JP2011239990A - Dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dryer capable of evenly drying laundry in a short time using a movable wind direction adjuster.SOLUTION: When drying pieces of laundry L, L, ... housed in a drum 22, a washer-dryer 1 rotates a drum 22 while blowing high-temperature and low-humidity air into the drum 22. A wind direction of the blown air blown to the drum 22 is set to a wind direction defined by a tilt angle of a wind direction adjuster 44 provided to a blow nozzle 35, and the wind direction of the blown air changes when the tilt angle of the wind direction adjuster 44 changes. The tilt angle of the wind direction adjuster 44 is appropriately changed or kept by a drive unit controlled by a control unit 10. By continuously changing the tilt angle of the wind direction adjuster 44, all pieces of laundry L, L, ... housed in the drum 22 can be evenly dried, and by fixing the tilt angle of the wind direction adjuster 44 toward a bottom wall of the drum 22, pieces of laundry L, L, ... at a position that is hard to dry can be intensively dried.

Description

  The present invention relates to a dryer for drying laundry.

The dryer includes a drum for storing laundry, and a circulation path for circulating air sucked from the drum and blowing it into the drum.
A blower is arranged in the middle of the circulation path, and air is circulated when the blower blows air.
Further, in the middle of the circulation path, a dehumidifier for dehumidifying the air passing through the circulation path and / or a heater for heating the air passing through the circulation path are arranged, and the dehumidifier and / or the heater The air passing through the circulation path becomes low-humidity air due to such an action.

When drying laundry stored in the drum (hereinafter also simply referred to as laundry), the dryer blows low-humidity air into the drum while rotating the drum, and removes moisture evaporated from the laundry. The absorbed high humidity air is sucked out of the drum. The high-humidity air sucked out from the drum becomes low-humidity air while passing through the circulation path, and then blown into the drum again.
The drying procedure as described above is the same even for a dryer having a washing function (that is, a washing dryer).
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed a drum-type washing and drying machine provided with a plurality of air inlets for blowing air that has passed through a circulation path (hereinafter referred to as circulating air) into a drum (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In the drum-type washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1, first, heated circulating air is blown into the drum through the air inlet provided on the opening side of the drum in order to actively dry the laundry. It is done. Next, in order to cool and further dry the laundry, unheated circulating air is blown into the drum through an air inlet provided on the bottom wall side of the drum.
That is, as the drying process proceeds, the circulating air blowing direction is switched. Therefore, with the switching of the blowing direction, the possibility that the circulating air comes into contact with the laundry located at different places increases. As a result, the drum type laundry dryer disclosed in Patent Document 1 can dry the laundry in a short time without unevenness.

  In the drum-type washing / drying machine described in Patent Document 2, circulating air is blown into the drum through a plurality of air inlets provided on the opening side of the drum. The circulating air blown in from different air inlets is likely to come into contact with the laundry located in different places. For this reason, the drum type laundry dryer described in Patent Document 2 can dry the laundry in a short time without unevenness.

JP 2008-259549 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-108086

However, a dryer provided with only one air inlet cannot apply the items described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, and therefore cannot dry laundry in a short time without unevenness.
Moreover, in the drum type washing / drying machine described in each of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the direction of the air blown into the drum through the air inlet is constant. For this reason, it is difficult to further increase the possibility that the circulating air contacts the laundry. Accordingly, if it is attempted to further shorten the time until the laundry is dried, there is a possibility that unevenness of drying of the laundry may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the main object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which the drive unit changes the attitude of the wind direction plate, so that the laundry can be made regardless of the number of air inlets. Furthermore, it is providing the dryer which can be dried uniformly in a short time.

  The dryer according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores laundry, and a circulation path that sucks out air from the storage unit, circulates the sucked-out air, and blows it into the storage unit. The dryer for drying the laundry stored therein includes a wind direction plate that defines a wind direction of the air blown into the storage unit, and a drive unit that changes a posture of the wind direction plate.

  The dryer according to the present invention includes a detection unit that directly or indirectly detects a physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry, and controls the operation of the drive unit based on the detection result of the detection unit. And a control unit for changing or maintaining the posture.

  In the dryer according to the present invention, the storage unit uses a horizontal drum or a slanted drum, and the control unit is configured such that the wind direction alternates between the bottom wall side of the drum and the shaft end opening side of the drum. And second control means for maintaining the attitude so that the wind direction is directed toward the bottom wall rather than the central portion in the axial length direction of the drum. And a third control means for maintaining the posture so that the wind direction is directed toward the shaft end opening side with respect to the central portion in the axial direction, and based on the detection result of the detection means, The control of the operation of the drive unit by the third control means is selectively executed.

  The dryer according to the present invention includes a plurality of the wind direction plates, and the first control unit changes the postures of the wind direction plates so that the postures of the wind direction plates are different from each other. To do.

  In the dryer according to the present invention, the circulation path is provided with a plurality of air inlets for blowing air into the accommodating portion, and the wind direction plate is arranged corresponding to each air inlet. It is characterized by that.

In this invention, a dryer is provided with an accommodating part, a circulation path, a wind direction board, and a drive part.
The air blown into the storage section through the circulation path contacts the laundry stored in the drum. At this time, moisture contained in the laundry evaporates. The evaporated water is sucked out of the container together with the air. As a result, the laundry is dried.
The air sucked out from the housing part is circulated by passing through the circulation path and blown into the housing part again. In order to promote the drying of the laundry, the air sucked out from the container is generally dehumidified and / or heated and then blown into the container again.

