JP6104683B2 - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The embodiment relates to a washing machine.

  Some washing machines are equipped with a sterilization device. This sterilization apparatus sterilizes water with ozone or the like, and the stored water such as bath water after bathing is sterilized by the sterilization apparatus and reused as clean water for washing.

Japanese Patent No. 4869058

  The conventional washing machine is sterilized when water is poured into a water tank from a water source or is circulated between the inside and outside of the water tank, and the water is not sufficiently sterilized.

The washing machine of the embodiment includes a water tank that receives water for washing clothes, a sterilization device that sterilizes the water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet light, and water stored by a water absorption pump in the water tank. A storage water sterilization path for direct injection through a sterilization apparatus, a circulating water sterilization path for circulating water in the water tank between the sterilization apparatus and the water tank, and water in the water tank for the circulation water removal A circulation pump that circulates along the fungal pathway is provided.

The figure which shows Example 1 (The figure which shows the internal structure of a washing machine) Diagram showing processing contents of control circuit (tap water course) Diagram showing processing details of control circuit (bath water course) Diagram showing processing contents of control circuit (bath cleaning course) FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing Example 2. FIG. 1 equivalent diagram showing Example 3.

  The outer box 1 in FIG. 1 has a hollow square box shape having a front plate and a bottom plate, and is installed on the floor so that the bottom plate is horizontal. A water tank 2 is accommodated in the outer box 1. This water tank 2 receives water for washing clothes, and is supported on the bottom plate of the outer box 1 via an elastic support mechanism. A drum motor is fixed to the water tank 2 so as to be located outside the water tank 2. This drum motor has a rotating shaft that protrudes into the water tank 2, and a drum is fixed to the rotating shaft of the drum motor located inside the water tank 2. This drum is used to put clothes, and is rotated by a drum motor.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a water supply valve 3 is fixed in the outer box 1. This water supply valve 3 has an inlet 4, a water injection outlet 5, and a priming outlet 6, and the inlet 4 of the water supply valve 3 is connected to a faucet. The water supply valve 3 is electrically switched between a water injection state, a priming water state, and a closed state. When the water supply valve 3 is in a water injection state, tap water is discharged from the water injection outlet 5. Water is discharged from the priming outlet 6, and tap water is not discharged from either the pouring outlet 5 or the priming outlet 6 when the water supply valve 3 is closed.

  The water injection outlet 5 of the water supply valve 3 is connected to the detergent case 7 as shown in FIG. The detergent case 7 is for the user to put in detergent, bleach and softener, and is fixed in the outer box 1. This detergent case 7 is connected to the water tank 2 through the water inlet 8, and when the water supply valve 3 is in a state of water injection, tap water is injected into the water tank 2 from the water inlet 5 of the water supply valve 3 through the detergent case 7 and the water inlet 8. In the state where the detergent-softening agent is put in the detergent case 7, it is poured into the water tank 2 together with tap water.

  A bath water pump 9 is fixed in the outer box 1 as shown in FIG. This bath water pump 9 sucks up bath water in the bathtub, and has an inlet 10, a water injection outlet 11 and a priming water inlet 12. The priming water inlet 12 is connected to a priming water outlet 6 of the water supply valve 3 through a tubular priming water passage 13 and a detergent case 7. In the priming water state of the water supply valve 3, tap water is supplied from the priming water outlet 6 of the water supply valve 3 to the detergent case. 7 and the priming water passage 13 and the priming water inlet 12 are supplied to the bath water pump 9 as priming water. A check valve 14 is interposed in the priming water passage 13, and the check valve 14 prevents the bath water from flowing back through the priming water passage 13 from the priming water inlet 12 toward the detergent case 7. This bath water corresponds to stored water, and the bath water pump 9 corresponds to a water absorption pump.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical sterilization case 15 is housed in the outer box 1 at a lower position than the water tank 2. The sterilization case 15 is supported by the bottom plate of the outer box 1 and is leveled by being arranged in parallel to the bottom plate. The sterilization case 15 is filled with water. A bath water inlet 16 and a circulating water inlet 17 are fixed to one end of the sterilization case 15, and an outlet 18 is connected to the other end of the sterilization case 15. It is fixed.

