JP2003311069A - Washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the dehumidifying performance for wet air after moisture is removed from wet clothes in the drying process. <P>SOLUTION: This washing/drying machine is equipped with an internal tub 14 which is freely rotatably supported in an external tub 13 being supported in a box body 11, a driving means 18 which rotates the internal tub 14, a blowing means 22 which blows air into the internal tub 14, and a heating means 23 which heats the air blown by the blowing means 22. In the drying process, a spray nozzle 29 which jets mist into a path of the air after having passed through the internal tub 14 is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washer / dryer which has a process of blowing warm air into an inner tub to dry clothes and which can consistently carry out from washing to drying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a washing and drying machine of this type is as shown in FIG. To explain the configuration, the outer tub 2 is installed inside the housing 1 of the washer / dryer while being supported by the suspension mechanism 3 so as to be suspended from the housing 1 so as to be vibration-proof. Outer tank 2
A motor 4 is provided below the washing machine, and the rotation shaft thereof is a hollow washing / dewatering shaft 5 and the transmission of the rotational force of the motor 4 is switched between the washing shaft and the dehydration shaft during washing or dehydration. Via the clutch 6, it is connected to the inner tank 7 which is also provided inside the outer tank 2.

A fluid balancer 8 is provided above the inner tank 7, a stirring blade 9 is provided at the bottom of the inner tank 7, and an outlet 10 is provided below the outer tank 2. A warm air blower 11 that blows warm air for drying is provided substantially above the casing 1, a heat generating means 12 is provided on the discharge side of the warm air blower 11, and a casing 1 is provided on a side wall of the casing 1. A cooling blower 13 is provided so as to introduce the external air toward the outer wall of the outer tub 2.

An outer tank cover 14 is provided on the upper portion of the outer tank 2, an openable / closable inner lid 15 is provided at the center thereof, and a warm air outlet 16 is provided at the outer peripheral portion thereof. The warm air discharge port 16 and the outlet of the circulating air passage 17 following the heat generating means 12 are connected by a stretchable upper bellows hose 18. A circulating air passage 19 leading to an inlet of the warm air blower 11 is provided outside the outer tub 2, and a water supply port 20 for supplying cooling water is provided inside thereof.

The outlet 10 provided in the lower portion of the outer tub 2 and the circulating air passage 19 are connected by an expandable lower bellows hose 21, and are connected to a drain port 23 via a valve 22 at the lower portion of the passage. A display plate 24 is provided above the casing 1, and the casing 1 is also provided.
A circuit section 25 for controlling the above-mentioned motor 4 and the like is also provided inside. The inner tub 7 contains clothes 26 for washing and drying.

After being sent from the warm air blower 11, the hot air blower 11 passes through the heat generating means 12, the circulating air passage 17, the upper bellows hose 18, the warm air discharge port 16,
Inside the inner tank 7, small holes (not shown) around the inner tank 7, the outer tank 2
Lower outlet 10, lower bellows hose 21, circulating air passage 19
It is configured to return to the warm air blower 11 again via the and to circulate.

The operation of the conventional washer / dryer having the above-described structure will be described below. First, wash
In the rinsing step, the clothes 26, water, hot water, detergent, etc. are put into the inner tub 7, the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is set on the washing shaft side, and the power of the motor 4 is supplied to the stirring blade via the washing shaft. 9 and the stirring blade 9 rotates to rotate the clothes 26 in water to proceed.

After the washing and rinsing steps, the inner tank 7 is dehydrated.
After draining the water inside by opening the valve 22, the clutch of the transmission mechanism unit 6 is switched to the dehydration shaft side, the power of the motor 4 is rotated through the dehydration shaft to rotate the inner tub 7, and centrifugal force is applied to the clothes 26. By giving, the contained water is separated from the clothing 26 to proceed.

After completion of the dehydration process, first, the stirring blade 9 is dried.
After the clothes 26 attached to the inner wall of the inner tub 7 are peeled off by the centrifugal force at the time of dehydration, the inner tub 7 is rotated at a low speed, or the stirring blades 9 are momentarily moved to the left and right. It is strongly rotated in the direction of and the clothes are agitated so as to be thrown upward in the inner tub 7. At the same time, the warm air blower 11 sends the warm air warmed through the heat generating means 12 into the inner tank 7.

