washing machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a washing machine that can suppress fluctuations in the ozone concentration of ozone gas supplied to the washing tub when the ozone generator is switched on or off. [Solution] The drum-type washing machine 1 comprises a washing tub W in which washing takes place, an ozone generator 200 that generates ozone from air taken in from the outside and discharges the air containing the ozone as ozone gas, a fan device 120 for supplying ozone gas to the washing tub W, a supply passage 300 through which the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 flows toward the washing tub W due to the operation of the fan device 120, and a control unit that performs on / off control of the ozone generator 200. The supply passage 300 is provided with a mixing section 600 that mixes the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 when it is ON with the air discharged from the ozone generator 200 when it is OFF.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine. The washing machine may or may not have a drying function added thereto.

Background Art

[0002] A washing machine with a drying function equipped with an ozone generator is described in Patent Document 1. In the above-mentioned washing machine, a drying air duct having a blower is provided. The ozone generator generates ozone by applying silent discharge to the air taken in from the outside of the device. The air containing ozone (hereinafter referred to as "ozone gas") generated by the ozone generator is sucked into the blower through the first supply path due to the rotation of the blower and the suction side becoming negative pressure, and is supplied to the drum through the drying air duct. By the action of ozone, the clothes in the drum are sterilized or deodorized.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-mentioned washing machine, in order to ensure safety while exerting the sterilization and deodorization effects on clothes and the like, it is necessary to maintain the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the drum at a low target concentration. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform on / off control on the ozone generator according to a preset duty ratio (on / off time ratio).

[0005] When on / off control is performed, the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the drum will fluctuate up and down around the target temperature. However, if the range of these fluctuations, i.e., the overshoot and undershoot relative to the target concentration, is large, there is a concern that product costs will increase due to the use of highly ozone-resistant materials to compensate for the overshoot, or that the performance of sterilization, etc., will decrease due to the undershoot. Therefore, when on / off control is performed, it is desirable that the above-mentioned fluctuations in ozone concentration be small.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a washing machine that can suppress fluctuations in the ozone concentration of ozone gas supplied to the washing tub when the ozone generator is controlled on and off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A washing machine according to the main embodiment of the present invention comprises a washing tub in which washing is performed, an ozone generator that generates ozone from air taken in from the outside and discharges the air containing the ozone as ozone gas, a fan device for supplying the ozone gas to the washing tub, a supply passage section through which the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator flows toward the washing tub due to the operation of the fan device, and a control unit that performs on / off control of the ozone generator. Here, the supply passage section is provided with a mixing section that mixes the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator when it is ON with the air discharged from the ozone generator when it is OFF.

[0008] According to the washing machine of this embodiment, the difference in ozone concentration of the ozone gas discharged from the supply passage between when the ozone generator is on and when it is off is minimized. Therefore, when on / off control is performed, it is possible to keep the fluctuations in the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the washing tub to a minimum.

[0009] In the washing machine according to this embodiment, the supply passage section may be configured such that it has an upper flow path connected to the inlet of the mixing section, upstream of the airflow of the mixing section, and the mixing section may have a first flow path and a second flow path with a larger flow path area than the upper flow path. In this case, the first flow path may be configured to have a first wall surface and a second wall surface facing each other. An inlet may be provided at one end of the first wall surface and an outlet may be provided at the other end of the second wall surface and an outlet may be provided at the other end of the first wall surface and the second wall surface. The second flow path may be configured to connect the outlet to the outlet of the mixing section.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the ozone gas or off-air flowing into the first channel slows down as the channel area expands from the upper channel, causing it to flow slowly through the first and second channels. Furthermore, the ozone gas or off-air changes direction after inflow, flowing from one end to the other within the first channel, and then changing direction again towards the outlet, further reducing its flow velocity and causing it to flow even more slowly through the first and second channels. This makes it easier for the ozone gas or off-air to stagnate (delay) within the first and second channels, allowing the later-discharged air to catch up with the earlier-discharged air. Therefore, the ozone gas and off-air are more easily mixed in the mixing section.

[0011] In the washing machine according to this embodiment, the second wall surface may be configured to be inclined so as to move away from the first wall surface from one end toward the other end, and to have a concave curve.

[0012] With the above configuration, backflow is more likely to occur due to the flow of ozone gas or off-air along the second wall, so that the ozone gas or off-air tends to accumulate more in the first flow path, and the ozone gas and off-air tend to mix more easily.

[0013] In the washing machine according to this embodiment, the second flow path may be configured to meander.

[0014] With the above configuration, the second channel becomes longer, which makes it easier for ozone gas or off-air to accumulate in the second channel, and thus easier for the ozone gas and off-air to mix.

[0015] In the washing machine according to this embodiment, the second flow path may be configured such that the flow path area gradually decreases toward the outlet.

[0016] With the above configuration, the flow velocity of ozone gas is increased when it is discharged from the mixing section, so even if a mixing section is provided, the flow rate of ozone gas discharged from the supply section is less likely to decrease. This makes it possible to suppress the decrease in ozone concentration due to a decrease in flow rate.

