JP2026011200A - Laundry equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry machine capable of preventing unintended leakage of functional water from a portion where the functional water is supplied is provided.
[Solution] One embodiment of a laundry machine comprises a storage tank, a storage section in which tap water and functional water are stored and which has a first bottom area and a second bottom area formed with a first outlet and a second outlet, a functional water generating section arranged within the storage section and which generates functional water, a first drainage pipe connected to the first outlet, a second drainage pipe connected to the second outlet, and a sprayer attached to the lower end of the second drainage pipe, the storage section having a siphon mechanism that discharges tap water from the first outlet when the tap water has accumulated up to the first water level and stops the discharge of tap water when the tap water drops to the second water level, and a residual water outflow prevention wall formed around the second outlet, the first bottom area being located below the second bottom area, and the upper end of the residual water outflow prevention wall being located vertically above the second water level.
[Selected Figure] Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to laundry equipment.

One example of laundry equipment is a washing machine that produces functional water in the washing machine in the form of a mist and sprays it onto the object to be treated, such as clothing, to perform a treatment appropriate to the functional water, such as sterilization, antibacterial properties, or deodorization (see Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 6857805

Washing machines are provided with a storage unit that stores tap water, for example for cleaning the washing machine's window. A functional water generating unit that generates functional water could be placed within this storage unit, and the functional water generated could be turned into a mist and sprayed onto the object to be treated.

The inventors of the present application have examined the above configuration as a configuration for producing functional water and spraying it onto the object to be treated, and have found that with the above configuration, functional water may unintentionally leak from the sprayer after spraying onto the object to be treated has finished. Because functional water can be colored, for example, brown, unintentional leakage as described above can cause problems such as soiling the object to be treated or the inside of a washing machine (laundry equipment).

The present invention aims to provide a laundry machine that can prevent unintended leakage of functional water from the part that supplies the functional water.

[1] A laundry machine according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a storage tank disposed within a housing for storing materials to be treated; a storage section disposed within the housing vertically above the storage tank for storing tap water and functional water between a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a first bottom surface area in which a first outlet for removing the tap water is formed, and a second bottom surface area in which a second outlet for removing the functional water is formed; a functional water generating section disposed within the storage section for generating the functional water using the tap water; a first distribution pipe connected to the first outlet for removing the tap water from the storage section; a second distribution pipe connected to the second outlet for removing the functional water from the storage section; and a functional water generating section attached to the lower end of the second distribution pipe for generating the functional water. and a sprayer that sprays water into the storage tank in the form of a mist. The storage section has a siphon mechanism that discharges the tap water from a first outlet formed in the bottom section when the tap water reaches a first water level and stops the outflow of the tap water from the first outlet when the tap water drops to a second water level lower than the first water level. The storage section also has a residual water outflow prevention wall that is formed around the second outlet and prevents residual water remaining between the second water level and the first bottom area from flowing out from the second outlet when the outflow of tap water from the first outlet by the siphon mechanism is stopped. The first bottom area is located below the second bottom area, and the upper end of the residual water outflow prevention wall is located vertically above the second water level.

In the above configuration, when tap water accumulates in the storage section up to a first water level, the siphon mechanism causes tap water to flow into the first drainage pipe connected to the first outlet. This tap water flowing into the first drainage pipe can be used, for example, to clean the window of a washing machine. After tap water begins to flow into the first drainage pipe, when the water level in the storage section drops to the second water level, the siphon mechanism stops the flow of tap water into the first drainage pipe. A functional water generator is located in the storage section, so functional water is generated from the tap water accumulated in the storage section and stored in the storage section. This functional water in the storage section flows into the second drainage pipe from the second outlet. When the sprayer is stopped, functional water is not sprayed from the sprayer, and functional water remains stored in the second drainage pipe and the storage section. Meanwhile, when the sprayer is activated, the functional water is converted into a mist by the sprayer, and the functional water is sprayed from the sprayer.

As mentioned above, when tap water is flowing into the first drainage pipe using the siphon mechanism, the flow of tap water into the first drainage pipe stops when the water level in the storage section drops to the second water level. In this case, tap water remains below the second water level in the storage section as residual water. If this residual water flows into the second drainage pipe from the second outlet, unintended pressure will be applied to the sprayer, which could cause functional water to leak from the sprayer.

In the washing machine described above, the first bottom surface area in which the first outlet is formed is located vertically below the second bottom surface area in which the second outlet is formed, and furthermore, the residual water outflow prevention wall is formed around the second outlet. This prevents residual water from flowing into the second outlet, and also prevents functional water from unintentionally leaking from the sprayer.

[2] The laundry machine described in [1] above may further include a third drain pipe disposed within the storage section for draining the residual water to the second drain pipe, the third drain pipe having a first end located between the second water level and the first bottom area, and a second end opposite the first end, located on the second drain pipe side and vertically lower than the first end.

