JP2007330354A - Washing machine with drying function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine with a drying function capable of varying temperature of hot air blown in a washing and dehydrating tank even in using an inexpensive motor for a drying device. <P>SOLUTION: The drying device as a hot air blowing means 92 to dry a washing by blowing the hot air against it includes the blower 92, a PTC heater 94 to heat air delivered in by the blower 92 and a by-pass passage 105 in which a part of the air delivered in by the blower 92 flows without passing the PTC heater 94, and a cross-section area of the passage varies by turning of a movable plate 104. The passage cross-section area of the by-pass passage 105 varies according to size of washing capacity, cloth quality or outer box inside temperature. It is possible to properly control blowing of the hot air from a diffuser 96 by changing the passage cross-section area of the by-pass passage according to a drying state of the washing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing machine with a drying function, for example, which is embodied as a vertical fully automatic washing machine.

  As an example of a washing and drying machine, a bypass air passage in which a bypass air that does not pass through the PTC heater flows in a space in a flow path direction formed above or below the PTC heater (positive temperature characteristic reaction body heater) in the heater case. The washing-drying machine which was made is proposed (refer patent document 1). When air is sent from the air blower operated during the drying process to the heater case through the air duct, most of the air passes through the PTC heater, which is a heating device, so that the air passing there is heated. On the other hand, a part of the air passing through the bypass air passage flows into the hot air discharge duct without being heated and is mixed with the heated air here. Thereby, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the hot air discharge duct is lower than the temperature of the hot air that has just passed through the PTC heater. By adjusting the air volume, for example, when the outside air temperature is 30 ° C., the discharge temperature does not become 100 ° C., and can be set to 90 ° C. in a range not exceeding 60 K from the outside air temperature.

  The washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1 has a bypass, but since the cross-sectional area of the bypass through which air passes is constant, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the drying device cannot be freely changed, The drying time and finish cannot be set according to the washing capacity, the fabric quality and the temperature of the air sucked by the drying device.

  As another example of the washing and drying machine, when the temperature of the hot air blown from the hot air supply unit is higher than a predetermined temperature that is effective for drying set in advance during the drying operation, the rotational speed of the blower is increased. On the contrary, when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, a washing machine with a drying function for controlling the temperature of the PTC heater as a heating source by changing the air volume in a plurality of stages by reducing the rotational speed of the blower is proposed. (See Patent Document 2).

The washing machine with a drying function described in Patent Document 2 uses an expensive motor such as an inverter motor for the drying device to control the rotational speed of the blower in order to change the temperature of the hot air discharged from the drying device. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the cost of the product. In addition, there is a problem that it is not always easy to control the temperature and amount of hot air suitable for the laundry drying condition.
JP 2001-198387 A (paragraphs [0023] to [0030]) JP 2004-209141 A (paragraphs [0049] to [0050])

  Therefore, in a washing machine with a drying function, there is a problem to be solved in that the temperature of the hot air blown into the washing and dewatering tub can be changed according to the drying state of the laundry even if an inexpensive motor is used for the drying device. is there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with a drying function in which the temperature of the hot air blown into the washing and dewatering tub is variable, the structure is simple, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced, even if an inexpensive motor is used for the drying device Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention includes a drying device that blows hot air on a laundry to dry the laundry, and the drying device uses a blower and air sent by the blower. A PTC heater for heating and a bypass passage through which a part of air sent by the blower flows without passing through the PTC heater are provided, and the passage sectional area of the bypass passage is variable.

  The washing machine includes a washing / dehydrating tub in which laundry is accommodated and rotatable around a vertical axis, and a drying device that sends air into the washing / dehydrating tub. Since the cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is variable, changing the cross-sectional area of the bypass passage according to the drying condition of the laundry makes it appropriate to dry the laundry according to the amount and quality of the drying condition. Can be done.

  In the washing machine with a drying function, the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is variable according to the size of the washing capacity, the cloth quality, or the temperature inside the outer box.

  When the washing capacity is large, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is narrowed, and the amount of air passing through the bypass without being heated is reduced. The temperature of the hot air discharged can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened. Conversely, when the washing capacity is small, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is widened and the amount of air that passes through the bypass without being heated is increased to mix with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater in the drying device, and the drying device The temperature of the hot air discharged from the air can be lowered, the fabric can be prevented from being damaged or shrunken, and the power consumption can be further reduced.

