WO2022001221A1 - Ultrasonic cleaning device and washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an ultrasonic cleaning device capable of inhibiting temperature rise in an ultrasonic generator. The ultrasonic cleaning device comprises: a water storage tub for storing water; an ultrasonic generator (110) for generating ultrasonic waves which act on an object to be cleaned, which is soaking in water in the water storage tub; a power source part (800) for supplying power to the ultrasonic generator (110); and a temperature controller (700) disposed around the ultrasonic generator (110). The temperature controller (700) is disposed on a supply line (801) for supplying power from the power source part (800) to the ultrasonic generator (110). The power source part (800) stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator (110) when the temperature controller (700) detects a specified temperature.

Description

Ultrasonic cleaning device and washing machine technical field

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaning device and a washing machine provided with the ultrasonic cleaning device.

Background technique

Patent Document 1 describes a washing machine in which an ultrasonic cleaning device is arranged around a laundry inlet on an upper panel, for example, on the front side of the inlet. The ultrasonic cleaning device includes: a water storage bucket capable of storing water; and an ultrasonic generating unit having an ultrasonic generating body located directly above the water storage bucket. The dirt adhering part of the object to be cleaned is placed in the water storage tank containing water, and the cleaning operation is started. The ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic generator acts on the dirt adhering part soaked in water to peel off the dirt.

The ultrasonic generating body may generate heat due to its operation, and the temperature may rise. During the cleaning operation, the user's hand may come into contact with the ultrasonic generator. Therefore, it is desirable that the temperature of the ultrasonic generator does not rise too much in the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus during the cleaning operation.

prior art literature

Patent Literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-68435

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem to be solved by the invention

Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and the washing machine which can suppress the temperature rise of an ultrasonic generator.

solution to the problem

The first aspect of the present invention relates to an ultrasonic cleaning device. The ultrasonic cleaning device of this scheme includes: a water storage bucket, which can store water; an ultrasonic generator, which generates ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic waves act on the objects to be cleaned immersed in the water in the water storage bucket; and a power supply unit that supplies power to the ultrasonic generator ; and a temperature detection unit, disposed around the ultrasonic generating body. Here, the power supply unit stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator when the temperature detection unit detects a predetermined temperature.

According to the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of this aspect, the temperature rise of the ultrasonic generator can be suppressed.

In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of the present aspect, the temperature detection unit may include a temperature controller disposed on a supply line that supplies power to the ultrasonic generator from the power supply unit.

According to the above configuration, when the thermostat detects the predetermined temperature, the supply line is cut off by the thermostat, and the power supply unit stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator.

In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of this aspect, the structure further provided with the holding|maintenance part which hold|maintains the said temperature detection part can be employ|adopted. In this case, in a state where the temperature detection part is held by the holding part, the surface of the temperature detection part facing the ultrasonic generator can be separated from the ultrasonic generator.

According to the above-described configuration, the vibration of the ultrasonic generator is less likely to propagate to the temperature detection portion, and the temperature detection portion can be prevented from malfunctioning, damaged, or the like.

In the case of adopting the structure provided with the holding portion as described above, a structure in which the holding portion exposes the opposing surface of the temperature detecting portion may be employed.

With such a configuration, the heat from the ultrasonic generator is easily propagated to the temperature detection portion, and the temperature of the ultrasonic generator can be easily detected satisfactorily.

In the case of adopting the configuration including the holding portion as described above, a configuration may be adopted that further includes: a casing for accommodating the ultrasonic generator; and a fixing member for fixing the ultrasonic generator to the casing Inside. In this case, the holding portion may be provided on the fixing member.

With such a configuration, the temperature detection unit can be easily arranged around the ultrasonic generating body using the fixing member.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a washing machine. The washing machine of this aspect includes: an outer tub capable of storing water; an inner tub disposed in the outer tub and accommodating laundry; and the ultrasonic cleaning device of the first aspect.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the same effects as those of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus of the first aspect can be achieved.

Invention effect

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and the washing machine which can suppress the temperature rise of an ultrasonic generator can be provided.

The effects and significance of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the following embodiment is merely an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited by the contents described in the following embodiment at all.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the fully automatic washing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the water supply unit according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3(a) is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and the upper panel when the ultrasonic cleaning unit and the water storage unit according to the embodiment are located at the operating position. FIGS. 3( b ) and ( c ) are perspective views of main parts of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and the upper panel when the ultrasonic cleaning unit and the water storage unit of the embodiment are located at the standby position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus in a state in which the water storage portion is removed according to the embodiment.

5 is a side sectional view of an ultrasonic cleaning part and a main body part according to the embodiment.

6 is a perspective view of a reversed water storage unit according to the embodiment.

7 is a side sectional view of the ultrasonic cleaning device, the storage tank, the supply valve, the supply nozzle, and the drain receiving portion when the ultrasonic cleaning unit and the water storage unit of the embodiment are located at the standby position.

8 is a side cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic cleaning device, the storage tank, the supply valve, the supply nozzle, and the drain receiving portion when the ultrasonic cleaning unit and the water storage unit of the embodiment are located at the operating position.

9 is a perspective view of a storage tank, a supply valve, and a supply nozzle according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10( a ) is a perspective view showing a state in which the fixing member of the embodiment has passed through the upper portion of the ultrasonic generator, and FIG. 10( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ of FIG. 10( a ) of the embodiment. (c) of FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fixing member of the embodiment.

FIG. 11( a ) is a block diagram showing the structure of the power supply to the ultrasonic generator according to the embodiment. (b) of FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of supplying electric power to the ultrasonic generator in the case of using the thermistor according to the modified example.

(a) to (c) of FIG. 12 are diagrams for explaining the decontamination of the object to be cleaned by the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment.

Description of reference numerals

1: automatic washing machine (washing machine); 20: outer barrel; 22: washing and dewatering barrel (inner barrel); 50: ultrasonic cleaning device; 100: ultrasonic cleaning part; 110: ultrasonic generator; 120: shell; 180: fixing member; 190: Holding part; 200: Water storage part; 210: Water storage bucket: 700: Thermostat (temperature detection part); 701: Front (opposite surface); 800: Power supply part; 801: Supply line.

detailed description

Hereinafter, one Embodiment of the washing machine of this invention is described with reference to drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the fully automatic washing machine 1 .

