JP2010259603A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably activate dewatering even for clothes in a laundry net while it is hard to activate dewatering for one bath towel or such clothes in a dewatering operation. <P>SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine includes a drum (8) for housing clothes, an outer tub (10) including the drum, a driving mechanism (9) for rotationally driving the drum, a blowing means (22) for blowing air into the drum, a balance state determination means (48) for determining the balance state of the clothes in the initial period of the dewatering operation, and a driving mechanism control means (51) for controlling the driving mechanism by the balance state determination means. The machine executes, by the control means, the control of stopping the dewatering operation in the balance state incapable of high-speed rotation by the balance state determination means and reactivating the dewatering. When the dewatering is reactivated by the control means, the dewatering is activated while sending air into the drum (8) by the blowing means (22). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dehydration process of a washing / drying machine.

In the washing / drying machine, the washing process and the rinsing process are completed, and before the clothes are dried or before the drying process, a dehydration process is performed to remove as much water as possible from the clothes. There are many small holes on the side of the drum, and in the dehydration process, the drum is rotated at high speed to perform centrifugal dehydration of clothing. Here, when carrying out centrifugal dehydration, if the clothes are not evenly distributed in the drum, a large unbalance is rotated at a high speed, so that the centrifugal force generated in the unbalance causes an abnormal vibration of the drum.
In order not to cause abnormal vibration, an unbalance amount is detected, and when the unbalance amount is large, a control for interrupting the dehydration start-up is set up. In particular, when a single bath towel, bath mat, or multiple clothes are placed in the laundry net, or when there are many clothes that tend to get tangled, it is difficult to evenly apply the clothes to the drum wall. Is detected and the dehydration activation is interrupted and restarted repeatedly. In some cases, dehydration cannot be started and the dehydration process may be interrupted or terminated as a dehydration error while containing a large amount of moisture.
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that a small amount of clothing such as a bath towel removes moisture by sending wind into the drum to reduce the weight.

JP 2007-175370 A

However, even a small amount of clothing tends to spread evenly on the drum wall surface, and the drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1 requires a heater and a blower to operate in such a case. Energy is used. In addition, it is necessary to operate the air blower in order to send wind, and unnecessary noise is generated.
Moreover, even if it is not a small amount of clothes, the drum-type washing machine described in Patent Document 1 cannot cope with clothes put in a washing net or clothes that are easily tangled.

  An object of this invention is to perform dehydration start with respect to the clothing which is hard to start dehydration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a washing and drying machine according to the present invention includes a drum that houses clothing, an outer tub that contains the drum, a drive mechanism that rotationally drives the drum, and air is fed into the drum. A means for determining the balance state of the clothing in the initial stage of the dehydration operation; and a control means for controlling the drive mechanism and the air blowing means, wherein the control means determines the balance state at the time of dehydration. Based on the determination result, the washing and drying machine takes control to restart the dehydration operation, and when the control device restarts the dehydration operation again, air is sent into the drum by the blowing unit. It is characterized by.

  According to the washing and drying machine of the present invention, moisture can be effectively removed from clothes that are difficult to start dehydration, and the weight of the clothes can be reduced and dehydration can be easily started.

  According to the washer / dryer according to the present invention, dehydration activation can be performed on clothes that are difficult to dehydrate activation.

It is an external view which shows the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is the right view which cut and showed a part of housing | casing and the outer tank in order to show the internal structure of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is the left view which cut and showed a part of housing | casing and the outer tank in order to show the internal structure of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control apparatus of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the normal spin-drying | dehydration operation of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the ventilation dehydration driving | operation of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change of the weight of the clothing by normal dehydration operation and ventilation dehydration operation. It is a figure which shows the operation and the display panel in the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the spin-drying | dehydration operation of the drum type washing-drying machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a right view which shows the internal structure of the washing / drying machine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the normal spin-drying | dehydration driving | operation of the washing / drying machine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the ventilation dehydration driving | operation of the washing-drying machine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
In the present description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

<< First Embodiment >>
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a drum type washing / drying machine according to the present embodiment.

<Drum-type washing and drying machine>
As shown in FIG. 1, a casing 1 constituting the outer shell of a drum type washing and drying machine is attached on a base 1 h, and includes left and right side plates 1 a and 1 b, a front cover 1 c, and a back cover 1 d (see FIG. 1). 2), a top cover 1e, and a lower front cover 1f. The left and right side plates 1a and 1b are joined by a U-shaped upper reinforcing material (not shown), a front reinforcing material (not shown), and a rear reinforcing material (not shown), and include the base 1h. A box-shaped housing is formed and has sufficient strength as a housing for a drum-type washing and drying machine.

  The door 2 is for closing a slot for putting in and taking out clothes provided in the approximate center of the front cover 1c, and can be opened and closed by a hinge (not shown) provided in a front reinforcing material (not shown). It is supported. When the door release button 2a is pressed, the lock mechanism (not shown) is released and the door 2 is opened. When the door 2 is pressed against the front cover 1c, the door is locked and closed. The front reinforcing material (not shown) has a circular opening for putting clothes in and out concentrically with an opening 10b (see FIG. 2) of the outer tub 10 described later.

  The operation / display panel 3 provided at the upper center of the housing 1 includes a power switch 4, an operation switch 5, and a display 6. The operation / display panel 3 is electrically connected to a control device 7 (see FIG. 2) provided at the lower part of the housing 1.

  The detergent container is provided on the upper left side in the housing 1 and a drawer-type detergent tray 15 is mounted from the front opening. The detergent container is fixed to the upper reinforcing material of the housing 1.

  Behind the detergent container, water-related parts such as a water supply valve 16 (not shown), a bath water supply pump (not shown), a water level sensor (not shown) are provided. The detergent container is connected to the outer tub 10 (see FIG. 2). The water supply valve 16 is a multiple valve, and supplies water to a detergent container and a water cooling / dehumidifying mechanism (not shown). The other end of the water supply valve 16 is provided on the upper surface cover 1e and serves as a water supply hose connection port 16a from a water tap. The top cover 1e is also provided with a water absorption hose connection port 17 for remaining hot water in the bath.

  FIG. 2 is a right side view of the drum-type washer / dryer according to the present embodiment, in which a part of the casing and the outer tub are cut to show the internal structure, and FIG. It is the left view which cut and showed a part of housing | casing and the outer tank in order to show the internal structure of a drum type washing-drying machine.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drum 8 is rotatably supported, has a plurality of through holes for water flow and ventilation on the outer peripheral wall thereof, and an opening for taking clothes in and out on the front end face. A portion 8a is provided. A fluid balancer 8c integrated with the drum 8 is provided outside the opening 8a. A plurality of lifters 8b extending in the axial direction are provided on the inner side of the outer peripheral wall. When the drum 8 is rotated during washing and drying, the clothes are lifted along the outer peripheral wall by the lifter 8b and centrifugal force, and fall by gravity. A tumbling operation that repeats various movements is performed. The rotation center axis of the drum 8 is inclined by about 0 to 30 ° with respect to the horizontal so that the horizontal or opening 8a side becomes higher.