[0017] In the washing machine according to this embodiment, the supply passage may have an upper flow path connected to the inlet of the mixing section, upstream of the airflow of the mixing section, and the mixing section may have an enlarged flow path with a larger flow area than the upper flow path. In this case, the enlarged flow path may have the inlet on one end face and the outlet of the mixing section on the other end face, and may be partitioned by a partition wall having an opening in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.

[0018] According to the above configuration, ozone gas or off-air flowing into the expanded channel slows down as the channel area expands from the upper channel, causing it to flow slowly. Furthermore, the ozone gas or off-air is blocked by the partition wall and gradually flows out through the opening to the area downstream of the partition wall, resulting in a flow delay. This makes it easier for ozone gas or off-air to accumulate in the expanded channel, and the air discharged later can more easily catch up with the air discharged earlier. Therefore, the ozone gas and off-air are more easily mixed in the mixing section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, there can be provided a washing machine capable of suppressing fluctuations in the ozone concentration of ozone gas supplied to a washing tub when on-off control is performed on an ozone generator.

[0020] The effects or significance of the present invention will become clearer from the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the following embodiments are merely examples when implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to those described in the following embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a drum-type washing and drying machine according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an ozone generator according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIGS. 3(a) and (b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing the configuration of a mixing section according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a mixing section according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIGS. 5(a) and (b) are diagrams showing measurement results of the ozone concentration of ozone gas supplied to a washing tub when on-off control is performed, respectively, when a mixing section is provided and when it is not provided in a supply path section according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIGS. 6(a) and (b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing the configuration of a mixing section according to Modification 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a mixing section according to Modification 1.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, a drum-type washing and drying machine, which is an embodiment of the washing machine of the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a drum-type washing machine and dryer 1.

[0024] The drum-type washer-dryer 1 comprises a rectangular box-shaped casing 10. A circular opening 11 into which laundry is loaded is formed on the front of the casing 10. The opening 11 is covered by a door 12 that can be opened and closed.

[0025] An outer tub 20 is placed inside the housing 10. The outer tub 20 is elastically supported by a plurality of dampers 21 and springs 22. A drum 23 is rotatably positioned inside the outer tub 20. The drum 23 rotates around a horizontal axis. The drum 23 has a circular opening 23a on its front. Laundry is put into the drum 23 through the input opening 11 and the opening 23a. The outer tub 20 and the drum 23 constitute a washing tub W in which washing takes place.

[0026] The outer tub 20 has a substantially cylindrical opening 20a in front of the opening 23a of the drum 23, which is connected to the input port 11 by a water-sealing packing. Numerous dewatering holes 23b are formed in the circumferential wall of the drum 23. In addition, baffles 24 for scooping up laundry are provided in the circumferential wall inside the drum 23. The drum 23 may rotate around a rotation axis that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, provided it is a horizontal-axis type.

[0027] Behind the outer tub 20 is a drive motor 30 that generates torque to rotate the drum 23. The drive motor 30 is, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. During the washing, rinsing, and drying processes, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum 23 is less than gravity, causing the laundry to tumble. On the other hand, during the dewatering process, the drive motor 30 rotates the drum 23 at a speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum 23 is much greater than gravity, causing the laundry to stick to the circumferential walls of the drum 23.

[0028] A drain port 20b is formed at the bottom of the outer tank 20. A drain channel 40, consisting of a drain hose or the like, is connected to the drain port 20b. A drain valve 41 and a drain filter 42 are provided in the drain channel 40. The drain valve 41 includes, for example, a valve and a torque motor for opening and closing the valve.

[0029] When the drain valve 41 is opened, the water stored in the outer tank 20 is discharged outside the machine through the drain channel 40. The drain filter 42 captures foreign matter such as lint contained in the wastewater.

[0030] A water supply unit 50 is located in the upper part of the housing 10. The water supply unit 50 includes a water supply valve 51 and a water supply channel 52. One end of the water supply channel 52 is connected to the water supply valve 51, and the other end is connected to a water inlet 20c provided on the back of the outer tank 20. When the water supply valve 51 is opened, tap water from the water tap flows through the water supply channel 52 and is supplied into the outer tank 20 from the water inlet 20c.

[0031] The water supply unit 50 may also include an automatic dispensing device that automatically dispenses liquid detergent and liquid fabric softener into the outer tank 20. The automatic dispensing device may include, for example, a liquid tank in which liquid detergent and liquid fabric softener are stored, and a pump that sends the liquid detergent and liquid fabric softener from the liquid tank into the water supply channel 52. In this case, the liquid detergent and liquid fabric softener discharged into the water supply channel 52 are sent into the outer tank 20 by the water flowing through the water supply channel 52.

[0032] A drying device 100 is located in the upper part of the housing 10 to dry the laundry in the drum 23 with heated air, i.e., hot air. The drying device 100 includes a circulation path 110, a fan device 120, a first heat exchanger 131, and a second heat exchanger 132.

