KR20050023669A - Toploading washer comprising anti-microbial plastic composition - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided is a toploading type washing machine employing constructional parts made of anti-microbial plastic composition for preventing inhabitation of bacteria and fungi on surfaces of constructional parts in the washing machine, thereby inhibiting generation of bad odor, discoloration and/or contamination of laundry. CONSTITUTION: The toploading washing machine comprises constructional parts such as inner bath(3), outer bath(2), pulsator(5), tub cover, detergent box(12), drain hose(11) and inner lead. The parts comprise 99.0-99.7 wt.% of polypropylene and 0.3-1.0 wt.% of anti-bacterial master batch. The master batch is anti-bacterial plastic composition comprising 90 wt.% polypropylene, 5 wt.% of isothiazolin based compound and 5 wt.% of inorganic composite. The inorganic composite comprises zinc oxide.

Description

TOPLOADING WASHER COMPRISING ANTI-MICROBIAL PLASTIC COMPOSITION}

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to an antimicrobial plastic composition capable of preventing the formation of various bacteria and molds parasitic on the surface of a washing machine component, thereby preventing the occurrence of odor, discoloration of appearance, and contamination of laundry. It is related with the top loading type washing machine which employ | adopted the component made into.

In general, a washing machine is a product that removes various contaminants attached to clothes, bedding, etc. by using the emulsification of the detergent, friction action of the water flow due to the rotation of the washing blade, and the impact action of the pulsator on the laundry. By detecting the amount and type of laundry by the washing method automatically set the washing method, and also to wash the water level of the washing water to the appropriate level according to the amount and type of laundry under the control of the microcomputer to wash.

On the other hand, the driving method of the conventional washing machine is a method of rotating the dehydration tank for the internal tank by transmitting the rotational power of the drive motor to the washing shaft through the power transmission belt and the pulley and to rotate the pulsator or to the dehydration shaft; Depending on the speed of BLDC motor, there is a method of rotating the inner tank dehydration tank at different speeds during washing and dehydration.

In addition, there is also a method of controlling the power transmission path differently while using a BLDC motor to perform washing by rotating the pulsator at low speed during washing, and dehydrating by rotating the pulsator and the dehydrating tank at the same time at the same time.

In addition, a method of performing permeation washing by spraying the pumped water stream into the inner tank while rotating the inner tank or the washing blade at a high speed during washing is also applied.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of an existing washing machine, the structure of an uploading washing machine.

Referring to the drawings, in the uploading type washing machine, the outer tub 2 is supported by the plurality of supports 4 in the interior of the outer case 1, and the laundry is accommodated in the outer tub 2 and the plurality of laundry along the inner wall. An inner tub 3 having a through hole is rotatably installed by the washing shaft 6, and a pulsator 5 forming a water flow is formed integrally with the inner tub 3 at an inner lower end of the inner tub 3. On the lower side of the outer tub 2, a motor 7 for rotating the inner tub 3 is installed.

And, the upper end of the outer tub (2) is provided with a tub cover (8) for introducing the washing water raised between the inner tub (3) and the outer tub (2) into the inner tub, the rear of the outer case (1) One side is connected to the outside is provided with a water supply line 10 for supplying the washing water to the inner tank (2), the lower side of the outer tank (2) to the outside of the washing water discharged through the through-hole (3a) of the inner tank The drain pipe 11 is finally discharged.

And the upper part of the inner tank (3) is provided with a detergent container in which detergent is automatically introduced by the wash water supplied to the water supply line, the upper end of the inner tank (2) to prevent vibration during dehydration along its circumferential surface The balance weight 20 is provided.

The washing machine of the uploading system configured as described above rotates the pulsator 5 of the inner tank 3 in one direction at a high speed to perform a washing stroke.

In detail, as the inner tub 3 and the pulsator 5 rotate at a high speed in one direction, the laundry is in close contact with the inner wall of the inner tub 3, and at this time, the washing water discharged through the earthwork 3a of the inner tub is tubs. Through the cover (8) is introduced into the inner tank (3) again to pass through the laundry, while repeating this process, the contaminants are separated.

