Washing device, and washing method

Abstract

To provide a washing device which improves detergency, can execute washing into a local portion, and suppresses a use amount of water and power.SOLUTION: A washing device includes: a washing container 25 for storing a washing solution and a washing object 17; a light source 12 for irradiating the washing object 17 with light whose wavelength is 350nm to 450nm; and a body case 200 for storing the washing container 25 and the light source 12. The washing solution includes any one or more out of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, and hydrogen peroxide urea.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2B

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device and a cleaning method that utilizes accelerated oxidation by radicals to clean objects such as clothes. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, textile products such as clothing are washed using a washing machine. A washing machine is a device that immerses the item to be washed in water or an organic solvent, and rotates and stirs the water or organic solvent to mechanically remove dirt adhering to the item. The source of the dirt removal effect in this type of washing method is the mechanical force that transfers movement to the fibers by mechanically moving the liquid, and then peels off the dirt from the fibers with a mechanical force.

[0003] In a vertical washing machine, clothes and other fibers are immersed in a relatively large amount of liquid, and dirt is washed away by the movement of the fibers and the contact between the fibers using the rotation of the liquid in the washing tub. On the other hand, in a drum washing machine, fibers are placed in a relatively small amount of liquid, and in addition to the movement of the fibers through the liquid caused by the rotation of the drum, the impact of dropping the fibers from above the drum also has an effect of removing dirt. Although there are some differences in the movements of the two, they have in common the fact that they both utilize the cleaning effect caused by mechanical force.

[0004] In a typical washing machine, rotational force is used as mechanical power. For example, in a vertical washing machine, the motor rotates the agitator blades installed at the bottom of the washing tub and the washing tub itself, rotating the liquid in the washing tub and transmitting mechanical power to the fabrics. Although motors have become quieter with the advancement of motor technology, the noise from the motor itself, the inverter drive circuit, and the surrounding moving parts is still loud, and they have not been quiet enough to be installed in rooms where people relax. In addition, the moving parts take up most of the volume of the device, and vibration of the device is unavoidable due to rotation. This has led to issues such as limited installation locations and limited washing time.

[0005] The textiles to be washed are placed in the washing tub, washed with detergent, rinsed multiple times, and then the wash is completed. During this time, the textiles are also dehydrated after washing and rinsing. For this reason, the state of the textiles changes significantly from when they were placed in the washing tub to when the final dehydration is completed. When the textiles are subsequently dried automatically and stored, or when they are hung outside to dry after washing, tangled clothing must be untangled or twisted. Currently, this work can only be done by hand, and it is difficult to automate the work after dehydration or automatic drying.

[0006] Furthermore, various forces such as breaking, bending, pulling, and rubbing are applied to the fibers during the dirt removal process by rotation, which causes damage to the fibers. As this damage occurs, fiber fragments diffuse into the washing liquid and are ultimately discharged from the washing machine. Proteins derived from animals and plants, such as cotton and silk, can be decomposed by microorganisms, but synthetic fibers such as polyester cannot be decomposed. These are ultimately discharged into the ocean as microplastics. In other words, in current washing methods, mechanical forces greater than those required for dirt removal are applied, resulting in the generation of excessive fiber waste, which ultimately causes microplastics to be discharged into the environment.

[0007] Moreover, typical household washing machines wash clothes with a liquid in which detergent is dissolved in water to help remove dirt. The main component of detergent is a surfactant, which is made up of organic molecules with a polymeric main chain such as an alkyl group. After washing, the detergent is discharged from the washing machine along with the liquid and carried to the treatment plant through the sewage. Detergents, both soap and synthetic detergents, are mainly decomposed through biodegradation, but this process requires aeration to supply oxygen to the microorganisms. In the sewage treatment process, the water treatment process, which includes aeration, is the process that consumes the most electricity, and as a result, discharging detergent from the washing machine leads to increased electricity consumption.

[0008] Furthermore, in a typical washing machine, the textiles to be washed must be completely placed in the washing tub before washing. Therefore, the entire textile is washed, and even if a part of the garment is dirty, the entire garment must be washed. In order to wash the entire garment, parts that do not need to be washed must also be washed, which increases the amount of detergent used and the amount of fiber discharged due to damage caused by mechanical force. If it were possible to limit the washing to only the soiled area and its surroundings, it would be possible to reduce the amount of detergent required, prevent unnecessary fiber damage, reduce the amount of water used for washing, and reduce the electricity used for washing and wastewater treatment.

[0009] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a drum-type washing machine that performs a washing operation with a high washing power optimal for the amount of dirt. The drum-type washing machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a drum drive unit that rotates the drum, a dirt detection unit that detects dirt on the laundry in the drum, and a control unit that inputs the output of the dirt detection unit and sequentially controls each process of washing, rinsing, and spin-drying. The washing process includes a stirring process in which the drum is rotated at a low speed so that the laundry does not stick to the drum, and a centrifugal washing process in which the drum is rotated at a high speed so that the laundry sticks to the inner peripheral wall surface of the drum, and the washing water is discharged from the laundry by centrifugal force. The control unit changes the rotation speed of the drum in the centrifugal washing process according to the dirt detected by the dirt detection unit. Patent Document 1 achieves both high washing power and low power consumption by changing the washing power according to the amount of dirt detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-52058 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] However, as in the drum-type washing machine of Patent Document 1, there is a limit to the types of dirt that can be washed by mechanical washing using rotational force, so when washing clothes with dirt that is difficult to remove by mechanical washing (for example, dirt that has soaked into thick fabric), the dirt detection function may continue washing for a long time beyond the normal washing time. Even if the dirt is no longer detected after a short wash, if the type of dirt is oily dirt that is difficult to remove by mechanical washing, there is a possibility that the dirt is not completely removed and remains. In other words, in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that dirt that cannot be completely removed by the limited cleaning power of the rotational force may remain.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device and a cleaning method that solves the above problems, improves cleaning power, can clean localized areas, and reduces water and electricity usage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the cleaning device of the present invention comprises a cleaning container for containing a cleaning liquid and an object to be cleaned, a light source for irradiating the object to be cleaned with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm, and a main body case for containing the cleaning container and the light source, and is characterized in that the cleaning liquid contains one or more of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, and urea hydrogen peroxide. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the cleaning device and cleaning method of the present invention, localized dirt adhering to an object to be cleaned can be cleaned in a short time while minimizing the use of mechanical force.

