JP2005253624A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine capable of efficiently utilizing the cleaning action of a photocatalyst even during a drying operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a washing process and a rinsing process are ended (steps S4, S7 and S8), stored water inside an outer tub is discharged while an ultraviolet ray lamp is kept on. Then, when water drainage and spin-drying are ended, a drying heater of a drying unit is operated. Simultaneously, the rotation of a drying fan is controlled and warm air warmed by the drying heater is sent out to the outer tub. Thus, air for drying is circulated between the inside of the outer tub and the inside a cleaning unit. Then, by the rotation control of a driving motor for a drum, a drying process is started (step S9). When the drying process is ended, the ultraviolet ray lamp is put out (step S10). Thus, unwanted bacteria floating in the air for drying or the like are decomposed in the cleaning unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine.

Conventionally, a washing machine including an ultraviolet lamp and a photocatalyst has been used. In such a washing machine, by irradiating the photocatalyst with light from an ultraviolet lamp and further bringing the photocatalyst into contact with the washing water, dirt in the washing water can be decomposed and the washing water can be purified. As a washing machine provided with an ultraviolet lamp and a photocatalyst, for example, a washing machine described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed.
JP 09-47598 A

  The washing machine in the above prior art is provided separately from the washing tub, and includes a filter that filters and purifies washing water by combining a filter (photocatalyst carrier) carrying a photocatalyst with an ultraviolet radiation lamp (ultraviolet lamp). A configuration is adopted in which washing water filtered and purified by a filter is circulated to a washing tub by a circulation pump. Thereby, the washing water used for rinsing the laundry circulates in the washing tub while being filtered and purified.

  However, the washing machine is a washing machine that does not have a drying function, and is not assumed to be dried. Therefore, even if the configuration of the washing machine described above is adopted in a washing machine having a drying function, the washing water is put into the filter (photocatalyst carrier and ultraviolet lamp), the washing tub, and the washing tank by the action of the circulation pump. Since the purification is performed by circulating the water, it does not fit during drying without washing water.

Further, in the washing machine, since the washing water is circulated using a circulation pump, the configuration is complicated.
The present invention has been made based on such a technical background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can efficiently use the purifying action of a photocatalyst during a drying operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that can utilize the purification action of the photocatalyst with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a washing tub (7, 10) for storing washing water during washing and washing, and a circulation path for circulating the washing water in the washing tub. (13, 14) and a purification unit (9) provided in the circulation path, and in the washing machine with a drying function (1) for sequentially executing the steps of washing, rinsing and drying, the purification unit Is provided so as to come into contact with the washing water flowing through the circulation path, and has a photocatalyst carrier (93) having a photocatalyst supported on the surface (93A), and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst carrier with light of a predetermined wavelength ( 92), and a selection means (40) that can select a course that uses the detergent and a course that does not use the washing process, and a course that does not use the detergent is selected by the selection means (S3). Rinse and dry In the entire process (S7, S8, S9), the purification unit is activated (S6). When a course using a detergent is selected (S3), the purification unit is not activated in the washing process (S4). And a control means (30) that activates the purification unit in the rinsing and drying steps (S8, S9).

The alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
According to this configuration, when the photocatalyst carrier included in the purification unit is activated, the supported photocatalyst purifies the washing water by decomposing unnecessary matters such as dirt and residual detergent in the washing water. Moreover, washing, rinsing and sequentially executes each stage of drying, the drying step, at least initially, photocatalyst carrier is wetted, and its moisture during, OH ^- include ionic. Since the OH ⁻ ions activate the photocatalyst more, the decomposition efficiency of the photocatalyst is improved.

Therefore, by performing activation control of the purification unit by the control means, when washing is performed without using a detergent, in the washing process, dirt that separates from clothes and dissolves in water or floats in water. Decomposes components quickly. For this reason, even if it does not use a detergent, detergency is produced and washing becomes possible.
Further, when washing is performed using a detergent, the purification unit is not activated in the washing process. Therefore, the detergent itself melted during washing is not decomposed by the purification unit and the cleaning power does not decrease. For this reason, it can wash | clean well with a detergent.

