JP2563582B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine with a sterilizing function, which is capable of performing sterilization during a washing process.

2. Description of the Related Art A washing machine is a household item that keeps clothes hygienic.
However, the removal rate of microorganisms by washing is low and cannot be said to be sufficient. On the other hand, chlorine has the action of killing microorganisms due to its strong oxidizing power. Chlorine gas is used for sterilization on an industrial scale such as a water purification plant, but for small-scale use such as at home, chlorine gas is dissolved in sodium hydroxide solution and is a strong alkaline rich chlorine. A solution is used. Such a chlorine solution is commercially available as a clothing bleaching agent, and in many cases, it contains a surfactant and is used not only for sterilization but also for washing and bleaching.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The conventional use of this chlorine solution at home has been problematic in the following points. Firstly, a large amount of chlorine gas is generated by mixing with a strongly acidic liquid used for washing tiles, which is also used at home, and the life of the user who inhales this gas is dangerous. Second, the liquid is strongly alkaline and has a strong oxidizing power. Thirdly, it is formulated without considering the optimum pH for sterilization.
Fourthly, when the dilution and mixing are insufficient, a high-concentration chlorine solution comes into contact with clothes, causing color loss.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus, which solves the above-mentioned problems associated with the use of chlorine in a domestic washing machine.

Means for Solving the Problems The chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus for a washing machine of the present invention is for obtaining a chlorine solution by electrolysis of saline, and an anode, an anion exchange membrane, a cation exchange membrane, and a cathode, Connected to the anode chamber sandwiched between the anode and the anion exchange membrane, the salt chamber sandwiched between the anion exchange membrane and the cation exchange membrane, the anode chamber sandwiched between the cation exchange membrane and the cathode, and the saline chamber. Branch from the saline solution tank and the tap, and use one as a separate route and one through the anode chamber.
One is a water passage that passes through the cathode chamber and unites the three, and a deaerator placed in the water passage that passes through the cathode chamber and joins other water passages, and the anode and cathode. It has a DC power supply applied between them, and the water passage is made to flow into the washing tub of the washing machine after uniting, and the operation of this chlorine solution manufacturing device and the water supply to the washing tub should be performed at the time of water supply in the rinsing process. It is the one.

With the above configuration, a weakly alkaline pH that almost matches the optimum pH for sterilization and a dilute concentration of chlorine solution that is necessary for sterilization are supplied to laundry that has reduced organic stains that consume chlorine. Thus, the clothes can be sterilized, there is no color loss, and the chlorine solution is not stored, so that the chlorine solution can be used effectively and safely.

First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of the electrolytic cell. 1 is an anode, 2 is an anion exchange membrane, 3 is a cation exchange membrane, 4 is a cathode, and they are fixed with a frame 5 sandwiched between them. Anode 1
And an anion chamber 6 sandwiched between the anion exchange membrane 2, a salt chamber 7 sandwiched between the anion exchange membrane 2 and the cation exchange membrane 3, and a cathode chamber 8 sandwiched between the cation exchange membrane 3 and the cathode 4. .
Reference numeral 9 is a DC power source for electrolysis applied between the anode 1 and the cathode 4.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, water is supplied to the anode chamber 6 and the cathode chamber 8, and salt solution is supplied to the salt chamber 7. An electric field is formed between the anode 1 and the cathode 4 by the DC power source 9, and Cl ⁻ which is a salt (NaCl, a substance name related to a chemical reaction is abbreviated as a chemical symbol) component in the salt chamber 7 is an anion exchange membrane. After passing through 2, it moves to the anode chamber 6 and reacts with the anode 1 to generate Cl ₂ (chlorine). Na ⁺ permeates the cation exchange membrane 3 and enters the cathode chamber 8 to react with the cathode 4 to produce Na. This is the surrounding
Instantly reacts with H ₂ O to react with NaOH (sodium hydroxide, Na ⁺ and OH
^- to dissociation) to generate. Further, the anion exchange membrane 2 does not permeate Na ⁺ but selectively permeates Cl ⁻ , and the cation exchange membrane 3 does not permeate Cl ^−.
Na ⁺ does not permeate and selectively permeates Na ⁺ , so
Cl ⁻ does not migrate to the cathode chamber 8 and NaCl does not mix with water passing through the anode chamber 6 and the cathode chamber 8. This is a true even when the apparatus stops the DC power supply is a water supply is stopped to the anode compartment 6, the cathode chamber 8 is stopped, Cl by diffusion ^- is the anode chamber 6, Na ⁺ is slightly migrated to the cathode chamber 8 By doing so, the electromotive force works in the direction to prevent the diffusion, so that almost no NaCl is mixed into the water passing through the anode chamber 6 and the cathode chamber 8. Therefore, the water in the anode chamber 6 and the cathode chamber 8 escapes the decrease in purity due to NaCl, and there is no loss of NaCl. Further, in this electrolytic cell, as long as only the electrolysis of saline solution is performed, Cl ⁻ that permeates the anion exchange membrane 2 and N that permeates the cation exchange membrane 3
Since a ⁺ is stoichiometrically equal and generated Cl ₂ and H ₂ are stoichiometrically equal, Na ⁺ and Cl ⁻ in the salt chamber 7 are kept at the same concentration, and Strong alkaline NaOH does not accumulate.

