JP2012000175A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve cleaning performance and improve finish after rinsing in a high-hard water region.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes a washing tub 4 for housing laundry; a water feed path 9 for feeding water to the washing tub 4; and water softening means 12 provided to the water feed path 9 for performing water softening treatment on water used for washing. The water that has been subjected to the water softening treatment by the water softening means 12 is supplied to the washing tub 4, the water that has been used for washing is supplied to the water softening means 12, then the water softening means 12 is run, and reproduced water containing a hard component discharged when the water softening means 12 is run is drained through a drain path 21 to the outside of the washing machine body, thereby improving washing performance and improving finish after rinsing in a high-hard water region.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing clothes and the like.

  Conventionally, a washing apparatus has been proposed in which washing water is softened to improve washing performance, and a hardness component released during regeneration is added to rinsing water to improve rinsing performance (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  A divalent cation such as calcium and magnesium as hardness components has a great influence on the detergency of the detergent. These react with the surfactant in the detergent to produce an insoluble metal soap, and reduce the amount of the surfactant that contributes to cleaning, thereby reducing the cleaning power. Therefore, the washing performance of the washing machine can be improved by removing the hardness component of the washing water.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a washing tub 52 and a metal ion desorption mechanism 53 that is an electrolysis means are accommodated inside a washing machine main body 51. A motor 55 is connected to a rotary blade 54 provided at the bottom of the washing tub 52. A tap water supply port 56 is provided above the washing machine body 51. The metal ion desorption mechanism 53 connected to the tap water supply port 56 accommodates electrodes 57 and 58 and tap water. When washing, a voltage is applied to the electrodes 57 and 58 from a DC power source (not shown). The tap water supplied from the tap water supply port 56 is electrolyzed, metal ions such as magnesium ions and calcium ions are captured, and the tap water from which the metal ions have been removed is supplied to the washing tub 52. Also, at the time of rinsing, by applying a voltage opposite to the voltage applied at the time of washing to the electrodes 57, 58, metal ions are released into the rinsing water to suppress foaming, and the amount of rinsing water used is reduced, thereby rinsing. I try to save time.

  Here, in the metal ion desorption mechanism 53, when capturing metal ions at the time of washing, a voltage is applied so that the electrode 58 serves as a cathode and the electrode 57 serves as an anode to cause the cathode 58 to capture metal ions. At the time of rinsing, a voltage is applied so that the electrode 57 serves as a cathode and the electrode 58 serves as an anode, and the captured metal ions are released from the anode 58. In this way, by changing the direction of the voltage applied during washing and rinsing, the washing ability is improved during washing, and when rinsing, the surfactant remaining in the rinse water is combined with the captured metal ions, By removing unnecessary surfactants, foaming is suppressed and rinsing efficiency is improved.

JP 2000-14986 A

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the metal ions captured by the metal ion desorption mechanism 53 are put into the washing tub 52 at the time of rinsing and released into the rinsing water to rinse the laundry. At this time, when washing is performed in a high hardness area, a large amount of excess metal ions are released from the metal ion desorption mechanism 53 into the washing tub 52, so that the metal soap combined with the remaining surfactant is rinsed into the rinse water. Precipitate. Alternatively, when carbon dioxide in water is released, calcium carbonate is precipitated in the rinse water. As a result, there has been a problem that the laundry is insufficiently washed due to such deposits adhering to the laundry after washing, or due to redeposition of dirt components on the deposits. In addition, when the laundry is rinsed with water containing a high-concentration hardness component, there is a problem in that the laundry after washing is less flexible and the finish is poor.

  The metal ion desorption mechanism 53 is an electrolysis method comprising a counter electrode and captures metal ions at the electrode 58. In this method, there are few ion exchange sites for capturing metal ions, so metal ions are removed. In order to do this, the water supply flow rate to the washing tub 52 must be reduced, and the washing time is prolonged. Moreover, in order to remove the metal ion of high hardness water, there also existed the subject that an apparatus size enlarged.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the washing machine which can improve the finishing performance after a rinse while improving the washing | cleaning performance by washing in a high hard water area.

  In order to solve the conventional problems, a washing machine of the present invention includes a washing tub for storing laundry, a water supply path for supplying water to the washing tub, and water used for washing provided in the water supply path. Water that has been softened by the water softening means is supplied to the washing tub, water used for washing is supplied to the water softening means, and the water softening means is regenerated. The recycled water containing the hardness component to be discharged is drained out of the machine through the drainage route.

