JP2014199172A - Home electric appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a home electric appliance including a mist generator emitting mist having a sterilization action, and capable of reducing the size of the mist generator for solving conventional problems that the mist generator tends to be larger in size and an installation space is limited since the mist generator includes a water storage tank storing water used for emitting mist.SOLUTION: A home electric appliance incorporates therein a mist generator 10, and this mist generator 10 comprises: a mist emission portion 12 emitting mist; and a water supply portion 12 having self water absorption for absorbing water in air, and supplying the absorbed water to the mist emission portion 12. The water supply portion 12 contains deliquescent substance that is high polymer at a molecular weight of 300 or more. The mist emission portion 12 includes high voltage application means 15 and 15a for applying a high voltage to the mist emission portion 12. By applying the high voltage to the mist emission portion 12 by the high voltage application means 15, 15a, mist is emitted from the mist emission portion 12. The mist generator 10 includes a counter electrode 16 opposite to the mist emission portion 12.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to home appliances.

  Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, home appliances including a mist generating device that emits a mist having a sterilizing action and the like have been considered. However, since this mist generating device has a water storage tank that stores water to be discharged as mist, the entire device becomes large and the installation space is limited.

Japanese Patent No. 4929297

  The present embodiment provides a household electrical appliance in which the mist generator is downsized.

  The home appliance of this embodiment is equipped with a mist generator. The mist generating device includes a mist discharging unit that discharges mist and a water supply unit that has self-water absorption to absorb moisture in the air and supplies the absorbed water to the mist discharging unit.

Sectional drawing which shows schematically the structure of the mist generator which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Vertical side view schematically showing the configuration of the refrigerator Longitudinal side view of the mist generator and its surroundings The perspective view which shows the structure of an ultrasonic humidifier roughly Longitudinal side view schematically showing the structure of the washing machine Rear view of aquarium Vertical side view schematically showing the configuration of the main body of the vacuum cleaner Longitudinal side view of the mist generator and its surroundings FIG. 3 equivalent view according to the second embodiment The schematic structure of the refrigerator which concerns on 3rd Embodiment is shown, (a) is a vertical side view, (b) is a vertical side view in the site | part different from (a). FIG. 1 equivalent view according to the fourth embodiment FIG. 1 equivalent diagram according to the fifth embodiment FIG. 1 equivalent diagram according to the sixth embodiment FIG. 1 equivalent diagram according to the seventh embodiment FIG. 1 equivalent view according to the ninth embodiment

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the home appliance according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a mist generator 10 mounted on a home appliance. The mist generating device 10 has a configuration in which a discharge electrode member 12 is provided in a case 11 that constitutes an outline of the mist generating device 10. In this case, the mist generator 10 includes a plurality of discharge electrode members 12. The case 11 is formed of, for example, an electrically insulating resin material, and includes a bottomed box-shaped case main body 11a and a lid portion 11b that covers the opening of the case main body 11a.

  The discharge electrode member 12 is formed of a porous material having water absorption and water retention, and has a pin shape with a sharp tip. In this case, the tip part of the discharge electrode member 12 made of one member constitutes a mist discharge part, and the part other than the tip part of the discharge electrode member 12 constitutes a water supply part. That is, the discharge electrode member 12 is entirely composed of the same member, and in this discharge electrode member 12, the mist discharge portion on the distal end side is provided seamlessly and integrally with one end portion of the water supply portion on the proximal end side. . The discharge electrode member 12 has its tip, that is, the mist discharge portion exposed to the outside of the case 11. Further, the discharge electrode member 12 has a base end portion thereof, that is, an end portion of the water supply portion opposite to the mist discharge portion is exposed to the outside of the case 11. In addition, as a porous material which comprises the discharge electrode member 12, the felt material etc. which consist of fibrous polyester etc. can be considered, for example.

  These discharge electrode members 12 have a structure in which a porous material having water absorption and water retention is impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption that absorbs moisture in the air. As a result, the discharge electrode member 12 exhibits self-water absorption that spontaneously absorbs moisture in the air when the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere becomes a predetermined value or higher. As such a self-water-absorbing substance, for example, a deliquescent substance that spontaneously absorbs and dissolves moisture in the air without requiring external energy. In this embodiment, the discharge electrode member 12 is impregnated with potassium polyphosphate, which is a phosphoric acid-based polymer, as such a deliquescent material. Thereby, the discharge electrode member 12 has a structure having a self-water absorption property that absorbs moisture in the air as a whole including the mist discharge portion and the water supply portion.

  The discharge electrode member 12 impregnated with potassium polyphosphate as a deliquescent substance starts to absorb water from the surrounding air when the ambient temperature is 5 ° C. and the humidity exceeds 40%, for example. In this case, by maintaining the ambient humidity at about 40 to 50%, the water absorbing action of the discharge electrode member 12 is stably continued. Thus, by adjusting the ambient temperature and humidity according to the characteristics of the substance impregnated in the discharge electrode member 12, the water absorption start condition of the discharge electrode member 12 can be controlled, and the discharge electrode member The water absorption action of 12 can be stabilized.

  The deliquescent material impregnated in the discharge electrode member 12 is preferably a material that is not easily ionized as much as possible. For example, a polymer having a molecular weight of 300 or more may be used. For example, a low-molecular-weight deliquescent material such as sodium chloride is ionized and eluted from the discharge electrode member 12 when the material is deliquescent, so that the content of the deliquescent material is gradually reduced and the discharge electrode member 12 is reduced. This is because the self-water-absorbing property is deteriorated. In this case, it is sufficient that at least one deliquescent material having a molecular weight of 300 or more is impregnated in the discharge electrode member 12, and the discharge electrode member is provided on the condition that at least one kind of deliquescent material having a molecular weight of 300 or more is contained. 12 may be impregnated with two or more deliquescent substances having different molecular weights. Therefore, the discharge electrode member 12 may be impregnated with a deliquescent substance having a molecular weight of 300 or more (for example, about 400) and a deliquescent substance having a molecular weight of less than 300 (for example, about 200). Even when the discharge electrode member 12 is impregnated only with a deliquescent material having a molecular weight of about 200, the deliquescent material is easily ionized and eluted from the discharge electrode member 12. However, even if a deliquescent substance having a molecular weight of about 200 is impregnated into the discharge electrode member 12 together with a deliquescent substance having a molecular weight of 300 or more, the low molecular weight deliquescent substance is eluted from the discharge electrode member 12. Can be suppressed. Further, it has been confirmed that the self-water-absorbing property of the discharge electrode member 12 is hardly deteriorated by impregnating the discharge electrode member 12 with two or more types of deliquescent substances having different molecular weights.

  Further, the discharge electrode member 12 does not need to be impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption, and a part of the discharge electrode member 12 may be impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption. That is, the discharge electrode member 12 may have a configuration in which, for example, the mist discharge portion is not impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption, and a portion other than the mist discharge portion is impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption. Further, the discharge electrode member 12 may be configured such that the mist discharge portion on the distal end side and the water supply portion on the proximal end side are different members. In this case, the member constituting the mist discharging part may or may not be impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption, and the member constituting the water supply part is entirely made of a substance having self-water absorption. It may be impregnated, or a part thereof may be impregnated with a substance having self-water absorption.

  A holding member 13 made of an insulating material is provided inside the case 11. The discharge electrode member 12 is fixed to the holding member 13 in a state of penetrating the holding member 13. In addition, as an insulating material which comprises this holding member 13, resin materials, such as a polypropylene, can be considered, for example.

  In addition to the holding member 13 described above, a conductive member 14 containing a conductive substance such as carbon is provided inside the case 11. A plurality of discharge electrode members 12 are inserted into the conductive member 14 so as to penetrate therethrough. In addition, a conductive rod 15 is inserted into the conductive member 14 from the outside of the case 11. The base end of the conductive rod 15 is connected to the negative electrode of a high voltage power supply 15a of a power supply circuit (not shown). Thereby, a negative high voltage from the high voltage power supply 15a is applied to the discharge electrode member 12 via the conductive rod 15 and the conductive member 14, and the discharge electrode member 12 is negatively charged. That is, a high voltage applying means for applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode member 12 to charge the discharge electrode member 12 from the conductive rod 15 and the high voltage power supply 15a is configured. In this case, the output voltage of the high voltage power supply 15a is set to about −6 kV, for example.

  On the outside of the case 11, a counter electrode 16 for the distal end portion of the discharge electrode member 12, that is, the mist discharge portion is provided. The counter electrode 16 is connected to the positive electrode of the high voltage power supply 15a. The counter electrode 16 is made of a conductive material such as metal, and in this case, is formed in an annular shape. The shape of the counter electrode 16 is not limited to an annular shape, and may be, for example, an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape. Further, the counter electrode 16 may not be annular, and may be formed in a plate shape or a spherical shape, for example.

