Drum type washing machine

Abstract

To provide a drum type washing machine which can shorten the time of an ozone washing step, by allowing ozone water to permeate quickly to the entire laundry in a drum.SOLUTION: A drum type washing machine 1 includes: a drum 23 arranged inside an outer tub 20, and is rotatable around a horizontal axis; a drive motor 30 for rotating the drum 23; an ozone water generation device 62 for generating ozone water; a drain part 40 for draining water from the outer tub 20; a control part for controlling operations of the drive motor 30, the ozone water generation device 62 and the drain part 40; and a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the outer tub 20. The control part executes an ozone washing step in which ozone water generated by the ozone water generation device 62 is stored in the outer tub 20, and the drum 23 in which laundry is stored is rotated by the drive motor 30, and in the ozone washing step, the rotation of the drum 23 is started before the time when the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 becomes the water level at which the ozone water enters the drum 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine. Such a drum type washing machine may be one that performs washing and drying continuously, or may be one that performs washing but does not perform drying. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which, in a washing machine having a washing tub disposed inside an outer tub, ozone water generated by an ozone water generator is supplied into the outer tub during the washing process in order to impart sterilization and other effects to clothes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-82917 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a drum-type washing machine capable of shortening the time required for the ozone washing process by allowing ozone water to quickly permeate the entire laundry inside the drum. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A drum-type washing machine according to a main aspect of the present invention includes an outer tub arranged in a housing, a drum arranged in the outer tub and rotatable around a horizontal axis or a rotation axis inclined relative to the horizontal direction, a drive motor for rotating the drum, an ozone water generating unit for generating ozone water, a drainage unit for draining water from the outer tub, a control unit for controlling the operation of the drive motor, the ozone water generating unit, and the drainage unit, and a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the outer tub. Here, the control unit executes an ozone washing process in which the ozone water generated by the ozone water generating unit is stored in the outer tub and the drum containing laundry is rotated by the drive motor, and in the ozone washing process, the rotation of the drum is started before the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub reaches a water level at which the ozone water enters the drum.

[0006] According to the above configuration, in the ozone washing step, the ozone water is absorbed into the laundry, and the ozone water acts on bacteria and the like inside the laundry, thereby sterilizing the bacteria.

[0007] Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned configuration, when the ozone water starts to enter the drum, it immediately starts to be absorbed into the laundry. Therefore, the ozone water can be quickly absorbed into the entire laundry inside the drum, and the time required for the ozone washing process can be shortened.

[0008] In the drum type washing machine according to this aspect, the control unit may be configured to rotate the drum at a rotation speed at which laundry in the drum is tumbling in the ozone washing step.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the laundry is slammed against the inner peripheral surface of the drum, which makes it easier for bacteria and the like inside the laundry to come out of the laundry and come into contact with the ozone water around the laundry, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect of the laundry. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, a drum-type washing machine can be provided in which the ozone water can be quickly permeated into the entire laundry inside the drum, thereby shortening the time required for the ozone washing process.

[0011] The effects and significance of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of the embodiments. However, the following embodiment is merely an example of how the present invention can be put into practice, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a drum type washing machine according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drum type washing machine according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control process for a washing operation in a sterilization course according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control process of an ozone washing step included in a washing operation of a sterilization course according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process of the ozone washing step according to the first modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A drum type washing machine without a drying function, which is one embodiment of a drum type washing machine of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a drum type washing machine 1. As shown in FIG.

[0015] The drum type washing machine 1 includes a rectangular housing 10. A circular input port 11 through which laundry is input is formed in the center of the front surface of the housing 10. The input port 11 is covered by a door 12 that can be opened and closed freely.

[0016] In the housing 10, an outer tub 20 is elastically supported by a plurality of dampers 21 and springs 22. A drum 23 is rotatably disposed in the outer tub 20. The drum 23 rotates around a horizontal axis. The drum 23 has a circular opening 23a on the front surface, and the outer tub 20 has a circular opening 20a in front of the opening 23a of the drum 23.