  In the sterilization case 15, a circular ultraviolet lamp 19 is fixed coaxially as shown in FIG. The ultraviolet lamp 19 irradiates ultraviolet rays into the sterilization case 15 when power is supplied, and the water in the sterilization case 15 is sterilized by irradiation with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 19. The sterilization case 15, the bath water inlet 16, the circulating water inlet 17, the outlet 18, and the ultraviolet lamp 19 constitute a sterilization apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bath water inlet 16 of the sterilization case 15 is connected to the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9 through a tubular water injection passage 21, and in the operation state of the bath water pump 9, Bath water is injected into the sterilization case 15 from the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9 through the water injection passage 21 and the bath water inlet 16. This bath water flows in the sterilization case 15 from one end to the other end, and is discharged from the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15 is connected to the inlet of the water tank side switching valve 22. This water tank side switching valve 22 has an inlet, a water injection outlet 23, and a detergent injection outlet 24. The water injection outlet 23 is connected to the water tank 2 through a tubular water injection passage 25, and the detergent injection outlet 24 is a tubular detergent injection. The detergent case 7 is connected via a passage 26. This water tank side switching valve 22 is electrically switched between the detergent charging state and the water pouring state. When the water tank side switching valve 22 is in the detergent charging state, water is supplied from the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15 to the detergent charging outlet 24. The water is injected into the water tank 2 through the detergent charging passage 26, the detergent case 7, and the water injection port 8, and in the water injection state of the water tank side switching valve 22, the water enters the water tank 2 from the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15 through the water injection outlet 23 and the water injection passage 25. Injected into. The water tank side switching valve 22 corresponds to a bath water path switching valve, reference numeral 27 corresponds to a bath water sterilization path and a water storage sterilization path composed of a water injection path 21 and a water injection path 25, and a detergent charging path 26 is a bath water drainage path. This corresponds to a detergent charging path that branches from the bacteria path 27 on the downstream side of the sterilization apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a circulation pump 29 is fixed in the outer box 1. The circulation pump 29 has an inlet 30 and an outlet 31 and is disposed below the sterilization case 15. The inlet 30 of the circulation pump 29 is connected to the lowest part of the water tank 2 through a tubular circulation passage 32. When the circulation pump 29 is in operation, the water in the water tank 2 passes through the circulation passage 32 and the inlet 30 and the circulation pump 29. After being sucked in, it is discharged from the outlet 31. A filter 33 is interposed in the circulation passage 32, and the filter 33 captures foreign matters such as lint from the water.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 31 of the circulation pump 29 is connected to the inlet of the circulation pump side switching valve 35 via a connecting pipe 34. The connection pipe 34 is formed of a material having high strength such as metal, and the circulation pump 29 and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 are mechanically connected via the connection pipe 34 so that an operator can be single. It is integrated so that it can be handled as an object. Reference numeral 36 denotes a circulation pump unit including a circulation pump 29 and a circulation pump side switching valve 35.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the circulation pump side switching valve 35 has an inlet, a sterilization outlet 37, and a bypass outlet 38, and the sterilization outlet 37 is connected to the sterilization case 15 via a tubular sterilization passage 39. Connected to the circulating water inlet 17, the bypass outlet 38 is connected to the water tank 2 via a tubular bypass passage 40. The circulation pump side switching valve 35 is electrically switched between the sterilized state and the bypass state. In the bypass state of the circulation pump side switching valve 35, water discharged from the outlet 31 of the circulation pump 29 is connected to the connection pipe. 34, the bypass outlet 38 and the bypass passage 40 are injected into the water tank 2, and the water discharged from the outlet 31 of the circulation pump 29 is removed from the connection pipe 34 and the sterilization outlet 37 when the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is sterilized. It is injected into the sterilization case 15 through the bacteria passage 39 and the circulating water inlet 17. This water flows in the sterilization case 15 from one end to the other end, and is discharged from the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15. The circulation pump side switching valve 35 corresponds to a circulating water path switching valve, and reference numeral 41 corresponds to a circulating water sterilization path including a circulation path 32, a connecting pipe 34, a sterilization path 39, and a water injection path 25, and a bypass path 40. Corresponds to a circulating water bypass path branched from the circulating water sterilization path 41 upstream of the sterilization apparatus 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cover 43 is attached to the front plate of the outer box 1. The cover 43 is operable between a closed state and an open state, and closes the maintenance port from the front in the closed state. The maintenance port is formed at the lower end of the front plate of the outer box 1, and the sterilization device 20, the circulation pump 29, the filter 33, and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 are outside when the cover 43 is open. Maintenance is enabled by inserting a hand into the box 1 through the maintenance port from the front.

