Patent Publication Number: US-2017350056-A1

Title: Mist generator and washing machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a mist generator for generating mist and a washing machine having the mist generator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the past, a washing machine is known to have an ozone generator and supply ozone generated by the ozone generator into a washing tank for receiving clothes so that the ozone comes into contact with the clothes to perform deodorization and sterilization etc. of the clothes (see Patent Literature 1). 
     In this way, an ozone removal step can be carried out in the washing machine having a deodorization/sterilization function performed through ozone, and the step promotes decomposition of ozone remaining in the washing tank through heating an interior of the washing tank by a heater at the end of a deodorization/sterilization step for deodorizing/sterilizing the clothes. 
     EXISTING TECHNICAL LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-195896 Bulletin 
     Problems to be Solved by Disclosure 
     As described above, when a structure for promoting decomposition of the ozone through heating performed by using a heater is adopted, relatively large electric power is liable to be consumed. In addition, the above structure is hard to apply to a case that a deodorization object and other objects are not heat-resistant. Therefore, inventors of the present application think about promoting the decomposition of the ozone by other conditions instead of heating; and results show that the decomposition of the ozone can be promoted by humidifying an interior of the washing tank after stopping supply of the ozone. 
     Based on such recognition, in order to promote the decomposition of the ozone, a structure for humidifying an interior of the washing tank by using an apparatus for generating mist in a washing machine can be used. In this case, it is possible to use a spray nozzle for spraying the mist as a mist generation unit. 
     The farther the mist sprayed from the spray nozzle is away from the spray nozzle, the smaller the particles are. However, in a relatively narrow space, that is, in the washing tank, when the structure for directly spraying the mist from the spray nozzle is adopted, a distance for making the mist become sufficiently small is difficult to be obtained between the spray nozzle and the clothes in the washing tank. Therefore, the mist is easy to contact with the clothes before becoming sufficiently small in the washing tank, and the clothes are easily wetted by the contacted mist. 
     SUMMARY 
     A technical solution of the present disclosure is completed in view of the problems, and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a mist generator which can supply sufficiently small mist. Further, another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine, and clothes in a washing tank are difficult to be wetted by the supplied mist when the mist is supplied to the washing tank having the ozone. 
     Solution for Solving Problems 
     In a first aspect of the present disclosure, the mist generator includes: a housing having a discharge port; a mist generation unit having a spray part for spraying a mist, and causing the mist sprayed from the spray part to collide in the housing to generate the mist with particles smaller than those of the sprayed mist; and a discharge unit for generating an airflow toward the discharge port in the housing, so that the mist with small particles generated by the mist generation unit is discharged from the discharge port along with the airflow. 
     Through the above described structure, the mist with sufficiently small particles can be discharged from the mist generator. 
     In the mist generator of the present disclosure, the mist generation unit can include the following structure: the first spray part has a first spray part and a second spray part, and the first spray part and the second spray part are arranged in the housing in such a manner that the sprayed mists collide with each other. 
     Through the above described structure, since the mist is sprayed from the first spray part and the second spray part, the first spray part and the second spray part, as a whole, can spray more amount of mist, and make the generation amount of the mist with small particles much more. 
     In the mist generator of the present disclosure, the mist generation unit can include the following structure: the spray part is arranged in the housing in such a manner that the sprayed mist collides with a wall of the housing. 
     Through the above described structure, the mist generator for generating the mist with small particles in the housing can be realized by using one spray part. 
     In the mist generator of the present disclosure, the discharge unit can be configured to have a blower fan. 
     Through the above described structure, the mist with small particles generated in the housing can be discharged from the discharge port through an airflow generated by the blower fan. 
     In the mist generator of the present disclosure, when the structure including the first spray part and the second spray part is adopted, a suction port for sucking air can be arranged in the housing. In this case, the discharge unit can include the following structure: the first spray part and the second spray part are arranged in the housing in a manner of spraying the mist to each other from a suction port side toward a discharge port side. 
     Through the above described structure, the airflow toward the discharge port can be generated in the housing through an acting force of the mist sprayed from the first spray part and the second spray part, and the mist with small particles generated in the housing can be discharged from the discharge port by utilizing the airflow. 
     When the above described structure is adopted, a shielding wall is arranged downstream of the airflow closer to the discharge port than a collision position of the mist from the first spray part and the second spray part in the housing, for shielding the mist from the first spray part and the second spray part. 
