JP2005052283A - Washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of water to be used in a washing and rinsing processes in a washing/drying machine which has the process for drying washing by blowing hot air into an inner tub. <P>SOLUTION: An outer tub 2 is supported being suspended inside a cabinet 1, the inner tub 4 which has the center shaft of rotation thereof almost in the vertical direction thereof and houses the washing is rotatably supported in the outer tub 2 and both ends of a circulation dehumidifying path 23 which has a heat exchanger 27 for dehumidifying the wet hot air are connected to the upper and lower parts of the outer tub 2. An open/close device 28 for opening or closing the circulation dehumidifying path 23 is disposed in the circulation dehumidifying path 23 and is so arranged as to close the circulation dehumidifying path 23 while the water is supplied in the washing and rinsing processes and opens the circulation dehumidifying path 23 in the drying process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine having a process of blowing warm air into an inner tub to dry laundry.

  Conventionally, this type of washing and drying machine is configured as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 1 supports the outer tub 2 by a suspension 3 so as to suspend and vibrate. An inner tank 4 having a central axis of rotation in a substantially vertical direction is rotatably provided inside the outer tank 2, and a rotary blade 5 is rotatably provided at the center inner bottom of the inner tank 4. A fluid balancer is disposed above the inner tank 4. 6 is provided. A motor 7 is provided below the outer tub 2, and a hollow and biaxially structured washing / dehydrating shaft 8, and a clutch 9 that switches the transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 8 during washing or dehydration, It is connected to the tank 4 or the rotary blade 5.

  The drying blower 10 blows hot air heated by the heater 11 into the inner tank 4 from the hot air outlet 12 and is provided substantially above the housing 1. The heat exchanger 13 dehumidifies the wet warm air, and one end is connected to the connection duct 15 connected to the drainage passage port 14 of the outer tub 2 and the other end is connected to the drying fan 10.

  The drain valve 16 is configured to guide the drainage from the connection duct 15 and the drainage from the heat exchanger 13 through the drainage duct 17 and drain the drainage hose 18 to the outside of the machine. The outer tub cover 19 covers the upper surface of the outer tub 2 in an airtight manner, and an inner lid 20 is provided on the outer tub cover 19 so as to be freely opened and closed so that clothes can be taken in and out.

  The circulation dehumidification path 21 is formed by the drainage path port 14, the connection duct 15, the heat exchanger 13, the drying fan 10, the heater 11, the hot air outlet 12, and the like, and circulates hot air through the inner tank 4. A waste thread collecting device 22 is disposed in the circulation dehumidification path 21 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The operation in the above configuration will be described. In the washing process, when clothes and detergent are put into the inner tub 4 and the operation is started, a water supply valve (not shown) is opened to supply a predetermined amount of water into the inner tub 4, and the clutch 9 of the transmission mechanism is turned on. It sets to the washing side, the motive power of the motor 7 is transmitted to the rotary blade 5 through the washing shaft, the rotary blade 5 is rotated, and the clothes are stirred and washed in water. Thereafter, the drain valve 16 is opened to drain water, and water is supplied again in the rinsing process, and the clothes are rinsed in the same manner as the washing process.

  In the dehydration process, after rinsing is completed, the water in the inner tub 4 is drained by opening the drain valve 16, and then the clutch 9 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dewatering side, and the power of the motor 7 is transferred to the inner tub 4 via the dewatering shaft. It progresses by separating moisture from the laundry by applying centrifugal force to the laundry.

  In the drying process, first, the rotating blade 5 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions so that the clothes stuck to the inner wall of the inner tank 4 are peeled off by centrifugal force during dehydration, and then the rotating blade 5 is instantaneously moved in the forward and reverse directions. The clothes are agitated so that the clothes are lifted upward in the inner tub 4 by being rotated strongly. At the same time, the warm air heated by the heater 11 is sent to the warm air outlet 12 by the drying fan 10.

  The hot air blown into the inner tub 4 from the hot air outlet 12 evaporates moisture from the clothing, and then drains the passage 14 provided at the lower part of the outer tub 2, the connection duct 15, the heat exchanger 13, and the drying air. It circulates in the circulation dehumidification path | route 21 formed with the air blower 10, the heater 11, the warm air spout 12, etc. FIG. The hot and humid air from which moisture is evaporated from the clothing is cooled and dehumidified when passing through the outer tub 2 and the heat exchanger 13, and then returns to the drying fan 10 and the heater 11 again. Thereby, drying advances.

During the drying process, the warm air heated by the heater 11 and blown into the inner tub 4 from the warm air outlet 12 by the drying blower 10 circulates in the circulation dehumidification path 21 after evaporating moisture from the clothing. The lint, dust and the like generated from the clothing are captured by the lint collecting device 22.
JP 2001-300192 A

  However, in such a conventional configuration, when water is supplied in the washing process or the rinsing process, the water necessary for the actual washing and rinsing is only in the outer tub 2, but the water is also supplied into the circulation dehumidification path 21. As a result, the washing liquid or the rinsing liquid is accumulated, and water is wasted.

  This invention solves the said subject, and it aims at reducing the amount of water used by a washing process or an excessive process.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention suspends an outer tub inside a housing, and rotatably supports an inner tub that has a rotation center axis in a substantially vertical direction and accommodates laundry. And connecting both ends of the circulation dehumidification path having a heat exchanger for dehumidifying the warm hot air to the upper and lower parts of the outer tub, and arranging an opening / closing device for opening and closing the circulation dehumidification path in the circulation dehumidification path. Is configured such that the circulation dehumidification path is closed while water is supplied in the washing and rinsing process, and the circulation dehumidification path is opened in the drying process.

