JP2011030974A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To soften washing water without requiring maintenance by a user of a washing machine, to enhance washing performance, and to prevent generated gas from staying in a system, to enhance safety. <P>SOLUTION: This washing machine includes a washing vessel for storing a washing object, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the washing vessel, and a water softening means 13 provided in the midway of the supply pipe, the water softening means 13 is constituted of at least a pair of electrodes 19, a water dissociation ion exchange body 20 having a cation exchange body 22 and an anion exchange body 23, and a flow channel 21 contacting with a surface of the water dissociation ion exchange body 20, in an inside of a casing 18, the first opening part 24 connected openedly to the supply pipe 9 is provided in a lower part of the casing 18, the second opening part 25 connected openedly to the supply pipe 9 is provided in an upper part of the casing 18, raw water is made to flow from the first opening part 24 to the second opening part 25, when softening-treating the water and regenerating the water dissociation ion exchange body 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine that improves the washing performance of clothes with a detergent for washing.

  Conventionally, in order to improve the washing performance of clothes, there is a technique of softening washing water using an ion exchange resin (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A divalent cation such as calcium and magnesium as hardness components has a great influence on the detergency of the detergent. These react with the surfactant in the detergent to produce an insoluble metal soap, thereby reducing the amount of the surfactant that contributes to cleaning and reducing the cleaning power. Therefore, the washing performance of the washing machine can be improved by removing the hardness component of the washing water.

  FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a water softening means of a washing machine to which the conventional water softening technology described in Patent Document 1 is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a cation exchange resin 31 for removing hardness components and a container 60 for containing sodium chloride 62 for regenerating the ion exchange resin 31 are provided.

  The container 60 has a cylindrical shape, a water inlet 29a is formed in the lower part of the side peripheral surface, a discharge port 29b is formed in the middle part of the side peripheral surface, and a water pipe 60h for salt dissolution is formed in the upper part of the side peripheral surface. The salt water discharge port 29c is formed on the bottom surface. Further, a convex portion 60j is formed at the upper end of the side peripheral surface of the container 60, and the lid 61 is fixed in such a manner as to be fitted to the convex portion 60j. An air hole 61 a is formed in the top surface of the lid 61. The container 60 is fixed to the bottom surface of the rear storage box 17b so that the salt water discharge port 29c penetrates the box bottom surface.

  The inside of the container 60 is partitioned into an upper and lower first space and a second space by a partition wall 60d provided at a position slightly above the discharge port 29b. The first space above the partition wall 60d forms a salt storage space 60a, and the second space below the partition wall 60d is further divided by two mesh filters 29d and 29d into an upper space 29g, an intermediate space 29f, and a lower space 29e. It is divided into three spaces. The two mesh filters 29d and 29d are both provided above the water inlet 29a and below the outlet 29b. The intermediate space 29f is filled with an ion exchange resin 31.

  The partition wall 60d is formed with a through hole 60e penetrating from the salt storage space 60a to the upper space. Below this through hole 60e, a check valve 60f is arranged on the upper space 29g side. While the upper space 29g is filled with water, the through hole 60e is closed, and water is passed from the upper space 29g to the salt storage space 60a. Prevent inflow. In addition, a salt particle outflow prevention filter 60g is disposed on the salt storage space 60a side above the through hole 60e, and prevents salt particles from flowing out from the salt charging space 60a into the upper space 29g.

  The salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h has a discharge port located at an upper part in the salt storage space 60a and facing obliquely downward. The salt storage space 60a has a volume that can store about 200 g of salt 62 for one week (seven times 29 g of salt required for one regeneration). The salt storage space 60a is located above the upper surface of the rear storage box 17b so that the user can easily open and close the lid 61, and all or part of the surrounding wall surface is transparent. The salt 62 consumed by the regeneration of each ion exchange resin can be observed from the front surface of the washing machine.

  A tube 35, a ball valve 34a, and a salt water discharge tube 36 are connected to the salt water discharge port 29c in the same manner as described above. Further, the ball valve 34a is provided with a salt water discharge solenoid 40 via a connecting rod 34d. The ball valve 34a, the connecting rod 34d, and the salt water discharge solenoid 40 constitute a salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39.

  The operation of the washing machine provided with the water softening means configured as described above will be described.

