Continuous washing machine

Abstract

To reduce water consumption without impairing the detergency of articles to be washed in washing by a continuous washing device. [Solution] Items to be washed are washed with wash water containing a detergent in a pre-wash tub (110), then further washed in a main wash tub (120) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and then rinsed with wash water supplied to a rinsing tub (130), and the wash water is then removed in a spin dryer (200). During this time, the wash water mixed with the wash water from the main wash tub (120) in the rinsing tub (130) is collected as first recovered water from a first path (134) and stored in a first water tank (135). Also, the wash water separated from the items to be washed in the spin dryer (200) is collected as second recovered water from a second path (138) and stored in a second water tank (139), to which a hydrogen peroxide decomposition agent is added from an addition section (141). Then, after the items have been placed in the pre-wash tub (110), the second recovered water from the second water tank (139) is introduced, and then the first recovered water that has passed through a treatment section (136) containing a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst is introduced from the first water tank (135).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a continuous washing machine equipped with a tunnel washing machine including a pre-wash tub, a main wash tub, and a rinsing tub, and a spin dryer. [Background technology]

[0002] In accommodation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and the like that use large quantities of textile products such as linen, as well as in linen supply businesses that rent out linen, continuous washing machines are typically used to wash items such as linen. A typical continuous washing machine is a tunnel washing machine that integrates a pre-wash tub, a main wash tub, and a rinse tub arranged in this order, with a spin dryer installed next to the rinse tub. This continuous washing machine can successively perform the following steps in the tunnel washing machine: first, in the pre-wash tub, washing proteins such as blood and other stains adhering to the items to be washed with wash water; then, in the wash water transferred from the pre-wash tub to the main wash tub containing the items to be washed, further washing the items at high temperatures by adding hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent; and, finally, in the rinse tub, supplying rinse water to the items to be washed, which are transferred together with the wash water from the main wash tub to the rinse tub, to rinse the items. Subsequently, in the spin dryer, the rinse water can be separated from the items to be washed in the rinse tub. A continuous washing machine is suitable for efficiently washing large quantities of items because it can perform each step in parallel in this series of steps, such as rinsing items in the rinse tank while washing the next items in the pre-wash tank or main wash tank.

[0003] Because continuous washing machines use a large amount of water from the pre-washing to the rinsing process, in order to conserve water and improve the economy of washing, it is common to recover a portion of the wash water and rinse water, send it to a pre-washing tank, and reuse it as wash water or as part of it. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a continuous washing machine in which a mixture of rinse water recovered from a spin dryer or a rinse tank and relatively high-temperature rinse water recovered from a rinse tank close to the main wash tank is treated in a hydrogen peroxide decomposition device and then sent to the pre-washing tank for reuse.

[0004] The mixed water is treated with a hydrogen peroxide decomposition device to prevent the hydrogen peroxide contained in the recovered rinse water from coagulating protein-based dirt adhering to the items being washed, making the coagulated protein-based dirt difficult to remove from the items being washed.

[0005] On the other hand, the reason for recovering relatively high-temperature rinse water to prepare mixed water is to reduce the heating load on the wash water in the pre-wash tank and main wash tank by keeping the temperature of the mixed water high, thereby reducing energy consumption. However, if such mixed water is sent to the pre-wash tank, there is a possibility that protein-based stains will be thermally denatured when the items to be washed come into contact with the mixed water in the pre-wash tank. Since thermally denatured protein-based stains are difficult to remove from the items to be washed even with the action of detergents, the items to be washed using the continuous washing device of Patent Document 1 may not be clean. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-93799 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention aims to reduce the amount of water consumed when washing items using a continuous washing machine without impairing the cleanliness of the items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The continuous washing machine of the present invention includes a pre-wash tub for washing items with wash water containing a detergent, a main wash tub for further washing the items transferred from the pre-wash tub in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and a rinse tub for rinsing the items transferred from the main wash tub with wash water.The continuous washing machine is equipped with a continuous washing machine that flows wash water in the rinse tub in the opposite direction to the direction of transport of the items, a spin dryer for separating the wash water from the items, a first path for sending a portion of the wash water to the pre-wash tub from a first range extending from the downstream side of the wash water flowing in the rinse tub in the opposite direction to the direction of transport of the items to the pre-wash tub to the pre-wash tub, a second path for sending a portion of the wash water to the pre-wash tub from a second range extending from the spin dryer side of the first range in the rinse tub to the spin dryer to the spin dryer, a treatment unit for treating the wash water sent from the first range to the pre-wash tub with a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst, and an addition unit for adding a hydrogen peroxide decomposition agent to the wash water sent from the second range to the pre-wash tub. Here, the first and second paths are individually connected to the pre-wash tank.

