JP7691895B2 - Clothes Processing Equipment - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clothing processing device.

For example, in a clothing treatment device such as a washing machine, dirt accumulates in the water tub that functions as a storage tub for storing laundry and other clothes over a long period of time, and such dirt can cause bacteria and mold to grow. Therefore, in the past, washing machines and the like have sometimes been provided with a configuration for cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tub. Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose configurations for cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tub. Hereinafter, the configuration disclosed in Patent document 1 will be referred to as the first conventional technology, and the configuration disclosed in Patent document 2 will be referred to as the second conventional technology.

In the first conventional technology, a steam generator that generates steam is installed in the air circulation path of the washing machine, and the blower must be operated to inject steam into the water tub. In the first conventional technology, when the blower is operated, the temperature of the steam drops due to the effect of the air blowing, so the steam is warmed by energizing a separately installed heater to heat the air. Thus, in the first conventional technology, electricity is required to drive the blower and heater, which increases the power consumption of the washing machine.

In the second conventional technology, steam generated by a steam generator can be injected into the tub of a washing machine without using a blower. However, in the second conventional technology, warm air is supplied into the tub to prevent condensation inside the tub, which requires electricity, resulting in a corresponding increase in the power consumption of the washing machine. In addition, in both the first and second conventional technologies, air circulates inside the tub and through the air circulation path when steam is injected into the tub, making it difficult for the steam to remain inside the tub, and it takes a relatively long time to achieve the required sterilization effect.

JP 2014-068969 A JP 2020-081347 A

Therefore, we provide a clothing treatment device that can sterilize the inside of the storage tub in a relatively short time while reducing power consumption.

The clothing processing device of the embodiment includes an operation control unit that controls a clothing processing operation for performing a predetermined process on the clothing, a storage tank capable of storing the clothing, a steam generating unit capable of performing a steam generating operation for generating steam, a steam heating unit capable of performing a steam heating operation for heating the steam generated by the steam generating unit, a steam supply path for supplying the steam to the storage tank, a sterilization operation control unit that controls the operation of the steam generating unit and the steam heating unit to supply the steam heated by the steam heating unit through the steam supply path into the storage tank to sterilize the inside of the storage tank, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the storage tank, a blower that can perform an air blowing operation to blow air into the storage tank, and an air heating unit that can perform an air heating operation to heat the air blown by the blower. The sterilization operation control unit performs an in-tank heating process of introducing steam into the storage tank to heat it and a temperature maintenance process of maintaining the temperature inside the storage tank within a predetermined range during the sterilization operation. The sterilization operation control unit is configured to switch whether or not to perform the steam heating operation by the steam heating unit depending on a detected temperature, which is the temperature inside the storage tank detected by the temperature detection unit, when performing the sterilization operation. The sterilization operation control unit is configured to stop the steam heating operation by the steam heating unit when the detected temperature reaches a first temperature when performing the sterilization operation. The sterilization operation control unit is configured to stop the steam generation operation by the steam generation unit and perform the air blowing operation by the blower when the detected temperature reaches a second temperature higher than the first temperature when performing the sterilization operation. The sterilization operation control unit is configured to stop the operation of at least one of the blower and the air heating unit during the period when the tank heating process and the temperature maintenance process are performed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of a steam generating device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first specific configuration example of a steam heating device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a second specific configuration example of the steam heating device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the processing content of heating inside the tank in the sterilization operation according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a process for maintaining temperature in a sterilization operation according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a timing chart showing changes in the temperature inside the tank during the period in which the processes for heating the tank and maintaining the temperature according to the first embodiment are performed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of processing contents of drying inside the tank in the sterilization operation according to the first embodiment; 1 is a timing chart showing a change in temperature inside the tank during a period in which the process of drying inside the tank according to the first embodiment is performed; FIG. 1 is a timing chart for explaining the time difference until the temperature inside the tank reaches the target temperature in the first embodiment and the comparative example. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of processing contents of drying inside the tank in the sterilization operation according to the second embodiment; 13 is a timing chart showing a change in humidity inside the tub during a period in which the process of drying inside the tub according to the second embodiment is performed;

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

<Overall configuration of the washing machine>
As shown in Fig. 1, the washing machine 10 of this embodiment is a drum type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the spin tub 13 is horizontal or inclined toward the rear. The washing machine 10 may be a vertical axis washing machine in which the rotation axis of the spin tub 13 is vertical. The washing machine 10 is capable of performing a clothes processing operation for performing predetermined processes such as washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying on clothes, and is an example of a clothes processing device. Specifically, the washing machine 1 is capable of performing a washing operation, a drying operation, and a washing and drying operation.

The washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 12, a spin tub 13, a motor 14, a drainage path 15, a drainage valve 16, a circulation path 17, a circulation pump 18, a heater 19, and the like. In FIG. 1, the side of the installation surface of the washing machine 10, i.e., the vertically lower side, is defined as the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side to the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upper side, is defined as the upper side of the washing machine 10. Also, the side of the washing machine 10 seen from the user's perspective is defined as the front side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side to the user, i.e., the rear side of the washing machine 10, is defined as the rear side of the washing machine 10.

