JP2005192901A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine which can sterilize and deodorize the laundry therein and a wash tub, and decompose stain with organic substances without giving off a bad smell. <P>SOLUTION: This washing machine is equipped with an OH radical generating means, comprising a high voltage generator, a conductive thin tube, and a ring-shaped electrode in an OH radical generator 23, which generates nano-sized OH radicals in the air by applying high-voltage pressure to water; an air-blowing means, comprising a blower in the OH radical generator 23 and an air duct 24, which blows the generated OH radicals into a washtub 5; and a control means(a controller 28), which controls the processes of the sterilization and deodorization of the laundry and the washtub and the decomposition of stains with organic substances on the laundry, by driving the OH radical generating means and the air-blowing means to supply those OH radicals to the washtub 5 at their respective prescribed stages during a series of washing processes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine such as a general vertical washing machine or a drum type washing and drying machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below, a washing machine that generates ozone to perform sterilization, deodorization, and organic matter dirt decomposition of laundry such as clothes and washing tubs It has been known.
JP-A-7-88277 (FIGS. 1 and 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-87590 (FIGS. 1 and 10)

  However, since ozone is a gas having a unique odor, there has been a problem that an unpleasant odor remains in the laundry and the washing tub even after washing due to the influence of residual ozone.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such problems, and is an OH radical having a disinfecting action of sterilization, deodorization, and organic matter (a radical is a free radical, that is, an atomic group having an unpaired electron or Focusing on atoms, which have high chemical reactivity, especially OH radicals, which have very strong oxidizing power, and are used in washing machines, they can be used in laundry and washing tubs without generating off-flavors. An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of sterilizing, deodorizing, and decomposing organic matter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an OH radical generating means for generating nano-sized OH radicals in the air by applying a high voltage to water, and blowing the generated OH radicals into a washing tub. The OH radical generating means and the blowing means are driven at a predetermined stage of a series of washing steps to supply OH radicals into the washing tub, thereby disinfecting, deodorizing and organic matter in the laundry and the washing tub. And a control means for controlling the process of performing the soil decomposition.

  Further, the OH radical generating means is provided in the vicinity of the water supply part to the washing tub.

  Further, the control means controls the amount of OH radicals generated by the OH radical generation means according to the quantity and quality of the laundry in the washing tub.

  Furthermore, a metal component removing means for removing a metal component contained in water used by the OH radical generating means is provided.

  Further, water is supplied when it is detected by the detecting means that no water is used by the OH radical generating means prior to driving of the OH radical generating means, and detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of water used by the OH radical generating means. A water supply means is provided.

  The control means operates the pulsator and the dehydration tank during the generation of OH radicals by the OH radical generation means.

  According to the present invention, the OH radical has a very strong oxidizing power, and has a bactericidal action and an organic substance decomposing action when it comes into contact with bacteria and organic substances (odor components and dirt components). Therefore, nano-sized OH generated from the OH radical generating means By supplying radicals into the washing tub by air blowing means and infiltrating the laundry such as clothes and the washing tub, the sterilization and deodorization of the laundry and the washing tub, and the decomposition of the organic matter dirt are eliminated without generating a bad odor. It can be performed.

  Further, by providing the OH radical generating means in the vicinity of the water supply unit, it is possible to easily and inexpensively supply water that is a source of OH radicals.

  In addition, by controlling the amount of OH radicals generated according to the amount and quality of the laundry, it is possible to perform sterilization, deodorization, and organic matter dirt decomposition without excess or deficiency.

  Furthermore, by removing metal components (Ca ions and Mg ions) contained in water that is the source of OH radicals, it is possible to prevent the generation efficiency and durability of the OH radical generating means from decreasing.

  Moreover, by detecting the presence or absence of water used by the OH radical generating means and supplying water, it is possible to prevent a high voltage from being applied in the absence of water when OH radicals are generated, and safety can be improved.

  In addition, when OH radicals are generated, the laundry is agitated by the operation of a pulsator or dehydration tank, so that the generated OH radicals can be uniformly infiltrated into the laundry so that they can be sterilized, deodorized, and organic matter soiled and decomposed evenly. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a partially simplified configuration of a vertical fully automatic washing machine as an embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an essential part thereof, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of a control system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior of the washing machine body 1 of the fully automatic washing machine is configured by a box-shaped housing 3 having an opening that can be opened and closed by a lid 2 on the upper surface. In the housing 3, there are provided a washing tub 5 suspended from the housing 3 by a suspension bar 4 and a dewatering tub 6 rotatably provided in the washing tub 5. Laundry is accommodated in the dewatering tub 6 through the upper surface opening of the housing 3. In addition, a large number of small holes 6 a are formed in the dewatering tank 6 so that the washing water supplied to the dewatering tank 6 can be stored in the washing tank 5.