[0009] The present invention according to another aspect relates to a method for washing articles using the continuous washing apparatus according to the present invention. This washing method includes the steps of pouring articles, wash water from the second path, and wash water from the first path into a pre-wash tub in this order. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The continuous washing machine and washing method using said machine of the present invention can reduce the amount of water consumed without impairing the cleanliness of the items to be washed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a continuous washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a flowchart of a reuse program according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of a continuous washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the figure, the continuous washing machine 1 is used to wash various textile products, such as sheets, futon covers, pillowcases, towels, sleepwear, tablecloths, and other so-called linens, using wash water, and is mainly equipped with a tunnel washing machine 100, a spin dryer 200, and a control device 300.

[0013] The tunnel washing machine 100 has a pre-washing tub 110, a main washing tub 120, and a rinsing tub 130 adjacent to each other in this order, and also has a wash water heating device 150. In this embodiment, the pre-washing tub 110, the main washing tub 120, and the rinsing tub 130 are drum types equipped with a rotating drum. The drum type of the tunnel washing machine 100 according to this embodiment is a single drum type that rotates while storing washing liquid and articles to be washed in a single rotating drum.

[0014] In the tunnel washing machine 100, a rotating drum is concentrically arranged from the pre-wash tub 110 to the end of the rinsing tub 130. The rotating drum is driven to rotate alternately clockwise and counterclockwise at a fixed rotation angle by a drive unit (not shown), thereby swinging and processing the items to be washed in the wash water. In addition, a spiral chute (not shown) is provided coaxially with the rotating drum from the pre-wash tub 110 to the end of the rinsing tub 130 inside the rotating drum. The spiral chute transports the items to be washed together with the wash water within each of the pre-wash tub 110, main wash tub 120, and rinsing tub 130, and between each of the tubs, as the rotating drum makes one rotation.

[0015] The pre-wash tub 110 is used to wash items with wash water. It includes multiple washing tubs (not shown), numbered 1 through N, arranged in this order from one end toward the main wash tub 120. A first supply device 112 is connected to the pre-wash tub 110 for supplying detergent to the interior. The detergent supplied from the first supply device 112 is a solid detergent, such as a powder, or a liquid detergent. It is typically a detergent or cleaning aid (sometimes called a builder) containing an anionic, cationic, or nonionic surfactant as its primary component. Cleaning aids typically contain an alkaline agent, such as a silicate (e.g., sodium metasilicate), a hydroxide compound (e.g., sodium hydroxide), a carbonate (e.g., sodium carbonate), or a phosphate, and optionally contains a chelating agent, dispersant, or the like. The detergent supplied from the first supply device 112 may be a mixture of a detergent and a cleaning aid.

[0016] The main washing tub 120 is used to further wash the items treated in the pre-washing tub 110 with washing water containing hydrogen peroxide, and is equipped with a plurality of washing tubs (not shown) numbered 1 to N arranged in this order from the pre-washing tub 110 side toward the rinsing tub 130, and is connected to a second supply device 121 for supplying chemicals into the inside of the first washing tub. The number of washing tubs installed in the main washing tub 120 is set to be greater than the number of washing tubs installed in the pre-washing tub 110 in order to ensure a longer washing time for the items to be washed.

[0017] The chemical agent supplied from the second supply device 121 is hydrogen peroxide or a compound capable of generating hydrogen peroxide in water, for example, a powdered solid agent or an aqueous solution of a percarbonate such as sodium percarbonate or a perborate such as sodium perborate. Two or more types of chemical agents may be used in combination.

