JP7479026B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a washing machine.

A laundry method using magnesium is known. When magnesium is put into the water tub of a washing machine, magnesium (Mg) chemically reacts with the water (H ₂ O) in the water tub to generate magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH) ₂ ) and hydrogen (H ₂ ), and the water in the water tub is reformed into alkaline ionized water containing magnesium ions (Mg ²⁺ ) and hydroxide ions (OH ⁻ ). Alkaline ionized water has the effect of breaking down oils and fats, just like detergent, so it can be used to remove dirt from the laundry in the water tub. In addition, alkaline ionized water has a disinfecting effect, so the laundry in the water tub and the water tub itself can be disinfected with negative ionized water.

The alkaline ionized water generating device described in Patent Document 1 below has a main body made of a sponge and magnesium granules stored within the main body. The alkaline ionized water generating device is placed in the water tub of a washing machine along with the laundry. When water is poured into the water tub, magnesium is dissolved from the magnesium granules in the alkaline ionized water generating device into the water in the water tub, causing a chemical reaction between the magnesium and the water in the water tub to generate alkaline ionized water.

JP 2017-99486 A

By pouring a large amount of alkaline ionized water onto the laundry, the laundry can be washed effectively. On the other hand, the alkaline ionized water generating device described in Patent Document 1 floats in the water inside the water tank. This means that not all of the magnesium granules inside the alkaline ionized water generating device may be submerged in the water inside the water tank. Furthermore, the alkaline ionized water generating device described in Patent Document 1 has a small capacity for storing magnesium granules. Therefore, in the case of the alkaline ionized water generating device described in Patent Document 1, there is a limit to how much alkaline ionized water can be generated by promoting the chemical reaction between magnesium and water.

This invention was made against this background, and aims to provide a washing machine that uses magnesium granules to improve washing performance.

The present invention is a washing machine that includes a washing tub that stores laundry and that collects washing water, a rotor that is disposed in the washing tub at a position where it is immersed in the washing water and is driven to rotate, and a storage section that is attached to the rotor and stores magnesium granules, the storage section including a storage chamber that stores the magnesium granules, a top wall that is formed with an inlet for allowing the washing water in the washing tub to flow into the storage chamber and that is disposed above the storage chamber, and an outer wall that is formed with an outlet for allowing the washing water to flow out of the storage chamber and that is disposed outside the storage chamber in a radial direction based on the center of rotation of the rotor.

The present invention is also characterized in that the storage section includes a bottom wall disposed below the storage chamber and radially inward of the outer wall, and the inner surface of the bottom wall facing the storage chamber from below is provided with a first region and a second region that is inclined upward as it moves away from the first region radially outward.

The present invention is also characterized in that a recess recessed downward is provided on the upper surface of the top wall, and the inlet is formed in the bottom surface of the recess.

The present invention is also characterized in that the top wall is provided with an inclined surface portion that faces the storage chamber from above and slopes downward as it approaches the center of rotation.

The present invention is also characterized in that the storage section is an annular body extending in the circumferential direction around the center of rotation and is detachable from the rotor, and the storage section includes a refill port for refilling magnesium granules into the storage chamber and an opening/closing section for opening and closing the refill port.

According to the present invention, in the washing machine, the storage section that stores magnesium granules in the storage chamber is attached to the rotor that is arranged in the washing tub at a position where it is immersed in the washing water. As a result, the storage section is arranged at a position lower than the water level of the washing water in the washing tub. Therefore, the washing water in the washing tub actively flows into the storage chamber by flowing down from the inlet of the top wall arranged on the upper side of the storage chamber in the storage section. Therefore, in the storage chamber, the chemical reaction between the magnesium granules and the washing water is promoted, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently generated. The alkaline ionized water thus generated moves radially outward in the storage chamber due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor, and actively flows out from the outlet of the outer wall. Then, by circulating the washing water in the washing tub so that it repeatedly enters and exits the storage chamber through the inlet and outlet in this way, a large amount of alkaline ionized water is generated in the washing tub, and the laundry in the washing tub can be effectively washed with a large amount of alkaline ionized water. Therefore, the washing performance of the laundry in the washing tub can be improved by the magnesium granules.

According to the present invention, the inner surface of the bottom wall of the storage section facing the storage chamber from below is provided with a first region and a second region that slopes upward as it moves radially outward from the first region. As a result, the washing water that flows into the storage chamber from the inlet of the top wall first accumulates near the first region, and the chemical reaction between the magnesium particles and the washing water is promoted on the first region, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently produced. Then, when the rotor rotates, the centrifugal force causes the magnesium particles in the storage chamber to move radially outward and be widely distributed on the second region, and the contact area of each magnesium particle with the washing water is expanded. As a result, the chemical reaction between the magnesium particles and the washing water in the storage chamber is further promoted, and alkaline ionized water is more efficiently produced and supplied to the washing tub. Therefore, the washing performance of the magnesium particles on the laundry in the washing tub can be further improved.