     When the above described structure is adopted, the mist, which is sprayed from the first spray part and the second spray part and further goes to the discharge port side after collision, can be shielded by the shielding wall, thereby preventing the mist with coarse particles from being discharged from the discharge port. 
     In the mist generator of the present disclosure, a drain port is arranged in the downstream of the airflow closer to the discharge port than the collision position of the mist sprayed from the spray part at the bottom of the housing. 
     Through the above described structure, water other than the mist with small particles can flow to the drain port in such a manner that the water is not reverse to the airflow in the housing and can be drained from the drain port smoothly. 
     In a second aspect of the present disclosure, the washing machine includes: a washing tank for receiving clothes; an ozone generator for generating an ozone supplied to the washing tank; and a mist generator for generating a mist supplied to the washing tank with the ozone. Herein, the mist generator includes: a housing having a discharge port; a mist generation unit having a spray part for spraying a mist, and causing the mist sprayed from the spray part to collide in the housing to generate the mist with particles smaller than those of the sprayed mist; and a discharge unit for generating an airflow toward the discharge port in the housing, so that the mist with small particles generated by the mist generation unit is discharged from the discharge port along with the airflow. 
     Through the above described structure, the mist with sufficiently small particles can be supplied to the washing tank with the ozone, so the clothes received in the washing tank are difficult to be wetted by the supplied mist. 
     In the washing machine of the present disclosure, the mist generator includes a suction port arranged in the housing for sucking air and an ozone removal part for removing an ozone leaked outward through the suction port. 
     Through the above described structure, the ozone can be prevented from flowing toward outside of the washing machine through the mist generator. 
     Effects of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure is capable of providing the mist generator which can supply the mist with sufficiently small particles. Further, the present disclosure is capable of providing the washing machine in which clothes in the washing tank are difficult to be wetted by the supplied mist when the mist is supplied to the washing tank with the ozone. 
     The effects and significance of the present disclosure are further clarified by description of the following embodiments. However, the following embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to contents recorded in the following embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a structure of an automatic clothes washing and drying machine according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the other structure of the automatic clothes washing and drying machine according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a structure of a mist generator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the other structure of the mist generator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram for illustrating a mist generating action performed by a mist generator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating a structure of the mist generator according to a variant example 1. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the mist generator according to a variant example 2. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram for illustrating a mist generating action performed by a mist generator according to a variant example 2. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the mist generator in which an arrangement position of a blower fan is changed according to a variant example 2. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST 
       1 : automatic clothes washing and drying machine (washing machine)  60 : ozone generator  24 : washing and dewatering tank (washing tank)  70 : mist generator  70 A: mist generator  70 B: mist generator  100 : housing  103 : discharge port  104 : suction port  105 : drain port  111 : shielding wall  200 : first spray nozzle (first spray part)  500 : blower fan  600 : housing  300 : second spray nozzle (second spray part)  400 : ozone removal filter (ozone removal part)  601   b : bottom wall (wall)  603 : discharge port  604 : suction port  605 : drain port  700 : spray nozzle (spray part)  800 : ozone removal filter (ozone removal part) 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to the drawings below. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are diagrams illustrating structures of an automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1 .  FIG. 1( a )  is a side cross-sectional view of the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1 , and  FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  in a state that a rear cover  16  is removed and an upper cover  15  is opened. 
     The automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  has a machine shell  10  for constituting an appearance. The machine shell  10  includes: a machine body part  11  which is of a square cylinder shape with opened upper surface and lower surface; an upper panel  12  for covering the upper surface of the machine body part  11 ; and a foot stand  13  for supporting the machine body part  11 . A feeding port  14  of washings is formed in the upper panel  12  and covered by an upper cover  15  capable of being opened and closed freely. 
     In the machine shell  10 , an outer tank  20  is elastically suspended and supported by four hanging rods  21  having an anti-vibration apparatus, the upper surface of the outer tank  20  is covered by an outer tank cover  22 . An opening part  22   a  with size substantially same as that of the feeding port  14  is formed in a position of the outer tank cover  22  corresponding to the feeding port  14 , and the opening part  22   a  is covered by the outer tank cover  22  in an opening and closing manner. 
     A washing and dewatering tank  24  is arranged in the outer tank  20 , and a plurality of dewatering holes  24   a  are formed over the entire circumference of the washing and dewatering tank  24 . A balancing ring  25  is arranged at an upper part of the washing and dewatering tank  24 . The washing and dewatering tank  24  is equivalent to the washing tank of the present disclosure. A wave wheel  26  is arranged at the bottom of the outer tank  20 , and a plurality of blades  26   a  are radially arranged on a surface of the wave wheel  26 . 
