Clothing treatment device

Abstract

To provide a clothing treatment device that allows a large amount of weak acid to be attached to clothing while suppressing stimulation on a user's skin.SOLUTION: A clothing treatment device is constituted so as to perform weak acid treatment for bringing clothing into a state of weak acidity. The clothing treatment device includes: a clothing holding part for holding clothing; an instruction part for outputting an instruction regarding a supply amount of weak acid to clothing; and a weak acid treatment part for executing weak acid treatment by supplying weak acid and weak acid salt to the clothing held by a drum, according to the instruction from the instruction part. When the instruction part instructs a second value larger than a first value as a supply amount of weak acid, the weak acid treatment part not only supplies weak acid to the clothing with the supply amount of the second value but also supplies a larger amount of weak acid salt than the time when the instruction part instructs the supply of weak acid with the supply amount of the first value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry treatment device that performs a weak acid treatment to create a weakly acidic state. [Background technology]

[0002] In Patent Document 1, a weak acid is supplied to clothing to make the clothing weakly acidic, thereby enhancing the antibacterial and deodorizing properties of the clothing. When a lower pH is required for the clothing, more weak acid is supplied to the clothing. For example, since sweat is alkaline, more weak acid can be supplied to athletic wear that is expected to receive a large amount of sweat. Such a weak acid treatment results in the athletic wear having more weak acid attached thereto, which neutralizes the large amount of sweat and can suppress odors and the growth of bacteria caused by sweat. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 063130 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If a large amount of weak acid is attached to the sportswear before the user sweats, the user may feel strong irritation to the skin. For this reason, it may not be desirable to supply a large amount of weak acid to the clothing in the weak acid treatment.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment device that is capable of applying a large amount of weak acid to clothes while suppressing irritation to the user's skin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The clothing treatment device according to the present disclosure is configured to perform a weak acid treatment to make clothing weakly acidic. The clothing treatment device includes a clothing holding unit that holds clothing, an instruction unit that outputs an instruction regarding the amount of weak acid to be supplied to the clothing, and a weak acid treatment unit that performs the weak acid treatment by supplying a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit in response to the instruction from the instruction unit. When the instruction unit indicates a second value greater than the first value as the amount of weak acid to be supplied, the weak acid treatment unit is configured to not only supply the weak acid at the second amount to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit, but also supply a larger amount of the salt of the weak acid than when the instruction unit indicates the supply of the weak acid at the first amount. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The above-described clothing treatment device makes it possible to apply a large amount of weak acid to clothing while minimizing irritation to the user's skin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a clothing treatment device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration related to control of the clothing processing device. [Diagram 3] A graph showing the relationship between buffer capacity, the ratio of weak acid to its salt, and the concentration of weak acid and its salt in a buffer solution. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram of a clothing treatment device according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration related to control of the clothing processing device. [Figure 6] A flowchart showing the process in the instruction unit of the clothing processing device. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration related to control of a clothing processing device (third embodiment); [Figure 8] A flowchart showing the process in the instruction unit of the clothing processing device. [Figure 9] Schematic diagram of a clothing treatment device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration related to control of the clothing processing device. [Figure 11] Flowchart showing the operation of the clothing processing device [Figure 12] Schematic diagram of a clothing treatment device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] Timing chart for rinsing process (sixth embodiment) [Figure 14] Schematic diagram of a clothing treatment device according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the first to seventh embodiments of the clothes processing device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or duplicate explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation from becoming more redundant than necessary and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the attached drawings and the following explanation are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a clothing processing device 100 according to a first embodiment. In this embodiment, the clothing processing device 100 is configured as a washing machine having a drying function. The structure of the clothing processing device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

[0011] (Overall structure of the clothing treatment device) The clothing processing device 100 includes a housing 110 having an inlet for inserting clothing, and a door 111 for opening and closing the inlet of the housing 110. In detail, the inlet is formed in the front wall of the housing 110, and the door 111 is rotatably attached to the front wall of the housing 110. The housing 110 contains various internal devices for sequentially executing a washing process for washing clothing using detergent, a rinsing process for rinsing the clothing, a dehydration process for dehydrating the clothing, a weak acid treatment process for making the clothing weakly acidic, and a drying process for drying the clothing.

[0012] A garment holder 126 for holding garments is provided within the housing 110. The garment holder 126 has a water tub 112 and a drum 120 that is rotatably held within the water tub 112, and the garments are accommodated within the drum 120.

[0013] The water tub 112 is provided to store water during the washing and rinsing steps. The water tub 112 is elastically supported by a suspension mechanism 114 fixed to the bottom wall of the housing 110.

[0014] The water tub 112 has an opening tube portion 115 that opens towards the door portion 111 in the closed state, and a user can open the door portion 111 and put clothes into the drum 120 through the opening tube portion 115. To prevent water from leaking from the opening tube portion 115 of the water tub 112, a seal member 113 is provided at the front end of the opening tube portion 115 of the water tub 112. The seal member 113 is compressed by the door portion 111 when the door portion 111 closes the input opening.

[0015] A water supply port 116 through which water flows in during the washing and rinsing processes is provided at the upper part of the peripheral wall of the water tub 112. In addition, a drain port 117 for draining the water used in washing and rinsing the clothes is provided at the lower part of the peripheral wall of the water tub 112.

[0016] In addition, an air intake port 118 is formed in the upper part of the front wall of the water tub 112 around the opening tubular portion 115, and an exhaust port 119 is formed in the rear wall of the water tub 112 opposite the front wall. The air intake port 118 and the exhaust port 119 are used to circulate dry air for drying the clothes in the drying process.

[0017] The drum 120 is disposed in the water tub 112 in a position inclined upward toward the front. Alternatively, the drum 120 may be disposed in the water tub 112 in a substantially horizontal position.

[0018] Drum 120 opens toward the loading opening (door 111 in closed state) of housing 110, and clothes are loaded into drum 120 through tubular opening 115 of water tub 112 and held by drum 120. Numerous small holes 124 are formed in the peripheral and rear walls of drum 120, and water flows in and out of drum 120 through these small holes 124 during the washing and rinsing processes. Also, dry air flows in and out of drum 120 through these small holes 124 during the drying process.

[0019] A baffle section 123 is disposed inside the drum 120. The baffle section 123 protrudes from the center of the rear wall of the drum 120 toward the opening of the drum 120. A drive section 121 that drives and rotates the drum 120 and the baffle section 123 is attached to the outer surface of the rear wall of the water tub 112. When the drive section 121 rotates the drum 120 and the baffle section 123, the clothes in the drum 120 are agitated and thrown up.

[0020] Driving unit 121 may be a motor (e.g., a brushless DC motor) configured to be capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions. The rotating shaft of this motor protrudes into water tub 112 through a through hole provided in the rear wall of water tub 112, and is connected to drum 120 and baffle unit 123. Driving unit 121 is configured to be able to change the rotation speeds of drum 120 and baffle unit 123 under inverter control.

[0021] A rotation detection unit 161 for detecting the number of rotations of the drive unit 121 and a weight detection unit 160 for detecting the weight of the clothes held by the garment holding unit 126 are connected to the drive unit 121. The weight detection unit 160 is configured to detect the torque applied to the drive unit 121 and / or the current flowing through the drive unit 121. The weight detection unit 160 is also configured to obtain weight information related to the weight of the clothes inserted into the garment holding unit 126 based on the magnitude of the detected torque and / or current. The information on the number of rotations detected by the rotation detection unit 161 and the weight information obtained by the weight detection unit 160 are used for controlling the rotation of the drum 120 and the baffle unit 123, etc.

[0022] A water supply unit 125 that supplies water to the garment holding unit 126 is provided above the garment holding unit 126. The water supply unit 125 includes a water supply path 130 that is piped above the garment holding unit 126, and a water supply valve 131 that is provided on the water supply path 130. One end of the water supply path 130 is exposed on the outer surface of the housing 110, and is configured to be connectable to a hose (not shown) extending from a water faucet. The other end of the water supply path 130 is connected to the water supply port 116 of the water tub 112. The water supply valve 131 is configured to be able to open and close the water supply path 130.

[0023] The detergent dispenser 102 is connected to the water supply path 130. The detergent dispenser 102 is configured to be able to dispense detergent into the garment holder 126 through the water supply path 130. For example, the detergent dispenser 102 has a detergent storage section (not shown) that stores detergent, and a detergent delivery section (not shown) that delivers detergent from the detergent storage section to the water supply path 130.

[0024] A drain section 143 is provided below water tub 112, and is used to drain water from garment holding section 126. Drain section 143 includes a drain path 140 that extends from drain outlet 117 of water tub 112 of garment holding section 126 to the outside of housing 110, and a drain valve 142 that is provided on drain path 140 and configured to be able to open and close drain path 140.

[0025] A filter unit 141 is provided upstream of the drain valve 142 to remove fibers (lint) contained in the water drained from the water tank 112. A water volume detection unit 162 is provided upstream of the filter unit 141 to detect the amount of water supplied to the water tank 112. The amount of water detected by the water volume detection unit 162 is used to control the water supply valve 131 and the drain valve 142.

[0026] An air passage 150 connected to air intake 118 and exhaust 119 of water tub 112 is provided on the outside of water tub 112. In air passage 150, airflow generating section 151, dehumidifying section 152, and heating section 153 are arranged.