[0033] The circulation path 110 is an air passage through which air flows and is connected to the outer tank 20. The circulation path 110 includes an outlet duct 111, a fan casing 112, a heat exchanger housing 113, and an inlet duct 114. The circulation path 110 is located above the outer tank 20 within the housing 10.

[0034] The outlet duct 111 is connected at one end to an exhaust port 20d located on the rear of the outer tank 20, and at the other end to an intake port 112a of the fan casing 112. The exhaust port 20d may be located at the rear of the circumferential surface of the outer tank 20.

[0035] The heat exchanger housing 113 has a box-like shape that is elongated in the front-to-back direction and is positioned above the outer tank 20 and in front of the fan casing 112. The rear end of the heat exchanger housing 113 is connected to the discharge port 112b of the fan casing 112. The inlet duct 114 extends from the front end of the heat exchanger housing 113 and is connected to the inlet port 20e formed in the front upper part of the outer tank 20.

[0036] The fan device 120 is, for example, a centrifugal fan and includes a fan 121 housed in a fan casing 112 and a fan motor 122 for rotating the fan 121. The fan device 120 circulates air between the outer tank 20 and the circulation path 110. Air discharged from the outer tank 20 through the exhaust port 20d flows through the circulation path 110 in the following order: outlet duct 111, fan casing 112, heat exchanger housing 113, and inlet duct 114, and returns to the outer tank 20 through the inlet port 20e.

[0037] The first heat exchanger 131 and the second heat exchanger 132 are located on the upstream and downstream sides of the heat exchanger housing 113, respectively. The first heat exchanger 131 and the second heat exchanger 132 are an evaporator (cooler) and a condenser (heater), respectively, and are included in the heat pump system. Inside the housing 10, a compressor 133 is located at the bottom, which together with the first heat exchanger 131 and the second heat exchanger 132 constitutes the cooling circuit of the heat pump system. The operation of the compressor 133 causes the refrigerant to circulate through the refrigerant circuit.

[0038] The compressor 133 operates, causing low-temperature refrigerant to flow through the first heat exchanger 131 and high-temperature refrigerant to flow through the second heat exchanger 132. The first heat exchanger 131 cools the air flowing through the circulation path 110 by heat exchange with the low-temperature refrigerant, thereby dehumidifying the air. The second heat exchanger 132 heats the dehumidified air flowing through the circulation path 110 by heat exchange with the high-temperature refrigerant.

[0039] Inside the housing 10, an ozone generator 200 is positioned, for example, on top of the outer tank 20. The ozone generator 200 generates ozone from air taken in from the outside and discharges the air containing the ozone as ozone gas.

[0040] An inlet 111a is provided in the outlet duct 111 of the circulation path 110 near the suction port 112a of the fan casing 112. A supply path 300 is positioned between the ozone generator 200 and the inlet 111a. The fan device 120 draws in ozone gas generated by the ozone generator 200 through the supply path 300 and supplies it to the washing tub W through the circulation path 110.

[0041] The supply passage section 300 is located, for example, at the top of the outer tub 20 and has a flow path inside through which ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 flows toward the circulation passage 110, i.e., the washing tub W, by the operation of the fan device 120. The supply passage section 300 includes a first pipe 400 and a second pipe 500, and a mixing section 600 provided between them. The first pipe 400 is connected to the ozone generator 200, and the second pipe 500 is connected to the inlet 111a.

[0042] Figure 2 is a plan cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the ozone generator 200.

[0043] The ozone generator 200 includes a housing 210 and an ozone generating unit 220.

[0044] The housing 210 has, for example, a rectangular box shape. An intake port 211 for drawing air into the housing 210 is provided on the front end surface of the housing 210. The intake port 211 has, for example, a cylindrical shape and protrudes from the front end surface. An exhaust port 212 for discharging ozone gas from inside the housing 210 is provided on the rear end surface of the housing 210. The exhaust port 212 has, for example, a cylindrical shape and protrudes from the front end surface. A first pipe 400 is connected to the exhaust port 212.

[0045] The ozone generating unit 220 is, for example, a discharge-type ozone generator and has a pair of electrodes 221. The pair of electrodes 221 are connected to the power supply unit 230. The on / off switching of the power supply unit 230 is controlled by a control unit 60, which is composed of a CPU or the like.

[0046] The suction force generated by the operation of the fan device 120 draws outside air into the housing 210 through the intake port 211. When the air drawn in from the intake port 211 flows through the housing 210 toward the exhaust port 212, an AC voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 230 to the pair of electrodes 221, causing a discharge such as a silent discharge between the electrodes 221, and ozone is generated from the air (oxygen) passing through the ozone generating unit 220.

[0047] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing the configuration of the mixing section 600. Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the mixing section 600.

[0048] The mixing unit 600 is positioned in the outer tank 20, for example, such that its front-to-back direction coincides with the front-to-back direction of the outer tank 20.