     A driving unit  30  is arranged at the bottom of an outside of the outer tank  20 . The driving unit  30  generates a torque for driving the washing and dewatering tank  24  and the wave wheel  26 . The driving unit  30  includes a driving motor  31  and a transmitting mechanism part  32  which has a clutch mechanism. The torque of the driving motor  31  is only transmitted to the wave wheel  26  in a washing process and a rinsing process through switching operation performed by the clutch mechanism so that only the wave wheel  26  is rotated, and the torque of the driving motor  31  is transmitted to the wave wheel  26  and the washing and dewatering tank  24  in a dewatering process so that the wave wheel  26  and the washing and dewatering tank  24  are rotated integrally. 
     A drain port part  20   a  is formed at the bottom of the outside of the outer tank  20 , and a drain valve  40  is arranged at the drain port part  20   a . The drain valve  40  is connected with a drain hose  41 , and when the drain valve  40  is opened, water stored in the washing and dewatering tank  24  and the outer tank  20  is discharged to the outside of the clothes washing and drying machine  1  through the drain hose  41 . 
     A storage part  12   a  having an opened upper surface is arranged at a rear part of the upper panel  12 . A drying unit  50 , an ozone generator  60 , a mist generator  70  and a water supply valve  80  are arranged within the storage part  12   a , and the upper surface of the storage part  12   a  is covered by a rear cover  16 . 
     A drying unit  50  includes a circulation air path  51 , a circulation blower  52  and a heater  53 , where the circulation air path  51  includes an exhaust cylinder  51   a  and a suction cylinder  51   b  both of which are made of elastic materials. The exhaust cylinder  51   a  passes through the outer tank cover  22  and has an exhaust port entering into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . And the suction cylinder  51   b  passes through the outer tank cover  22  and has a suction port entering into a space between the washing and dewatering tank  24  and the outer tank  20 . The circulation blower  52 , such as a centrifugal blower, has a suction port  52   a  in the lower surface and a discharge port  52   b  in a circumferential surface, and the suction port  52   a  is located above the suction cylinder  51   b . The circulation blower  52  circulates air between the outer tank  20  and the circulation air path  51 . The heater  53  heats the circulating air in a drying process. 
     An ozone generator  60  is a discharge type ozone generator which generates a corona discharge, a silent discharge and so on between a pair of electrodes, and generates ozone by air passing between the pair of electrodes. The ozone generator  60  is connected to a side of a suction port  52   a  of the circulation blower  52  in the circulation air path  51  through an ozone supply pipe  61 . When the circulation blower  52  is rotated, the ozone generated by the ozone generator  60  is sucked into the circulation blower  52  due to negative pressure at the side of the suction port  52   a , and thus the sucked ozone is mixed with the circulating air and then supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . The ozone generator  60  can also be, for example, an ultraviolet type ozone generator, besides the discharge type ozone generator. 
     A mist generator  70  generates a tiny mist and supplies the generated mist into the washing and dewatering tank  24  through a supply port  23   a  formed in a bellows-like mist supply pipe  71  and the outer tank cover  22 . The detailed structure of the mist generator  70  is described later. 
     A water supply valve  80  is connected with a faucet, and the water supply valve  80  is a two-way valve having a first valve  81  and a second valve  82 . The first valve  81  is connected with the rear part of the outer tank  20  through a water supply hose (not shown), and in a water supply process, when the first valve  81  is opened, tap water is supplied into the outer tank  20  through the water supply hose. The second valve  82  constitutes the mist generator  70  and is connected with a spray nozzle described later, and when the second valve  82  is opened, the tap water is supplied to the spray nozzle. 
     An operation part  17  is arranged at a front part of the upper panel  12 , and the operation section  17  is equipped with various operation buttons such as a power button, a start button and a mode selection button. 
     A variety of operation modes such as a washing operation, a washing and drying operation or a drying operation are performed in the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1 . The washing operation is to perform a washing process, an intermediate dewatering process, a rinsing process and a final dewatering process in sequence. The washing and drying operation is to continuously perform the operations from washing to drying, and perform a drying process after the final dewatering process. The drying operation is only to perform the drying process. 
     The wave wheel  26  is rotated in a rightward direction and a leftward direction in a state that water is stored in the washing and dewatering tank  24  in the washing process and the rinsing process. A water flow is generated in the washing and dewatering tank  24  through the rotation of the wave wheel  26 . The washings are washed by the generated water flow and a lotion contained in the water in the washing process. The washings are rinsed by the generated water flow in the rinsing process. 
