Clothes Processing Equipment

Abstract

To provide a clothing treatment device capable of satisfying desired sterilization performance without adversely affecting a human body.SOLUTION: A clothing treatment device includes: a storage tub capable of storing clothing; an ozone generation device 30 for generating ozone, and capable of supplying ozone to the storage tub; a detection part 33 capable of detecting at least one of temperature and humidity of a supply path of ozone; and a control part 40 for controlling a clothing treatment operation for performing predetermined treatment with respect to the clothing, and for controlling the operation of the ozone generation device. The control part 40 controls the generation amount of ozone by the ozone generation device 30 to an amount of a predetermined range based on the detection result by the detection part 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clothes treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some clothes treatment devices such as washing and drying machines have a function of deactivating bacteria, mold, viruses, etc. attached to clothes, the water tank, etc. by supplying ozone generated by an ozone generator to a water tank that functions as a storage tank for storing clothes such as laundry. Since ozone may have adverse effects on the human body depending on its concentration, it is desirable to use it at the lowest possible concentration when there is a possibility that it may be inhaled by a person, but the performance and effect of sterilization, etc. improves as the ozone concentration increases and the ozone supply time increases. Therefore, the ozone concentration in a washing and drying machine having the above function is required to be as high as possible within a range that takes safety into consideration.

[0003] However, a washer-dryer can perform various types of operations such as a washing operation, a drying operation, and a washing-drying operation, and the temperature and humidity in the water tub change significantly depending on each operation. It is known that the higher the temperature and humidity, the less ozone is generated and the shorter its lifespan, i.e., half-life. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve both safety for the human body and sterilization effects with respect to the concentration of ozone in a washer-dryer, in which the temperature and humidity in the water tub change significantly as described above. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-087590 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a clothing treatment device that can achieve the desired sterilization performance without adversely affecting the human body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The clothing treatment device according to the embodiment includes a storage tank capable of storing clothing, an ozone generator capable of generating ozone and supplying the ozone to the storage tank, a detection unit capable of detecting at least one of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path, and a control unit that controls a clothing treatment operation for performing a predetermined treatment on the clothing and also controls the operation of the ozone generator. At least one of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path detected by the Based on this, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator is controlled within a predetermined range. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional rear view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the detected temperature and the output when the ozone control unit according to the first embodiment continuously changes the output of the ozone generator in response to the detected temperature. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the detected temperature and the output when the ozone control unit according to the first embodiment changes the output of the ozone generator stepwise in accordance with the detected temperature. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the detected humidity and the output when the ozone control unit according to the first embodiment continuously changes the output of the ozone generator in response to the detected humidity. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the detected humidity and the output when the ozone control unit according to the first embodiment changes the output of the ozone generator stepwise in accordance with the detected humidity. [Figure 8]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of processing contents executed by a control unit during execution of a clothing processing operation according to the first embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature, humidity, and ozone concentration in an ozone supply path when ozone is supplied to a water tank during execution of a drying step according to the first embodiment and a comparative example. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a second embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between time and output when an ozone control unit according to a second embodiment changes the output of an ozone generator according to the time elapsed from the start of a drying step. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a third embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between time and output when an ozone control unit according to a third embodiment controls the output operation of an ozone generator according to the time elapsed from the start of a drying step. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, a number of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate substantially the same components in the respective embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted. (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0009] The washing machine 1 of the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is capable of performing operations for performing processes such as washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying on clothes, and is an example of a clothes processing device capable of performing clothes processing operations for performing predetermined processes on clothes. Specifically, the washing machine 1 is capable of performing a washing operation, a drying operation, and a washing and drying operation.

[0010] In this embodiment, the washing machine 1 is a so-called drum-type washing and drying machine with a function of washing clothes and a function of drying clothes, and also functions as a clothes dryer for drying clothes in the drying process. The housing 2 constituting the main body of the washing machine 1 is substantially rectangular box-shaped, and its front part 2a is formed with a slight forward downward inclination. A clothes entrance (not shown) is formed in the front part 2a. In addition, a door 3 for opening and closing the clothes entrance is provided rotatably on the front part 2a.

