JPH11244585A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a metal ion contained in washing water, with a cation exchange resin and regenerate the cation exchange resin without imposing labor on a user. SOLUTION: Salt storage space is formed at an upper part in a container 60 disposed in a feed water path, and a cation exchange resin is enclosed at the lower part. A feed solenoid valve 27 and a salt dissolving water filling solenoid valve 63 are connected to a water tap 26. The outlet side of the feed solenoid valve 27 is connected to a place where the resin of the container 60 is enclosed, and the salt dissolving water filling solenoid valve 63 is connected to the salt storage space. The salt dissolving water filling solenoid valve 63 is controlled by a microcomputer and opened after the completion of final rinsing water supply to fill water into the salt storage chamber. Salt water formed of a mixture of this water and salt in the salt storage chamber flows into the cation exchange resin to regenerate it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine having a function of removing hardness components from water used for washing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Washing water used for washing in a washing machine is:
Water is supplied to the washing machine by a hose from a water source represented by tap water, etc., and is supplied to the washing tub in the washing machine by a user's operation.
Used for washing clothes.

[0003] However, for example, tap water contains anions such as hypochlorite ion for the purpose of sterilizing various bacteria, calcium and magnesium as hardness components contained in tap water, or tap water. It contains cations such as copper, iron, and chromium that are dissolved from the tap water supply piping system, and these metal ions have various adverse effects on the cleaning power of the detergent used.

[0004] The great influence on the detergency of detergents is
It is a divalent cation of calcium and magnesium ions as hardness components. These react with the surfactant in the detergent to generate insoluble metal soap, reduce the amount of the surfactant contributing to cleaning, and lower the cleaning power.
In addition, the above-mentioned metal soap is insoluble and remains on the laundry, and appears as white spots, especially in black clothing. Furthermore, when metal soap adheres and accumulates on the outer wall of the washing tub, mold and the like may propagate there.

[0005] In conventional detergents, phosphates are mixed to prevent the above-mentioned adverse effects of the hardness components. However, the effect of phosphate on the social environment has been taken up, as is known as the Lake Biwa pollution problem. For this reason, research on alternative builder alternatives to phosphate, which has been used as a builder in conventional detergents, has progressed, and synthetic zeolites have attracted attention as a phosphate alternative builder, and are used in many commercial detergents. Have been. When calcium ion and magnesium ion are contained in the washing water, when artificial zeolite mixed detergent is added to this,
The zeolites do remove these ions from the wash water, but at the same time they ionize the detergent's surfactant metal. For this reason, the effect of the zeolite mixture is reduced. Normally, after removing these ions from the washing water, it is preferable to dissolve the detergent in the washing water and use it for washing. Further, if a large amount of this artificial zeolite is mixed in a detergent as a builder, there is a problem that zeolite particles adhere to the clothes after washing and deteriorate the finish.

Accordingly, as washing machines for removing the adverse effects of these metal ions, for example, JP-A-57-203495, US Pat. No. 3,937,042 and JP-A-4-203.
No. 95 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-115681.

The washing machine described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-203495 is provided with a cation exchange resin in a rinse water supply path, and removes metal ions with the cation exchange resin. In this technique, when the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin decreases, the cation exchange resin is removed from the water supply path and washed with an acid to regenerate the ion exchange capacity.

The washing machine described in the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 3,937,042 has a cation exchange resin tank provided in a water supply path and a saline solution container provided above the cation exchange resin tank. In this technology, when the capacity of the cation exchange resin decreases, a saline solution container is placed on the ion exchange resin tank, and the saline solution is put into this, and the saline solution is dropped into the ion exchange resin tank. The salt solution is used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.

The washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-20395 is provided with an ion removing means such as activated carbon in the middle of a water supply path for supplying water into a washing tub. In this technique, attention is paid to the limit of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for removing anions, and a water supply path is provided in parallel with the ion removing means, and the life is extended by selectively using the water supply path.

In the washing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-115681, a voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes facing each other via a diaphragm, and water is passed therethrough to conduct an electric current. The water on the anode side from which water has been removed is used as washing water.

[0011]

However, according to the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-203495, when the ion exchange capacity of the cation exchange resin is reduced, a housewife or the like at home will purposely supply the cation exchange resin with water. Must be removed from the channel and washed with acid. USP3,9
Even with the technology described in Japanese Patent No. 37,042, when the capacity of the cation exchange resin is reduced, a housewife or the like at home will bother putting a saline solution container on the ion exchange resin tank and putting the saline solution therein. There must be. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
Even with the technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5 (1995) -2005, when the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is reduced, this activated carbon must be removed from the water supply path and replaced with new activated carbon. In other words, in the above conventional techniques, the user using the washing machine has to judge whether the capacity of the ion exchange resin or the activated carbon has deteriorated, and furthermore, has to perform some work in the regeneration processing or the like. There is.

Further, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 5-115681, the speed of the energizing treatment of the washing water is generally slow, and the energizing time is 5 to 3 even in the state of still water.
It takes about 0 minutes, and a very large-sized processing device is required to carry out the energization treatment of 10 to 15 L of washing water per minute.
Further, consideration must be given to electric shock, hydrogen gas generated by electrolysis of water, and the like. In other words, this technique has a problem that the size of the apparatus is increased, and additional equipment for safety is required, which increases the manufacturing cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine capable of continuously removing metal ions from the water for washing without significantly increasing the production cost and without bothering the user. It is.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: a container filled with a cation exchange material in a water supply path for guiding water from a water source to a washing tub; A washing machine that removes cations contained in the water by contacting water with the cation exchange material in a salt storage chamber for storing salt for regenerating the cation exchange material; A salt dissolving water injection adjusting means for adjusting the injection of water from the water source into the salt storage chamber, and the salt which has been converted into salt water by the water entering the salt storage chamber to the cation exchange material in the container. The guide path and the water supply / drainage to the washing tub are controlled to control the washing step and the rinsing step, and after the water supply in the final rinsing step is completed, the salt dissolving water injection adjusting means is driven to supply water into the salt storage chamber. Pour water,
Control means for regenerating the ion exchange resin with the salt water formed by the water injection.

Here, the container is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber by a partition provided in the container, and the upper and lower chambers are divided into two chambers.
The upper first chamber forms the salt storage chamber, the cation exchange material is stored in the lower second chamber, and the partition wall penetrates from the first chamber to the second chamber, A through-hole forming a passage is formed, a check valve for preventing inflow from the second chamber side to the first chamber side is provided in the through-hole, and a saltwater drainage is provided at a bottom of the second chamber of the container. An outlet may be formed.

In this case, the second chamber of the container is vertically divided into three spaces of an upper space, a middle space, and a lower space by two filters that allow water to pass but do not allow the cation exchange material to pass therethrough. A water inlet through which water from the water source enters is formed at the side of the container and at the position of the lower space, and the water in the container is washed at the position of the upper space at the side of the container and at the position of the upper space. A discharge port for discharging into the tank may be formed, and the cation exchange material may be disposed in the inner space.

The salt water discharge port may be connected to a salt water discharge adjusting means controlled by the control means to control discharge of the salt water in the container. Further, a saltwater discharge tube for discharging the discharge of the saltwater in the container is connected to the saltwater outlet, and the saltwater discharge tube rises from the saltwater outlet to a boundary between the upper space and the lower space. ,
It may be downward from there.

In each of the above washing machines, it is preferable that at least a part of the outer wall of the salt storage chamber is transparent.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a basic embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The washing machine in this basic form is a fully automatic washing machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a suspension rod 2 and a vibration isolator made of a coil spring or elastic rubber in an outer frame 1 made of steel plate. The outer tank 4 made of synthetic resin is suspended by the mechanism 3. The outer tub 4 is suspended from four upper corners of the outer frame 1 and supported by four pairs of suspension rods 2 and vibration isolating mechanisms 3.
Inside the outer tub 4 for storing water to be washed, a washing and dewatering tub 5 made of stainless steel is rotatably provided. A large number of dewatering holes 5a are formed in the washing and dewatering tub 5, and rotatable blades 6 are rotatably provided at the center bottom thereof. During the washing and rinsing steps, a washing and dewatering tub (hereinafter simply referred to as a washing tub) 5 is stopped, and the rotating blades 6 are rotated clockwise (forward) and counterclockwise (reverse). Also, during the dehydration process,
The washing tub 5 is rotated in one direction. The rotation of the rotary wing 6 and the washing and dewatering tub 5 is performed by a driving device.

