JP2002273087A - Dryer and washing dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing dryer with a heating function, that can be used as a heater, by solving the problem of developing uses other than washing and drying, using functional parts such as a heater and a blower, in a washing dryer capable of washing and drying. SOLUTION: An inner tub 36 having a rotating center shaft in an outer tub 31 suspended in a easing 30 is rotatably supported, a pulsator 38 is rotatably provided at the inside bottom of the inner tub 36, and the inner tub 36 or the pulsator 38 is driven with a motor 33, hot air heated by a heater 42 is delivered to the inner tub 36 by a hot air blower 42, and drying and dehumidification is executed by introducing cooling air by a cooling blower 43. In addition, a vent 55 opening outward is provided in a part of a hot air circulation route 47.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine having a process of drying laundry by blowing warm air into an inner tub, and capable of performing washing to drying consistently.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a new washing / drying machine, the inventors have developed:
A washing / drying machine having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is proposed. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, a casing 1 supports an outer tub 2 by a suspension mechanism 3 in a vibration-damping manner. A motor 4 is provided below the outer tub 2 and a washing / dehydrating shaft 5 having a hollow and biaxial structure, and a clutch 6 for switching transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 5 during washing or spinning. It is connected to an inner tank 7 rotatably provided inside the outer tank 2.

A fluid balancer 8 is provided above the inner tank 7, and a rotating blade 9 is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank 7. The drain valve 10 drains water in the outer tub 2. The warm air blower 11 blows warm air into the inner tank 7 for drying, and is provided substantially above the housing 1. The heater 12 heats the air blown by the hot air blower 11. The cooling blower 13 is provided on a side wall of the housing 1 and introduces cool air into the housing 1 from outside.

The upper surface of the outer tub 2 is covered by an outer tub cover 14, and an openable and closable middle lid 15 is provided substantially at the center of the outer tub cover 14. The discharge port 16 is provided in the outer tank cover 14 and discharges the warm air blown by the warm air blower 11. The discharge port 16 and an end of a circulating air passage 17 connected to the heater 12 are connected by a retractable upper bellows hose 18. A warm air outlet 19 is provided at a lower portion of the outer tub 2, and the warm air outlet 19 and the circulating air passage 17 form a circulating passage through an extendable lower bellows hose 20. Through 10, it is connected to a drain 21 that is used for both washing water and dehumidifying water. An intake port 24 is provided near an intake side of the warm air blower 11 in the circulation passage 17 via an intake valve 23. A drying garment 25 is contained in the inner tub 7, and a temperature detecting unit 26 is provided in the outer tub 2. Further, a display unit 27 is provided above the inside of the housing 1, and
A control unit 28 is provided below the inside of the device, and a water tap 29 is provided above the inside.

The circulating air generated by the hot air blower 11 is supplied to the heater 1.
2, the upper bellows hose 18, the discharge port 16, the inside of the inner tank 7, the small hole (not shown) around the inner tank 7, the small hole of the rotary wing 9 (also not shown), the lower part of the outer tank 2, the outer tank After passing through the lower bellows hose 20 and the circulating air passage 17 provided at the lower part of 2, the air circulates again through the passage circulating to the hot air blower 11.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinsing step, with the drain valve 21 closed, the clothes 25 and the detergent are put into the inner tub 7, water or hot water is supplied through the water tap 29, and the clutch 6 which is the transmission mechanism is set to the washing side. Then, the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the rotating blades 9 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 5, and the rotating blades 9 rotate, whereby the clothes 25 are stirred in the water and washed and rinsed.

In the dehydration step, after the washing and rinsing steps,
After draining the water in the inner tub 7 by opening the drain valve 10, the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side, and the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the inner tub 7 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 5. By rotating and giving a centrifugal force to the clothing 25, moisture is separated from the clothing 25 and drained to the outside through the drain valve 10.

In the drying step, first, the rotating blade 9 is slowly rotated with the drain valve 10 closed, so that the clothes 25 adhered to the inner wall of the inner tank 7 by centrifugal force during dehydration.
After peeling off, the rotating wings 9 are instantaneously strongly rotated in the forward and reverse directions to stir the clothes 25 so that the clothes 25 are lifted up in the inner tank 7, or to rotate the inner tank 7. I do.