This warm air removes moisture from the clothes 26 in the inner tank 7 and is supplied from the cooling water supply port 20 when passing through the outer tank 2, the lower bellows hose 21 and the circulating air passage 19. , Is cooled by the surface of the cooling water flowing through the wall surface and dehumidified,
In addition, the cooling blower 13 cools and dehumidifies by the cold air introduced from the outside. The dehumidified water is discharged to the outside from the drain port 23 with the valve 22 opened, and then the air flow returns to the warm air blower 11 again. Thereby, drying progresses.

[0011]

In such a conventional washer / dryer, cooling dehumidification is performed by flowing cooling water through a path of moist air after removing water from wet clothes in a drying process. However, since the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the hot air is small, the dehumidification capacity is low, it takes a long time to dry, the hot air temperature becomes too high, and a lot of moisture and hot air leak to the surroundings. There was an occasion.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. In the drying process, dehumidification is achieved by atomizing cooling water with a spray nozzle in a path of moist air after removing water from wet clothes. The purpose is to improve ability.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention rotates an outer tank supported in a casing, an inner tank rotatably supported in the outer tank, and the inner tank. A driving unit, an air blowing unit that blows air into the inner tank, and a heating unit that heats the air blown by the air blowing unit are provided, and fog is ejected to the path of the air that has passed through the inner tank. It is provided with a spray nozzle.

Thus, in the drying process, the moist warm air after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank can be brought into contact with the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle, so that the cooling water is not wet. The heat exchange area with the warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an outer tank supported in a housing, an inner tank rotatably supported in the outer tank, and a drive for rotating the inner tank. Means and
A blower means for blowing air into the inner tank, and a heating means for heating the air blown by the blower means are provided, and a spray nozzle for ejecting mist is provided in the air passage after passing through the inner tank. In the drying process, moist warm air after removing water from wet clothes in the inner tank,
Since it can be brought into contact with the atomized cooling water by the spray nozzle, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect of the invention, a circulation duct for circulating the air blown into the inner tank to the blowing means is provided, and the jet port of the spray nozzle is circulated. This is provided in the duct, so that in the drying process, the moist warm air after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tub is cooled with the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle in the circulation duct. Since they can be brought into contact with each other, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned second aspect of the invention, the spray nozzle has an ejection port facing the flow of air in the circulation duct, whereby the spray nozzle is provided. As a result, the relative speed between the jet of atomized cooling water and the moist warm air can be increased and heat can be easily transferred, so that the heat exchange efficiency can be increased and the dehumidification capacity can be further improved. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-described second or third aspect of the invention, the cross-sectional area of the circulation duct is partially increased in the vicinity of the ejection port of the spray nozzle. Since the circulation air path near the nozzle outlet can be made large, even if the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle partially obstructs the circulation air passage, the circulation air passage can be sufficiently blocked. Since it can be ensured, the air volume does not decrease and the drying time does not become long.

The invention according to claim 5 is the above-mentioned claim 2
In the invention according to 4, the cooling fan for cooling the circulation duct is provided, and the spray nozzle has a jet outlet provided at a position different from the cooling position by the cooling fan.
As a result, the heat exchange on the wall surface of the circulation duct cooled by the cooling blower and the heat exchange by the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle can be separately performed without waste, so that the heat exchange efficiency is improved. The dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, a side surface of the inner tank is provided with a plurality of dehydration holes communicating with the outer tank, and mist is ejected into a gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. This is provided with a spray nozzle that allows the wet warm air that has drained from the dehydration holes into the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank in the drying process. Since it can be brought into contact with the cooling water atomized by the nozzle, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the warm hot air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned sixth aspect of the invention, a water channel is provided around the inner wall of the outer tank, and a plurality of spray nozzles for ejecting mist are provided in the water channel. As a result, mist can be jetted over the entire gap between the outer tank and the inner tank, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be further increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned sixth or seventh aspect of the present invention, the spray nozzle has an ejection port provided so as to face the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. Yes, this makes it possible to increase the relative speed between the jet of cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle and the moist warm air, and facilitates heat transfer, thus improving heat exchange efficiency and dehumidifying performance. Can be further improved.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, the spray nozzle has a spray port located at a position of a dehydration hole located on a most downstream side of air flowing through a gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. Is also provided on the downstream side, which sprays all the moist warm air that has drained from the dehydration hole into the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank in the drying process. Since the nozzle can be brought into contact with the atomized cooling water so as to be in contact therewith, heat exchange can be performed without waste, and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