  The washing water supplied to the washing tub is passed through the cation exchange resin 31 in the container 60, so that calcium and magnesium in the water are removed by ion exchange to be softened and supplied to the washing tub. Since the cation exchange resin 31 has an exchange capacity that allows ion exchange, the hardness component leaks when the amount of treated water exceeds the exchange capacity. For this reason, it is necessary to regenerate the cation exchange resin 31 before the amount of treated water exceeds the exchange capacity.

  Since the cation exchange resin 31 is a sodium ion exchange resin, it can be regenerated by passing a saline solution in which sodium chloride 62, which is sodium chloride, is dissolved as a regenerant. Therefore, when the user throws in the salt 62 and periodically regenerates the cation exchange resin 31 (for one week), the washing water is softened even for long-term use, and the washing performance of the washing machine is maintained. be able to.

  On the other hand, as a technique for water softening, there is a technique using a water-splitting ion exchange membrane (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  In this system, a water-splitting ion exchange membrane consisting of two layers of a cation exchange layer and an anion exchange layer is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes, and when the electrode is energized, the hardness component is formed on the surface of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane. It is adsorbed, ion-exchanged, and softened. In addition, when a voltage is applied with the polarity reversed, water is dissociated at the interface between the cation exchange layer and the anion exchange layer, and the hydrolyzed ion exchange membrane can be regenerated by hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions generated by the dissociation. it can.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-244585 JP-T-2001-509074

  However, in the conventional configuration shown in Patent Document 1, since the cation exchange resin 31 uses a sodium ion exchange resin and is regenerated by the salt 62, the user of the washing machine periodically performs washing. There was a problem that salt 62 had to be put into the machine and maintenance was required.

On the other hand, the method using the water-splitting ion exchange membrane shown in Patent Document 2 removes the hardness component by applying a voltage to the electrode so that the hardness component is adsorbed on the surface of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane and ion-exchanged. Yes. At the time of regeneration, by applying a reverse polarity voltage to the electrode, water is dissociated at the interface of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane in which the hardness component is ion-exchanged to generate and regenerate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. Therefore, it is considered that this is an effective water softening technology that can be softened and regenerated without using any chemicals and can be expected to be applied to a washing machine. However, when electrolysis is performed in water, hydrogen and oxygen gases are generated from the electrode surface. And there existed a subject that this generated gas may accumulate | store in the water softening means or in another system.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, can be softened and regenerated without maintenance, and prevents the gas generated by electrolysis from staying in the system and improves safety. An object is to provide a washing machine that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a washing tub for storing laundry, a water supply pipe for supplying washing water to the washing tub, and a water softening means provided in the middle of the water supply pipe. The water softening means includes at least a pair of electrodes, a water-splitting ion exchanger having a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger, and a flow in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger. A first opening that is open to and connected to the water supply pipe is provided at a lower portion of the casing, and a second opening that is connected to the water supply pipe is provided at an upper portion of the casing. It is provided that the water component is allowed to flow from the first opening to the second opening at the time of softening treatment and at the time of regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchanger, so that the hardness component is adsorbed by the water-splitting ion exchanger. Ion exchange Hardness components can be removed, and at the time of regeneration, water is dissociated at the interface of the water-splitting ion exchanger where the hardness components are ion-exchanged to generate and regenerate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. It can be softened and regenerated for free. Further, since the gas generated by electrolysis has a specific gravity lighter than that of water, it moves upward in the casing of the water softening means. As a result, by flowing water from the lower part to the upper part of the casing during water softening treatment and regeneration, the generated gas can be easily discharged together with running water from the water softening means, and can be discharged into the open space of the washing tub or drainage channel. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the gas from remaining in the water softening means and in the system, so that safety can be improved.