  The wind direction of the air blown into the housing part (hereinafter referred to as blown air) is defined as the wind direction according to the attitude of the wind direction plate. The attitude of the wind direction plate is changed by the drive unit. When the drive unit changes the attitude of the wind direction plate, the wind direction of the blown air changes.

In this invention, a dryer is further provided with a detection means and a control part.
The detection result of the detection means is a physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry (for example, the humidity inside the container, the elapsed time since the start of the drying process, the temperature of the blown air and the air sucked from the container) Difference with temperature, or the weight of moisture contained in the laundry).
By the way, when the wind direction of blowing air is constant, the laundry located in the place (henceforth a blowing place) where the air blown into the accommodating part is blown directly is dried in a short time. . However, since the laundry which is not located in this spraying place is difficult to dry, there is a possibility that uneven drying occurs.

On the other hand, when the wind direction of the blown air changes, the spray location also changes with the change of the wind direction, so that drying unevenness hardly occurs. However, the laundry located in the predetermined place cannot be dried in a short time.
Therefore, the control unit controls the operation of the drive unit. At this time, when the control unit changes the attitude of the wind direction plate, the wind direction of the blown air can be changed, and thus drying unevenness can be prevented. On the other hand, when the control unit maintains the orientation of the wind direction plate, the air direction of the blown air can be made constant, so that the laundry located at the spraying place can be dried in a short time.

  The control of the drive unit by the control unit is based on the detection result of the detection unit. That is, priority is given to preventing drying unevenness according to the dryness of the laundry, or priority is given to drying the laundry located in a spraying place in a short time. Therefore, the dryer of the present invention can dry laundry in a short time without unevenness.

In the present invention, the control unit has first to third control means.
The accommodating portion is formed using a horizontal drum supported in a horizontal posture, or an inclined drum supported in a posture inclined with respect to the horizontal posture.
The first control means continuously changes the orientation of the wind direction plate so that the wind direction of the blown air is alternately directed to the bottom wall side of the drum and the shaft end opening (hereinafter simply referred to as opening) side of the drum. . As a result, the dryer of the present invention can uniformly dry all the laundry stored in the drum.

A 2nd control means maintains the attitude | position of a wind direction board so that the wind direction of blowing air may face the bottom wall side of a drum rather than the axial center part of a drum. As a result, the dryer of the present invention can intensively dry the laundry located near the bottom wall of the drum.
A 3rd control means maintains the attitude | position of a wind direction board so that the wind direction of blowing air may face the opening side of a drum rather than the axial direction center part of a drum. As a result, the dryer of the present invention can intensively dry the laundry located near the opening of the drum.

The air blown to the bottom wall side of the drum is blown to the laundry located near the bottom wall of the drum and then diffuses to the opening side of the drum. Further, the air blown into the opening side of the drum is blown to the laundry located near the opening of the drum and then diffuses to the bottom wall side of the drum. Therefore, the laundry that is not located in the spray position can be gradually dried, although not as much as the laundry that is located in the spray position.
The control by the first to third control means is selectively executed based on the detection result of the detection means. That is, the control by the first to third control means is properly used according to the dryness of the laundry. Therefore, the dryer of the present invention can dry evenly in a short time, even if the laundry is located near the bottom wall of the drum or the laundry located near the opening of the drum.

In the present invention, the dryer includes a plurality of wind direction plates.
A 1st control means changes the attitude | position of each wind direction board so that the attitude | position of each wind direction board may mutually differ. For this reason, the locations where the air is directed by the wind direction plates are different from each other. As a result, the laundry accommodated in the drum can be dried more uniformly than when only one wind direction plate is used and when all the wind direction plates have the same posture.

In the present invention, a plurality of air inlets for injecting air into the accommodating portion are provided in the circulation path. One or a plurality of wind direction plates are arranged for each air inlet.
For this reason, the dryer of the present invention can dry the laundry in a short time without unevenness, compared with the case where only one inlet is provided in the circulation path.

  In the case of the dryer according to the present invention, the direction of the blown air can be changed. For this reason, the dryer of the present invention blows into the housing portion compared to a conventional dryer in which the air direction of the blown air does not change even if there is only one air inlet for blowing air into the housing portion. It is possible to increase the possibility that the entered air and the laundry come into contact with each other. As a result, the laundry accommodated in the accommodating portion can be dried more uniformly in a shorter time. That is, since the laundry can be efficiently dried, the dryer of the present invention can contribute to energy saving.

It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view for demonstrating the state which the laundry dryer which functions as a dryer concerning embodiment of this invention is drying the laundry. It is a rear view which shows the internal structure of the state which removed the rear wall of the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a typical cross-sectional view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the blower inlet provided in the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where the wind direction of blowing air changes with the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where the wind direction of blowing air is constant by the bottom wall side direction of a drum in the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case where the wind direction of blowing air is constant in the opening side direction of a drum in the washing / drying machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the drying process performed with the washing dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the drying initial stage drive control processing procedure performed with the washing dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the drying initial completion | finish determination processing procedure performed with the washing dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the drying middle period drive control processing procedure performed with the washing dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the drying final stage drive control processing procedure performed with the washing dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view for explaining a state in which a laundry dryer 1 functioning as a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention dries laundry L, L,. FIG. 1 is also a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a main configuration of the washing / drying machine 1. The white arrow shown in FIG. 1 represents the air circulation direction. Moreover, the arrow shown in FIG. 1 respond | corresponds to the arrow shown in FIG. 5 mentioned later.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the internal configuration with the rear wall 6c of the washing / drying machine 1 removed.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the arrangement of the air inlets 35 provided in the washing / drying machine 1.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the washing / drying machine 1.