     The washing and dewatering tank  24  and the wave wheel  26  are integrally rotated at high speed in the intermediate dewatering process and the final dewatering process. The washings are dewatered by centrifugal force generated by the washing and dewatering tank  24 . 
     The heated air heated by the heater  53  is circulated between the circulation air path  51  and the outer tank  20  in the drying process. In addition, the wave wheel  26  performs the right rotation and the left rotation during a given interval alternately. The washings in the washing and dewatering tank  24  are stirred by the wave wheel  26  and also are in contact with the heated air introduced into the washing and dewatering tank  24 , then the heated air that absorbs a moisture from the washings by contacting the washings is discharged from the dewatering hole  24   a  to the space between the washing and dewatering tank  24  and the outer tank  20 . Further, the heated air is cooled and dehumidified by contacting the wall of the outer tank  20  in the space, then is sucked into the circulation air path  51 , next is heated by the heater  53  again and is introduced into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . Thus the washings are dried. 
     Further, the operation in an air washing mode is also performed besides the above washing operation and the like in the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1 . The operation in the air washing mode is that ozone is supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24  to perform a deodorization, a sterilization and so on of the clothes through the ozone. 
     The operation in the air washing mode includes: an ozone generation step for supplying the ozone generated by the ozone generator  60  into the washing and dewatering tank  24  to perform the deodorization, the sterilization and so on of the clothes; and an ozone decomposition step performed after the ozone generation step for decomposing and eliminating the ozone remaining in the washing and dewatering tank  24 . The air washing mode is finished after the concentration of ozone in the washing and dewatering tank  24  becomes sufficiently low through the ozone decomposition step, at this time, the clothes can be taken out by unlocking the upper cover through a door lock apparatus (not shown) arranged between the upper cover  15  and the upper panel  12 . 
     In the ozone decomposition step, the mist is supplied from the mist generator  70  into the washing and dewatering tank  24 , and the interior of the washing and dewatering tank  24  is humidified by the mist, thereby promoting the decomposition of the ozone remaining in the washing and dewatering tank  24 , so that the concentration of the ozone can be reduced as soon as possible. 
     It is believed that the reason why the concentration of the ozone is reduced by humidification is that an ozone gas is dissolved in tiny water (mist) during humidification or is decomposed through reaction. As a reaction mechanism of the ozone in the water, it is believed that the following reactions are performed. 
       O 3 +OH − →O 2   − +HO 2  
 
       O 3 +HO 2 →2O 2 +.OH
 
       O 3 +.OH→O 2 +HO 2  
 
       2HO 2 →O3+H 2 O
 
       HO 2 +OH→O 2 +H 2 O
 
     It should be noted that OH radicals are generated through the decomposition of ozone performed by reaction of the ozone with water based on the above reaction mechanism. Therefore, in the ozone decomposition step, the OH radicals having oxidizing power higher than that of ozone can act on the clothes, so it is expected that sebum dirt and other organic dirt attached to the clothes can be decomposed. 
     Since the air washing mode is mainly a mode of deodorizing and sterilizing the dried clothes, it is not expected that the clothes after deodorization, sterilization and the like are wetted by the mist introduced in order to humidify the interior of the washing and dewatering tank  24 . 
     The automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  in the present embodiment is characterized by the structure of the mist generator  70 . As described below, the tiny mist can be supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24  through the mist generator  70  according to the present embodiment, so the clothes in the washing and dewatering tank  24  can be hardly wetted. Hereinafter, the detailed structure of the mist generator  70  is illustrated. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are diagrams illustrating the structures of the mist generator  70 .  FIG. 3  is a exploded perspective view of the mist generator  70 .  FIG. 4( a )  is a top view of the mist generator  70  in a state that an upper surface cover  102  is removed, and  FIG. 4( b )  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 4( a ) . 
     The mist generator  70  includes a housing  100 , a first spray nozzle  200 , a second spray nozzle  300  and an ozone removal filter  400 . 
     The housing  100  includes a housing main body  101  and the upper surface cover  102 , the housing main body  101  is formed as a substantially cubic box shape which has an opened upper surface and uses the left and right direction as the long side direction. The housing main body  101  has a protrusion part  101   a  slightly projecting forward at a left end part, and a cylindrical discharge port  103  is provided in the front surface of the protrusion part  101   a . The discharge port  103  protrudes forward from the front surface of the storage part  12   a  of the upper panel  12 , a mist supply pipe  71  is connected with the protruding discharge port  103 . A suction port  104  for sucking air is formed in the left side of the housing main body  101 . 