At the same time, the heater 1 is heated by the hot air blower 11.
2 and heated hot air is passed through the upper bellows hose 18,
It is fed into the inner tank 7 through the discharge port 16. This warm air warms the clothes 25 in the inner tank 7 to take out the moisture,
When passing through the outer tub 2, the lower bellows hose 20, and the circulating air passage 17, the cooling air is cooled by external blowing from the cooling blower 13, so that moisture is condensed and dehumidified to form water droplets. Thereafter, the water is drained from the dehumidification water drain port 21 to the outside via the drain valve 10 opened at an appropriate timing, and thereafter, the circulating air returns to the hot air blower 11 again. In the hot-air blower 11, on the intake side, the intake valve 23 is opened at the timing when the lower drain valve is opened, and functions to suck air from outside and assist exhaust and drainage at the lower part. . The drying proceeds by repeating this process.

[0011]

In such a conventional configuration, the hot air is used only for drying the clothes 25 in the inner tank 7, but the heater 12 and the hot air blower 11, which are functional components, are not used. It has been an issue to use it to develop the main body for other uses.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, in which hot air from a hot air blower 11 and a heater 12 is supplied to an inner tank 7.
It is intended to have a function of warming the outside of the housing by not only sending it inside and using it for drying, but also discharging it to the outside of the housing 1.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for storing laundry having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction in an outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing. The tank is rotatably supported, and a rotating blade is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank, and the inner tank or the rotating blades can be driven by driving means. Means for blowing hot air, and cooling air blowing means for introducing cooling air from the outside into the housing.The outer tank is covered with an outer tank cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the outer tank is covered with an outer tank cover. The discharge port for discharging the provided hot air and the opening of the passage for guiding the air flow by the circulating air blowing means are connected by a flexible hose that is extendable and contractible, and circulates from the lower part of the outer tank toward the circulating air blowing means. A route is formed, and a part of the passage where the hot air circulates Only by it is obtained by a structure in which an opening to allow exhaust hot air.

With this configuration, the warm air can be discharged to the outside, and in addition to the function as a washing and drying machine, it can be used as a heater for warming the room when not used for drying. It is possible.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention has a heating means for generating warm air and a blower inside a housing, and sends out warm air to the inside of the housing. A drying mode for performing drying such as drying mode, a heating mode for blowing out hot air toward the outside, a configuration in which the drying mode and the heating mode are switched, and a dryer with a heating function configured to be used for heating a room or the like. In addition to using the function of drying inside the housing, a washing and drying machine with a heating function that heats the outside of the housing by discharging warm air to the outside of the housing except during drying Is possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tank rotatably supported in a housing for accommodating clothes, a driving means for driving the tank, and a blower for blowing hot air into the tank. Means and a heating means, an outlet for discharging hot air toward the outside of the housing is provided in a part of a path through which the hot air flows by the blowing means, and when the drying is selected, the driving means and the driving means By operating the blowing means and the heating means, and when heating is selected, by operating the blowing means and the heating means and a dryer with a heating function for discharging warm air from the outlet, the housing In addition to using the function of drying inside, it is possible to make a washing and drying machine with a heating function to warm the outside of the housing by discharging warm air outside the housing except during drying. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outer tub elastically suspended within a housing, and a laundry having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction and rotatably supported in the outer tub. An inner tank that accommodates, and a rotating blade rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank,
Driving means for driving the inner tank or the rotating blades, circulating air blowing means for blowing circulating air into the inner tank, heating means for heating the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and air blowing by the circulating air blowing means A cooling air blowing means for introducing cooling air from outside into the housing, wherein the outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the outer tub cover A discharge port for discharging the circulating air and an opening of the circulating air passage are connected by a flexible hose that is extendable and contractible, and a path that circulates from the lower part of the outer tank toward the circulating air blowing means is provided for circulation. An air passage is formed, and a drain port is provided at a lower portion of the circulating air passage, and an opening is provided at the drain port or another place to allow hot air to be discharged to the outside.

[0018] Thus, in addition to utilizing the function from washing to drying inside the housing, a heating function to warm the outside of the housing by discharging warm air to the outside of the housing except during drying is provided. It is possible to use a washing and drying machine.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the hot air is circulated to the room by connecting to a warm air circulation passage separately from the washing water and the dehumidifying water outlet. A configuration having a path having an opening for discharging is provided.