The washing / drying machine 1 is a so-called oblique drum type washing / drying machine, and performs a washing process and a drying process shown in FIG.
In the washing process, the laundry L, L,... Is washed with tap water and detergent and rinsed with tap water. Hereinafter, tap water used for washing may be referred to as washing water.
In the drying process, the laundry L, L,... Is dried by blowing high-temperature and low-humidity air or low-temperature and low-humidity air.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the washing / drying machine 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The washing / drying machine 1 includes a housing 6.

  The housing 6 includes a control unit 10, a blow-in temperature detection unit 11, a suction temperature detection unit 12, a water supply unit 51, a drainage unit 52, a storage unit 2, a circulation path 3, a dust collection filter 40, a blower 41, and a heating unit 42. The drive unit 43 and the wind direction plate 44 are incorporated. However, the drive unit 43 is a general term for the first drive unit 431, the second drive unit 432, the third drive unit 433, and the fourth drive unit 434, and the wind direction plate 44 is the first wind direction plate. 441, the second wind direction plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 are generic names.

The front wall 6b of the housing 6 is formed with a slot 61 for feeding the laundry L, L,... Into a drum 22 described later, and taking out the laundry L, L,. The inlet 61 is closed by the outer door 60 so as to be freely opened and closed. During each of the washing process and the drying process, the slot 61 is closed by the outer door 60.
The accommodating portion 2 includes an inner door 20, each bottomed cylindrical water tank 21 and a drum 22, and a drum rotating mechanism 23.

Each of the water tank 21 and the drum 22 has an inclined posture in which each opening side is directed to the inlet 61 side, each bottom wall side is directed to the rear wall 6c side of the housing 6, the opening side is high, and the bottom wall side is low. 6 is arranged at the center. That is, the drum 22 is an oblique drum. The drum 22 may be a horizontal drum.
The water tank 21 is elastically fixed and supported by support legs (not shown) standing on the bottom wall of the housing 6. The opening of the water tank 21 is closed by the inner door 20 so as to be freely opened and closed. During the execution of the washing process and the drying process, the opening of the water tank 21 is closed by the inner door 20.

The inner door 20 and the outer door 60 can be opened and closed simultaneously. Therefore, for example, when the user presses the outer door 60 from the outside and closes the outer door 60 with the outer door 60 and the inner door 20 open, the inner door 20 and the outer door 60 are interlocked, The opening of the water tank 21 and the inlet 61 of the housing 6 are closed.
An electric motor portion of the drum rotation mechanism 23 is disposed on the outer surface of the bottom wall of the water tank 21, and the rotation shaft portion of the drum rotation mechanism 23 passes through the center position of the bottom wall of the water tank 21. However, there is no possibility that washing water or air leaks out / enters from a portion that is penetrated by the rotating shaft portion of the drum rotating mechanism 23.

The drum 22 is accommodated in the water tank 21 and accommodates the laundry L, L,... That has been input through the opened inlet 61 and the opened opening of the water tank 21.
A plurality of through holes 220, 220,... Through which washing water and air can easily pass are formed in the peripheral wall of the drum 22. For this reason, the washing water and the air can freely enter and leave the drum 22 inside and outside.
At the center position of the bottom wall of the drum 22, the tip end portion of the rotating shaft portion of the drum rotating mechanism 23 is connected.
The water supply unit 51 includes a water supply valve 511, a water supply pipe 512, and a water supply port 513.
The water supply port 513 is provided in the middle of the cooling duct 32 described later, and is always open.

One end of a water supply pipe 512 is connected to the water supply port 513, and the other end of the water supply pipe 512 is connected to a water supply water pipe (not shown) outside the housing 6. A water supply valve 511 is disposed in the middle of the water supply pipe 512.
The water supply valve 511 is normally closed, but is opened during water supply during the washing process and during the drying process.
For this reason, at the time of water supply in the washing process, wash water is supplied from the water pipe to the water tank 21 through the water supply pipe 512.
The drainage unit 52 includes a drainage port 520, a drainage valve 521, and a drainage pipe 522.
The drain port 520 is formed at the lowermost part of the peripheral wall of the water tank 21 and is always open.

One end of a drain pipe 522 is connected to the drain port 520, and the other end of the drain pipe 522 protrudes outside the housing 6. A drain valve 521 is disposed in the middle of the drain pipe 522.
The drain valve 521 is normally closed, but is opened during draining during the washing process and during the drying process.
For this reason, during the execution of the washing process, the washing water is stored in the water tank 21, and at the time of draining after the completion of the washing process, the washing water stored in the water tank 21 passes through the drain pipe 522 to the outside of the machine (eg, sewer) Is discharged.

When performing the washing process and the drying process, the drum rotating mechanism 23 is turned on. At this time, the drum 22 rotates in the circumferential direction, and the laundry L, L,...
The circulation path 3 is for sucking air from the drum 22, circulating the sucked air, and blowing it into the drum 22. Specifically, the circulation path 3 passes through the suction port 30, the connection duct 31, the cooling duct 32, the communication duct 33, the ventilation duct 34, and the air inlet 35 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air passing through the circulation path 3. In this order. However, the air inlet 35 is a general term for the first air inlet 351, the second air inlet 352, the third air inlet 353, and the fourth air inlet 354.

The suction port 30 is formed in the lower part of the bottom wall of the water tank 21, and the suction port 30 is always open.
The connecting duct 31 has a bellows shape in the middle, and connects the suction port 30 of the water tank 21 and the upstream opening of the cooling duct 32. The bellows-like portion of the connecting duct 31 attenuates the vibration of the water tank 21 that occurs as the drum 22 rotates. Therefore, this vibration is suppressed from propagating to each part (for example, the cooling duct 32) on the downstream side of the connecting duct 31.
The cooling duct 32 is made of synthetic resin and is arranged in a vertical posture.

