JPH0780185A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply sterilization with an electrolytic product and improve the sterilizing effect on clothes by providing at least a pair of electrodes in a washing tub, and bringing a cleaning solvent into contact with the electrodes for the electrolysis of the cleaning solvent. CONSTITUTION:When a fabric (clothes) and a detergent are put into a washing tub 5 and the operation of a washing machine is started, water is fed into the washing tub 5 from a water feed mechanism 6, then the fabric and the cleaning solvent in the washing tub 5 are stirred by a stirring mechanism 7 to clean the fabric. DC voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes 9 provided in the washing tub 5, the cleaning solvent is electrolyzed in direct contact with the electrodes 9 until the cleaning is completed, and the bacteria stuck to the fabric are sterilized by an electrolytic product and by direct contact with the electrodes. The cleaning solvent in the washing tub 5 is drained by a drain mechanism 8. When a circulatory passage circulating the cleaning solvent in the washing tub 5 is provided and the sterilizing electrodes are provided in the passage, sterilization can be applied without obstructing washing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a washing machine used in general households.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional washing machine will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a washing tub that stores a cloth, which is a kind of an object to be cleaned, and a cleaning liquid. Reference numeral 2 is a water supply mechanism including a water supply valve for supplying water into the washing tub 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a stirring mechanism for stirring the cloth in the washing tub 1 and the cleaning liquid. The stirring blade 3a is rotatably arranged on the bottom of the washing tub 1 and the driving portion 3b for rotating the stirring blade 3a.
Composed of. Further, 4 is a drainage mechanism including a drainage valve for discharging the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 1.

Regarding the washing machine configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. When the cloth is put in the washing tub 1 and the operation of the washing machine is started, the water is supplied from the water supply mechanism 2 to the washing tub 1 and the cleaning liquid is stored in the washing tub 1. When the water supply is completed, the agitating mechanism 3 agitates the cloth in the washing tub 1 and the washing liquid, and the agitating operation causes the cloth to be washed. When the cleaning is completed, the drainage mechanism 4 drains the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 1 out of the machine.

[0004]

However, the conventional washing machine has the following problems. That is, quite a lot of bacteria adhere to cloths such as clothes, but these bacteria can be removed to some extent by washing, but it cannot be said to be sufficient. In addition, it is desirable to remove bacteria from clothes considering that there are sick people at home and people such as old people and babies who are easily infected with bacteria.

In view of the above problems, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of removing bacteria attached to an article to be washed such as clothes.

A second object is to provide a washing machine that removes bacteria more efficiently.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, the first means for solving the problems of the present invention is a washing tub for storing an object to be washed and a washing liquid, and a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub. And a stirring mechanism for stirring the cleaning liquid and the cleaning liquid in the washing tub, and a drainage mechanism for discharging the cleaning liquid in the washing tub, at least a pair of electrodes being provided in the washing tub, the electrodes being the cleaning liquid. It is possible to contact with.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, a second means for solving the problems of the present invention is a washing tub for storing an object to be washed and a washing liquid, a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub, and the inside of the washing tub. A stirring mechanism that stirs the object to be cleaned and the cleaning liquid, a drainage mechanism that discharges the cleaning liquid in the laundry tub, a circulation path that circulates the cleaning liquid in the laundry tub, and a cleaning liquid in the laundry tub to the circulation path. It has a pump for circulating it through the washing tub again, and at least a pair of electrodes is arranged in the circulation path.

[0009]

[Operation] According to the first problem solving means, since at least a pair of electrodes is provided in the washing tub and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tub can be energized, the cleaning liquid is electrolyzed and sterilized by the electrolysis product. At the same time, the bacteria in the cleaning liquid or the bacteria attached to the object to be cleaned are brought into direct contact with the electrodes for sterilization.

Further, according to the second means for solving the problems, since the electrodes are provided in the circulation path for circulating the cleaning liquid in the washing tub, the electrodes do not interfere with the agitation of the clothes in the washing tub,
Sterilization can be performed. Further, since the cleaning liquid is forcibly circulated by the pump to bring the cleaning liquid into contact with the electrodes, it is possible to sterilize efficiently.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the first problem solving means will be described below with reference to FIG. In the figure, 5 is a washing tank for storing the cloth to be cleaned and the cleaning liquid. 6 is a water supply mechanism including a water supply valve for supplying water into the washing tub 5.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a stirring mechanism that stirs the cloth in the washing tub 5 and the cleaning liquid, and is composed of a stirring blade 7a rotatably arranged on the inner bottom of the washing tub 5 and a rotation driving portion 7b that rotationally drives the stirring blade 7a. . A drainage mechanism 8 includes a drainage valve for discharging the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 5. Reference numeral 9 denotes a pair of electrodes for energizing the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 5, which is provided at a position where it can come into contact with the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 5.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. When the cloth and the detergent are put in the washing tub 5 and the operation of the washing machine is started, water is supplied from the water supply mechanism 6 into the washing tub 5. When the water supply is completed, the washing mechanism 5 is washed by the stirring mechanism 7.
The cloth and the cleaning liquid therein are agitated, and the agitating operation cleans the cloth. At this time, a DC voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes 9 provided in the washing tub 5, and the washing liquid is electrolyzed until the end of washing to sterilize the bacteria attached to the cloth such as clothes. When the washing is completed, the drainage mechanism 8 drains the washing liquid in the washing tub 5 out of the machine.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a pair of electrodes 9 are provided in the washing tub 5 and a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes 9, so that the laundry can be sterilized during washing.