The invention according to claim 10 is the above-mentioned claim 6.
In the invention described in any one of (1) to (9), the ejection port of the spray nozzle is formed into a slit shape, which allows the mist to be widely diffused in the entire gap between the outer tank and the inner tank.
The heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be further increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

[0025]

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

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, the housing 11 is
The outer tub 13 is elastically suspended inside by a plurality of suspensions 12, and the vibrations during operation are absorbed by the suspensions 12. Inside the outer tank 13,
Inner tub 14 having a rotation center axis in a substantially vertical direction and accommodating clothes
Is rotatably supported, and a stirring blade 15 for stirring clothes is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tub 14.

A plurality of dehydration holes 16 communicating with the outer tank 13 are provided on the side surface of the inner tank 14, and the fluid balancer 1 is provided above them.
7 is provided. The motor 1 is provided on the bottom of the outer tank 13.
8a is attached to the driving means 18, and the driving means 18 connects the inner tank 14 and the stirring blade 15 to the clutch 18b.
To selectively switch and rotate.

A path is formed from the lower part of the outer tub 13 to the circulation duct 21 via the expandable lower bellows-shaped hose 20, and the outlet of the circulation duct 21 is connected to the inlet of the blowing means 22. The outlet of the blowing means 22 is connected to the passage 21a,
A heating means 23 is provided in the passage 21a, and an expandable and contractible upper bellows-shaped hose 24 is connected to the passage 21a. The ejection duct 25 is connected to the tip of the upper bellows-shaped hose 24,
It opens toward the inner tank 14. Since the inner tank 14 communicates with the outer tank 13 through the dehydration hole 16 on the side surface, these passages form a circulation path. The flow of the circulating air is as shown by the arrow in FIG.

The cooling blower 26 is attached to the side surface of the housing 11 and is configured to cool the lower portion of the circulation duct 21. The drain valve 27 drains the water in the outer tub 13 through the drain hose 28.

A spray nozzle 29 is attached to a substantially central portion of the circulation duct 21, and an ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29 is provided downward in the circulation duct 21 so as to face the flow of the circulating air. . Further, the ejection port 29a is provided at a position higher than the cooling position of the circulation duct 21 by the cooling blower 26.

The spray nozzle 29 is connected to the water supply through the tube 30, and atomizes and ejects the cooling water from the water supply from the ejection port 29a by the water supply pressure. Further, the circulation duct 21 has a partially enlarged cross-sectional area in the vicinity of the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. First,
In the washing process, washing water is supplied into the outer tub 13 until a predetermined water level is reached. Next, when the inner tub 14 is in the state of the rotatable clutch 18b, the driving means 18 is driven to rotate the inner tub 14 containing clothes and washing water. At this time, the drain valve 27 is closed.

As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the wash water in the inner tub 14 rises due to the centrifugal force. Along with this, the inner tank 1
The washing water between the outer tub 13 and the outer tub 13 rises along the inner wall of the outer tub 13, and then is sprayed from the upper part of the inner tub 14 into the inner tub 14,
It will circulate. As a result, the washing water passes through the clothes in the inner tub 14 and is washed.

After that, the clothes are rinsed and rinsed in the same manner as in the washing step, and in the dehydration step, the drain valve 27 is opened to drain water from the drain hose 28, and the inner tank 14 is in the state of the rotatable clutch 18b. , Drive means 18
Is driven to rotate the inner tub 14 containing the clothes at a high speed. Due to the centrifugal force generated by this, the clothes are pressed against the inner wall of the inner tank 14, and the water is separated from the clothes by this centrifugal force to escape from the dehydration hole 16 to the outer tank 13, and the drain hose 2
The water is drained from No. 8 and the dehydration process proceeds.

In the drying process, the hot air is blown by the air blower 22 and the heat generated by the heating means 23 is used to blow dry hot air into the inner tank 14 through the upper bellows-shaped hose 24 and the jet duct 25. In the state of the rotatable clutch 18b, the driving means 18 is driven and the stirring blades 15 are rotated to switch the clothes up and down while the inner tank 1 is rotated.
4. Dry the clothes in 4.