The outer box 11, which is the housing, is formed into a substantially rectangular box shape, for example, from a steel plate. The water tub 12 is disposed within the outer box 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotating tub 13, which is a drum, is disposed rotatably within the water tub 12. Both the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 are formed into so-called bottomed cylinders, with one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape, i.e., the front side, open, and the other side, i.e., the rear side, having a bottom. The water tub 12 accommodates laundry, i.e., clothes, inside and allows them to be put in and taken out, and functions as a storage tub that can store clothes.

The spin tub 13 also has a baffle 131 and a number of holes 132. A number of baffles 131, for example three, are provided on the inner peripheral wall of the spin tub 13, and function to agitate and stir up the laundry contained in the spin tub 13. The holes 132 are formed over the entire inner peripheral wall of the spin tub 13, and function as water passages through which water flows in and out during the spin cycle, for example.

The motor 14 is provided on the outside of the bottom of the water tank 12. The motor 14 is connected to the rotating tank 13 and has the function of directly driving the rotating tank 13 to rotate. Although not shown in detail, the motor 14 is configured, for example, as a brushless direct drive motor whose rotation speed can be changed. Note that the motor 14 is not limited to being a direct drive motor, and may also be configured to include a clutch mechanism, a brake device, etc.

The drain path 15 is a path for draining water stored in the water tub 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain path 15 is, for example, composed of a flexible drain hose, one end of which is connected to the drain valve 16 and the other end of which is pulled out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 16 is an on-off valve for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The drain valve 16 is provided between the drain path 15 and a drain outlet 121 provided at the bottom of the water tub 12. The drain valve 16 opens and closes the drain path 15 based on a control signal from the control device 50 shown in FIG. 2.

The circulation path 17 is provided outside the water tank 12. The circulation path 17 is a path for pumping up the water stored in the water tank 12 and supplying the pumped up water from the top of the water tank 12 back into the water tank 12. One end of the circulation path 17 is connected to the drain outlet 121 via the circulation pump 18, and the other end is connected to a nozzle portion 171 provided at the top of the water tank 12. Although the details of the nozzle portion 171 are not shown, the nozzle portion 171 is configured so that water ejected from the nozzle portion 171 is discharged in a shower-like manner toward the center of the water tank 12.

The circulation pump 18 is provided on the circulation path 17. When the circulation pump 18 is driven with the drainage path 15 closed by the drain valve 16, the circulation pump 18 pumps up the water in the water tub 12 through the drain outlet 121 and pours the water back into the water tub 12 from the nozzle portion 171. In this way, the circulation pump 18 circulates the water stored in the water tub 12 through the circulation path 17. The heater 19 is provided at the bottom of the water tub 12. The heater 19 has the function of heating the water supplied to the water tub 12 to make it warm water. This allows the washing machine 10 to perform the washing process or the rinsing process using warm water.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 includes a hot air supply path 61, a heater 62, and an air blower 63. The hot air supply path 61 is provided outside the water tub 12 and has the function of supplying hot air for drying into the water tub 12. In this embodiment, the hot air supply path 61 is configured as a circulation air path that circulates between the inside and outside of the water tub 12. In this case, the hot air supply path 61 draws in air from the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13, and supplies the drawn air from the top of the water tub 12 back into the water tub 12. One end of the hot air supply path 61 is connected near the lower end of the back side of the water tub 12, and the other end is connected near the upper front end of the front side of the water tub 12.

The heating device 62 and the blower 63 are provided in the hot air supply path 61. The heating device 62 has a function of heating the air in the hot air supply path 61 to generate hot air to be supplied from the hot air supply path 61 into the water tank 12. The hot air generated by the heating device 62 is supplied into the water tank 12 by the action of the blower 63. In other words, the blower 63 can perform an air blowing operation to blow air into the water tank 12. The heating device 62 can also perform an air heating operation to heat the air blown by the blower 63, and functions as an air heating section. In this case, the heating method of the heating device 62 can be, for example, a heat pump type or a heater type.

The washing machine 10 also has a connection port 21, a water supply path 22, a water supply valve 23, and an automatic treatment agent dispenser 30. The connection port 21 is connected to an external water source such as a water faucet via a hose 100. The water supply path 22 is a path for supplying water supplied from an external water source into the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13. One end of the water supply path 22 is connected to the water supply valve 23, and the other end is connected to the water tub 12. The water supply valve 23 is an opening/closing valve for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The water supply valve 23 is provided between the connection port 21 and the water supply path 22. The water supply valve 23 opens and closes the water supply path 22 based on a control signal from the control device 50.

The automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 stores the laundry treatment agents, such as detergent, required for multiple wash runs, and automatically dispenses the required amount of laundry treatment agent into the water tub 12 as the wash runs progress. The automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 is provided, for example, on the top of the outer box 11, and is connected to the water supply path 22. Water supplied from an external water source is directly mixed with the laundry treatment agent supplied from the automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 in the water supply path 22, and is then supplied into the water tub 12.

