Washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine having high sterilization effect with UV light irradiation.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes an outer tank, a rotary tub rotatably disposed in the outer tank, capable of housing clothing, a water supply mechanism capable of pouring water into the outer tank from an outer water source, a UV light irradiation device capable of irradiating the inside of the rotary tub with UV light, and an operation processing part capable of executing a washing operation to wash clothing in the rotary tub with water reserved in the outer tank, and a UV light irradiation operation to activate the UV light irradiation device before running the washing operation such that the clothing housed in the rotary tub is irradiated with the UV light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, washing machines and the like that can irradiate clothes with ultraviolet rays have been proposed to suppress the growth of various bacteria such as clothes.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in such a conventional washing machine, there is still room for improvement in order to obtain a high sterilization effect by ultraviolet irradiation. Therefore, a washing machine capable of obtaining a high sterilization effect by ultraviolet irradiation is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The washing machine according to the embodiment includes an outer tub, a rotatable tub provided in the outer tub and capable of accommodating clothes, a water supply mechanism connected to an external water source and capable of injecting water from the external water source into the outer tub, an ultraviolet irradiation device capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays into the rotatable tub, a washing operation for storing water in the outer tub and washing the clothes in the rotatable tub, and an operation processing unit capable of executing an ultraviolet irradiation operation for operating the ultraviolet irradiation device before executing the washing operation and irradiating the clothes accommodated in the rotatable tub with ultraviolet rays.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The washing machine 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a horizontal-axis or diagonal-axis type drum washing and drying machine having a drying function. Note that the washing machine of the present embodiment can also be applied to a so-called fully automatic vertical-axis washing and drying machine. Further, the washing machine 10 of the present embodiment can also be applied to a configuration without a drying function.

[0008] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 includes an outer box 11, a door 12, an outer tub 13, a bellows 14, a rotating tub 15, a motor 16, a water supply mechanism 17, a drainage mechanism 18, and an operation panel 19. In the present embodiment, the front side of the washing machine 10 is the side of the door 11 with respect to the outer box 11, that is, the left side of the paper surface of FIG. 1. The outer box 11 is formed in a rectangular hollow box shape by, for example, a stainless steel plate or the like, and constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine 10. The outer box 11 has a clothing entrance 111 that communicates the inside and outside of the outer box 11 in the front side portion.

[0009] The door 12 is provided at the front part of the outer box 11 and is configured to be able to open and close the clothing entrance 111. The user can put the clothing 90 into the rotating tank 15 or take it out through the clothing entrance 111 with the door 12 open.

[0010] The outer tank 13 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening 131 on the front side. In the case of this embodiment, the outer tank 13 can store water inside, and in this case, it functions as a water tank. The outer tank 13 has an exhaust port 132 and an air supply port 133. The exhaust port 132 is, for example, at the upper front part of the peripheral wall constituting the cylindrical part of the outer tank 13, and is provided at a position away from the center in the left - right direction of the outer tank 13, that is, from the topmost part of the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the outer tank 13 in the left - right direction. The air supply port 133 is provided, for example, at a position slightly above the vertical center of the bottom at the bottom of the outer tank 13. The exhaust port 132 and the air supply port 133 communicate the inside and the outside of the outer tank 13.

[0011] The bellows 14 is provided around the clothing entrance 111 of the outer box 11 and the opening 131 of the outer tank 13. The bellows 14 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical bellows shape, and elastically connects the outer box 11 and the outer tank 13 in a state where the clothing entrance 111 and the opening 131 are in communication.

[0012] The rotating tank 15 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape capable of accommodating the clothing 90 and is rotatably accommodated inside the outer tank 13. The rotation axis of the rotating tank 15 coincides with the central axis of the outer tank 13. The rotating tank 15 has a plurality of communication ports 151. The communication ports 151 communicate the inside and the outside of the rotating tank 15. The communication ports 151 are formed over the entire peripheral wall constituting the cylindrical part of the rotating tank 15 and the bottom of the rotating tank 15. The communication ports 151 mainly function as water - passing holes for water to enter and exit during the washing operation and the dehydration operation, and function as ventilation holes for air to enter and exit during the drying operation. Also, although not shown in detail, a plurality of baffles are provided inside the cylindrical part of the rotating tank 15. The baffles stir the clothing 90 accommodated inside the rotating tank 15.

[0013] The motor 16 is provided, for example, outside the bottom of the outer tub 13. The tip side of the shaft portion 161 of the motor 16 protrudes into the interior of the outer tub 13 and is connected to the rotary tub 15. As the motor 16, for example, an outer-rotor type direct drive motor can be used. The shaft portion 161 of the motor 16 penetrates the bottom of the outer tub 13 and protrudes into the inside of the outer tub 13, and is fixed to the bottom of the rotary tub 15. The motor 16 rotates the rotary tub 15 relative to the outer tub 13. In this case, the shaft portion 161 of the motor 16, the central axis of the outer tub 13, and the rotation axis of the rotary tub 15 coincide with each other.