[0017] The peripheral portion of the opening 20a of the outer tub 20 and the peripheral portion of the input port 11 of the housing 10 are connected by an annular packing 24 made of an elastic material. The peripheral surface of the closed door 12 comes into contact with the packing 24, and the gap between the input port 11 and the door 12 is water-sealed.

[0018] A large number of dewatering holes 23b are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23. In addition, an annular balancer 25 is provided at the front of the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23, and three baffles 26 each having a substantially triangular prism shape are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0019] A drive motor 30 is disposed behind the outer tub 20 to generate torque for rotating the drum 23. The drive motor 30 is, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. During the washing and rinsing processes, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a rotation speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry in the drum 23 is smaller than the force of gravity. On the other hand, during the spin-drying process, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a rotation speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry in the drum 23 is much greater than the force of gravity.

[0020] A drain outlet 20b is formed at the bottom of the outer tub 20. A drain valve 41 is provided at the drain outlet 20b. The drain valve 41 includes, for example, a valve and a torque motor that opens and closes the valve. The drain valve 41 is connected to a drain hose 42. The drain valve 41 and the drain hose 42 constitute a drain unit 40 that drains water from inside the outer tub 20. When the drain valve 41 is opened, water stored in the outer tub 20 is discharged outside the machine through the drain hose 42.

[0021] A water supply unit 50 for supplying water into the outer tub 20 is disposed in an upper portion within the housing 10. The water supply unit 50 includes a first water supply valve 51, a detergent box 52, a water supply hose 53, and a water injection pipe 54. The first water supply valve 51 is disposed in an upper rear portion of the housing 10, and the detergent box 52 is disposed in an upper front portion of the housing 10. A detergent container 52a containing detergent is accommodated in the detergent box 52 so as to be freely pulled out from the front. One end of the water supply hose 53 is connected to the first water supply valve 51, and the other end is connected to the detergent box 52. One end of the water injection pipe 54 is connected to the detergent box 52, and the other end is connected to the upper portion of the outer tub 20.

[0022] When the first water supply valve 51 is opened, tap water flows from a water faucet through the water supply hose 53, the detergent box 52, and the water supply pipe 54 and is supplied into the outer tub 20. At this time, if detergent is contained in the detergent container 52a, the detergent is pushed by the water and supplied into the outer tub 20.

[0023] An ozone water supply unit 60 for supplying ozone water to the outer tank 20 is disposed in the rear portion of the housing 10. The ozone water supply unit 60 includes a second water supply valve 61, an ozone water generator 62 for generating ozone water, an inlet pipe 63, and an outlet pipe 64. The second water supply valve 61 is disposed in the upper rear portion of the housing 10, and is configured with a double electromagnetic valve together with the first water supply valve 51. The ozone water generator 62 corresponds to the ozone water generator of the present invention.

[0024] The ozone water generator 62 is disposed above the outer tank 20, and includes a case 65 and an ozone electrode 66. A flow path is formed inside the case 65, and the ozone electrode 66 is disposed within the flow path. The ozone electrode 66 includes a rod-shaped anode, a linear cathode wound in a spiral shape around the outer periphery of the anode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode. For example, a diamond electrode is used for the anode, and a platinum electrode is used for the cathode.

[0025] The inlet pipe 63 has one end connected to the second water supply valve 61 and the other end connected to the inlet of the case 65. The outlet pipe 64 has one end connected to the outlet of the case 65 and the other end connected to the lower part of the outer tank 20.

[0026] When the second water supply valve 61 is opened, tap water from a water faucet flows into the case 65 through the inlet pipe 63 and flows through the flow path. Electricity is applied to the ozone electrode 66, and the water flowing through the flow path is electrolyzed to generate ozone. The generated ozone dissolves in the water to produce ozone water. The ozone water flows out of the case 65 and is supplied into the outer tank 20 through the outlet pipe 64. Note that ozone that has not dissolved in the water in the case 65 dissolves in the water while flowing through the outlet pipe 64.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drum type washing machine 1. As shown in FIG.

[0028] In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the drum type washing machine 1 includes a control unit 101, a memory unit 102, an operation unit 103, a water level sensor 104, a motor drive unit 105, a water supply drive unit 106, a drain drive unit 107, and an electrode current supply unit 108.