2NaCl + 2H ₂ O → 2NaOH + H ₂ + Cl ₂ FIG. 2 shows the overall structure of the washing machine. The structure of the electrolytic cell shown in FIG. Is omitted. Reference numeral 10 denotes a saline solution storage tank for storing saline solution, which is connected to the saline solution chamber 7 and supplies NaCl. Reference numeral 11 is a water passage branched from a tap as a water source, one passing through the anode chamber 6 and one passing through the cathode chamber 8 to join with another one. Reference numeral 12 denotes a deaerator placed between the cathode chamber 8 and the water passage's unification point 11a. Reference numeral 13 is a washing layer of the washing machine, into which water flows from the joint point 11a of the water passage 11.

As explained with reference to FIG.
H ₂ is generated, which is moved by the water supply from the water passage 11 and enters the deaerator 12. Here, H ₂ is removed from the water and Na
Only the OH solution flows out. Also, Cl ₂ is generated in the anode chamber,
Most of the water was dissolved in water passing through the anode chamber and moved, and finally the water passages 11 branched into three were united at 11a to obtain a dilute chlorine solution in which Cl ₂ was dissolved in NaOH solution. , Which flows into the washing layer 13 of the washing machine. In this dilute chlorine solution,
Cl ₂ is ClO reacts and H ₂ O (water) ^- and (hypochlorite)
Cl ⁻ and H ⁺ are produced, and NaOH, which exists in the same mole as the chlorine atom, neutralizes this.

Cl ²⁺ ＋ 2NaOH → NaClO ＋ NaCl ＋ H ₂ O Here, ClO ⁻ is a weak acid with pKa 7.53 and has strong buffer action around this pH.
The pH is around pH 8 to 8.5, which is slightly higher than pKa. Also this p
The H range is also the pH range with the highest bactericidal effect.

Fig. 3 shows the mold (Asupergillus nig) that is highly resistant to chlorine.
er) spores and Bacillus subtillis spores, the optimum pH for sterilization was measured under the conditions of chlorine concentration of 40 ppm, temperature of 15 ℃, and contact time of 30 minutes. The figure shows that the optimum pH is around 8 to 8.5, and this pH range almost coincides with the pH of the chlorine solution produced by the apparatus of this embodiment.

Further, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the generation rate of chlorine is proportional to the electrolysis current, and the concentration of the chlorine solution to be produced is determined by the ratio of the electrolysis current and the total amount of water flowing through the water passage. The chlorine concentration can be set. On the other hand, the bactericidal effect of chlorine greatly changes depending on temperature and time in addition to pH, but at normal water temperature it is almost 0.1 ppm.
The effect will appear from around, and sterilization will be completed within a few minutes at the standard usage concentration of 100 or more tens ppm of the usual commercial bleaching agent, so the chlorine concentration is set within this range.

The washing process includes loading laundry, adding detergent, water supply, stirring cleaning, drainage (depending on the washing machine model, dehydration is attached), water supply, rinsing, drainage, dehydration (depending on model, water supply, rinsing, drainage, Dehydration is repeated). In this embodiment, the chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus is operated in the water supply step before rinsing to supply water. The step of stirring and washing is a process of elution and removal of contaminants. A large amount of organic substances are contained as contaminants, and when a chlorine solution is made to act in this step, these organic substances act as reducing agents to reduce chlorine and eliminate the bactericidal effect of chlorine. In the rinsing process, organic substances are washed and removed, and chlorine works effectively.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention adds a chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus that supplies an effective and dilute chlorine solution having a liquidity near the optimum pH for sterilization to a washing machine without risk to the life and body of the user. Then
It is designed to allow hygienic washing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrolytic cell used in a washing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an optimum pH for chlorine sterilization. 1 ... Anode, 2 ... Anion exchange membrane, 3 ... Cation exchange membrane, 4 ... Cathode, 6 ... Anode compartment, 7 ... Salt compartment, 8 ...
… Cathode chamber, 9 …… DC power supply, 10 …… Saline tank, 11 ……
Water channel, 12 ... deaerator, 13 ... washing tub.

Front page continuation (72) Inventor, Katsusuke Fukumaru, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References: 61-154892 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An anode, an anion exchange membrane, a cation exchange membrane, a cathode, an anode chamber sandwiched between the anode and anion exchange membrane, and an anion exchange membrane and a cation exchange membrane. A salt chamber, an anode chamber sandwiched between a cation exchange membrane and a cathode, a saline storage tank connected to the salt chamber, a DC power supply applied between the anode and cathode, and a branch from the tap to connect one As a separate route, one passes through the anode chamber and one passes through the cathode chamber to unite the three, and the water passage that flows into the washing tub of the washing machine and the other water passage after passing through the cathode chamber are combined. A chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus having a deaerator placed in the water passage up to 1 is installed, and the chlorine solution is supplied from the chlorine solution manufacturing apparatus to the washing tub at the time of water supply in the rinsing process. Machine.