JP7009101B2 - Continuous washing machine with automatic washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a continuous washing machine, and more particularly to a continuous washing machine provided with a device for automatically cleaning the inside of a washing tub and the tanks and pipes connected to the washing machine after the washing operation is completed. ..

As is well known, in a continuous washing machine, washing in each tub is performed in parallel by shaking a drum equipped with a plurality of washing tubs arranged in series, and the drums are placed at predetermined time intervals. A washing machine that wash the laundry thrown in from one end of the drum and discharge it to the outside of the machine from the other end by repeating the operation of sending the laundry in each tub to the next tub by rotating it. It is used to process laundry. The continuous washing machine is generally provided with a squeezing type dehydrator adjacent to the laundry discharge port, and dehydrates the laundry containing a large amount of rinsing water.

The tub of a continuous washing machine is roughly divided into a washing area and a rinsing area. The washing area is provided with a pre-washing tank at the beginning (the side where the laundry is sent) and a plurality of main washing tanks following the washing area, and the rinsing area is provided with a plurality of rinsing tanks and a final finishing tank (processing tank). Also called.) Is generally provided. In the pre-washing tank, foreign substances adhering to the laundry are removed by washing with water, and the stains are removed by warmed washing water containing a detergent in a plurality of main washing tanks in the subsequent stage. The laundry that has passed through the main washing tub is finished with water containing a finishing agent such as a sizing agent after removing the detergent and other chemicals used in the main washing with the rinsing water in the rinsing tank. It is discharged to the dehydrator.

In the washing area, the laundry is often washed in a batch flow, that is, when the laundry is sent to the next tank, the washing water is also sent at the same time. Rinsing is often done in a directional flow format.

In order to save the water used for washing, it has been customary to reuse (recycle) the rinse water used in the rinse area and the drainage from the dehydrator as the pre-wash water used for the pre-wash and the main wash water used for the main wash. It is done. In this case, since there is a time lag between the timing of drainage of rinse water and dehydrator and the timing of water supply to the prewash tank and main wash tank, a tank for temporarily storing the recovered water is provided, and the tank is rinsed. A recovery pipe for flowing water from the tank or dehydrator in the area, and a feed pipe and a pump for sending the recovered water from the tank to the prewash tank or the main wash tank are provided.

The continuous washing machine can efficiently wash a large amount of laundry in a state where the laundry is present in all the tubs in the tub. However, it is desirable to leave the inside of the washing tub empty (empty tub) at night when the washing machine is not operated. From the start of operation with all the tanks in the drum empty to the time when the laundry is distributed to all the tanks, and from the time when the laundry is stopped to the time when all the tanks in the drum are empty, in each tank Laundry time x elapsed time of the number of tubs is required, and during this elapsed time, laundry is contained in only a part of the tubs, which is inefficient and troublesome to manage the operating time.

As a means for solving this problem, in Patent Document 2, if the laundry in the middle of washing is left in the tub when the washing machine is stopped at night, various germs grow in the tub in the rinsing area and the laundry is washed. In the main washing tub, the washing water contains chemicals and is heated, so the growth of germs is suppressed. It has been proposed to shorten the elapsed time described above by dividing into two parts and providing a rotation drive device for each.

Since the continuous washing machine and the dehydrator are machines that handle water containing dirt and lint (fiber waste), dirt adheres to the inside of the machine and germs easily propagate. In order to wash the laundry cleanly, it is desirable to wash the dirt and germs inside the machine on a daily basis. Patent Document 1 proposes an apparatus for routinely cleaning the inside of a dehydrator and a conveyor for transporting dehydrated laundry.

On the other hand, the work of cleaning the inside of the tub of a continuous washing machine in which a plurality of washing tubs are partitioned in a long drum is very laborious and time-consuming, so it is difficult to perform cleaning on a daily basis for half a year. The fact is that cleaning is performed only once every time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-149120 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-239886

In order to wash the laundry cleanly, it is desirable to frequently clean the dirt and germs in the tub and dehydrator inside the machine, especially in the rinsing area. Cleaning once every six months causes dirt to stick to the inside of the tank and piping, and if the dirt is stuck, the dirt cannot be completely removed. Further, there is a problem that the dirt accumulated in the pipe cannot be removed.

