JP2007151670A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve drying performance and reduce drying time, smoothly releasing a part of moisture included in air exhausted after its contribution to drying operation smoothly. <P>SOLUTION: A clothes dryer includes a drying means composed of a heater unit 12, a fan unit 13, or the like, which supply hot air circulation through a water tank 4, to dry clothes stored in a drum provided in the water tank 4. In the clothes dryer, the water tank 4 is provided with an air pipe 28 communicating with the outside of the water tank, and an open end of the air pipe 28 is disposed so as to face a heater case 15 having a high temperature when drying. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine provided with drying means for circulating and supplying hot air to dry laundry stored in a laundry dewatering tub.

Conventionally, for example, a drum-type washing / drying machine of this type has a drum as a washing / dehydrating tub that elastically supports a water tub in a casing forming an outer shell and that can rotate around a horizontal axis. . In order to dry the laundry stored in the drum, drying means for circulating hot air through the water tank is provided so that it can be executed comfortably from washing to drying indoors without exhausting outside the machine. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-245489 A

  However, in the above configuration, the so-called exhaust after drying with the supplied hot air is recirculated by warm air, so that the heating efficiency is not always good because a large amount of moisture is contained in the exhaust. Therefore, the drying efficiency is also low. Therefore, normally, a dehumidifying means using a heat exchanger is interposed in the circulation duct to dehumidify the moisture components from the exhaust as much as possible, and the air after the dehumidification is warmed. Nevertheless, there is still a need for further improvements in drying time, as compared with other drying means, that is, a so-called hot air supply and exhaust to the outside of the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention allows a part of the moisture contained in the exhaust after contributing to drying to escape to the outside and eliminates concerns such as dew condensation due to the moisture, and heating efficiency to warm air An object of the present invention is to provide a washing and drying machine that can improve drying and shorten the drying time.

  In order to achieve the above object, a washing and drying machine according to the present invention is accommodated in a water tank elastically supported in a housing, a laundry dewatering tank rotatably provided in the water tank, and the laundry dewatering tank. Provided with drying means for circulating hot air through the water tank to dry the clothes, the water tank is provided with ventilation means communicating outside the water tank, and the open end of the ventilation means is dried. The main feature is that it is arranged facing the hot part of the time.

  According to the above means, moisture generated at the time of drying can be discharged to the outside of the water tank, so that the heating efficiency to warm air can be improved and the drying time can be shortened. It is possible to provide a practical washer-dryer that does not cause condensation or leak out of the machine and cause discomfort to the user.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a drum-type washing and drying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a part of the case of the washing and drying machine, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view schematically showing the overall structure. explain.
In particular, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, the box-shaped housing 1 forming the outer shell has a front opening 1 on the front plate 1a, a door 3 for opening and closing the insertion opening 2, and a rear surface on the rear plate 1b. Closed configuration at Inside the housing 1, a water tank 4 having a front opening facing the charging port 2 and a drum 5 as a washing and dewatering tank are provided.

  The water tank 4 is elastically supported in the housing 1 by an anti-vibration suspension 6, and the drum 5 is rotatably provided around the horizontal axis. Specifically, the drum 5 is pivotally supported in a state where the front is inclined upward, and the peripheral wall includes a plurality of small holes 5 a and a plurality of baffles 5 b, and a drive motor 7 provided on the back surface of the water tank 4. Is directly driven by rotation. A recess 4a is formed at the bottom of the water tank 4, and a warm water heater 8 is provided in the recess 4a to warm the washing water, and a drain pipe 10 provided with a drain valve 9 communicating with the lowest part. Is connected. Further, a bellows 11 is mounted in a watertight manner between the front opening of the water tank 4 and the inlet 2.

  Next, the configuration of the drying means of this embodiment will be described. In addition to FIGS. 3 and 4, a heater unit 12 and a fan unit for generating warm air on the upper outer wall surface of the water tank 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 showing an enlarged main part in FIG. 3. 13 is installed. Among them, the heater unit 12 includes a heater 14 that is a sheathed heater, and a heater case 15 in which the heater 14 is provided. Details of the heater case 15 will be described later. On the other hand, the fan unit 13 includes a fan 16 for supplying warm air, a fan casing 17 and a fan motor 18. Each of these units 12 and 13 includes a plurality of support legs 25 and 26 integrally projecting downward from outer peripheral walls of the heater case 15 and the fan casing 17, and is fixed to the outer wall of the water tank 4 with screws. The units 12 and 13 are connected to each other, and a circulation duct 19 having both ends thereof connected to the water tank 4 is provided to circulate so-called hot air in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. It is designed to function as a drying means for drying clothes.