[0015] Problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1A] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a light irradiation mechanism of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment faces downward. FIG. [Figure 1B] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a vibration transmission surface of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment faces downward. FIG. [Figure 1C] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a vibration transmission surface of the cleaning device according to Example 1 fixes an object to be cleaned. FIG. [Figure 2A] 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the cleaning machine as seen from above, through the partition plate on the top surface of the case. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIB-IIB' in FIG. 2A. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the cleaning apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of the cleaning device according to the third embodiment is located below a light source. [Figure 4B] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the fixing table of the cleaning device according to the third embodiment is in a position that does not block the light source. [Figure 5A] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of the cleaning device according to Example 4 is in a position blocking light from a light source. FIG. [Figure 5B] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of the cleaning device according to Example 4 is in a position that does not block light from a light source. FIG. [Figure 5C] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 6A] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of a cleaning device according to a fifth embodiment is in a position blocking light from a light source. FIG. [Figure 6B] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of a cleaning device according to a fifth embodiment is in a position that does not block light from a light source. FIG. [Figure 7A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the fixing table of the cleaning device according to the sixth embodiment is in a position in which an object to be cleaned is not fixed. [Figure 7B] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of a cleaning device according to a sixth embodiment is in a position for fixing an object to be cleaned. [Figure 7C] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a fixing table of a cleaning apparatus according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8A]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the fixing table of the cleaning device according to the seventh embodiment is in a position that does not block light from a light source. [Figure 8B] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the fixing stage of the cleaning device according to Example 7 is in a position where it blocks light from a light source and where an object to be cleaned is not fixed. FIG. [Figure 8C] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a fixing table of a cleaning device according to a seventh embodiment fixes an object to be cleaned. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a cleaning device and a cleaning method of the present invention for cleaning a cleaning target 17 having localized dirt attached thereto will be described. EXAMPLES

[0018] First, a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1A to 1C. In Figures 1A to 1C, the left side shows a front view, and the right side shows an axial view.

[0019] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the light irradiation mechanism of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment faces downward. The base 11 (holding member) is a part that holds the light source and also serves as a fixing part that holds and fixes the cleaning target 17 such as cloth. The base 11 can hold the light source 12 on one surface 22 of the outer periphery and also serves as a heat sink to cool the light source. The other surface of the base 11 has a generally flat surface 13, which plays the role of holding and fixing the cleaning target 17 such as cloth. The base 11 is connected to the support mechanism 14 and has a mechanism that rotates around the connection point 18 as the center of rotation. That is, the base 11 is rotatably provided so that one surface provided with the light source 12 can be positioned opposite the cleaning target 17, and the other surface (surface 13) that serves as the fixing part can be positioned opposite the cleaning target 17.

[0020] The end of the support mechanism 14 opposite to the end connected to the base 11 is connected to the device housing or a member inside the housing. A cleaning container 25 (see FIG. 2) used for washing clothes is arranged vertically below the base 11. The cleaning container 25 contains cleaning liquid and an object 17 to be washed. An ultrasonic vibrator 16 is provided on the surface of the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 opposite the light source 12. The ultrasonic vibrator 16 may be, for example, a Langevin type vibrator, a horn type vibrator, or a flat plate type vibrator. The object 17 to be washed is arranged on the surface on the light source side. That is, the object 17 to be washed is arranged on the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 so as to face the light source 12.

[0021] The support mechanism 14 includes a mechanism that expands and contracts in the vertical direction, and can move the base 11 up and down in one axial direction.

[0022] Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the vibration transmission surface of the cleaning device according to Example 1 faces downward. Fig. 1B shows a state in which the base 11 has rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 19 around an axis connecting two connection points 18 as a central axis. In this state, the light source 12 held by the base 11 faces in a direction other than vertically downward. The base 11 rotates so that a substantially flat surface 13 on one side of the base 11 faces vertically downward, and the support mechanism 14 extends vertically downward.

[0023] Fig. 1C is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the vibration transmission surface of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment fixes the object to be cleaned. When the support mechanism 14 extends vertically downward, the platform 11 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 20 (Fig. 1B), and as shown in Fig. 1C, the platform 11 is fixed to the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 while holding down the object to be cleaned 17. That is, the platform 11 is provided so as to be movable toward the object to be cleaned 17. Then, in this state, the object to be cleaned 17 is cleaned using ultrasonic waves. In ultrasonic cleaning, the object to be cleaned 17 and the cleaning liquid are vibrated by ultrasonic waves via the cleaning container 25, and dirt attached to the object to be cleaned 17 is cleaned.

[0024] After the ultrasonic cleaning is completed, the support mechanism 14 is contracted and the stage 11 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 21 to release the fixing of the cleaning target 17. The stage 11 is then rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow 19 so that the surface 22 on which the light source 12 is held faces vertically downward, returning to the state shown in Fig. 1A. Then, cleaning is performed by advanced oxidation process (AOP) in this state.

[0025] Fig. 2 shows an example of a cleaning machine 100 in which the cleaning device of Fig. 1 is incorporated into a housing. The cleaning device of Fig. 1 is housed in a main body case 200, and the main body case 200 is designed so that an object to be cleaned 17 can be stored or sandwiched inside by opening the lid.

[0026] Fig. 2A is a diagram showing the structure of the cleaner as seen from above through a partition plate on the top surface of the case, and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB' in Fig. 2A.

[0027] The main body case 200 has a case upper part 23 and a case lower part 24 connected by a hinge 28, and the case upper part 23 serves as a lid that opens and closes. A cleaning container 25 is stored inside the main body case 200, and the cleaning container 25 is exposed when the case upper part 23 (lid) is opened. A partition 26 is provided in the case lower part 24, and is structured to support the cleaning container 25. A through hole is formed in the partition 26, through which the transducer of the ultrasonic transducer 16 provided at the bottom of the cleaning container 25 passes. The partition 26 is made of metal or the like, and is adapted to block light from the light source 12.

[0028] The interior 27 of the case lower portion 24 of the main body case 200 houses the devices necessary to drive the cleaning device. These include a drive circuit for the ultrasonic transducer 16, a drive circuit for the light source 12, a drive circuit for the support mechanism 14, a rotation drive circuit for the base 11, and an overall control circuit.

[0029] In the case of automatically supplying the cleaning liquid used for washing and the water used for rinsing, and further in the case of recovering the liquid after washing, the necessary pumps and tanks for storing the liquid, the pipes and valves used for supplying and draining these liquids, the tank drive circuit, etc. are also stored inside 27. Upper case 23 and lower case 24 are provided with wiring storage sections 29 at the position of hinges 28 through which wiring connecting upper case 23 and lower case 24 passes, providing an electrical connection.

[0030] Next, a specific description will be given of the cleaning process by the cleaning machine of this embodiment in the case where the object 17 to be cleaned is a cotton cloth on which a medium-thick sauce has been dropped and dried.

[0031] <Installation of cleaning object 17> First, the upper case 23 is opened and the object 17 to be cleaned is placed in the cleaning container 25. The object 17 to be cleaned is placed so that the part to be cleaned is located near the center of the cleaning container 25 and vertically below the light source 12. The area near the center of the cleaning container 25 is close to the light source 12 and receives the greatest amount of light irradiation during cleaning, so this is the area where the most dirt will come off, and by positioning the dirty part at this position, the cleaning time can be shortened. Then, the upper case 23 is closed. In this state, the object 17 to be cleaned is ready to be cleaned, and cleaning is then performed using mechanical force and promoted oxidation.

[0032] <Cleaning process using ultrasonic vibration> Next, with the support mechanism 14 in a contracted state, the base 11 is rotated so that the approximately flat surface of the base 11 is vertically downward as shown in FIG. 1B. With the support mechanism 14 in a contracted state, water (cleaning liquid) stored in a tank is supplied to the cleaning container 25 via a pump. As a result, the object to be cleaned 17 contained in the cleaning container 25 is immersed in the water (cleaning liquid) (a process of immersing the object to be cleaned 17 in the cleaning container 25 in the cleaning liquid). Thereafter, the support mechanism 14 is extended, and the surface 13 of the base 11 presses and fixes the object to be cleaned 17 against the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25. The surface 13 of the base 11 functions as a fixing part that fixes the object to be cleaned 17 to the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25.