The driving device includes an electric motor 7, a transmission mechanism 8 including a pulley 8a and a belt 8b for transmitting the rotation of the electric motor 7 to the rotary blade 6 or the washing tub 5, and only the rotary blade 6 during the washing and rinsing steps. Or a clutch device 9 for rotating the washing tub 5 during the spin-drying process.
, And is configured. This driving device is an outer tank 4
Is fixed to a steel-made support plate 10 provided on the bottom surface of.

The outer tub 4 is provided with a water level sensor tube 12 for transmitting the water pressure in the outer tub 4 to a water level sensor 11 and a drainage device 13 for draining the washing water in the outer tub 4. The drainage device 13 includes a drainage solenoid valve 13a, a drainage reservoir 13b containing the same, a drainage hose 16,
Have. The drainage solenoid valve 13a is provided immediately after the drainage hole 14 on the bottom surface of the outer tub 4, and the outlet thereof is connected to the drainage reservoir 13b.
Open inside. The inlet of the drain hose 16 is connected to the drain reservoir 13b, and the outlet thereof is exposed outside the outer frame 1. An extraordinary overflow pipe 15 having an open upper end is provided on the side surface of the outer tub 4.
Open inside. The abnormal overflow pipe 15 is provided in case of an abnormality in the water supply and the washing water overflows from the outer tub 4 or when the washing water jumps out of the outer tub due to the movement of the laundry during washing. The overflowing washing water flows from the abnormal overflow pipe 15 into the drainage reservoir 13b, and is discharged out of the washing machine by the drainage hose 16.

A top cover 17 is provided above the outer frame 1. The top cover 17 has a loading port 17a for loading laundry, a rear storage box 17b for storing ion removing means, a water tap, a water supply solenoid valve, and the like, and a front operation box for storing electrical components such as a microcomputer. 17c are formed. A lid 18 made of synthetic resin is provided at the inlet 17a.

An operation panel 19a is mounted on the upper surface of the front operation box 17c, and a control circuit 19b containing a microcomputer as a control unit is provided below the operation panel 19a. In the front operation box 17c, there is provided a water level sensor 11 for detecting whether or not water has accumulated to a specified water level by detecting the water pressure in the outer tub 4. As shown in FIG. 3, a power switch 20, various indicators 21, various operation buttons 22, a buzzer 23, and the like are arranged on the operation panel 19a, and the user operates the operation buttons 22. Can be checked on the display 21 and the buzzer 23. Further, on the operation panel 19a, a water softening display 24 made of a light emitting diode indicating that the ion removal processing (soft water softening) is being performed, and a salt input display 25 made of a light emitting diode for displaying the renewal of the ion exchange resin described later are displayed. Are located.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear storage box 17b has a water tap 26 to which a hose from a water tap is connected.
, A water supply solenoid valve 27 connected thereto, a resin container 29 into which the ion exchange resin enters, a manual salt water discharge valve 34 for discharging the regenerated salt water from the resin container 29, and a bath water suction pump for absorbing bath water. 45 and a slanted flow channel 46 for allowing washing water to flow down into the washing tub 5 are housed. On the upstream side of the inclined flow path 46, a room A47 and a room B48 opening to the inclined flow path 46 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Has a cylindrical shape, a water inlet 29a is formed at the lower part of the side peripheral surface, a discharge port 29b is formed at the upper part of the side peripheral surface, and a salt water discharge port 29c is formed at the bottom surface. Inside the resin container 29, two polyethylene mesh filters 29
d, 29d, lower space 29e, middle space 29f, upper space 2
It is divided into three 9g spaces. Each of the two mesh filters 29d, 29d is provided above the water inlet 29a and below the outlet 29b. The middle space 29f is filled with a sodium-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (hereinafter simply referred to as an ion exchange resin) 31, which is a member having ion exchange ability. The resin container 29 is fixed to the bottom surface of the rear storage box 17b such that the salt water discharge port 29c passes through the bottom surface of the box. The mesh filter 29d has a mesh size that allows water to pass but does not allow the ion exchange resin 31 to pass. A female screw 29h is formed on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the resin container 29. A female screw 3 is provided on the inner periphery of the lid 30 of the resin container 29.
0a is formed. On the inner surface (lower surface) of the top plate of the lid 30, a gasket 30b on a thin ring is provided. The lid 30 is screwed into the male screw 29h of the resin container 29 and fixed. The gasket 30b contacts the upper end surface of the resin container 29 to prevent water from leaking from inside the container 29.

Examples of the member having ion exchange capability include, in addition to the ion exchange resin 31, a material in which the ion exchange resin is dispersed and held in a fiber such as polyester, or a polymer material having ion exchange capability in a fibrous form. You may use the material which did.

In the resin container 29, a lower space 29e and an upper space 29g are provided in addition to the middle space 29f in which the ion exchange resin 31 is stored. The lower space 29e communicates with the water inlet 29a, and the lower space 29e is discharged into the upper space 29g. The reason why the outlet 29b is communicated is that water is prevented from passing through only a part of the ion exchange resin 31, and tap water is uniformly passed through the entire ion exchange resin 31, thereby improving ion exchange efficiency. That's why. Tap water enters the lower space 29e from the water inlet 29a, and after completely filling the lower space 29e, its water level rises and evenly passes through the entire ion exchange resin 31 in the middle space 29f. When the tap water passes through the inner space 29f, calcium ions, magnesium ions, and the like in the tap water are removed by the ion exchange resin 31, that is, the tap water is softened. After passing through the middle space 29f, the tap water reaches the upper space 29g, and after filling the space to some extent, flows out of the outlet 29b.

Here, the water supply path will be described again with reference to FIG.

The tap water reaches the tap tap 26 with a hose from the tap, and the resin container 29 is opened and closed by opening and closing the feed water solenoid valve 27.
Then, as described above, after being softened, the water is supplied to the washing tub 5 through the room A47 and the inclined flow path 46. In addition, water from the bath etc.
Pumped out of the bath etc. with the hose connected to a. In order to supply the bath water, first, tap water from the water tap 26 is opened and closed by opening and closing the water supply solenoid valve 27 to form the resin container 29 and the room A4.
Pass through 7. Then, the tap water reaching the room A47 is primed from the priming port 45b to the bath water suction pump 45. Thereafter, the pump 45 is driven to supply the bath water to the bath water inlet 4.
The water is supplied to the washing tub 5 through the room B48 and the inclined flow path 46 from the discharge port 45c.

The rear storage box 17 in which the water tap 26 is installed
Since the length of the water supply pipe can be shortened by installing the resin container 29 in b, the flow path loss is reduced and the water supply amount is increased,
This is because the water supply time can be reduced. In the water supply, since tap water passes through the inner space 29f of the resin container 29 filled with the ion exchange resin 31, the pressure loss is large. In order to cover this loss even a little, the resin container 2
The pipe length reaching 9 is desirably 100 mm or less. The washing water supply flow rate of a general washing machine depends on the tap water pressure.
It is 0 to 15 liters / minute, and the above-described consideration is required in order to secure a flow rate close to this.

As shown in FIG. 6, a manual salt water discharging device 34 is connected to the salt water discharging port 29 c of the resin container 29 via a tube 35. This manual salt water discharging device 34
Has a ball valve 34a, a push button 34c for rotating a ball 34b which is a valve element of the ball valve 34a, and a connecting rod 34d for connecting the push button 34c to the ball 34b. The push button 34c is arranged on the upper surface of the rear storage box 17b, and the ball valve 34a is fixed directly below the push button 34c and on the back surface of the rear storage box 17b. Ball valve 34
A salt water discharge tube 36 is connected to the outlet of a. The other end of the salt water discharge tube 36 is inserted into the abnormal overflow pipe 15 described above (see FIG. 2).

The manual salt water discharging device 34 discharges the salt water used when the ion exchange resin 31 is regenerated. To discharge the salt water remaining in the resin container 29 during the regeneration of the ion exchange resin 31, the user presses the push button 34c. Then, the connecting rod 34d rotates the ball 34b of the ball valve 34a to open the ball valve 34a. The salt water in the resin container 29 is discharged from the salt water outlet 29c.
The water is discharged out of the washing machine through the tube 35, the ball valve 34a, the salt water discharge tube 36, the abnormal overflow pipe 15, the drainage reservoir 13b, and the drainage hose 16. Push button 3
4c has a lock mechanism (not shown), and once depressed, stops in the depressed state, and when depressed again, releases the lock mechanism and returns with the spring 34e. When the push button 34c is returned, the ball valve 34a is closed.

