0020]
Further, in the case where the negative ions are released before the cluster ions are released to neutralize the positive ions in the bathroom, a higher sterilization effect can be obtained from the beginning of the release of the cluster ions. That is, the ventilation only dilutes the positive ions, but by neutralizing, the unnecessary positive ions can be completely eliminated.
[0021]
Further, in the apparatus for starting the disinfection operation of the bathroom based on receiving a signal indicating the end of the automatic bath operation from the control unit of the bath pot (40), the disinfection of the bathroom is automatically performed after the end of the automatic operation of the bath. The device is activated and the bathroom is disinfected. After the automatic operation of the bath is completed, it is assumed that no one will take a bath, so this is suitable as a start factor of the sterilization operation.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a bathroom sanitizing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the bathroom sanitizing apparatus 10. The bathroom disinfection device 10 has a function of performing a bathroom heating operation, a bathroom ventilation / blowing operation, a bathroom / clothing drying operation, a bathroom ventilation operation, a freeze prevention operation, a disinfection operation, a negative ion releasing operation, and the like. are doing.
[0023]
The bathroom disinfecting apparatus 10 includes an indoor unit 11 installed in a bathroom, a heat source unit 12 installed outside the bathroom, a ventilation box 14 having a built-in ventilation fan 13, and a remote controller 15.
[0024]
The indoor unit 11 is mounted on a wall surface in the bathroom, and a ventilation box 14 is mounted on the outside of the corresponding wall surface. The indoor unit 11 and the ventilation box 14 are provided with through holes 16 formed in the wall surface of the bathroom. Through.
[0025]
The indoor unit 11 includes a control unit 21, a heat exchanger 22, a circulation fan 23, a room temperature sensor 24, a hot water temperature sensor 25, and an ion generator 26. The ion generator 26 has the functions of a cluster ion emitting unit 26a and a negative ion emitting unit 26b. The case of the indoor unit 11 is provided with a supply / exhaust port 31 for letting air in and out of the bathroom.
[0026]
The heat source unit 12 includes a burner, a heat exchanger, a circulation pump, and the like. The indoor unit 11 and the heat source unit 12 are connected by a circulation path 28 for circulating the heat medium fluid via the heat exchanger of the heat source unit 12 and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 11.
[0027]
The cluster ion emitting means 26a generates cluster ions composed of substantially the same number of positive ions and negative ions. The cluster ion emitting means 26a generates, for example, a positive ion and a negative ion simultaneously outside the glass tube as a dielectric by applying an AC voltage of about 1.75 Kv between the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode. Has become. At this time, the concentration of positive ions and negative ions is about 20,000 / CC, and the concentration of ozone is 0.01 PPM or less. The negative ion emitting means 26b has a function of generating negative ions.
[0028]
The circulation fan 23 has a function of sending air taken in from the bathroom into the bathroom through the heat exchanger 22 and a function of discharging ions generated by the ion generator 26 into the bathroom. The control unit 21 is a circuit mainly including a CPU (central processing unit), a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (random access memory) and the like, and controls the operation of the bathroom sanitizing apparatus 10. Performs the controlling function.
[0029]
By activating the circulation pump of the heat source unit 12 while burning the burner of the heat source unit 12 and circulating the heat medium fluid through the circulation path 28 to activate the circulation fan 23, warm air is discharged into the bathroom. Drying and heating of the bathroom are performed by the hot air discharge. When the ventilation fan 13 is operated, the air in the bathroom is taken in from the air supply / exhaust port 31 of the indoor unit 11 and is discharged out of the bathroom through the through hole 16 to perform the ventilation operation. When the cluster ion emission means 26a and the circulation fan 23 are operated, cluster ions are emitted into the bathroom. When the negative ion releasing means 26b and the circulation fan 23 are operated, negative ions are released into the bathroom.
[0030]
The remote controller 15 and the bath water heater 40 are connected to the control unit 21. The remote controller 15 has an operation switch for instructing an operation of the bathroom disinfection device 10 and a display unit for displaying an operation state. Bath water heater 40 has a function of supplying hot water to a faucet, a function of pouring water into a bathtub, and a function of reheating bathtub water in the bathtub. Further, when the automatic operation is turned on, the bath is filled with water to the set water level, and thereafter, a warming operation of keeping the bath water at the set temperature until a predetermined time (here, 4 hours) elapses. An end signal indicating the end of the automatic bath operation is input from the bath water heater 40 to the control unit 21 of the bathroom disinfecting apparatus 10. Further, the control unit 21 has a function as a disinfection control means 32 for controlling operations related to disinfection and mold removal in the bathroom.
