Stain removing device

Abstract

To provide a stain removing device capable of suppressing damage to clothing.SOLUTION: A stain removing device includes a nozzle 10 having at least one nozzle hole through which continuous flow of a liquid 400 is injected in droplets, a holding part 20 with the nozzle 10 connected, having an internal channel through which the liquid 400 passes, and a pressure pump 200 which applies pressure to the liquid 400 to be sent into the channel. Droplets 401 collide with laundry 500, so that a stain 501 of the laundry 500 is removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a stain removal device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a washing machine that removes curry stains from laundry. This washing machine is provided with a circulation water channel cover on the inside surface of the washing and spin-drying tub, and the surface of the circulation water channel cover is uneven. When the laundry is agitated, friction occurs between the uneven surface and the laundry, and a strong mechanical force is applied to the laundry, so that the stains on the laundry can be efficiently removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-126351 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that even if the stain or dirt to be removed is only on a part of the laundry, strong friction is generated on the entire laundry, which may damage the entire fabric of the laundry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The stain removal device comprises a nozzle having at least one nozzle hole that sprays a continuous stream of liquid and converts the continuous stream into droplets, a gripping portion to which the nozzle is connected and having a flow path through which the liquid flows, and a pressurized liquid delivery portion that pressurizes the liquid and delivers it to the flow path, and causes the droplets to collide with laundry to remove stains from the laundry. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a stain removing device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a nozzle of the stain removal device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a stain removal device. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a washing machine according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a washing machine according to a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a stain remover according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] First, the configuration of a stain removing device 1000 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0008] 1, the stain removal device 1000 includes a stain remover 100, a pressure pump 200 as a pressurized liquid delivery section, and a liquid supply section 300. The stain removal device 1000 causes droplets 401 to collide with laundry 500 to remove stains 501 on the laundry 500.

[0009] The stain remover 100 includes a nozzle 10 that sprays liquid 400, and a grip 20 to which the nozzle 10 is connected. As shown in Fig. 2, the nozzle 10 has at least one nozzle hole 11 that sprays the liquid 400 in a continuous stream and breaks the continuous stream into droplets.

[0010] The pressure pump 200 pressurizes the liquid 400 and sends it to the flow path. The liquid supply unit 300 stores a liquid, for example, water.

[0011] The stain remover 100 includes a nozzle 10 having a plurality of nozzle holes 11. The stain remover 1000 pressurizes and sends liquid 400 from a liquid supply unit 300 to the nozzle 10 using a pressure pump 200, and ejects a stable, linear, continuous flow of the liquid 400 from the nozzle hole 11, generating droplets 401 from the continuous flow due to the action of surface tension.

[0012] 2, the nozzle hole 11 has a hole diameter W of, for example, φ0.02 mm (φ20 μm) to φ0.08 mm (φ80 μm). The number of the nozzle holes 11 is, for example, several to several tens. The multiple nozzle holes 11 are arranged, for example, in a substantially circumferential shape.

[0013] The cross section of the nozzle hole 11 is formed to be straight from the fluid inflow side to the fluid outflow side, or tapered so that the hole diameter decreases toward the fluid outflow side.

[0014] Furthermore, by providing the stain remover 100 with a filter to remove foreign matter (such as dust) present in the liquid 400 being delivered, the risk of clogging the nozzle 10 is reduced, and normal jet spraying can be ensured for a long period of time.

[0015] According to such a stain removal device 1000, the droplets 401 are collided with the laundry 500, and the impact pressure generated when the droplets 401 collapse promotes softening (emulsification) or destruction of the stain 501 to be cleaned, thereby reducing the degree of adhesion between the stain 501 and the laundry 500. Therefore, it is possible to remove the stain 501 without strong scrubbing, and it is possible to suppress wear and tear on the laundry 500, i.e., the clothes, caused by scrubbing.