  A control circuit 44 is fixed in the outer box 1 as shown in FIG. The control circuit 44 electrically controls the drum motor, the water supply valve 3, the bath water pump 9, the ultraviolet lamp 19, the water tank side switching valve 22, the circulation pump 29, and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to electrically control the inside of the drum. It is for washing clothes and has a CPU, ROM and RAM. The control circuit 44 corresponds to a washing means and a tank washing means, and an operation course switch and a start switch are connected to the control circuit 44. Each of the operation course switch and the start switch can be operated by the user, and when the operation course switch is operated, the control circuit 44 includes a plurality of tap water courses, bath water courses, and tank cleaning courses. One of the driving courses corresponding to the operation content of the driving course switch is selected, and when the start switch is operated, the driving course selection result is started.

  The control circuit 44 performs a washing process, a rinsing process 1, an intermediate dehydrating process, a rinsing process 2, an intermediate dehydrating process, a rinsing process 3 and a final dehydrating process in order as a tap water course and a bath water course, respectively. FIG. 2 shows the processing contents of the control circuit 44 in the tap water course, and the control circuit 44 stores tap water at a set water level in the water tank 2 in step S1. In this tap water course, tap water at a set water level is stored in the water tank 2 in each of the washing process, the rinsing process 1, the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3, and the water supply valve 3 is poured into the tap water. Thus, the water is poured into the water tank 2 through the detergent case 7 and the water inlet 8 from the water inlet 5 of the water supply valve 3.

  When the control circuit 44 stores tap water at the set water level in the water tank 2 in step S1, it is determined in step S2 whether the current process is one of the washing process, the rinsing process 1, the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3. To do. When it is determined that the current process is the washing process or the rinsing process 1, the sterilization passage 39 is closed and the bypass passage 40 is opened by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to the bypass state in step S3. In step S4, the circulation pump 29 is started to operate.

  When the operation of the circulation pump 29 is started in step S4, the control circuit 44 determines whether or not the current process is completed in step S5. If it is determined that the current process is completed, the process proceeds to step S6, and the circulation pump 29 is stopped. That is, in the washing process and the rinsing process 1 of the tap water course, the tap water in the water tank 2 is circulated between the inside and outside of the water tank 2 through the circulation passage 32, the filter 33, and the bypass passage 40, so that the clothes in the drum Tap water is poured from above. In each of the washing process and the rinsing process 1 of the tap water course, high-concentration detergent water containing a large amount of detergent is stored in the water tank 2, and high-concentration detergent water is injected into the sterilization case 15. It is prevented.

  When the control circuit 44 determines in step S2 that the current process is the rinsing process 2 or the rinsing process 3, the control circuit 44 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 19 in step S7. In step S8, the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is sterilized to open the sterilization passage 39 and the bypass passage 40 is closed. In step S9, the water tank side switching valve 22 is set to the water injection state to supply water. The passage 25 is opened and the detergent charging passage 26 is closed, and the operation of the circulation pump 29 is started in step S10.