The ball 3 which is the valve element of the ball valve 34a
A magnet 37 is fixed to 4b, and a magnetoresistive element 38 whose resistance changes by a magnetic field is fixed to the valve box of the ball valve 34a. For this reason, the push button 34c
Is pressed to rotate the ball 34b, the movement of the magnet 37 due to this rotation is detected by the magnetoresistive element 38. This detection result is displayed, as described later, assuming that the ball valve 34a is in the open state, in other words, the salt water discharge port 29c is in the open state. This is the push button 3
When the water supply for the next washing is started with the 4c kept pressed down (the ball valve 34a is in the open state), a part of the tap water passing through the resin container 29 is wasted to the outside of the washing machine from the salt water outlet 29c. This is to notify the user to push up the push button 34c in order to prevent the user from being pushed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a washing machine control section mainly composed of the microcomputer 50. The microcomputer 50 is connected to the operation button input circuit 51 and the water level sensor 11, and receives a user's button operation and an information signal of the water level for washing in the washing tub. The output from the microcomputer 50 is connected to a plurality of drive circuits 52, 52,... Formed by a bidirectional three-terminal thyristor or the like. Are respectively connected to the electric motor 7, the clutch solenoid 9a of the clutch device 9, the drain solenoid valve 13a, the bath water pump 45, the water supply solenoid valve 27, the drain solenoid valve 13a of the drain device 13, and the like by a commercial power supply. Supply
These drives are controlled. In addition, the microcomputer 50 is also connected to notifying means such as the buzzer 23, the display 21 and the light emitting diodes 54 and 55 to notify the user of the operation of the washing machine. The power supply circuit 53 rectifies and smoothes a commercial power supply to create a DC power supply required for the microcomputer 50. The light emitting diode 54 is connected to the front operation box 17c.
The lamp is turned on when water is passed through the ion exchange resin, and the user is informed by the water softening display 24 (see FIG. 3) that the water softening process is being performed. Further, the light emitting diode 55 is mounted on the front operation box 17c, and is turned on when the salt is required, to notify the user of the salt introduction with the salt introduction display 25 (see FIG. 3).

Here, again, ion removal from tap water,
The process of supplying water from which ions have been removed will be described.

When the user puts the laundry in the washing tub 5, presses the power switch 19 and operates the start button, the microcomputer 50 opens the water supply solenoid valve 27. The tap water passes through the water supply solenoid valve 27 from the water tap 26 and flows into the lower space 29e of the resin container 29 from the water inlet 29a. The flowing tap water fills the lower space 29e, flows into the middle space 29f, and passes through the space between the sodium-type strongly acidic cation exchange resins 31 filled therein. Then, after the upper space 29g is filled to some extent, it flows out from the discharge port 29b. Tap water is ion exchange resin 3.
During the passage through 1, the ion exchange action removes calcium ions and magnesium ions contained therein.
The tap water flowing out of the discharge port 29b of the resin container 29 passes through the room A47, is rectified in the inclined passage 46, and flows into the washing tub 5. During this washing water supply, the light emitting diode 54 is turned on, and the display or notification of the ion removal is performed using the water softening display 24 or the buzzer 23.

As described above, when water is supplied and the required washing water is filled in the washing tub 5, the water level sensor 11 detects this and the detection result is sent to the microcomputer 5
Inform 0. Then, the microcomputer 50
The water supply electromagnetic valve 27 is closed to stop water supply. And
The microcomputer 50 includes a drive circuit 54 of the electric motor 7.
And the motor 7 is driven. The rotating blades 6 connected to the electric motor 7 via the transmission mechanism 8 rotate forward and backward, and the washing is started. Since the washing water supplied into the washing tub 5 does not contain cations such as calcium and magnesium, it reacts with the surfactant in the detergent supplied to generate insoluble metal soap and contribute to washing. It does not reduce the amount of surfactant and does not reduce detergency.

Sodium type strongly acidic cation exchange resin 31
Is a synthetic resin in which an ion exchange group such as a sulfonic acid group is bonded to a crosslinked three-dimensional polymer substrate by a chemical bond as is well known. When tap water containing divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium flows between the cation exchange resins, fixed ions such as sulfonic acid groups, which are ion exchange groups of the cation exchange resin, and cations in the tap water. Ion exchange is performed, and as a result, cations in tap water are removed.

Here, the following (Formula 1) shows an ion exchange reaction formula between a sodium-type strongly acidic ion exchange resin and calcium ions, and (Formula 2) shows a sodium-type strongly acidic ion exchange resin and magnesium ions. 1 shows an ion exchange reaction formula.

[0041]

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[0042]

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[0043] Sodium type, SO ₃ ^- anion fixed ions in exchange resin and Na ⁺ cations and counter ions, by utilizing the selectivity of the ion, calcium contained in the water, multi and magnesium The cations are removed. At a low concentration and room temperature, the ion selectivity of a strongly acidic cation exchange resin increases with an ion having a higher valence, and increases with an atomic number at the same valence. For ions contained in natural water, the order is as shown in the following (Chem. 3I).

[0044]

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The calcium ions and magnesium ions in the water passing through the ion exchange resin are removed by the ion exchange with the sodium ions of the resin by the above-mentioned reactions from left to right in the chemical formulas (1) and (2). . Conversely, when high-concentration salt water is applied to the resin on which calcium and magnesium ions are adsorbed, the calcium and magnesium ions adsorbed on the resin are converted into sodium ions by the right-to-left reaction of (Chem. 1) and (Chem. 2). It is desorbed by ion exchange, and the resin returns to its original state and is regenerated.

Commercially available water softeners used in laboratories, etc.
Using 2 liters or more of the resin as described above, raw water such as natural water is subjected to a water softening treatment at a minute flow rate of about 10 liters / hour. As described above, in a home washing machine, water is supplied directly from a faucet to a washing tub at a flow rate of 10 liters / min or more in order to shorten a water supply time. For this reason, in a general commercially available water softener, it is inevitable to use the water softened in the water storage tank after the batch processed using the time other than the washing is once stored in the water storage tank. Also,
Since 2 liters of resin occupies a relatively large volume,
It is difficult to install this in a home washing machine. That is,
In a home washing machine, the water flow rate in the ion exchange resin described above,
It is necessary to solve the problem of the capacity of the resin used.

According to water supply statistics carried out in the past, of the number of cases investigated, the number of cases having a total hardness of 40 ppm or less was half, and the number of cases exceeding 100 ppm was as high as 15%. The arithmetic mean is 54.5 ppm.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the total hardness of the washing water and the washing rate when washing is performed using a commercially available synthetic detergent containing zeolite and the detergent concentration as a parameter. For example, at a detergent concentration of 0.067 w% (standard amount), the arithmetic mean hardness is reduced by half to 54.5 ppm, that is, the hardness is 27 p.
pm, the cleaning rate (38% → 52%) can be reduced to about 50
It is possible to increase w%. Further, when the detergent concentration is 0.133 w% and the hardness is 100 ppm, the cleaning rate is as follows:
At a detergent concentration of 0.067 w%, a hardness of about 50 ppm can be obtained. That is, the cleaning rate when the detergent concentration is twice the standard can be obtained at the standard detergent concentration by lowering the hardness. By removing calcium ions and magnesium ions, which are hardness components, the washing power of the washing machine can be greatly improved. In addition, the amount of detergent used can be reduced. Therefore, there is no need to use more detergent than necessary, and the effect on the environment is reduced.

When a synthetic detergent containing zeolite is used, even at each detergent concentration, if the hardness is 40 ppm or less, the washing rate tends to be almost saturated. This is because the zeolite contained in the detergent blocks the hardness component, and when a zeolite-containing synthetic detergent is used for washing, this 40 ppm
It shows that it is desirable to be able to remove calcium components and magnesium ions, which are hardness components, to a certain extent. On the other hand, in the case of natural powder soap, even if the hardness is lowered, the cleaning rate is not saturated. Therefore, it is desirable to remove the hardness component as much as possible.