[0011] In the housing 2, the water tub 4 is elastically supported via a suspension 5. The water tub 4 is a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open front and a closed rear, with its axis oriented in the front-rear direction and arranged in a slightly upward inclined state. The water tub 4 is an example of a storage tub capable of storing clothes. The front opening of the water tub 4 is connected to an inlet and outlet via a bellows-like bellows (not shown). The water tub 4 also functions as an example of a washing tub in a washing process for washing laundry such as clothes and a rinsing process for rinsing the laundry, as an example of a spin tub that receives water dehydrated from a rotating tub described later in a spin tub process for spinning the laundry, and as an example of a drying tub in a drying process for drying the laundry.

[0012] A drum 6, which is an example of a rotating tub, is rotatably disposed within the water tub 4. Like the water tub 4, the drum 6 is cylindrical with an opening at the front and a closed rear, with its axis oriented in the front-to-rear direction and tilted slightly upward at the front. A large number of holes 6a are formed in the peripheral wall and rear wall of the drum 6. These holes 6a function as water holes through which water passes during the washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes, and as ventilation holes through which drying air passes during the drying process.

[0013] A drum motor 7 is provided at the rear of the water tub 4, and the drum 6 is rotated by the drum motor 7 via a rotary shaft 7a. Note that a plurality of baffles (not shown) for stirring up the laundry are provided inside the peripheral wall of the drum 6. Laundry such as clothes is stored in and out of the drum 6 through the clothes entrance, the opening of the water tub 4, and the opening of the drum 6 so as to be able to be taken in and out of the drum 6.

[0014] The water tub 4 has an upward air outlet 8b at the top of the front part of the peripheral wall, and an air inlet 8a at the top of the rear wall. A filter case 10 is connected to the top of the air outlet 8b via a connection duct 9 formed in a bellows shape to absorb vibrations. A lint filter (not shown) is removably attached to the filter housing section 10a in the filter case 10.

[0015] The front end of the exhaust duct 11 is connected to the rear of the filter case 10. The exhaust duct 11 extends from the filter case 10 at a gentle downward incline toward the rear, then turns downward, and its lower end is connected to the upstream side of the unit case 13 of the heat pump unit 12, which is provided in the rear lower part of the housing 2 below the water tank 4. An exhaust port 28a is provided in the upper part of the exhaust duct 11. The exhaust port 28a communicates the exhaust duct 11, and therefore the inside of the circulation air passage 20 described later, with the outside of the circulation air passage 20, and functions as an exhaust part that discharges air circulating in the circulation air passage 20 to the outside. The exhaust damper 35 opens and closes the exhaust port 28a, and is rotated by a damper motor (not shown). When the exhaust damper 35 opens and the exhaust port 28a is opened, a portion of the air flowing through the circulating air passage 20 is discharged from the exhaust port 28a through the external exhaust port 28b to the outside of the housing 2, as shown by the arrow D1 in FIG. 1.

[0016] Unit case 13 constitutes the outer shell of heat pump unit 12. Unit case 13 extends along the lateral direction of washing machine 1, i.e., along the horizontal direction, behind suspension 5. One end of air supply duct 19 is connected to the downstream side of unit case 13 via a connecting duct (not shown) formed in a bellows shape capable of absorbing vibrations. The other end of air supply duct 19 extends upward and is connected to air inlet 8a of water tub 4.

[0017] Here, washing machine 1 configures circulation air passage 20 that communicates between air outlet 8b and air inlet 8a of water tub 4 by means of connection duct 9, filter case 10, exhaust duct 11, unit case 13 of heat pump unit 12, air supply duct 19, etc. Circulation air passage 20 is outside water tub 4 and inside housing 2, with one end, or the upstream side, connected to air outlet 8b and the other end, or the downstream side, connected to air inlet 8a.