[0049] The mixing unit 600 comprises a housing 610 having a substantially rectangular box shape. The housing 610 has large arcs at the corners between the front portion 611 and the bottom portion 612, and at the corners between the rear portion 613 and the top portion 614.

[0050] The interior of the housing 610 is divided in the front-to-back direction by a first partition 621, which has a roughly triangular cross-section and protrudes downward from the top surface 614, and a second partition 622, which has a roughly triangular cross-section and protrudes upward from the bottom surface 612. The first partition 621 and the second partition 622 are connected to the left side surface 615 and the right side surface 616 of the housing 610. These first partition 621 and the second partition 622 form a first flow path 630 and a second flow path 640 inside the housing 610, arranged in the front-to-back direction. The first flow path 630 and the second flow path 640 are included in the flow path of the supply passage 300.

[0051] The front portion 611 of the housing 610 is provided with a circular inlet 601 of the mixing section 600 at its upper end. The rear portion 613 of the housing 610 is provided with a circular outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 at its lower end. A first connecting pipe 603, which protrudes forward from the front portion 611, is connected to the inlet 601, and a second connecting pipe 604, which protrudes rearward from the rear portion 613, is connected to the outlet 602. The inner diameter of the first connecting pipe 603 is equal to the inner diameter of the inlet 601, and the inner diameter of the second connecting pipe 604 is equal to the inner diameter of the outlet 602.

[0052] The supply passage 300 has an upper passage 401 formed inside the first pipe 400 and included in the flow path, upstream of the mixing section 600 in the airflow. Furthermore, the supply passage 300 has a lower passage 501 formed inside the second pipe 500 and included in the flow path, downstream of the mixing section 600. The first pipe 400 is connected to the first connecting pipe 603, and the second pipe 500 is connected to the second connecting pipe 604. As a result, the upper passage 401 is connected to the inlet 601 of the mixing section 600, and the lower passage 501 is connected to the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600.

[0053] The first channel 630 has a larger channel area A2 than the channel area A1 of the upper channel 401. That is, although the channel area A2 of the first channel 630 is not constant, it is larger than the channel area A1 at all locations. For example, the channel area A2 of the first channel 630 is more than 10 times the channel area A1 of the upper channel 401. In the first channel 630, the area of ​​the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of airflow becomes the channel area A2.

[0054] The first flow path 630 has a first wall surface 631 and a second wall surface 632 that are aligned in the front-to-back direction and face each other. At the upper end (one end) of the first wall surface 631 and the second wall surface 632, an inlet 601 for the mixing section 600 is provided at the upper end of the first wall surface 631. Furthermore, at the lower end (other end) of the first wall surface 631 and the second wall surface 632, an outlet 633 is provided at the lower end of the second wall surface 632. As a result, air flows in the first flow path 630 from the upper end to the lower end.

[0055] The second wall surface 632 is inclined to move away from the first wall surface 631 from its upper end to its lower end, and is also concavely curved in an arc shape.

[0056] The second channel 640 has a shape that meanders in an almost inverted U-shape in the vertical direction and connects the outlet 633 of the first channel 630 and the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. The second channel 640 has a channel area A3 that is larger than the channel area A1 of the upper channel 401. That is, although the channel area A3 of the second channel 640 is not constant, it is larger than the channel area A1 at all locations. For example, the channel area A3 of the second channel 640 is more than 10 times the channel area A1 of the upper channel 401. In the second channel 640, the area of ​​the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of airflow is the channel area A3.

[0057] In the second channel 640, the channel area A3 decreases in stages towards the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. That is, the second channel 640 has a shape such that the channel area A3 gradually decreases in the portion 641 downstream of the bend in the channel as it approaches the outlet 602. Furthermore, the channel area A3 in the vicinity of the outlet 633 in the second channel 640 is smaller than the channel area A2 in the vicinity of the outlet 633 in the first channel 630.

[0058] Furthermore, the flow area A4 of the lower flow channel 501 connected to the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 is, for example, equal to the flow area A1 of the upper flow channel 401, and smaller than the flow area A2 of the first flow channel 630 and the flow area A3 of the second flow channel 640. Also, the opening areas of the inlet 601 and outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 are smaller than the flow area A1 of the upper flow channel 401 and the flow area A4 of the lower flow channel 501 by the thickness of the first connecting pipe 603 and the second connecting pipe 604.

[0059] In the drum-type washer-dryer 1, various wash-and-dry cycles, wash cycles, and dry cycles are performed. In the wash-and-dry cycle, the washing, intermediate spin-drying, rinsing, final spin-drying, and drying cycles are performed in order. In the wash cycle, the washing cycle is performed up to the final spin-drying cycle, but the drying cycle is not performed. In the dry cycle, only the drying cycle is performed. Depending on the cycle, the rinsing and intermediate spin-drying cycles may be performed two or more times.