The fully automatic washing machine 1 includes a case 10 that constitutes an outer contour. The case 10 includes a rectangular cylindrical body portion 11 with open upper and lower surfaces, an upper panel 12 covering the upper surface of the body portion 11 , and a footrest 13 supporting the body portion 11 . The upper panel 12 is formed with a laundry inlet 14 . The input port 14 is covered with an openable and closable upper cover 15 . In the front part of the upper panel 12, the control part 16 is arrange|positioned inside. The control part 16 consists of a microcomputer etc., and controls the washing operation of the fully automatic washing machine 1 and the washing operation of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50 mentioned later.

The outer tub 20 with the upper surface opened is elastically suspended and supported in the box 10 by four suspension bars 21 with anti-vibration devices. Inside the outer tub 20, a washing and dewatering tub 22 whose upper surface is opened is arranged. The washing and dewatering tub 22 rotates around a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. A large number of dewatering holes 22a are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the washing and dewatering tub 22 over the entire circumference. A balance ring 23 is provided on the upper part of the washing and dewatering tub 22 . A pulsator 24 is arranged at the bottom of the washing and dewatering tub 22 . On the surface of the pulsator 24, a plurality of blades 24a are radially provided. It should be noted that the washing and dewatering tub 22 corresponds to the "inner tub" of the present invention.

A drive unit 30 that generates torque for driving the washing and dewatering tub 22 and the pulsator 24 is disposed on the outer bottom of the outer tub 20 . The drive unit 30 includes a drive motor 31 and a transmission mechanism portion 32 . The transmission mechanism part 32 has a clutch mechanism 32a, and by the switching operation by the clutch mechanism 32a, the torque of the drive motor 31 is only transmitted to the pulsator 24 during the washing process and the rinsing process, and only the pulsator 24 is rotated. During the process, the torque of the driving motor 31 is transmitted to the pulsator 24 and the washing and dehydrating tub 22, so that the pulsating wheel 24 and the washing and dehydrating tub 22 rotate integrally.

In the outer bottom part of the outer tub 20, the drain port part 20a is formed. The drain valve 40 is provided in the drain port part 20a. The drain valve 40 is connected to the drain hose 41 . When the drain valve 40 is opened, the water stored in the washing and dewatering tub 22 and the outer tub 20 is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drain hose 41 .

An overflow port 20b is formed in the upper part of the outer tub 20 . When the water above the predetermined overflow level is stored in the outer tub 20, the water is discharged from the overflow port 20b. An overflow receiving portion 25 is provided on the outer surface of the outer tub 20 so as to cover the overflow port 20b. One end of the overflow pipe 26 is connected to the bottom of the overflow receiving portion 25 . The other end of the overflow pipe 26 is connected to the drain hose 41 . The water discharged from the overflow port 20 b is received by the overflow water receiving portion 25 , and flows to the drain hose 41 through the overflow pipe 26 .

The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50 is arrange|positioned at the substantially center of the rear part of the upper panel 12. As shown in FIG. The ultrasonic cleaning device 50 mainly performs a cleaning operation for removing sebum dirt adhering to the cuffs or neckline of shirts, oil dirt adhering to work clothes, and other dirt adhering to parts of the object to be washed before washing in the fully automatic washing machine 1 .

In the rear part of the upper panel 12, the storage tank 60 is arrange|positioned at the back of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50, and the drainage receiving part 70 is arrange|positioned below the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50. As shown in FIG. Detergent-containing water to be supplied to the water storage tub 210 of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50 is stored in the storage tank 60 . Hereinafter, the water containing the detergent is referred to as "washing water".

The drain receiving portion 70 receives the water drained from the water storage tub 210 . A drain hole 71 through which the received water is discharged is formed in the drain receiving portion 70 . One end of the drain pipe 72 is connected to the discharge hole 71 . The other end of the drain pipe 72 is connected to the upper part of the overflow pipe 26 .

A water supply unit 80 for supplying tap water into the washing and dewatering tub 22 is arranged at the rear of the upper panel 12 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the water supply unit 80 .

The water supply unit 80 has a water supply valve 81 . The water supply valve 81 is a so-called double valve, and includes a main valve 82 and a sub-valve 83 as solenoid valves. The water inlet 81a of the water supply valve 81 is connected to a faucet via a water supply hose not shown. The main water supply passage 84 is connected to the outlet of the main valve 82 of the water supply valve 81 . The main water supply path 84 has a water injection port 84 a located in the upper portion of the washing and dewatering tub 22 .

The water supply unit 80 includes an automatic feeding mechanism 90 for automatically feeding a liquid detergent, which is a type of liquid detergent for washing, into the washing and dewatering tub 22. The automatic injection mechanism 90 also has a function of supplying washing water to the storage tank 60 .

The automatic feeding mechanism 90 includes a detergent box 91 , a supply pipe 92 , a first three-way valve 93 , an auxiliary water supply passage 94 , a supply pump 95 , a detergent supply passage 96 , a second three-way valve 97 , and a washing water supply passage 98 . The automatic feeding mechanism 90 further includes a sub-valve 83 of the water supply valve 81 .

The liquid detergent is stored in the detergent box 91 in the state of a stock solution. The supply pipe 92 guides the liquid detergent of the detergent box 91 to one inlet of the first three-way valve 93 .

The sub-water supply passage 94 is connected to the outlet of the sub-valve 83 and the other inlet of the first three-way valve 93 .

A supply pump 95 is connected to the outlet of the first three-way valve 93 , and a detergent supply passage 96 is connected to the supply pump 95 . The detergent supply path 96 has a supply port 96 a located in the upper portion of the washing and dewatering tub 22 . As the supply pump 95, a piston pump can be used, for example.

The first three-way valve 93 can be switched between a state in which the supply pipe 92 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other and a state in which the auxiliary water supply passage 94 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other.

A second three-way valve 97 is provided in the detergent supply passage 96 . The upstream supply path 96b of the detergent supply path 96 is connected to the inlet of the second three-way valve 97 , and the downstream supply path 96c of the detergent supply path 96 is connected to one outlet of the second three-way valve 97 . In addition, one end of the washing water supply path 98 is connected to the other outlet of the second three-way valve 97 . The other end of the washing water supply path 98 is connected to the storage tank 60 .

The second three-way valve 97 can be switched between a state in which the upstream supply passage 96b and the downstream supply passage 96c are communicated, and a state in which the upstream supply passage 96b and the washing water supply passage 98 are communicated.

