JPH10295985A - Washing machine capable of dechlorinating washing water and method of dechlorinating washing water - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove chlorine contained in washing water supplied in a washing machine, and prevent decoloration and damage of the laundry by providing a dechlorinating agent supply means to supply a dechlorinating agent to generate neutral salt by reacting with chlorine in the washing water, to the washing water in a water supply pipe. SOLUTION: At washing operation time, a water supply valve 44 is opened under the control of a control part, and washing water from outside is supplied in a washing tube through a water supply pipe 43. A part of the washing water to be supplied is guided to a branch part 46 of a bypass pipe 47, and is flowed in a dechlorinating agent vessel 51, and after a dechlorinating agent filled in the dechlorinating agent vessel 51 is dissolved and included in the washing water, it is merged with the washing water in the water supply pipe 43 on the downstream side of the water supply pipe 43. Therefore, the dechlorinating agent is reacted with chlorine contained in the washing water, and neutral salt is generated. According to this, decoloration of the laundry can be prevented, and since the chlorine reducing detergency of a synthetic detergent is removed, detergency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a washing machine capable of dechlorinating washing water and a method for dechlorinating washing water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Water supplied to households through waterworks is
Chlorinated for disinfection. Chlorine remains in the chlorinated water, and the residual chlorine chemically reacts with the water to generate hydrochloric acid and generated oxygen. Hydrochloric acid has strong acidity, and generated oxygen has rich reactivity and strong reducing power.

If the tap water containing residual chlorine is used as it is for washing, the washing cloth may be considerably damaged or decolored depending on the type of washing cloth. It would be desirable to be able to remove residual chlorine before the wash water was supplied to the washing machine.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of removing chlorine contained in washing water supplied into the washing machine to prevent decoloring and damage of the laundry. The dechlorination method is provided.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine having a washing tub for storing laundry and washing water according to the present invention, a water supply pipe for supplying washing water to the washing tub; A dechlorinating agent supplying means for supplying a dechlorinating agent for producing a neutral salt by reacting with chlorine to the washing water in the water supply pipe.

[0006] The dechlorinating agent supply means has an inlet for inflow of the washing water and an outlet for outflow of the washing water, and supplies the solid dechlorinating agent to the washing water. It can be easily configured including a dechlorinator container that is stored so as to be in contact with water. At this time, as the dechlorinating agent, potassium sulfite or sodium thiosulfate can be used.

On the other hand, the dechlorinating agent supply means includes a branch pipe branched from the water supply pipe and in contact with an inlet of the dechlorinating agent container, and a branch pipe in contact with the outlet and downstream of a branch point of the branch pipe. And a merging pipe that merges with the water supply pipe. Here, the dechlorinating agent container has a dechlorinating agent input port opened upward and includes an opening / closing cover for opening and closing the dechlorinating agent input port, so that the dechlorinating agent can be easily refilled. it can.

Here, the valve body further includes a valve body for opening and closing the inflow port, and interlocking means for interlocking and opening the inflow port with the valve body in conjunction with opening and closing of the opening and closing cover. It is desirable. At this time,
The inflow port is opened at the bottom of the dechlorinating agent container facing the input port, and the valve body is arranged so as to move the inflow port upward in the inflow direction of the washing water and shut off the same. The interlocking means includes an interlock bar having one end coupled to the valve body and the other end contacting the inner surface of the open / close cover, the interlock bar being movable up and down in the dechlorinating agent container, and the interlock bar. And a spring that applies elastic force toward the opening / closing cover.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for removing chlorine contained in washing water supplied to a washing tub of a washing machine through a water supply pipe, the method comprising: Removing part of the washing water;
Administering a predetermined amount of a dechlorinating agent to the extracted washing water; and supplying the washing water mixed with the dechlorinating agent into the washing tub. Achieved by a dechlorination method.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a washing machine having a chlorine removing apparatus according to the present invention. The washing machine 1 according to the present invention has an outer casing 3 forming the appearance of the washing machine 1, a washing system 11 suspended and supported in the outer casing 3, and a water supply unit 41 for supplying washing water for washing. ing. An upper cover 5 having a laundry distribution inlet formed thereon is connected to an upper portion of the outer casing 3. An operation section (not shown) for operating the device is provided in a front region of the upper cover 5. A water supply unit 41 to which the water supply hose 7 from the outside is connected is provided in the rear area.

The washing system 11 has a washing tub 13 suspended and supported by a suspension device 21, and a driving unit 31 provided below the washing tub 13. A dehydration tub 17 is rotatably provided in the washing tub 13, and a pulsator 19 is rotatably provided in the dehydration tub 17.

The suspension device 21 includes a suspension bar 23 and the washing tub 1.
3 has a damper 25 provided on the outer wall surface of the suspension bar 2.
The upper end of 3 is connected to the outer casing 3 and the lower end is connected to the damper 25.

