Clothes treatment equipment

Abstract

A clothing treatment apparatus (100) is for removing a stain and the like from a treatment target object such as clothing. The clothing treatment apparatus (100) is provided with: a moisture supply device (4) that supplies moisture to the treatment target object; and a suction device (5) that suctions air together with moisture attached to the treatment target object. Further, the suction device (5) includes: a drainage tank that serves as a trap for separating the moisture from the air suctioned together with the moisture; and a drawing suppression part that suppresses drawing of the treatment target object into the suction device (5).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment device that removes dirt and the like from a treatment target such as clothing. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 provides a steamer that can effectively remove wrinkles from clothing, etc., by reliably pulling the garments and applying steam to the stretched garments. This steamer includes a water tank, an evaporation chamber that generates steam by evaporating water supplied from the water tank, an outlet that sprays the steam generated in the evaporation chamber onto the garment, and a suction device that sucks in the garment when the steam is applied from the outlet. This steamer is configured so that, when the garments to be treated, such as garments, are hung on a hanger and then run through the steamer, the suction device sucks in and pulls the garments, preventing them from slipping away, and the steam is applied to the stretched garment.

[0003] Patent Document 2 provides a steam cleaner that can more efficiently prevent waste steam from entering the suction pump. This steam cleaner includes a steam injection device and a waste suction / storage device. The steam injection device heats stored water to convert it into steam and injects the steam through a nozzle toward the area to be cleaned. The waste suction / storage device collects waste steam, which consists of the steam injected toward the area to be cleaned and the waste removed by the steam, converts it into waste liquid, and then stores it. The waste suction / storage device includes a waste storage chamber for storing waste liquid, a suction pump with an intake port installed within the waste storage chamber, an inlet for receiving waste steam and an outlet from which the waste steam comes out, an intake pipe, and a baffle. The intake pipe is positioned so that its inlet is near the nozzle and its outlet is located almost immediately before the intake port in the waste storage chamber. The baffle is provided at the outlet of the intake pipe so as to temporarily block the waste steam coming out of the outlet of the intake pipe and cause it to condense into waste liquid. In this steam cleaner, the baffle extends in a curved shape from the vicinity of the outlet of the intake pipe so as to guide the waste steam coming out of the outlet away from the line connecting the outlet to the intake port of the intake pump. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-6205 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3089151 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present disclosure provides a clothing treatment device capable of removing water-soluble stains, oil-soluble stains, and the like attached to an object to be treated, such as clothing.

[0006] The clothing treatment device according to the present disclosure includes: a moisture supplying device that supplies moisture to an object to be treated; From the suction portThe apparatus includes a suction device that sucks in air together with moisture adhering to the object to be treated. The suction device includes a trap that separates moisture from the air that has been sucked in together with the moisture, and a suction suppression unit that suppresses the object to be treated from being sucked into the suction device. The retraction suppression unit is configured so that a predetermined distance from the suction port to the front end of the retraction suppression unit can be changed between a position on the same plane as the suction port and a position at the back of the suction port in the direction in which suction is performed from the suction port.

[0007] The clothing treatment device according to the present disclosure can remove water-soluble dirt and oil-soluble dirt adhering to an object to be treated, such as clothing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the base unit of the clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a head unit of the clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a first configuration example of a pull-in suppression unit of a clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a second example of the configuration of the pull-in suppression unit of the clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4C] FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a third example of the configuration of the pull-in suppression unit of the clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4D] FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating a fourth example of the configuration of the pull-in suppression unit of the clothing processing device according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived this disclosure, the primary function of steamers was to remove wrinkles from clothing, and their ability to remove stains from clothing was limited. For example, prior art steamers include a cleaner that draws in air. While smoothing out wrinkles from clothing, these conventional steamers can also suck in and remove particulate dirt adhering to the surface of the fabric. However, conventional steamers cannot remove water-soluble stains that have become ingrained in fabric, such as salts contained in human sweat and food dyes, or oil-soluble stains, such as human sebum and oils and fats in food.

[0010] Another conventional technology is a steam cleaner. This conventional steam cleaner can basically remove water or oil that has soaked into floors and carpets. However, conventional steam cleaners have a strong suction force to suck up waste liquid containing dirt. Therefore, conventional steam cleaners cannot be used to remove dirt from clothing, as light and soft objects such as clothes and fabrics may be sucked into the device through the suction port and damage the fabric.

[0011] As described above, the inventors discovered a problem in that conventional technologies cannot easily remove water-soluble and oil-soluble stains that have become ingrained in parts of the object to be treated, such as clothing, and in order to solve this problem, they came up with the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0012] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a clothing treatment device that, unlike cleaning floors and carpets, can remove water-soluble and oil-soluble dirt attached to treatment objects such as clothing while minimizing damage to the fabric of the treatment objects such as clothing.

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0014] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0015] (Embodiment 1) 1 to 4D, a clothing processing device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described as an example of a clothing processing device according to the present disclosure. The processing object C to be processed by the clothing processing device 100 is mainly fabric products such as clothing, and also includes scarves, handkerchiefs, towels, and sheets, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a light, soft, and deformable object of this type.