When the wastewater from the dehydrator is reused as recovered water, the water recovered by the dehydrator is sent to the tank of the continuous washing machine and reused as washing water and rinsing water. It is necessary to keep the inside of the recycled pipe clean.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain a cleaner washed product without imposing a burden on a worker in a washing factory in washing in a continuous washing machine.

Although the main washing tubs 12 to 16 of the continuous washing machine have accumulated dirt, they are heated and detergent is supplied, so that germs are unlikely to propagate. Further, even if dirt adheres in the washing area W, it is often washed away in the rinsing area R, and there is little possibility that the quality of the washed product is deteriorated. On the other hand, since the tanks 17 to 20 in the rinse region are not usually heated, dirt and germs easily propagate in the tank, which deteriorates the quality of the washed product.

In addition, dirt and bacteria accumulate inside the tanks 3 and 4 that store the water recovered from the tank in the rinse area R, and the water stored in the tanks 3 and 4 is reused as washing water and rinsing water. Therefore, if dirt or bacteria accumulate in the tanks 3 and 4, the recovery pipes 31 and 41 connected to these tanks, and the feed pipes 33 and 43, they may be mixed with the recovery water and adhere to the laundry.

Based on the above findings, the present invention allows the water in the equipment to be circulated through a recycling route for recycling and using the rinse water originally provided in the continuous washing machine and the wastewater of the dehydrator as washing water. By adding a route for cleaning and arranging a sterilizer and other detergency-imparting devices 53 (53a, 53b) in the middle, the entire circulation route can be cleaned (including sterilization, the same shall apply hereinafter). did. The objects to be cleaned are the rinsing tank, the tanks 3 and 4 for storing the recovered water, and the recovery pipes 31 and 41 and the feed pipes 33 and 43 connected to the tanks, which cause a problem of accumulation of bacteria and dirt.

In the controller of the continuous washing machine of the present invention, after the washing operation is completed and the laundry is discharged from all the tubs in the rinsing area, the washing water is preferably sterilized in the tubs in the rinsing area by the pump. Circulate the working wash water .

Further, in the continuous washing machine of the present invention, the feed pipes 33, 43 and the pumps 32, 42 for sending the recovered water to the tubs 17 to 20 in the rinse region and the layer in the wash region, and the electromagnetic waves of the washing operation and the feed pipes 33, 43. In a continuous washing machine equipped with a controller for opening and closing the valves 38 and 48 and stopping the operation of the pumps 32 and 42, the cleaning pipes branched from the feed pipes 33 and 43 or the tanks 3 and 4 provided in the pipes. The 51 may be provided with electromagnetic valves 54 and 48 for switching water supply between the cleaning pipe 51 and the branched feed pipe. After the washing operation is completed and the laundry is discharged from the rinsing area, the controller opens the solenoid valve 54 on the washing pipe side and closes the solenoid valve 48 on the feed pipe 43 side to operate the pump. ..

In a continuous washing machine in which a dehydrator is installed adjacent to the washing machine, a cleaning pipe 51 that sends the washing water to the rinsing tank, a dehydrator cleaning pipe 61 that sends the washing water to the dehydrator, and water supply to these pipes selectively. Solenoid valves 58 and 68 for sending are provided.

As the sterilizing device 53a that imparts a sterilizing action to the washing water, a running water type ultraviolet sterilizing device, an ozone sterilizing device, or the like can be used. Further, instead of installing a sterilizer in the middle of the pipe, a disinfectant such as sodium hypochlorite or peracetic acid or a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid is used in the tanks 17 to 20 in the tanks 3 and 4 and in the middle of the pipes 33 and 43. It is also possible to provide a device for injecting water having a bactericidal effect such as chlorite water. Further, it is also possible to heat sterilize the washing water by providing a heating device that heats the water in the rinsing tank to a temperature (generally 60 degrees) or higher that can be sterilized.