In the above embodiment, sterilization was performed by electrolysis using a pair of electrodes, but two or three pairs of electrodes may be installed in consideration of the size of the washing tub 5 and the like. The mounting position is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be provided, for example, in the lower part of the inner wall of the washing tub 5, and the point is to mount the electrode at a position where it can contact the cleaning liquid.

Next, an embodiment of the second problem solving means will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 10 is a washing tub for storing cloth and washing liquid, 11 is a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub 10, 12 is a stirring mechanism for stirring the cloth and washing liquid in the washing tub 10, and 13 is a washing liquid in the washing tub 10. It is a drainage mechanism that discharges. Further, 14 is a pump for drawing the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 10 from the lower part and returning the cleaning liquid again from the upper part, which is attached to a part of the circulation path 16. In addition, the other part of the circulation path 16 has a pair of electrodes 1 for energizing the cleaning liquid.
5 are provided.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. When cloth and detergent are put in the washing tub 10 and the operation of the washing machine is started, water is supplied from the water supply mechanism 11 to the washing tub 10. When the water supply is completed, the stirring mechanism 12 stirs the cloth and the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 10, and the stirring operation cleans the cloth. At this time, the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 10 is sent to the circulation path 16 by the pump 14. In the circulation path 16, a DC voltage is applied between the pair of electrodes 15,
The cleaning liquid sent from the washing tub 10 is electrolyzed. The electrolyzed cleaning liquid circulates again into the washing tub 10 to sterilize the bacteria attached to the cloth. When the cleaning is completed, the drainage mechanism 8 drains the cleaning liquid in the washing tub 10 out of the machine.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the washing tub 1
The electrode 15 is provided in the circulation path 16 outside the
By electrolyzing the cleaning liquid by means of 5, when the clothes are stirred and washed in the washing tub, it is possible to sterilize the clothes during the washing without the electrodes interfering with the washing space. Further, since the cleaning liquid is forced to flow into the electrode by the pump 14, the sterilizing ability per unit time is increased, and the sterilizing efficiency can be increased.

Although the cleaning liquid is circulated by the pump 14 in the above embodiment, a pump blade may be provided on the back surface of the stirring blade so that the stirring blade has a stirring function and a pump function.

[0019]

As is clear from the above description, according to the invention of claim 1, the pair of electrodes is provided in the washing tub and the washing liquid in the washing tub is electrolyzed, so that the electrolysis product of the washing liquid is obtained. It is possible to sterilize clothes by the bactericidal effect and the bacteria directly touch the electrodes.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the circulation path for circulating the cleaning liquid in the washing tub is provided and the electrode for sterilization is provided in this circulation path, the electrode is for agitating the clothes in the washing tub. It is possible to sterilize clothes without getting in the way. In addition, since the cleaning liquid is forced to flow into the electrode by the pump, the sterilizing ability per unit time is increased, and the sterilizing efficiency can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional configuration diagram of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional configuration diagram of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional configuration diagram of a washing machine in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5,10 Washing tub 6,11 Water supply mechanism 7,12 Stirring mechanism 8,13 Drainage mechanism 9,15 Electrode 14 Pump 16 Circulation path

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A washing tub for storing an article to be washed and a washing liquid, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the washing tub, a stirring mechanism for stirring the article to be washed and the washing solution in the washing tub, and a washing tub in the washing tub. A washing machine having a drainage mechanism for discharging a cleaning liquid, wherein at least a pair of electrodes are provided in the washing tub, and the electrodes can contact the cleaning liquid. 2. A washing tub for storing an article to be washed and a washing liquid, a water supply mechanism for supplying water to the washing tub, a stirring mechanism for agitating the article to be washed and the washing solution in the washing tub, and a washing tub in the washing tub A drainage mechanism for discharging the cleaning liquid, a circulation path for circulating the cleaning liquid in the washing tub, and a pump for circulating the cleaning liquid in the washing tub to the circulation path and circulating it again in the washing tub,
A washing machine having at least a pair of electrodes arranged in the circulation path.