     A drain port  105  is formed in a left rear corner of the bottom surface of the housing main body  101  and is connected with the drain hose  41  by a drain hose (not shown). A first inclined surface  106  descending from the front toward the rear and a second inclined surface  107  descending from the right to the left are formed on the bottom surface of the housing main body  101  in such a manner that the water is easily converged at the drain port  105 . 
     A filter storage part  108 , a first mounting table  109 , a second mounting table  110  and a shielding wall  111  are arranged within the housing main body  101 . 
     The filter storage part  108  is formed between the left side and a partition plate  112  by arranging the partition plate  112  at a right end part of the housing main body  101 , and an air vent  113  for air to pass is formed in the partition plate  112 . 
     The first mounting table  109  is arranged at a position slightly deviating from the partition plate  112  to the left in a manner of contacting with the front surface of the housing main body  101 . The second mounting table  110  is arranged at a position immediately behind the first mounting table  109  in a manner of contacting with the rear surface of the housing main body  101 . The first mounting table  109  and the second mounting table  110  are raised from the bottom surface of the housing main body  101  and have cavities inside. Mounting ports  109   a  and  110   a  are formed in the upper surfaces of the first mounting table  109  and the second mounting table  110 , respectively. 
     The shielding wall  111  is arranged in a manner of extending from the right end part of the protrusion part  101   a  to the left inclined rear direction. A specified gap is formed between the shielding wall  111  and the left side of the housing main body  101 . 
     The upper surface cover  102  is a flat plate having the same shape as that of the upper surface, and is fixed to the upper surface of the housing main body  101  through a sealing member (not shown) such as a sealing gasket and the like in such a manner that the water or the air is not leaked. 
     The first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  have the same structure and are of a substantially L shape. The first spray nozzle  200  is fixed at the mounting port  109   a  of the first mounting table  109  in such a manner that its ejection port part  201  is in the direction toward the left inclined rear, and when the first spray nozzle  200  is fixed to the first mounting table  109 , a water inlet part  202  of the first spray nozzle  200  protrudes into the cavity inside the first mounting table  109 . The second spray nozzle  300  is fixed at the mounting port  110   a  of the second mounting table  110  in such a manner that its ejection port part  301  is in the direction toward the left inclined front, and when the second spray nozzle  300  is fixed to the second mounting table  110 , the water inlet part  302  protrudes into the cavity inside the second mounting table  110 . The ejection port part  201  and the ejection port part  301  are configured to spray the mist diffused in a fan shape in a up and down direction. The first spray nozzle  200  is equivalent to the first spray part of the present disclosure, and the second spray nozzle  300  is equivalent to the second spray part of the present disclosure. 
     The first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  are connected with a second valve  82  of the water supply valve  80  through a relay hose unit  90 . As shown in  FIG. 4( b ) , the relay hose unit  90  includes a main hose  91 , a Y-shaped connector  92 , a first branch hose  93  and a second branch hose  94 , where the first branch hose  93  and the second branch hose  94  are connected with the main hose  91  through the Y-shaped connector  92 , and the main hose  91  is connected with the second valve  82 . In addition, the first branch hose  93  is connected with the water inlet part  202  of the first spray nozzle  200 , and the second branch hose  94  is connected with the water inlet part  302  of the second spray nozzle  300 . 
     The ozone removal filter  400  is arranged in the filter storage part  108 . The ozone removal filter  400  is an activated carbon filter, a photocatalyst ceramic filter and the like, for removing the ozone contained in the air passing through the interior of the filter. The ozone removal filter  400  is equivalent to the ozone removal part of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram for illustrating mist generating action performed by the mist generator  70 . It should be noted that, although the diagram of the upper surface cover  102  is omitted for convenience in  FIG. 5 , the upper surface of the housing main body  101  is closed by the upper surface cover  102  when the actual mist generating action is performed. 