  The washing machine of the present invention can improve washing performance by softening washing water without using chemicals, and can prevent the gas generated by electrolysis from staying in the water softening means. It is possible to provide a washing machine capable of improving the efficiency.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Sectional view of water softening means at the time of water softening of the washing machine Sectional view of water softening means during regeneration of the washing machine Longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Sectional view of water softening means at the time of water softening of the washing machine Sectional view of water softening means during regeneration of the washing machine Sectional view of water softening means of a conventional washing machine

1st invention is equipped with the washing tub which accommodates a laundry, the water supply pipe which supplies washing water to the washing tub, and the water softening means provided in the middle of the water supply pipe, The water softening means, The casing includes at least a pair of electrodes, a water-splitting ion exchanger having a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger, and a flow path in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger. A lower opening is provided with a first opening that is open and connected to the water supply pipe, and a second opening that is open and connected to the water supply pipe is provided at the upper portion of the casing. By adopting a washing machine configured to flow raw water from the first opening to the second opening during regeneration of the decomposition ion exchanger, the hardness component is adsorbed and ion-exchanged by the water decomposition ion exchanger. By removing hardness component And, at the time of regeneration, water is dissociated at the interface of the water-splitting ion exchanger whose ion is exchanged for the hardness component, and hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are generated and regenerated. Can be played. Further, since the gas generated by electrolysis has a specific gravity lighter than that of water, it moves upward in the casing of the water softening means. As a result, by flowing water from the lower part to the upper part of the casing during water softening treatment and regeneration, the generated gas can be easily discharged together with running water from the water softening means, and can be discharged into the open space of the washing tub or drainage channel. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the gas from remaining in the water softening means and in the system, so that safety can be improved.

  In the second invention, in particular, the washing machine configured such that the top surface of the casing of the water softening means of the first invention has a convex shape and the second opening is located at the top of the top surface of the casing. As a result, the gas generated during the water softening treatment and regeneration is collected toward the second opening at the upper part of the casing, and thus the generated gas is discharged to the outside together with running water. It is possible to prevent the gas from remaining.

  3rd invention is equipped with the washing tub which accommodates the laundry, the water supply pipe which supplies washing water to the washing tub, and the water softening means provided in the middle of the water supply pipe, the water softening means, The casing includes at least a pair of electrodes, a water-splitting ion exchanger having a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger, and a flow path in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger. A lower opening is provided with a first opening connected to the water supply pipe and an upper portion of the casing is provided with a second opening connected to the water supply pipe so that raw water is supplied during water softening treatment. By flowing water from the second opening to the first opening, and at the time of regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane, the washing machine is configured to flow raw water from the first opening to the second opening. The applied voltage is high and the gas generation amount is When regenerating the water-splitting ion exchange membrane, the generated gas that moves to the upper part of the casing flows from the lower part to the upper part, so that it can be discharged together with the flowing water to the drainage channel to prevent gas from remaining inside the water softening means. In addition, since the direction of water flow is reversed during water softening treatment and during regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane, the hardness component ion-exchanged mainly in the water-splitting ion exchanger upstream of the flow path is desorbed during regeneration. Thus, since it flows out from the downstream side in the reverse direction to the upstream side, the produced high-concentration concentrated component can be prevented from adhering to the entire water-splitting ion exchanger and the durability can be improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the third aspect of the invention, a bypass water supply pipe is provided by branching from a water supply pipe upstream of the water softening means, and the bypass water supply pipe is connected to the water supply downstream of the water softening means. The washing machine is connected to a pipe, and is provided with a first switching valve at a branch portion upstream of the water softening means and a second switching valve at a downstream connection portion of the water softening means. Thus, by switching the water supply path using the first switching valve and the second switching valve, the water softening treatment and the direction of water flow during regeneration can be easily performed.

  According to a fifth invention, in particular, in the third or fourth invention, the casing top surface and the bottom surface of the water softening means have a convex shape, the second opening is the top of the casing top surface, and the first opening Since the washing machine is configured to be positioned at the lowermost part of the bottom surface of the casing, the generated gas is concentrated and collected locally at the first opening on the bottom surface of the casing during the water softening process. It can be discharged to the washing tub without being unevenly distributed in the water softening means. When the water-splitting ion exchange membrane is regenerated, the generated gas moves toward the second opening at the top of the casing and is collected. Thereby, since the generated gas is discharged to the drainage channel together with running water, it is possible to prevent the gas from locally remaining in the upper part of the casing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of water softening means when the washing machine is softened, and FIG. 3 is when the washing machine is regenerated. Sectional drawing of the washing machine of sectional drawing of this water softening means is shown.