Further, as the cleaning power imparting device 53b for imparting cleaning power to the washing water, heating devices 8, 9, 59 for heating the circulating water, a detergent supply device for supplying detergent to the water in the middle of circulation, and fine bubbles are mixed. A bubble generator such as an ejector that imparts detergency can be used.

According to the present invention, the inside of the tub of the continuous washing machine can be washed on a daily basis and automatically, and the accumulation of dirt inside the rinsing tub where germs are particularly likely to grow in the continuous washing machine is reduced. Since it is possible to maintain a clean state at all times, it is possible to provide a washed product that is always clean, and there is an effect that the burden on the operator required for the cleaning work can be reduced.

Block diagram of the continuous washing machine of the first embodiment Block diagram of the continuous washing machine of the second embodiment Block diagram of the continuous washing machine of the third embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated examples. The continuous washing machine 5 in the figure is provided with a total of 10 tanks, the first tank 11 to the sixth tank 16 are the tanks of the washing region W, and the seventh tank 17 to the tenth tank 20 are the rinse regions R. It is a tank. In the washing area W, the first tank 11 is a pre-washing tank, the second tanks 12 to 6 are the main washing tanks, and in the rinsing area R, the seventh tank 17 to the ninth tank 19 are rinsing tanks. , The tenth tank 20 is a finishing tank.

The washing water and the rinsing water flow between a plurality of tanks by a counter flow or a batch flow. In the continuous washing machines of FIGS. 1 and 2, the main washing is a batch flow and the rinsing is a counter flow, and the rinsing water is supplied to the 9th tank 19 and discharged from the 7th tank 17. FIGS. 1 and 2 show check valve pipes 28 and 29 for flowing rinse water by a counter flow. When the rinsing is batch flow in FIG. 3, the rinsing water is supplied and drained for each rinsing tank.

In the continuous washing machine of the illustrated embodiment, the drum is divided into a washing drum 1 and a rinsing drum 2, and the washing drum 1 and the rinsing drum 2 are operated synchronously in a steady state, but at the start and end of the steady operation. It can be operated individually, and the structure is such that all the tubs in the rinsing area can be emptied while leaving the laundry in the tub in the washing area.

A hopper 22 for loading laundry is provided at one end of the outer body 21 for accommodating the drums 1 and 2, and a shooter 23 for discharging the laundry is provided at the other end. In the figure, the dehydrator 6 is described at a position away from the continuous washing machine 5, but in reality, the laundry is arranged adjacent to the continuous washing machine 5 and the laundry discharged from the shooter 23 is inside the dehydrator 6. It has a structure that slides down.

A water supply pipe and a drain pipe are connected to each tank of the continuous washing machine. The steam pipe for heating the washing water is usually connected to the main washing tanks 12 to 16 via a solenoid valve, and is connected to the rinsing tanks 17 to 19 via a manual valve. These general pipes are omitted in the figure. The figure shows a chemical charging device 24 for charging chemicals such as detergent and bleach into the second tank (main washing head tank), and overflow pipes are added to the main washing head tank 12, the rinsing head tank 17, and the finishing tank 20. 25, 26 and 27 are provided. In the apparatus of FIG. 3 in which rinsing is a batch flow, an overflow pipe 26 is also provided in the rinsing intermediate tanks 18 and 19.