[0018] The heat pump 21 provided in the heat pump unit 12 configures a refrigeration cycle by connecting a compressor 22, a condenser 23, a throttle (not shown), and an evaporator 25 in a cycle by refrigerant pipes (not shown). Of these, the condenser 23 and the evaporator 25 that configure a heat exchanger are disposed inside the unit case 13 that configures a part of the circulation air duct 20. The circulation air duct 20 is also provided with a circulation blower 14. The circulation blower 14 circulates the air in the water tank 4 through the circulation air duct 20 by rotating the circulation fan 16 with the fan motor 17. By driving the circulation blower 14, the air in the water tank 4 is introduced into the circulation air duct 20 and flows from the upstream side, which is the air outlet 8b side, to the downstream side, which is the air inlet 8a side.

[0019] In the unit case 13, the evaporator 25 is disposed on the air outlet 8b side of the water tub 4, that is, on the upstream side of the circulation air duct 20. On the other hand, the condenser 23 is disposed on the air inlet 8a side of the water tub 4, that is, on the downstream side of the circulation air duct 20. That is, in the circulation air duct 20, the condenser 23 is disposed downstream of the evaporator 25. The evaporator 25 is an example of a dehumidifying means, and functions as a dehumidifying means that cools and dehumidifies the air that flows in the circulation air duct 20 from the air outlet 8b side to the air inlet 8a side, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side. On the other hand, the condenser 23 is an example of a heating means, and functions as a heating means that heats the air that flows in the circulation air duct 20 from the air outlet 8b side to the air inlet 8a side, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0020] According to the above configuration, hot air, which is air heated by the action of heat pump 21, is supplied into water tub 4 by the action of circulation fan 14. Thus, in this embodiment, heat pump 21 functions as a heating device that heats the air supplied into water tub 4. Note that the heating device is not limited to a heating method using heat pump 21, and various heating methods such as a heater type can be adopted. Also, washing machine 1 does not need to have each component for supplying hot air for drying into water tub 4 described above, that is, it does not need to have a drying function.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine 1 includes an ozone generator 30 capable of generating ozone and supplying the ozone to the water tub 4. In this embodiment, the ozone generator 30 is attached to the circulation air duct 20, more specifically, to the vicinity of the end of the air supply duct 19 on the unit case 13 side. In this case, the ozone generator 30 is provided such that an ozone generating section 30a that generates ozone is exposed in the circulation air duct 20. The ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 by the action of the circulation blower 14. The ozone generator 30 can control the amount of ozone generated by changing its output.

[0022] The output of the ozone generator 30 varies depending on the time that the power supply is turned on. Therefore, the output of the ozone generator 30, and hence the amount of ozone generated, can be reduced by shortening the time that the power supply is turned on, and can be increased by lengthening the time that the power supply is turned on. In this embodiment, the ozone generator 30 controls its output, and hence the amount of ozone generated, by controlling the on / off duty of its power supply.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine 1 includes a detection unit 33 including a temperature sensor 31 capable of detecting the temperature of the ozone supply path between the ozone generator 30 and the water tank 4, and a humidity sensor 32 capable of detecting the humidity of the ozone supply path. The detection unit 33 is provided in the circulating air passage 20, and more specifically, in the vicinity of the end of the exhaust duct 11 on the filter case 10 side. The detection unit 33 may include only one of the temperature sensor 31 and the humidity sensor 32. That is, the detection unit 33 can be configured to detect at least one of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path between the ozone generator 30 and the water tank 4. The detection unit 33 may be configured to detect the temperature or humidity of the ozone supply path through which ozone is supplied, for example, the temperature or humidity in the water tank 4.

[0024] Washing machine 1 includes control unit 40 shown in Fig. 3. Control unit 40 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having storage areas such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and rewritable flash memory (not shown), and controls the overall operation of washing machine 1. Circulation blower 14, heat pump 21, ozone generator 30, etc. are connected to control unit 40. Circulation blower 14, heat pump 21, and ozone generator 30 are controlled by control unit 40.

[0025] The control unit 40 is connected to the temperature sensor 31 and humidity sensor 32 of the detection unit 33, and receives a temperature detection signal indicating the detected temperature, which is the temperature of the ozone supply path detected by the temperature sensor 31, and a humidity detection signal indicating the detected humidity, which is the humidity of the ozone supply path detected by the humidity sensor 32. A door lock mechanism 34 is connected to the control unit 40.