[0020] Thus, the warm air can be discharged toward the room, and can function as a room heater.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configurations of the first to third aspects, the exhaust port is provided with an openable / closable valve.

This makes it possible to discharge the warm air to the outside at an arbitrary stroke depending on the design, and to make it possible to use it when it changes to a closed state during the drying stroke and opens it during a non-washing / drying stroke. It becomes.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a brushless motor is used as the motor used in the hot air blower.

As a result, not only a drier but also an improvement in the durability time such as heating the room for a long time is obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hot air passage in a hot air passage.
A valve that can be switched in the direction is provided so that the destination of the hot air can be switched.

Thus, it is possible to switch between discharging the warm air toward the room and circulating inside the housing depending on the opening direction of the valve.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the position of the discharge port for discharging the hot air to the outside is provided in both the lower part and the upper part of the housing, and the discharge direction is switched by a switching valve provided in the passage. .

This makes it possible to switch between the direction in which the warm air is discharged from the lower part of the housing into the room and the direction in which the warm air is discharged from the upper part of the housing.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG.
, The outer tub 31 is supported by a plurality of suspension mechanisms 32 for suspension and vibration isolation. A motor (driving means) 33 is provided below the outer tub 31 to provide a washing / dehydrating shaft 34 having a hollow and biaxial structure, and a clutch 35 for switching transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 34 during washing or dehydrating. Through,
It is connected to an inner tank 36 rotatably provided inside the outer tank 31.

A fluid balancer 37 is provided above the inner tank 36, and a rotating blade 38 is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank 36. The drain valve 39 discharges water in the outer tank 31 to the drain port 4.
It drains from zero. The warm air blower (circulating blow means) 41 blows warm air for drying, and is provided substantially above the housing 30. Heater (heating means) 42
Heats the air blown by the hot air blower 41. The cooling blower (cooling blower) 43 is provided on the side wall of the housing 30 and introduces cool air into the housing 30 from outside.

An outer tank cover 44 is provided on the upper surface of the outer tank 31,
An openable and closable middle lid 45 is provided substantially at the center of the outer tank cover 44. The outer tank cover 44 is provided with a discharge port 46 to discharge warm air (circulating air). Discharge port 46
The outlet of the circulating air passage 47 connected to the heater 42 and the outlet of the circulating air passage 47 are provided in a substantially opposed positional relationship.

A warm air outlet 49 is provided in the lower part of the outer tank 31, and the warm air outlet 49 and the circulating air passage 47 are connected via a telescopic lower bellows hose 50 to form a circulating passage. Is provided with an outlet 51. An intake port 53 is provided substantially above the housing, on the intake port side of the warm air blower 41, via an intake valve 52. In the inner tank 36, the put clothes 54 are put. 55 is a temperature sensor, 56 is a display unit, and 57 is a control unit. 58 is a water supply unit including a water supply valve.

The hot air (circulating air) circulated by the hot air blower 41 passes through the heater 42 and passes through the bellows hose 48 and the discharge port 4.
6, through the inside of the inner tank 36, a small hole (not shown) around the inner tank 36, the lower part of the outer tank 31, the lower bellows hose 50 provided in the lower part of the outer tank 31, the circulation air passage 47, and again for circulation. Circulates to the blower 41.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinsing process, the clothes 54 and the detergent are put into the inner tank 36 with the drain valve 39 closed and the water or hot water is supplied by the water supply unit 58 under the control of the control unit 57 according to the display unit 56, and the transmission is performed. By switching the clutch 35 of the mechanism, the power of the motor 33 is transmitted to the inner tub 36 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 57.
Or, it is transmitted to the rotating blade 38 and the inner tank 36 or the rotating blade 38
Is rotated to allow moisture containing detergent to pass through the clothes 54, or the clothes 54 are stirred in water containing detergent to wash and
Be rinsed

In the dehydration step, after the washing and rinsing steps are completed,
The water in the inner tank 36 is drained by the drain valve 39 under the control of the controller 57.
Is opened and drained to the outside from the drain port 40, the clutch 35 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydrating side, and the power of the motor 33 is transmitted to the inner tub 36 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 34 and rotated, and the clothes 54 By applying a centrifugal force to the water, the water is separated from the clothes 54 and drained to the outside through the drain valve 39 and the drain port 40.