Next, the configuration of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 and the configuration of the periphery of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 including the storage tank 60 and the drain receiving portion 70 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3( a ) is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 and the upper panel 12 when the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are located at the operating position. (b) and (c) of FIG. 3 are perspective views of main parts of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 and the upper panel 12 when the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are located at the standby position. In FIG.3(c), the illustration of the cover 19 is abbreviate|omitted so that the inside of the accommodating part 17 can be seen.

The ultrasonic cleaning device 50 includes an ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 , a water storage unit 200 , and a main body unit 300 . The ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 has an ultrasonic generator 110 that generates ultrasonic waves. The main body portion 300 holds the ultrasonic cleaning portion 100. The water storage part 200 is attached to the main body part 300 and is located below the ultrasonic generator 110 . The water storage portion 200 is provided with a water storage tub 210 that stores the washing water. The water storage portion 200 can be pulled forward from the main body portion 300 by a detachment operation performed by the user to be detached.

The upper panel 12 is provided with an accommodation portion 17 in which the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50 is accommodated in the central portion of the rear. In the upper panel 12 , the front side of the accommodating portion 17 is opened as the entrance and exit 18 . The entrance 18 is provided with a translucent substantially square cover 19 .

As shown in FIG. 3( a ), when the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 is used for cleaning operation, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 is in a state in which the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 , that is, the ultrasonic generator 110 and the water storage tub 210 are removed from the storage unit. 17 is pulled forward and protrudes inside the inlet 14 of the upper panel 12 . The cover 19 is substantially entirely accommodated in the accommodating portion 17 . The positions of the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 at this time are the operating positions.

On the other hand, as shown in (b) and (c) of FIG. 3 , when the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 is not used and the cleaning operation is not performed, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 becomes the ultrasonic cleaning part 100 and the water storage part 200 and is stored in the storage state of section 17. The inlet/outlet 18 of the storage unit 17 is closed by the cover 19 , and the front of the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 is covered by the cover 19 . At this time, the lower end of the cover 19 is in contact with the proximal end portion of the handle 201 provided in the water storage unit 200 . The handle 201 protrudes forward from the cover 19 . The positions of the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 at this time are the standby positions.

In addition, in order to interlock|cooperate the operation|movement of the cover 19 with the ultrasonic cleaning part 100 and the water storage part 200, the interlocking mechanism part which is not shown in the inside of the upper panel 12 is provided. When the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are accommodated in the accommodating unit 17, the cover 19 moves from the accommodating position accommodated in the accommodating unit 17 to the closing position closing the entrance 18. When the portion 17 is pulled out, the cover 19 moves from the closed position to the storage position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50 in a state in which the water storage unit 200 is removed. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the main body unit 300 . FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the inverted water storage unit 200 .

4 and 5 , the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 includes an ultrasonic generator 110 , a housing 120 , and a cover 130 .

The ultrasonic generator 110 includes: an ultrasonic vibrator 111 ; a vibration horn 112 , which is combined with the ultrasonic vibrator 111 ; . The vibration horn 112 is formed of a conductive metal material, and has a shape that tapers toward the front end side. The shape of the front end surface 112a of the vibration horn 112 is an elongated rectangle. A flange portion 112b is formed on the upper end portion of the vibration horn 112 . A shock absorbing material 114 made of rubber or the like is attached to the vibration horn 112 so as to cover the flange portion 112b. The ultrasonic transducer 111 , the vibration horn 112 , and the head 113 are connected by bolts 115 . An upper insulating plate 116 is arranged between the ultrasonic transducer 111 and the vibration horn 112 , and a lower insulating plate 117 is arranged between the ultrasonic transducer 111 and the head 113 .

The ultrasonic generator 110 generates ultrasonic waves from the tip of the vibration horn 112 by the high-frequency vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator 111 .

The case 120 is formed of a resin material, and has an arm shape that is long in the front-rear direction and whose front end portion 120a is bent downward. The opening part 121 is formed in the lower surface of the front-end|tip part 120a.

The case 120 is formed by combining the lower member 140 whose upper surface is opened and the upper member 150 whose lower surface is opened. A metal reinforcing plate 160 is attached to the lower member 140 . The lower member 140 is provided with a lower mounting hole 141 and a lower mounting boss 142 , and the upper member 150 is provided with an upper mounting boss 151 corresponding to the lower mounting hole 141 and an upper mounting hole 152 corresponding to the lower mounting boss 142 . The screws 171 passing through the lower mounting holes 141 are fixed to the upper mounting boss 151 , and the screws 171 passing through the upper mounting holes 152 are fixed to the lower mounting boss 142 . Thereby, the lower member 140 and the upper member 150 are combined. The front end portion 120 a of the housing 120 is formed by the lower member 140 .

The lower member 140 is provided with mounting bosses 143 on the front and rear of the opening portion 121 . Moreover, the periphery of the opening part 121 of the lower member 140 constitutes an insertion opening part 144 into which the cover 130 is inserted.

The sonotrode 110 is attached to the lower member 140 , and the flange portion 112 b thereof is pressed from the upper side by the frame-shaped fixing member 180 . The fixing member 180 is formed of a resin material, and includes a cylindrical body portion 181 having a shape corresponding to the upper portion of the ultrasonic generator 110 , and attachment portions 182 and 183 provided on the front and rear sides of the body portion 181 . Mounting holes 182 a and 183 a are formed in the respective mounting portions 182 and 183 .

The fixing member 180 passes through the upper part of the ultrasonic generator 110 from above, is provided on the front and rear mounting bosses 143 , and is fixed to the mounting bosses 143 by screws 172 . Thereby, the ultrasonic generator 110 is fixed in the casing 120 . A portion on the front end side of the vibration horn 112 protrudes downward from the opening portion 121 of the housing 120 . A buffer 114 is interposed between the flange portion 112 b of the ultrasonic generator 110 , the lower member 140 , and the fixing member 180 , and the propagation of vibration to the housing 120 is suppressed.

In addition, in the fixing member 180, the attachment part 182 is formed with the claw part 182a, and this claw part 182a is engaged with the engaging piece 153 of the upper member 150 from above. Accordingly, the lower member 140 and the upper member 150 are not easily separated from each other on the front side of the housing 100 .

The cover 130 is detachably attached to the front end portion 120 a of the casing 120 , and covers a portion of the vibration horn 112 of the ultrasonic generator 110 exposed from the casing 120 .