On the other hand, in the rinsing process, the purification unit is activated no matter which course is washed. For this reason, the detergent and dirt remaining in the rinsing water used in the rinsing process are quickly decomposed by the purification unit. Therefore, it is possible to purify the rinsing water and to reduce the number of times of rinsing water exchange.
Further, in any drying process, the purification unit is activated regardless of which course is washed. As described above, the photocatalyst carried by the photocatalyst carrier contained in the purification unit is also wet in the drying process at least in the initial stage, and the OH ⁻ ions contained in the water further activate the photocatalyst. Therefore, the decomposition efficiency of the photocatalyst is improved. For this reason, at the time of drying, the germs separated from the clothing and floating in the drying air are decomposed by the purification unit. Therefore, the sterilization process can be performed efficiently in the drying process.

  The invention described in claim 2 is an outer tub (7) having a cylindrical portion in which washing water is stored, and the outer tub disposed in the outer tub, in which the laundry is accommodated, and a horizontal rotating shaft or horizontally In a washing machine (1) having a drum (10) that rotates about a rotation axis inclined within a predetermined angle range, a purification unit (9) disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the outer tub And a first passage (13) that communicates one end of the purification unit and the inside of the outer tub, and a second passage (14) that communicates the other end of the purification unit and the inside of the outer tub. The purification unit is provided so as to come into contact with the washing water flowing from the outer tub through the first passage or the second passage, and a photocatalyst carrier (93) having a surface (93A) carrying a photocatalyst. And a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst carrier with light of a predetermined wavelength ( And 2) a washing machine, which comprises a.

According to this structure, a convection arises in the wash water stored in the outer tub by rotating the drum. And the washing water of an outer tub repeats the circulation which flows in into a purification | cleaning unit from a 1st channel | path or a 2nd channel | path, and returns to a outer tub from a 2nd channel | path or a 1st channel | path.
During the washing water circulation, the washing water is decomposed by the action of the photocatalyst contained in the purification unit, such as dirt and residual detergent in the washing water. Since the purification unit is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the outer tub, the configuration thereof is simple, and the circulation of the washing water is favorably caused by the convection of the washing water by the drum rotation.

Invention of Claim 3 has the air supply means (15,16) connected with the said purification | cleaning unit (9), and supplying air with respect to the said purification | cleaning unit or Claim 1 or characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The washing machine (1) according to 2.
According to this configuration, air is supplied to the purification unit by the air supply means. In general, oxygen makes the photocatalyst more active. Therefore, by doing so, the oxygen contained in the air can be brought into contact with the photocatalyst contained in the purification unit, and the photocatalyst can be further activated.

Further, since the supplied air can cause convection in the washing water or the drying air, the washing water or the drying air can be circulated more efficiently.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the control means (30) activates the purification unit by turning on the light source (92) included in the purification unit (9) (S5, S6). The washing machine (1) according to claim 1.

According to this configuration, the decomposition performance of the photocatalyst is activated when irradiated with light having a predetermined wavelength, for example, an ultraviolet wavelength. For this reason, the control means can control activation / non-activation of the purification unit by simple control such as turning on and off the light source.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the purification unit (9) includes a cylindrical container (91) through which washing water passes, and a columnar ultraviolet lamp arranged to extend in the axial direction at the center of the cylindrical container. (92) and a photocatalyst carrier (93) filled between the ultraviolet lamp and the cylindrical container, and the photocatalyst carrier has a large number of photocatalysts carried on the surface (93A). The washing machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a granular adsorbent (93).

  According to this configuration, when the ultraviolet lamp is turned on, the photocatalyst carried on the many granular adsorbents filled in the periphery is activated. When washing water flows through the cylindrical container or when drying air (drying air) passes, the dirt in the washing water or drying air is adsorbed by the granular adsorbent. The adsorbed dirt is decomposed by the photocatalyst. When the photocatalyst support is made of an adsorbent, the dirt can be efficiently decomposed because the adsorption and decomposition of the dirt are performed in conjunction with each other as described above.

The invention according to claim 6 is the washing machine (1) according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical container (91) is subjected to a light reflection coating treatment on the inner peripheral surface (91A). It is.
According to this configuration, of the light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp, the light that passes between the granular adsorbents and reaches the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container is reflected by the inner peripheral surface and irradiated to the granular adsorbents. The Therefore, the light irradiation rate to the photocatalyst can be improved, and the photocatalyst can be activated more efficiently.