[0033] Here, water was supplied to the washing container 25 without fixing the object 17 to be washed. In this embodiment, an object to be washed that is large enough to fit completely inside the washing container 25 is used. In this case, depending on the water supply speed from the pump, the object to be washed may be displaced from its initial position due to the flow of water generated by the water supply. To avoid this, there are several methods, such as supplying water at a sufficiently slow water supply speed, fixing the cloth when supplying water, and placing the object to be washed after water supply. In the configuration of this embodiment, the support mechanism 14 is extended to press the object 17 to the bottom 15 of the washing container 25 while supplying water, thereby preventing the object 17 from being displaced.

[0034] In the cleaning machine 100, the object 17 to be cleaned and water are placed in the cleaning container 25, and with the object 17 fixed by the support mechanism 14, a voltage is applied to the ultrasonic vibrator 16 to generate ultrasonic vibrations. The generated ultrasonic vibrations are propagated through the cleaning container 25 to which the ultrasonic vibrator 16 is fixed, and are applied to the water and the object 17 to be cleaned in the container (step of applying ultrasonic vibrations to the object 17 to be cleaned). Since the object 17 to be cleaned is fixed to the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 by the platform 11, the applied ultrasonic vibrations are efficiently transmitted to the object 17 to be cleaned. When applying ultrasonic vibrations, the platform 11 does not necessarily need to be pressed against the object 17 to be cleaned, and the cleaning effect of ultrasonic waves can be obtained even if the platform 11 is completely separated from the object 17. However, the closer the distance between the object 17 to the medium that transmits the ultrasonic vibrations (the cleaning container 25 in FIG. 1) is, the higher the cleaning effect is, and the highest cleaning effect is achieved when the object 17 is in contact with the medium. On the other hand, the degree to which dirt is removed by ultrasonic cleaning varies depending on the dirt, so it is not necessary for them to be in contact with each other all the time. For example, dirt that is mixed with fine powder is easily dispersed in the liquid, and can be removed to a certain extent without pressing. On the other hand, dirt that is difficult to disperse, such as grease, can be effectively removed by pressing and efficiently transmitting vibrations.

[0035] In ultrasonic cleaning, the ultrasonic vibration is applied and maintained for about 1 to 3 minutes. In this embodiment, ultrasonic vibration is applied using a bolt-tightened Langevin type ultrasonic transducer with an oscillation frequency of 55 kHz and an output of 15 W. During this time, if possible, the pressure with which the base 11 presses the cleaning object 17 can be changed to promote the dispersion and diffusion of dirt detached from the cleaning object 17 into the water, and dirt can be removed more efficiently. In this embodiment, a linear actuator is used for the support mechanism 14, and one of the support mechanisms 14 is held as it is from a state in which the base 11 fixes the cleaning object 17, and the other support mechanism is shortened (moved upward) by 3 mm and maintained for several seconds, and then the shortened other support mechanism 14 is extended so that it fixes (moves downward) the cleaning object 17, and one of the support mechanisms 14 is similarly shortened (moved upward) and maintained for the same time, and this is repeated alternately. In ultrasonic cleaning, after performing a cleaning process using ultrasonic waves for a predetermined time, the support mechanism 14 is shortened and the fixing of the cleaning object 17 is released.

[0036] <Wastewater treatment after ultrasonic cleaning> After the ultrasonic vibration is finished, the liquid in the cleaning container 25 is drained. In this embodiment, the installation of pumps for draining the liquid is omitted, so the liquid is drained manually. To drain the liquid, the upper case 23 is opened, and the cleaning device 100 is tilted while holding the object 17 to be cleaned, to drain the liquid in the cleaning container 25. After that, clean water is poured into the cleaning container 25 and the cleaning object 17 is drained once or several times to rinse the inside of the cleaning container 25 and the object 17 to be cleaned, and dirt that has re-adhered to the inside of the cleaning container 25 and the object 17 to be cleaned during drainage is removed. In addition, the surface of the approximately flat surface 13 of the base 11 on which the object 17 to be cleaned was fixed may be rinsed or the dirt may be wiped off with a cloth or tissue. This suppresses the remaining dirt, and prevents unnecessary dirt from being mixed in the next cleaning or the accelerated oxidation cleaning performed thereafter, thereby improving the cleaning effect.

[0037] In the above, water (cleaning liquid) was used when applying ultrasonic vibrations, but instead of water, hydrogen peroxide water, a liquid containing hydrogen peroxide as an ingredient (hydrogen peroxide cleaning liquid), for example, easily available sodium percarbonate, or even hydrogen peroxide urea can be used. In this embodiment, one or more of these cleaning liquids are included. When hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, or hydrogen peroxide urea is used, the cleaning effect of applying ultrasonic vibrations is enhanced compared to when water is used.

[0038] <Cleaning process using accelerated oxidation> Next, cleaning by accelerated oxidation is performed. The object 17 to be cleaned is placed in the cleaning container 25, and the part to be cleaned is positioned near the center of the cleaning container 25, vertically below the light source 12. In this state, the hydrogen peroxide cleaning liquid stored in a tank is introduced into the cleaning container 25 via a pump. As a result, the object 17 to be cleaned contained in the cleaning container 25 is immersed in the hydrogen peroxide cleaning liquid. In this embodiment, hydrogen peroxide water with a concentration of 3% is used as the hydrogen peroxide cleaning liquid. The same care is taken as with ultrasonic cleaning to prevent the object 17 from shifting due to the introduction of the liquid.

[0039] Next, light irradiation is performed (light irradiation step). Light irradiation is performed with the stage 11 positioned as shown in FIG. 1A. In cleaning processing by accelerated oxidation, it is confirmed that the support mechanism 14 is in a contracted state and the light source 12 is positioned facing the object 17 to be cleaned, and if necessary, the stage 11 is rotated to move the light source 12 to the desired position. The object 17 to be cleaned is irradiated with ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 365 nm from the light source 12. The light irradiation intensity is 50 to 100 mW / cm at the position of the object 17 to be cleaned. 2 In this embodiment, the light irradiation intensity is set to 100 mW / cm. 2 was set to.

[0040] When using only one LED (Light Emitting Diode) as the light source 12, the light irradiation intensity on the cleaning target 17 is highest directly below the light source. It is necessary to set the driving conditions of the light source 12 so that the required light intensity is achieved at the position furthest from the light source 12 in the cleaning machine, assuming a cleaning area. If the intensity or irradiation area of ​​one LED is insufficient, multiple LEDs can be used. In particular, to irradiate a wide area with uniform intensity, an irradiation system using multiple LEDs is essential.

[0041] It is desirable to change the time for which light is irradiated from the light source 12 depending on the degree and type of dirt on the cleaning object 17, but usually 10 to 15 minutes is sufficient if cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations has been performed in advance. In this embodiment, light irradiation was performed for 12 minutes.

[0042] <Wastewater treatment after advanced oxidation cleaning> After the light irradiation is completed, the inside of the cleaning container is drained in the same manner as after ultrasonic cleaning. If rinsing is performed after draining, simple water may be used.

