JP2010125237A - Washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing/drying machine capable of improving the efficiency in drying the laundry. <P>SOLUTION: In the drying operation, the lower part of an open/close valve 13 is oscillated and reamed outward with the pressure difference between the negative pressure generated within a drum 5 by a Futon 70 stored in the drum 5 with the suction force generated from a rotating fan 54 and the negative pressure generated in the gap 25 between the drum 5 and an outer tub 4, and an abutting part 13D abuts on a narrow part 22 of the drum peripheral wall 21 to close a communication port 14. As the communication port 14 is closed in the drying operation in this way, leakage of hot air from the gap between the rotating drum 5 and the outer tub 4 into the drum 5 or from the drum into the gap 25 can be prevented. Leakage of hot air means that hot air is discharged without drying the Futon 70, resulting in the useless consumption of calories, but this problem can be solved by the washing/drying machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine capable of washing and drying laundry.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a washing / drying machine capable of storing laundry in a drum rotatable around a rotation shaft and washing and drying the laundry (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the drum-type washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1, a water tank (corresponding to an outer tank) having an opening on the front surface is disposed inside the casing, and the drum is disposed inside the water tank. Yes. And in the front surface of a drum, the opening part is formed in the position corresponding to the opening part of a water tank, and a laundry can be accommodated in a drum via each water tank and each opening part of a drum. In the drying operation, the laundry housed in the drum is dried by being exposed to dry air while being stirred by the rotating drum.

Here, the one end part of the ventilation path for flowing dry air is connected to the opening part of the water tank. The drying air from the air passage passes through the opening of the water tank and the opening of the drum in order from the one end described above, and is supplied to the laundry in the drum.
JP 2004-105250 A

  In the drum type laundry dryer described in Patent Document 1, a part of the drying air from the air passage does not reach the opening of the drum and flows into the gap between the water tank and the drum and is not supplied to the laundry in the drum. May occur, and the drying efficiency of the laundry may not be improved.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a washing and drying machine capable of improving the drying efficiency of laundry.

The invention relating to the first washing and drying machine includes an outer tub capable of storing water,
In this outer tub, it is arranged to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, and has a through hole formed in a peripheral side surface and an inlet / outlet formed at one end surface in the rotation axis direction. A drum for accommodating the laundry therein, and washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying the laundry;
A water channel formed between the outer tub and the drum, and communicates with the inside of the drum at an upper portion through a communication port formed between the inlet / outlet and the outer tub and at a lower portion through the through hole. A water channel that communicates with the inside of the drum and flows into the drum from the water supply port through the through hole by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum, and circulates by leading to the communication port.
A drying air supply device for supplying drying air into the drum;
A valve that opens the communication port when water is circulated in the water channel and closes the communication port when supplying dry air into the drum by the dry air supply device.
Is provided.

The invention relating to the second washing and drying machine includes an outer tub capable of storing water,
In this outer tub, it is arranged to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, and has a through hole formed in a peripheral side surface and an inlet / outlet formed at one end surface in the rotation axis direction. A drum for accommodating the laundry therein, and washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying the laundry;
A water channel formed between the outer tub and the drum, and communicates with the inside of the drum at an upper portion through a communication port formed between the inlet / outlet and the outer tub and at a lower portion through the through hole. A water channel that communicates with the inside of the drum and flows into the drum from the water supply port through the through hole by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum, and circulates by leading to the communication port.
A drying air supply device for supplying drying air into the drum;
An upper portion of the outer tank that forms the communication port is fixed to the peripheral side surface and the lower portion can be expanded, and when the water is circulated through the water channel, the communication port is kept open and the drum When supplying dry air by the dry air supply device, a negative pressure generated in the drum by the laundry accommodated in the drum and a negative pressure generated in the space between the drum and the outer tub A valve that expands in the lower part due to a pressure difference and contacts the drum to close the communication port;
Is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention related to the first washing and drying machine, the lower portion is caused by a pressure difference between a negative pressure generated in the drum and a negative pressure generated in the space between the drum and the outer tub. The part which expands and contacts the drum is formed thicker than other parts.

  According to a fourth invention, in the invention related to the first washing and drying machine, the valve is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and at least a part thereof is cut in a vertical direction so that a lower part is expanded. .

  According to the first and second inventions, it is possible to solve the problem that part of the drying air by the drying air supply device does not reach the inside of the drum and flows into the gap between the water tank and the drum and is not supplied to the laundry in the drum. In addition, it is possible to provide a washing / drying machine capable of improving the drying efficiency of the laundry. According to the third aspect of the invention, the lower portion of the on-off valve expands and the portion that comes into contact with the drum wears out, so that this problem can be solved. Furthermore, according to the fourth invention, the communication port can be reliably closed even if the distance until the valve contacts the drum is long.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing / drying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from diagonally forward left and upward, and for convenience of explanation, a part of a housing 2 of the washing / drying machine 1 is cut out to show internal components. Is exposed. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a cross section when the washing / drying machine 1 is cut along a vertical plane along the front-rear direction, as viewed from the right side. FIG. 3 is a view of components inside the washing / drying machine 1 as viewed from a position facing the drum opening 23 of the drum 5. 4 is a cross-sectional view based on the line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the on-off valve 13. 6 is a view showing a state in which the on-off valve 13 is open, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the on-off valve 13 is closed. FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view in which a part of the drum 5 is cut away. FIG. 9 is a partial plan view in which a part of the drum 5 is cut away.