The cooling duct 32 has a water-cooled air dehumidifying function. During the drying process, several hundred cc of tap water is supplied from the water supply port 513 to the cooling duct 32 per minute. The supplied tap water contacts the air passing through the cooling duct 32 while flowing down from the upper side to the lower side. The air in contact with the tap water is cooled and becomes supersaturated, so that moisture in the air is condensed and condensed to return to water (ie, dehumidification). As a result, the air passing through the cooling duct 32 is in a low temperature and low humidity state.
The tap water that has reached the upstream opening (that is, the lower opening) of the cooling duct 32 passes through the connecting duct 31, the suction port 30, the drain port 520, and the drain pipe 522, and is discharged outside the apparatus.

  The communication duct 33 is made of synthetic rubber and has a bellows shape in the middle. Since the downstream side of the cooling duct 32 opens toward the top wall 6a of the housing 6 and the upstream side of the ventilation duct 34 opens toward the rear wall 6c, the communication duct 33 is L-shaped. In the curved state, the downstream opening of the cooling duct 32 and the upstream opening of the ventilation duct 34 are connected. As a result, the cooling duct 32 and the ventilation duct 34 are communicated.

The bellows-shaped portion of the communication duct 33 attenuates the propagated vibration when the vibration of the water tank 21 accompanying the rotation of the drum 22 propagates to the cooling duct 32. Therefore, propagation of this vibration to each part (for example, blower 41) on the downstream side of the communication duct 33 is suppressed. If this vibration propagates to the fan 41 rotating at high speed, the fan 41 may rotate abnormally.
The ventilation duct 34 is piped near the top wall 6 a of the housing 6. In the ventilation duct 34, a dust collection filter 40, a blower 41, and a heating unit 42 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. The downstream opening of the ventilation duct 34 is connected to the upstream (that is, proximal) opening of the air inlet 35.

The dust collection filter 40 filters air passing through itself. As a result, foreign matter contained in the air adheres to the dust collection filter 40. This foreign material is, for example, lint and cotton dust generated from the laundry L, L,.
The ceiling wall 6a is provided with an opening / closing door (not shown). With the opening / closing door open, the dust collection filter 40 to which foreign matter has adhered is removed from the ventilation duct 34, and then a new or cleaned dust collection filter 40 is installed. After being attached to the ventilation duct 34, the open / close door is closed. The dust collection filter 40 may be directly removable without providing an opening / closing door.

The blower 41 includes a fan motor disposed between the ventilation duct 34 and the ceiling wall 6a and a fan disposed inside the ventilation duct 34, and the fan rotates when power is supplied to the fan motor. Such a blower 41 blows air by sucking air from its upstream side and blowing it out to its downstream side inside the ventilation duct 34.
The heating unit 42 includes an electric heater (for example, a sheathed heater) that generates a high temperature, and the electric heater is disposed inside the ventilation duct 34. When the heating unit 42 is on, the air in contact with the electric heater is heated. As a result, the low temperature and low humidity air is in a high temperature and low humidity state. On the other hand, when the heating unit 42 is off, the low-temperature and low-humidity air is not heated and remains in the low-temperature and low-humidity state even when it contacts the electric heater.

The air inlet 35 is formed at the upper edge of the opening of the water tank 21, and the downstream side (that is, the front end side) of the air inlet 35 opens toward the inside of the drum 22. A wind direction plate 44 whose posture can be changed is arranged at the air inlet 35.
More specifically, a first air inlet 351, a second air inlet 352, a third air inlet 353, and a fourth air inlet 354 are separated from each other by an appropriate length in the circumferential direction at the upper edge of the opening of the water tank 21. The first air inlet 351, the second air inlet 352, the third air inlet 353, and the fourth air inlet 354 have a first wind direction plate 441 and a second air direction. The plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence. However, in FIG. 3, the wind direction plate 44 is illustrated outside the air inlet 35 for the sake of easy viewing.

The wind direction plate 44 is formed in a rectangular plate shape having a rotation axis along one side, for example, and the rotation axis of the wind direction plate 44 is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) provided on the inner wall of the air inlet 35. . Then, the rotation of the rotation axis of the wind direction plate 44 causes the wind direction plate 44 to swing around the rotation axis, so that the attitude of the wind direction plate 44 is changed. Further, when the rotation axis of the wind direction plate 44 stops rotating, the posture of the wind direction plate 44 is maintained.
In the present embodiment, the attitude of the wind direction plate 44 is represented by the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 with respect to the vertical direction.

A drive unit 43 is disposed in the vicinity of the air inlet 35. The drive unit 43 uses an electric motor, and is configured such that the rotation shaft of the wind direction plate 44 rotates / rotates with the on / off of the electric motor of the drive unit 43. That is, the driving unit 43 in the on state changes the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44, and the driving unit 43 in the off state maintains the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44.
The drive unit 43 changes the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 when the output shaft of the electric motor is rotated in the on state, and stops the rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor in the on state. May be configured to maintain the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44. In this case, when the drive unit 43 is turned off, the output shaft of the electric motor becomes free, and the wind direction plate 44 may return to the initial angle posture by its own weight.

  In the present embodiment, the outputs of the first drive unit 431, the second drive unit 432, the third drive unit 433, and the fourth drive unit 434 are the first wind direction plate 441 and the second wind direction plate. 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 are transmitted in a one-to-one correspondence to change the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44. A configuration in which the output of one drive unit 43 is distributed may be transmitted to a plurality of wind direction plates 44.