[0016] [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Configuration of clothing processing device] First, the configuration of the clothing processing device 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the clothing processing device 100, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the base unit 1 of the clothing processing device 100, and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the head unit 2 of the clothing processing device 100.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the clothing treatment device 100 includes a base unit 1, a head unit 2, and a flexible connecting pipe 3 that connects the base unit 1 and the head unit 2. The main parts of a moisture supplying device 4, a suction device 5, and a control device 6 are provided inside the base unit 1, the head unit 2, and the connecting pipe 3. That is, the clothing treatment device 100 includes the moisture supplying device 4 and the suction device 5.

[0018] The clothing processing device 100 has a steamer function, a cleaner function, and a steam cleaner function, and is configured so that the user can use these functions selectively. Here, the steamer function is a function that sprays steam to moisten the object to be processed C, smooth out wrinkles, and dissolve dirt. The cleaner function is a function that sucks up dust and moisture adhering to the surface of the object to be processed C. The steam cleaner function is a function that sprays steam on dirt that has soaked into the object to be processed C, dissolving it, and sucking it up together with the moisture.

[0019] [1-1-2. Configuration of the moisture supply device] Next, the configuration of the moisture supplying device 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the moisture supplying device 4 includes a water supply tank 41, a water supply pump 42, a steam generating unit 43, a nozzle 44, an outlet 45, and a water supply pipe 46. The moisture supplying device 4 supplies water from the base unit 1 to the head unit 2 and sprays steam from the head unit 2. That is, the moisture supplying device 4 supplies moisture to the treatment target C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the water supply tank 41 and the water supply pump 42 are provided on the base unit 1. The water supply tank 41 is configured to be detachable. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 2 is provided with a steam generating unit 43 that heats water, a nozzle 44 that supplies water to the steam generating unit 43, and an outlet 45 from which the heated water is turned into steam and ejected. The configuration of the steam generating unit 43 is not particularly limited, but may be configured with a sheath heater or the like. In addition, a water supply pipe 46 is provided to connect the water supply pump 42 and the nozzle 44 in communication with each other, and the water supply pipe 46 is housed within the connecting pipe 3.

[0021] In addition to heating water in the steam generating unit 43 of the head unit 2, the moisture supplying device 4 may be configured to supply hot water to the head unit 2 by providing a heating unit 47 in the water supply pipe 46. That is, the moisture supplying device 4 may include the heating unit 47 that heats water and supply moisture using water heated by the heating unit 47. For example, the heating unit 47 may be configured to heat the water supplied to the steam generating unit 43 within the base unit 1. Specifically, the heating unit 47 can be realized by providing heaters in the water supply pipe 46 before and after the water supply tank 41 or the water supply pump 42. This can increase the temperature of the water supplied to the steam generating unit 43, thereby reducing the heater capacity of the steam generating unit 43 in the head unit 2 and making the head unit 2 lighter.

[0022] The clothing treatment device 100 may also be modified so that the steam generating unit 43 is provided inside the base unit 1. In this case, the modified clothing treatment device is configured to send steam, which is moisture, from the base unit 1 to the head unit 2 through the water supply pipe 46.

[0023] [1-1-3. Configuration of the suction device] Next, the configuration of the suction device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the suction device 5 includes a drainage tank 51, a baffle plate 51a, a suction fan 52, a suction port 53, a draw suppression unit 54, a suction pipe 55, an exhaust port 56, and a filter 57. The suction device 5 generates negative pressure to suck moisture adhering to the object to be treated C together with air. That is, the suction device 5 sucks air together with moisture adhering to the object to be treated C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 , the drainage tank 51 and the suction fan 52 are provided in the base unit 1. As shown in FIG. 3 , the suction port 53 is provided in the head unit 2, and a draw suppression unit 54 is provided to suppress the suction (draw) of the object to be treated C into the suction device 5. In addition, a suction pipe 55 is provided to connect the suction port 53 and the drainage tank 51 in communication with each other, and the suction pipe 55 is housed in the connecting pipe 3.

[0025] Here, the configuration of the entrainment suppression unit 54 will be described with reference to Figures 4A to 4D. Figures 4A to 4D are diagrams showing configuration examples 1 to 4 of the entrainment suppression unit 54.

[0026] The draw suppression unit 54 provided at the suction port 53 is made of a coarse mesh that does not suck in the object to be treated C. The draw suppression unit 54 may be provided with a partition 54a that divides the continuous area of ​​the suction port 53, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C. In this case, the partition 54a may be configured diagonally, as shown in FIG. 4C. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4D, instead of the partition 54a, a partition 54b that does not completely divide the continuous area of ​​the suction port 53 but is large enough to trap the object to be treated C may be provided.

[0027] In the case of clothing, which is the object C to be treated, edges such as sleeves, hems, and collars are likely to be pulled in. Considering this, it is preferable that the pull-in suppression unit 54 be configured to be completely divided, as shown in Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C. Furthermore, if the direction of the partition 54a is the same as the direction in which the user moves the head unit 2 (arrow A in Figure 3), it may be difficult to exert suction force in the area along the movement of the partition 54a. For this reason, as shown in Figure 4C, the partition 54a may be configured to be inclined relative to the direction in which the head unit 2 is moved, so that it faces in a different direction. Furthermore, the partition 54a may be formed as thin as possible.