The cover 130 has a structure in which the cover main body 131 and the guide portion 132 are integrally formed with a resin material. The cover main body 131 has a cylindrical shape whose front, rear, left, and right widths become narrower toward the downward direction, and covers the portion on the front end side of the vibration horn 112 of the ultrasonic generator 110 so that the front end portion thereof is exposed.

The guide portion 132 is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the front side surface of the cover main body 131 so as to protrude forward, and has a flat shape in the left-right direction. A lower portion of the guide portion 132 is provided with a guide surface 133 which is inclined backward and obliquely downward and is bent horizontally at the lower end portion. Further, the lower end of the guide portion 132 is positioned below the lower end of the cover main body 131 .

The cover 130 is attached to the insertion opening 144 of the housing 120 from below. At this time, protrusions not shown provided on the right and left of the fitting opening 144 are fitted into recesses not shown provided on the left and right of the cover main body 131 . Thereby, the cover 130 does not come off from the fitting opening 144 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , in a state where the cover 130 is attached to the housing 120 , the front end portion of the vibration horn 112 of the ultrasonic generator 110 is slightly exposed from the cover main body 131 . In addition, the lower end of the guide portion 132 of the cover 130 is almost coplanar with the front end surface 112 a of the vibration horn 112 . Furthermore, the guide surface 133 of the guide portion 132 is inclined so as to approach the vibration horn 112 as it approaches the water storage tub 210 . In addition, the position of the guide portion 132 coincides with the position of the front end portion of the vibration horn 112 in the left-right direction, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the front direction of the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 .

4 and 5 , the main body portion 300 has a substantially square shape when viewed from the front. A guide rail portion 301 extending forward is provided at the left and right lower end portions of the main body portion 300 . In addition, an opening 302 through which the rear portion of the water storage portion 200 and the supply nozzle 500 pass is formed on the left side of the main body portion 300 , and an insertion port into which the claw portion 241 of the locking mechanism 240 is inserted is formed on the right side of the opening 302 . 303. The rear part 120 b of the casing 120 of the ultrasonic cleaning part 100 is fixed to the upper part of the main body part 300 .

4 and 6 , the water storage portion 200 is formed of a resin material, and has a shape that is slightly elongated in the front-rear direction and flat in the vertical direction, and the left portion protrudes rearward than the right portion. On the front surface of the water storage portion 200, a handle 201 having a circular arc shape on the front surface is formed integrally with the water storage portion 200. As shown in FIG. The user holds the handle 201 when moving the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 in and out of the housing portion 17 and when attaching and detaching the water storage portion 200 to the main body portion 300 .

A water storage tub 210 having a shape that follows the outer shape of the water storage portion 200 is formed on the upper surface of the water storage portion 200 . The inner peripheral surface of the water storage tub 210 is inclined so as to expand upward. A circular drain port 211 is formed in the lower portion of the rear surface of the water storage tub 210 .

The water storage portion 200 is provided with a valve body 220 for closing the drain port 211, and a valve switching mechanism 230 for switching between a closed state in which the valve body 220 is closed and an open state in which the valve body 220 is opened.

The valve body 220 is formed of a resin material and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The valve body 220 has an O-ring 221 on the peripheral surface, and the O-ring 221 is attached to the peripheral edge of the drain port 211 to block the drain port 211 from the front.

The valve switching mechanism 230 includes a valve movable member 231 , an operation portion 232 , and a spring 233 . The valve movable member 231 and the operation portion 232 are integrally formed of a resin material.

The valve movable member 231 is disposed on the back side of the water storage portion 200 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, that is, the opening and closing direction of the valve body 220 . The rear end portion 231 a of the valve movable member 231 protrudes rearward of the water storage portion 200 . On the rear side of the water storage portion 200 , the valve body 220 is connected to the rear end portion 231 a of the valve movable member 231 .

The operation portion 232 is provided at the front end portion 231b of the valve movable member 231 . The operation part 232 faces the outside from the operation window 202 provided on the left side of the water storage part 200 . The spring 233 urges the valve movable member 231 backward, that is, in the closing direction of the valve body 220 .

A lock mechanism 240 for fixing the water storage portion 200 attached to the main body portion 300 so as not to be detached forward is provided in the rear portion of the water storage portion 200 . The locking mechanism 240 has a pawl portion 241 and a button 242 . The claw portion 241 is biased upward by a spring (not shown), descends when the button 242 is pressed, and returns to the original position when the button 242 is released.

The water storage portion 200 is attached to the main body portion 300 from the front. In the back side of the water storage part 200, insertion parts 203 are provided at the right end and the left end, respectively. The left rear part of the water storage part 200 passes through the opening part 302 of the main body part 300 . Further, the claw portion 241 of the locking mechanism 240 abuts against the upper edge of the insertion port 303 of the main body portion 300 , is pressed down, and passes through the insertion port 303 . When the attachment of the water storage part 200 to the main body part 300 is completed, the claw part 241 is engaged with the upper edge of the insertion port 303 on the back side of the main body part 300 . As a result, the water storage portion 200 cannot be detached from the main body portion 300 forward. When the water storage part 200 is detached from the main body part 300, the button 242 of the locking mechanism 240 is pressed, and the claw part 241 is lowered. Thereby, the engagement between the claw portion 241 and the upper edge of the insertion port 303 is released. By pulling the water storage part 200 forward, the water storage part 200 is detached from the main body part 300 .

In the state where the water storage part 200 is attached to the main body part 300, the position of the front end surface 112a of the vibration horn 112 of the ultrasonic generator 110 is slightly lower than the position of the upper surface of the water storage bucket 210, and the front end of the vibration horn 112 The part is in a state in which it slightly enters the water storage tub 210 .

7 is a side cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 , the storage tank 60 , the supply valve 400 , the supply nozzle 500 , and the drain receiving part 70 when the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are in the standby position. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 , the storage tank 60 , the supply valve 400 , the supply nozzle 500 , and the drain receiving portion 70 when the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are in the operating position. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the storage tank 60 , the supply valve 400 , and the supply nozzle 500 .

In the accommodating part 17, the storage tank 60, the supply valve 400, and the supply nozzle 500 are arrange|positioned at the back of the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50.

The supply valve 400 is a solenoid valve. The supply valve 400 includes a valve housing 410 having an inlet on the left and right side surfaces and an outlet on the lower surface, a valve body 420 for opening and closing the outlet of the valve housing 410 , and a driving unit 430 such as a solenoid that drives the valve body 420 . The outlet of the valve housing 410 is connected to the inlet of the supply nozzle 500 .