When the blower 41 blows air, air is sucked out from the drum 22 through the through holes 220, 220,... And the suction port 30, and the sucked air is connected to the connection duct 31, the cooling duct 32, the communication duct 33, and the ventilation. After passing through the duct 34 in this order, it is blown into the drum 22 through the air inlet 35. At this time, the wind direction of the blown air blown into the drum 22 is defined by the wind direction plate 44.
A suction temperature detection unit 12 that detects the temperature of the air sucked from the drum 22 is disposed in the vicinity of the suction port 30. Further, in the vicinity of the air inlet 35, an air temperature detector 11 for detecting the temperature of the air is provided.

The control unit 10 is a control center of the washing / drying machine 1, uses a RAM (not shown) as a work area, controls each part of the washing / drying machine 1 according to a computer program and data stored in a ROM (not shown), and performs various processes. Execute.
The control unit 10 is given detection results of the blow-in temperature detection unit 11 and the suction temperature detection unit 12.
Further, the control unit 10 controls on / off of the drum rotating mechanism 23, the blower 41, and the heating unit 42. Further, the control unit 10 changes or maintains the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 by controlling on / off of the driving unit 43. Furthermore, the control unit 10 controls the opening / closing of each of the water supply valve 511 and the drain valve 521.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the direction of the blown air changes in the washing / drying machine 1.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the direction of the blown air is constant in the direction toward the bottom wall of the drum 22 in the washing / drying machine 1.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where the direction of the blown air is constant in the opening direction of the drum 22 in the washing / drying machine 1.

5-7, the drum 22, the wind direction board 44, and the laundry L, L, ... are shown in figure. Moreover, the white arrow mark shown in FIGS. 5-7 represents the wind direction of blowing air. In more detail, the wind direction of the inflow air prescribed | regulated by the wind direction board 44 shown as the continuous line in the figure is shown by the solid white arrow. Similarly, the wind direction of the blown air defined by the wind direction plate 44 indicated by a broken line (or two-dot chain line) in the drawing is indicated by a white arrow indicated by a broken line (or two-dot chain line).
In the present embodiment, when the control unit 10 continuously changes the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 in the direction of the arrow in the drawing as shown in FIG. 5, the wind direction of the blown air is determined by the bottom wall of the drum 22. Alternately toward the side and the opening side of the drum 22.

On the other hand, when the control unit 10 maintains the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44, the wind direction of the blown air is directed to the bottom wall side of the drum 22 rather than the central portion in the axial length direction of the drum 22, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the drum 22 is directed toward the opening side of the drum 22 with respect to the central portion in the axial direction of the drum 22.
Hereinafter, the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 illustrated in FIG. 6 is referred to as a bottom wall side maintenance angle, and the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 illustrated in FIG. 7 is referred to as an opening side maintenance angle. That is, the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 shown in FIG. 5 is continuously changed between the bottom wall side maintenance angle and the opening side maintenance angle.
In the present embodiment, the initial angle of the wind direction plate 44 is the opening side maintaining angle shown in FIG.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, one cycle (hereinafter referred to as a rocking cycle) until the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 returns from the opening side maintenance angle to the opening side maintenance angle again through the bottom wall side maintenance angle is 16 seconds. To do.
Next, a drying process performed in the washing / drying machine 1 will be described.
In the present embodiment, the drying process is divided into five stages: an initial drying stage, an intermediate drying stage, an end drying stage, a finishing stage, and a cooling stage.
In the initial drying stage, the intermediate drying stage, the final drying stage, and the finishing stage, the blower 41 and the heating unit 42 are turned on. At this time, since high-temperature and low-humidity air is blown onto the laundry L, L,..., The temperature of the laundry L, L,. As a result, evaporation of moisture from the laundry L, L,.

However, if the laundry L, L,... Remains at a high temperature, the user may be burned when taking out the laundry L, L,.
Therefore, in the cooling stage, the heating unit 42 is turned off while the blower 41 is turned on. At this time, since low-temperature and low-humidity air is blown onto the laundry L, L,..., The temperature of the laundry L, L,.
Next, the operation of the wind direction plate 44 at each stage will be described.
Since the drying initial stage is a stage immediately after the execution of the washing process, the temperature of the laundry L, L,... Is very low. Therefore, it is desirable to raise the temperature of the laundry L, L,.

  Therefore, the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 is continuously changed as shown in FIG. As a result, high-temperature and low-humidity air is uniformly sprayed on all the laundry items L, L,... Accommodated in the drum 22 while changing the wind direction. Therefore, the temperature of the laundry L, L,... Positioned on the opening side of the drum 22 (hereinafter referred to as the opening-side laundry L, L,...) Is also the laundry positioned on the bottom wall side of the drum 22. The temperature of the objects L, L,... (Hereinafter referred to as the laundry L, L,.

The inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 in the middle stage of drying is maintained at the bottom wall side maintaining angle as shown in FIG. As a result, the wind direction of the blown air is constant toward the bottom wall side of the drum 22, so that high-temperature and low-humidity air is intensively blown to the laundry L, L,. Therefore, the laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side is preferentially dried. Since the diffused air is blown to the laundry L, L,... On the opening side after contacting the laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side, the laundry L, L,. To be dried.
The laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side is almost dried in the middle stage of drying.

The inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 in the final drying stage is maintained at the opening side maintenance angle as shown in FIG. As a result, the air direction of the blown air becomes constant in the direction toward the opening side of the drum 22, so that high-temperature and low-humidity air is intensively blown onto the laundry L, L,. Therefore, the laundry L, L,... On the opening side is preferentially dried. Since the diffused air is blown to the laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side after being in contact with the laundry L, L,... On the opening side, the laundry L, L,. It is dried appropriately.
The laundry L, L,... On the opening side is almost dried at the final stage of drying.