In this case, the automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 is configured to automatically supply the laundry treatment agent stored in advance in the automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 into the water tub 12 using, for example, a piston pump (not shown). The washing machine 10 may be configured to include a manual dispenser in addition to the automatic treatment agent dispenser 30, so that the user manually dispenses the laundry treatment agent required for one washing run into the manual dispenser before starting the washing run. In this specification, the laundry treatment agent is a concept that includes, for example, detergents such as powder detergents and liquid detergents, and finishing agents such as fabric softeners and fragrances. In this case, the automatic treatment agent dispenser 30 is compatible with liquid detergents and liquid finishing agents, and the manual dispenser is compatible with both liquid detergents and powder detergents, and liquid finishing agents.

The washing machine 10 also has a steam generator 71, a steam heating device 72, a water supply path 73, and a steam supply path 74. The steam generator 71 can perform a steam generating operation to generate steam, and functions as a steam generating section. The water supply path 73 is a path for supplying water supplied from an external water source to the steam generator 71. One end of the water supply path 73 is connected to the water supply valve 23, and the other end is connected to the steam generator 71. The steam supply path 74 is a path separate from the hot air supply path 61, and is a path for supplying the steam generated by the steam generator 71 to the water tub 12.

One end of the steam supply path 74 is connected to the steam generator 71, and the other end is a steam inlet that is connected to the water tank 12. The steam heating device 72 is capable of performing a heating operation to heat the steam generated by the steam generator 71, and functions as a steam heating section. The steam heating device 72 is provided midway along the steam supply path 74. In other words, in this case, the steam heating device 72 is provided so as to be located downstream of the steam generator 71 in the steam flow. This results in a configuration in which the steam generated by the steam generator 71 is supplied into the water tank 12 via the steam heating device 72.

In this case, the steam generator 71 is provided so as to be located above the water tank 12. Furthermore, in this case, the steam generator 71, the steam heating device 72, and the steam supply path 74 are configured so as not to come into contact with the water supply path 22. Note that "in contact" here does not only mean that they are in complete contact, but also includes cases where they are only a short distance apart so that heat can be easily transferred between them.

<Specific configuration of steam generating device>
A specific example of the configuration of the steam generator 71 is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the steam generator 71 of this configuration example includes a water inlet 711, a tank 712, a heater 713, a temperature sensor 714, and a steam outlet 715. The water inlet 711 is connected to one end of the water supply path 73 described above. Water supplied from an external water source through the water inlet 711 is supplied to the tank 712. The tank 712 stores water for generating steam.

The heater 713 is configured to heat the tank 712 when electricity is applied. The temperature sensor 714 detects the temperature inside the tank 712 and is provided to control the application of electricity to the heater 713 so that the temperature inside the tank 712 is maintained at an appropriate temperature. The steam outlet 715 is connected to one end of the steam supply path 74 described above. The steam generated inside the tank 712 is discharged to the outside of the steam generating device 71 through the steam outlet 715.

According to the above configuration, water is supplied to the tank 712 and heated by the heater 713 to generate water vapor. Specifically, in the above configuration, first, water supply to the tank 712 is started, and then the heater 713 is energized. When the heater 713 is energized, the tank 712 is heated, and the water stored in the tank 712 is heated by the heat and converted into water vapor. The water vapor is then discharged from the steam outlet 715 to the outside of the tank 712. The water vapor discharged to the outside of the tank 712 is sent to the steam heating device 72 via the steam supply path 74. This series of operations corresponds to the steam generating operation.

<Specific configuration of the steam heating device>
Specific examples of the steam heating device 72 include a first configuration example shown in FIG. 4 and a second configuration example shown in FIG.
[1] First Configuration Example As shown in Fig. 4, a steam heating device 72a of the first configuration example includes a pipe 721 and a coil 722 made of, for example, metal. The pipe 721 is for passing steam, with one end serving as a steam inlet and the other end serving as a steam outlet. The coil 722 is attached so as to cover the pipe 721. According to the above configuration, steam can be heated as follows.

That is, by passing a current through the coil 722, an eddy current is generated in the pipe 721, which heats the pipe 721. As a result, the steam passing through the pipe 721 is heated by the heat of the pipe 721. This series of operations corresponds to the steam heating operation. Then, steam is discharged from the other end of the pipe 721, and the discharged steam is introduced into the water tank 12 via the steam supply path 74.

[2] Second Configuration Example As shown in Fig. 5, steam heating device 72b of the second configuration example differs from steam heating device 72a of the first configuration example in that a heater 723 is provided instead of coil 722. Heater 723 is configured to heat pipe 721 when electricity is applied. According to the above configuration, steam can be heated as follows. That is, pipe 721 is heated by applying electricity to heater 723. As a result, steam passing through pipe 721 is heated by the heat of pipe 721.

<Electrical configuration of the washing machine>
As shown in Fig. 2, the washing machine 10 includes an operation panel 41, a current sensor 42, a water level sensor 43, and a control device 50. The operation panel 41 has a display section and an operation section, and receives input operations from the user and displays the input operation contents and the operation status, etc. The current sensor 42 can detect the current flowing through the motor 14. The water level sensor 43 can detect the water level in the water tub 12.