     The water is supplied from the water supply valve  80  to the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  through the relay hose unit  90 . The mist diffused in the fan shape in the up and down direction is sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  to the left inclined rear direction, and the mist diffused in the fan shape in the up and down direction is sprayed from the second spray nozzle  300  to the left inclined fore direction. The sprayed mists collide with each other at a position closer to the present position than the shielding wall  111 . The mist (hereinafter called “tiny mist”) with particles smaller than those of the mist sprayed from the spray nozzles  200  and  300  is generated through the collision and is floated in the air. In the housing  100 , strong mist is sprayed by the two spray nozzles  200  and  300  in a direction from the suction port  104  side to the discharge port  103  side, thus the airflow flowing from the suction port  104  side to the discharge port  103  side is generated. That is, as shown by arrows in  FIG. 5 , outside water is sucked into the housing  100  from the suction port  104 , the sucked air goes toward the left side to penetrate through the gap between the shielding wall  111  and the left side and flow to the protrusion part  101   a , and flows outside the housing  100  from the discharge port  103 . The tiny mist generated in the housing  100  goes to the discharge port  103  along with the airflow generated in the housing  100  and is discharged from the discharge port  103 . The tiny mist discharged from the mist generator  70  is supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24  through the mist supply pipe  71 . 
     Herein, the shielding wall  111  is arranged at a downstream side closer to the air flowing in the housing  100  than a collision position of the mist sprayed by the two spray nozzles  200  and  300 , and the mist further flowing to the downstream side after collision is shielded by the shielding wall  111 . 
     In addition, the water other than the tiny mist discharged from the mist generator  70  is stored at the bottom of the housing  100  and is discharged from the drain port  105 . Since the drain port  105  is arranged at the downstream closer to the airflow in the housing  100  than a mutual collision position of the sprayed mist, the water at the bottom flows to the drain port  105  in such a manner that the water is not reverse to the airflow, and is drained from the drain port  105 . 
     As described above, in the ozone generation step, the ozone is supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . Since the pressure in the washing and dewatering tank  24  is higher than the external pressure, the washing and dewatering tank  24  is configured such that the ozone in the washing and dewatering tank  24  together with the air do not enter into the housing  100  through the discharge port  103  and are leaked to the outside from the suction port  104 . Since the ozone removal filter  400  is arranged in a front section of the suction port  104 , the ozone leaked from the suction port  104  together with the air is removed by the ozone removal filter  400 . 
     Effects of the Present Embodiment 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the mist sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  collides mutually, the mist generator  70  is configured to generate the mist with particles smaller than those of the sprayed mist in the housing and supply the generated mist with small particles into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . Thus, when the interior of the washing and dewatering tank  24  is humidified to promote the decomposition of residual ozone, since the mist with sufficiently small particles can be supplied from the mist generator  70  into the washing and dewatering tank  24 , the washings received in the washing and dewatering tank  24  can be difficultly wetted by the supplied mist. 
     In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the mist generator  70  can be configured as the structure for spraying the mist from the two spray nozzles  200  and  300 , the amount of sprayed mist can be increased and the amount of generated mist with small particles can also be increased by using the two spray nozzles as a whole. 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the mist generator  70  is configured to generate the airflow flowing toward the discharge port  103  in the housing  100  through the acting force of the mist sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300 . Thus, the mist with small particles generated in the housing  100  can be discharged from the discharge port  103  by utilizing the airflow generated by the mist sprayed from the two spray nozzles  200  and  300 . 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the mist generator  70  can shield the mist, which is sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  and then further goes to the discharge port  103  side after collision, through the shielding wall  111 , thereby preventing the mist with large particles from being discharged from the discharge port  103 . 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the drain port  105  is arranged in the downstream closer to the airflow in the housing  100  than the mutual collision position of the sprayed mist in the mist generator  70 . Thus, the water other than the mist with small particles can flow to the drain port  105  in such a manner that the water is not reverse to the airflow, and can be drained from the drain port  105  successfully. 
     Further, according to the present embodiment, the mist generator  70  can remove the ozone, which enters the housing  100  from the washing and dewatering tank  24  and wants to leak to the outside through the suction port  104 , via the ozone removal filter  400 , thereby preventing the ozone from flowing to the outside of the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  via the mist generator  70 . 
     Variant Example 1 
       FIG. 6  is a top view illustrating the structure of a mist generator  70 A according to the variant example 1. 
     In the mist generator  70 A of the present variant example, the first mounting table  109  and the second mounting table  110  are arranged in the vicinity of the protrusion part  101   a . In addition, the first spray nozzle  200  is fixed to the first mounting table  109  in such a manner that its ejection port part  201  is in the direction toward a right inclined rear, and the second spray nozzle  300  is fixed to the second mounting table  110  in such a manner that the ejection port part  301  is in the direction toward a right inclined front. Further, in the housing main body  101 , an arrangement space  114  in which the blower fan  500  is arranged is on the left of the filter storage part  108 , and the blower fan  500  is arranged in the arrangement space  114 . The blower fan  500  is, for example, a waterproof type axial fan having the suction port in a back face of the surface opposite to the air vent  113  and having the discharge port in the front surface opposite to the air vent  113 . Further, the shielding wall  111  is not arranged in the housing main body  101 . 