[0027] Airflow generating unit 151 is configured to generate an airflow in air passage 150 by sucking air out of water tub 112 through exhaust port 119 and sending the air toward air intake port 118. Because air passage 150 is connected to air intake port 118 of water tub 112, the airflow in air passage 150 flows toward the clothes held by drum 120 in water tub 112. The airflow generated by airflow generating unit 151 is used to dry the clothes in drum 120 in the drying process. Airflow generating unit 151 may be configured, for example, by a blower.

[0028] The dehumidifying unit 152 is disposed downstream of the airflow generating unit 151 in the air flow direction in the air passage 150. The dehumidifying unit 152 is configured to cool the air sent out by the airflow generating unit 151 to cause condensation and dehumidify the air. For example, the dehumidifying unit 152 may have a flow path through which the refrigerant flows, a pump that sends the refrigerant to the flow path, and a cooling device for cooling the refrigerant (not shown).

[0029] Heating section 153 is disposed downstream of airflow generating section 151 and dehumidifying section 152 in the air flow direction in air passage 150. Heating section 153 is configured to heat the air dehumidified by dehumidifying section 152 to produce dry air for drying clothes. For example, heating section 153 may have a number of fins and a heater that heats these fins (not shown).

[0030] The clothing processing device 100 further includes a weak acid processing unit 200 that performs a weak acid process to make clothing weakly acidic. The weak acid processing unit 200 is configured to supply a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit 126, and has a weak acid storage unit 211 configured to store an aqueous solution of a weak acid, and a salt storage unit 212 configured to store an aqueous solution of a salt of a weak acid. The weak acid storage unit 211 may store, for example, an aqueous solution of malic acid (C4H6O5). In this case, the salt storage unit 212 stores, for example, an aqueous solution of sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5).

[0031] The weak acid treatment unit 200 further has a supply unit 213 fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the opening tube portion 115 of the water tank 112, and the supply unit 213 is configured to spray a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid onto the clothes held by the clothes holding portion 126. The supply unit 213 may be configured by, for example, a spray nozzle.

[0032] A supply path 214 is provided to supply the weak acid in the weak acid storage section 211 and the salt of the weak acid in the salt storage section 212 to the supply section 213. The supply path 214 has a main pipe 215 extending from the supply section 213, a first supply pipe 216 extending from the weak acid storage section 211 and connected to the main pipe 215, and a second supply pipe 217 extending from the salt storage section 212 and connected to the main pipe 215.

[0033] The first supply pipe 216 is provided with a weak acid delivery section 218 that delivers an aqueous solution of a weak acid from the weak acid storage section 211 to the supply section 213, and the second supply pipe 217 is provided with a salt delivery section 219 that delivers an aqueous solution of a salt of a weak acid from the salt storage section 212 to the supply section 213. The weak acid delivery section 218 and the salt delivery section 219 may be constituted by, for example, a pump.

[0034] An operation panel 180 that is operated by a user is provided on the upper part of the housing 110, and a control unit 170 that is electrically connected to the operation panel 180 is provided on the lower part of the housing 110.

[0035] 2, the control unit 170 has a main control unit 171 that controls the drive unit 121, the water supply valve 131, the drain valve 142, the heating unit 153, the dehumidification unit 152, the detergent dispenser 102, and the airflow generator 151. The main control unit 171 is configured to sequentially execute a washing process, a rinsing process, a spin-drying process, a weak acid treatment process, and a drying process when a user operates the operation panel 180 to instruct the laundry treatment device 100 to operate. The main control unit 171 is configured to instruct the start of a weak acid treatment process at the end of the spin-drying process, and to operate the drive unit 121 in a predetermined operation pattern during the weak acid treatment process.

[0036] The control unit 170 is provided with an instruction unit 173 that outputs instructions regarding the amount of weak acid to be supplied to the clothes, and a delivery control unit 172 that controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the salt delivery unit 219 based on instructions from the instruction unit 173. The delivery control unit 172, together with the weak acid storage unit 211, the salt storage unit 212, the weak acid delivery unit 218, the salt delivery unit 219, the supply path 214, and the supply unit 213, constitutes a weak acid treatment unit 200.

[0037] The instruction unit 173 is configured to receive an instruction to start the weak acid treatment process from the main control unit 171, and to receive weight information from the weight detection unit 160. Furthermore, when the instruction unit 173 receives an instruction to start the weak acid treatment process from the main control unit 171, the instruction unit 173 is configured to determine the supply amount of weak acid based on the weight information from the weight detection unit 160, and to output information on the determined supply amount.

[0038] The delivery control unit 172 is configured to receive information on the supply amount of weak acid from the instruction unit 173, and controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount determined by the instruction unit 173. In addition, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid increases as the supply amount of the weak acid increases.

[0039] The control unit 170 may be configured by a control board equipped with an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a memory. In this case, a control program stored in the memory may be executed by the MPU and the CPU. Alternatively, the control unit 170 may be configured by a hard logic circuit to improve processing speed. The hard logic circuit may be configured by one or more semiconductor chips. A microcomputer and peripheral circuits may be used in combination with the hard logic circuit.

[0040] (Explanation of operation) Under the control of the main control unit 171, the laundry processing device 100 sequentially executes a washing process, a rinsing process, a weak acid treatment process, a spin-drying process, and a drying process.

[0041] When the user operates the operation panel 180 to instruct the operation of the clothing processing device 100 after putting clothing into the clothing processing device 100, the main control unit 171 operates the drive unit 121 before starting the washing process. At this time, information on the torque applied to the drive unit 121 and / or the magnitude of the current flowing through the drive unit 121 is acquired by the weight detection unit 160. The weight detection unit 160 determines the weight of the clothes put in based on the acquired information. The weight information obtained as a result of this determination process (i.e., information indicating the weight of the clothing) is output from the weight detection unit 160 to the main control unit 171.

[0042] Based on the weight information from the weight detection unit 160, the main control unit 171 determines, for example, the following setting items. -The duration of the washing, rinsing, spin-drying, weak acid treatment and drying processes. Operation patterns of the drive unit 121 in the washing process, rinsing process, spin-drying process, weak acid treatment process and drying process. -Amount of water supplied during the washing and rinsing processes. Timing of opening and closing the water supply valve 131 and the drain valve 142 during the washing and rinsing processes.

[0043] When the settings for these settings are completed, the main control unit 171 controls the drive unit 121, the water supply valve 131, and the drain valve 142 so that the laundry processing device 100 executes the washing process. In detail, the main control unit 171 controls the detergent dispenser 102 so that detergent is supplied to the water supply path 130 while opening the water supply valve 131 with the drain valve 142 closed. By this control, water containing detergent is supplied to the water tub 112 of the laundry holding unit 126, and the supplied water is stored in the water tub 112.

[0044] The amount of water supplied to the water tank 112 is monitored by the water volume detection unit 162. The water volume detection unit 162 transmits water volume information indicating the amount of water in the water tank 112 to the main control unit 171. When the water volume indicated by the water volume information reaches the water supply volume set as described above, the main control unit 171 controls the water supply valve 131 so that the water supply path 130 is closed.

[0045] Thereafter, the main control unit 171 controls the drive unit 121 according to the operation pattern set for the washing process. For example, the main control unit 171 controls the drive unit 121 so that the drum 120 rotates at a rotation speed such that the clothes move upward as the drum 120 rotates, and then the clothes that have moved upward fall. If the drum 120 is rotated at such a rotation speed, a beating wash can be performed in which the clothes are slammed against the inner circumferential surface of the drum 120. The main control unit 171 may also control the drive unit 121 so that the drum 120 repeats forward and reverse rotation at such a rotation speed at predetermined intervals.

[0046] By beating the clothes, dirt on the clothes is removed into the water in the clothes holding unit 126. After the clothes have been beated for a predetermined period of time, the main control unit 171 opens the drain valve 142. As a result, the water containing the dirt and detergent is drained from the clothes holding unit 126.

[0047] In the rinsing process, water is repeatedly supplied to and drained from the water tub 112. Note that in the rinsing process, it is not necessary to slam the clothes against the drum 120, but the clothes are agitated in water to rinse the detergent from the clothes. For this reason, the amount of water supplied to the water tub 112 in the rinsing process is set so that the amount of water stored in the garment holding section 126 is greater than the amount of water stored in the washing process, and an amount of water that allows the clothes to sway in the water in the garment holding section 126 is supplied to the garment holding section 126.

[0048] After the rinsing process, the main control unit 171 controls the drive unit 121 so that the clothing processing device 100 executes the spin-drying process. In the spin-drying process, the drum 120 is driven to rotate by the drive unit 121 and rotates forward at a higher rotation speed than in the washing process and rinsing process. As a result, the water in the clothing is centrifuged, and the centrifuged water is discharged from the clothing holding unit 126.

[0049] After executing the spin-drying step for the set time period, the main control unit 171 instructs the instruction unit 173 to start the weak acid treatment step. Upon receiving this instruction, the instruction unit 173 determines the supply amount of weak acid based on the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit 160. For example, when the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit 160 is a first weight value, the instruction unit 173 sets the supply amount of weak acid to a first value. When the weight of the clothes detected by the weight detection unit 160 is a second weight value larger than the first weight value, the instruction unit 173 sets the supply amount of weak acid to a second value larger than the first value.

