JP2005073989A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine effectively preventing proliferation of bacteria such as mold and dissolving a problem that the mold proliferated in the washing machine, when it touches the human body through clothes after the washing, may become allergen as the cause of the allergic dermatitis. <P>SOLUTION: This washing machine can effectively prevent the proliferation of the bacterial such as the mold by directly irradiating the inside of a water tub 5 which is positioned on the outer surface of a washing tub 4 and/or the outside of the washing tub 4 with ultraviolet rays and stores the water, using an ultraviolet LED 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of preventing the growth of bacteria such as mold by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

  As a cause of allergic dermatitis that has been increasing in recent years, it is suspected that mold grows in the washing machine, and the mechanism of occurrence of allergic dermatitis is understood as follows. First, mold spores typified by black mold floating in the air remain in the washing tub in which the laundry is stored through adhering to clothes when going out. Then, mold is generated and grows from the mold spores using nutrients such as organic dirt and detergent waste. In particular, the outer surface of the washing tub and the inner surface of the water tub that is located outside the washing tub and stores water are kept in high humidity without touching the outside air, so mold tends to grow. Grown mold is released every time it is washed or rinsed, and adheres to clothing. Here, since the garment adheres in a wet state, the mold grows even in the fiber of the garment. When this mold touches the human body through clothes after washing, it becomes an allergen and allergic dermatitis occurs.

For this reason, various measures are taken to prevent mold from growing in the washing machine. For example, the tank may be washed with electrolyzed water, hot air may be applied to the tank, or the tank may be made of a material / structure that is difficult for mold to adhere. Further, since ultraviolet irradiation is the most rational and effective sterilization method for destroying bacterial DNA, a sterilization method using an ultraviolet lamp is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of sterilizing a washing tub by attaching an ultraviolet lamp to an opening / closing lid.
JP 11-137894 A

  However, since the conventional ultraviolet irradiation was performed by an ultraviolet lamp, it was weak to water, and it was necessary to install the ultraviolet lamp in a place such as an opening / closing lid where it was difficult to get water. Therefore, it was not possible to directly irradiate ultraviolet rays on the outer surface of the washing tub and the inner surface of the water tub where molds are most likely to propagate.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of directly irradiating ultraviolet rays to the outer surface of the washing tub and / or the inner surface of the water tub.

  In order to solve the above problem, the washing machine according to claim 1 irradiates ultraviolet rays directly on the outer surface of the washing tub and / or the inner surface of the water tub which is located outside the washing tub and stores water using the ultraviolet LED. It is characterized by making it. Compared with UV lamps, UV LEDs can be 1) fully waterproof, 2) low voltage drive, so fires are not likely to occur due to electrical leakage, 3) long life, 4) small size, 5 ) It has the advantage of low power consumption. Because of these advantages, if UV LEDs are used, they can be placed around the outer layer of the washing tub, which was impossible with conventional UV lamps, so that UV light can be directly applied to the outer surface of the washing machine and / or the inner surface of the water tub. Generation and growth of bacteria such as mold in the washing machine can be suppressed.

  The washing machine according to claim 2 is characterized in that in the washing machine of claim 1, an ultraviolet LED array is installed inside the water tank. Due to the advantages of the ultraviolet LED, if the ultraviolet LED is arranged in an array inside the water tub, the ultraviolet light can be directly applied to the outer surface of the washing tub or the inner surface of the water tub. Here, the ultraviolet LED array is a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs arranged close to or away from each other, and may not be integrated as an ultraviolet LED array, and there is no regularity in the arrangement form of each ultraviolet LED. May be.

  The washing machine according to claim 3 is the washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the washing tub and the water tub are cylindrical, the two tubs are arranged concentrically, and the ultraviolet LED array is arranged. It arrange | positions so that it may become parallel with the side surface of the said both tanks, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. With this configuration, ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet LED array are repeatedly reflected on the outer surface of the washing tub and the inner surface of the water tub, and are transmitted between the washing tub and the water tub. It can irradiate uniformly by each part of a tank outer surface or a water tank inner surface.

  The washing machine according to claim 4 is the washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a photocatalyst layer is formed on an outer surface of the washing tub and / or an inner surface of the water tub, and ultraviolet rays are submerged in water. It has ultraviolet LED to irradiate, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Since the photocatalyst has an action of decomposing organic matter by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, by irradiating ultraviolet rays in water, the decomposed organic matter diffuses into the water and can be removed from the outer surface of the washing tub or the inner surface of the water tub.