The cylindrical outer tub 10 includes the drum 8 coaxially, the front surface is opened, and a motor 9 is provided at the center of the rear end surface. A rotation shaft 9 a of the motor 9 passes through the outer tub 10 and is coupled to the drum 8. Further, the motor 9 includes a rotation detection device 43 configured by a Hall element or a photo interrupter that detects the rotation.
An outer tub cover 10 a is provided at the opening on the front surface of the outer tub 10 to enable water storage in the outer tub 10. An opening 10b for putting clothes in and out is provided at the front center of the outer tub cover 10a. The opening 10b and the opening provided in the front reinforcing material (not shown) are connected by a rubber bellows 11, and the outer tub 10 is sealed with water by closing the door 2.
A drain outlet is provided at the bottom bottom of the outer tub 10 and is connected to the drain hose 12. A drain valve 12a is provided between the drain port and the drain hose 12, and water is stored in the outer tub 10 by closing the drain valve 12a and supplying water, and the drain valve 12a is opened to store the water in the outer tub 10. Water can be discharged out of the machine.

  The outer tub 10 is supported in an anti-vibration manner by a suspension 13 (consisting of a coil spring and a damper) whose lower side is fixed to the base 1h. The upper side of the outer tub 10 is supported by an auxiliary spring (not shown) attached to the upper reinforcing member, and prevents the outer tub 10 from falling in the front-rear direction. In addition, a vibration sensor 14 that detects vibration of the outer tub 10 is provided at the lower portion of the outer tub 10.

  The drying duct 18 is installed vertically inside the back surface of the housing 1, and the lower portion of the duct is connected to an intake port 10 c provided below the back surface of the outer tub 10 through a rubber bellows tube B (18 a). A water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) is built in the drying duct 18, and cooling water is supplied from a water supply valve 16 (not shown) to the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism. The cooling water flows down along the wall surface of the drying duct 18, enters the outer tank 10 through the intake port 10 c, and is discharged from the drainage port through the drainage hose 12.

The upper part of the drying duct 18 is connected to a filter duct 19 installed in the front-rear direction on the upper right side in the housing 1. The filter duct 19 has an opening on the front surface, and a drawer-type drying filter 20 is inserted into the opening. The air that has entered the filter duct 19 from the drying duct 18 flows into the mesh filter portion 20a of the drying filter 20, and the lint is removed. The dry filter 20 is cleaned by pulling out the dry filter 20 and taking out the mesh filter portion 20a.
Further, an opening is provided in the lower surface of the insertion portion of the dry filter 20 of the filter duct 19, and the filter duct 19 and the intake duct 21 are connected by this opening.
Further, the other end of the intake duct 21 is connected to the intake port of the blower unit 22.

The blower unit 22 includes a driving fan motor 22a, a fan impeller (not shown), and a fan case 22b. The fan case 22b has a built-in heater 23 that heats air sent from the fan impeller.
The discharge port of the blower unit 22 is connected to the blower duct 24. The air duct 24 is connected to a blowout port 25 provided in the outer tank cover 10a through a rubber bellows tube A (24a). In this embodiment, since the blower unit 22 is provided on the upper right side in the housing 1, the blowout port 25 is provided at a position diagonally above and to the right of the outer tank cover 10a so as to shorten the distance to the blowout port 25 as much as possible. It is.

  Thus, the air in the drum 8 passes from the through hole in the wall surface of the drum 8 to the outer tub 10, and the bellows tube B (18 a), the drying duct 18, the filter from the intake port 10 c provided below the back surface of the outer tub 10. A circulation air passage is formed in which the air is sucked into the air inlet of the duct 19, the air intake duct 21, and the air blowing unit 22, and the air is sent from the air outlet 25 to the drum 8 through the bellows tube A (24 a). Is done.

  The filter duct 19 is provided with an opening 19a for taking in air outside the circulation air passage, and an intake valve 19b for closing the opening 19a. The intake valve 19b has a structure in which the opening 19a is opened by rotating about a rotation axis. Further, an intake valve motor 19c that rotates the rotation shaft of the intake valve 19b is provided.

<Drying process>
The flow of wind during the drying operation in the drying process performed after the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process of the drum type laundry dryer according to the present embodiment is as shown by arrows in FIG.
When the air blowing unit 22 is operated and the heater 23 is energized, high-speed warm air blows into the drum 8 from the air outlet 25 through the air duct 24 and the bellows tube A (24a) (arrow 31), hits the wet clothing, The water evaporates from the clothing.
The air that has become hot and humid flows from the through hole provided in the drum 8 to the outer tub 10 and is sucked into the drying duct 18 from the air inlet 10c through the bellows tube B (18a), and the drying duct 18 moves from the bottom to the top. Flows (arrow 32). Cooling water from the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism flows down on the wall surface of the drying duct 18, and high-temperature and high-humidity air is cooled and dehumidified by coming into contact with the cooling water, and enters the filter duct 19 as low-temperature and low-humidity air.
The low-temperature and low-humidity air that has entered the filter duct 19 passes through the mesh filter 20a of the drying filter 20 to remove lint, passes through the intake duct 21, and is sucked into the blower unit 22 (arrow 33).
The air sent out from the blower unit 22 is heated again by the heater 23 and circulates so that high-speed hot air is blown into the drum 8.
At this time, the intake valve 19b provided in the filter duct 19 is closed, and the air circulates in the circulation air passage.

Furthermore, in the drum type washing / drying machine according to this embodiment, the speed of the warm air blown into the drum 8 is greatly increased. This is to suppress wrinkling during drying, and warm air is blown at a wind speed that stretches and stretches the clothes. Therefore, the wind speed is desirably 50 m / s or more. In order to create this wind speed, the fan needs to be rotated at a high speed and rotates at a rotational speed of 10,000 rpm or more. In order to rotate at such a high speed, sufficient strength is required, and the fan impeller is made of metal.
Moreover, it is desirable to further accelerate the wind blown from the blower unit 22 at the blowout port 25, and the tip of the blowout port 25 is narrower than the connection portion with the bellows tube A (24a).

<Control device 7>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control device for the drum type washer / dryer according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 7 is configured around a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 41. Based on the input from the operation switch 5, the vibration sensor 14, the rotation detection device 43, and the motor current detection device 44 that detects the current flowing through the motor 9, the display 6, the water supply valve 16, The valve 12a, the motor 9, the fan motor 22a, the intake valve motor 19c, and the heater 23 are controlled to perform operations of a washing process, a rinsing process, a dehydrating process, and a drying process. These controls are performed while measuring time and timing with the clock 46.

The microcomputer 41 includes a cloth amount calculation unit 47, an unbalance amount calculation unit 48, a threshold value database 49, an operation pattern database 50, an operation control unit 51, and a rotation speed calculation unit 52.
The rotation speed calculation unit 52 grasps the rotation speed of the drum 8 from the signal of the rotation detection device 43 and the clock 46.
The operation control unit 51 grasps the current operation state based on a signal from the rotation speed calculation unit 52 and the like, compares it with the operation pattern database 50 and the threshold database 49, and operates the motor 9, the fan motor 22a, and the like.

