JP4893554B2 - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine having a function of disinfecting laundry in a rotating drum having a rotation center axis in a horizontal direction or an inclination direction.

Conventionally, this type of washing machine is configured to allow silver ions to adhere to the laundry efficiently by bringing the silver ion-containing water into contact with the laundry during the dehydration operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Alternatively, the laundry is treated with silver ions having an optimum concentration, for example, 50 ppb to 100 ppb or 50 ppb to 900 ppb, so that the antibacterial effect of silver ions can be sufficiently exerted (for example, patents). Reference 2). Alternatively, when silver ion-containing water is made into droplets of small-diameter particles that are easy to dry and brought into contact with the laundry, silver ions that are dissolved in water once crystallize by drying of water, and are dissolved in water again. The effect of silver ions is more easily exhibited (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  The configuration and operation of the washing machine of Patent Document 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the washing machine described in the publication. As shown in FIG. 7, the washing machine 101 is of a fully automatic type, and the outer box 102 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has an opening 103 for putting laundry on the upper surface thereof. The outer box 101 has a receiving cylinder 104 and a lid 105 on the upper surface of the opening, and is fixed with screws. The receiving cylinder 104 has an inner cylinder 106 and a pulsator 107 for stirring the laundry, and is configured to rotate by the action of the motor 108. When water is poured into the inner cylinder 106 and the receiving cylinder 104, it is carried out from the water channel 109 through the ion supply unit 110.

Next, the operation | movement at the time of performing disinfection and antibacterial processing to the laundry which is a laundry to a laundry is demonstrated. When performing sterilization and antibacterial of the laundry, the ion supply unit 110 is controlled when water is injected from the water flow path 9 to supply silver in an ionic state to the water. As a result, the silver ion concentration of water becomes a predetermined concentration, and when the pulsator 7 and the inner cylinder 106 are stirred by the motor 108, the silver ions adhere to the laundry, and the bacteria attached to the laundry are removed. Do fungus. Further, since silver ions attached to the laundry remain in the laundry, the laundry has an effect of suppressing the growth of bacteria even after washing (antibacterial effect).
JP 2004-57423 A JP 2004-105692 A JP-A-2005-87712

  However, in such a conventional configuration, in the rinsing process after washing, depending on the method of selection of the rinsing process by the user, the softener added in the rinsing process or the detergent component slightly remaining in the laundry in the rinsing process As a result, the antibacterial or sterilizing action of the antibacterial material may be inhibited.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and when a laundry is sterilized and antibacterial treated with a low-concentration photoexcited antibacterial material, a softening agent is introduced before the photoexcited antibacterial material. An object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type washing machine that can increase the amount of the garment attached to clothing and can exhibit a wide range of sterilization and antibacterial effects against bacteria and molds.

Wherein while solving the conventional problems, and a bottomed cylindrical rotary drum, before Symbol a bottomed cylindrical water tub for rotatably enclosing the rotating drum, a motor for rotating the pre-Symbol rotating drum, light Photo-excited antibacterial material added means for supplying photo-excited antibacterial material added with water that has been excited and eluted into the rotating drum, light-irradiating means for irradiating light into the rotating drum , before SL motor or the like controlled by a series of washing, several rinses, and control means for controlling the dehydrating operation, the control means, after switching on the soft軟剤before Symbol rotating the drum, said photoexcitation the rinsing cycle performs irradiation of light to the antibacterial material supply to generator by photoexcitation antibacterial material added water in the rotary drum and the light irradiation unit by the rotary drum so as to run, rinse agitation in the rinse step The time is Those that are longer than the rinse agitation time in the photoexcitation antibacterial material added water are performed before the rinsing operation is turned non rinsing operation.

  As a result, when the laundry is sterilized and antibacterial treated with a low concentration of photoexcited antibacterial material, the softening agent is added before the photoexcited antibacterial material, thereby increasing the amount of photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to clothing and more bacteria. It can exhibit a wide range of antibacterial and antibacterial effects against fungi and molds.

  The drum-type washing machine of the present invention, when sterilizing and antibacterial treatment of laundry with a light-concentrated photoexcited antibacterial material, the softening agent is introduced before the photoexcited antibacterial material so that the photoexcited antibacterial material adheres to clothing. The amount can be increased and a wider range of sterilization and antibacterial effects can be shown against bacteria and molds.