     The mist diffused in the fan shape in the up and down direction is sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  to the right inclined rear direction, and the mist diffused in the fan shape in the vertical direction is sprayed from the second spray nozzle  300  to the right inclined front direction. The sprayed mists collide with each other to generate tiny mist. As shown by the arrows in  FIG. 6 , the airflow flowing to the discharge port  103  is generated in the housing  100  through the action of the blower fan  500 , the tiny mist goes to the discharge port  103  along with the airflow and is discharged from the discharge port  103 . 
     Since the collided mist goes toward one side opposite to the discharge port  103 , the mist with large particles is hardly leaked from the discharge port  103  even if the shielding wall is not arranged. It should be noted that the shielding wall can also be arranged when concerning about the case that the mist with large particles is returned due to the airflow and leaked from the discharge port  103  under the condition that the volume of air blown from the blower fan  500  is large and so on. 
     As described above, according to the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the clothes received in the washing and dewatering tank  24  are difficultly wetted by the supplied mist when the interior of the washing and dewatering tank  24  is humidified to promote the decomposition of the residual ozone. 
     In addition, according to the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the water other than the mist with small particles can be drained from the drain port  105  smoothly. 
     Further, according to the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the ozone can be prevented from flowing to the outside of the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  via the mist generator  70 A. 
     Further, according to the present variant example, the mist with small particles generated in the housing  100  is discharged from the discharge port  103  well through the airflow generated by the action of the blower fan  500 . 
     Variant Example 2 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a mist generator  70 B according to the variant example 2. 
     The mist generator  70 B includes a housing  600 , a spray nozzle  700 , an ozone removal filter  800  and a blower fan  900 . 
     The housing  600  includes a housing main body  601  and an upper surface cover  602 . The housing main body  601  is formed as a substantially cubic box shape in which has an opened upper surface and uses the left and right direction as the long side direction. The housing main body  601  has a protrusion part  601   a  slightly protruding forward at the left end part, and a cylindrical discharge port  603  is provided in the front surface of the protrusion part  601   a . A suction port  604  for sucking the air is formed in the left side of the housing main body  601 . 
     A drain port  605  is formed in the left rear corner of the bottom of the housing main body  601 . Further, a first inclined surface  606  descending from the front to the rear and a second inclined surface  607  descending from the right to the left are formed around the drain port  605  in such a manner that the water is easily converged at the drain port  605  at the bottom of the housing main body  601 . 
     The right end part of the housing main body  601  is divided by a partition plate  608  to form a filter storage part  609 , and an air vent  610  for the air to pass is formed in the partition plate  608 . 
     The upper surface cover  602  is a flat plate having the same shape as that of the upper surface, and is fixed to the upper surface of the housing main body  601  via a sealing member such as a sealing gasket (not shown) and the like, in such a manner that the water and the air are not leaked. 
     A spray nozzle  700  has a substantially L shape and is fixed to the rear surface of the housing main body  601  in such a manner that its ejection port part  701  is downwardly arranged in the vicinity of the center of the housing main body  601 . The ejection port part  701  is configured to spray the mist diffused in a fan shape in the front-rear direction. The spray nozzle  700  is equivalent to the spray part of the present disclosure. 
     When the spray nozzle  700  is fixed to the rear surface of the housing main body  601 , a water inlet part  702  protrudes to the rear of the rear surface. The relay hose (not shown) is connected with the water inlet part  702 . The relay hose is connected with the second valve  82  of the water supply valve  80 . 
     The ozone removal filter  800  is arranged in the filter storage part  609 . The ozone removal filter  800  may be an activated carbon filter, a photocatalyst ceramic filter and the like, for removing the ozone contained in the air passing through the interior of the filter. The ozone removal filter  800  is equivalent to the ozone removal part of the present disclosure. 
     A blower fan  900  is arranged adjacent to the filter storage part  609 . The blower fan  900  is, for example, a waterproof type axial fan having the suction port in the back face of the surface opposite to the air vent  610  and a discharge port in the front surface opposite to the air vent  610 . 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram for illustrating mist generating action performed by the mist generator  70 B according to the variant example 2. It should be noted that, although the diagram of the upper surface cover  602  is omitted for convenience in  FIG. 8 , the upper surface of the housing main body  601  is closed by the upper surface cover  602  when the actual mist generating action is performed. 