  A drain port 7 is formed at the bottom of the washing tub 5 for discharging the washing water stored in the washing tub 5 to the outside of the machine. A drain pipe (not shown) extending to the outside of the housing 3 is connected to the drain port 7. A drain valve that is opened and closed by a torque motor 8 (shown in FIG. 3) is disposed in the middle of the drain pipe. When the drain valve is opened, the wash water stored in the washing tub 5 is drained. It is discharged out of the machine through the pipe.

  In addition, a pulsator (stirring blade) 9 is provided at the bottom of the dewatering tub 6 for stirring the washing water stored in the washing tub 5 to generate a water flow. The dewatering tub 6 and the pulsator 9 are rotationally driven by a drive mechanism 10 provided below the washing tub 5.

  The drive mechanism 10 is held by a bearing 11 and a motor 11 that generates a rotational driving force, a small pulley 13 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 12 of the motor 11, a bearing 14 that is attached to the bottom surface of the washing tub 5, and the like. The large pulley 16 fixed to the lower end of the drive shaft 15 and the endless belt 17 wound around the small pulley 13 and the large pulley 16 are included. The driving force of the motor 11 is transmitted to the large pulley 16 via the small pulley 13 and the belt 17, and further transmitted to the bearing portion 14 via the driving shaft 15.

  An upper end of the bearing portion 14 is connected to the bottom surface of the dewatering tank 6, and a dewatering shaft 18 for supporting and rotating the dewatering tank 6 is rotatably held. A blade shaft 19 whose upper end is connected to the pulsator 9 is rotatably inserted into the dewatering shaft 18. The blade shaft 19 is always connected to the drive shaft 15, and the driving force of the motor 11 input to the drive shaft 15 is always transmitted to the pulsator 9. On the other hand, the dewatering shaft 18 and the drive shaft 15 are connected via a clutch mechanism 20 provided below the bearing portion 14, and the motor input to the drive shaft 15 is input to the dewatering shaft 18 by the clutch mechanism 20. 11 driving force is selectively transmitted.

  Although not shown, the bearing portion 14 includes a speed reduction mechanism for decelerating and transmitting the driving force of the motor 11 input from the drive shaft 15 to the blade shaft 19, and a brake mechanism for stopping the rotation of the dewatering shaft 18. And have.

  At the time of washing and rinsing, the clutch mechanism 20 is in a disconnected state, the transmission of the driving force to the dehydrating shaft 18 is cut off, and the driving force of the motor 11 input to the driving shaft 15 is applied only to the blade shaft 19 via the speed reduction mechanism. Then, the pulsator 9 is rotated forward and backward. As a result, a water flow is generated in the dewatering tub 6 to wash or rinse the laundry. At the time of dehydration, the clutch mechanism 20 is switched to the contact state by the torque motor 8, and the driving force of the motor 11 input to the drive shaft 15 is transmitted to the blade shaft 19 and the dewatering shaft 18 without passing through the speed reduction mechanism. . Thereby, both the pulsator 9 and the dewatering tub 6 are rotated at high speed, and the laundry in the dewatering tub 6 is dewatered by centrifugal force. Further, the brake mechanism stops the rotation of the dewatering shaft 18 at the time of washing and rinsing by the torque motor 8, and the restriction is released at the time of dewatering.