  In addition, about the attitude | position of the washing-drying machine 1, it shall be along the direction arrow shown in the upper right of the paper surface of FIG. In addition, the front side is synonymous with the front side, the back side and the back side are synonymous with the rear side, and the left-right direction may be called the width direction.

This washing / drying machine 1 is a drum-type washing / drying machine for futon washing. In the laundry dryer 1, a preliminary operation, a washing operation for washing the laundry, a rinsing operation for rinsing the laundry, a dehydration operation for dehydrating the laundry, and a drying operation for drying the laundry can be performed. The laundry to be washed by the washing / drying machine 1 is mainly a futon.
(1) Housing As shown in FIG. 1, the outer shell of the washing / drying machine 1 is constituted by a housing 2. The housing 2 is substantially box-shaped, and an inclined surface 3 that is inclined obliquely forward and downward is formed in the upper part of the front surface.
(2) Outer tub and drum Inside the housing 2, an outer tub 4 and a drum 5 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer tub 4 has a hollow, generally cylindrical shape having a disk-like bottom wall (referred to as an outer tub bottom wall 6) on the lower back surface. The outer tub 4 is attached to the housing 2 by a plurality of dampers (not shown), and is supported by the housing 2 so as to be swingable. The outer tub 4 is arranged so that its central axis is inclined upward (obliquely forward) toward the front side. Specifically, the angle formed by the central axis of the outer tub 4 and the horizontal plane is upward, for example, about 40 degrees, and the angle formed by the inclined surface 3 and the horizontal plane is about 70 degrees. In the outer tub 4, an inner space 34 similar to the outer shell of the outer tub 4 is formed by the outer tub bottom wall 6 and the outer tub peripheral wall (the peripheral side wall of the outer tub 4) 7.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer tank peripheral wall 7 is reduced in diameter by one step on the front side (this part is referred to as a small diameter part 8), and an outer tank opening 9 is formed on the front end face of the small diameter part 8. The inside of the outer tub 4 communicates with the outside through the outer tub opening 9.

  The outer tub opening 9 is disposed so as to face obliquely upward on the front side. Here, in the peripheral wall 7 of the outer tub, a portion on the rear side (lower side) of the small diameter portion 8 in the central axis direction is referred to as a large diameter portion 10, and an annular flange connecting the small diameter portion 8 and the large diameter portion 10 is used. It is called the outer tank connecting wall 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower peripheral edge of the small-diameter portion 8 protrudes toward the large-diameter portion 10 (diagonally lower rear), and has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole along the inner surface of the lower peripheral edge of the small-diameter portion 8. An on-off valve 13 is provided (see FIG. 5). The on-off valve 13 is made of a material having elasticity, flexibility, and heat resistance (for example, fluororubber), and a screw 16 or the like is provided on the inner side surface of the lower peripheral edge of the small diameter portion 8 via an attachment hole 13A. Is fixed without gaps. The on-off valve 13 is divided into, for example, four parts in the vertical direction, but the attachment part 13B to the upper small-diameter portion 8 is integrated, and the lower part may be formed so as to form a cut from below. Good. In other words, the opening / closing valve 13 has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole in an unexpanded state, and at least a portion (not necessarily divided as a whole) is vertically arranged so that the lower portion is expanded. If it is cut in the direction, the swing angle becomes larger and the moving distance can be lengthened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the small-diameter portion 8 is formed with a plurality of relatively small through holes 12 at one place within a predetermined angular range on the circumference.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an air outlet 19 that is a through hole is formed at the rear end portion (the portion adjacent to the upper end portion of the outer tank bottom wall 6) of the upper peripheral surface of the outer tank peripheral wall 7. Further, one end of a drain pipe 35 connected to the inside of the outer tub 4 (inner space 34) is connected to the rear end of the lower peripheral surface of the outer tub peripheral wall 7 (near the lower end of the outer tub bottom wall 6). Has been. The drain pipe 35 is bent rearward in the vicinity of the bottom wall of the housing 2, and the other end faces the outside of the washing / drying machine 1 from the back wall of the housing 2.

  A drainage valve 36 is provided in the middle of the drainage pipe 35. By closing the drainage valve 36, water can be stored in the outer tank 4 (internal space 34), and by opening the drainage valve 36, the outer tank 4. This water can be discharged to the outside of the washing / drying machine 1 through the drain pipe 35.

  The drum 5 has a disk-like drum bottom wall 20 on the lower back surface, and has a hollow, substantially cylindrical shape similar to the internal space 34 of the outer tub 4. Similar to the outer tub 4, the drum 5 is arranged such that its central axis is inclined upward, for example, by about 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane toward the front side. The drum peripheral wall 21 that is the peripheral wall of the drum 5 has a dimension in the central axis direction of, for example, 600 mm.

  The drum peripheral wall 21 is reduced in diameter by one step on the front side. A drum opening 23 serving as an inlet / outlet is provided on the front end surface of the small-diameter portion 22 which is the reduced diameter portion (one end surface in the central axis direction of the drum 5 and opposed to the drum bottom wall 20 in the central axis direction). The interior of the drum 5 communicates with the outside through the drum opening 23. Here, in the drum peripheral wall 21, the rear side (lower side) of the small diameter portion 22 in the central axis direction is a large diameter portion 26 having a diameter of, for example, 650 mm, and the large diameter portion 26 and the small diameter portion 22 are annular. Are connected by a drum connecting wall 27 which is a flange.