     When the water is supplied from the water supply valve  80  to the spray nozzle  700 , the mist diffused in the fan shape in the front-rear direction is sprayed downward from the spray nozzle  700 . The sprayed mists collide with a bottom wall  601   b  of the housing main body  601 . The mist (hereinafter called “tiny mist”) with particles smaller than those of the mist sprayed from the spray nozzle  700  is generated in a manner of rising from the bottom wall  601   b  through the collision and is floated in the air. As shown by arrows in  FIG. 8 , the airflow flowing from the suction port  604  to the discharge port  603  is generated in the housing  600  through action of the blower fan  900 , and the tiny mist generated in the housing  600  goes to the discharge port  603  along with the airflow and is discharged from the discharge port  603 . 
     The water other than the tiny mist discharged from the mist generator  70 B is drained from the drain port  605 . The drain port  605  is arranged at the downstream closer to the airflow in the housing  600  than the collision position of the sprayed mist and the bottom wall  601   b  of the housing main body  601 . Thus, the water at the bottom flows to the drain port  605  in such a manner that the water is not reverse to the airflow and is drained from the drain port  605 . 
     Further, in the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the ozone, which enters the housing  600  and wants to be leaked to the outside from the suction port  604 , is removed by the ozone removal filter  800  in the ozone generating process. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the blower fan  900  can also be arranged adjacent to the discharge port  603  in the mist generator  70 B according to the present variant example. 
     As described above, according to the present variant example, the mist generator  70 B is configured to generate the mist with particles smaller than those of the sprayed mist in the housing  600  through the collision of the mist sprayed from the spray nozzle  700  and the inner wall of the housing  600 , and to supply the generated mist with smaller particles into the washing and dewatering tank  24 . Since the mist with sufficiently small particles is supplied into the washing and dewatering tank  24 , the clothes received in the washing and dewatering tank  24  are difficult to be wetted by the supplied mist when the interior of the washing and dewatering tank  24  is humidified to promote the decomposition of the residual ozone. 
     In addition, according to the present variant example, it is can be achieved that the mist generator  70 B is capable of generating the mist with small particles in the housing  100  by using one spray nozzle  700 . 
     Further, according to the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the water other than the mist with small particles can be drained from the drain port  605  smoothly. 
     Further, according to the present variant example, as the above embodiment, the ozone can be prevented from flowing to the outside of the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  via the mist generator  70 B. 
     Further, according to the present variant example, as the above variant example 1, the mist with small particles generated in the housing  600  can be well discharged from the discharge port  603  through the airflow generated by the action of the blower fan  900 . 
     Other Variant Examples 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and the like. In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure can also be subjected to various changes other than the above changes. 
     For example, in the above embodiments and the variant example 1, in the mist generators  70  and  70 A, the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  are arranged within the housing  100  in such a manner that their ejection port parts  201  and  301  are in the direction toward the airflow from the suction port  104  side to the discharge port  103  side. However, in the housing  100 , as long as both of the mist sprayed from the first spray nozzle  200  and the mist sprayed from the second spray nozzle  300  can collide with each other, the first spray nozzle  200  and the second spray nozzle  300  may also be arranged to face any direction. 
     Further, in the above embodiment, the mist generator  70  is configured such that the mists sprayed from the two spray nozzles  200  and  300  collide with each other. However, the mist generator  70  is not limited to the above and can also be configured such that the mists sprayed from more than three spray nozzles collide with each other. 
     Further, in the variant example 2, in the mist generator  70 B, the spray nozzle  700  is arranged in the housing  600  in such a manner that the sprayed mists collide with a bottom wall  601   b  of the housing  600 . However, the spray nozzle  700  can also be arranged in the housing  600  in such a manner that the sprayed mists collide with any one of the front wall, the rear wall and the like. 
     Further, in the above embodiment, although the mist generator  70  mounted in the automatic clothes and washing machine  1  is exemplified, the mist generator of the present disclosure can be applied to other washing machines, and can also be applied to, for example, the clothes drying machine, the clothes refreshing apparatuses for fold flattening, deodorization, aromatization and the like of clothes, and other appliances. 
     Further, although the automatic clothes washing and drying machine  1  is exemplified in the above embodiments, the present disclosure can also be applied to an automatic washing machine, a drum type clothes washing and drying machine, a drum washing machine and the like. 
     In addition, the embodiments of the present disclosure can be made properly various changes within the scope of technical spirit shown in claims.