JP2004008546A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase drying efficiency by blowing warm air to clothes efficiently with a blow to a center of an inner tub without increasing the full-height of a product of a washing and drying machine having a cleaning step composed of washing, rinsing and dewatering and a drying step. <P>SOLUTION: The washing and drying machine comprises an outer tub 3 held in an outer frame 1; an inner tub 4 having a rotary center axis in the vertical direction and being installed in the outer tub 3 to be freely rotated; an outer tub cover 31 mounted on an upper part of the outer tub 3; an inner lid 15 mounted on the tub cover 31 to be freely opened/closed: a warm-air blowing means for blowing warm air into the inner tub 4 by taking in and heating outside air; and a warm-air supplying inlet 32 formed on the tub cover 31, and a louver 34 is formed on the supplying inlet 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine having washing, rinsing, and dehydrating washing steps and a drying step.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of washing / drying machine has been proposed as shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer frame 1 is provided with an outer tub 3 elastically suspended by a plurality of suspensions 2 therein, and the suspension 2 absorbs vibration during dehydration. Inside the outer tub 3, an inner tub 4 having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction and containing laundry and objects to be dried is rotatably disposed around a dehydrating shaft 5, and is provided at an inner bottom of the inner tub 4. Rotary wings 6 for stirring clothes (laundry and objects to be dried) are arranged rotatably about a washing shaft 7.
[0004]
A number of small holes (not shown) are provided on the inner peripheral wall of the inner tank 4, and a fluid balancer 8 is provided above. In the drying process, the rotating blades 6 tilt the object to be dried by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating blades 6 by forming the agitating protrusions 10 on the upper surface of a substantially dish-shaped base having an inclined surface 9 on the outer periphery. It is easy to soar upward along the surface 9.
[0005]
The motor 11 is attached to the bottom of the outer tub 3 and switches the transmission of rotational force to the washing shaft 7 or the spinning shaft 5 during washing or spinning. It is connected to the tank 4.
[0006]
A drain valve 13 for draining water in the outer tub 3 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 3. The outer tub 3 is provided with an outer tub cover 14 that covers the upper surface of the outer tub 3 in a substantially airtight manner. The outer tub cover 14 is provided with an inner lid 15 that can be opened and closed so that clothes can be taken in and out.
[0007]
One end of the blower for drying 16 communicates with the outside of the body via an intake filter 17, and the other end has a hot air supply path 19 having therein a heater 18 constituting hot air blowing means together with the blower for drying 16. And is connected to a hot air supply port 21 formed in the outer tank cover 14 via an upper bellows-shaped hose 20, so that hot air is supplied into the inner tank 4. As shown in FIG. 5, a lower end of the hot air supply port 21 forms a tapered rib 22 for the purpose of changing the direction of the hot air.
[0008]
The outer tank cover 14 has an exhaust port 23 for exhausting the warm air supplied from the warm air supply port 21 to the inner tank 4. A mesh-shaped exhaust filter 24 is provided outside the exhaust port 23.
[0009]
The outer frame cover 25 covers the upper portion of the outer frame 1, has an outer lid 26 that can be opened and closed, has an operation display means 27, and has a water supply valve 28 for supplying water to the inner tank 4.
[0010]
The control device 29 includes a microcomputer, is electrically connected to the operation display means 27, and controls operations of the motor 11, the clutch 12, the water supply valve 28, the drain valve 13, the drying fan 16, the heater 18, and the like. The washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying steps are sequentially controlled.
[0011]
The thermistor 30 detects the temperature of the hot air supplied from the hot air supply path 19, and is provided between the heater 18 of the hot air supply path 19 and the upper bellows-shaped hose 20. The control device 29 receives the detection output from the thermistor 30 and monitors whether the hot air temperature is normal.
[0012]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. In the washing process, when the outer lid 26 and the inner lid 15 are opened, clothes (laundry) are put into the inner tub 4 and operation is started, the water supply valve 28 is opened to supply water to a predetermined water level, and then the motor 11 is driven. I do. At this time, the power of the motor 11 is transmitted to the rotating blade 6 via the washing shaft 7 by the clutch 12 of the transmission mechanism, and the rotating blade 6 rotates, so that the clothes are agitated by the agitating protrusion 10 of the rotating blade 6. Then, it is performed by the mechanical force acting on the laundry or by contact with the inner wall of the inner tub 4 or the rotating blades 6 and the water flow force.
[0013]
In the dehydration step, after the washing is completed, the drain valve 13 is opened to drain the water in the inner tub 4, the clutch 12 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydration side, and the power of the motor 11 is transmitted through the dehydration shaft 5. The water is transmitted to the tub 4 and the inner tub 4 rotates, thereby applying a centrifugal force to the clothing and separating water from the clothing to perform dehydration. When the dehydration process is completed, the process proceeds to the drying process.