The storage tank 60 is formed of a resin material, and is divided into a first tank 61 and a second tank 62 via the supply valve 400 . The first box 61 and the second box 62 are set to have larger left and right dimensions than vertical and front and rear dimensions. In the first case 61 , the left end portion protrudes forward from the other portions, and in the second case 62 , the right end portion protrudes forward from the other portions. The size of the entire storage tank 60 in the left-right direction is much larger than the size in the front-rear direction, and has a shape that is thin in the front-rear direction and long in the left-right direction when viewed from above.

The upper parts of both the first tank 61 and the second tank 62 are connected by a communication portion 63 extending from the first tank 61 . In the first tank 61 , the outflow port 64 formed in the lower part of the right side surface thereof is connected to the inlet port on the left side of the valve housing 410 . In the second tank 62 , the outflow port 65 formed in the lower part of the left side surface thereof is connected to the inlet port on the right side of the valve housing 410 . In the first tank 61 and the second tank 62 , the outflow ports 64 and 65 of each other are connected via the valve case 410 .

In the storage tank 60, the inflow port 66 of the washing water which goes into the storage tank 60 is formed in the left end part of the 1st tank 61. As shown in FIG. The inflow port 66 is connected to the washing water supply path 98 of the automatic injection mechanism 90 . The washing water supplied from the automatic feeding mechanism 90 flows into the first tank 61 from the inflow port 66, and then flows into the second tank 62 through the valve housing 410 and the communication portion 63. Thereby, the washing water is stored in the storage tank 60 . The water storage capacity of the storage tank 60 is larger than the water storage capacity of the water storage tank 210 , for example, the storage tank 60 can store water having a storage capacity that is more than twice the water storage capacity of the water storage tank 210 .

When the supply valve 400 , that is, the valve body 420 is opened, the cleaning water flows out from the first tank 61 and the second tank 62 of the storage tank 60 through the outlet of the valve housing 410 , respectively.

The supply nozzle 500 is formed of a resin material, extends forward from the supply valve 400 , and has a front end portion 500a bent downward. The discharge port 501 is formed in the lower surface of the front-end|tip part 500a.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the supply nozzle 500 penetrates the opening 302 of the main body 300 with the ultrasonic cleaning part 100 and the water storage part 200 accommodated in the storage part 17 , and the front end 500 a thereof is located at the front of the water storage tub 210 . On the other hand, when the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 are pulled out to the inside of the input port 14 as shown in FIG.

In the housing portion 17 , a drain receiving portion 70 is arranged below the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 . The drainage receiving portion 70 has a substantially square dish shape with an open upper surface and a front surface. The bottom surface of the drainage receiving portion 70 is inclined so that the rear portion becomes lower. A drain hole 71 is formed on the right side of the drain receiving portion 70 at the lower end of the rear portion and at the position where the bottom surface is the lowest. A drain pipe 72 is connected to a connection pipe 73 extending rightward from the discharge hole 71 .

In the fully automatic washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, in the ultrasonic cleaning device 50, the ultrasonic generator 110 may generate heat during operation, that is, when the ultrasonic vibrator 111 vibrates at a high frequency. Therefore, the temperature controller 700 is arranged around the ultrasonic generator 110 to adjust the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 . In addition, the thermostat 700 corresponds to the "temperature detection part" of this invention, and the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 corresponds to the "surface facing the ultrasonic generator" of this invention.

FIG. 10( a ) is a perspective view showing a state in which the fixing member 180 has passed through the upper portion of the ultrasonic generator 110 , and FIG. 10( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA′ of FIG. 10( a ). (c) of FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fixing member 180 .

The thermostat 700 is held by the holding portion 190 provided in the fixing member 180 . The holding portion 190 is integrally formed on the inner surface side of the main body portion 181 of the fixing member 180 .

The holding part 190 has the side facing the ultrasonic generator 110 as the front surface, and includes: a substantially square back surface part 191; The bottom surface part 194 extends from the right half of the lower end of the back surface part 191 in the front direction. The front end portion of the left side surface portion 192 protrudes slightly to the right, and the front end portion of the right side surface portion 193 slightly protrudes to the left. The space surrounded by the back surface portion 191 , the left side surface portion 192 , the right side surface portion 193 , and the bottom surface portion 194 is an accommodating portion 190 a having a shape corresponding to the thermostat 700 .

The thermostat 700 is accommodated in the accommodating part 190a of the holding part 190 from above. The left and right end portions of the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 are in contact with the protruding portions of the front end portions of the left side surface portion 192 and the right side surface portion 193 of the holding portion 190 . As a result, the thermostat 700 does not come off forward, that is, to the ultrasonic generator 110 side. Further, a claw portion 195 is formed on the upper end of the left side surface portion 192 of the holding portion 190 , and the claw portion 195 is engaged with the left end portion of the upper surface of the thermostat 700 . Thereby, the thermostat 700 is less likely to come off upward from the accommodating portion 190a.

In a state where the thermostat 700 is held in the holding portion 190 , the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 is exposed to the outside of the holding portion 190 and faces the inside of the main body portion 181 of the fixing member 180 . In addition, the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 faces the side surface of the ultrasonic generator 110 , that is, the side surface of the head 113 with a slight distance therebetween. That is, a slight gap is formed between the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 and the side surface of the ultrasonic generator 110 .

When the ultrasonic generator 110 generates heat due to its operation, the heat is propagated to the thermostat 700 through the air in the gap between the ultrasonic generator 110 and the thermostat 700 . Thereby, the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 is detected by the thermostat 700 . At this time, since the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 is not in contact with the ultrasonic generator 110 , the vibration of the ultrasonic generator 110 is not easily propagated to the thermostat 700 , and failure or damage of the thermostat 700 can be prevented. In addition, since the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 is exposed, the heat from the ultrasonic generator 110 is easily propagated to the thermostat 700 , and the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 can be easily detected satisfactorily.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10( b ), the front end of the central portion of the bottom surface of the thermostat 700 is slightly in contact with the upper insulating plate 116 of the ultrasonic generator 110 . Thereby, the thermostat 700 is supported not only by the bottom surface part 194 of the holding part 190 but also by the upper insulating plate 116 from below. In this way, although the thermostat 700 and the upper insulating plate 116 are slightly in contact, the transmission of vibration from the ultrasonic generator 110 to the thermostat 700 caused by this contact is extremely small, and the thermostat 700 does not malfunction. , damage, etc. In addition, the bottom surface of the thermostat 700 may not be supported by the upper insulating plate 116, and the thermostat 700 and the ultrasonic generator 110 may not be in contact at all.

