JP2009291427A - Drying machine and washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce heat loss until high-temperature air heated by a heating device reaches clothing, and shorten drying time. <P>SOLUTION: The drying machine includes a drying tank (water tank 102) for storing the clothing to be dried in its inside, an airflow channel 114 for circulating warm air through the inside of the drying tank, and a blower fan 106 for blowing the warm air into the drying tank, and dries the clothing in a nearly airtight state in the drying tank when drying the clothing. At least one whole wall material forming the drying tank or the airflow channel has a heat insulation means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dryer and a laundry dryer for drying clothes.

  In general, a dryer or a washing / drying machine includes a box constituting an exterior body having a clothing insertion port, a water tank elastically supported by a suspension in the box, and a dewatering tank rotatably supported in the water tank. Furthermore, there was a structure provided with a blower fan for blowing warm air into the dehydrating tank, a circulating dehumidifying air passage, and hot air means comprising a heating device.

  As a conventional dryer or washing dryer, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to suppress the heat dissipated from the water tank and realize efficient and short-time drying, What provided the heat insulation means so that the heat | fever of the inflowed warm air may not be thermally radiated outside a tank is known. Thereby, the heat radiated from the water tank is suppressed, and the drying can be performed more efficiently and in a short time.

JP 2002-315997 A (FIG. 1)

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 has only heat insulation means having a structure covering only the periphery of the water tank side surface, and the water tank bottom, which is a hot air circulation path, a drying circulation path, and a warm air blowing path. There is no thermal insulation. In such a structure, there is a large amount of heat leakage from the path of hot air flowing into the dehydration tank from the air supply port via the bottom of the water tank and the drying circulation passage and the seal part forming the hot air path, and sufficient heat insulation effect There was a problem that could not be obtained.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a dryer having a water tank, a dewatering tank, and hot air blowing means, the air flows from the air supply port to the dewatering tank via the water tank and the drying circulation passage. The purpose is to prevent the heat radiation from the hot air path and the seal part that forms the hot air path, to suppress the temperature drop in the dehydration tank, and to perform the drying process efficiently and in a short time. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a dryer according to the present invention includes a drying tub that contains clothes to be dried therein, an air passage that circulates warm air through the drying tub, and warm air in the drying tub. An air blower that blows air, and when drying the garment, the drying tub is dried in a state where the inside of the drying tub is substantially sealed, and the entire wall material of at least one of the drying tub or the air passage is heat insulating means. The structure has the following.

  The dryer of the present invention has a structure in which at least one of the wall materials forming the drying tank or the air passage as described above has a heat insulating means, so that the heat loss until the warm air reaches the clothing is lost. Can be obtained, and the drying time can be greatly shortened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic structural cross-sectional view for explaining an example of a dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and is a configuration diagram in a case where a water tank and a dewatering tank are installed vertically with respect to an installation surface of a main body. It is. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram when the water tank and the dehydration tank are installed obliquely with respect to the installation surface of the main body.
In FIGS. 1 and 2, 101 is a main body, 102 is a water tank (drying tank in the claims), 103 is a dehydration tank that is installed in the water tank 102 and is rotatably arranged to store clothes to be dried. The cylindrical bottom surface and the cylindrical side surface are provided with a large number of small holes (not shown) for allowing airflow to pass therethrough or for allowing water to pass during drainage or dehydration. A motor 104 rotates the water tank 102, the dewatering tank 103, and the pulsator 105, and a drive unit including a gear, a clutch, and the like is disposed. The drive shaft of the drive unit is composed of an inner / outer double rotating shaft, the outer rotating shaft is connected to the water tank 102 by a flange, and the inner rotating shaft is the rotating shaft of the pulsator 105 disposed at the bottom of the dewatering tank 103. The dewatering tank 102 and the pulsator 105 are rotatably supported. A balancer 115 for preventing vibration at the time of centrifugal dehydration is installed on the inner periphery of the upper part of the dewatering tank 103. Reference numeral 116 denotes a detergent case for containing the detergent.

  In addition, on the top surface of the main body 101, a loading / unloading port 111 for loading / unloading clothing is provided and opened / closed by a door 112. The water tank 102 is disposed in the main body 101 so that the door 112 faces the entrance / exit 111 of the main body 101, and the door 112 of the water tank 102 is provided between the door 112 of the water tank 102 and the entrance / exit 111 of the main body 101. A sealing portion 113 is provided for hermetically sealing the inlet / outlet port 111 of the main body 101 in an airtight manner. The seal portion 113 has a heat insulating property, and a part thereof is formed of a stretchable material or a bellows tube structure, and serves as an air passage connecting a drying circulation passage 114 and a lint filter 109 described later. During the drying operation, the tank expands and contracts in accordance with the vertical and inclined state to form a circulation air passage, and the inside of the water tank 102 provided with the dehydration tank 103 is substantially sealed.