[0026] The door lock mechanism 34 is a mechanism for locking the door 3 to fix the clothes entrance / exit in a closed state. The door lock mechanism 34 is controlled by the control unit 40. The control unit 40 is connected to an exhaust damper 35. The exhaust damper 35 is for opening and closing an exhaust port (not shown) provided in the circulation air duct 20. The exhaust port is for discharging a portion of the air circulating in the circulation air duct 20. The exhaust damper 35 is controlled by the control unit 40.

[0027] The control unit 40 includes functional blocks such as an operation control unit 41 and an ozone control unit 42. These functional blocks are realized by the CPU of the control unit 40 executing a computer program stored in a ROM or the like to execute processing corresponding to the computer program, that is, by software. Note that at least a part of each functional block may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

[0028] The operation control unit 41 controls the clothes processing operations for carrying out a predetermined process on the clothes, specifically the washing operation, drying operation, and washing and drying operation. Of these clothes processing operations, the drying operation and washing and drying operation include a process of performing a heating operation by the heat pump 21. The operation control unit 41 controls the door lock mechanism 34 to execute the door lock that fixes the clothes entrance / exit in a closed state by the door 3 while the clothes processing operation is being performed, and to release the door lock when the clothes processing operation is temporarily stopped or when the clothes processing operation is ended.

[0029] The ozone control unit 42 controls the operation of the ozone generator 30 and the circulation blower 14 so as to supply ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 to the water tub 4 while the clothing treatment operation is being performed. The ozone control unit 42 can also control the operation of the ozone generator 30 and the circulation blower 14 so as to supply ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 to the water tub 4 during a period when the clothing treatment operation is not being performed.

[0030] When ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the laundry treatment operation, the ozone control unit 42 is configured to reduce the opening degree of the exhaust damper 35 compared to when ozone is not supplied to the water tub 4. In the present embodiment, when ozone is supplied to the water tub 4, the ozone control unit 42 sets the opening degree of the exhaust damper 35 to zero, that is, closes the exhaust damper 35.

[0031] The ozone control unit 42 controls the ozone generator 30 based on at least one of the temperature detection signal and the humidity detection signal, i.e., based on the detection result by the detection unit 33, and controls the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 to be within a predetermined range. As described in the prior art, the higher the temperature and humidity, the less ozone is generated and the shorter the life of the ozone becomes. Therefore, the ozone control unit 42 controls the ozone generator 30 so that the amount of ozone generated is within a predetermined range, regardless of whether the temperature or humidity of the ozone supply path changes.

[0032] In this case, the predetermined range of the amount is set to a range of the amount that can provide an ozone concentration that is safe for the human body and that satisfies the desired sterilization performance. More specifically, the ozone control unit 42 controls the ozone generator 30 so that the ozone concentration is as high as possible below the safe threshold concentration, regardless of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path. The safe threshold concentration can be set to, for example, 0.05 [ppm].

[0033] The ozone control unit 42 can control the amount of ozone generated to be within a predetermined range by changing the output of the ozone generator 30 according to the temperature detected by the detection unit 33. When the temperature of the ozone supply path is relatively low, the amount of ozone generated is large and the lifespan is long, resulting in a high ozone concentration. When the temperature of the ozone supply path is relatively high, the amount of ozone generated is small and the lifespan is short, resulting in a low ozone concentration.

[0034] Therefore, when the detected temperature is relatively low, the ozone control unit 42 can suppress the output of the ozone generator 30, and when the detected temperature is relatively high, the ozone control unit 42 can increase the output of the ozone generator 30. By doing so, the amount of ozone generated can be controlled to a predetermined range, and as a result, the concentration of ozone can be kept constant. Note that the "constant" as referred to in this specification is not limited to a value that does not change at all, but also includes a value that changes within a range where the desired effect can be obtained.