FIG. 11( a ) is a block diagram showing a configuration for supplying power to the ultrasonic generator 110 .

Power is supplied from the power supply unit 800 to the ultrasonic vibrator 111 , which is the ultrasonic generator 110 . The thermostat 700 is arranged on a supply line 801 that supplies power from the power supply unit 800 to the ultrasonic generator 110 . The supply line 801 is further provided with a switch circuit 810 whose on-off (ON, OFF) is controlled by the control unit 16 .

When the switch circuit 810 is turned on by the control unit 16, power is supplied from the power supply unit 800 to the ultrasonic generator 110, and the ultrasonic generator 110 operates.

During the operation of the ultrasonic generator 110 , when the temperature of the thermostat 700 reaches a predetermined first temperature, for example, 75° C., the contact thereof is opened to cut off the supply line 801 . Thereby, the power supply unit 800 stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator 110 . Then, when the temperature of the thermostat 700 is lowered to a predetermined second temperature lower than the first temperature, for example, 70° C., the contact of the thermostat 700 is closed, and the disconnection of the supply line 801 is released. As a result, the power supply unit 800 restarts power supply to the ultrasonic generator 110 .

When the switch circuit 810 is turned off by the control unit 16, the power supply from the power supply unit 800 to the ultrasonic generator 110 is stopped.

The fully automatic washing machine 1 performs washing operation in various operation modes. In the washing operation, a washing process, an intermediate dehydration process, a rinsing process, and a final dehydration process are sequentially performed.

During the cleaning process and the rinsing process, the pulsator 24 rotates to the right and left in a state where water is stored in the washing and dewatering tub 22 . Through the rotation of the pulsator 24, a water flow is generated in the washing and dewatering tub 22. During the washing process, the laundry is washed by the generated water flow and the detergent contained in the water. During the rinsing process, the laundry is rinsed by the generated water flow.

During the intermediate dehydration process and the final dehydration process, the washing and dehydrating tub 22 and the pulsator 24 are integrally rotated at a high speed. The laundry is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated in the washing and dehydrating tub 22 .

When the water supply in the cleaning process is performed, the liquid detergent is automatically injected into the washing and dewatering tub 22 by the automatic injection mechanism 90 . At this time, first, the first three-way valve 93 is switched to a state in which the supply pipe 92 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other. In addition, the second three-way valve 97 is switched to a state in which the upstream supply passage 96b and the downstream supply passage 96c communicate with each other. When the supply pump 95 operates, the liquid detergent in the detergent box 91 is discharged by suction. The discharged liquid detergent is sent to the detergent supply path 96 through the supply pipe 92 , the first three-way valve 93 and the supply pump 95 as indicated by the dotted arrows in FIG. 2 , and is stored in the upstream side supply path 96 b of the detergent supply path 96 . The supply pump 95 operates for a predetermined time, whereby a predetermined amount of the liquid detergent is stored in the upstream supply passage 96b.

Next, the first three-way valve 93 is switched to a state in which the auxiliary water supply passage 94 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other, and the main valve 82 and the auxiliary valve 83 are opened. The water from the faucet flows through the main water supply passage 84 and is discharged into the washing and dewatering tub 22 from the water injection port 84a. At the same time, as shown by the solid arrows in FIG. 2 , the water from the faucet flows to the detergent supply path 96 through the auxiliary water supply path 94 , the first three-way valve 93 and the supply pump 95 to wash away the liquid detergent. The liquid detergent washed away by the water is injected into the washing and dewatering tub 22 from the supply port 96a of the detergent supply passage 96 together with the water, as indicated by the one-dot chain arrow in FIG. 2 . When the water level in the washing and dewatering tub 22 reaches a predetermined washing water level, the main valve 82 and the sub-valve 83 are closed, and the water supply ends.

Then, in the fully automatic washing machine 1, the cleaning operation by the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 is performed. When washing objects such as shirts, when the objects to be cleaned partially contain stubborn dirt, the user will use the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 to locally clean the objects to be cleaned before washing.

When performing the cleaning operation, the user pulls out the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 from the storage unit 17 as shown in FIG. 3( a ), and moves the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100 and the water storage unit 200 to the operation position. As shown in FIG. 8 , the valve switching mechanism 230 urges the valve body 220 through the valve movable member 231 in the rearward direction, that is, in the closing direction, by the urging force of the spring 233 . Thereby, the valve body 220 closes the drain port 211, and the drain port 211 is in a closed state.

The user performs a predetermined start operation to start the cleaning operation.

When the cleaning operation is started, the supply of the cleaning water into the storage tank 60 is first performed by the automatic injection mechanism 90 . That is, first, the first three-way valve 93 is switched to a state in which the supply pipe 92 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other. In addition, the second three-way valve 97 is switched to a state in which the upstream supply passage 96b and the washing water supply passage 98 communicate with each other. Furthermore, the supply valve 400 is closed. When the supply pump 95 operates, the liquid detergent in the detergent box 91 is discharged by suction. As shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 2 , the liquid detergent discharged from the detergent box 91 reaches the detergent supply path 96 and is stored in the upstream side supply path 96 b of the detergent supply path 96 . The supply pump 95 operates for a predetermined time, whereby a predetermined amount of the liquid detergent is stored in the upstream supply passage 96b.

Next, the first three-way valve 93 is switched to a state in which the auxiliary water supply passage 94 and the supply pump 95 communicate with each other, and the auxiliary valve 83 is opened. As indicated by the solid arrows in FIG. 2 , the water from the faucet flows to the detergent supply passage 96 through the auxiliary water supply passage 94 , the first three-way valve 93 , and the supply pump 95 , and washes away the liquid detergent. Water is mixed with liquid detergent to become wash water. As indicated by the thick-line arrows in FIG. 2 , the washing water flows into the storage tank 60 through the washing water supply path 98 .

When the water level in the storage tank 60 reaches a predetermined water supply stop water level and the water level is detected by a water level detector (not shown), the sub-valve 83 is closed.