  A drying circulation passage 114 serving as an air passage for circulating hot air through the dehydration tank 103 is provided at the rear of the main body 101. One of the drying circulation passages 114 opens to a water tank air supply port 108 provided near the take-out port 111 of the dehydration tank 103, and the other opens to the bottom of the dehydration tank. In the drying circulation passage 114, a heating device 107 having an electric heater for raising the temperature of air for drying clothes and a blower fan 106 which is a blower for generating an air flow in the dehydrating tank 103 are arranged. Furthermore, an air supply port (or hot air outlet) 108, a lint filter 109 for collecting lint released from clothing, and a water-cooled dehumidifier 110 for removing water vapor released from clothing are arranged. Yes. The drying circulation passage 114 communicating with the dehydrating tank 103 is integrated by the dehumidifying air passage portion 118 having the dehumidifying device 110, the hot air blowing air passage portion 119 having the blower fan 106 and the heating device 107, and the seal portion 113. And a telescopic bellows-shaped air passage portion 120 that connects the air passage portions 118 and 119 via a lint filter 109. In addition, the arrow in a figure shows the flow of air.

  The operation of the washing and drying machine configured as described above will be described below. Here, first, the explanation will focus on the flow of air. The air temperature generated by the action of the blower fan 106 is increased by the heating device 107. The air whose temperature has risen passes through the air supply port 108 and enters the dehydration tank 103 in the water tank 102. The dewatering tank 103 is rotated by a motor 104 to stir the stored clothes. The clothing is gradually deprived of moisture contained in the clothing by coming into contact with the hot air while being stirred. Air that has become dehumidified due to moisture removal from the clothes is discharged to the bottom of the dehydration tank 103 and is dehumidified when passing through the dehumidifying device 110 disposed in the drying circulation passage 114 to become dry air. Then, it is returned to the dehydration tank 103. By repeating this, the clothes are dried.

Next, in the drying process, the progress of the dryness of the clothes will be described in a time series. The drying process proceeds in the order of the heating period, the constant rate drying period, and the decreasing rate drying period from the start of drying, and ends drying.
In the heating period, most of the heat generated by the heating device 107 is spent on raising the temperature of the clothes, the dehydration tank 103, and the water tank 102. When the temperature of clothing increases, the evaporation rate of moisture contained in the clothing increases. Next, in the constant rate drying period, the amount of heat input into the water tank 102, the amount of heat of evaporation of the clothes, and the amount of heat released from the water tank 102 are substantially balanced, and the amount of change in the evaporation rate of moisture contained in the clothes is small. In the dry season, the amount of moisture contained in the clothing is small, and the clothing temperature rises. It should be noted that the timings of these subdivided boundaries cannot be strictly separated.

Dryness is defined by the following equation:
Dryness (%) = 100 × ((weight of clothes before drying) − (weight of clothes after drying)) / (weight of clothes before drying)
Usually, the dryness at the start of drying is 70 to 80%, and the dryness at the end of drying is close to 100%.

In the drying process, power consumption (W × h) required for drying is as follows: (1) Minimize heat loss until hot air heated by the heating device reaches the clothes to be dried; (2) Dry It is important to establish the three elements of uniformly applying warm air to clothing, and (3) dehumidifying the water vapor generated from the clothing with high efficiency using a dehumidifying device installed in the drying circulation passage.
(1) includes an air path in which the heating device 107 is disposed, a path for supplying high-temperature air heated by the heating device 107 into the dehydration tank 103, and the water tank 102 and the dehydration tank 103 in which clothing is stored. The key is whether heat leakage can be reduced. In (2), it is important to optimize the pulsator driving conditions for agitating so that the supplied high-temperature air is uniformly applied to the clothes. In (3), it is important to improve the performance of the dehumidifier 110.