The control device 50 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having storage areas such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and rewritable flash memory (not shown), and controls the overall operation of the washing machine 10. The motor 14, drain valve 16, circulation pump 18, heater 19, water supply valve 23, operation panel 41, current sensor 42, water level sensor 43, heating device 62, blower 63, steam generator 71, and steam heating device 72 are electrically connected to the control device 50. The motor 14, drain valve 16, circulation pump 18, heater 19, water supply valve 23, operation panel 41, current sensor 42, water level sensor 43, heating device 62, blower 63, steam generator 71, and steam heating device 72 are controlled by the control device 50.

The control device 50 has functional blocks such as an operation control unit 51, a sterilization operation control unit 52, and a temperature detection unit 53. These functional blocks are realized by the CPU of the control device 50 executing a computer program stored in a ROM or the like to execute processing corresponding to the computer program, that is, by software. Note that at least a portion of each functional block may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit.

The operation control unit 51 controls the clothes processing operations, specifically the washing operation, drying operation, and washing and drying operation, for carrying out a predetermined process on the clothes. Of these clothes processing operations, the washing operation and washing and drying operation include a water supply operation that supplies water to the water tub 12. The sterilization operation control unit 52 performs the sterilization operation by controlling the operation of the steam generating device 71 and the steam heating device 72. The sterilization operation is an operation for sterilizing the inside of the water tub 12 by supplying steam heated by the steam heating device 72 into the water tub 12 via the steam supply path 74.

The temperature detection unit 53 detects the temperature inside the water tank 12 via a temperature sensor (not shown) or the like. In this case, when performing the sterilization operation, the sterilization operation control unit 52 switches whether or not to perform the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 depending on the detected temperature Td, which is the temperature inside the water tank 12 detected by the temperature detection unit 53. Specifically, when performing the sterilization operation, the sterilization operation control unit 52 stops the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 if the detected temperature Td reaches the first temperature T1.

When the sterilization operation is performed, if the detected temperature Td reaches a second temperature T2 that is higher than the first temperature T1, the sterilization operation control unit 52 stops the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71 and performs an air blowing operation by the blower 63. The first temperature T1 is a predetermined temperature, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 70°C. The second temperature T2 is a predetermined temperature, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 90°C. The sterilization operation control unit 52 is further configured to switch whether or not to perform an air heating operation by the heating device 62 depending on the detected temperature Td.

Next, the specific contents of the sterilization operation executed by the above-mentioned configuration will be described.
In the sterilization operation, the process of "heating inside the tank", the process of "maintaining the temperature", and the process of "drying inside the tank" are executed in this order. An example of the contents of these three processes will be described below.

[1] Heating inside the tank and maintaining temperature The process of heating inside the tank is a process of sterilizing the inside of the water tank 12 by introducing steam into the water tank 12 and heating it, and is, for example, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 6. When the process of heating inside the tank is started, step S101 is executed first. In step S101, the steam generating operation by the steam generator 71 is started, that is, steam generation is started. After execution of step S101, the process proceeds to step S102, where it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is less than the first temperature T1. Here, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, the result in step S102 is "NO", and steps S103 to S105 described below are skipped and the process proceeds to step S106.

On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is less than the first temperature T1, step S102 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 is started, that is, steam heating is started. After step S103 is executed, the process proceeds to step S104, where it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is equal to or greater than the first temperature T1. Here, if the detected temperature Td is less than the first temperature T1, step S104 becomes "NO" and step S104 is executed again, that is, step S104 is repeatedly executed until the detected temperature Td becomes equal to or greater than the first temperature T1.

On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, step S104 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 is stopped, that is, steam heating is stopped. However, at this time, the steam generating operation by the steam generating device 71 is still being performed, that is, steam generation is still being performed. After step S105 is executed, the process proceeds to step S106.

In step S106, it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the second temperature T2. If the detected temperature Td is less than the second temperature T2, step S106 becomes "NO" and step S106 is executed again, that is, step S106 is repeatedly executed until the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the second temperature T2. On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the second temperature T2, step S106 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71 is stopped, that is, steam generation is stopped. After step S107 is executed, the process of heating inside the tank is terminated.

The temperature maintenance process is a process for maintaining the temperature in the water tank 12 within a predetermined range, and is, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7. When the temperature maintenance process is started, step S201 is executed first. In step S201, it is determined whether or not a time ta has elapsed since the end of the process of heating the tank, or more specifically, since the stop of the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71. The time ta is a predetermined time, and in this embodiment is set to, for example, 20 minutes.

If the time ta has elapsed since the end of the heating process inside the tank, step S201 becomes "YES" and the temperature maintenance process ends. On the other hand, if the time ta has not elapsed since the end of the heating process inside the tank, step S201 becomes "NO" and the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, it is determined whether or not the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71 is being performed, that is, whether or not steam is being generated. If steam is not being generated, step S202 becomes "NO" and the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is less than a third temperature T3 between the first temperature T1 and the second temperature T2. The third temperature T3 is a predetermined temperature, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 80°C. If the detected temperature Td is less than the third temperature T3, step S203 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the steam generating device 71 starts to generate steam, that is, steam generation is started. After step S204 is executed, the process returns to step S201. On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or greater than the third temperature, step S203 becomes "NO", step S204 is skipped, and the process returns to step S201.