The driving section 31 includes a driving motor 33 and a shaft assembly 35 for selectively providing the driving force of the driving motor 33 to the dewatering tub 17 and the pulsator 19. The shaft assembly 35 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to rotationally drive the pulsator 19 at the time of washing, and to rotate the pulsator 19 and the dehydration tub 17 integrally at the time of dehydration. The shaft assembly 35 and the drive motor 33 are mutually connected so that power can be transmitted through a pulley 39 and a belt 37.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1, specifically showing the water supply unit 41. As shown in FIG. The water supply unit 41 includes a water supply pipe 43 having an upper end protruding upward through the upper cover 5 and a lower end disposed above an opening of the washing tub 13 that is bent downward and extended, and a water supply valve for supplying water. 44. A water supply hose 7 connected to an external water supply source is connected to an upper end of the water supply pipe 43. The water supply valve 44 opens and closes the washing water flow path of the water supply pipe 43 by operation control of a control unit (not shown), and the washing water flowing through the water supply hose 7 is supplied to the washing tub 1 through the water supply pipe 43.
3.

The water supply pipe 43 includes a bypass pipe 47 which is branched at a predetermined position on the upstream side and joins the downstream side. The bypass pipe 47 sandwiches the dechlorinating agent container 51, and is divided into a branch portion 46 branched from the upstream side of the water supply pipe 43 and a merging section 48 that joins the dechlorinating agent container 51 to the downstream side of the water supply pipe 43. . And, on the flow path of the water supply pipe 43, a detergent supply device (not shown) for making the washing water contain the laundry detergent can be provided.

On the other hand, the dechlorinating agent container 51 has a rectangular tube shape, and has an inlet 55 and an outlet 53 facing each other on both side walls. The inflow port 55 and the outflow port 53 are formed by a plurality of through holes having a relatively small diameter, and have connection ribs 54 and 56 projecting outward from the outer peripheral edge. Union screw portions are formed at the ends of the coupling ribs 54 and 56. Further, union screw portions are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the ends of the branch portion 46 and the merging portion 48, respectively. These mutually corresponding union screw portions are connected by union nuts 57 and 58, respectively. Thus, the dechlorinator container 51 can be easily assembled and disassembled.

The dechlorinating agent container 51 contains a dechlorinating agent which chemically binds to chlorine contained in the washing water. As the dechlorinating agent, potassium sulfite or sodium thiosulfate which is dissolved and easily binds to chlorine in water can be used. At this time, it is desirable that the dechlorinating agent is in the form of solid particles so that it is easy to inject into the dechlorinating agent container 51 and is easily mixed with the washing water.

In the washing machine 1 having such a configuration,
When the water supply valve 44 is opened under the control of the control unit (not shown), washing water from outside is supplied through the water supply pipe 43. At this time, a part of the supplied washing water is guided into the branch portion 46 of the bypass pipe 47 and flows into the dechlorinating agent container 51 through the inflow port 55 of the dechlorinating agent container 51. The washing water that has flowed into the dechlorinating agent container 51, after dissolving and containing the dechlorinating agent, flows out through the outlet 53 of the dechlorinating agent container 51, and flows along the junction 48 downstream of the water supply pipe 43. Return to. The washing water in which the returning dechlorinating agent is dissolved,
After being mixed with the washing water in the water supply pipe 43, the washing tub 13
Supplied within.

On the other hand, the dechlorinating agent dissolved in the washing water reacts with chlorine contained in the washing water to form a neutral salt. The following chemical formula 1 is a reaction formula with chlorine when the dechlorinating agent is potassium sulfite.

[0020]

Embedded image

Formula 2 below is a reaction formula with chlorine when the dechlorinating agent is sodium thiofluoate.

[0022]

Embedded image

As can be seen from these formulas, potassium sulfite and sodium thiosulfate are hydrolyzed and chemically combined with chlorine to form potassium chloride and sodium chloride, respectively. At this time, potassium chloride and sodium chloride are chemically stable substances and do not generate generated oxygen in the washing water. Thereby, the decolorization of the laundry can be prevented. An additional effect of improving the detergency by removing chlorine which lowers the detergency of the synthetic detergent can also be expected.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a dechlorinating agent container according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an operation state diagram of the dechlorinating agent container of FIG. 3 when an opening / closing cover is separated. is there.
As can be seen from these figures, the chlorine removing device 61 according to the present embodiment is a roughly rectangular cylindrical dechlorinating agent container 6.
2 and an opening / closing cover 7 capable of opening and closing the upper part of the dechlorinating agent container 62
And 1. The dechlorinating agent container 62 has an inflow port 65 opened downward and an outflow port 63 opened laterally. In the opening 69 of the dechlorinating agent container 62 which is opened,
The opening / closing cover 71 is connected by a screw connection method. At the inflow port 65 and the outflow port 63, the coupling rib 66 protrudes outward as described above, and a union screw portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the coupling rib 66. These inlet 65 and outlet 6
3 includes branch portions 46 of the corresponding bypass pipes 47.
And the union nuts 57 and 5
8 connected.