The ion exchange capacity of the ion exchange resin 31 is as follows:
About 2.0 meq / mL-R (2.0 equivalents per 1 mL of resin), for example, tap water 72 having a total hardness of 100 ppm
In order to replace 7.2 g (in terms of CaCO ₃ ) of the hardness component contained in L (the amount of water required for one wash of 7 kg in rating), a small amount of 72 mL is sufficient. However, this volume is an ideal (theoretical) value where all ion exchange groups are active and all sodium ions are exchanged for calcium and magnesium ions. Actually, for the reasons described below, the theoretical value is higher than the theoretical value, for example, 3 to 4 of the theoretical value.
Twice as much resin is required.

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the flow rate of raw water (using a raw water hardness of 100 ppm) and the concentration of leaked calcium ions that could not be removed by the ion exchange resin, using the amount of resin as a parameter. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the leaked ion concentration increases in proportion to the increase in the flow rate of the raw water. Also, the smaller the resin amount, the higher the leaked ion concentration. This can be explained by the time during which the calcium ions flowing between the resins come into contact with the ion exchange groups. If the flow rate of the raw water is large and the amount of the resin is small, the amount of calcium ions that simply pass between the resins without performing the ion exchange reaction increases. Most calcium ions can be exchanged at the flow rate of the conventional water softener (10 L / hr = 0.17 L / min), but at the flow rate of a washing machine (10-15 L / min), 40 ppm (1/1/1 of the input).
3) Calcium ions nearby leak without being exchanged (when the resin amount is 260 mL). However, as described above, if the hardness component is 40 ppm or less, the cleaning performance can be improved, so that even this leakage amount, that is, the flow rate, can be effective. The amount of resin confirmed in the experiment at this time was 260 mL and was 3 to 4 times the theoretical value. Washing water required for washing once with a washing capacity of 5 to 9 kg is about 50
~ 90L, and the amount of resin is 150 ~ 360mL from the above
Becomes In flowing water, the ion exchange capacity of the ion exchange resin changes with the particle size of the resin. This is because if the particle size is small, the surface area increases, and the probability that calcium ions come into contact with the ion exchange group increases. As a result, the leakage concentration with respect to the raw water flow rate in FIG. 9 also decreases. In the experiment, if the average particle size was reduced by about 20%, the leakage concentration could be reduced by about 20%.
Taking this into account, the resin amount on the left is about 100 to 300 m
L. This amount of resin is an amount that can be mounted on a home washing machine. However, if tap water is continuously passed through the resin, all the ion exchange groups will eventually be exchanged for calcium ions and magnesium ions, and it will not be possible to further remove calcium ions and magnesium ions. That is, a reproduction process, which is a reaction from (Chemical Formula 1) and (Chemical Formula 2) from right to left, is required.

FIG. 10 shows the appropriate amount (260
6 shows the relationship between the leaked calcium concentration and the integrated flow rate when tap water (input raw water calcium concentration: 100 ppm) is supplied at 13 L / min to the ion exchange resin (mL). When tap water is passed through a completely new ion exchange resin (first time), the leak concentration can be maintained at 40 ppm or less up to an integrated flow rate of 200 L. Furthermore, as the integrated flow rate increases, that is, as the amount of resin ion-exchanged with calcium ions increases,
Leakage calcium concentration also increases. At an integrated flow rate of 500 L, the resin has almost completely lost its ion exchange capacity, requiring regeneration treatment for the next wash. This reproduction processing will be described later.

When the washing process is completed, the microcomputer 50 gives an instruction to the drive circuit 52 of the drain solenoid valve 13a to open the drain solenoid valve 13a and drain the washing water in the washing tub 5. The microcomputer 50 is
After the drainage is completed, an instruction is given to the drive circuit 52 to close the drainage electromagnetic valve 13a, and then the process proceeds to a rinsing step. The microcomputer 50 firstly operates the water supply solenoid valve 2.
7 is opened, and rinsing water is supplied into the washing tub 5 in the same manner as in the aforementioned washing water supply. The amount of water supplied at this time is about the same as or less than the amount of water supplied for washing. This depends on the rinsing method.
Once the water is stored, the electric motor 7 is driven to rotate the rotary wings 6 to wash out the detergent remaining on the clothes and dilute it, so-called rinsing requires approximately the same amount of water as the previous washing water supply. . The number of times of rinsing is at least once or twice. 72L in the previous washing water supply,
224L in total of 72L x 2 times of water supply in this rinse
It is. As shown in FIG. 10, in the initial resin, the hardness of 40 ppm or less can be maintained up to almost this amount of water (224 L). However, in the regeneration with salt water described later, it is not possible to regenerate all of the ion exchange resin that has been ion exchanged to the full ion exchange capacity once, and in the second and third water supply, the hardness is only about 1/3 of the initial amount and the hardness is 40 ppm or less. Of water cannot be maintained.

After the rinsing water is drained, the process proceeds to a dehydration step. In the dehydrating step, the microcomputer 50 controls the solenoid 9 a of the clutch device 9 to rotate the washing tub 5 at high speed by the electric motor 7. During this time, the drain solenoid valve 13a
Is open.

After the dehydration, the microcomputer 50
In order to inform the user that the ion exchange resin 31 needs to be regenerated, the user turns on the light emitting diode 55 and displays the salt introduction display 25. In view of this, the user opens the lid 30 of the resin container 29 to regenerate the ion-exchange resin 31 and applies a predetermined amount of salt, for example, about 30 g of two spoons to the inner space 29f of the resin container 29. Put in.

The ion exchange resin 31 in the resin container 28
The above-mentioned water supply for washing and rinsing is in a state of ion exchange with many calcium ions and magnesium ions. Further, at the end of the water supply (when the water supply electromagnetic valve is closed), the ion exchange resin 31 is immersed in the resin container 29, and the tap water remains at the lower end water level of the discharge port 29b (FIG. 5 (b)). ) Is indicated by broken line A). The salt charged into the resin container 29 enters the residual water on the ion-exchange resin 31 and is dissolved therein to form salt water. The salt water gradually permeates into the ion exchange resin 31 by diffusion. The amount of salt to be input is determined in consideration of the regeneration efficiency with salt water described later,
Here, it is about 30 g of two spoons. In addition, the amount of residual water in the resin container 29 is about 100 mL here so that all the input salt is dissolved. The amount of resin is 260 mL as described above.

These values are as follows: (1) a salt that is always present in the home and can be weighed with a spoon; (2) a concentration of around 10% is most efficient in regenerating ion exchange resin in salt water; and (3) At least one tank (90
The washing water (for washing) in L) is set in consideration of the required amount of salt (sodium chloride) to make the hardness 40 ppm or less and the like.

When a user depresses the push button 34c after a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes (the time is sufficient for the salt to dissolve), the salt water flows down between the ion exchange resins 31. And discharged from the salt water discharge port 29c. In the above process, the above-described reactions from right to left in (Chemical Formula 1) and (Chemical Formula 2) occur, and calcium ions and magnesium ions adsorbed on the ion exchange resin 31 are replaced with sodium ions. This makes the ion exchange resin 31
Is regenerated and its ion exchange capacity is restored again, and calcium and magnesium ions are discharged together with the salt water.

The microcomputer 50 changes the output of the magnetoresistive element 38 due to the rotation of the magnet 37 due to the depression of the push button 34c and the fluctuation of the magnetic field caused by the rotation.
The end of the regeneration process of the ion exchange resin is grasped, the light emitting diode 55 is turned off, and the salt input display 25 is turned off. If the user does not input salt and press the push button even after a predetermined period of time after the dehydration, the user is notified of salt input and push button operation by a display or a buzzer.

Since the salt water used for the regeneration contains a large amount of calcium ions and magnesium ions, the salt water is discharged not through the washing tub 5 but through the salt water discharge port 29c through the tube 35, the ball valve 34a, and the salt water discharge tube 36. It is guided to the overflow pipe 15 and discharged from the drainage device 13 to the outside of the washing machine.