[0018] The rinsing tank 130 includes a rinsing section 131 disposed adjacent to the main washing tank 120, and a processing section 132 disposed subsequent to the rinsing section 131. The rinsing section 131 is a section for rinsing away detergent, hydrogen peroxide, etc. adhering to the items washed in the main washing tank 120 with wash water, and includes a plurality of rinsing tanks (not shown) numbered 1 to N arranged in this order from the main washing tank 120 side toward the processing section 132. The rinsing section 131 also includes a water supply path 133, a first path 134, and a circulation path 160.

[0019] Water supply path 133 is for supplying wash water, branches into first branch path 133a and second branch path 133b, and is connected to the Nth rinse treatment tank adjacent to processing section 132 in rinsing section 131. Water supply path 133 also has on-off valves (not shown) at the branch points of first branch path 133a and second branch path 133b, and the destination of the wash water can be switched to either the Nth rinse treatment tank, first branch path 133a, or second branch path 133b by opening or closing these on-off valves. When the destination of the wash water is the Nth rinse treatment tank, water supply path 133 can supply wash water into rinsing section 131 as rinse water that flows continuously or intermittently from the Nth rinse treatment tank toward the first rinse treatment tank on the main washing tank 120 side.

[0020] The washing water supplied through water supply path 133 is usually tap water or well water at room temperature, but it may also be treated water from which iron compounds and manganese compounds have been removed or softened water from which hardness has been removed. This washing water may also be mixed water obtained by appropriately mixing water selected from tap water, well water, treated water, and softened water.

[0021] First path 134 is for recovering a portion of the wash water in rinsing section 131 from a rinsing tank near main-wash tank 120, such as the first rinsing tank, and sending it to pre-wash tank 110. First path 134 includes first water tank 135 and treatment section 136, in this order. First water tank 135 is connected to first branched path 133a, which branches off from water supply path 133, and is for temporarily storing the wash water recovered from rinsing section 131 or the wash water supplied from water supply path 133 through first branched path 133a. Treatment section 136 is filled with a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst and treats the wash water sent from first water tank 135 to pre-wash tank 110 by contacting it with the catalyst. The hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst used in treatment section 136 is typically a heterogeneous catalyst, such as manganese (IV) oxide or any of various catalysts containing platinum group metals. The first path 134 has a pump (not shown) for sending the washing water stored in the first water tank 135 to the pre-wash tank 110, and the amount of stored washing water supplied to the pre-wash tank 110 is controlled by this pump.

[0022] The circulation path 160 is used to circulate the washing water inside a rinse treatment tank near the main washing tank 120, for example, the first rinse treatment tank, and has a lint recovery device 161, and also has a pump (not shown) for sending the washing water inside the rinse treatment tank into the circulation path 160.

[0023] Processing section 132 is a section for finishing the laundry transferred from the Nth rinse treatment tank in rinsing section 131, and is equipped with a third supply device 137 for supplying a finishing agent thereto. Examples of finishing agents supplied by third supply device 137 include fluorescent whitening agents, antibacterial agents, deodorizers, fragrances, preservatives, UV absorbers, chelating agents, dispersants, water-soluble solvents, silicones, smoothing agents, shrinkage inhibitors, anti-wrinkle agents, drape retention agents, ironing agents, anti-fading agents, stain removers, fiber surface modifiers, enzymes such as catalase, foam inhibitors, stain inhibitors, whitening agents, whitening agents, fabric softening clays, antistatic agents, dye transfer inhibitors, polymer dispersants, dirt release agents, scum dispersants, dye fixatives, surfactants, and nonionic polymer compounds. Two or more finishing agents may be used in combination.

[0024] If the wash water transported to the processing section 132 along with the laundry contains an alkaline agent derived from the cleaning aid, a finishing agent containing a neutralizing agent is used. The neutralizing agent is an acidic substance capable of neutralizing the alkaline agent, and various known acidic agents can be used for this purpose. Examples of acidic agents include organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, oxalic acid, glycolic acid, tartaric acid, isocitric acid, malonic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, and phytic acid, as well as inorganic acids such as phosphoric acid. Of these acidic agents, organic acids are preferred because they are less likely to embrittle the laundry and corrode the metal parts of the continuous washing machine 1. Citric acid or malic acid, which are easily available, are particularly preferred. Two or more of these acidic agents may be used in combination.