  The present invention can greatly improve the above (1). In the present embodiment, a heat insulating portion 117 is formed throughout the wall material constituting the water tank 102 including a side surface portion and a bottom portion. It has a structure with its own heat insulating means. The heat insulating portion 117 is configured to be shielded from the outside without being exposed to the inside of the water tank into which clothes are put. The heat insulating part 117 provided inside the tank wall of the water tank itself has a hollow structure in the wall material of the water tank, and the heat insulating part 117 installed in the hollow part has a heat conductivity having a high heat insulating effect. Low material, for example, glass wool (<0.04 [W / (m · K)]), aluminum foil lamination (<0.06 [W / (m · K)]), vacuum insulation panel: VIP (<0 .024 [W / (m · K)]) is preferably used. Furthermore, it consists of cotton, felt, cork, wood, etc. as fibers, ash, perlite, amorphous silicic acid (silica aerogel) as particles (powder), and foam glass, foam rubber, foam polyethylene, foam polyurethane as porous materials. Even a material that can be used can be used as a material for forming a heat insulating portion. When using foams such as foamed polyethylene and foamed polyurethane, a gas species having a lower thermal conductivity than air at room temperature, such as carbon dioxide gas, xenon gas, or chlorofluorocarbon gas, may be used as the foaming agent gas. preferable.

  Further, the heat insulating portion 117 may be in the form of a gas. For example, even the air can have a high heat insulating effect. Further, if the hollow structure portion has a sealed structure that is cut off from the outside, it is possible to enclose gas species other than air, such as gases having a lower thermal conductivity than air, such as carbon dioxide, xenon, and chlorofluorocarbon. A system gas is preferred.

  The heat insulating portion 117 installed in the hollow portion is applied not only to the water tank 102 but also to the air passage (warm air blowing air passage portion 119) provided with the blower fan 106 and the heating device 107, whereby the heating device 107. The effect of reducing the heat loss until the high-temperature air heated in the step reaches the clothes to be dried can be further increased. Further, the air passage (dehumidification air passage portion 118) provided with the dehumidifying device 110 and the seal portion 113 (bellows-like air passage portion 120) that forms a path for high-temperature air to enter the dehydration tank 103 are also materials having a large heat insulating effect. With this configuration, it is possible to more effectively obtain a reduction in heat loss until it passes through the air supply port 108 and enters the dewatering tank 103 in the water tank.

  As described above, since the dryer according to the present embodiment can obtain a more effective heat insulation state in the drying process as compared with the heat insulation technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the high temperature heated by the heating device 107 is high. Heat loss until the air reaches the clothes to be dried can be further reduced, and high-performance energy-saving operation can be realized. That is, the drying process can be completed in a short time.

  Furthermore, the dryer described above has a structure in which a heat insulating layer is formed inside the tank wall of the water tank wall, and the water tank itself has a heat insulating means, and the heat insulating portion 117 is exposed to the inside of the water tank into which clothes are put. Since it is comprised so that it may be interrupted | blocked from the exterior without doing, in the structure which has arrange | positioned the heat insulation part to the outer periphery part of the water tank like patent document 1, the problem in the hygiene side which mold | fungi and various germs will breed is solved. Can do.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a dryer has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained in a laundry dryer having a function of continuously performing a series of steps of washing, rinsing, dewatering, and drying. It goes without saying that can be obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, in order to minimize heat loss until the high-temperature air heated by the heating device 107 reaches the clothes to be dried, the heat insulating portion 117 formed inside the wall material constituting the water tank 102. However, the water tank itself has a structure including heat insulating means (as a whole water tank), and the heat insulating part 117 is arranged so as to be cut off from the outside without being exposed to the inside of the water tank into which clothes are put. Will describe the case where the structure is sandwiched between the first and second tank walls. The basic internal configuration of the main body 101 is the same as that shown in FIGS.

The detailed structure of the water tank 102 will be described below.
A heat insulating material is attached or attached to the inner surface of the first water tank serving as the outer tank. The heat insulating material is a material having a high heat insulating effect and low thermal conductivity, such as glass wool (<0.04 [W / (m · K)]), aluminum foil lamination (<0.06 [W / (m · K)]. K)]), vacuum insulation panel: VIP (<0.024 [W / (m · K)]) is preferably used. Furthermore, it is composed of cotton, felt, cork, wood, etc. as fibers, ash, perlite, amorphous silicic acid (silica aerogel) as particles (powder), and foam glass, foam rubber, foam polyethylene, foam polyurethane as porous materials. Even if it is a material which can be used, it can be used as a formation material of a heat insulation part. When using foams such as foamed polyethylene and foamed polyurethane, a gas species having a lower thermal conductivity than air at room temperature, such as carbon dioxide gas, xenon gas, or chlorofluorocarbon gas, may be used as the foaming agent gas. preferable.

  The second water tank serving as the inner tank is disposed in the first water tank so that the heat insulating part 117 is sandwiched between the first water tank, and the heat insulating part 117 is further disposed inside the water tank into which clothes are put. The first and second water tanks are structured to be sealed so that they are isolated from the outside without being exposed.