The warm air sent to the inner tub 14 removes moisture from the clothes when passing through the gaps between these clothes, and in a wet state, passes through the dehydration hole 16 to move from the inner tub 14 to the inside of the outer tub 13. After exiting, it passes through the lower bellows-shaped hose 20 and reaches the circulation duct 21. When the moist warm air is passing through the circulation duct 21, the cooling blower 26 causes the circulation duct 21 to move.
The outer wall at the bottom of the is cooled. The moist warm air exchanges heat with the cooled wall surface, is cooled, and is condensed.

When the moist warm air further passes through the circulation duct 21 and reaches the vicinity of the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29, the atomized cooling water is sprayed by the spray nozzle 29 and diffused to increase the surface area. Efficiently exchanges heat with the cooling water, and is further cooled and condensed.

At this time, the ejection port 2 of the spray nozzle 29
9a causes the mist to be ejected in the circulation duct 21 so as to face the flow of the circulating air. Therefore, compared to the case where the mist is ejected in the same direction as the flow of the circulating air, the relative ejection of the cooling water and the moist warm air is performed. Since the speed can be increased and the heat transfer coefficient is increased, the heat can be easily transferred, so that the heat exchange can be efficiently performed.

The air flowing through the circulation duct 21 is
The passage will be partially blocked by the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle 29.
Since the cross-sectional area of the circulation duct 21 is partially increased in the vicinity, a passage for circulating air is sufficiently secured and the air volume does not decrease.

The cooled and dehumidified air returns to the blowing means 22, and the water condensed in the circulation duct 21 and the cooling water sprayed in a mist by the spray nozzle 29 are discharged to the drain valve 27 as necessary. When opened, it is discharged from the drain hose 28. In this way, the drying is rapidly progressed, and after the drying process is finished, the heating means 23 is turned off, and the blowing means 22 and the cooling blower 26 are driven to perform the blowing process to cool down the dried clothes and finish.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the spray nozzle 29 is provided with the spray nozzle 29 for spraying mist into the circulation duct 21 which is the path of the air after passing through the inner tank 14. Since 29 can diffuse the cooling water and increase the surface area, it is possible to increase the heat exchange area between the moist warm air after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tub 14 and the cooling water. Can improve the dehumidification capacity, shorten the drying time, raise the hot air temperature too much,
It is possible to prevent much moisture and hot air from leaking to the surroundings.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
In the circulation duct 21, since the mist is ejected in opposition to the flow of the circulating air, it is possible to increase the relative speed between the ejection of the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle 29 and the moist warm air. Since the heat transfer rate is increased and the heat transfer is facilitated, the heat exchange efficiency between the cooling water and the warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying capacity can be further improved.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Since the cross-sectional area of the circulation duct 21 is partially increased in the vicinity, it is sufficient that the air flowing in the circulation duct 21 is partially blocked by the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle 29. The passage of the circulating air is secured, the air volume does not decrease, and the drying time does not become long.

In addition, the jet port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Is provided at a position where the cooling blower 26 cools the circulation duct 21 at a position different from the height position. Therefore, heat is exchanged on the wall surface of the circulation duct 21 cooled by the cooling blower 26 and atomized by the spray nozzle 29. Since the heat exchange with the cooling water can be separately performed without waste, the heat exchange efficiency can be improved and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

In this embodiment, the center axis of rotation of the inner tub 14 is substantially vertical, and the inner bottom of the inner tub 14 is provided with the stirring blade 15 for stirring the clothes, but the invention is not limited to this. The same effect can be obtained even with a drum type washer / dryer in which the central axis of rotation of the inner tub 14 without the stirring blade 15 is substantially horizontal.

(Embodiment 2) In FIG. 2, a spray nozzle 29 connected to water by a tube 30 is attached to the upper part of the outer tank 13, and the spray nozzle 29
Causes atomized cooling water from the tap water to be sprayed into the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

In the drying process, the warm air sent to the inner tub 14 removes moisture from the wet clothes in the inner tub 14 and passes through the dehydration hole 16 in a wet state to the inside of the outer tub 13 from the inner tub 14. After that, the spray nozzle 29 sprays the atomized cooling water in the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14.
The moist warm air efficiently exchanges heat with the cooling water having a large surface area diffused by the spray nozzle 29, and dehumidifies to accelerate drying.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the spray nozzle 29 for ejecting mist is provided in the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14, which is the path of the air after passing through the inner tank 14, Since the spray nozzle 29 can diffuse the cooling water and increase the surface area, it is necessary to increase the heat exchange area between the moist warm air and the cooling water after removing the moisture from the wet clothes in the inner tank 14. It is possible to improve the dehumidifying ability, shorten the drying time, and prevent the hot air temperature from becoming too high and leaking a large amount of moisture or hot air to the surroundings.