[0025] The finishing agent is usually supplied into the processing section 132 from a third supply device 137 in the form of a powder or an aqueous solution.

[0026] The dehydrator 200 is a squeezer disposed adjacent to the processing section 132 of the rinsing tub 130, and squeezes the items processed in the processing section 132 to separate the wash water from the items, and is provided with a second path 138 for collecting the wash water separated from the items and sending it to the pre-wash tub 110. The second path 138 has a second water tank 139, which is used to temporarily store the collected wash water. The second path 138 also has a pump (not shown) for sending the wash water collected in the second water tank 139 to the pre-wash tub 110, and the amount of the collected wash water circulated to the pre-wash tub 110 is controlled by this pump.

[0027] Second water tank 139 has return path 140 connected to rinsing section 131 and addition section 141 for adding a decomposition agent for hydrogen peroxide contained in the wash water stored in second water tank 139. Return path 140 has a pump (not shown) for sending a portion of the wash water collected in second water tank 139 to rinsing section 131, and the amount of wash water returned from second water tank 139 to rinsing section 131 is controlled by this pump. The decomposition agent added from addition section 141 is, for example, a reducing agent for hydrogen peroxide. Typical examples of such reducing agents include thiosulfates, dithionites, sulfites such as sodium sulfite, ascorbates, sodium bisulfite, sodium hydrogensulfite, thiourea dioxide, and sodium sulfoxyl. Of these, sulfites are preferred due to their high reducing power against hydrogen peroxide.

[0028] The heating device 150 is, for example, a boiler, and is provided with steam pipes 151 and 152 that extend individually to the pre-wash tank 110 and the main wash tank 120. The steam pipes 151 and 152 are for circulating high-temperature steam from the heating device 150, and the washing water in each of the pre-wash tank 110 and the main wash tank 120 can be heated by the circulating steam.

[0029] The control device 300 is an electronic computer equipped with an operating program for the continuous washing device 1, and the operating program has a subprogram (sometimes called a reuse program) for supplying the washing water collected in the first water tank 135 and the second water tank 139 to the pre-wash tank 110 for reuse.

[0030] The continuous washing machine 1 performs the washing operation of the items to be washed as follows according to the operation program, except for the operation of putting the items to be washed into the pre-washing tub 110. First, a pre-washing process is performed in which the items to be washed are washed in the pre-washing tank 110. When the continuous washing apparatus 1 is started up, that is, at the start of a day's operation when the pre-washing tank 110, the first water tank 135, and the second water tank 139 are all empty and no wash water is stored, the on-off valve in the water supply path 133 is operated to sequentially set the destination of the wash water to the first branch path 133a and the second branch path 133b. As a result, the wash water supplied through the water supply path 133 flows sequentially to the first branch path 133a and the second branch path 133b and is stored in the first water tank 135 and the second water tank 139, respectively. Then, when the items to be washed are placed in the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110, the pumps are operated in the first path 134 and the second path 138 to supply the washing water stored in the first water tank 135 and the second water tank 139, respectively, to the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110, and detergent is supplied from the first supply device 112, thereby preparing washing water (hereinafter sometimes referred to as washing water) containing detergent in the first washing tub.

[0031] Next, the rotating drum is rotated alternately clockwise and counterclockwise to oscillate for a predetermined time, and the items to be washed are washed with wash water in the pre-washing tank 110. During this time, steam is supplied from the heating device 150 to the steam pipe 151 to moderately heat the wash water. The heating temperature of the wash water is preferably set to 15°C or higher, more preferably 30°C or higher, and particularly preferably 45°C or higher, in consideration of the fiber quality of the items to be washed, in order to facilitate the release of oily stains adhering to the items to be washed into the wash water. On the other hand, the heating temperature is preferably controlled to less than 60°C, the general denaturation temperature of proteins, and particularly preferably to less than 50°C, in order to prevent protein-based stains from denaturing and becoming difficult to remove from the items to be washed.