  However, the circulation duct 19 is specifically provided with an air supply duct 20 that connects between the heater unit 12 and the upper front portion of the water tank 4, and corresponds to an exhaust duct that is connected to the lower back surface of the water tank 4. The heat exchange duct 21 is provided, and the other upper end portion is connected to the fan unit 13 in communication. The heat exchange duct 21 is formed in an arc shape so as to go around the outer peripheral side of the drive motor 7, and a water injection pipe 22 is arranged on the inner upper part thereof, so that water can be injected into the exhaust gas rising in the duct 21 and cooled. Therefore, the moisture in the exhaust gas is condensed and dripped by this water cooling action and can be discharged from the drain pipe 10 to constitute a so-called dehumidifying means. Thus, the water injection pipe 22 is connected to a water supply valve 23 (see FIG. 4), and water injection control is performed by opening and closing the water supply valve 23 together with the water supply pipe 24 for washing water.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, ventilation means communicating outside the tank is provided on the back side of the water tank 4. This ventilation means is constituted by a ventilation pipe 28 connected to a ventilation hole (not shown) penetrating the back wall of the water tank 4, and the opening end of the ventilation pipe 28 extends to the gap below the heater unit 12. It has been extended. The gap forms a predetermined gap with the outer wall of the water tank 4 by the support leg 25 that fixes the heater unit 12, and this is specifically a gap on the lower surface side of the heater case 15 described later. . The vent is opened at a height where the washing water or the like does not easily enter, and the vent pipe 28 is also directed upward. A midway portion of the vent pipe 28 is appropriately sandwiched between reinforcing rib groups on the outer surface of the water tank 4, and supported and fixed to the outer wall surface of the water tank 4 by a support tool 29.

  Here, the heater case 15 and the related configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heater case 15 as viewed from the lower surface side. The heater case 15 has an upper surface opened to accommodate the heater 14, for example, a rectangular container-shaped case main body 15a made of aluminum die cast, and its upper surface opening. And a metal heater cover 15b that is attached to close the heater, and because the temperature is raised by the heater 14 provided therein, a heat resistant structure is adopted. A connection port 30 (only the rear end surface is shown) is formed on the front and rear end surfaces of the case body 15a, the air supply duct 20 directed downward is connected to the front end surface, and the fan unit 13 is connected to the rear end surface. The blowing side of the fan casing 17 is connected.

  In addition, the lower surface 27 of the case main body 15a facing the open end of the vent pipe 28 has a rectangular flat shape, and is integrally formed with a surrounding rib 31 protruding downward from the outer periphery thereof. The surrounding rib 31 is projected using a gap generated on the lower surface of the case main body 15 a after being assembled, but the lower end portion is set to a projecting dimension having a slight gap that does not contact the outer wall surface of the water tank 4. . The vent pipe 28 is introduced from an opening 32 in which a part of the rear of the surrounding rib 31 is removed, and the opening end is disposed at a position facing the lower surface 27 of the case body 15a.

  Next, the operation of the drum-type washing / drying machine having the above-described configuration will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Usually, a drying operation is performed following the washing, rinsing, and dehydrating operations, and each operation is performed based on the rotation control of the drum 5. In this washing operation, there is no possibility that washing water or the like leaks from the vent pipe 28 that is a vent means that communicates with the upper part of the water tank 4 and that extends upward. However, in the drying operation, the drum 5 containing the clothes is rotated at a low speed, and the drying means including the heater unit 12 and the like is driven to generate and supply hot air, while heat is exchanged from the water supply valve 23 through the water injection pipe 22. An operation of pouring water into the duct 21 is performed.

  That is, the hot air generated through the fan unit 13 and the heater unit 12 in the path of the circulation duct 19 is supplied from the air supply duct 20 to the front opening side of the water tank 4 in the direction of arrow A and is supplied into the drum 5. Then, a drying action is performed by contact with clothes (not shown). The warm air that has contributed to the drying escapes from the rear side of the drum 5 to the water tank 4 side as exhaust gas containing a large amount of moisture, and flows into the heat exchange duct 21 from the lower portion of the rear surface and rises. The rising exhaust gas is cooled by being injected with water from the water injection pipe 22, and the moisture is condensed and dripped, and is discharged to the outside through the drain valve 9 and the drain pipe 10 in an open state.