In the continuous washing apparatus shown in the figure, the first tank 3 and the second tank are used to separate and reuse the recovered water recovered from the dehydrator 6 and the finishing tank 20 and the recovered water recovered from the rinsing tanks 17 to 19. 4 and are provided. Fresh water can be supplied to these tanks from the new water supply pipe 7. The reclaimed water from the dehydrator 6 flows into the first tank 3 through the pump 62 and the dehydration recovery pipe 63, and the reclaimed water from the finishing tank 20 flows into and is stored in the recovery pipe 31. The reclaimed water from the rinsing tanks 17 to 19 flows into the second tank 4 through the recovery pipe 41. In FIGS. 1 and 2 in which rinsing is a counter flow, the water in the rinsing intermediate tanks 18 and 19 is collected via the rinsing head tank 17, so that the recovery pipe 41 is provided only in the rinsing head tank 17. The recovered water is stored after removing the lint on the lint screens 37 and 47.

The water stored in the first tank 3 can be sent to the prewash tank 11 by the pump 35 and the prewash water pipe 36. Further, the pump 32 and the feed pipe 33 can be used to feed the pump to the ninth tank (final rinse tank) 19. By supplying the recovered water to the final rinse tank 19, the rinsing property can be improved as compared with the case where only fresh water is supplied, and rinsing can be performed with a smaller amount of new water used, which saves water.

The recovered water stored in the second tank 4 can be sent to the prewash tank 11 by the pump 45 and the prewash water pipe 46. Further, the pump 42 and the feed pipe 43 can be used to feed the pump 42 to the second tank (washing head tank) 12. When the recovered water is reused as the main washing water, the pump 42 is operated, the solenoid valve 48 is opened, the solenoid valve 54 is closed, and the recovered water is sent to the second tank 12 through the pipe 43.

The piping system including the tanks 3 and 4 described above is an example. By adding the washing pipe 51 described below to the continuous washing machine provided with such a piping system, the continuous washing machine according to the present invention can be obtained. In the continuous washing machine of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recovery water is branched from the middle of the feed pipe 43 that sends the recovered water to the main washing tank 12, and the finishing tank is branched via the solenoid valve 54, the filter 52, and the sterilizer 53a. A cleaning pipe 51 communicating with 20 is provided.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the dehydrator cleaning pipe 61 for spraying cleaning water into the dehydrator 6 by branching from the cleaning pipe 51 provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the said A spray nozzle 65 at the tip of the pipe is provided. In this second embodiment, the solenoid valves 58 and 68 are provided in the cleaning pipe 51 after the dehydrator cleaning pipe 61 is branched and the dehydrator cleaning pipe 61.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the feed pipe 33 passes through the respective solenoid valves 55 ... So that the recovered water of the first tank 3 can be individually sent to each of the rinse tanks 17 to 19. The recovery pipe 41 for collecting the recovered water from each tank 17 to 19 in the second tank 4 is connected to the overflow pipe 26 ... In each tank 17 to 19. ..

Next, the rinsing area washing operation of the continuous washing machine of the embodiment will be described. The following operations are automatically performed by the program registered in the controller attached to the washing machine.

Preparation process: The items in the rinse tank are discharged by the end-of-work stop operation, and the inside of the tank is emptied. In a washing machine in which the washing drum 1 and the rinsing drum 2 are separated, the washing drum 1 is stopped immediately after receiving the operation signal of the end-of-work stop switch or after performing the next feed rotation of the drum. The rinsing drum 2 continues the operation of repeating the normal washing operation and the feeding operation even after the washing drum is stopped. The controller stops the rinsing drum when all the tanks in the rinsing drum 2 are empty. After that, the water in tanks 17 to 20 and tanks 3 and 4 in the rinse area is drained and replaced with fresh water.

Cleaning step: With the rinsing drum shaken, cleaning water is circulated in the rinsing tanks 17 to 20 and the tanks 3 and 4. That is, the solenoid valve 48 is closed, the solenoid valve 54 is opened, and the pumps 32 and 42 are operated. The water from the second tank 4 sent out by the pump 42 is sent to the tenth tank 20 through the feed pipe 43, the cleaning pipe 51 and the sterilizer 53a. The water in the second tank 4 passes through the sterilizer 53a to become washing water. The washing water sent to the 10th tank 20 cleans the inside of the 10th tank 20 and flows into the 1st tank 3 through the overflow pipe 27 and the recovery pipe 31.