  The opening / closing operation of the drain valve is linked with the operation of the clutch mechanism 20, and when the pulsator 9 is separated from the dehydrating tank 6 and can rotate independently, the drain valve is closed, and the pulsator 9 and the dehydrating tank 6 are closed. And the drain valve is opened when they rotate together. The torque motor 8 thus controls the operation of the clutch mechanism 20, the brake mechanism, and the drain valve.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an ion exchanger 22, an OH radical generator 23, and a blower duct 24 are connected to the rear side inside the upper surface plate 21 at the top of the washing machine body 1. The ion exchanger 22 constituting the metal component removing means in the present invention is connected to a second water supply valve 26 connected to a first water supply valve 25 (shown in FIG. 3) for supplying tap water into the washing tub 5. These water supply valves 25 and 26 are connected to each other, and are composed of electromagnetic valves. The tap water that has passed through the second water supply valve 26 is stored in the OH radical generator 23 in a state where metal ions such as Ca and Mg are removed through the ion exchanger 22 made of an ion exchange resin or the like. It is configured. OH radicals generated by applying a high voltage to water from which metal ions have been removed in the OH radical generator 23 are blown by a blower fan, which will be described later, attached in the OH radical generator 23, and pass through the blower duct 24. And it is comprised so that it may be supplied to the dehydration tank 6 in the washing tub 5. Thus, by removing the metal components (Ca ions and Mg ions) contained in the water that is the source of OH radicals, it is possible to prevent the generation efficiency and durability of the OH radical generator 23 from being lowered. In addition, by providing the OH radical generator 23 in the vicinity of the water supply unit, it is possible to easily and inexpensively supply water as a source of OH radicals as described above.

  The ion exchanger 22, the OH radical generator 23, and the air duct 24 are configured in a unitized structure so that they can be easily removed from the upper surface plate 21 as a whole and individually. Improvement and serviceability improvement at the time of parts replacement can be realized. In addition, it is possible to flexibly cope with selection of OH radical generation function for each model.

  Further, on the inner front side of the upper surface plate 21, an operation panel 26 (shown in FIG. 3) provided on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 21 and a water level sensor 27 (also shown in FIG. 3) for detecting the water level of the washing tub 5 are used. The laundry is controlled by controlling the series of washing steps and driving the OH radical generator 23 and the blower fan at predetermined stages of the series of washing steps to supply the OH radicals to the dewatering tub 6 in the washing tub 5. Further, a control unit 28 composed of a microcomputer or the like is provided as a control means for controlling the steps of sterilizing, deodorizing, and decomposing organic matter in the washing tub 5 and dewatering tub 6. This control unit 28 also detects the quantity and quality of laundry such as clothes in the dewatering tub 6 in the normal washing process, and changes the amount of water supply, the number of revolutions of the motor 11 and the ON / OFF time. It is programmed so that the pulsator 9 and the dewatering tank 6 can be optimally driven to change clothes.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the OH radical generator 23. In the OH radical generator 23, a high voltage generator 30, a conductive thin tube 31, and a blower fan 32 are provided. The water W from which the metal ions have been removed by the ion exchanger 22 described above is stored in a water storage tank 33 in the OH radical generator 23 and is in contact with the lower portion of the conductive capillary 31. It penetrates into the upper part of the conductive capillary 31 by capillary action. The water that has permeated the upper portion of the conductive tubule 31 is excited by a high voltage of about 6 kV applied between the conductive tubule 31 and the electrode 34 arranged in a ring shape above the conductive tubule 31, and is wrapped in water by the well-known Rayleigh splitting. The nano-sized (approximately 18 nm in diameter) OH radicals that have become droplets (mist) are released into the air. The released OH radicals are configured to be sent from the OH radical generator 23 to the dehydration tank 6 via the blower duct 24 by the blower fan 32. The water storage tank 33 in the OH radical generator 23 is provided with a water presence / absence detection sensor 35 for detecting the presence / absence of water sufficient to submerge the lower portion of the conductive thin tube 31. Here, the high voltage generator 30, the conductive thin tube 31, and the ring electrode 34 constitute OH radical generating means in the present invention, and the blowing fan 32 and the blowing duct 24 are used to detect whether water is present or not. The sensor 35 constitutes detection means.

  In the fully automatic washing machine of the present embodiment configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 28 is based on inputs from the operation panel 26, the water level sensor 27, the water presence / absence detection sensor 35, and the like. The 1 water supply valve 25, the 2nd water supply valve 26, the torque motor 8, the motor 11, the high voltage generator 30, the blower fan 32, etc. are controlled, and the process shown by the flowchart in FIGS. 5 and 6 is executed. Yes.