According to the mist generator 10 configured as described above, moisture in the air is spontaneously absorbed by the discharge electrode member 12 having self-water absorption without requiring external energy. That is, when the deliquescent substance is scattered from the surface to the inside in the porous material constituting the discharge electrode member 12, the deliquescent substance existing in the vicinity of the surface of the porous material in contact with the air is in the air. The water is chemically combined, and the adsorbed water is absorbed and retained in the porous material by capillary condensation of the porous material. After that, as a mechanism until moisture is supplied to the mist emitting part, when moisture in the air chemically binds to the deliquescent substance, and the binding force exceeds the force due to capillary condensation of the porous material, Water is separated from the deliquescent material, and the water moves from the vicinity of the surface in contact with the air to the inside of the porous material, and some of the moisture is relatively less bound to the water than in the vicinity of the surface. Move to deliquescent materials present in In this way, moisture is expected to move from the vicinity of the surface in contact with air to the side closer to the mist emitting part.

  When moisture in the air is absorbed, moisture in the air is easily absorbed in the portion of the discharge electrode member 12 exposed to the outside of the case 11. And the water | moisture content absorbed by the discharge electrode member 12 osmose | permeates the said discharge electrode member 12, and is supplied to the mist discharge | release part of a front-end | tip part. In this case, since the mist discharge portion is configured as a part of the discharge electrode member 12 having self-water absorption, the mist discharge portion itself naturally has self-water absorption. Therefore, the mist discharge unit includes moisture supplied from the water supply unit, in other words, moisture absorbed by the mist discharge unit itself, in addition to moisture that permeates from the water supply unit.

  Then, a negative high voltage from the high voltage power supply 15 a is applied to the discharge electrode member 12 to which water is supplied to the mist discharge portion in this way via the conductive rod 15 and the conductive member 14. At this time, the electric charge concentrates on the distal end portion of the discharge electrode member 12, that is, the mist discharge portion, and energy exceeding the surface tension is given to the water contained in the mist discharge portion. As a result, the water contained in the mist discharge portion of the discharge electrode member 12 is split (Rayleigh split) and discharged in the form of a mist. That is, an electrostatic atomization phenomenon occurs. Here, the water particles released in the form of mist are negatively charged and contain hydroxy radicals generated by the energy. Accordingly, hydroxy radicals having a strong oxidizing action are released together with mist, thereby enabling sterilization and deodorization.

Next, the structure which mounted the mist generator 10 of an above-described structure in the refrigerator 100 which is household appliances is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 100 is configured by providing a plurality of storage chambers for storing stored items such as food as objects in a vertically long rectangular box-shaped heat insulating box body 101 whose front surface is open. Specifically, a refrigeration room 102 and a vegetable room 103 are provided in order from the top as storage rooms in the heat insulation box 101, and an ice making room 104 and a small freezer room (not shown) are provided on the left and right sides below. The freezer compartment 105 is provided below these. Both the refrigerator compartment 102 and the vegetable compartment 103 are storage rooms in a refrigerator temperature zone (for example, 1 to 4 ° C.). In addition, a chilled chamber 102 a is provided at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 102. The ice making room 104, the small freezer room, and the freezer room 105 are all storage rooms in a freezing temperature zone (for example, −10 to −20 ° C.). Each storage room is provided with a rotary or drawer type heat insulating door. Moreover, the heat insulation box 101 is the structure which provided the heat insulating material between the outer box made from a steel plate, and the inner box made from a synthetic resin.

In the refrigerator 100, two refrigerators, a refrigeration cooler 106 for cooling the refrigerator compartment 102 and the vegetable compartment 103, and a freezer cooler 107 for cooling the ice making compartment 104, the small freezer compartment, and the freezer compartment 105 are provided. A refrigeration cycle with a cooler is incorporated. A machine room 108 is provided on the rear side of the lower end of the refrigerator 100. The machine room 108 controls the compressor 109, the condenser, the cooling fan, and the defrosted water evaporating dish 110 constituting the refrigeration cycle. A control device 111 or the like is provided.
A refrigeration cooler chamber 112 is provided at the back of the freezing chamber 105 in the refrigerator 100, and a refrigeration cooler 107 and a refrigeration blower fan 113 are disposed in the refrigeration cooler chamber 112. The refrigeration cooler 107 is provided with a defrost heater (not shown).

In this configuration, when the refrigeration blower fan 113 is driven, the cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler 107 flows from the cold air outlet 112a on the front surface of the refrigeration cooler chamber 112 into the ice making chamber 104, the small freezer compartment, the freezer After being supplied into the chamber 105, it is circulated so as to be returned into the refrigeration cooler chamber 112 from the return port 112 b at the lower part of the refrigeration cooler chamber 112. Thereby, the ice making room 104, the small freezer room, and the freezer room 105 are cooled to the freezing temperature zone. A drainage basin 114 that receives defrost water generated when the refrigeration cooler 107 is defrosted is provided below the refrigeration cooler 107. The defrost water received by the drainage basin 114 is guided to the defrost water evaporating dish 110 provided in the machine room 108 outside the warehouse, and evaporates.
A refrigeration cooler chamber 120 is provided behind the refrigeration chamber 102 and the vegetable compartment 103 in the refrigerator 100, and the refrigeration cooler 106 and the refrigeration blower fan 121 are disposed in the refrigeration cooler chamber 120. Has been. The refrigeration cooler 106 is also provided with a defrost heater (not shown).

A chilled air supply duct 122 extending upward is provided above the refrigerated cooler chamber 120, and an upper end portion of the refrigerated cooler chamber 120 communicates with a lower end portion of the cold air supply duct 122. As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 120 a of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120 bulges forward from the cold air supply duct 122. Further, a heat insulating material 123 having heat insulating properties is provided on the back side of the front wall 120a. A plurality of cold air supply ports 124 that open into the refrigerator compartment 102 are provided at the front of the cold air supply duct 122.
In the lower part of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120, there is provided a drainage basin 125 that is positioned below the refrigeration cooler 106 and receives defrost water generated when the refrigeration cooler 106 is defrosted. The defrosted water received by the drainage basin 125 is also led to the defrosted water evaporating dish 110 provided in the machine room 108 outside the warehouse and evaporates.

  A refrigeration blower fan 121 is disposed behind the vegetable compartment 103 below the drainage basin 125, and a blower duct 126 and a suction port 127 are provided. Among them, the air duct 126 communicates with the refrigeration cooler chamber 120 and further with the cold air supply duct 122 so that the upper end of the air duct 126 circulates the drainage basin 125. The suction port 127 is opened at the rear part of the vegetable compartment 103. In addition, a communication port 128 that connects the refrigerator compartment 102 and the vegetable compartment 103 is formed at the left and right corners of the rear part of the partition wall that forms the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 102.

  In this configuration, when the refrigeration blower fan 121 is driven, the cold air generated by the refrigeration cooler 106 passes through the cold air supply duct 122 as shown by white arrows in FIG. Is supplied to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 102 or the chilled compartment 102a, and then supplied to the vegetable compartment 103 through the communication port 128, and finally circulates so as to be sucked into the refrigerator compartment 120 for refrigeration from the inlet port 127. Thereby, the refrigerator compartment 102, the chilled compartment 102a, and the vegetable compartment 103 are cooled to the refrigerator temperature zone.

  On the front side of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120, a humidification duct 130 is provided behind the chilled chamber 102a. As shown in FIG. 3, the humidifying duct 130 is formed by a duct constituent member 131 attached to the front surface of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120. In addition, an ultrasonic humidifier 140 is disposed below the humidification duct 130 in the lower part of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120.

  The ultrasonic humidifier 140 includes a water storage container 141 that constitutes a water storage section, and an ultrasonic vibrator 142 provided at the bottom of the water storage container 141. As shown in FIG. 4, the water storage container 141 includes a container main body 141a having a rectangular container shape, and a cover 141b attached to the upper surface of the container main body 141a. This water storage container 141 is located between the refrigeration cooler 106 and the drainage basin 125 in the refrigeration cooler chamber 120 and is attached closer to the front.

  The cover 141b of the water storage container 141 is provided with a cylindrical humidification opening 143 protruding upward on the upper surface of the front part, and a rectangular opening 144 is formed at the rear part. The upper end of the humidifying port 143 is inserted into the humidifying duct 130 from below. The opening 144 is located below the refrigeration cooler 106. When the refrigeration cooler 106 is defrosted, the defrost water dripped from the refrigeration cooler 106 is received and stored in the container body 141 a through the opening 144.

  The cover 141b is provided with a downward partition plate 145 positioned between the humidification opening 143 and the opening 144. The partition plate 145 partitions the water storage container 141 into a front chamber 141c and a rear chamber 141d. The lower end portion of the partition plate 145 is spaced upward from the bottom surface of the container main body 141a. Therefore, the front chamber 141c and the rear chamber 141d communicate with each other in the lower part. When the water storage container 141 is attached to the refrigeration cooler chamber 120, the upper portion is separated from the refrigeration cooler 106, the rear portion is separated from the rear inner surface of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120, and the lower portion is separated from the drainage basin 125. It is separated.