In the drying step, the drainage valve 39 is closed and the rotary blade 38 is slowly rotated by the control of the control unit 57, so that the inner tank 3 is rotated by the centrifugal force during the dehydration step.
After peeling off the clothes 54 stuck to the inner wall of No. 6, the rotating wings 38 are instantaneously strongly rotated left and right, so that the clothes 54 are thrown up in the inner tank 36 and danced.

At the same time, the heater 4 is
The hot air heated by passing through 2 is fed into the inner tank 36 via the bellows hose 48 and the discharge port 46. This warm air warms the clothes 54 in the inner tank 36 to take out the moisture,
When passing through the outer tank 31, the lower bellows hose 50, and the circulating air passage 47, the air is cooled by external air blown by the cooling blower 43, so that the air is dehumidified and accumulated near the drain valve 39. The dehumidified water is drained to the outside from the drain 40 when the drain valve 39 is opened. The intake port 53 provided substantially above the housing 30 opens the intake valve 52 at the same timing as the above-described drain port 40 is opened. This helps to be discharged from the drain 40. Thereafter, the airflow is again passed through the circulation passage 47 and the hot air blower 41.
The clothing 54 is dried by this repetition. At this time, since the outlet 51 is opened in a part of the circulation passage 47, a part of the circulating warm air is discharged to the outside.

In the course of such an operation, the drain valve 39
Is opened when draining to the outside during the washing and dewatering steps, is closed mainly during other steps, and is appropriately opened during the drying step. The moisture from the dehumidification accumulated inside by opening during the drying process is drained to the outside through the drain port 40.

In order to use this embodiment for heating, the operation of the inner tank 36 and the stirring blade 38 is stopped, and the drain valve 39 is used.
The warm air blower 41 and the heater 42 are operated in a state where the air is opened. Then, the warm air is discharged from the exhaust port 51, so that the outside of the housing such as a room can be efficiently warmed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the drying step, the clothes 54 are dried, and during the winter period,
Even when it is not drying, it is possible to use it as a hot air blower by blowing out hot air from the outlet 55.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, in the middle of the circulation passage 47,
A drain valve 59 reaching the drain port 40 and an exhaust valve 60 reaching the exhaust port 55 are provided. Further, a brushless motor is adopted as a motor of the hot air blower. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Here, the operation from the washing step to the dehydration step and the basic operation in the drying step are the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted, and only the contents relating to the present invention will be described. That is, in all the steps, the outlet from the housing 30 for draining to the outside is one place of the drain port 40 in this embodiment, and the water is drained to the outside from washing to drying. When discharging, the drain valve 59 is opened and the water is discharged from the drain port 40. When used as a heater instead of drying, the exhaust valve 60 is opened and the hot air is exhausted from the exhaust port 55 to the outside with the drain valve 59 closed.

As described above, according to the present invention, the main body can be used as a washer / dryer or a heater by changing the valve to be opened.

(Embodiment 3) Since the overall configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 2, the figure and the figure number are used in common. Here, in FIG. The switching valve 61 is used in two directions.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Here, the operations from the washing step to the dehydration step and the basic operations in the drying step are the same as the operations in the second embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted, and only the contents relating to the present invention will be described. That is, the switching valve 61 is opened so as to be connected to the drain port 40 during the drainage process from washing to drying, and is opened so as to be connected to the exhaust port 55 when used as a heater. is there.

As described above, according to the present invention, by changing the direction of the valve to be opened, the main body can be used as a washer / dryer or a heater.