  In the washing machine with a drying function described above, when the laundry is highly hygroscopic (cotton material, etc.), by reducing the cross-sectional area of the bypass and reducing the amount of air passing through the bypass without being heated Even if it mixes with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater in the drying device, the temperature of the warm air discharged from the drying device can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened. In addition, when the laundry is a fabric with low hygroscopicity (synthetic fiber, silk, etc.), by increasing the cross-sectional area of the bypass and increasing the amount of air passing through the bypass without being heated, Mixing with the warm air that has passed through the heater, the temperature of the warm air discharged from the drying device can be lowered, and fabric damage and fabric shrinkage can be prevented, and power consumption can be further reduced.

  In the washing machine with a drying function described above, when the temperature inside the outer box is high, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is widened, and the amount of air passing through the bypass is increased without being heated, so that the PTC heater is passed through the dryer. Mixing with warm air, the temperature of the warm air discharged from the drying device can be prevented from becoming high, and the power consumption can be reduced. Conversely, when the temperature inside the outer box is low, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is narrowed, and the amount of air passing through the bypass is reduced without being heated, so that it mixes with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater in the drying device. However, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the drying device can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened.

  In the washing machine with a drying function, a circulation path for circulating the warm air blown to the laundry to the drying device is provided, and the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is variable depending on the temperature of the circulating air. It can be. By providing a circulation path for returning the warm air exhausted from the washing and dewatering tub to the blower after exerting a drying action on the laundry, the thermal energy contained in the warm air can be efficiently used. Moreover, the cross-sectional area of the bypass passage can be made variable according to the temperature of the warm air returning from the circulation path. The blower can suck in warm air returning from the circulation path and air other than air returning from the circulation path, and can vary the cross-sectional area of the bypass according to the washing capacity, the cloth quality, the temperature in the outer box, and the like.

  When the hot air temperature returning from the circulation path is high, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is widened and the amount of air passing through the bypass without being heated is increased to mix with the hot air that has passed through the PTC heater in the drying device, The temperature of the hot air discharged from the drying device can be prevented from becoming high, and the power consumption can be reduced. Conversely, when the temperature of the warm air returning from the circulation path is low, the cross-sectional area of the bypass is narrowed, and the amount of air passing through the bypass without being heated is reduced, so that the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater in the drying device Even if they are mixed, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the drying device can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened.

  The washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention is configured as described above, and can control the temperature of the hot air discharged from the outlet by changing the cross-sectional area of the bypass according to the drying state. More specifically, since the cross-sectional area of the bypass is varied in accordance with the washing capacity, the cloth quality, the temperature inside the outer box, the temperature of the warm air returning from the circulation path, etc., the warm air discharged from the outlet to the washing and dewatering tub The temperature can be appropriately controlled according to the state of the drying process.

  Accordingly, there is no need to shorten the drying time, to set finishing according to the cloth quality, to reduce power consumption, or to use an expensive inverter motor, so that the cost of the product can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a lower structure of the washing machine with a drying function shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the overall configuration of a washing machine with a drying function (hereinafter simply referred to as “washing machine”) 1 is shown as a longitudinal sectional view, with the left side being the front of the washing machine 1 and the right being the back. The washing machine 1 is of a fully automatic type and includes an outer box 10 made of metal or synthetic resin. The outer box 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its upper surface and bottom surface are openings. A synthetic resin upper surface plate 11 provided with an operation panel and the like is fixed to the upper surface opening of the outer box 10 with screws.

  A synthetic resin back panel 12 is fixed to the outer box 10 or the upper surface plate 11 with screws on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 11 located on the back side of the washing machine 1. A synthetic resin base 13 is fixed to the bottom opening of the outer box 10 with screws. In FIG. 1, the illustration of any of the screws described so far is omitted. At the four corners of the base 13, legs 14a and 14b for supporting the outer box 10 on the floor are provided. The front leg 14 a is an adjustment leg whose height is variable for leveling, and the rear leg 14 b is a fixed leg integrally formed with the base 13.

  The upper surface plate 11 is formed with a laundry inlet 15 for putting laundry into the washing machine 1. The upper lid 16 is coupled to the upper surface plate 11 by a hinge portion 17 and can be rotated around an axis perpendicular to the paper surface. In addition, the laundry lid 15 can be covered from above when closed. Inside the outer case 10, an outer water tank 20 that is suspended and supported in a horizontal plane by a suspension member (not shown) with respect to the outer box 10, and a water tank 20 that is concentric with the inner side of the water tank 20. A washing tub also serving as a dewatering tub arranged in a shape, that is, a washing and dewatering tub 30 is disposed. Both the water tub 20 and the washing / dehydrating tub 30 have the shape of a cylindrical cup with an open top surface, and each axis of rotation is in the vertical direction.