On the other hand, if steam is being generated, step S202 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the third temperature T3. Here, if the detected temperature Td is less than the third temperature T3, step S205 becomes "NO" and the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the third temperature T3, step S205 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the steam generating operation by the steam generating device 71 is stopped, that is, steam generation is stopped. After step S206 is executed, the process returns to step S201.

By executing the above-mentioned processes for heating the tank and maintaining the temperature, steam is introduced into the water tank 12 to heat the water tank 12 and maintain the temperature within a predetermined range, as follows: During the period when the process for heating the tank is executed and the period when the process for maintaining the temperature is executed, the detected temperature Td, i.e., the temperature within the water tank 12, changes, for example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 8. Note that in FIG. 8 and other figures, the temperature within the water tank 12 is referred to as the temperature within the tank. Also, in FIG. 8 and other figures, the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71 and the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 are referred to as "ON" when they are executed and as "OFF" when they are stopped.

First, when the detected temperature Td is less than the first temperature T1, not only the steam generator 71 but also the steam heater 72 operate simultaneously when steam is supplied, meaning that both the steam generating operation and the steam heating operation are performed. Then, the steam generated by the steam generator 71 is heated by the steam heater 72 and then supplied into the water tank 12. Since the temperature of normal steam is close to 100°C, the temperature of the steam is further increased, causing the temperature in the water tank 12 to rise sharply.

In contrast, when the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 is stopped when steam is introduced, meaning that only the steam generation operation is performed. Then, the steam generated by the steam generating device 71 is introduced directly into the water tank 12. Therefore, the temperature inside the water tank 12 rises relatively slowly. Thereafter, when the detected temperature Td becomes equal to or higher than the second temperature T2, the steam generation operation by the steam generating device 71 is also stopped and the process of heating inside the tank is terminated.

The temperature maintenance process waits until the time ta has elapsed, starting from the time the in-tank heating process ended. Therefore, the period during which the temperature maintenance process is performed is equal to the time ta. In the temperature maintenance process, if the temperature inside the water tank 12 falls below the third temperature T3 before the time ta has elapsed, the steam generator 71 will generate steam again. This will cause steam to be introduced into the water tank 12 again, causing the temperature inside the water tank 12 to change from a decrease to an increase. Then, when the time ta has elapsed since the time the in-tank heating process ended, the temperature maintenance process ends, and sterilization inside the water tank 12 is now complete.

[2] In-tub drying The in-tub drying process is a process for drying the inside of the water tub 12 by blowing air into the water tub 12, and is, for example, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9. When the in-tub drying process is started, step S301 is executed first. In step S301, the blowing operation by the blower 63 is started, that is, blowing air is started. After execution of step S301, the process proceeds to step S302, where it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is less than a fourth temperature T4 that is lower than the first temperature T1. The fourth temperature T4 is a predetermined temperature, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 60° C.

If the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the fourth temperature T4, step S302 becomes "NO" and step S302 is executed again, that is, step S302 is executed repeatedly until the detected temperature Td becomes less than the fourth temperature T4. On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is less than the fourth temperature T4, step S302 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the air heating operation by the heating device 62 is started, that is, air heating is started. At this time, the blowing operation by the blower 63 is still being executed, so after step S303 is executed, the air heating operation is executed in addition to the blowing operation.

After execution of step S303, the process proceeds to step S304, where it is determined whether the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1. If the detected temperature Td is less than the first temperature T1, step S304 becomes "NO" and step S304 is executed again; that is, step S304 is repeatedly executed until the detected temperature Td becomes equal to or higher than the first temperature T1. On the other hand, if the detected temperature Td is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, step S304 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S305.

In step S305, the air heating operation by the heating device 62 is stopped, that is, air heating is stopped. At this time, the blowing operation by the blower 63 continues, so after step S305 is executed, only the blowing operation is executed. After step S305 is executed, the process proceeds to step S306, where it is determined whether or not a time tb has elapsed from the point at which the air heating was stopped. Note that time tb is a predetermined time, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 10 minutes.

If time tb has not elapsed since the time when air heating was stopped, step S306 becomes "NO" and step S306 is executed again, that is, step S306 is repeatedly executed until time tb has elapsed since the time when air heating was stopped. On the other hand, if time tb has elapsed since the time when air heating was stopped, step S306 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, the blowing operation by the blower 63 is stopped, that is, blowing is stopped. After step S307 is executed, the process of drying inside the tank is completed.

By carrying out the above-mentioned process for drying the tank, the inside of the tank 12 is dried in the following manner. During the period in which the process for drying the tank is carried out, the detected temperature Td, i.e., the temperature inside the tank 12, changes, for example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 10. In FIG. 10 and other figures, the blowing operation by the blower 63 and the air heating operation by the heater 62 are referred to as "ON" when they are carried out, and as "OFF" when they are stopped. That is, after the process for maintaining the temperature is completed, i.e., after sterilization is completed, the blowing operation by the blower 63 is carried out, so that air is blown into the tank 12 to dry the inside of the tank 12. At this time, the drying is accelerated by carrying out the air heating operation by the heater 62 according to the detected temperature Td, i.e., the temperature inside the tank 12.