In addition, according to the present invention, the inlet for the washing water in the storage section is formed at the bottom of a recess that is recessed downward in the upper surface of the top wall, so that the washing water on the top wall is efficiently guided to the inlet by the recess. This promotes a chemical reaction between the washing water that flows into the storage chamber from the inlet and the magnesium granules, efficiently producing alkaline ionized water that is supplied into the washing tub. This further improves the washing performance of the magnesium granules for the laundry in the washing tub.

In addition, according to the present invention, the top wall is provided with an inclined surface portion that faces the storage chamber from above and slopes downward as it approaches the center of rotation of the rotor blades, so that the washing water adhering to the top wall in the storage chamber is guided to this inclined surface portion and falls, and is actively moved to the outlet by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor blades. This promotes the outflow of washing water from the storage chamber to the outlet, i.e., the supply of alkaline ionized water from the storage chamber to the inside of the washing tub. This further improves the washing performance of the magnesium granules for the laundry in the washing tub.

According to the present invention, the storage section is an annular body extending in the circumferential direction around the rotation center, and therefore the outer wall is also formed in an annular shape. As a result, the outlets formed in the outer wall are distributed over the entire circumferential area of the annular outer wall, so that the washing water generated in the storage chamber efficiently flows out of the outlets and is supplied into the washing tub. This further improves the washing performance of the magnesium granules for the laundry in the washing tub.
The storage unit is detachable from the rotor. The storage unit includes a refill port for refilling the storage chamber with magnesium granules and an opening/closing part for opening and closing the refill port, so that a user can perform maintenance on the storage unit by detaching the storage unit from the rotor, opening the opening/closing part to refill the storage chamber with magnesium granules through the refill port, and then closing the opening/closing part to attach the storage unit to the rotor.

1 is a vertical sectional right side view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a plan view of a rotor and a storage section included in the washing machine. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow A in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 3 . 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 2.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional right side view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left-right direction X of the washing machine 1, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction Z of the washing machine 1. In the left-right direction X, the back side in the plane of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side X1, and the front side in the plane of FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side X2. In the front-rear direction Y, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front side Y1, and the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the rear side Y2. In the up-down direction Z, the upper side is referred to as the upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as the lower side Z2.

Washing machine 1 includes a housing 2 forming its outer shell, a water tub 3 housed in housing 2 to store washing water, a washing tub 4 housed in water tub 3, a rotor 5 housed in washing tub 4, a motor 6 that generates a driving force to rotate washing tub 4 and rotor 5, and an electric transmission mechanism 7 that transmits the driving force of motor 6 to washing tub 4 and rotor 5. Washing machine 1 further includes a guide cover 8 disposed in washing tub 4 to circulate washing water, a filter unit 9 attached to guide cover 8 to capture foreign matter from the washing water, and a storage section 10 attached to rotor 5 to store magnesium granules M. Washing water is tap water or tap water with detergent dissolved therein.

The housing 2 is made of metal, for example, and is formed in a box shape. An opening 15 that connects the inside and outside of the housing 2 is formed in the top surface 2A. A door 16 for opening and closing the opening 15 is provided on the top surface 2A. A display operation unit 17 consisting of a liquid crystal operation panel or the like is provided in the area around the opening 15 on the top surface 2A. A user of the washing machine 1 can freely select the operating conditions of the washing machine 1 and instruct the washing machine 1 to start or stop operation by operating switches or the like on the display operation unit 17. Information related to the operation of the washing machine 1 is visually displayed on the liquid crystal panel or the like of the display operation unit 17.

The water tank 3 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The water tank 3 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 3A arranged along the vertical direction Z, a bottom wall 3B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the lower side Z2, and a ring-shaped annular wall 3C that borders the upper end edge of the circumferential wall 3A and protrudes toward the center of the circumferential wall 3A. An entrance/exit 18 that communicates with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the upper side Z1 is formed inside the annular wall 3C. The entrance/exit 18 faces the opening 15 of the housing 2 from the lower side Z2 and is in communication with it. The annular wall 3C is provided with a door 19 that opens and closes the entrance/exit 18. The bottom wall 3B is formed in a disk shape extending substantially horizontally, and a through hole 3D that penetrates the bottom wall 3B is formed at the center of the bottom wall 3B.

A water supply line 20 connected to a tap for tap water is connected to the annular wall 3C of the water tank 3 from the upper side Z1, and tap water is supplied from the water supply line 20 into the water tank 3. A water supply valve (not shown) that is opened and closed to start and stop the water supply is provided midway along the water supply line 20. A drain line 21 is connected to the bottom wall 3B of the water tank 3 from the lower side Z2, and the water in the water tank 3 is discharged from the drain line 21 to the outside of the machine. A drain valve (not shown) that is opened and closed to start and stop draining is provided midway along the drain line 21.

The washing tub 4 is made of metal, for example, and is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is slightly smaller than the water tub 3, and can accommodate laundry L inside. The washing tub 4 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 4A arranged along the vertical direction Z, and a bottom wall 4B provided at the lower end of the washing tub 4 and closing the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A from the lower side Z2.

The inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A and the upper surface of the bottom wall 4B form the inner surface of the washing tub 4. An entrance/exit 22 is formed at the upper end of the washing tub 4, bordered by the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A. The entrance/exit 22 exposes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A to the upper side Z1, and is in communication with the entrance/exit 18 of the water tub 3 from the lower side Z2. A user puts laundry L in and takes it out of the washing tub 4 from the upper side Z1 through the open opening 15, the entrance/exit 18, and the entrance/exit 22.

The washing tub 4 is accommodated coaxially in the water tub 3. The washing tub 4 accommodated in the water tub 3 can rotate around the rotation axis J that passes through the center of the washing tub 4 and extends in the vertical direction Z. The rotation axis J in this embodiment strictly extends vertically, but may extend in an inclined direction with respect to the vertical direction. As an example, the inclined direction is a direction that shifts to the front side Y1 as it moves toward the upper side Z1. The rotation axis J also passes through the center of the water tub 3. The rotation direction of the washing tub 4 coincides with the circumferential direction P around the rotation axis J. In the following, the radial direction based on the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial direction R, and the side of the radial direction R that approaches the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial inner side R1, and the side that moves away from the rotation axis J is referred to as the radial outer side R2. A plurality of through holes 4C are formed in the circumferential wall 4A and the bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4, and the washing water in the water tub 3 can move between the water tub 3 and the washing tub 4 through the through holes 4C. This causes washing water to accumulate in the washing tub 4, and the water level in the water tub 3 and the water level in the washing tub 4 become the same.

A ring-shaped balancer 23 is attached to the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub 4 along the circumferential direction P. The balancer 23 reduces vibrations of the washing tub 4 during rotation, and the internal cavity 23A of the balancer 23 contains a liquid such as salt water to help reduce vibrations.

The bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4 is formed in a disk shape extending generally parallel to the bottom wall 3B of the water tub 3 at a distance Z1. A through hole 4D is formed in the bottom wall 4B at the circular center position coinciding with the rotation axis J, penetrating the bottom wall 4B in the vertical direction Z. The bottom wall 4B is provided with a tubular support shaft 24 that surrounds the through hole 4D and extends downward Z2 along the rotation axis J. The support shaft 24 is inserted through the through hole 3D in the bottom wall 3B of the water tub 3, and the lower end of the support shaft 24 is located below the bottom wall 3B Z2.

The rotor 5 is a so-called pulsator, which is formed in a disk shape with the rotation axis J as the center, and is arranged on the bottom wall 4B inside the washing tub 4. The rotor 5 has an annular groove 5A with the rotation axis J as the center on the upper surface facing the entrance 22 of the washing tub 4. The area surrounded by the groove 5A on the upper surface of the rotor 5 is a cylindrical central portion 5B. In the area R2 radially outward from the groove 5A on the upper surface of the rotor 5, a plurality of raised portions 5C are provided, which are raised upward Z1 and radially arranged with the rotation axis J as the center. In this embodiment, the four raised portions 5C are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction P and extend linearly from the groove 5A to the radially outward R2 (see FIG. 2 described later).

The underside of the rotor 5 is provided with multiple rear blades 5D arranged radially around the rotation axis J. The lower end of the rotor 5 where the rear blades 5D are arranged in the internal space of the washing tub 4 is called the space S. The rotor 5 is provided with a rotating shaft 25 that extends from the center 5B to the lower side Z2 along the rotation axis J. The rotating shaft 25 is inserted into the hollow portion of the support shaft 24, and the lower end of the rotating shaft 25 is located on the lower side Z2 than the bottom wall 3B of the water tub 3.

The motor 6 is an electric motor such as an inverter motor. The motor 6 is disposed inside the housing 2, below the water tank 3, at Z2. The motor 6 has an output shaft 26 that rotates about a rotation axis J, and generates a driving force that is output from the output shaft 26.

The transmission mechanism 7 is interposed between the lower ends of the support shaft 24 and the rotating shaft 25 and the upper end of the output shaft 26 protruding from the motor 6 to the upper side Z1. The transmission mechanism 7 selectively transmits the driving force output from the output shaft 26 of the motor 6 to one or both of the support shaft 24 and the rotating shaft 25. A known transmission mechanism is used as the transmission mechanism 7. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the support shaft 24, the washing tub 4 receives the driving force of the motor 6 and is rotated around the rotation axis J. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 25, the rotor 5 receives the driving force of the motor 6 and is rotated around the rotation axis J.

There are multiple guide covers 8, which are arranged in a distributed manner in the circumferential direction P on the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A. It is preferable that these guide covers 8 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction P. Each guide cover 8 is gutter-shaped extending from the lower end of the circumferential wall 4A of the washing tub 4 to the upper side Z1 and is made of, for example, resin, and its planar cross section is formed, for example, in an arc shape convexly curved toward the radially inner side R1. The guide cover 8 is fixed to the circumferential wall 4A so as to cover a part of the circumferential wall 4A from the radially inner side R1. As a result, a circulation flow path 27 is formed between the guide cover 8 and the circumferential wall 4A, which extends from the lower end of the circumferential wall 4A to the upper side Z1 in the washing tub 4. In other words, the guide cover 8 constitutes the circulation flow path 27. Since there are multiple guide covers 8, multiple circulation flow paths 27 are also provided.