(Embodiment 3) In FIGS. 3 and 4, an inner wall of the outer tub 13 is provided with a water passage 31 connected to the water supply by a tube 30 so as to go around the inner wall. , A spray nozzle 29 for ejecting a plurality of fogs
Is provided. Jet port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Is provided upward so as to face the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tub 13 and the inner tub 14, and is the lowest dehydration hole 16 on the downstream side of the air flowing through the gap between the outer tub 13 and the inner tub 14. It is provided below the height position of.

In addition, the jet port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
4 has a slit shape as shown in FIG. 4, and atomizes the cooling water from the water supply by the water supply pressure and diffuses it widely. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the explanation is omitted.

In the drying process, the warm air sent to the inner tub 14 removes water from the wet clothes in the inner tub 14 and passes through the dehydration hole 16 in a wet state to the inside of the outer tub 13 from the inner tub 14. After that, the atomized cooling water is sprayed through the entire gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14 by the plurality of spray nozzles 29 provided in the water passage 31 that goes around the inner wall of the outer tank 13.

Since the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29 has a slit shape, the cooling water can be diffused widely, so that the atomized cooling water is spread over the entire gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14. Spread more widely. The moist hot air efficiently performs heat exchange with the cooling water having a large surface area by being widely diffused in the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14.

At this time, the ejection port 2 of the spray nozzle 29
9a ejects the mist against the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tub 13 and the inner tub 14, so that cooling water and hot moist air are blown out as compared with the case of ejecting mist in the same direction as the air flow. It is possible to increase the relative speed with respect to and to increase the heat transfer coefficient, which facilitates heat exchange, so that heat exchange can be performed efficiently.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Is provided further below the height position of the bottom dehydration hole 16, so that all the moist warm air that has passed through the dehydration hole 16 into the gap between the outer tub 13 and the inner tub 14 is mist. The heat can be exchanged without waste by making it face the contact with the cooled cooling water. In this way, the drying is rapidly advanced.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of spray nozzles 29 are provided in the water passage 31 that goes around the inner wall of the outer tank 13, the cooling water is sprayed over the entire gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14. Since it can be converted into and diffused, the heat exchange area between the moist warm air and the cooling water after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank 14 can be increased in the drying process, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved. Further improve, shorten the drying time,
It is possible to prevent the temperature of the warm air from becoming too high and to leak a lot of moisture and hot air to the surroundings.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Is provided so as to face the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14, the relative speed between the jet of cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle 29 and the moist warm air can be increased. Since the heat transfer rate is increased, heat exchange is facilitated, so that the heat exchange efficiency between the cooling water and the warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying capacity can be further improved.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
Is provided on the downstream side of the position of the dehydration hole on the most downstream side of the air flowing through the gap between the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14,
In the drying process, after removing moisture from the wet clothes in the inner tub 14, the moist warm air that has passed through the dehydration hole into the gap between the outer tub 13 and the inner tub 14 faces the atomized cooling water. Since they can be brought into contact with each other, heat exchange can be performed without waste, and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

Further, the ejection port 29a of the spray nozzle 29
By making the slit shape, the outer tank 13 and the inner tank 14
Since the cooling water can be atomized and diffused more widely through the entire gap, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be made larger, and the dehumidification capacity can be further improved.

