Collection device and washing machine having collection device

Abstract

To provide a collection device capable of suppressing maintenance frequency while collecting fine dust such as microplastics.SOLUTION: A collection device of the invention comprises: an inflow port into which drain water from a washing machine flows; an exhaust port from which the drain water flows out; and a filter provided between the inflow port and the exhaust port. The filter is formed of a plurality of bag-like mesh members. Bag mouths of the bag-like mesh members are arranged in parallel with each other so as to face the inflow port. Desirably, branch members for making a flow channel branch toward the bag mouths are disposed on a downstream side of the inflow port, and an end on upstream side of the mesh member is fixed to the branch member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collection device and a washing machine equipped with the collection device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, attention has been focused on the environmental problem of marine plastic pollution. Marine plastic waste is classified by size, and plastic fragments, particles, or fibers with diameters of 1 μm to 5 mm are called microplastics. In the field of home appliances, interest in microplastics generated and emitted from clothes during washing has also been growing, and filter devices that can also capture microplastics have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a filter device integrally formed with a lattice-shaped non-mesh section and multiple mesh sections is provided as a component of a washing machine to capture lint containing microplastics. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-21548 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the filter section described in Patent Document 1, the non-mesh and mesh sections are formed on the same surface, and the total area of ​​the mesh section is small, so there is a risk that the entire mesh section will quickly become clogged. As a result, there is a possibility that poor drainage will occur more frequently, i.e., the frequency of maintenance will increase.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a collection device that can collect even minute debris such as microplastics while reducing the frequency of maintenance, and a washing machine equipped with the collection device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the collection device of the present invention comprises an inlet through which wastewater from a washing machine flows in, an outlet through which the wastewater flows out, and a filter provided between the inlet and the outlet, the filter being formed from a plurality of bag-shaped mesh members, with each bag opening arranged side by side facing the inlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a collection device that can collect even tiny debris such as microplastics while reducing the frequency of maintenance, and a washing machine equipped with the collection device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an external view of the collection device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 1 taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of the first embodiment taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 2 taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 5] 1 in the collection device of Example 3. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 3 taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 4 taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 5 taken along the line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

[0010] Fig. 1 is an external view of a collection device 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, collection device 1 includes an inlet 11 through which wastewater from a washing machine flows in, an outlet 13 through which the wastewater flows out, and a case 14 that supports a filter, which will be described later. Collection device 1 is attached to a drain hose of the washing machine (not shown), and is arranged so that inlet 11 is located above and outlet 13 is located below. By providing this collection device 1, the washing machine body may not require a filter for collecting lint generated during washing or drying. [Example]

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 1 taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a branching member 15 that branches the flow path is formed inside the case 14. In FIG. 2, the inner surface of the case 14 is rectangular, so the branching member 15 is also rectangular. However, if the inner surface of the case 14 has another shape, the branching member 15 will have a shape corresponding to that shape. The branching member 15 is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the flow of wastewater (horizontal direction) and is formed in a lattice shape with a plurality of holes in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Note that, although the shape of each hole is square in FIG. 2, each hole may have another shape, such as a circle.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 1 taken along the line BB in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the upstream ends of a plurality of bag-shaped mesh members 12 are fixed to a branching member 15. In this specification, the branching member 15 and the mesh member 12 are collectively referred to as a filter. The filter is provided between the inlet 11 and the outlet 13, and collects fine debris such as lint 21 and microplastics 22 contained in the wastewater.

[0013] The bag openings formed on the upstream side of each mesh member 12 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the flow of wastewater, and all open toward the inlet 11. The branching member 15 is provided downstream of the inlet 11 and serves to branch the flow path toward each bag opening. The size of each hole in the mesh member 12 is smaller than 5 mm, and preferably tens to hundreds of μm, which is sufficient to capture microplastics of a predetermined size or larger while ensuring a certain level of drainage efficiency.

[0014] Furthermore, because each mesh member 12 is formed in a bag shape, the total area of ​​the mesh region that filters the wastewater can be made larger than when it is simply formed in a planar shape relative to the installation surface of the branching member 15. This makes it possible to extend the time until all of the mesh regions are clogged, reducing the frequency of maintenance, i.e., extending the life of the filter.

[0015] Furthermore, because the branching member 15 branches the drainage flow path and makes the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path smaller than that at the inlet 11, the flow velocity is faster downstream of the branching member 15 than upstream. Therefore, lint 21 and microplastics 22 caught in the mesh member 12 are more likely to flow downstream. That is, on the upstream side of the filter, lint 21 and the like that had been blocking the surfaces of the holes in the mesh member 12 are removed, re-exposing the holes, facilitating the regeneration of the filtering function of the mesh member 12. As a result, the frequency of maintenance can be further reduced.