<Dehydration process>
Dehydration operation in the dehydration process of the drum type laundry dryer according to the present embodiment will be described.
First, the conventional problem will be described again.

After the washing process and the rinsing process are completed, the laundry dryer performs a dehydration process in which the drum 8 is rotated at a high speed to dehydrate clothes. In the case of only the washing operation, the washing is finished after the dehydration process is finished, and the user dries the clothes. In the case of the washing / drying operation, the process proceeds to the drying process after the dehydration process is completed, and the heater 23 and the fan motor 22a are driven for the wet clothes to dry the clothes with warm air and the washing / drying is finished.
If water does not drain firmly from the clothes after the dehydration process, it may take time to dry the clothes or may not dry out sufficiently. Moreover, when shifting to a drying process, since many electric energy to use for the heater 23 grade | etc., Is required, it is uneconomical. Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the drum 8 at a high speed to firmly centrifuge and dehydrate the clothing.

Here, in order to rotate the drum 8 at high speed, it is necessary to reduce the imbalance of the clothing in the drum 8. When the unbalance is large, a large centrifugal force is generated, and the drum 8 and the outer tub 10 supported by the suspension 13 vibrate greatly, resulting in a loud noise. Also, there is a resonance rotation speed while the rotation speed is increased to a high speed rotation, and the drum 8 and the outer tub 10 vibrate excessively in the vicinity of the resonance rotation speed, resulting in abnormal vibration that collides with the housing wall or the like. There is also. Therefore, it is necessary to activate the centrifugal dehydration with the unbalance being small, and it is necessary to disperse the clothes in the drum 8 cleanly.
The resonance rotational speed is determined by the weight of the drum 8 elastically supported by the suspension 13, the motor 9, the outer tub 10, clothes in the drum 8, and the like.

  However, it is difficult to disperse the clothes in the drum 8 neatly, and in the dehydration process in the conventional washing and drying machine, when the imbalance is large, the dehydration activation is interrupted and the restart is controlled. This is based on the idea that if it is restarted several times even if it is not neatly dispersed once, the clothes can be dispersed in the drum 8 in a well-balanced manner, and centrifugal dehydration by high-speed rotation becomes possible. .

  However, when there is only one bath towel or bath mat, when multiple clothes are put in the washing net, or when many clothes that tend to get tangled such as clothes with long sleeves are included, the clothes are not easily dispersed on the wall surface of the drum 8. , Easy to become unbalanced. In addition, even after restarting several times, the unbalanced state is not resolved and it is difficult to disperse neatly.

Therefore, the operation of the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow during normal dehydration operation of the drum type laundry dryer according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 6 is during blower dehydration operation of the drum type laundry dryer according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of.
This operation is controlled based on the operation pattern database 50, and operation devices such as each motor are operated by a control signal from the operation control unit 51.
In addition, description will be made assuming that the high-speed rotation speed necessary for centrifugally dewatering the clothes is 900 rpm, and the resonance rotation speed is 150 rpm and 200 rpm.

<Normal dehydration operation>
After the washing / rinsing process is completed, the dehydration process is started (step S1). First, the drain valve 12a is opened, and drainage in the outer tub 10 is started (step S2). Further, a counter n and a counter m for counting the number of times the dehydration activation is interrupted are set to 0, and an initial value of an allowable activation number M1 described later is set (step S3).
As will be described later, the counter n counts the number of times the drum 8 is rotated so that the clothes are peeled off from the wall surface of the drum 8, and the counter m counts the number of times the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped. .

  If the counter m that counts the number of times that the dehydration activation counted in step S29 and step S31, which will be described later, is interrupted is the allowable activation number M1 or more (No in step S4), it is determined that the clothing is difficult to activate, and the blowing dehydration operation (Step S5). The allowable number of activations M1 is determined by the cloth amount determination performed later, but the initial value is set to about 4 times.

On the other hand, when it is smaller than the set allowable number of activations M1 (Yes in step S4), dehydration activation is started, and first, loosening operation is performed (step S6). The loosening operation is an operation of loosening clothes by rotating the drum 8 forward and reverse at about 45 rpm at a time interval shorter than the rotation time of the drum 8 in the washing / rinsing process. When rotated at about 45 rpm, the clothing does not stick to the wall surface of the drum 8, and a tumbling state occurs in which the lifted clothing falls to the bottom of the drum 8 due to gravity. When this operation is performed, the clothing is separated little by little, and it becomes easy to disperse.
Also, the cloth amount is detected simultaneously with the unwinding operation (step S7). This cloth amount detection is detected by the cloth amount calculation unit 47 based on a signal from the motor current detection device 44. As the amount of cloth increases, the load for rotating the drum 8 increases, and a large amount of motor current flowing through the motor 9 is required. Therefore, the amount of cloth is detected by the motor current.

After loosening the clothes in this way, the rotational speed of the drum 8 is gradually increased to 110 rpm (step S8). By gradually increasing the rotation speed, clothing gradually sticks to the wall surface of the drum 8 from above 60 rpm, and is distributed in a well-balanced manner. 110 rpm is a rotational speed slightly lower than the first resonance rotational speed 150 rpm of the outer tub 10, and is not a rotational speed at which the outer tub 10 resonates and vibrates greatly.
In this state, a short time of about 6 seconds is maintained (step S9), and the unbalance amount u is measured (step S10). The measurement of the unbalance amount u is detected by the unbalance amount calculation unit 48 based on signals from the rotation speed calculation unit 52 and the motor current detection device 44. When the unbalance amount u is large, the load is large when the unbalance is lifted from the bottom to the top, and a decrease in the rotational speed is observed, and at the same time, a large torque is required. On the other hand, when the unbalance is turned from top to bottom, the load is reduced, and an increase in rotational speed is observed, and at the same time, the torque is reduced. Thus, fluctuations are observed in the rotational speed and torque due to the unbalance, and the unbalance amount u is detected from the magnitude of the fluctuations.

If the unbalance amount u is smaller than the allowable unbalance amount U1 preset in the threshold value database 49 (Yes in step S11), the first resonance rotation speed is passed and the rotation speed is increased to 170 rpm (step S11). S12). 170 rpm is a rotational speed that is slightly lower than the second resonant rotational speed of 200 rpm, and is a rotational speed at which the outer tub 10 does not resonate and does not vibrate greatly.
It is maintained at 170 rpm for about 5 seconds (step S13), and at the same time as water is drained from the clothes, it waits for the water that has escaped from the clothes to be discharged out of the outer tub 10. If the rotational speed is suddenly increased, the water that comes off the clothes and the water that is discharged out of the outer tub 10 are not balanced, and accumulates between the outer tub 10 and the drum 8. If the drum 8 is kept rotating in such a state, the detergent remaining in the washing water is agitated and foamed in the drum 8, and the foam becomes a resistance to the rotation of the drum 8, resulting in a dehydration error.
Therefore, after a little time, the rotational speed is further increased (step S14). While the rotation speed is increasing, the unbalance amount u is further measured (step S15). Even in step S10, the unbalance amount u was measured. However, since the rotation speed has increased, moisture is removed from the clothing, and the clothing is further pressed against the wall surface of the drum 8. Yes, it needs to be detected again. The unbalance detection method here is a method in which the signal of the vibration sensor 14 is detected by the unbalance amount calculation unit 48. If the unbalance is large, the vibration of the outer tub 10 becomes large. Therefore, the unbalance amount u can be measured by detecting the magnitude.