[0043] <Effects of cleaning according to this embodiment> This completes the cleaning process according to this embodiment. After cleaning, the cloth was naturally dried in a place not exposed to light, and the cleaning effect was evaluated. The color of the cloth was evaluated using a colorimeter to obtain color coordinates in Lab space, and the evaluation was performed based on the distance between points in the color space before and after staining and after cleaning. Specifically, the color coordinates were measured for the color of the cotton cloth in a clean state before staining, the color of the cloth before cleaning with staining, and the color of the cloth after cleaning, and the distances ΔE (before cleaning) and ΔE (after cleaning) between the color coordinates of the cotton cloth in a clean state before staining were obtained, and the cleaning rate η was defined by (Equation 1), and the η of each cloth was compared.

[0044] η=1-Δ(after cleaning) / Δ(before cleaning) (Equation 1) As a result, the cleaning rate was 64% (η = 0.64) when using a commercially available washing machine and liquid detergent, whereas the cleaning rate was 95% (η = 0.95) when using the washing method of this embodiment, demonstrating a higher cleaning effect than a general washing machine.

[0045] In the above, mechanical cleaning using ultrasonic vibration was performed first, followed by advanced oxidation cleaning, but it is not necessary to perform these cleaning methods separately. If the level of dirt is low, or if the amount of dirt dispersed / dissolved in water by ultrasonic vibration cleaning is small, or the water is not very turbid, ultrasonic vibration cleaning and advanced oxidation cleaning may be performed simultaneously. In this case, it is necessary to use a hydrogen peroxide cleaning solution instead of water for ultrasonic vibration cleaning. This method of cleaning has the advantage of shortening the overall cleaning time because the processes can be carried out simultaneously. On the other hand, if the dirt is fine particles that scatter UV light and are dispersed in the hydrogen peroxide cleaning solution, the light transmittance decreases, so the spectral irradiation time must be longer.

[0046] When a semiconductor element such as an LED or laser diode is used as the light source 12, the temperature of the light source 12 rises and the light output decreases with the duration of light irradiation. This is also the case when using a discharge tube type light source that does not use a semiconductor element. For this reason, the light irradiation time must be determined not simply by the time but by the amount of light irradiation (light irradiation energy). Semiconductor elements also deteriorate over time with use, and the light irradiation energy per unit time decreases over time. For this reason, it is desirable to incorporate a system that monitors the amount of light irradiated into the device and adjust the time according to the monitored amount.

[0047] <Principle of cleaning in this embodiment> Next, the principles of the two types of cleaning methods used in this embodiment will be described.

[0048] Cleaning by ultrasonic vibration exerts a cleaning effect by mechanically vibrating the dirt adhering to the object to be cleaned 17 to peel off, or by promoting dissolution of water-soluble dirt in water. In particular, peeling off dirt components and dirt substances can remove the dirt substances as clumps, and has a three-dimensional dirt removal effect. On the other hand, if the object to be cleaned 17 is clothing, the cleaning effect tends to be lower for dirt that has entered the gaps between fine structures such as fibers.

[0049] In contrast to cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations with these characteristics, the cleaning method using accelerated oxidation, which will be described later, is a cleaning method that uses a strong oxidizing power to highly decompose dirt, but the dirt removal is due to a decomposition reaction on the dirt surface, and can be said to be based on a two-dimensional dirt removal effect. Therefore, it tends to take a long time to remove dirt that is thickly attached to the object to be cleaned or solid dirt, making it difficult to shorten the cleaning time. On the other hand, cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations can be expected to have a three-dimensional dirt removal effect, so if it is performed as a pre-cleaning before performing accelerated oxidation cleaning on dirt that is thickly attached to the object to be cleaned or solid dirt, it has the advantage of significantly shortening the time for accelerated oxidation cleaning.

[0050] In advanced oxidation cleaning, a substance that generates radical molecules with strong oxidizing power when irradiated with light from the light source 12 is used as a cleaning liquid. These radicals with strong oxidizing power are used to oxidize and decompose dirt on the surface of the object to be cleaned 17, thereby exerting a cleaning effect. Decomposition using radicals in this manner is called advanced oxidation process. Examples of substances that generate radicals include hydrogen peroxide water, and liquids containing this may also be used. For example, sodium carbonate hydrogen peroxide (sodium percarbonate), hydrogen peroxide urea, etc. can be used to generate hydroxyl radicals.

[0051] The concentration of the liquid supplied to the cleaning container 25 depends on the degree of dirt on the object to be cleaned and the time available for cleaning, but in the case of hydrogen peroxide, the concentration should be about 1-3% in terms of percentage (w / vol%, hereafter simply referred to as %), and at most 15% or less. This is because if the concentration is higher than 15%, depending on the type of fibers and dirt that make up the object to be cleaned, damage to the fibers and discoloration of the clothes may become noticeable. In the case of a liquid containing hydrogen peroxide, the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the liquid is adjusted to be approximately the same as the hydrogen peroxide concentration described above.

[0052] The wavelength of the light source 12 depends on the type of cleaning solution, but in order to generate hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide, a range from visible light to ultraviolet light is selected. However, since light on the long wavelength side has a low efficiency of generating hydroxyl radicals or cannot generate them at all, a wavelength shorter than 450 nm is desirable. On the other hand, the efficiency of generating hydroxyl radicals is high on the short wavelength side, but the damage to the fibers of the object to be cleaned is also large, so a wavelength longer than 350 nm is desirable. Depending on the type of dirt, even a wavelength around 350 nm may cause large damage, so a wavelength longer than 360 nm is more desirable. In this embodiment, the light source 12 irradiates light with a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm. In terms of mechanical strength, size, power efficiency, and lifespan, an LED or LD (laser diode) is suitable for the light source 12 rather than a discharge tube type lamp. In the case of an LED, light sources 12 with wavelengths from 365 nm to 405 nm in 5 nm increments are easily available in this wavelength range.

[0053] As mentioned above, ultrasonic vibration cleaning removes dirt through a three-dimensional cleaning effect, but when the object to be cleaned is an aggregate of fine fibers such as clothing, the effect is low on dirt that has become embedded between the fibers or that is relatively strongly bonded to the fibers, and the dirt tends to remain. This is also the case when cleaning with a spin washing machine using a surfactant such as detergent.

[0054] In contrast, the accelerated oxidation cleaning of this embodiment is highly effective at cleaning the above-mentioned stains that are difficult to clean mechanically or with surfactants. This is because the cleaning liquid has the property of penetrating thoroughly into the gaps between fine fibers, and when light is irradiated onto the gaps, radicals are generated, which oxidize and break down nearby stains. This is because the cleaning process is based on oxidation reactions in a microscopic area, and oxidation reactions can basically occur anywhere there is cleaning liquid and light irradiation. Generally, the lifespan of radicals is 10 -6 ~10 -9It is said to be an extremely short time, about a few seconds, but by continuing to irradiate with UV light and continuously generating radicals, it is believed that a large number of reactions can occur, including radical annihilation reactions that are not related to the decomposition of dirt (annihilation of radicals due to reactions with water), which can break down dirt.

[0055] In this embodiment, ultrasonic vibration cleaning is combined with mechanical cleaning, but mechanical cleaning is not necessarily limited to ultrasonic vibration cleaning. For example, a rotary washing machine used for general laundry also uses mechanical power as the source of cleaning, and the effect is expected to be a three-dimensional cleaning effect as already described. Therefore, the same effect can be expected if a rotary washing machine is used for mechanical cleaning combined with advanced oxidation cleaning. The reason why ultrasonic vibration cleaning is used in this embodiment is that a rotary washing machine is more suitable for cleaning the entire object to be cleaned than for treating localized dirt, whereas a cleaning method using ultrasonic vibration has a high affinity with localized cleaning.