  A communication port 14 is formed between the upper end of the small-diameter portion 22 of the drum peripheral wall 21 and the lower end of the small-diameter portion 8 of the outer tank peripheral wall 7 located outward from the drum peripheral wall 21. When the lower part of the on-off valve 13 which is attached along the side surface and has a hollow cylindrical shape as a whole swings and expands outward, the communication port 14 is blocked. As described above, the on-off valve 13 is made of fluorine rubber or the like, and the lower part of the on-off valve 13 comes into contact with the small-diameter portion 22 of the drum peripheral wall 21 every time it swings. The hanging portion 13C hanging from the thick mounting portion 13B is thin and formed so as to be easily deformable and swinging. Of the hanging portion 13C, the contact portion 13D is formed to be thicker than the other hanging portions 13C. To deal with wear.

  An inner side surface 20A that faces the drum 5 in the drum bottom wall 20 is formed flat. The large diameter portion 26 of the drum peripheral wall 21 has a plurality of small holes 24 that are through holes. The small holes 24 having a diameter of about 6 mm are formed so as to be biased to the periphery of the drum bottom wall 20 which is the lower part of the drum peripheral wall 21 (on the opposite side of the drum opening 23 in the central axis direction of the drum 5). Specifically, in this embodiment, the small holes 24 are formed in the large-diameter portion 26 so as to be biased to a region up to a position separated from the drum bottom wall 20 by about 160 mm. The small holes 24 may be arranged so that the columns and rows are linear, or may be arranged in a staggered manner, or may be formed by gradually increasing the number as they approach the drum bottom wall 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, three large baffles 28 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 26 at equal intervals every 120 degrees in the circumferential direction. The small hole 24 is not provided in the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 26 facing 28. The large baffle 28 protrudes into the drum 5 smoothly and smoothly, for example, in a curved shape having a curvature smaller than that of the drum peripheral wall 21. The large baffle 28 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 26 of the drum peripheral wall 21 between the drum bottom wall 20 and the drum connecting wall 27. Bolts (not shown) pass through the large baffle 28, and the bolts are fixed to the drum bottom wall 20 and the drum connecting wall 27. In other words, the drum bottom wall 20 and the drum connection wall 27 are connected by the drum peripheral wall 21, but a bolt that connects the drum bottom wall 20 and the drum connection wall 27 is provided to reinforce the drum wall 20 and the drum connection wall 27. A large baffle 28 is provided to conceal the bolt.

  Similarly, two small baffles 29 are fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 26 between the large baffles 28 by rivets 15 at equal intervals. The small baffle 29 protrudes inward of the drum 5 from the large baffle 28, that is, the height is low. As shown in FIG. 9, the transverse plane has a trapezoidal shape with rounded corners and is smoothly formed low. . A plurality of small baffles 29 having a width of about 25 mm and a height of about 10 mm are provided as follows.

  That is, when washing the futon 70, during the dehydration operation, the futon 70 sticks to the drum peripheral wall 21 by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the drum 5, and closes the many small holes 24 formed in the drum peripheral wall 21. Thereafter, in the drying operation, the hot air usually passes through the futon 70 and is exhausted into the internal space 34 from the small hole 24. However, depending on the material of the futon 70, the hot air is difficult to pass and is wet. If the eye is clogged with moisture, it will be difficult to pass through, and drying by passing will not be possible. In particular, by performing the dehydration operation, the moisture contained in the futon 70 increases from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral side, and the contact surface between the drum 5 and the futon 70 is likely to be clogged by water. Therefore, by providing a plurality of small baffles 29, sticking to the drum peripheral wall 21 of the futon 70 is reduced around the small baffle 29, that is, on both sides in the left-right direction, and the futon 70 and the drum peripheral wall are reduced by the small baffle 29. A slight space S is formed between the space 21 and hot air can flow through the space S (see FIG. 9). Therefore, in combination with the passage of hot air through the futon 70, the hot air passes through the space S between the futon 70 and the drum peripheral wall 21, and the internal space is formed from a small hole 24 facing this space S. In particular, drying of the contact surface between the drum 5 and the futon 70 is promoted while being exhausted into the interior 34, air drying is improved, drying time can be shortened, and drying unevenness can be improved.

  In a state where the drum 5 is accommodated in the outer tank 4 (internal space 34), the drum bottom wall 20 faces the outer tank bottom wall 6 with a predetermined distance therebetween as shown in FIG. The outer peripheral surface of the outer wall of the outer tank 7 is opposed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer tank peripheral wall 7 with a predetermined distance, and the drum connecting wall 27 is opposed to the outer tank connecting wall 11 with a predetermined distance. Therefore, a gap 25 having a shape similar to the outer shell of the drum 5 is formed between the outer tub 4 and the drum 5. The gap 25 functions as a water channel and allows the communication port 14 (see FIG. 5) and the small hole 24 of the drum 5 to communicate with each other.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the drum opening 23 faces the outer tank opening 9, and these openings communicate with each other in an obliquely upward direction from the inclined surface 3 of the housing 2 (the center of the outer tank 4 and the drum 5). Like the axis, it faces upwards by about 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the user located on the front side of the housing 2 can easily access the drum opening 23 and the outer tank opening 9 without bending his / her waist.