  When the operation of the circulation pump 29 is started in step S10, the control circuit 44 determines whether or not the current process is completed in step S11. If it is determined that the current process is completed, the circulation pump 29 is stopped in step S12, and the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned off in step S13. That is, in each of the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3 of the tap water course, the tap water in the water tank 2 is circulated between the water tank 2 and the sterilization apparatus 20 through the circulation passage 32, the filter 31, the sterilization case 15, and the water injection passage 25. . This tap water is sterilized by the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 19 when passing through the sterilization case 15, and the garment in the drum is bathed with the sterilized tap water from above.

  FIG. 3 shows the processing contents of the control circuit 44 in the bath water course. The control circuit 44 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 19 in step S21, and stores the bath water at the set water level in the water tank 2 in step S22. This bath water course stores bath water at a set water level in the water tank 2 in each of the washing process, the rinsing process 1, the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3, and the control circuit 44 is used for the washing process in the bath water course. When the bath water is stored in the water tank 2, the water tank side switching valve 22 is set to the detergent input state, and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is set to the bypass state. Then, the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned on and the bath water pump 9 is started to operate. In this state, the bath water is injected into the water tank 2 from the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9 through the water injection passage 21, the sterilization case 15, the detergent introduction passage 26, the detergent case 7 and the water injection port 8, and passes through the sterilization case 15. When sterilized, it is sterilized by ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 19.

  When the operation of the bath water pump 9 is started, the control circuit 44 determines whether or not the detergent charging time has elapsed. The detergent charging time is set to a time required for pouring the detergent in the detergent case 7 into the water tank 2, and when the control circuit 44 determines that the detergent charging time has elapsed, the water tank side switching is performed. The valve 22 is switched to the water injection state. In this state, bath water is injected into the water tank 2 from the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9 through the water injection passage 21, the sterilization case 15, and the water injection passage 25 and passes through the sterilization case 15. It is sterilized with. That is, in the washing process of the bath water course, the sterilized bath water is stored in the water tank 2 so that the clothes in the drum are washed with the sterilized bath water.

  When the control circuit 44 stores the bath water for the rinsing steps 1 to 3 in the water tank 2 in the bath water course, the water tank side switching valve 22 is set to the water injection state and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is set to the bypass state. Then, the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned on and the bath water pump 9 is started to operate. In this state, bath water is injected into the water tank 2 from the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9 through the water injection passage 21, the sterilization case 15, and the water injection passage 25 and passes through the sterilization case 15. It is sterilized with. That is, in each of the rinsing steps 1 to 3 of the bath water course, the sterilized bath water is stored in the water tank 2 so that the clothes in the drum are rinsed with the sterilized bath water.

  If the control circuit 44 stores the bath water at the set water level in the water tank 2 in step S22, the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned off in step S23, and the process proceeds to step S2. Here, when it is determined that the current process is the washing process or the rinsing process 1, the process proceeds to steps S3 to S6, and the bath water in the water tank 2 is circulated through the circulation passage 32, the filter 33, and the bypass passage 40. Bath the bath water in 2 onto the clothes in the drum. The circulation of the bath water is performed without passing through the sterilization case 15 when the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned off. In the washing process and the rinsing process 1 of the bath water course, the high concentration detergent water is sterilized. It is prevented from being injected into the inside.

  When the control circuit 44 determines that the current process is the rinsing process 2 or the rinsing process 3 in step S2, the control circuit 44 proceeds to steps S7 to S13, and the bath water in the water tank 2 is circulated through the circulation passage 32, the filter 33, and the sterilization case. 15 and the water injection passage 25, and the bath water in the water tank 2 is poured onto the clothes in the drum from above. This bath water circulation is performed via the inside of the sterilization case 15 with the ultraviolet lamp 19 turned on. In the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3 of the bath water course, the bath water in the water tank 2 is sterilized. The

  FIG. 4 shows the processing contents of the control circuit 44 when the tank cleaning course is selected, and the control circuit 44 stores the tap water at the set water level in the water tank 2 by setting the water supply valve 3 to the water injection state in step S31. . Then, the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned on in step S32, the sterilization passage 39 is opened by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 in the sterilization state in step S33, and the water tank side switching valve 22 is set in the water injection state in step S34. Thus, the water injection passage 25 is opened.