In the first and second embodiments of rinsing with a counter flow, the washing water flowing into the first tank 3 is sent to the ninth tank 19 by the pump 32, and goes from the ninth tank to the eighth tank to the seventh tank. It flows by a counter flow and flows from the overflow pipe 26 of the 7th tank 17 to the 2nd tank 4 through the recovery pipe 41.

In the third embodiment in which rinsing is performed by batch flow, the washing water flowing into the first tank 3 is the ninth tank 19, the eighth tank 18, and the second by the operation of the pump 32 and the switching operation of the solenoid valve 55. It is individually sent to the 7 tanks 17 for a predetermined time, and flows from the overflow pipe 26 provided in each tank to the second tank 4 through the recovery pipe 41.

That is, after the washing operation is completed and the tank in the rinsing area is emptied, the solenoid valve 48 is closed, the solenoid valve 54 is opened, and the pumps 32 and 42 are operated, so that the water discharged from the second tank 4 is discharged. By circulating as washing water with the finishing tank 20, the recovery pipe 31, the first tank 3, the feed pipe 33, the rinsing tanks 19 to 17, the recovery pipe 41, and the second tank 4, the tank, the tank, and the rinsing area are circulated. The plumbing is cleaned. After that, if necessary, by operating the pumps 35 and 45, the washing water collected in the tanks 3 and 4 is sent to the pre-washing tank 11 through the pre-washing water pipes 36 and 46, and discharged from the pre-washing tank 11 to the drain pipe. The pre-wash water pipes 36 and 46 can be washed.

If the washing machine is equipped with overflow pipes 26 ... In all of the rinse tanks 17 to 19, as in the continuous washing machine illustrated in FIG. 3, the washing water supplied to each tank is used as the overflow pipe 26 ... -By returning to the second tank 4 through the washing machine, each tank can be washed with a certain amount of washing water stored in each tank. When the rinsing tank is not provided with an overflow pipe, the solenoid valve 55 ... provided in the feed pipe 33 for supplying cleaning water from the first tank 3 to each of the rinsing tanks 17 to 19 is intermittently opened and closed. The cleaning process may be performed while maintaining a state in which a predetermined amount of cleaning water is accumulated in the rinsing tank during the cleaning process.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, instead of the sterilizing device 53a of the first embodiment, an ejector 53b that injects air bubbles into the washing water to impart cleaning power is provided, and further, the washing water of the main washing tanks 12 to 16 is provided. By providing a branch pipe 9 with a solenoid valve 59 that communicates the steam pipe 8 provided for heating the washing drum 2 with the rinsing drum 2 and opening the solenoid valve 59 at the time of cleaning, the cleaning water is heated and the cleaning power is increased. I am trying to increase.

Further, in this second embodiment, the washing water is circulated in the order of the second tank 4 → the washing power applying device 53b → the tenth tank 20 → the first tank 3 → the ninth tank 19 → the seventh tank 17 → the second tank 4. After cleaning the 10th tank (final tank) for a predetermined time, the solenoid valve 68 is opened, the solenoid valve 58 is closed, the path passing through the 10th tank 20 is switched to the path passing through the dehydrator 6, and the dehydrator cleaning is performed. The cleaning pipe 61, the dehydrator 6 and the dehydration recovery pipe 63 can be cleaned.

As in the second embodiment, the pipe 61 for branching from the washing pipe 51 for washing the continuous washing machine 5 and sending the washing water to the dehydrator 6 and the electromagnetic valves 58 and 68 for switching the flow path are provided. As a result, the device for washing the continuous washing machine 5 can also wash the dehydrator 6, and the structure of the device and the control procedure at the time of washing can be changed as compared with the case where the device for individually washing the dehydrator is provided. It can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the cleaning target is the tank and dehydrator in the rinsing area and their piping system, but by adding a solenoid valve that switches between the piping that circulates the cleaning water and the flow path, if necessary, The washing area tank and attached equipment can be circulated and washed in the same way. For example, a pipe for collecting the overflow water from the main washing tank provided with the overflow pipe is added to the tank so that the washing water sent to the pre-washing tank 11 is circulated. In this case, the cleaning water can be imparted with detergency by using a detergent or steam directly supplied to the pre-washing tank.