  The washing and dewatering tub 30 has a tapered peripheral wall that gradually spreads upward. Except for a plurality of dewatering holes (not shown) arranged in an annular shape at the uppermost portion of the peripheral wall, there is no opening for allowing liquid to pass therethrough. This is a so-called “no hole” type in which washing water does not enter or leave the outside of the aquarium. An annular balancer 32 is attached to the edge of the upper opening of the washing and dewatering tub 30. The balancer 32 functions to suppress vibration when the washing and dewatering tub 30 is rotated at a high speed for dehydrating the laundry. On the inner bottom surface of the washing tub 30, a pulsator 33 for causing the washing water or the rinsing water to flow in the tub is disposed.

  A drive unit 40 is mounted on the lower surface of the water tank 20. The drive unit 40 includes a motor 41, a belt transmission mechanism 42 that transmits the output rotation of the motor 41, and a clutch / brake mechanism 43, and a dehydrating shaft 44 and a pulsator shaft 45 project upward from the center thereof. . The dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45 have a double shaft structure in which the dewatering shaft 44 is disposed outside and the pulsator shaft 45 is disposed inside. The dewatering shaft 44 enters the water tank 20 from the bottom to the top, and is connected to and supports the washing and dewatering tank 30. The pulsator shaft 45 passes through the water tub 20 from the lower side to the upper side, and further enters the washing / dehydrating tub 30, and is connected to and supports the pulsator 33. The pulsator 33 rotates at 55 to 300 rpm and performs washing or rinsing. Further, at the time of dehydration, it is rotated at 0 to 1000 rpm together with the washing and dewatering tank 30 to perform dehydration. Seal members for preventing water leakage are disposed between the dewatering shaft 44 and the water tank 20 and between the dewatering shaft 44 and the pulsator shaft 45, respectively.

  A water supply valve (not shown) that opens and closes electromagnetically is disposed in the space below the back panel 12. A water supply hose (not shown) that supplies clean water such as tap water is connected to the connection pipe 51 that is connected to the water supply valve and protrudes upward through the back panel 12. Further, the water supply valve is connected to a container-like water supply port arranged at a position facing the inside of the washing and dewatering tank 30.

  Referring also to the lower structure of the washing machine 1 shown in FIG. 2, a drainage hose 60 that drains the water in the water tank 20 and the washing and dewatering tank 30 to the outside of the outer box 10 at the bottom of the water tank 20. Is attached. Water flows into the drain hose 60 from the drain port 61. Water that has flowed out of the washing and dewatering tank 30 during dehydration flows into the drain hose 60 through a drain pipe (not shown).

  A disc-shaped dewatering flange 62 for reinforcement is attached to the lower part of the washing and dewatering tank 30. A flange packing 62a is sandwiched between the washing and dewatering tank 30 and the dewatering flange 62 to prevent water leakage from the center. A ring-shaped seal ring 65 in which the outer periphery of the disk is bent is attached to the lower center portion of the dewatering flange 62. A seal holder 63 is attached to the bottom center of the water tank 20 to form a drainage path to the water outlet 61 with the water tank 20. A space between the seal holder 63 and the water tank 20 is sealed with a seal packing 63a. Drain holes 67 communicating with the washing / dehydrating tub 30, the dewatering flange 62, and the seal ring 65 are provided, for example, at four locations on the circumference. To a drain valve 68 that opens and closes electromagnetically. An oil seal 64 is press-fitted inside the seal holder 63, and the oil seal 64 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the seal ring 65. With this seal structure, the seal ring 65 and the oil seal 64 are rotatable and have a watertight structure, and an independent drainage space 66 is formed between the water tank 20 and the washing and dewatering tank 30. The drainage space 66 communicates with the inside of the washing / dehydrating tub 30 through a drainage hole 67 formed in the bottom of the washing / dehydrating tub 30.

  With the above-described structure, when the pulsator 33 rotates, the water in the washing / dehydrating tub 30 is stopped by the drain valve 68 and water is stored in the washing / dehydrating tub 30. When dewatering is performed, the drain valve 68 is opened, and the water in the washing and dewatering tank 30 is drained to the outside. Although the shafts 44 and 45 and the washing / dehydrating tub 30 are rotated by driving the motor 41, the seal ring 65 and the seal holder 63 can be rotated by the oil seal 64 and can continue to have a watertight structure.

