JP2016007394A - Cloth material treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cloth material treatment device capable of preventing saprophyte and the like in a liquid from adhering to clothes, and capable of maintaining cleanliness.SOLUTION: A cloth material treatment device includes: a water storage tank 211 for storing a liquid; a generation tank 221 for atomizing the liquid; a pump 212 for supplying the liquid from the water storage tank 211 to the generation tank 221, or discharging water from the generation tank 221 to the water storage tank 211; a liquid level sensor 240 for detecting a liquid level of the generation tank 221; and a control unit 400 for performing atomization control of the liquid and control of the pump 212. The control unit 400 discharging the liquid from the generation tank 221 to the water storage tank 211 by the pump 212 in the case where it is determined that the liquid is in the generation tank 221 on the basis of the output of the liquid level sensor 240 at start-up time. In the case where an operation is instructed in a state where the liquid is not discharged at the previous operation time, by discharging the liquid, saprophyte and the like in the liquid can be prevented from adhering to clothes, and cleanliness can be maintained.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cloth material processing apparatus that applies a predetermined treatment to a cloth material using an atomizing liquid.

  The technology for supplying steam to the storage space is useful for eliminating wrinkles of clothes stored in the storage space and for sterilization processing on clothes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-80331

  In order to perform a predetermined process using the generated atomized liquid, a liquid is required, and the liquid is drained at the end of the predetermined process.

  However, when drainage is not possible, particularly when the power is turned off before drainage ends, the liquid remains in the cloth treatment apparatus.

  The liquid remaining in the cloth treatment apparatus has a problem that germs and the like propagate in the liquid after a long period of time, and the germs adhere to the clothing during the next operation.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cloth material processing apparatus capable of preventing bacteria and the like in a liquid from adhering to clothing and maintaining cleanliness.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the fabric treatment apparatus of the present invention includes a water storage tank that stores liquid, a generation tank that atomizes the liquid, and supplies the liquid from the water storage tank to the generation tank. Or a pump that drains water from the generation tank to the water storage tank, a liquid level sensor that detects a liquid level in the generation tank, and a control unit that controls the atomization of the liquid and the pump. The unit drains the liquid from the generation tank to the water storage tank by the pump when it is determined that the liquid is present in the generation tank based on the output of the liquid level sensor at the time of activation. It is.

  As a result, when the operation is instructed in the state where the liquid is not drained during the previous operation, the liquid is drained, so that germs and the like in the liquid can be prevented from adhering to the clothing, and the cleanliness can be maintained.

  The cloth treatment apparatus according to the present invention prevents the germs and the like in the liquid from adhering to the clothing by draining the liquid when the operation is instructed in a state where the liquid is not drained during the previous operation. Can maintain cleanliness.

Schematic block diagram of a cloth material processing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention Schematic timing chart showing the same control mode Block diagram showing the exemplary control structure Flow chart showing the control specifications

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment 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 schematic block diagram of a cloth material processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The cloth material processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the solid line arrow shown in FIG. 1 represents the flow of the liquid or the atomization liquid, and the dotted line arrow represents the flow of air.

  FIG. 1 shows the accommodation space SR and the cloth material FB accommodated in the accommodation space SR. The cloth material FB may be clothes, towels, or other cloth pieces. The type of the cloth material FB does not limit the principle of the present embodiment.

  The cloth material processing apparatus 100 includes an atomization unit 200, a blower unit 300, and a housing 600.

  The atomization part 200 supplies the atomization liquid to the accommodation space SR. The atomizing liquid adheres to the cloth material FB in the accommodation space SR and exhibits a predetermined effect. If the atomizing liquid is generated from water, the wrinkles and odors of the cloth material FB are removed. The atomization liquid may be generated from other liquids. For example, a liquid capable of producing an insect repellent effect, a static electricity removing effect, a pollen removing effect, and other effects may be used for generating the atomized liquid. The effect brought about by the atomizing liquid does not limit the principle of this embodiment.

  The atomization unit 200 includes a water storage tank 211, a pump 212, a generation tank 221, an ultrasonic element 222, and an outlet pipe 230.