The arrow point shown in FIG.
This shows that the regeneration process was performed by charging 9 g and manually discharging after 10 minutes. Subsequent curves (from the second time)
The integrated flow rate and the leaked calcium concentration from the beginning are shown. Compared to the initial stage, after the second time, the amount of water having a hardness of 40 ppm or less is 100 L or less, and the amount of water having no exchange capacity is 30 L or less.
It is about 0L. This is because, as described above, all of the ion exchange groups cannot be regenerated by this regenerating process. When the amount of ion exchange in the initial state is calculated based on FIG. 10 (from the area above the initial curve in the figure), the amount of calcium ions is about 26 g (in terms of CaCO ₃ ). According to (Chemical Formula 1), about 30 g of a salt (sodium chloride) of approximately the same amount is required for the exchange regeneration with sodium ion. But 29g
Calculate the ion exchange amount (the area above the second curve) in the same manner as described above at the second time after the addition of salt and the regeneration treatment, and about 8.5 g
(CaCO ₃ conversion). From now on, even if 29 g of a salt sufficient to regenerate almost all of the ion-exchange groups is introduced, actually 1/3 of the ion-exchange groups (≒ 8.5 / 29)
It can be seen that only the data is reproduced. This indicates that only about 10 g, one third of the salt charged, could contribute to the regeneration of the ion exchange groups. The amount of salt put in is 29g
However, since all of them do not contribute to the regeneration, it can be seen that the regeneration efficiency is about 30%, that is, only 1/3 of the ion exchange groups are regenerated. This is because the flowing speed of the salt water in the ion-exchange resin has a large effect.

However, it is the wash water supply that must remove calcium and magnesium ions. The washing water supply amount is, for example, a capacity of 8 kg and a bath ratio of 9 L.
/ Kg is 72 liters, and in fact, all of this water supply can be obtained with a hardness of 40 ppm or less by the above-mentioned salt introduction. The hardness of the water used in the subsequent rinsing step is 40p
Exceeding pm has no effect on cleaning performance. That is,
It is sufficient that the metal ions can be effectively removed only from the water supply in the washing step, and the metal ions do not need to be effectively removed from the water supply in the rinsing step.

The above description is based on a raw water hardness of 100 ppm. Maintaining a leak hardness of 40 ppm at this time means removing 2/3 of the ions contained in the raw water.
Therefore, with this performance, the raw water hardness is 60 ppm
, It can be maintained at 20 ppm or less, which is 1/3 of this after treatment.

When the water supply for the next washing is started while the push button 34c is kept pressed down, a part of the tap water passing through the resin container 29 leaks from the salt water outlet 29c, and the abnormal overflow pipe 15 is discharged. The waste will be discarded from the device 13 to the outside of the washing machine. In order to prevent this, as described above, the microcomputer 50 monitors the open / close state of the ball valve plug 34a with the output of the magnetoresistive element 38 during water supply, and if the push button 34c is kept pressed, the microcomputer 50 emits light. Flashes the diode 54 and displays the water softening 2
4 is flashed to notify the user of this, and the push button 34c is pressed again to release the lock mechanism, and the spring 34
e can be used to raise the push button 34c. (Normally, the water softening display 24 is illuminated.) The maintenance or replacement of the resin container 29 and the ion exchange resin 31 therein is performed by the resin container 29.
This is performed by disconnecting a pipe connected to the rear storage box 17b.

As described above, in this basic mode,
(1) The point that removal of a predetermined amount of calcium ions and magnesium ions is limited only to washing and water supply; (2) The point that the ion removal performance allowed for washing is set lower than that of a conventional water softener in accordance with the detergent power of the detergent. (3) The amount of ion exchange resin required is minimized in that regeneration is performed with a predetermined amount of salt added every washing. For this reason, the ion removing device (the resin container 29, the lid 30, etc.) can be reduced in size and cost, and can be mounted on the washing machine. In addition, ion exchange resin 3
Since 1 is a small amount, the pressure loss due to the resin in the water supply channel can be reduced, the required performance is maintained even at a large flow rate of 10 to 15 L / min or more, and an increase in water supply time is prevented.

In the regeneration process, the resin container 29
The lid 30 is removed, and inexpensive salt from any household is put into a two-spoon (about 30 g) container and the push button is pressed, so that the user can easily perform the operation. . Also, salt is very inexpensive, so there is little cost for regeneration. Conversely, since the amount of detergent that has been used extra can be reduced due to the hardness component, the cost required for one washing operation can be reduced. Further, the influence on the environment can be reduced.

Since the salt water used for regeneration is not discharged into the washing tub 5 but discharged from the abnormal overflow pipe 15 to the outside of the washing machine, the salt water does not flow into the washing tub 5 and rust does not occur. Also, the desorbed high-concentration calcium ions and magnesium ions do not flow into the washing tub 5, and the detergent is not soaped with metal in the next washing, so that the detergency is not reduced.

In the above description, the treatment is performed on the tap water from the water tap 26, but the treatment may be similarly performed on the bath water. In this case, the resin container 29
In addition, another water inlet is provided, and a pipe from the outlet 45c of the bath water suction pump 45 is connected to this water inlet. Then, the bath water may be sucked up by the bath water suction pump 45 and passed through the resin container 29. Thus, the resin container 2
If two water inlets are provided in 9, it is possible to remove calcium ions and magnesium ions from these while simultaneously supplying both tap water and bath water.

Further, calcium ions and magnesium ions are removed from the tap water from the tap port 26, and the bath water is supplied without any treatment. Is also good. For example, for half of the 72L washing tub 5, tap water from which ions have been removed is used.
Use bath water for the other half. In this case, the hardness of the washing water in the washing tub is higher than the case where tap water is used, but the temperature of the mixed water can be raised when bath water having a temperature of about 30 ° C. is used. The increase in the hardness can be compensated for by the increase in the temperature of the washing water.
In this case, it is possible to effectively combine the saving of water by bath water and the increase in cleaning performance by removing ions.

Next, another embodiment of the ion removal system will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described basic mode, and redundant description will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the operation of opening and closing the ball valve 34a of the manual salt water discharging device 34 in the basic embodiment is automated to reduce the labor of the user, and the ion exchange resin is made into a cartridge to facilitate maintenance and replacement. It is a stiff one.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a salt water discharging solenoid 40 is provided in place of the push button 34c in the basic embodiment, and the ball valve 34a is opened and closed by the salt water discharging solenoid 40 via a connecting rod 34d. Like that. The salt discharge solenoid 40, the connecting rod 34d, and the ball valve 34a form a salt discharge solenoid valve 39. In this embodiment, a cartridge container 42 filled with the ion exchange resin 31 is used. The cartridge container 42 includes a hollow cylindrical container main body 42c, mesh filters 42a, 42a that cover the end surfaces of the cylindrical container main body 42c, that is, upper and lower surfaces.
Handle 4 projecting from container body 42c to the outside of the container body
2b. The outer diameter of the container main body 42c is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the resin container 29. On the inner peripheral surface of the resin container 29, a projection 29i projecting in the inner peripheral direction is formed at a position slightly above the water inlet 29a. The cartridge container 42 is a resin container 2
9 are housed in the resin container 29 so as to be placed on the projections 29i. When the cartridge container 42 is stored in the resin container 29 and the lid 30 is closed, the handle 42 b
It is formed to have a length almost in contact with the inner surface of the. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the cartridge container 42 from rising due to water pressure when water is passed through the resin container 29. In the present embodiment, as in the basic embodiment, the resin container 29 is partitioned into three spaces by the two mesh filters 42a and 42a, and the ion exchange resin 31 is filled in the cartridge container 42 serving as the middle space. ing.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the control unit of the present embodiment. The microcomputer 50 is connected to a drive circuit 52 for driving the salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39. The salt water discharging solenoid valve 39 is connected to the drive circuit 52, and the salt water discharging solenoid valve 39 is controlled by an instruction from the microcomputer 50.
The opening and closing of the is automated. As described above, since the microcomputer 50 instructs the opening / closing of the salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39, the microcomputer 50 knows the operating state of the salt discharge electromagnetic valve 39 (ball valve 34a) by an external signal as in the basic mode. No need. Therefore, in the present embodiment, unlike the basic embodiment, the ball valve 34a is not provided with the magnet 37 and the magnetoresistive element 38.

In order to regenerate the ion-exchange resin 31, similarly to the basic mode described above, after the dehydration is completed, the microcomputer 50 informs the user that the ion-exchange resin 31 needs to be regenerated. The light emitting diode 55 is turned on, and the salt input display 25 is performed. The user sees this, opens the lid 30 of the resin container 29, and puts a predetermined amount of salt, for example, about 30 g of salt for two spoons into the upper space 29 g of the resin container 29. Then, the salt introduced into the residual water dissolves into salt water.

