JP2013146347A - Washing/drying machine and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing/drying machine and a drying machine capable of indicating clogging of a filter without fail even when laundry (a drying target) is dried without using a heater.SOLUTION: A water level sensor 24b detects an air pressure within an air trap 24a. The air trap 24a is connected to a water tank 2 corresponding to a part of a circulation air path through which drying air sent from an air blower 70 in a drying operation circulates. A CPU of an operation control unit 8 indicates clogging of a filter 71 if the water level sensor 24b detects an air pressure exceeding a reference pressure continuously prescribed times or more during a drying operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laundry dryer and a dryer provided with a circulation air passage through which drying air for drying laundry (object to be dried) circulates.

  A drum-type washing and drying machine that has been widely used in recent years is a bottomed cylindrical water tank that supports a bottomed cylindrical water tank in an outer box in a horizontal or oblique horizontal position, and rotates coaxially in the water tank. The rotary drum is accommodated.

  The water tub and the rotating drum have an opening that opens on the same side, and the laundry is put into the rotating drum through these openings, and is immersed in the washing water collected at the bottom of the water tub and the rotating drum. . The laundry soaked in the washing water is repeatedly lifted and dropped by repeated rotation of the rotating drum, and the laundry is struck against the circumferential surface of the rotating drum and washed when dropped.

  Most of the residual moisture in the laundry after washing is removed by the centrifugal force generated by the high-speed rotation of the rotating drum, and the laundry is dehydrated. The dehydrated laundry is dried by contacting with the drying air introduced into the rotating drum. In the water tank, there are provided an inlet and an outlet for introducing and discharging the dry air, respectively, and the inlet and the outlet are connected by an air duct. The dry air circulates in a circulation air passage that includes the water tank, the rotating drum, and the air duct in the middle.

  The circulation air passage is provided with a blower for sending dry air and a heater for heating the dry air sent by the blower. The dry air heated by the heater is sent into the rotating drum and is washed in the rotating drum. Touching things and dehydrating laundry. The drying air deprived of the moisture of the laundry is cooled by a cooling unit disposed in the circulation air passage in the same manner as the blower. As a result, moisture contained in the drying air is condensed and removed from the drying air, and the drying air from which moisture has been removed becomes dry air. The dry air that has become dry air passes through a filter disposed in the circulation air passage, and dust contained in the dry air is removed. The dry air from which the dust has been removed is sent out again by the blower. The laundry in the rotating drum is dried by repeated contact with the drying air circulating in the circulation air passage.

  The drum-type washing and drying machine has a purpose of reducing the power consumed by heating the heater by drying the laundry by circulation of the drying air heated by the heater, and external heating without heating by the heater. There are laundry dryers that use a combination of drying laundry with air (see Patent Documents 1, 2, or 3).

  In the washer / dryer described in Patent Documents 1, 2, or 3, the circulation air passage is provided with an intake port for intake from the outside and an exhaust passage for exhaust to the outside, and drying by circulation of the heated drying air is performed for a certain period of time. After the operation, external air is mixed with the air in the circulation air passage, and the laundry is dried by circulating the mixed air through the circulation air passage.

JP 2011-72672 A JP 2011-72673 A JP 2008-110135 A

  By the way, when the filter disposed in the circulation air passage is clogged, the drying air circulating through the circulation air passage receives great resistance, so that the air volume of the drying air is reduced and the laundry is efficiently dried. Can not be. For this reason, when the filter is clogged, it is necessary to notify the user of that fact and to prompt the user to replace the filter.

  In a washing and drying machine that dries laundry only by circulation of drying air heated by a heater, air stays when the filter is clogged, so the temperature of the drying air introduced into the rotating drum through the heater is low. To rise. For this reason, the clogging of the filter is reported based on the temperature of the drying air circulating in the circulation air passage.