[0056] <Cleaning equipment control system> Next, the control system of the cleaning machine will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the control system of the cleaning machine.

[0057] In the figure, solid lines indicate connections for transmitting power or analog signals, and dotted lines indicate connections for transmitting digital signals such as control signals, etc. Note that supply and drainage lines for water and cleaning solutions are omitted.

[0058] The power input unit E1 of the cleaning machine converts the power input from an outlet or battery into power that is easy to use within the device and supplies it to each component.Whether to supply DC or AC power, and what the supply voltage should be, can be determined by appropriate design, but since there are many elements in the configuration of this embodiment that are driven by DC, it is preferable to supply power with DC.

[0059] The control unit E2 is a computer that controls the entire control system, and controls each part according to the cleaning program for each object to be cleaned and the cleaning conditions. The input unit E3 is used to instruct the user to select and set items for cleaning, such as selecting a cleaning program and setting cleaning conditions. The display unit E4 is used to display options related to cleaning, display items that can be set, and display the status during cleaning. The input unit E3 and the display unit E4 may be touch panel type display devices, or display and input may be performed by separate devices.

[0060] The basic flow of cleaning using the cleaning machine of this embodiment consists of setting the object to be cleaned as described above, then supplying water, rotating the table to set the position of the pressing surface, moving the table to fix the object to be cleaned, cleaning with ultrasonic vibrations, moving the table, draining water, rinsing, rotating the table to set the position of the light source, supplying hydrogen peroxide cleaning solution, turning the light source on and off, draining water, and rinsing.

[0061] Therefore, the control unit E2 controls each element in sequence to carry out this series of steps. In addition, multiple cleaning programs are prepared in the control unit so that several procedures can be selected to accommodate cases where the conditions of a specific procedure need to be changed or cleaning needs to be carried out under only specific conditions. The display unit E4 and input unit E3 are used to select these cleaning programs and set the conditions.

[0062] When water is to be supplied to the cleaning container 25, the valve selector E5 selects the water supply valve E6 upon receiving a command from the control unit E2, and opens the water supply valve E6. The water supply valve E6 is supplied with power from a valve power supply. In this state, the pump E17 connected to a tank for storing water is operated by driving the pump power supply E7 of the pump E17, which is connected to the tank for storing water. By using, for example, a DC-DC converter with an Enable / Disable selection terminal for the pump power supply E7, the operation of the pump E17 can be controlled by a digital control signal to the pump power supply E7. At this time, the amount of water supplied can be easily adjusted based on the water supply speed and time of the pump E17. In addition to the water supply valve E6, a cleaning liquid valve for supplying a cleaning liquid such as a hydrogen peroxide cleaning liquid may be connected to the cleaning container 25.

[0063] In this embodiment, a small diaphragm pump with a size of 55 mm square and a thickness of about 10 mm is used for the pump E17, and the voltage required to drive it is converted from the power supplied by the pump power supply. Using a pump with a built-in converter has the advantage of reducing the space required and circuit implementation.

[0064] When draining water from the washing container 25, if drain valves, piping, and pumps are installed, the drain valve E18 is selected with the valve selector E5 to drain the water. Power is supplied to the drain valve E18 from the valve power supply. Since the control unit E2 knows the amount of liquid supplied, it can roughly estimate the time required for draining. There is also a method of incorporating a method of measuring the amount of remaining liquid in the washing container 25 using a sensor or the like, and controlling the water using information obtained from that. In this embodiment, the drain valves are omitted, and the water is drained manually, so the corresponding parts of the control unit are also unnecessary.

[0065] The light source 12 is driven in the same way. When the procedure to turn on the light source 12 is reached, the control unit E2 drives the light source power supply E8 to supply power to the light source 12. Since LEDs are usually driven by DC input, in the case of a design in which DC is input from the power supply input unit E1, a DCDC converter with an enable signal input can be used for the light source power supply E8 as well as the pump power supply E7. If the pilot lamp E9 installed outside the device is turned on in conjunction with the lighting of the LED, it is possible to clearly indicate that ultraviolet light is being irradiated, which ensures safety. In FIG. 3, the power input to the light source 12 is branched off to turn on the pilot lamp E9.

[0066] A high-frequency voltage must be applied to drive the ultrasonic transducer 16. For this reason, the high-frequency power supply E10 converts the direct current input from the power supply input unit E1 into alternating current, and then converts the frequency. The ultrasonic vibration from the ultrasonic transducer 16 depends on the cleaning container 25 and the amount of cleaning liquid used, but an output of about 10 W is basically sufficient, so it is advisable to select a power supply configuration that is as small as possible. In addition, ultrasonic frequencies of about 10 kHz to 50 kHz, which are commercially available for cleaning, are inexpensive and easy to obtain. The frequency is not limited to the above range, and a higher frequency of about MHz may also be used.

[0067] The support mechanism 14 incorporates a linear actuator E11, which allows the vertical position of the platform 11 to be controlled. The linear actuator E11 is supplied with power from an actuator power source. It has been described that, during ultrasonic vibration cleaning, dirt can be efficiently released into the liquid by adjusting the degree of pressing of the surface 13 of the platform 11 against the cleaning target 17, thereby improving cleaning efficiency. By using the linear actuator E11, the adjustment of the degree of pressing can be automatically controlled by a computer. It is recommended to use a pressure sensor E12 to adjust the degree of pressing of the platform 11, since it is easy to control if the pressing pressure is known. In addition, when the platform 11 is held away from the cleaning target 17, it is recommended to have a position sensor E13 to confirm the position of the platform 11. The analog signals output from these sensors are converted into digital signals via a converter E14, taken in by the control unit E2, and used to control the position of the platform 11.

[0068] A servo-controlled rotary actuator E19 is used for the rotation mechanism of the base 11. The rotary actuator E19 is supplied with power from an actuator power supply. Because the rotation position can be digitally controlled by servo control, if the rotation stop position is determined as an initial setting, the stop position can be determined simply by specifying the position from the control unit E2. If the linear actuator is also controlled by a servo mechanism, the actuator position can be digitally controlled, and not only the position sensor but also the pressure sensor can be omitted, and control becomes easier.

[0069] The optical sensor E15 is used to eliminate the influence of output fluctuations due to heat of the light source 12 and output reduction due to changes over time. The analog output of the optical sensor E15 is converted into a digital signal by the converter E16 and input to the control unit E2. The control unit E2 inputs the input of the optical sensor E15 when the light source 12 is turned on and monitors the optical output of the light source 12 during the accelerated oxidation cleaning. When the light irradiation energy reaches a predetermined value, the light source 12 is stopped and the accelerated oxidation cleaning is terminated. The input of the optical sensor E15 does not need to directly input light from the light source 12, and the irradiation energy to the cleaning target 17 may be calculated from the input of indirect light that is proportional to the light of the light source 12, such as reflected light. Note that cleaning is possible only by controlling the irradiation time without monitoring the light amount, but the use of the optical sensor E15 compensates for the output fluctuations of the light source 12 and allows for stable removal of dirt during the accelerated oxidation cleaning.