After a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, 10 minutes (the time may be sufficient for dissolving the salt), the microcomputer 50 controls the salt water drain solenoid 40 to push down the connecting rod 34d and to push down the ball valve 34a. open. Then, the salt water flows down between the ion exchange resins 31 and is discharged from the salt water discharge port 29c. As a result, the salt water flows in the ion exchange resin 31 and the reactions from the right to the left in the chemical formulas (1) and (2) occur, and the calcium ions and the magnesium ions adsorbed on the ion exchange resin 31 are replaced by the sodium ions. Is done. As a result, the ion-exchange resin 31 is regenerated and its ion-exchange ability is restored again. Conversely, calcium ions and magnesium ions are extracted into the salt water. After the time to discharge the salt water,
The microcomputer 50 controls the salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39 to close it. As described above, in the present embodiment, manual opening and closing of the salt water discharge valve by the user in the above-described basic embodiment is automated.

Tap water contains fine inorganic or organic substances. For this reason, when water is passed through the resin container 29 for a long period of time, these accumulate on the internal mesh filter 42a or the ion exchange resin 31 and cause various problems. For example, the water flow resistance increases due to clogging of the mesh filter 42a, and the water supply time increases because the flow rate cannot be secured. Alternatively, the ion exchange resin 31 is contaminated with organic substances, and its ion exchange ability is deteriorated. At this time, the user opens the lid 30, grasps the handle 42b by hand, and takes out the cartridge container 42, as in the case of salt injection. And
After removing the clogs by washing with water, store the cartridge again or replace it with a new cartridge container.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as in the above-described basic embodiment, the hardness component in tap water used for washing can be removed, so that the washing performance of the washing machine can be improved. Furthermore, since the discharge of the salt water used for the regeneration of the ion-exchange resin 31 is automated, the user only needs to input the salt, the button pressing operation can be omitted, and the regeneration operation can be performed more easily. . In addition, the user does not forget to press the button and wastefully discharge a part of the water supply. further,
Since the ion exchange resin is made into a cartridge, maintenance and inspection and replacement are facilitated by attaching and detaching the ion exchange resin.

Next, still another embodiment of the ion removal system will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the basic form and the previous form, and redundant description will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the present embodiment is provided with a hollow cylindrical container 60 for storing an ion exchange resin 31 and a salt for regenerating the ion exchange resin 31.

This container 60 is made of the resin container 29 of the basic form.
In the same manner as described above, it has a cylindrical shape,
a is formed, a discharge port 29b is formed in the middle part of the side peripheral surface, a salt dissolving injection pipe 60h is formed in the upper part of the side peripheral surface, and a salt water discharge port 29c is formed in the bottom surface. Further, a convex portion 60j is formed at the upper end of the side peripheral surface of the container 60, and the lid 61 is fixed so as to fit into the convex portion 60j. The lid 61 has an air hole 6 on its top surface.
1a is formed. This container 60 is used for the rear storage box 1.
A salt water discharge port 29c is fixed to the bottom of the box 7b so as to penetrate the box bottom.

The inside of the container 60 is partitioned into a first upper space and a second upper space by a partition wall 60d provided at a position slightly above the discharge port 29b. The first space above the partition 60d forms a salt storage space 60a, and the partition 6
The second space below 0d is the space between the two mesh filters 29.
d and 29d, the upper space 29g and the middle space 29
f, a lower space 29e. Each of the two mesh filters 29d, 29d is provided above the water inlet 29a and below the outlet 29b. The intermediate space 29f is filled with the ion exchange resin 31. The partition wall 60d is formed with a through hole 60e penetrating from the salt storage space 60a to the upper space. A check valve 60f is disposed below the through hole 60e on the upper space 29g side, and while the upper space 29g is filled with water, the check valve 60f is provided.
e to prevent water from flowing into the salt storage space 60a from the upper space 29g. In addition, a salt grain outflow prevention filter 60g is disposed above the through hole 60e and on the salt storage space 60a side to prevent salt grains from flowing out from the salt input space 60a to the upper space 29g. The discharge port of the salt dissolving injection pipe 60h is located at the upper part in the salt storage space 60a and faces obliquely downward. The salt storage space 60a has a volume capable of storing about 200 g of salt 62 for one week (seven times 29 g of salt required for one regeneration). The salt storage space 60a includes the rear storage box 1
It is located above the upper surface of 7b, so that the user can easily open and close the lid 61, and all or a part of the peripheral wall is transparent, so that the ion exchange resin is consumed for each washing. The salt 62 can be observed from the front of the washing machine.

The tube 35, the ball valve 34a, and the salt water discharge tube 36 are connected to the salt water discharge port 29c in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. In addition, ball valve 3
A salt water discharge solenoid 40 is provided at 4a via a connecting rod 34d. These ball valves 34
a, the connecting rod 34d and the salt water discharge solenoid 40,
The salt water discharge solenoid valve 39 is configured.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the rear storage box 17b, in addition to the above-described container 60, a water tap port 26 to which a hose from a water tap or the like is connected, a water supply solenoid valve 27 to be connected thereto, and A water injection electromagnetic valve 63, a salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39 for discharging the regenerated salt water in the container 60, a bath water feed pump 45 for supplying bath water, an inclined flow passage 46 for flowing washing water into the washing tub 5, and the like are housed therein. I have. At the outlet of the water supply solenoid valve 27,
It is connected to the water inlet 29a of the container 60, and the outlet of the water injection solenoid valve 63 is connected to the salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h. Container 60
Is connected to the room A47.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control unit of the washing machine according to the present embodiment. The control unit of this embodiment is obtained by adding a water injection solenoid valve 63 and a drive circuit 52 thereof to the control unit of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. The water injection electromagnetic valve 63 and its drive circuit 52 are connected to the microcomputer 50.

Next, the operation of the washing machine of this embodiment will be described.

First, the water supply operation for washing and rinsing will be described. When the user turns on the power switch and presses the start operation button, water supply for washing starts. The microcomputer 50 controls the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 to open. At this time, the salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63 and the salt water drainage solenoid valve 39 are also closed. Tap water is guided to the water inlet 29a of the container 60 through the water supply electromagnetic valve 27,
After filling the lower space 29e of the container 60, it passes through the middle space 29f filled with the ion exchange resin 31 while rising. Tap water is softened here, that is, calcium ions and magnesium ions are removed, and the upper space 29 is removed.
g flows out from the discharge port 29b. And
The water flows down from the room A47 to the inclined channel 46 and is supplied to the washing tub 5. When a required amount of tap water is accumulated in the washing tub 5 and the water level sensor 11 detects this, the microcomputer 50 closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 and stops water supply. Then, the washing process is performed by rotating the rotor 6 forward and reverse.
The same applies to the first rinsing step following the washing. During the water supply, the upper space 60g of the container 60 is filled with tap water, and the pressure causes the check valve 60f to close the through hole 60e.
Therefore, the tap water does not flood into the salt input space 60a during the supply of water. When water is not being supplied, the upper space 29g is open to the atmosphere, and the check valve 60f is open.

Subsequently, the final (second) rinsing water supply is started, and when 29 g of the upper space is filled with tap water (this becomes clear after a predetermined time has elapsed), the microcomputer 50 starts the electromagnetic injection for salt dissolution. By controlling the valve 63, the salt storage space 60a of the container 60 is provided through the salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h.
Water injection is started. The water injection amount is a small amount of about 100 mL, and is adjusted by the opening control time of the salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63. The opening of the salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h has a thin nozzle shape, from which tap water is supplied to the salt 62 in the salt storage chamber 60a.
Is poured into the top of the shower. A predetermined amount, for example, 10
After the elapse of the time of 0 mL water injection, the microcomputer 50 controls the salt dissolution water injection solenoid valve 63 to stop the water injection. At this time, the water supply electromagnetic valve 27 is open and water supply is continuing. The injected 100 mL tap water gradually dissolves the salt 62, and becomes a certain concentration of salt water during the water supply (3-5 minutes). The concentration is determined by the injection time, that is, the amount of water, the time during which salt is immersed in water, and the amount of salt.
The solubility of the salt is 35.7 g per 100 mL of water,
If sufficient stirring can be performed over a long period of time, the saturated salt water concentration will be 26 w%. Excess salt remains without further concentration. There is enough salt in 100 mL of tap water to leave a concentration of about 23 w% when left for about 1 minute. At this time, the amount of salt in 100 mL of salt water is about 30 g. This is almost the same as the input salt amount in the basic form.