[0016] Next, the configuration of the stain removing apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the stain removal device 1000 includes a nozzle 10, a pressure pump 200, a faucet 300a, a nozzle flow path 210 connected between the nozzle 10 and the pressure pump 200, a water supply flow path 220 connected between the pressure pump 200 and the faucet 300a, and a control unit 230 that controls the stain removal device 1000.

[0018] The nozzle 10 is capable of ejecting a stable continuous flow of liquid 400 in a straight line by feeding the liquid 400, and can generate droplets 401 from the continuous flow due to the action of surface tension.

[0019] The supply source of the liquid 400 to be sprayed is, for example, a water faucet 300a. The spray pressure of the liquid 400 when sent to the nozzle 10 is general water pressure (0.7 MPa or less). The distance over which the continuous flow sprayed from the nozzle 10 breaks into droplets at a spray pressure of 0.7 MPa or less is, for example, 15 mm to 60 mm.

[0020] In addition, since the pressure pump 200 is disposed between the nozzle 10 and the faucet 300a, it is possible to increase the spray speed of the liquid 400 sprayed from the nozzle hole 11 in addition to the water pressure from the faucet 300a, thereby improving the cleaning performance. Specifically, the control unit 230 operates the pressure pump 200 to send the pressurized liquid 400 to the nozzle 10 and spray the liquid 400 from the nozzle hole 11.

[0021] The ejection speed increases by about four times as the ejection pressure increases (from 0.7 MPa to 3 MPa), and the impact pressure also increases by about four times. As a result, the droplets 401 ejected at high pressure have a stronger effect of softening (emulsifying) or destroying dirt, making it easier to remove stubborn dirt.

[0022] Specifically, for example, when the injection pressure is 3 MPa, the distance over which the continuous flow flowing out of the nozzle hole 11 breaks into droplets is approximately 10 mm to 60 mm. The diameter of the nozzle hole 11 is φ0.02 mm to φ0.08 mm, as described above. In this way, since it is easy to collide the droplets 401 with the stains 501, there is no problem with workability, and when the injection pressure is increased, the injection speed increases and the impact pressure increases, so that the stains are softened (emulsified) or destroyed, making it easier to remove stubborn stains 501 and stains.

[0023] Moreover, by making it possible to change the pressure of the pressure pump 200 in accordance with the severity (adhesive strength) of the dirt and the strength of the fabric to which the dirt is attached, damage to the fabric can be avoided and the stain 501 can be removed efficiently.

[0024] When the droplets 401 sprayed from the nozzle holes 11 collide with the object to be cleaned, for example, a stain 501 on laundry 500, the impact pressure generated when the droplets 401 collapse promotes the destruction of the stain on the laundry 500, which is the object to be cleaned, and the degree of adhesion between the laundry 500 and the stain 501 can be reduced by the softening (emulsification) and crushing of the stain surface, so that it is possible to remove severe stains without using a detergent.

[0025] In addition, in the past, to remove stains 501 caused by oily soil, kitchen detergent that is effective for removing oil was applied to the stain 501 and the stain 501 was then scrubbed locally to remove the stain 501. However, by using the stain removal device 1000 of this embodiment, scrubbing is not necessary and excessive friction is not applied to the fabric, so that the stain 501 can be removed efficiently while avoiding damage to the fabric, and if only localized stains 501 are to be removed, there is no need to put it in a washing machine, for example.

[0026] Although the stain removing effect can be obtained even if the sprayed liquid 400 is water that does not contain a cleaning agent, a greater stain 501 removal effect (cleaning ability) can be obtained by mixing a cleaning agent with the water or spraying water on an area to which a cleaning agent has been applied beforehand.

[0027] Furthermore, the pressure from the pressure pump 200 in addition to the water pressure from the faucet 300a can increase the ejection speed of the liquid 400 ejected from the nozzle hole 11, thereby improving the cleaning performance.

[0028] As described above, the stain removal device 1000 of the first embodiment comprises a nozzle 10 having at least one nozzle hole 11 that sprays liquid 400 in a continuous stream and converts the continuous stream into droplets, a gripping part 20 to which the nozzle 10 is connected and which has a flow path 12 through which the liquid 400 flows, and a pressure pump 200 that pressurizes the liquid 400 and sends it to the flow path 12, and causes droplets 401 to collide with laundry 500 to remove stains 501 on the laundry 500.

