Abstract: In a water purifier, a flow system includes a first channel in which liquid is filtrated in at least one of a first filter tank and a second filter tank, a second channel in which the liquid is filtrated in the second filter tank and the first filter tank is washed, and a third channel in which the liquid is filtrated in the first filter tank and the second filter tank is washed. A switching lever actuates valve mechanisms to perform switching among the first, second, and third channels such that the channels are selected cyclically in order of the first channel, the second channel, the first channel, the third channel and the first channel. The valve mechanisms work with operation of the switching lever.

Abstract: The present invention is a sensor for detecting a microorganism, which is provided with a detection unit equipped with a detection electrode and a polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer is arranged on the detection electrode and is provided with a template having a three-dimensional structure complementary to a three-dimensional structure of a microorganism to be detected. The sensor detects a microorganism on the basis of the captured state of the microorganism onto the template. The polymer layer is formed by a manufacturing method including a polymerization step of polymerizing a monomer in the presence of the microorganism to be detected to form a polymer layer having the microorganism incorporated therein on the detection electrode, and a disruption step of bringing at least a part of the microorganism incorporated in the polymer layer into contact with a solution containing a lytic enzyme to disrupt the microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor including a detection unit having a detection electrode and a polymer layer that is disposed on the detection electrode and includes a mold having a three-dimensional structure complementary to a steric structure of a microorganism to be detected. The sensor detects the microorganism based on a state of capturing the microorganism in the mold. The polymer layer is formed by a manufacturing method including: a polymerization step of polymerizing a monomer in the presence of the microorganism to be detected, to form the polymer layer having captured the microorganism on the detection electrode; a destruction step of partially destroying the microorganism captured in the polymer layer; and a peroxidation step of peroxidizing the polymer layer to release the microorganism from the polymer layer.

Abstract: In a water purifier, a flow system includes a first channel in which liquid is filtrated in at least one of a first filter tank and a second filter tank, a second channel in which the liquid is filtrated in the second filter tank and the first filter tank is washed, and a third channel in which the liquid is filtrated in the first filter tank and the second filter tank is washed. A switching lever actuates valve mechanisms to perform switching among the first, second, and third channels such that the channels are selected cyclically in order of the first channel, the second channel, the first channel, the third channel and the first channel. The valve mechanisms work with operation of the switching lever.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor including a detection unit having a detection electrode and a polymer layer that is disposed on the detection electrode and includes a mold having a three-dimensional structure complementary to a steric structure of a microorganism to be detected. The sensor detects the microorganism based on a state of capturing the microorganism in the mold. The polymer layer is formed by a manufacturing method including: a polymerization step of polymerizing a monomer in the presence of the microorganism to be detected, to form the polymer layer having captured the microorganism on the detection electrode; a destruction step of partially destroying the microorganism captured in the polymer layer; and a peroxidation step of peroxidizing the polymer layer to release the microorganism from the polymer layer.

Abstract: A metal ion eluting unit according to the present invention includes: a plurality of electrodes 102 and 103; a drive circuit (not shown) that applies a voltage between the electrodes; and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the drive circuit so that the drive circuit periodically reverses the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes, operates, from every time the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is reversed until a predetermined period elapses, in a first current mode in which the value of a current flowing between the electrodes equals a first value, and operates, thereafter, in a second current mode in which the value of the current flowing between the electrodes equals a second current value different from the first current value. According to this configuration, metal ions can be efficiently and stably eluted for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A washing machine includes: a drum (630) in which laundry is put; an ion elution unit that elutes metal ions and adds them to water; a sensing unit (701) for sensing imbalance at the time of rotation of the laundry tub; and an imbalance correcting unit (702). When the sensing unit senses imbalance in the drum at the time of spin-drying rotation of the drum performed after metal ion added water supplied from the ion elution unit to the drum is supplied, the imbalance correcting unit corrects the imbalance by performing a processing different from a processing performed when imbalance is sensed in a case where the metal ion added water is not supplied. The different processing is not supply of tap water but balance correction rinsing in which the metal ion added water is supplied to the drum and agitation is performed.

Abstract: One type of dryer, namely a laundry dryer (1), comprises a water tank (20) and a drum (30). At the time of drying laundry, the interior of the drum (30) functions as a hermetically closed drying chamber (170). The air in the closed drying chamber (170) is sucked into a circulation duct (171) and heated by means of a heater (173) to a hot air before being blown into the closed drying chamber (170). The hot air having absorbed moisture from the laundry comes into contact with dehumidification water in a cooling chamber (174) within the circulation duct (171), thereby being dehumidified. The dehumidification water is sprayed by a mist generator (180). In the drying process, the mist generator (180) generates mist of metal ion water which has passed through an ion dissolving unit (100) and sprays the mist to the laundry.