In step S16, as in step S11, the measured unbalance amount u is compared with the allowable unbalance amount U1 preset in the threshold value database 49.
When the measured unbalance amount u is smaller than the permissible unbalance amount U1 preset in the threshold value database 49 (Yes in step S16), the second resonance rotation speed is passed and the final dehydration rotation speed is 900 rpm. (Step S17). This 900 rpm is maintained for 6 minutes (step S18), the rotation speed is lowered and stopped (step S19), the drain valve 12a is closed (step S20), and the dehydration is terminated (step S21).

  However, if the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance U1 in step S11 (No in step S11), dehydration is restarted without increasing the rotation speed. At this time, the operation is changed depending on the amount of cloth. If the amount of cloth detected in step S7 is not a small amount (No in step S22), the allowable number of activations M1 is set to 4 (step S23), and if the amount of cloth is small (Yes in step S22), the allowable number of activations M1 is set. Is set to 3 (step S24).

  The permissible number of activations M1 is set to be smaller when the amount of cloth is small compared to other cases. If the amount of cloth is small, it may be assumed that there is one bath towel or one bath mat. In this case, it is difficult to correct the unbalanced state by normal unwinding operation. It is desirable to migrate. However, even if it is a small amount, there may be a case where there are about two or three towels. In this case, it is sufficient to correct the imbalance by the normal unwinding operation, and it is not necessary to perform the blowing dehydration operation. Although the blower dewatering operation will be described later, a fan that is not normally used in the dewatering operation is rotated. Therefore, excess electric power is used and noise due to the airflow is generated, which is an undesirable operation.

When the counter n that counts the number of times that the dehydration activation counted in step S27 to be described later is interrupted is smaller than 3 (Yes in step S25), the rotational speed is reduced to 40 rpm so that the clothes are peeled off from the wall surface of the drum 8. The counter is rotated to correct the unbalanced state of the clothes (step S26), and the counter n is incremented by 1 (step S27).
After that, the clothing is raised again to 110 rpm at which the clothes stick to the wall surface of the drum 8 (step S8), the unbalance amount u is determined, and it is determined whether or not the first resonance rotational speed is allowed to pass.
The restarting operation in which the clothes are peeled off from the wall surface is counted by the counter n. If this restarting operation is performed three times, that is, if the counter n becomes 3 or more (No in step S25), the clothing is severely entangled. Then, it is determined that a loosening operation is necessary, the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped (step S28), the counter n is returned to 0, the counter m is incremented by 1 (step S29), and the flow returns to step S4 to start the loosening operation. Dehydration is started again (step S6).
The restart operation from the unraveling operation is counted by the counter m, and when it is repeated by the number of allowable start times M1 set in step S23 or step S24 (step S4), the operation is shifted to the blowing dehydration operation (step S5).

  If the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance U1 in step S16 (No in step S16), the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped (step S30), the counter n is returned to 0, and the counter m is incremented by 1. (Step S31). It returns to step S4 and is restarted from the loosening operation (step S6) thereafter.

<Blower dehydration operation>
The blower dewatering operation in step S5 in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The blowing dehydration operation is an operation that promotes the removal of moisture from the clothes by blowing air on clothes that are difficult to balance, reduces the weight below the allowable unbalance, and enables dehydration activation.

  When the blower dehydration activation is started (step S41), first, a counter n for counting the number of times the dehydration activation is interrupted is set to 0 (step S42).

  Next, the fan motor 22a is driven by the operation control unit 51 along the operation pattern database 50 of the microcomputer 41, the fan is rotated (step S43), and wind is blown on the clothes. A higher wind speed is desirable because it has a higher effect of evaporating and pushing water from clothing. Therefore, high-speed wind is blown like the drying operation of the present embodiment. In particular, the fact that there is a wind force that stretches the garment means that a force that deforms the garment itself is acting, and the effect of pushing out water from the garment is very high. Therefore, it is desirable that the wind speed is 50 m / s or more which is almost the same as that during the drying operation.

Next, the microcomputer 41 drives the intake valve motor 19c, rotates the intake valve 19b, and opens the opening 19a (step S44).
As described above, during the drying operation, the intake valve 19b is closed, and the air pushed out from the fan circulates through the drum 8 and the drying duct 18 so as to be sucked into the fan.
However, during the blowing and dehydrating operation, by opening the intake valve 19b provided on the upstream side of the fan, the fan sucks not the air from the drying duct 18 but the air inside the washing / drying machine main body passing through the opening 19a. become. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, by rotating the substantial center of the intake valve 19b, an opening 19a serving as an intake port is created, and a part of the intake valve 19b enters the filter duct 19 and the filter duct 19 Occlude. If it does in this way, the flow of the air from the filter duct 19 to a fan can be suppressed, the air in a washing-drying machine main body can be suck | inhaled without circulating the air in the drum 8, and it can spray on clothing.

The air blown onto the clothing generates a force that presses the clothing against the wall surface of the drum 8, improves water drainage from the clothing due to centrifugal dehydration, and promotes evaporation from the clothing surface.
As the water evaporates from the clothes, the air in the drum 8 gradually increases in humidity, and the evaporation of water from the clothes slows down. In order to suppress this increase in humidity, air with low humidity is sucked from outside the circulation air passage without circulating air. Therefore, it is desirable to open the intake valve 19b.

  The motor 9 that has repeatedly started dehydration generates heat, and the heat is accumulated in the washing / drying machine main body. Evaporation is further accelerated by sucking this heat and applying it to clothing. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the opening 19a at a position as high as possible in the main body of the washing / drying machine.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the area of the opening 19a is more than half of the cross-sectional area of the filter duct 19 so that more dry air can be sucked.
It is desirable that the opening 19a is ahead of the drying duct 18 (water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism). When the opening 19a is provided in the drying duct 18, since cooling water flows through the drying duct 18 during the drying operation in the drying process, the opening 19a needs to be tightly sealed by the intake valve 19b so that water does not leak. However, if it is tightly sealed, a large torque is required to open and close the intake valve 19b, and the intake valve motor 19c becomes large.

  Further, it is desirable not to provide a small through hole provided in the wall surface of the drum 8 on the bottom surface of the drum 8 in order to increase the force of pressing the clothes against the wall surface of the drum 8 by the blown air. If a through-hole is also formed in the bottom surface of the drum 8, the wind will escape from the bottom surface of the drum 8, and the force for pressing the clothing against the wall surface of the drum 8 will be reduced, and the amount of water pushed out from the clothing will be reduced.