  When the water injection passage 25 is opened in step S34, the control circuit 44 starts operating the circulation pump 29 in step S35, and determines whether or not the tank cleaning course is finished in step S36. If it is determined that the tank cleaning course is finished, the circulation pump 29 is stopped in step S37, and the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned off in step S38. That is, in the tank cleaning course, the tap water in the water tank 2 is sterilized by circulating between the water tank 2 and the sterilization case 15 with the ultraviolet lamp 19 turned on, and the water tank 2 is washed with a stream of sterilized tap water. Is done.

According to the said Example 1, there exists the following effect.
Since the bath water sterilization path 27 for injecting bath water into the aquarium 2 through the sterilization apparatus 20 is provided, sterilization can be performed when the bath water is poured from the bathtub into the aquarium 2. Moreover, since the circulating water sterilization path 41 for circulating the water in the aquarium 2 between the sterilization apparatus 20 and the aquarium 2 is provided, the sterilization can be performed even when the bath water in the aquarium 2 is circulated. Even when the sterilization capability of the microbial device 20 is low, the bath water is sufficiently sterilized.

  A bypass passage 40 that branches from the circulating water sterilization path 41 on the upstream side of the sterilization apparatus 20 is provided, and the water in the water tank 2 is circulated along the bypass passage 40 by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to a bypass state. Therefore, when the water in the water tank 2 is circulated, the water in the water tank 2 can be prevented from being injected into the sterilization case 15. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the detergent component in the water from being decomposed by the ultraviolet rays and prevent the detergent component in the water from being stored in the sterilization case 15. Moreover, since the water in the water tank 2 is circulated along the circulating water sterilization path 41 by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to the sterilized state, sterilization may be performed while circulating the water in the water tank 2. it can.

  Since the water in the water tank 2 is circulated along the bypass passage 40 by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to the bypass state in the washing process and the rinsing process 1, the detergent concentration of the water in the water tank 2 is particularly high. It is possible to prevent water in the water tank 2 from being injected into the sterilization case 15. Moreover, since the water in the water tank 2 is circulated along the circulating water sterilization path 41 by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to the sterilized state in the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3, the water in the water tank 2 is circulated. When the detergent concentration is not particularly high, sterilization can be performed while circulating the water in the water tank 2.

  The circulation pump 29 and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 are integrated. For this reason, since the circulation pump 29 and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 are arranged close to each other, the long dimension of the connecting pipe 34 is shortened. Therefore, since the amount of the detergent water stored in the connecting pipe 34 is reduced, the amount of the detergent water injected from the connecting pipe 34 into the sterilization case 15 is suppressed.

  Since the sterilization apparatus 20 is disposed at a lower position than the water tank 2, an operator can perform maintenance such as exchanging the sterilization apparatus 20 through the maintenance port with the cover 43 opened. In addition, since the fluctuation width due to the vibration of the sterilization apparatus 20 in the intermediate dehydration process and the final dehydration process is suppressed, the load acting on the sterilization apparatus 20 is reduced.

  Since the detergent introduction passage 26 branched from the bath water sterilization path 27 on the downstream side of the sterilization apparatus 20 is provided, the detergent in the detergent case 7 is removed by setting the water tank side switching valve 22 to the detergent introduction state in the washing process. It can be injected into the aquarium 2 together with the sterilized bath water. Moreover, the water in the water tank 2 can be circulated along the circulating water sterilization path 41 by setting the water tank side switching valve 22 to the water injection state while the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is sterilized. Therefore, it is not necessary to circulate the water in the water tank 2 through the detergent case 7, and the load on the circulation pump 29 is reduced.

  The tap water in the water tank 2 was circulated along the circulating water sterilization path 41 by setting the circulation pump side switching valve 35 to the sterilized state in the tank cleaning course. Therefore, since the water tank 2 is washed with sterilized tap water, the washing effect of the water tank 2 is enhanced.

