JP2023000717A - washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of achieving improvement of a tub washing effect by fine air bubble water.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: a water tub; a rotary tub; a fine air bubble water path which can supply fine air bubble water in which microbubbles are contained in water supplied from an external water source to a position in the water tub and in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotary tub; a water supply valve for fine air bubble water capable of opening/closing the fine air bubble water path; a pressure dissolving device for pressurizing the water supplied from the external water source by the pressure of the water and dissolving an air component; a fine air bubble generator for depositing microbubbles in the water flowing out from the pressure dissolving device by locally throttling the fine air bubble water path; and a control device capable of opening/closing the water supply valve for fine air bubble water. The control device can execute a fine air bubble water washing operation for washing the outer peripheral surface of the rotary tub by opening the water supply valve for fine air bubble water and for allowing the fine air bubble water supplied from the fine air bubble water path to hit the outer peripheral surface of the rotary tub.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to washing machines.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a technique of using microbubble water containing microbubbles, such as microbubbles called fine bubbles and ultrafine bubbles, for cleaning water tanks and rotating tanks. However, in the conventional configuration, there is room for improvement in terms of sufficiently exhibiting the tank cleaning effect of fine bubble water.

JP 2016-007308 A

Therefore, the present invention provides a washing machine capable of improving the effect of washing a tub with microbubble water.

A washing machine according to an embodiment includes a water tank, a rotating tank rotatably provided in the water tank, and microbubble water, which is connected to an external water source and supplied from the external water source and contains microbubbles. a microbubble water path capable of supplying water to a position within the water tank and abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank, a microbubble water feed valve capable of opening and closing the microbubble water path, and on the path of the microbubble water path a pressurized dissolving device provided to pressurize the water supplied from the external water source by the pressure of the water to dissolve the air component; a microbubble generator that is provided and that locally narrows the microbubble water path to deposit microbubbles in the water flowing out of the pressure dissolving device; and a control device that can open and close the water supply valve for the microbubble water. wherein the control device opens the microbubble water supply valve and applies the microbubble water supplied from the microbubble water path to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank to wash the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank. A microbubble water cleaning operation can be performed.

A vertical right side view schematically showing an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment. Vertical rear view schematically showing an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment FIG. 2 is a longitudinal left side view schematically showing an example of a washing machine according to one embodiment; Sectional view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a pressurized dissolution device and a microbubble generator according to one embodiment Cross-sectional view showing an example of a pressurized tank according to one embodiment along line X5-X5 in FIG. Sectional view showing an example of a pressurized tank according to one embodiment along line X6-X6 in FIG. Sectional drawing which expands and shows the micro-bubble generator periphery by one Embodiment Cross-sectional view showing an example of a microbubble generator according to one embodiment along line X8-X8 of FIG. A diagram showing an example of test results of a washing machine according to an embodiment, investigating the influence of the pressure dissolving device on the amount of ultra-fine bubbles generated. A diagram showing an example of test results of examining the influence of a pressure dissolving device on the amount of microbubbles generated in a washing machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the positional relationship of a water supply path with respect to a rotating tub in a washing machine according to one embodiment; A plan view showing the positional relationship of the exhaust port and the water inlet with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub in the washing machine according to one embodiment. A diagram showing another example of the positional relationship of the water supply path with respect to the rotating tub in the washing machine according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the positional relationship of the exhaust port and the water inlet with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub in the washing machine according to one embodiment; A block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of a control device for a washing machine according to one embodiment. Flowchart showing an example of the entire washing/drying operation process for the washing machine according to one embodiment A diagram showing an example of changes in the water supply amount over time when the fine bubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation in the tub cleaning process are performed at different times in the washing machine according to the embodiment. A diagram showing an example of change in the water supply amount over time when the fine bubble water washing operation and the normal water washing operation in the tub washing process are performed at the same time in the washing machine according to the embodiment. A diagram showing an example of change in water supply amount over time when the washing machine according to the embodiment alternately performs the microbubble water washing operation and the normal water washing operation in the tub washing process.

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in the present embodiment, the terms “first” and “second” attached to the constituent elements etc. are merely for distinguishing similar constituent elements, and the superiority and inferiority between the constituent elements and the temporal does not imply an element.

The washing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a drum-type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 is a horizontal axis type or an oblique axis type inclined downward toward the rear. The washing machine is not limited to the drum type, and may be a so-called vertical washing machine in which the rotating shaft of the rotating tub faces the vertical direction. 1 to 3, the washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 12, a rotating tub 13, a motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, an operation panel 16, a water supply mechanism 20, a warm air supply mechanism 30, and a washing mechanism. 40. In FIG. 1 , the installation surface side of the washing machine 10 , that is, the vertically lower side is the lower side of the washing machine 10 , and the opposite side to the installation surface, that is, the vertically upper side is the upper side of the washing machine 10 . 1 is the front side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the washing machine 10 from the user, that is, the rear side of the washing machine 10 is the rear side of the washing machine 10.

The outer case 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, for example, from a steel plate or the like. Both the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13 are formed in a so-called bottomed cylindrical shape in which one axial side of the cylindrical shape, that is, the front side, is open and the other side, that is, the rear side, has a bottom portion. The water tank 12 is arranged inside the outer case 11 and elastically supported by a suspension (not shown).

The water tank 12 has an exhaust port 121, an air supply port 122, and a water inlet 123, as shown in FIGS. The exhaust port 121 , the air supply port 122 , and the water inlet 123 communicate the inside and the outside of the water tank 12 . The exhaust port 121 is provided, for example, in the upper front part of the water tank 12 and is located at a position away from the center of the water tank 12 in the left-right direction in the right direction. The air supply port 122 is provided, for example, at the bottom of the water tank 12, slightly above the center of the bottom in the vertical direction. The water inlet 123 is provided, for example, in the upper rear portion of the water tank 12 and at a position away from the center of the water tank 12 in the left-right direction in the left direction. In other words, the water inlet 123 and the exhaust port 121 are located at different positions in the front-rear direction of the water tank 12 and in different directions in the left-right direction of the water tank 12 .

The rotating tank 13 is rotatably arranged in the water tank 12 . The rotating tub 13 is rotationally driven by a motor 14 . The rotating tub 13 has a large number of holes 132 . The holes 132 are formed over almost the entire peripheral surface of the rotary tub 13, and function as water holes through which water enters and exits during the dehydration process, and function as ventilation holes through which air enters and exits during the drying process. In addition, a plurality of baffles (not shown) are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary tub 13 . The baffle has a function of stirring and raking up the laundry accommodated in the rotating tub 13 .

The motor 14 is provided outside the bottom of the water tank 12 . Although not shown in detail, the motor 14 is composed of, for example, a brushless direct drive motor capable of changing the rotation speed. The motor 14 is connected to the rotating tub 13 and has a function of rotating the rotating tub 13 relative to the tub 12 . In this case, the shaft portion 141 of the motor 14, the central axis of the water tub 12, and the rotation axis of the rotating tub 13 overlap each other. In the following description, the traveling direction of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 when the rotary tub 13 is rotated is referred to as the circumferential direction. A direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 is referred to as a radial direction.