[0029] The operation unit 103 includes a power button for turning on and off the power to the device, a start button for starting an operation, and a course selection button for selecting an arbitrary operation course from a plurality of operation courses related to the washing operation. The operation unit 103 outputs an input signal to the control unit 101 according to the button operated by the user.

[0030] The water level sensor 104 detects the water level in the outer tub 20 and outputs a water level signal corresponding to the detected water level to the control unit 101.

[0031] The motor driving unit 105 drives the drive motor 30 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 101. The motor driving unit 105 includes a rotation sensor that detects the rotation speed of the drive motor 30, an inverter circuit, etc., and adjusts the drive power so that the drive motor 30 rotates at the rotation speed set by the control unit 101.

[0032] The water supply driving unit 106 drives the first water supply valve 51 and the second water supply valve 61 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 101. The drain driving unit 107 drives the drain valve 41 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 101. The electrode current applying unit 108 applies current to the ozone electrode 66 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 101.

[0033] The storage unit 102 includes an EEPROM, a RAM, etc. Programs for executing the washing operation of various operation courses are stored in the storage unit 102. In addition, the storage unit 102 stores various parameters and various control flags used in executing these programs.

[0034] The control unit 101 controls the motor drive unit 105, the water supply drive unit 106, the drain drive unit 107, the electrode current supply unit 108, etc., in accordance with the program stored in the memory unit 102, based on each signal from the operation unit 103, the water level sensor 104, etc. As a result, the control unit 101 controls the operations of the drive motor 30, the drain unit 40, the water supply unit 50, and the ozone water generator 62.

[0035] The drum type washing machine 1 performs washing operations of various operation courses based on the operation of the operation unit 103 by the user.

[0036] The operation courses include operation courses that use detergent, such as a standard course. In these operation courses, in the washing process, water containing detergent is filled in the outer tub 20 up to a predetermined water level according to the load of clothes in the drum 23, and clothes soaked in the water are tumbled by repeatedly rotating the drum 23 forward and backward. The detergent-containing water penetrates into the inside of the clothes, and dirt attached to the surface and inside of the clothes is removed by the power of the detergent and the mechanical force of the tumbling.

[0037] After the washing step, an intermediate spin-drying step, a rinsing step, and a final spin-drying step are carried out in this order. Note that, depending on the operation course, the rinsing step and the intermediate spin-drying step may be carried out two or more times.

[0038] In the rinsing process, the drum 23 rotates forward and backward with water stored in the outer tub 20 up to a predetermined water level, tumbling the laundry. This causes the detergent contained in the laundry to be discharged together with the water, and the laundry is rinsed.

[0039] In the intermediate spin-drying step and the final spin-drying step, drive motor 30 rotates in one direction at high speed, and drum 23 rotates in one direction at a rotation speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside drum 23 is much greater than gravity. The laundry is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of drum 23 by the action of centrifugal force, and is dehydrated. In the intermediate spin-drying step, drum 23 rotates at a rotation speed higher than that in the intermediate spin-drying step, for example, at 750 rpm.

[0040] The operation courses include a standard course and other operation courses for washing laundry using detergent, as well as a sterilization course for washing laundry using ozone water to remove bacteria and viruses contained in the laundry. In addition to sterilization, the sterilization course can remove sebum stains, the main component of which is oleic acid, and can also inactivate pollen allergens. Therefore, the sterilization course can be used when you want to sterilize laundry washed with detergent before hanging it to dry indoors, when you want to wash clothes that are concerned about viruses or pollen adhering to them, or when you want to wash clothes without using detergent to prevent diseases such as atopic dermatitis.

[0041] The sterilization course washing operation will be described in detail below.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the control process of the washing operation of the sterilization course. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing the control process of the ozone washing step included in the washing operation of the sterilization course.

[0043] When the sterilization course is selected using the course selection button on the operation unit 103 and then the start button is pressed, the washing operation of the sterilization course is started.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 101 first performs an ozone washing step (S1).

