Ultrasonic cleaning device and cleaning method

Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic cleaning device capable of improving cleaning efficiency.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic cleaning device 1 has a battery 20, an ultrasonic generator 30; and a housing 10. The ultrasonic generator 30 has an ultrasonic vibrator, generates ultrasonic waves by electric power from the battery 20, and outputs the generated ultrasonic waves from an output surface 32. The output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 has a waterproof function. The housing 10 stores the battery 20 and the ultrasonic generator 30 so as to be waterproofed and exposes the output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic cleaning device that is added to an immersion type and agitation type cleaning device, and a cleaning method. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, it is known to add an ultrasonic cleaning device to a clothes washing machine (Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such washing machines, an ultrasonic generator (ultrasonic cleaning device) is fixed to the bottom of the water tub or the like to generate ultrasonic waves in the cleaning water in the water tub, and the cleaning efficiency is improved by the cavitation effect caused by the ultrasonic waves (for example, the cleaning power is improved for the same time, or the cleaning time is shortened for the same cleaning power). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-196270 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-000130 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an ultrasonic generator (ultrasonic cleaning device) is fixed, the greater the distance between the ultrasonic generator and the clothes (the items to be cleaned), the greater the attenuation of ultrasonic waves, and the less effective the cleaning will be. In this regard, for example, in a washing machine, the clothes are agitated, so the clothes are cleaned by moving closer and further away from the ultrasonic generator.

[0005] However, when there are a lot of clothes, the clothes are not necessarily agitated evenly and randomly, and some clothes may not move close to the ultrasonic generator and may end up being agitated far away, which may result in clothes not being cleaned sufficiently.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an ultrasonic cleaning device and a cleaning method capable of improving cleaning efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The ultrasonic cleaning device according to the present disclosure includes a battery, an ultrasonic generator having an ultrasonic transducer that generates ultrasonic waves using power from the battery and outputs the generated ultrasonic waves from an output surface having a waterproof function, and a housing that contains the battery and the ultrasonic generator in a waterproof manner and exposes the output surface of the ultrasonic generator.

[0008] The ultrasonic cleaning device according to the present disclosure includes an ultrasonic generator and a battery, so that a small, portable (wireless) device can be obtained. In addition, the housing and the output surface of the ultrasonic generator exposed from the housing have a waterproof function. This allows one or more ultrasonic cleaning devices to be placed in the cleaning water in the water tank of a washing machine (a cleaning device of a dipping type or a stirring type), for example.

[0009] In a washing machine, the clothes (washing objects) are agitated and the ultrasonic cleaning device is also agitated, so the probability that the ultrasonic cleaning device will approach multiple clothes increases. This improves the cleaning efficiency. For example, for the same time, the cleaning power can be improved. Or, for the same cleaning power, the cleaning time can be shortened. Or, for the same time and the same cleaning power, less detergent can be used.

[0010] (2) In the ultrasonic cleaning device described in (1), the housing may be spherical or ellipsoidal except for a portion where the output surface of the ultrasonic generator is exposed. With this configuration, damage to the clothes (items to be cleaned) caused by contact between the ultrasonic cleaning device and the clothes (items to be cleaned) can be suppressed.

[0011] (3) In the ultrasonic cleaning device described in (1) or (2), an elastic body may be arranged on the outer surface of the housing. With this configuration, damage to clothes (items to be cleaned) caused by contact between the ultrasonic cleaning device and the clothes (items to be cleaned) can be suppressed. In addition, the generation of contact sounds between the ultrasonic cleaning device and the metal rotating tub can be suppressed, and the generation of noise can be suppressed.

[0012] (4) In the ultrasonic cleaning device according to any one of (1) to (3), the output surface of the ultrasonic generator may be disposed in a recessed portion on the inside of the housing. With this configuration, damage to the clothes (items to be cleaned) caused by contact between the output surface of the ultrasonic generator and the clothes (items to be cleaned) can be suppressed. In addition, the generation of contact sounds between the output surface of the ultrasonic generator and the metal rotating tub can be suppressed, and the generation of noise can be suppressed.