  In FIG. 1, the washing machine main body 1 has a washing tub 4 including an outer tub 2 and an inner tub 3 that operates rotatably in the outer tub 2. The inner tank 3 is configured so that the inner tank 3 can be rotated by the motor 5.

  One end of a drainage channel 6 is connected to the lower part of the outer tub 2, and a drain valve 7 is connected to the drainage channel 6 to drain the washing water in the outer tub 2.

  For supplying water for washing to the washing tub 4, a water supply pipe 9 is connected to the washing tub 4 through a water tap (not shown) and a water supply valve 8, and a detergent case 10 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 9. This is done by opening and closing the water supply valve 8.

  The inner tub 3 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, a large number of water passage holes communicating with the outer tub 2 are formed on the peripheral surface thereof, and baffles 11 are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner peripheral surface. A rotation axis is provided in a substantially inclined direction at the center of rotation of the inner tub 3, and the axial center direction of the inner tub 3 is inclined upward from the back side to the front side. The motor 5 attached to the back side of the outer tub 2 is connected to the rotating shaft, so that the inner tub 3 is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions.

  The laundry clothes are put into the washing machine in such a manner that the opening provided in the upward inclined surface on the front side of the outer tub 2 is covered with a lid 12 so that it can be opened and closed. The laundry can be taken in and out. Since the lid 12 is provided on the inclined surface facing upward, the laundry can be taken in and out without bending, and generally improves the poor workability of the washing machine that takes in and out the laundry from the sideways opening. is doing.

  The water softening means 13 is provided on the upstream side of the detergent case 10 in the middle of the water supply pipe 9. Here, the water softening means 13 is installed so that the inlet of raw water is on the lower side and the outlet is on the upper side. A water drain pipe 14 is branched from the water supply pipe 9 exiting the water softening means 13 and connected to the water drain 6. A drainage switching valve 15 is provided at the branch portion, and the flow path can be switched between the direction toward the washing tub 4 and the direction toward the drainage path 6.

  Further, the water supply pipe 9 on the upstream side of the water softening means 13 is branched and a rinse water supply pipe 16 is provided and connected to the washing tub 4. A rinsing switching valve 17 is provided at the branch portion, thereby switching the water supply path to the washing tub 4 during the washing process and the rinsing process.

  Next, the water softening means 13 will be described.

  In FIG. 2, the water softening means 13 is provided with a pair of electrodes 19 at both ends in a casing 18. The electrode 19 is made of titanium plated with platinum, and ensures the wear resistance of the electrode. A water-splitting ion exchanger 20 is provided between the electrodes 19 with a flow path 21 interposed therebetween.

The water-splitting ion exchanger 20 has a two-layer structure in which a cation exchanger 22 having a strongly acidic ion exchange group and an anion exchanger 23 having a strongly basic ion exchange group are bonded together. . And it installs so that the cation exchanger 22 and the anion exchanger 23 may face each other. Here, the cation exchanger 22 includes a strongly acidic ion exchange group having —SO ₃ H as a functional group, and the anion exchange layer 23 includes a strongly basic ion exchange group having —NR ₃ OH as a functional group. Including.

The lower and upper portions of the casing 18 are opened and connected to the water supply pipe 9. The first opening 24 serves as an inlet for raw water at the opening at the lower portion of the casing 18, and the second opening 25 serves as an outlet for treated water at the opening at the upper portion of the casing 18. Here, the top surface of the casing 18 has a convex shape and is provided so that the second opening 25 is located at the uppermost portion thereof.

  The operation of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

  When the washing machine body 1 is turned on, the lid 12 is opened, clothes are put in, the detergent is put into the detergent case 10 and the operation is started, the washing washing process starts.

  First, the water supply valve 8 is opened and tap water flows into the water supply pipe 9. The water supply path is located on the side of the water supply pipe 9 by the rinse switching valve 17, and the raw water is introduced into the water softening means 13. In the water softening means 13, the raw water flows from the first opening 24 at the bottom of the casing 18 and flows through the flow path 21 in a state where calcium carbonate as a hardness component is ionized.

  At this time, a DC voltage is applied to the electrode 19 installed in the casing 18, a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 19 on the cation exchanger 22 side of the water splitting ion exchanger 20, and the anion exchange layer 23 side A negative voltage is applied to the electrodes.