On the other hand, unlike the structure exemplified above, there is also a structure in which the pulsator 5 forming the water flow is separately formed without being integrally formed with the inner tank 3.

That is, there is a structure in which the inner tank 3 and the pulsator 5 are separately installed so that the inner tank 3 and the pulsator 5 rotate in opposite directions when washing by the rotation of the inner tank 3.

In addition, there is also a washing machine having a circulating water supply structure that pumps water in the inner tank and supplies it back into the inner tank.

In the case where components are made of plastic in the washing machine, in general, it is easy to think that plastic is a material which is hard to be contaminated with germs, but it is often found that germs or molds are generated in household products made of plastic around.

Plastics have different resistance to germs, but when contaminants are attached to plastics, they grow as nutrients and even plastics deteriorate.

The purpose of the antibacterial fungus treatment is to make plastic products that do not generate bacteria on the surface.

Treatment methods include kneading methods in which drugs are added during molding processing and post-treatment methods for surface processing after molding, but in the case of plastics, kneading methods occupy most of them.

When the washing machine is used, the mounting stand may mainly cause black mold, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. In general, black mold is found in wet and wet places such as bathrooms, kitchens, and shoeboxes, which are also found in leather products and old books.

This black mold is the culprit of allergies. Escherichia coli usually does not show pathogenicity in the intestine, but when it enters other parts of the intestine, it causes cystitis, pyelitis, peritonitis, sepsis, and even in the intestine, antigen-type E. coli such as O 26, O 55, O 111, etc. It is called Escherichia coli especially because it can cause infectious diarrhea from adult to adult.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is widely distributed in nature. It causes not only food poisoning but also purulent diseases such as purulent otitis media, otitis media and cystitis. It is the most common food poisoning in Korea after Salmonella food poisoning and enteritis vibrio food poisoning.

There are dozens of staphylococci, but only Staphylococcus aureus, which produces a yellow pigment, causes food poisoning, and there have been no cases of food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

If mold grows on the surface, it first gives the user a messy look.

This causes aesthetic damage, odor, discoloration, etc., which greatly reduces the value of the product.

Decomposing enzymes metabolized by bacteria are often involved in the generation of odors, and indirectly, antibacterial treatment is performed for the purpose of deodorization.

Antibacterial and fungicides inhibit the activity of bacteria and fungi, so they have biological effects inherently.

Great action is toxic and must be used with care.

Since most of the antibacterial and fungicides currently used have a very low practical concentration of the drug and the substance is fixed to the plastic, it is considered that the plastic products to which the antibacterial and fungal agent is actually added are unlikely to cause an accident.

On the other hand, in the conventional washing machine, each component is mainly made of plastic or stainless steel in the material of the component. In the case of the plastic component, the inner tub 3 and the outer tub 2 may be cleaned with detergent. The nutrients or contaminants buried in clothing cause bacteria such as bacteria to attach and multiply. There is also a problem with the cleanliness of laundry due to contamination inside the washing machine.

In addition, even if not directly involved in the washing is adopted inside the washing machine there is a problem that the mold or other bacteria inhabit the other components by the wash water splashing during washing, there was a problem in washing hygiene.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, by adopting a component made of an antimicrobial plastic composition to prevent the formation of various bacteria and fungi parasitic on the surface of the components, while the occurrence of odor, discoloration of appearance, laundry It aims to be able to prevent contamination.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a top-loading washing machine comprising an inner tank, outer tank, pulsator, cover, detergent box, drain hose, inner lid, etc., wherein the component parts are 99.0-99.7 wt% Of polypropylene and 0.3-1.0% by weight of an antimicrobial masterbatch, wherein the antimicrobial masterbatch is composed of 90% by weight of polypropylene, 5% by weight of isothiazoline-based compound and 5% by weight of inorganic composite compound It provides a top-loading washing machine characterized in that the composition.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

When using the washing machine, the components are prepared according to conventional methods from 99.0-99.7 wt% polypropylene and 0.3-1.0 wt% antimicrobial masterbatch to prevent the occurrence of bacteria and mold on the components.