In this type of laundry machine, the second end of the third drain pipe, located on the second drain pipe side, is located vertically lower than the first end, located between the second water level and the first bottom area. Therefore, when functional water is sprayed from the sprayer, residual water flows through the third drain pipe into the second drain pipe due to siphoning. As a result, functional water containing residual water is sprayed from the sprayer, making it possible to reduce the amount of residual water in the reservoir. This reduction in residual water further prevents residual water from unintentionally flowing into the second drain pipe through the second outlet when the sprayer is stopped.

[3] In the laundry machine described in [2] above, the third drain pipe may have a first portion including the first end, a second portion including the second end and passing through the second outlet, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion so as to straddle the residual water outflow prevention wall.

[4] In the laundry machine described in any of [1] to [3] above, the siphon mechanism may include a siphon pipe that communicates with the first drain pipe and extends from the first bottom surface area toward the top surface area, and a siphon cap that extends from the top surface area toward the first bottom surface area and is fitted over the siphon pipe.

The present invention provides a laundry machine that can prevent unintended leakage of functional water from the part that supplies the functional water.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a washing machine, which is an example of a laundry machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a schematic configuration of a water storage tank included in the washing machine (laundry machine) shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the storage tank in a state where the inflow of tap water into the water supply pipe (first water pipe) by the siphon mechanism is stopped. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of the washing machine (laundry machine) shown in FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Identical elements will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. The dimensional proportions in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual proportions.

The overall configuration of a washing machine 1, an example of laundry equipment, will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the general configuration of a washing machine (laundry equipment). In the following description, the mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z directions shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 may be used to describe washing machine 1. The X and Z directions correspond to the front-to-rear and height directions (or up-down or vertical directions) in the installed state of washing machine 1 shown in Figure 1. The direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figure 1 is the Y direction shown in Figure 2, which corresponds to the left-to-right direction in the installed state of washing machine 1. In this specification, terms indicating directions such as "front," "rear," "up," "down," "left," and "right" are terms based on the installed state of washing machine 1.

The washing machine 1 is a drum-type washing machine. The washing machine 1 has a housing 10 that is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped. The shape of the housing 10 can be modified as appropriate. A circular door 11 that can be opened and closed is attached to the front of the housing 10. The door 11 has a window 11a. The window 11a protrudes into the housing 10. The window 11a may be door glass. A circular inlet 12 is formed on the front of the housing 10, through which items to be treated in the washing machine 1 are inserted. The inlet 12 is opened and closed by the door 11. The items to be treated are, for example, clothes.

An outer tub 13 and a drum (storage tub) 14 are arranged within the housing 10. Both the outer tub 13 and the drum 14 are cylindrical with a bottom. The drum 14 is rotatably arranged within the outer tub 13. The outer tub 13 and the drum 14 are arranged concentrically (coaxially) with respect to a central axis extending in the X direction, for example.

The outer tank 13 is capable of storing treated water. In this specification, "treated water" refers to the liquid appropriate for each process, such as the washing process and rinsing process, of the object to be treated. Therefore, in the washing process, the treated water may be water (liquid) containing detergent, etc., and in the rinsing process, the treated water may be tap water. In the rinsing process, the treated water may also contain fabric softener.

The outer tub 13 is elastically supported within the housing 10 by dampers 15 and springs (not shown). There may be two or more dampers 15 and springs. The outer tub 13 has a circular opening 13a located in front of the opening 14a of the drum 14.

The outer tub 13 has a first portion 131 and a second portion 132. The first portion 131 is the portion of the outer tub 13 where the drum 14 is disposed. The first portion 131 has a cylindrical peripheral portion 131a and a back portion 131b that closes the rear opening of the peripheral portion 131a. The back portion 131b also serves as the back portion of the outer tub 13. The second portion 132 is disposed concentrically (coaxially) with the first portion 131. The outer diameter of the second portion 132 is smaller than the inner diameter of the first portion 131. The rear end of the second portion 132 is connected to the front end of the first portion 131 (the front end of the peripheral portion 131a) by a connecting portion 133.

The peripheral edge of the front opening of the second part 132 and the peripheral edge of the inlet 12 of the housing 10 are connected by a ring-shaped gasket 16 made of an elastic material. The gasket 16 is tightened and fixed from the outer periphery to the second part 132 (outer tub 13) and the inlet 12 by, for example, a circular wire with a tension coil spring or the like embedded in one part. The peripheral surface of the closed door 11 comes into contact with the gasket 16, creating a water seal between the inlet 12 and the door 11.

A drain pipe 17 is connected to the lower part of the outer tub 13. As shown in FIG. 1 , the drain pipe 17 may be connected to a lower part of the first part 131, closer to the connecting part 133. The part of the first part 131 surrounding the drain pipe 17 may be recessed downward. The drain pipe 17 may be a flexible hose, or may be made of a piping material other than a hose. The drain pipe 17 discharges treated water from the outer tub 13. The drain pipe 17 extends, for example, outside (downward) the washing machine 1. A drain valve 18 is attached to the drain pipe 17. The discharge of treated water from the outer tub 13 is controlled by opening and closing the drain valve 18. The treated water discharged from the washing machine 1 through the drain pipe 17 is discharged through a drain outlet provided in a waterproof pan or the like. The layout of the drain pipe 17 may be modified as appropriate.