(Embodiment 4) Since the overall configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 2, the figure and the figure number are used in common. Here, FIG. Possible,
It is configured to reach the exhaust port 55 via the switching valve 62.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Here, the operation from the washing process to the drying process is performed according to the second embodiment.
Since the operation is the same as that described above, the description will be omitted, and only the contents related to the present invention will be described. That is, the switching valve 62 is closed during the process from washing to drying, and is opened during heating. However, switching can be performed so that the air can be blown from below when blowing from below and from above when blowing from above. It becomes. It is possible to use it as a blowout from below for normal heating, and to switch to a blowout from above when hanging what you want to dry in the department above the housing or when drying your hair etc. Become.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the outer tub elastically suspended from the inside of the housing and the rotation center axis is provided in the vertical direction. An inner tub rotatably supported in the tub for storing laundry, a rotating blade rotatably provided on an inner bottom of the inner tub, a driving means for driving the inner tub or the rotating wing, Means for heating the air blown by the circulating air means, a circulating air passage for guiding the air blown by the circulating air means, and introducing cooling air from outside into the housing. The outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable and closable middle lid, and the discharge port provided in the outer tub cover for discharging circulating air and the opening of the circulating air passage are provided. Is connected with a flexible hose that can be extended and retracted, and the hot air path is used as a circulation path. It has a configuration provided with an exhaust port which opens toward the outside part of the ring passage.

Thus, in addition to the process from washing to drying, it is possible to provide a washing / drying machine with a heating function that can be used for a heating machine, such as warming the room by discharging warm air from an exhaust port. I can do it.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the exhaust valve is provided before reaching the exhaust port.

Thus, only when used for heating,
The exhaust valve can be opened, and a washing / drying machine with a heating function that is easy to use as a heater can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the brushless motor is employed as the motor of the hot air blower, it can be used not only for washing and drying but also for heating for a long time. It is designed to ensure durability even when used.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a switching valve that can be switched between two directions is provided at a location before the drain port and the exhaust port.

This makes it possible to open the exhaust valve only when the heater is used for heating with a simple configuration without increasing the number of components, and to provide a washing / drying machine with a heating function that is easy to use as a heater. You can do it.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, not only the opening and closing switching but also the position before the exhaust port can be performed.
When opened, a switching valve is provided to switch between a path for discharging exhaust gas upward and a discharge path for discharging downward.

Thus, when used as a heater, it is possible to blow out warm air upward to dry small articles suspended outside the housing, or blow it out from below to use it for heating a room. Thus, a washing and drying machine with a heating function can be provided.

Although a washing / drying machine has been described as an embodiment of the present invention, a similar effect can be obtained by replacing the washing machine with a washing machine having no washing function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine with a heating function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine with a heating function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine with a heating function according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine with a heating function according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional washer / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 housing 31 outer tank 33 motor (driving means) 36 inner tank 38 rotating blade 40 drainage port 41 hot air blower 42 heater (heating means) 43 cooling blower 39 drainage valve 55 exhaust port 57 intake port 58 intake valve

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A drying mode in which a heating means and a blowing device for generating warm air are provided inside a housing, and a warm air is sent out inside the housing to dry clothes and the like. A dryer having a heating mode in which warm air is blown out and configured to switch between the drying mode and the heating mode. 2. A tub for rotatably supported inside a housing and accommodating clothes and the like, driving means for driving the tub, blowing means and heating means for blowing warm air into the tub, A part of the path through which warm air flows is provided with an outlet for discharging warm air toward the outside of the housing, and when drying is selected, the driving means and the blowing means and the heating means are operated, A dryer for operating the blowing means and the heating means and discharging warm air from the outlet when heating is selected. 3. An outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing, an inner tub having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction, rotatably supported in the outer tub and accommodating laundry, and the inner tub. Rotating blades rotatably provided at the inner bottom of the, a driving means for driving the inner tank or the rotating blades, and a blowing means for blowing hot air into the inner tank,
A heating unit for heating the air blown by the blowing unit; and a hot air circulation passage for guiding the blowing by the blowing unit. Washing / drying machine with a heating function, which is provided with an outlet capable of discharging air. 4. The washing and drying machine according to claim 3, wherein a dehumidifying mechanism is provided in a part of the hot air passage, and an outlet different from an outlet for draining the dehumidifying water is provided as an outlet for blowing air. 5. The dryer or the washer-dryer according to claim 1, wherein a switchable on-off valve is provided at the discharge port. 6. The dryer or the washer-dryer according to claim 1, wherein the motor for blowing hot air is a brushless motor. 7. A double-openable valve is provided in a part of the hot air passage, one of which opens and closes a discharge port to the outside, and the other of which operates to open and close drainage of dehumidified water. The dryer or washing dryer according to any one of claims 5 to 5. 8. The dryer or the washer-dryer according to claim 1, wherein the position of the outlet to the outside can be switched upward and downward.