  By the way, since the drum 22 is an oblique drum, the amount of the laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side is considered to be larger than the amount of the laundry L, L,. That is, in the middle drying stage and the final drying stage, the time required for drying the laundry L, L,... Is shortened by drying the laundry L, L,.

  The inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 in the finishing stage is continuously changed as shown in FIG. This is because in the middle drying stage and the final drying stage, the air direction of the blown air is constant, so that drying unevenness occurs (that is, the laundry L, L,. This is because the laundry items L, L,. In the finishing stage, high-temperature and low-humidity air is uniformly blown over all the laundry L, L,..., So that the laundry L, L,. dry.

  The inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 in the cooling stage is continuously changed as shown in FIG. As a result, low-temperature and low-humidity air is uniformly sprayed on all the laundry items L, L,... Accommodated in the drum 22 while changing the wind direction. Therefore, the temperature of the laundry L, L,.

  When the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 is continuously changed as shown in FIG. 5, the first wind direction plate 441, the second wind direction plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate. It is desirable that the inclination angles of 444 are different from each other. This is because if the first wind direction plate 441, the second wind direction plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 have different inclination angles, the first air inlet 351, the second This is because the air blown from the air inlet 352, the third air inlet 353, and the fourth air inlet 354 blows to different locations in the front-rear direction. That is, the air blown from the air inlet 35 is blown evenly onto the laundry L, L,.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the drying process executed in the washing / drying machine 1. After the washing process is completed and the drainage from the water tank 21 is completed, the control unit 10 performs a drying process.
The controller 10 starts the drying process (S11). In S11, the control unit 10 turns on the drum rotation mechanism 23, the blower 41, and the heating unit 42, and opens the water supply valve 511 and the drain valve 521, respectively.

As a result, since the drum 22 rotates, the laundry L, L,... Accommodated in the drum 22 is agitated (see FIG. 2). Further, high-temperature and low-humidity air is blown into the drum 22 and comes into contact with the laundry L, L,. At this time, the blown air becomes high-temperature and high-humidity air. High-temperature and high-humidity air is sucked out of the drum 22. The sucked air becomes low-temperature and low-humidity air in the cooling duct 32, and then becomes high-temperature and high-humidity air in the heating unit 42. Further, this high-temperature and low-humidity air is blown into the drum 22 again.
Next, the control unit 10 executes a drying initial drive control process (see FIG. 9) in order to shift to the drying initial stage (S12).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the drying initial drive control processing procedure executed in the washing / drying machine 1.
First, the control unit 10 sets “1” to the variable j (S31).
Next, the control unit 10 turns on the j-th driving unit (S32). For example, when j = 1, the control unit 10 in S32 turns on the first drive unit 431.
Concurrently with the process of S32, the control unit 10 starts measuring the elapsed time related to the jth drive unit (hereinafter referred to as the jth elapsed time) (S33). The control unit 10 in S33 measures the j-th elapsed time using a timing unit (not shown). Note that the control unit 10 may count the j-th elapsed time by counting the number of clocks input to the control unit 10 itself.

After the processing of S33 ends, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the jth elapsed time has reached a given predetermined time (2 seconds in the present embodiment) (S34). The predetermined time used in S34 is an appropriate time necessary for making the inclination angles of the first wind direction plate 441, the second wind direction plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 different from each other. It is a time interval.
When the predetermined time has not elapsed (NO in S34), the control unit 10 repeatedly executes the process of S34.

When the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in S34), the control unit 10 determines whether or not the variable j is “4” or more (S35). If j <4 (NO in S35), the variable j Is incremented by "1" (S36), and the process returns to S32.
If j ≧ 4 (YES in S35), the control unit 10 ends the drying initial drive control process and returns to the drying process shown in FIG.
The control unit 10 that executes the drying initial drive control process shown in FIG. 9 functions as a first control unit. When the initial drying drive control process is executed, the first wind direction plate 441, the second wind direction plate 442, the third wind direction plate 443, and the fourth wind direction plate 444 swing in a different manner.

  The timing of each of the first to fourth elapsed times is continued. However, each of the first to fourth elapsed times is reset to 0 seconds when the time measurement result becomes equal to the oscillation cycle. Such a jth elapsed time corresponds to the inclination angle of the jth wind direction plate. That is, if the j-th elapsed time is 0 second (or 8 seconds), the inclination angle of the j-th wind direction plate is the opening side maintenance angle (or bottom wall side maintenance angle). If the j-th elapsed time is between 0 seconds and 8 seconds (or between 8 seconds and 16 seconds), the inclination angle of the j-th wind direction plate changes from the opening side maintenance angle to the bottom wall side maintenance angle ( Or, it is being changed from the bottom wall side maintenance angle to the opening side maintenance angle. Therefore, the washing / drying machine 1 does not need to include a means for detecting the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the process of S12 is completed, the control unit 10 executes an initial drying end determination process (see FIG. 10 below) (S13).
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the drying initial end determination processing procedure executed in the washing / drying machine 1. In the initial drying end determination process, it is determined whether or not a condition for ending the initial drying stage is satisfied.
The control unit 10 acquires the blowing temperature α which is the detection result of the blowing temperature detection unit 11 (S51), and acquires the suction temperature β which is the detection result of the suction temperature detection unit 12 (S52).