The lower end of the circulation flow path 27 is connected as an inlet 27A of the circulation flow path 27 from the radially outer side R2 to the space S in the internal space of the washing tub 4 where the rear blades 5D of the rotor 5 are arranged. In other words, the inlet 27A is arranged on the bottom wall 4B side of the washing tub 4. The guide cover 8 is formed with an opening 8A that penetrates the guide cover 8 in the radial direction R. The part of the circulation flow path 27 exposed from the opening 8A to the radially inner side R1 is the outlet 27B, which is arranged at a higher position than the inlet 27A and faces the inside of the washing tub 4.

The filter unit 9 includes a frame 28 that fits snugly into the opening 8A of the guide cover 8, and a filter (not shown) attached to the frame 28. The filter is in the form of a sheet made of, for example, a net, and covers the opening 8A. The filter unit 9 only needs to be provided on at least one of the guide covers 8.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rotor 5 and the accommodating section 10. The accommodating section 10 is an annular body that coincides with the groove 5A on the upper surface of the rotor 5 in a plan view, more specifically, an annular hollow body that extends in the circumferential direction P around the rotation axis J.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the storage unit 10. The storage unit 10 includes an inner wall 30, a top wall 31, an outer wall 32, and a bottom wall 33 (see Figures 4 and 5 described below), all of which are annular.

The inner wall 30 is an annular vertical plate having a plate thickness direction that coincides with the radial direction R. The top wall 31 is a plate-like plate having a plate thickness direction that coincides with the vertical direction Z.

The top wall 31 is formed with a refill port 31A cut out at one point on its circumference, so that it is precisely C-shaped in a plan view. The refill port 31A is formed in a fan shape that widens in the circumferential direction P as it moves radially outward R2. The storage section 10 further includes an opening/closing section 35 that is formed in a fan-shaped plate shape that matches the refill port 31A and opens and closes the refill port 31A.

The end of the opening/closing part 35 on the radial inner side R1 is connected to the inner periphery of the top wall 31. The opening/closing part 35 is rotatable around a rotation axis K extending in a tangential direction to the circumferential direction P. The opening/closing part 35 is rotatable between a closed position in which the opening/closing part 31A is substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 3 and an open position in which the opening/closing part 35 is substantially vertical and opens the refill port 31A to the upper side Z1 (see the opening/closing part 35 shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 described later). On the upper surface of the opening/closing part 35 in the closed position, a knob 35A protruding to the upper side Z1 and a flange part 35B protruding to the lower side Z2 are provided at the end of the radial outer side R2. The flange part 35B is formed in an arc shape curved along the circumferential direction P. On the outer peripheral surface of the radial outer side R2 of the flange part 35B, for example, a claw-shaped first engagement part 35C protruding to the radial outer side R2 is provided. In this embodiment, the first engagement portion 35C is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 35B, one at each end in the circumferential direction P.

The top wall 31 has an annular recess 31C shallowly recessed toward the lower side Z2 on the upper surface 31B, and the recess 31C has an annular bottom surface 31D extending substantially flat, a tapered outer inclined surface 31E inclined from the outer periphery of the bottom surface 31D toward the radially outer side R2 and the upper side Z1, and a tapered inner inclined surface 31F inclined from the inner periphery of the bottom surface 31D toward the radially inner side R1 and the upper side Z1 (see also FIG. 6). The bottom surface 31D has a number of circular inlets 31G penetrating the top wall 31 in the vertical direction Z, arranged radially around the rotation axis J. These inlets 31G are arranged at equal intervals in both the circumferential direction P and the radial direction R. In the top wall 31, the portion where the tapered outer inclined surface portion 31E is provided is a tapered inclined wall, and the underside of this portion is a tapered inclined surface portion 31H that is inclined downward Z2 as it approaches the rotation axis J (see Figure 6).