  The present invention is characterized by directly irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the outer surface of the washing tub and / or the inner surface of the water tub using the ultraviolet LED. This makes it possible to realize a washing machine that can effectively prevent the growth of bacteria such as mold.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a washing machine of the present invention. 2 is a housing, 3 is an opening / closing lid for taking in and out the laundry, 4 is a substantially cylindrical laundry tub for washing or drying the laundry, and 5 is located outside the laundry tub 4 and stores water. This is a substantially cylindrical water tank. The washing tub 4 is provided with a hole or slit for dehydration. In order to fill the washing tub 4 with water, it is necessary to fill the water tub 5 with water of the same water level. Water is supplied from a water supply port (not shown) and is discharged from the drain pipe 12 for washing or rinsing. The drain pipe 12 is provided with a valve (not shown), and the amount of drainage can be adjusted by adjusting the opening and closing of the valve. The washing tub 4 is fixed to the rotating shaft 8 by a rotating bearing 7, and rotates when the rotating shaft 8 receiving the driving force of the driving motor 9 rotates during dehydration or the like. Although not shown, an agitating blade called a pulsator is provided in the washing tub, and the pulsator rotates to generate a water flow during washing. A rotating shaft for rotating the pulsator is inside the rotating shaft 8 and operates independently of the rotating shaft 8.

  In this embodiment, as the ultraviolet LED array 6, a plurality of LEDs emitting ultraviolet rays are arranged in a line on the inner surface of the water tank 5, that is, the inner side surface and a part of the inner bottom surface. Each of the above components is connected to the control device 13 by a wiring material or a wireless device (not shown), and its operation is controlled. The operation state of each component is monitored by a sensor (not shown) and displayed on a display unit (not shown) by the control device 13.

Next, the operation of the ultraviolet irradiation mechanism using the ultraviolet LED will be described.
First, the start of the ultraviolet irradiation operation is displayed on the display unit by the control device 13. At the same time, the control device 13 causes the ultraviolet LED array 6 to emit light. At this time, it is desirable that the emission wavelength is an ultraviolet ray (sterilization line) having a wavelength of 253.7 nm which is effective for destroying bacterial DNA. The above-mentioned wavelength can be realized by an AlGaN-based LED chip. However, the manufacture of the chip is technically difficult and expensive, and if it is at least 100 to 400 nm ultraviolet rays, a bactericidal action occurs. The wavelength may be longer than 253.7 nm, which makes it easier to manufacture.

  In accordance with the light emission of the ultraviolet LED array 6, the control device 13 controls the drive motor 9 to rotate the washing tub. Thereby, the ultraviolet irradiation amount in each part of the outer surface of a washing tub and the inner surface of a water tub is equalized, and the nonuniformity of the disinfection action by a place is eased. The rotation speed may be the same as that during dehydration or may be slow.

  When the ultraviolet irradiation time reaches a predetermined set value, the control device 13 stops the rotation of the washing tub and the light emission of the ultraviolet LED array 6, and displays the end of the ultraviolet irradiation operation on the display unit.

Here, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is preferably 1,000 μW · s / cm ² or more in terms of the amount of irradiation that produces an effective bactericidal action, and 1,000,000 μW · It is preferable to be s / cm ² or less. That is, it is preferable to set the ultraviolet irradiation time in advance so as to be 1,000 to 1,000,000 μW · s / cm ^2, and more preferably 10,000 to 100,000 μW · s / cm ² .

  In addition, if ultraviolet rays leak outside the washing machine 1, it will adversely affect the human body, etc., so that the opening / closing lid 3 is closed by the sensor before the ultraviolet LED array 6 emits light, and only in the closed state. It is desirable that the control device 13 controls the ultraviolet LED array 6 to emit light.

  Further, in a state in which the opening / closing lid 3 is opened, the fluorescence that can be converted into light that does not adversely affect the human body or the like by converting the wavelength of the ultraviolet light so that the ultraviolet light does not leak from the dehydration hole or slit to the outside of the washing machine 1. The body may be applied near the hole or slit for dehydration. In this case, the ultraviolet irradiation operation can be performed with the opening / closing lid 3 opened.

  In this embodiment, when the irradiation time reaches a predetermined set value, the light emission of the ultraviolet LED array 6 is stopped. However, a photodiode or the like is installed in the water tank 5, and the irradiated ultraviolet light hits the tank. If the light intensity after reflection is measured, the degree of growth of bacteria such as mold can be monitored by the intensity of the reflected light. Thereby, without setting the irradiation time in advance, the control device 13 may set the irradiation time corresponding to the monitor value and control the stop of the light emission of the ultraviolet LED array 6.