  When supplying the atomizing liquid to the accommodation space SR, the water storage tank 211 stores water. The pump 212 sucks water from the water storage tank 211 and sends the water to the generation tank 221 (supplies water). Thereby, the liquid layer LL and the air layer AL are formed in the generation tank 221.

  The pump 212 maintains the water level in the generation tank 221 so that the ultrasonic element 222 fixed in the generation tank 221 maintains the water level surrounded by the liquid layer LL. The pump 212 performs feedback control using a liquid level sensor.

  The ultrasonic element 222 generates an ultrasonic wave in the liquid layer LL, and the water is exposed to the ultrasonic wave and vibrates at a high frequency to form a water column in the air layer AL. Atomized fine particles (atomized liquid) drift around the water column. Atomization of liquids using ultrasound may be based on known atomization techniques.

  When the operation is terminated, the pump 212 sucks water from the generation tank 221 and sends it to the water storage tank 211 (drains it). The pump 212 performs control using a liquid level sensor, the water in the generation tank 221 is drained, and only an air layer is formed.

  The water storage tank 211 is detachable and is placed in the cloth material processing apparatus before the operation is started. After the user finishes the operation, the user can remove the water tank 211 and discard the water.

  As a result, after the operation is completed, water is not left in the generation tank and the water storage tank 211 and left for a long period of time. Therefore, it is possible to suppress propagation of germs and maintain cleanliness.

  The blower unit 300 includes a blower fan 310, an air supply pipe 330C, an adjustment unit 340, a heater 350, a dust removing unit 360, a deodorizing unit 370, a suction pipe 320, and a switching unit 380.

  The air supply pipe 330 includes a main pipe 333, a first sub pipe 331, and a second sub pipe 332. The main pipe 333 connects between the blower fan 310 and the adjustment unit 340. The first sub pipe 331 connects the adjustment unit 340 and the generation tank 221. The second sub pipe 332 connects the adjustment unit 340 and the accommodation space SR.

  The suction pipe 320 includes an upstream pipe 323, a downstream pipe 324, and an air guide pipe 325. The upstream pipe 323 has a suction port 321. The upstream pipe 323 forms a flow path of internal air from the suction port 321 to the switching unit 380. The downstream pipe 324 forms a flow path of internal air between the switching unit 380 and the blower fan 310. The air guide tube 325 has an introduction port 326 for introducing external air in the external space. The air guide tube 325 forms a flow path of internal air from the inlet 326 to the switching unit 380.

  The housing 600 accommodates the atomizing unit 200 and the air blowing unit 300. In the following description, the space outside the housing 600 is referred to as “external space”. The housing 600 partitions the accommodation space SR from the external space.

  In the present embodiment, the internal air sucked from the accommodation space SR by the blower fan 310 is subjected to processing such as supply of atomized liquid and heating. Therefore, in the following description, the air sent out from the blower fan 310 is referred to as “process air”.

  The main pipe 333 guides the processing air to the adjustment unit 340. The heater 350 is disposed in the main pipe 333. Therefore, the heater 350 can heat the processing air in the main pipe 333. In the present embodiment, the heater 350 is exemplified as a heat source.

  The adjustment unit 340 shown in FIG. 1 opens the first sub pipe 331 and closes the second sub pipe 332. Therefore, the processing air flows into the first sub pipe 331 through the adjustment unit 340. The first sub pipe 331 guides the processing air to the generation tank 221, and the processing air flows into the accommodation space SR along with the atomized liquid in the generation tank 221.

  Thereby, the cloth material processing apparatus 100 can expose the cloth material FB to the atomizing liquid. As a result, the fabric material FB is wetted by the atomizing liquid.

  The adjustment unit 340 shown in FIG. 1 closes the first sub pipe 331 while opening the second sub pipe 332. Therefore, the processing air heated by the heater 350 flows into the second sub pipe 332 through the adjustment unit 340.

  The second sub pipe 332 has an outlet 334 that opens toward the accommodation space SR. The second sub pipe 332 guides the processing air to the accommodation space SR, and the processing air is blown out from the outlet 334 to the accommodation space SR. Since the process air blown out from the blower outlet 334 contains almost no atomization liquid, the fabric material FB can be dried efficiently.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary control structure of the cloth material processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.3, the control structure of the cloth material processing apparatus 100 is demonstrated.