[0050] The instruction unit 173 outputs information on the determined supply amount to the delivery control unit 172. If the supply amount determined by the instruction unit 173 is a first value, the delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the first value. If the supply amount determined by the instruction unit 173 is a second value, the delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the second value. Note that while the weak acid delivery unit 218 is supplying weak acid, the delivery control unit 172 maintains the stopped state of the salt delivery unit 219.

[0051] The weak acid delivered by the weak acid delivery unit 218 at the first or second amount of supply reaches the supply unit 213 through the first supply pipe 216 and the main pipe 215. Then, the weak acid is sprayed onto the clothes in the drum 120 through the supply unit 213.

[0052] When spraying of the weak acid in the supply amount determined by the instruction unit 173 is completed, the delivery control unit 172 stops the weak acid delivery unit 218 and activates the salt delivery unit 219. As a result, the salt of the weak acid in the salt storage unit 212 is sprayed from the supply unit 213 onto the clothes in the drum 120 through the second supply pipe 217 and the main pipe 215. Note that the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that after the weak acid is supplied at the second supply amount, a larger amount of the salt of the weak acid is supplied to the clothes compared to after the weak acid is supplied at the first supply amount. The supply amount of the weak acid and the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid will be described in detail separately.

[0053] While the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are being supplied as described above, the main control unit 171 drives the drive unit 121 so as to agitate the clothes inside the drum 120. As a result, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid sprayed into the drum 120 can be evenly attached to the clothes.

[0054] When the weak acid treatment step is completed, the main control unit 171 starts the drying step. In the drying step, the main control unit 171 controls the drive unit 121 so that the drum 120 rotates forward and backward at predetermined intervals at a rotation speed lower than that in the dehydration step, and agitates the clothes in the drum 120.

[0055] The main control unit 171 starts controlling the airflow generating unit 151 in synchronization with the start of the above-mentioned control of the drive unit 121. The main control unit 171 controls the airflow generating unit 151 so that the airflow generating unit 151 generates an airflow of a predetermined strength (i.e., so that a predetermined amount of air is blown). While the airflow generating unit 151 is generating an airflow, the main control unit 171 controls the dehumidifying unit 152 so that a refrigerant flows, causing condensation in the dehumidifying unit 152. As a result, moisture is removed from the airflow generated by the airflow generating unit 151. The main control unit 171 also controls the heating unit 153 so that a current flows through the heater, thereby heating the airflow. The dry air obtained by heating the airflow is supplied to the water tub 112 and the drum 120 through the air passage 150, and dries the clothes in the drum 120.

[0056] (Buffer capacity) Since the weak acid treatment unit 200 supplies a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, the pH on the clothes does not change much whether the detergent dispenser 102 dispenses an alkaline detergent or an acidic detergent. That is, the weak acid treatment unit 200 supplies not only a weak acid but also a salt of a weak acid, thereby obtaining a so-called buffer capacity. The following describes the buffer capacity when malic acid (C4H6O5) is used as the weak acid and sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5) is used as the salt of the weak acid.

[0057] In the rinsing step, the detergent is rinsed off to a certain extent, but some detergent may remain on the clothes even after the rinsing step. When an alkaline detergent is dispensed from the detergent dispenser 102, the detergent may contain OH groups derived from the detergent on the clothes after the rinsing step. - On the other hand, when an acid detergent is dispensed from the detergent dispenser 102, the laundry after the rinsing step contains H + may exist.

[0058] After the rinsing step and the spin-drying step are performed in sequence, a weak acid treatment step is performed in which a weak acid (C4H6O5) and a salt of the weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) are supplied to the clothes. At this time, the clothes are charged with OH from the alkaline detergent. - If there is a OH- and a weak acid (C4H6O5) neutralize to form water (2H2O) and C4H4O5 2- As a result of this neutralization reaction, OH from the alkaline detergent is - The increase in the pH of the clothes is suppressed because the H from the acid detergent is eliminated or reduced. + If exists, this H + reacts with a salt of a weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) to produce a weak acid (C4H6O5) and 2Na + As a result of this reaction, H from the acid detergent is produced. + Since the amount of water dissolved in the clothing is eliminated or reduced, the decrease in pH of the clothing is suppressed.

[0059] (Supply amount of weak acid and supply amount of salt of weak acid) The salt of a weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) is, as mentioned above, + ), but also suppresses the ionization of weak acids (C4H6O5). In other words, the salt of a weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) is more easily ionized than the weak acid (C4H6O5), and C4H4O5 2- and Na + It ionizes into C4H4O5, which is derived from the ionization of the salt of a weak acid (C4H4Na2O5). 2- In an environment where a large amount of is present, the weak acid (C4H6O5) cannot ionize. Therefore, the H + On the other hand, the generation of C4H4O5, which is derived from the ionization of the salt of a weak acid (C4H4Na2O5), is suppressed. 2- If there is more weak acid (C4H6O5) than + In this condition, the pH of the fabric can drop too much.

[0060] In this way, if the ratio α (see Equation 1 below) of the weak acid (C4H6O5) to the salt of the weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the ionization of the weak acid (C4H6O5) is suppressed. Therefore, when the supply amount of the weak acid (C4H6O5) increases from the first value to the second value, the salt of the weak acid (C4H4Na2O5) can be increased so that the ratio α is equal to or less than a predetermined value. As a result, the decrease in pH caused by the ionization of the weak acid (C4H6O5) is suppressed.

[0061]

number

[0062] Even when the supply amount of the weak acid is small, if a large amount of the salt of the weak acid is supplied, the above-mentioned ratio α can be kept low, and the acid (H + ) can exhibit high buffering capacity. However, in this case, the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid becomes excessively high. Therefore, it is preferable to set the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid so that the same buffering capacity is obtained when the supply amount of the weak acid is the first value and when the supply amount of the weak acid is the second value.

[0063] The buffer capacity is affected not only by the ratio α mentioned above, but also by the concentration β (see the following equation 2) of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the aqueous solution. For example, the relationship shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained between the buffer capacity, the ratio α, and the concentration β. The graph in FIG. 3 was obtained by an experiment conducted by the inventor, and in this experiment, a buffer solution of citric acid (a weak acid) and sodium citrate (a salt of a weak acid) was used. The buffer capacity is calculated by dividing the number of OH groups required to obtain a pH of 6.5. - The contour lines C1 to C4 in Fig. 3 represent the concentration of a certain amount of OH. - It represents the relationship between the ratio α and the concentration β that will give the same pH when added to a buffer solution.

[0064]

number

[0065] From the graph in Figure 3, it can be seen that the change in buffer capacity is suppressed by decreasing the ratio α with increasing concentration β. Therefore, if the concentration β increases when the supply amount of weak acid increases from a first value to a second value, then by decreasing the ratio α, the same buffer capacity can be obtained whether the supply amount of weak acid is the first value or the second value. Conversely, if the concentration β decreases when the supply amount of weak acid increases from a first value to a second value, then by increasing the ratio α, the same buffer capacity can be obtained whether the supply amount of weak acid is the first value or the second value.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, the delivery control unit 172 may set the delivery amount of the weak acid from the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the delivery amount of the salt of the weak acid from the salt delivery unit 219 so that the same buffer capacity can be obtained whether the instruction unit 173 instructs the first value of the supply amount or the second value of the supply amount. These delivery amounts can be obtained by experiments carried out in advance, and the delivery control unit 172 may hold data on the delivery amounts of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid that can obtain the same buffer capacity.

[0067] For example, the concentration β may be higher when the weak acid is supplied at a supply amount of the second value than when the weak acid is supplied at a supply amount of the first value. In this case, the delivery control unit 172 may set the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid so that the ratio α when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the second value is lower than the ratio α when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the first value.

[0068] Conversely, the concentration β may be higher when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the first value than when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the second value. In this case, the delivery control unit 172 may set the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid so that the ratio α when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the first value is lower than the ratio α when the weak acid is supplied at the supply amount of the second value.

[0069] In the above-mentioned embodiment, since a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid are supplied to the clothes, the pH of the clothes does not change significantly even if an alkaline detergent or an acid detergent is used (buffer capacity). In addition, sweat of the wearer may adhere to the clothes that have been treated with a weak acid. In this case, the OH contained in the sweat may be dissolved in the water. - Since it undergoes a neutralizing reaction with weak acids, it suppresses the odor caused by sweat and the growth of bacteria.

[0070] In the above embodiment, as the amount of clothes fed into the clothing holding unit 126 increases, the amount of weak acid and the salt of a weak acid fed to the clothes increases. Therefore, even if the amount of clothes increases, a sufficient amount of weak acid can be fed to obtain a deodorizing effect and an effect of inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Conversely, when the amount of clothes fed into the clothing holding unit 126 is small, the amount of weak acid and the salt of a weak acid fed is reduced, thereby preventing the weak acid and the salt of a weak acid from being wasted.

[0071] In the above embodiment, as the supply amount of the weak acid increases, the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid also increases, thereby suppressing the decrease in pH caused by the ionization of the weak acid.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the supply amounts of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are set so that the same buffer capacity is obtained when the indicator 173 indicates the supply amount of the first value and when the indicator 173 indicates the supply amount of the second value. This prevents the salt of the weak acid from being supplied to the clothes in an unnecessarily large amount.