[0013] (5) The ultrasonic cleaning device according to any one of (1) to (4) may include a plurality of the ultrasonic generators, the output surfaces of which are exposed at different positions of the housing. With this configuration, cleaning efficiency can be further improved.

[0014] (6) The ultrasonic cleaning device according to any one of (1) to (5) may further include a non-contact power receiver that is accommodated in the housing, receives power in a non-contact manner, and supplies the received power to the battery. This configuration can prevent the intrusion of water, detergent, etc., and can reduce the risk of failure such as electric leakage.

[0015] (7) The cleaning method according to the present disclosure includes placing one or more of the ultrasonic cleaning devices described above into an immersion type and agitation type cleaning device.

[0016] According to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, the cleaning efficiency can be easily adjusted by simply adjusting the number of ultrasonic cleaning devices used. For example, by using multiple ultrasonic cleaning devices, it is possible to deal with even heavy dirt. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present disclosure, cleaning efficiency can be improved in immersion type and agitation type cleaning devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an ultrasonic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an ultrasonic cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The ultrasonic cleaning device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a device added to an immersion type and agitation type cleaning device. The ultrasonic cleaning device 1 is a device that is used by being placed in the cleaning water in the water tank of an immersion type and agitation type clothes washing machine, for example.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 includes a housing 10, a battery 20, a non-contact power receiver 25, and an ultrasonic generator 30.

[0022] The housing 10 accommodates the battery 20, the non-contact power receiver 25, and the ultrasonic generator 30. The housing 10 has a waterproof function. The material of the housing 10 is not particularly limited, but metal, resin, or the like is used. In the housing 10, the output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 is exposed.

[0023] The housing 10 is a sphere or an ellipsoid except for the portion where the output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 is exposed. An elastic body is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 10 except for the portion where the output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 is exposed. The material of the elastic body is not particularly limited, but rubber or the like is used.

[0024] This can prevent damage to the clothes (items to be cleaned) caused by contact between the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 and the clothes (items to be cleaned). In addition, the generation of contact sounds between the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 and the metal rotating tub can be prevented, and the generation of noise can be prevented.

[0025] The battery 20 stores the power from the non-contact power receiver 25 and supplies the stored power to the ultrasonic generator 30.

[0026] The non-contact power receiver 25 receives power from an external non-contact power feeder 50 in a non-contact manner and supplies the received power to the battery 20. The non-contact power receiver 25 and the non-contact power feeder 50 are configured with a known non-contact charger. For example, the non-contact power feeder 50 includes a power feeding coil, and the non-contact power receiver 25 includes a power receiving coil. This configuration of the non-contact charging method can prevent the intrusion of water, detergent, etc., and can reduce the risk of failure such as electric leakage.

[0027] A known ultrasonic generator can be used as the ultrasonic generator 30. For example, the ultrasonic generator 30 has a high-frequency power generator and an ultrasonic transducer. The high-frequency power generator generates high-frequency power of a desired frequency from DC power from the battery 20. The ultrasonic transducer vibrates the transducer with the high-frequency power to generate ultrasonic waves. In this way, the ultrasonic generator 30 generates ultrasonic waves and outputs the generated ultrasonic waves from the output surface 32. This causes cavitation by ultrasonic waves in the cleaning water.

[0028] The output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 is disposed in a recessed portion on the inside of the housing 10. This can further reduce damage to the clothes (items to be cleaned) caused by contact between the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 and the clothes (items to be cleaned). In addition, the generation of contact sounds between the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 and the metal rotating tub can be further reduced, and the generation of noise can be further reduced.

[0029] The ultrasonic generator 30 may be configured so that its operation / stopping is controlled by an ON / OFF switch such as a waterproof button switch, or may be configured so that it operates automatically when removed from the non-contact power supply 50.

[0030] The ultrasonic cleaning device 1 may include a plurality of ultrasonic generators 30. In this case, the plurality of ultrasonic generators 30 may be disposed at different positions on the housing 10, for example, at positions that are point symmetric or line symmetric.