[0032] In the pre-washing process, the rotating drum rotates once at predetermined intervals, and the spiral chute transfers the items to be washed stepwise from the first washing tub to the Nth washing tub in the pre-washing tub 110 together with the wash water, thereby washing the items stepwise in each washing tub, and then transferring the items to be washed together with the wash water from the Nth washing tub to the main washing tub 120. As a result, a fixed washing time for the items to be washed can be ensured in the pre-washing process.

[0033] Next, a main washing process is carried out in which the items to be washed are washed in the main washing tub 120. In this process, the items to be washed, which have been transferred together with washing water from the pre-washing tub 110, are continuously washed with washing water as the rotating drum swings. In this process, the rotating drum rotates once every predetermined time, and the items to be washed are transferred stepwise together with washing water from the first washing tub to the Nth washing tub in the main washing tub 120 using a spiral chute, thereby washing the items stepwise in each washing tub, and then transferring the items to be washed together with washing water from the Nth washing tub to the rinse tub 130. In the main washing process, since the number of washing tubs installed in the main washing tub 120 is greater than that in the pre-washing tub 110, the washing time of the items to be washed can be secured longer than in the pre-washing process.

[0034] While the items are being washed in the main washing step, the second supply device 121 supplies an appropriate amount of chemicals into the main washing tank 120, and at the same time, the heating device 150 supplies steam to the steam pipe 152 to heat the washing water. As a result, the items are washed while being bleached in high-temperature washing water containing hydrogen peroxide derived from the chemicals. The heating temperature of the washing water in this step is set higher than the heating temperature in the pre-wash step, preferably at a temperature above 60°C, which is the general thermal denaturation temperature of proteinaceous soils, because the higher the temperature, the greater the cleaning power of the detergent and the bleaching power of the hydrogen peroxide. In particular, when items to be washed require sterilization and disinfection, such as linens used in hospitals, the heating temperature is set to 80°C or higher, at which a sterilization and disinfection effect can be expected.

[0035] Next, the items transferred to the rinsing tub 130 are rinsed. In this rinsing process, washing water is continuously or intermittently supplied from the water supply path 133 into the rinsing section 131, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, this washing water is made to flow toward the main washing tub 120 as rinsing water. Then, the items transferred from the main washing tub 120 together with the washing water are brought into contact with the washing water as the rotating drum swings, and the items are rinsed. In this process, the rotating drum is rotated once every predetermined time, and the items are transferred stepwise from the first rinsing treatment tub to the Nth rinsing treatment tub in the rinsing section 131 by the spiral chute, so that the items are rinsed stepwise in each rinsing treatment tub with washing water flowing in the opposite direction to the transfer direction of the items, and the items are transferred from the Nth rinsing treatment tub to the processing section 132 together with the washing water.

[0036] In the rinsing process, a pump is operated in the circulation path 160 to circulate the washing water in the rinsing tank. As a result, lint such as thread scraps floating in the rinsing tank is captured by the lint collection device 161 and separated from the items to be washed.

[0037] The items to be washed, transported together with the washing water to the processing section 132, are treated with a finishing agent supplied from the third supply device 137 while the rotating drum is oscillating, and then transported to the spin dryer 200, where the spin-drying process is applied. In the spin-drying process, pressure is applied to the items to be washed, and the washing water is separated.

[0038] In the rinsing step of the washing operation described above, at least a portion of the wash water in rinsing section 131 is recovered through first path 134 and stored in first water tank 135. The washed water recovered here is warm mixed water (hereinafter, this warm mixed water may be referred to as "first recovered water"), which is room-temperature wash water supplied to rinsing section 131 from water supply path 133 and flowing toward main washing tub 120, mixed with high-temperature wash water transferred from main washing tub 120 together with the items to be washed. In addition, in the spin-drying step, at least a portion of the wash water separated in spin dryer 200 is recovered through second path 138 and stored in second water tank 139. The washed water recovered here is cold mixed water (hereinafter, this cold mixed water may be referred to as "second recovered water") which includes wash water whose temperature has been lowered by dilution with room-temperature wash water flowing in rinsing section 131. A decomposing agent is appropriately added from an adding section 141 to the second water tank 139 storing the second recovered water, and the hydrogen peroxide in the second recovered water is decomposed by the decomposing agent.