  A drum shaft 30 as a rotating shaft that extends downward (rear) along the central axis of the drum 5 and penetrates the outer tank bottom wall 6 is integrally provided at the center of the circle of the drum bottom wall 20. ing. A drum pulley 31 is attached to the tip of the drum shaft 30 penetrating the outer tank bottom wall 6. Here, a motor pulley 32 is attached to the output shaft 18 of the drum motor 17 disposed on the rear side of the outer tub 4. A belt 33 is wound around the drum pulley 31 and the motor pulley 32 with a predetermined tension. Therefore, when the drum motor 17 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the drum shaft 30 via the motor pulley 32, the belt 33 and the drum pulley 31. Thereby, in the outer tub 4, the drum 5 rotates in one direction around the drum shaft 30 (same as the central axis of the drum 5). Note that the belt 33 and the pulley may be omitted, and a DD motor directly connected to the drum shaft 30 may be used as the drum motor 17. In this embodiment, the drum 5 is inclined so that the central axis thereof is upward about 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. However, the eccentricity of the drum 5 is reduced or the laundry in the drum 5 is washed. In order to suppress the bias, the angle formed by the central axis with the horizontal plane may be adjusted within a range of 40 degrees to 90 degrees.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a dry air supply device 40, a water supply device 41, and an exhaust device 42 are arranged in the housing 2 in association with the outer tub 4 and the drum 5.
(3) Dry Air Supply Device The dry air supply device 40 is provided above the outer tub 4, specifically along the top wall (upper side wall) of the housing 2. The drying air supply device 40 includes an intake duct 43 that communicates with the rear opening of the washing / drying machine 1, and a heater 44 attached in the intake duct 43.

  The intake duct 43 extends forward from the rear wall of the housing 2 along the top wall (this portion is referred to as a heating chamber 45), and then extends obliquely forward and downward along the inclined surface 3 (this portion is a hot air passage). 46), and is connected to the small-diameter portion 8 of the outer tub 4 from above. The heating chamber 45 and the hot air passage 46 are connected by a bellows-like hose 47 having flexibility and heat resistance.

  The heating chamber 45 has a substantially box shape and communicates with the outside on the back side, and a heater 44 such as a gas burner or a heating wire is disposed on the lower side. The hot air passage 46 is connected to the small diameter portion 8 so as to surround all of the many small holes constituting the inlet 12.

Thus, the intake duct 43 communicates with the outside on the back side of the heating chamber 45, and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 4 through the inlet 12 in the hot air passage 46. Therefore, external air can be supplied into the outer tub 4 through the intake duct 43. Here, the external air is first heated by the heater 44 in the heating chamber 45 to become dry air, and then supplied into the outer tub 4 and the drum 5 via the hot air passage 46. That is, the drying air supply device 40 flows the drying air toward the inlet 12 in order to supply the drying air into the outer tub 4 and the drum 5.
(4) Water Supply Device The water supply device 41 includes a water supply pipe 48 and water supply valves 50A (water supply valve) and 50B (hot water supply valve) attached to the water supply pipe 48. One end of the water supply pipe 48 is connected to the hot air passage 46 from the left side, the other end is branched into two flow paths 49, and one flow path 49A supplies tap water (low temperature water) provided outside. The other flow path 49B is connected to a hot water supply facility provided outside. Water supply valves 50A and 50B are provided in the flow paths 49A and 49B, respectively.

In the water supply device 41, tap water or hot water can be supplied from the external water supply facility or hot water supply facility into the outer tub 4 through the water supply pipe 48 and the hot air passage 46 by opening the water supply valves 50A and 50B. .
(5) Exhaust Device The exhaust device 42 is provided along the right side wall of the housing 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust device 42 includes an exhaust duct 51 serving as an air passage, a valve 52 disposed in the exhaust duct 51, a filter 53, and a fan 54.

  One end of the exhaust duct 51 is connected to the air outlet 19 of the outer tub 4, and communicates with the outer tub 4 (internal space 34) via the air outlet 19. The exhaust duct 51 extends upward from one end (air outlet 19 side), bends in the middle, and extends toward the other end toward the back side of the washing / drying machine 1. The other end of the exhaust duct 51 communicates with the outside from the back wall of the housing 2. Therefore, the air inside the outer tub 4 can be taken out by the exhaust duct 51 and discharged from the back wall of the housing 2 to the outside of the washing dryer 1.

  Specifically, one end portion of the exhaust duct 51 is constituted by a bellows-like hose 55 having flexibility and heat resistance, and the hose 55 is connected to the air outlet 19. The exhaust duct 51 is partitioned into a hose 55, a valve chamber 56, a filter chamber 57, and a fan chamber 58 in this order from one end side (the air outlet 19 side) to the other end side (the back wall side of the housing 2). Yes.

  The inside of the valve chamber 56 has a throttle portion 59 that is throttled in the middle in the vertical direction, and the valve 52 described above is disposed below the throttle portion 59. The valve 52 is formed in a flat plate shape having a size capable of closing the throttle portion 59, and a support shaft 60 extending upward in the valve chamber 56 through the throttle portion 59 is provided on the upper surface of the valve 52. It is connected via a spring 61. The upper end portion of the support shaft 60 always protrudes upward from the top wall (upper side wall) of the valve chamber 56 (this portion is referred to as a protruding portion 60A) and is connected to an eccentric cam. The lower end of the support shaft 60 is provided with a convex portion 63 that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction (left and right front-rear direction), and between the top wall of the valve chamber 56 and the convex portion 63, A second spring 64 is inserted.

  Here, the valve 52 can move up and down between a closed position and an open position, and when in the closed position, the throttle portion 59 of the valve chamber 56 is closed from the lower side. Are blocked at the top and bottom of the throttle portion 59, and the exhaust duct 51 is closed at the throttle portion 59. On the other hand, when the valve 52 is in the open position, the valve 52 is separated downward by a predetermined distance from the throttle portion 59, and the throttle portion 59 is opened downward. In other words, the inside of the valve chamber 56 communicates above and below the throttle portion 59, and the exhaust duct 51 is opened at the throttle portion 59. The valve 52 is always urged in the closing direction by the contraction force of the second spring 64.