[0060] In the washing process, water containing detergent is filled into the outer tub 20 up to a washing water level corresponding to the load of laundry contained in the drum 23. The laundry immersed in this water tumbles inside the drum 23 as the drum 23 rotates repeatedly in the forward and reverse directions. The water containing detergent penetrates deep into the laundry, and the dirt is removed from the laundry by the combined force of the detergent and the mechanical force of tumbling.

[0061] During the rinsing process, the drum 23 rotates forward and backward with water filling the outer tub 20 up to the rinsing water level, causing the laundry to tumble around inside the drum 23. This allows the detergent contained in the laundry to be discharged along with the water, thus rinsing the laundry.

[0062] In the intermediate and final dewatering processes, the drive motor 30 rotates at high speed in one direction, causing the drum 23 to rotate in one direction at a speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum 23 is much greater than that of gravity. Due to the action of centrifugal force, the laundry is pressed against the circumferential walls of the drum 23 and dewatered.

[0063] During the drying process, the fan device 120 circulates air between the outer tub 20 and the circulation path 110, and the second heat exchanger 132 heats the air introduced into the outer tub 20, turning it into warm air. Furthermore, the drum 23 rotates in both forward and reverse directions, causing the laundry to tumble inside the drum 23.

[0064] Hot air introduced into the outer tub 20 and drum 23 from the inlet 20e hits the tumbling laundry, drying it. The hot air, having removed moisture from the laundry, returns to the circulation path 110 from the exhaust port 20d. Within the circulation path 110, the hot air passes through the first heat exchanger 131 before being heated in the second heat exchanger 132, where it is dehumidified.

[0065] In the drum-type washer-dryer 1, the ozone generated by the ozone generator 200 is supplied to the washing tub W through the circulation path 110, enabling an ozone sterilization operation to deodorize and sterilize items to be processed, such as clothes, towels, and stuffed animals, contained in the drum 23.

[0066] During the ozone sterilization operation, when ozone is supplied into the washing tub W, the fan device 120 and the ozone generator 200 operate. Ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 is drawn into the fan device 120 via the supply passage 300 and supplied to the washing tub W through the circulation passage 110. The ozone gas is supplied into the washing tub W as it is contained in the air flowing through the circulation passage 110.

[0067] In order to ensure safety while providing disinfection and deodorizing effects to clothing and other items, it is necessary to maintain the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the washing tub W at a low target concentration. Therefore, the control unit 60 performs on / off control of the ozone generator 200. That is, the control unit 60 turns the ozone generator 200 on and off at a predetermined duty cycle, i.e., it supplies and stops power from the power supply unit 230 to the ozone generating unit 220. In this embodiment, for example, the target concentration is set to 0.1 ppm. In this case, for example, if the ozone generator 200 has an ozone generation capacity of about 40 to 50 ppm, then an on / off control of 2.5 seconds on - 30 seconds off is performed.

[0068] When the ozone generator 200 is turned on, ozone gas is discharged from the ozone generator 200. On the other hand, when the ozone generator 200 is turned off, air that contains almost no ozone is discharged from the ozone generator 200 as the off-air. However, due to the influence of ozone and other substances remaining in the housing 210, the off-air may still contain a small amount of ozone.

[0069] The ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 or the air when the generator is off flows through the upper channel 401 of the first pipe 400 to the mixing section 600, and then flows into the first channel 630 from the inlet 601 of the mixing section 600.

[0070] As shown by the solid arrows in Figure 4, the ozone gas or off-state air flowing into the first channel 630 changes direction by nearly 90 degrees and flows from the upper end to the lower end within the first channel 630, then changes direction by another nearly 90 degrees and heads toward the outlet 633. Furthermore, the ozone gas or off-state air flowing out from the outlet 633 flows meanderingly through the second channel 640, as shown by the dashed arrows in Figure 4, toward the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. At this time, the ozone gas or off-state air flowing into the first channel 630 decreases in flow velocity due to the expansion of the channel area from the upper channel 401, and flows slowly through the first channel 630 and the second channel 640. Furthermore, because the ozone gas or off-state air changes direction by nearly 90 degrees in the first channel 630 before flowing in and before flowing out, the flow velocity tends to decrease, causing it to flow even more slowly through the first channel 630 and the second channel 640. This makes it easier for ozone gas or off-air to accumulate (delay) within the first channel 630 and the second channel 640.

[0071] When the ozone generator 200 is turned off, the ozone gas discharged during the earlier on-state remains in the first channel 630 and the second channel 640, while the air discharged during the later off-state flows into the first channel 630. On the other hand, when the ozone generator 200 is turned on, the air discharged during the earlier off-state remains in the first channel 630 and the second channel 640, while the ozone gas discharged during the later on-state flows into the first channel 630. As a result, the ozone gas and the air during the off-state are mixed in the first channel 630 and the second channel 640, and the mixed ozone gas is discharged from the outlet 602 of the mixing unit 600 to the lower channel 501 of the second pipe 500.

[0072] In the first channel 630, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 4, a portion of the incoming ozone gas or off-air flows along the inclined, concave second wall surface 632, heading towards the lower end surface 634 of the first channel 630, where it is turned back and easily flows back into the first channel 630. As a result, the ozone gas or off-air is more likely to accumulate within the first channel 630, and the ozone gas and off-air are more likely to mix.