[0073] In the above-mentioned configuration, the salt delivery unit 219 starts delivery of the salt of the weak acid after the weak acid delivery unit 218 finishes delivery of the weak acid. Since the timing of delivery of the salt of the weak acid is different from the timing of delivery of the weak acid, the internal pressure in the main pipe 215 and the supply unit 213 does not become excessively high. Note that the salt of the weak acid may be supplied to the clothes before the weak acid. In other words, the weak acid delivery unit 218 may start delivery of the weak acid after the salt delivery unit 219 finishes delivery of the salt of the weak acid. Even in this case, the internal pressure in the main pipe 215 and the supply unit 213 does not become excessively high.

[0074] If high internal pressure in the main pipe 215 and the supply unit 213 is not a problem, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid may be supplied to the clothes at the same time. That is, if the weak acid supply unit 218 and the salt supply unit 219 are operated at the same time, the aqueous solution of the weak acid and the aqueous solution of the salt are mixed in the main pipe 215, and the mixture obtained in the main pipe 215 is sprayed from the supply unit 213. In this case, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid can be sprayed evenly on the clothes.

[0075] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are supplied to the clothes using the common supply unit 213. Therefore, the weak acid treatment unit 200 can have a simple configuration. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the weak acid treatment unit 200 may have an additional supply unit 220. The additional supply unit 220 is provided to spray the salt of the weak acid onto the clothes, and the second supply pipe 217 extending from the salt storage unit 212 is connected to this supply unit 220. The first supply pipe 216 extending from the weak acid storage unit 211 is connected to the supply unit 213, and the weak acid is sprayed from the supply unit 213. In this case, the main pipe 215 may be omitted from the supply path 214.

[0076] The supply units 213, 220 are provided in positions close to each other. Therefore, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid can be sprayed on substantially equal areas on the clothes by the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the salt delivery unit 219 simultaneously, so that spray spots of the weak acid and the salt on the clothes are suppressed. In addition, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are delivered to the supply units 213, 220 individually, so that the internal pressure of the supply units 213, 220 does not become excessively high.

[0077] In the above-mentioned embodiment, malic acid or citric acid is used as the weak acid. Alternatively, other weak acids may be used. As the weak acid, preferably, a non-volatile one (e.g., malic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, or oxalic acid) is used, but is not limited thereto. When phosphoric acid is used as the weak acid, a salt of phosphoric acid is used as the salt of the weak acid. When oxalic acid is used as the weak acid, a salt of oxalic acid is used as the salt of the weak acid.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the weak acid treatment step is performed after the spin-drying step and before the drying step begins. Alternatively, the weak acid treatment step may be performed during the spin-drying step or during the drying step. Alternatively, the weak acid treatment step may be performed after the drying step.

[0079] Second embodiment Sweat released from the human body is alkaline. For this reason, it is preferable to supply a large amount of weak acid to clothes that contain a lot of sweat or clothes that are expected to absorb a large amount of sweat. Therefore, when washing such clothes, the clothing treatment device 100 may be configured as shown in FIG. 5 so that the user can increase the amount of weak acid supplied based on his or her own will.

[0080] The clothing treatment device 100 shown in Fig. 5 includes an operation unit 182 that is operated to instruct the device to increase the supply amount of weak acid. When a user operates the operation panel 180, the operation panel 180 outputs a start-up request signal indicating that the user is requesting the operation of the clothing treatment device 100. In response to this start-up request signal, the main control unit 171 determines the necessary settings for the washing process, rinsing process, spin-drying process, weak acid treatment process, and drying process, and executes these processes in sequence, as in the first embodiment.

[0081] If the user does not wish to increase the supply amount of weak acid, the user can operate the operation panel 180 without operating the operation unit 182. On the other hand, if the user wishes to supply a large amount of weak acid, the user operates the operation unit 182 before operating the operation panel 180 to instruct the operation of the clothing processing device 100. When the user operates the operation unit 182, the operation unit 182 outputs an increase request signal indicating that the user is requesting an increase in the supply amount of weak acid.

[0082] Based on the presence or absence of this increase request signal, the instruction unit 173 executes the process shown in FIG. 6. That is, the instruction unit 173 waits for an instruction to start the weak acid treatment process from the main control unit 171 as in the first embodiment (step S110: No). Then, when this instruction is received (step S110: Yes), the instruction unit 173 executes a determination process based on the presence or absence of the increase request signal (step S120). If the increase request signal is not received (step S120: No), the instruction unit 173 decides to supply weak acid at the supply amount of the first value (step S130) and transmits this decision to the delivery control unit 172. The delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that the weak acid is supplied to the clothes at the supply amount of the first value. In addition, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that a sufficient amount of salt of the weak acid is supplied to the clothes to suppress the ionization of the weak acid at the supply amount of the first value.

[0083] On the other hand, if an increase request signal has been received (step S120: Yes), the instruction unit 173 decides to supply weak acid at the supply amount of the second value (step S140) and transmits this decision to the delivery control unit 172. Then, the delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that weak acid is supplied to the clothes at the supply amount of the second value larger than the first value. Also, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid is increased compared to when the weak acid delivery unit 218 delivers the weak acid at the supply amount of the first value. Preferably, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that a sufficient amount of the salt of the weak acid is supplied to the clothes to suppress ionization of the weak acid at the supply amount of the second value.

[0084] In the clothing treatment device 100 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when washing clothing that is expected to absorb a large amount of sweat, the user can operate the operation unit 182 to increase the supply amount of weak acid. In this case, a large amount of weak acid is attached to the clothing after the weak acid treatment process. Therefore, even if a large amount of sweat adheres to the clothing, the OH contained in the sweat is not absorbed. - Many of these can be neutralized by weak acids supplied to the garment.

[0085] When the user operates the operation unit 182 to increase the supply of the weak acid, the supply of the salt of the weak acid also increases. This suppresses the ionization of the weak acid, and suppresses the decrease in pH caused by the ionization of the weak acid. Therefore, the wearer of the garment does not experience strong irritation to the skin.

[0086] If it is not desired to increase the supply amount of weak acid, the user can operate operation panel 180 without operating operation unit 182. In this case, the supply amount of weak acid and salt of weak acid is kept low, and consumption of weak acid and salt of weak acid is suppressed.

[0087] In the above embodiment, when the user operates the operation unit 182, the instruction unit 173 determines to supply the weak acid at the second value of the supply amount. Alternatively, the instruction unit 173 may determine the supply amount of the weak acid based on how the user operates the operation unit 182. For example, in the case where the operation unit 182 is configured with a rotary dial, the instruction unit 173 may determine to supply a larger supply amount of the weak acid as the user rotates the dial more. In this case, the delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that the weak acid is delivered at the determined supply amount, and controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that a sufficient amount of salt of the weak acid is delivered to suppress the ionization of the weak acid.

[0088] The operation unit 182 may be configured to prompt the user to operate the operation unit 182 when the user desires to increase the supply amount of weak acid. For example, a label stating "increase supply amount of weak acid" may be attached to the operation unit 182. Alternatively, the operation unit 182 may be configured to prompt the user to operate the operation unit 182 when washing clothes that tend to become alkaline (for example, clothes that contain a lot of cotton). For example, the operation unit 182 may be configured to be capable of displaying an image that prompts the user to select the material of the clothes, and may output an increase request signal when a specific material that tends to become alkaline is selected. Alternatively, the operation unit 182 may be configured to be capable of displaying an image that prompts the user to select the type of clothes, and may output an increase request signal when a specific type of clothes that is expected to become sweaty is selected.

[0089] 5 may be applied to the clothing processing device 100 of the first embodiment. In this case, the instruction unit 173 may determine the supply amount of weak acid based on the weight of the clothing detected by the weight detection unit 160 and the presence or absence of an increase request signal from the operation unit 182.

[0090] Third embodiment In the second embodiment, weak acid is supplied to clothes at the first supply amount unless the user operates the operation unit 182. However, in a usage environment where sportswear is washed frequently, for example, the user must operate the operation unit 182 frequently, and may find this operation bothersome. To accommodate such a usage environment, the clothing processing device 100 may be configured to supply weak acid at the second supply amount unless the user operates the operation unit 182, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0091] The clothing processing device 100 in FIG. 7 has an operation unit 183 operated to reduce the supply amount of weak acid instead of the operation unit 182. When the user operates the operation unit 183, the operation unit 183 outputs a reduction request signal. Based on the presence or absence of this reduction request signal, the instruction unit 173 executes the process shown in FIG. 8. That is, the instruction unit 173 waits for an instruction to start the weak acid treatment process from the main control unit 171 as in the first embodiment (step S110: No). Then, when this instruction is received (step S110: Yes), the instruction unit 173 executes a determination process based on the presence or absence of the reduction request signal (step S125). If the reduction request signal is not received (step S125: No), the instruction unit 173 decides to supply weak acid at the supply amount of the second value (step S140) and transmits this decision to the delivery control unit 172. The delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that weak acid is supplied to the clothing at the supply amount of the second value. In addition, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that a sufficient amount of salt of the weak acid is delivered to the clothes to suppress ionization of the weak acid in the second value delivery amount.