[0014] The water supply mechanism 17 is a device for injecting water supplied from an external water source such as a water supply into the outer tub 13. The water supply mechanism 17 is provided, for example, above the outer tub 13 on one side, left or right, inside the outer box 11. The water supply mechanism 17 includes a water supply valve 171, a water injection case 172, and a water injection hose 173. The water supply valve 171 is an electromagnetic drive type on-off valve for liquids and is connected to an external water source such as a water supply (not shown).

[0015] The water injection case 172 is configured to be able to store a laundry treatment agent such as a detergent or a finishing agent inside. The water injection hose 173 connects the water injection case 172 and the inside of the outer tub 13. The water supply valve 171 opens and closes a water injection path leading from an external water source through the water supply mechanism 17 into the outer tub 13. When the water supply valve 171 is opened, water from the external water source is injected into the outer tub 13 through the water injection case 172. If a laundry treatment agent is stored in the water injection case 172 during the water injection, the laundry treatment agent in the water injection case 172 rides on the water flowing through the water injection case 172 and is washed down into the outer tub 13. Note that the washing machine 10 does not necessarily have to include the water injection case 172. That is, the washing machine 10 may be configured such that the user directly inputs a laundry treatment agent into the outer tub 13. Further, the washing machine 10 may be provided with an automatic dosing device that automatically doses a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent into the outer tub 13 together with or in place of the water injection case 172.

[0016] The drainage mechanism 18 has the function of discharging the water stored inside the outer tub 13 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drainage mechanism 18 includes a drain valve 181 and a drain pipe 182. The drain valve 181 is an electromagnetic-driven on-off valve for liquids. The drain valve 181 opens and closes a drainage path leading from inside the outer tub 13, through the drainage mechanism 18, to the outside of the machine.

[0017] The operation panel 19 has the function of receiving operation inputs from the user regarding the settings and operation of the washing machine 10, and presenting information regarding the settings and operation of the washing machine 10 to the user by means such as display and voice. The operation panel 19 can be configured, for example, as a touch panel display, or can be configured with touch switches, mechanical switches, etc. Further, the operation panel 19 can be configured by combining a touch panel display with touch switches, mechanical switches, etc. The operation panel 19 is provided, for example, at the front side portion of the upper surface of the outer case 11.

[0018] Also, the washing machine 10 is equipped with a drying function. In the case of this embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes a circulation air path 20 and a warm air supply device 30. The circulation air path 20 connects an exhaust port 132 and an air supply port 133 on the outside of the outer tub 13. The circulation air path 20 has the function of taking in the air inside the outer tub 13 into the circulation air path 20 from the exhaust port 132, turning it into warm air through the warm air supply device 30, and then supplying the warm air into the outer tub 13 from the air supply port 133.

[0019] The circulation air path 20 can be configured to have, for example, an exhaust duct 21, a filter device 22, a connection duct 23, a heat exchange section 24, and an air supply duct 25. The exhaust duct 21, the filter device 22, the connection duct 23, the heat exchange section 24, and the air supply duct 25 are arranged in order along the flow of the air flowing through the circulation air path 20.

[0020] The exhaust duct 21 is a duct that connects the exhaust port 132 of the outer tank 13 and the filter device 22. The filter device 22 is provided with a filter (not shown) inside, and collects lint and foreign matters contained in the air flowing in the circulation air path 20. The connection duct 23 is a duct that connects the filter device 22 and the heat exchange section 24. The heat exchange section 24 is provided inside the lower part of the outer box 11 and below the outer tank 13 and the rotary tank 15. The air taken into the circulation air path 20 from the outer tank 13 is dehumidified and heated when passing through the heat exchange section 24 and becomes warm dry air. The supply duct 25 is a duct that connects the heat exchange section 24 and the air supply port 133 of the outer tank 13.

[0021] The warm air supply device 30 has a function of generating warm air for drying clothes in the rotary tank 15 and supplying the warm air into the outer tank 13 from the air supply port 133. The warm air supply device 30 can be configured to include, for example, a heat pump type or a heater type heating device. In the case of this embodiment, the warm air supply device 30 is configured to include a heat pump type heating device and has an evaporator 31, a condenser 32, and a compressor 33.

[0022] The evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 are provided inside the heat exchange section 24. The evaporator 31 is provided on the upstream side of the condenser 32 with respect to the air flow in the heat exchange section 24 during the drying operation. The evaporator 31 and the condenser 32, together with the compressor 33 provided outside the heat exchange section 24, constitute a heat pump mechanism, that is, a refrigeration cycle. The air passing through the heat exchange section 24 is cooled by the evaporator 31, and thereby dehumidified. The air dehumidified by the evaporator 31 is then heated by the condenser 32 and becomes warm air.