  A drive device including a cam motor and an eccentric cam connected to the output shaft of the cam motor is provided above the valve chamber 56 in relation to the valve 52, but is omitted in FIG. When the cam motor is driven, the eccentric cam rotates counterclockwise around the output shaft, pressing the protrusion 60A of the support shaft 60 downward, and the valve 52 opens against the contraction force of the second spring 64. Move to. Further, when the cam motor is driven and the eccentric cam rotates, the pressing force against the protrusion 60A is released, and the valve 52 moves from the open position to the closed position by the contraction force of the second spring 64. Thus, by using the drive device, the valve 52 can be reliably moved to the open position or the closed position, so that the exhaust duct 51 can be opened and closed accurately.

The washing / drying machine 1 is provided with a control means including a microcomputer inside the housing 2, and an operation panel electrically connected to the control means is provided on the front wall of the housing 2. Yes. Therefore, when the user operates the operation panel, an electric signal corresponding to the operation is input to the control means, and the drum motor 17 (drum 5) and the fan 54 are driven or drained according to the input signal. The valve 36 and the water supply valves 50A and 50B are opened and closed, and the heater 44 is turned on and off.
(6) Washing by the washing / drying machine The washing by the washing / drying machine 1 will be described below. As described above, since the laundry of the washing / drying machine 1 is mainly a futon, A description will be made on the premise that a hand-made futon with a hand dimension of 1000 mm is washed. In washing, preliminary operation, washing operation, rinsing operation, dehydration operation, and drying operation are performed in this order. Further, the valve 52 is always in the closed position except for the drying operation.

  The user first folds the futon 70 in half in the lateral direction when washing. Then, the futon 70 is rounded so that the longitudinal direction of the folded futon 70 is along the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21 of the drum 5, and the futon is bent and rounded through the outer tub opening 9 and the drum opening 23. The drum 5 is accommodated from the fold 71 side (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The fold line 71 is disposed at a connection portion (mainly the peripheral edge portion of the inner side surface 20A) between the inner side surface 20A of the drum bottom wall 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21.

  The drum shaft 30 (the central axis of the drum 5) is inclined so that the drum opening 23 faces obliquely upward, so that the futon 70 can be easily put in and out of the drum 5 through the drum opening 23.

  When the accommodation of the futon 70 in the drum 5 is completed, the outer tub opening 9 and the drum opening 23 are closed by the door 68. Then, when the user operates the operation panel to execute washing, the drum motor 17 is driven, for example, for 30 seconds to 1 minute (prior operation) prior to the washing operation. Along with this, the drum 5 rotates. At this time, the number of rotations of the drum 5 is higher than that in a washing operation described later, and is, for example, 500 rpm to 600 rpm. As the drum 5 rotates in this manner, a centrifugal force is generated in the futon 70 accommodated in the drum 5. Therefore, as described above, even if the user does not place the futon 70 along the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21, the user can place the futon 70 neatly along the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21. Thereby, a user's labor can be saved. In addition, since the futon 70 is placed along the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21, the eccentric rotation of the drum 5 can be prevented, so that stable washing (without washing unevenness and drying unevenness) is possible.

  Since the drum 5 always rotates in one direction, it is possible to prevent the futon 70 from being rubbed and hurt against the inner peripheral surface of the drum 5 as compared with the case where the forward rotation and the reverse rotation are repeated. Further, since the inner side surface 20A of the drum bottom wall 20 is flat, even if the fold line 71 of the futon 70 contacts the inner side surface 20A during the rotation of the drum 5, the fold line 71 does not hurt. Note that not all of the inner side surface 20A need be flat, and the portion where the fold line 71 is disposed may be at least flat.

  After the preliminary operation, the rotational speed of the drum 5 is reduced, but is maintained at a centrifugal washing speed (a speed at which the futon 70 is pressed against the drum peripheral wall 21), and the washing operation is executed. In the washing of the futon 70, the drum 5 is not stopped during the entire process period from the preliminary operation to the drying operation in order to prevent damage due to rubbing of the futon 70 and the like.

  In this washing operation, the drain valve 36 is first closed and then the water supply valve 50A or 50B is opened. As described above, tap water or hot water (hereinafter simply referred to as “water”) is selectively used in the outer tub 4. It is supplied to the inside (internal space 34). The water supplied into the outer tub 4 accumulates in the outer tub 4 in order from the drum bottom wall 20 side, specifically, the lower end of the outer tub bottom wall 6 of the outer tub 4. The water accumulated in the outer tub 4 also flows into the drum 5 through the small holes 24 in the drum peripheral wall 21 and soaks into the futon 70. Note that liquid detergent sucked by a pump (not shown) is dissolved in the water in advance, and the dirt on the futon 70 is decomposed and removed by the detergent components dissolved in the water.

  Here, as described above, since the valve 52 is always in the closed position except for the drying operation, even if water in the outer tub 4 flows into the exhaust duct 51 from the air outlet 19 in the washing operation, the valve 52 is in the closed position. The flow of water is blocked by the valve 52 located at the same position (the same applies to the rinsing operation and the dehydrating operation described later). This prevents the water from wetting the filter 53 and the fan 54 downstream from the valve 52.

  When a predetermined amount of water is stored in the outer tub 4, the water supply valve 50A or 50B is closed. The rotation speed of the drum 5 in this washing operation is set to 200 rpm, for example, and the drum 5 rotates for about 7 to 10 minutes while maintaining this rotation speed.