If the main washing and rinsing are both counter-flow continuous washing machines, the washing water is sent from the first tank 3 to the ninth tank 19 and collected from the overflow pipe 25 of the second tank 12 to the second tank 4. By doing so, all the tanks from rinsing to main washing can be circulated and washed at the same time.

5 Continuous washing machine 6 Dehydrator 3, 4 Tank 8 Steam piping 11 Pre-washing tank 12-16 Main washing tank 17-19 Rinse tank 20 Finishing tank 31, 41 Recovery piping 33, 43 Feed piping 32, 42 Pump 38, 48 Solenoid Valve 51 Cleaning piping 53a Sterilizer 53b Cleaning force applying device 54, 48 Solenoid valve 58, 68 Solenoid valve 59 Solenoid valve R Rinse area W Washing area

Claims (6)

A tank for storing the recovered water, which is the wastewater provided for recycling and using the wastewater from the tank or dehydrator in the rinse area as washing water, and the tank or dehydrator in the rinse area are connected to the tank. In a continuous washing machine equipped with a recycling route including a recovery pipe and a pump and a feed pipe that supply the recovery water of the tank to the tank in the rinsing area.
A cleaning pipe that allows the pump to circulate water in the washing machine to the tank in the rinsing region via the tank, recovery pipe, and feed pipe, and the cleaning pipe or the recycling route or cleaning. The tank in the target rinsing area is equipped with a sterilizer or detergency imparting device provided.
After the washing operation is completed and the laundry is discharged from the final tub in the rinsing area, the washing water that has passed through the sterilizing device or the detergency applying device by the pump is sent to the tub in the rinsing area via the recycling route. A continuous washing machine equipped with an automatic washing device, which is characterized by circulating. In a continuous washing machine equipped with a pipe for counterflow of rinse water between multiple rinse tanks and the adjacent rinse tanks.
The washing pipe is connected to the final tank of the plurality of rinsing tanks, and the washing water flows from the final tank of the plurality of tanks connected by the pipe for flowing by the counter flow to the head tank and circulates. The continuous washing machine according to claim 1. In a continuous washing machine equipped with multiple rinsing tanks that flush the rinse water in a batch flow
The continuous washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing pipe is connected to each of the plurality of rinsing tanks via a solenoid valve and circulates in each of the rinsing tanks via a drainage pipe. .. A tank equipped with an adjacent dehydrator and storing the recovered water which is the wastewater provided for recycling and using the wastewater from the dehydrator as rinsing water, the dehydrator and the tank are provided. In a continuous washing machine equipped with a recycling route consisting of a connected recovery pipe and a pump and feed pipe that supplies the recovered water of the tank to the tank in the rinse area.
The recycling path is provided with a cleaning pipe that branches from the feed pipe and is connected to the dehydrator, and the pump can circulate the water in the washing machine to the dehydrator via the tank, the recovery pipe and the feed pipe. It is equipped with a cleaning pipe to be used, a sterilizing device or a cleaning power imparting device provided in the cleaning pipe or the recycling route.
After the washing operation is completed and the laundry is discharged from the dehydrator, the pump circulates the washing water via the sterilizing device or the cleaning force applying device to the dehydrator via the recycling route. A continuous washing machine equipped with an automatic washing device. The continuous washing machine according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the detergency-imparting device is a heating device capable of heating water in a tank provided in the rinsing region to a temperature at which sterilization is possible. The continuous washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the continuous washing machine includes a rotary drive device capable of stopping the operation of the washing area and the rinsing area separately.

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