  A control unit 80 is disposed on the front side of the outer box 10. The control unit 80 is placed under the upper surface plate 11 and receives an operation command from a user through an operation / display unit (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the upper surface plate 11. An operation command is issued to the drain valve 68. In addition, the control unit 80 issues a display command to the operation / display unit.

  An inner lid 82 is rotatably attached to a flange portion 81 provided at the upper end portion of the water tank 20 by a hinge 83. The inner lid 82 prevents laundry and water from jumping out of the washing / dehydrating tank 30 during washing, rinsing, and dehydration.

  In order to dry the laundry, the warm air blowing means 90 and the circulation path 100 as shown in FIG. 1 are configured. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the hot air blowing means shown in FIG. 1 and the structure around it. FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the arrangement relationship of the upper end of the circulation path at the suction port. Hereinafter, mainly with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.3, the drying structure with which a washing machine is equipped, and its function are demonstrated. The hot air blowing means 90 includes a blower 92 disposed in the blower box 91 and driven by a motor 93, and a PTC heater 94 provided on the outlet side of the blower 92 and heating air sent from the blower 92. And a bypass 105 that prevents air sent from the blower 92 from passing through the PTC heater 94 is provided, and a movable plate 104 that can vary the cross-sectional area of the bypass 105 is provided. The blower box 91 including the blower 92 is disposed at the upper end portion of the outer box 10 in the washing machine 1. A circulation passage 100 to be described later is connected to the air blowing box 91 on one suction port 95 side. Further, at the outlet 96 side of the blower box 91, the bellows duct 97 passes through the flange portion 81 of the water tank 20 and opens into the space 31 in the washing / dehydrating tank 30, and warm air is directed toward the washing / dehydrating tank 30. Can be blown down.

  In the circulation path 100, the lower end portion 101 is connected to the drain port 61, and the upper end portion 102 is connected to the blower box 91. As in the case of the bellows duct 97, the upper end portion 102 and the suction port 95 can be connected by the bellows-like connecting pipe 103 so that the displacement between the two can be absorbed during the operation of the washing machine 1. preferable. The circulation path 100 is preferably a synthetic resin pipe, and the circulation path 100 can be wrapped with a heat insulating material if importance is placed on heat reuse. Also, if dehumidification is important, heat can be released to positively condense.

  The suction port 95 of the blower 92 is arranged so as not to take in air outside the washing machine 1 but to suck air inside the washing machine 1. That is, the suction port 95 of the blower 92 opens downward toward the space in the outer box 10 of the washing machine 1, and the flange portion 81 provided at the upper end of the water tank 20 corresponds to the suction port 95. A communication hole 84 communicating with the space 31 in the outer box 10 of the washing machine 1 is formed. The circulation path 100 extends in the communication hole 84 and is connected so that the upper end portion 102 is accommodated in the suction port 95, that is, occupies a part of the area of the suction port 95.

  By directing the suction port 95 of the blower 91 downward toward the space 31 in the outer box 10, the dried air that has risen through the circulation path 100 and the air in the space 31 of the washing machine 1 are sucked. It is. Since the air in the washing machine 1 is warmed by touching the high temperature portion of the washing machine 1 in a state where the drying process has progressed to some extent, the air inlet 95 tends to rise in the space 31. The air inside can be captured efficiently. With such a structure, the suction efficiency of the blower 91 can be improved.

  About the magnitude | size of the suction inlet 95, it is made equal to the suction area of the fan of the air blower 91. FIG. In FIG. 3, the fan rotation shaft of the blower 91 is arranged to coincide with the center of the suction port 95 as indicated by the axis AA. Further, the connection of the upper end 102 of the circulation path 100 to the suction port 95 is arranged at a position eccentric from the center (axis AA). The rotation center portion of the fan has a rotation axis, and the peripheral speed of the fan blade is not fast, so the suction force is weak. The connection position of the upper end portion 102 of the circulation path 100 to the suction port 95 is a portion corresponding to a region closer to the outside of the fan having a strong suction force, so that the power to be circulated can be maximized. With this structure, the air in the washing machine sucked through the suction port 95 is easily sucked into the fan of the blower 92.