[0028] The position of the retraction suppression unit 54 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the retraction suppression unit 54 is provided as shown in FIG. 3 . That is, the retraction suppression unit 54 is provided so that its front end is located a dimension D = 5 mm behind the contact surface 2a where the suction port 53 comes into contact with the object to be treated C. That is, in this embodiment, the retraction suppression unit 54 is provided on the rear side of the suction port 53 in the direction of suction from the suction port 53 of the suction device 5. As another example (not shown), the retraction suppression unit 54 may be provided so that its front end is flush with the contact surface 2a, i.e., at a position of dimension D = 0 mm. That is, the retraction suppression unit 54 may be provided on the same plane as the contact surface 2a between the suction port 53 of the suction device 5 and the object to be treated C. The dimension D may be determined taking into consideration the size and suction force of the suction port 53, or the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the position, specifically, the cleaning power, the degree of damage to the fabric, etc.

[0029] The drain tank 51 provided in the base unit 1 is configured to be detachable. The drain tank 51 functions as a trap that separates moisture from the air that is sucked in together with the moisture. That is, the suction device 5 includes the drain tank 51, which is an example of a trap in the present disclosure that separates moisture from the air that has been sucked in together with the moisture. For this reason, a baffle plate 51a that efficiently separates moisture from the sucked air (hereinafter also referred to as "sucked air") may be provided inside the drain tank 51. The configuration of the baffle plate 51a is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that it be provided so that the sucked air flowing into the drain tank 51 collides with the baffle plate to generate turbulence, as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, for example, a hydrophobic filter may be provided near the inlet of the drain tank 51.

[0030] A suction fan 52 that sucks in the air from which moisture has been separated is provided in communication with the drainage tank 51. An exhaust port 56 that discharges the air that has passed through the suction fan 52 is provided on the side of the base unit 1. A filter 57 that captures dust that has flowed in mixed with the suctioned air is provided in the exhaust port 56.

[0031] A cooling unit 58 for cooling the suctioned air may be provided between the suction pipe 55 and the drainage tank 51. That is, the suction device 5 may include a cooling unit 58 for cooling the suctioned air. This prevents the suction fan 52 from overheating due to high-temperature air being sucked in along with the high-temperature water, or prevents condensation from forming around the suction fan 52, thereby reducing durability. The cooling unit 58 may be realized by natural heat dissipation from the suction pipe 55 and the drainage tank 51, for example. In particular, the cooling unit 58 may be realized by forming these components from a material with high heat capacity or heat dissipation properties, such as metal.

[0032] [1-1-4. Control device configuration] Next, the configuration of the control device 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0033] 2 and 3, the control device 6 includes a control unit 61, a cable 64, a power switch 65, a function setting switch 66, and a hand switch 67. The control device 6 controls, for example, the water supply pump 42, the steam generating unit 43, and the suction fan 52 to operate the clothing processing device 100.

[0034] 2, the control device 6 has a control unit 61 provided in the base unit 1. The control unit 61 has a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 61. Here, the program executed by the processor is pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, but it may also be recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card and provided, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3 , the clothing treatment device 100 includes a clothing stain sensor 62 provided in the head unit 2 to detect stains on the treatment object C, and a liquid stain sensor 63 provided in the suction device 5 to detect stains from the sucked water. That is, in this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 includes a liquid stain sensor 63 provided in the suction device 5 to detect stains from the sucked water. In addition, in this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 includes a clothing stain sensor 62 to detect stains on the treatment object C. Note that the clothing stain sensor 62 and the liquid stain sensor 63 may be included in the control device 6. These multiple sensors (62, 63) and a cable 64 connecting the steam generating unit 43 and the control unit 61 are housed in the connecting pipe 3.

[0036] Alternatively, a power switch 65, a function setting switch 66, and the like may be provided on the base unit 1, and a hand switch 67 for turning the operation on and off may be provided on the head unit 2. The function setting switch 66 is configured to allow the user to switch to the function they want to use from among the steamer function, cleaner function, and steam cleaner function. The hand switch 67 may be configured to switch the operation between, for example, four stages. Specifically, the first stage turns the operation off. The second stage performs only the steam generation operation, which sprays steam and high-temperature water from the nozzle 45 of the head unit 2. The third stage performs only the suction operation, which sucks air and moisture from the suction port 53. The fourth stage performs both the steam generation operation and the suction operation simultaneously. If the operation can be switched at hand in this way, when the function setting switch 66 is set to the steam cleaner function, it is possible to intensively spray steam on dirt using only the steam generation operation, or to intensively suction dirt using only the suction operation.

[0037] The clothing stain sensor 62 is provided on the contact surface 2a of the tip of the head unit 2 with the object to be treated C, and includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit (not shown). The control unit 61, for example, causes the light-emitting unit to irradiate ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 340 nm or more, and causes the light-receiving unit to detect visible light with a wavelength of 380 nm or more. This visible light is the autofluorescence of amino acids such as tryptophan in proteins. In this case, the more protein there is, the stronger the fluorescence, so it is possible to detect stains such as keratin from skin and food proteins adhering to the object to be treated C.