Specifically, when the temperature inside the water tank 12 drops below the fourth temperature T4 due to the air being blown, the heating device 62 performs an air heating operation, causing warm air to be supplied into the water tank 12. When the temperature inside the water tank 12 rises due to this warm air and becomes equal to or higher than the first temperature T1, the air heating operation by the heating device 62 is stopped. This state, in which only air is being blown, continues for a time tb, after which the air blowing is also stopped.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
The washing machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a steam generating device 71 capable of performing a steam generating operation to generate steam, a steam heating device 72 capable of performing a steam heating operation to heat the steam generated by the steam generating device 71, a steam supply path 74 for supplying steam to the water tub 12, and a sterilization operation control unit 52 that controls the operation of the steam generating device 71 and the steam heating device 72 to supply steam heated by the steam heating device 72 through the steam supply path 74 into the water tub 12, thereby performing a sterilization operation to sterilize the inside of the water tub 12.

With this configuration, the steam generated by the steam generator 71 is further heated to create even higher temperature steam, and this high-temperature steam is then injected into the water tank 12, quickly increasing the temperature and humidity inside the water tank 12. As shown in FIG. 11, with the configuration of this embodiment, it is possible to raise the temperature inside the water tank 12 to the target temperature in an extremely short time compared to the comparative example in which the steam generated by the steam generator 71 is injected directly into the water tank 12 without providing a steam heating device 72, and therefore the water tank 12 can be sterilized in a shorter time.

During the sterilization operation of this embodiment, during the period when the processes of heating the tank and maintaining the temperature are performed, that is, until sterilization is completed, the blower 63 and the heating device 62 are not operated, and only the steam generating device 71 and the steam heating device 72 are operated. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the movement of steam outside the water tank 12 and the decrease in steam temperature due to the air blowing are prevented, and as a result, the heated steam can be sufficiently retained within the water tank 12, and the sterilization effect can be obtained in a shorter time.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the blower 63 and the heater 62 do not operate until sterilization is completed, so the power consumption of the washing machine 10 is kept low, which means that sterilization can be achieved with less energy. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the excellent effect of sterilizing the water tub 12 in a relatively short time while suppressing power consumption can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the steam heating device 72 is provided so as to be located downstream of the steam flow relative to the steam generating device 71. The steam generated by the steam generating device 71 is then supplied to the water tank 12 via the steam heating device 72. With this configuration, it is easy to switch between heating and not heating the steam simply by switching the operating state of the steam heating device 72.

In this embodiment, the steam generator 71 is provided so as to be located above the water tank 12. This reduces the effect of the temperature of the water supplied into the water tank 12 on the steam generator 71. That is, even if the temperature of the water in the water tank 12 is relatively low, the temperature of the steam generator 71 itself is less likely to drop due to the influence of that temperature, and thus the steam temperature is prevented from dropping. If the steam temperature drops, there is a risk that condensation will occur, making it difficult to obtain a sterilization effect, but the above configuration can prevent such a problem from occurring. Furthermore, with the above configuration, if the temperature in the water tank 12 becomes relatively high, the temperature of the steam generator 71 itself will rise due to the influence of the residual heat, and therefore the drop in steam temperature can be prevented.

In this embodiment, at least one of the steam generating device 71, the steam heating device 72, and the steam supply path 74 is configured not to come into contact with the water supply path 22. This configuration can reduce the effect of the water temperature on the steam during the water supply operation that supplies water to the water tank 12. In other words, this configuration prevents the steam temperature from decreasing due to the effect of the water temperature, even if the temperature of the supplied water is relatively low.

In this embodiment, the sterilization operation control unit 52 switches whether or not to perform steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 depending on the detected temperature Td, which is the temperature in the water tub 12 detected by the temperature detection unit 53, when performing the sterilization operation. In this way, heated steam can be introduced into the water tub 12 during the period until the temperature in the water tub 12 has risen sufficiently, and the temperature in the water tub 12 can be quickly raised. In addition, when performing the sterilization operation, the sterilization operation control unit 52 stops the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72 when the detected temperature Td reaches the first temperature T1. In this way, when the temperature in the water tub 12 has risen sufficiently, the operation of the steam heating device 72 is stopped, and the power consumption of the washing machine 10 is accordingly kept low.

In this embodiment, when the sterilization operation is performed, if the detected temperature Td reaches a second temperature T2 higher than the first temperature T1, the sterilization operation control unit 52 stops the steam generation operation by the steam generator 71 and executes an air blowing operation by the blower 63 to blow air into the water tank 12. In this way, after the high temperature and high humidity state inside the water tank 12 has been maintained to a certain extent, that is, after sterilization is completed, it is possible to dry the inside of the water tank 12 by stopping the supply of steam into the water tank 12 and blowing air, thereby suppressing the growth of bacteria, mold, etc.