  That is, when the drum 5 rotates, centrifugal force acts on the water in the drum 5, and the water in the drum 5 passes through the batting of the futon 70, and the drum 5 and the outer tub 4 through the small holes 24. To the gap 25. And the water which went up in this clearance gap 25 and reached the communicating port 14 (refer FIG.4 and FIG.6) of the outer tank connection wall 11 is refluxed so that it may flow in into the drum 5 from the communicating port 14. FIG. That is, when the drum 5 rotates in this way, the water in the drum 5 circulates through the gap 25.

  In addition, since the futon 70 is pressed against the drum peripheral wall 21 by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum 5, the futon 70 is suppressed from being lifted unnecessarily in the drum 5. And by circulating water and washing the futon 70, it is not necessary to store an excessive amount of water in the drum 5, and water can be saved. That is, using the centrifugal force generated by rotating the drum 5, the futon 70 does not move as it is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the drum 5, and the water in the drum 5 is circulated, with less water, The futon 70 can be thoroughly washed up to the batting.

  In addition, since the small baffle 29 is inwardly protruding, that is, its height is low, the amount of water used (see FIG. 4) can be reduced as much as possible, as indicated by the hatched portion WH. That is, if the inward protrusion is large, the futon 70 also comes closer to the center of the drum 5 and the amount of water immersed in the futon 70 must be increased, but this situation can be avoided. it can. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when the degree of the inward protrusion of the baffle 29A is increased, the water boundary surface KM2 in the case of the baffle 29A is more than the water boundary surface KM1 in the case of the small baffle 29. Although it becomes inside and becomes larger than the volume of the hatching part WH in the case of the small baffle 29, according to this embodiment, such a situation can be avoided.

  Then, following the washing operation, that is, the rinsing operation is performed without stopping the rotation of the drum 5. Here, the drain valve 36 and the water supply valve 50A (see FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 2 are appropriately opened and closed. For this reason, water used in the washing operation (sometimes referred to as “washing water”) is discharged from the outer tub 4 and the drum 5 to the outside through the drain pipe 35, while the outer tub 4 and the drum are newly added. 5 is supplied with water (sometimes referred to as “rinse water”), and the futon 70 in the drum 5 is rinsed by the rinse water.

  The number of rotations of the drum 5 in the rinsing operation is the same as the number of rotations in the washing operation, and if two to three minutes are defined as one rinsing period, rinsing is continuously performed in a period corresponding to two times. . At this time, the water in the drum 5 circulates similarly to the washing operation. Here, by circulating the water in the drum 5, the futon 70 can be carefully rinsed down to the batting with a small amount of water, as in the washing operation.

  Here, the rinsing operation will be described in detail. First, the drain valve 36 is opened and drained in the above-described one rinsing period. Here, when the drum 5 rotates at 500 rpm to 600 rpm, the futon 70 is dehydrated (intermediate dehydration). Thereafter, the water supply valve 50A is opened and the drain valve 36 is closed. Rinsing water is supplied to the futon 70 in the drum 5, and the futon 70 is rinsed. Next, the futon 70 is rinsed with the water supply valve 50A closed. In the rinsing operation, these operations are repeated two sets.

  Then, following the rinse operation, the dehydration operation is performed without stopping the rotation of the drum 5. In the dehydration operation, the water supply valve 50A (see FIG. 1) is closed while the drain valve 36 is opened. Therefore, the water in the drum 5 and the outer tub 4 is discharged to the outside of the dry washing machine 1. The number of rotations of the drum 5 in the dehydration operation is relatively high, for example, 800 rpm to 850 rpm, and a greater centrifugal force is applied to the futon 70 in the drum 5 than in the washing operation or the rinsing operation. Moistened water is squeezed out and discharged to the outside. This dehydration operation is performed, for example, for 10 minutes.

  In the dehydration operation, the water in the drum 5 and the outer tub 4 is discharged to the outside and decreases, so that the water cannot be circulated in the drum 5. The rotation speed of the drum 5 during dehydration is 800 rpm to 850 rpm, and the rotation speed during the washing operation and the rinsing operation is 200 rpm. Even during this dehydration operation, the on-off valve 13 remains open without closing the communication port 14, and the wind in the drum 5 flows into the gap 25 through the small hole 24, and further, the drum 5 through the communication port 14. Cycles back inside.

  Then, following the dehydrating operation, the drying operation is performed without stopping the rotation of the drum 5. The number of rotations of the drum 5 in the drying operation is relatively low, 40 rpm to 50 rpm. In the drying operation, the water supply valve 50A is closed while the drain valve 36 is also closed. If the drain valve 36 is left open, the sewage odor may flow backward due to the negative pressure in the outer tub 4, and the odor may adhere to the futon (laundry). To prevent this, the drain valve 36 Is closed. In the drying operation, the eccentric cam and the fan 54 that are driving devices of the valve 52 are rotationally driven, and the heater 44 is turned on. Specifically, the eccentric cam is driven until the valve 52 moves to the open position (see FIG. 2). Thus, in the drying operation, the valve 52 opens the exhaust duct 51 in the open position. On the other hand, in the washing operation in which water is accumulated in the outer tub 4 other than the drying operation, the valve 52 closes the exhaust duct 51. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water in the outer tub 4 from entering the exhaust duct 51.