[0031]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 2 shows a flow of operation when the bathroom disinfection device 10 disinfects a bathroom. When the bath water heater 40 finishes the automatic operation of the bath, a signal indicating the termination is input to the control unit 21 of the bathroom disinfection device 10 as a disinfection command (step S101). Then, the bathroom disinfecting apparatus 10 first ventilates and dries the bathroom, discharges high-humidity air to the outside, and dries the bathroom wall surface (step S102). As a result, the wall around the bacteria that has adhered and propagated on the bathroom wall is changed from a conductor to a non-conductor, thereby cutting off the escape of electric charges. Further, negative ions are released (step S103) to neutralize the positive ions remaining in the bathroom.
[0032]
Thereafter, cluster ions (positive and negative ions H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m ; positive ions, O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n ; negative ions) are emitted (step S104). It is considered that the positive and negative ions released into the bathroom space surround the bacteria adhering to the wall surface, and the reactions shown in the following formulas (1) to (3) occur.
_{^{H + (H 2 O) m}} + O 2 - (H 2 O) n → · OH + 1 / 2O 2 + (m + n) H 2 O ... (1)
_{^{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m'+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'→ 2 · OH + O 2 + (m + m'+ n + n') H 2 O ... (2)
_{^{H + (H 2 O) m}} + H + (H 2 O) m'+ O 2 - (H 2 O) n + O 2 - (H 2 O) n'→ H 2 O 2 + O 2 + (m + m'+ n + n') H ₂ O (3)
Bacteria adhered and propagated on the bathroom wall surface can be inactivated by hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) or hydroxyl radical (.OH) generated by such a chemical reaction. At this time, if the wall surface is not a non-conductor, the charge escapes before the positive and negative ions attached to the bacteria cause a chemical reaction, and the bacteria cannot be inactivated. In addition, since cluster ions are released while water on the surface of the bacterial mass is released, crack-like cracks enter the surface of the bacterial mass, and positive and negative ions penetrate into the surface to inactivate the interior of the bacterial mass, resulting in higher removal. Bacterial effect can be obtained.
[0033]
The once-grown bacterial mass (a large bacterial mass in about three days in a good growth environment) cannot be removed by one eradication operation, but the surface and the surface can be removed by the cluster ions attached. The mycelium nearby died, and the surface of the bacterial mass became less sticky. Therefore, it can be rubbed lightly or easily removed or the surface peels off with the water pressure of the shower, and the trace of the mold on the bathroom wall surface can be eliminated.
[0034]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this, and changes and additions may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0035]
For example, in the embodiment, the ventilation and the drying are performed simultaneously, but the ventilation may be performed before the drying. Furthermore, the cluster ions are released after the bathroom is neutralized by releasing negative ions, but the neutralizing operation may be omitted. If the cluster ions are released after drying, the release of the cluster ions may be started from a stage before the drying of the bathroom wall surface is completed. In addition, a timer or the like may be used for drying, but more effective disinfection can be performed by determining the timing of cluster ion release while measuring the drying time with a humidity sensor or the like. With such a humidity sensor, it is possible to effectively disinfect bacteria even in a hard-to-dry bathroom condition, such as when a cypress bath or wooden tub with a walled board is used. In addition, from the relationship between the temperature change in the bathroom and the amount of heating in the drying operation, it is detected that a part of the applied heat has changed from a state where it is consumed as evaporation heat of water droplets to a drying completed state where it is not consumed as evaporation heat. Then, the release time of the cluster ions may be determined. For example, when a certain amount of heat is given to the bathroom by the drying operation, when the temperature in the bathroom rises rapidly (when a change point of the temperature rise characteristic is found), the heat consumption due to the evaporation heat ends. The judgment is made, and the emission of cluster ions is started. In addition, in the case of adjusting the heating amount by the drying operation so that the bathroom temperature does not exceed a certain temperature, the amount of reduction in the heating amount may be reduced, for example, even though the heating amount is reduced, the bathroom temperature does not decrease much. Based on the relationship with the temperature in the bathroom, it may be detected that the consumption of heat by evaporation has ended, and the emission of cluster ions may be started. In addition, the method of determining the drying completion time is not limited to those described above, and various methods can be used.