  The sterilization apparatus 20 was disposed in the vicinity of the circulation pump 29. Therefore, since the piping between the sterilization apparatus 20 and the circulation pump 29 is shortened, the load of the circulation pump 29 when the water in the water tank 2 is circulated between the water tank 2 and the sterilization apparatus 20 is reduced.

  Since the sterilization apparatus 20 is arranged horizontally, the bias of the gas sealed in the ultraviolet lamp 19 is eliminated. Therefore, since the light emission of the ultraviolet lamp 19 is made uniform, the sterilization performance of the sterilization apparatus 20 is stabilized.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a bath water pump side switching valve 51 is accommodated in the outer box 1. The bath water pump side switching valve 51 has an inlet 52, a detergent inlet 53, and a water inlet 54. The inlet 52 is connected to the outlet 11 of the bath water pump 9, and the detergent inlet 53 is tubular to the detergent case 7. The water injection outlet 54 is connected to the water injection passage 21. The bath water pump side switching valve 51 is electrically switched between the detergent supply state and the water injection state. When the bath water pump side switching valve 51 is in the detergent supply state, the bath water flows from the detergent supply outlet 53 to the bypass passage 55. The bath water is injected into the sterilization case 15 through the water injection outlet 54, the water injection passage 21, and the bath water inlet 16 in the water injection state of the bath water pump side switching valve 51. Is done. The outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15 is connected to the aquarium 2 through a water injection passage 25, and bath water flows from the outlet 18 of the sterilization case 15 through the water injection passage 25 in the water injection state of the bath water pump side switching valve 51. 2 is injected. The bath water pump side switching valve 51 corresponds to a water injection path switching valve, and the bypass path 55 corresponds to a water storage bypass path that branches from the bath water sterilization path 27 on the upstream side of the sterilization apparatus 20.

  When the bath water for the washing process is stored in the water tank 2 in the bath water course of FIG. 3, the control circuit 44 sets the bath water pump side switching valve 51 to the detergent input state and starts the operation of the bath water pump 9. When the bath water pump side switching valve 51 is in the detergent supply state, bath water is injected into the water tank 2 through the detergent case 7 from the bypass passage 55, and the detergent in the detergent case 7 is injected into the water tank 2 together with the bath water. This bath water pump side switching valve 51 is in a state in which the detergent is put into the detergent for a period of time when the detergent is put in, and the control circuit 44 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 19 when the detergent pouring time elapses after the bath water pump 9 starts operating. Then, the bath water pump side switching valve 51 is switched to the water injection state. In the water injection state of the bath water pump side switching valve 51, the bath water is sterilized in the sterilization case 15 and then injected into the water tank 2 through the water injection passage 25, and the sterilized bath water is stored in the water tank 2. The

  The control circuit 44 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 19 when the bath water for the rinsing steps 1 to 3 is stored in the water tank 2 in the bath water course of FIG. And the bath water pump side switching valve 51 is made into a water injection state, and the bath water pump 9 is started to operate. In the water injection state of the bath water pump side switching valve 51, the bath water is sterilized in the sterilization case 15 and then injected into the water tank 2, and the sterilized bath water is stored in the water tank 2.

  The control circuit 44 switches the circulation pump when the water in the water tank 2 is circulated between the water tank 2 and the sterilizer 20 in the tap water course of FIG. 2, the bath water course of FIG. 3, and the tank cleaning course of FIG. The valve 35 is sterilized, and the water in the aquarium 2 is circulated along the circulation passage 32, the filter 33, the sterilization passage 39, the sterilization case 15, and the water injection passage 25 with the ultraviolet lamp 19 turned on. The water is circulated while sterilizing with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp 19.