The outer wall 32 is an annular vertical plate having a plate thickness direction that coincides with the radial direction R. Referring to FIG. 4, which is a view seen from the arrow A in FIG. 3, the outer wall 32 is formed with a number of substantially rectangular outlets 32A penetrating the outer wall 32 in the radial direction R. In this embodiment, three rows of the outlets 32A arranged in the circumferential direction P are arranged in the vertical direction Z to form one group G, and four such groups G are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction P. Referring to FIG. 5, which is a view seen from the arrow B in FIG. 3, the opening/closing portion 35 that opens and closes the refill port 31A of the top wall 31 is located between two adjacent groups G in the circumferential direction P. In the outer wall 32, a second engagement portion 32B formed by, for example, a rectangular hole penetrating the outer wall 32 in the radial direction R is provided in the region between these two groups G. The second engagement portions 32B are provided in the same number as the first engagement portions 35C of the opening/closing portion 35, and in this embodiment, two second engagement portions 32B are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction P.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 2. The bottom wall 33 is plate-shaped with a plate thickness direction that coincides with or substantially coincides with the vertical direction Z in most areas, and is installed between the lower ends of the inner wall 30 and the outer wall 32. Therefore, the bottom wall 33 is disposed outside the inner wall 30 and inside the outer wall 32 in the radial direction R. The bottom wall 33 is also disposed on the lower side Z2 of the top wall 31. As a result, the storage section 10 has an annular storage chamber 10A surrounded by the top wall 31, the inner wall 30, the outer wall 32, and the bottom wall 33 as a hollow portion of the storage section 10. The top wall 31 is disposed on the upper side Z1 of the storage chamber 10A, and the inclined surface portion 31H on the lower surface portion of the top wall 31 faces the storage chamber 10A from the upper side Z1. The inner wall 30 is disposed on the radially inner side R1 of the storage chamber 10A, the outer wall 32 is disposed on the radially outer side R2 of the storage chamber 10A, and the bottom wall 33 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the storage chamber 10A.

The upper surface of the bottom wall 33 is an inner surface portion 33A facing the storage chamber 10A from the lower side Z2. The inner surface portion 33A is provided with a first region 33B arranged at the innermost radial side R1 of the inner surface portion 33A, a second region 33C arranged at the outermost radial side R2 of the inner surface portion 33A, and a third region 33D connecting the first region 33B and the second region 33C. The first region 33B is a horizontal annular surface. The second region 33C is a tapered surface that inclines toward the upper side Z1 as it moves away from the first region 33B toward the outer side R2 in the radial direction. The third region 33D is an annular surface that extends vertically from the outer periphery of the first region 33B to the upper side Z1 and connects to the inner periphery of the second region 33C.

The bottom wall 33 has a horizontal portion 33E with the first region 33B as the upper surface, an inclined portion 33F with the second region 33C as the upper surface, and a vertical portion 33G with the third region 33D as the inner peripheral surface. Therefore, the bottom wall 33 extends horizontally to the radially outer side R2 at the horizontal portion 33E, then bends at a right angle and extends vertically to the upper side Z1 at the vertical portion 33G, bends to the radially outer side R2, and extends at an incline to the upper side Z1 at the inclined portion 33F. The dimension in the vertical direction Z of the storage chamber 10A separated from the lower side Z2 by such a bottom wall 33 is constant on the first region 33B, but becomes narrower to the upper side Z1 on the third region 33D, and gradually becomes narrower to the upper side Z1 as it moves toward the radially outer side R2 on the second region 33C. Therefore, the vertical cross section of the storage chamber 10A when cut at one point on the circumference is a generally trapezoidal shape that narrows toward the upper side Z1 as it moves toward the radially outer side R2.

The above-described housing 10 is fitted into the groove 5A on the upper surface of the rotor 5. In this state, the upper surface of the top wall 31 and the upper surfaces of the central portion 5B and each of the raised portions 5C of the rotor 5 are positioned at approximately the same height. Each raised portion 5C is positioned in the circumferential direction P away from the group G of outlets 32A on the outer wall 32 of the housing 10. Therefore, the outlets 32A of each group G are not blocked from the radially outward side R2 by the raised portion 5C, and are open to the radially outward side R2. The housing 10 fitted into the groove 5A can be attached and detached from the rotor 5 by a known locking structure such as a screw or snap fit.

A large number of magnesium grains M are stored in the storage chamber 10A of the storage unit 10. The magnesium grains M are grains made of magnesium, and the grain size of the magnesium grains M when new is set to a size of about several mm so that the magnesium grains M cannot pass through the inlet 31G or the outlet 32A. If necessary, the user can remove the storage unit 10 from the rotor 5, open the opening/closing unit 35 of the storage unit 10, and refill the magnesium grains M into the storage chamber 10A through the refill port 31A. When the user closes the opening/closing unit 35, the first engagement portion 35C of the opening/closing unit 35 engages with one of the second engagement portions 32B of the outer wall 32, so that the opening/closing unit 35 is positioned so that it does not open by itself from the closed position. In this embodiment, the first engagement portion 35C is a claw and the second engagement portion 32B is a hole, but the opposite may be true, or both the first engagement portion 35C and the second engagement portion 32B may be claws.

The washing machine 1 further includes a control unit 40 (see FIG. 1) that is configured, for example, by a microcomputer and is built into the housing 2. The control unit 40 includes a CPU, memories such as ROM and RAM, and a timer for measuring time. The motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the display operation unit 17, the water supply valve (not shown), and the drain valve (not shown) are each electrically connected to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 controls the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the motor 6 to control the motor 6 so that it rotates at a desired rotation speed. The control unit 40 controls the transmission mechanism 7 to switch the transmission destination of the driving force of the motor 6 to one or both of the support shaft 24 and the rotating shaft 25. When the user operates the display operation unit 17 to select operating conditions, etc., the control unit 40 accepts the selection. The control unit 40 controls the display of the display operation unit 17. The control unit 40 controls the opening and closing of the water supply valve and the drain valve described above.