[0023] The downstream side of the heat exchange unit 24 is connected to the air supply port 133 of the outer tank 13 by the air supply duct 25. Further, the warm air supply device 30 includes a blower 34. The blower 34 is provided, for example, at the connection portion between the heat exchange unit 24 and the air supply duct 25, and can be composed of, for example, a sirocco fan or the like. The blower 34 sucks in the air inside the heat exchange unit 24 and discharges it toward the air supply duct 25 side. As a result, the warm air dehumidified and heated in the heat exchange unit 24 is supplied from the air supply port 133 into the outer tank 13 and further into the rotary tank 15 by the blowing action of the blower 34.

[0024] Also, when the blower 34 is operated with the compressor 33 stopped, unheated air is supplied into the rotary tank 15, whereby the temperature inside the rotary tank 15 decreases. Therefore, by operating the blower 34 with the compressor 33 stopped, the blower 34 exhibits the function of cooling the temperature inside the rotary tank 15.

[0025] Further, the washing machine 10 is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation device 40. The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be provided, for example, at a location other than the rotary tank 15 and at a position facing the inside of the rotary tank 15. The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be provided, for example, on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 131 of the outer tank 13, the inner peripheral surface of the bellows 14, or inside the door 12. In the case of this embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is provided, for example, at the uppermost part of the inner peripheral surface of the opening 131 of the outer tank 13 or the inner peripheral surface of the bellows 14.

[0026] The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 has the function of irradiating the inside of the rotary tank 15 with light rays containing ultraviolet rays, and can emit, for example, ultraviolet light with a wavelength in the range of 200 nm to 380 nm. In this case, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can irradiate ultraviolet rays downward toward the rotary tank 15, that is, toward the lower part of the peripheral wall of the rotary tank 15. In other words, when water is stored in the outer tank 13, the ultraviolet rays are irradiated toward the water surface side. The ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 have the ability to sterilize or disinfect by ultraviolet rays alone, that is, without using a catalyst or the like. In this case, considering the sterilization or disinfection power, the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is preferably in the range of 200 nm to 280 nm.

[0027] The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can adjust the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light, that is, the amount of irradiation energy of the ultraviolet light irradiated per unit time, in two or more steps. The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to adjust the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light in, for example, two steps of "strong" and "weak". In this case, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 adjusts the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light by adjusting the irradiation time of the ultraviolet light per unit time, that is, the duty ratio between the period of irradiating the ultraviolet light and the period of not irradiating the ultraviolet light. In this case, in the "strong" state, for example, the duty ratio is set to 100%, that is, the ultraviolet light is always irradiated. In the "weak" state, the duty ratio is set to a value smaller than 100% of the "strong" state, for example, 50% or less. Note that the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 may be configured to adjust the intensity of the ultraviolet light by adjusting the illuminance of the ultraviolet light.

[0028] The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 may be configured to irradiate visible light, for example, simultaneously with the irradiation of the ultraviolet light or separately from the irradiation of the ultraviolet light. In the case of the present embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is configured to be able to irradiate visible light together with the irradiation of the ultraviolet light. In this case, at least a part of the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 and the irradiation region of the visible light irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be set to overlap. Further, for example, the entire irradiation region of the visible light can be set to be within the irradiation region of the ultraviolet light, or the entire irradiation region of the ultraviolet light can be set to be within the irradiation region of the visible light.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be configured to include, for example, a light source circuit 41, an ultraviolet light source 42, a blue light source 43, and a white light source 44. The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be configured by mounting the light source circuit 41, the ultraviolet light source 42, the blue light source 43, and the white light source 44 on, for example, one substrate 401.

[0030] The circuit 41 for the light source is an electric circuit for controlling the operations of the ultraviolet light source 42, the blue light source 43, and the white light source 44. The ultraviolet light source 42 is a light source capable of irradiating ultraviolet light, and can be composed of, for example, an ultraviolet lamp or an ultraviolet LED. The blue light source 43 is capable of irradiating blue visible light, for example, visible light close to purple, and can be composed of, for example, a blue lamp or a blue LED. Also, the white light source 44 is capable of irradiating white visible light and can be composed of, for example, a white lamp or a white LED.

[0031] The ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet light source 42 is invisible to the human eye. Therefore, when the ultraviolet light irradiation device 40 irradiates ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light source 42, it can make the user recognize that ultraviolet light is being irradiated from the ultraviolet light irradiation device 40 by irradiating blue visible light close to purple from the blue light source 43. In this case, the ultraviolet light source 42 and the blue light source 43 can be configured to always emit light simultaneously by being connected to the light source circuit 41 by a common electrical wiring. Note that the ultraviolet light source 42 and the blue light source 43 can also be connected to the light source circuit 41 by separate electrical wirings and configured to emit light independently of each other.