The material to be treated is contained within the drum 14. Numerous dewatering holes 14b are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 14. Multiple (e.g., three) baffles 14c are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 14 at equal intervals around the circumference. A balancer (not shown) is provided on the inner peripheral surface at the front of the drum 14.

The washing machine 1 further includes a drying unit 20, a drive motor 30, a water supply unit 40, and a water storage tank 50.

The drying unit 20 is located within the housing 10, for example, above the outer tub 13, as shown in Figure 1. The drying unit 20 has a circulation path 21, a blower 22, and a heater 23.

The circulation path 21 is a flow path for circulating air within the outer tank 13. The circulation path 21 is formed, for example, from piping material. The first end 21a and second end 21b of the circulation path 21 are connected to different locations on the outer tank 13 so as to communicate with the interior of the outer tank 13. In the example shown in Figure 1, the first end 21a is connected to the back surface portion 131b, and the second end 21b is connected to the second portion 132.

The air blower 22 is disposed within the circulation path 21. The air blower 22 has the function of blowing air from the outer tub 13, extracting it from the first end 21a and returning it to the outer tub 13 from the second end 21b. The air blower 22 may be, for example, a blower. When the air blower 22 is activated, the air within the outer tub 13 circulates, flowing sequentially through the outer tub 13 and the circulation path 21.

The heating unit 23 is, for example, a heat exchanger in a heat pump or a general heater. At least a portion of the heating unit 23 is arranged within the circulation path 21. The portion of the heating unit 23 arranged within the circulation path 21 has a heat dissipation unit 23A. When the heating unit 23 is activated, the temperature of the heat dissipation unit 23A rises. This heats the air flowing through the circulation path 21, generating hot or warm air.

The drive motor 30 is located within the housing 10, behind the outer tub 13. The rotation shaft 31 of the drive motor 30 extends in the X direction and is connected to a part of the drum 14. The rotation shaft 31 and the drum 14 may be connected via a pulley, a reduction mechanism, etc., or may be connected directly. During the washing and rinsing processes, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 14 at a relatively low rotation speed so that the centrifugal force acting on the objects to be treated inside the drum 14 is smaller than gravity, causing the objects to tumble. During the spin-drying process, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 14 at a relatively high rotation speed so that the centrifugal force acting on the objects to be treated inside the drum 14 is larger than gravity, causing the objects to stick to the inner surface of the drum 14.

The water supply unit 40 is located at the top of the housing 10. The water supply unit 40 has a water supply pipe 41, a water supply pipe (water supply section) 42, a water supply valve 43, and a water supply valve 44. The water supply pipes 41 and 42 may be flexible hoses, or may be made of piping materials other than hoses.

The water supply pipe 41 is a water supply channel for supplying tap water to the outer tub 13. A water supply valve 43 is provided on the water supply pipe 41. When the water supply valve 43 is opened, tap water from the water faucet is supplied into the outer tub 13 through the water supply pipe 41. In other words, the supply of tap water into the outer tub 13 is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve 43. The water supply valve 43 may be part of a water supply unit that supplies tap water to the outer tub 13.

The water supply pipe (water supply section) 42 is a water supply channel for supplying tap water to the water storage tank 50. A water supply valve 44 is provided on the water supply pipe 42. When the water supply valve 44 is opened, tap water from the water faucet is supplied to the water storage tank 50 through the water supply pipe 42. In other words, the supply of tap water into the water storage tank 50 is controlled by opening and closing the water supply valve 44. The water supply valve 44 may be part of the water supply section that supplies tap water to the water storage tank 50.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the water supply pipe 42 is connected to the water supply pipe 41. Water supply valves 43 and 44 are provided downstream of the connection between the water supply pipe 41 and the water supply pipe 42 in the direction of flow of tap water in the water supply pipes 41 and 42.

The water storage tank 50 is located within the housing 10, vertically above the outer tub 13. The water storage tank 50 stores tap water and functional water. In this embodiment, the tap water in the water storage tank 50 is used to clean the window portion 11a and also to produce functional water. The functional water is water that has a specific function for sterilizing, deodorizing, etc. the objects to be treated (e.g., clothes) in the washing machine 1.

Connected to the water storage tank 50 are a water supply pipe (first distribution pipe) 61 for extracting tap water from the water storage tank 50, and a water supply pipe (second distribution pipe) 62 for extracting functional water from the water storage tank 50. In this embodiment, the lower end of the water supply pipe 61 is positioned so that tap water flowing out from the lower end is directed toward the window portion 11a. Attached to the lower end of the water supply pipe 62 is a sprayer 63 that turns the functional water flowing through the water supply pipe 62 into a mist and sprays it. The lower end of the water supply pipe 62 is positioned so that the sprayer 63 can spray the mist of functional water onto the material to be treated in the drum 14.

An example of a water tank 50 will be explained using Figure 2.

The water storage tank 50 has a storage section (main body) 52 that stores tap water and functional water. The water storage tank 50 is connected to the water supply pipe 42 and may have a flat water channel section 51 for directing tap water flowing from the water supply pipe 42 toward the storage section 52. Below, we will explain an embodiment in which the water storage tank 50 has a water channel section 51.