The polypropylene may be used without particular limitation as long as it is used in the art, and in particular, it is preferable to use one commercially available from LG Chem under the product name “MT42”.

The antimicrobial masterbatch is prepared according to a conventional method including 90% by weight of polypropylene, 5% by weight of isothiazoline-based compound and 5% by weight of inorganic composite compound.

The isothiazoline-based compound includes 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-non (DCOIT) represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and 2-n-octyl-isothiazoli As a mixture of 3-non (QIT), it is preferable that the ratio of General formula 1: 2 is 4: 1.

Other than the above ratio, it is difficult to obtain a desired sterilization action in the environment in which the component according to the present invention is used.

This is because the DCOIT acts as a fast disinfectant, and the OIT acts as a sustained sterilization. In the present invention, zinc oxide is used as the inorganic composite compound.

Example

Example 1

An antimicrobial masterbatch was prepared by adsorbing 5% by weight of an inorganic compound, which is zinc oxide, on 5% by weight of an isothiazoline compound mixed with 90% by weight of polypropylene, DCOIT, and OIT in a ratio of 4: 1.

The resulting antimicrobial masterbatch was mixed with 99.7% by weight MT42 in an amount of 0.3% by weight to prepare a component.

Example 2

Component parts were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.6 wt% of MT42 in an amount of 0.4 wt%.

Example 3

Component parts were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.5% by weight MT42 in an amount of 0.5% by weight.

Example 4

Component parts were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.4 wt% MT42 in an amount of 0.6 wt%.

Example 5

Component parts were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.3 wt% MT42 in an amount of 0.7 wt%.

Example 6

Component parts were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.2% by weight MT42 in an amount of 0.8% by weight.

Example 7

The components were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.1 wt% of MT42 in an amount of 0.9 wt%.

Example 8

Components were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the antibacterial masterbatch was mixed with 99.0 wt% of MT42 in an amount of 1.0 wt%.

Comparative Example 1

Components were prepared using commercially available antimicrobial master batch Chemcide (10,10'-oxybisp henoxarsine (OBPA)) in an amount of 0.4% by weight. The Chemcide consists of 95% by weight polypropylene and 5% by weight OBPA.

Comparative Example 2

A component was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that Ag and Zn were used instead of zinc oxide.

In order to test the antimicrobial properties of the components according to the present invention, the antimicrobial properties of the mixture immediately before molding of the components obtained in Examples and Comparative Examples were examined.

Halo Test and Shake Flask were tested for bacteria and Halo Test and sample dropping methods for fungi.

Halo Test: S. aureus and E. coli were plated 3 × 10 ⁶ / plate in a NA batch, respectively, and immediately before molding of the mounting bases prepared in Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. The mixture was placed on a batch of size 2.5 × 2.5 cm and incubated at 37 ° C. for 24 hours.

For mold, mold (A.niger) was smeared on a PDA plate to 200 µl, and the sample was placed on a batch of 2.5 × 2.5 cm and incubated at 25 ° C. for 24 hours. The performance of the antimicrobial agent was determined by the generation of a clear zone around the sample.

Test results using the Halo test method are shown in Table 1 and FIG. 3. Since the results of Examples 1-8 were the same, only the results of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are shown in FIG. 3.

Escherichia coli Staphylococcus aureus mold Example 1 - One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 2 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 3 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 4 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 5 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 6 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 7 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Example 8 One 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 Comparative Example 1 0 0 0 0.3 0.4 0.05 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.1 Comparative Example 2 0.05 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 -

"-" Means no effect, in cm.

As can be seen in Table 1 and FIG. 3, the Clear Zone of Example 1 was much wider than Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

 Shake Flask test: Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli were inoculated into a 10 ml Erlenmeyer flask in an LB liquid batch, and 10 mixture samples of the above-mentioned Examples and Comparative Examples were added in a size of 1 × 1 cm, respectively, followed by 24 at 37 ° C. Shaking cultures were performed for hours.