  First, the operation of this fully automatic washing machine will be schematically described with reference to FIG. When the user puts the laundry into the dewatering tub 6 and makes an appropriate setting with the operation panel 26 and presses the start key, the control unit 28 first executes a load amount detection process (step S1). Specifically, the control unit 28 turns the motor 11 on for a short time to rotate the pulsator 9 and then turns off the motor 11. Since the resistance to rotation of the pulsator 9 increases as the load amount increases, the duration of inertial rotation becomes shorter. Therefore, during this inertia rotation period, pulse signals synchronized with the rotation of the motor 11 are counted, and the control unit 28 determines whether the load amount is small, normal, or large with the count value. Then, the washing water level is determined according to the load amount thus detected, and water is supplied (step S2). Further, the pulsator 9 is operated (step S3), the water level is detected by the water level sensor 27 after sufficient water is contained in the laundry, and the fabric quality is detected from the drop in the water level (step S4). That is, if the fabric quality of the laundry is synthetic fiber, blended fabric, and cotton, the amount of water absorption increases in the order of synthetic fiber, blended fabric, and cotton. judge. Although the load amount and cloth quality described above are used for control in a normal washing process, in this embodiment, for setting the OH radical generation time in the sterilization / deodorization process described later, as shown in FIG. Experiments were performed in advance for optimal OH radical generation times T1 to T9 in which the load amount becomes longer in the order of “low”, “normal”, and “high” and the fabric becomes longer in the order of “synthetic fiber”, “mixed fiber”, and “cotton”. The optimum OH radical generation time can be set during the sterilization / deodorization process by storing the data as a table in the memory of the microcomputer constituting the control unit 28.

  Now, after supplying the replenishing water (step S5) for returning the water level lowered by the cloth quality detection to the predetermined washing water level, when the washing process is started as a substantial washing process, the pulsator 9 is controlled at a predetermined speed. The washing operation is executed by rotating in one or both directions (step S6). When washing is completed, the drain valve is opened, the water in the washing tub 5 is drained, and the intermediate dehydration 1 is performed by rotating the dewatering tub 6 and the pulsator 9 together at a high speed (step S7). By this intermediate dehydration 1, the detergent water soaked in the laundry is scattered and removed.

  Next, rinse 1 is performed as the first rinse (step S8). This rinsing 1 rotates the dehydrating tub 6 while supplying water so as to sprinkle it on the laundry, so that the laundry absorbs clean water and tries to push out the detergent water soaked in the laundry instead. Is. Then, after sufficiently adding water to the laundry, the intermediate dehydration 2 is performed by the process of step S9 similar to step S7, and the water soaked into the laundry is scattered. Further, as the second rinsing 2, a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the washing tub 5, and rinsing is executed by rotating the pulsator 9 in the same manner as in the washing step of step S6 (step S10). When the rinsing 2 is completed, the drain valve is opened and the water in the washing tub 5 is drained, and the final dehydration is performed by rotating the dehydration tub 6 and the pulsator 9 together at high speed in the same manner as the intermediate dehydration ( Step S11).

  When the final dehydration process is completed, a sterilization / deodorization process characteristic of one embodiment of the present invention is performed (step S12). Specific processing of this sterilization / deodorization step will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the sterilization / deodorization process is started, the presence or absence of water in the water storage tank 33 in the OH radical generator 23 is first checked by the water presence / absence detection sensor 35. 2 The water supply valve 26 is opened to supply water (No in step S120 → step S121 → step S120). Therefore, the control unit 28 and the second water supply valve 26 constitute water supply means in the present invention. This water supply is performed until it is determined in step S120 that there is water. Thus, by detecting the presence or absence of water used by the OH radical generator 23 and supplying water, it is possible to prevent a high voltage from being applied in the absence of water when OH radicals are generated, thereby improving safety. Can do.

  If it is determined in step S120 that there is water, the process proceeds to step 122, where the OH radical generation time, that is, the driving time of the OH radical generator 30 is set. Here, any one of the OH radical generation times T1 to T9 obtained by referring to the table shown in FIG. 4 based on the load amount detected in step S1 of the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the fabric quality detected in step S4 is set. The

  When the OH radical generation time is set, the high voltage generator 30 is driven to start application of a high voltage between the conductive thin tube 31 and the ring electrode 34, the blower fan 32 is rotated, and the pulsator 9 is turned on. The rotation is controlled (steps S123, S124, S125). As a result, nano-sized OH radicals generated from the OH radical generator 23 are supplied by the blower fan 32 to the dewatering tub 6 in the washing tub 5 through the blower duct 24, so that the laundry such as clothes and the washing tub 5 and the detachment are removed. By contacting and penetrating the water tub 6, the laundry, the washing tub 5 and the dewatering tub 6 can be sterilized and deodorized without generating a strange odor. Further, when the laundry is stirred by the operation of the pulsator 9 when OH radicals are generated, the generated OH radicals uniformly contact and permeate the laundry and can be sterilized and deodorized evenly.