[0035] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the ozone control unit 42 can continuously change the output of the ozone generator 30 according to the detected temperature, and more specifically, can change the output of the ozone generator 30 in proportion to the detected temperature. The unit of temperature in FIG. 4 and the like is [°C]. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the ozone control unit 42 can change the output of the ozone generator 30 stepwise according to the detected temperature. In this case, the ozone control unit 42 is configured to switch the output of the ozone generator 30 to four levels of A1, A2, A3, and A4. Note that the values of each output of the ozone generator 30 have a relationship of "A1 < A2 < A3 < A4".

[0036] Specifically, when the detected temperature is less than the first threshold temperature T1, the ozone control unit 42 sets the output to A1, when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the first threshold temperature T1 and less than the second threshold temperature T2, the ozone control unit 42 sets the output to A2, when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the second threshold temperature T2 and less than the third threshold temperature T3, the ozone control unit 42 sets the output to A3, and when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the third threshold temperature T3, the ozone control unit 42 sets the output to A4. Note that the values of each threshold temperature have a relationship of "T1 < T2 < T3 < T4".

[0037] The ozone control unit 42 can control the ozone generation amount to be within a predetermined range by changing the output of the ozone generator 30 according to the detected humidity detected by the detection unit 33. When the humidity in the ozone supply path is relatively low, the ozone generation amount increases and the lifespan becomes longer, so the ozone concentration becomes high. Also, when the humidity in the ozone supply path is relatively high, the ozone generation amount decreases and the lifespan becomes shorter, so the ozone concentration becomes low.

[0038] Therefore, the ozone control unit 42 can suppress the output of the ozone generator 30 when the detected humidity is relatively low, and increase the output of the ozone generator 30 when the detected humidity is relatively high. By doing so, the ozone generation amount can be controlled to be within a predetermined range, and as a result, the ozone concentration can be kept constant. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the ozone control unit 42 can continuously change the output of the ozone generator 30 according to the detected humidity. More specifically, the output of the ozone generator 30 can be changed in proportion to the detected humidity. In this case, the humidity is the relative humidity, and the unit of humidity in FIG. 6 and the like is [%]. Note that the humidity may be the absolute humidity.

[0039] Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the ozone control unit 42 can change the output of the ozone generator 30 stepwise according to the detected humidity. In this case, the ozone control unit 42 switches the output of the ozone generator 30 in four steps: B1, B2, B3, and B4. Note that the values of each output of the ozone generator 30 have the relationship of "B1 < B2 < B3 < B4". Specifically, the ozone control unit 42 sets the output to B1 when the detected humidity is less than the first threshold humidity φ1, sets the output to B2 when the detected humidity is greater than or equal to the first threshold humidity φ1 and less than the second threshold humidity φ2, sets the output to B3 when the detected humidity is greater than or equal to the second threshold humidity φ2 and less than the third threshold humidity φ3, and sets the output to B4 when the detected humidity is greater than or equal to the third threshold humidity φ3. Note that the values of each threshold humidity have the relationship of "φ1 < φ2 < φ3 < φ4".

[0040] The ozone control unit 42 can also change the output of the ozone generator 30 in response to both the detected temperature and the detected humidity. The gradient of the output of the ozone generator 30 that changes in response to the detected temperature shown in Fig. 4 is larger than the gradient of the output of the ozone generator 30 that changes in response to the detected humidity shown in Fig. 6. Moreover, the outputs A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the ozone generator 30 in Fig. 5 are larger than the outputs B1, B2, B3, and B4 of the ozone generator 30 in Fig. 7. Therefore, in the control that changes the output of the ozone generator 30 in response to both the detected temperature and the detected humidity, the detected temperature is given priority.

[0041] When ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is being supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the clothing treatment operation, the ozone control unit 42 stops the operation of the ozone generator 30 at a predetermined set time before the door is unlocked by the operation control unit 41. When the ozone control unit 42 stops the operation of the ozone generator 30 as described above, it can continue to operate the circulation blower 14. Such an operation is realized by the control unit 40 executing the process shown in FIG. 8 during the execution of the clothing treatment operation.