  As a result, the high-concentration hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration of the water softening means can be drained outside the machine without being put into the water used for washing, and deposits on the laundry and deposits It is possible to enhance the washing effect of the laundry by preventing the redeposition of the soil component on the skin, and to maintain the flexibility of the laundry after washing.

  The washing machine of the present invention can enhance the washing effect of the laundry after washing by preventing the adhesion of the deposit to the laundry and the re-adhesion of the dirt component to the precipitate, and improving the washing effect of the laundry after washing. Can be maintained.

Sectional drawing of the washing machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional view at the time of water sampling of the water softening means of the washing machine Sectional view during regeneration of water softening means of the washing machine Cross section of a conventional washing machine

  1st invention is equipped with the washing tub which accommodates a laundry, the water supply path | route which supplies water to the said washing tub, and the water softening means which softens the water used for washing provided in the said water supply path | route, and said water softening The water softened by the means is supplied to the washing tub, the water used for washing is supplied to the water softening means, the water softening means is regenerated, and the recycled water containing the hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration is discharged Since the high-concentration hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration of the water softening means is not put into the water used for washing, excessive hardness components are not released into the rinse water. , Metal soap and calcium carbonate precipitation can be suppressed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the deposits from adhering to the laundry and the soil components from adhering again to the deposits, and to sufficiently wash the laundry. Further, the flexibility of the laundry after washing can be maintained. Moreover, the water softening means can be regenerated using the water used for washing, and water can be saved without using new tap water.

In particular, the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the water used in the washing rinsing process is supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means, so that the water rinsing means is regenerated compared to after the washing step. After the process, there are few dirt components and detergent components in the water used for the regeneration of the water softening means, the water softening means can be efficiently regenerated, and the durability of the water softening means can be ensured.

  In the third invention, in particular, in the second invention, the water used in the final rinsing step of washing is supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means, thereby regenerating the water softening means. The amount of dirt components and detergent components in the water used is further reduced, so that the water softening means can be regenerated more efficiently and the durability of the water softening means can be ensured.

  In particular, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the water supply path is provided with a filter, and the water used for washing is filtered by the filter and supplied to the water softening means. By regenerating the water softening means, it is possible to remove dirt components and detergent components in the water used for the regeneration of the water softening means with a filtration filter, and further remove the dirt components and detergent components in the water used for the regeneration. Therefore, the water softening means can be regenerated more efficiently and the durability of the water softening means can be ensured.

  According to a fifth invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, a pump is provided for supplying water used for washing to the water softening means, and the water used for washing by the pump is used as the water softening means. By supplying and regenerating the water softening means, the water used for washing can be efficiently and quickly supplied to the water softening means without being limited by the installation position of the water softening means.

  In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the water softening means includes at least a pair of electrodes, a cation exchange layer sandwiched between the electrodes, and a negative electrode inside the casing. A water-splitting ion exchanger having a two-layer structure of an ion-exchange layer, and a channel in contact with the surface of the water-splitting ion exchanger, and facing the cation-exchange layer during water softening treatment of the water softening means By applying a voltage to the electrode to be regenerated and regenerating the water-splitting ion exchanger by applying a voltage to the electrode facing the anion exchange layer during regeneration, ions having a large number of ion exchange sites are obtained. Since the hardness component is captured and softened by the exchanger, the soft water can be softened at a large flow rate with a small apparatus size even when soft water is softened during washing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the water softening means during water softening treatment, and FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the water softening means during regeneration. FIG.

  1 to 3, the washing machine main body 1 has a washing tub 4 including an outer tub 2 and an inner tub 3 rotatably disposed in the outer tub 2. The inner tank 3 is configured to be rotationally driven by a motor 5 attached to the outer tank 2. The inner tub 3 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a large number of water passage holes 6 communicating with the outer tub 2 are formed on its peripheral surface, and baffles 7 are provided at a plurality of positions on the inner peripheral surface. A rotation shaft 5a is provided at the rotation center of the inner tank 3, and the axial center direction of the inner tank 3 is inclined upward from the back side to the front side. The motor 5 attached to the back side of the outer tub 2 is connected to the rotating shaft 5a, and the inner tub 3 is rotationally driven in the forward and reverse directions.