In this embodiment, the sterilization operation control unit 52 switches whether or not to execute an air heating operation in which the heating device 62 heats the air blown by the blower 63 depending on the detected temperature Td. In this way, it becomes possible to supply warm air into the aquarium 12 depending on the temperature inside the aquarium 12, and as a result, the inside of the aquarium 12 can be dried more quickly after sterilization is completed.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
12, the control device 50 of this embodiment further includes a functional block called a humidity detection unit 54. The humidity detection unit 54 detects the humidity in the water tank 12 via a humidity sensor (not shown) or the like. In this case, the sterilization operation control unit 52 switches whether or not to execute the air heating operation by the heating device 62 depending on the detected humidity Hd, which is the humidity in the water tank 12 detected by the humidity detection unit 54.

Next, the specific contents of the sterilization operation executed by the above-mentioned configuration will be described.
In this embodiment, the processing contents of "inside tank drying" in the sterilization operation are different from those of the first embodiment as follows: That is, the processing of the inside tank drying in this embodiment is, for example, as shown in the flow chart of Fig. 13, and is different from the processing of the inside tank drying in the first embodiment in that step S322 is provided instead of step S302, and step S324 is provided instead of step S304, etc.

In step S322, it is determined whether the detected humidity Hd is equal to or greater than the first humidity H1. The first humidity H1 is a predetermined humidity, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 50% RH. If the detected humidity Hd is less than the first humidity H1, step S322 becomes "NO" and step S322 is executed again; that is, step S322 is repeatedly executed until the detected humidity Hd is equal to or greater than the first humidity H1. On the other hand, if the detected humidity Hd is equal to or greater than the first humidity H1, step S322 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S303.

In step S324, it is determined whether the detected humidity Hd is less than a second humidity H2, which is less than the first humidity H1. The second humidity H2 is a predetermined humidity, and in this embodiment, it is set to, for example, 10% RH. Here, if the detected humidity Hd is equal to or greater than the second humidity H2, step S324 becomes "NO" and step S324 is executed again, that is, step S324 is repeatedly executed until the detected humidity Hd becomes less than the second humidity H2. On the other hand, if the detected humidity Hd is less than the second humidity H2, step S324 becomes "YES" and the process proceeds to step S305.

By carrying out the above-mentioned in-tub drying process, the inside of the aquarium 12 is dried in the following manner. During the period in which the in-tub drying process is being carried out, the detected humidity Hd, i.e., the humidity inside the aquarium 12, changes, for example, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 14. In FIG. 14 and other figures, the humidity inside the aquarium 12 is referred to as the in-tub humidity. That is, after the temperature maintenance process is completed, i.e., after sterilization is completed, the blower 63 performs an air blowing operation to blow air into the aquarium 12, thereby drying the inside of the aquarium 12. At this time, the heating device 62 performs an air heating operation according to the detected humidity Hd, i.e., the humidity inside the aquarium 12, thereby hastening the drying process.

Specifically, when the humidity inside the water tank 12 is equal to or higher than the first humidity H1, the heating device 62 performs an air heating operation, which causes warm air to be supplied into the water tank 12. When the humidity inside the water tank 12 falls below the second humidity H2 due to this warm air, the heating device 62 stops heating the air. This state, in which only air is blown, continues for a time tb, after which the air blowing is also stopped.

The present embodiment described above also provides the same effect as the first embodiment, that is, the excellent effect of being able to sterilize the inside of the aquarium 12 in a relatively short time while suppressing power consumption. In this embodiment, the sterilization operation control unit 52 switches whether or not to execute an air heating operation in which the heating device 62 heats the air blown by the blower 63 depending on the detected humidity Hd. In this way, it becomes possible to supply warm air into the aquarium 12 depending on the humidity inside the aquarium 12, and as a result, the inside of the aquarium 12 can be dried more quickly after sterilization is completed.

Other Embodiments
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and can be modified, combined, or expanded in any manner without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The numerical values and the like shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.

The present invention is not limited to the washing machine 10, which is a drum type washer-dryer, but can be applied to all clothing processing devices, such as vertical axis washing machines, washer-dryers, and dryers, which perform clothing processing operations to perform specified processing on clothing, such as washing, drying, and deodorization.
The location of the steam generating device 71 does not have to be above the water tank 12, and can be changed as appropriate as long as the location can prevent a drop in the steam temperature.

In each of the above embodiments, the steam generating device 71, the steam heating device 72, and the steam supply path 74 are configured so as not to come into contact with the water supply path 22, but it is sufficient that at least one of the steam generating device 71, the steam heating device 72, and the steam supply path 74 is configured so as not to come into contact with the water supply path 22. Even with this configuration, it is possible to obtain the effect of reducing the influence of the water temperature on the steam during the water supply operation. For example, it is preferable to configure the steam heating device 72 and the steam supply path 74, which are thought to be particularly affected by the drop in steam temperature, so as not to come into contact with the water supply path 22.