As a result, calcium ions in the raw water migrate to the cation exchanger 22 and carbonate ions migrate to the anion exchange layer 23 and enter the respective ion exchangers. Then, calcium ions are ion-exchanged with —SO ₃ H hydrogen ions of the strongly acidic ion exchange group of the cation exchanger 22, and carbonate ions are —NR ₃ of the strongly basic ion exchange group of the anion exchanger 23. Ion exchange with hydroxide ions of OH. Thus, the hardness component in the flow path 21 is removed and softened. The softened water flows out from the second opening 25 at the top of the casing 18, mixes with the detergent in the detergent case 10 through the water supply pipe 9, and is supplied into the washing tub 4.

  Here, in the water softening means 13, when a voltage is applied to the electrode 19, oxygen gas is generated from the anode and hydrogen gas is generated from the cathode. And since this generated gas has a specific gravity lighter than water, it moves to the upper part of the casing 18. And since it flows from the lower part of the casing 18 toward the upper part, the generated gas is discharged | emitted with a flowing water from the water softening means 13, and is discharged | emitted by the open space of the washing tub 4. FIG.

  Further, since the top surface of the casing 18 has a convex shape and the second opening 25 is located at the uppermost part of the top surface of the casing 18, the generated gas is collected toward the second opening 25. Thereby, it is possible to further prevent the generated gas from locally remaining in the upper part of the casing 18.

  The washing tub 4 is started by rotating the inner tub 3 of the washing tub 4 by the motor 5 supplied with a certain amount of detergent and soft water into the washing tub 4. By the rotation of the inner tub 3, the laundry stored in the washing tub 4 is lifted in the rotation direction by the baffle 11 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner tub 3, and agitated to fall from the lifted appropriate height position. Since the operation is repeated, the washing process is performed with the effect of tapping.

  Here, since the hardness component is removed from the washing water supplied into the washing tub 4 by the water softening means 13, it prevents the surfactant in the detergent from reacting to generate insoluble metal soap. be able to. Therefore, since the amount of the surfactant that contributes to cleaning is not reduced and the cleaning power is not reduced, the cleaning performance of the washing machine can be improved. Then, after the required washing time, the drain valve 7 is opened, the dirty washing liquid is discharged from the drainage channel 6, and the laundry contained in the laundry by the dehydrating operation of rotating the inner tub 3 of the washing tub 4 at high speed. The liquid is dehydrated and the washing process is completed.

  After the washing process is finished, the rinsing process starts next. When the water supply valve 8 is opened and water supply is started, the water supply path is switched from the water supply pipe 9 to the rinse water supply pipe 16 by the rinse switching valve 17, and the rinse water is supplied to the washing tub 4. Then, as in the washing step, the laundry is rinsed by the rotation of the inner tub 3 to remove the detergent. And the water | moisture content of a laundry is spin-dry | dehydrated by the spin-drying | dehydration operation | movement which rotates the inner tank 3 at high speed, and a rinse process is complete | finished. Here, in the rinsing step, since the rinsing water is supplied without passing through the water softening means 13, the amount of water treated by the water softening means 13 during washing can be reduced and long-term durability can be ensured.

  During such washing, after the water supply to the washing tub 4 in the rinsing step is completed, the water softening means 13 is in the regeneration mode. In the regeneration mode, the water supply path is switched to the water softening means 13 side by the rinse switching valve 17. Then, a certain amount of water is supplied to the water softening means 13. Thereafter, the drainage switching valve 15 is closed, and a certain amount of water is stored in the casing 18 of the water softening means 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the water softening means 13, a voltage in the direction opposite to that during softening is applied to the electrode 19 during regeneration. A positive voltage is applied to the anion exchanger 23 side, and a negative voltage is applied to the electrode on the cation exchanger 22 side. When a voltage is applied to both sides of the water-splitting ion exchanger 20, the ion component in the interface between the cation exchanger 22 and the anion exchanger 23 decreases, the resistance increases, and water is dissociated at a certain point. Hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are generated. In the cation exchanger 22, calcium ions ion-exchanged during softening are ion-exchanged with the generated hydrogen ions to be regenerated. Then, calcium ions are released into the flow path 21. On the other hand, in the anion exchanger 23, carbonate ions ion-exchanged during softening are ion-exchanged with the generated hydroxide ions and regenerated. Then, carbonate ions are released into the flow path 21. In this way, by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that during softening to both sides of the water-splitting ion exchanger 20, water dissociation is performed and membrane regeneration is performed.