[0032] Also, the white light source 44 can be used, for example, for illuminating the inside of the rotating tank 15. In this case, the ultraviolet light irradiation device 40 also serves as an illuminating device for illuminating the inside of the rotating tank 15. The white light source 44 is connected to the light source circuit 41 by an electrical wiring different from that of the ultraviolet light source 42 and the blue light source 43, and can be configured to emit light independently of the ultraviolet light source 42 and the blue light source 43.

[0033] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the washing machine 10 includes a control device 50, a weight detection unit 51, and an operation processing unit 52. The control device 50 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 501 and a storage area 502 such as a ROM, a RAM, and a non-volatile memory. The control device 50 has a function of managing the operation of the entire washing machine 10. The motor 16, the water supply valve 171, the drain valve 181, the operation panel 19, the compressor 33, the blower 34, and the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 are electrically connected to the control device 50 and operate under the control of the control device 50.

[0034] The weight detection unit 51 has a function of detecting the weight of laundry such as clothes 90 accommodated in the rotary tub 15. The weight detection unit 51 can be realized by, for example, an ammeter (not shown) that measures the current flowing through the motor 16. The weight detection unit 51 can measure the load acting on the motor 16 by measuring the current flowing through the motor 16 when the rotary tub 15 is rotated, for example, and detect the weight of the laundry accommodated in the rotary tub 15 based on the load. Further, the weight detection unit 51 can also be realized by using, for example, an encoder that detects the rotation speed of the motor 16. In this case, the weight detection unit 51 measures the load of the motor 16 from the difference between the target rotation speed and the actual rotation speed, and detects the weight of the laundry based on the load.

[0035] Further, the storage area 502 of the control device 50 stores, for example, a program for realizing the operation processing unit 52. The control device 50 virtually realizes the operation processing unit 52 by software by executing the above program stored in the storage area 502 in the CPU 501. Note that the operation processing unit 52 may be realized hardware-wise as an integrated circuit integrated with the control device 50.

[0036] The operation processing unit 52 can selectively execute a course by one or a combination of an ultraviolet irradiation operation, a washing operation, and a drying operation by operating the motor 16, the water supply valve 171, the drain valve 181, the compressor 33, the blower 34, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40, and the weight detection unit 51 as needed. In this embodiment, the "operation" in the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the washing operation, and the drying operation is a concept including one or more steps. Also, a course is a concept including one or more operations and is a unit that can be selected by the user. That is, the user can select and execute a course including a desired operation among the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the washing operation, and the drying operation, for example, by operating the operation panel 19.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a washing course, a wash-dry course, a drying course, a sterilization washing course, and a sterilization wash-dry course are set in the washing machine 10 of this embodiment. In FIG. 5, "〇" means executing the corresponding operation, and "none" means not executing the corresponding operation. The washing course is a course that executes only the washing operation. The wash-dry course is a course that sequentially executes the washing operation and the drying operation. The drying course is a course that executes only the drying operation. The sterilization washing course is a course that sequentially executes the ultraviolet irradiation operation and the washing operation. The sterilization washing course is suitable for washing, for example, a small amount of clothes that are weak to heat, but is not limited thereto. And the sterilization wash-dry course is a course that sequentially executes the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the washing operation, and the drying operation.

[0038] The washing operation is for the purpose of washing clothes and is the operation content of storing water in the outer tub 13 and washing the clothes in the rotating tub 15. The drying operation is for the purpose of drying clothes and is the operation content of supplying warm air into the outer tub 13 and drying the clothes in the rotating tub 15. And the ultraviolet irradiation operation is for the purpose of sterilizing clothes and is the operation content of operating the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 and irradiating the clothes stored in the rotating tub 15 with ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation operation is executed before the washing operation. The specific content of each operation can be appropriately changed automatically according to the amount of clothes and the state of dirt or based on the user's operation on the operation panel 19.

[0039] Regarding the details of each operation, taking the case where a sterilization washing course or a sterilization wash-dry course is selected as an example, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. When the sterilization washing course is executed, the operation processing unit 52 sequentially executes the ultraviolet irradiation operation in FIG. 6 and the washing operation in FIG. 7. Further, when the sterilization wash-dry course is executed, the operation processing unit 52 sequentially executes the drying operation in FIG. 8 in addition to the ultraviolet irradiation operation in FIG. 6 and the washing operation in FIG. 7.