First invention comprises a bottomed cylindrical rotary drum, before Symbol a bottomed cylindrical water tub for rotatably enclosing the rotating drum, a motor for rotating the pre-Symbol rotating drum, light excitation effect and excitation antibacterial material generating means supplying excitation antibacterial material is eluted an added photoexcited antibacterial material added water in the water to the rotating the drum with a light irradiating means for irradiating light to the rotary in the drum, before Symbol mode a series of washing to control the motor or the like, multiple rinses, and control means for controlling the dehydrating operation, the control means, after switching on the soft軟剤before Symbol rotating the drum, the excitation antibacterial material occurs An antibacterial action having a photoexcited antibacterial effect, wherein a rinsing process is performed in which the light excitation antibacterial material added water is injected into the rotating drum by the means and light is irradiated into the rotating drum by the light irradiating means. In the washing tub using materials By irradiating the laundry impregnated with the supplied water containing the photoexcited antibacterial material with light having a wavelength of ultraviolet to visible light, bacteria adhering to the laundry are sterilized by the photoexcited antibacterial material eluted in the water. Antibacterial and released by photocatalytic reaction by irradiating photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to laundry and photoexcited antibacterial material added water supplied in the washing tub with visible light from ultraviolet light emitted from light irradiation means When the electrons react with water molecules to generate active oxygen species such as hydroxy radicals or superoxides that have a high sterilization effect, and when these bacteria are further effectively sterilized by their strong oxidizing power, a softening agent is used as a photoexcited antibacterial material. By putting it in earlier, the softener can absorb the photoexcited antibacterial material and increase the amount of photoexcited antibacterial material attached to clothing, and it has a wider sterilization and antibacterial effect against bacteria and molds. Succoth can.

Further, the control means, after switching on the softener rotating the drum, by on and the light irradiation means to the rotary drum of the photoexcited antibacterial material containing water by photoexcitation antibacterial material generating means of light into the rotary drum a rinsing cycle to perform the irradiation, the performed prior to the rinsing step, which has to perform a stroke rinse not turn the photoexcitation antibacterial material added water, before rinsing operation turning on the light excitation antibacterial material By adding a rinsing process, the amount of detergent components remaining in the laundry can be reduced, and the yellowing and darkening of clothes that tend to occur due to adsorption of detergent and softener are reduced, and it remains in the rinse water. Softeners and antibacterial materials can be attached to the laundry without being hindered by the detergent components, thus reducing the yellowing and darkening of clothing while broadly eliminating bacteria and fungi. It is possible to show the effect.

Further, the rinsing time in the rinsing process in which the photoexcited antibacterial material generating means is charged with the photoexcited antibacterial material added water into the rotating drum and the light irradiating means is irradiated with light into the rotating drum is greater than the rinsing process. performed before, the has been set longer than the rinse agitation time in the photoexcitation antibacterial material rinsed not turn stroke, said rotating water has been photoexcited antibacterial material added water into the drum to increase the time that the garment contacting By increasing the amount of clothing of photoexcited antibacterial material and increasing the time of irradiation of visible light from ultraviolet light emitted from the light irradiation means, the photocatalytic reaction is improved, and more effectively bacteria and Exhibits a wide range of antibacterial and antibacterial effects against molds.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum type washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the drum type washing machine, and FIG. 3 is a drum type washing machine. It is an enlarged front view of the input setting of the machine and the display means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating drum 24 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, has a first opening 24 a in the front, and has a large number of water passage holes 25 on the entire outer periphery. 26 is rotatably disposed in the interior. A rotation axis (rotation center axis) 27 is provided at the rotation center of the rotary drum 24 in a substantially inclined direction, and the axial center direction of the rotation drum 24 is inclined downward from the front side toward the back side. A motor 28 attached to the rear surface of the water receiving tank 26 is connected to the rotary shaft 27, and the rotary drum 24 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions. Several protruding plates 29 are provided on the inner wall surface of the rotating drum 24 to facilitate the stirring of the clothes. A second opening 26a is provided in the upward inclined surface on the front side of the water receiving tank 26 corresponding to the first opening 24a. A front opening of the washing machine body 32 is provided with a first opening 24a corresponding to the second opening 26a, a third opening 31 and a lid 30 that covers the third opening 31 so as to be freely opened and closed. By opening the lid 30, the laundry can be taken in and out of the rotary drum 24 through the third opening 31, the second opening 26a, and the first opening 24a. Since the lid 30 is provided on the upward inclined surface, the laundry can be taken out without bending the waist. Note that the lid 30 has a configuration capable of operating the lid lock 40 so as not to open in order to maintain the safety of the user during the driving operation.