[0029] According to this configuration, the droplets 401 are collided with the laundry 500, and the impact pressure generated when the droplets 401 collapse promotes the softening (emulsification) or destruction of the stain 501 to be cleaned, thereby reducing the adhesion of the stain 501. Therefore, it is possible to remove the stain 501 without strong scrubbing, and it is possible to suppress wear and tear on the laundry 500, i.e., the clothes, caused by scrubbing.

[0030] In the stain removal device 1000 of the first embodiment, the hole diameter W of the nozzle hole 11 is preferably φ20 μm or more and φ80 μm or less. With this configuration, the size of the hole diameter W of the nozzle hole 11 is set to the hole diameter W as described above, so that the liquid 400 can be changed from a continuous flow into droplets.

[0031] Moreover, the stain removal device 1000 of the first embodiment is preferably provided with a plurality of nozzle holes 11, which are arranged circumferentially. With this configuration, since the plurality of nozzle holes 11 are arranged circumferentially, it is possible to collide the droplets 401 with the stain 501 within a certain range.

[0032] Next, a configuration of a washing machine 2000 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] The washing machine 2000 of the second embodiment differs from the stain removal device 1000 of the first embodiment in that the stain remover 100 of the first embodiment is built into the washing machine 2000. The other configurations are generally similar. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the parts that differ from the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the description of the other overlapping parts will be omitted as appropriate.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the washing machine 2000 of the second embodiment includes a washing machine main body 2010, a washing tub 2020 arranged inside the washing machine main body 2010, a top cover 2030 arranged on the washing machine main body 2010, and an operation panel 40 arranged on the upper front surface of the washing machine main body 2010.

[0035] The washing machine body 2010 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an opening at the bottom. The washing tub 2020 is in the shape of a cylinder with a bottom. The source of the liquid 400 to be sprayed is, for example, a water faucet 2300 connected to the washing machine body 2010.

[0036] The operation panel 2040 is provided with an opening 2050 for pulling out or storing the stain remover 100. The washing machine 2000 also includes a pressure pump 2200 and a first flow path switching unit 2011. The pressure pump 2200 is a built-in pump built into the washing machine 2000.

[0037] The stain remover 100 and the pressure pump 2200 are connected via a nozzle flow path 2210. The pressure pump 2200 and the first flow path switching unit 2011 are connected via a water supply flow path 2220. The first flow path switching unit 2011 and the faucet 2300 are connected via a water supply flow path 2240.

[0038] The first flow path switching unit 2011 is disposed at the connection portion of the water supply paths 2220, 2230, and 2240, and switches the flow path for sending the liquid 400. The first flow path switching unit 2011 is, for example, a three-way valve, and supplies the liquid 400 to the stain remover 100 and to the washing tub 2020. The switching operation of the first flow path switching unit 2011 is controlled, for example, by a control unit (not shown).

[0039] As described above, by sending liquid 400 from the faucet 2300 to the stain remover 100 side by the first flow path switching unit 2011 and applying pressure to the liquid 400 by the pressure pump 2200, it is possible to increase the spray speed of the liquid 400 sprayed from the nozzle hole 11 of the stain remover 100, thereby improving the cleaning ability.

[0040] As described above, in the washing machine 2000 of the second embodiment, it is preferable that the stain remover 1000 is provided in the washing machine 2000, and the pressure pump 2200 is a built-in pump built into the washing machine 2000. According to this configuration, since the liquid 400 is pressurized using the built-in pump, it is not necessary to prepare a new pressure pump, and the liquid 400 can be turned into droplets 401 while suppressing the cost.

[0041] Modifications of the above embodiment will now be described.