[0038] 3, the clothing stain sensor 62 is provided above the suction port 53, but is not limited thereto and may be provided below the outlet 45. A clothing stain display unit 70b may be provided, for example, in the head unit 2 so that the user can know the detected level of staining. The configuration of the clothing stain sensor 62 may be changed depending on the target object C to be treated or the type of stain. The clothing stain sensor 62 may, for example, detect the absorption of light of a specific wavelength or recognize stains using a camera.

[0039] The liquid stain sensor 63 is provided in the suction tube 55 inside the head unit 2 and includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit (not shown). The control unit 61 causes the light-emitting unit to emit visible light and the light-receiving unit to detect the light that passes through the water being sucked. In this case, the emitted visible light is attenuated as it is scattered or absorbed by impurities in the water. The more impurities there are, the greater the attenuation of light, making it possible to detect stains in the water. Note that a liquid stain display unit 70a may be provided, for example, in the head unit 2, so that the user can see the level of stain detected.

[0040] That is, the clothing processing device 100 may be equipped with a clothing stain display unit 70b that displays the degree of staining of the processing object C detected by the clothing stain sensor 62, or a liquid stain display unit 70a that displays the degree of water staining detected by the liquid stain sensor 63.

[0041] If the head unit 2 is provided with a liquid stain display unit 70a or a clothing stain display unit 70b and the degree of staining is displayed, the user can know the areas where stains remain and when the stains have been removed, allowing for efficient washing. Note that the clothing processing device 100 may also be provided with a liquid stain display unit 70a and a clothing stain display unit 70b in the head unit 2.

[0042] The control unit 61 may control the water supplying unit 4 and the suction unit 5 according to the level of soiling detected by the clothing soiling sensor 62 or the liquid soiling sensor 63. For example, when the control unit 61 detects a high level of soiling by either of the sensors (62, 63), it increases the amount of water supplied by the water supplying unit 4 and increases the output of the steam generating unit 43 to increase the amount of steam generated. Then, the control unit 61 increases the output of the suction fan 52 of the suction unit 5 to increase the suction power. This makes it possible to improve the cleaning power when the laundry is highly soiled.

[0043] Furthermore, the control device 6 may include, for example, a flow rate sensor (not shown) that detects the flow rate of the suction air. The control unit 61 may then control the amount of water supplied by the moisture supplying device 4 to increase as the flow rate of the suction air increases, or to decrease as the flow rate of the suction air decreases. In other words, the type of fabric of the clothes and other materials affect the ventilation resistance, which in turn affects the flow rate of the suction air. In this case, if the amount of water supplied by the moisture supplying device 4 is too high compared to the flow rate of the suction air, the objects C to be treated may become too wet, causing problems such as the clothes not drying or the dirt spreading. Conversely, if the flow rate of the suction air is too high, the water may be sucked in before it can completely dissolve the dirt on the clothes, resulting in a decrease in detergency.

[0044] Therefore, the control unit 61 detects the flow rate of the suction air and controls the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 4, thereby linking the flow rate of the suction air and the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 4, thereby enabling the appropriate detergency to be stably achieved. Furthermore, if the control unit 61 also controls the clothing stain sensor 62 and the liquid stain sensor 63 in conjunction with each other, the detergency can be further improved and more appropriate detergency can be achieved.

[0045] The flow rate sensor may be configured in any manner, including an impeller-type sensor that uses a Hall element to detect the rotation speed of a magnetized impeller. The configuration for linking the suction air flow rate with the amount of water supplied by the water supply device 4 is also not limited to any particular configuration. Linking the flow rate with the amount of water supplied may involve, for example, detecting the flow rate and controlling the water supply pump 42 to change the amount of water supplied, or may involve a mechanical configuration in which a valve provided in the water supply pipe 46 operates in response to the degree of negative pressure, which changes with the flow rate. The flow rate sensor does not necessarily have to be included in the control unit 61, and the laundry processing device 100 may also be equipped with a flow rate sensor.

[0046] [1-2. Operation] The following describes the operation and function of the thus configured clothing processing device 100. In this embodiment, the clothing processing device 100 will be described taking as an example a case where it is set to the steam cleaner function.

[0047] [1-2-1. Clothes treatment device operation] When the user turns on the power switch 65 and sets the function setting switch 66 to steam cleaner, the control unit 61 controls the steam generating unit 43 to be heated by passing electricity through it. The clothing processing device 100 may be provided with an indicator (not shown), and the control unit 61 may light up the indicator indicating that the device is ready for use when the steam generating unit 43 is heated to the extent that it can instantaneously turn supplied water into steam and spray it out.

[0048] When the hand switch 67 is operated, the control unit 61 controls the water supplying device 4 and the suction device 5 in accordance with the operation. For example, if the hand switch 67 is at the second position, the control unit 61 performs a steam generation operation. That is, the control unit 61 controls the water supplying device 4 to drive the water supply pump 42. The water supply pump 42 supplies water from the water supply tank 41 to the steam generating unit 43 via the water supply pipe 46 and the nozzle 44. The steam generating unit 43 heats the supplied water to generate steam. The generated steam expands in volume all at once, and contains high-temperature moisture that cannot be evaporated. The steam is then forcefully ejected from the ejection port 45 of the head unit 2 and supplied to the treatment object C as high-temperature moisture.