[0092] On the other hand, if a reduction request signal has been received (step S125: Yes), the instruction unit 173 decides to supply weak acid at the first value supply amount (step S130) and transmits this decision to the delivery control unit 172. Then, the delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 so that weak acid is supplied to the clothes at the first value supply amount smaller than the second value. Also, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that the supply amount of the weak acid salt is reduced compared to when the weak acid delivery unit 218 delivers the weak acid at the second value supply amount. Preferably, the delivery control unit 172 controls the salt delivery unit 219 so that a sufficient amount of the weak acid salt is supplied to the clothes to suppress ionization of the weak acid at the first value supply amount.

[0093] The operation unit 183 may be configured to prompt the user to operate the operation unit 183 when the user desires to reduce the supply amount of weak acid. For example, a label stating "reduce the supply amount of weak acid" may be attached to the operation unit 183. Alternatively, the operation unit 183 may be configured to prompt the user to operate the operation unit 183 when washing clothes that are not easily alkaline (for example, clothes that contain a lot of chemical fibers). For example, the operation unit 183 may be configured to be capable of displaying an image that prompts the user to select the material of the clothes, and may output a reduction request signal when a specific material that is not easily alkaline is selected. Alternatively, the operation unit 183 may be configured to be capable of displaying an image that prompts the user to select the type of clothes, and may output a reduction request signal when a specific type of clothes that is not expected to be sweaty is selected.

[0094] 7 may be applied to the clothing processing device 100 of the first embodiment. In this case, the instruction unit 173 may determine the supply amount of weak acid based on the weight of the clothing detected by the weight detection unit 160 and the presence or absence of a reduction request signal from the operation unit 183.

[0095] 7 may be applied to the clothing processing device 100 of the second embodiment. In this case, the user can operate the operation unit 183 to reduce the supply amount of weak acid, or operate the operation unit 182 to increase the supply amount of weak acid.

[0096] The clothes treatment device 100 of the first to third embodiments has a function of washing clothes. Alternatively, the clothes treatment device 100 may have only a function of drying clothes. In this case, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid may be supplied to the clothes during the drying process of drying the clothes.

[0097] (Fourth embodiment) In the clothing treatment device 100 of the second and third embodiments, it is not possible to grasp the actual value of pH resulting from the supply of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid. In order to grasp the actual value of pH resulting from the supply of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, the clothing treatment device 100 may have a pH detection unit 221 as shown in FIG. 9. The pH detection unit 221 is fixed in the clothing holding unit 126 and configured to be able to detect the pH in the water tub 112. In addition, the pH detection unit 221 is electrically connected to the control unit 170 so as to transmit information on the detected pH to the indication unit 173 as shown in FIG. 10.

[0098] In order to provide the instruction unit 173 with information on the target value for the pH detection unit 221, the clothing processing device 100 has a target setting unit 184. The target setting unit 184 is configured so that the user can set a low target value (first value) and a high target value (second value) by operating the target setting unit 184. Information on the set target values ​​is transmitted from the target setting unit 184 to the instruction unit 173.

[0099] The clothing processing device 100 configured in this manner operates as shown in Fig. 11. The user operates the target setting unit 184 to set a target pH value (step S210). This target value information is transmitted from the target setting unit 184 to the instruction unit 173. Then, the instruction unit 173 holds the target value information.

[0100] After setting the target pH value, the user operates the operation panel 180 to start the clothing treatment device 100. At this time, the clothing treatment device 100 determines the necessary settings for each of the washing process, rinsing process, weak acid treatment process, spin-drying process, and drying process (step S215). This determination operation is the same as that of the clothing treatment device 100 of the first embodiment, except for the determination of the start timing of the weak acid treatment process. In this embodiment, the start timing of the weak acid treatment process is set during the rinsing process, not after the spin-drying process, so that the pH detection unit 221 can detect the pH in the water tub 112.

[0101] When the necessary settings for each of the washing, rinsing, weak acid treatment, spin-drying, and drying processes are determined, the laundry processing device 100 executes the washing process (step S220), and when the washing process is finished, starts the rinsing process (step S225). Then, when the final water supply in the rinsing process is started (S230: Yes), the main control unit 171 requests the instruction unit 173 to start the weak acid treatment process. In response to this request, the instruction unit 173 instructs the supply of weak acid (step S235).

[0102] At this time, the instruction unit 173 provides information on the set target value (first value or second value) to the delivery control unit 172. The delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the salt delivery unit 219 in response to the instruction from the instruction unit 173 so that a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid are supplied (step S240). The delivery control unit 172 controls the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the salt delivery unit 219 so that a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid are supplied at a ratio α that is preset so as to obtain a predetermined buffer capacity.

[0103] When the weak acid supplying unit 218 and the salt supplying unit 219 supply the acid and the salt of the weak acid, an aqueous solution of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid is generated in the clothing holding unit 126, and the pH detection unit 221 detects the pH of this aqueous solution. The pH detected by the pH detection unit 221 may gradually decrease. When the detected pH value reaches the target value (step S245: Yes), the instruction unit 173 instructs the output control unit 172 to stop supplying the acid and the salt of the weak acid (step S250). In response to this instruction, the output control unit 172 stops the weak acid supplying unit 218 and the salt supplying unit 219.

[0104] Thereafter, the rinsing step is completed, and water is drained from water tub 112 (step S255). After the water is drained from water tub 112, a spin-drying step (step S260) and a drying step (step S265) are carried out in sequence.

[0105] 9 to 11, the clothing processing device 100 is provided with a pH detection unit 221, so that the actual pH value after the addition of the acid and the salt of the weak acid can be grasped. If the pH detected by the pH detection unit 221 does not reach the target value, the weak acid supply unit 218 and the salt supply unit 219 continue to supply the acid and the salt of the weak acid, so that a pH close to the target value can be obtained.

[0106] In the clothing treatment device 100 shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the pH in the water tank 112 may gradually decrease toward the target value from the start of the weak acid treatment process, but it is assumed that the pH detected by the pH detection unit 221 may accidentally become lower than the target value. In this case, the instruction unit 173 may instruct the delivery control unit 172 to additionally supply a salt of a weak acid to increase the pH. At this time, the delivery control unit 172 may stop the weak acid delivery unit 218 while operating the salt delivery unit 219 to additionally supply the salt of a weak acid. As the salt of a weak acid increases, the ionization of the weak acid is suppressed, and therefore, as the salt of a weak acid increases, the pH detected by the pH detection unit 221 may gradually increase and approach the target value.

[0107] In the control shown in Fig. 11, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are supplied between the final water supply in the rinsing process and the final drainage in the rinsing process. Therefore, less weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are discharged from the garment holder 126 together with the water than when the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are added at the beginning of the rinsing process. In other words, the amount of weak acid and the salt of the weak acid adhering to the garments after the rinsing process can be increased. If the weak acid treatment process takes a long time, the supply of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid may be started at the beginning or middle of the rinsing process.

[0108] In the clothing processing device 100 shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are stirred in the water in the water tub 112. In this case, even if the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are put into the water tub 112 in the form of powder, an aqueous solution of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid is generated in the water tub 112. Therefore, in this embodiment, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid may be put into the water tub 112 in the form of powder. In this case, the weak acid delivery unit 218, the salt delivery unit 219 and the supply unit 213 may be configured by a transfer device (e.g., a screw feeder) suitable for transferring powder.

[0109] The laundry treatment device 100 may be configured to wash laundry with electrolytic hypochlorous water or water containing magnesium for laundry. In this case, detergent is not required and a rinsing step is not performed. Thus, when a rinsing step is not performed, a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid may be provided in the washing step.

[0110] Fifth embodiment The clothing treatment device 100 may perform a treatment other than the weak acid treatment. For example, the clothing treatment device 100 may provide clothing with moisturizing properties by supplying a moisturizing agent to the clothing, or provide clothing with softening agent to provide softness to the clothing. When a treatment agent such as a moisturizing agent or a softening agent contains a component that can react with a weak acid, a reaction product is generated from the reaction between the treatment agent and the weak acid. For example, when the treatment agent contains glycol, a gel-like reaction product may be generated as a result of the reaction between the glycol and the weak acid. In order to suppress the generation of such a reaction product, the clothing treatment device 100 may have a treatment agent supply unit 222 configured to supply a treatment agent to the clothing holding unit 126, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0111] Treatment agent supply section 222 has a treatment agent storage section 223 configured to be able to store the treatment agent, and a treatment agent path 224 forming a flow path for the treatment agent flowing from treatment agent storage section 223 to water supply path 130. Treatment agent path 224 is provided with a treatment agent delivery section 225 that delivers the treatment agent in treatment agent storage section 223 to water supply path 130. Treatment agent delivery section 225 can be constituted by, for example, a pump.

[0112] The control unit 170 may control the treatment agent delivery unit 225 so that the treatment agent is supplied during the rinsing step. In this case, the weak acid treatment step may be performed after the spin-drying step and before the drying step, as in the first embodiment.

[0113] In the clothing treatment device 100 of Fig. 12, the treatment agent is supplied to the clothing holding section 126 through a treatment agent path 224 that is provided separately from the first supply pipe 216 and main pipe 215 (weak acid supply path) through which the weak acid flows. Therefore, the weak acid and the treatment agent do not mix before flowing into the clothing holding section 126. Therefore, reactants that may be generated by the reaction of the weak acid and the treatment agent do not clog the first supply pipe 216, the main pipe 215, or the treatment agent path 224.