[0070] In Fig. 3, the pressure / position sensors, light sensors, valves and pumps related to water supply and drainage, etc. enclosed by dashed lines are not essential elements for cleaning, but incorporating them into the system has the advantage of ensuring the best possible cleaning power and reducing the effort required for cleaning.

[0071] As described above, according to the cleaning machine of this embodiment, it is possible to clean localized dirt adhering to an object to be cleaned in a short time while minimizing the use of mechanical force. EXAMPLES

[0072] Next, a cleaning machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that a duplicated description of the points common to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0073] In the first embodiment, cleaning by ultrasonic vibration and cleaning by promoted oxidation are used in combination, but in the cleaning machine of the present embodiment (second embodiment), the object to be cleaned is cleaned only by cleaning by promoted oxidation.

[0074] As described above, cleaning with ultrasonic vibration is particularly effective for cleaning dirt that is thickly stuck to the surface of the object to be cleaned, and cleaning with promoted oxidation is particularly effective for cleaning dirt that has soaked into the fibers of the object to be cleaned. Therefore, when there is not much dirt that is thickly stuck to the surface of the object to be cleaned and there is a lot of dirt that has soaked into the fibers, sufficient cleaning power can be obtained even if cleaning with ultrasonic vibration is omitted.

[0075] By eliminating the use of ultrasonic vibrations for cleaning as in this embodiment, not only is it possible to reduce water and electricity consumption, but since there is no audible sound generated when the ultrasonic vibrator is driven, almost no noise is generated during cleaning, making it possible to provide cleaning that does not adversely affect the living environment.

[0076] <Demonstration of the effect of this embodiment> The results of cleaning the object using the cleaning machine of this embodiment will be described below.

[0077] First, a soiled cleaning target 17 is set in the device as in Example 1. In this example, the cleaning target 17 is a white cotton cloth soiled by dripping chili oil onto it. Next, a hydrogen peroxide cleaning solution (concentration 3%) is introduced. Cleaning by ultrasonic vibration is not performed, and accelerated oxidation cleaning is performed immediately. UV light with a wavelength of 365 nm is applied at 100 mW / cm. 2 The intensity is set to 100 and light is irradiated for 30 minutes.

[0078] The stage 11 is rotated in advance so that the object 17 to be cleaned is positioned vertically below the light source 12 as shown in Fig. 1A. After a desired amount of light irradiation is performed, the irradiation is stopped and rinsing is performed. The object 17 to be cleaned is then removed and dried to complete the cleaning process.

[0079] When the degree of dirt removal of the object 17 that was naturally dried in a dark place was evaluated, the cleaning rate was 85% (η = 0.85). On the other hand, when the object was washed using liquid detergent in a commercially available washing machine, the cleaning rate was 64% (η = 0.64), which shows that advanced oxidation cleaning also has a high cleaning power. Furthermore, when cleaning using ultrasonic vibration was performed before advanced oxidation cleaning and then advanced oxidation cleaning was performed for 12 minutes, the cleaning rate was 95% (η = 0.95). This is a higher cleaning power than cleaning with advanced oxidation cleaning alone, but it shows that depending on the dirt, advanced oxidation cleaning alone can provide a sufficiently high cleaning power.

[0080] In this way, cleaning can be performed by selecting either a combination of mechanical cleaning and advanced oxidation cleaning, or cleaning only with advanced oxidation cleaning, depending on the type of dirt. While a combination of mechanical cleaning and advanced oxidation cleaning is characterized by high cleaning power and cleaning in a short time, cleaning only with advanced oxidation cleaning is characterized by extremely quiet cleaning and the ability to reduce the amount of water used for cleaning, while also providing high cleaning power. EXAMPLES

[0081] Next, a cleaning device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the first and second embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0082] In Example 1, both the light source 12 and the surface 13 for fixing the object to be cleaned 17 were arranged on the surface of the base 11, but in this example, the surface for fixing the object to be cleaned 17 is provided separately from the base 11.

[0083] Fig. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 3 is located below a light source, and Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 3 is located at a position not blocking the light source.

[0084] In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, a fixing part 41 having a surface for fixing an object to be cleaned 17 is provided separately from the base 11, and has a structure that rotates around a connection point 18 between the base 11 and the support mechanism 14 as a fulcrum. The fixing part 41 moves in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow 42 in Fig. 4A by the extension and contraction of the support mechanism 14. When cleaning with ultrasonic vibrations, the fixing part 41 is pressed against the object to be cleaned, and acts to efficiently transmit the vibrations from the ultrasonic vibrator to the object to be cleaned.

[0085] On the other hand, during accelerated oxidation cleaning, as shown in Fig. 4B, with the support mechanism 14 contracted, the fixing part 41 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 43 in Fig. 4B around the connection point 18 as a fulcrum, exposing the light source 12 downward. In this state, the light from the light source 12 can be irradiated onto the object to be cleaned without being blocked. After the light irradiation, the fixing part 41 is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by 43, thereby making it possible to avoid unintentional contact with the light source 12 when, for example, inserting or removing the object to be cleaned. In other words, the fixing part 41 is rotatably provided on the base 11 so as to be able to take a position facing the object to be cleaned 17 where it blocks the light irradiated from the light source 12 onto the object to be cleaned 17, and a position where it does not block the light irradiated from the light source 12 onto the object to be cleaned 17.

[0086] In the figure, the distance between the fixed part 41 and the base 11 is drawn relatively close, but depending on this distance and the amount of liquid put into the cleaning container, the light source 12 and the base 11 may also come into contact with or be immersed in the liquid when the fixed part 41 is pressed against the object to be cleaned, so care must be taken when setting the distance between the fixed part 41 and the base 11 to avoid this. Also, in the figure, the thickness of the surface of the fixed part 41 that holds the object to be cleaned is drawn relatively thin, but if liquid seeps into the surface opposite the surface where the fixed part and the cloth come into contact, dirt will adhere to areas that would normally be avoided, so it is desirable to prevent the liquid from seeping into this surface by making it thick enough to prevent the liquid from seeping in or by attaching a frame around the periphery.

[0087] Here, the fixed part 41 is held by the support mechanism 14 together with the base 11, but this is not necessarily the case. In the configuration of this embodiment, since the base 11 does not need to be movable, a fixed jig without a moving mechanism may be provided separately, and the base 11 may be fixed in the case by the fixed jig, and only the fixed part 41, which is the movable part, may be held by the support mechanism 14 with an expansion mechanism. In addition, the rotation mechanism of the fixed part 41 may be a rotary actuator having a rotation axis at the connection point 18, which is installed in the base 11, or a belt, a ring-shaped rubber, or a chain may be arranged along the support mechanism 14 to transmit the power of a rotation mechanism installed at a position away from the connection point 18. When the base 11 is fixed to a jig without a moving mechanism as described above, such a power transmission mechanism may be used, or a rotary actuator may be directly attached to the connection point 18.

[0088] This method has the advantage that the fixed part 41 can be easily removed, which makes it easy to clean the fixed part 41. In addition, since the base 11 does not rotate, there is no need to move the wiring of the light source 12, the torque required for the support mechanism can be kept small by independently attaching the base 11 to a jig without a moving mechanism, and it is easy to adopt a structure that increases heat transfer, which makes it easy to dissipate heat generated by the light source. EXAMPLES

[0089] Next, a cleaning device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the first to third embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0090] Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 4 is in a position where it blocks light from a light source, and Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 4 is in a position where it does not block light from a light source.