[0049] The sprayed water adheres to the object to be treated C. If the object to be treated C has water-soluble dirt such as salt from human sweat or food pigments or proteins attached to it, these will dissolve in the attached water.

[0050] Furthermore, the water vapor is hot and condenses on the surface of the object to be treated C. This supplies moisture to the object to be treated C, and the heat of condensation increases the temperature of the object to be treated C. If oils such as human sebum are attached to the object to be treated C, the sebum components will dissolve and disperse in the attached moisture as the temperature of the object to be treated C rises to 37°C or higher.

[0051] In this way, the dirt adhering to the object to be treated C dissolves in the supplied water and becomes easier to remove from the object to be treated C.

[0052] Furthermore, if the hand switch 67 is at the third stage, the control unit 61 performs a suction operation. That is, the control unit 61 controls the suction device 5 to drive the suction fan 52. The suction fan 52 creates negative pressure at the suction port 53 of the head unit 2 to suck in air and moisture. The sucked air and moisture flow through the suction pipe 55 into the drainage tank 51. In the drainage tank 51, the moisture is separated from the sucked air by the baffle plate 51a, and the moisture is stored in the drainage tank 51 together with the dirt components. The air from which the moisture has been separated is discharged through the suction fan 52 and discharged from the exhaust port 56. Dust that reaches the exhaust port 56 without containing moisture is captured by the filter 57.

[0053] In this way, the dirt that has dissolved in the supplied water and become easier to remove from the treatment object C is sucked together with the water. This allows the clothing treatment device 100 to remove water-soluble dirt and oil-soluble dirt adhering to the treatment object C.

[0054] Furthermore, when the hand switch 67 is at the fourth stage, the control unit 61 controls the moisture supplying device 4 and the suction device 5 to simultaneously perform the steam generation operation and the suction operation. By simultaneously supplying moisture and suctioning, the control unit 61 makes contact with the object to be treated C with the nozzle 45 and then the suction port 53, thereby cleaning the object to be treated C in one treatment. Furthermore, since the object to be treated C is not left wet for a long time, the spread of dirt is suppressed. Furthermore, when the object to be treated C is hung on a hanger, deformation due to the weight of the wet object can be suppressed. Note that "simultaneously performing the steam generation operation and the suction operation" includes a case where the suction operation is started with a delay from the start of the steam generation operation so that the object to be treated C is not left wet for a long time, i.e., a case where the suction operation is started between the start and end of the steam generation operation. In other words, in this embodiment, when the hand switch 67 is at the fourth stage, the clothing treatment device 100 is configured so that the suction device 5 sucks moisture while the moisture supplying device 4 supplies moisture.

[0055] When the suction device 5 operates, the object to be treated C is also sucked into the suction port 53. However, the suction port 53 is provided with a suction suppression section 54. This prevents the object to be treated C from being sucked deep into the suction pipe 55, allowing for strong suction to remove moisture from the object to be treated C. As a result, moisture is efficiently sucked out, and the object to be treated C, such as clothing, is not left in a damp state for a long time, and unnecessary weight is not added to the object to be treated C. Therefore, even when the clothing is hung on a hanger or placed on a table, the clothing processing device 100 can prevent the clothing from stretching or losing its shape, enabling rapid cleaning processing.

[0056] Furthermore, for example, if the clothing or other object to be processed C is pulled in, the clothing or other object will take on an unnatural shape within the narrow suction pipe 55. If the clothing or other object dries in this state, wrinkles and deformation will occur in the clothing or other object. However, with the pull-in suppression unit 54, it is possible to suppress the pulling in of the clothing, thereby suppressing the occurrence of unnecessary wrinkles and deformation in the clothing.

[0057] In this embodiment, the suction suppression unit 54 is provided at the back of the suction port 53, a distance D from the contact surface 2a, in the direction in which suction is performed from the suction port 53. This causes the object C to be sucked into deformation slightly, and ensures contact with the outer periphery of the suction port 53. This allows the suction force of the suction device 5 to be exerted efficiently, and the clothing treatment device 100 can improve the effectiveness of removing moisture containing dirt.

[0058] [1-2-2. User operations] The user fills the water supply tank 41 with water, attaches the water supply tank 41 to the base unit 1, turns on the power switch 65, and sets the function setting switch 66 to steam cleaner. After the user confirms on the indicator that the steam generating section 43 is ready and ready to use, the user takes the head unit 2 and places it over the object to be treated C, and operates the hand switch 67. The state of the object to be treated C may be laid flat on a table or the like, or may be hung on a hanger, and is not particularly limited.

[0059] To do this, the user first places the nozzle 45 of the head unit 2 in close contact with or close to the portion of the object C to be treated, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow steam and moisture to adhere to it. Then, while keeping the head unit 2 in close contact with the object C to be treated, the user slides the head unit 2 in the direction indicated by arrow A so that the suction port 53 comes to the portion where the steam and moisture have adhered. This causes the steam to dissolve the dirt adhering to the object C to be treated, and the dissolved dirt is sucked in together with the moisture, and the moisture containing the dirt passes through the suction pipe 55 and is stored in the drainage tank 51. In this way, the user can clean the object C to be treated.