  The invention according to claim 7 is that the purification unit (9) is a container (941) in which the photocatalyst carrier (942, 951) is accommodated and through which washing water passes, and a part (944) thereof is A container made of a light-transmitting material, and an ultraviolet lamp (943) that radiates ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst carrier that is disposed outside the container and is accommodated in the container from a portion formed of the light-transmitting material. And the washing machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

According to this configuration, since the ultraviolet lamp is disposed outside the container through which the washing water passes, the ultraviolet lamp can be prevented from getting wet. Therefore, the design for preventing electric leakage is facilitated.
The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the photocatalyst carrier (942) is a large number of small particles (942) made of an adsorbent, and a photocatalyst is supported on the surface thereof. 7. The washing machine (1) according to 7.

  According to this structure, since a photocatalyst is a small granular material, many photocatalysts can be accommodated in a container. Further, when the washing water flows through the container or when the drying air (drying air) passes, the dirt in the washing water or the drying air is adsorbed by the small particles made of the adsorbent. The adsorbed dirt is decomposed by the photocatalyst. When the photocatalyst carrier (small granular body) is made of an adsorbent, the dirt can be efficiently decomposed because the adsorption and decomposition of the dirt are performed in conjunction with each other as described above.

The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the photocatalyst carrier (951) is a honeycomb body (951) having a shape that fits in the container, and the photocatalyst is supported on the surface of the honeycomb body (951). The washing machine (1) described in 1.
According to this configuration, since the photocatalyst carrier is a honeycomb body, the photocatalyst carrier can be configured as an integral body having a large contact area with the photocatalyst. Therefore, the photocatalyst carrier can be configured simply.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum type washing machine 1 which is a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a cross section seen from the right side when cut along a vertical plane along the front-rear direction. . FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine 1 and shows a cross-section viewed from the front when cut along a vertical plane along the left-right direction.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine 1 is partitioned by a casing 2 having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. On the upper surface of the housing 2, an opening 4 for opening and closing the laundry can be opened and closed by a rotatable outer lid 3. Inside the housing 2, an outer tub 7 formed by closing both end faces of a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 7C with end face walls (the left end face wall 7L and the right end face wall 7R) has its axis line left and right (substantially) (Horizontal). The outer tub 7 is supported by a plurality of dampers 5 at the lower part of the peripheral wall 7C.

Inside the outer tub 7, a drum 10 for storing laundry therein is arranged. The drum 10 is formed by closing both end faces of a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 10C with end face walls (left end face wall 10L and right end face wall 10R), and is arranged so that its axis extends to the left and right (substantially horizontal). Has been.
Rotating shafts 11L and 11R extending along the axis of the drum 10 are attached to the left and right end face walls 10L and 10R of the drum 10, respectively. The rotary shafts 11L and 11R are rotatably attached to the left and right end face walls 7L and 7R of the outer tub 7. A drum driving motor 12 is connected to the left rotating shaft 11L by, for example, a DD (direct drive) system, and the drum 10 connected to the rotating shaft 11L is driven by rotating the drum driving motor 12. Rotate around the axis at the same rotational speed. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10, three baffles 10B for lifting the laundry in the drum 10 when the drum 10 rotates are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (every 120 °). It protrudes so as to extend in the left-right direction. Note that the drum 10 may rotate around a rotation axis inclined within a predetermined angle range with respect to the horizontal.

  An opening 22 for taking in and out the laundry is formed in a part of the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10. An opening 23 is formed in the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7 at a position facing the opening 4 of the housing 2. The opening 22 of the drum 10 can be opened and closed by a rotatable drum lid 25. The drum lid 25 has a front end 25A attached to the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10 to be rotatable, and a rear end attached to the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10 to be rotatable. The opening 22 is closed by engaging the rear end portion of the front lid 25A and the front end portion of the rear lid 25B. The opening 22 is closed by releasing the engagement. be opened. The front end portion of the front lid 25A and the rear end portion of the rear lid 25B are connected by the connecting member 27, and when one of the front lid 25A and the rear lid 25B is rotated, the other is also rotated in conjunction therewith. It has become.