[0014]
When the drying process starts, the drain valve 13 is closed and the clutch 12 is switched to the washing side. Then, by driving the motor 11, the rotating blades 6 are rotated forward and reverse, and while the clothes are hooked and agitated by the agitating protrusions 10, the drying blower 16 and the heater 18 are energized to generate warm air. Send to supply port 21. The warm air blown downward from the warm air supply port 21 into the inner tank 4 evaporates water from the clothing, and then rises upward from below the inner tank 4 to form on the outer tank cover 14. Air is exhausted through the exhaust port 23.
[0015]
At this time, since the warm air is exhausted through the exhaust filter 24 provided outside the exhaust port 23, lint contained in the warm air can be collected, and lint is prevented from being scattered in the airframe. Can be.
[0016]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional configuration, since the position of the hot air supply port 21 is limited to the rear portion of the outer tank cover 14 because the inner lid 15 for taking in and out the clothes is provided, Even if it is attempted to enlarge the tapered rib 22 so that the direction of the rib 22 is directed substantially toward the center of the inner tank 4, the height of the rib 22 is naturally limited because the rib 22 and the balancer 8 interfere with each other. Was. Therefore, the hot air flows almost directly below, hits the balancer 8 and the inner tank 4 before the hot air hits the clothes, and the flow of the hot air becomes worse, and the hot air escapes from the small holes of the inner tank 4 to the outside. However, it did not hit the clothes and had a problem that the drying efficiency deteriorated.
[0017]
In addition, if the distance between the balancer 8 and the outer tank cover 14 is increased, the direction of the warm air can be directed toward the center of the inner tank 4, but at this time, the position of the outer tank cover 14 becomes higher by that amount. Since the position of the hot air blowing means is also increased, the overall height of the washing / drying machine product is also increased, and there is a problem that the installability is deteriorated.
[0018]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to increase the drying efficiency by allowing hot air to be blown toward the center of the inner tank without increasing the overall height of the product.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer tank supported in an outer frame, an inner tank having a center axis of rotation in a vertical direction and rotatably disposed in the outer tank, and an upper part of the outer tank. An outer tank cover mounted on the outer tank cover, an inner lid openably and closably disposed on the outer tank cover, hot air blowing means for inhaling and heating outside air to blow hot air into the inner tank, and the outer tank cover The hot air supply port is provided with a louver.
[0020]
Thus, the warm air can be blown toward the center of the inner tub without increasing the overall height of the product, and a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an outer tub supported in an outer frame, an inner tub having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction and rotatably disposed in the outer tub, An outer tank cover mounted on the upper part, an inner lid openably and closably disposed on the outer tank cover, a hot air blowing means for inhaling and heating outside air to blow hot air into the inner tank, and the outer tank A hot air supply port formed on the cover is provided, and a louver is formed in the hot air supply port, whereby the direction of the hot air can be changed in a predetermined direction without increasing the overall height of the product. As a result, the clothes can be efficiently blown with warm air, so that a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0022]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the louver is formed integrally with the hot air supply port, thereby forming the louver without increasing the number of parts. It is possible to change the direction of hot air with high reliability and at low cost because there is no problem that the louver comes off. A high washing and drying machine can be realized.
[0023]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, an upper portion of the louver is formed substantially parallel to a side wall portion of the hot air supply port, and a lower portion of the louver is provided with a hot air supply. At the outlet of the mouth, it is formed in a substantially inclined shape or a substantially curved shape, so that the wind direction can be gradually changed, so that the direction of the warm air can be efficiently changed while suppressing the pressure loss as much as possible. Since it is possible to efficiently apply warm air to clothes, a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0024]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, the louver is formed so as to face a substantially central direction of the inner tank when viewed from above, thereby providing a warmth. Since the wind can be blown toward the substantially center of the inner tub and the warm air can be efficiently applied to the clothes, a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0025]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Components having the same configuration as the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0026]
(Example 1)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, one end of the drying blower 16 communicates with the outside of the body via an intake filter 17, and the other end of the drying blower 16 constitutes a heater 18 which constitutes hot air blowing means together with the drying blower 16. Is connected to a warm air supply passage 19 having an inside, and connected to a warm air supply port 32 formed integrally with an outer tank cover 31 via an upper bellows-shaped hose 20 so that warm air is supplied into the inner tank 4. It is composed. The hot air supply port 32 is provided with a substantially cylindrical side wall portion 33 extending upward on the upper surface side, and a louver 34 is integrally formed inside the side wall portion 33.
[0027]
The louver 34 has an upper portion 34 a formed substantially parallel to the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical side wall portion 33, and a lower portion 34 b having a substantially curved shape, and having a substantially curved shape with respect to the radial direction of the inner tank 4. The surface is formed in a perpendicular direction. Other configurations are the same as the conventional example.
[0028]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. The operation from the washing step to the dehydration step is the same as the operation of the conventional example, and the description is omitted.