  The cloth material processing apparatus 100 further includes a control unit 400, a power source 500, and a display device 700 in addition to the atomization unit 200 and the air blowing unit 300.

  The display device 700 includes a piezoelectric buzzer 710 and the like, and operates according to the output of the control unit 400.

  The control unit 400 includes an atomization control unit 410 and a blower control unit 420. The power supply 500 supplies power to the atomization unit 200 through the atomization control unit 410 and supplies power to the blower unit 300 through the blow control unit 420.

  The atomization unit 200 includes a liquid level sensor 240 in addition to the water storage tank 211, the pump 212, the generation tank 221, the ultrasonic element 222, and the outlet pipe 230. The liquid level sensor 240 detects the liquid level in the generation tank 221 and generates a liquid level signal indicating the liquid level.

  The atomization control unit 410 controls the atomization unit 200. The atomization control unit 410 includes a liquid level determination unit 411, a pump control unit 412, and an ultrasonic control unit 413. The liquid level sensor 240 that receives power from the power source 500 generates a liquid level signal, and the liquid level signal is output from the liquid level sensor 240 to the liquid level determination unit 411.

  The threshold used by the liquid level determination unit 411 for liquid level determination includes “upper limit threshold and lower limit threshold” for maintaining the liquid level so that the ultrasonic element 222 in the generation tank 221 is surrounded by the liquid layer LL. A drainage threshold for determining a liquid level lower than the lower limit threshold used when draining the liquid in the tank 221 is provided.

  An operation when supplying the atomizing liquid to the accommodation space SR will be described.

  If the liquid level represented by the liquid level signal from the liquid level sensor 240 is below the lower threshold, the liquid level determination unit 411 generates a control signal for driving the pump 212 to supply water, and the control signal is The position determination unit 411 outputs the pump control unit 412. The pump control unit 412 drives the pump 212 according to the control signal. As a result, the liquid level in the generation tank 221 rises.

  When the liquid level represented by the liquid level signal exceeds the upper limit threshold, the liquid level determination unit 411 generates a control signal for stopping the pump 212, and the control signal is transmitted from the liquid level determination unit 411 to the pump control unit. 412 and the pump control unit 412 stops the pump 212 according to the control signal. Therefore, the liquid level in the generation tank 221 is adjusted within a range determined by the lower limit threshold and the upper limit threshold.

  When the liquid level represented by the liquid level signal exceeds the lower limit threshold value, the liquid level determination unit 411 generates a control signal for driving the ultrasonic element 222. The control signal is output from the liquid level determination unit 411 to the ultrasonic control unit 413, and the ultrasonic control unit 413 drives the ultrasonic element 222 according to the control signal. As a result, the atomized liquid is generated in the generation tank 221.

  The operation when draining the liquid in the generation tank 221 will be described.

  When the liquid level signal representing the liquid level in the generation tank 221 exceeds the drainage threshold, the liquid level determination unit 411 generates a control signal for driving the pump 212 to drain. The control signal is output from the liquid level determination unit 411 to the pump control unit 412, and the pump control unit 412 drives the pump 212 according to the control signal. As a result, the liquid level in the generation tank 221 decreases.

When the liquid level represented by the liquid level signal falls below the drainage threshold, the liquid level determination unit 411 generates a control signal for stopping the pump 212. The control signal is output from the liquid level determination unit 411 to the pump control unit 412, and the pump control unit 412 stops the pump 212 according to the control signal.
FIG. 2 is a schematic timing chart showing a control mode for the cloth material processing apparatus 100. With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the control mode with respect to the cloth material processing apparatus 100 is demonstrated.

  After the atomization control, the cloth material processing apparatus 100 is controlled to dry.

  During the atomization control, the control unit 400 supplies liquid from the water storage tank 211 to the generation tank 221, generates atomization liquid by the ultrasonic element 222, and supplies atomization liquid into the accommodation space SR by the blower fan 310. .