[0016] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the collection device 1 is used as a disposable device, and that if the entire area of ​​the mesh member 12 becomes clogged, the entire collection device 1 is replaced as maintenance. However, the filter may be detachable from the case 14 or the inlet 11, so that if the entire area of ​​the mesh member 12 becomes clogged, only the filter can be replaced. [Example]

[0017] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 2 taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the collection device of Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that an overflow path 31 is formed upstream of the filter as an overflow structure. Therefore, even if wastewater flows from a washing machine into collection device 1 without replacing a filter in which the entire area of ​​mesh member 12 is clogged, it is possible to prevent the wastewater from flowing back into the washing machine. In this case, the wastewater containing lint 21 and the like is guided downstream of discharge port 13 via overflow path 31. Note that, although overflow path 31 is formed in inlet 11 in FIG. 4, overflow path 31 may be formed in case 14 as long as it is upstream of the filter. [Example]

[0018] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 3 taken along the line AA in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 5, branching member 15 of the collection device according to Example 3 has a plurality of holes in one horizontal direction (left-right direction), and each hole has a rectangular shape that extends long in the other horizontal direction (front-rear direction).

[0019] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 3 taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, one mesh member 12 is folded multiple times in a wave pattern to form multiple bag-shaped mesh regions that are long in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, unlike a configuration in which multiple mesh members 12 are individually fixed to branching member 15, it is only necessary to fix one mesh member 12 in a folded state to branching member 15, which has the advantage of making the filter easier to manufacture. Furthermore, because each bag opening is long in the front-to-rear direction, it is easier to insert a cleaning brush or a user's finger, etc., compared to Example 1, and maintenance such as removing lint 21 adhering to the filter is also possible. [Example]

[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 4 taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. Unlike Example 1, the collection device of Example 4 has adjacent bag-shaped mesh members 12 with different flow direction dimensions (vertical dimensions). A mesh member 12 with a shorter flow direction dimension takes less time to become clogged than a mesh member 12 with a longer flow direction dimension. When the entire area of ​​a mesh member 12 with a shorter flow direction dimension becomes clogged, the overall flow path cross-sectional area decreases, and the flow rate of wastewater in the mesh member 12 with a longer flow direction dimension increases. As a result, regeneration of the filtering function of the mesh member 12 with a longer flow direction dimension is promoted, making it possible to reduce the frequency of maintenance. In this way, the collection device of Example 4 can efficiently collect lint 21 and the like by intentionally making adjacent bag-shaped mesh members 12 more likely to become clogged. [Example]

[0021] Example 5 corresponds to a modified example of Example 4. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the collection device of Example 5 taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. Because the flow velocity of wastewater is faster on the inner diameter side than on the outer diameter side, it is believed that the mesh member 12 on the inner diameter side can more efficiently collect lint 21 and the like. Therefore, in Example 5, the flow direction dimension of the mesh member 12 on the inner diameter side is made longer than the flow direction dimension of the mesh member 12 on the outer diameter side. Furthermore, because the flow direction dimension of the mesh member 12 on the outer diameter side is short, the entire area becomes clogged relatively quickly. In this case, the overall flow path cross-sectional area is reduced, and the flow velocity of wastewater in the mesh member 12 on the inner diameter side becomes faster. Therefore, in the mesh member 12 on the inner diameter side, regeneration of the filtration function is promoted, reducing the frequency of maintenance, i.e., extending the life of the filter. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 1...collection device, 11...inlet, 12...mesh member, 13...outlet, 14...case, 15...branching member, 21...lint, 22...microplastics, 31...overflow path

Claims

1. The washing machine includes an inlet through which drainage water from the washing machine flows in, an outlet through which the drainage water flows out, and a filter provided between the inlet and the outlet, The filter is formed of a plurality of bag-shaped mesh members, A collection device in which each bag opening is arranged side by side facing the inlet.

2. The collection device according to claim 1, A branching member that branches the flow path toward each bag opening is provided downstream of the inlet, The upstream end of the mesh member is fixed to the branching member.

3. The collection device according to claim 1, A collection device having an overflow path formed upstream of the filter.

4. The collection device according to claim 1, The filter is a collection device formed by folding a single mesh member into a wave shape multiple times.

5. The collection device according to claim 1, A collection device in which at least one of the adjacent bag-shaped mesh members has a different flow direction dimension.

6. The collection device according to claim 5, A collection device in which the bag-shaped mesh member on the inner diameter side of the flow path has a larger flow direction dimension than the bag-shaped mesh member on the outer diameter side of the flow path.

7. A washing machine having the collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 attached to a drain hose.

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