Drum-type washing machine

Abstract

A drum-type washing machine is provided with water adsorption accelerator at the exiting end of a water circulation pipe. The water adsorption accelerator, which may be realized as an electrical charger or an ultrasonic wave generator, facilitates the adsorption of water in laundry by processing the re-circulated water before its reintroduction to an outer tub via the water circulation pipe. The drum-type washing machine includes a water discharge pump for circulating water; a tub for containing laundry, the circulating water of the water discharge pump being adsorbed in the laundry; a water circulating pipe, in communication with the tub, for re-circulating the water circulated by the water discharge pump; and a water adsorption accelerator, disposed at one end of the water circulation pipe, for facilitating the adsorption of water in the laundry by processing the re-circulated water before reintroduction to the tub via the water circulation pipe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A drum-type washing machine comprising: 
 a water discharge pump for circulating water;    a tub for containing laundry, the circulating water of said water discharge pump being adsorbed in the laundry;    a water circulating pipe, in communication with said tub, for re-circulating the water circulated by said water discharge pump; and    water adsorption acceleration means, disposed at one end of said water circulation pipe, for facilitating the adsorption of water in the laundry by processing the re-circulated water before reintroduction to said tub via said water circulation pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said water adsorption acceleration means processes the re-circulated water by electrically charging the water in said water circulating pipe before reintroduction to said tub.  
     
     
         3 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , said water adsorption acceleration means comprising: 
 a pair of electrodes fitted onto opposing inner surfaces of said water circulating pipe; and    a power source for applying a DC voltage to said electrodes.    
     
     
         4 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the DC voltage of said power source is obtained by rectifying the output of a step-down transformer supplied with commercial AC voltage.  
     
     
         5 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said water adsorption acceleration means processes the re-circulated water by generating an ultrasonic wave in the water in said water circulating pipe before reintroduction to said tub.  
     
     
         6 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , said water adsorption acceleration means comprising: 
 a pair of ultrasonic vibration plates, fixed to opposing outer surfaces of said water circulating pipe, for applying a mechanical vibratory energy to the water in said water circulating pipe; and    an ultrasonic oscillator  90   a  for generating an ultrasonic wave of a predetermined frequency to be applied, via said ultrasonic vibration plates, as the mechanical vibratory energy to the water in said water circulating pipe.    
     
     
         7 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , said water adsorption acceleration means further comprising: 
 an ultrasonic transducer, attached to said ultrasonic vibration plates, for transducing a power of the ultrasonic wave of said ultrasonic oscillator into the mechanical vibratory energy applied to the water in said water circulating pipe.    
     
     
         8 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 electrical charging means, installed in the one end of said water circulating pipe, for electrically charging the water in said water circulating pipe; and    ultrasonic wave generating means, installed in the one end of said water circulating pipe, for generating an ultrasonic wave in the water in said water circulating pipe,    wherein the respective installations of said electrical charging means and said ultrasonic wave generating means are in close succession to one another.    
     
     
         9 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said electrical charging means is disposed in preference to said ultrasonic wave generating means, with respect to a directional flow of the water in said water circulating pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The drum-type washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one end of said water circulation pipe is an exiting end.