[0060] Furthermore, successive contact between the suction port 53 and the ejection port 45 shortens the time that the object C is wet. This allows the clothing processing device 100 to prevent color fading, color transfer, and the spread of dirt from the object C.

[0061] For example, when a user processes the entirety of a jacket hung on a hanger, the user sets the hand switch 67 to the fourth stage to perform the steam generation operation and the suction operation simultaneously. Then, the user may move the contact surface 2a of the head unit 2 from the top to the bottom of the jacket while keeping it in close contact with the jacket. Note that when using the clothing processing device 100 as a steam cleaner, the user may first perform the suction operation at the third stage or the cleaning function to suck up dust and other particles that can be easily removed.

[0062] Alternatively, if the user is treating a heavily soiled area, for example, the user may treat that area repeatedly.Alternatively, the user may turn the hand switch 67 to the second position to intensively spray steam and moisture onto the soiled area using only the steam generation operation, and once the dirt has dissolved, turn the hand switch 67 to the third position to suck up the soiled moisture using the suction operation.

[0063] When the operation as a steam cleaner is completed, the user stops the operation of the clothing processing device 100. After that, the user may discard the drainage water stored in the drainage tank 51, clean the inside, and attach it to the base unit 1.

[0064] In the clothing processing device 100 of this embodiment, the base unit 1 and the head unit 2 are separate, and the head unit 2 does not include a water storage unit or the like. This means that there are no restrictions on the angle at which the head unit 2 can be operated. Therefore, the user can use the head unit 2 on both vertical and horizontal surfaces. Furthermore, when using the head unit 2 on a vertical surface, the suction port 53 is positioned above the outlet 45. This allows the user to process clothing using natural movements, such as lowering their hand when using it on a vertical surface and pulling their hand back when using it on a horizontal surface. In other words, the user can easily process clothing whether it is hung on a hanger or placed on a table or the like.

[0065] Furthermore, once the user knows the degree of dirt detected by the clothing dirt sensor 62, the user can concentrate on cleaning the areas with the most dirt. This allows the user to effectively clean the dirty parts of the object C to be treated. Furthermore, the user can feel a sense of accomplishment from the cleaning by knowing that the dirt has been removed by the cleaning.

[0066] Furthermore, the clothing processing device 100 is not configured to supply moisture from the back of the processing object C and suck it from the front, but rather has a moisture outlet 45 and suction port 53 on the same surface and processes it from one side. This allows the user to remove dirt from thick clothing with padding such as down, preventing dirt from penetrating into the interior.

[0067] [1-2-3. Evaluation of cleaning power] The results of a cleaning test using the clothing treatment device 100 of this embodiment are described below. As an example of the object C to be treated, soiled cloth for evaluating cleaning power was prepared by adhering the following substances to a 5 cm square piece of cotton cloth, leaving it at 40°C for 24 hours, and then storing it in a refrigerator. The adhering substances were 34.3 mg of oleic acid, 17 mg of cholesterol oleate, 7.3 mg of palmitic acid, 4.4 mg of squalene, 0.0126 mg of Sudan III, and 736 mg of ethanol. The reflectance of the unsoiled cloth and the soiled cloth before and after washing was measured, and the cleanliness value was calculated by (reflectance of soiled cloth after washing - reflectance of soiled cloth before washing) / (reflectance of unsoiled cloth before washing - reflectance of soiled cloth before washing). In the following, a configuration in which the front end of the pull-in suppression unit 54 is located at the rear of the suction port 53 by a dimension D = 5 mm from the contact surface 2a where the suction port 53 comes into contact with the soiled cloth, in the direction of suction from the suction port 53, will also be referred to as a "configuration with dimension D = 5 mm." Also, a configuration in which the front end of the pull-in suppression unit 54 is on the same plane as the contact surface 2a, that is, at a position of dimension D = 0 mm, will also be referred to as a "configuration with dimension D = 0 mm."

[0068] The cleaning method is as follows: the head unit 2 of the clothing treatment device 100 is brought into close contact with the soiled cloth, and the head unit 2 is placed in contact with the soiled cloth for 1 cm. 2 The head unit 2 was moved so that the contact time was 0.4 seconds per contact.

[0069] In (Evaluation 1), the cleanliness of the retraction suppression section 54 was measured and compared by changing the water supply amount and suction flow rate when the dimension D = 5 mm. In (Evaluation 2), the cleanliness and MA (Mechanical Action) values ​​were measured and compared when the dimension D = 5 mm and the dimension D = 0 mm were measured. The MA values ​​were measured using an MA test cloth.

[0070] (Evaluation 1) During the cleaning treatment, water was supplied at two different water supply rates (4 g / min and 32 g / min), and suction was performed at two different suction flow rates (20 L / min and 50 L / min).

[0071] [Table 1]

[0072] The cleaning levels are shown in Table 1. Under the high water supply condition of 32 g / min, a sufficient cleaning level equivalent to that of a domestic washing machine was obtained. Furthermore, under the high water supply condition, the high suction flow rate of 50 L / min resulted in a higher cleaning level, but under the low water supply condition of 4 g / min, the low suction flow rate of 20 L / min resulted in a higher cleaning level. Dirt removal is achieved when the soiled cloth is wetted to a certain extent and the dirt dissolves, and then the water is sucked in. For this reason, when there is sufficient moisture, a high suction force can reliably remove the dirt dissolved in the water. However, when the moisture amount is insufficient, a high suction force will suck in the water before the soiled cloth is sufficiently wet, making it difficult for the dirt to dissolve in the water. This is thought to be why the cleaning level was low.