  After regenerating by applying a voltage to the water-splitting ion exchanger 20 for a certain time, the flow path is switched to the drain pipe 14 by the drain switching valve 15. Then, the concentrated water of the hardness component in the water softening means 13 is drained from the drain pipe 14 to the outside through the drain channel 6. After the concentrated water is drained, the drainage switching valve 15 is closed again, and a certain amount of water is again introduced into the water softening means 13 so that the water-splitting ion exchanger 20 is regenerated. Thereafter, the flow path is switched by the drainage switching valve 15, and the regenerated concentrated water is discharged through the drainage pipe 14. By repeating such a process several times, the water softening means 13 is regenerated.

  Here, as with the water softening treatment, a voltage is applied to the electrode 19 during regeneration, so that gas is generated from the surface of the electrode 19. The generated gas moves to the upper part of the casing 18. Further, since water flows from the lower part to the upper part of the casing 18 at the time of regeneration, the generated gas is discharged from the water softening means 13 together with the flowing water, and is discharged to the drainage channel 6 through the drainage pipe 14.

  Further, since the top surface of the casing 18 has a convex shape and the second opening 25 is located at the top of the top surface of the casing 18, the gas generated during regeneration remains locally at the top of the casing 18. This can be further prevented.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the washing tub 4 for storing the laundry, the water supply pipe 9 for supplying the washing water to the washing tub 4, and the water softening means 13 are provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 9. The converting means 13 is in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger 20 and the water-splitting ion exchanger 20 having at least a pair of electrodes 19, a cation exchanger 22 and an anion exchanger 23 inside the casing 18. A first opening 24 connected to the lower portion of the casing 18 through the water supply pipe 9, and a second opening connected to the upper portion of the casing 18 through the water supply pipe 18. 25, the raw water is allowed to flow from the first opening 24 to the second opening 25 during the water softening treatment and during the regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchanger 20, thereby adsorbing hardness components with the water-splitting ion exchanger. Ion exchange Removing hardness components and. At the time of regeneration, water is dissociated at the interface of the water-splitting ion exchanger in which the hardness component is ion-exchanged to generate and regenerate hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions. Therefore, it is possible to soften and regenerate without maintenance using a chemical.

  Further, since the gas generated by electrolysis has a specific gravity lighter than that of water, it moves upward in the casing of the water softening means. As a result, by flowing water from the lower part to the upper part of the casing during water softening treatment and regeneration, the generated gas can be easily discharged together with running water from the water softening means, and can be discharged into the open space of the washing tub or drainage channel. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the gas from remaining in the water softening means and in the system, so that safety can be improved.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of water softening means when the washing machine is softened, and FIG. 6 is when the washing machine is regenerated. Sectional drawing of the washing machine of sectional drawing of this water softening means is shown. In addition, about the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a bypass water supply pipe 26 is branched from the water supply pipe 9 on the upstream side of the water softening means 13 and is connected to the water supply pipe 9 on the downstream side of the water softening means 13. A first switching valve 27 is provided at the upstream branch portion of the water softening means 13, and a second switching valve 28 is provided at the downstream branch portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the top surface and the bottom surface of the casing 18 of the water softening means 13 are formed in a convex shape. The second opening 25 is provided at the top of the top surface of the casing 18, and the first opening 24 is provided at the bottom of the bottom surface of the casing 18.

  The operation of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below.

  In the washing process of the washing machine, the raw water is introduced from the upper part of the water softening means 13 through the water supply pipe 9 by the first switching valve 27 and the second switching valve 28. That is, the raw water is softened from the second opening 25 at the upper part of the casing 18 toward the first opening 24 at the lower part. At this time, the gas generated by applying a voltage to the electrode 19 has a convex bottom surface of the casing 18, so that the gas that does not easily move downward from the top is concentrated in the first opening on the bottom surface of the casing by running water. Collected. And it can open to the washing tub 4 through the water supply pipe 9, and can discharge | emit it, without gas unevenly distributing in the water softening means 13 locally.