[0031] Next, a cleaning method using the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] 2 shows a washing tub 110 and a pulsator (rotating blade) 120 in a soaking and agitating clothes washing machine (cleaning device) 100. The washing tub 110 is composed of a rotating tub 111 and a water tub 112 that stores wash water W. The pulsator 120 agitates the wash water W in the agitation process and the rinsing process.

[0033] First, as shown in Fig. 1, an ultrasonic cleaning device 1 with a fully charged battery 20 is disconnected from a non-contact power supply 50. Next, as shown in Fig. 2, one or more, preferably two to three, ultrasonic cleaning devices 1 are placed in a water tub 112 together with clothes (items to be cleaned) L.

[0034] Next, in the agitation step or rinsing step, the cleaning water W is agitated by the pulsator 120. At this time, the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 is also agitated together with the laundry (items to be cleaned) L.

[0035] After the stirring step or the rinsing step, the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 is removed from the water tank 112 and returned to the non-contact power supply device 50. This causes the battery 20 to be charged.

[0036] As described above, the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 of the present disclosure is a small, mobile (wireless) device, since it is equipped with the ultrasonic generator 30 and the battery 20. Furthermore, according to the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 of the present disclosure, the housing 10 and the output surface 32 of the ultrasonic generator 30 exposed from the housing 10 have a waterproof function. This allows one or more ultrasonic cleaning devices 1 to be immersed in cleaning water W in the water tank 112 of a washing machine (immersion type and agitation type cleaning device) 100, for example.

[0037] In the washing machine 100, the clothes (washing objects) L are agitated and the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 is also agitated, so the probability that the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 approaches a plurality of clothes L increases. This improves the cleaning efficiency. For example, for the same time, the cleaning power can be improved. Or, for the same cleaning power, the cleaning time can be shortened. Or, for the same time and the same cleaning power, less detergent can be used.

[0038] Here, energy saving or water saving of washing machines is required to meet customer needs such as social contribution as environmental response on a global scale and reduction of utility costs. In this regard, according to the ultrasonic cleaning device 1 of the present disclosure, the cleaning time can be shortened to reduce the amount of power consumption, which contributes to energy saving. Alternatively, by improving the cleaning power by a method other than detergent and reducing the amount of detergent, the amount of water used for rinsing can be reduced, which contributes to water saving.

[0039] Moreover, according to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, the cleaning efficiency can be easily adjusted simply by adjusting the number of ultrasonic cleaning devices 1 used. For example, by using multiple ultrasonic cleaning devices 1, it is possible to deal with even stubborn stains.

[0040] Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various changes and modifications are possible. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an ultrasonic cleaning device is applied to a washing machine. However, the ultrasonic cleaning device of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to various cleaning devices of a immersion type and a stirring type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Ultrasonic cleaning equipment 10. Housing 20 Battery 25 Contactless power receiver 30 Ultrasonic Generator 32 Output surface 50 Contactless power supply 100 Clothes washing machines (cleaning devices) 110 Washing tub 111 Rotating tank 112 Aquarium 120 Pulsator (rotor) L Clothes (washing items) W Cleaning water

Claims

1. A battery; an ultrasonic generator having an ultrasonic transducer, generating ultrasonic waves using power from the battery, and outputting the generated ultrasonic waves from an output surface having a waterproof function; a housing that accommodates the battery and the ultrasonic generator in a waterproof manner and exposes the output surface of the ultrasonic generator; An ultrasonic cleaning device comprising:

2. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is a sphere or an ellipsoid except for a portion where the output surface of the ultrasonic generator is exposed.

3. 3. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic body is disposed on an outer surface of the housing.

4. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output surface of the ultrasonic generator is disposed in a recessed portion on the inside of the housing.

5. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of the ultrasonic generators, the output faces of which are exposed at different positions on the housing.

6. 3. The ultrasonic cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-contact power receiver housed in the housing, receiving power in a non-contact manner, and supplying the received power to the battery.

7. A cleaning method comprising: placing one or more ultrasonic cleaning devices according to claim 1 into a immersion-type and agitation-type cleaning device.

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