  Thus, the exhaust gas from which the moisture has been removed from the exhaust gas by the function of the dehumidifying means is warmed again through the fan unit 13 and the heater unit 12, and passes through the air supply duct 20 into the water tank 4 and thus the drum 5. Supplied. By repeating this, warm air is circulated and supplied, and the drying action proceeds. However, especially in the first half of the drying operation, the drying action that takes moisture away from the wet clothes is the most active, and the exhaust gas contains a large amount of moisture components. For this reason, even if the dehumidifying means functions in the heat exchange duct 21, the moisture component cannot be completely dehumidified, and it cannot be said that the heating efficiency of heating the hot air by the heater 14 is necessarily good.

  However, in this embodiment, on the back side of the water tank 4, there is always provided a ventilation means communicating with the outside of the tank. That is, the connection port of the vent pipe 28 communicated with the back of the water tank 4 is in a position where hot air after contributing to drying of clothes, so-called exhaust, easily flows into the hot air supply from the front. The circulation supply is promoted by increasing the temperature and pressure in the water tank 4, and a part of the exhaust gas containing a large amount of moisture is discharged out of the tank through the vent pipe 28 (indicated by an arrow B in the figure). As described above, since some moisture components are always discharged from the circulating exhaust, the exhaust through the dehumidifying means in the heat exchange duct 21 further improves the dehumidifying effect, and the heating efficiency by the heater 14 also improves. Therefore, it functions most effectively during the period when a large amount of moisture is released from the clothing in the first half of the drying operation, and as a result, it is possible to quickly raise the temperature and raise the temperature of the hot air, thereby shortening the drying time. I can plan.

  In addition, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening end, which is the tip of the vent pipe 28, is disposed at a position facing the lower surface 27 of the heater case 15, so that the discharged exhaust becomes a high temperature during the drying operation. In contact with 15 outer surfaces (for example, 80 ° C. or more) or in a high temperature atmosphere, the moisture component is heated and evaporated. In particular, in the present embodiment, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the surrounding rib 31 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface 27 of the case body 15a, so that the exhaust discharged from the vent pipe 28 is not immediately scattered outside the tank, but the surrounding rib. The contact with the lower surface 27 of the heater case 15, which is a high temperature part, is effectively performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
Since the aeration means by the ventilation pipe 28 communicated with the outside of the tank is provided in the water tank 4, a part of the moisture generated from the clothes during the drying operation can be discharged to the outside of the tank, and the heating efficiency of warming air by the heater 14 is improved. In particular, in the first half of the drying operation where the drying action is prominent, a large amount of moisture components from wet clothing is taken into the exhaust, so discharging part of the moisture outside the tank has a significant effect on improving heating efficiency. To do. Therefore, it is possible to circulate and supply hot air that has been quickly heated to the desired temperature, thereby improving the drying performance and shortening the drying time.

  Moreover, since the open end of the vent pipe 28 is disposed facing the lower surface 27, which is the outer surface of the heater case 15, which becomes a high-temperature part during drying, moisture components discharged from the vent pipe 28 touch the high-temperature part or Evaporation is promoted in a high temperature atmosphere. Accordingly, if the exhaust gas is simply discharged into the housing 1, moisture components may be condensed due to a temperature difference from the outside air. The user can comfortably perform the drying operation without affecting the humidity. In addition, since the surrounding ribs 31 are provided around the outer periphery of the lower surface 27 of the heater case 15, a sufficient contact time between the discharged exhaust gas and the lower surface, which is a high-temperature part, can be secured, and moisture components can be evaporated more reliably. However, the surrounding rib 31 does not need to be provided all around the lower surface or continuously. For example, as shown in the present embodiment, a part of the outer wall of the air supply duct 20 located on the front side is used, or for ventilation. Various modifications such as a configuration having a notch portion as appropriate can be made.

(Modification)
FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a modification of the above embodiment.
In this embodiment, the surrounding ribs 31 are provided on the lower surface 27 of the heater case 15 in the above embodiment, but the lower surface 27 is formed in an uneven surface instead. That is, the original function as the heater case 15 is not different from that of the above embodiment, and a plurality of convex portions 33 (or concave portions are also possible) are provided on the lower surface 27 which is a high temperature portion where the open end of the vent pipe 28 faces. The entire lower surface 27 or a wide range is formed in an uneven surface.