  However, in the washing and drying machine described in Patent Literature 1, 2, or 3, since there is a period in which heating by the heater is stopped and the laundry is dried, drying that circulates through the circulation air passage during the period is provided. There is a problem that it is impossible to report clogging of the filter based on the temperature of the wind.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to clog a filter even when the laundry (drying object) is dried by stopping heating by the heater. It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing / drying machine and a drying machine capable of reporting the above without error.

  The washing / drying machine according to the present invention includes a water tank for storing washing water, a filter for capturing dust, a blower provided in the middle, a circulation air passage through which drying air sent from the blower circulates, and water in the water tank. And a pressure detector that detects the air pressure inside the air trap that is connected to the drainage channel that discharges the air, the filter is clogged when the air pressure detected by the pressure detector is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. An informing means for informing is provided.

  In the present invention, the water tank for storing the washing water in the circulation air passage, the filter for capturing dust, and the blower are disposed, and the dry air sent out by the blower circulates in the circulation air passage. The air trap is connected to a drainage channel for discharging water in the aquarium. The notifying means notifies that the filter is clogged when the air pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.

  When the filter is clogged, the dry air circulating through the circulation air path is subjected to a large resistance by the filter, so that the internal pressure of the circulation air path from the downstream side of the blower sending out the dry air to the upstream side of the filter increases. When the internal pressure of the circulation air passage rises, the air pressure inside the air trap communicating with the water tank that is a part of the circulation air passage also rises. For this reason, the clogging of the filter based on the air pressure inside the air trap can be notified.

  As described above, since the clogging of the filter is notified based on the air pressure inside the air trap, that is, the internal pressure of the circulation air passage, even if the laundry is dried without using the heater, Clogging is reported without error. Moreover, since the existing pressure detection part is used for the detection of the internal pressure of a circulation air path, product cost is low.

  The washing / drying machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the notification means is configured to notify the clogging when the pressure detection unit detects air pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure a plurality of times. And

  In the present invention, the notification means notifies the filter clogging when the pressure detection unit continuously detects the air pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure a plurality of times. .

  The dryer according to the present invention is a dryer provided with a containing tank for storing a drying object, a filter for capturing dust, and a circulation air passage in which a blower is provided in the middle and a drying air circulated by the blower is circulated. An internal pressure detection unit that detects an internal pressure of the circulation air passage, and a notification unit that notifies clogging of the filter when the internal pressure detected by the internal pressure detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.

  In the present invention, the storage tank for storing the object to be dried in the circulation air passage, the filter for capturing dust, and the blower are disposed, and the dry air sent out by the blower circulates in the circulation air passage. . The notifying means notifies that the filter is clogged when the internal pressure of the circulating air passage detected by the internal pressure detecting unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure.

  When the filter is clogged, the dry air circulating through the circulation air path is subjected to a large resistance by the filter, so that the internal pressure of the circulation air path from the downstream side of the blower sending out the dry air to the upstream side of the filter increases. For this reason, it becomes possible to notify the clogging of the filter based on the internal pressure of the circulation air passage.

  As described above, since the clogging of the filter is notified based on the internal pressure of the circulation air path detected by the internal pressure detection unit, even if the drying object is dried without using the heater, the filter Clogging is reported without error.

  The dryer according to the present invention is characterized in that the notification means is configured to notify the clogging when the internal pressure detection unit continuously detects an internal pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure a plurality of times. To do.

  In the present invention, the notification means notifies the filter clogging when the internal pressure detecting unit continuously detects the internal pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure a plurality of times. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it is a case where the laundry (drying object) is dried without using a heater, it can alert | report the clogging of a filter without an error.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing an appearance of a washing / drying machine according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematically the internal structure of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the formation aspect of a lead-out duct and an introductory duct. It is an expanded sectional view near the support part of a drum motor. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of exhaust duct vicinity. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an exhaust duct vicinity. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the exhaust port of an exhaust duct. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the drying operation control by CPU. It is a flowchart which shows the drying operation control by CPU.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a washing / drying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal configuration of the washing / drying machine according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the washing / drying machine according to the present invention includes a water tank 2 and a rotating drum 3 inside an outer box 1. The aquarium 2 is a large-diameter bottomed cylindrical body having an opening 20 on the entire end portion on one side, and by a plurality of support legs 21 (only one is shown) erected on the bottom surface of the outer box 1, The opening 20 side faces upward and is elastically supported while maintaining an inclined posture in which the axis is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.