  The washing tub 4 is connected to a water supply path 9 connected to a water tap (not shown) via a water supply valve 8 that can be opened and closed. When washing and rinsing, the water supply valve 8 is opened to supply water. At the time, it is put into the washing tub 4 together with the detergent in the detergent case 10 provided in the water supply path 9.

  A lid 11 is provided on the upward inclined surface 1a on the front side of the washing machine main body 1, and an opening 2a provided in the outer tub 2 into which the laundry is put is covered so as to be freely opened and closed. By opening and closing the lid 11, the laundry can be taken in and out of the inner tub 3 through the opening 2a.

  The water softening means 12 is provided on the upstream side of the detergent case 10 in the middle of the water supply path 9. The water softening means 12 is provided with a pair of plate-like electrodes 14 at both ends in a casing 13. The electrode 14 is obtained by plating platinum on titanium, and ensures the wear resistance of the electrode 14. A pair of water-splitting ion exchangers 15 are provided between the electrodes 14 with a flow path 16 therebetween.

  The water-splitting ion exchanger 15 has a two-layer structure in which a cation exchange layer 17 having a strongly acidic ion exchange group and an anion exchange layer 18 having a strongly basic ion exchange group are bonded together. Yes. And it installs so that the cation exchange layer 17 and the anion exchange layer 18 may face each other.

Here, the cation exchange layer 17 includes a strongly acidic ion exchange group having —SO ₃ H as a functional group, and the anion exchange layer 18 includes a strongly basic ion exchange group having —NR ₃ OH as a functional group. Including. Here, the cation exchange layer 17 and the anion exchange layer 18 are a heterogeneous film obtained by bonding an ion exchange resin pulverized with a binder such as polyethylene, or a uniform film having a direct ion exchange group on a polymer. Either may be used.

  A drainage channel 19 for draining washing water (water used for washing and rinsing) is connected to the bottom of the washing tub 4, and a drainage valve 20 is provided. On the outlet side of the water softening means 12, a drainage path 21 for draining the regenerated water with high hardness generated when the water softening means 12 is regenerated is provided to branch from the water supply path 9, and the first three-way valve 22 is provided at the branch portion. And the flow path is switched. The end of the drainage channel 21 is connected to a drainage channel 19 for draining the washing water, and the reclaimed water passes from the water softening means 12 through the drainage channel 21 and is discharged from the washing machine body 1 to the outside through the drainage channel 19. .

  In addition, a reclaimed water supply path 23 for supplying water used for washing for regeneration of the water softening means 12 is provided to be branched from the drainage path 19, and the end thereof is connected to the water supply path 9 upstream of the water softening means 12. It is connected. A second three-way valve 24 is provided at a branch portion with the drainage channel 19, and a third three-way valve 25 is provided at a connection portion with the water supply route 9, so that water used for washing is drained out of the washing machine or soft water The flow path is switched so that it can be supplied to the conversion means 12. The reclaimed water supply path 23 is provided with a pump 26 that sends water used for washing to the water softening means 12.

  A filtration filter 27 is provided in the water supply path 9 on the upstream side of the water softening means 12. The filtration filter 27 is a filter having a pore diameter of 0.1 to 5 μm and has a structure that can be removed from the water supply path 9.

  The control means 28 is provided in the upper part in the washing machine main body 1, and based on the set operation sequence, the motor 5, the water supply valve 8, the water softening means 12, the drain valve 20, the first three-way valve 22, the second The three-way valve 24, the third three-way valve 25, the pump 26, and the like are controlled, and the washing, rinsing, and dewatering steps are sequentially controlled.

  The operation of the washing machine configured as described above will be described below. When the washing machine body 1 is turned on, the lid 11 is opened, clothes are put in the washing tub 4 and the detergent is put into the detergent case 10 to start the operation, the washing washing process starts. First, the water supply valve 8 is opened and the tap water is introduced into the water softening means 12 through the water supply path 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the raw water of tap water contains calcium ions, carbonate ions and the like as hardness components, and flows from an inlet 13 a provided at the upper part of the casing 13, and an outlet provided at the lower part of the casing 13. It flows through the flow path 16 toward 13b. At this time, a DC voltage is applied to the electrode 14 installed in the casing 13, a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 14 on the cation exchange layer 17 side of the water-splitting ion exchanger 15, and the anion exchange layer 18 side The electrode 14 becomes a negative pole.