The control unit 40 executes the washing operation by controlling the operation of the motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the water supply valve, and the drain valve. As an example, the washing operation includes a soaking wash operation in which the laundry L is soaked in the washing water in the washing tub 4 for a predetermined time, a main wash operation in which the laundry L is properly washed after the soaking wash operation, a rinsing operation in which the laundry L is rinsed after the main wash operation, and a spin-dry operation in which the laundry L is spin-dried after the rinsing operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the soaking wash operation, the control unit 40 first opens the water supply valve to supply water to the washing tub 4. This allows washing water to accumulate in the washing tub 4. When the water level in the washing tub 4 rises to a soaking water level that is higher than the top of the laundry L in the washing tub 4, the control unit 40 closes the water supply valve to stop the water supply. At this time, the rotor 5 and the storage unit 10, which are located at the deepest part of the washing tub 4 on the bottom wall 4B side, are immersed in the washing water in the washing tub 4.

The washing water in the washing tub 4 falls from the inlet 31G of the top wall 31 and flows into the storage chamber 10A of the storage unit 10 (see the black arrow W1 in FIG. 6). In the storage chamber 10A, the washing water reacts with the magnesium component dissolved in the washing water from the magnesium granules M. The details of the chemical reaction between the washing water and magnesium are as described above. Due to this chemical reaction, the washing water in the storage chamber 10A is converted into alkaline ionized water by increasing the pH value. During the soaking wash operation, the control unit 40 rotates the rotor 5, for example, periodically. Then, the storage unit 10 rotates the rotor 5 together with the rotor 5, so that the alkaline ionized water in the storage chamber 10A flows radially outward R2 by centrifugal force and flows out of the outlet 32A of the outer wall 32 into the washing tub 4 (see the black arrow W2 in FIG. 6). In this way, the wash water passes through the inlet 31G and the outlet 32A between the inside of the washing tub 4 and the storage chamber 10A, so that most of the wash water in the washing tub 4 becomes alkaline ionized water. Therefore, during the soaking wash operation, the laundry L in the washing tub 4 is soaked in alkaline ionized water, which is the wash water in which the components of the magnesium granules M in the storage chamber 10 have been dissolved.

As mentioned above, the wash water is alkaline ionized water, which, like detergent, has the ability to break down oils and fats, specifically acidic sebum stains. Therefore, the laundry L in the washing tub 4 is soaked in the alkaline ionized water accumulated in the washing tub 4, and dirt is removed. When a predetermined soaking time has elapsed since the water supply was stopped, the control unit 40 ends the soaking wash operation.

Next, the control unit 40 starts the main wash operation and rotates the rotor 5. The rotation speed of the rotor 5 at this time is preferably higher than the rotation speed of the rotor 5 in the soaking wash operation. As a result, the washing water in the space S on the bottom wall 4B side in the washing tub 4 is pushed outward in the radial direction R2 by the rear blade 5D of the rotor 5 rotating at high speed and sent to the inlet 27A of each circulation flow path 27. The washing water that flows to the upper side Z1 of each circulation flow path 27 passes through the filter (not shown) of the filter unit 9 and flows out from the outlet 27B of the circulation flow path 27 to the radially inner side R1 (see the thick dashed arrow W3 in FIG. 1). The filter captures foreign matter such as lint from the washing water passing through the filter and accumulates it in the filter unit 9. The washing water that returns to the washing tub 4 from the outlet 27B is sprayed on the laundry L in the washing tub 4 from the upper side Z1, then flows down into the space S, and circulates so that it can be sprayed on the laundry L again through the circulation flow path 27.

In the main wash operation, the washing water circulates with the rotation of the rotor 5, and the laundry L is sprayed with alkaline ionized water. Furthermore, the laundry L is agitated by the raised portion 5C of the rotating rotor 5, so dirt on the laundry L is mechanically removed. Note that detergent may be automatically added to the washing tub 4 at the start of the wash operation, or may be added manually by the user. In that case, the washing water contains detergent components, and in the main wash operation, dirt on the laundry L is chemically decomposed by the detergent components. Note that since the alkaline components in the alkaline ionized water function in the same way as detergent, even if the amount of detergent used is small or zero, the alkaline components can supplement or replace the detergent, resulting in a high washing effect. By reducing the amount of detergent used in this way, the burden on the environment caused by the detergent can be reduced. When a predetermined wash time has elapsed since the circulation of the washing water with the rotation of the rotor 5 began, the control unit 40 stops the rotor 5, opens the drain valve to drain the water from the washing tub 4, and ends the main wash operation.