[0059]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, the outer tank supported in the housing, the inner tank rotatably supported in the outer tank, and the inner tank. A driving means for rotating the inner tank, a blowing means for blowing air into the inner tank, and a heating means for heating the air blown by the air blowing means, and fog is formed in the air path after passing through the inner tank. Since a spray nozzle for ejecting water is provided, it is possible to bring the warm hot air after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank into contact with the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle in the drying process. The heat exchange area between the cooling water and the warm hot air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 2, since the circulation duct for circulating the air blown into the inner tank to the blowing means is provided, and the ejection port of the spray nozzle is provided in the circulation duct. During the drying process, the moist warm air after removing water from the wet clothes in the inner tank can be brought into contact with the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle in the circulation duct. The heat exchange area with the warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the ejection port of the spray nozzle is provided so as to face the air flow in the circulation duct, the ejection of the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle and the wetting Since the relative velocity with the warm air can be increased and heat can be easily transferred, the heat exchange efficiency can be increased and the dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 4, since the cross-sectional area of the circulation duct is partially increased in the vicinity of the ejection port of the spray nozzle, it is possible to take a large route of the circulating air in the vicinity of the ejection port of the spray nozzle. Therefore, even if the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle partially blocks the circulation air passage, the circulation air passage can be sufficiently secured, and the air volume does not decrease, and the drying is performed. The time never gets longer.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cooling blower for cooling the circulation duct is provided, and the jet nozzle of the spray nozzle is provided at a position different from the cooling position by the cooling blower. The heat exchange on the wall surface of the circulation duct cooled by the blower and the heat exchange by the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle can be separately performed without waste, so that the heat exchange efficiency is improved and the dehumidification capacity is further improved. Can be improved.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, the side surface of the inner tank is provided with a plurality of dehydration holes communicating with the outer tank, and the spray nozzle for ejecting mist is provided in the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. Therefore, in the drying process, after removing moisture from the wet clothes in the inner tank, the moist warm air that has flowed out of the dehydration hole into the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank is cooled with the cooling water atomized by the spray nozzle. Since they can be brought into contact with each other, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be increased, and the dehumidifying ability can be improved.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 7, since a water passage is provided around the inner wall of the outer tank and a plurality of spray nozzles for ejecting mist are provided in the water passage, the entire gap between the outer tank and the inner tank is provided. The mist can be ejected to the surface, the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be further increased, and the dehumidification capacity can be further improved.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, since the ejection port of the spray nozzle is provided so as to face the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank, the cooling atomized by the spray nozzle is provided. Since the relative speed between the jet of water and the moist warm air can be increased and heat can be easily transferred, the heat exchange efficiency can be increased and the dehumidification capacity can be further improved.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the spray nozzle has a jet outlet provided downstream of the dehydration hole located on the most downstream side of the air flowing through the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. Therefore, in the drying process, after removing moisture from the wet clothes in the inner tank, all the moist warm air that has flowed out of the dehydration hole into the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank is cooled by the spray nozzle. Since it can be made to face and contact with, heat exchange can be performed without waste, and the dehumidification ability can be further improved.

According to the invention described in claim 10,
Since the ejection port of the spray nozzle has a slit shape, the mist can be diffused more widely in the entire gap between the outer tank and the inner tank, and the heat exchange area between the cooling water and the moist warm air can be increased. The dehumidifying ability can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the outer tub and the inner tub below the fluid balancer of the washing and drying machine as seen from above.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

11 housing 13 outer tank 14 inner tank 18 Drive means 21 Circulation duct 22 Blower means 23 Heating means 26 Cooling blower 29 spray nozzles 29a spout

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shinichi Matsuda             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3B155 AA16 AA17 BB00 CB07 CB49                       CB52 CB55 CB57 FA22 MA02

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An outer tank supported in a housing, an inner tank rotatably supported in the outer tank, a drive unit for rotating the inner tank, and a blowing unit for blowing air into the inner tank. And a heating means for heating the air blown by the blower means, and a washer / dryer provided with a spray nozzle for ejecting mist in the path of the air after passing through the inner tank. 2. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, further comprising a circulation duct for circulating the air blown into the inner tub to the blowing means, and the jet nozzle outlet of the spray nozzle being provided in the circulation duct. 3. The washing / drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the jet nozzle has a jet nozzle facing the flow of air in the circulation duct. 4. The washing / drying machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cross-sectional area of the circulation duct is partially increased in the vicinity of the ejection port of the spray nozzle. 5. The washing and drying according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a cooling blower for cooling the circulation duct, wherein the jet nozzle of the spray nozzle is provided at a position different from a cooling position by the cooling blower. Machine. 6. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the inner tank is provided with a plurality of dehydration holes communicating with the outer tank, and a spray nozzle for ejecting mist is provided in a gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. 7. The washing / drying machine according to claim 6, wherein a water channel is provided around the inner wall of the outer tank, and a plurality of spray nozzles for ejecting mist are provided in the water channel. 8. The washing / drying machine according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the jet nozzle has a jet nozzle facing the flow of air flowing through the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. 9. The washing / drying machine according to claim 8, wherein the spray nozzle has a jet outlet provided downstream of the position of the dehydration hole on the most downstream side of the air flowing through the gap between the outer tank and the inner tank. 10. The washing / drying machine according to claim 6, wherein the ejection port of the spray nozzle has a slit shape.