A downwardly protruding inlet 511a is formed in the bottom surface 511 of the water channel portion 51. The water supply pipe 42 is connected to the inlet 511a. This allows tap water to be supplied from the water supply pipe 42 to the water channel portion 51 through the inlet 511a. A water channel is formed within the water channel portion 51 for flowing the tap water that flows in from the inlet 511a into the storage portion 52. Specifically, the water channel is formed between the bottom surface 511 and the top surface 512 of the water channel portion 51.

The storage section 52 is a section that stores tap water flowing in from the water channel section 51, and in this embodiment, extends vertically downward from one end of the water channel section 51. The storage section 52 has a bottom surface 521, an annular side surface 522 that rises continuously from the outer periphery of the bottom surface 521, and a top surface 523 that closes the internal space of the storage section 52. The internal space of the storage section 52 is surrounded by the bottom surface 521 and the side surface 522. The side surface 522 is continuously connected to the bottom surface 511 of the water channel section 51. The top surface 523 is continuously connected to the top surface 512 of the water channel section 51.

The bottom surface portion 521 has a first bottom surface region 521A and a second bottom surface region 521B. As shown in FIG. 2, the first bottom surface region 521A is the region of the bottom surface portion 521 closer to the water channel portion 51. The first bottom surface region 521A is located lower than the second bottom surface region 521B in the vertical direction. Because the first bottom surface region 521A is located lower than the second bottom surface region 521B, the storage portion 52 has a recess 53 that is recessed downward.

The first bottom surface region 521A has an outlet (first outlet) 54 that protrudes downward. A water supply pipe 61 is connected to the outlet 54. The second bottom surface region 521B has an outlet (second outlet) 55 that protrudes downward. A water supply pipe 62 is connected to the outlet 55. A sprayer 63 is attached to the lower end of the water supply pipe 62. The sprayer 63 has a mist generator 63A that turns the functional water into a mist. The mist generator 63A is, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator. When the sprayer 63 is stopped, the spraying of functional water from the sprayer 63 stops, and therefore no functional water flows out of the water storage tank 50.

The water storage tank 50 has a siphon mechanism 56 and a wall 57 to prevent residual water from leaking out.

The siphon mechanism 56 is a mechanism for discharging tap water stored in the water storage tank 50 into the water supply pipe 61. The siphon mechanism 56 is configured to automatically discharge tap water into the water supply pipe 61 through the outlet 54 when tap water is stored in the storage section 52 up to a first water level, and to automatically stop the flow of tap water into the water supply pipe 61 when the water level in the storage section 52 drops to a second water level that is lower than the first water level.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the siphon mechanism 56 has a cylindrical siphon tube 56a and a cylindrical siphon cap 56b. The siphon tube 56a is connected to the outlet 54 of the first bottom surface region 521A and extends from the outlet 54 toward the top surface portion 523. A gap is formed between the upper end of the siphon tube 56a and the top surface portion 523.

The siphon cap 56b extends downward from the top surface 523 to cover the siphon tube 56a. The outer diameter of the siphon cap 56b is larger than the outer diameter of the siphon tube 56a. This forms a flow path between the siphon tube 56a and the siphon cap 56b. A gap is formed between the lower end of the siphon cap 56b and the first bottom surface region 521A. In this embodiment, the lower end of the siphon cap 56b is located within the recess 53.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which the level of tap water in the storage section 52 has dropped to the second level. As described above, when the level of tap water in the storage section 52 drops to the second level, the flow of tap water from the siphon mechanism 56 to the water supply pipe 61 stops. In this way, the tap water remaining in the storage section 52 when the flow of tap water to the water supply pipe 61 has stopped is referred to as "residual water W." The residual water W accumulates vertically at or below the second level. In a configuration in which a recess 53 is formed in the water storage tank 50, the recess 53 functions as a storage section for the residual water W.

The residual water outflow prevention wall 57 surrounds the outlet 55. The residual water outflow prevention wall 57 is a wall that prevents the residual water W shown in Figure 3 from unintentionally flowing from the outlet into the water supply pipe 62. The upper end 57a of the residual water outflow prevention wall 57 is positioned higher than the second water level.

A functional water generating unit 70 is disposed within the reservoir 52. The functional water generating unit 70 generates functional water from tap water stored within the reservoir 52. The functional water generating unit 70 is disposed between the second bottom surface region 521B and the top surface 523. The functional water generating unit 70 is disposed vertically above the second water level. The functional water generating unit 70 may be disposed below the first water level. The functional water generating unit 70 has a plurality of beads (functional water generating members) 71 for generating functional water and a storage unit 72 for storing the plurality of beads 71.

Beads 71 are formed, for example, by kneading silver into a soluble material. Examples of soluble materials include glass and titanium oxide. In this case, when beads 71 come into contact with tap water, silver ions are dissolved into the tap water, generating silver ion water as functional water. Since functional water is generated by the dissolution of silver ions from beads 71 in this way, it takes a certain amount of time to generate functional water of a certain concentration. An example of the time required to generate functional water is between 15 and 25 minutes.