  In the drying operation, negative pressure is generated in the intake duct 43, the outer tub 4, the drum 5, and the exhaust duct 51 that are in communication with each other due to the suction force generated by the rotating fan 54. Therefore, in the intake duct 43, outside air is sucked from the heating chamber 45 (see FIG. 1). This air passes through the intake duct 43, the outer tub 4, the drum 5 and the exhaust duct 51 in order, as indicated by the white arrow (the white arrow indicates the flow of air), and the outside of the washing dryer 1 Is discharged. At this time, when the fan 54 rotates, a negative pressure is generated in the drum 5 or in the gap 25 between the drum 5 and the outer tub 4, but the drum 5 is fed by the futon 70 accommodated in the drum 5. Between the negative pressure generated in the drum 5 and the negative pressure generated in the gap 25 between the drum 5 and the outer tub 4 (which is lower). Since a pressure difference occurs, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower portion of the on-off valve 13 swings and expands outward, and the contact portion 13D contacts the small-diameter portion 22 of the drum peripheral wall 21 so that the communication port 14 is opened. It will be closed. In this way, by closing the communication port 14 during the drying operation, it is possible to prevent the leakage of hot air from the gap between the rotating drum 5 and the outer tub 4 from the inside of the drum 5 to the gap 25. Since the exhaust air is exhausted without contributing to the drying of the futon 70, the amount of heat is wasted, but this problem can be solved. In addition, when the drying condition of the futon 70 is detected based on the temperature of the exhaust air, the leakage of hot air may cause an erroneous detection of the drying condition regardless of the drying condition of the futon 70. Can also be prevented.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, in the intake duct 43, when the introduced air flows through the heating chamber 45, it is heated by the heater 44 to become dry air, and the hose 47 and the hot air passage 46 (see FIG. 1) are connected. Passing in order, it reaches the outer tank opening 9 from the inlet 12. The dry air is supplied into the drum 5 from the drum opening 23 communicating with the outer tank opening 9. The dry air supplied into the drum 5 is filled in the drum 5 and bathed on the futon 70 in the drum 5 from the inside in the radial direction. Then, the dry air flows toward the drum peripheral wall 21 while absorbing moisture in the futon 70 when passing through the futon 70, and flows out from the small hole 24 to the outer tub 4 (specifically, the gap 25). Dry air (hereinafter simply referred to as “air”) that has absorbed moisture from the futon 70 flows into the exhaust duct 51 from the air outlet 19. That is, air that has flowed out of the drum 5 into the outer tub 4 through the small hole 24 is taken out by the exhaust duct 51. The air flowing into the exhaust duct 51 rises in order through the hose 55 and the valve chamber 56 in which the valve 52 is in the open position. Then, the air passes through the filter chamber 57 and the fan chamber 58 in order toward the back surface and is discharged to the outside. Here, foreign matter (such as lint) contained in the air passing through the filter chamber 57 is captured by the filter 53. Such a drying operation is performed for 40 minutes, for example.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, in the drying operation, when supplying dry air into the drum 5, the on-off valve 13 closes the communication port 14. Therefore, the dry air does not flow into the gap 25 from the communication port 14, and the dry air can be reliably supplied from the drum opening 23 to the futon 70 in the drum 5. As a result, the effects as described above can be obtained, and the drying efficiency of the laundry (futon 70) can be improved. In particular, since the on-off valve 13 has flexibility and elasticity, the communication port 14 can be reliably closed, and since the on-off valve 13 has heat resistance, it is exposed to high-temperature dry air. But there is no problem.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the small hole 24 through which the drying air supplied into the drum 5 flows out is on the drum peripheral wall 21 on the drum bottom wall 20 side far from the drum opening 23 (in the direction along the drum shaft 30). It is provided on the opposite side of the drum opening 23, that is, at a position facing the drum opening 23, near the fold 71 of the futon 70). When the small holes 24 are provided in the entire area of the drum peripheral wall 21, the dry air that reaches the drum opening 23 tends to flow out from the small holes 24 near the drum opening 23 to the gap 25. When the futon 70 is accommodated in the drum 5, the drying air generally passes through the futon 70 so as to avoid the crease 71 having a large flow resistance. That is, when the small holes 24 are provided in the entire area of the drum peripheral wall 21, the drying air flows out from the other small holes 24 located above and to the gaps 25 while avoiding the small holes 24 near the folds 71. In this case, since the vicinity of the crease 71 is not sufficiently dried, drying unevenness occurs in the futon 70.

  In contrast, in the present invention, the small holes 24 are provided in the vicinity of the folds 71 of the futon 70 in a biased manner. In other words, the fold line 71, which is a portion that is difficult to dry in the futon 70, is arranged so as to coincide with the small hole 24 formed in the drum peripheral wall 21 so as to be biased around the drum bottom wall 20. Therefore, the drying air must pass through the crease 71, and the futon 70 can be dried also in the crease 71. As a result, the futon 70 can be dried without unevenness.

  Further, the drying air supplied from the drum opening 23 into the drum 5 flows out from the small hole 24 away from the drum opening 23 in the drum 5, so that the drying air can be retained in the drum 5 for a relatively long time. Thereby, the drying air can be poured over the entire futon 70 in the drum 5, and the drying efficiency of the futon 70 can be improved. Here, as described above, the drum shaft 30 is inclined so that the drum opening 23 faces obliquely upward. Therefore, by effectively utilizing the weight of the futon 70, the fold line 71 of the futon 70 is always arranged at the connecting portion (that is, near the small hole 24) between the inner side surface 20A of the drum bottom wall 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21. can do.