[0073] Furthermore, the second channel 640 does not proceed in a straight line to the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 but meanders, making its path longer. As a result, ozone gas or off-air tends to accumulate more easily in the second channel 640, and the ozone gas and off-air tend to mix more easily.

[0074] In this way, since the ozone gas and the air when the unit is off are mixed in the mixing section 600, the ozone gas discharged from the supply section 300 to the circulation section 110 will not experience a significant difference in ozone concentration between when the ozone generator 200 is on and when it is off. As a result, the fluctuations in the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the washing tub W when the on / off control is performed are reduced.

[0075] Furthermore, the second channel 640 is narrowed so that the channel area A3 gradually decreases towards the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. As a result, the ozone gas flowing through the second channel 640 accelerates as it approaches the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. Consequently, the flow velocity of the ozone gas discharged from the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 increases.

[0076] In this way, the flow velocity of the ozone gas is increased when it is discharged from the mixing section 600, so even if the mixing section 600 is provided, the flow rate of the ozone gas discharged from the supply passage section 300 is less likely to decrease. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in ozone concentration due to a decrease in flow rate.

[0077] In the mixing section 600, the first flow path 630 has rounded edges (R) at two corners 635 and 636 in the direction of airflow, making these corners 635 and 636 arc-shaped. In the second flow path 640, the three corners 642 to 644 in the direction of airflow also have rounded edges (R), making these corners 642 to 644 arc-shaped. As a result, even if foreign matter such as dust is mixed in with the ozone gas or the air when the unit is off, these foreign matter is less likely to accumulate at the corners 635, 636, and 642 to 644, thus preventing the ozone from being consumed by foreign matter.

[0078] Figures 5(a) and (b) show the measurement results of the ozone concentration of ozone gas supplied to the washing tub W when on / off control is performed, with and without a mixing unit 600 provided in the supply passage 300.

[0079] The ozone concentration is measured near the inlet 20e inside the washing tub W. The duty cycle for the on / off control is set to 2.5 seconds on - 30 seconds off.

[0080] As shown in the ozone concentration measurement results in Figures 5(a) and (b), in the configuration in which a mixing unit 600 is provided in the supply line 300, the fluctuations in the ozone concentration of the ozone gas when on / off control is performed are smaller compared to the configuration in which the mixing unit 600 is not provided, and the overshoot and undershoot relative to the target concentration of 0.1 ppm are smaller.

[0081] <Effects of the Embodiment> In this embodiment, the ozone generator 200 is controlled on and off, and a mixing unit 600 is provided in the supply passage 300. In the mixing unit 600, the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 when it is ON and the air discharged when it is OFF are mixed by allowing the air discharged earlier to accumulate so that the air discharged later can catch up with it.

[0082] With this configuration, since ozone gas and air are mixed in the mixing section 600, the ozone gas discharged from the supply passage section 300 will have less difference in ozone concentration between when the ozone generator 200 is on and when it is off. As a result, fluctuations in the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the washing tub W when on / off control is performed can be kept to a minimum.

[0083] Furthermore, the mixing section 600 has internal first flow channels 630 and second flow channels 640, which have a larger flow channel area than the upper flow channel 401. The first flow channel 630 has a first wall surface 631 and a second wall surface 632 that face each other, with an inlet 601 for the mixing section 600 provided at the upper end of the first wall surface 631 and an outlet 633 provided at the lower end of the second wall surface 632. The second flow channel 640 connects the outlet 633 to the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600.

[0084] With this configuration, the ozone gas or off-state air flowing into the first channel 630 slows down as the channel area expands from the upper channel 401, and flows slowly through the first channel 630 and the second channel 640. Furthermore, the ozone gas or off-state air changes direction by nearly 90 degrees after inflow, flows from the upper end to the lower end within the first channel 630, and then changes direction by nearly 90 degrees again towards the outlet 633, causing the flow velocity to decrease even more, and flowing even more slowly through the first channel 630 and the second channel 640. As a result, stagnation (delay) of the ozone gas or off-state air is more likely to occur within the first channel 630 and the second channel 640, making it easier for the ozone gas and off-state air to mix.

[0085] Furthermore, the second wall surface 632 is inclined to move away from the first wall surface 631 as it moves from the upper end to the lower end, and is also concavely curved in an arc shape.

[0086] With this configuration, backflow is more likely to occur due to the flow of ozone gas or off-air along the second wall surface 632, so that the ozone gas or off-air tends to accumulate more in the first channel 630, and the ozone gas and off-air tend to mix more easily.

[0087] Furthermore, because the second channel 640 is meandering and its path is long, ozone gas or off-air tends to accumulate more easily in the second channel 640, and the ozone gas and off-air tend to mix more easily.

[0088] Furthermore, the flow area A3 of the second flow channel 640 gradually decreases towards the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600.