The storage section 72 has at least one hole 72a that does not allow the beads 71 to pass through but allows tap water to pass through. This allows each bead 71 stored in the storage section 72 to come into contact with the tap water stored in the reservoir 52, generating functional water as described above, and the generated functional water can flow out of the storage section 72 through the hole 72a. The storage section 72 may be, for example, a mesh bag.

The side surface portion 522 may be formed, for example, with a step to support the storage portion 72, or a support member to support the storage portion 72 may be provided on the side surface portion 522 or the bottom surface portion 521.

A recess 523a recessed toward the bottom surface 521 may be formed in the area above the functional water generating unit 70 on the top surface 523 of the reservoir 52.

A water distribution pipe (third water distribution pipe) 80 may be arranged within the storage section 52. The water distribution pipe 80 is a flow path for directing residual water W toward the water supply pipe 62 when functional water is sprayed by the sprayer 63. The water distribution pipe 80 functions as a siphon pipe that utilizes the siphon effect to direct residual water W into the water supply pipe 62. An example of the water distribution pipe 80 will be described below.

The water distribution pipe 80 has a first end 80a and a second end 80b. The first end 80a is located between the second water level and the first bottom area 521A. Therefore, the first end 80a is in contact with the residual water W and functions as a suction port for the residual water W. In the configuration shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first end 80a is located within the recess 53. The second end 80b is located opposite the first end 80a in the flow direction of the tap water flowing through the water distribution pipe 80. The second end 80b is located on the water supply pipe 62 side and vertically lower than the first end 80a.

The water distribution pipe 80 may have a first portion 81 including a first end 80a, a second portion 82 including a second end 80b and passing through the outlet 55, and a third portion 83 connecting the first portion 81 and the second portion 82 and spanning the residual water outflow prevention wall 57. The water distribution pipe 80 may be inverted L-shaped.

When the water storage tank 50 has a water distribution pipe 80, a portion of the water distribution pipe 80 (specifically, the third portion 83) is located between the functional water production unit 70 and the residual water outflow prevention wall 57.

When functional water is sprayed from the sprayer 63, the second end 80b of the water distribution pipe 80 is located vertically below the first end 80a, so the pressure difference causes residual water W to flow through the water distribution pipe 80 from the first end 80a toward the second end 80b. When the sprayer 63 stops spraying functional water, the pressure difference is eliminated, and the flow of residual water W through the water distribution pipe 80 toward the second end 80b stops, with tap water remaining in the reservoir 52 up to the second water level, as shown in Figure 3.

By including the water storage tank 50, the washing machine 1 can perform a window cleaning process (or door cleaning process) to clean the window portion 11a, and a functional water spraying process to spray functional water onto the object to be treated.

[Window cleaning process]
In the window cleaning process, tap water is allowed to flow into the water storage tank 50 through the water supply pipe 42 by opening the water supply valve 43. This causes tap water to accumulate in the reservoir 52. At this time, the sprayer 63 is stopped. This prevents tap water from flowing out of the water supply pipe 62.

When tap water accumulates in the reservoir 52 up to the first water level, the siphoning action of the siphon mechanism 56 causes the tap water to flow from the siphon pipe 56a to the outlet 54 and the water supply pipe 61. As a result, tap water is released from the water supply pipe 61 toward the window 11a, cleaning the window 11a.

The time required to supply tap water to the water storage tank 50 to clean the window portion 11a can be shorter than the time required for functional water to be produced by the functional water production unit 70. In this case, even if the multiple beads 71 of the functional water production unit 70 are in contact with the tap water in the storage portion 52, functional water is not actually produced, and therefore tap water, not functional water, is released from the water supply pipe 61.

When the preset window cleaning process time has elapsed, the water supply from the water supply pipe 42 to the water storage tank 50 for cleaning the window portion 11a is stopped. This stops the inflow of tap water into the storage portion 52, while the tap water flows through the siphon pipe 56a to the water supply pipe 61 and is released outside the water storage tank 50, causing the water level in the storage portion 52 to drop. When the water level in the storage portion 52 drops to the second water level, the siphon mechanism 56 stops inflowing tap water into the siphon pipe 56a. As a result, cleaning of the window portion 11a automatically ends.

At the end of the window cleaning process, residual water W is present in the reservoir 52, as shown in Figure 3. When the functional water production unit 70 is positioned higher than the second water level, the beads 71 in the functional water production unit 70 do not come into contact with the residual water W. Therefore, the residual water W does not result in the production of functional water.

[Functional water spraying process]
In the functional water spraying process, tap water is allowed to flow into the water storage tank 50 through the water supply pipe 42 by opening the water supply valve 43. This allows tap water to accumulate in the storage section 52. At this time, the sprayer 63 is stopped. Because the sprayer 63 is stopped, tap water also accumulates in the water supply pipe 61. In the functional water spraying process, the water supply valve 43 is closed when tap water is accumulated in the storage section 52 to a level lower than the first water level and at which the functional water generating section 70 is positioned in the tap water. The time required to accumulate tap water in the storage section 52 as described above may be a time calculated in advance based on the capacity of the storage section 52, the inflow rate of tap water into the storage section 52, and the like. Alternatively, a water level meter may be provided in the storage section 52, and tap water may be accumulated to a desired level based on the results of the water level meter.