[0045] 4, when the ozone washing process is started, the control unit 101 first closes the drain valve 41 (S101). Next, the control unit 101 opens the second water supply valve 61 (S102) and then energizes the ozone electrode 66 (S103). The ozone water generator 62 generates ozone water of a predetermined concentration, for example, a concentration of about 0.4 ppm to 1.0 ppm that provides high sterilization power. The generated ozone water is supplied from the ozone water supply unit 60 into the outer tank 20 and accumulates in the outer tank 20. The supply flow rate of the ozone water into the outer tank 20 is, for example, about 2 liters / minute.

[0046] When the supply of ozone water to the outer tub 20 is started, the control unit 101 rotates the drive motor 30 to rotate the drum 23 (S104). At this time, the control unit 101 rotates the drum 23 forward and backward with stops in between. For example, the on-time is set to 20 seconds, and the off-time is set to 0 seconds. That is, the drum 23 rotates in the opposite direction immediately after stopping. The rotation speed of the drum 23 is set to a rotation speed at which the centrifugal force applied to the laundry in the drum 23 is smaller than gravity and the laundry tumbles, for example, 45 rpm. An off-time of about one to several seconds may be provided.

[0047] When the level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 rises and the ozone water enters the drum 23, the ozone water is absorbed by the laundry being tumbled. As a result, the ozone water comes into contact with bacteria and the like present inside the laundry, and the bacteria and the like are killed. Also, bacteria and the like attached to the surface of the laundry are killed by contact with the ozone water around the laundry. Furthermore, some of the bacteria and the like inside the laundry are knocked out of the laundry as the laundry falls from the top of the drum 23 by tumbling and hits the inner circumferential surface of the drum 23, and are killed by contact with the ozone water around the laundry.

[0048] The control unit 101 detects the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 by the water level sensor 104, and judges whether the water level has reached a specified water level L (S105). The specified water level L is set to a water level at which about 15 liters of ozone water is stored in the outer tub 20 when water is supplied with no laundry in the drum 23. In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, when the specified water level L is reached, the ozone water is stored up to the position below the packing 24 that seals the door 12 with water.

[0049] When the water level in the outer tub 20 reaches the specified water level L (S105: YES), the control unit 101 stops the power supply to the ozone electrode 66 (S106), and then closes the second water supply valve 61 (S107). The supply of ozone water from the ozone water supply unit 60 to the outer tub 20 stops. Furthermore, the control unit 101 stops the drive motor 30, and stops the drum 23 (S108). In this way, the ozone washing process is completed.

[0050] In this embodiment, the drum 23 starts rotating as soon as the supply of ozone water starts, that is, before the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 reaches the water level at which the ozone water enters the drum 23, so that as soon as the ozone water starts to enter the drum 23, it immediately starts to be absorbed into the laundry being tumbled. Therefore, the ozone water is more likely to quickly permeate the entire laundry in the drum 23, and the time required for the ozone washing process can be shortened.

[0051] Returning to FIG. 3, when the ozone washing process is completed, the control unit 101 performs a drainage process by operating the drainage unit 40 (S2). That is, the control unit 101 opens the drainage valve 41. Ozone water is discharged from the outer tub 20. Dead bacteria and the like are also flushed out from the outer tub 20 together with the ozone water. When the discharge of the ozone water from the outer tub 20 is completed, the drainage process is completed. The drainage valve 41 is kept open.

[0052] Next, the control unit 101 judges whether the ozone washing process has been completed a specified number of times (S3). The specified number of times is two or more, and is set to, for example, three times.

[0053] Since the ozone washing process has been completed only once and has not been completed the specified number of times (S3: NO), the control unit 101 performs the spin-drying process (S4). That is, the control unit 101 rotates the drum 23 at a high speed so that the centrifugal force applied to the laundry in the drum 23 is much greater than the force of gravity. The rotation speed of the drum 23 at this time is set to a rotation speed higher than the rotation speed of the drum 23 in the intermediate spin-drying process in a washing operation using a detergent, such as a standard course. For example, the drum 23 can be rotated at a rotation speed equal to the rotation speed of the drum 23 in the final spin-drying process, such as 750 rpm. The laundry in the drum 23 is dehydrated, and the water retention rate of the laundry is significantly reduced.