[0089] With this configuration, the flow velocity of ozone gas is increased when it is discharged from the mixing section 600, so even if the mixing section 600 is provided, the flow rate of ozone gas discharged from the supply passage section 300 is less likely to decrease. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in ozone concentration due to a decrease in flow rate.

[0090] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited in any way by the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible to the embodiments of the present invention other than those described above.

[0091] <Example of change 1> Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are a plan view and a side view, respectively, showing the configuration of the mixing section 700 according to Modification Example 1. Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the mixing section 700 according to Modification Example 1.

[0092] Instead of the mixing unit 600 in the above embodiment, the mixing unit 700 of this modified example can be provided in the supply passage unit 300. The mixing unit 700 is positioned in the outer tank 20, for example, so that its front-to-back direction coincides with the vertical direction of the outer tank 20.

[0093] The mixing unit 700 comprises a housing 710 having a hollow cylindrical shape. The housing 710 is formed by joining an upper first member 711 and a lower second member 712. The mounting portion 711a of the first member 711 and the mounting portion 712a of the second member 712 are fixed together by screws 720.

[0094] The front end 713 of the housing 710 is provided with a circular inlet 701 in the center of the mixing section 700. The rear end 714 of the housing 710 is provided with a circular outlet 702 in the center of the mixing section 700. A first connecting pipe 703, which protrudes forward from the front end 713, is connected to the inlet 701, and a second connecting pipe 704, which protrudes rearward from the rear end 714, is connected to the outlet 702. The inner diameter of the first connecting pipe 703 is equal to the inner diameter of the inlet 701, and the inner diameter of the second connecting pipe 704 is equal to the inner diameter of the outlet 702. A first pipe 400 is connected to the first connecting pipe 703, and a second pipe 500 is connected to the second connecting pipe 704.

[0095] An expanded airflow channel 730 is formed inside the housing 710. The expanded airflow channel 730 has an inlet 701 for the mixing section 700 at its front end surface 731 and an outlet 702 for the mixing section 700 at its rear end surface 732. As a result, air flows in the expanded airflow channel 730 in the front-rear direction from the inlet 701 side to the outlet 702 side. The area of ​​the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of airflow is the flow area A5 of the expanded airflow channel 730.

[0096] The flow area A5 of the enlarged flow channel 730 is larger than the flow area A1 of the upper flow channel 401 of the first pipe 400 and the flow area A4 of the lower flow channel 501 of the second pipe 500. For example, the flow area A5 is more than 10 times the flow area A1 and A4.

[0097] The expanded channel 730 is partitioned in the direction from the inlet 701 to the outlet 702 (front-to-back direction) by a first partition wall 740 located on the inlet 701 side and a second partition wall 750 located on the outlet 702 side, dividing it into a first region 733, a second region 734, and a third region 735 from the inlet 701 side. A circular first opening 741 is provided in the center of the first partition wall 740, and a smaller circular second opening 751 is provided in the center of the second partition wall 750. The first region 733 and the second region 734 are connected through the first opening 741, and the second region 734 and the third region 735 are connected through the second opening 751. The first partition wall 740 and the second partition wall 750 correspond to the "partition wall" of the present invention, and the first opening 741 and the second opening 751 correspond to the "opening" of the present invention.

[0098] In this modified example, when on / off control of the ozone generator 200 is initiated, ozone gas or air in the off state flows through the upper channel 401 of the first pipe 400 to the mixing section 700, and flows into the expanded channel 730 from the inlet 701 of the mixing section 700.

[0099] As shown by the arrows in Figure 7, the ozone gas or off-air flowing into the expanding channel 730 flows sequentially through the first region 733, the second region 734, and the third region 735, and heads toward the outlet 702 of the mixing section 700. At this time, the ozone gas or off-air flowing into the expanding channel 730 slows down as the channel area expands from the upper channel 401, causing it to flow slowly through the expanding channel 730. In addition, in the first region 733, the ozone gas or off-air is blocked by the first partition wall 740 and gradually flows out into the second region 734 through the first opening 741, resulting in a flow delay. Furthermore, in the second region 734, the ozone gas or off-air is blocked by the second partition wall 750 and gradually flows out into the third region 735 through the second opening 751, resulting in a flow delay. This makes it easier for ozone gas or off-air to accumulate (delay) within the expanded flow path 730, allowing the ozone gas and off-air to mix effectively. The mixed ozone gas is then discharged from the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600 into the lower flow path 501 of the second pipe 500.

[0100] Furthermore, in the direction of airflow (forward and backward) through the expanded channel 730, the size of the second region 734 is smaller than the size of the first region 733, and the size of the third region 735 is smaller than the size of the second region 734. In other words, the volume of each region gradually decreases from the inlet 701 to the outlet 702 of the mixing section 700. As a result, the ozone gas and the off-state air are more easily mixed in the expanded channel 730.