According to the said Example 2, there exist the following effects.
By providing a bypass passage 55 that branches from the bath water sterilization path 27 on the upstream side of the sterilization apparatus 20, bath water is passed from the bypass passage 55 through the detergent case 7 to the water tank 2 by putting the bath water pump side switching valve 51 into the detergent state. Therefore, the detergent in the detergent case 7 can be poured into the water tank 2 together with the bath water without going through the sterilization apparatus 20. In addition, the bath water can be injected into the water tank 2 through the sterilization apparatus 20 by pouring the bath water pump side switching valve 51 into a water-filled state.

  In the outer box 1, as shown in FIG. 6, a sterilization apparatus 20 is fixed above the water tank 2, and the bath water inlet 16 of the sterilization apparatus 20 is connected to the bath water via the water injection passage 21. It is connected to the outlet 11 of the pump 9. The circulating water inlet 17 of the sterilization apparatus 20 is connected to a sterilization outlet 37 of the circulation pump side switching valve 35 via a sterilization passage 39, and the outlet 18 of the sterilization apparatus 20 is connected via a tubular water injection path 61. Connected to the detergent case 7. The water injection passage 61 and the water injection passage 21 correspond to a bath water sterilization path 62, and the bath water sterilization path 62 corresponds to a stored water sterilization path.

  The control circuit 44 turns on the ultraviolet lamp 19 when bath water for the washing process, the rinsing process 1, the rinsing process 2 and the rinsing process 3 are stored in the water tank 2 in the bath water course of FIG. And the circulation pump side switching valve 35 is made into a bypass state, and the operation of the bath water pump 9 is started. In the operation state of the bath water pump 9, bath water is injected into the water tank 2 through the water injection passage 21, the sterilization case 15, the water injection passage 61, the detergent case 7, and the water injection port 8. Therefore, the bath water is sterilized with ultraviolet rays, and the sterilized bath water is stored in the water tank 2.

  The control circuit 44 switches the circulation pump when the water in the water tank 2 is circulated between the water tank 2 and the sterilizer 20 in the tap water course of FIG. 2, the bath water course of FIG. 3, and the tank cleaning course of FIG. The valve 35 is sterilized and the ultraviolet lamp 19 is turned on. In the sterilized state of the circulation pump side switching valve 35, the water in the water tank 2 is injected into the water tank 2 through the circulation passage 32, the sterilization passage 39, the sterilization case 15, the water injection passage 61, the detergent case 7, and the water inlet 8. Circulating while being sterilized in the sterilization case 15. The circulation passage 32, the sterilization passage 39, and the water injection passage 61 correspond to the circulation water sterilization passage 63.

According to the said Example 3, there exist the following effects.
The sterilizer 20 was disposed in the vicinity of the detergent case 7. Therefore, since the piping between the detergent case 7 and the sterilization apparatus 20 is short and simple, the water tank side switching valve 22 and the bath water pump side switching valve 51 can be eliminated.

  In the first embodiment, the water tank side switching valve 22 is filled with water in the tank cleaning course, and the tap water in the water tank 2 enters the water tank 2 from the sterilization case 15 through the detergent charging passage 26, the detergent case 7, and the water inlet 8. It may be injected. In this case, since the tap water sterilized in the water tank 2 is injected from above, a wide range of the water tank 2 can be washed.

In the said Examples 1-2, you may store the bath water of a set water level in the same process as a washing process in the water tank 2 in each of the rinse processes 1-3 of a bath water course.
In the said Examples 1-3, you may store the tap water of the setting water level in the water tank 2 by making the water supply valve 3 into a water-injection state by the last rinse process 3 of a bath water course.

  In the first to third embodiments, the circulation pump 29 and the circulation pump side switching valve 35 may be integrated by integrally forming the outlet of the circulation pump 29 and the inlet of the circulation pump side switching valve 35.

  In the said Examples 1-3, a connection port may be fixed to the outer case 1, and the bath water pump 9 may be connected to the connection port outside the outer case 1. That is, the bath water pump 9 may not be built in the outer box 1.

  In the first to third embodiments, water stored in rainwater or the like may be poured into the water tank 2 by absorbing it with a bath water pump (water absorption pump) 9 instead of bath water. That is, water stored in a water source different from the water supply may be poured into the water tank 2.