[0042] That is, as shown in Fig. 8, in step S110, in response to an operation to end or pause the clothing treatment operation, the clothing treatment operation is ended or paused. After step S110 is executed, the process proceeds to step S120, where the operation of the ozone generator 30 is stopped. After step S120 is executed, the process proceeds to step S130, where it is determined whether a predetermined set time, for example, three minutes, has elapsed. Here, if the set time has elapsed, step S130 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S140. In step S140, the door lock is released.

[0043] According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. The washing machine 1 includes an ozone generator 30 capable of generating ozone and supplying the ozone to the water tub 4, a detection unit 33 capable of detecting at least one of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path between the ozone generator 30 and the water tub 4, and an ozone control unit 42 that controls the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 to within a predetermined range based on the detection result by the detection unit 33.

[0044] According to this configuration, the ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 can be used to deactivate bacteria, mold, and viruses attached to clothes, the water tank 4, and the like. Also, according to this configuration, the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is changed by detecting the temperature and humidity that affect the ozone concentration, so that the ozone concentration can always be kept at an optimum concentration. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect of achieving the desired sterilization performance without adversely affecting the human body.

[0045] The ozone control unit 42 can suppress the output of the ozone generator 30 when the temperature detected by the detection unit 33 is relatively low, and can increase the output of the ozone generator 30 when the detected temperature is relatively high. The ozone control unit 42 can also suppress the output of the ozone generator 30 when the humidity detected by the detection unit 33 is relatively low, and can increase the output of the ozone generator 30 when the humidity detected by the detection unit 33 is relatively high. In this way, the amount of ozone generated can be controlled within a predetermined range, and as a result, the ozone concentration can be kept constant.

[0046] The effect obtained by this embodiment becomes clearer when compared with a comparative example having a configuration corresponding to the conventional technology in which the output of the ozone generator 30 is fixed without being changed. Fig. 9 shows the transition of the temperature, humidity, and ozone concentration in the ozone supply path when ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tank 4 during the drying process for each of this embodiment and the comparative example.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 9, in the period before time ta, that is, in the first half of the drying process, the temperature is particularly low, so that the amount of ozone generated tends to be large. In this embodiment, since the detected temperature is low during the first half of the drying process, control is performed to suppress the output of the ozone generator 30. As a result, in this embodiment, during the first half of the drying process, the ozone concentration increases to near the safety threshold concentration Th and then starts to decrease, so that the ozone concentration does not exceed the safety threshold concentration Th and is maintained at a concentration as high as possible below the safety threshold concentration Th. In contrast, in the comparative example, since the output of the ozone generator 30 is fixed during the first half of the drying process, the amount of ozone generated increases to a level significantly exceeding the safety threshold concentration Th, and then finally starts to decrease.

[0048] In addition, in the period after time ta, that is, in the latter half of the drying process, the temperature is particularly high, so the amount of ozone generated tends to be small. In this embodiment, the output of the ozone generator 30 is increased because the detected temperature is high in the latter half of the drying process. As a result, in this embodiment, the ozone concentration initially increases once in the latter half of the drying process. As a result, in this embodiment, the ozone concentration is maintained as high as possible below the safety threshold concentration Th even in the latter half of the drying process. In contrast, in the comparative example, the ozone concentration initially remains above the safety threshold concentration Th even in the latter half of the drying process, and then the ozone concentration naturally decreases, especially with an increase in temperature, and eventually becomes below the safety threshold concentration Th.

[0049] Thus, in the comparative example, the ozone concentration may exceed the safety threshold concentration Th throughout the entire drying process, making it difficult to balance the safety of the ozone concentration to the human body with the effect of sterilization, etc. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the ozone concentration does not exceed the safety threshold concentration Th throughout the entire drying process, and is maintained at a concentration as high as possible below the safety threshold concentration Th. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to balance the safety of the ozone concentration to the human body with the effect of sterilization, etc.

[0050] The ozone control unit 42 is configured to close the exhaust damper 35 when ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the laundry treatment operation. In this manner, the ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 can be efficiently used for sterilization and the like without leaking outside the machine. In addition, in this manner, for example, when ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the drying process, the temperature of the ozone supply path can be quickly increased, and the ozone can quickly pass through a low-temperature region where the ozone concentration becomes high, further reducing the possibility of adverse effects on the human body.