  Next, the heater 41 is energized from the microcomputer 41 (step S45). The air blown from the fan is heated by the heater 23 to warm clothes and water contained therein. By blowing warmed air on the clothing, the evaporation of water from the clothing is promoted, and the viscosity of the water can be lowered and the water can be removed by centrifugal dehydration. It is desirable to heat However, since the amount of electric power used increases, it is not necessary to energize the heater 23. Alternatively, it is desirable to energize the heater 23 with less power than that used during the drying operation in the drying process.

Next, a loosening operation is performed (step S46). Also, the cloth amount is determined simultaneously with the unwinding operation (step S47).
If the amount of cloth is small (Yes in step S48), the rotational speed is increased to 120 rpm (step S49). If the amount of cloth is not small (No in step S48), the rotational speed is increased to 110 rpm ( Step S50).

When the amount of cloth is small, the weight is small and the weight of the supported portion including the clothing supported by the suspension 13 is light. In addition, the centrifugal dehydration effect is exerted by the rotation of 110 rpm in the normal dehydration operation described above, and water is removed to a certain extent and lightens. By reducing the weight in this way, the rotation speed causing resonance becomes higher than the resonance rotation speed in a general use situation. Therefore, even with the same unbalance amount and the same rotational speed, vibration is small and the rotational speed can be further increased.
Thus, by increasing the rotation speed, the centrifugal dehydration effect can be enhanced, and a large amount of water can be drained from the clothing. In addition, the relative speed between the clothing surface and air is increased, and the evaporation effect is further enhanced. Therefore, in the case of one bath towel or one bath mat, the weight can be further reduced and dehydration can be easily started.

Next, it is rotated for 60 seconds at a rotational speed set differently depending on the amount of cloth (step S51). The rotation time at the rotation speed before the first resonance rotation speed is longer than that at the normal dehydration operation (6 seconds at 110 rpm). The centrifugal dehydration effect is enhanced by increasing the length.
In addition, the time required to sufficiently evaporate the surface of the clothes attached to the inner surface of the drum 8 is gained. If the time is short, the surface of the clothing is loosened before it is sufficiently evaporated, and it changes to another surface, which is not effective.
Further, when the clothes are stuck and rotated at a constant speed, the motor 9 can be driven with less torque than in the tumbling operation, and the operation can be performed with power saving.
In addition, frequent loosening operations tend to rub the clothing and easily damage the clothing, but this can be solved.
At this time, the drum 8 is rotated such that the direction of rotation of the drum 8 is opposite to the wind blown from the blowout port 25. In the present embodiment, the air outlet 25 is located on the upper right and the wind is blown out toward the lower left. The drum 8 is rotated counterclockwise so as to be against the wind. Thus, by rotating so that it may become a head wind, the relative speed of the clothing surface and air increases, and the effect of evaporation is heightened more.

The unbalance amount u is measured while rotating at this rotational speed (step S52). This measurement is performed at the end of the rotation time of step S51 in order to measure the unbalance amount u in the state after moisture has been removed due to the centrifugal dehydration effect and the evaporation effect in step S51.
Further, as described above, since the time of the rotational speed is longer than that in the normal dehydration operation, the determination time can be extended. In the case of low speed rotation, the liquid in the fluid balancer 8c does not remain at a stable position, and an error occurs in the unbalance amount u. However, by taking a long determination time, the measured unbalance amount u can be averaged, the measurement error can be reduced, and dehydration can be started more safely. Therefore, it is desirable to lengthen the determination time.

  When the unbalance amount u thus measured is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (Yes in step S53), the rotational speed is increased to 170 rpm so as to pass the first resonance rotational speed (step S54). It is desirable that the allowable unbalance amount U2 during the blowing dehydration operation is larger than the allowable unbalance amount U1 during normal dewatering. Since it is determined that it is difficult to start normally by dehydration operation, even if the amount of unbalance is somewhat large and vibration is increased, it is determined that it is preferable to end halfway due to dehydration error, and the first resonance rotational speed is set to Let it pass and dehydrate at high speed.

Next, it is maintained at 170 rpm for about 5 seconds (steps S54 and S55), and the rotational speed is further increased (step S56). While the rotation speed is increasing, the unbalance amount u is further measured (step S57). If the unbalance amount u is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (Yes in step S58), the unbalance amount u continues to increase to 500 rpm and passes the second resonance rotational speed (step S59).
Since the first and second resonance rotational speeds have been passed, the vibration is not so large as to be abnormal vibration. Therefore, it is determined that high-speed centrifugal dewatering can be performed, and the air blowing for improving the drainage of water is stopped. First, the heater 23 is stopped (step S60), the intake valve is closed (step S61), and the fan is stopped (step S62). By doing so, the noise caused by the rotation of the fan and the consumption of electric power by the heater, which are necessary for successful dehydration startup, are suppressed.

  Next, the process is shifted to high-speed centrifugal dewatering, and the drum 8 is rotated at 900 rpm (step S63). This rotation is maintained for 6 minutes (step S64). Accordingly, it is determined that the clothes can be dehydrated, the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped (step S65), the drain valve 12a is closed (step S66), and the dehydration process is ended (step S67).

If the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 in step S53 (No in step S53), it is determined that abnormal vibration is caused when the resonance rotational speed passes, and the normal dehydration operation is performed. Suspend the rotation and restart.
When the counter n that counts the number of times that the dehydration activation counted in step S70 to be described later is interrupted is smaller than 3 (Yes in step S68), the rotational speed is reduced to 40 rpm (step S69), and the clothing is removed from the wall surface of the drum 8. At the same time as peeling and tumbling, the counter n is incremented by 1 (step S70), the process returns to step S48, and the rotational speed is increased again to 120 rpm or 110 rpm (step S49, step S50). Reattach.
On the other hand, when the counter n is 3 or more (No in step S68), the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped (step S71), the counter n is returned to 0 (step S72), the process returns to step S46, and the unwinding operation is restarted. (Step S46).

  If the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 in the determination in step S58 (No in step S58), the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped as in the case of normal dewatering (step S73), and the counter n is set. It returns to 0 (step S74) and restarts from the loosening operation (step S46).

  By repeating such a control operation, moisture can be removed from the garment, and even if the garment is difficult to balance, the weight can be reduced and dehydration can be activated.

The effect of this blowing dehydration operation is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a change in the weight of the clothing due to the normal dehydration operation and the blower dehydration operation. The vertical axis represents the weight of clothing, and the horizontal axis represents the dehydration time.
It is the experimental result which compared the case where it blows (normal dehydration) and the case where it does not blow (blower dehydration start) with respect to the state which rotates the drum 8 to 110 rpm, detects imbalance, and continues restarting continuously. In the air blowing and dehydrating operation of this experiment, only the fan is rotated without driving the heater 23.