  The opening 23 of the outer tub 7 can be opened and closed by a rotatable inner lid 26. By opening all of the outer lid 3, the inner lid 26 and the drum lid 25, the laundry can be taken in and out of the drum 10 through the openings 4, 22 and 23. 1 shows a state where the outer lid 3, the inner lid 26 and the drum lid 25 are opened, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the outer lid 3, the inner lid 26 and the drum lid 25 are closed.

A water supply port (not shown) is formed in the rear upper surface of the housing 2, and tap water (hereinafter simply referred to as “water”) is passed through the water supply port from an external water supply facility (such as a water tap). Can be introduced). The water introduced into the machine from the water supply port is supplied into the outer tub 7 from the rear end portion of the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7 through the water supply pipe 6.
A drain port 19 is formed at the lower right side of the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7. By supplying water with the drain valve 18 connected to the drain port 19 closed, water can be stored in the outer tub 7. A large number of water passage holes (not shown) are formed in the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10, and the water supplied into the outer tub 7 flows into the drum 10 through the water passage holes. It has become. The water stored in the outer tub 7 is discharged out of the machine by opening the drain valve 18 through the drain port 19 and a drain hose (not shown).

  A long purification unit 9 is provided slightly below the front surface of the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7 so that its longitudinal direction is along the circumferential direction of the outer tub 7. A first passage pipe 13 communicating with the inside of the outer tub 7 is connected to one upper end of the purification unit 9, and a second passage pipe 14 communicating with the inside of the outer tub 7 is connected to the other lower end of the purification unit 9. Is connected. An air supply pipe 16 to which air is supplied from the air pump 15 is connected to the second passage pipe 14.

As will be described later, the purification unit 9 purifies water and the like in the outer tub 7, and the water and the like in the outer tub 7 mainly flows into the purification unit 9 from the second passage pipe 14, and While flowing out from the one-passage pipe 13, water or the like is purified.
In the drum type washing machine 1, in the washing process and the rinsing process, the drum 10 is rotated while water is stored in the outer tub 7 to a certain water level, and the laundry in the drum 10 is baffled along with the rotation. The operation (tumbling) of being lifted by 10B and naturally dropping from a certain height is repeated. By repeating the tumbling, the laundry is struck against the water surface of the water stored in the outer tub 7, and so-called tapping is achieved. At this time, the rotation of the drum 10 causes convection in the water, and the water circulates well between the outer tub 7 and the purification unit 9 via the first passage pipe 13 and the second passage pipe 14.

At the time of dehydration, the drum 10 is rotated at a high speed (for example, 300 to 1000 rpm), so that water contained in the laundry in the drum 10 is squeezed out by centrifugal force. Then, the water squeezed out from the laundry is scattered to the outer tub 7 side through the water passage hole of the drum 10 and is discharged from the drain port 19.
The drum type washing machine 1 also has a function of drying the dehydrated laundry, and a drying unit 8 for the drying function is attached to the right end surface wall 7R of the outer tub 7 from the outside (see FIG. 2). The drying unit 8 warms the air in the outer tub 7 sucked through an air passage member (not shown) communicating with the inside of the outer tub 7 by two drying heaters 81, and then the right end wall of the outer tub 7. It is led into the outer tub 7 from the blower opening 82 formed in the center of 7R toward the left.

  At the time of drying, by rotating the drum 10 while sending warm air (drying air) from the drying unit 8 into the outer tub 7, the laundry in the drum 10 is lifted by the baffle 10B, and is naturally dropped from a certain height. The operation is repeated. Thereby, the laundry in the drum 10 can be uniformly exposed to the drying air, and the laundry can be satisfactorily dried. At this time, the drying air circulates well between the outer tub 7 and the purification unit 9 via the first passage pipe 13 and the second passage pipe 14.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the purification unit 9, and conceptually shows the configuration of the purification unit 9. The purification unit 9 includes a substantially cylindrical container 91, an ultraviolet lamp 92 accommodated in the center of the container 91 so that the axial direction thereof is along the axial direction of the container 91, and an ultraviolet lamp in the container 91. And a granular adsorbent 93, which is a plurality of small granular bodies filled so as to wrap around 92. As described above, the first passage pipe 13 is connected to one end of the container 91, the second passage pipe 14 is connected to the other end of the container 91, and the second passage pipe 14 is connected to the air pump 15. An air supply pipe 16 to which air is supplied is connected.