  The explanation of the drying action of the laundry will be described together with the flow of hot air. When the air sent out by the blower 92 passes through the PTC heater 94, it is heated and becomes warm air. What the air sent out by the blower 92 passes through the bypass 105 of the PTC heater 94 is not heated, passes through the bellows duct 97 that is mixed in the blower box 91 and passes through the flange portion 81 from the blowout port 96. It is blown into the space 31 inside the washing and dewatering tank 30. The blown warm air exerts a drying action on the laundry to remove moisture, and a part of the hot air thereafter is drained through the drain hole 67 from the gap between the pulsator 33 and the washing and dewatering tank 30. It flows out into the space 66. The warm air that has flowed into the drainage space 66 flows into the circulation passage 100 from the drainage port 61, is sucked by the blower 92, and returns into the blower box 91. The other part of the warm air flows from above the washing and dewatering tank 30 to the water tank 20.

  FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of the movable plate 104 in the blower box 91. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the movable plate 104 narrows the bypass 105 most, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the movable plate 104 opens the bypass 105 to the maximum. FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between air volume and power consumption. The PTC heater 94 has a positive characteristic in which the heat generation amount increases as the air volume increases.

  When the washing capacity is large (60% or more with respect to the rated capacity), as shown in FIG. 4A, the movable plate 104 projects over the bypass 105 to narrow its cross-sectional area, and the bypass 105 is not warmed. By reducing the amount of air passing through, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the air outlet 96 can be kept high even when mixed with the hot air that has passed through the PTC heater 94 in the blower box 91, and the drying time can be reduced. It can be shortened.

  When the washing capacity is small (25% or less with respect to the rated capacity), as shown in FIG. 4B, the movable plate 104 is retracted from the bypass 105 to increase its cross-sectional area, and the bypass is performed without being heated. The temperature of the hot air that is mixed with the hot air that has passed through the PTC heater 94 in the blower box 91 and discharged from the outlet 96 is increased by increasing the amount of air that passes through 105 and reducing the amount of air that passes through the PTC heater 94. Can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent fabric damage and fabric shrinkage, and further reduce power consumption.

  When the laundry is highly hygroscopic (cotton material, etc.), the movable plate 104 extends over the bypass 105 to narrow its cross-sectional area, thereby reducing the amount of air passing through the bypass 105 without being heated. Even if it mixes with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater 94 in the blower box 91, the temperature of the warm air discharged from the outlet 96 can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened.

  When the laundry has a low hygroscopic fabric (synthetic fiber, silk, etc.), the movable plate 104 is retracted to widen the cross-sectional area of the bypass 105, and the amount of air passing through the bypass 105 is increased without being heated. Thus, the temperature of the hot air that is mixed with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater 94 in the blower box 91 and discharged from the blowout port 96 can be lowered, and the fabric can be prevented from being damaged or contracted, and the power consumption can be further reduced. Can do.

  When the temperature inside the outer box is high (12 deg or more with respect to the temperature outside the outer box), the movable plate 104 is moved backward to widen the cross-sectional area of the bypass 105, and the amount of air passing through the bypass 105 without being heated is increased. By doing so, it mixes with the warm air which passed the PTC heater in the ventilation box 91, it can prevent the temperature of the warm air discharged from the blower outlet 96 becoming high temperature, and can reduce power consumption.

  When the temperature inside the outer box is low (8 deg or less with respect to the temperature outside the outer box), the movable plate 104 is projected to the bypass 105 to narrow its cross-sectional area, and the amount of air passing through the bypass 105 is reduced without being heated. By doing so, even if it mixes with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater in the blower box 91, the temperature of the warm air discharged from the outlet 96 can be kept high, and the drying time can be shortened.

  When the warm air temperature returning from the circulation path is high (10 deg or more with respect to the outside temperature of the outer box), the movable plate 104 is retracted to widen the cross-sectional area of the bypass 105, and the air passing through the bypass 105 without being heated. By increasing the amount, it can be mixed with the warm air that has passed through the PTC heater 105 in the blower box 91, and the temperature of the warm air discharged from the blowout port 96 can be prevented from becoming high, and the power consumption can be reduced.

  When the temperature of the warm air returning from the circulation path is low (less than 6 deg with respect to the outside temperature of the outer box), the movable plate 104 is extended to the bypass 105 to narrow its cross-sectional area, and the amount of air passing through the bypass 105 without being heated is reduced. By reducing the temperature, the temperature of the hot air discharged from the blowout port 96 can be kept high even if it is mixed with the hot air that has passed through the PTC heater 105 in the blower box 91, and the drying time can be shortened.