After collecting tap water as described above (after closing the water supply valve 43), wait until the functional water production time described above has elapsed. This causes functional water to be produced by the functional water production unit 70. The produced functional water flows into the water supply pipe 62 through the outlet 55. When the sprayer 63 is not operating, functional water is not sprayed from the sprayer 63. Therefore, functional water is stored in the reservoir 52 and the water supply pipe 62 until the sprayer 63 is operated.

After the functional water production time has elapsed, the sprayer 63 is activated. This causes the functional water in the reservoir 52 and water supply pipe 61 to flow into the sprayer 63. The functional water that flows into the sprayer 63 is turned into mist by the mist generator 63A and then sprayed toward the object to be treated. As a result, the object to be treated is subjected to treatment appropriate to the functional water, such as sterilization, deodorization, or antibacterial properties.

After the predetermined time (spray time) for spraying the functional water has elapsed, the sprayer 63 is stopped, thereby completing the functional water spraying process.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, washing machine 1 may include other components that washing machine 1 typically includes. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, washing machine 1 may include an operation unit 91, a memory unit 92, a water level detection unit 93, a display unit 94, and a control unit 95. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of washing machine 1.

The operation unit 91 includes a power button for turning the power to the appliance on and off, a start button for starting operation, and a course selection button for selecting any of a number of washing operation courses. The operation unit 91 outputs an input signal to the control unit 95 in response to the button operated by the user. The operation unit 91 may be located in a position on the housing 10 that is easy for the user of the washing machine 1 to operate. For example, the operation unit 91 may be located on the upper front of the housing 10, or on the top wall of the housing 10.

The memory unit 92 includes a memory element (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.). The memory unit 92 stores programs for executing various courses of operation. The memory unit 92 also stores various parameters and control flags used to execute these programs.

The water level detection unit 93 detects the water level in the outer tub 13. The water level detection unit 93 inputs a signal corresponding to the detected water level to the control unit 95.

The display unit 94 includes a light-emitting element such as an LED, and a display such as an LCD panel. In response to a control signal from the control unit 95, the display unit 94 displays the selected course, the progress of the washing operation, notifies of abnormalities, etc. The display unit 94 may be located in the same location on the housing 10 as the operation unit 91.

The control unit 95 includes a CPU and other components. The control unit 95 is electrically connected to the operation unit 91, memory unit 92, water level detection unit 93, display unit 94, drive motor 30, water supply valve 43, drain valve 18, air blower 22, heating unit 23, and sprayer 63. Based on signals from the operation unit 91, water level detection unit, and other components, the control unit 95 controls the drive motor 30, water supply valve 43, water supply valve 44, drain valve 18, air blower 22, heating unit 23, and sprayer 63 in accordance with a program stored in the memory unit 92.

When a signal corresponding to a user's operation of the operation unit 91 is input to the control unit 95, the control unit 95 controls the drive motor 30, water supply valves 43 and 44, drain valve 18, air blower 22, heater 23, and sprayer 63 in accordance with a program stored in the memory unit 92 based on signals from the operation unit 91, water level detector, etc., thereby carrying out operation according to various operating modes.

As an example of an operation course performed by the washing machine 1, the washing and drying operation of the washing machine 1 will be described. In the washing and drying operation of the washing machine 1, a preparation process, a washing process, an intermediate spin-drying process, a rinsing process, a final spin-drying process, and a drying process are performed in that order. Unless otherwise specified, the control unit 95 controls each element (drive motor 30, water supply valve 43, etc.) in each process.

In the preparation process, the drive motor 30 is operated to rotate the drum 14. For example, the drum 14 is rotated at 100 rpm. In the preparation process, the control unit 95 detects the load amount of the processing object in the drum 14 based on the resistance value of the current of the drive motor 30, etc. The load amount corresponds to the capacity of the processing object in the drum 14. An example of the capacity of the processing object is the weight of the processing object.

Based on the detected load amount, the control unit 95 determines the required amounts of detergent and fabric softener, and the target water levels in the outer tub 13 for the wash and rinse cycles. The required amounts of detergent and fabric softener for each load amount and the target water levels for each load amount are determined in advance and stored in the memory unit 92.

During the washing process, the water supply process is performed by opening the water supply valve 43 while the drain valve 18 is closed. This causes tap water from the water supply pipe 41 to flow into the outer tub 13, and tap water accumulates in the outer tub 13. The inflow of tap water from the water supply pipe 41 causes the water level in the outer tub 13 to rise. When the tap water in the outer tub 13 rises to the target water level, the water supply valve 43 is closed, and the water supply process ends.