Next, the control unit 10 calculates the difference {α−β} between the detection result α of the blowing temperature detection unit 11 and the detection result β of the suction temperature detection unit 12 (S53), and the calculation result is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature H1. It is determined whether or not (S54).
When the temperature of the laundry L, L,... Is low, the temperature of the high-temperature and low-humidity air that contacts the laundry L, L,. If it does, the temperature fall of the air which contacted the laundry L, L, ... will be relieved. Therefore, {α−β} ≧ H1 indicates that the temperature of the laundry L, L,... Has risen sufficiently, that is, the condition for ending the initial drying stage has been satisfied. The initial drying stage is continued until this condition is satisfied (see FIG. 5).

While the temperature of the laundry L, L,... Is raised, the laundry L, L,. For this reason, the control part 10 which performs the process corresponded to the process of S51-S53 functions as a detection means which detects the physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry L, L, ... indirectly.
If {α−β} <H1 (NO in S54), control unit 10 returns the process to S51.
If {α−β} ≧ H1 (YES in S54), the control unit 10 ends the drying initial termination determination process and returns to the drying process shown in FIG.
After the process of S13 is completed, the control unit 10 performs a dry middle-term drive control process (see FIG. 11 below) in order to shift to the mid-dry stage (S14).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the drying middle-term drive control processing procedure executed in the washing / drying machine 1.
First, the control unit 10 sets “1” to the variable j (S71).
Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the j-th elapsed time is 8 seconds (that is, half of the swing cycle) (S72).
When the j-th elapsed time is less than 8 seconds or exceeds 8 seconds (NO in S72), the control unit 10 repeatedly executes the process of S72.
When the j-th elapsed time is 8 seconds (YES in S72), the control unit 10 turns off the j-th drive unit (S73). As a result, the inclination angle of the jth wind direction plate is maintained at the bottom wall side maintenance angle.

Next, the control unit 10 finishes counting the j-th elapsed time (S74), and determines whether the variable j is “4” or more (S75).
If j <4 (NO in S75), the variable j is incremented by “1” (S76), and the process returns to S72.
If j ≧ 4 (YES in S75), the control unit 10 finishes the mid-drying drive control process and returns to the drying process shown in FIG.
The control unit 10 that executes the mid-drying drive control process shown in FIG. 11 functions as a second control unit.

After the process of S14 shown in FIG. 8 is completed, the control unit 10 executes a mid-drying end determination process (S15). In the mid-drying end determination process in S15, it is determined whether or not the conditions for ending the mid-drying stage are satisfied in substantially the same manner as the initial drying end determination process in S13. Until this condition is satisfied, the intermediate drying stage is continued (see FIG. 6).
However, in the middle drying end determination process of S15, a predetermined temperature H2 higher than the predetermined temperature H1 is used instead of the predetermined temperature H1 in the process corresponding to the process of S54 of the initial drying end determination process shown in FIG.

When the laundry L, L,... Is moist, the amount of heat for evaporating moisture from the air in contact with the laundry L, L,. The temperature of the air is lower than when it is dry. For this reason, the lower the dryness of the laundry L, L,..., The lower the temperature of the sucked air sucked from the drum 22 is lower than the temperature of the blown air. Therefore, the difference {α−β} corresponds to the dryness of the laundry L, L,..., And {α−β} ≧ H2 means that the laundry L, L,. That is, it indicates that the condition for ending the middle drying stage is satisfied.
Thus, the control part 10 which performs the process corresponded to the process of S51-S53 shown in FIG. 10 functions as a detection means which indirectly detects the physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry L, L,. .

After the process of S15 shown in FIG. 8 is completed, the control unit 10 executes a dry end drive control process (see FIG. 12 below) in order to shift to the dry end stage (S16).
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the drying end drive control processing procedure executed in the washing / drying machine 1.
First, the control unit 10 turns on the drive unit 43 (S91) and starts measuring time (S92). At this time, the wind direction plate 44 swings all at once.
Next, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the elapsed time is 8 seconds (that is, half of the swing cycle) (S93).
When the elapsed time is less than 8 seconds or exceeds 8 seconds (NO in S93), the control unit 10 repeatedly executes the process of S93.

When the elapsed time is 8 seconds (YES in S93), the control unit 10 turns off the drive unit 44 (S94). As a result, the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 is maintained at the opening side maintenance angle.
After the end of S94, the control unit 10 ends the time measurement (S95). Next, the control unit 10 ends the drying end drive control process and returns to the drying process shown in FIG.
The control unit 10 that executes the drying end drive control process shown in FIG. 12 functions as a third control unit.

After the process of S16 shown in FIG. 8 is completed, the control unit 10 executes a drying end completion determination process (S17). In the drying end completion determination process in S17, it is determined whether or not the conditions for ending the drying end stage are satisfied in substantially the same manner as the drying initial completion determination process in S13. Then, the drying end stage is continued until this condition is satisfied (see FIG. 7).
However, in the drying end completion determination process of S17, a predetermined temperature H3 higher than the predetermined temperature H2 is used instead of the predetermined temperature H1 in the process corresponding to the process of S54 of the initial drying end determination process shown in FIG.

{Α−β} ≧ H3 means that the laundry L, L,... On the bottom wall side as well as the laundry L, L,. Indicates that is satisfied.
After the process of S17 is completed, the control unit 10 executes a dry initial drive control process shown in FIG. 9 in order to shift to the finishing stage (S18). This is because the operation of the wind direction plate 44 in the finishing stage is the same as the operation of the wind direction plate 44 in the initial drying stage.