[0040] Note that in FIGS. 6 to 8, ON means that the device operates, and OFF means that the device does not operate. When the operation processing unit 52 starts the sterilization washing course or the sterilization wash-dry course, first, the ultraviolet irradiation operation shown in FIG. 6 is executed. During the execution of the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the operation processing unit 52 maintains the water supply valve 171 and the drain valve 181 in a closed state. Note that during the execution of the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the drain valve 181 may be maintained in an open state.

[0041] Then, during the execution of the ultraviolet irradiation operation, the operation processing unit 52 operates the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 to irradiate the inside of the rotary tub 15 with ultraviolet rays. In this case, the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet rays is set to "strong". Thereby, the clothes in the rotary tub 15 are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays.

[0042] Here, if the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 continues to operate at "strong" for a long time, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 generates heat and becomes high temperature, which may accelerate the deterioration of the ultraviolet irradiation device 40. Therefore, the operation processing unit 52 of the present embodiment maintains the compressor 33 in a stopped state and operates the blower 34 during the execution of the ultraviolet irradiation operation. Thereby, unheated air is supplied into the outer tub 13. Then, the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is cooled by the unheated air supplied into the outer tub 13, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 due to heat.

[0043] Also, the ultraviolet irradiation operation of this embodiment includes a stationary irradiation step and a stirring irradiation step. The stationary irradiation step is a step of irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 in a state where the motor 16 is stopped, that is, in a state where the rotation of the rotary tank 15 is stopped. The stirring step is a step of operating the motor 16 to rotate the rotary tank 15, and thereby irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 while stirring the clothes in the rotary tank 15. In this case, the rotation speed of the motor 16 is set to be low. The stirring irradiation step is executed after the stationary irradiation step.

[0044] In this embodiment, the low speed means, for example, a rotation speed at which the clothes in the rotary tank 15 do not stick to the inner peripheral wall of the rotary tank 15, that is, a speed at which the clothes fall after being lifted once as the rotary tank 15 rotates. The medium speed is a speed higher than the low speed, for example, a rotation speed at which the clothes in the rotary tank 15 begin to stick to the inner peripheral wall of the rotary tank 15. The high speed is a speed even faster than the medium speed, for example, a rotation speed at which the clothes in the rotary tank 15 are maintained in a state of sticking to the inner peripheral wall of the rotary tank 15. Note that the rotation speed of the motor 16 in each step, that is, the rotation speed of the rotary tank 15, can be appropriately changed according to the content of the step and the like.

[0045] Also, the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step is shorter than the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation step. That is, the stationary irradiation step continuously irradiates ultraviolet rays during the execution period A1, which is longer than the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step. The ratio of the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation step to the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step is set to be about 4 to 9:1, for example. In the case of this embodiment, the ratio of the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation step to the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step is set to 7:1. That is, when the execution period of the ultraviolet irradiation operation is, for example, 40 minutes, the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation step is 35 minutes, and the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step is 5 minutes.

[0046] When the ultraviolet irradiation operation ends, the operation processing unit 52 executes the washing operation shown in FIG. 7. The washing operation includes, for example, a weight detection step, a washing step, a rinsing step, and a dehydration step. The rinsing step and the dehydration step can be set to be executed once or multiple times. In the case of this embodiment, the washing operation includes two rinsing steps and two dehydration steps respectively, excluding the dehydration operation during the washing step.

[0047] In this specification, when the washing machine 10 performs a plurality of different processes in one step, the processes constituting that step are referred to as "operations". Also, the first rinsing step and the dehydration step are respectively referred to as the intermediate rinsing step and the intermediate dehydration step, and the second, that is, the last rinsing step and the dehydration step are respectively referred to as the final rinsing step and the final dehydration step. When the rinsing step and the dehydration step included in the washing operation are each performed once, the first rinsing step and the dehydration step become the final rinsing step and the final dehydration step.

[0048] Note that the rinsing step and the dehydration step may be set to be executed three or more times based on the user's setting. In the following description, when referring to the rinsing step, it generally refers to the intermediate rinsing step and the final rinsing step, and when referring to the dehydration step, it generally refers to the intermediate dehydration step and the final dehydration step.

[0049] When the operation processing unit 52 executes the washing operation, it sequentially executes a weight detection step, a washing step, an intermediate rinsing step, an intermediate dehydration step, a final rinsing step, and a final dehydration step. The weight detection step is a step of detecting the weight of the laundry in the rotary tub 15 by the weight detection unit 51. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the weight detection step, it operates the motor 16 to rotate the rotary tub 15, for example, in a range from low speed to medium speed, thereby detecting the load of the motor 16, that is, the weight of the clothing.