When a predetermined amount of rinse water has been supplied, the microcomputer 50 closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 27. Then, the tap water in the upper space 29g of the container 60 is discharged from the outlet 29
b, and the water level in the upper space 29g is at the lower end of the discharge port 29b (indicated by a dashed line A in FIG. 14). For this reason, the check valve 60f is opened, and the salt storage space 6 is opened.
The salt water in Oa flows down into the upper space 29g. at the same time,
The microcomputer 50 controls the salt water discharge electromagnetic valve 39 to open it. The salt water is gradually poured into the middle space 2 together with the remaining water while being poured onto the remaining water in the upper space 29 g.
It flows down in the ion exchange resin 31 in 9f and is discharged from the salt water discharge port 29c. Thereby, the ion exchange resin 3
With respect to 1, reactions from the right to the left of (Chemical Formula 1) and (Chemical Formula 2) occur, and calcium ions and magnesium ions ion-exchanged by the conventional water supply are replaced with sodium ions in the salt water, and the ion-exchange resin 31 Is played. The calcium ions and magnesium ions released from the ion exchange resin 31 are discharged from the salt water outlet 29c together with the salt water.

Since the salt water used for this regeneration contains a large amount of calcium ions and magnesium ions, the washing tub 5
Instead, the tube 35 and the salt water are led from the salt water discharge port 29c to the abnormal overflow pipe 15 via the different discharge solenoid valve 39 and the salt water discharge tube 36, and are discharged from the drainage device 13 to the outside of the washing machine. After a lapse of a predetermined time required for discharging the salt water, the microcomputer 50 controls the solenoid valve 39 for discharging the salt water to close it. Thus, the regeneration process of the ion exchange resin is completed.

The flow velocity of the salt water in the ion exchange resin is determined by the diameter of the through-hole 60e and the salt water discharge port 29c. Further, it is desirable that the flow rate is about 100 mL for 3 minutes. For this reason, in this embodiment, the hole diameters of the through hole 60e and the salt water outlet 29c are set to a diameter of about 2 mm.

The salt 62 in the salt storage space 60a is consumed by about 30 g each time it is regenerated, and gradually decreases. The user looks at the amount of salt remaining in the salt storage space 60a through the transparent window, opens the lid 61 as soon as the salt is exhausted, and replenishes the salt.

The maintenance or replacement of the container 60 and the ion exchange resin 31 therein is performed in the same manner as in the basic mode.
This is performed by unplugging the pipe connected to 0 and removing it from the rear storage box 17b.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the hardness component in tap water used for washing one washing tub can be removed as in the basic embodiment and the previous embodiment (the hardness component in tap water used for rinsing is sufficiently reduced). It cannot be removed), and the washing performance of the washing machine can be improved. Further, the salt water used for regenerating the ion exchange resin 31 is automatically produced every time using a large amount of salt (for example, for seven times) previously stored in the salt storage space 60a, and automatically stored in the ion exchange resin 31. In other words, since the regeneration process of the ion exchange resin 31 is completely automated, there is no need to add salt after each washing as in the basic mode or the previous mode, and the convenience for the user is improved. Further improve. In addition, the salt water used for regeneration is stored in the washing tub 5.
Instead of being discharged into the inside, the water is discharged from the abnormal overflow pipe 15 to the outside of the washing machine, so that the salt water does not flow into the washing tub 5 and rust does not occur. Furthermore, the high-concentration calcium ions and magnesium ions desorbed from the ion-exchange resin 31 do not flow into the washing tub 5 and do not saponify the surfactant in the next washing to reduce the detergency.

Finally, an embodiment of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

This embodiment is basically the same as the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, but is different from the other embodiments in the timing of regenerating the ion-exchange resin, sharing some parts, and The difference is that some parts are deleted. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the same parts as those of the other embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the rear storage box 17b, similarly to the first embodiment, a water supply port 26 to which a hose from a container 60, a water tap, or the like is connected, and a water supply electromagnetic port connected thereto. Valve 27 and solenoid valve for water injection (means for adjusting water injection for salt dissolution)
63, a bath water supply pump 45 for supplying bath water, an inclined flow path 46 for flowing down the washing water into the washing tub 5, and the like are housed. At the outlet of the water supply solenoid valve 27, the water inlet 2 of the container 60 is provided.
9a, and an outlet of the water injection solenoid valve 63 is connected to a salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h. The outlet 29b of the container 60 is connected to the room A47. In the present embodiment, in still another embodiment, the salt water discharge solenoid valve 39 connected to the salt discharge port 29c of the container 60 is omitted, and a salt discharge tube 64 is connected to the salt discharge port 29c. The outlet of the salt water discharge tube 64 is connected to the inclined flow path 46. In the inclined flow path 46, a softener (finishing device) 100 for storing a soft finishing agent is arranged.
The softener 100 is connected to a softener solenoid 102 which tilts the softener to discharge the finishing agent therein.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a control unit of the washing machine according to the present embodiment. The control unit according to the present embodiment is configured as shown in FIG.
Salt water discharge solenoid valve 39 in still another embodiment shown in FIG.
And its drive circuit 52 are eliminated, and the water injection solenoid valve 6 is removed.
A drive circuit 52 of No. 3 is connected to a softener solenoid 102, and this drive circuit 52 is a shared circuit of the water injection solenoid valve 63 and the softener solenoid 102.

As shown in FIG. 19, the salt water discharge tube 64 connected to the salt water discharge port 29c of the container 60 is temporarily lifted up to the upper surface of the ion exchange resin 31, in other words, to the upper mesh filter 29d. Container 60
Is opened to the inside of the inclined flow path 46.

Most of the tap water from the water inlet 29a passes through the ion exchange resin 31 in the inner space 29f of the container 60 to remove calcium ions and magnesium ions. Then, the water is supplied to the washing tub 5 through the inclined flow path 46. In addition, part of the tap water from the water inlet 29a is supplied to the salt water outlet 2 of the container 60.
From 9c, it flows through the salt water discharge tube 64, and is supplied to the washing tub 5 through the inclined flow path 46. The inner diameter of the salt water discharge port 29c and the salt water discharge tube 64 is about 2 mm. Therefore, while the water passing through the ion exchange resin 31 is 13 L / min, the leakage from the salt water discharge tube 64 is 0.5 L / min.
Minutes or less, with little effect.

Next, the operation of the washing machine in the present embodiment will be described. The water supply in the washing step and the first rinsing step is the same as in the first embodiment. When the final (second) rinse water supply is started, the microcomputer (control means) 50 controls the softener solenoid 102 to incline the softener 100. The soft finish in the softener 100 flows out to the inclined channel 46 and
And is poured into the washing tub 5. At this time, the softener solenoid 102 and the drive circuit 5
The salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63 that shares the common 2 is also driven and opened simultaneously with the turning on of the softener solenoid 102. When the salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63 is opened, a part of the tap water from the tap plug 26 passes through the salt dissolving water injection pipe 60h and is poured into the salt storage space 60a. The driving time of the softener solenoid 102 is a short time of 1 second or less. Accordingly, the time during which the salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63 that is operated at the same time is opened is also very short. Therefore, the salt storage space 60a
The amount of water poured into the tank is small and not sufficient. This small amount of water dissolves a part of the salt in the salt storage space 60a, but during the water supply in which the water supply solenoid valve 27 is open, the through-hole 60e is closed by the check valve 60f due to the water pressure in the upper space 29g of the container 60. Therefore, the saline solution does not flow out from the through hole 60e and stays in the salt storage space 60a.