  Further, as feedback control by such a monitor, not only the irradiation time but also the light amount may be controlled. The amount of light can be adjusted by changing the drive current of each LED or changing the number of LEDs to be lit in the ultraviolet LED array 6.

  In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet LED array 6 is fixed in a row so as to protrude from the inner side surface and the bottom surface of the water tank 5, but may be embedded in the side surface and the bottom surface of the tank. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ultraviolet LED array 14 may be fixed in a row on the outer side surface and bottom surface of the washing tub 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an ultraviolet LED array 15 may be provided between the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5 to irradiate the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5 with ultraviolet light. In FIG. 3, ultraviolet LED arrays 15 having light emitting surfaces on both the outer surface side of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface side of the water tub 5 are fitted in a row on the LED array support material 16, and the LED array support material 16 is By rotating independently of the washing tub 4 around the rotating shaft 8, the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED array 16 is applied to the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5.

  In FIGS. 1 to 3, the ultraviolet LED array is arranged with the ultraviolet LEDs arranged in one row, but it is of course not limited to this, and may be arranged in multiple rows, and the irradiation light is difficult to reach. You may arrange | position centrally in a place. Moreover, even if it arranges and arranges in 1 row regarding a side surface direction, you may arrange | position a multiple-row ultraviolet LED array by opening and arrange | positioning the angle of fixed intervals, such as 30 degree | times, from a rotating shaft.

  The base material of the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5 is required to be made of a material that is not easily deteriorated by ultraviolet rays, and an example thereof is stainless steel. If a photocatalytic layer having a photocatalytic action such as titanium dioxide is formed on the base material, it is desirable to have an action of decomposing organic substances by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, so that the bactericidal action is enhanced. If the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5 are filled with water and irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the water, the organic matter decomposed by the photocatalytic action is separated from the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5 into the water, and can be removed by draining the water. According to the present invention, since ultraviolet irradiation can be performed even in water, washing and tank cleaning can be performed simultaneously.

  Moreover, if the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5 are made of a material, shape, and surface layer treatment that easily reflects ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet LED array is reflected on the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5. Repeatedly, since the light is transmitted between the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5, the ultraviolet rays can be uniformly irradiated from the outer surface of the washing tub 4 or the inner surface of the water tub 5. 1 to 3 shown in the embodiment, the washing tub 4 and the water tub 5 are substantially cylindrical, and the two tubs are arranged concentrically, so that the reflected ultraviolet rays are easily transmitted. In particular, the ultraviolet rays from the LEDs of the ultraviolet LED array arranged in parallel with the side surface of the washing tub 4 or the water tub 5 are reflected on the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5 in substantially the same plane. Is repeated so that the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5 on the same surface can be uniformly irradiated. Furthermore, since each LED is arranged in parallel to the side surfaces of the two tubs, there are as many LEDs as the number of LEDs uniformly irradiated. As a result, the outer surface of the washing tub 4 and the inner surface of the water tub 5 are eventually obtained. Among them, ultraviolet rays are uniformly irradiated on the entire side surface portion where the ultraviolet LED arrays are arranged in parallel.

  As explained above, the washing machine of the present invention uses ultraviolet LEDs to directly irradiate ultraviolet rays on the outer surface of the washing tub or the inner surface of the water tub that is located outside the washing tub and stores water. It is useful for effectively preventing the growth of

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows one Example of the washing machine concerning this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows another Example of the washing machine concerning this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows another Example of the washing machine concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washing machine 2 ... Housing 3 ... Opening / closing lid 4 ... Washing tub 5 ... Water tub 6, 14, 15 ... Ultraviolet LED array 7 ... Rotating bearing 8 ... Rotating shaft 9 ・ ・ ・ Drive motor 10 ・ ・ ・ Motor stand 11 ・ ・ ・ Rubber foot 12 ・ ・ ・ Drain pipe 13 ・ ・ ・ Control device 16 ・ ・ ・ LED array support material

Claims (4)

A washing machine, wherein ultraviolet rays are used to directly irradiate ultraviolet rays to an outer surface of a washing tub and / or an inner surface of a water tub located outside the washing tub and storing water. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet LED array is installed inside the water tank. The washing tub and the water tub are cylindrical, the two tubs are arranged concentrically, and the ultraviolet LED array is arranged so as to be parallel to the side surfaces of the two tubs. 2. The washing machine according to 2. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an ultraviolet LED that forms a photocatalyst layer on an outer surface of the washing tub and / or an inner surface of the water tub and irradiates ultraviolet rays in water.

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