  As described above, since the dryer according to the present embodiment can obtain a more effective heat insulation state in the drying process as compared with the heat insulation technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the high temperature heated by the heating device 107 is high. Heat loss until the air reaches the clothes to be dried can be further reduced, and high-performance energy-saving operation can be realized. That is, the drying process can be completed in a short time.

  Further, the dryer described above has a structure in which the heat insulating portion 117 is formed inside the water tank wall and the water tank itself is provided with heat insulating means, and the heat insulating portion 117 is exposed to the inside of the water tank into which clothes are put. Since it is configured to be cut off from the outside without any problem, the structure in which the heat insulating portion is arranged on the outer periphery of the water tank as in Patent Document 1 can solve the problem in terms of hygiene that mold and germs grow. it can.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a dryer has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained in a laundry dryer having a function of continuously performing a series of steps of washing, rinsing, dewatering, and drying. It goes without saying that can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The present embodiment relates to an aging deterioration determination apparatus that detects and determines a state change inside the main body when the water tank 102 or the heat insulating portion 117 fails due to aging deterioration in the dryer.
If the water tank 102 or the heat insulating part 117 is damaged due to aging, the heat insulating effect is lowered during the drying process, and the temperature inside the main body rises. At least one temperature sensor is arranged on the inner side of the main body, specifically, the inner wall of the main body, the outer peripheral part of the water tank, or the bottom of the inner side of the main body, and detects a temperature rise inside the main body. And a function to warn the user of an abnormality. The abnormality warning method is preferably a display on the display unit of the operation panel or a means such as an alarm or sound.

  Furthermore, since water leakage may occur due to deterioration of the water tank over time, it is preferable to arrange a sensor for detecting water leakage at a position directly below the water tank inside the main body.

  The dryer according to the present embodiment can detect an abnormality earlier than the heat insulation technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 when aging deterioration occurs. Furthermore, the spread of germs and mold growth inside the main body due to water leakage can be suppressed.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of Embodiment 1, 2, and 3 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of Embodiment 1, 2, and 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Main body, 102 Water tank, 103 Dehydration tank, 104 Motor, 105 Pulsator, 106 Blower fan, 107 Heating device, 108 Air supply port, 109 Lint filter, 110 Condenser plate, 111 In / out port, 112 Door, 113 Seal part, 114 Drying circulation passage, 115 balancer, 116 detergent case, 117 heat insulating portion, 118 dehumidifying air passage portion, 119 hot air blowing air passage portion, 120 bellows air passage portion.

Claims (11)

A drying tub that accommodates clothes to be dried therein, an air passage that communicates with the inside of the drying tub and passes warm air, and a blower that communicates with the air passage and blows warm air into the drying tub. In the dryer which dries the clothes with the inside of the drying tank being substantially sealed when the clothes are dried,
The drying apparatus characterized in that the entire wall material of at least one of the drying tank or the air passage has heat insulating means.   The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the wall material of the drying tank or the air passage has a hollow structure having a heat insulating portion therein.   The dryer according to claim 2, wherein a heat insulating material is installed in the heat insulating portion of the hollow structure.   The dryer according to claim 2, wherein the heat insulating portion of the hollow structure portion is constituted by vacuum or air.   The dryer according to claim 2, wherein the heat insulating portion of the hollow structure portion is provided with a gaseous heat insulating portion made of at least one of carbon dioxide, xenon gas, and flon gas.   The drying tub has a structure in which an outer tub and an inner tub disposed inside thereof are overlapped, and is installed so as to sandwich a heat insulating portion between the outer tub and the inner tub. The dryer according to claim 1.   The dryer according to claim 6, wherein the heat insulating part is provided with a heat insulating material.   The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a dehumidifying device for removing moisture contained in the hot air is installed in the air passage.   The air passage communicating with the drying tank includes a dehumidifying air passage portion having the dehumidifying device, a hot air blowing air passage portion having an air heating device and the air blowing device, and a bellows-like air connecting the two air passage portions. 9. The dryer according to claim 8, wherein the wall material comprising the passage portions and forming each air passage portion has a heat insulating means.   The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a temperature sensor is installed in the dryer main body, and the failure of the heat insulating portion is determined based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.   A dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the drying tub is a water tub in which a dewatering tub in which clothing is accommodated is rotatably installed, and a series of steps of washing, rinsing, drying, and drying are performed. A washing and drying machine having a function of continuously performing.

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