The drainage mechanism 15 has a function of discharging the water stored in the water tub 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10 . The drainage mechanism 15 has a drainage valve 151 and a drainage hose 152 as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. The drain valve 151 is a liquid on-off valve that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The drain hose 152 has one end connected to the drain valve 151 and the other end pulled out of the washing machine 10 . When the drain valve 151 is opened, the water stored in the water tub 12 is drained out of the washing machine 10 through the drain hose 152 . That is, the drain valve 151 opens and closes the drain path D for draining the water stored in the water tank 12 to the outside.

The operation panel 16 is provided with a display unit and an operation unit (not shown), receives an input operation and the like for setting the washing operation course by the user, and displays the input operation details, operation status, and the like. The operation panel 16 is provided, for example, on the front portion of the upper surface of the outer casing 11 .

The water supply mechanism 20 has a function of supplying water supplied from an external water source such as a tap into the water tank 12 . The water supply mechanism 20 has a water supply valve 21, a water injection case 22, and a water injection hose 23, as shown in FIG. The water supply valve 21 is a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically, and is connected to an external water source such as a water faucet (not shown).

The water injection case 22 is configured to be able to accommodate a laundry treatment agent therein. The laundry treatment agents include, for example, detergents such as powder detergents and liquid detergents, and finishing agents such as softeners and fragrances. The water injection case 22 has a connecting portion 221 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the connection part 221 is provided on a wall surface of the water injection case 22 that faces the pressure dissolving device 50 , and communicates the water injection case 22 and the pressure dissolution device 50 . In this case, the water flowing out of the pressurized dissolving device 50 flows into the water injection case 22 through the connecting portion 221 .

The water injection hose 23 is, for example, a flexible hose and has a cylindrical shape. One end of the water injection hose 23 is connected to the water injection case 22 and the other end is connected to the water injection port 123 . That is, the water injection hose 23 connects the water injection case 22 and the inside of the water tank 12 . The water injection hose 23 has a function of injecting water, which has flowed into the water injection case 22 from an external water source, into the water tank 12 . In this case, when water flows into the water pouring case 22 while the laundry treating agent is stored in the water pouring case 22, the washing treating agent inside the water pouring case 22 and the water flowing through the water pouring case 22 mix with the water pouring case 22. The mixed water passes through the water injection hose 23 and flows into the water tank 12 from the water injection port 123 .

The hot air supply mechanism 30 is for circulating and supplying hot air into the water tank 12 . The hot air supply mechanism 30 has a circulation air path 31 , a hot air supply device 32 and a blower fan 33 . The circulation air passage 31 is positioned outside the water tank 12 and has one end connected to the exhaust port 121 and the other end connected to the air supply port 122 . The circulation air passage 31 has a function of taking in the air in the water tank 12 from the exhaust port 121 , generating hot air through the hot air supply device 32 , and then supplying the hot air from the air supply port 122 into the water tank 12 .

The circulation air passage 31 has an exhaust duct 311, a filter device 312, a connection duct 313, a heat exchange section 314, and an air supply duct 315, as shown in FIG. The exhaust duct 311 is configured in a bellows-like cylindrical shape with, for example, a flexible hose. One end of the exhaust duct 311 is connected to the exhaust port 121 and the other end is connected to the filter device 312 . The exhaust duct 311 functions, for example, as a part for discharging the air in the water tank 12 during the drying process, and as a part for injecting water into the water tank 12 during the tank cleaning process. The filter device 312 is internally provided with a filter (not shown), which collects lint and dust contained in the air flowing through the circulation air passage 31 .

The connection duct 313 is provided between the filter device 312 and the heat exchange section 314 and connects the filter device 312 and the heat exchange section 314 . The heat exchange part 314 is arranged on the back side of the washing machine 10 and near the bottom inside the outer casing 11 . The air taken from the water tank 12 into the circulation air passage 31 and flowing through the connection duct 313 is dehumidified and heated when passing through the heat exchange section 314 to become dry warm air. The air supply duct 315 is provided between the heat exchange part 314 and the air supply port 122 of the water tank 12 and connects the heat exchange part 314 and the air supply port 122 of the water tank 12 . The air supply duct 315 is a part that supplies air into the water tank 12 .

The hot air supply device 32 constitutes, for example, a refrigeration cycle. The hot air supply device 32 has an evaporator 321, a condenser 322, a compressor 323, and a throttle valve 324, as shown in FIG. The evaporator 321 and the condenser 322 are provided inside the heat exchange section 314 . The evaporator 321 is provided upstream of the condenser 322 with respect to the flow of air circulating between the water tank 12 and the circulation air passage 31 . In the hot air supply device 32, the evaporator 321 cools and dehumidifies the air circulating in the circulation air passage 31, and the condenser 322 heats the air flowing in the circulation air passage 31 to make it warm. Note that the hot air supply device 32 may be configured by a heater-type heating device without being limited to the refrigeration cycle.

Compressor 323 is provided outside heat exchange section 314 . The throttle valve 324 is for decompressing the high-pressure liquid refrigerant so that it can easily evaporate. When the washing machine 10 performs a drying process, the compressor 323 is driven, and high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 323 flows into the condenser 322, where it radiates heat and becomes liquid refrigerant. The liquefied refrigerant passes through the throttle valve 324 to be decompressed and sent to the evaporator 321 . In the evaporator 321 , the refrigerant is vaporized by heat exchange with the outside air and then returned to the compressor 323 . Then, the refrigerant is compressed again by the compressor 323 to become a high-temperature, high-pressure gas, which is then discharged.

The blower fan 33 is provided between the heat exchange section 314 and the air supply duct 315, as shown in FIG. The blower fan 33 sends out hot air dehumidified and heated by the heat exchange section 314 into the water tank 12 from the air supply port 122 via the air supply duct 315 .

The washing mechanism 40 has a water supply valve 41, a washing hose 42, and a nozzle 43, as shown in FIG. The water supply valve 41 is a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically, and is connected to an external water source. The washing hose 42 has one end connected to the water supply valve 41 and the other end connected to the nozzle 43 . The nozzle 43 is provided above the exhaust duct 311 . Although details are not shown, the nozzle 43 is configured to be able to discharge water into the exhaust duct 311 . Accordingly, when the water supply valve 41 is opened, water supplied from an external water source is supplied from the nozzle 43 into the exhaust duct 311 via the cleaning hose 42 . Therefore, the cleaning mechanism 40 has a function of washing away foreign matter such as lint adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust duct 311 .

The washing machine 10 also includes a pressure dissolving device 50 and a fine bubble generator 60 . The pressure dissolving device 50 is provided on the upstream side of the water injection case 22, as shown in FIG. The pressurized dissolving device 50 pressurizes water supplied from an external water source with the pressure of the water to dissolve the air component. The pressurized dissolving device 50 constitutes a channel through which water flows in the direction indicated by the black arrow in FIG.