The inlet 65 is formed with a tubular guide tube 81 extending upward from the edge thereof. Guide tube 81
Guides the washing water flowing through the inlet 65 into the dechlorinator container 62. An interlocking bar 75 that can slide along the longitudinal direction is accommodated inside the guide tube 81. The outlet opening at the end of the extended guide tube 81 includes:
A perforated filter 85 is provided. Filter 8
Reference numeral 5 plays a role in blocking outflow of the dechlorinating agent contained therein.

The upper end of the interlocking bar 75 has the open / close cover 7.
1 is in contact with a contact protrusion 73 protruding from the inner surface of the valve body 1.
7 is fixed. In the upper region of the interlock bar 75, upper guide projections 76 protruding in the radial direction are arranged at equal angles along the circumferential direction. This upper guide projection 76
It is preferable to form the guide tube 81 at a predetermined distance from the inner wall surface so as to allow the flow of the washing water. Lower guide projections 83 are also arranged at equal angles along the circumferential direction on the lower inner wall surface of the guide tube 81. A spring 79 is sandwiched between the lower guide projection 83 and the upper guide projection 76, and the interlock bar 75 can be moved upward by the elastic force of the spring 79.

With such a configuration, the user can open the cover 71 to replenish the dechlorinating agent in the dechlorinating agent container 62. When the opening / closing cover 71 is opened, the interlocking bar 75 moves upward by the elastic force of the spring 79.
5 is closed. On the other hand, when the opening / closing cover 71 is closed after completion of the injection of the dechlorinating agent, the contact protrusion 7 of the opening / closing cover 71 is closed.
3 presses the interlock bar 75 and moves it downward. At this time, the spring 79 is compressed and the valve body 77 opens the inflow port 65.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, the chlorine mixed in the washing water supplied into the washing tub is removed,
A washing machine capable of preventing decoloring and damage of laundry and a method for dechlorinating the washing machine are provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a washing machine having a chlorine removing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a dechlorinating agent container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an operation state diagram when the open / close cover of FIG. 3 is separated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 3 Outer casing 13 Washing tub 19 Pulsator 21 Suspension device 31 Drive part 41 Water supply unit 43 Water supply pipe 46 Branch part 48 Junction part 51 Dechlorination agent container 53 Outlet 54 Connection rib 55 Inflow 56 Connection rib 57 Union nut 58 Union nut 62 Dechlorinator container 63 Outflow port 64 Connection rib 65 Inflow port 66 Connection rib 69 Input port 71 Open / close cover 75 Interlocking bar 76 Upper guide projection 77 Valve body 79 Spring 83 Lower guide projection 85 Filter

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A washing machine having a washing tub for storing laundry and washing water, a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the washing tub; and a dechlorination for producing a neutral salt by reacting with chlorine in the washing water. A dechlorinating agent supplying means for supplying an agent to the washing water in the water supply pipe. 2. The dechlorinating agent supply means has an inlet for inflow of the washing water and an outlet for outflow of the washing water, and supplies the solid dechlorinating agent to the washing water. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a dechlorinator container accommodated in the washing machine. 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the dechlorinating agent is potassium sulfite. 4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the dechlorinating agent is sodium thiosulfate. 5. The dechlorinating agent supply means includes: a branch pipe branched from the water supply pipe and in contact with an inlet of the dechlorinating agent container; and a downstream of a branch point of the branch pipe in contact with the outflow port. The washing machine according to claim 2, further comprising: a merging pipe that merges with the water supply pipe. 6. The dechlorinating agent container according to claim 5, wherein the dechlorinating agent container has a dechlorinating agent input port opened upward, and includes an opening / closing cover for opening and closing the dechlorinating agent input port. Washing machine. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a valve body for opening and closing the inflow port; and interlocking means for closing and opening the inflow port with the valve body in conjunction with opening and closing of the opening and closing cover. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein 8. The inflow port is opened at the bottom of the dechlorinating agent container facing the charging port, and the valve body moves the inflow port upward in the inflow direction of the washing water. The interlocking means is arranged so as to shut off, the interlocking means has an end coupled to the valve body and the other end contacting the inner surface of the open / close cover, and an interlocking bar which can move up and down in the dechlorinating agent container. A spring that elastically presses the interlock bar toward the open / close cover;
The washing machine according to claim 7, comprising: 9. A method for removing chlorine contained in washing water supplied into a washing tub of a washing machine through a water supply pipe, comprising: removing at least a portion of the washing water from the water supply pipe; Administering a predetermined amount of a dechlorinating agent to the washing water; and supplying the washing water mixed with the dechlorinating agent into the washing tub. .