[0114] The treatment agent is supplied to the garment holding section 126 during the rinsing process. The treatment agent is then agitated with the water and garments stored in the garment holding section 126. At the end of the rinsing process, the control section 170 controls the drain section 143 to drain the water from the garment holding section 126 (drain control). At this time, some of the treatment agent remains attached to the garments, but most of the treatment agent is drained from the garment holding section 126 together with the water.

[0115] The weak acid is supplied to the garment holder 126 in a weak acid treatment step after the rinsing step. At this time, the weak acid may react with the treatment agent attached to the garment, but the amount of the treatment agent is small. Therefore, even if the weak acid reacts with the treatment agent remaining on the garment, the amount of reactant resulting from this reaction is small.

[0116] In this embodiment, the salt of the weak acid may be supplied together with the weak acid or may be supplied together with the treatment agent.

[0117] Sixth embodiment In the fifth embodiment, the weak acid treatment step is performed after the spin-drying step. Alternatively, the weak acid treatment step may be performed during the rinsing step. As shown in Fig. 13, the rinsing step includes multiple operation cycles in which the clothes are agitated in water between the supply of water to the clothes holding section 126 and the drainage of water from the clothes holding section 126. If a weak acid is supplied during one of these operation cycles and a treatment agent is supplied during the other operation cycles, the reaction between the weak acid and the treatment agent is suppressed.

[0118] In FIG. 13, the treatment agent is supplied in the last operating cycle in the rinsing step, and the weak acid is supplied in the operating cycle immediately before this operating cycle. In this case, most of the weak acid is discharged from the garment holding section 126 by the drain control performed immediately before the last operating cycle. Therefore, only a small amount of the weak acid reacts with the treatment agent supplied in the last operating cycle. Even if a reaction product between the weak acid and the treatment agent is generated in the last operating cycle, this reaction product can be rinsed off from the garments by agitating in water in the last operating cycle. Then, this reaction product is discharged together with water from the garment holding section 126 by the drain control performed at the end of the last operating cycle.

[0119] In this embodiment, the salt of the weak acid may be supplied together with the weak acid or may be supplied together with the treatment agent.

[0120] The clothes treating device 100 of the first to sixth embodiments is a drum type washing machine. Alternatively, the clothes treating device 100 may be a vertical washing machine.

[0121] Seventh embodiment In the first to sixth embodiments, the clothing treatment device 100 is configured as a washing machine. Alternatively, the clothing treatment device 100 may be a refresher that removes wrinkles from clothing while storing the clothing, as shown in FIG.

[0122] 14 has a housing 110 and a garment holder 126 that holds garments within the housing 110. The garment holder 126 has a shaft 231 that extends in a substantially horizontal position within the housing 110, and a number of hangers 232 attached to the shaft 231. When a user hangs garments on the hangers 232, the garments are suspended within the housing 110.

[0123] A driving unit 121 is attached to one end of the shaft 231, and the driving unit 121 is configured to be able to rotate the shaft 231 back and forth within a predetermined range of rotation angle. The rotation of the shaft 231 causes the clothes to swing within the housing 110.

[0124] Within housing 110, above garment holding section 126, supply section 213 and steam sprayer 233 are provided. Supply section 213 is configured to spray an aqueous solution of a weak acid and an aqueous solution of a salt of the weak acid downward. This causes the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid to adhere to the garment. Furthermore, steam sprayer 233 is configured to spray steam downward. This steam adheres to the garment, promoting smoothing of wrinkles in the garment.

[0125] In order to supply a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the supply unit 213 as in the first embodiment, the weak acid treatment unit 200 has a weak acid storage unit 211, a salt storage unit 212, a weak acid delivery unit 218, a salt delivery unit 219, and a supply path 214. The weak acid storage unit 211, the salt storage unit 212, the weak acid delivery unit 218, and the salt delivery unit 219 may be provided outside the housing 110, or may be housed within the housing 110.

[0126] The steam sprayer 233 is connected to the steam generator 235 via a steam path 234. The steam generator 235 is configured to generate steam and send it to the steam sprayer 233 through the steam path 234. The steam generator 235 may be provided outside the housing 110, or may be housed inside the housing 110.

[0127] An operation panel 180 and an operation unit 182 are attached to the outer surface of the housing 110. The operation panel 180 and the operation unit 182 are electrically connected to the control unit 170, and the control unit 170 is configured to control the drive unit 121, the weak acid delivery unit 218, the salt delivery unit 219, and the steam generator 235 in response to operations on the operation panel 180 and the operation unit 182.

[0128] When the user operates operation panel 180 without operating operation unit 182, control unit 170 activates drive unit 121. Drive unit 121 rotates shaft 231 within a predetermined angle range. During this time, the clothes hung on shaft 231 swing within housing 110.

[0129] While the driving unit 121 is operating, the control unit 170 operates the steam generator 235, the weak acid delivery unit 218, and the salt delivery unit 219. At this time, the steam generator 235 generates steam, and this steam is sprayed to the steam sprayer 233 through the steam path 234. The spraying of steam from the steam sprayer 233 causes fine water to adhere to the clothes, promoting the smoothing out of wrinkles in the clothes.

[0130] The weak acid delivered by the weak acid delivery unit 218 and the salt of the weak acid delivered by the salt delivery unit 219 are mixed in the main pipe 215 of the supply path 214 and supplied to the supply unit 213. Then, the atomized weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are sprayed onto the clothes. At this time, since the user is not operating the operation unit 182, the supply amount of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid is small (the first value of the supply amount).

[0131] On the other hand, when the user operates the operation panel 180 after operating the operation unit 182, the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are sprayed onto the clothes in a relatively large supply amount (the second supply amount). Note that the operation of the drive unit 121 and the steam generator 235 in this case is the same as when the user does not operate the operation unit 182.

[0132] The clothing processing device 100 may additionally be provided with an operation unit 183. In this case, the user can reduce the supply amount of weak acid by operating the operation unit 183. Alternatively, the operation unit 183 may be provided instead of the operation unit 182.

[0133] (Effects, etc.) The clothing processing device 100 according to the above-described embodiment has the following features and provides the following effects.

[0134] A clothing treatment device according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment is configured to perform a weak acid treatment to make clothing weakly acidic. The clothing treatment device includes a clothing holding unit that holds clothing, an instruction unit that outputs an instruction regarding the amount of weak acid to be supplied to the clothing, and a weak acid treatment unit that performs the weak acid treatment by supplying a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit in response to the instruction from the instruction unit. When the instruction unit indicates a second value greater than the first value as the amount of weak acid to be supplied, the weak acid treatment unit is configured to not only supply a weak acid at the second value of the supply amount to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit, but also supply a larger amount of the salt of the weak acid than when the instruction unit indicates the supply of weak acid at the first value of the supply amount.

[0135] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid treatment unit supplies the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid to the clothes in response to the instruction from the instruction unit. - If something containing OH (such as sweat) is attached to the product, - neutralizes with a weak acid. This neutralization reaction produces OH - The increase in pH is suppressed because the H + If something containing H (such as an acidic detergent) is attached to the + reacts with the salt of a weak acid to produce a weak acid. As a result of this reaction, H + disappears, so the decrease in pH is suppressed.

[0136] When the indicator indicates a first value as the supply amount of weak acid, the weak acid processing unit supplies the weak acid to the clothing at the supply amount of the first value. On the other hand, when the indicator indicates a second value larger than the first value as the supply amount of weak acid, the weak acid processing unit supplies the weak acid to the clothing at the supply amount of the second value. Since the supply amount of weak acid to the clothing is variable in this way, it is possible to supply an appropriate supply amount of weak acid according to the state of the clothing or the expected use mode of the clothing. That is, weak acid can be supplied at the supply amount of the second value to clothing expected to absorb a lot of sweat (for example, underwear or sportswear in summer). On the other hand, weak acid can be supplied at the supply amount of the first value to clothing expected to absorb a normal amount of sweat (for example, underwear, socks or pajamas).

[0137] When the weak acid is supplied at the second supply amount, the pH of the garment may decrease, which may cause strong irritation to the wearer's skin. In order to suppress such irritation, in the above-mentioned configuration, when the indicator indicates the second value as the supply amount of the weak acid, the weak acid processing unit supplies a larger amount of salt of the weak acid than when the indicator indicates the first value as the supply amount of the weak acid. By increasing the supply amount of the salt of the weak acid, the decrease in the pH of the garment is suppressed as follows.

[0138] In other words, salts of weak acids ionize more easily than weak acids. When sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5) is used as a salt of a weak acid, the ionization of sodium malate results in C4H4O5 2- When the supply of sodium malate is increased, a large amount of C4H4O5 2- There is a large amount of C4H4O5 2- In the presence of , malic acid (C4H6O5), which is used as a weak acid, can hardly be ionized.