[0042] As described above, the supply of liquid 400 is not limited to being from faucets 300a and 2300, and liquid 400a may be supplied from a bathtub 2400 as shown in Fig. 5. Specifically, washing machine 2001 of the modified example is provided with first flow path switching unit 2011, second flow path switching unit 2012, and third flow path switching unit 2013 in the middle of water supply flow path 2220. Also, as pressure pump 2200, for example, a bath water pump built in washing machine 2001 in advance is used.

[0043] The first flow path switching unit 2011 supplies tap water (liquid 400) from the faucet 2300 or bath water (liquid 400a) from the bathtub 2400 to the second flow path switching unit 2012. The second flow path switching unit 2012 supplies the supplied liquid 400, 400a to the stain remover 100 or to the washing tub 2020. The third flow path switching unit 2013 supplies the supplied liquid 400, 400a to the stain remover 100 or to the washing tub 2020.

[0044] The stain 501 on the laundry 500 is washed only with bath water sent by a bath water pump, that is, by directly connecting the bathtub 2400 and the bath water pump, it is possible with a simple configuration to spray bath water from the stain remover 100 with increased liquid pressure due to the liquid sending force of the bath water pump, making it possible to achieve the same washing effect while also saving water.

[0045] On the other hand, when liquid 400 is sent from a water faucet 2300 to the stain remover 100 using a bath water pump, the flow path switching units 2011 and 2012 are operated to send tap water to the bath water pump.

[0046] According to this configuration, the liquid 400 is sent and sprayed to the stain remover 100 via the third flow path switching unit 2013, with the liquid sending pressure increased by the synergistic effect of the tap water pressure and the liquid sending force of the bath water pump. This allows the liquid droplets 401 to collide with the object to be cleaned at a higher speed, thereby achieving high cleaning performance.

[0047] In addition, in the stain removal device 1000 and the washing machines 2000 and 2001 described above, the stain removal effect can be obtained simply by spraying water that does not contain detergent, but a greater stain removal effect can be obtained by spraying liquid 400 mixed with detergent.

[0048] As described above, the nozzle holes 11 are not limited to being arranged in a circumferential shape, but may be arranged in a line. The nozzle holes 11 are not limited to being arranged in a line, but may be arranged in multiple lines. The nozzle holes 11 may be shaped like an elongated ellipse, not a circle, as in the nozzle hole 11A of a stain remover 100A of a modified example shown in FIG. 6. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10... nozzle, 11... nozzle hole, 11A... nozzle hole, 12... flow path, 20... gripping portion, 40... operation panel, 100, 100A... stain remover, 200... pressure pump, 210... nozzle flow path, 220... water supply flow path, 230... control portion, 300... liquid supply portion, 300a... faucet, 400, 400a... liquid, 401... droplet, 500... laundry, 501... stain, 1000... stain A washing machine, 2000, 2001... washing machine, 2010... washing machine main body, 2011... first flow path switching unit, 2012... second flow path switching unit, 2013... third flow path switching unit, 2020... washing tub, 2030... top cover, 2050... opening hole, 2200... pressure pump, 2210... nozzle flow path, 2220, 2230, 2240... water supply flow path, 2300... faucet, 2400... bathtub.

Claims

1. a nozzle having at least one nozzle hole for ejecting a liquid in a continuous stream and breaking the continuous stream into droplets; a gripping portion to which the nozzle is connected and having a flow path therein through which the liquid flows; a pressurized liquid delivery unit that pressurizes the liquid and delivers the liquid to the flow path; Equipped with The stain removal device causes the droplets to collide with the laundry to remove stains from the laundry.

2. The stain removal device according to claim 1, The stain removal device is provided in a washing machine, The stain removal device, wherein the pressurized liquid delivery unit is a built-in pump built into the washing machine.

3. The stain removal device according to claim 1, A stain removal device, wherein the nozzle hole has a hole diameter of φ20 μm or more and φ80 μm or less.

4. The stain removal device according to claim 1, A plurality of nozzle holes are provided, A stain removal device, wherein the plurality of nozzle holes are arranged circumferentially.

Images