The pressurized dissolving device 50 has a pressurized tank 51, an inlet portion 52, an outlet portion 53, a water guide portion 54, a partition wall 55, and an air introduction portion 56, as shown in FIG. The pressurized tank 51 can temporarily store water supplied through the water supply valve 21 together with air. The pressurized tank 51 is configured in the shape of a container that is airtight, watertight, and pressure resistant. The pressurized tank 51 is fixed to the water injection case 22 by, for example, a plurality of screw members (not shown). Pressure resistance refers to the pressure of water flowing in from an external water source. In this case, even when the internal pressure inside the pressurized tank 51 rises due to the water pressure, the pressurized tank 51 is prevented from being deformed to maintain airtightness and watertightness. means to be

In this embodiment, the pressurized tank 51 is configured such that a space is formed inside the pressurized tank 51 by combining a plurality of tank members, in this case, two tank members 511 and 512 . Note that the pressurized tank 51 is not limited to a structure in which two tank members are combined, and may be a structure in which three or more tank members are combined.

The pressurized tank 51 has a first tank member 511 , a second tank member 512 and a seal member 513 . The first tank member 511 and the second tank member 512 are made of synthetic resin, for example. In this case, the butted portion of the first tank member 511 and the second tank member 512, that is, the joint portion is joined by welding such as vibration welding or ultrasonic welding. That is, the first tank member 511 and the second tank member 512 are joined together by welding the tank members 511 and 512 together. By integrating the plurality of tank members 511 and 512 by welding in this manner, airtightness and watertightness between the plurality of tank members 511 and 512 can be ensured. The joining of the plurality of tank members 511 and 512 is not limited to welding, and may be joined by a screw member or an adhesive, for example.

The sealing member 513 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the other end of the outlet portion 53, as also shown in FIGS. The sealing member 513 is composed of, for example, an O-ring made of synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inlet portion 52 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin and has a tubular shape, and is a portion through which water flowing from the outside of the pressure tank 51 into the inside passes. As shown in FIG. 6, the outlet portion 53 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin and has a tubular shape, and is a portion through which water flowing out from the inside of the pressurized tank 51 to the outside passes. In the case of this embodiment, the inlet portion 52 and the outlet portion 53 are provided in the same tank member 511 among the plurality of tank members 511 and 512 .

Further, either or both of the inlet section 52 or the outlet section 53 can be directly connected to the irrigation case 22 . A direct connection means that the inlet portion 52 or the outlet portion 53 and the water injection case 22 are connected to each other without any other parts interposed therebetween. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet portion 52 is provided above the first tank member 511 and is connected to the water supply valve 21 via the pressure hose 101 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the outlet portion 53 has one end connected to the bottom portion of the first tank member 511 and the other end connected to the connection portion 221 . That is, the first tank member 511 is directly connected to the connection portion 221 via the outlet portion 53 . In this case, the other end of the outlet portion 53 is configured to be insertable into the connecting portion 221 . The seal member 513 is pressed by the outer peripheral surface of the outlet portion 53 and the inner peripheral surface of the connection portion 221, and the outlet portion 53 and the connection portion 221 are connected in a watertight state. Thus, in this embodiment, the outlet portion 53 which is one of the inlet portion 52 and the outlet portion 53 is directly connected to the water injection case 22 . In this embodiment, the water is drained from the outlet 53 only by the water pressure of the water stored in the pressurized tank 51, that is, the hydrostatic pressure, and a drive source such as a dedicated pump for draining is not required.

Also, the first tank member 511 has a water guide portion 54 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the water guide portion 54 is connected to the inlet portion 52 and extends toward the second tank member 512 so that the water supplied from the inlet portion 52 into the pressurized tank 51 flows through the second tank member. Lead to 512 side. The water guide portion 54 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape, and has one end attached to the inner wall of the first tank member 511 and the other end, that is, the tip portion 541, which is open. The tip portion 541 of the water guide portion 54 is arranged with a gap G with respect to the inner wall of the second tank member 512, as shown in FIG.

In this case, on the inner wall of the second tank member 512 , a recessed portion 514 is formed at a position facing the tip portion 541 of the water guide portion 54 . The recessed portion 514 is formed, for example, by recessing the inner wall of the second tank member 512 outward in a circular shape with respect to the inner wall around the recessed portion 514 . The recessed portion 514 is configured to accommodate the tip portion 541 of the water guide portion 54 . The inner diameter dimension of the recessed portion 514 and the outer diameter dimension of the tip portion 541 can have, for example, a fitting tolerance relationship, such as a so-called clearance fit, interference fit, or transition fit. .

Further, the water guide portion 54 has a water guide port 542 , a partition wall 543 and a water passage portion 544 . The water guide port 542 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the water guide portion 54 and connected to the inlet portion 52 . The water that has passed through the inlet portion 52 flows out from the water guide port 542 into the water guide portion 54 . The partition wall 543 is provided closer to the first tank member 511 than the water guide port 542 in the extending direction of the water guide portion 54, as shown in FIG. The partition wall 543 functions as a wall that closes the water conveying portion 54 and converts the flow of water flowing into the water conveying portion 54 into the extension direction of the water conveying portion 54 .

The water conducting portion 544 is formed at the bottom portion of the water conducting portion 54 so as to penetrate the water conducting portion 54 in the thickness direction. The water passage portion 544 is for dropping the water passing through the water guide portion 54 into the pressurized tank 51 . The water that has flowed out and fallen from the water passage portion 544 violently collides with the water surface while drawing in the air above the water surface that is stored inside the pressurization tank 51 . As a result, the water stored in the pressurized tank 51 is agitated by the collision energy of the water dropped from the water passage portion 544 , thereby promoting the dissolution of the air component inside the pressurized tank 51 . As described above, since the gap G is formed between the tip portion 541 of the water guide portion 54 and the inner wall of the second tank member 512 facing the tip portion 541, water flows out from the gap G. , the outflow amount is small compared to the amount of water flowing out from the water passage portion 544 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the partition wall 55 is provided so as to rise from the bottom inside the pressurization tank 51 and horizontally partition a part of the space inside the pressurization tank 51 . The partition wall 55 is provided in the second tank member 512 among the plurality of tank members 511 and 512 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the water guide portion 54 extends to a position beyond the partition wall 55 with respect to the inlet portion 52 in a plan view, and the water passing through the water guide portion 54 is directed to the inlet portion 52. Water is discharged at a position beyond the partition wall 55. - 特許庁That is, the water conducting portion 544 is arranged at a position beyond the partition wall 55 with respect to the inlet portion 52 in the extending direction of the water guiding portion 54 .

As a result, the water injected from the water passage portion 544 is agitated on the surface of the water in the space between the partition wall 55 and the inner wall of the second tank member 512, so that the water and air in the pressurized tank 51 are efficiently mixed. can be well contacted. Therefore, dissolution of the air component in the water in the pressurized tank 51 can be promoted. Furthermore, by locating the water passage portion 544 as far away from the outlet portion 53 as possible in plan view, the contact time between water and air in the pressurized tank 51 can be lengthened. Thereby, more air components can be dissolved in water.

A slit 551 is formed in the partition wall 55 as shown in FIG. The slit 551 has a function of shielding bubbles having a particle diameter larger than that of fine bubbles, and is located below the upper end of the partition wall 55 in the water flowing out from the water passage portion 544 through the water guide portion 54 . Water passes through the slit 551 of the partition wall 55 and flows into the space on the outlet 53 side. At this time, relatively large air bubbles of millimeter order, for example, generated by the collision of the water falling from the water passage portion 544 with the water surface disappear without passing through the slit 551 and flowing out into the space on the outlet portion 53 side. .