  The water receiving tub 26 is suspended and supported by a spring 33 and a damper 34 from the washing machine body 32 so as to be swingable, and a drainage path 35a having one end connected to a drainage port 35 below the water receiving tub 26 has the other end. The washing water in the water receiving tank 26 is drained by connecting to a drain valve (drainage means) 36. The water supply valve (water supply means) 37 supplies water into the water receiving tank 26 through the detergent charging case 37a and the water supply path 38a. The water supply valve 37 also communicates with a second water supply means 38b capable of supplying water from above the rotating drum 24 via the second water supply path 38c.

  The water level detection means 39 detects the water level in the water receiving tank 26. In addition, a heater (heating means) 41 including a sheathed heater for heating the washing water and a temperature detection means 42 for detecting the temperature of the washing water are provided at the lower inner bottom of the water receiving tub 26, and the laundry in the rotary drum 24 is provided. It has a function of washing with warm water to enhance the washing effect.

  An overflow port 49 is provided on the side wall of the water receiving tank 26 at a position lower than the lowermost part of the third opening 31. When the amount of water exceeds the level of the overflow port 49, the overflow port 49 overflows. Yes. One end of an overflow path (overflow path) 49 a is connected to the overflow port 49, and the other end of the overflow path (overflow path) 49 a is connected to a drainage path 35 b on the downstream side of the drain valve 36.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 27 is provided in a substantially inclined direction at the rotation center of the rotary drum 24, and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 24 is inclined downward from the front side toward the back side. However, the rotary shaft 27 may be provided in the substantially horizontal direction at the rotation center of the rotary drum 24, and the axial center direction of the rotary drum 24 may be provided in the substantially horizontal direction.

The control device 43 constitutes a circuit as shown in FIG. 2, and controls the operation of the motor 28, the drain valve 36, the water supply valve 37, the heater 41, etc., and sequentially controls a series of steps of washing, rinsing and dehydration. Control means 44 comprising a microcomputer is provided. The control unit 44 inputs information from the input setting unit 45 for setting the driving course and the like, displays the information on the display unit 46 based on the information, notifies the user, and starts the operation by the input setting unit 45. Is set, the data from the water level detection means 39 for detecting the water level in the water receiving tank 26 is input, and the operations of the drain valve 36, the water supply valve 37, the heater 41, etc. are performed via the load driving means 47. Control and perform washing operation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the input setting means 45 includes a washing time setting switch 45a for setting the washing time, a rinsing frequency setting switch 45b for setting the rinsing frequency, a dehydration time setting switch 45c for setting the dehydration time, and start / pause. A switch 45e, a power-on switch 45f, a power-off switch 45g, a water level change input setting switch 45h, and a water temperature change input switch 45i are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display means 46 is a course setting display section for displaying a course set by a washing time display section 46a, a rinse count display section 46b, a dehydration time display section 46c, and a second course setting switch 45d. 46d, a water level display unit (water level display means) 46e, a water temperature display unit 46f, a number display unit 46g, a lid lock display unit 46h, and the like. The number display part 46g displays the remaining time during normal operation, but if an abnormality occurs during operation, the number display part 46g is an abnormality display part that displays an abnormal state using a certain symbol and number. Also comes to work. The abnormality display includes, for example, an abnormality display in which drainage cannot be performed, an abnormality display in which water cannot be supplied, and an abnormality display informing that the door body is not properly closed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display means 48a displays that the light silver sterilization rinsing process has been set by the light silver sterilization setting switch 19, and when the operation is started, the control means 44 enters the rinsing water supply process. Then, the photoexcited antibacterial material generating means 48 is operated to elute the photoexcited antibacterial material having a photoexciting action, add it to water, put it into the rotating drum 24, and adhere it to the clothing in the rotating drum 24. After water supply, the photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to the clothing is irradiated with visible light from the ultraviolet light emitted from the light irradiation means 50, thereby causing the electrons released by the photocatalytic reaction to react with water molecules, thereby eliminating the sterilization action. Active oxygen species such as large hydroxy radicals or superoxide are generated, and more effective sterilization is performed by their strong oxidizing power.

  FIG. 4 is a main part operation flowchart of the drum type washing machine in the first embodiment. The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the user opens the door body 30 and puts the laundry into the rotary drum 24 and closes the door body 30 again, the operation starts in step 100. After the power switch 45f is turned on in step 101, the light is emitted in step 103. The moving silver sterilization rinse is set, and the changed contents are displayed on the operation panel in step 104. In step 104, the change contents are displayed on the display means 46. In step 105, when the operation is started by operating the start switch 45 e provided in the control device 43, the lid lock 40 is closed by the control means 44 in step 106. In step 107, the washing process (detailed explanation is omitted) is operated.