  The ultrasonic transducer 142 is disposed at the bottom of the front chamber 141c among the bottom of the container body 141a. As the ultrasonic vibrator 142 vibrates, the water in the water storage container 141 is atomized and discharged as mist m2 from the humidification opening 143 to the humidification duct 130. In this case, the ultrasonic vibrator 142 can set different vibration frequencies. For example, the vibration frequency of one ultrasonic vibrator 142 is suitable for generating hydrogen peroxide water from water. The vibration frequency of the other ultrasonic transducer 142 can be set at a frequency suitable for atomizing water.

  A cold air supply port 130 a is provided in the upper part of the rear portion of the humidifying duct 130. The cold air supply port 130a has a rear portion communicating with the upper portion of the refrigeration cooler chamber 120 and a front portion communicating with the humidifying duct 130. As indicated by an arrow A1 in FIG. A part of the cold air flowing through the air is supplied into the humidifying duct 130 from the cold air supply port 130a. A high-humidity cold air outlet 130 b is provided in the upper part of the front portion of the humidifying duct 130. The cold air supplied from the cold air supply port 130a into the humidification duct 130 is humidified by the mist m2 in the humidification duct 130, and as shown by an arrow B1 in FIG. 3, the high-humidity cold air outlet 130b passes through the chilled chamber 102a. It is designed to be supplied inside.

In addition, a high-humidity cold air blowing duct 132 for the refrigerator compartment is provided on the upper portion of the humidifying duct 130. As a result, as shown by the arrow B2 in FIG. 3, a part of the mist m2 of the humidifying duct 130 is also supplied from the high-humidity cold air blowing duct 132 for the refrigerating room into the refrigerating room 102 through the cold air supply duct 122. It is like that. Furthermore, a high-humidity cold air outlet 133 for the vegetable room is provided at the lower part of the humidifying duct 130. The high humidity and cold air outlet 133 for the vegetable room communicates with the vegetable room 103 through the communication port 128. Therefore, as shown by an arrow B3 in FIG. 3, a part of the mist m2 in the humidifying duct 130 is also supplied into the vegetable compartment 103 through the communication port 128 from the high-humidity cold air outlet 133 for the vegetable compartment. It has become.
As described above, the refrigerator 100 is configured to supply high-humidity cold air to the storage room (in this case, the refrigeration room 102, the chilled room 102a, and the vegetable room 103) using frost generated in the refrigeration cooler 106. Has been.

  In the refrigerator 100 having such a configuration, in this case, the mist generating device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted inside the humidifying duct 130, that is, at a position in contact with the humid air humidified by the ultrasonic humidifying device 140. Is done. Therefore, the mist m1 containing the hydroxy radical generated by the mist generator 10 is also stored in the storage room (in this case, the refrigerator room 102, the chilled room 102a, and the vegetable room 103) together with the humidifying mist m2 generated by the ultrasonic humidifier 140. Thus, it becomes possible to disinfect and deodorize the storage chamber.

  In this case, as described above, the mist generator 10 uses water absorbed from the air as water to be discharged as mist, so that the water storage section that stores water to be supplied to the mist discharge section. In addition, since such a water storage part is unnecessary, it is not necessary to provide a drainage part for draining water in the water storage part. Therefore, the mist generator 10 can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the mist generator 10 can be significantly improved in the refrigerator 100 where the space is limited.

Moreover, since the mist generator 10 uses the water absorbed from the air as the water to be discharged as the mist, it is not necessary to use the defrost water generated from the cooler. Therefore, it is not necessary to install the mist generating device 10 below the cooler to receive the defrosted water dripped from the cooler, and it can be installed at a position other than the lower part of the cooler. This can be further improved.
In addition, if the mist generator 10 is the structure which can discharge | release mist in a storage chamber, it can be mounted in the appropriate position of the refrigerator 100. FIG.

Next, the structure which mounted the mist generator 10 of the above-mentioned structure in the washing machine 200 which is household appliances is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 5, a casing 201 that forms the outline of the washing machine 200 has a substantially rectangular box shape with a smoothly inclined front surface. A water supply port 203 is provided.

  A substantially circular door 204 is provided on the front surface of the housing 201, and an operation button (not shown) for opening the door 204 is provided. In addition, an operation panel 205 and a detergent input unit (not shown) are provided on the front upper portion of the housing 201. The operation panel 205 is connected to a control device 206 provided on the back side of the housing 201. In addition, the operation panel 205 is provided with various switches for selecting various driving courses and starting driving, for example. The control device 206 includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like centered on a microcomputer, and controls the overall operation of the washing machine 200 based on various input signals and pre-stored control programs. It has become.

A water tank 207 is disposed inside the casing 201, and a drum 208 corresponding to a rotating tank is disposed inside the water tank 207.
Both of the water tank 207 and the drum 208 have a bottomed cylindrical shape with one end closed, and have openings 209 and 210 at the front end face part, respectively. The opening 210 of the drum 208 is surrounded by the opening 209 of the water tank 207, and the opening 209 of the water tank 207 is connected to the opening 211 formed on the front surface of the housing 201 by the bellows 212. In the opening 211, the door 204 is provided so as to be openable and closable, so that the door 204 for opening and closing the laundry including the openings 209, 210, and 211 is opened and closed by the door 204. Yes.

  For example, a liquid-sealed rotary balancer 213 is provided around the opening 210 of the drum 208, and a plurality of holes 214 are formed in almost the entire circumferential side portion (body portion) of the drum 208. . These holes 214 function as water holes during the washing process, during the rinsing process, and during the dehydration process, and function as vent holes during the drying process. A plurality of baffles 215 protrude from the inner surface of the peripheral side portion of the drum 208, and a plurality of hot air inlets 216 are arranged on the rear end surface portion of the drum 208 by an annular arrangement concentric with the central axis thereof. Is formed. The water tank 207 has a hot air outlet 217 at the upper portion of the front end surface portion, and has a hot air inlet 218 at the upper portion of the rear end surface portion so as to face the rotation locus of the hot air inlet 216. .

A water supply case 220 is connected to the upper part of the water tank 207 via a water supply hose 219. A tap water supply port 202 and a bath water supply port 203 are connected to the water supply case 220 via a water supply valve 221. Thus, tap water from the tap water supply port 202 or bath water from the bath water supply port 203 is supplied into the water tank 207 via the water supply valve 221, the water supply case 220, and the water supply hose 219. It is like that. The water supply case 220 is supplied with detergents (detergents, softeners, bleaching agents, etc.) via a detergent input part, and these detergents together with tap water or bath water. The water tank 207 is supplied.
A drain outlet 222 is formed at the rearmost portion of the water tank 207, and a drain hose 223 connected to the outside of the washing machine 200 is connected to the drain outlet 222. A drain valve 224 is provided in the middle of the drain hose 223. Thus, the water in the water tank 207 can be drained outside the apparatus.

A washing machine motor 225 is attached to the back surface of the water tank 207, and a rotating shaft 226 of the washing machine motor 225 projects into the water tank 207. A central portion of the end surface portion on the rear side of the drum 208 is attached to the tip portion of the rotating shaft 226. Thereby, the drum 208 is coaxially supported by the water tank 207 so that rotation is possible. That is, the washing machine 200 is configured to directly rotate and drive the drum 208 by the washing machine motor 225, and employs a direct drive system using the washing machine motor 225. In this case, the washing machine motor 225 is constituted by an outer rotor type brushless DC motor.
The water tank 207 is elastically supported by the housing 201 by a plurality of suspensions 227, and the support form is a horizontal axis in which the axial direction of the water tank 207 is the front-rear direction, and is an upwardly inclined shape. Therefore, the drum 208 supported in the water tank 207 as described above has the same configuration.

  A base plate 228 is disposed below the water tank 207 (on the bottom surface of the housing 201), and a ventilation duct 229 is disposed on the base plate 228. The ventilation duct 229 has an air inlet 230 at the upper part of the front end, and the hot air outlet 217 of the water tank 207 is connected to the air inlet 230 via a connection hose 231 and a return air duct 232. Yes. The return air duct 232 is piped so as to bypass the side portion of the opening 209 of the water tank 207.

A casing 234 of a circulation fan 233 is connected to the rear end of the ventilation duct 229, and an outlet 235 of the casing 234 is connected to the hot air of the water tank 207 via the connection hose 236 and the air supply duct 237. Connected to the inlet 218. As shown in FIG. 6, the air supply duct 237 is piped so as to bypass the right side of the washing machine motor 225 when viewed from the back side of the water tank 207. Here, the return air duct 232, the connection hose 231, the ventilation duct 229, the casing 234 of the circulation fan 233, the connection hose 236, and the air supply duct 237 constitute a circulation air passage 238 connected in communication with the water tank 207. .
In this case, the circulation fan 233 is constituted by a centrifugal fan. That is, the circulation fan 233 includes a centrifugal impeller 239 inside the casing 234 and a motor 240 that rotates the centrifugal impeller 239 outside the casing 234. The circulation fan 233 functions as a blowing unit that circulates the air in the water tank 207 (in the drum 208) through the circulation air passage 238.