After the process of S18 is completed, the control unit 10 executes a finishing end determination process (S19). In the finishing end determination process in S19, it is determined whether or not the condition for ending the finishing stage is satisfied in substantially the same manner as the initial drying end determination process in S13. Then, the finishing stage is continued until this condition is satisfied (see FIG. 5).
However, in the finishing end determination process of S19, a predetermined temperature H4 higher than the predetermined temperature H3 is used in place of the predetermined temperature H1 in the process corresponding to S54 of the initial drying end determination process shown in FIG.
{Α−β} ≧ H 4 indicates that the laundry L, L,... Contained in the drum has been dried without unevenness, that is, the condition for finishing the finishing stage has been satisfied.

After the process of S19 is completed, the control unit 10 turns off the heating unit 42 to shift to the cooling stage (S20). Here, the control unit 10 does not control the drive unit 43. This is because the operation of the wind direction plate 44 in the cooling stage is the same as the operation of the wind direction plate 44 in the initial drying stage.
After the processing of S20 is completed, the control unit 10 acquires the suction temperature β, which is the detection result of the suction temperature detection unit 12 (S21), and determines whether or not the suction temperature β is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature H5 (S22). .
.beta..ltoreq.H5 indicates that the temperature of the laundry L, L,... contained in the drum has sufficiently decreased, that is, the condition for ending the cooling stage has been satisfied. Then, the cooling stage is continued until this condition is satisfied (see FIG. 5).

Therefore, if β> H5 (NO in S22), the control unit 10 returns the process to S21. If β ≦ H5 (YES in S22), the control unit 10 moves the process to the next S23.
And the control part 10 performs the initial angle control process substantially the same as the drying middle period drive control process of S14 (S23).
However, in the initial angle control process of S23, it is determined whether or not the j-th elapsed time is 16 seconds (that is, the rocking cycle) in the process corresponding to S72 of the mid-drying drive control process shown in FIG. .
By executing the initial angle control process of S23, the inclination angle of the wind direction plate 44 returns to the opening side maintaining angle (that is, the initial angle).

After the processing of S23 ends, the control unit 10 ends the drying process (S24). The control unit 10 in S24 turns off the drum rotation mechanism 23 and the blower 41, and closes the water supply valve 511 and the drain valve 521, respectively.
After the process of S24 ends, the control unit 10 ends the drying process.
Thereafter, the user opens the outer door 60 and the inner door 20 and takes out the laundry L, L,... From the inside of the drum 22.

  In addition, the conditions which should complete | finish each step are not limited to what is based on the temperature of air. For example, the control unit 10 that executes the mid-drying end determination process may determine that the condition for ending the mid-drying stage is satisfied when a given control duration has elapsed since the transition to the mid-drying stage. Good. At this time, the timing unit functions as a detection unit that directly detects a physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry L, L,. Alternatively, the control unit 10 may determine that the condition for ending the intermediate drying stage is satisfied when the detection result of the humidity sensor that detects the humidity in the drum 22 reaches a predetermined predetermined humidity or less. . At this time, the humidity sensor functions as detection means for directly detecting a physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry L, L,.

The washing / drying machine 1 as described above changes the posture of the wind direction plate 44 disposed in the air inlet 35 according to each stage of the drying process. As a result, the direction of the blown air can be changed in accordance with the dryness of the laundry L, L,..., So that the laundry L, L,.
The washing / drying machine 1 may be configured to include only one air inlet 35. Further, the washing / drying machine 1 may have a configuration in which a plurality of wind direction plates 44 are arranged in one air inlet 35.
Furthermore, the washer / dryer 1 may be configured to blow air from the bottom wall side of the drum 22 or may be configured to selectively blow air from one or both of the opening side and the bottom wall side of the drum 22.

The embodiment disclosed this time is to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not intended to include the above-described meanings, but is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims. For example, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the oblique drum type washing and drying machine, and may be a horizontal drum type or a vertical drum type. Moreover, embodiment of this invention is not limited to a washing dryer, The dryer which does not have a washing function may be sufficient.
In addition, as long as the effect of the present invention is obtained, the washing / drying machine 1 may include components that are not disclosed in the embodiment.

1 Washing dryer (dryer)
10 Control unit (detection means, first to third control means)
2 accommodating part 22 drum (diagonal drum)
3 Circulation path 35 Air inlet 43 Drive unit 44 Wind direction plate L Laundry

Claims (5)

A storage section for storing laundry;
A dryer for sucking air from the storage unit, circulating the sucked air and blowing it into the storage unit, and drying the laundry stored in the storage unit;
A wind direction plate defining a wind direction of air blown into the housing portion;
And a drive unit that changes the attitude of the wind direction plate. Detection means for directly or indirectly detecting a physical quantity corresponding to the dryness of the laundry;
The dryer according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that changes or maintains the posture by controlling an operation of the drive unit based on a detection result of the detection unit. The accommodating portion is formed using a horizontal drum or an oblique drum,
The controller is
First control means for continuously changing the posture so that the wind direction is alternately directed to the bottom wall side of the drum and the shaft end opening side of the drum;
Second control means for maintaining the posture such that the wind direction is directed to the bottom wall side rather than the axially central portion of the drum;
And third control means for maintaining the posture so that the wind direction is directed toward the shaft end opening side than the central portion in the axial length direction,
3. The drying according to claim 2, wherein the control of the operation of the drive unit by the first to third control units is selectively executed based on the detection result of the detection unit. Machine. A plurality of the wind direction plates;
The dryer according to claim 3, wherein the first control means changes the posture of each wind direction plate so that the postures of the respective wind direction plates are different from each other. The circulation path is provided with a plurality of air inlets for blowing air into the housing portion,
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wind direction plate is arranged corresponding to each air inlet.

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