  As a result, when water is supplied in the washing process or the excessive process, the opening / closing device in the circulation dehumidification path is closed to prevent water from entering the circulation dehumidification path, and the amount of water used can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the invention, both ends of the circulation dehumidification path having the heat exchanger for dehumidifying the wet warm air are connected to the upper and lower portions of the outer tub, and the opening and closing for opening and closing the circulation dehumidification path in the circulation dehumidification path Since the device is arranged and the opening and closing device is configured to close the circulation dehumidification path while being supplied with water in the washing and rinsing process and open the circulation dehumidification path in the drying process, when supplying water in the washing process and the rinsing process, By closing the opening / closing device in the circulation dehumidification path, water does not enter the circulation dehumidification path, and the amount of water to be used can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a housing, an outer tub suspended within the housing, a rotation center axis in a substantially vertical direction, and rotatably supported in the outer tub. An internal tub for storing objects, and a circulation dehumidification path having a heat exchanger for dehumidifying warm hot air and having both ends connected to the upper and lower parts of the outer tub, and the circulation dehumidification path in the circulation dehumidification path An opening / closing device that opens and closes the circulation dehumidification path while the water is supplied in the washing and rinsing process, and the circulation dehumidification path is opened in the drying process. When water is supplied in the process or rinsing process, the opening / closing device in the circulation dehumidification path is closed to prevent the washing liquid and the rinsing liquid from entering the circulation dehumidification path, and the amount of water used can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the switchgear is arranged near the lower part in the circulation dehumidification path, and water in the water supply almost enters the circulation dehumidification path. Therefore, the amount of water in the washing process or the excessive process can be reduced most effectively.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the thing of the same structure as a prior art example attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the circulation dehumidification path 23 circulates warm air through the inner tank 4 in the drying process. Both ends are connected to the upper and lower parts of the outer tank 2, and the inside of the circulation dehumidification path 23 is inside. In addition, a drying fan 24 that blows air into the inner tub 4, a heater 25 that heats the air blown by the drying fan 24, a lint collecting device 26 that captures lint and dust generated from clothing, A heat exchanger 27 for dehumidifying the wet warm air is provided, and an opening / closing device 28 for opening and closing the circulation dehumidification path 23 is disposed in the lowest vicinity of the circulation dehumidification path 23.

  Here, the opening / closing device 28 is configured to close the circulation dehumidification path 23 in a process of supplying water such as a washing process or an excessive process, and to open the circulation dehumidification path 23 in a drying process.

  The operation in the above configuration will be described. In the washing process, when clothes and detergent are put into the inner tub 4 and operation is started, a water supply valve (not shown) is opened to start water supply into the inner tub 4. When water is supplied to the specified water level, the water supply is automatically stopped and the washing process is started. At this time, since the opening / closing device 28 in the circulation dehumidification path 23 closes the circulation dehumidification path 23, water does not enter the circulation dehumidification path 23. For this reason, useless use of water can be prevented.

  When the washing process is completed, the drain valve 16 is opened to drain water, the water is supplied again in the rinsing process, and the clothes are rinsed in the same manner as the washing process. Even in this rinsing process, the opening / closing device 28 is closed, water does not enter the circulation dehumidification path 23, and the amount of water used can be reduced.

  Further, since the opening / closing device 28 is provided in the lowermost vicinity of the circulation dehumidification path 23, water hardly enters the circulation dehumidification path 23 and water can be efficiently saved.

  In the drying process, the opening / closing device 28 is opened to open the circulation dehumidification path 23, the hot air heated by the heater 25 and blown into the inner tub 4 from the hot air outlet 12 by the drying fan 24, After evaporating, it circulates in the circulation dehumidification path 23. At this time, warm air dampened by evaporating moisture from the garment is dehumidified by the heat exchanger 27, and lint, dust, etc. generated from the garment are captured by the lint collection device 22.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, both ends of the circulation dehumidification path 23 having the heat exchanger 27 for dehumidifying the wet hot air are connected to the upper and lower portions of the outer tub 2, and the circulation dehumidification path 23 is connected to the circulation dehumidification path 23. Since the opening / closing device 28 for opening and closing the path 23 is arranged, the opening / closing device 28 is configured to close the circulation dehumidification path 23 while being supplied with water in the washing and rinsing process, and to open the circulation dehumidification path 23 in the drying process. When supplying water in the washing process or the rinsing process, the opening / closing device 28 in the circulation dehumidification path 23 is closed, so that water does not enter the circulation dehumidification path 23 and the amount of water used can be reduced.

  Further, since the opening / closing device 28 is arranged near the lower part in the circulation dehumidification path 23, water in the water supply hardly enters the circulation dehumidification path 23, so that the amount of water in the washing process and the excessive process is most effective. Can be reduced.

Sectional drawing of the washing-drying machine of one Example of this invention Cross-sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing | casing 2 Outer tank 4 Inner tank 23 Circulation dehumidification path 27 Heat exchanger 28 Switchgear

Claims (2)

A housing, an outer tub suspended in the housing, an inner tub having a central axis of rotation in a substantially vertical direction and rotatably supported in the outer tub, and wet warm air A circulation dehumidification path having both ends connected to the upper and lower portions of the outer tub, and an opening / closing device for opening / closing the circulation dehumidification path is disposed in the circulation dehumidification path, Is a washing and drying machine configured to close the circulation dehumidification path while water is supplied in a washing and rinsing process, and to open the circulation dehumidification path in a drying process. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing device is disposed in the vicinity of the lower part in the circulation dehumidification path.

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