From this result, it can be seen that in the normal dehydration operation, the weight is reduced until a certain time, but is hardly decreased thereafter. On the other hand, it turns out that the weight of the clothes by the ventilation dehydration operation continues to decrease with time.
Therefore, it can be seen that by blowing wind, moisture can be effectively removed from the garment, the weight can be reduced, the amount can be reduced below the allowable unbalance amount, and dehydration can be activated.

Further, in the initial stage of dehydration start (the range enclosed by the ellipse), there is almost no difference in the weight of the clothes by the normal dehydration operation and the blowing dehydration operation. This is presumably because the draining effect by centrifugal force is stronger than the evaporation effect by wind at the initial stage of dehydration. Thereafter, as time passes, the effect of centrifugal dehydration is weakened, and the evaporating effect of blowing is stronger. As a result, it is considered that the blowing dehydration operation can further reduce the weight of clothes.
In addition, at the initial stage of dehydration, clothes have a lot of water, are heavy, and have a large centrifugal force acting on the water. As a result, the water is well removed from the clothing. Even if the wind is sent to the clothes in this state, the centrifugal force is much larger than the pressing force by the wind, and the dehydrating effect is hardly exhibited. However, if restarting is repeated to some extent, water drains from the clothing and lightens, the centrifugal force acting on the water decreases, and water drains worsens. It can be considered that when the wind was sent and the force for pressing the clothes was added to such a state, the force for pushing out the water significantly increased and the dehydration effect could be enhanced.

From these things, even if it blows immediately after dehydration start-up, it thinks that an effect is not acquired so much. Therefore, it is considered that the weight of the clothes can be efficiently reduced by removing water from the clothes by centrifugal dehydration effect to some extent and then blowing the air.
If the air is blown immediately after the start of dewatering, it is not desirable because noise due to the rotation of the fan and the use of extra power are involved, although there is not much dewatering effect.

In the normal dehydration operation of the present embodiment, if restarting is repeated without being dispersed neatly, the number of restarts is 12 times, up to 3 times for the counter n and 4 times for the counter m. If performed 12 times, about 5 to 10 minutes will elapse. This time corresponds to the range enclosed by the ellipse in FIG.
Therefore, the control of this embodiment performs normal dehydration operation in which low-speed dehydration is repeated without sending wind in a section where the centrifugal force dehydration effect is high. You can drive. That is, it is preferable to apply the blow-off dehydration activation to the case where the normal dehydration operation is performed at the initial stage of dehydration as in the present embodiment and the normal dehydration operation cannot be activated.

  Further, in the normal dewatering operation shown in FIG. 5, when the amount of cloth is small in step S22, the allowable number of activations is decreased in step S24, and the operation is shifted to the air blowing dehydration operation as soon as possible. The reason was explained earlier, but when the amount of cloth is small, it is assumed that there is one bath towel etc. In that case, it is difficult to disperse well in the drum, and it is difficult to disperse in the drum. This is to prevent damage to the cloth and clogging of the cloth's eyes. At the same time, if the amount of cloth is small, the clothes retain less moisture, and the centrifugal dehydration effect is weakened in an early time, and the push-out effect by blowing is effective. This is because the starting time zone becomes earlier. By doing in this way, it can dehydrate efficiently, can reduce the weight of clothes, can reduce the amount of imbalance, and can start dehydration.

  If the control of the present embodiment is performed, even if it is not neatly dispersed, it can be started by gradually reducing the weight of the garment, but almost the same dehydration effect as centrifugal dehydration can be obtained while repeating the restart. Dehydration may be stopped at that time. The determination means may use the result of cloth amount detection or the dehydration elapsed time.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Next, a second embodiment is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation / display panel in the drum type washing / drying machine according to the second embodiment.
A display 6 and a plurality of operation switches 5 are disposed on the operation / display panel 3 disposed on the upper front surface of the washing / drying machine. The operation switch 5 includes a start button 5a, a course selection button, a washing course button 5b, a washing-drying course button 5c, a drying course button 5d, and a time and frequency setting button, a washing button 5e, a rinsing button 5f, and dehydration. It has a button 5g.
In addition, the operation switch 5 has an activation priority button operation that can intentionally instruct the washing / drying machine side of an operation that makes dehydration easier to be activated when the user operates the button. When the dehydration button 5g is kept pressed for 3 seconds or longer, the display unit 6 indicates the activation priority, and the activation priority operation is instructed in the dehydration. This operation is applied to the final dehydration operation at least in the washing course and the washing to drying course. It is also applied when only dehydration is selected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow at the time of dehydration operation of the drum type washing and drying machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The dehydration process is started (step S81), and if the activation priority operation is not instructed (No in step S82), the normal dehydration operation shown in FIG. 5 is performed (step S83).
If the activation priority operation is instructed (Yes in step S83), the drain valve 12a is opened (step S84), and the loosening operation is started (step S85). Thereafter, while increasing the rotational speed of the drum 8, the clothing is attached to the wall surface of the drum 8 and increased to 110 rpm before the first resonance rotational speed (step S86).
Here, the drum 8 is continuously rotated at 110 rpm for 60 seconds (step S87). This is a longer time than the normal dehydration operation (see step 9 in FIG. 5), and the effect of centrifugal dehydration is effectively exerted by increasing the time.
Further, the unbalance amount u is measured during the rotation (step S88). When the unbalance amount u is equal to or larger than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (No in step S89), the drum 8 is rotated. The operation is stopped (step S90), and the blowing dehydration operation is performed (step S91). At this time, the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 is the same as that during the blowing dehydration operation, and is set larger than the allowable unbalance amount U1 during the normal dehydration operation. Note that the blower dehydration operation and the normal dehydration operation are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, when the unbalance amount u is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (Yes in step S89), the first resonance rotation speed is passed and the rotation speed of the drum 8 is increased to 170 rpm (step S92). This state is maintained for 5 seconds (step S93), and at the same time as the water is drained from the clothes, it waits for the water that has drained from the clothes to be discharged out of the outer tub 10.
Thereafter, while increasing the rotational speed of the drum 8 (step S94), the unbalance amount u is measured by the vibration sensor 14 (step S95), and when this unbalance amount u is equal to or larger than a predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (step S95). No in S96), the rotation is stopped (step S97), and the blower dewatering operation is performed (step S98).
On the other hand, if the unbalance amount u is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 in step S96 (Yes in step S96), the second resonance rotational speed is passed and the rotational speed is increased to 900 rpm (step S99). In this state, high-speed centrifugal dehydration is performed for 6 minutes (step S100).
Thereafter, the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped (step S101), the drain valve 12a is closed (step S102), and the dehydration process is ended (step S103).

As described above, when the activation priority operation is instructed, first, the time for low-speed rotation is lengthened to make the water draining effect by centrifugal dehydration effective, and then the operation is shifted to the blowing dehydration operation. Thereby, dehydration start can be performed efficiently and reliably.
Further, when the start priority operation is instructed, and it is determined that the unbalanced state cannot pass the resonance rotational speed, the rotation of the drum 8 is stopped and the operation is shifted to the blower dewatering operation. Thereby, the tumbling operation and the unraveling operation up to the transition to the blower dewatering operation can be reduced, and the rubbing and the damage of the clothes due to the tumbling operation and the unraveling operation can be reduced.
Further, even when the activation priority operation is instructed, when the unbalance amount is smaller than the predetermined value and the resonance rotational speed can be passed, high-speed centrifugal dewatering is performed without shifting to the blower dewatering operation. Thereby, the noise and electric power consumption by ventilation can be suppressed.