During the water supply process, the required amount of detergent is added to the outer tub 13. The detergent may be added manually by the user, or automatically by an automatic dispenser (not shown) provided in the washing machine 1. When the detergent is added, the detergent dissolves in the tap water, producing treated water that accumulates in the outer tub 13. For example, when detergent is added by the automatic dispenser, a water supply pipe may be arranged to allow tap water to flow into the automatic dispenser, and the treated water containing the dissolved detergent added by the automatic dispenser may be supplied to the outer tub 13.

Once the treatment water has accumulated in the outer tank 13 as described above, the objects to be treated, immersed in the treatment water, are tumbled by the repeated forward and reverse rotation of the drum 14. The detergent-containing water penetrates into the interior of the objects to be treated, and the power of the detergent and the mechanical force of the tumbling remove dirt adhering to the surface and interior of the objects to be treated.

During the intermediate spin cycle, the drain valve 18 is open and the drive motor 30 is operated to rotate the drum 14 for spinning. The centrifugal force generated by the spin rotation of the drum 14 dehydrates the items to be treated inside the drum 14. Treated water seeping out of the items to be treated during this spin cycle is discharged from the drain pipe 17 to the outside of the washing machine 1.

During the rinsing process, the drain valve 18 is closed and the water supply valve 43 is opened for a predetermined period of time to fill the outer tub 13 with water up to a predetermined rinse level. The drum 14 is then rotated forward and backward. This tumbles the objects to be treated, and the detergent contained in the objects is discharged together with tap water, rinsing the objects.

In the final spin-drying process, spin-drying is carried out in the same manner as in the intermediate spin-drying process, except that the drum 14 is rotated at a higher rotation speed than in the intermediate spin-drying process.

During the drying process, hot or warm air is generated by controlling the air blower 22 and heating unit 23, while air is circulated between the drum 14 and the circulation path 21 and supplied to the object to be treated inside the drum 14. This dries the object to be treated.

After the rinsing process, the washing machine 1 may perform the window cleaning process described above.

Fabric softener may be added during the rinsing process. The method for adding fabric softener may be the same as the method for adding detergent during the washing process. The rinsing process may be performed twice. If the rinsing process is performed twice, fabric softener is added during the final rinsing process. While the embodiment in which an intermediate spin-drying process and a final spin-drying process are performed has been described, the spin-drying process may be performed only once during the final spin-drying process. While the washing and drying operation including a drying process has been described, for example, the washing machine 1 may also perform a washing operation that does not include a drying process.

The washing machine 1 can also perform a washing operation in which the drying object is washed with functional water. The washing operation may be performed after the drying operation as part of the washing and drying operation, or it may be performed independently of the washing operation and the washing and drying operation.

By operating the operation unit 91, the user can select whether to run the cleaning operation as part of the washing and drying operation or as a standalone operation. The objects to be treated in the cleaning operation are not limited to objects that can be washed in the washing machine 1, but can also be coats, stuffed toys, etc. that cannot be washed in the washing machine 1. As an example, if a user wants to remove dirt from a coat they took off after getting home, the cleaning operation is run as a standalone operation.

When the cleaning operation begins with the dry material to be treated contained in the drum 14, the control unit 95 calculates the functional water production time, which is the time required to produce treated water of the required concentration in the drum 14, and the amount of tap water required.

The functional water production time and water volume may each vary depending on the load of the object to be treated in the drum 14. In this case, the control unit 95 executes the preparation process described above to detect the load volume, and calculates the functional water production time and water volume according to the detected load volume. The user can also select whether to sterilize or antibacterialize the object to be treated by operating the operation unit 91. Since sterilization typically requires a higher concentration of functional water than antibacterial treatment, the control unit 95 calculates the functional water production time according to each of sterilization and antibacterial treatment.

After calculating the functional water production time and water volume, the control unit 95 starts the air wash. Specifically, the control unit 95 circulates air by operating the air blower 22 while rotating the drum 14 at, for example, 45 rpm. As a result, the objects to be treated, which repeatedly fall by tumbling inside the drum 14, are exposed to the circulating air, which removes dust and other particles from the objects to be treated. This process is called an air wash. The control unit 95 starts the air wash and simultaneously carries out the functional water spraying process described above.

During the functional water spraying process, functional water is sprayed in mist form onto the object to be treated. As a result, the object is cleaned using the treated water according to its function, such as sterilization, antibacterial treatment, and deodorization, and is also coated with the treated water to prevent the adhesion of dirt, bacteria, etc. When the functional water spraying process is completed, the rotation of the drum 14 and the air blower 22 are also stopped.

The reservoir 52 of the washing machine 1 has a siphon mechanism 56. When tap water accumulates in the reservoir 52 up to a first water level, the siphon mechanism 56 directs the tap water into a water supply pipe 61 connected to the outlet 54. This allows tap water to be extracted from the reservoir 52, and, for example, to clean the window 11a, as described in this embodiment. When the water level in the reservoir 52 drops to a second water level, the flow of tap water through the siphon mechanism 56 to the water supply pipe 61 stops. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, tap water accumulates in the reservoir 52 at or below the second water level.