[0139] If malic acid (C4H6O5) is ionized, C4H4O5 2- and H + and occurs, H + However, if a sufficient amount of sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5) is supplied to malic acid (C4H6O5), the ionization of malic acid (C4H6O5) is suppressed, and the H + Therefore, by increasing the supply of the weak acid salt as the supply of the weak acid increases, the H + Since the amount of acid in the clothes is suppressed, irritation caused by clothes treated with the weak acid in this clothes treatment device is suppressed.

[0140] In the above-described configuration, the weak acid treatment unit may supply the weak acid and a salt of the weak acid at a supply amount set so that the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates a first value as the supply amount of the weak acid is equal to the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates a second value as the supply amount of the weak acid.

[0141] Weak acids and salts of weak acids are supplied to clothing. + When the salt of a weak acid is attached, + It reacts with H + As a result, the clothes are + On the other hand, the pH drop caused by the weak acid and its salt is suppressed. - If the weak acid is attached, OH - It reacts with OH - As a result, the OH is not present on the clothes. - Therefore, by supplying a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, the ability to suppress pH fluctuations, that is, the so-called buffer capacity, can be obtained.

[0142] If the buffer capacity is excessively low under either the condition where the supply amount of the weak acid is the first value or the condition where the supply amount of the weak acid is the second value, the clothes treated with the weak acid under this condition will be + Or OH - When the weak acid is attached to the weak acid, the pH changes significantly. Conversely, when the buffer capacity is excessively high under either the condition where the supply amount of the weak acid is the first value or the condition where the supply amount of the weak acid is the second value, the supply amount of the weak acid or the salt of the weak acid is unnecessarily high. To prevent these problems, in the above-mentioned configuration, the supply amount of the weak acid and the supply amount of the weak acid are set so that the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates the first value as the supply amount of the weak acid is equal to the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates the second value as the supply amount of the weak acid.

[0143] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid treatment section may have a weak acid storage section configured to store a weak acid, a salt storage section configured to store a salt of the weak acid, a weak acid delivery section that delivers the weak acid in the weak acid storage section, and a salt delivery section that delivers the salt of the weak acid in the salt storage section. The weak acid delivery section may be configured to deliver the weak acid at a supply amount of the first value when the indicator indicates a first value as the supply amount of the weak acid, and to deliver the weak acid at a supply amount of the second value when the indicator indicates a second value as the supply amount of the weak acid. The salt delivery section may be configured to deliver the salt of the weak acid at a supply amount larger when the weak acid delivery section delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the second value than when the weak acid delivery section delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the first value.

[0144] In the above-mentioned configuration, when the indicator indicates a first value as the supply amount of weak acid, the weak acid delivery unit delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the first value, and when the indicator indicates a second value as the supply amount of weak acid, the weak acid delivery unit delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the second value. Therefore, the delivery amount of weak acid is changed according to the instruction from the indicator. When the weak acid delivery unit delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the second value compared to when the weak acid delivery unit delivers the weak acid at a supply amount of the first value, the salt delivery unit delivers a larger supply amount of the salt of the weak acid, and therefore, H resulting from the ionization of the weak acid is reduced. + is suppressed.

[0145] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid treatment unit may have a supply unit that supplies the weak acid delivered by the weak acid delivery unit and the salt of the weak acid delivered by the salt delivery unit to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit, and an output control unit that controls the weak acid delivery unit and the salt delivery unit so that output of the weak acid from the weak acid delivery unit and output of the salt of the weak acid from the salt delivery unit are started after output of the other is completed.

[0146] In the above-mentioned configuration, the supply unit receives the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid delivered from the weak acid delivery unit and the salt delivery unit, and delivers them to the clothes, so there is no need to provide separate supply units for weak acid and salt. Also, since the timing of delivery of the weak acid to the supply unit and the timing of delivery of the salt of the weak acid to the supply unit are different from each other, the pressure that the supply unit receives from the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid does not become excessively high.

[0147] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid storage unit may be configured to store a solution of a weak acid. The salt storage unit may be configured to store a solution of a salt of a weak acid. The supply unit may be configured to spray a mixture of the solution of the weak acid and the solution of the salt of the weak acid.

[0148] In the above-mentioned configuration, the supply unit sprays a mixture of a solution of a weak acid and a solution of a salt of the weak acid, so that the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid are supplied to a wide area of ​​the clothing substantially simultaneously, thereby preventing the occurrence of areas on the clothing where only the weak acid or only the salt of the weak acid is attached.

[0149] In the above-mentioned configuration, the weak acid treatment unit may have a weak acid storage unit configured to store a solution of a weak acid, a salt storage unit configured to store a solution of a salt of a weak acid, a weak acid delivery unit that delivers the weak acid solution from the weak acid storage unit, a salt delivery unit that delivers the weak acid solution from the salt storage unit, and a supply unit that supplies the weak acid solution delivered by the weak acid delivery unit and the weak acid salt solution delivered by the salt delivery unit to the garments held by the garment holding unit. The weak acid delivery unit and the salt delivery unit may deliver the weak acid solution and the weak acid salt solution so that the concentrations of the weak acid and the weak acid salt in the solutions supplied from the supply unit are higher under the other condition than when the indicator unit indicates a first value as the amount of weak acid to be supplied and when the indicator unit indicates a second value as the amount of weak acid to be supplied. The salt delivery section may deliver a solution of a salt of a weak acid such that the ratio of weak acid to salt of the weak acid is lower in one condition than in the other condition.

[0150] In the above-mentioned configuration, the supply amount of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid differs when the indicator indicates a first value as the supply amount of the weak acid and when the indicator indicates a second value as the supply amount of the weak acid. Therefore, the concentration of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution supplied from the supply unit may differ between a first condition in which the indicator indicates a first value as the supply amount of the weak acid and a second condition in which the indicator indicates a second value as the supply amount of the weak acid. By decreasing the ratio of the weak acid to the salt of the weak acid as the concentration of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution increases, the change in the buffer capacity associated with the increase in the concentration of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution is suppressed. In other words, by decreasing the ratio of the weak acid to the salt of the weak acid as the concentration of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution increases, a substantially constant buffer capacity can be obtained. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, under conditions in which the concentrations of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution are high, the salt delivery unit delivers a solution of the salt of the weak acid so that the ratio of the weak acid to the salt of the weak acid is low.

[0151] In the above-mentioned configuration, the clothing treatment device may further include an operation unit that is operated to instruct the clothing treatment device to increase or decrease the amount of weak acid supplied to the clothing. The instruction unit may be configured to determine whether to supply weak acid at a first supply amount or a second supply amount in response to the operation of the operation unit, and to indicate the determined supply amount.

[0152] In the above-mentioned configuration, when the user operates the operation unit, the instruction unit determines whether to supply the weak acid at the first supply amount or the second supply amount in accordance with the operation on the operation unit, so that the user can increase or decrease the supply amount of the weak acid by his / her own operation.

[0153] In the above-mentioned configuration, the clothing processing device may further include a weight detection unit that detects a weight of the clothing held by the clothing holding unit. The instruction unit may be configured to instruct the supply of weak acid at a second supply amount when the weight detected by the weight detection unit exceeds a predetermined weight value.

[0154] The more clothes to be treated with weak acid, the more the amount of weak acid required for the treatment with weak acid. In the above-mentioned configuration, a weight detection unit is provided to obtain information about the amount of clothes to be treated with weak acid. When the weight detected by the weight detection unit exceeds a predetermined weight value, the instruction unit instructs to supply weak acid at a supply amount of the second value, so that the amount of weak acid required for the treatment with weak acid can be supplied to the clothes.

[0155] In the above-mentioned configuration, the garment holding section may be configured to store water together with the garments. The garment treatment device may further include a pH detection section that detects the pH of an aqueous solution of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid generated in the garment holding section by the weak acid treatment section supplying the weak acid and the salt of a weak acid to the garments held in the garment holding section. The instruction section may be configured to instruct the weak acid treatment section to additionally supply a salt of a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding section if the pH detected by the pH detection section is higher than a predetermined target value. The weak acid treatment section may be configured to supply a salt of a weak acid to the garments held in the garment holding section when the instruction section instructs the additional supply of a salt of a weak acid.

[0156] It is assumed that the pH of the aqueous solution obtained by supplying a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid to the clothing holder storing water will fall below a predetermined target value. In the above-mentioned configuration, in such a case, the weak acid treatment unit additionally supplies a salt of the weak acid. For example, when sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5) is added as a salt of a weak acid, the acid (H + ) is derived from the ionization of sodium malate (C4H4Na2O5), C4H4O5 2- This results in the production of malic acid (C4H6O5). + As the pH of the solution decreases, the pH of the solution increases, resulting in a solution with a pH closer to the target value.

[0157] In the above-mentioned configuration, the clothing treatment device may further include a treatment agent supplying unit that supplies a treatment agent other than the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit. The treatment agent supplying unit may be configured to supply the treatment agent to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit through a treatment agent path different from the weak acid supply path through which the weak acid treatment unit supplies the weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit.

[0158] In order to impart desired properties to the clothes, it is conceivable to supply a treatment agent such as a moisturizer or softener to the clothes. However, in this case, it is conceivable that the treatment agent reacts with the weak acid to generate undesirable reactants. Such reactants may clog the treatment agent path through which the treatment agent is supplied or the weak acid supply path through which the weak acid is supplied. In order to suppress the generation of such reactants, in the above-mentioned configuration, the treatment agent supply unit supplies the treatment agent through a treatment agent path that is different from the weak acid supply path through which the weak acid treatment unit supplies the weak acid to the clothes.