  The generation of the OH radical is continued for the generation time set in step S122 (No loop in step S126), and when the set generation time ends, the driving of the high voltage generator 30 is stopped and the conductive capillary 31 is discharged. The high voltage application between the ring-shaped electrodes 34 is stopped, and the rotation of the blower fan 32 and the rotation of the pulsator 9 are also stopped (Yes in step S126 → steps S127, S128, S129). Thus, by controlling the generation time (generation amount) of OH radicals according to the amount and quality of the laundry, sterilization and deodorization can be performed without excess or deficiency.

  And it returns to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and a series of washing processes are complete | finished.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a general vertical type fully automatic washing machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a drum type washing dryer having a drying function. In this case, there is no pulsator, but the stirring of the laundry when OH radicals are generated may be performed by rotating the dehydration tank.

  In the above embodiment, the sterilization / deodorization process using OH radicals is performed after the final dehydration process. For example, after the load amount detection process in step S1 in the flowchart of FIG. If the OH radical is supplied after draining the water in the washing tub 5 after the detection step, the same sterilization / deodorization effect as described above can be obtained, and the organic matter can be decomposed and the organic matter can be decomposed. Since the product after the decomposition of the soil is also washed away in the subsequent process, it is possible to effectively remove the soil on the laundry without using a small amount of detergent or using it.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the presence or absence of water used by the OH radical generator 23 is detected and water is supplied. However, when no water is detected after water supply, an error message is transmitted and there is no water. In some cases, safety can be further improved if high voltage is not applied by the high voltage generator 30.

  In addition, nano-sized OH radicals that have been encapsulated in water to form droplets (mist) are generated from the OH radical generator 23 so that highly reactive OH radicals can exist in the air for a long time. Even if the OH radical remains, the space of the washing tub 5 is narrow, so that a certain effect can be obtained even if the lifetime is short.

  In addition, various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical matters described in the claims.

Side surface sectional drawing which partially simplifies and shows a structure of a vertical fully automatic washing machine as one Embodiment of the washing machine by this invention. Similarly, the schematic sectional drawing which shows the principal part. Similarly, the block diagram which shows the principal part of the control system. The figure which shows the table for setting OH radical generation | occurrence | production time from the load of laundry and cloth quality in this embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of a series of washing processes in this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the specific process of the microbe elimination / deodorization process in the said flowchart.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine main body 3 Housing 5 Washing tub 6 Dehydration tub 6a Small hole 7 Drainage port 8 Torque motor 9 Pulsator 10 Drive mechanism 11 Motor 12 Rotating shaft 14 Bearing part 15 Drive shaft 18 Dehydration shaft 19 Wing shaft 20 Clutch mechanism 21 Top plate 22 Ion exchanger 23 OH radical generator 24 Air duct 25 First water supply valve 26 Second water supply valve 27 Water level sensor 28 Control unit 30 High voltage generator 31 Conductive thin tube 32 Blower fan 33 Water storage tank 34 Ring electrode 35 Water presence / absence detection Sensor

Claims (6)

  OH radical generating means for generating nano-sized OH radicals in the air by applying a high voltage to water, blowing means for blowing the generated OH radicals into the washing tub, and at a predetermined stage of a series of washing steps Control means for controlling the process of disinfecting, deodorizing, and decomposing organic matter in the laundry and the washing tub by driving the OH radical generating means and the blowing means to supply the OH radical into the washing tub A washing machine featuring.   2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the OH radical generating means is provided in the vicinity of a water supply part to the washing tub.   The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means controls the amount of OH radicals generated by the OH radical generation means according to the quantity and quality of the laundry in the washing tub.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a metal component removing unit that removes a metal component contained in water used by the OH radical generating unit.   Detection means for detecting the presence or absence of water used by the OH radical generation means, and water supply means for supplying water when it is detected by the detection means that no water is used by the OH radical generation means prior to driving the OH radical generation means The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means operates a pulsator or a dewatering tank during the generation of OH radicals by the OH radical generation means.

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