[0050] The washing process includes, for example, a water injection operation, a washing operation, a drainage operation, and a dehydration operation. The operation processing unit 52 sequentially executes the water injection operation, the washing operation, the drainage operation, and the dehydration operation in the washing process. The water injection operation in the washing process is an operation of injecting water supplied from an external water source into the outer tub 13, and is executed before the washing operation. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the water injection operation in the washing process, for example, it opens the water supply valve 171 with the drain valve 181 closed to inject water into the outer tub 13. At this time, the laundry treatment agent such as detergent put into the water injection case 172 is put into the outer tub 13 along with the water injection.

[0051] The washing operation is an operation of stirring the clothes in the rotating tub 15 by operating the motor 16 to rotate the rotating tub 15 with water stored in the outer tub 13, thereby washing the clothes. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the washing operation, for example, it operates the motor 16 with the water supply valve 171 and the drain valve 181 closed to rotate the rotating tub 15 and beat-wash the clothes in the rotating tub 15. In addition, in the washing operation, the operation processing unit 52 may perform water injection, for example, by intermittently opening and closing the water supply valve 171.

[0052] The drainage operation in the washing process is an operation of draining the water stored in the outer tub 13 to the outside of the washing machine 10, and is executed after the washing operation. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the drainage operation in the washing process, for example, it opens the drain valve 181 with the water supply valve 171 closed, thereby draining the water stored in the outer tub 13.

[0053] The dehydration operation in the washing process is an operation of centrifugally dehydrating the clothes that have undergone the washing operation by rotating the rotating tub 15 at a high speed, and is executed after the drainage operation in the washing process. The control device 50, for example, maintains the drain valve 181 open and operates the motor 16 to rotate the rotating tub 15 at a high speed, thereby centrifugally dehydrating the clothes in the rotating tub 15.

[0054] The rinsing process includes, for example, a water injection operation, a rinsing operation, and a drainage operation. In the rinsing process, the operation processing unit 52 sequentially executes the water injection operation, the rinsing operation, and the drainage operation. The water injection operation in the rinsing process is an operation of injecting water supplied from an external water source into the outer tub 13, similar to the water injection operation in the washing process, and is executed before the rinsing operation. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the water injection operation in the rinsing process, similar to the case of the water injection operation in the washing process, for example, it opens the water supply valve 171 with the drain valve 181 closed to inject water into the outer tub 13.

[0055] The rinsing operation is an operation of stirring the clothes in the rotary tub 15 by operating the motor 16 to rotate the rotary tub 15 with water stored in the outer tub 13, thereby rinsing the clothes. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the rinsing operation, similar to the washing operation, for example, it operates the motor 16 with the water supply valve 171 and the drain valve 181 closed to rotate the rotary tub 15 and rinse the clothes in the rotary tub 15. In the rinsing operation, the control device 50 may perform water injection, for example, by intermittently opening and closing the water supply valve 171.

[0056] The drainage operation in the rinsing process is an operation of draining the water stored in the outer tub 13 to the outside of the washing machine 10, and is executed after the rinsing operation. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the drainage operation in the rinsing process, similar to the drainage operation in the washing process, for example, it opens the drain valve 181 with the water supply valve 171 closed, thereby draining the water stored in the outer tub 13.

[0057] The dehydration process is a process of centrifugally dehydrating the clothes that have undergone the washing process and the rinsing process by rotating the rotary tub 15 at a high speed. In the washing operation, the dehydration process is an operation of centrifugally dehydrating the clothes by rotating the rotary tub 15 at a high speed without operating the warm air supply device 30. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the dehydration process, it closes the water supply valve 171 and drives the motor 16 with the drain valve 181 open to rotate the rotary tub 15 at a high speed. When the final dehydration process is completed, the washing operation is completed. And when the selected course is the sterilization washing course, the operation processing unit 52 completes the sterilization washing course when the washing operation is completed. On the other hand, when the selected course is the sterilization wash-dry course, the operation processing unit 52 executes the drying operation shown in FIG. 8 after executing the washing operation.

[0058] The operation processing unit 52 is capable of executing an ultraviolet irradiation process. The ultraviolet irradiation process is a process of irradiating ultraviolet rays to the clothes accommodated in the rotary tub 15 by operating the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 during a period different from the ultraviolet irradiation operation. In the case of this embodiment, the operation processing unit 52 is capable of executing the ultraviolet irradiation process during the execution of the washing operation. The operation processing unit 52 is capable of executing the ultraviolet irradiation process during the execution of the washing process, the final rinsing process, and the final dehydration process, respectively.

[0059] In this case, the execution period B1 of the ultraviolet irradiation process executed during the execution of the washing process, the execution period B2 of the ultraviolet irradiation process executed during the execution of the final rinsing process, and the execution period B3 of the ultraviolet irradiation process executed during the execution of the final dehydration process are each shorter than the execution period A0 of the ultraviolet irradiation operation and the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation process. Also, the execution period B0 of the entire washing operation is longer than the execution period A0 of the entire ultraviolet irradiation operation.