As shown in FIG. 4, the air introduction part 56 is provided on the upper side of the first tank member 511, and communicates the inside and the outside of the pressure tank 51 so as to be openable and closable. In this case, the air introduction part 56 is connected to the water injection case 22 . The air introduction section 56 has an air introduction pipe 561 and an intake valve 562 . When the intake valve 562 is opened, the pressurized tank 51 is replenished with outside air through the air introduction pipe 561 .

The intake valve 562 can be composed of, for example, a check valve. In this case, the intake valve 562 has a function of passing air from the outside of the pressurized tank 51 to the inside of the pressurized tank 51, but blocking air from the inside of the pressurized tank 51 to the outside of the pressurized tank 51. . The intake valve 562 may be configured such that it closes when the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure and opens when the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 approaches the atmospheric pressure. It should be noted that the intake valve 562 is not limited to a check valve, and may be an electromagnetic valve for air.

Next, the state in which the air component is dissolved in the water in the pressurized tank 51 in the pressurized dissolving device 50 will be described. In this embodiment, the pressurized dissolution device 50 pressurizes the inside of the pressurized tank 51 only by tap water pressure by increasing the amount of water flowing into the pressurized tank 51 than the amount of water flowing out of the pressurized tank 51, for example. be able to. In this case, if the water supply valve 21 is opened when the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 is at atmospheric pressure, that is, in the initial stage when the pressurized tank 51 has almost no water, The remaining water that has not flowed out from the outlet portion 53 is stored in the pressurized tank 51 and the water level in the pressurized tank 51 rises. At this time, the air in the pressurized tank 51 is compressed to the rising water surface, thereby increasing the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 and closing the intake valve 562 .

After that, when the inflow of water from the water conduit 54 is continued and the water level in the pressurized tank 51 rises to a predetermined level, the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 and the pressure of the water flowing in from the external water source, in this case the tap pressure is balanced. As a result, the amount of water flowing in from the water conveying portion 54 and the amount of water flowing out of the pressurized tank 51 from the outlet portion 53 become substantially equal, and the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 reaches the maximum pressure, in this case, a pressure close to the tap water pressure. Become. As the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 rises above the atmospheric pressure in this way, the air in the pressurized tank 51 is easily dissolved in the water stored in the pressurized tank 51 . In other words, by passing water supplied from an external water source through the pressure dissolving device 50, normal water that does not pass through the pressure dissolving device 50 can be changed from water supplied downstream of the pressure dissolving device 50. It is possible to supply water in which a large amount of air components are dissolved.

Then, when water supply is started in the pressurized tank 51 and the water supply valve 21 is closed after, for example, the water supply time has passed for a predetermined time, the pressure in the pressurized tank 51 increases as the water level in the pressurized tank 51 decreases. When the pressure drops to near atmospheric pressure, the intake valve 562 opens to introduce outside air into the pressurized tank 51 . By repeatedly opening and closing the water supply valve 21 in this way, the pressurized dissolving device 50 can repeatedly discharge water in which the air component is dissolved.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the microbubble generator 60 is provided downstream of the pressure dissolving device 50 and has a function of precipitating microbubbles in the water flowing out of the pressure dissolving device 50 . The microbubble generator 60 is mounted in a supported state between the outlet portion 53 and the connecting portion 221, as shown in FIGS. In this case, the micro-bubble generator 60 is attached while being sandwiched between the outlet portion 53 and the connection portion 221 . In addition, the micro-bubble generator 60 may be configured to be fixed to the outlet portion 53 and the connection portion 221 by press-fitting. A seal member 71 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the microbubble generator 60 . The sealing member 71 is composed of, for example, an O-ring made of synthetic resin. The sealing member 71 is pressed by the outer peripheral surface of the microbubble generator 60 and the inner peripheral surface of the connecting portion 221 to ensure watertightness between the microbubble generator 60 and the connecting portion 221 .

The microbubble generator 60 of the present embodiment has a diameter and a total length of, for example, several millimeters to several tens of millimeters, specifically, a maximum diameter of about 15 mm and a length of about 10 mm. The micro-bubble generator 60 has a narrowed portion 61, a straight portion 62, and a collision portion 63, as shown in FIG. The constricted portion 61 and the straight portion 62 constitute a flow path through which water flows in the longitudinal direction of the micro-bubble generator 60 in the direction indicated by the black arrow in FIG.

The throttle section 61 is provided on the inflow side of the fine bubble generator 60, that is, on the upstream side. The narrowed portion 61 is formed in a so-called truncated tapered tubular shape such that the cross-sectional area, ie, the inner diameter, of the flow passage gradually decreases continuously from the upstream end in the longitudinal direction of the microbubble generator 60 to the intermediate portion. ing. The straight portion 62 is provided downstream of the throttle portion 61 . The straight portion 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape, a so-called straight tubular shape, in which the inner diameter does not change, that is, the cross-sectional area of the flow path, that is, the area through which the liquid can pass does not change.

The collision portion 63 is provided at the downstream end portion of the straight portion 62 . The collision part 63 locally reduces the cross-sectional area through which water can pass in the micro-bubble generator 60, thereby generating a large amount of mainly nano-order micro-bubbles in the liquid passing through the micro-bubble generator 60. can be done.

Further, in the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the collision portion 63 is composed of, for example, four rod-shaped portions with pointed ends. It protrudes toward the center. The four collision portions 63 are arranged in a state of being spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the straight portion 62 . In this case, the downstream surface of each collision portion 63 is formed as a flat surface. Also, the area of the gap formed by each collision part 63 is the minimum cross-sectional area through which water can pass in the micro-bubble generator 60 .

When water flows into the upstream side of the micro-bubble generator 60, the cross-sectional area of the flow passage is narrowed by the narrowed portion 61 formed so as to be tapered into a truncated cone shape, so that the water flow is reduced based on the so-called Bernoulli's theorem of fluid dynamics. As the flow velocity increases, cavitation occurs due to decompression. When the high-speed flow collides with the colliding portion 63, fine air bubbles are generated by the shear force acting thereon. As a result, the microbubble generator 60 precipitates a large amount of air dissolved in the water passing through the microbubble generator 60 as microbubbles, and produces finer bubbles than before passing through the microbubble generator 60 . Fine bubble water containing a large amount of bubbles can be supplied.

Here, in general, fine bubbles or fine bubbles are classified as follows according to the particle size of the bubbles. For example, bubbles having a particle size of several μm to 100 μm, that is, micro-order bubbles are called microbubbles. On the other hand, bubbles with a particle diameter of 50 nm to less than 1,000 nm, that is, nano-order bubbles are called ultra-fine bubbles. In the present embodiment, nano-order fine bubbles, ultra-fine bubbles, and nano-bubbles are all synonymous, and mean bubbles with nano-order particle diameters.