Next, the control unit 40 starts the rinse operation. Specifically, the control unit 40 opens the water supply valve (not shown) to supply water to the washing tub 4, and accumulates the washing water in the washing tub 4 up to a predetermined rinse water level. Then, the control unit 40 rotates the rotor 5. In the rinse operation, as in the main wash operation, the washing water circulates with the rotation of the rotor 5, and the alkaline ionized water is sprayed onto the laundry L and the water tub 3 and washing tub 4. As a result, the dirt remaining on the laundry L is removed by the alkaline ionized water, and the laundry L, the water tub 3, and the washing tub 4 are disinfected by the negative ions contained in the alkaline ionized water. When a predetermined rinse time has elapsed since the circulation of the washing water associated with the rotation of the rotor 5 has started, the control unit 40 stops the rotor 5 and opens the drain valve to drain the water from the washing tub 4, thereby ending the rinse operation. The rinse operation may be performed multiple times. As described above, the amount of detergent used in the main wash operation can be reduced by the alkaline ionized water, so that the amount of water required for the subsequent rinse operation can be reduced and the laundry L can be rinsed in a short time. This saves water, energy and time.

Next, the control unit 40 starts the spin-dry operation. Specifically, the control unit 40 rotates the washing tub 4 in a spin-drying manner with the drain valve open. The rotation speed of the washing tub 4 during the spin-drying rotation increases stepwise, and finally reaches a maximum rotation speed of, for example, 800 rpm. After that, the voltage application to the motor 6 is stopped, and the washing tub 4 rotates by inertia. The laundry L in the washing tub 4 is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated by the spin-drying rotation of the washing tub 4. Water that seeps out of the laundry L due to the spin-drying is discharged from the drain 21 to the outside of the machine. When the inertial rotation of the washing tub 4 stops, the control unit 40 ends the spin-dry operation. The spin-dry operation may be performed not only at the end of the washing operation as a final spin-dry operation, but also immediately after the main wash operation as an intermediate spin-dry operation.

As described above, in the washing machine 1, the storage section 10 that stores the magnesium granules M in the storage chamber 10A is attached to the rotor 5 that is arranged in the washing tub 4 at a position where it is immersed in the washing water. As a result, the storage section 10 is arranged at a position lower than the water level of the washing water in the washing tub 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the washing water in the washing tub 4 actively flows into the storage chamber 10A by flowing down from the inlet 31G of the top wall 31 arranged on the upper side Z1 of the storage chamber 10A in the storage section 10. Therefore, in the storage chamber 10A, the chemical reaction between the magnesium granules M and the washing water is promoted, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently generated. The alkaline ionized water generated in this way moves radially outward R2 in the storage chamber 10A by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor 5, and actively flows out from the outlet 32A of the outer wall 32. In this way, the washing water in the washing tub 4 circulates through the inlet 31G and the outlet 32A repeatedly entering and exiting the storage chamber 10A, so that a large amount of alkaline ionized water is generated in the washing tub 4, and the laundry L in the washing tub 4 can be effectively washed with the large amount of alkaline ionized water. This improves the washing performance of the laundry L in the washing tub 4 by the magnesium granules M. In particular, since a large amount of magnesium granules M can be stored in the dedicated space of the storage section 10, a large amount of alkaline ionized water can be generated, improving the washing performance.

In addition, the inner surface 33A of the bottom wall 33 of the storage section 10 facing the storage chamber 10A is provided with a first region 33B and a second region 33C that is inclined upward Z1 as it moves away from the first region 33B toward the radially outer side R2. As a result, the magnesium particles M and the washing water that flows into the storage chamber 10A from the inlet 31G of the top wall 31 first accumulate near the first region 33B, and the chemical reaction between the magnesium particles M and the washing water is promoted on the first region 33B, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently generated. Then, when the rotor 5 rotates, the centrifugal force moves the magnesium particles M in the storage chamber 10A toward the radially outer side R2 and is widely distributed on the second region 33C, so that the contact area of each magnesium particle M with the washing water is expanded. As a result, in the storage chamber 10A, the chemical reaction between the magnesium particles M and the washing water is always promoted during all operations other than the spin-dry operation, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently generated and supplied to the washing tub 4. This allows the magnesium granules M to further improve the washing performance of the laundry L in the washing tub 4.

In addition, the inlet 31G for the washing water in the storage section 10 is formed in the bottom surface 31D of the recess 31C recessed downward Z2 in the upper surface 31B of the top wall 31, so that the washing water on the top wall 31 is efficiently guided to the inlet 31G by the recess 31C. Furthermore, the recess 31C is provided with an outer inclined surface 31E and an inner inclined surface 31F inclined from the bottom surface 31D to the upper side Z1, so that the washing water on the top wall 31 is efficiently guided to the inlet 31G by these inclined surfaces. As a result, the chemical reaction between the washing water flowing into the storage chamber 10A from the inlet 31G and the magnesium granules M is promoted, and alkaline ionized water is efficiently generated and supplied into the washing tub 4. Therefore, the washing performance of the magnesium granules M for the laundry L in the washing tub 4 can be further improved.