[0051] If ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the clothing treatment operation, there is a risk that the ozone will leak out if the door 3 is opened thereafter. Therefore, if ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 is supplied to the water tub 4 during the execution of the clothing treatment operation, the ozone control unit 42 is configured to stop the operation of the ozone generator 30 a predetermined set time before the door is unlocked, and to continue the operation of the circulation blower 14. In this way, it is possible to have the ozone in the water tub 4 disappear when the door is unlocked, thereby improving safety.

[0052] Second embodiment The second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the control unit 40. That is, as shown in Fig. 10, the control unit 40 of this embodiment is different in that it includes an ozone control unit 43 instead of the ozone control unit 42.

[0053] In addition to or instead of the same control as the ozone control unit 42, the ozone control unit 43 can perform the following control. That is, when the ozone control unit 43 executes a washing and drying operation or a drying operation, which is a clothing treatment operation including a drying process that is a process of operating the heat pump 21, the output of the ozone generator 30 is suppressed in a first period, which is a period from the start point of the drying process until a predetermined time tb has elapsed, compared to a second period, which is a period after the predetermined time tb has elapsed.

[0054] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the ozone control unit 43 executes the output operation of the ozone generator 30 from the start point of the drying process. Then, the ozone control unit 43 changes the output of the ozone generator 30 step by step according to the time elapsed from the start point of the drying process. In this case, the ozone control unit 43 switches the output of the ozone generator 30 between two steps, C1 and C2. Note that the values of each output of the ozone generator 30 have a relationship of "C1 < C2". Specifically, the ozone control unit 43 sets the output to C1 in the first period from the start point of the drying process until a predetermined time tb has elapsed, and sets the output to C2 in the second period after the predetermined time tb has elapsed.

[0055] According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. As described above in the first embodiment, in the first half of the drying process, the amount of ozone generated tends to increase. Therefore, if the ozone generator 30 is operated at a constant output as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 9, the ozone concentration rises to the maximum concentration at a predetermined time, for example, about 10 to 20 minutes after the start of the drying process, and then gradually decreases.

[0056] Therefore, when the ozone control unit 43 executes a clothing treatment operation including a drying process, the output of the ozone generator 30 is suppressed in a first period, which is a period from the start point of the drying process until a predetermined time tb has elapsed, compared to a second period, which is a period after the predetermined time tb has elapsed. Note that the predetermined time tb can be set to a time when the ozone concentration is considered to rise to the maximum concentration, for example, 10 to 20 minutes.

[0057] That is, the ozone control unit 43 suppresses the output of the ozone generator 30 in the first half of the drying process when the ozone concentration is likely to increase, and increases the output of the ozone generator 30 in the second half of the drying process when the ozone concentration is unlikely to increase. In this way, the amount of ozone generated can be controlled to a predetermined range, and as a result, the ozone concentration can be kept constant. Therefore, like the first embodiment, this embodiment also has the excellent effect of achieving the desired sterilization performance without adversely affecting the human body.

[0058] Third embodiment The third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the control unit 40. That is, as shown in Fig. 12, the control unit 40 of this embodiment is different in that it includes an ozone control unit 44 instead of the ozone control unit 42.

[0059] The ozone control unit 44 can execute the following control in addition to or instead of the same control as the ozone control unit 42. That is, when executing a washing / drying operation or a drying operation, which is a clothing processing operation including a drying step, which is a step for executing the operation of the heat pump 21, the ozone control unit 44 stops the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a first period, which is a period from the start of the drying step until a predetermined time tc has elapsed, and executes the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a second period, which is a period after the predetermined time tc has elapsed.

[0060] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 13, the ozone control unit 44 stops the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a first period from the start of the drying process until a predetermined time tc has elapsed. Then, the ozone control unit 44 executes the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a second period after the predetermined time tc has elapsed from the start of the drying process. The output of the ozone generator 30 at this time is kept constant at D1.