An outlet 55 is formed in the bottom surface 521 of the reservoir 52, separate from the outlet 54. A water supply pipe 62 to which a sprayer 63 is attached is connected to the outlet 55. When the sprayer 63 is operating, the functional water that flows to the sprayer 63 through the water supply pipe 62 is sprayed from the sprayer 63. On the other hand, when the sprayer 63 is stopped, the functional water is not sprayed from the sprayer 63, and the functional water is stored in the water supply pipe 62.

However, for example, if residual water W flows further into the water supply pipe 62, the functional water stored in the water supply pipe 62 may unintentionally leak out of the sprayer 63. In such cases, the object to be treated may unintentionally become wet or dirty.

The bottom surface 521 of the storage section 52 has a first bottom surface area 521A in which the outlet 54 is formed, and a second bottom surface area 521B in which the outlet 55 is formed. The first bottom surface area 521A is lower than the second bottom surface area 521B, and a recess 53 is formed in the bottom surface 521. As a result, residual water W tends to collect in the recess 53 and is less likely to flow into the outlet 55. Furthermore, the outlet 55 is surrounded by a residual water outflow prevention wall 57, making it even more difficult for residual water W to flow into the outlet 55. Therefore, in a washing machine 1 equipped with the storage section 52, it is possible to prevent unintended leakage of functional water from the sprayer 63 described above.

In a configuration in which the washing machine 1 is equipped with a drain pipe 80, when the sprayer 63 is operating, residual water W can be intentionally directed through the drain pipe 80 toward the water supply pipe 62 and sprayed from the sprayer 63. This reduces the amount of residual water W that remains after the sprayer 63 is stopped. This prevents the residual water W from unintentionally flowing into the water supply pipe 62, for example, through the outlet 55. As a result, it is possible to prevent tap water or functional water from unintentionally leaking from the sprayer 63.

The above describes embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and is intended to include the scope indicated by the claims, as well as all modifications that are equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.

The functional water generating member is not limited to the beads 71 shown in the example, as long as it can generate functional water appropriate for the treatment to be performed on the object to be treated. For example, it may be small pieces of a soluble material (e.g., glass, titanium oxide, etc.) with silver mixed in. The water storage tank may be a tank dedicated to generating functional water.

The tap water released from the water supply pipe (first water pipe) 61 may be used for purposes other than cleaning the window portion 11a.

The laundry machine according to the present invention is not limited to a drum-type washing machine, but may also be, for example, a vertical washing machine, a dryer that does not have a washing function, or a dedicated machine that sprays functional water onto the object to be treated to perform at least one of sterilization, antibacterial, and deodorization treatments.

1...washing machine, 14...drum (storage tank), 52...storage section, 54...outlet (first outlet), 55...outlet (second outlet), 56...siphon mechanism, 56a...siphon pipe, 56b...siphon cap, 57...residual water outflow prevention wall, 57a...upper end, 61...water supply pipe (first distribution pipe), 62...water supply pipe (second distribution pipe), 63...sprayer, 70...functional water production section, 80...distribution pipe (third distribution pipe), 80a...first end, 80b...second end, 81...first portion, 82...second portion, 83...third portion, 521...bottom portion, 523...top portion, 521A...first bottom area, 521B...second bottom area, W...residual water.

Claims (4)

a storage tank disposed within the housing and configured to store the material to be treated;
a storage section disposed vertically above the storage tank within the housing, the storage section storing tap water and functional water between a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a first bottom surface area in which a first outlet for extracting the tap water is formed, and a second bottom surface area in which a second outlet for extracting the functional water is formed;
a functional water generating unit disposed in the reservoir and configured to generate the functional water using the tap water;
a first water pipe communicating with the first outlet and for extracting the tap water from the storage section;
a second water pipe communicating with the second outlet for extracting the functional water from the reservoir;
a sprayer attached to a lower end of the second water pipe, which turns the functional water into mist and sprays it into the storage tank;
Equipped with
The storage section is
a siphon mechanism configured to discharge the tap water from a first outlet formed in the bottom portion when the tap water reaches a first water level, and to stop the discharge of the tap water from the first outlet when the tap water falls to a second water level lower than the first water level;
a residual water outflow prevention wall formed around the second outlet for preventing residual water remaining between the second water level and the first bottom area from flowing out of the second outlet when the outflow of tap water from the first outlet by the siphon mechanism is stopped;
and
the first bottom surface area is located below the second bottom surface area,
The upper end of the residual water outflow prevention wall is located above the second water level in the vertical direction.
Laundry equipment. The water supply system further includes a third drain pipe disposed in the storage section for discharging the residual water to the second drain pipe,
The third water pipe is
a first end portion located between the second water level and the first bottom surface area;
a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, the second end portion being located on the second water pipe side and vertically lower than the first end portion;
having
The laundry machine according to claim 1. The third water pipe is
a first portion including the first end;
a second portion including the second end and passing through the second outlet;
a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion so as to straddle the residual water outflow prevention wall;
having
The laundry machine according to claim 2. The siphon mechanism includes:
a siphon pipe communicating with the first drainage pipe and extending from the first bottom surface area toward the top surface portion;
a siphon cap extending from the top surface portion toward the first bottom surface area and covering the siphon tube;
having
The laundry machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.