The microbubbles are negatively charged as an electrical property, and tend to be electrostatically adsorbed to positively charged dirt such as sebum stains adhering to the laundry or the object to be cleaned such as the water tank 12 . Dirt stripped from the object to be cleaned by the electrical reaction with the microbubbles floats and stays on the surface of the water due to the buoyancy of the microbubbles while being adsorbed on the surface of the microbubbles. Furthermore, since the microbubbles with negatively charged surfaces repel each other and do not bond with each other and disperse in the liquid, dirt removed from the object to be cleaned is prevented from adhering again to the object to be cleaned in the washing water. can be done.

Ultra-fine bubbles have a fine particle diameter, so they can penetrate into intricate areas, and can exhibit a cleaning effect that removes stains on objects that cannot be completely removed by other fine bubbles such as microbubbles. In addition, ultra-fine bubbles have a nano-order particle size and low buoyancy. Compared to microbubbles, ultra-fine bubbles are highly hydrophobic and difficult to dissolve in water. As described above, microbubbles and ultra-fine bubbles are expected to have different cleaning abilities due to the difference in their characteristics, so that the combined use of the two makes it possible to further enhance the cleaning effect.

The inventor of the present application conducted a verification test on the amount of microbubbles generated by the pressure dissolving device 50 and the microbubble generator 60 . In this test, two specifications were compared, namely, the configuration of the micro-bubble generator 60 alone and the configuration provided with the pressure dissolving device 50 in addition to the micro-bubble generator 60, that is, the specifications of the present embodiment.

9 and 10 show the relationship between the particle size of generated microbubbles and the amount of generated microbubbles in each specification, where the vertical axis indicates the concentration of microbubbles and the horizontal axis indicates the diameter of microbubbles. show. First, regarding the state of generation of ultra-fine bubbles, as shown in FIG. Although no change was observed, it was confirmed that the density of microbubbles was significantly improved. In particular, in the vicinity of the particle diameter of 150 nm, which shows the peak of the concentration distribution, the concentration of fine bubbles increased by about four times by providing the pressure dissolving device 50 . Thus, it can be seen that providing the pressurized dissolution device 50 upstream of the microbubble generator 60 contributes to significantly increasing the amount of ultra-fine bubbles generated compared to the microbubble generator 60 alone. .

Next, regarding the state of generation of microbubbles, as shown in FIG. 10, generation of microbubbles was not confirmed in the specification without the pressurized dissolving device 50 . On the other hand, in the specification provided with the pressurized dissolving device 50, generation of microbubbles was confirmed in the range of particle diameters from several μm to about 100 μm. This is because when the amount of air dissolved in water increases, the number of ultra-fine bubbles generated when passing through the micro-bubble generator 60 increases significantly, and some of the generated ultra-fine bubbles interact with each other. This is presumed to be due to the development of microbubbles by binding to As described above, the microbubble generator 60 alone has a function of mainly precipitating ultra-fine bubbles. It can be seen that by increasing the amount, the amount of microbubbles generated is dramatically improved.

By washing the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 using the water that has passed through the pressurized dissolving device 50 and the microbubble generator 60, an improvement in the washing effect can be expected. That is, the microbubbles tend to contribute to removing relatively large dirt adhering to the surfaces of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13, for example. On the other hand, the ultra-fine bubbles tend to contribute to removal of relatively small dirt adhering to, for example, the intricate parts of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 . Thus, the interaction between the microbubbles and the ultrafine bubbles can significantly improve the cleaning effect.

Moreover, when the amount of air dissolved in water increases, the number of ultra-fine bubbles generated when passing through the micro-bubble generator 60 increases, as described above. When the generated ultra-fine bubbles repeatedly collide with the surface of the water tank 12 or the like, the ultra-fine bubbles are combined with each other at the collision points to develop into microbubbles. At this time, the rear-end collision of the ultra-fine bubbles causes rapid expansion of the microbubbles, and the dirt adhering to the water tank 12 and the like is lifted and peeled off. Thereby, it can be expected that a higher cleaning effect can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes a microbubble water route R1 and a normal water route R2. The microbubble water route R1 can be configured to include, for example, the water supply mechanism 20, the pressure dissolving device 50, the microbubble generator 60, and the water inlet 123. The microbubble water route R1 is a route that is connected to an external water source and supplies microbubble water, which is water supplied from the external water source and contains microbubbles, into the water tank 12 . In this case, the microbubble generator 60 causes microbubbles to precipitate in the water flowing out from the pressure dissolving device 50 by locally narrowing the microbubble water path R1.

The fine bubble water path R2 can be configured to include the cleaning mechanism 40, the exhaust duct 311, and the exhaust port 121, for example. The normal water route R2 is different from the microbubble water route R1, and is a route for supplying water supplied from an external water source into the water tank 12 without passing through the pressure dissolving device 50 and the microbubble generator 60. is. That is, the normal water route R2 is a route that does not pass through a load device such as the pressurized dissolving device 50 or the like. Further, the normal water route R2 is configured so that the water flowing through the exhaust duct 311 can wash the exhaust duct 311 . In this case, the water supply valve 21 functions as a fine bubble water supply valve 21 capable of opening and closing the fine bubble water route R1, and the water supply valve 41 functions as a normal water supply valve 41 capable of opening and closing the normal water route R2. . In addition, the water inlet 123 functions as the outlet 123 of the fine bubble water route R1, and the exhaust port 121 functions as the outlet 121 of the normal water route R2.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the water discharged from the exhaust port 121 hits the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 131. placed in position. The tangential direction means a direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the rotary tub 13 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the exhaust port 121 overlaps the outer edge of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 in plan view. Therefore, the water flowing out from the exhaust port 121 is discharged vertically downward to a range including the outermost portion of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 .

Similarly, the water inlet 123 is also provided at a position where the water flowing out from the water inlet 123 hits the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 131 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the exhaust port 121 overlaps the outer edge of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 in plan view. Therefore, the water flowing out from the water inlet 123 is discharged vertically downward to a range including the outermost portion of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 . Thus, the microbubble water route R1 and the normal water route R2 can supply the water that has flowed through the respective water supply routes R1 and R2 to a position within the water tub 12 and in contact with the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the exhaust port 121 and the water inlet 123 are provided at positions with different directions along the rotation axis of the rotation tub 13 and sandwiching the rotation axis of the rotation tub 13. It is For this reason, in the water supply from the fine bubble water route R1 and the water supply from the normal water route R2, the water is brought into contact with a plurality of points on the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13, Adhered dirt and the like can be removed efficiently.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the exhaust port 121 and the water inlet 123 are located at mutually displaced positions along the rotation axis of the rotation tub 13 and are arranged in the same direction in the horizontal direction of the rotation tub 13. It can be configured to be provided. In this case, in the examples of FIGS. 13 and 14 , the exhaust port 121 and the water inlet 123 are provided in the right direction in the horizontal direction of the rotary tub 13 . As a result, the water flowing out from the microbubble water path R1 and the normal water path R2 can be brought into contact with a plurality of locations of the rotating tub 13, so that dirt adhering to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13 can be removed. etc. can be removed efficiently.