[0039] During operation, if new articles are placed in the pre-washing tank 110 while the articles have been transferred to the main-washing tank 120 and are undergoing the main-washing process, the continuous washing apparatus 1 can simultaneously apply the pre-washing process to the new articles. Thus, the continuous washing apparatus 1 can efficiently wash a large amount of articles continuously.

[0040] By continuously washing the items to be washed in the continuous washing apparatus 1, the first water tank 135 and the second water tank 139 increase in the amount of the first recovered water and the second recovered water, respectively. These recovered waters are circulated to the pre-wash tank 110 according to a reuse program and are reused as part of the wash water in washing the items to be washed. In addition, part of the second recovered water is supplied to the rinsing section 131 via the return path 140 and is used to rinse the items to be washed together with the wash water supplied from the water supply path 133. As a result, the amount of water consumed during operation of the continuous washing apparatus 1 is reduced.

[0041] Here, the first recovered water stored in the first water storage tank 135 contains hydrogen peroxide due to the chemicals supplied from the second supply device 121, but this hydrogen peroxide is decomposed by the hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst when the first recovered water passes through the treatment unit 136, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the first recovered water is significantly reduced. On the other hand, the second recovered water stored in the second water storage tank 139 contains a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide than the first recovered water because the wash water from the supply path 133 is highly diluted, but this hydrogen peroxide is decomposed by the decomposition chemicals added from the addition unit 141, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the second recovered water is significantly reduced. As a result, even when the first recovered water and the second recovered water are circulated to the pre-wash tank, protein-based stains attached to the items to be washed are less likely to coagulate due to hydrogen peroxide and are therefore more easily removed in the pre-wash step.

[0042] When reusing the first and second recovered water, the reuse program determines in step S1 whether or not an article to be washed has been placed in the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110, as shown in FIG. 2. When the article to be washed has been placed in the first washing tub, the reuse program proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the second recovered water is placed in the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110 from the second water storage tank 139, and detergent is supplied from the first supply device 112 to prepare wash water in the first washing tub, and washing of the article to be washed begins. Here, thermal denaturation of protein-based soiling of the article to be washed is suppressed, so the cleaning effect of the wash water is less likely to be impaired. Next, the reuse program proceeds to step S3, where the first recovered water is placed in the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110 from the first water storage tank 135. This increases the temperature of the wash water, reducing the heating load of the heater 150 and reducing energy consumption.

[0043] After step S3 is completed, the reuse program returns to step S1, and determines whether new articles to be washed have been put into the first washing tub of the pre-wash tub 110.

[0044] The continuous washing machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment can be modified as follows, for example. The following modifications can also be applied in appropriate combination to the continuous washing machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0045] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the items are washed with washing water containing hydrogen peroxide in the main washing step. However, the washing water used in the main washing step may further contain a detergent. In this case, a detergent supply device is separately installed in the main washing tank 120 adjacent to the pre-washing tank 110 side of the second supply device 121, and the detergent is added from this supply device to the washing water in the main washing tank 120. The detergent added here is a detergent or a cleaning aid, and examples of the detergent and cleaning aid include the same as those supplied from the first supply device 112 to the pre-washing tank 110. The detergent and cleaning aid can also be used together.

[0046] (2) In the continuous washing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the first path 134 is installed so as to extend from a rinse treatment tank near the main washing tank 120, for example, the first rinse treatment tank. However, the first path 134 can be installed so as to extend from one or more rinse treatment tanks located downstream of the washing water supplied from the water supply path 133 and flowing through the rinse treatment tank 130 toward the main washing tank 120, i.e., the first range extending from the rinse treatment tank located near the main washing tank 120 to the pre-washing tank 110, more specifically, from any rinse treatment tank located near the main washing tank 120, any washing tank of the main washing tank 120, and any washing tank of the pre-washing tank 110, and connect to the first water storage tank 135.

[0047] Therefore, the first recovered water recovered through the first path 134 becomes at least one of washing water mixed with high-temperature washing water from the main washing tank 120 in the rinsing section 131 through the connection part of the first path 134, washing water in the main washing tank 120, and washing water in the pre-washing tank 110.