[0101] Thus, according to this modification, since the ozone gas and the air when the unit is off are mixed in the mixing section 700, the ozone gas discharged from the supply section 300 to the circulation section 110 will have less of a difference in ozone concentration between when the ozone generator 200 is on and when it is off. This makes it possible to suppress fluctuations in the ozone concentration of the ozone gas supplied to the washing tub W when the on / off control is performed.

[0102] <Other examples of changes> The ozone generating unit 220 of the ozone generator 200 may be an ozone generator other than a discharge type, as long as it can generate ozone from the air.

[0103] Furthermore, the fan device 120 does not need to be located in the circulation path 110, as long as it can send the ozone gas generated by the ozone generator 200 and flowing through the supply path 300 to the washing tub W. For example, the fan device 120 may be located in a dedicated supply path connecting the supply path 300 and the washing tub W. Moreover, the fan device 120 may be located upstream of the ozone generator 200 in the airflow. In this case, for example, the supply path 300 is connected to the washing tub W. The fan device 120 takes in outside air and sends it to the ozone generator 200, and the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator 200 is supplied to the washing tub W through the supply path 300.

[0104] Furthermore, the supply passage section 300 may be configured without a second pipe 500. In this case, for example, the outlets 602, 702 of the mixing sections 600, 700 and the second connecting pipes 604, 704 may be directly connected to the inlet 111a of the circulation passage 110.

[0105] Furthermore, in the mixing section 600 of the above embodiment, the second wall surface 632 of the first flow path 630 may be shaped such that only a part of it is inclined and concave, rather than the entire surface. Alternatively, the second wall surface 632 may be shaped so that it is not inclined and concave. Furthermore, the second flow path 640 may be shaped so that it does not meander and extends almost linearly from the outlet 633 to the outlet 602 of the mixing section 600. Furthermore, the flow path area A3 of the second flow path 640 may gradually decrease from the upstream side of the bend in the flow path. Furthermore, the flow path area A3 of the second flow path 640 may not gradually decrease.

[0106] Furthermore, in the mixing section 700 of the above embodiment, the first opening 741 of the first partition wall 740 and the second opening 751 of the second partition wall 750 may be the same size and positioned so as not to overlap in the direction in which the two partition walls are aligned. Also, in the direction in which air flows through the expanding channel 730, two or all of the first region 733, the second region 734, and the third region 735 may be the same size. Furthermore, the expanding channel 730 may be partitioned by only one partition wall, or it may be partitioned by three or more partition walls. That is, the expanding channel 730 may be divided into two regions or four or more regions.

[0107] Furthermore, the above embodiment illustrates a drum-type washer-dryer 1 equipped with a horizontal-axis drum 23. However, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called vertical washer-dryer equipped with a vertical-axis washing and dewatering tub having a pulsator inside the outer tub. Moreover, the present invention can also be applied to a washing machine that does not have a drying function.

[0108] In addition, the embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea set forth in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0109] 1. Drum-type washer-dryer (washing machine) 60 Control Unit 120 Fan Device 200 Ozone Generators 300 Supply channel section 401 Upstream channel 600 Mixing section 601 Entrance 602 Exit 630 First channel 631 First Wall 632 Second Wall 633 Outlet 640 Second channel 700 Mixing section 701 Entrance 702 Exit 730 Widening channel 740 First partition wall (partition wall) 741 First opening (opening) 750 Second partition wall (partition wall) 751 Second opening (opening) W washing tub

Claims

1. The washing tub where the washing takes place, An ozone generator that generates ozone from air taken in from the outside and discharges the air containing the ozone as ozone gas, A fan device for supplying the ozone gas to the washing tub, The operation of the fan device causes the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator to flow toward the washing tub in a supply passage section, The ozone generator is equipped with a control unit that performs on / off control, The supply passage is provided with a mixing section that mixes the ozone gas discharged from the ozone generator when it is ON with the air discharged from the ozone generator when it is OFF. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

2. In the washing machine according to claim 1, The supply passage has an upper flow path connected to the inlet of the mixing section, located upstream of the mixing section in the airflow. The mixing section has a first channel and a second channel, which have a larger channel area than the upper channel. The first channel has a first wall surface and a second wall surface that face each other, The first wall surface and the second wall surface have an entrance provided at one end of the first wall surface. The other end of the first wall and the second wall is provided with an outlet at the other end of the second wall. The second flow path connects the outlet and the outlet of the mixing section. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

3. In the washing machine according to claim 2, The second wall surface is inclined and concavely curved so as it moves away from the first wall surface from one end to the other end. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

4. In the washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, The second channel described above is meandering. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

5. In the washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, The second flow path has a flow path area that gradually decreases toward the outlet. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

6. In the washing machine according to claim 1, The supply passage has an upper flow path connected to the inlet of the mixing section, located upstream of the mixing section in the airflow. The mixing section has an enlarged channel with a larger channel area than the upper channel, The aforementioned expanded channel is One end face has the inlet and the other end face has the outlet of the mixing section, In the direction from the entrance to the exit, the area is partitioned by a partition wall having an opening. A washing machine characterized by the following features.

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