The sterilization operation control unit 52 may simultaneously execute and stop the steam heating operation by the steam generating device 71 and the steam heating operation by the steam heating device 72. In this way, the generated steam is always heated when the sterilization operation is performed, so that the temperature in the water tub 12 can be raised to the target temperature more quickly. The sterilization operation control unit 52 can also prevent the air heating operation by the heating device 62 from always being executed during the tub drying process. However, in this case, it is necessary to exhaust the humid air outside the washing machine 10, for example, via an exhaust damper.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications 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 included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a washing machine (clothing treatment device), 12 indicates a water tub (storage tub), 22 indicates a water supply path, 50 indicates a control device, 51 indicates an operation control unit, 52 indicates a sterilization operation control unit, 53 indicates a temperature detection unit, 54 indicates a humidity detection unit, 62 indicates a heating device (air heating unit), 63 indicates a blower, 71 indicates a steam generation device (steam generation unit), 72 indicates a steam heating device (steam heating unit), and 74 indicates a steam supply path.

Claims (9)

An operation control unit that controls a clothes processing operation for performing a predetermined processing on clothes;
A storage tank capable of storing the clothing;
A steam generating unit capable of performing a steam generating operation to generate steam;
A steam heating unit capable of performing a steam heating operation to heat the steam generated by the steam generating unit;
a steam supply path for supplying the steam to the storage tank;
a sterilization operation control unit that controls operations of the steam generating unit and the steam heating unit to supply steam heated by the steam heating unit into the storage tank through the steam supply path, thereby performing a sterilization operation for sterilizing the inside of the storage tank; and
A temperature detection unit that detects a temperature inside the storage tank;
A blower capable of performing a blowing operation to blow air into the storage tank;
An air heating unit capable of performing an air heating operation to heat the air blown by the blower;
Equipped with
The sterilization operation control unit is
In the sterilization operation, a tank heating process is performed in which steam is injected into the storage tank to heat the storage tank, and a temperature maintenance process is performed in which a temperature in the storage tank is maintained within a predetermined range.
When the sterilization operation is performed, whether or not to perform the steam heating operation by the steam heating unit is switched depending on a detected temperature, which is the temperature inside the storage tank detected by the temperature detection unit,
When the sterilization operation is performed, if the detected temperature reaches a first temperature, the steam heating operation by the steam heating unit is stopped,
When the sterilization operation is performed, if the detected temperature reaches a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the steam generation operation by the steam generating unit is stopped and the air blowing operation by the air blower is performed ,
This clothing processing device is configured to stop operation of at least one of the blower and the air heating section during the period in which the in-tub heating process and the temperature maintenance process are performed . An operation control unit that controls a clothes processing operation for performing a predetermined processing on clothes;
A storage tank capable of storing the clothing;
A steam generating unit capable of performing a steam generating operation to generate steam;
A steam heating unit capable of performing a steam heating operation to heat the steam generated by the steam generating unit;
a steam supply path for supplying the steam to the storage tank;
a sterilization operation control unit that controls operations of the steam generating unit and the steam heating unit to supply steam generated by the steam generating unit or steam heated by the steam heating unit into the storage tank via the steam supply path, thereby performing a sterilization operation for sterilizing the inside of the storage tank; and
A blower capable of performing a blowing operation to blow air into the storage tank;
An air heating unit capable of performing an air heating operation to heat the air blown by the blower;
Equipped with
The sterilization operation control unit is
In the sterilization operation, a tank heating process is performed in which steam is injected into the storage tank to heat the storage tank , and a temperature maintenance process is performed in which a temperature in the storage tank is maintained within a predetermined range .
In the in-tank heating process, the steam generating operation is performed by the steam generating unit, and during the steam generating operation, whether or not to perform the steam heating operation by the steam heating unit is switched depending on a temperature condition in the storage tank ,
This clothing processing device is configured to stop operation of at least one of the blower and the air heating section during the period in which the in-tub heating process and the temperature maintenance process are performed . The sterilization operation control unit is
The clothing processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the temperature maintenance process stops the steam generation operation by the steam generating unit when the temperature inside the storage tub is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and performs the steam generation operation by the steam generating unit when the temperature inside the storage tub is lower than the predetermined temperature. The steam heating unit is provided so as to be located downstream in a flow of the steam with respect to the steam generating unit,
The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the steam generated by the steam generating section is supplied into the storage tub via the steam heating section. The laundry treatment operation includes an operation including a water supply operation for supplying water into the storage tub,
The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the steam generating unit is disposed above the storage tub. Further, a water supply path is provided for supplying water from an external water source into the storage tank,
The clothing processing device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the steam generating section, the steam heating section and the steam supply path is configured so as not to come into contact with the water supply path. The clothing processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the sterilization operation control unit is configured to switch whether or not to perform the air heating operation by the air heating unit depending on the detected temperature. Further , a humidity detection unit is provided to detect the humidity inside the container,
The clothing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization operation control unit is configured to switch whether or not to perform the air heating operation by the air heating unit depending on the detected humidity, which is the humidity inside the storage tub detected by the humidity detection unit. The clothing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization operation control unit is configured to stop the steam generation operation by the steam generating unit when it determines that the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a third temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature, and to execute the steam generation operation by the steam generating unit when it determines that the detected temperature is lower than the third temperature, during the sterilization operation.

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