  When the washing process is completed, the first rinsing is performed in step 108, drainage is performed, and the dehydration process (detailed explanation is omitted) is performed in step 109. In step 110, the softening agent is supplied into the rotating drum 24, and in step 111, the photoexcited antibacterial material generating means 48 is operated to elute the photoexcited antibacterial material having photoexciting action, add it to water, and put it into the rotating drum 24. To adhere to the clothes in the rotating drum 24. In step 112, after water supply, the photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to the clothes is irradiated with visible light from the ultraviolet light emitted from the light irradiation means 50, thereby causing the electrons released by the photocatalytic reaction to react with water molecules. In addition, reactive oxygen species such as hydroxy radicals or superoxide having a large sterilizing action are generated, and more effective sterilization is performed by their strong oxidizing power.

  In step 113, water is supplied, and in step 114, it is determined whether or not the water level is a predetermined rinsing water level (for example, 140 mm). If it is not a predetermined water level, it will return to step 113 and will continue water supply. In step 116, it is determined whether or not the rinsing time has reached a predetermined time T1 (for example, 3 minutes). If the rinsing time has reached, the first rinsing process is terminated and the rotary drum 24 is stopped. If not, return to step 115 and continue rinsing. In step 118, the second rinsing process is entered and drained, and in step 119, the dehydration process (details omitted) is performed.

  In step 120, the photoexcited antibacterial material generating means 48 is operated to elute the photoexcited antibacterial material having a photoexciting action, add it to water, put it into the rotating drum 24, adhere to the clothes in the rotating drum 24, and perform the first rinsing. Similar to the process, more effective sterilization is performed by strong oxidizing power. In step 121, water is supplied, and in step 122, it is determined whether or not the water level is a predetermined rinsing water level (for example, 140 mm). If it is not a predetermined water level, it will return to step 121 and will continue water supply. In step 124, it is determined whether or not the rinsing time has reached a predetermined time T1 (for example, 3 minutes). If the rinsing time has reached, the second rinsing process is terminated and the rotary drum 24 is stopped. If not, the process returns to step 123 and the rinsing stirring is continued. In step 126, the light irradiation means 50 is stopped.

  As described above, by using an antibacterial material having a photoexcited antibacterial action, irradiating the laundry impregnated with the photoexcited antibacterial material added water supplied to the water receiving tank 26 with light having a wavelength of visible light from ultraviolet light, Bacteria adhering to the laundry are sterilized and antibacterial by the photoexcited antibacterial material eluted in the water, and the photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to the laundry and the photoexcited antibacterial material added water supplied in the water receiving tank 26 are irradiated with light. By irradiating visible light from the ultraviolet light emitted from the means 50, the electrons released by the photocatalytic reaction are reacted with water molecules to generate active oxygen species such as hydroxy radicals or superoxide having a large sterilizing action, When performing more effective sterilization due to these strong oxidizing powers, the softening agent adsorbs the photoexcited antibacterial material before the photoexcited antibacterial material, and the photoexcited antibacterial material is applied to the clothing. Chakuryou can be increased, a wider disinfection against bacteria and fungi can exhibit an antibacterial effect.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a main part operation flowchart of the drum type washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal sectional view, block control circuit diagram, input setting means, and display means of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The control means 44 has at least three or more rinsing strokes, and the softening agent is charged into the rotating drum in the rinsing stroke one time before the last rinsing. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as those in Embodiment 1 are omitted.

When the washing process in step 107 is completed, the first rinsing process is entered in step 108 and drainage is performed. After performing a dehydration process (details omitted) in step 109, water is supplied in step 110. In step 111, it is determined whether or not the water level is a predetermined rinsing water level (for example, 140 mm). When it has not reached, it returns to step 110 and continues water supply. In step 113, it is determined whether or not the rinsing time has reached a predetermined time T1 (for example, 3 minutes). If the rinsing time has reached, the rotating drum 24 is stopped in step 114 and the first rinsing process is terminated. If not, return to Step 112 and continue rinsing. In the next step 115, the second rinsing process is entered. The subsequent second rinsing process and the third rinsing process have the same contents as the first rinsing process and the second rinsing process of the first embodiment, and are therefore omitted.