As a result, calcium ions in the raw tap water migrate into the cation exchange layer 17 and carbonate ions migrate into the anion exchange layer 18 and enter the layer. Calcium ions are ion-exchanged with hydrogen ions of —SO ₃ H of strongly acidic ion exchange groups of the cation exchange layer 17, and carbonate ions are —NR ₃ of strongly basic ion exchange groups of the anion exchange layer 18. Ion exchange with hydroxide ions of OH. Thus, the hardness component in the channel 16 is removed and softened. Then, the treated water flows out from the outlet 13 b provided in the lower portion of the casing 13, and the softened water is supplied into the washing tub 4 through the water supply path 9.

  After a certain amount of detergent and soft water are supplied into the washing tub 4, the inner tub 3 of the washing tub 4 is rotationally driven by the motor 5 and the washing process is started. The laundry housed in the washing tub 4 is lifted in the rotation direction by the baffle 7 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner tub 3 by the rotation of the inner tub 3, and the upper height inside the raised inner tub 3 is increased. Since the agitating operation of dropping from the position is repeated, the washing process is performed with the action of tapping on the laundry.

  Here, since the hardness component is removed from the washing water supplied into the washing tub 4 by the water softening means 12, it prevents the surfactant in the detergent from reacting to generate insoluble metal soap. be able to. Therefore, since the amount of the surfactant that contributes to cleaning is not reduced and the cleaning power is not reduced, the cleaning performance by washing can be improved. Then, after the required washing time, the flow path is set on the drainage channel 19 side by the second three-way valve 24, and the water in the washing tub 4 used for washing is drained outside the washing machine. And the washing | cleaning process is complete | finished by dehydrating the detergent liquid contained in the laundry by the dehydration operation which rotates the inner tub 3 of the washing tub 4 at high speed.

  After the washing process is finished, the rinsing process starts next. Although the number of times of rinsing can be arbitrarily set by the user of the washing machine, in the present embodiment, a case of rinsing twice which is a standard course of washing will be described. In the rinsing step, as in the washing step, the water supply valve 8 is opened, and a predetermined amount of water set according to the amount of laundry is supplied to the washing tub 4. The laundry is rinsed by the rotation of the inner tub 3 to remove the detergent. Then, the flow path is set to the drainage channel 19 side by the second three-way valve 24, the water used for rinsing is drained out of the washing machine, and the moisture in the laundry is dehydrated by a dehydrating operation that rotates the inner tub 3 at a high speed. The first rinse is complete.

  Next, the second rinse begins. In the second rinse, water supply and laundry are rinsed in the same manner as the first rinse. When the laundry has been rinsed, the flow path is switched to the reclaimed water supply path 23 side by the second three-way valve 24, and the third three-way valve 25 is switched so that the reclaimed water supply path 23 and the washing tub 4 side of the water supply path 9 communicate with each other. Then, the pump 26 operates. Then, the water in the washing tub 4 used for rinsing is supplied to the water softening means 12 through the reclaimed water supply path 23. When the water used for rinsing is supplied to the water softening means 12, regeneration of the water softening means 12 is started.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the water softening means 12, a voltage in the direction opposite to that during softening is applied to the electrode 14. A positive voltage is applied to the anion exchange layer 18 side, and the electrode on the cation exchange layer 17 side becomes a negative electrode. When a voltage is applied to both sides of the water-splitting ion exchanger 15, the ion component in the interface between the cation exchange layer 17 and the anion exchange layer 18 is reduced and the resistance is increased, and water is dissociated at a certain point in time. Hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions are generated.

  In the cation exchange layer 17, calcium ions ion-exchanged during softening are ion-exchanged with the generated hydrogen ions and regenerated. Then, calcium ions are released into the channel 16. On the other hand, in the anion exchange layer 18, the carbonate ions ion-exchanged during softening are ion-exchanged with the generated hydroxide ions and regenerated. Then, carbonate ions are released into the flow path 16.