<< Third Embodiment >>
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is intended for a vertical washing and drying machine.
FIG. 10 is a right side view showing the internal structure of the washing / drying machine according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flow during a normal dehydration operation of the washing / drying machine according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flow at the time of the blow dehydrating operation of the washing / drying machine according to the third embodiment.

  In FIG. 10, an outer lid 62 and a water supply port 63 are provided on the upper surface of the housing 61. An outer tub 64 is elastically supported by a suspension 65 in the housing 61. A washing tub (drum) 66 is rotatably provided inside the outer tub 64. A pulsator 67 for agitating the laundry is rotatably provided at the bottom of the washing tub 66. The wall surface of the washing tub 66 is provided with a number of through holes so that air and water can pass therethrough. A motor 68 for rotating the washing tub 66 and the pulsator 67 is provided under the outer tub 64. Further, a clutch 69 is provided between the motor 68 and the outer tub 64, and the rotation of the motor 68 is switched to the washing tub 66 or the pulsator 67 and transmitted.

Further, a dehumidifying duct 70 is provided behind the outer tub 64, and an intake port 64 a for sending air from the outer tub 64 into the dehumidifying duct 70 is provided below the outer tub 64. A fan unit 71 is provided on the opposite side of the dehumidifying duct 70 from the intake port 64 a, and the air in the dehumidifying duct 70 is sucked into the fan unit 71. The fan unit 71 includes a fan 72 and a fan motor 77, and the fan 72 is driven by the fan motor 77. A heater 73 is provided on the discharge side of the fan unit 71, and the tip of the heater 73 is connected to the outer tub 64 while reducing the cross-sectional area. An inner lid 74 is provided on the upper surface of the outer tub 64 so as not to let air in the outer tub 64 escape.
As described above, the air in the washing tub 66 passes from the through hole in the wall surface of the washing tub 66 to the outer tub 64, and from the intake port 64 a provided below the back surface of the outer tub 64, the dehumidification duct 70 and the intake port of the fan unit 71. A circulation air passage is formed in which air is sucked into the washing tub 66 from the outlet of the fan unit 71.

  Further, dehumidifying cooling water is supplied to a main water supply valve for supplying washing water into the outer tub 64 and a water cooling / dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) in the dehumidifying duct 70 at the tip of the water supply port 63. Therefore, a water supply valve 75 having multiple cooling water valves is provided. A drainage valve 76 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 64, and the drainage valve 76 is opened to drain washing water and cooling water out of the washing dryer.

  An opening 70a for taking in air outside the outer tub 64 and an intake valve 70b for closing the opening 70a are provided on the downstream side of the dehumidifying duct 70 and above the cooling water supply unit. The intake valve 70b has a structure that rotates about a rotation axis and opens the opening 70a. In addition, an intake valve motor 70c for rotating the rotation shaft of the intake valve 70b is provided.

  Further, the motor 68 includes a rotation detection device 78 configured by a Hall element or a photo interrupter for detecting the rotation. A vibration sensor 80 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 64.

  A control device 79 that controls the motor 68, the clutch 69, the fan 72, the heater 73, and the like is provided in the housing 61. The control device 79 is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  A flow for controlling the dehydration of the washing / drying machine is shown in FIGS.

<Normal dehydration operation>
After the washing / rinsing process is completed, the dehydration process is started (step S201).
The drain valve 76 is opened, and drainage inside the outer tub 64 is started (step S202).
A counter m that counts the number of times dehydration activation has been interrupted is set to 0 (step S203).
When the counter m that counts the number of times that the dehydration activation counted in steps S221 and S223, which will be described later, is interrupted is set to a preset allowable number of activations (three in this flowchart) (No in step S204), It is determined that the clothes are difficult to start dehydration, and the process proceeds to the blower dehydration operation shown in FIG. 12 (step S205).
On the other hand, if the counter m is smaller than the allowable number of activations set (three in this flowchart) (Yes in step S204), first, loosening operation is performed (step S206).
The loosening operation is an operation of loosening clothes by causing the pulsator 67 to rotate forward and reverse at a time interval shorter than the rotation time of the pulsator 67 in the washing / rinsing process. By moving the pulsator 67 in small increments, the clothes are uniformly distributed in the washing tub 66.

After loosening the clothes in this way, the unbalance amount u is measured (step S208) while gradually increasing the rotational speed of the washing tub 66 by the motor 68 (step S207).
When the first resonance rotational speed is in the vicinity of 60 rpm and the unbalance amount u is large, the outer tub 64 resonates and contacts the casing 1 violently, causing abnormal vibration.
The measurement of the unbalance amount is calculated by a microcomputer in the control device 79 based on the output of the vibration sensor 80.
When the unbalance amount u is smaller than the allowable unbalance amount U1 preset in the threshold value database 49 (Yes in step S209), the resonance is passed and the rotation speed of the washing tub 66 is increased to 170 rpm (step S210). . 170 rpm is a rotational speed that is slightly lower than the second resonant rotational speed of 200 rpm, and is a rotational speed that is unlikely to cause large vibrations. The pressure is maintained at 170 rpm for about 5 seconds (step S211), and at the same time as the water is drained from the clothes, the process waits for the water that has drained from the clothes to be discharged out of the outer tub 64. Thus, after a little time, the rotational speed of the washing tub 66 is further increased (step S212). While the rotation speed is increasing, the unbalance amount u is further measured (step S213). If this unbalance amount u is smaller than the allowable unbalance amount U1 preset in the threshold value database 49 (Yes in step S214), the unbalance amount u is increased to 900 rpm which is the final dewatering rotation speed, and high speed centrifugal dewatering is performed (step S215).
This 900 rpm is maintained for 6 minutes (step S216), thereby determining that water has sufficiently drained from the clothing, and stopping the rotation of the washing tub 66 (step S217), closing the drain valve 76 (step S218), and performing the dehydration process. Terminate (step S219).

However, if the unbalance is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance U1 in Step S209 (No in Step S209), the rotation of the washing tub 66 is stopped (Step S220), and the counter m is incremented by 1 (Step S221). Perform a restart.
At this time, dehydration is started again from the loosening operation (step S206). The restart operation from the unwinding operation is controlled by the counter m, and when it is repeated more than the preset allowable number of activations (three times in this flowchart) (No in step S204), the operation is shifted to the blowing dehydration operation ( Step S205).

In step S214, if the unbalance is equal to or greater than the predetermined allowable unbalance U1 (No in step S214), the rotation of the washing tub 66 is stopped (step S222), and the counter m is incremented by 1 (step S223). Restart dehydration.
Also at this time, dehydration is started again from the loosening operation (step S206). The restart operation from the unwinding operation is controlled by the counter m, and when it is repeated more than the preset allowable number of activations (three times in this flowchart) (No in step S204), the operation is shifted to the blowing dehydration operation ( Step S205).