In this way, by supplying the washing water from the automatic feeding mechanism 90 , the washing water having a predetermined water amount and a predetermined detergent concentration is stored in the storage tank 60 . In the present embodiment, the amount of the washing water stored in the storage tank 60 is set to an amount that can replace the washing water in the water storage tub 210 and perform two washing operations. In addition, the quantity of the washing water stored in the storage tank 60 may be the quantity which can perform a washing|cleaning operation three or more times.

Next, the supply valve 400 is opened. The washing water in the storage tank 60 is discharged into the water storage tub 210 from the discharge port 501 through the supply nozzle 500 . The cleaning water is stored in the water storage tub 210, and the water level in the water storage tub 210 rises. As shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 8 , when the water level in the water tank 210 rises to the height of the discharge port 501 and the discharge port 501 is blocked by the washing water, the air pressure in the storage tank 60 is balanced with the air pressure outside. As a result, the water supply from the storage tank 60 is stopped while the open state of the supply valve 400 is maintained.

When the water storage bucket 210 stores cleaning water, the user places the dirt adhering part of the object to be cleaned, such as the collar part of a shirt, on the water storage bucket 210 from the front direction of the ultrasonic cleaning part 100 , that is, the connection between the water storage bucket 210 and the ultrasonic generator 110 between the vibration horns 112 .

The dirt adhering portion of the object to be cleaned is immersed in the washing water stored in the water storage tub 210, and the washing water that has penetrated into the inside of the object to be cleaned seeps out to the surface. A thin water layer is formed on the surface of the object to be cleaned, and the vibration horn 112 is in contact with the water layer. It should be noted that when the object to be cleaned absorbs water and the water level in the water storage bucket 210 drops, and the discharge port 501 of the supply nozzle 500 is no longer blocked by the cleaning water, the cleaning water is supplied from the storage tank 60 to the water storage bucket 210 until the water is discharged. Until the outlet 501 is blocked by the washing water again. Thereby, the water level in the water storage tank 210, that is, the amount of water is maintained in an appropriate state.

After the supply valve 400 is opened, the ultrasonic transducer 111 is not energized until a predetermined standby time elapses, and the ultrasonic generator 110 is in a standby state. During this period, washing water is stored in the water storage tub 210, and objects to be washed are placed in the water storage tub 210 in which the washing water is stored. When the standby time elapses, the ultrasonic transducer 111 is energized to operate the ultrasonic generator 110 .

(a)-(c) of FIG. 12 is a figure for demonstrating the decontamination of the to-be-cleaned object by the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 50. FIG.

When the ultrasonic generator 110 works, ultrasonic waves are generated from the front end of the vibration horn 112 , and the ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the cleaning water inside the object to be cleaned through the cleaning water around the vibration horn 112 . As shown in Fig. 12(a), inside the object to be cleaned, decompression and pressurization are alternately generated by the action of ultrasonic vibration, and a vacuum cavity is generated in the part where the pressure becomes low. That is, there exists a state in which many cavities exist in the dirt part of the to-be-washed object. Next, as shown in FIG. 12( b ), when the pressure of the cavity portion becomes high and the cavity is broken by the pressure and collapses, a shock wave is generated on the dirt portion of the object to be cleaned. By this shock wave, the dirt is separated from the object to be cleaned. As shown in FIG. 12( c ), the ultrasonic vibration from the vibration horn 112 generates a water flow from the inside of the object to be cleaned to the water storage tub 210 , and the dirt separated from the object to be cleaned is discharged by the water flow. into the water storage bucket 210. In the water storage tub 210, convection is generated by the above-mentioned water flow, so that dirt is easily peeled off from the object to be washed. Furthermore, the action of the detergent contained in the washing water also makes it easy to peel off the dirt from the object to be washed, and furthermore, the dirt is less likely to reattach to the object to be cleaned. In this way, dirt is removed from the object to be washed.

As described above, during the operation of the ultrasonic generator 110 , the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 is detected by the temperature controller 700 . The temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 rises a lot due to reasons such as longer operating time. When the temperature detected by the thermostat 700 reaches the first temperature, the thermostat 700 is turned off to stop energizing the ultrasonic generator 110 . Then, the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 is lowered, and when the temperature detected by the thermostat 700 reaches the second temperature, the thermostat 700 is turned on to restart the energization of the ultrasonic generator 110 .

In this way, the temperature controller 700 functions to adjust the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 based on the temperature detection, thereby suppressing the temperature rise of the ultrasonic generator 110 during the cleaning operation. Accordingly, even if the user's hand accidentally touches the ultrasonic generator 110 during the cleaning operation, it is possible to prevent the user from being scared by the heat of the ultrasonic generator 110 .

When the cleaning of the object to be cleaned is completed, the user performs a predetermined end operation to end the cleaning operation. The ultrasonic generator 110 stops working, and the cleaning operation ends.

When a new cleaning operation is not performed next, as shown in FIGS. 3( b ) and ( c ), the user accommodates the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 in the accommodating portion 17 , and causes the ultrasonic cleaning portion 100 and the water storage portion 200 to stand by. position moves. When the water storage portion 200 moves to the standby position as shown in FIG. 7 , in the valve switching mechanism 230 , the rear end portion 231 a of the valve movable member 231 abuts against the rear surface of the drain receiving portion 70 and is pressed by these ribs 74 , moves forward relative to the water storage part 200 against the urging force of the spring 233 . The valve body 220 connected to the valve movable member 231 moves forward with respect to the drain port 211 of the water storage tub 210, that is, in the opening direction, and the drain port 211 is opened. Thereby, the washing water stored in the water storage tank 210 and the washing water remaining in the storage tank 60 are discharged through the drain port 211. The washing water discharged from the water discharge port 211 is received by the water discharge receiving portion 70 and discharged from the discharge hole 71 . The washing water discharged from the discharge hole 71 flows through the drain pipe 72 , the overflow pipe 26 and the drain hose 41 and is discharged to the outside of the machine.

The user sometimes wants to replace the washing water of the water storage tub 210 to continue the washing operation. In this case, the user performs a movement operation to move the operation unit 232 forward. As a result, in the valve switching mechanism 230, the valve movable member 231 moves forward relative to the water storage portion 200, the valve body 220 moves in the opening direction, and the drain port 211 opens, similarly to when the water storage portion 200 is moved to the standby position. . The washing water stored in the water tank 210 is drained through the drain port 211 , and is drained to the outside of the machine via the drain receiving portion 70 , the overflow pipe 26 , and the drain hose 41 . At the same time, fresh wash water is supplied from the storage tank 60 to the water storage tub 210 .