  The small holes 24 may be formed in areas other than the vicinity of the fold line 71 of the futon 70, but it is desirable that the small holes 24 be formed more as they approach the drum bottom wall 20. Thus, the drying air supplied from the drum opening 23 into the drum 5 is prevented from flowing out from the small holes 24 on the drum opening 23 side without being exposed to the futon 70, and the drying air is kept in the drum 5 for a relatively long time. Can be stopped. As a result, the drying air can be applied to the entire futon 70 in the drum 5, and the drying efficiency of the futon 70 can be improved.

  The small baffle 29 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21 is lowered into the drum 5 so that a large gap is not formed between the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21 and the futon 70 as described above. It protrudes smoothly. Therefore, most of the drying air supplied into the drum 5 is surely exposed to the futon 70 from the center side of the drum 5, and a slight amount between the inner peripheral surface of the drum peripheral wall 21 and the futon 70. It also flows into the space S. The reason for this is as follows.

  That is, when washing the futon 70, during the dehydration operation, the futon 70 sticks to the drum peripheral wall 21 by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the drum 5, and closes the many small holes 24 formed in the drum peripheral wall 21. Thereafter, in the drying operation, hot air passes through the futon 70 and is exhausted from the small hole 24 into the internal space 34. However, depending on the material of the futon 70, there is a thing that the hot air is difficult to pass through, so If it is in a clogged state, it will be difficult for it to pass through, and drying by passing will be impossible. In particular, by performing the dehydration operation, the moisture contained in the futon 70 increases from the inner peripheral surface side to the outer peripheral side, and the contact surface between the drum 5 and the futon 70 is likely to be clogged by water. Therefore, by providing the small baffle 29, sticking to the drum peripheral wall 21 of the futon 70 is reduced around the small baffle 29, that is, both sides in the left-right direction. A slight space S is formed between them, and hot air can also flow through this space S (see FIG. 9). Therefore, in combination with the passage of hot air through the futon 70, the hot air passes through the space S between the futon 70 and the drum peripheral wall 21, and the internal space is formed from a small hole 24 facing this space S. In particular, drying of the contact surface between the drum 5 and the futon 70 is promoted while being exhausted into the interior 34, air drying is improved, drying time can be shortened, and drying unevenness can be improved.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various alternatives, modifications, and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description, and the present invention is not limited to the various alternatives described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It includes modifications or variations.

It is the perspective view which looked at the washing / drying machine 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front left diagonal upper direction. It is the schematic sectional drawing which looked at the cross section when the washing / drying machine 1 was cut | disconnected by the vertical surface along the front-back direction from the right side. FIG. 3 is a diagram of components inside the washing / drying machine 1 as viewed from a position facing a drum opening 23 of the drum 5. It is sectional drawing based on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view of the on-off valve 13. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part surrounded by a circle B in FIG. 2, and shows a state in which the on-off valve 13 is opened by indicating the flow of water and wind with arrows during washing and dehydration. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a circle B in FIG. 2, and shows a state in which an on-off valve 13 is closed by showing an air flow with an arrow during drying. FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a part of the drum 5 is broken. It is the figure which looked at the drum 5 which broke partially from diagonally upward. It is a figure which shows the prior art example corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing and drying machine 4 Outer tub 5 Drum 13 On-off valve 13B Mounting part 13C Hanging part 13D Contact part 20 Drum bottom wall 20A Inner side surface 21 Drum peripheral wall 23 Drum opening 24 Small hole (through hole)
30 Drum shaft 40 Dry air supply device 70 Futon 71 Crease

Claims (4)

An outer tank that can store water,
In this outer tub, it is arranged to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, and has a through hole formed in a peripheral side surface and an inlet / outlet formed at one end surface in the rotation axis direction. A drum for accommodating the laundry therein, and washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying the laundry;
A water channel formed between the outer tub and the drum, and communicates with the inside of the drum at an upper portion through a communication port formed between the inlet / outlet and the outer tub and at a lower portion through the through hole. A water channel that communicates with the inside of the drum and flows into the drum from the water supply port through the through hole by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum, and circulates by leading to the communication port.
A drying air supply device for supplying drying air into the drum;
A valve that opens the communication port when water is circulated in the water channel and closes the communication port when supplying dry air into the drum by the dry air supply device.
A washing / drying machine characterized by comprising: An outer tank that can store water,
In this outer tub, it is arranged to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction, and has a through hole formed in a peripheral side surface and an inlet / outlet formed at one end surface in the rotation axis direction. A drum for accommodating the laundry therein, and washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying the laundry;
A water channel formed between the outer tub and the drum, and communicates with the inside of the drum at an upper portion through a communication port formed between the inlet / outlet and the outer tub and at a lower portion through the through hole. A water channel that communicates with the inside of the drum and flows into the drum from the water supply port through the through hole by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum, and circulates by leading to the communication port.
A drying air supply device for supplying drying air into the drum;
An upper portion of the outer tank that forms the communication port is fixed to the peripheral side surface and the lower portion can be expanded, and when the water is circulated through the water channel, the communication port is kept open and the drum When supplying dry air by the dry air supply device, a negative pressure generated in the drum by the laundry accommodated in the drum and a negative pressure generated in the space between the drum and the outer tub A valve that expands in the lower part due to a pressure difference and contacts the drum to close the communication port;
A washing / drying machine characterized by comprising:   The valve expands the lower part due to the pressure difference between the negative pressure generated in the drum and the negative pressure generated in the space between the drum and the outer tub, and the part that contacts the drum is formed thicker than the other part. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein   The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the valve is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape, and at least a part thereof is cut in a vertical direction so that a lower part is expanded.

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