<Blower dehydration operation>
The blowing dehydration operation in step S205 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the blower dehydration operation is started (step S241), first, the fan motor 77 is driven to rotate the fan 72 (step S242). The intake valve motor 70c is driven, the intake valve 70b is rotated, and the opening 70a is opened (step S243). As in the first embodiment, it is desirable that the opening 70 a is provided at a position as high as possible in the washing / drying machine body as compared with the motor 68. Further, the area of the opening 70a is preferably at least half of the cross-sectional area of the dehumidifying duct 70 so that a larger amount of dry air can be sucked.

  Next, the heater 73 is energized (step S244). The air blown from the fan 72 is heated by the heater 73 and sprayed onto the clothes in the washing tub 66 to warm the clothes and water contained therein. As the temperature rises, evaporation is promoted, the viscosity of water can be lowered, and water drainage by centrifugal dehydration is improved. Therefore, although it is desirable to energize the heater 73, it is not necessary to energize the heater 73 because the amount of electric power used increases. Alternatively, it is desirable to energize the heater 73 with less power than that used during the drying operation.

  Next, a loosening operation is performed (step S245). Thereafter, the rotational speed of the washing tub 66 is increased to 45 rpm (step S246), and the washing tub 66 is rotated for 60 seconds (step S247).

  While rotating at this rotational speed, the unbalance amount u is measured (step S248). This measurement is performed at the end of the rotation in step S247.

  When the unbalance amount u thus measured is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (Yes in step S249), the first resonance rotational speed is passed, and the rotational speed of the washing tub 66 is further increased to 170 rpm ( Step S250). It is desirable that the allowable unbalance amount U2 during the blowing dehydration operation is larger than the allowable unbalance amount U1 during the normal dehydration operation. Since it is determined that it is difficult to start in the normal dehydration operation, the amount of unbalance is somewhat large, and high-speed dehydration is performed even if the vibration increases.

  Next, it is maintained at 170 rpm for about 5 seconds (step S251), and the rotational speed is further increased (step S252). While the rotation speed is increasing, the unbalance amount u is further measured (step S253). If the unbalance amount u is smaller than the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 (Yes in step S254), the rotation speed of the washing tub 66 is continuously increased to 500 rpm, and the second resonance rotation speed is allowed to pass (step S255). After passing through the resonance, vibration that is not so great as to cause abnormal vibration does not occur. Therefore, it is determined that high-speed centrifugal dewatering can be performed, and blowing to improve water drainage is stopped. First, energization to the heater 73 is stopped (step S256), the intake valve 70b is closed (step S257), and the fan 72 is stopped (step S258). By doing so, noise due to fan rotation that does not normally occur in dehydration operation and power consumption due to heater energization are suppressed.

  Next, the process is shifted to high-speed centrifugal dehydration, and the washing tub 66 is rotated at 900 rpm (step S259). This rotation is maintained for 6 minutes (step S260). As a result, it is determined that the dehydration has been completed, the rotation of the washing tub 66 is stopped (step S261), the drain valve 76 is closed (step S262), and the dehydration process is terminated (step S263).

  If the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 in the determination in step S249 (No in step S249), it is determined that abnormal vibration is caused when the resonance passes, and the rotation of the washing tub 66 is stopped ( Step S264), restarting from the loosening operation.

  If the unbalance amount u is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable unbalance amount U2 in the determination in step S254, the rotation of the washing tub 66 is stopped as in the normal dehydration operation (step S265) and restarted from the loosening operation.

  As described above, the present invention is characterized in that for clothes that are difficult to start dehydration, the air is blown after being drained to some extent at a low rotational speed, thereby efficiently draining water from the clothes and suppressing wasteful power consumption. Can be activated, dehydration.

  Further, by sucking air inside the casing 61 of the washer / dryer from the outside of the outer tub 64 and the circulation air passage, evaporation can be promoted, the weight of clothes can be further reduced, and dehydration can be easily started.

  Also, during the blower dehydration operation, the time during which the rotation speed is lower than the resonance rotation speed is set longer than that during the normal dehydration operation, thereby increasing the centrifugal force effect and the evaporation effect and further reducing the weight of clothing. It becomes easy to start dehydration.

3 Operation / display panel (operation panel)
5 Operation switch (button)
8 Drum 9 Motor (drive mechanism)
10 Outer tank (drum type)
19a Opening 19b Intake valve (open / close valve)
22 Blower unit (Blower unit)
47 Cloth amount calculation unit 48 Unbalance amount calculation unit (means for determining the balance state)
51 Operation control unit (control means)
64 Outer tank (vertical)
66 Washing tub (drum)
70b Intake valve (open / close valve)
70a Opening 72 Fan (Blower)

Claims (8)

A drum for housing clothing;
An outer tank containing the drum;
A drive mechanism for rotating the drum;
A blowing means for sending air into the drum;
Means for determining the balance state of the clothing at the beginning of the dehydration operation;
Control means for controlling the drive mechanism and the air blowing means,
The control means includes
Based on the determination result of the means for determining the balance state at the time of dehydration, a washing dryer that performs control to restart the dehydration operation again,
When restarting the dehydration operation again by the control means,
A washing and drying machine, wherein air is sent into the drum by the blowing means. A circulation air passage for circulating the air in the outer tub by the air blowing means;
In the circulation air passage, provided with an opening for taking in air outside the outer tub, and an on-off valve for automatically opening and closing the opening,
The open / close valve is opened during low-speed rotation in the initial stage of the dehydration operation, air outside the outer tub is taken into the circulation air passage, and air is sent into the drum by the blowing means. Laundry dryer. The on-off valve is
The washing / drying machine according to claim 2, wherein the washing / drying machine is provided on the near side of the suction port of the blower and above the drive mechanism. When the dehydration operation is restarted by the control means,
The time for rotating around the rotation speed for determining whether the drum cannot be rotated at high speed by the means for determining the balance state is longer than the time for rotating before the dehydration operation is restarted. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It further includes means for detecting the amount of cloth,
When the dehydration operation is restarted again by the control means and when the result detected by the means for detecting the cloth amount is small, the dehydration rotation speed at the initial stage of the dehydration operation is more than the rotation speed before the restart. The washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the washing and drying machine is raised. Means for detecting the amount of cloth;
The number of restarts until the dehydration operation in which air is sent into the drum by the blower means is reduced when the result of detection by the means for detecting the cloth amount is small. The washing dryer according to any one of 5. The operation panel for instructing the operation of the washing and drying machine further includes a button or button operation for facilitating dehydration,
When the button and button operation are performed,
When the first dehydration operation is restarted,
The washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein air is sent into the drum by the blowing means. When the button and button operation are performed,
The time for rotating around the rotation speed for determining whether the drum cannot be rotated at high speed by the means for determining the balance state is longer than that in the normal case where the button and button operation are not performed. The washing and drying machine according to claim 7,

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