  On the front surface of the outer box 1 (the left side surface in FIG. 2), a laundry inlet 11 is opened at a position facing the opening 20 of the water tank 2 so that the lid 10 can be freely opened and closed. A space between the mouth 11 and the opening 20 of the water tank 2 is liquid-tightly sealed by a bellows 12. As shown in FIG. 1, a door opening button 13 is provided in the vicinity of the lid 10 on the front surface of the outer box 1. The lid 10 is opened by operating the door opening button 13.

  The rotating drum 3 is a bottomed cylindrical body that is slightly smaller in diameter than the water tank 2, and an opening 30 for loading laundry is formed on one side of the rotating drum 3. A drum motor 4 serving as a drive source for the rotating drum 3 is fixed outside the bottom surface of the water tank 2. The drum motor 4 has an output shaft 40 that penetrates the center of the bottom plate of the water tank 2 in a liquid-tight manner and protrudes inside the water tank 2. The rotary drum 3 is supported coaxially in the water tank 2 with the opening 30 facing the inside of the opening 20 of the water tank 2, and the bottom part connected to the protruding end of the output shaft 40. Therefore, it is configured to rotate inside the water tank 2.

  A large number of small holes 32 are formed over the entire surface of the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 3, and the small holes 32 penetrate the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 3. A plurality of baffles 33 extending in the axial length direction are provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall so as to be evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. In FIG. 2, only a part of the small hole 32 and one baffle 33 are shown in order to avoid complication of the drawing.

  In the washing operation of the washing and drying machine configured as described above, the lid body 10 is opened, the laundry is put into the rotary drum 3 through the openings 20 and 30 located inside the insertion slot 11, and the lid body 10 is removed. After closing, the washing water is supplied into the water tank 2 as will be described later. Thereafter, the drum motor 4 is driven to repeatedly rotate the rotating drum 3 in the forward and reverse directions, whereby the washing operation is performed.

  As described above, the rotating drum 3 has a large number of small holes 32 and a plurality of baffles 33, and the laundry in the rotating drum 3 is washed water that has entered the rotating drum 3 through the small holes 32. And is repeatedly lifted and dropped by the action of the baffle 33. When the laundry falls, it is struck against the inner surface of the rotating drum 3 and is washed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a switch such as a power switch, a start switch for instructing the start of operation, and a switch for selecting the operation content, an operation content, a warning or a caution, etc. An operation panel 15 having a display unit for displaying a message is provided. The operation panel 15 is connected to an operation control unit 8 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the lower portion of the outer box 1. The washing operation described above, the drying operation described later, and the dehydration operation performed between them are performed by a series of processes or individually by the operation of the operation control unit 8 according to the operation of the operation panel 15. It is executed as an independent process.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a connection port 50 that can be connected to a water supply source such as water supply is provided on the upper surface of the rear portion of the outer box 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 50 is connected to a water supply valve 51 provided inside the outer box 1. The water supply valve 51 is a multiple solenoid valve having a plurality of water supply outlets, and the first water supply outlet is connected to the upper peripheral surface of the water tank 2 via the main water supply pipe 52. When the water supply valve 51 is switched to the first water supply outlet, the water supplied from the water supply source is fed into the water tank 2 through the main water supply pipe 52. In the middle of the main water supply pipe 52, a detergent case can be arranged as is well known, and an appropriate amount of detergent can be introduced into the water tank 2 together with water supplied from a water supply source.