An evaporator 241 corresponding to a dehumidifying means is disposed at the front part and a condenser 242 corresponding to a heating means is disposed at the rear part inside the ventilation duct 229 in the circulation air path 238. These evaporators 241 and condensers 242 are finned tube types in which a large number of heat transfer fins are arranged at a fine pitch, and are excellent in heat exchange. As shown by solid arrows in FIG. The wind flowing through the ventilation duct 229 passes between the heat transfer fins.
The evaporator 241 and the condenser 242 constitute a heat pump 244 together with the compressor 243 and a flow rate control valve (not shown). In this heat pump 244, the compressor 243, the condenser 242, the flow rate control valve, and the evaporator 241 are cycle-connected in this order (refrigeration cycle) by the refrigerant flow pipe, and the refrigerant is supplied by operating the compressor 243. It is designed to circulate. The air flowing in the circulation air path 238 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 241 and heated by the condenser 242 to be warmed.

In the washing machine 200 having such a configuration, the mist generating device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted in the middle of the circulation air path 238, in this case, in the lower part of the air supply duct 237. Therefore, the mist m1 containing the hydroxy radical generated by the mist generating device 10 is also released into the water tank 207 together with the air flowing in the circulation air passage 238, thereby enabling sterilization and deodorization in the water tank 207. It becomes.
Also in this case, since the mist generating device 10 uses water absorbed from the air as water to be discharged as mist, it is necessary to include a water storage unit that stores water to be supplied to the mist discharge unit. Moreover, since such a water storage part is unnecessary, it is not necessary to provide the drainage part which drains the water in a water storage part. Therefore, the mist generating device 10 can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the mist generating device 10 can be significantly improved in the washing machine 200 where the space is limited.

  A partition plate 245 is provided in a portion of the circulation air passage 238 where the mist generator 10 is installed. The partition plate 245 has a flange portion 245 a that is inclined downward, and is opposed to the discharge electrode member 12 of the mist generator 10. As a result, as indicated by broken line arrows in FIG. 5, after a part of the air flowing in the circulation air passage 238 is supplied to the mist generator 10 side and passes through the discharge electrode member 12 and its peripheral part, It joins the road 238.

Further, in the washing machine 200 having the above-described configuration in which the mist generating device 10 is mounted in the circulation air path 238, during the drying operation, air dehumidified by the evaporator 241 and heated by the condenser 242, that is, dried high-temperature air is mist. It is supplied to the generator 10. Therefore, it becomes an environment where the self-water absorption function of the discharge electrode member 12 is difficult to be exhibited during the drying operation. However, for example, during the washing operation or the rinsing operation, the moisture in the water tank 207 reaches the mist generating device 10 through the circulation air passage 238, so that the discharge electrode member 12 can sufficiently absorb moisture in the air. That is, in the washing machine 200 in which the mist generating device 10 is mounted on the circulation air path 238, when mist is generated during the drying operation, the moisture absorbed in the discharge electrode member 12 during the drying operation is not misted. It is effective to set the water absorbed in the discharge electrode member 12 at a time other than the drying operation and accumulated in the discharge electrode member 12 to be mist during the drying operation.
Further, the mist generating device 10 may be mounted, for example, below the return air duct 232 in the middle portion of the circulation air path 238. Since wet air before being dehumidified by the evaporator 241 flows through this portion, the self-water absorption function of the discharge electrode member 12 can be sufficiently exerted.

It is also possible to mount the mist generating device 10 in a washing machine that does not include the circulation air path 238. For example, in a washing machine having an air passage that sucks air from outside the machine and discharges the air outside the machine through a water tank (rotating tank), intake air that is upstream of the water tank (rotating tank) in the air path By mounting the mist generating device 10 inside the passage or near the inlet of the intake air passage, the mist generated by the mist generating device 10 is guided into the water tank or the rotating tank together with the air flowing in the intake air passage. Can do.
Further, when another air passage is connected to the circulation air passage or the intake air passage, the mist generating device 10 can be mounted in the air passage.
It is also possible to mount the mist generating device 10 in a washing machine that does not have an air passage such as a circulation air passage or an intake air passage. In this case, for example, the mist generator 10 is mounted in the vicinity of a water tank (rotating tank). And the mist which the mist generator 10 produces | generates can be suck | inhaled and taken in in a water tank or a rotation tank by rotating the rotation tank in a water tank, and making the inside of the said water tank into a negative pressure.
In short, the mist generating device 10 can be mounted not only on the air passage but at an appropriate position of the washing machine as long as the mist can be discharged into the water tank or the rotating tank.

Next, the structure which mounted the mist generator 10 of the above-mentioned structure in the vacuum cleaner 300 which is household appliances is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 7, the main body 301 of the electric vacuum cleaner 300 includes a main body case 302 formed in a hollow shape with synthetic resin or the like. Inside the main body case 302, a first partition 303, a second partition 304, a third partition 305, and a fourth partition 306 are sequentially formed from the front to the rear. Further, a primary filter 307 is disposed between the first partition 303 and the second partition 304, and a secondary filter 308 is disposed between the second partition 304 and the third partition 305. As a result, a dust collection chamber 309 is defined between the first partition 303 and the primary filter 307 inside the main body case 302, and the first intake chamber 310 is defined between the primary filter 307 and the second partition 304. , A second intake chamber 311 is defined between the second partition 304 and the secondary filter 308, a third intake chamber 312 is defined between the secondary filter 308 and the third partition 305, and a third A fourth intake chamber 313 is defined between the partition 305 and the fourth partition 306, and a blower chamber 314 is defined between the fourth partition 306 and the rear portion of the main body case 302.

Further, a first ventilation air passage 315 is formed outside the main body case 302 to connect the second intake chamber 311 and the dust collection chamber 309 in an airtight manner, and the first intake chamber 310 and the fourth intake chamber 313 are connected to the airtightness. A second ventilation air passage 316 is formed to connect to the. In addition, a third ventilation air passage 317 that connects the blower chamber 314 and the second intake chamber 311 is formed inside the main body case 302.
The third ventilation air passage 317, the second intake chamber 311 and the first ventilation air passage 315 form a circulation air passage 318 that circulates from the blower chamber 314 to the dust collection chamber 309 side. A main body suction port (not shown) is provided at the front portion of the main body case 302, and a suction unit (not shown) manually operated by a user is connected to the main body suction port via a flexible hose. The On the other hand, a plurality of main body exhaust ports 319 for communicating the blower chamber 314 and the outside air are formed in the rear portion of the main body case 302.

  An electric blower 321 is disposed inside the blower chamber 314. In addition, a control device 322 that controls the entire operation of the vacuum cleaner 300 is disposed outside the blower chamber 314. In this case, the mist generating device 10 of the present embodiment is mounted in the third ventilation air passage 317 constituting a part of the circulation air passage 318.

  The 1st partition 303 is located facing the rear part of the main body inlet which is not shown in figure. The first partition 303 is provided with a first opening / closing valve 331 that switches between communication and blocking between the main body suction port and the dust collecting chamber 309. The first on-off valve 331 is a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve. Further, a first ventilation air passage 315 communicates with the dust collecting chamber 309 and is airtightly connected to the first partition wall 303. A second opening / closing valve 332 that switches between communication and blocking between the first intake chamber 310 and the second intake chamber 311 is attached to the second partition wall 304. The second on-off valve 332 is also a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve. The third partition 305 is provided with a third on-off valve 333 that switches between communication and blocking between the third intake chamber 312 and the blower chamber 314. The third on-off valve 333 is also a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve.

The fourth partition 306 includes a facing portion 341 that forms a lower portion facing the third partition 305, a protruding portion 342 that protrudes horizontally from the upper end of the facing portion 341, and upward from the protruding portion 342. And an extending portion 343 extending.
The opposed portion 341 is formed with an intake cylinder portion 344 that protrudes forward toward the third partition 305. The intake cylinder portion 344 has a front end portion (upstream end portion) abutted against the rear surface of the third partition 305 via a seal member (not shown), and the inside thereof is connected to the third on-off valve 333 in an airtight manner. ing. In addition, an opening 345 communicating with the fourth intake chamber 313 is formed in the lower portion of the intake cylinder portion 344. The protruding portion 342 is a portion that constitutes a part of the lower side of the third ventilation air passage 317. Further, a secondary filter 308 is disposed below the protruding portion 342.