  The granular adsorbent 93 is, for example, an adsorbent such as silica gel, and a photocatalyst such as titanium dioxide is supported on the surface 93A, and the inner peripheral surface 91A of the container 91 is subjected to a light reflecting coating process. It has been subjected. A filter 131 is provided in the first passage pipe 13, and a filter 141 is provided in the second passage pipe 14. When the washing process and the rinsing process are performed in the drum type washing machine 1, the water in the outer tub 7 mainly passes through the filter 141 and flows into the container 91 from the second passage pipe 14. Then, the dirt in the water is adsorbed by the granular adsorbent 93. At this time, when light (light having an ultraviolet wavelength) is irradiated onto the photocatalyst on the surface 93A of the granular adsorbent 93 by the ultraviolet lamp 92, the photocatalyst is activated, and the adsorbed dirt is decomposed by the photocatalyst. . As described above, since the adsorption and decomposition of the dirt are performed in conjunction with each other, the dirt can be efficiently decomposed.

  Of the light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 92, the light that passes between the granular adsorbents 93 and reaches the inner peripheral surface 91 </ b> A of the container 91 is reflected by the inner peripheral surface 91 </ b> A and irradiated onto the granular adsorbent 93. The Therefore, the light irradiation rate to the photocatalyst can be improved, and the photocatalyst can be activated more efficiently. Further, since the granular adsorbent 93 is a small granular object, a large number of granular adsorbents 93 can be accommodated in the container 91.

  Furthermore, when irradiating the granular adsorbent 93 with light, that is, when activating the photocatalyst, air is supplied from the air pump 15 via the air supply pipe 16. In general, the photocatalyst is more activated when supplied with oxygen. Therefore, the photocatalyst is more activated by oxygen in the air supplied from the air pump 15. Moreover, since convection can be produced by the supplied air, water can be circulated more efficiently.

In the drum type washing machine 1, when drying is performed, the drying air in the outer tub 7 passes through the filter 131 or 141 in the same manner as described above, and passes through the first passage pipe 13 or the second passage 13. It flows into the container 91 from the passage pipe 14. When washing, rinsing, and drying processes are sequentially performed, the photocatalyst is wet at least in the initial stage of the drying process, and OH ⁻ ions are contained in the moisture. Since the OH ⁻ ions activate the photocatalyst more, the decomposition efficiency of the photocatalyst is improved. For this reason, at the time of drying, various germs floating in the drying air are decomposed by the photocatalyst. The filters 131 and 141 may also carry a photocatalyst.

Further, the configuration of the purification unit 9 can be modified as follows.
FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing a modification of the purification unit 9, FIG. 4 (a) shows the purification unit 94, and FIG. 4 (b) shows the purification unit 95. In addition, about the structure similar to the above, description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same referential mark.
The purification unit 94 includes a substantially cylindrical container 941, a granular adsorbent 942 filled in the container 941 and carrying a photocatalyst on the surface thereof, and an ultraviolet lamp 943 disposed outside the container 941. .

  The outer peripheral surface of the container 941 on the side of the ultraviolet lamp 943 is a light passage surface 944 made of a transparent material such as a transparent plastic plate, and the light from the ultraviolet lamp 943 passes through the light. The granular adsorbent 942 is irradiated through the surface 944. In this way, since water flows in the container 942, the ultraviolet lamp 943 can be prevented from getting wet. Therefore, the design for preventing electric leakage is facilitated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the purification unit 95, a honeycomb body 951 is employed instead of the granular adsorbent 942. The honeycomb body 951 has a photocatalyst supported on its surface. Since the honeycomb body 951 is an integral body having a large surface area, the configuration is simple. (In addition, about the structure similar to Fig.4 (a), description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same referential mark.)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the drum type washing machine 1.