[0073] In other words, when the suction flow rate is increased, the water supply rate is increased accordingly, so that the clothing treatment device 100 can prevent a decrease in detergency. That is, the clothing treatment device 100 may control the water supply rate of the water supply device 4 to change according to the suction flow rate of the suction device 5, thereby enabling the clothing treatment device 100 to obtain a higher detergency.

[0074] (Evaluation 2) The position of the suction suppression unit 54 was changed, and evaluation was performed on a configuration in which the suction port 53 was located at a distance D = 0 mm from the contact surface 2a that comes into contact with the processing object C, that is, on the same plane. The other configurations were the same as in Evaluation 1.

[0075] During the cleaning process, the water supply rate was 32 g / min and the suction flow rate was 50 L / min. For comparison, the same test was also conducted with the head unit 2 configured as in Evaluation 1 (configuration with dimension D = 5 mm). The evaluation consisted of an evaluation of the cleanliness and an evaluation of the MA value, which is an index of fabric damage. The lower the MA value, the less fabric damage there was.

[0076] [Table 2]

[0077] The cleanliness and MA values ​​are shown in Table 2. In a configuration in which the retraction suppression unit 54 is positioned on the same plane as the suction port 53 (configuration with dimension D = 0 mm), the cleanliness decreased by 25% compared to a configuration with dimension D = 5 mm, but the MA value could be reduced. In this configuration with dimension D = 0 mm, the object C to be treated is not retracted or deformed even when the suction device 5 operates, so it can be said that damage to the fabric can be suppressed. In other words, the retraction suppression unit 54 may be configured to have dimension D = 0 mm for clothes whose fabric is easily damaged, and dimension D = 5 mm for clothes where priority is given to cleaning power, and the clothing processing device 100 may be configured to change dimension D.

[0078] [1-3.Effects] As described above, in this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 includes the moisture supplying device 4 that supplies moisture to the treatment object C, From suction port 53 and a suction device 5 that sucks in air together with moisture adhering to the treatment object C. The suction device 5 includes a drainage tank 51 that serves as a trap that separates moisture from the air that has been sucked in together with the moisture, and a draw suppression unit 54 that suppresses the drawing of the treatment object C into the suction device 5. The retraction suppression unit 54 is configured so that a predetermined dimension D from the suction port 53 to the front end of the retraction suppression unit 54 can be changed between a position on the same plane as the suction port 53 and a position at the back of the suction port 53 in the direction in which suction is performed from the suction port 53.

[0079] As a result, dirt adhering to the object to be treated (C) dissolves in the supplied moisture, making it easier to remove from the object to be treated (C), and is sucked in together with the moisture. Therefore, the clothing processing device 100 can remove water-soluble dirt and oil-soluble dirt adhering to the object to be treated (C), such as clothing. Furthermore, because the object to be treated (C) is not sucked deep into the suction tube 55, the clothing processing device 100 can exert strong suction sufficient to remove moisture from the object to be treated (C). Therefore, moisture is efficiently sucked in, and the object to be treated (C), such as clothing, is not left in a damp state for a long time or is not subjected to unnecessary weight. The clothing processing device 100 can suppress stretching and deformation of the clothing, enabling rapid cleaning. Furthermore, the clothing processing device 100 can suppress the occurrence of unnecessary wrinkles and deformations due to the pulling of the clothing. Furthermore, the clothing processing device 100 can efficiently exert the suction power of the suction device 5, thereby improving the effectiveness of removing moisture containing dirt.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 may be configured so that suction is performed by the suction device 5 while water is being supplied by the moisture supply device 4. This allows the user to clean the treatment object C in one treatment by first contacting the outlet 45 with the treatment object C and then contacting the suction port 53. Also, since the treatment object C is not left wet for a long period of time, the clothing treatment device 100 can prevent the spread of dirt. Furthermore, when the treatment object C is hung on a hanger, the clothing treatment device 100 can prevent the treatment object C from losing its shape due to the weight of the wetness.

[0081] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in the clothing processing device 100, the moisture supplying device 4 may include a heating unit 47 that heats water and supplies moisture using the water heated by the heating unit 47, and the suction device 5 may include a cooling unit 58 that cools the suctioned air. This allows the heating unit 47 to increase the temperature of the water supplied to the steam generating unit 43, thereby reducing the heater capacity of the steam generating unit 43 in the head unit 2 and making the head unit 2 lighter. Furthermore, because the suctioned air is cooled in the cooling unit 58, it is possible to prevent the suction fan 52 from overheating or condensation around the suction fan 52, thereby preventing a decrease in durability.

[0082] In the present embodiment, the clothing processing device 100 includes a retraction suppression unit 54 the front end of is located at the back side of the suction port 53 in the direction in which suction is performed from the suction port 53 of the suction device 5. To the position of the specified dimension D This causes the object C to be sucked to deform slightly and come into contact with the outer periphery of the suction port 53. Therefore, the clothing processing device 100 can efficiently exert the suction power of the suction device 5, thereby improving the effect of removing water containing dirt.