The operation of washing machine 10 is controlled by control device 80 . The control device 80 mainly includes a microcomputer having a CPU 801 and a storage area 802 such as a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, and controls the operation of the washing machine 10 as a whole.
The washing machine 10 also includes a water level sensor 17 and a flow meter 18, as shown in FIG. A water level sensor 17 can detect the water level in the water tank 12 . The flow meter 18 is provided, for example, upstream of the branched portions of the water supply routes R1 and R2, and measures the flow rate of water flowing through the water supply routes R1 and R2. Detection signals from the water level sensor 17 and the flow meter 18 are input to the control device 80 . In this case, the control device 80 can calculate the amount of water supplied to the water tank 12 by integrating the detection signals of the flow meter 18 .

As shown in FIG. 15, the motor 14, the drain valve 151, the water supply valves 21 and 41, the compressor 323, and the blower fan 33 are electrically connected to the controller 80. As shown in FIG. Then, the control device 80 performs drive control of the motor 14, the drain valve 151, the water supply valves 21 and 41, the compressor 323, and the blower fan 33 based on signals input from the operation panel 16 and the like.

A storage area 802 of the control device 80 stores a control program. The control device 80 executes the control program stored in the storage area 802 in the CPU 801 according to the washing course set by the user on the operation panel 16, thereby performing the washing operation, the drying operation, and the washing/drying operation. is selectively and automatically executed. An operation is a concept that includes one or more steps, and is a user-selectable unit. In other words, the user can select and execute a desired operation out of the washing operation, the drying operation, and the washing/drying operation by operating the operation panel 16, for example.

The washing operation is mainly for washing laundry, and includes a washing process without a drying process. The drying operation is mainly for drying laundry, and includes a drying process without a washing process. The washing/drying operation is an operation for washing and drying laundry, and includes both a washing process and a drying process. The specific contents of each operation can be appropriately changed automatically or based on the user's operation on the operation panel 16 according to the amount and dirtiness of the laundry.

Also, the control device 80 can execute a bath cleaning process. The tub cleaning process can be performed before the spin-drying process in the case of the washing operation, and can be performed before the drying process in the case of the drying operation. Also, in the case of the washing/drying operation, the tub cleaning process can be performed before the drying process and the spin-drying process. In each operation, the user can select whether or not to execute the bath cleaning process by operating the operation panel 16 .

In the case of this embodiment, when the washing/drying operation is executed, the controller 80 performs a series of processes including weight detection, washing process, rinsing process, tank cleaning process, dehydration process, and drying process, as shown in FIG. Execute the steps in order. In this case, the user selects the washing/drying operation by operating the operation panel 16, for example, when executing the washing/drying operation. After that, when the user operates a start button (not shown), the control device 80 starts the flow of FIG. 16 (start). First, the control device 80 performs laundry weight detection (step S11), for example, by rotating the rotating tub 13 at a low speed and measuring the q-axis current of the motor 14 at that time, thereby detecting the laundry weight. Next, the control device 80 performs a washing process for washing the laundry (step S12), a rinsing process for rinsing the laundry (step S13), a tank cleaning process for washing the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 (step S14), and a washing process for washing the laundry. A dehydration process (step S15) for dehydrating and a drying process (step S16) for drying the laundry are sequentially performed. Below, the contents of control in the bath cleaning process will be described.

The bath cleaning process is a process of cleaning the inside of the water tank 12, mainly the outside of the rotating tank 13 and the inside of the water tank 12, using microbubble water. In the bath cleaning step, not only microbubble water but also tap water may be used for cleaning. The bath cleaning process may include, for example, a microbubble water cleaning operation and a normal water cleaning operation. The microbubble water washing operation is an operation of opening the water supply valve 21 and applying the microbubble water supplied from the microbubble water path R1 to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13 to wash the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13. be.

The normal water washing operation is an operation for washing the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13 by opening the water supply valve 41 and applying the water supplied from the normal water path R2 to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13 . The microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are not limited to the tank cleaning process, and may be configured to be executed in parallel or simultaneously with other processes in a series of washing operations such as the washing process and the rinsing process. Further, it may be configured to execute in a washing operation course not mainly intended for washing laundry, that is, a dedicated tank washing course for washing devices inside the washing machine 10 such as the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 .

The amount of water supplied into the water tank 12 through the microbubble water cleaning operation, that is, the microbubble water route R1, per unit time is the amount of water that is supplied into the water tank 12 through the normal water cleaning operation, that is, the normal water route R2. can be set more than the amount of water in In this embodiment, the amount of water per unit time in the microbubble water cleaning operation is set to 6 L/min, while the amount of water per unit time in the normal water cleaning operation is set to 3 L/min. The control device 80 can adjust the amount of water per unit time into the water tank 12 of each of the water supply paths R1 and R2 by controlling the amount of opening and closing of the water supply valve 21 and the water supply valve 41, for example.

Further, the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation can include an operation of driving the motor 14 to continuously rotate the rotating tub 13 in the forward direction, that is, clockwise when viewed from the front. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the water inlet 123, which is the outlet of the fine bubble water route R1, is located on the left side of the rotary tub 13 in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front. The exhaust port 121, which is an outlet, is located on the right side of the rotary tub 13 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. That is, the control device 80 can execute the process of rotating the rotary tub 13 in the direction facing the water flowing out from the exhaust port 121 and the water inlet 123 as the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are performed. be.

The control device 80 can perform the microbubble water cleaning operation with the drain valve 151 open. As a result, the water containing the dirt removed from the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13 is smoothly drained out of the water tank 12 during the microbubble water washing operation, thereby removing the dirt from the laundry stored in the rotary tank 13. reattachment can be suppressed.

17 to 19, the execution timing of the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation in the bath cleaning process will be described. The example shown in FIG. 17 is an example in which the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are performed at different times, that is, at times that do not overlap each other. The control device 80 can perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation at different times within a predetermined period set in advance. The predetermined period may be set by time, for example, it may be a period until a predetermined amount of water is supplied based on calculation of the water supply amount to the water tank 12 by time integration of the detection value of the flowmeter 18 . In the following description, the period of the tank cleaning process is defined as a tank cleaning period T, the period during which the fine bubble water cleaning operation is performed is defined as a fine bubble water supply period Tf, and the period during which the normal water cleaning operation is performed is defined as a normal water supply period Ts. do.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the total amount of water supplied to the water tank 12 is 9 L, when the tank cleaning process is started, the controller 80 closes the normal water supply valve 41 during the normal water supply period Ts. After opening and supplying about 3 L of water in about 60 seconds, the water supply valve 41 for normal water is closed. After that, the controller 80 opens the microbubble water supply valve 21 to supply about 6 L of water in about 60 seconds during the microbubble water supply period Tf, and the bath cleaning process ends. At this time, the controller 80 keeps the drain valve 151 open during the tank cleaning period T. FIG.

In this way, the controller 80 can perform the fine bubble water cleaning operation after performing the normal water cleaning operation. By doing this, part of the dirt adhering to the upper front portion of the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 that has been washed by the normal water washing operation is removed along the inside of the water tank 12 and the outside of the rotating tank 13. When it flows to the lower rear part of the rotating tank 13, the water tank 12 and the lower rear part of the rotating tank 13 are washed by the microbubble water washing operation that is subsequently executed, and the normal water washing operation is performed. You can efficiently flush the dirt that has been removed with the . The order of the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation is not particularly limited, and the control device 80 can also perform the normal water cleaning operation after performing the microbubble water cleaning operation. Also, the execution time of the microbubble water cleaning operation may be set to a time shorter or longer than the execution time of the normal water cleaning operation.

