JPH0584384A - Washing machine with water generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] The water supply unit of a washing machine is provided with a water creating device that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis, and is used for washing and rinsing. Reform to a suitable water quality. [Structure] The inside of the casing 60 is separated by a diaphragm 61.
It is divided into an alkaline water producing chamber 62 and an acidic water producing chamber 63. An electrode (cathode) 64 and an electrode (anode) 65 are provided in each production chamber, and are connected to a DC power source 68 via electric wires 66 and 67. Then, by applying a voltage from the power source 68, tap water is electrolyzed to generate alkaline water in the generation chamber 62 and acidic water in the generation chamber 63. The control device D is
The temperature sensor 37 and the PH sensor 38 are connected to the washing collecting pipe 35 on the input side to detect the temperature of the supply water and the hydrogen ion concentration. By connecting a DC power supply 68 to the output side and controlling the voltage and current output to the water creating device, the pH of the water supplied to the washing tub 11 is controlled to a value suitable for the water temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a water creating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, tap water or well water is generally used as it is for supplying water to a washing machine.

[0003]

However, chlorine used for disinfection remains in tap water, and well water also contains miscellaneous substances.

[0004] Such a contained substance not only reduces the effectiveness of the detergent during washing and deteriorates the removal of dirt, but also makes it difficult to remove the detergent from the laundry during rinsing, There is a problem such as a strange odor. In addition, neutral detergents are mainly used as laundry detergents, and such detergents have high detergency when the washing liquid is alkaline,
There is a problem that the detergency is extremely lowered when it is biased toward acidity.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a water creating unit for producing alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis is provided in a water supply section of a washing machine, and the water supply to the washing machine is suitable for washing and rinsing. It is intended to provide a washing machine equipped with a water creating device characterized by reforming the water quality.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a washing machine 1 according to the present invention. 11 is a washing tub, 12 is a pulsator, 13 is a motor, 14 is a drain valve, 15 is a drain pipe, 16 is a water pipe, and 19 is water storage. The tub and D are control devices, and the water creating device C is provided between the tub 11 and the water supply pipe 20 opened above the washing tub 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned devices and members are integrally formed and housed in a single case 21, and in particular, the water creating device C has an upper portion of the case 21. It is arranged in the operation panel 22 protruding from the.

The water-creating device C is a device capable of producing alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis from ordinary water such as tap water. In the present invention, alkaline water is used for washing.
Use acidic water for rinsing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the casing 60, which forms the outer shell of the casing 60, is divided into an alkaline water producing chamber 62 and an acidic water producing chamber 63 by a diaphragm 61, and each of the producing chambers 62. , 63 are electrodes (cathode) 64 made of stainless steel or carbon, stainless steel, platinum,
An electrode (anode) 65 made of titanium oxide or the like is provided, and each electrode 64, 65 is connected to a DC power supply 68 via electric wires 66, 67. The water is electrolyzed to generate alkaline water in the alkaline water generation chamber 62 and acidic water in the acidic water generation chamber 63.

The DC power supply 68 rectifies AC from a commercial power supply and supplies DC to the electrodes.

Further, the upstream end of the casing 60 is a connecting hose.
It communicates with 18, and the alkaline water production chamber 62 and the acidic water production chamber
The downstream end of 63 is connected to the ports of the three-way valve 31 for alkaline water and the three-way valve 32 for acidic water, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2, and the other ports of the three-way valves 31 and 32 are respectively for washing. Also, it is opened above the water tank 19 and the washing tank 11 through the water collecting pipes 35 and 36.

A communication pipe 34 having a pump 33 is provided between the water storage tank 19 and the upper portion of the washing tub 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device D includes a temperature sensor 37 and a pH sensor, which are arranged in the collecting pipe 35 for washing on the input side.
38 is connected to detect the temperature of the feed water and the hydrogen ion concentration, and a DC power supply 68 is connected to the output side to control the voltage and current output to the water creating device C. The pH of the water supplied to the washing tub 11 is controlled to a value suitable for the water temperature, and the pump 33 is connected so that the treated water can be transferred from the water storage tub 19 to the washing tub 11.

The embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. When washing, tap water is introduced from the water pipe 16 into the water creating device C, and the DC power supply 68 is applied to the electrodes 64 and 65 of the water creating device C. Outputs voltage and current from the alkaline water and acidic water generation chamber 6
Alkaline water and acidic water are generated in 2 and 63, respectively.

Of the two kinds of treated water thus produced, the alkaline water is injected into the washing tub 11 through the three-way valve 31 for alkaline water and the collecting pipe 35 for washing, and the acidic water is three-way for acidic water. It is injected into the water reservoir 19 via the valve 32.

During such water injection operation, the temperature sensor 37
The pH sensor 38 detects the temperature of the supply water and the hydrogen ion concentration, and controls the pH of the water supplied to the washing tub 11 to the optimum value for washing at the supply water temperature based on these detected values.

When the washing tank 11 is filled with a predetermined amount of alkaline water in this way, the laundry and the detergent are put into the washing tank 11, and the pulsator 12 is rotated by the motor 13 so that the detergent is mixed with the detergent. The washing is performed by stirring the alkaline water and dispersing the dirt attached to the laundry in the alkaline water containing the detergent.

As mentioned above, in the water used in washing,
By using the alkaline water generated by the water creating device C, the effect of the detergent can be sufficiently exerted, and effective washing can be performed with a small amount of neutral detergent.

When the washing is completed, the drain valve 14 is opened to drain the waste washing liquid in the washing tub 11.

In rinsing, first, the pump 33 is operated to inject the acidic water stored in the water tank 19 into the washing tank 11 through the communication pipe 34, and the pulsator 12 is rotated to attach the detergent to the laundry. The first rinsing is performed by rinsing the same. Since one rinse is not sufficient, the three-way valves 31 and 32 are switched to inject the acidic water into the washing tub 11 and the alkaline water is stored in the water reservoir 19 for rinsing.

By rinsing with acidic water in this way,
When washing, it is possible to return the laundry that is biased toward alkali to neutral.

Further, the alkaline water stored in the water tank 19 at the time of rinsing can be used for the next washing, which saves water.

Further, from the above embodiment, the water tank 11 and the pump
In addition to removing 33 and the communication pipe 34, the water collecting pipe 36 may be connected to the drain pipe 15 so that acidic water is discarded during washing and alkaline water is discarded during rinsing.

[0025]

As described above, by using the alkaline water generated by the water creating device as the water used for washing, the effect of the neutral detergent can be fully exerted, and effective washing can be performed with a small amount of detergent. It can be carried out.

In addition, when rinsing, by using acidic water produced by the water creating device, it is possible to return the laundry, which is biased toward alkali, to neutral during washing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional explanatory view of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the configuration of a water creation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Washing machine C Water creation device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Ken Takagi Ken 1-1, Nakajima 2-chome, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture (72) Inventor Ayako Hirano 2 Nakajima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 1st-1st Totoki Equipment Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water supply unit of a washing machine is provided with a water-creating device that generates alkaline water and acidic water by electrolysis to reform the water supply to the washing machine to a water quality suitable for washing and rinsing. A washing machine equipped with the characteristic water creation device.