According to such a configuration, as a result, the surface area of the lower surface 27 that is a high-temperature part can be increased, that is, the contact area with the exhaust gas can be increased, and the moisture component in the exhaust gas can be effectively heated and evaporated accordingly.
In addition, it is also possible to combine and use the enclosure rib 31 and the convex part 33 of the said Example, and it can be anticipated that a moisture component will be evaporated still more reliably in this case.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a drum-type washer / dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a part of the casing 1 is broken and is slightly different in angle. FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3. In the following, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different parts will be described.

  This is different from the above embodiment in the means for treating the moisture component discharged through the aeration means during drying. That is, the vent pipe 34 led out from the back side of the water tank 4 extends its base end upward, then bends and extends downward, and the drain pipe 10 serving as the drainage path of the water tank 4 has its open end at its tip. It is the structure connected to the upstream of the drain valve 9 intervened in this. Specifically, it is connected to a valve case 9a constituting the drain valve 9 and is located upstream of a normally closed valve body 9b that opens and closes an internal passage. In addition, the drain pipe 10 which forms a drainage path is comprised from the machine inside drain pipe 10a and the machine outside drain pipe 10b.

According to the above configuration, the vent pipe 34 is in communication with the outside of the machine, which is a predetermined drainage location, via the drain pipe 10 only when the drain valve 9 is opened. Accordingly, the drain valve 9 is closed in an operation stop state or a washing operation in which water is stored in the water tank 4, and is opened in a drain operation or a drying operation.
In the drying operation, hot air is circulated and supplied in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and the temperature in the water tank 4 is increased and the pressure is increased. Therefore, a part of the exhaust gas that has taken away moisture from the clothes easily flows into the vent pipe 34. Then, the water is discharged from the drain pipe 10 to a predetermined place outside the machine through the drain valve 9 in the open state.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, part of the moisture generated during the drying operation can be released to the outside of the machine, and the drying performance can be improved and the drying time can be shortened as in the above-described embodiment. Moreover, since the moisture component is discharged to a predetermined drainage place, there is no problem even if the moisture component is discharged in a condensed state through long passages such as the vent pipe 34 and the drain pipe 10. Further, although the vent pipe 34 communicates with the drainage place, it is held in a state shielded by the drainage valve 9 when the operation is stopped, and the odor of the drainage place does not flow backward.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to a drum-type washing / drying machine but also to a washing / drying machine including a washing / dehydrating tub rotating around a vertical axis. In addition, although a ventilation pipe as a ventilation means was provided on the back wall of the water tank, it is not limited thereto, and in short, it may be provided on the side opposite to the hot air supply so that the exhaust after contributing to drying can be removed. The present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The perspective view which expands and shows the principal part in FIG. 3 which shows 1st Example of this invention. Perspective view of the heater unit as seen from below The perspective view which fractures | ruptures a part of housing | casing of a drum type washing-drying machine, and shows an internal structure Longitudinal side view showing the schematic configuration of the entire washing and drying machine FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a modification FIG. 3 equivalent view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a housing, 4 is a water tank, 5 is a drum (washing and dewatering tank), 12 is a heater unit, 13 is a fan unit, 14 is a heater, 15 is a heater case (high temperature part), 19 is a circulation duct, 27 Is a lower surface, 28 and 34 are vent pipes (venting means), 31 is a surrounding rib, and 33 is a convex portion (uneven surface shape).

Claims (6)

A water tank elastically supported in the housing, a laundry dewatering tank rotatably provided inside the water tank, and hot air circulated through the water tank to dry clothes stored in the laundry dewatering tank In what has a drying means to
A washing / drying machine characterized in that the water tank is provided with ventilation means communicating with the outside of the water tank, and an opening end of the ventilation means is arranged facing a high temperature portion during drying.   The drying means includes a heater unit, a fan unit, and a circulation duct. The heater unit includes a heater and a heater case in which the heater is installed, and the heater case is a high-temperature part. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1.   The washing / drying machine according to claim 2, wherein an opening end of the ventilation means is made to face the lower surface of the heater case, and a surrounding rib is formed on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the heater case.   The washing / drying machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the high-temperature portion of the heater case is formed in an uneven surface shape. A water tank elastically supported in the housing, a laundry dewatering tank rotatably provided inside the water tank, and hot air circulated through the water tank to dry clothes stored in the laundry dewatering tank In what has a drying means to
The washing / drying machine characterized in that the water tank is provided with ventilation means communicating with the outside of the water tank, and an open end of the ventilation means is connected to a drainage path from the water tank. 6. The washing / drying machine according to claim 5, wherein a drainage valve is provided in the drainage path, and an opening end of the ventilation means is connected to the upstream side of the drainage valve.

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