[0054] When a predetermined dehydration time, for example, four minutes, has elapsed, control unit 101 stops drum 23. Thus, the dehydration process ends.

[0055] Next, the control unit 101 performs the second ozone washing process (S1). The water retention rate of the laundry in the drum 23 has been sufficiently reduced by the spin-drying process performed before this ozone washing process, and the new ozone water supplied to the outer tub 20 in this ozone washing process is sufficiently absorbed by the laundry. As a result, bacteria and the like that are present inside the laundry and not killed in the previous ozone washing process come into contact with the ozone water and are killed.

[0056] When the second ozone washing process is completed, the control unit 101 performs a draining process (S2). Furthermore, if the ozone washing process has not reached the specified number of times (S3: NO), the control unit 101 performs a spinning process (S4) and then performs the ozone washing process again (S1). In this ozone washing process, new ozone water supplied to the outer tub 20 is sufficiently absorbed by the laundry, and bacteria and the like present inside the laundry that were not killed in the previous ozone washing process come into contact with the ozone water and are killed.

[0057] Thereafter, when the control unit 101 determines in S3 that the ozone washing process has been performed a specified number of times (S3: YES) after the draining process (S2) by completing the specified number of ozone washing processes, it performs a final spin-drying process (S5).

[0058] In the final spin-drying step, the control unit 101 rotates the drum 23 at a high speed at the same rotation speed as in the spin-drying step of S4. When a predetermined final spin-drying time, for example, a time equal to the spin-drying time (for example, 4 minutes), has elapsed, the control unit 101 stops the drum 23. Thus, the final spin-drying step ends, and the washing operation of the sterilization course ends. In the final spin-drying step, the control unit 101 may rotate the drum 23 at a higher rotation speed than in the spin-drying step of S4, or may rotate the drum 23 for a final spin-drying time longer than the spin-drying time.

[0059] <Effects of the embodiment> According to this embodiment, the ozone washing process in which ozone water is stored in the outer tub 20 and the drum 23 containing the laundry is rotated is performed multiple times, sandwiched between a draining process in which the ozone water is discharged from the outer tub 20 and a dehydration process in which the drum 23 is rotated to dehydrate the laundry in the drum 23. As a result, when the ozone water absorbed inside the laundry acts on bacteria and the like and the ozone is consumed, the ozone water is discharged from the laundry and new ozone water is absorbed into the laundry, so that the new ozone water can act on bacteria and the like inside the laundry. This can enhance the sterilization effect of the laundry.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the ozone washing process, the drum 23 rotates at a rotation speed that tumbles the laundry inside the drum 23, so that the laundry is slammed against the inner peripheral surface of the drum 23, which makes it easier for bacteria and the like inside the laundry to come out of the laundry and come into contact with the ozone water around the laundry. This further enhances the sterilization effect of the laundry.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the dehydration step, drum 23 rotates at a higher rotation speed than in the intermediate dehydration step performed after the washing step in a washing operation using detergent, so that the water retention rate of the laundry can be sufficiently reduced, and the absorption rate of ozone water by the laundry in the subsequent ozone washing step can be increased, thereby further improving the sterilization effect of the laundry.

[0062] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications of the embodiment of the present invention are possible in addition to those described above.

[0063] <Change Example 1> FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process of the ozone washing step according to the first modification.

[0064] In the above embodiment, when the supply of ozone water into the outer tank 20 is started, the drum 23 starts to rotate.

[0065] 5, when the supply of ozone water to the outer tub 20 is started by opening the second water supply valve 61 (S102) and energizing the ozone electrode 66 (S103), the control unit 101 determines whether the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 has reached a start water level (S111). The start water level is set to a water level at which the ozone water starts to enter the drum 23, or a water level slightly lower than that, for example, a water level at which the ozone water comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 23.

[0066] When the water level of the ozone water in the outer tank 20 reaches the start water level (S111: YES), the control unit 101 rotates the drive motor 30 to rotate the drum 23 (S104).