[0048] When the first recovered water is wash water mixed with high-temperature wash water from the main washing tank 120 in the rinsing section 131, it is usually preferable that this wash water has a temperature equal to or higher than the denaturation temperature of protein-based dirt adhering to the items to be washed, in order to reduce the heating load of the heating device 150. When the wash water recovered from the rinsing section 131 is used as the first recovered water by being mixed with high-temperature wash water from at least one of the main washing tank 120 and the pre-washing tank 110, the temperature of the first recovered water may be equal to or lower than the denaturation temperature of protein-based dirt, as long as the temperature of the first recovered water is adjusted to be warm mixed water exceeding the denaturation temperature of protein-based dirt.

[0049] (3) In the continuous washing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the second path 138 for recovering the second recovered water is installed so as to extend from the spin dryer 200. However, the second path 138 can be installed so as to extend from a second range extending from the upstream side of the washing water relative to the first range in the rinsing section 131, which is the installation location of the first path 134 (i.e., the spin dryer 200 side of the first range) to the spin dryer, more specifically, from one or more of any of the rinsing treatment tanks, processing section 132, and spin dryer 200 located closer to the processing section 132 than the first range, and connect to the second water storage tank 139.

[0050] Therefore, the second recovered water recovered through the second path 138 becomes at least one of washing water mixed with cleaning water from the main washing tank 120 in the rinsing section 131 through the connecting portion of the second path 138, washing water to which chemicals have been added in the processing section 132, and washing water separated from the items to be washed in the spin dryer 200.

[0051] In addition, when the second recovered water is the washing water mixed with the wash water from the main washing tank 120 in the rinsing section 131, it is usually preferable that this washing water has a temperature lower than the denaturation temperature of proteinaceous dirt adhering to the items to be washed. In addition, when the washing water recovered from the rinsing section 131 is used as the second recovered water by being mixed with low-temperature washing water from at least one of the processing section 132 and the dehydrator 200, the temperature of the second recovered water may be higher than the denaturation temperature of proteinaceous dirt, as long as the temperature of the second recovered water is adjusted to be cold mixed water below the denaturation temperature of proteinaceous dirt.

[0052] (4) In the above-described embodiment, treatment unit 136 is provided in first path 134 separately from first water tank 135, and the wash water sent from first water tank 135 to pre-wash tank 10, i.e., the first recovered water, is treated with a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst filled in treatment unit 136. However, the manner in which wash water is treated with the hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst can be modified in various ways. For example, treatment unit 136 can be omitted from first path 134, and a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst can be placed in first water tank 135. In this case, wash water sent from the first area to pre-wash tank 110 through first path 134 is treated with the hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst when it is stored in first water tank 135. In another example, treatment unit 136 can be omitted from first path 134, and a similar treatment unit 136 can be placed in circulation path 160. Here, treatment unit 136 is preferably placed downstream of lint collection device 161 in the flow direction of wash water circulating through circulation path 160. In this case, the washing water in the rinsing section 131, which has been mixed with cleaning liquid from the main washing tank 120, is treated by the hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst in the treatment section 136 as it circulates through the circulation path 160, and is then recovered and stored in the first water tank 135 via the first path 134 before being sent to the pre-washing tank 110.

[0053] (5) The continuous washing machine 1 according to the above-described embodiment is provided with the addition unit 141 for adding a decomposing agent for hydrogen peroxide to the second water tank 139. However, the addition unit 141 may be provided at another location as long as the decomposing agent can be added to the second recovered water. For example, the addition unit 141 may be provided either before or after the second water tank 139 in the second path 138, or may be provided for the first washing tub in the pre-wash tub 110. When the addition unit 141 is provided for the first washing tub in the pre-wash tub 110, the decomposing agent can be added to the second recovered water by adding the decomposing agent from the addition unit 141 after the items to be washed and the second recovered water are added in this order and before the first recovered water is added. In this case, the decomposing agent may be added either before or after the detergent is supplied from the first supply device 112 to the second recovered water, or simultaneously with the supply of the detergent.