The operation of the drum type washing machine 1 is controlled by a control unit 30 including a microcomputer. An operation panel 40 provided on the upper surface of the housing 2 is attached to the control unit 30 so that input / output is possible. The user can perform various settings by operating the operation panel 40, and a signal based on the operation of the operation panel 40 is input to the control unit 30.
The control unit 30 is connected to the ultraviolet lamp 92, the drum driving motor 12, the drying heater 81, and the air pump 15, and the drying fan 83 provided in the drying unit 8. Is connected.

The operation panel 40 includes a start key 41, a detergent key 42, and a detergentless key 43. The operation course of the drum-type washing machine 1 includes a course without a detergent and a course with a detergent, and the user selects a course by pressing a key 42 with a detergent and a key 43 without a detergent on the operation panel 40. Can do.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of the control unit 30.

  This will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user presses the start key 41 of the operation panel 40 (YES in step S1), it is determined whether or not a course is selected (step S2). If the course is not selected by the user (NO in step S2), that is, if neither the no detergent key 42 nor the detergent key 43 is pressed, the washing process is first started ( Step S4). That is, when water is stored in the outer tub 7 and the water level in the outer tub 7 reaches the set water level, the drum drive motor 12 is rotationally controlled.

Similarly, even if the course is selected by the user (YES in step S2), if the course is a course with detergent (NO in step S3), that is, if the key 42 with detergent is pressed. First, a washing process is started (step S4).
When the washing process ends, the water in the outer tub 7 is drained. When the drainage is completed, the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned on (step S5), and light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 92. When the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned on, the air supply operation of the air pump 15 is started accordingly, and the photocatalyst in the purification unit 9 is activated. Then, when water is again stored in the outer tub 7 and the water level in the outer tub 7 reaches the set water level, the drum drive motor 12 is rotationally controlled, and the rinsing process is started (step S8). Thereby, as mentioned above, water circulates between the inside of the outer tub 7 and the inside of the purification unit 9.

  On the other hand, if the course is selected by the user (YES in step S2) and the course is a course without detergent (YES in step S3), that is, if the no-detergent key 43 is pressed, First, the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned on (step S6), light is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 92, the air supply operation of the air pump 15 is started, and the photocatalyst in the purification unit 9 is activated. Then, when water is stored in the outer tub 7 and the water level in the outer tub 7 reaches the set water level, the drum drive motor 12 is rotationally controlled, and the washing process is started (step S7). Thereby, as mentioned above, water circulates between the inside of the outer tub 7 and the inside of the purification unit 9.

When the washing process ends, the water in the outer tub 7 is drained. When the drainage is completed, water is again stored in the outer tub 7, and when the water level in the outer tub 7 reaches the set water level, the drum drive motor 12 is rotationally controlled and the rinsing process is started (step S8). ).
When the rinsing process is completed, the water in the outer tub 7 is drained. And when drainage is completed, dehydration is performed. When the dehydration is completed, the drying heater 81 of the drying unit 8 is activated. At the same time, the drying fan 83 is rotationally controlled, and the drying air heated by the drying heater 81 is sent to the outer tub 7. Thereby, as described above, the drying air circulates between the inside of the outer tub 7 and the inside of the purification unit 9. Then, the drum driving motor 12 is rotationally controlled to start the drying process (step S9). When the drying process is finished, the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned off (step S10), the air supply operation of the air pump 15 is finished, and the washing operation is finished.

As described above, when the course with the detergent is selected, the ultraviolet lamp 92 is not turned on during the washing process, and the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned on simultaneously with the start of the rinsing process. On the other hand, when the course without detergent is selected, the ultraviolet lamp 92 is turned on simultaneously with the start of the washing process. The ultraviolet lamp 92 is lit until the drying process is completed.
Therefore, in the course without detergent, in the washing process, the dirt component that separates from clothes and dissolves in water or floats in water is quickly decomposed by the activation of the photocatalyst. For this reason, even if it does not use a detergent, detergency is produced and washing becomes possible.

In the course with detergent, the photocatalyst is not activated in the washing process. Therefore, it does not occur that the detergent itself dissolved during washing is decomposed by the photocatalyst and the cleaning power is not reduced. For this reason, it can wash | clean well with a detergent.
On the other hand, in the rinsing process, the photocatalyst is activated regardless of which course is washed. For this reason, the detergent and dirt remaining in the rinsing water used in the rinsing process are quickly decomposed by the photocatalyst. Therefore, water (rinse water) can be purified, and the number of water exchanges can be reduced.