[0067] In the configuration of the first modified example, the drum 23 can be rotated at the timing when the ozone water stored in the outer tub 20 starts to contact the laundry in the drum 23.

[0068] <Other changes> In the above embodiment and modified example 1, when the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 reaches the specified water level L, the power supply to the ozone electrode 66 is stopped (S107), the second water supply valve 61 is closed (S107), and the drum 23 is stopped (S108). However, when the water level of the ozone water in the outer tub 20 reaches the specified water level L, the power supply to the ozone electrode 66 is stopped (S107), and the second water supply valve 61 is closed (S107), and the drum 23 may be stopped (S108) after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the final ozone washing step is followed by the final spin-dry step. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the spin-dry step is performed after the final ozone washing step. In this case, the determination of whether the ozone washing step of S3 has been completed a specified number of times is performed after the spin-dry step, and the washing operation of the sterilization course is terminated based on the completion of the specified number of times.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the outlet pipe 64 of the ozone water supply unit 60 may be formed into a serpentine shape using one or more pipes. In this case, the outlet pipe 64 may be arranged along the outer circumferential surface of the outer tank 20. In this configuration, the outlet pipe 64 can be made long, so that ozone that has not been dissolved in water in the case 65 of the ozone water generator 62 is easily dissolved in water while flowing through the outlet pipe 64.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in the ozone washing step, the drum 23 rotates at a rotation speed that causes the laundry to tumble. However, the drum 23 may be configured to rotate at a rotation speed that causes the laundry to stick to the inner circumferential surface of the drum 23 without tumbling, for example, at 80 rpm.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the drum 23 rotates at a higher rotation speed during the spin-drying step than during the intermediate spin-drying step performed after the washing step in a washing operation using a detergent. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the drum 23 rotates at a rotation speed equal to or lower than the rotation speed during the intermediate spin-drying step.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the load amount of the laundry in the drum 23 may be detected before the first ozone washing step, and the specified number of times the ozone washing step is performed may be determined according to the detected load amount. In this case, the larger the load amount, the larger the specified number of times.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the drum type washing machine 1 is configured so that the drum 23 rotates around a horizontal axis. However, the drum type washing machine 1 may be configured so that the drum 23 rotates around a rotation axis that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

[0075] Furthermore, although the drum type washing machine 1 of the above embodiment does not have a drying function, the present invention can also be applied to a drum type washing machine with a drying function, i.e., a drum type washing and drying machine. In addition to the configuration of the drum type washing machine 1 of the above embodiment, the drum type washing and drying machine includes a drying unit consisting of a circulation air duct connecting an outlet provided at the bottom of the outer tub 20 and an inlet provided at the top of the outer tub 20, and a fan and a heater arranged in the circulation air duct. In this case, the outlet pipe 64 of the ozone water supply unit 60 may be connected to the circulation air duct, and the ozone water may flow through the circulation air duct and be supplied into the outer tub 20 from the outlet.

[0076] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways as appropriate within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10. Chassis 20 Outer tank 23 Drums 30 Drive motor 40 Drainage section 62 Ozone water generator (ozone water generator) 101 Control section

Claims

1. An outer tank disposed within the housing; A drum is disposed in the outer tub and is rotatable about a horizontal axis or a rotation axis inclined relative to the horizontal direction; A drive motor for rotating the drum; an ozone water generating unit for generating ozone water; A drainage section for draining water from the outer tank; A control unit that controls the operation of the drive motor, the ozone water generating unit, and the drainage unit; a water level sensor for detecting a water level in the outer tank; The control unit is an ozone washing process is performed in which the ozone water generated by the ozone water generating unit is stored in the outer tub, and the drum in which laundry is stored is rotated by the driving motor; In the ozone washing step, the drum starts rotating before the water level of the ozone water in the outer tank reaches a water level at which the ozone water enters the drum. A drum type washing machine characterized by the above.

2. In the drum type washing machine according to claim 1, The control unit rotates the drum at a rotation speed at which the laundry in the drum is tumbling in the ozone washing step. A drum type washing machine characterized by the above.

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