Ion eluting unit and device provided with same

Abstract

A laundry machine (1) in which metal ions produced by an ion eluting unit (100) can be input into water at the last rinsing step. The time for the last rinsing step at which metal ions are input is longer than that for the step at which no metal ions are input. When metal ions are input, in the rinsing step, a strong flow time and a weak flow time are provided, or a strong flow time and a rest time are provided. If any imbalance during drying rotation of the washing tub (30) after metal ion input is detected, a processing different from that carried out if an imbalance is detected when no metal ions are input is carried out.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a washer that is capable of sterilizing laundry and each portion of a washer such as a washing tub and the like by using metal ions exerting a sterilizing effect. Especially, it relates to a washer furnished with an ion eluting unit that produces metal ions by applying a voltage between electrodes. BACKGROUND ART [0002] When laundry is washed in a washer, it is common to add a treatment substance to water, in particular, to rinsing water. Typical examples of such treatment substances include softening and starching agents. In addition to these, in recent years, the demand has been increasing for treatment whereby laundry is subjected to antimicrobial treatment. [0003] From the hygienic point of view, it is desirable to hang laundry in the sun to dry. However, in recent years, with the increase in the number of women who go to work, and with the increase in the number of nuclear families, there have been an increasing number of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] According to the present invention, in the washer configured as described above, when the rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry is executed with fresh water containing metal ions being replenished, an amount of metal ions to be added is less than that added in previous processes. With this configuration, once laundry is treated with metal ions, unnecessarily large amount of metal ions are not fed to the laundry, thereby consumption of metal ions is restrained.

[0019] According to the present invention, in the washer configured as described above, the different countermeasure is rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry by agitating it in water containing no metal ions with indication and/or notification that water being fed contains no metal ions. If water used in the process for correcting uneven spreading of laundry contains metal ions, metal is consumed faster than its designed service life, thereby the time when metal ions are not available comes earlier. With this configuration, when rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry is carried out with water containing no metal ions in order to restrain the consumption of the metal ions, the fact is indicated and/or notified to users and they can know that the expected antimicrobial effect may not be achieved.

[0020] According to the present invention, in the washer configured as described above, the different countermeasure is termination of squeezing rotation together with indication and/or notification that uneven spreading of laundry is detected. With this configuration, by not performing rinsing for correcting uneven spreadin

Problems solved by technology

It requires certain amount of time for t

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