[0091] In this embodiment, fixed portion 51 is movable in two directions, ie, up and down in the vertical direction indicated by arrow 52, ​​and left and right in an axial direction perpendicular to the vertical direction indicated by arrow 53.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 5A, the fixing part 51 moves toward the bottom 15 of the cleaning container with a pressing plate under the light source 12 to fix the cleaning object. In this state, cleaning is performed by ultrasonic vibration. After cleaning, the fixing part 51 moves vertically upward to release the fixing, and then moves in the leftward direction indicated by the arrow 53 so that the light source 12 is exposed to the cleaning object. The state after the movement is shown in FIG. 5B, where the light source 12 is exposed downward. In this state, light is irradiated by the light source 12 to perform accelerated oxidation cleaning. Thereafter, the fixing part 51 is returned to the original position shown in FIG. 5A. That is, the fixing part 51 is provided to be movable between a position where it approaches the base 11 to block the light irradiated from the light source 12 to the cleaning object 17, and a position where it moves away from the base 11 to not block the light irradiated from the light source 12 to the cleaning object 17.

[0093] As in the fourth embodiment, it is desirable to adjust the thickness of the fixing plate for fixing the object to be cleaned or to provide a partition around the open end of the fixing plate so that the liquid does not get around the light source side of the plate for fixing the object to be cleaned.

[0094] This method does not require a rotation mechanism for movement and can be configured with linear movement only, and has the advantage that the components of the drive section can be common and the drive circuit of the control section can be shared. In addition, the vertical part of the fixed part 51 and the part supporting the plate for fixing the object to be washed are expressed as plate-shaped parts in FIG. 5, but they do not necessarily have to be plate-shaped and may be supported by a skeleton structure made up of a combination of supports. In this case, there is an advantage that the weight of the movable part can be reduced. Since the configuration of this embodiment has a structure in which the fixed part 51 moves in parallel, it requires a larger space than other embodiments. However, this is not a problem because an actual washing machine is intended to wash clothes and the like and the size of the washing container is also larger than that of the configuration of this embodiment. [Modifications] 5C is a diagram showing a modified example of the embodiment 4. In this modified example, the fixed part 51 is provided with a plurality of rotation shafts 54, 55. The fixed part 51 moves up and down in the vertical direction.

[0095] When the fixing part 51 is in a downward position, the pressure plates (first pressure plate 51a, second pressure plate 51b) of the fixing part 51 are positioned below the light source 12 in the horizontal direction and move toward the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 to fix the object to be cleaned.

[0096] When the fixed part 51 moves upward, the first pressing plate 51a bends from a horizontal state to a vertical state with the rotating shafts 54 and 55 as fulcrums. When the fixed part 51 moves further upward, the second pressing plate 51b bends from a horizontal state to a vertical state with the rotating shaft 55 as a fulcrum. Then, the first pressing plate 51a and the second pressing plate 51b become linear along the vertical direction, and the light source 12 is exposed downward. In this state, light is irradiated by the light source 12 to perform accelerated oxidation cleaning.

[0097] In the modified example, multiple rotating shafts 54, 55 are provided and the fixed portion 51 is moved vertically, so that the first pressure plate 51a and the second pressure plate 51b can be changed from a horizontal position to a vertical position, or from a vertical position to a horizontal position. This makes it possible to wash clothes in a smaller space than in Example 4 and to miniaturize the washing device. EXAMPLES

[0098] Next, a cleaning device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those in the first to fourth embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0099] Fig. 6A is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 5 is in a position where it blocks light from a light source, and Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 5 is in a position where it does not block light from a light source.

[0100] The fixing part 61 of this embodiment is composed of a first fixing part 61a and a second fixing part 61b. In the state shown in Fig. 6A, the first fixing part 61a and the second fixing part 61b are in close contact with each other, and in this state, the fixing part 61 is moved up and down in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow 62.

[0101] When cleaning using ultrasonic vibration, the fixing part 61 is moved toward the bottom 15 of the cleaning container 25 to fix the object to be cleaned. After cleaning, it is moved vertically upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the first fixing part 61a and the second fixing part 61b are operated in the directions of the arrows 63a and 63b, respectively, to separate the first fixing part 61a and the second fixing part 61b, and the light source 12 is exposed to the object to be cleaned. Then, the light source 12 is turned on to perform accelerated oxidation cleaning. That is, the fixing part 61 is provided with a dividing part in a part facing the object to be cleaned 17, and is provided so as to be divisible between a position that blocks the light irradiated from the light source 12 to the object to be cleaned and a position that does not block the light irradiated from the light source 12 to the object to be cleaned 17.

[0102] In this embodiment as well, it is desirable to devise a method for preventing the liquid from flowing around the light source side surface of the fixed part 61. Also, as in the fourth embodiment, there is an option for making the configuration of the side surface (the surface not facing the light source) of the fixed part to be divided into a plate-like or skeletal shape.

[0103] Although the configuration of this embodiment increases the number of moving parts, it has the advantage that the range of movement of the moving objects is narrowed and, if the side of the fixed part is made of a plate-like object, it acts as a cover for the light source, thereby preventing damage to the light source 12 due to an accident. EXAMPLES

[0104] Next, a cleaning device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those in the first to fifth embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0105] Fig. 7A is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 6 is in a position where the object to be cleaned is not fixed. Fig. 7B is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 6 is in a position where the object to be cleaned is fixed. Fig. 7C is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 6. In this example, fixing part 74 has a structure having a space on the surface where the object to be cleaned is fixed.

[0106] Support mechanism 71 in Fig. 7A only serves to support base 11 and fixed part 74, and does not have a movable mechanism for shortening or the like. Fixed part 74 is connected to support mechanism 71 by shaft 72, and shaft 72 is held so that it can slide up and down using support mechanism 71 as a piston guide. Base 11 has rotating part 73 whose axis of rotation is the connection point with support mechanism 71. A crank 76 is connected to the outer periphery of rotating part 73, and the other end of crank 76 is connected to shaft 72.

[0107] When the rotating part 73 rotates, the crank 76 moves, and the fixed part 74 moves vertically upward or downward depending on the direction of rotation. When the rotating part 73 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow 77, the fixed part 74 moves downward, and the object to be cleaned is fixed to the bottom 15 of the cleaning container as shown in FIG. 7B. Cleaning is performed using ultrasonic vibration in this state. In this way, this embodiment has the advantage that the fixed part 74 can be moved vertically up and down as indicated by the arrow 78 in FIG. 7B by only the rotational motion, and the mechanism is simple and the space required for the components and the moving mechanism is reduced.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 7C, the fixed part 74 is composed of beams 74a and a frame 74b, and an area 75 surrounded by these becomes a space that transmits light from the light source 12. Therefore, light from the light source 12 is generally irradiated directly onto the object to be cleaned regardless of the position of the fixed part 74. After ultrasonic cleaning, the promoted oxidation cleaning may be performed with the fixed part 74 in a fixed position. In this case, since the irradiated light does not hit the beams and frame, it is preferable to move the fixed part 74 vertically upward.

[0109] By covering area 75 with a light-transmitting net, the degree to which the object to be cleaned is pressed against bottom 15 of cleaning container 25 is improved, which has the advantage of exerting a stronger cleaning power. On the other hand, the amount of light irradiation is reduced, so measures such as extending the irradiation time may be required.