  As described above, the rinsing process has at least three times, the softener is put into the rotating drum 24 in the rinsing process one time before the last rinsing, and the photoexcited antibacterial material added water is rinsed in the last two rinsings. It is designed to be put into the rotating drum 24 in the process. By adding the first rinse, the amount of detergent components remaining in the laundry is reduced, so that the detergent component and the softener are adsorbed and generated. It reduces yellowing and darkening of clothes that are easy to wear, and it can adhere softeners and antibacterial materials to the laundry without being hindered by detergent components remaining in the rinse water, thus reducing yellowing and darkening of clothes It can exhibit a wide range of antibacterial and antibacterial effects against bacteria and molds.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the main part of the drum type washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The longitudinal sectional view, block control circuit diagram, input setting means and display means of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 which are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the control means 44 does not add the photoexcited antibacterial material added water for the rinsing stirring time of the two rinsing steps in which the photoexcited antibacterial material added water is introduced into the rotating drum. It is set longer than the rinsing stirring time in the rinsing stroke before the last two rinsing strokes. Other operations are the same as those in the second embodiment.

  In the above configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in Embodiments 1 and 2 are omitted.

  In step 115, the second rinsing process is entered and drained, and in step 116, the dehydration process (details omitted) is performed. In step 117, the softening agent is supplied into the rotating drum 24. In step 118, the photoexcited antibacterial material generating means 48 is operated to elute the photoexcited antibacterial material having photoexciting action and add it to the water. To adhere to the clothes in the rotating drum 24. In step 119, after water supply, the photoexcited antibacterial material adhering to the clothes is irradiated with visible light from the ultraviolet light emitted from the light irradiation means 50, thereby causing the electrons released by the photocatalytic reaction to react with water molecules. In addition, reactive oxygen species such as hydroxy radicals or superoxide having a large sterilizing action are generated, and more effective sterilization is performed by their strong oxidizing power.

  In step 120, water is supplied, and in step 121, it is determined whether or not the water level is a predetermined rinsing water level (for example, 140 mm). If it is not a predetermined water level, it will return to step 120 and will continue water supply. In step 123, it is determined whether or not the rinsing time has reached a predetermined time T2 (for example, 6 minutes) set longer than the predetermined rinsing time T1 (for example, 3 minutes) of the first rinsing process. The rinsing process is finished and the rotating drum 24 is stopped. If not, return to step 122 and continue rinsing. In step 125, the third rinsing process is entered.

  As described above, the rinsing agitation time for the two rinsing steps in which the photoexcited antibacterial material added water is introduced into the rotating drum 24 is set longer than the rinsing agitation time in which the photoexcited antibacterial material added water is not added. The amount of the photoexcited antibacterial material added to the clothes is increased by increasing the time for which the water added to the photoexcited antibacterial material is in contact with the clothes, and the visible light is irradiated from the ultraviolet light emitted from the light irradiation means 50. By extending the time for the photocatalytic reaction, it is possible to improve the photocatalytic reaction and more effectively exhibit a wide range of sterilization and antibacterial effects against bacteria and molds.

As described above, the drum-type washing machine of the present invention is a photo-excited antibacterial material by introducing a softening agent before the photoexcited antibacterial material when disinfecting and antibacterial treatment of laundry with a low concentration photoexcited antibacterial material. It can be applied to drum-type washing machines with a drying function.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Block diagram of the drum type washing machine Enlarged front view of input setting means and display means of the drum type washing machine Main part operation flowchart of the drum type washing machine Main part operation | movement flowchart of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention Main part operation | movement flowchart of the drum type washing machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention Vertical section of a conventional drum-type washing machine

24 Rotating drum 48 Light excitation antibacterial material generating means 50 Light irradiation means

Claims (1)

A bottomed cylindrical rotating drum ;
A bottomed cylindrical water tub for rotatably enclosing pre Symbol rotary drum,
A motor for rotating the pre-Symbol rotary drum,
And excitation antibacterial material generating means supplying excitation antibacterial material is eluted with the added photoexcited antibacterial material added water in the water to the rotating the drum with a light excitation effect,
Light irradiating means for irradiating light into the rotating drum ;
A series of washing to control the previous SL motor or the like, multiple rinses, and control means for controlling the dehydrating operation,
Said control means, after switching on the soft軟剤before Symbol rotating the drum, the to the by-on and the light irradiating means to the photoexcited antibacterial material added water in the rotary drum by photoexcitation antibacterial material generating means rotating drum the rinsing cycle to irradiate light so as to perform the,
The drum type washing machine in which the rinsing stirring time in the rinsing process is set longer than the rinsing stirring time in the rinsing process in which the photoexcited antibacterial material-added water is not added before the rinsing process .