Abstract: Provided is a humidifier (1) capable of enhancing microbicidal and antimicrobial effects of a vaporizing part therein. The humidifier (1) comprises: a humidifying filter (500) for vaporizing water; and a light irradiating part (700) for irradiating with light the vaporizing part (500) having applied thereto the water to be vaporized, and the water vaporized from the vaporizing part (500) includes silver ions.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning apparatus which has a simple configuration and is capable of efficiently cleaning a to-be-cleaned object. A washing machine comprises: a first carbon dioxide supply unit, which includes a carbon dioxide cylinder, a three-way valve, a pump, and an on-off valve, for supplying carbon dioxide in a gas state to a cleaning liquid containing water and a surface-active agent; a pressurization unit for pressuring the cleaning liquid so as to dissolve, in the cleaning liquid, at least a part of the carbon dioxide in the gas state; a decompression unit for decompressing the pressurized cleaning liquid and thereby causing the carbon dioxide dissolved in the cleaning liquid to bubble; and a washing tank for cleaning a fabric structure by the cleaning liquid containing the decompressed and thereby bubbling carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An ion elution unit generates metal ions by applying a voltage between electrodes. Terminals are formed integrally to the electrodes. An interval between the electrodes becomes narrower from an upstream side to a downstream side with respect to a water current flowing through an inside of a casing of the ion elution unit. Terminals that are so laid as to run from the electrodes out of a casing of the ion elution unit are disposed on an upstream side with respect to a water current flowing through an inside of the casing.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine operable to recover metal ions supplied to water used for laundering. The washing machine (1) comprises a metal ion water generation part (90) for applying the metal ions to water and a metal ion recovery unit (200) disposed so as to contact the water with the metal ions applied by the metal ion water generation part (90), for recovering the metal ions in the water. In a method for recovering the metal ions in the washing machine (1), the metal ion recovery unit (200) is disposed, in the washing machine (1) operable to apply the metal ions to a fabric structure, so as to contact the water used for laundering and recovers the metal ions in the water.

Abstract: A water feeding apparatus (300) has an ion eluter (100) and a shower emitter (200). The shower emitter (200) receives water via a coupling pipe (250) from the ion eluter (100), and sprays the water, in the form of a shower, onto laundry. Liquid droplets in the form of a shower are small and easy to dry, and thus produce crystals having smaller particles (with large surface areas), having more lattice defects, and easier to dissolve. With these crystals attached to the laundry, when the crystals make contact with moisture next time, the silver ion in the liquid droplets easily dissolves. Even when the laundry is made of water-repellent or hydrophobic cloth, the solution dries up on the surface of the cloth before water is repelled. Thus, even this type of laundry can benefit from the antimicrobial effect of the silver ion.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine that makes it possible to effectively exert a sterilizing effect onto all the inner wall face from a lower portion to an upper portion of a washing tank, to shorten a driving time required for washing the washing tank and also to reduce an amount of water to be used for the washing process.

Abstract: Provided is a fabric structure treatment apparatus in which it is not required to heat at a high temperature a fabric structure and/or components of the treatment apparatus, which are/is targeted for sterilization; in which a dry state is not necessarily required; which does not bring about deterioration, discoloring, and the like of the fabric structure and/or components of the treatment apparatus, targeted for the sterilization; the fabric structure and/or components of the treatment apparatus, targeted for the sterilization, are not damaged; and which is capable of attaining sufficient bactericidal action.

Abstract: One type of dryer, namely a laundry dryer (1), comprises a water tank (20) and a drum (30). At the time of drying laundry, the interior of the drum (30) functions as a hermetically closed drying chamber (170). The air in the closed drying chamber (170) is sucked into a circulation duct (171) and heated by means of a heater (173) to a hot air before being blown into the closed drying chamber (170). The hot air having absorbed moisture from the laundry comes into contact with dehumidification water in a cooling chamber (174) within the circulation duct (171), thereby being dehumidified. The dehumidification water is sprayed by a mist generator (180). In the drying process, the mist generator (180) generates mist of metal ion water which has passed through an ion dissolving unit (100) and sprays the mist to the laundry.

Abstract: A metal ion eluting unit includes: at least one first electrode 102 serving as either a positive or negative electrode; at least one second electrode 103 serving as an electrode whose polarity is opposite to the polarity of the first electrode 102 and so arranged as to face the first electrode 102; and a driving means for applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes. The metal ion eluting unit elutes metal ions from the positive electrode by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes while supplying water between the first and second electrodes. The polarities of the first and second electrodes are reversed periodically, and the current density of a current flowing between the first and second electrodes is controlled to be a predetermined value or more.

Abstract: Provided is a washing machine that makes it possible to effectively exert a sterilizing effect onto all the inner wall face from a lower portion to an upper portion of a washing tank, to shorten a driving time required for washing the washing tank and also to reduce an amount of water to be used for the washing process.

Abstract: A metal ion eluting unit according to the present invention includes: a plurality of electrodes 102 and 103; a drive circuit (not shown) that applies a voltage between the electrodes; and a control circuit (not shown) that controls the drive circuit so that the drive circuit periodically reverses the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes, operates, from every time the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes is reversed until a predetermined period elapses, in a first current mode in which the value of a current flowing between the electrodes equals a first value, and operates, thereafter, in a second current mode in which the value of the current flowing between the electrodes equals a second current value different from the first current value. According to this configuration, metal ions can be efficiently and stably eluted for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A water feeding apparatus (300) has an ion eluter (100) and a shower emitter (200). The shower emitter (200) receives water via a coupling pipe (250) from the ion eluter (100), and sprays the water, in the form of a shower, onto laundry. Liquid droplets in the form of a shower are small and easy to dry, and thus produce crystals having smaller particles (with large surface areas), having more lattice defects, and easier to dissolve. With these crystals attached to the laundry, when the crystals make contact with moisture next time, the silver ion in the liquid droplets easily dissolves. Even when the laundry is made of water-repellent or hydrophobic cloth, the solution dries up on the surface of the cloth before water is repelled. Thus, even this type of laundry can benefit from the antimicrobial effect of the silver ion.