[0110] In the above embodiments 1 to 5, three light sources are used as examples, but the same configurations are possible both when there are more light sources and when there are fewer light sources. When there are fewer light sources, in an example where the mechanism includes translation of the fixed part, it can be substituted by translation.

[0111] Furthermore, if the base 11 or the fixed part has a rotating mechanism, the light irradiation range can be made larger by slightly rotating the base 11 during advanced oxidation cleaning, making it possible to expand the cleaning range in a relatively simple manner. EXAMPLES

[0112] Next, a cleaning device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the first to sixth embodiments, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0113] Fig. 8A is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 7 is in a position where it does not block light from a light source. Fig. 8B is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 7 is in a position where it blocks light from a light source and does not fix an object to be cleaned. Fig. 8C is a schematic diagram showing a state where the fixing part of the cleaning device according to Example 7 fixes an object to be cleaned.

[0114] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a rotation mechanism is used to perform rotational movement of the fixing part 82 and vertical movement in the up-down direction to hold down the object to be cleaned.

[0115] 8(A) shows the state where the fixed part 82 has been retracted to a position where it does not block the light from the light source. The fixed part 82 is connected to an axis 84, and the axis 84 is connected to rotating parts 85 at both ends of the base 81 via a support mechanism 83. The support mechanism 83 also serves as a piston guide, and the axis 84 acts as a piston fitted into the piston guide. However, the piston fits into the piston guide only when the two are positioned in a straight line; in other positions, the piston is loosely fixed to the guide at the end of the guide with some degree of freedom of rotation. A crank 86 is connected to the rotating part 85, and the other end of the crank 86 is connected to the end of the axis 84.

[0116] Of the rotation directions indicated by arrow 87 in the right diagram of Fig. 8A, when rotating part 85 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, crank 86 synchronizes with the outer periphery of rotating part 85 and transmits the rotational motion to shaft 84. This rotational force causes fixed part 82 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as well. Figure 8B shows the state in which fixed part 82 has moved vertically below base 81. In this state, shaft 84 is positioned in a straight line with support mechanism 83, and the piston (shaft 84) can move in the direction of support mechanism 83 which acts as a guide.

[0117] When the rotating part 85 is further rotated, the motion is transmitted to the piston via the crank, and the piston moves vertically downward along the guide (support mechanism 83), and finally moves to a position where the object to be cleaned is fixed as shown in Fig. 8C. It is advisable to eliminate or lower one side of the guide in the short axis direction (width direction) so as to define the rotation range, and to provide a wall on the opposite side so that the axis changes from rotational motion to linear motion and the axis cannot perform rotational motion. By rotating the rotating part 85 in the opposite direction, the movement of the fixing part 82 is reversed from the above, and the fixing of the object to be cleaned is released, and the fixing part 82 moves vertically upward and rotates, and moves to the position shown in Fig. 8A where the light emitted from the light source fixed to the bottom of the platform 81 is not prevented from being irradiated to the object to be cleaned.

[0118] As described above, the object to be cleaned can be fixed by linear movement and the retraction by rotation of the fixing part 82 can be realized only by the rotational movement of the rotating part 85. Cleaning by ultrasonic vibration is performed in the state shown in Fig. 8C, and advanced oxidation cleaning is performed in the position shown in Fig. 8A.

[0119] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are included. For example, the above-mentioned embodiment has been described in detail to easily explain the present invention, and is not necessarily limited to those including all of the configurations described. Also, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Also, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 11...base, 12...light source, 13...surface, 14...support mechanism, 15...bottom, 16...ultrasonic transducer, 17...object to be cleaned, 18...connection point, 19...arrow, 20...arrow, 21...arrow, 22...one surface, 23...upper case, 24...lower case, 25...cleaning container, 26...partition, 27...inside, 28...hinge, 29...wiring storage section, 41...fixing section, 42...arrow, 43...arrow, 51...fixing section, 51a...first holding plate, 51b...second holding plate, 52 ...arrow, 53...arrow, 61...fixed portion, 61a...first fixed portion, 61b...second fixed portion, 62...arrow, 63a...arrow, 63b...arrow, 71...support mechanism, 72...axis, 73...rotating portion, 74...fixed portion, 74a...beam, 74b...frame, 75...area, 76...crank, 77...arrow, 78...arrow, 81...base, 82...fixed portion, 83...support mechanism, 84...axis, 85...rotating portion, 86...crank, 87...arrow, 100...cleaning machine, 200...main body case

Claims

1. A cleaning container for containing a cleaning liquid and an object to be cleaned; A light source that irradiates the object to be cleaned with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm; a main body case that accommodates the cleaning container and the light source, The cleaning device is characterized in that the cleaning liquid contains at least one of hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, and hydrogen peroxide urea.

2. 2. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the main body case is provided with a partition that blocks light from the light source and supports the cleaning container.

3. 3. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, A cleaning device comprising an ultrasonic vibrator that applies ultrasonic vibrations to the object to be cleaned.

4. 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, The ultrasonic transducer is provided in a lower portion of the cleaning container, and a through hole is formed in the partition through which the transducer of the ultrasonic transducer passes.

5. 5. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, The cleaning apparatus further comprises a fixing portion for fixing the object to be cleaned to the bottom of the cleaning container.

6. 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, a holding member for holding the light source, The light source is provided on one surface of the outer periphery of the holding member, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is provided on a surface of the holding member different from the surface on which the light source is provided.

7. 7. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, A cleaning device characterized in that the holding member is rotatably arranged so that it can take a position where the one surface on which the light source is provided faces the object to be cleaned and a position where the other surface which serves as the fixed part faces the object to be cleaned.

8. 8. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 7, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is movable toward the object to be cleaned.

9. 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, A holding member is provided to hold the light source so as to face the object to be cleaned, The cleaning device is characterized in that the fixing part is arranged so as to be capable of taking a position facing the object to be cleaned where it blocks the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned, and a position where it does not block the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned.

10. 10. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is rotatably provided on the holding member.

11. 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, A holding member is provided to hold the light source so as to face the object to be cleaned, The cleaning device is characterized in that the fixing part is movable between a position where it approaches the holding member and blocks the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned, and a position where it moves away from the holding member and does not block the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned.

12. 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, A holding member is provided to hold the light source so as to face the object to be cleaned, The cleaning device is characterized in that the fixing part has a dividing portion in a portion facing the object to be cleaned, and is arranged to be divisible so that it can take a position that blocks the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned and a position that does not block the light irradiated from the light source to the object to be cleaned.

13. 6. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 5, A holding member is provided to hold the light source so as to face the object to be cleaned, The fixing portion is located between the light source and the object to be cleaned, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion has a space for transmitting light from the light source.

14. 4. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is a Langevin type transducer or a horn type transducer.

15. The cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid generates radicals when exposed to light from the light source.

16. 16. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 15, The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radical is a hydroxyl radical.

17. Immersing the object to be cleaned in a cleaning container in a cleaning liquid; and irradiating the object to be cleaned with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm. A cleaning method, wherein the cleaning liquid contains hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, or urea hydrogen peroxide.

18. 18. The cleaning method according to claim 17, A cleaning method comprising the step of applying ultrasonic vibrations to the object to be cleaned.

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