Before adding the sample, take 100 μl, 10 μl, and 1 μl from the flask and spread them on an NB plate as a control.

After incubation, 100 μl and 10 μl of the culture solution were taken, respectively, and plated on an NB plate to measure the number of bacteria. The results are shown in Table 2.

Fungus sample unit Initial bacterial count 24 hours later % Inhibition Staphylococcus aureus Example 1 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 2 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 3 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 4 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 5 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 6 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 7 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Example 8 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ <1 99.9 Comparative Example 1 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ 7.0 × 10 ⁸ 0 Comparative Example 2 CFU / mL 5.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.8 × 10 ⁸ 0 Escherichia coli Example 1 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 2 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 3 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 4 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 5 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 6 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 7 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Example 8 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 14.6 Comparative Example 1 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 6.4 × 10 ⁸ 15.3 Comparative Example 2 CFU / mL 6.0 × 10 ⁵ 5.2 × 10 ⁸ 31.3

As can be seen from Table 2, the sample according to Example 1-8 showed 99.9% inhibition rate after reducing the number of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria to less than 1 after 24 hours.

Sample dropping method: A test method to check the antimicrobial effect on mold on the surface of the specimen, by dropping a drop of PDA on the specimen, inoculated with mold (A.niger) and incubated at 25 ℃ for 72 hours It is.

Example 1-8 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were tested by the sample dropping method, and the results were the same. Only the results of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are shown in FIG. 4.

Since the antimicrobial test results are almost the same, it is most economical to use the antimicrobial masterbatch in the present invention from 0.3 to 0.3% by weight.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

As described above, the laundry may be infested with bacteria such as mites and bacteria, or the contaminants or nutrients from the laundry may contaminate the washing water or the washing water. By replacing the parts with antimicrobial plastic composition, it prevents mold and other bacteria from growing, and it is effective to maintain the cleanliness of the laundry as well as cleaning the inside of the washing tank.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to implement embodiments of the present invention that are modified within the essential technical scope of the present invention.

That is, the antimicrobial plastic according to the embodiment of the present invention, in the components of the washing machine, inner tank, outer tank, pulsator, cover, detergent box, drain hose, inner lid (water flow guide structure, inner ratio) as well as wash water or water and Applicable to all components of the plastic composition in contact, regardless of the type of antimicrobial material that can be added to the plastic.

As described in detail above, in the present invention, by replacing the components of the plastic material in contact with the laundry or moisture in the washing machine with an antimicrobial plastic composition, it is possible to prevent the formation of various bacteria and fungi parasitic on the surface of the components to generate odor It has the effect of preventing discoloration and contamination of laundry.

Although described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims Can understand.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a top-loading washing machine.

Figure 2 is a photograph showing the results of testing Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 according to the Halto Test.

3 is a photograph showing the results of testing Example 1 and Comparative Example 1-2 according to the sample dropping method.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1. Outcase 2. Outside

3. inner tank 4. damping

5. Pulsator 11. Drainage hose

12. Detergent box

Claims (4)

In the top-loading washing machine comprising the inner tank, outer tank, pulsator, cover, detergent box, drain hose, inner lid, etc., The component comprises 99.0-99.7 wt% polypropylene and 0.3-1.0 wt% antibacterial masterbatch, the antimicrobial masterbatch 90 wt% polypropylene and 5 wt% isothiazoline based compound and 5 wt% Top-loading washing machine, characterized in that the antimicrobial plastic composition consisting of inorganic compound compound of%. The method of claim 1, The isothiazoline-based compound includes 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one of formula 1 and 2-N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one of formula 2 Top loading type washing machine, characterized in that the antimicrobial plastic composition consisting of 4: 1. Formula 1 Formula 2 The method of claim 1, Top loading type washing machine, characterized in that the inorganic composite compound is an antibacterial plastic composition made of zinc oxide. The method of claim 2, Top loading type washing machine, characterized in that the inorganic composite compound is an antibacterial plastic composition made of zinc oxide.