In this way, the user can discharge the cleaning water from the water storage tub 210 without moving the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 while the water storage unit 200 maintains the operating position, and can supply new cleaning water to the water storage tub 210 . Then, the cleaning operation is continued.

In the ultrasonic cleaning unit 100, while the cleaning operation is repeated, the water tank 210 may be soiled. In the present embodiment, since the water storage part 200 is detachable from the main body part 300 , the user can remove the water storage part 200 from the main body part 300 to clean the water storage tub 210 .

<Effect of the embodiment>

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the thermostat 700 is arranged around the ultrasonic generator 110, and the power supply unit 800 stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator 110 when the temperature controller 700 detects the first temperature, so that the ultrasonic generator can be suppressed. The temperature of 110 rises.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the front surface 701 facing the ultrasonic generator 110 is separated from the ultrasonic generator 110 in a state where the thermostat 700 is held in the holding portion 190 , so that the vibration of the ultrasonic generator 110 is not easily transmitted to the temperature. The controller 700 is spread, and the thermostat 700 can be prevented from malfunction, damage, and the like.

It should be noted that, when the temperature controller 700 is directly attached to the ultrasonic generator 110 , unlike the present embodiment, the contact surface between the temperature controller 700 and the ultrasonic generator 110 may be finely divided by the vibration of the ultrasonic generator 110 . move in the ground, thus easily hindering heat transmission. Therefore, compared with the case where the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 is separated from the ultrasonic generator 110 as in the present embodiment, heat propagation is not so good.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the holding portion 190 exposes the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 facing the ultrasonic generator 110. Thereby, the heat from the ultrasonic generator 110 is easily propagated to the thermostat 700 , and the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 is easily detected satisfactorily.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the holding portion 190 for holding the thermostat 700 is provided on the fixing member 180 , the thermostat 700 can be easily arranged around the ultrasonic generator 110 using the fixing member 180 .

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the temperature controller 700 is arranged at a height opposite to the head 113 of the ultrasonic generator 110, it is difficult to contact the ultrasonic vibrator 111 as the energized part.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments at all, and various modifications other than those described above can be made in the embodiments of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the temperature controller 700 is arranged around the ultrasonic generator 110 in order to detect the temperature of the ultrasonic generator 110 . However, instead of the thermostat 700, the thermistor 710 may be arranged around the ultrasonic generator 110 as the temperature detection unit. In this case, it is preferable to change the shape of the holding portion 190 to a shape corresponding to the shape of the thermistor 710 . However, as in the case of the thermostat 700 , the front surface of the thermistor 710 is exposed to the outside at a distance from the ultrasonic generator 110 while being held in the holding portion 190 .

(b) of FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of supplying power to the ultrasonic generator 110 in the case of using the thermistor 710 of the modified example.

The thermistor 710 is connected to the control unit 16 , and the temperature detected by the thermistor 710 is input to the control unit 16 . During operation of the ultrasonic generator 110 , when the temperature detected by the thermistor 710 reaches the first temperature, the control unit 16 turns off the switch circuit 810 . Thereby, the power supply unit 800 stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator 110 . Then, when the detected temperature of the thermistor 710 falls to the second temperature, the control unit 16 turns on the switch circuit 810 . As a result, the power supply unit 800 restarts power supply to the ultrasonic generator 110 .

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the holding portion 190 is provided on the fixing member 180 . However, the holding portion 190 may be provided on members other than the fixing member 180 , for example, the lower member 140 and the upper member 150 constituting the housing 120 .

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the thermostat 700 is arranged so that the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 faces the side surface of the head portion 113 of the ultrasonic generator 110 . However, the thermostat 700 may be arranged so that the front surface 701 of the thermostat 700 faces other surfaces of the ultrasonic generator 110 , for example, the top surface of the head 113 .

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the thermostat 700 is held by the holding portion 190, and the front surface 701 thereof is separated from the ultrasonic generator 110 by a distance. However, the thermostat 700 may be directly attached to the ultrasonic generating body 110 when, for example, it is strong enough to be free from failure, breakage, or the like due to vibration. In this case, the thermostat 700 may be attached to, for example, the head portion 113 of the ultrasonic generator 110 .

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the automatic injection mechanism 90 may be configured to automatically inject detergent and softener. In this case, there is a softener cartridge containing the liquid softener. The softener cartridge is connected to the auxiliary water supply line 94 via a supply pipe and a three-way valve. During the rinsing process, the softener in the softener box is supplied into the washing and dewatering tub 22 by the same operation as the supply of the detergent from the detergent box 91 .

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 is installed in the fully automatic washing machine 1 . However, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 may also be installed in a washing machine other than the fully automatic washing machine 1 , such as a front-loading washing machine. In addition, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 may be installed in, for example, a fully automatic washer-dryer or a drum-type washer-dryer having a drying function. In the drum washing machine and the drum-type washer-drying machine, the drum is disposed in the outer tub as an inner tub. In addition, the ultrasonic cleaning device 50 may be arranged in an arrangement portion prepared in an apparatus other than a washing machine such as a washbasin.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

Claims (6)

1. An ultrasonic cleaning device, characterized in that it has:

   Water storage bucket, which can store water;

   The ultrasonic generator generates ultrasonic waves, and the ultrasonic waves act on the objects to be cleaned soaked in the water in the storage bucket;

   a power supply unit for supplying power to the ultrasonic generating body; and

   a temperature detection unit, arranged around the ultrasonic generator,

   The power supply unit stops power supply to the ultrasonic generator when the temperature detection unit detects a predetermined temperature.
2. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein,

   The temperature detection unit includes a temperature controller disposed on a supply line that supplies power to the ultrasonic generator from the power supply unit.
3. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,

   and further comprising: a holding unit for holding the temperature detection unit,

   In a state where the temperature detection portion is held by the holding portion, the surface of the temperature detection portion facing the ultrasonic generator is separated from the ultrasonic generator.
4. ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 3, is characterized in that,

   The holding portion exposes the opposing surface of the temperature detecting portion.
5. ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 3 or 4, is characterized in that, also has:

   a housing containing the sonotrode; and

   a fixing member for fixing the ultrasonic generator in the housing,

   The holding portion is provided on the fixing member.
6. A washing machine, characterized in that it has:

   outer barrel, can store water;

   an inner tub, disposed in the outer tub, to accommodate laundry; and

   The ultrasonic cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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