[0083] In the present embodiment, the clothing processing device 100 includes a retraction suppression unit 54 the front end of may be provided on the entire contact surface 2a between the suction port 53 of the suction device 5 and the object to be treated C. This prevents the object to be treated C from being drawn in or deformed even when the suction device 5 is operating, so the clothing treatment device 100 can prevent damage to the fabric.

[0084] In this embodiment, the clothing processing device 100 includes: The moisture supply device 4 supplies moisture enough to wet the object C to be treated, The amount of water supplied by the water supply device 4 may be controlled to change depending on the suction flow rate of the suction device 5. When increasing the suction flow rate, it is often necessary to increase the water supply rate. This allows the laundry processing device 100 to stably exert appropriate cleaning power by linking the flow rate of suction air and the amount of water supplied.

[0085] In this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 may also include a liquid stain sensor 63 that is provided in the suction device 5 and detects the degree of staining of the water being sucked. This allows the control unit 61 of the clothing treatment device 100 to control the water supply device 4 and the suction device 5 according to the degree of staining detected by the liquid stain sensor 63. This allows the clothing treatment device 100 to improve the cleaning power according to the degree of staining.

[0086] In this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 may also include a clothing stain sensor 62 that detects stains on the treatment object C. This allows the control unit 61 of the clothing treatment device 100 to control the water supply device 4 and the suction device 5 according to the level of stains detected by the liquid stain sensor 63. This allows the clothing treatment device 100 to improve the cleaning power according to the level of stains.

[0087] In addition, in this embodiment, the clothing treatment device 100 may be provided with a liquid stain display unit 70a that displays the degree of water stain detected by the liquid stain sensor 63, or a clothing stain display unit 70b that displays the degree of stain on the treatment object C that is detected by the clothing stain sensor 62. This allows the user to know the areas where stains remain and the timing when the stains have been removed, allowing for efficient washing. Furthermore, the user can feel a sense of accomplishment from the washing by knowing how much stain has been removed by washing.

[0088] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment above to create new embodiments.

[0089] Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0090] In the first embodiment, as an example of a clothing treatment device in the present disclosure, a clothing treatment device 100 having a configuration separated into a base unit 1 and a head unit 2 has been described. However, this is not limited to this, and the base unit 1 and the head unit 2 may be configured as an integrated unit. This allows the entire clothing treatment device to be made smaller and lighter. [Industrial Applicability]

[0091] The present disclosure is useful as a clothing treatment device that removes dirt and the like from a treatment target such as clothing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 base unit 2 head units 2a Contact surface 3 Connecting pipe 4 Moisture supply device 5 Suction device 6. Control device 41 Water tank 42 Water supply pump 43 Steam generation section 44 nozzles 45 spout 46 Water supply pipe 47 Heating section 51 Drainage tank (trap) 51a Baffle plate 52 Suction fan 53 Suction port 54 Retraction suppression section 54a Divider 54b Partition 55 Suction tube 56 Exhaust port 57 Filters 58 Cooling section 61 Control Unit 62 Clothing stain sensor 63 Liquid contamination sensor 64 Cable 65 Power switch 66 Function setting switch 67 Hand switch 70a Liquid contamination indicator 70b Clothing stain indicator 100 Clothes treatment device A arrow C. Processing object D dimension

Claims

1. a moisture supplying device that supplies moisture to the object to be treated; a suction device that sucks air together with the moisture adhering to the treatment object through a suction port, The suction device includes a trap that separates the moisture from the air that has been sucked together with the moisture, and a suction suppression unit that suppresses the object to be processed from being sucked into the suction device through the suction port, The retraction suppression unit is configured to change a predetermined dimension from the suction port to a front end of the retraction suppression unit between a position on the same plane as the suction port and a position on the back side of the suction port in a direction from the suction port to the suction port. Clothes treatment device.

2. The clothing treatment device includes: The suction by the suction device is performed during the supply by the water supply device. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

3. the water supply device includes a heating unit that heats water, and supplies the water using the water heated by the heating unit; The suction device includes a cooling unit that cools the suctioned air. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The front end of the retraction suppression unit is provided at a position of the predetermined dimension toward the back side of the suction port of the suction device in a direction from the suction port toward which the suction is performed. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The front end of the retraction suppression unit is provided on the same plane as the contact surface between the suction port of the suction device and the object to be processed. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The clothing treatment device supplies the moisture by the moisture supply device in an amount sufficient to wet the object to be treated, and controls the amount of water supplied by the moisture supply device to change in accordance with the suction flow rate of the suction device, and when the suction flow rate is increased, the amount of water supplied is increased accordingly. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The clothing treatment device includes a liquid stain sensor provided in the suction device for detecting stains on the water that is being suctioned. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The clothing treatment device includes a clothing stain sensor that detects stains on the treatment object. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The clothing treatment device includes a liquid stain display unit that displays the degree of staining of the water detected by the liquid stain sensor. The clothing treatment device according to claim 7.

10. The clothing treatment device includes a clothing stain display unit that displays the degree of staining of the treatment object detected by the clothing stain sensor. The clothing treatment device according to claim 8.

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