Ion eluting unit and device provided with same

Abstract

A laundry machine ( 1 ) in which metal ions produced by an ion eluting unit ( 100 ) can be input into water at the last rinsing step. The time for the last rinsing step at which metal ions are input is longer than that for the step at which no metal ions are input. When metal ions are input, in the rinsing step, a strong flow time and a weak flow time are provided, or a strong flow time and a rest time are provided. If any imbalance during drying rotation of the washing tub ( 30 ) after metal ion input is detected, a processing different from that carried out if an imbalance is detected when no metal ions are input is carried out.

1 . A washer wherein antimicrobial metal ions can be added in to water and attached to a surface of laundry in a predetermined process in a laundry washing session, 
 wherein a time of the predetermined process is longer when metal ions are added than when no metal ions are added.    
   
   
       2 . The washer according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein metal ions can be added into water being fed during “rinsing with pouring water.”   
   
   
       3 . A washer wherein antimicrobial metal ions can be added in to water and attached to a surface of laundry in a predetermined process in a laundry washing session, 
 wherein the predetermined process includes a powerful swirl period and a mild swirl period or a powerful swirl period and a still period.    
   
   
       4 . The washer according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein a ratio of powerful swirl period and mild swirl period or a ratio of powerful swirl period and still period is constant, regardless of a volume of water in a washing tub and/or an amount of laundry.    
   
   
       5 . The washer according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein a ratio of powerful swirl period and mild swirl period or a ratio of powerful swirl period and still period varies in accordance with a volume of water in a washing tub and/or an amount of laundry.    
   
   
       6 . The washer according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein the water into which the metal ions have been added is agitated by mild swirl or placed at a standstill after said water is agitated by powerful swirl for a predetermined period.    
   
   
       7 . The washer according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein the predetermined process is a final rinsing process.    
   
   
       8 . A washer wherein antimicrobial metal ions can be added in to water in a predetermined process in a laundry washing session, 
 wherein when uneven spreading of laundry is detected during squeezing rotation of a washing tub after addition of metal ions, a countermeasure to be adapted is different from that when uneven spreading of laundry is detected while no metal ions are added.    
   
   
       9 . The washer according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the different countermeasure is rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry by agitating it in water containing metal ions.    
   
   
       10 . The washer according to  claim 9 , 
 wherein in case where the rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry is executed with fresh water being replenished, an amount of metal ions to be added is less than that added in previous processes.    
   
   
       11 . The washer according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the different countermeasure is rinsing for correcting uneven spreading of laundry by agitating it in rinsing water with pouring water containing no metal ions with indication and/or notification that water being fed contains no metal ions.    
   
   
       12 . The washer according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein the different countermeasure is termination of squeezing rotation together with indication and/or notification that uneven spreading of laundry is detected.    
   
   
       13 . The washer according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein when detection of unbalance in laundry is not a single occasion, different countermeasures are adapted for each occasion.    
   
   
       14 . The washer according to  claim 8 , 
 wherein a plurality of kinds of countermeasures for unbalance are provided, and kinds and/or order of countermeasures to be adapted are selectable.    
   
   
       15 . The washer according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein a plurality of kinds of countermeasures for unbalance are provided, and the kinds and/or order of countermeasures to be adapted are selectable.    
   
   
       16 . The washer according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein metal ions are generated by using an ion elution unit that elutes metal ions by applying a voltage between electrodes.