JPH0928988A - Small amount water draining type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an economical rinsing without inviting various problems caused by a drained water of washing, and reduce the washing cost. SOLUTION: A closed loop including a washing tank 3, a filter 7 and a water storage tank 11, is provided for a washing machine. After the completion of a washing cycle wherein a washing water circulates in the closed loop by the driving of a circulating pump 9, when necessary, a clean water which is discharged from the washing tank 3 by the driving of the circulating pump 9 is cleaned by removing a water soluble contamination being contained in the washing water when passing the filter 7, and the washing water under a clean state is fed to the water storage tank 11, and is returned to the washing tank 3 by being driven by the circulating pump 9 again, before the next washing cycle is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small-drainage washing machine, and more particularly to improving the economical efficiency of a commercial and domestic washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Stain that becomes a problem when washing clothes is roughly classified into aqueous stains such as proteins, aqueous stains such as dust and dust, and oily stains such as food and ink. It is generally said that about 80% of these are aqueous stains.

However, in the current laundry, so-called dry cleaning using an organic solvent such as tetrachloroethylene is mainly used especially for commercial use. However, this dry cleaning cannot remove the water-based stain which is the main component of the stain as described above. Therefore, apart from the case of natural fiber clothing having a problem of shrinkage due to washing, washing with water is preferable to dry cleaning from the original purpose of washing.

[0004]

However, in the case of washing with water, drainage of washing water is premised, and therefore there are various problems associated with drainage. First of all, the washing place is limited to the place where the water can be drained. In addition, since water consumption becomes large, washing costs increase due to water bills, especially for commercial use.

Further, the detergent (surfactant) contained in the wash water discharged after the washing is completed does not always completely lose its washing ability. When a large amount of cleaning water containing a detergent with such cleaning ability left is discharged, pollution due to dirty water becomes an environmental problem. In addition, since the detergent that is still sufficiently exerting its ability to be used is discarded together with the drainage, it is a problem that cannot be overlooked in terms of resource saving and washing cost.

In view of the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is to enable economical water washing without causing various problems caused by laundry drainage, thereby reducing the washing cost. To do so.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the washing machine is provided with a closed loop including a washing tank, a filter and a water storage tank, and the washing water is supplied by driving a reflux pump if necessary. The point is to recirculate in the closed loop.

[0008]

After the washing cycle is completed, the wash water discharged from the washing tank by the drive of the reflux pump is cleaned to remove the water stains contained in the washing tank and sent to the water tank in a clean state. Before the start of the next washing cycle, it is driven again by the reflux pump and returned to the washing tub.

If necessary, however, the reflux pump may be constantly operated so that the wash water is constantly circulated in the closed loop during the washing cycle.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a washing machine according to the present invention is shown in the drawing, which is of a type mainly used for commercial purposes, which is provided with a so-called horizontal type washing tank.

In the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning drum 3, which is a cleaning tank, is fixedly mounted on the frame 1 of the washing machine and driven by a motor 5 to rotate about its horizontal axis. A filter 7 is connected to the cleaning drum 3 via a conduit 13, and the filter 7 is connected to the conduit 1.
5 and the reflux pump 9 are connected to the water tank 11.

One outlet of this water storage tank 11 is connected to the other conduit 1
It is directly connected to the filter 7 via 9. The other outlet of the water storage tank 11 is connected to the cleaning drum 3 via a conduit 17. The cleaning drum 3 (cleaning tank), the filter 9, and the water storage tank 11 constitute a kind of closed loop.
Although not shown in the figure, the conduit in the closed loop may be provided with an appropriate valve if necessary.

An example of the operation (usage) will be described below with reference to FIG. 2. In this example, a conduit 21 is provided with a valve 21, a conduit 17 is provided with a valve 23, and a conduit 19 is provided with a valve 25. And

During the normal washing, the reflux pump 9 does not operate, so that the wash water is not recycled. Valve 2 at this timing
1, 23 and 25 are all closed.

Once a wash cycle is complete, the conduit 13
The valve 21 is opened and the reflux pump 9 is operated. Then, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, the cleaning water containing dirt in the cleaning drum 3 is discharged and sent to the filter 7. After the water-based dirt is removed by passing through this filter 7,
Cleaning water in a clean state (that is, a state in which oily dirt is included but almost no water-based dirt is included) is sent to the water storage tank 11 and stored therein. Here, the reflux pump 9 once stops its operation.

The washed clothes are taken out from the washing drum 3, new unwashed clothes are put into the washing drum 3, the valve 21 of the conduit 13 is closed, and the valve 23 of the conduit 17 is opened.

When the reflux pump 9 is operated again in this state, the clean wash water in the water storage tank 11 is discharged and supplied into the wash drum 3. Then, the next washing cycle is started.

The washing water stored in the water storage tank 11 can be returned to the filter 7 by opening the valve 25 of the conduit 19 and cleaned again there. Alternatively, the valves 21 and 23 may be kept open throughout the washing cycle, and the operation of the reflux pump 9 may be continued so that the wash water constantly flows back in the closed loop. Further, the cleaning water in the water storage tank 11 may be supplemented with detergent or the like, if necessary. Since oily stains are successively accumulated in the wash water as the washing cycle is repeated, they may be manually removed.

The application of the present invention is not limited to a washing machine equipped with a horizontal washing drum (which is often used for business purposes), but can also be applied to a so-called vertical washing machine (which is often used for household purposes). It can be applied. However, by using the horizontal cleaning drum, it is not necessary to completely immerse the clothes inside the cleaning water, and thus there is an advantage that the amount of cleaning water used can be reduced.

[0020]

According to the present invention, since washing water is not drained, the washing place can be freely set. Therefore, the washing machine is suitable for use in an apartment house. Also, the problem of environmental pollution caused by sewage will be eliminated.
Since the water consumption is reduced and the detergent can be used repeatedly up to its full cleaning capacity, the washing cost is greatly reduced by combining the two.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing an example of a washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a mode of the cleaning water circulation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Washing machine frame 3 Washing tank 7 Filter 9 Reflux pump 11 Water tank

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A small amount drainage type having a closed loop including a washing tank, a filter and a water storage tank, and washing water is circulated in the closed loop by driving a reflux pump as needed. Washing machine. 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing tank is a washing drum that rotates about a horizontal axis.