  The primary filter 307 filters dust in the dust-containing air and separates it from the air. Accordingly, the dust is collected in the dust collecting chamber 309. The secondary filter 308 functions as a final filter, for example. That is, the secondary filter 308 can collect dust (fine dust) that could not be collected by the primary filter 307. For example, a surface dust collection such as a pleated filter having pleats along the vertical direction. A filter is used. Further, a dust removing device 351 for removing dust collected by the secondary filter 308 by attaching vibration to the secondary filter 308, for example, is attached to the rear portion of the secondary filter 308.

The first ventilation air passage 315 extends downward from the front portion of the secondary filter 308 of the second intake chamber 311 and passes through the lower side of the first intake chamber 310 and the dust collection chamber 309 to collect the dust. It communicates with the front end of the chamber 309. Further, a fourth on-off valve 352 for switching communication between the second intake chamber 311 and the dust collecting chamber 309 is installed in the first ventilation air passage 315. The fourth on-off valve 352 is also a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve.
The second ventilation air passage 316 extends downward from the position of the rear portion of the primary filter 307 of the first intake chamber 310, passes through the lower portions of the second intake chamber 311 and the third intake chamber 312, and enters the fourth intake chamber. It communicates with the lower part of 313. In addition, a fifth on-off valve 353 for switching communication between the first intake chamber 310 and the fourth intake chamber 313 is installed in the second ventilation air passage 316. The fifth on-off valve 353 is also a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve.

As shown in FIG. 8, the third ventilation air passage 317 is formed along the protruding portion 342 of the fourth partition wall 306 so as to extend from the upper portion of the blower chamber 314 to the front portion. Further, a sixth on-off valve 354 for switching communication between the third ventilation air passage 317 and the second intake chamber 311 is attached to the third ventilation air passage 317. The sixth on-off valve 354 is also a normally open valve such as an electromagnetic valve.
An outside air communication port 360 is provided at the upper part of the main body case 302. An outside air filter 361 for preventing entry of dust and the like into the main body case 302 is attached to the outside air communication port 360.
The electric blower 321 includes an intake port 321a at the front end and an exhaust port 321b at the outer periphery on the rear end side. The intake port 321a of the electric blower 321 is airtightly connected to the rear end portion of the intake cylinder portion 344 of the fourth partition wall 306 via a seal member (not shown).

In the case of executing the normal cleaning mode in the electric vacuum cleaner 300 having this configuration, the control device 322 first sets the first on-off valve 331, the second on-off valve 332, and the third on-off valve 333 as preparations, respectively. The fourth on-off valve 352, the fifth on-off valve 353, and the sixth on-off valve 354 are each maintained in the closed state.
In this state, the control device 322 drives the electric blower 321. At this time, the dust-containing air sucked into the main body case 302 through the flexible hose from the suction portion first collects dust through the opened first on-off valve 331 as indicated by an arrow F1 in FIG. The chamber 309 is reached and then separated by the primary filter 307 into relatively large dust, that is, coarse dust and air. For this reason, the separated coarse dust is collected in the dust collection chamber 309. Then, the air that has passed through the primary filter 307 and entered the first intake chamber 310 flows into the second intake chamber 311 through the open second on-off valve 332, and is relatively small dust by the secondary filter 308. That is, it is separated into fine dust and air. For this reason, fine dust is trapped on the upstream surface of the secondary filter 308. The air that has passed through the secondary filter 308 and entered the third intake chamber 312 passes through the open third on-off valve 333, and further passes through the intake cylinder portion 344 to the electric blower 321 from the intake port 321a. Inhaled. Then, the exhaust gas flowing out from the exhaust port 321 b of the electric blower 321 to the blower chamber 314 is discharged to the outside of the main body case 302, that is, outside the main body portion 301 through the main body exhaust port 319.

On the other hand, when executing the internal clean mode in the electric vacuum cleaner 300, the control device 322 first closes the first on-off valve 331, the second on-off valve 332, and the third on-off valve 333 as preparations. The fourth on-off valve 352, the fifth on-off valve 353, and the sixth on-off valve 354 are each maintained in the open state.
In this state, the control device 322 drives the electric blower 321. In this case, the output of the electric blower 321 is, for example, lower than the maximum output of the electric blower 321 in the cleaning mode.

  As the electric blower 321 is driven, the intake negative pressure is changed in the intake cylinder 344, the opening 345, the fourth intake chamber 313, the second ventilation air passage 316, the first intake chamber 310, the dust collection chamber 309, It acts on the 1st ventilation air path 315, the 2nd intake chamber 311, and the 3rd ventilation air path 317 one by one. As a result, the air discharged from the exhaust port 321b of the electric blower 321 to the blower chamber 314 flows into the second intake chamber 311 via the third ventilation air passage 317 as indicated by the broken line arrow F2 in FIG. . In addition, air outside the main body case 302 is sucked into the third ventilation air passage 317 from the outside air communication port 360 and flows into the second intake chamber 311. Then, the air that has flowed into the second intake chamber 311 flows into the dust collection chamber 309 via the first ventilation air passage 315 and then flows into the first intake chamber 310. The air flowing into the first intake chamber 310 flows into the fourth intake chamber 313 and the intake cylinder portion 344 via the second ventilation air passage 316 and is sucked into the intake port 321a of the electric blower 321.

  In the vacuum cleaner 300 having such a configuration, the mist generator 10 according to the present embodiment includes a portion in the middle of the circulation air passage 318, in this case, a portion in the vicinity of the outside air communication port 360 in the third ventilation air passage 317 (the outside air). It is mounted on a portion slightly downstream of the communication port 360. Therefore, in the internal clean mode, the mist containing the hydroxy radicals generated by the mist generating device 10 is also released into the second intake chamber 311 together with the air flowing in the circulation air passage 318. The sterilization and deodorization in the intake chamber 311 can be performed. Furthermore, the exhaust from the electric blower 321 circulates to the dust collection chamber 309 side via the circulation air passage 318, and accordingly, the mist is supplied to the circulation air passage 318, the dust collection chamber 309, the first intake chamber 310, and the second air intake chamber 310. The ventilation air passage 316, the fourth intake chamber 313, and the intake cylinder portion 344 reach the corners of the main body case 302. Thereby, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the entire main body case 302.

  Also in this case, since the mist generating device 10 uses water absorbed from the air as water to be discharged as mist, it is necessary to include a water storage unit that stores water to be supplied to the mist discharge unit. Moreover, since such a water storage part is unnecessary, it is not necessary to provide the drainage part which drains the water in a water storage part. Therefore, the mist generator 10 can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the mist generator 10 can be remarkably improved in the vacuum cleaner 300 with limited space.

The mist generator 10 is preferably mounted in a circulation air passage 318 through which air easily passes. If it is in the circulation air passage 318, for example, in the second intake chamber 311 or the first ventilation air passage 315. May be installed. Furthermore, the mist generator 10 can be mounted on other components of the vacuum cleaner 300 such as the dust collection chamber 309, the first intake chamber 310, and the second ventilation air passage 316. That is, the mist generating device 10 can be mounted at an appropriate position of the electric vacuum cleaner 300 as long as the mist generating device 10 can discharge the mist into the main body case 302.
Moreover, it is good also as a structure which enables disinfection and deodorization in the main body case 302 also in cleaning mode by mounting the mist generator 10 in the position where air flows in normal cleaning mode.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the ultrasonic humidifier 140 is not provided, and the refrigeration cooler 106 is provided below the mist generator 10, that is, at a position where the ultrasonic humidifier 140 is disposed in FIG. 3, and in FIG. A position where the cooler 106 is disposed is a space portion through which cool air flows.

  In this configuration, by performing defrosting by a defrosting heater (not shown), frost attached to the refrigeration cooler 106 is melted, and the ambient air is humidified. Thereafter, when cooling the inside of the refrigerator, the cold air blown by the blower 121 is cooled by the refrigeration cooler 106, and the humidity is increased by the high-humidity air around the refrigeration cooler 106. A part of the high-humidity cool air passes through the humidification duct 130 in which the mist generating device 10 is disposed, as shown by an arrow C1 in FIG. 9, and is sent to the cool air supply duct 122, as in the first embodiment. These are supplied from the plurality of cold air supply ports 124 into the refrigerator compartment 102 or the chilled compartment 102a. At this time, the mist generating device 10 is disposed on the downstream side of the refrigeration cooler 106 in the flow of air.

The mist generating apparatus 10 is operated during cooling in the cabinet after the defrosting operation of the refrigeration cooler 106 is started by a defrosting heater (not shown).
Thereby, immediately after defrosting of the refrigerator 106 for refrigeration, the air around the mist generating apparatus 10 will be in a high humidity state with high humidity by the air humidified by defrosting as shown by the arrow C1. Since the mist generator 10 is operated in this high humidity state, moisture is absorbed from the high-humidity air around the mist generator 10 to supply sufficient water to the discharge electrode member 12, and the refrigerator compartment 102 and vegetables Mist can be stably discharged into the chamber 103.