  When the atomization control is started, the drive signal for controlling the pump 212 becomes a drive signal for driving water supply. When the liquid level signal indicating the liquid level in the generation tank 221 exceeds the upper limit threshold, the drive signal for controlling the pump 212 becomes a drive signal for stopping, and the amount exceeding the upper limit threshold from the water storage tank 211 to the generation tank 221 Of liquid is supplied.

  When the liquid is supplied to the generation tank 221, the ultrasonic element 222 is exposed to water. The control unit 400 vibrates the ultrasonic element 222, generates the atomized liquid, operates the blower fan 310, and supplies the atomized liquid to the accommodation space SR.

  When the atomized liquid is supplied to the storage space by the blower fan 310, the liquid level in the generation tank 221 is lowered. When the liquid level in the generation tank 221 falls below the lower limit threshold, the control unit 400 drives the pump 212 again until the liquid level indicated by the liquid level signal exceeds the upper limit threshold. During the atomization control, these are repeated and the atomization liquid is continuously supplied.

  When the atomization control is completed, the drying control is performed. During the drying control, the fabric material FB is dried by the processing air heated by the heater 350.

  When ending the drying control, the control unit 400 uses the drive signal for controlling the pump 212 until the liquid level indicated by the liquid level signal falls below the drainage threshold as a drive signal for driving drainage. Thereby, the liquid remaining in the generation tank 221 is drained to the water storage tank 211. The controller 400 stops operation after the drainage is completed.

  After the operation is stopped, the user can remove the water tank 211 and discard the liquid. Thereby, after the operation is completed, water is not left in the generation tank 221 and the water storage tank 211 and left for a long period of time, so that breeding of miscellaneous bacteria and the like can be suppressed and cleanliness can be maintained.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S100, when the cloth material processing apparatus 100 is activated, in step S101, the liquid level signal of the liquid level determination unit 411 is input, and it is determined whether or not the drainage threshold value is exceeded.

  For example, in the previous operation, when the power is turned off before the drainage is completed, there is a possibility that the liquid remains in the generation tank 221. When the remaining liquid is left for a long period of time, there is a possibility that germs and the like have propagated in the remaining liquid, and there has been a problem that the germs and the like adhere to clothing due to atomization control.

  If the liquid level in the generation tank 221 exceeds the drainage threshold value in step S101, an abnormality is notified in step S110, prompting the user to discard the liquid in the generation tank 221, and in step S111 The liquid in the tank 221 is drained. When the liquid level in the generation tank 221 falls below the drainage threshold, the pump 212 is stopped in step S113, the abnormality notification is continued, and the user is prompted to replace the liquid.

In step S101, the liquid level signal of the liquid level determination unit 411 is read, and if it is below the drainage threshold value, the operation starts in step S102, and the atomization control in step S103 and the drying control in step S104 are sequentially performed. In step S105, the operation is terminated.

  As described above, when the cloth treatment apparatus according to the present invention supports the start of operation in a state in which the liquid is not drained during the previous operation, the notification is made to drain the liquid and prompt the user to replace the liquid. By carrying out the above, it is possible to prevent bacteria and the like in the liquid from adhering to the clothing and maintain cleanliness.

  The cloth material processing apparatus according to the present invention is suitably used for various apparatuses that process a cloth material using an atomizing liquid.

FB cloth material SR accommodation space 100 cloth material processing apparatus 200 atomizing section 211 water storage tank 212 pump 221 generating tank 240 liquid level sensor 400 control section 410 atomization control section 411 liquid level determination section 412 pump control section 700 display device

Claims (2)

A cloth treatment apparatus for applying a predetermined treatment to the cloth material accommodated in the accommodation space,
A reservoir for storing liquid,
A generation tank for atomizing the liquid;
A pump that feeds the liquid from the reservoir to the generator tank or drains the liquid from the generator tank to the reservoir;
A liquid level sensor for detecting the liquid level in the generation tank;
A controller for controlling the atomization of the liquid and the pump,
The control unit drains the liquid from the generation tank to the water storage tank by the pump when it is determined at startup that the liquid is in the generation tank based on the output of the liquid level sensor. A cloth material processing apparatus. A display device for performing notification,
The cloth material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid level sensor determines that the liquid is in the generation tank, the display device performs notification.

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