[0060] During the execution of the washing operation, the operation processing unit 52 stops the compressor 33 and the blower 34. In this case, when the operation processing unit 52 executes the ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the washing operation, the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet rays is set to "weak". That is, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 in the ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the washing operation is set weaker than the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 in the ultraviolet irradiation operation.

[0061] When the operation processing unit 52 executes the drying operation, as shown in FIG. 8, it sequentially executes the weight detection step and the drying step. Also, based on the user's selection, it may be configured to execute a preheating dehydration step between the weight detection step and the drying step. The weight detection step in the drying operation is a step of detecting the weight of the laundry in the rotating tub 15 by the weight detection unit 51, similar to the weight detection step in the washing operation. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the weight detection step in the drying operation, it operates the motor 16 to rotate the rotating tub 15, for example, in the range from low speed to medium speed, thereby detecting the load on the motor 16, that is, the weight of the clothing.

[0062] The preheating dehydration step is a step of centrifugally dehydrating the clothing while blowing warm air onto the clothing by rotating the rotating tub 15 at high speed while operating the compressor 33 and the blower 34. In the example of FIG. 8, the preheating dehydration step is executed with the drain valve 181 open, but the preheating dehydration step may also be executed with the drain valve 181 closed. In this case, the operation processing unit 52 can execute the ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the preheating dehydration step in the drying operation.

[0063] The execution period C1 of this preheating and dehydration process is shorter than the execution period C2 of the drying process. In the case of this embodiment, the execution period C0 of the entire drying operation is longer than the execution period A0 of the ultraviolet irradiation operation and the execution period B0 of the washing operation. In the preheating and dehydration process, the compressor 33 and the blower 34 are operating, but most of the heat of the warm air generated by the compressor 33 and the blower 34 is absorbed by the clothes containing moisture, so the temperature in the outer tub 13 is difficult to rise. Therefore, it is difficult for the temperature to rise due to the operation of the ultraviolet irradiation device 40. Therefore, the operation processing unit 52 sets the intensity of the ultraviolet rays to be irradiated to "strong" in the ultraviolet irradiation process during the preheating and dehydration process.

[0064] The drying process is a process of drying the clothes by rotating the rotary tub 15 at a medium speed to stir the clothes and operating the warm air supply device 30 to blow warm air onto the clothes. When the operation processing unit 52 executes the drying process, it operates the motor 16, the compressor 33, and the blower 34 with the water supply valve 171 and the drain valve 181 closed. Also, in the drying process, the operation processing unit 52 does not execute the ultraviolet irradiation process. When the drying process is completed, the operation processing unit 52 completes the sterilization washing and drying course.

[0065] According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes an outer tub 13, a rotary tub 15, a water supply mechanism 17, an ultraviolet irradiation device 40, and an operation processing unit 52. The rotary tub 15 is rotatably provided in the outer tub 13 and is configured to be able to accommodate clothes. The water supply mechanism 17 is connected to an external water source and is configured to be able to inject water from the external water source into the outer tub 13. The ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is configured to be able to irradiate ultraviolet rays into the rotary tub 15.

[0066] And the operation processing unit 52 is configured to be able to execute a washing operation and an ultraviolet irradiation operation. The washing operation is an operation content of storing water in the outer tub 13 and washing the clothes in the rotary tub 15. The ultraviolet irradiation operation is executed before the execution of the washing operation, and is an operation content of operating the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 to irradiate ultraviolet rays onto the clothes accommodated in the rotary tub 15.

[0067] According to this, by performing the ultraviolet irradiation operation before the washing operation using water, the bacteria killed by the ultraviolet irradiation operation can be washed away by the washing operation after the ultraviolet irradiation operation. Thereby, the remains of bacteria remaining on the clothing can be reduced, so that the clothing can be cleaned, and as a result, a high sterilization effect can be obtained by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays.

[0068] The ultraviolet irradiation operation includes a stationary irradiation step and a stirring irradiation step. The stationary irradiation step is a step of irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 with the rotating tank 15 stopped. The stirring irradiation step is performed after the stationary irradiation step, and is a step of rotating the rotating tank 15 and irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 while stirring the clothing in the rotating tank 15. In this case, the execution period A2 of the stirring irradiation step is shorter than the execution period A1 of the stationary irradiation step.

[0069] According to this, when the user places the clothing in the rotating tank 15, by arranging it so that the ultraviolet rays hit the location where concentrated sterilization is desired, the ultraviolet rays can be continuously irradiated to the location where concentrated sterilization is desired by the execution of the stationary irradiation step. Thereby, the user can efficiently sterilize the location where concentrated sterilization is desired. Then, by performing the stirring step after the stationary irradiation step, the ultraviolet rays can also be irradiated to other locations, and thereby the entire clothing can be sterilized.