[0036]
In the embodiment, a series of disinfection operations is started when a signal indicating the end of automatic bath operation is input from bath water heater 40, but the start factor of the disinfection operation is not limited to this. is not. For example, the user may turn on the disinfection operation manually, or may turn it on by timer reservation or the like. In addition, after bathing, it is in a condition where bacteria can easily propagate, so by starting the eradication operation at the end of automatic operation of the bath, it is possible to prevent the growth of bacteria early and obtain a higher eradication effect Can be. In addition, it is needless to say that the portion described as a wall surface in the present application indicates a portion (mainly a plastic product) to which bacteria in the bath room adhere and propagate, such as a bathtub surface, a tub, a chair, a hot water stick, and a soap bowl. The uncoated portion of the metal part of the aluminum sash is a conductor and is excluded from this.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the bathroom disinfection apparatus and the bathroom disinfection method according to the present invention, since the bathroom is ventilated and dried, the cluster ions are released. Bacteria that have spread and cannot escape, and adhered and propagated on the wall surface are inactivated by the cluster ions, and can be effectively removed and sterilized.
[0038]
In addition, by releasing negative ions before releasing cluster ions and neutralizing the positive ions remaining in the bathroom, the positive ions in the bathroom can be completely removed, and the disinfection effect by the cluster ions can be further improved. Can be enhanced.
[0039]
When a signal indicating the end of automatic operation of the bath is input from the bath kettle, in order to start the disinfection operation immediately after the end of the bath, the disinfection operation is started, so that the propagation of bacteria is prevented at an early stage. An antibacterial effect can be obtained. In addition, since the disinfection operation starts automatically with the end of the automatic operation of the bath, it is possible to prevent a situation in which bacteria are propagated due to forgetting to start manually, and to surely disinfect the bathroom. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a bathroom disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bathroom disinfection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sanitizing operation of the bathroom sanitizing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Bathroom sanitizer 11 ... Indoor unit 12 ... Heat source unit 13 ... Ventilation fan 14 ... Ventilation box 15 ... Remote controller 16 ... Through hole 21 ... Control unit 22 ... Heat exchanger 23 ... Circulation fan 24 ... Room temperature sensor 25 ... Hot water Temperature sensor 26 ... Ion generator 26a ... Cluster ion emission means 26b ... Negative ion emission means 28 ... Circulation path 31 ... Supply / exhaust port 32 ... Sterilization control means 40 ... Bath water heater

Claims (8)

In a bathroom sanitizer that sanitizes the bathroom,
Drying means for drying the bathroom;
Cluster ion emitting means for generating cluster ions composed of substantially the same number of positive ions and negative ions and releasing them to the bathroom,
A control unit for controlling the drying unit and the cluster ion emitting unit,
The bathroom disinfecting apparatus, wherein the control unit activates the cluster ion releasing unit to dry the bathroom after the bathroom is dried by the drying unit. It further comprises ventilation means for ventilating the bathroom,
2. The bathroom sanitizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the ventilation unit before drying the bathroom by the drying unit or in parallel with the drying operation by the drying unit. 3. Further comprising negative ion releasing means for releasing negative ions into the bathroom,
3. The bathroom sanitizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the negative ion releasing unit to neutralize positive ions in the bathroom before releasing the cluster ions. 4. 4. The bathroom according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the disinfection operation based on receiving a signal indicating the end of automatic bath operation from a control unit of the bath kettle. 5. Disinfection device. In the bathroom disinfection method of disinfecting the bathroom,
A method of disinfecting a bathroom, comprising releasing at least the same number of cluster ions comprising positive ions and negative ions to the bathroom after drying the bathroom at least. The method for disinfecting a bathroom according to claim 5, wherein the bathroom is ventilated before drying the bathroom or in parallel with the drying operation of the bathroom. 7. The method of disinfecting a bathroom according to claim 5, wherein negative ions are released before cluster ions are released to neutralize positive ions in the bathroom. The method for disinfecting a bathroom according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the disinfection operation of the bathroom is started based on the completion of the automatic operation of the bath.

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