  After regeneration by applying a voltage to the water-splitting ion exchanger 15 for a certain time, the flow path is switched to the drainage path 21 side by the first three-way valve 22. Then, the reclaimed water containing a large amount of hardness component in the flow path 16 of the water softening means 12 is drained from the drainage path 19 to the outside of the washing machine through the drainage path 21, and the regeneration of the water softening means 12 is completed. Here, while the water softening means 12 is regenerating, the inner tub 3 rotates at a high speed to dehydrate the laundry and the washing is completed.

  As described above, the water softening means 12 can be regenerated with the water used for rinsing. Since the high-concentration hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration is not introduced into the water used for washing, excessive hardness components are not released into the rinse water, and precipitation of metal soap and calcium carbonate can be suppressed. Thereby, the deposit on the laundry can be prevented from adhering and the dirt component can be prevented from adhering again to the deposit, and the washing effect of the laundry can be enhanced. Further, the flexibility of the laundry after washing can be maintained.

  In addition, since the water used in the final rinsing process for washing is supplied to the water softening means 12 and regenerated, the amount of dirt components and detergent components in the water used for the regeneration of the water softening means 12 is further reduced. Can be more efficiently performed, and the durability of the water softening means 12 can be ensured. Furthermore, since the water softening means 12 is regenerated using the water used for washing, the tap water used can be reduced.

  Further, since the filter 27 is provided, the water used for washing can be filtered by the filter 27 and supplied to the water softening means 12 for regeneration. Is removed from the filtration filter 27, and the amount of dirt components and detergent components in the water used for regeneration is further reduced, so that the water softening means 12 can be more efficiently performed and the durability of the water softening means is ensured. Can do.

  Further, since the water softening means 12 is constituted by the water-splitting ion exchanger 15 having a two-layer structure of the cation exchange layer 17 and the anion exchange layer 18, the hardness is increased by the ion exchanger having a large number of ion exchange sites. Even when the components are captured and softened, and soft water is softened at the time of washing, the water can be softened at a large flow rate with a small apparatus size.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the washing tub 4 for storing the laundry and the water softening means 12 for softening the water used for washing in the water supply path 9 to the washing tub 4 are provided. The laundry is washed with water softened by the softening means 12, the water used for washing is supplied to the water softening means 12, the water softening means 12 is regenerated, and the recycled water containing the hardness component discharged during the regeneration is washed. By draining to the outside of the tank 4, the high-concentration hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration is not put into the water used for washing, so that excessive hardness components are not released into the rinse water, and metal soap and calcium carbonate Precipitation can be suppressed.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the deposits from adhering to the laundry, and the dirt component from adhering again to the deposits, thereby sufficiently washing the laundry. Further, the flexibility of the laundry after washing can be maintained.

As described above, the washing machine according to the present invention can enhance the washing effect of the laundry by preventing the adhesion of the precipitate to the laundry and the reattachment of the dirt component to the deposit, and after washing. It is useful as a washing machine because the flexibility of the laundry can be maintained.

4 Washing tank 9 Water supply path 12 Water softening means 13 Casing 14 Electrode 15 Water splitting ion exchanger 21 Drainage path

Claims (6)

A washing tub for storing laundry; a water supply path for supplying water to the washing tub; and a water softening means for softening water used for washing provided in the water supply path, and the water softening treatment is performed by the water softening means. Water is supplied to the washing tub, the water used for washing is supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means, and the recycled water containing the hardness component discharged at the time of regeneration is drained out of the machine through the drainage path. Like a washing machine. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water used in the washing rinsing step is supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein water used in the final rinsing step of washing is supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means. The filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a filtration filter is provided in a water supply path, and the water used for washing is filtered by the filtration filter and supplied to the water softening means to regenerate the water softening means. Washing machine. 5. A pump for supplying water used for washing to the water softening means is provided, and the water used for washing is supplied to the water softening means by the pump to regenerate the water softening means. The washing machine according to Item 1. The water softening means includes at least a pair of electrodes inside the casing, a water-splitting ion exchanger having a two-layer structure of a cation exchange layer and an anion exchange layer sandwiched between the electrodes, and the water-splitting ion exchange An electrode having a flow path in contact with the surface of the body, applying a voltage to the electrode facing the cation exchange layer during the water softening treatment of the water softening means, and facing the anion exchange layer during regeneration The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a voltage is applied to the water splitting ion exchanger to regenerate the water splitting ion exchanger.