[0070] Further, the operation processing unit 52 can execute an ultraviolet irradiation process of operating the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 during the execution of the washing operation to irradiate the clothing accommodated in the rotating tank 15 with ultraviolet rays. According to this, in addition to the sterilization by the above-described ultraviolet irradiation operation, a higher sterilization effect can be obtained by irradiating ultraviolet rays also during the execution of the washing operation.

[0071] Here, the washing operation includes a washing step and a rinsing step executed after the washing step. And the operation processing unit 52 can execute an ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the washing step. According to this, since the miscellaneous bacteria transferred from the clothing to the water in the washing step can be sterilized by ultraviolet rays, it is possible to suppress the return of miscellaneous bacteria to the clothing, and as a result, the clothing can be made cleaner.

[0072] Also, the washing operation includes a washing step and one or more rinsing steps executed after the washing step. And the operation processing unit 52 can execute an ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the final rinsing step. According to this, since the miscellaneous bacteria transferred from the clothing to the water in the final rinsing step can be sterilized by ultraviolet rays, it is possible to suppress the return of miscellaneous bacteria to the clothing, and as a result, the clothing can be made cleaner. In this case, the operation processing unit 52 does not execute the ultraviolet irradiation treatment in the intermediate rinsing step or the intermediate dehydration step.

[0073] Also, the washing operation includes a washing step, one or more rinsing steps executed after the washing step, and one or more dehydration steps executed after each rinsing step. And the operation processing unit 52 can execute an ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the last dehydration step, that is, the final dehydration step. According to this, since the miscellaneous bacteria remaining in the final rinsing step can be sterilized by ultraviolet rays, the clothing can be made cleaner.

[0074] And the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 in the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is set to be weaker than the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 in the ultraviolet irradiation operation. That is, in the ultraviolet irradiation operation before the washing operation, since there are many miscellaneous bacteria present in the clothing, efficient disinfection can be achieved by irradiating ultraviolet rays with a strong intensity. And in the ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the execution of the washing operation, since the miscellaneous bacteria present in the clothing have decreased due to the ultraviolet irradiation operation and the washing operation, the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 is kept low. Thereby, in the ultraviolet irradiation treatment during the washing operation, while disinfecting the miscellaneous bacteria that could not be completely disinfected by the ultraviolet irradiation operation and the washing operation, by keeping the intensity of the ultraviolet rays in the ultraviolet irradiation treatment low, the service life of the ultraviolet irradiation device 40 can be extended.

[0075] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been explained. However, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0076] 10... Washing machine, 13... Outer tub, 15... Rotating tub, 17... Water supply mechanism, 40... Ultraviolet irradiation device, 52... Operation processing unit, 90... Clothing

Claims

1. An outer tub, a rotatable tub provided in the outer tub for accommodating clothes, a water supply mechanism connected to an external water source for injecting water from the external water source into the outer tub, an ultraviolet irradiation device capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays into the rotatable tub, a washing operation including a weight detection step of detecting the weight of the laundry in the rotatable tub, storing water in the outer tub to wash the clothes in the rotatable tub, and an operation processing unit capable of executing an ultraviolet irradiation operation of operating the ultraviolet irradiation device before executing the washing operation to irradiate ultraviolet rays on the clothes accommodated in the rotatable tub, The ultraviolet irradiation operation includes a stationary irradiation step of irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device with the rotatable tub stopped, and a stirring irradiation step executed after the stationary irradiation step and irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation device while rotating the rotatable tub for a shorter period than the stationary irradiation step to stir the clothes in the rotatable tub, A washing machine.

2. The operation processing unit is capable of executing an ultraviolet irradiation process of operating the ultraviolet irradiation device to irradiate ultraviolet rays on the clothes accommodated in the rotatable tub during the execution of the washing operation, The washing machine according to Claim 1.

3. The washing operation includes a washing step and a rinsing step executed after the washing step, The operation processing unit is capable of executing the ultraviolet irradiation process during the execution of the washing step, The washing machine according to Claim 2.

4. The washing operation includes a washing step and one or more rinsing steps executed after the washing step, The operation processing unit is capable of executing the ultraviolet irradiation process during the execution of the last rinsing step, The washing machine according to Claim 2.

5. The washing operation includes a washing step, one or more rinsing steps executed after the washing step, and one or more dehydration steps executed after each of the rinsing steps, The operation processing unit is capable of executing the ultraviolet irradiation process during the execution of the last dehydration step, The washing machine according to Claim 2.

6. The intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device in the ultraviolet irradiation process is set to be weaker than the intensity of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation device in the ultraviolet irradiation operation, The washing machine according to Claim 2.

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