[0054] (6) The continuous washing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment may be provided with an addition unit in the first path 134 downstream of the treatment unit 136, i.e., on the pre-wash tank 110 side, for adding a decomposition agent for hydrogen peroxide to the first recovered water flowing from the treatment unit 136 to the pre-wash tank 110. Adding a decomposition agent from this addition unit to the first recovered water can further reduce the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the first recovered water fed into the pre-wash tank 110, making it more difficult for protein-based stains adhering to the items to be washed to coagulate, thereby further improving the cleaning effect of the recovered water on the items to be washed.

[0055] (7) In the above embodiment, the first supply device 112 is installed in the pre-wash tank 110, and the detergent is supplied from this first supply device 112 to the wash water in the pre-wash tank 110. However, the detergent can be changed so that it is supplied to the wash water via the second path 138. For example, the detergent may be added to the wash water stored in the second water storage tank 139, or the detergent may be added to the wash water flowing from the second water storage tank 139 to the pre-wash tank 110 via the second path 138.

[0056] (8) In the operation of the continuous washing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment, when the wash water is recycled, the second recovered water is introduced into the pre-wash tank 110 containing the items to be washed, followed by the first recovered water. However, if the temperature of the first recovered water is lower than the denaturation temperature of proteinaceous dirt, the order in which the first and second recovered waters are introduced into the pre-wash tank 110 can be changed. That is, the first recovered water can be introduced into the pre-wash tank 110 followed by the second recovered water. Alternatively, the first and second recovered waters can be introduced into the pre-wash tank 110 simultaneously. Even in this case, the hydrogen peroxide contained in the first recovered water is decomposed by the catalyst in the treatment unit 136, and the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the second recovered water is significantly reduced by the decomposition agent introduced from the addition unit 141 of the second water storage tank 139. Therefore, proteinaceous dirt adhering to the items to be washed is less likely to be coagulated by hydrogen peroxide and is therefore more easily removed in the pre-washing process.

[0057] (9) The tunnel washing machine 100 according to the above-described embodiment may be a double-drum type having a double-structure drum in which the entire rotating drum is covered by an outer drum, thereby accommodating a wide variety of items to be washed. In this case, the wash water supply path 133 is installed to individually connect to each of the pre-wash tub 110, the main wash tub 120, and the rinsing tub 130, and supplies the necessary wash water directly to the pre-wash tub 110 and the main wash tub 120 until the first recovered water and the second recovered water can be supplied to the pre-wash tub 110.

[0058] (10) In the above embodiment, the operation of the continuous washing machine 1 is electronically controlled by the operating program of the control device 300. However, the operation of the continuous washing machine 1 may be sequence-controlled, including the operation related to the reuse program.

[0059] The technology disclosed here will help reduce water consumption during operation of continuous washing machines without compromising the cleaning performance of the items being washed, and may therefore contribute to achieving Goal 6 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all." [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 Continuous washing machine 100 tunnel washing machines 110 Prewash tank 120 washing tanks 130 Rinse tank 133 Second Water Supply Route 134 Route 1 136 Processing section 138 Route 2 141 Additive part 200 Dehydrator

Claims

1. A continuous washing machine including a pre-washing tank for washing items with washing water containing a detergent, a main washing tank for further washing the items transferred from the pre-washing tank in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and a rinse tank for rinsing the items transferred from the main washing tank with washing water, wherein the rinse tank flows washing water in a direction opposite to the direction of transfer of the items; a dehydrator for separating the washing water from the items to be washed; a first path for sending a portion of the washing water from a first range from a downstream side of the washing water flowing in the rinsing tub in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the items to be washed to the pre-washing tub to the pre-washing tub; a second path for sending a portion of the washing water to the pre-washing tub from a second range extending from the spin-drying machine side to the spin-drying machine relative to the first range in the rinsing tub; a treatment section for treating the wash water sent from the first area to the pre-wash tank with a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst; an adding section for adding the decomposing agent for hydrogen peroxide to the washing water sent from the second area to the pre-washing tank; Equipped with The first path and the second path are individually connected to the pre-wash tank. Continuous washing equipment.

2. A method for washing items using the continuous washing apparatus according to claim 1, The method includes a step of pouring the items to be washed, the washing water from the second path, and the washing water from the first path into the pre-washing tank in this order. Washing method using continuous washing equipment.

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