Further, in the drying process, the photocatalyst is activated regardless of which course is washed. The photocatalyst is wet even in the drying process at least in the initial stage, and the OH ⁻ ions contained in the water make the photocatalyst more active. Therefore, the decomposition efficiency of the photocatalyst is improved. For this reason, at the time of drying, the germs separated from the clothes and floating in the drying air are decomposed by the photocatalyst. Therefore, the sterilization process can be performed efficiently in the drying process.

Moreover, since the purification | cleaning unit 9 is the structure into which the water or air in the outer tank 7 flows naturally by the convection of the water or air which arises in the outer tank 7 (drum 10), the structure becomes simple. In addition, since the activation of the photocatalyst is performed by turning on and off the light source, the control can be simplified.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine which is a washing machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The cross section seen from the right side when cut | disconnected by the vertical surface along the front-back direction is shown. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a drum type washing machine, Comprising: The figure which looked at the cross section when it cut | disconnects by the vertical surface along the left-right direction from the front is shown. It is the figure which showed notionally the structure of the purification | cleaning unit. It is a figure which shows notionally the modification of a purification | cleaning unit. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a drum type washing machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of a control part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum type washing machine 7 Outer tub 9 Purification unit 10 Drum 13 First passage pipe 14 Second passage pipe 15 Air pump 16 Air supply pipe 30 Control unit 40 Operation panel 91 Container 91A Inner peripheral surface 92 Ultraviolet lamp 93 Granular adsorber 93A Surface 941 Container 942 Granular adsorbent 943 Ultraviolet lamp 944 Light passage surface 951 Honeycomb body

Claims (9)

A washing tub for storing washing water when washing, a circulation path for circulating the washing water in the washing tub, and a purification unit provided in the circulation path; washing, rinsing and In a washing machine with a drying function that sequentially executes each step of drying,
The purification unit includes a photocatalyst carrier having a photocatalyst supported on the surface thereof, and a light source for irradiating the photocatalyst carrier with light having a predetermined wavelength. ,
A selection means that allows selection of courses that use detergents and courses that do not use in the washing process,
When the course that does not use detergent is selected by the selection means, the purification unit is activated in the whole process of washing, rinsing and drying, and when the course using detergent is selected, the purification unit is activated in the washing process. And a control means for activating the purification unit in a rinsing and drying process without being activated. An outer tub having a cylindrical portion in which washing water is stored, and a rotating shaft that is disposed in the outer tub and accommodates the laundry therein and is inclined within a predetermined angle range with respect to the horizontal rotating shaft or horizontal. A washing machine having a drum rotating about
A purification unit disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the outer tub;
A first passage communicating the one end of the purification unit and the inside of the outer tub,
A second passage communicating the other end of the purification unit and the inside of the outer tub,
The purification unit is provided so as to come into contact with the washing water flowing from the outer tub through the first passage or the second passage, and has a photocatalyst carrier on which a photocatalyst is supported, and the photocatalyst carrier. And a light source for irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength.   The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising air supply means connected to the purification unit for supplying air to the purification unit.   2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means activates the purification unit by turning on a light source included in the purification unit. The purification unit is
A cylindrical container through which the washing water passes;
A columnar ultraviolet lamp arranged to extend in the axial direction at the center of the cylindrical container;
A photocatalyst carrier filled between the ultraviolet lamp and the cylindrical container,
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the photocatalyst carrier includes a number of granular adsorbents having a photocatalyst supported on a surface thereof.   6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the cylindrical container is subjected to a light reflection coating process on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The purification unit is
A container that contains the photocatalyst carrier and through which washing water passes, a container part of which is formed of a translucent material;
An ultraviolet lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst carrier, which is disposed outside the container and formed from the light-transmitting material and is accommodated in the container. 4. The washing machine according to any one of 4 above.   The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the photocatalyst carrier is a large number of small particles made of an adsorbent, and a photocatalyst is carried on the surface thereof.   The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the photocatalyst carrier is a honeycomb body shaped to be accommodated in the container, and a photocatalyst is carried on a surface of the honeycomb body.

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