[0029]
When the drying process starts, the drain valve 13 is closed and the clutch 12 is switched to the washing side. Then, by driving the motor 11, the rotating blades 6 are rotated forward and reverse, and while the clothes are hooked and agitated by the agitating protrusions 10, the drying blower 16 and the heater 18 are energized to generate warm air. Send to supply port 32. In the louver 34, the surface is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the radial direction of the inner tank 4, so that the warm air that has entered the hot air supply port 32 is directed substantially toward the center of the inner tank 4, and 34b has a substantially curved shape, so that the wind direction is gradually changed, and while being reduced as much as possible, the pressure loss of the wind is blown from the vicinity of the center of the inner tank 4 in the vertical direction to the vicinity of the center of the rotary wing 6, and Will be applied efficiently. Thereafter, the hot air evaporates moisture from the clothes, then rises upward from below the inner tank 4, and is exhausted through an exhaust filter 23 through an exhaust port 23 formed in the outer tank cover 31.
[0030]
As a result, the louver 34 has an upper portion 34a formed substantially parallel to the substantially cylindrical axial direction of the substantially cylindrical side wall portion 33 of the hot air supply port 32, and a lower portion 34b formed substantially curved. The hot air can be efficiently blown toward the center of the inner tub while suppressing the temperature as much as possible, so that the warm air can be efficiently applied to the clothes, and a washing and drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0031]
Further, since the louver 34 is formed integrally with the hot air supply port 32, the louver can be formed without increasing the number of components, and there is no problem that the louver comes off, so that the reliability is high. A washing / drying machine which can change the direction of warm air at low cost can be realized.
[0032]
Further, the direction of the warm air can be directed toward the center of the inner tank 4 without increasing the distance between the balancer 8 and the outer tank cover 31, so that the position of the warm air blowing means is not increased, and as a result, Since the overall height of the washing / drying machine is not increased, a washing / drying machine with improved installability can be realized.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, the lower portion 34b of the louver 34 has a curved shape. However, needless to say, the same effect can be obtained even if the lower portion 34b is substantially inclined.
[0034]
Further, the number of the louvers 34 is not limited to one, but may be plural.
[0035]
Further, the louver 34 may be configured as a separate component from the hot air supply port 32, and may be configured to be movable so that the direction of the wind can be changed according to the stroke.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outer tub supported in the outer frame and the inner tub having a rotation center axis in the vertical direction and rotatably disposed in the outer tub. An outer tub cover mounted on the upper portion of the outer tub, an inner lid openably and closably disposed on the outer tub cover, and a hot air blower for inhaling and heating outside air to blow hot air into the inner tub. Means, and a hot air supply port formed in the outer tank cover, and a louver is formed in the hot air supply port, so that the direction of the hot air can be predetermined without increasing the overall height of the product. Since the direction can be changed and the warm air can be efficiently applied to the clothes, a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency and improved installability can be realized.
[0037]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the louver is formed integrally with the hot air supply port, the louver can be formed without increasing the number of parts, and the louver comes off. Since there is no problem that it can be done, it is possible to change the direction of hot air with high reliability and at low cost, and it is possible to efficiently apply warm air to clothes, so that a washing and drying machine with high drying efficiency is realized. Can be.
[0038]
According to the third aspect of the invention, the upper part of the louver is formed substantially parallel to the side wall part of the hot air supply port, and the lower part of the louver is substantially inclined at the outlet part of the hot air supply port. Or a substantially curved shape, so that the wind direction can be gradually changed, so that the direction of the warm air can be changed efficiently while suppressing the pressure loss as much as possible, and the warm air is efficiently applied to the clothes. Therefore, a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[0039]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the louver is formed so as to face substantially the center of the inner tank when viewed from above, the hot air is blown toward the substantially center of the inner tank. Since it is possible to efficiently apply warm air to clothes, a washing / drying machine with high drying efficiency can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a washing and drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view near a hot air supply port of the washing and drying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; Top view of outer tub cover of washing and drying machine [Fig. 4] Longitudinal sectional view of conventional washing and drying machine [Fig. 5] Enlarged sectional view near hot air supply port of conventional washing and drying machine [Explanation of reference numerals]
1 outer frame 3 outer tub 4 inner tub 15 inner lid 16 drying blower (hot air blowing means)
18 heater (hot air blowing means)
31 outer tank cover 32 hot air supply port 34 louver

Claims (4)

An outer tank supported in an outer frame, an inner tank having a rotation center axis in a vertical direction and rotatably disposed in the outer tank, an outer tank cover mounted on an upper part of the outer tank, and the outer tank An inner lid disposed openably and closably on the cover, a hot air blowing means for inhaling outside air, heating and blowing hot air into the inner tank, and a hot air supply port formed in the outer tank cover, A washing / drying machine wherein a louver is formed at the hot air supply port. The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the louver is formed integrally with a hot air supply port. The upper part of the louver is formed substantially parallel to the side wall part of the hot air supply port, and the lower part of the louver is formed to be substantially inclined or substantially curved at the outlet part of the hot air supply port. 3. The washing / drying machine according to 1 or 2. The washer / dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the louver is formed so as to face a substantially central direction of the inner tub as viewed from above.

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