  Here, since the washing and dewatering tub 30 has no holes, the warm air does not contribute to the drying of the laundry as in the case where the dewatering holes are formed, and leaks divergently to the outside of the washing and dewatering tub 30. Less. The route through which the warm air passes becomes simpler and more restrictive, and the laundry is touched to promote drying until the degree of sealing is increased and exhausted from the drain hole 67, so that the drying efficiency is good. During the drying process, the pulsator 33 is rotated at a low speed, so that the laundry is loosened and touches the warm air to promote drying. The end of drying can be detected by sensing the outlet temperature of the PTC heater 94 at the time of drying the laundry and the temperature of air containing water vapor after passing through the laundry with a temperature sensor. It is also possible to control the time with a timer set by the user.

  Moisture evaporated from the laundry is cooled while passing through the drainage space 66, the drainage port 61 and the circulation passage 100 to become dew condensation water, but the dew condensation water itself is drained from the drainage hose 60. The circulation path 100 disposed between the washing and dewatering tub 30 and the outer box 10 of the washing machine is air-cooled, so that it becomes a heat exchange part and can be dehumidified. In addition, since the upper end of the circulation path 100 is partially connected to the suction port 95 of the blower 92, washing is performed with less pressure loss than the complete circulation type in which all of the circulation paths 100 are connected in a covering state (that is, 100% circulation). The air in the machine 1 can be sucked. Therefore, the air volume is increased and the drying efficiency is increased. Further, since the blower 92 sucks in the air in the washing machine 1 at the suction port 95, the inside of the machine is warmed by exhaust heat as the drying proceeds, and the air is sucked into the washing machine warmed by the amount of heat. Since it is used, the thermal efficiency is also increased.

  In the above description of the embodiment, the washing and dewatering tank 30 has been described as a holeless tank, but it need not be limited to this. If it is a tank without a hole, it means that the degree of sealing is increased, and it may have a dewatering hole. Furthermore, although described as a vertical washing machine, the present invention can also be applied to an inclined washing machine if the inclination angle is relatively small.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one Example of the washing machine with a drying function by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the lower structure of the washing machine with a drying function shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the air blower and its periphery of the washing machine with a drying function shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the movable board in the ventilation box of the washing machine with a drying function shown in FIG. 1, and its circumference. It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between an air volume and power consumption.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 10 with drying function 11 Outer box 11 Top panel 12 Back panel 13 Base 14a * 14b Leg part 15 Laundry insertion port 16 Top cover 17 Hinge part 20 Water tank 30 Washing and dehydrating tank 31 Space 32 Balancer 33 Pulsator 40 Drive unit 41 Motor 42 Belt transmission mechanism 43 Clutch / brake mechanism 44 Dewatering shaft 45 Pulsator shaft 51 Connection tube 60 Drain hose 61 Drain port 62 Dewatering flange 62a Flange packing 63 Seal holder 63a Seal packing 64 Oil seal 65 Seal ring 66 Drain space 67 Drain hole 68 Drain Valve 80 Control part 81 Flange part 82 Inner lid 83 Hinge 90 Hot air blowing means 91 Blower box 92 Blower 93 Motor 94 PTC heater 95 Suction port 96 Blowing port 97 Bellows duct 100 Circulation path 101 Lower end part 102 Upper end 103 Connection pipe 104 Movable plate 105 Bypass passage

Claims (7)

  In the washing machine with a drying function provided with a drying device that blows warm air on the laundry to dry, the drying device includes a blower, a PTC heater that heats the air sent by the blower, and air sent by the blower A washing machine with a drying function, comprising: a bypass passage that partially flows without passing through the PTC heater; and a variable cross-sectional area of the bypass passage.   The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 1, wherein the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is variable in accordance with the size of the washing capacity, the cloth quality, or the temperature in the outer box.   The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 2, wherein the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage becomes narrower as the washing capacity is larger.   The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 2, wherein the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is narrower as the cloth quality is higher in hygroscopicity.   The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 2, wherein the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is increased as the temperature inside the outer box is higher.   A circulation path for circulating hot air blown to the laundry to the drying device is provided, and the passage cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is variable depending on the temperature of the circulating air. The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 1.   The washing machine with a drying function according to claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional area of the bypass passage is increased as the temperature of the hot air returning from the circulation path is higher.