  Moreover, similarly to 1st Embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the water storage part which stores the water for supplying water to the mist generator 10, and the waste_water | drain part which drains the water in a water storage part. Therefore, the mist generator 10 can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the mist generator 10 can be significantly improved in the refrigerator 100 where the space is limited.

(Third embodiment)
Subsequently, the third embodiment will be described by taking as an example a case where the vegetable room is not provided with two coolers of the refrigeration cooler and the freezer cooler and the vegetable room is disposed adjacent to the lower side of the freezer room. To do.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the refrigerator 400, a freezing temperature zone freezing room 403 is disposed adjacent to the lower side of the refrigerator compartment 402, and the vegetable room 404 is disposed adjacent to the lower side of the freezing room 403. . In this case, the refrigerating room 402 and the vegetable room 404, which are storage rooms in the refrigerating temperature zone, are separated from each other vertically, and the freezing room 403 is disposed between them. In addition, there is only one cooler, and this single cooler cools the storage room in the freezing temperature zone and the storage room in the refrigeration temperature zone. Specifically, inside the heat insulation box 401 of the refrigerator 400, a refrigerator compartment 402, a freezer compartment 403, and a vegetable compartment 404 are provided in order from the top. A heat insulating partition wall 410 is provided between the refrigerator compartment 402 and the freezer compartment 403, and a heat insulating partition wall 411 is also provided between the freezer compartment 403 and the vegetable compartment 404. A duct member 412 is provided at the rear of the freezer compartment 403 as shown in FIG. 10A, and a cooler chamber 413 is formed by the duct member 412. A cooler 414, a defrost heater 415, and a blower 416 are disposed in the cooler chamber 413. The duct member 412 has a refrigeration air supply port 417 formed at the top and a suction port 418 formed at the bottom.

  A refrigerating room duct member 419 is provided at the rear of the refrigerating room 402, and a refrigerating cold air duct 420 is formed by the refrigerating room duct member 419. The refrigeration cool air duct 420 extends in the vertical direction, and the lower end communicates with the cooler chamber 413. The refrigerator compartment duct member 419 is formed with a plurality of refrigerated cold supply ports 421. A damper 422 is provided at a connection portion between the cold air duct 420 for refrigeration and the cooler chamber 413. The damper 422 opens and closes the cold air duct 420 for refrigeration.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, a suction port 423 is formed at a predetermined portion below the refrigerator compartment duct member 419. Furthermore, a mist generating device 10 is provided on the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 402. In addition, a chilled chamber 402a as a sealed space is provided at the lowermost part of the refrigerator compartment 402, and the mist generating device 10 is provided in the rear of the chilled chamber 402a. And the vegetable room duct 424 is provided in the predetermined site | part of the rear part of the freezer compartment 403, as shown to the same FIG. 10 (b). The vegetable room duct 424 extends in the vertical direction so as to avoid the freezing room 403, and the upper end communicates with the suction port 423. The lower end portion of the vegetable room duct 424 is a vegetable room cold air supply port 425, and the vegetable room cold air supply port 425 is disposed behind the lower case 426 and the upper case 427 in the rear part of the vegetable room 404. Therefore, the vegetable room cold air supply port 425 is disposed at a position avoiding the position facing the upper surface opening of the upper case 427, and does not face the upper surface opening of the upper case 427. As shown in FIG. 10A, a return duct 428 is provided in the heat insulating partition wall 411 on the upper side of the vegetable compartment 404. An opening on the vegetable compartment 404 side of the return duct 428 is a return port 429. The upper end portion of the return duct 428 communicates with the cooler chamber 413. Further, a mist generating device 10 is provided near the return port 429 in the vegetable compartment 404.

  The vegetable compartment 404 is a drawer type, and a lower case 426 and an upper case 427 are arranged inside the vegetable room 404 so that the drawer can be pulled out. In addition, a vegetable room temperature sensor 431 is provided on the lower surface of the heat insulating partition wall 411 serving as the ceiling of the vegetable room 404 so as to be positioned above the upper case 427. In the refrigerator 400 of the present embodiment, only the freezer compartment 403 is a freezing temperature zone storage room, but between the refrigerator compartment 402 and the vegetable compartment 404, in addition to the freezer compartment 403, A small freezer compartment may be provided. The compressor 432, the defrost heater 415, the blower 416, the damper 422, and the mist generator 10 are controlled by the control device 433.

In the above configuration, when the blower 416 is driven with the damper 422 closed, the cold air cooled by the cooler 414 is supplied into the freezer compartment 403 from the freezer cold air supply port 417, and the cold air in the freezer compartment 403 is cooled. Circulates so as to be returned from the suction port 418 into the cooler chamber 413, thereby cooling the freezing chamber 403.
In addition, when the blower 416 is driven with the damper 422 opened, a part of the cold air cooled by the cooler 414 passes through the cold air duct 420 for refrigerating and is supplied from each cold air supply port 421 to the cold room. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 402 is cooled by this. The mist is supplied to the cold air blown out from the upper end portion of the cold air duct 420 for refrigeration by the mist generator 10 disposed on the ceiling portion of the cold room 402. Further, the remaining cool air cooled by the cooler 414 is supplied into the freezer compartment 403 as described above. The cold air that has cooled the inside of the refrigerator compartment 402 exits from the lower suction port 423 to the vegetable room duct 424 and flows downward through the vegetable room duct 424 to enter the vegetable room 404 from the vegetable room cold air supply port 425. It is supplied and the inside of the vegetable compartment 404 is cooled. That is, the vegetable room duct 424 functions as an air passage that connects the refrigerator compartment 402 and the vegetable room 404. According to this configuration, when the humidity of the vegetable compartment 404 is higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 402, some moisture moves from the vegetable compartment 404 into the refrigerator compartment 402 through the vegetable compartment duct 424, and the refrigerator compartment 402. Since the inside humidity can be increased, moisture can be absorbed from the air in the refrigerator compartment 402 to supply moisture to the mist generator 10, and mist can be generated in the refrigerator compartment 402. The cold air that has cooled the inside of the vegetable compartment 404 passes through the return duct 428 from the return port 429 and is returned to the cooler compartment 413.

Mist is supplied to the cold air circulating in the vegetable compartment 404 by the mist generator 10 provided near the return port 429 in the vegetable compartment 404.
With the above configuration, the mist generating device 10 provided in the vicinity of the return duct 428 can absorb moisture from the vegetable chamber 404 that has been increased in humidity due to the transpiration of the vegetables stored in the vegetable chamber 404. 10 can be operated stably and mist can be discharged.
Since the mist generating device 10 is provided in the chilled chamber 402a which is a sealed space and the mist is discharged into the chilled chamber 402a, the mist generating device 10 provided in the ceiling portion of the refrigerator compartment 402 cannot supply the mist in the chilled chamber 402a. In addition to supplying mist and absorbing water from the air in the sealed space that has been humidified by transpiration of stored items in the chilled chamber 402a and supplying the mist to the mist generator 10, the mist can be stably generated. . The sealed space is not limited to the chilled chamber 402a disposed in the refrigerator compartment 402, and a box-shaped upper case receiving portion having an open front is provided on the ceiling portion in the vegetable compartment 404, and the upper case 427 is received by the upper case receiving portion. A storage space that can be inserted into a portion and pulled out, and a closed space is formed in the vegetable compartment 404 by closing the front opening of the upper case receiving portion at the front portion of the upper case 427. You may prepare.

Moreover, it is not necessary to provide the water storage part which stores the water for supplying water to the mist generator 10, and the waste_water | drain part which drains the water in a water storage part similarly to embodiment mentioned above. Therefore, the mist generator 10 can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of the installation position of the mist generator 10 can be significantly improved in the refrigerator 400 where the space is limited. Further, water is supplied to the mist generating apparatus 10 without using defrosted water generated by defrosting of the cooler 414 or water generated by a dew condensation phenomenon due to a temperature difference between a storage room in a freezing temperature zone and a storage room in a refrigeration temperature zone. Therefore, the installation location of the mist generating device 10 is not limited to the periphery of the cooler 414 or the freezer compartment 403, and an arbitrary number of mists are generated at an arbitrary location such as a position away from the cooler 414 or the freezer compartment 403. A device 10 can be provided.
Since the refrigeration room 402, the chilled room 402a and the vegetable room 404 are each provided with the mist generating device 10, the mist can be discharged over a wide range in the refrigerator by the plurality of mist generating devices 10.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs in the structure of the mist generator mounted in household appliances, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. Only different points will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 11, the discharge electrode member 22 provided in the mist generating device 20 is obtained by impregnating a porous material having water absorption and water retention with a substance having self-water absorption, and therefore, the surrounding atmosphere When the humidity exceeds a predetermined value, it exhibits self-water absorption that spontaneously absorbs moisture in the air. And this discharge electrode member 22 is the structure which provided the mist discharge | release part not only at one end of the water supply part which penetrates the holding member 13 and the electrically-conductive member 14 in case 21, but at both ends. That is, the discharge electrode member 22 has a configuration in which another mist discharge portion is provided at an end portion of the water supply portion opposite to one mist discharge portion. In this case, the mist generating device 20 includes two counter electrodes 26 a and 26 b for the mist emitting portions at both ends of the discharge electrode member 22.