[0061] According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. If the ozone generator 30 is configured in such a way that the output cannot be varied or the minimum output value must be relatively large due to restrictions such as the minimum power-on time, the control method for the ozone generator 30 by the ozone control unit 43 of the second embodiment may cause the ozone concentration to rise above the safety threshold concentration during the first half of the drying process.

[0062] Therefore, when performing a clothes treatment operation including a drying step, the ozone control unit 44 stops the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a first period that is a period from the start of the drying step until the predetermined time tc has elapsed, and performs the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during a second period that is a period after the predetermined time tc has elapsed. The predetermined time tc can be set based on the same concept as the predetermined time tb in the second embodiment.

[0063] That is, the ozone control unit 44 stops the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during the first half of the drying process when the ozone concentration is likely to increase, and executes the output operation of the ozone generator 30 during the second half of the drying process when the ozone concentration is unlikely to increase. In this way, even if the ozone generator 30 is configured to be unable to vary the output or has a configuration in which the minimum output value is inevitably relatively large, the amount of ozone generated can be controlled to a predetermined range, and as a result, the concentration of ozone can be kept constant. Therefore, like the first embodiment, this embodiment also has the excellent effect of being able to achieve the desired sterilization performance without adversely affecting the human body.

[0064] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be modified, combined, or expanded as desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The numerical values ​​and the like shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the washing machine 1 which is a drum type washer-dryer, but can be applied to all clothing processing devices, such as vertical axis washing machines, washer-dryers, and dryers, that can perform clothing processing operations to perform specified processes on clothing, such as washing, drying, and deodorization. The ozone generator 30 may be configured in any way so long as it is capable of generating ozone and supplying the ozone to the water tank 4, and the configuration and installation location thereof may be appropriately changed.

[0066] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] In the drawing, 1 indicates a washing machine, 3 indicates a door, 4 indicates a water tank (storage tank), 21 indicates a heat pump (heating device), 30 indicates an ozone generator, 33 indicates a detection unit, and 40 indicates a control unit.

Claims

1. A storage tank capable of storing clothing; an ozone generator capable of generating ozone and supplying the ozone to the storage tank; A detection unit capable of detecting at least one of a temperature and a humidity of the ozone supply path; A control unit controls a clothes treatment operation for performing a predetermined treatment on the clothes and controls the operation of the ozone generator; Equipped with The control unit controls the amount of ozone generated by the ozone generator to be within a predetermined range based on at least one of the temperature and humidity of the ozone supply path detected by the detection unit.

2. The detection unit is capable of detecting a temperature of the ozone supply path, The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit changes an output of the ozone generator in response to a detected temperature, which is a temperature of the ozone supply path detected by the detection unit.

3. The detection unit is capable of detecting humidity in the ozone supply path, The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit changes an output of the ozone generator in response to a detected humidity, which is the humidity of the ozone supply path detected by the detection unit.

4. The apparatus further includes a heating device for heating air supplied into the storage tank, A clothing processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when performing the clothing processing operation including a process of operating the heating device, the control unit suppresses the output of the ozone generator during a first period, which is the period from the start of the process until a predetermined time has elapsed, compared to a second period, which is the period after the predetermined time has elapsed.

5. The apparatus further includes a heating device for heating air supplied into the storage tank, The clothing processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, when executing the clothing processing operation including a step of operating the heating device, the control unit stops the output operation of the ozone generator during a first period which is a period from the start of the step until a predetermined time has elapsed, and executes the output operation of the ozone generator during a second period which is a period after the predetermined time has elapsed.

6. Further, a door for opening and closing a clothing entrance through which the clothing can be put in and taken out of the storage tub is provided, The control unit is a door lock is executed to fix the clothes inlet / outlet in a closed state by the door during the execution of the clothes processing operation, and the door lock is released when the clothes processing operation is temporarily stopped or when the clothes processing operation is ended, A clothing treatment device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when the ozone generated by the ozone generator is supplied to the storage tank during the clothing treatment operation, the operation of the ozone generator is stopped at a predetermined set time before the door lock is released.

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