  Next, in the regeneration mode of the water softening means 13, the water supply path is switched to the bypass water supply pipe 26 by the first switching valve 27. Then, the water supply path is switched by the second switching valve 28 so that water is introduced from the bypass water supply pipe 26 to the lower part of the water softening means 13 through the water supply pipe 9. And water is supplied from the lower part of the water softening means 13. At this time, the first switching valve 27 can also circulate from the water supply pipe 9 on the upper side of the water softening means 13 toward the drain pipe 14. A certain amount of water is supplied from the lower part of the water softening means 13, discharged from the upper part, and circulates through the discharge pipe 14. When the first switching valve 27 is closed, a certain amount of water is stored in the water softening means 13.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a voltage in the direction opposite to that during softening is applied to the electrode 19 during regeneration in the water softening means 13. The generated gas moves to the upper part of the casing 18. And at the time of regeneration, since water flows from the lower part of the casing 18 toward the upper part, the generated gas is discharged from the water softening means 13 together with the flowing water, and is discharged to the drainage channel 6 through the drainage pipe 14.

  In addition, since the direction of water flow is reversed between the soft water treatment and the regeneration, the hardness component ion-exchanged mainly in the water-splitting ion exchanger 20 on the upstream side of the flow path 21 during the soft water treatment is desorbed and reversed during the regeneration. Since it flows out from the downstream side of the direction to the upstream side, the produced high concentration concentrated component can be prevented from adhering to the entire water-splitting ion exchanger 20 and the durability can be improved.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, raw water flows from the second opening to the first opening during the water softening treatment, and the raw water flows into the first opening during the regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane. By flowing the water from the first part to the second opening part, the accumulation of gas in the water softening means 13 is reduced, and a concentrated component having a high concentration during regeneration adheres to the entire water-splitting ion exchanger 20. Can be prevented and durability can be improved.

  As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can improve the cleaning performance by softening the washing water without using any chemicals and improving the washing performance, and the gas generated by the electrolysis stays in the water softening means. Therefore, it can be applied to applications such as a dishwasher.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Washing tub 9 Water supply pipe 13 Water softening means 18 Casing 19 Electrode 20 Water splitting ion exchanger 21 Flow path 22 Cation exchanger 23 Anion exchanger 24 1st opening part 25 2nd opening part 26 Bypass water supply pipe 27 1st Switching valve 28 Second switching valve

Claims (5)

A washing tub for storing laundry, a water supply pipe for supplying washing water to the washing tub, and water softening means provided in the middle of the water supply pipe, wherein the water softening means is provided at least inside the casing. The water-splitting ion exchanger having a pair of electrodes, a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger, and a flow channel in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger. A first opening connected to the water supply pipe is provided at the top of the casing, and a second opening connected to the water supply pipe is provided at the upper portion of the casing to regenerate the water-splitting ion exchanger during water softening treatment. A washing machine configured to occasionally flow raw water from the first opening to the second opening. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the casing of the water softening means has a convex shape, and the second opening is positioned at the top of the top surface of the casing. A washing tub for storing laundry, a water supply pipe for supplying washing water to the washing tub, and water softening means provided in the middle of the water supply pipe, wherein the water softening means is provided at least inside the casing. The water-splitting ion exchanger having a pair of electrodes, a cation exchanger and an anion exchanger, and a flow channel in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger. A first opening connected to the water supply pipe is provided at an upper portion of the casing, and raw water is supplied from the second opening at the time of softening treatment. A washing machine configured to flow into the first opening and to flow raw water from the first opening to the second opening during regeneration of the water-splitting ion exchange membrane. A bypass water supply pipe is provided by branching from a water supply pipe on the upstream side of the water softening means, and the bypass water supply pipe is connected to the water supply pipe on the downstream side of the water softening means, and is upstream of the water softening means. 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein a first switching valve is provided at the branching portion and a second switching valve is provided at the connecting portion on the downstream side of the water softening means. The casing top surface and bottom surface of the water softening means have a convex shape, and the second opening is positioned at the top of the casing top surface, and the first opening is positioned at the bottom of the casing bottom. The washing machine according to 3 or 4.