  According to the mist generator 20 configured in this way, mist containing hydroxy radicals can be released from both tip portions of the discharge electrode member 22, and the sterilization effect and deodorization effect can be further improved. If the mist generator 20 configured in this way is used, for example, one end of a mist discharge part of the mist generator 20 is inserted and exposed in a chilled chamber which is a sealed space, and the other end of the mist discharge part is connected to a refrigerator room or the like. By exposing to the outside of the sealed space, the mist can be simultaneously released by one mist generating device 20 into both the sealed space and the outside of the sealed space.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs in the structure of the mist generator mounted in household appliances, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. Only different points will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 12, the case 31 included in the mist generating device 30 includes a bottomed box-shaped case main body 31 a and does not include a member corresponding to the lid portion 11 b of the case 11. In the inside of the case 31, a water retaining member 33 in which a porous material having water absorption and water retention is impregnated with a substance having self water absorption is provided instead of the holding member 13. Since the case 31 does not include a lid portion, the water retaining member 33 is not covered with such a lid portion, and a part thereof (in this case, the upper surface portion) is exposed to the outside of the case 31. A discharge electrode member 32 in which a porous material having water absorption and water retention is impregnated with a substance having self water absorption absorbs the water retention member 33 and is fixed to the water retention member 33. In addition, as a water retention material which comprises this water retention member 33, the porous material which has water retention, such as urethane sponge, can be considered, for example. The water retaining member 33 is also impregnated with a substance having self water absorption, and thus the water retaining member 33 also has self water absorption. In this case, the water retaining member 33 also functions as a water supply unit.

  According to the mist generator 30 configured in this way, moisture in the air is spontaneously absorbed by the water retaining member 33 having self-water absorption without requiring external energy. And the water | moisture content absorbed by the water retention member 33 permeate | transmits the said water retention member 33, is supplied to the discharge electrode member 32, and is finally supplied to the mist discharge | release part of a front-end | tip part. That is, since the mist generating device 30 is further provided with a water retaining member 33 as a water supply portion for supplying water to the discharge electrode member 32, a sufficient amount of water can be supplied to the mist discharge portion of the discharge electrode member 32. A sufficient amount of mist containing hydroxy radicals can be secured.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs in the structure of the mist generator mounted in household appliances, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. Only different points will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 13, as the discharge electrode member 42 that is a mist emitting portion included in the mist generating device 40, carbon fibers that are linear fiber materials having conductivity are used, and the longitudinal directions of the carbon fibers coincide with each other. As shown in FIG. In this carbon fiber, from the water retaining member 43 using the capillary action from the end and the side contacting the water retaining member 43 impregnated with a water-absorbing and water-retaining porous material with a self-water-absorbing substance. Water is supplied to the mist discharge part of the discharge electrode member 42. The carbon fiber used as the discharge electrode member 42 has a fiber diameter of about several μm, and a plurality of carbon fibers are bundled so as to be in contact with each other, thereby maintaining a state where electricity can be supplied as the integral discharge electrode member 42.

  As a bundling means for bundling carbon fibers, a cylindrical member 44 made of polyolefin is used, and at least an upper end portion for discharging mist in the carbon fiber and a base end portion for supplying water protrude from the cylindrical member 44. The water retaining member 43 uses urethane sponge as a porous material, and uses potassium polyphosphate which is a deliquescent material as a substance having self-water absorption. Here, in the porous material, deliquescent substances are scattered from the surface to the inside.

In the water retaining member 43, moisture in the air chemically binds to a deliquescent substance existing in the vicinity of the surface of the porous material in contact with air, and the adsorbed water is converted into the porous material by capillary condensation of the porous material. Water is retained. After that, as a mechanism until moisture is supplied to the mist emitting part, when moisture in the air chemically binds to the deliquescent substance, and the binding force exceeds the force due to capillary condensation of the porous material, Water is separated from the deliquescent substance, and the water moves from the vicinity of the surface in contact with the air to the inside of the porous material having relatively less water binding compared to the vicinity of the surface, to the deliquescent substance existing inside And moisture moves. In this way, moisture is expected to gradually move inward from the vicinity of the surface in contact with air and to the vicinity of the discharge electrode member 42. Furthermore, the water that has moved to the vicinity of the discharge electrode member 42 is supplied to the inside of the discharge electrode member 42 by the capillary action of the carbon fiber at the portion where the carbon fiber that is the discharge electrode member 42 and the water retention member 43 are in contact with each other. .

The discharge electrode member 42 is held by the water holding member 43 without penetrating the water holding member 43 in the case 41, and the proximal end portion of the discharge electrode member 42 is in contact with the water holding member 43, and the water of the water holding member 43 is electrically conductive. A negative high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode member 42 via the member 14. Also in this case, the water retaining member 43 functions as a water supply unit.
According to the mist generating apparatus 40 configured in this way, since a material having a fiber diameter of about several μm such as carbon fiber is used, a gap between fibers is reduced, and a mist having a particle diameter of about 1 nm is released. Is possible.
Moreover, the base end part which contacts with the water retention member 43 in carbon fiber and supplies water is made to protrude from the cylindrical member 44, and the base end part and side part of carbon fiber and the water retention member 43 are made into favorable contact, and water supply Can be performed more reliably.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs in the structure of the mist generator mounted in household appliances, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. Only different points will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 14, as the discharge electrode member 52 that is a mist emitting portion provided in the mist generating device 50, carbon fiber that is a linear fiber material having conductivity is used, and the longitudinal directions of the carbon fibers coincide with each other. As shown in FIG. A water retaining member 53 is used as a bundling means for bundling the carbon fibers. The water retaining member 53 is obtained by impregnating a porous material having water absorption and water retention with a substance having self-water absorption. Specifically, after a polyester fiber material is woven and hardened, It is constructed by soaking a deliquescent substance containing potassium acid. The shape of the discharge electrode member 52 covers a portion other than the upper end portion, which is the end portion on the side from which the mist is discharged. The water retaining member 53 holds a discharge electrode member 52 that is a mist discharge portion. Accordingly, as in the sixth embodiment, the water retaining member 53 absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and contacts the water retaining member 53 formed so as to cover other than the upper end portion of the carbon fiber that is the discharge electrode member 52, and Water is supplied from the water retaining member 53 to the mist discharge portion of the discharge electrode member 52 from the side using a capillary phenomenon. Also in this case, the water retaining member 53 functions as a water supply unit.

In addition, the carbon fibers are brought into contact with each other by the water retaining member 53, and the discharge electrode member 52 bundled so as to be energized as an integral discharge electrode member 52 is an insulating material (for example, polypropylene) provided at the upper end of the case 51. A negative high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode member 52 through the water retention member 53 by being held by the means 54 and contacting the conductive member 14 with the bottom surface of the water retention member 53.
In this case, a negative high voltage is applied to both the discharge electrode member 52 and the water retention member 53. However, since the discharge electrode member 52 has higher electrical conductivity than the water retention member 53, the voltage is The mist is generated not from the water retaining member 53 but from the discharge electrode member 52, and mist is generated from the discharge electrode member 52.

According to the mist generator 50 configured in this way, as in the sixth embodiment, a material having a fiber diameter of about several μm, such as carbon fiber, is used. It becomes possible to discharge mist of diameter.
In addition, by bundling the fiber material with the water retaining member 53, both functions of bundling the fibers and the water retaining function can be achieved with one member, so the configuration of the mist generating device can be simplified.
The water retaining member 53 is formed so as to cover other than the upper end portion of the carbon fiber, and the contact area between the base end portion and the side portion of the carbon fiber and the water retaining member 53 is increased, so that water supply to the discharge electrode member 52 is more reliably performed. Can be done.
As a modification, the mist generator 50 may not be provided with the conductive member 14, and a negative high voltage may be supplied to the discharge electrode member 52 by connecting the conductive rod 15 directly to the discharge electrode member 52 or the water retention member 53. .
With this configuration, since it is not necessary to provide the conductive member 14, the mist generator 50 can be further reduced in size.

(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, platinum nanocolloid is supported on a discharge electrode member of a mist generator mounted on a home appliance such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. The platinum nanocolloid can be supported, for example, by immersing the discharge electrode member in a treatment solution containing the platinum nanocolloid and baking it.