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, the case where the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are set at the same time in the tank cleaning process will be described. The control device 80 can simultaneously perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation within a predetermined period set in advance. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 18, when the time required for water supply is two minutes, the control device 80 opens the fine bubble water supply valve 21 and the normal water supply valve 41 during the tank cleaning period T, For example, about 18 L of water supply is continuously performed collectively in 2 minutes. At this time, the controller 80 keeps the drain valve 151 open during the tank cleaning period T. FIG. By simultaneously executing the fine bubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation, the amount of water supplied to the water tank 12 is maximized, thereby shortening the tank cleaning period T as much as possible and efficiently obtaining a cleaning effect. can.

A case in which the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are alternately set in the tank cleaning process will be described with reference to FIG. 19 . The controller 80 can alternately perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 19, when the total amount of water supplied to the water tank 12 is 9 L, when the tank cleaning process is started, the controller 80 controls the micro-bubble water supply period Tf. After opening the water supply valve 21 for fine bubble water and supplying about 2 L of water in about 20 seconds, the water supply valve 21 for microbubble water is closed. Thereafter, during the normal water supply period Ts, the control device 80 opens the normal water supply valve 41 to supply about 1.5 L of water in about 30 seconds, and then closes the normal water supply valve 41 . Then, the control device 80 repeatedly and alternately executes the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation until the total of the respective water supply periods Tf and Ts reaches a preset predetermined period, and the tank cleaning process is completed. be. At this time, the controller 80 keeps the drain valve 151 open during the tank cleaning period T. FIG.

In this manner, the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation are performed intermittently by dividing the water supply into a plurality of times from the start of the water supply until the predetermined conditions are met, thereby reducing the period during which the normal water cleaning operation is performed. In other words, air can be replenished into the pressurized tank 51 from the air introduction portion 56 in the pressurized dissolving device 50 while the water supply valve 21 for microbubble water is closed. As a result, water in which a larger amount of air components is dissolved can be supplied to the microbubble generator 60 provided downstream of the pressurized dissolving device 50 . Therefore, the concentration of the microbubbles contained in the microbubble water can be maintained at a high concentration. As a result, a high cleaning effect can be obtained.

In this case, the normal water supply period Ts can be set longer than the fine bubble water supply period Tf. Thus, by lengthening the period during which the water supply valve 21 for microbubble water is closed, it is possible to increase the time for replenishing the pressurized tank 51 with air from the air introduction portion 56 in the pressurized dissolving device 50 . Therefore, the concentration of the microbubbles contained in the microbubble water can be effectively maintained at a high concentration.

In the example of FIG. 19, the same water supply condition is set for each of the water supply periods Tf and Ts, which are provided a plurality of times. good. For example, the n−1 or n+1 microbubble water supply period Tf can be set shorter or longer than the nth microbubble water supply period Tf. Also, the n−1th or n+1th normal water supply period Ts can be set shorter or longer than the nth normal water supply period Ts.

According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes the water tank 12, the rotating tub 13, the microbubble water path R1, the microbubble water supply valve 21, the pressure dissolving device 50, and the microbubble generator. 60 and a controller 80 . The rotating tank 13 is rotatably provided within the water tank 12 . The microbubble water route R1 is connected to an external water source, and supplies microbubble water, which is water supplied from the external water source containing microbubbles, to a position within the tank 12 and in contact with the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tank 13. It is possible. The microbubble water supply valve 21 can open and close the microbubble water path R1.

The pressurized dissolving device 50 is provided on the microbubble water path R1 and pressurizes the water supplied from the external water source by the pressure of the water to dissolve the air component. The micro-bubble generator 60 is provided on the micro-bubble water route R1 and downstream of the pressure dissolving device 50, and locally narrows the micro-bubble water route R1 to allow the water to flow out of the pressure dissolving device 50. Precipitate microbubbles in water. The controller 80 can open and close the water supply valve 21 for microbubble water. Then, the control device 80 opens the microbubble water supply valve 21 to apply the microbubble water supplied from the microbubble water path R1 to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tank 13, thereby causing the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tank 13 to A cleaning microbubble water cleaning operation can be performed.

The pressurized dissolving device 50 supplies water in which a large amount of dissolved air components are dissolved compared to normal water that does not pass through the pressurized dissolving device 50, to the water supplied to the downstream side of the pressurizing dissolving device 50. be able to. It is effective to increase the amount of dissolved air contained in water in order to generate a large amount of micro-order microbubbles among microbubbles. Then, the microbubbles exhibit the action of adsorbing dirt and peeling it off. Therefore, by providing the pressurized dissolution device 50, the amount of generated microbubbles among the microbubbles contained in the water that has passed through the microbubble generator 60 provided downstream of the pressurized dissolution device 50 can be significantly increased. can be done. According to this, by using microbubble water containing a large amount of microbubbles for washing the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13, dirt can be effectively removed and the effect of suppressing reattachment of the removed dirt can be obtained. be able to. As a result, it is possible to improve the effect of cleaning the tank with microbubble water containing microbubbles.

Moreover, the washing machine 10 further includes a water injection case 22 . The water injection case 22 can accommodate a laundry treatment agent therein. The microbubble water route R1 is configured by a route passing through the water injection case 22 . According to this, there is no need to provide a dedicated member constituting the fine bubble water path R1 in the washing machine 10, and the layout of each configuration arranged in the washing machine 10 can be prevented from becoming complicated, thereby saving space. can be achieved.

Moreover, the washing machine 10 further includes a normal water path R2 and a normal water feed valve 41 . The normal water route R2 is a route different from the microbubble water route R1, and the water supplied from an external water source does not pass through the pressurized dissolving device 50 and the microbubble generator 60, and rotates within the water tank 12. It can be supplied to a position corresponding to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the bath 13 . The normal water supply valve 41 can be driven by the control device 80 to open and close the normal water path R2. The control device 80 opens the normal water supply valve 41 to apply the water supplied from the normal water path R2 to the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13 to wash the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13. It is also feasible. According to this, water for washing the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 can be supplied from the plurality of water supply routes R1 and R2. Thereby, water can be made to act on a plurality of portions of the outer peripheral surface 131 of the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 . Thereby, the cleaning effect can be improved.

Moreover, the washing machine 10 further includes a hot air supply mechanism 30 . The hot air supply mechanism 30 has an exhaust duct 311 that is connected to the water tank 12 and exhausts the air in the water tank 12 . The normal water route R2 is configured to include the exhaust duct 311, and is configured to allow the water flowing through the exhaust duct 311 to wash the exhaust duct 311. As shown in FIG. According to this, it is possible to wash away lint or the like adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust duct 311 when water is supplied from the normal water path R2. As a result, the inside of the exhaust duct 311 can be kept clean, so the maintainability of the hot air supply mechanism 30 can be improved.

The control device 80 can simultaneously perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation within a predetermined period set in advance. According to this, by simultaneously performing the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation, the amount of water supplied to the water tank 12 can be maximized, thereby maximizing the cleaning performance.