[0159] In the above-mentioned configuration, the garment holding unit may be configured to store water together with the garments. The garment treatment device may further include a treatment agent supply unit that supplies a treatment agent other than a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit, a drainage unit that drains water accumulated in the garment holding unit, and a control unit that controls the weak acid treatment unit, the drainage unit, and the treatment agent supply unit. The control unit may execute drainage control to control the drainage unit so that the drainage unit drains water from the garment holding unit after controlling the treatment agent supply unit so that the treatment agent supply unit supplies a treatment agent to the garments held by the garment holding unit. The control unit may control the weak acid treatment unit so that the weak acid treatment unit supplies a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit after the drainage control.

[0160] In the above-mentioned configuration, after the treatment agent supply unit supplies the treatment agent to the clothes, water is discharged from the garment holding unit that holds the clothes, so that a certain amount of the treatment agent is discharged from the garment holding unit together with the water. Then, the weak acid treatment unit supplies the clothes with the weak acid. At this time, the treatment agent has been reduced by the drainage from the garment holding unit, so the generation of reaction products resulting from the reaction between the weak acid and the treatment agent is suppressed.

[0161] In the above-mentioned configuration, the garment holding unit may be configured to store water together with the garments. The garment treatment device may further include a treatment agent supplying unit that supplies a treatment agent other than a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit, a drainage unit that drains water accumulated in the garment holding unit, and a control unit that controls the weak acid treatment unit, the drainage unit, and the treatment agent supplying unit. The control unit may execute drainage control to control the drainage unit so that the drainage unit drains water from the garment holding unit after controlling the weak acid treatment unit so that the weak acid treatment unit supplies a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit. The control unit may control the treatment agent supplying unit so that the treatment agent supplying unit supplies a treatment agent to the garments held by the garment holding unit after the drainage control.

[0162] In the above-mentioned configuration, after the weak acid treatment unit supplies the weak acid to the clothes, water is discharged from the clothes holding unit that holds the clothes, so a certain amount of the weak acid is discharged from the clothes holding unit together with the water. Then, the treatment agent supply unit supplies the treatment agent to the clothes. At this time, the weak acid has been reduced by the drainage from the clothes holding unit, so the generation of reaction products resulting from the reaction between the weak acid and the treatment agent is suppressed.

[0163] As described above, the first to fifth embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. have been made. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first to seventh embodiments to create new embodiments.

[0164] In addition, any combination of the components described in the above embodiments, and conversions of the expressions of the present disclosure between methods, devices, systems, recording media, computer programs, etc. are also valid as aspects of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0165] The present disclosure is suitably used for weak acid treatment to make clothes weakly acidic. [Explanation of symbols]

[0166] 100...Clothing treatment device 125... Water supply section 126...Clothing holder 160 Weight detection unit 170 Control unit 172 Transmission control section 173························· Instruction section 182,183......Operation section 200 Weak acid treatment section 211 Weak acid storage section 212 Salt storage section 213,220...Supply section 214 Supply route 218... Weak acid delivery section 219 Salt delivery section 221 pH detection unit 222... Processing agent supply section

Claims

1. A clothing treatment device that performs a weak acid treatment to make clothing weakly acidic, A garment holder for holding garments; An instruction unit that outputs an instruction regarding the amount of weak acid to be supplied to the clothes; a weak acid treatment unit that performs the weak acid treatment by supplying a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid to the garment held by the garment holding unit in response to the instruction from the instruction unit, The weak acid treatment unit is configured, when the indicator indicates a second value greater than the first value as the supply amount of weak acid, to not only supply weak acid at the second supply amount to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit, but also to supply a greater amount of salt of the weak acid than when the indicator indicates the supply of weak acid at the first supply amount.

2. The clothing processing device described in claim 1, wherein the weak acid treatment unit supplies a weak acid and a salt of the weak acid at a supply amount set so that the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates the first value as the supply amount of the weak acid is equal to the buffer capacity obtained when the indicator unit indicates the second value as the supply amount of the weak acid.

3. The weak acid treatment section includes: A weak acid storage section configured to be able to store a weak acid; A salt storage section configured to be able to store a salt of a weak acid; a weak acid delivery section that delivers the weak acid in the weak acid storage section; a salt delivery section for delivering the salt of the weak acid in the salt storage section; The weak acid delivery unit is configured to deliver the weak acid at a supply amount of the first value when the indicator indicates the first value as the supply amount of the weak acid, and to deliver the weak acid at a supply amount of the second value when the indicator indicates the second value as the supply amount of the weak acid, The clothing processing device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the salt delivery unit is configured to deliver a larger supply amount of a salt of a weak acid when the weak acid delivery unit delivers a weak acid at the second supply amount than when the weak acid delivery unit delivers a weak acid at the first supply amount.

4. The weak acid treatment section includes: a supply unit that supplies the weak acid delivered by the weak acid delivery unit and the salt of the weak acid delivered by the salt delivery unit to the garment held by the garment holding unit; 4. The clothing processing device according to claim 3, further comprising an output control unit that controls the weak acid output unit and the salt output unit so that output of the weak acid from the weak acid output unit and output of the salt of the weak acid from the salt output unit are started after output of the other has been completed.

5. The weak acid storage unit is configured to be capable of storing a weak acid solution, The salt storage unit is configured to store a solution of a salt of a weak acid, The clothing treatment device according to claim 4 , wherein the supply unit is configured to spray a mixture of a solution of a weak acid and a solution of a salt of the weak acid.

6. The weak acid treatment section includes: A weak acid storage unit configured to be capable of storing a weak acid solution; A salt storage unit configured to store a solution of a salt of a weak acid; a weak acid delivery section for delivering the weak acid solution from the weak acid storage section; a salt delivery section for delivering a solution of a salt of a weak acid in the salt storage section; a supply unit that supplies the weak acid solution delivered by the weak acid delivery unit and the weak acid salt solution delivered by the salt delivery unit to the garment held by the garment holding unit, the weak acid delivery unit and the salt delivery unit deliver a solution of a weak acid and a solution of a salt of a weak acid so that the concentrations of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid in the solution supplied from the supply unit are higher under a condition other than one of a condition when the indicator indicates the first value as the supply amount of the weak acid and a condition when the indicator indicates the second value as the supply amount of the weak acid, The clothing processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the salt delivery unit delivers a solution of the salt of a weak acid such that the ratio of the weak acid to the salt of the weak acid is lower under the other condition than under the one condition.

7. The washing machine further includes an operating unit that is operated to indicate an increase or decrease in the amount of weak acid supplied to the laundry, The clothing processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the instruction unit is configured to determine whether to supply weak acid at the first value of the supply amount or the second value of the supply amount in response to an operation on the operation unit, and to indicate the determined supply amount.

8. a weight detection unit that detects a weight of the garment held by the garment holding unit, The clothing processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the instruction unit is configured to instruct the supply of weak acid at the second supply amount when the weight detected by the weight detection unit exceeds a predetermined weight value.

9. The garment holder is configured to store water together with the garment, The clothing treatment device further includes a pH detection unit that detects a pH of an aqueous solution of the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid generated in the clothing holding unit by the weak acid treatment unit supplying the weak acid and the salt of the weak acid to the clothing held in the clothing holding unit, the instruction unit is configured to instruct the weak acid treatment unit to additionally supply a salt of a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit if the pH detected by the pH detection unit is higher than a predetermined target value; The clothing processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weak acid treatment unit is configured to supply a salt of a weak acid to clothing held in the clothing holding unit when the instruction unit instructs additional supply of the salt of a weak acid.

10. The garment holder further includes a treatment agent supply unit that supplies a treatment agent other than a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the garment held by the garment holder, The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the treatment agent supply unit is configured to supply a treatment agent to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit through a treatment agent path different from a weak acid supply path through which the weak acid treatment unit supplies a weak acid.

11. The garment holder is configured to store water together with the garment, The clothing treatment device includes: a treatment agent supplying section for supplying a treatment agent other than a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the clothes held by the clothes holding section; a drainage section for draining water accumulated in the garment holding section; a control unit that controls the weak acid treatment unit, the drainage unit, and the treatment agent supply unit, The control unit is a drain control is performed to control the drain unit so that the drain unit drains water from the garment holding unit after controlling the treatment agent supply unit so that the treatment agent supply unit supplies the treatment agent to the garment held by the garment holding unit; The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weak acid treatment unit is controlled so that the weak acid treatment unit supplies weak acid to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit after the drainage control.

12. The garment holder is configured to store water together with the garment, The clothing treatment device includes: a treatment agent supplying section for supplying a treatment agent other than a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid to the clothes held by the clothes holding section; a drainage section for draining water accumulated in the garment holding section; a control unit that controls the weak acid treatment unit, the drainage unit, and the treatment agent supply unit, The control unit is and after controlling the weak acid treatment unit so that the weak acid treatment unit supplies a weak acid to the garments held by the garment holding unit, a drain control is performed to control the drain unit so that the drain unit discharges water from the garment holding unit. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a control unit for controlling the treatment agent supply unit so as to supply the treatment agent to the clothing held by the clothing holding unit after the drainage control.

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