The top wall 31 is provided with an inclined surface portion 31H that faces the storage chamber 10A from the upper side Z1 and inclines downward Z2 as it approaches the rotation axis J. The washing water adhering to the top wall 31 in the storage chamber 10A is guided to the inclined surface portion 31H and falls, and is actively moved to the outlet 32A by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor 5. This promotes the outflow of washing water from the storage chamber 10A to the outside of the outlet 32A, that is, the supply of alkaline ionized water from the storage chamber 10A to the inside of the washing tub 4. This further improves the washing performance of the magnesium granules M for the laundry L in the washing tub 4.

In addition, since the storage section 10 is an annular body extending in the circumferential direction P about the rotation axis J, the outer wall 32 is also formed in an annular shape. As a result, the outlets 32A formed in the outer wall 32 are distributed and positioned throughout the entire area of the annular outer wall 32 in the circumferential direction P, so that the wash water generated in the storage chamber 10A flows out efficiently from each outlet 32A and is supplied into the washing tub 4. This further improves the washing performance of the magnesium granules M for the laundry L in the washing tub 4.

The storage unit 10 is detachable from the rotor 5. The storage unit 10 includes a refill port 31A for refilling the storage chamber 10A with magnesium granules M, and an opening/closing unit 35 for opening and closing the refill port 31A. The user can then detach the storage unit 10 from the rotor 5, open the opening/closing unit 35 to refill the storage chamber 10A with magnesium granules M through the refill port 31A, and then close the opening/closing unit 35 to attach the storage unit 10 to the rotor 5, thereby maintaining the storage unit 10.

When new, the magnesium granules M have, for example, a silver surface, but when they come into contact with wash water repeatedly during use, an oxide film forms on the surface, causing them to deteriorate, for example turning black. The deteriorated magnesium granules M are less likely to chemically react with wash water. Therefore, as a maintenance measure other than refilling the magnesium granules M from the refill port 31A into the storage chamber 10A as described above, the user may, for example, manually add a specified detergent into the washing tub 4 filled with wash water. Examples of the detergent here include citric acid tablets or liquid.

As a result, in the washing tub 4, the detergent dissolves in the wash water to produce a citric acid solution, which flows into the storage chamber 10A from the inlet 31G and outlet 32A, and the magnesium granules M in the storage chamber 10A are soaked in the citric acid solution. The magnesium granules M are then refreshed by removing the oxide film from their surfaces. As described above, the user may remove the storage unit 10 from the rotor 5 and soak the magnesium granules M in a bucket or the like to maintain the magnesium granules M in the storage unit 10. The top wall 31 and opening/closing part 35 of the storage unit 10 may be transparent or translucent so that the user can visually check the condition of the magnesium granules M in the storage chamber 10A.

This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, the storage chamber 10A that stores the magnesium granules in the storage unit 10 may be a single annular space extending in the circumferential direction P, or may be divided into multiple spaces aligned in the circumferential direction P. When the storage chamber 10A is divided into multiple spaces, multiple opening/closing sections 35 are provided for refilling each space with magnesium granules M. The opening/closing sections 35 may be provided in an area of the storage unit 10 other than the top wall 31, and may be opened and closed by sliding rather than rotating.

In the above-described embodiment, the washing machine 1 is a vertical washing machine, but it may be a drum washing machine in which the rotation axis J of the washing tub 4 extends horizontally along the front-rear direction Y. Furthermore, the washing machine 1 may be a washer-dryer with a drying function, or may be a two-tub washing machine.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 washing machine 4 washing tub 5 rotor 10 storage section 10A storage chamber 31 top wall 31A refill port 31B upper surface 31C recess 31D bottom surface 31G inlet 31H inclined surface 32 outer wall 32A outlet 33 bottom wall 33A inner surface 33B first region 33C second region 35 opening/closing section J rotation axis L laundry M magnesium grain P circumferential direction R radial direction Z1 upper side Z2 lower side

Claims (5)

A washing tub that holds laundry and wash water;
A rotor blade is disposed in the washing tub at a position where it is immersed in the washing water and is driven to rotate;
a housing portion attached to the rotor and housing magnesium grains;
The storage section includes:
A chamber for containing magnesium granules;
A top wall is provided above the storage chamber and has an inlet for allowing the washing water in the washing tub to flow into the storage chamber;
A bottom wall disposed below the storage chamber;
an outer wall having an outlet through which the wash water flows out of the storage chamber, the outer wall being disposed outside the storage chamber in a radial direction based on a rotation center of the rotor blade ;
and an annular inner wall surrounding a rotation center of the rotor inside the storage chamber in the radial direction . the bottom wall is disposed below the accommodation chamber and inwardly of the outer wall in the radial direction ,
The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface portion of the bottom wall facing the storage chamber from below is provided with a first region and a second region inclined upward as it moves away from the first region toward the outside in the radial direction. A recess recessed downward is provided on the upper surface of the top wall,
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inlet is formed in a bottom surface portion of the recess. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top wall is provided with an inclined surface portion that faces the storage chamber from above and inclines downward as it approaches the rotation center. the housing portion is an annular body extending in a circumferential direction around the rotation center and is detachable from the rotor blade;
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage section includes a refill port for refilling the storage chamber with magnesium granules, and an opening/closing section for opening and closing the refill port.

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