The control device 80 can perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation at different times within a predetermined period set in advance. According to this, by performing the fine bubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation at different times, the cleaning effect of the fine bubble water can be efficiently obtained without increasing the total amount of water supply to the water tank 12. can be done.

The controller 80 can alternately perform the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation. According to this, for example, by repeatedly executing the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation a plurality of times, it is possible to obtain a more effective cleaning effect while suppressing the amount of water used.

Further, the amount of water Vf per unit time supplied into the water tank 12 through the fine bubble water route R1 is set to be greater than the amount Vs of water per unit time supplied into the water tank 12 through the normal water route R2. ing. According to this, the water tank 12, the rotating tank 13, etc. are efficiently washed in a short time by increasing the amount of water per unit time supplied to the water tank 12 with the cleaning bubble water having a high cleaning effect. be able to. As a result, a cleaning effect can be obtained without prolonging the time required for the washing operation.

Furthermore, the outlet 123 of the microbubble water route R1 and the outlet 121 of the normal water route R2 are at least at positions shifted from each other along the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13, or at positions sandwiching the rotation axis. It is placed in a position that satisfies both. According to this, in the water supply from the fine bubble water route R1 and the water supply from the normal water route R2, the water is brought into contact with a plurality of points on the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotating tub 13, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub 13 Dirt and the like adhering to 131 can be removed efficiently.

The outlet 123 of the fine bubble water route R1 is provided at a position where the water flowing out from the outlet 123 of the fine bubble water route R1 hits the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 131. . According to this, the micro-bubble water flowing through the micro-bubble water path R1 can effectively act on the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 . As a result, the microbubbles contained in the microbubble water can easily act to remove stains, and the cleaning effect can be efficiently enhanced.

The control device 80 can execute the process of rotating the rotary tub 13 in the direction facing the water flowing out from the outlet 123 of the microbubble water path R1 along with the execution of the microbubble water cleaning operation. According to this, the microbubble water that has passed through the microbubble water path R1 is supplied into the water tank 12 in the direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotary tank 13, thereby removing dirt caused by the microbubbles contained in the microbubble water. can be easily given, and the cleaning effect can be further enhanced.

The outlet 121 of the normal water route R2 is provided at a position where the water flowing out from the outlet 121 of the normal water route R2 hits the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 131 . According to this, the water that has flowed through the normal water path R2 can effectively act on the outer peripheral surface 131 of the rotary tub 13 . As a result, it is possible to improve the cleaning effect.

The control device 80 can execute a process of rotating the rotary tub 13 in the direction in which the outflow from the outlet 121 of the normal water path R2 is directed along with the execution of the normal water cleaning operation. According to this, by supplying the water that has passed through the normal water path R2 into the water tank 12 in the same direction as the rotation direction of the rotary tank 13, the dirt removed from the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13 is not dispersed, It can flow smoothly along the direction in which the rotary tub 13 advances.

Moreover, the washing machine 10 further includes a drainage path D and a drainage valve 151 . The drainage path D is for draining the water stored in the water tank 12 to the outside. The drain valve 151 opens and closes the drain path D by being driven by the controller 80 . Then, the control device 80 can perform the microbubble water cleaning operation with the drain valve 151 open. According to this, the water containing the dirt removed from the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 is smoothly drained out of the water tank 12, thereby suppressing the redeposition of the dirt on the laundry accommodated in the rotating tub 13. can be done.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Washing machine, 12... Water tank, 121, 123... Outlet, 13... Rotating tank, 131... Outer peripheral surface, 151... Drain valve, 21... Water supply valve for fine bubble water, 22... Water injection case, 30... Hot air supply mechanism , 311... Exhaust duct 41... Water supply valve for normal water 50... Pressure dissolving device 60... Fine bubble generator 80... Control device D... Drainage route R1... Fine bubble water route R2... Normal water route

Claims (14)

a water tank;
a rotating tank rotatably provided in the water tank;
a microbubble water path connected to an external water source and capable of supplying microbubble water, which is water supplied from the external water source containing microbubbles, to a position within the water tank and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank;
a microbubble water feed valve capable of opening and closing the microbubble water path;
a pressure dissolving device that is provided on the path of the fine bubble water path and pressurizes the water supplied from the external water source by the pressure of the water to dissolve the air component;
Microbubbles provided on the fine bubble water path and downstream of the pressurized dissolution device to locally squeeze the fine bubble water path to precipitate microbubbles in the water flowing out of the pressurized dissolution device. a generator;
a control device capable of opening and closing the water supply valve for microbubble water,
The control device opens the fine-bubble water supply valve and applies the fine-bubble water supplied from the fine-bubble water path to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank to clean the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank. capable of performing an action,
washing machine. further comprising a water injection case capable of accommodating a laundry treatment agent inside,
The microbubble water path is composed of a path passing through the water injection case,
The washing machine according to claim 1. A position different from the microbubble water path and in which the water supplied from the external water source does not pass through the pressurized dissolving device and the microbubble generator and hits the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank within the water tank. a normal water route that can be supplied to
a normal water feed valve that can open and close the normal water path by being driven by the control device,
The control device can further perform a normal water washing operation of opening the normal water supply valve and applying water supplied from the normal water path to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub to wash the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub. is
The washing machine according to claim 1. further comprising a hot air supply mechanism having an exhaust duct connected to the water tank and discharging air in the water tank;
The normal water path includes a path including the exhaust duct, and is configured to be able to wash the exhaust duct with water flowing through the exhaust duct.
The washing machine according to claim 3. The control device is capable of simultaneously executing the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation within a predetermined period set in advance.
The washing machine according to claim 3 or 4. The control device is capable of executing the microbubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation at different times within a predetermined period set in advance.
The washing machine according to claim 3 or 4. The control device can alternately perform the fine bubble water cleaning operation and the normal water cleaning operation.
The washing machine according to claim 6. The amount of water per unit time supplied into the water tank through the fine bubble water path is set to be greater than the amount of water per unit time supplied into the water tank through the normal water path.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7. The outlet of the fine bubble water path and the outlet of the normal water path satisfy at least one or both of positions that are offset from each other along the rotation axis of the rotating tank, or positions that sandwich the rotation axis. placed in position,
A washing machine according to any one of claims 3 to 8. The outlet of the fine bubble water path is provided at a position where the water flowing out from the outlet of the fine bubble water path hits the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface.
The washing machine according to claim 9. The control device is capable of executing a process of rotating the rotating tank in a direction facing the water flowing out from the outlet of the microbubble water path along with the execution of the microbubble water cleaning operation.
The washing machine according to claim 10. The outlet of the normal water path is provided at a position where the water flowing out from the outlet of the normal water path hits the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tank along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface.
The washing machine according to claim 10 or 11. The control device is capable of executing a process of rotating the rotary tub in a direction in which the outflow from the outlet of the normal water path is directed along with execution of the normal water cleaning operation.
The washing machine according to claim 12. a drainage path for draining water stored in the water tank to the outside;
a drainage valve that is driven by the control device to open and close the drainage path;
The control device is capable of executing the microbubble water cleaning operation with the drain valve open.
14. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1-13.

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