When platinum is reduced to a nano size (for example, a particle size of 2 to 5 nm) (when it is made into fine particles), the fine particles (platinum nanoparticles) become charged. And when a negative charge is given to such a platinum nanoparticle via a discharge electrode member, the electric potential (redox potential) of the platinum nanoparticle becomes negative. When air comes into contact with platinum nanoparticles having a negative oxidation-reduction potential, the potential transfer from the oxygen molecules is promoted on the platinum nanoparticles, and negatively charged oxygen atoms are generated. These negatively charged oxygen atoms become oxygen radicals by their energy and are released from the platinum nanoparticles. The released oxygen radicals come into contact with the water particles released in the form of mist, whereby hydroxy radicals are generated.
Even if platinum particles that are not as small as nano-size are supported on the discharge electrode member, such platinum particles have a positive charge and cannot generate oxygen radicals or hydroxy radicals having a strong oxidizing action. .

  According to this embodiment, it becomes easy to produce | generate a hydroxyl radical with the platinum nanocolloid carry | supported by the discharge electrode member, and the disinfection function and deodorizing function by a mist generator can be improved further.

(Ninth embodiment)
Next, a ninth embodiment will be described. This embodiment differs in the structure of the mist generator mounted in household appliances, such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a vacuum cleaner. Only different points will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 15, the mist generating device 60 includes an ultrasonic transducer 61 a on the bottom surface of the case 61 instead of the high voltage applying unit. That is, the mist generating device 60 imparts vibration generated from the ultrasonic vibrator 61a to the discharge electrode member 62 in which a porous material having water absorption and water retention is impregnated with a substance having self water absorption. The discharge electrode member 62 is configured to discharge mist. Then, the mist emitted from the discharge electrode member 62 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet irradiation unit (not shown) constituted by, for example, ultraviolet LEDs. As a result, hydroxy radicals are generated in the mist, and sterilization and deodorization can be performed by the mist containing such hydroxy radicals.

Also according to this embodiment, it is possible to generate a mist containing a hydroxy radical having a strong oxidizing power, and sufficiently exhibit a sterilizing function and a deodorizing function.
Household appliances according to each embodiment described above are equipped with a mist generating device, and this mist generating device has a mist emitting unit that emits mist, a self-water-absorbing device that absorbs moisture in the air, A water supply unit for supplying the water to the mist discharge unit. According to this structure, it is not necessary to provide a water storage part for storing water to be supplied to the mist discharge part or a drainage part for draining water in the water storage part, and the mist generator can be downsized.

  The mist generator may be configured such that a counter electrode corresponding to the discharge electrode member is not provided in the vicinity of the discharge electrode member. That is, since there is a member (for example, a housing) that is grounded via a ground wire or the like in a home electric appliance on which the mist generating device is mounted, such a member is configured to function as a counter electrode for the discharge electrode member. To do. As a result, the discharge itself from the discharge electrode member becomes very gentle, and the occurrence of corona discharge between the discharge electrode member and the counter electrode can be suppressed, and harmful gases such as ozone and nitrogen oxides can be prevented. Occurrence can be suppressed.

  In addition, the mist generating device may be configured to include a container-like water storage part into which one end of the discharge electrode member is inserted as an auxiliary (additional) as long as there is a sufficient installation space. According to this configuration, in addition to the moisture in the air, the water in the reservoir can be supplementarily supplied to the discharge electrode member. For example, even if the moisture in the air is insufficient, Water can be supplemented and water can be sufficiently supplied to the discharge electrode member. This water storage portion also functions as a water receiving portion that receives water overflowing from the discharge electrode member when water is excessively absorbed by the discharge electrode member. Therefore, the water overflowing from the discharge electrode member Can be once stored and then supplied to the discharge electrode member again, for example, when the air around the mist generator is dry (when the humidity is below a predetermined value).

Moreover, you may implement combining the above-mentioned each embodiment.
Each above-mentioned embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawings, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 are mist generators, 12, 22, 32, 62 are discharge electrode members (mist discharge portions, water supply portions), and 42, 52 are discharge electrode members (mist discharge portions). ), 15 is a conductive rod (high voltage applying means), 15a is a high voltage power supply (high voltage applying means), 16, 26a and 26b are counter electrodes, 33 and 43 are water retaining members (water supply portions), and 53 is a water retaining member (bundled). Means), 100 and 400 are refrigerators (home appliances), 102 and 402 are refrigeration rooms (storage rooms), 102a is a chilled room (storage room), 103 and 404 are vegetable rooms (storage rooms), and 106 is a refrigerator for refrigeration. (Cooler), 200 is a washing machine (home appliance), 207 is a water tank, 208 is a drum (rotary tank), 238 is a circulation air passage, 300 is a vacuum cleaner (home appliance), 302 is a main body case, and 309 is a collection Dust chamber, 314 is blower chamber, 318 Air circulation duct, 321 electric blower, 402a is chilled compartment (storage compartment, enclosed space), 424 denotes a duct (air passage) for vegetable compartment.

Claims (27)

  A household electrical appliance equipped with a mist generating device comprising: a mist emitting unit that emits mist; and a water supply unit that has self-water absorption to absorb moisture in the air and supplies the absorbed water to the mist emitting unit.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 1, wherein the water supply unit includes a deliquescent material.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 2, wherein the deliquescent material is a polymer having a molecular weight of 300 or more. A high voltage applying means for applying a high voltage to the mist emitting portion;
The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a mist is emitted from the mist emitting part when a high voltage is applied to the mist emitting part by the high voltage applying unit.   The household electrical appliance of any one of Claim 1 to 4 provided with the counter electrode with respect to the said mist discharge | release part.   The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mist discharge portion is provided integrally at an end portion of the water supply portion.   The household electrical appliance of Claim 6 in which the edge part on the opposite side to the said mist discharge | release part is exposed among the said water supply parts.   The household electrical appliance of Claim 6 or 7 with which the said mist discharge | release part is provided also in the edge part on the opposite side to the said mist discharge | release part among the said water supply parts.   The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mist generating device does not include a water storage unit that stores water supplied to the mist discharge unit and a drainage unit that drains water in the water storage unit.   The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the mist emitting portion is formed by bundling a plurality of conductive fiber materials.   The said water supply part is equipped with the water retention member which supplies the water which absorbed water to the said mist discharge | release part while holding the said mist discharge | release part, and discharge | releases the water | moisture content absorbed by the said water retention member as a mist from the said mist discharge | release part. Appliances described in 1.   The household electrical appliance of Claim 11 with which the said water retention member and the said mist discharge | release part are contacting.   13. A bundling means for bundling the fiber material of the mist discharge section, wherein the end of the fiber material on the side where the mist discharge section and the water retaining member are in contact protrudes from the tip of the bundling means. Appliances described in 1.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the water retention member is a bundling means for bundling the fiber material of the mist discharge portion.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 14, wherein the water retention member bundles the fiber material by covering a portion of the fiber material of the mist discharge portion other than the end portion on the side where the mist is discharged. A storage room for storing a storage product such as food as an object;
The mist generator mounted to discharge mist into the storage chamber;
The household electrical appliance of any one of Claim 1 to 15 comprised as a refrigerator provided with.   The household electrical appliance of Claim 16 provided with the cooler which cools the said storage room, and the said mist generator is mounted in the downstream rather than the said cooler by the flow of air.   The household electrical appliance of Claim 17 provided with the defrosting means to defrost the said cooler, and operating the said mist generating apparatus during the inside cooling after the driving | operation start of the said defrosting means. A refrigerating room is provided as the storage room, and a refrigerating cooler for cooling the air supplied to the refrigerating room is provided.
It is configured to humidify the air supplied to the storage room using frost generated in the refrigeration cooler,
The home appliance according to claim 16, wherein the mist generating device is mounted at a position in contact with humidified air.   The home appliance according to claim 19, wherein the mist generating device is mounted at a position other than below the refrigeration cooler.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 16, comprising a vegetable room as the storage room, wherein the mist generating device is mounted in the vegetable room. A refrigerator room and a vegetable room as the storage room,
An air passage communicating the refrigerator room and the vegetable room;
The household electrical appliance according to claim 16, wherein the mist generating device is mounted in the refrigerated room.   The household appliance according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of the mist generating devices are mounted.   The household electrical appliance according to claim 16, further comprising a sealed space in the storage chamber, wherein the mist generating device discharges mist into the sealed space. A storage room for storing a storage product such as food as an object;
A sealed space provided in the storage chamber;
The mist generation that discharges mist from the mist discharge portion at one end into the sealed space and discharges mist from the mist discharge portion at the end opposite to the one end into the storage chamber outside the sealed space. Equipment,
The household electrical appliance of Claim 8 comprised as a refrigerator provided with. A water tank disposed in the outer box;
A rotating tub that is rotatably arranged in the water tub, and stores laundry as an object;
The mist generating device mounted to discharge mist into the rotating tank;
The household electrical appliance of any one of Claims 1-15 comprised as a washing machine provided with. A body case with a dust collection chamber;
The household electrical appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 15, configured as a vacuum cleaner comprising: the mist generating device mounted so as to discharge mist in the main body case.

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