In the first to third embodiments, the present invention is applied to a vertical washing machine of a type in which a water flow is generated in water stored in a water tank by a stirring blade that is rotationally driven by a vertical shaft to wash clothes. Also good.
The washing machine described above is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not departing from the gist. In addition, although several Example of this invention was described, these Examples are shown as an example and are not intending limiting the range of invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other examples, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These examples and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  2 is a water tank, 3 is a water supply valve, 7 is a detergent case, 9 is a bath water pump (water absorption pump), 20 is a sterilization device, 22 is a water tank side switching valve (water injection path switching valve), and 26 is a detergent charging passage (detergent) , 27 is a bath water sterilization path (storage water sterilization path), 29 is a circulation pump, 35 is a circulation pump side switching valve (circulation water path switching valve), 40 is a bypass passage (circulation water bypass path), 41 Is a circulating water sterilization path, 44 is a control circuit (washing means, tank washing means), 51 is a bath water pump side switching valve (water injection path switching valve), 55 is a bypass path (water storage bypass path), and 62 is bath water drainage. Bacterial pathway (storage water sterilization pathway), 63 is a circulating water sterilization pathway.

Claims (8)

A tank for receiving water for washing clothes,
A sterilization device for sterilizing the water by irradiating the water with ultraviolet rays;
A water storage sterilization path for directly injecting the water absorbed by the water absorption pump into the water tank through the sterilization device;
A circulating water sterilization path for circulating water in the water tank between the sterilization apparatus and the water tank ;
A washing machine comprising a circulation pump for circulating water in the water tank along the circulating water sterilization path. Circulating water that diverges from the circulating water sterilization path upstream of the sterilizing device, and circulates the water in the water tank between the inside and outside of the water tank without passing through the sterilizing device. A bypass path,
A circulation water path switching valve that is switched between a sterilization state in which water in the water tank is circulated along the circulation water sterilization path and a bypass state in which water is circulated along the circulation water bypass path is provided. The washing machine according to claim 1.   The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the circulation pump and the circulation water path switching valve are integrated.   The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sterilization apparatus is disposed at a lower position than the water tank. A detergent case into which detergent is introduced;
A detergent for branching from the water storage sterilization path downstream of the sterilization apparatus, and for injecting the water absorbed by the water absorption pump through the sterilization apparatus and the detergent case into the water tank in that order. Input route,
A water injection path switching valve that is switched between a sterilization state in which the water stored by the water absorption pump is injected into the water tank through the water storage sterilization path and a detergent supply state in which the storage water is injected through the detergent injection path. Item 5. The washing machine according to any one of Items 1 to 4. A water storage bypass path for branching from the water storage sterilization path upstream of the sterilization apparatus, and for injecting the water absorbed by the water absorption pump into the water tank without passing through the sterilization apparatus;
A storage case into which stored water is injected through the storage bypass path, and a detergent case into which a detergent is introduced,
A water injection path switching valve that is switched between a sterilization state in which the water stored by the water absorption pump is injected into the water tank through the water storage sterilization path and a bypass state in which the storage water is injected through the water storage bypass path. The washing machine according to any one of 1 to 4. A washing means for performing a plurality of rinsing steps after the washing step is completed;
The washing means includes
In the washing process and the first rinsing process, the water in the water tank is circulated along the circulating water bypass path by setting the circulating water path switching valve in a bypass state.
In the rinsing process after the first time, the water in the water tank is circulated along the circulating water sanitizing path by setting the circulating water path switching valve to the sanitizing state. The washing machine described. A water supply valve for injecting tap water into the water tank;
A tank cleaning means for cleaning the water tank with tap water in the water tank,
The tank cleaning means includes
The tap water in the water tank is circulated along the circulating water sanitizing path by setting the circulating pump in an operating state and setting the circulating water path switching valve to a sanitizing state. The washing machine according to 3 or 7.

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