When the water level sensor 11 detects that a predetermined amount of rinse water has been supplied to the washing tub 5, the microcomputer 50 closes the water supply electromagnetic valve 27. Immediately after the end of water supply, water remains in the container 60 up to the lower end of the discharge port 29b. This residual water slowly flows from the salt water discharge tube 64 connected to the salt water discharge port 29c through the inclined flow passage 46 to the washing tub. It is discharged to 5. And the microcomputer 50
During the final rinsing in the washing tub 5 (rinsing water supply has been completed), or at least before discharging the final rinsing water, the amount of salt water required for regeneration of the ion-exchange resin 31 is reduced. The salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63 is opened several times until it can be secured. At the same time, electricity is also supplied to the softener solenoid 101 sharing the drive circuit 52 with the salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve 63,
Although the softener 100 tilts, this operation has basically no meaning since the inside of the softener 100 is empty. Thereby, water is sufficiently poured into the salt storage space 60a, and the salt 62 in the salt storage space 60a becomes salt water. This salt water passes through the salt particle outflow prevention filter 60g from the through hole 60e, passes through the check valve 60f opened when the upper space 60b is opened to the atmosphere, and flows out to the upper space 29g. When all of the water injected into the salt storage space 60a becomes salt water and flows down, the salt water is filled up to the highest point of the salt water discharge tube 64 in the middle space 29f and the lower space 29e filled with the ion exchange resin 31. . Salt water discharge tube 6
When the salt water reaches the highest point of No. 4 and starts flowing out of the opening of the salt water discharge tube 64, all the salt water filling the middle space 29f and the lower space 29e is slowly discharged by the salt water discharge tube 64 by the siphon effect. From the opening to the washing tub 5 filled with the final rinse water.

At this time, the ion-exchange resin 31 reacts from the right to the left in the chemical formulas (1) and (2), and the calcium ion and the magnesium ion ion-exchanged by the conventional water supply and the sodium ion in the salt water. Is replaced with an ion. As a result, the ion exchange resin 31 is regenerated, the ion exchange capacity is restored again, and the ion exchange resin 31 can be used in the next washing water supply. Calcium ions and magnesium ions released from the ion exchange resin 31 flow out to the washing tub 5 together with the salt water, and a large amount of rinse water previously supplied (usually, as described above, a washing capacity of 7 kg is about 72 L in the case of a washing rinse).
The mixture is stirred and diluted. By the way, concentration 23w%
If 130 mL of salt water (about 30 g of salt) is diluted with 72 L of water, the concentration is 0.04 w%,
w%. After that, when the stirring for rinsing has elapsed for a predetermined time, the water supply solenoid valve 27 is opened again, a few L of tap water flows into the container 60, and calcium adhering to the lower space 29e of the container 60 and the salt water discharge tube 64, The salt water containing a large amount of magnesium is washed into the washing tub 5 from the salt water discharge port 29c and the salt water discharge tube 64, and further from the discharge port 29b through the inclined flow path 46. At the end of the rinsing, the microcomputer 50 sets the drainage electromagnetic valve 1
3a is opened, and rinse water mixed with salt water containing calcium and magnesium which has been subjected to the regeneration treatment is discharged from the drainage hose 16 to the outside of the washing machine. As described above, the hardness component affects the cleaning performance but does not affect the rinsing performance.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the regeneration process is performed after the final rinse water supply is completed and before the final rinse water is drained, the regeneration process can be performed without extending the time of one cycle of the washing process. Ion removal can be performed. Also,
Since the ion exchange resin is regenerated after the final rinsing water supply is completed and before the rinsing water is discharged, the ion can be removed without any trouble at the time of the next washing. 13 to 16 do not have the salt water discharge solenoid valve 39 and its drive circuit 52, and the drive circuit 52 of the salt dissolution water injection solenoid valve 63 has a drive circuit for the existing softener solenoid 102. Because 52 is used,
The number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the salt container forming the salt storage chamber and the resin container storing the ion-exchange resin are separated from each other. A valve and a filter for preventing salt outflow may be provided, and the salt container may be used in a state of being connected to the resin container. By doing so, the ion exchange resin can be easily recovered from the resin container by removing the salt container. In this case, similarly to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 11, a cartridge container for an ion exchange resin may be provided.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the number of parts, the salt water discharge solenoid valve 39 and its drive circuit 52
Was deleted, but the present invention is not limited to this.
These may be.

[0106]

According to the present invention, the metal ions in the washing water are removed by the cation exchange material, and the regeneration of the cation exchange material is automated, so that the washing is performed without bothering the user. Metal ions in service water can be continuously removed. In addition, since the regeneration process is performed after the end of the final rinse water supply for each washing, the ion removal including the regeneration process can be performed without extending the time of one cycle of the washing process, and also in the next washing. The ion can be removed without any trouble. Further, since the cation exchange material is regenerated for each washing, the amount of the cation exchange material can be reduced, and as a result, the size of the container for storing the cation exchange material can be reduced.

Further, since metal ions in the washing water are removed with a cation exchange material and salt is used for this regeneration, no extra safety equipment is required, and the production cost is reduced. You can also.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fully automatic washing machine in a basic mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the fully automatic washing machine in the basic mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a resin container in a basic mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin container and its accompanying components in a basic mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a fully automatic washing machine in a basic mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between raw water hardness and a cleaning rate.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the flow rate of raw water and the concentration of leaked calcium.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the integrated flow rate of raw water and the concentration of leaked calcium.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a resin container and ancillary parts thereof in another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a fully automatic washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a container according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container and ancillary components thereof in still another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the inside of a rear storage box in still another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a control block diagram of a fully automatic washing machine according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the inside of the rear storage box in one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a control block diagram of a fully automatic washing machine in one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container and its accompanying components in one embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

5: washing and dewatering tank, 15: abnormal overflow pipe, 17b: rear storage box, 24: softening display, 25: salt input display, 26
… Water tap, 27… water supply solenoid valve, 29… resin cylinder, 2
9a ... inlet, 29b ... outlet, 29c ... salt water outlet,
29d: mesh filter, 29e: lower space, 29f ...
Medium space, 29g Upper space, 30, 61 Lid, 31 Cation exchange resin, 34a Ball valve, 34c Push button, 34d Connecting rod, 36, 64 Salt water discharge tube, 37 Magnet, 38 Magnetoresistive element, 39: salt water discharge solenoid valve, 40: salt water discharge solenoid, 42: cartridge container, 42a: mesh filter, 45: bath water suction pump, 50: microcomputer, 54: light emitting diode, 55: light emitting diode, 60 ... Container, 60a
... Salt storage space, 60d ... Partition wall, 60e ... Through hole, 60f
... check valve, 60g ... salt particle outflow prevention filter, 60h ... salt dissolving water injection pipe, 62 ... salt, 63 ... salt dissolving water injection solenoid valve, 100 ... softener, 102 ... softener solenoid

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Takami Koyama 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Inside the Electrification Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. No. 1 in the Electric Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] A container filled with a cation exchange material is provided in a water supply path for guiding water from a water source to a washing tub, and water is brought into contact with the cation exchange material in the container. In a washing machine for removing cations contained in the water, a salt storage chamber for storing salt for regenerating the cation exchange material, and pouring water from the water source into the salt storage chamber. A water dispensing adjusting means for adjusting the salt dissolution, a passage for guiding the salt which has been converted into a salt water by the water entering the salt storage chamber to the cation exchange material in the container, and controlling the water supply and drainage to the washing tub for washing While controlling the step and the rinsing step, after the completion of the water supply in the final rinsing step, the salt dissolving water injection adjusting means is driven, water is injected into the salt storage chamber, and the ion exchange resin is washed with the salt water formed by the injection. Control means for reproducing, A washing machine comprising: 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the container is divided into upper and lower two rooms, a first room and a second room, by a partition provided in the container. Forms the salt storage chamber, the cation exchange material is stored in the second chamber below, and the partition wall has a through hole that penetrates from the first chamber to the second chamber and forms the passage. A check valve for preventing the inflow from the second chamber side to the first chamber side is provided in the through hole, and a salt water discharge port is formed at a bottom of the second chamber of the container. A washing machine, characterized in that: 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the second chamber of the container is composed of two filters that allow water to pass therethrough but do not allow the cation exchange material to pass therethrough. An inlet for receiving water from the water source is formed at a position of the lower space on the side circumference of the container and at a position of the upper space at a position of the lower space. A washing machine, wherein a discharge port for discharging water in the container into the washing tub is formed, and the cation exchange material is disposed in the inner space. 4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the salt water discharge port is controlled by the control means to control discharge of the salt water in the container. Is connected to the washing machine. 5. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the salt water discharge port is connected to a salt water discharge tube for discharging the discharge of the salt water in the container, and the salt water discharge tube is connected to the salt water discharge tube. A washing machine characterized by rising from an exit to a boundary between the upper space and the lower space, and then descending downward. 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an outer wall of the salt storage chamber is transparent.