  The second water supply outlet of the water supply valve 51 is connected to the front lower part of the water tank 2 via the cooling water pipe 53. A concave groove 22 extending in the front-rear direction is formed in the lower circumferential surface of the water tank 2, and a cooling plate 23 is installed so as to cover the upper portion of the concave groove 22. The cooling plate 23 is inclined with the rear portion at the bottom, and includes a plurality of concave portions arranged in parallel on the upper surface.

  When the water supply valve 51 is switched to the second water supply outlet, the water supplied from the water supply source is sent to the front upper part of the cooling plate 23 through the cooling water pipe 53 and stays in the plurality of recesses in order. It is used as cooling water that flows backward along the upper surface of 23 and cools the drying air circulating as will be described later.

  A drainage pit 24 is connected to the rear end of the concave groove 22, and one end of a drainage pipe 25 is connected to the drainage pit 24. The other end of the drain pipe 25 is connected to a cylindrical filter case 26 fixed to the front lower part inside the outer box 1, and the filter case 26 is connected to a drain hose 28 laid along the bottom surface of the outer box 1. It is connected through a drain valve 27.

  When the washing operation is finished and the drain valve 27 is opened, the washing water stored in the water tank 2 is discharged to the drain hose 28 through the drain pit 24, the drain pipe 25 and the filter case 26. Inside the filter case 26 is stored a lint filter that captures foreign matter such as fiber waste. When the washing water passes through the filter case 26, foreign matter such as fiber waste is removed from the wash water by the lint filter. . For this reason, there is no possibility that foreign matters such as fiber waste contained in the washing water are discharged to the sewer pipe through the drainage hose 28.

  The filter case 26 is connected to the suction side of the circulation pump 120, and the discharge side of the circulation pump 120 is communicated with the upper side of the water tank 2 through the return pipe 121.

  When the drain valve 27 is closed, the wash water supplied into the water tank 2 enters the filter case 26 through the drain pit 24 and the drain pipe 25 and fills the filter case 26. The circulation pump 120 sucks the washing water in the filter case 26, boosts the sucked washing water, and supplies the washing water into the rotating drum 3 from the upper part of the water tank 2 through the return pipe 121. Thereby, the laundry in the rotating drum 3 can be wetted well, and the effect of washing or rinsing can be enhanced.

  The drain pit 24 is connected to a box-shaped air trap 24 a in addition to the drain pipe 25. The air trap 24a is an air chamber, and a water level sensor 24b for detecting the water level in the water tank 2 is attached to the upper portion of the air trap 24a.

Even after the washing water is supplied into the water tank 2 and the drain pit 24 is filled with the drain valve 27 closed, air remains in the air trap 24a. The air pressure in the air trap 24a increases as the water level in the water tank 2 rises. The water level sensor 24b is a pressure sensor that detects the air pressure in the air trap 24a. The water level sensor 24 b gives the detected air pressure to the operation control unit 8.
The water level sensor 24b corresponds to the pressure detection unit in the claims, and the drainage pit 24 and the drainage pipe 25 constitute a drainage channel.

  The washing / drying machine according to the present invention is further provided with a circulation air passage through which the drying air passing through the water tank 2 and the rotating drum 3 circulates. The circulation air passage has a lead-out duct 60 and an introduction duct 61 that are formed integrally with the water tank 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing how the lead-out duct 60 and the introduction duct 61 are formed. FIG. 3 schematically shows a state in which the bottom surface of the water tank 2 is viewed from the front, and the top and bottom of FIG. 3 correspond to the top and bottom of FIG. In addition, although many ribs for ensuring the strength are provided on the outer surface of the water tank 2, these ribs are not shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lead-out duct 60 has an appropriate length in the circumferential direction including the bottom bottom of the water tank 2 and is provided to rise obliquely upward at one side end. FIG. 3 also shows the groove 22 formed on the lower peripheral surface of the water tank 2 as described above, and the cooling plate 23 installed on the top of the groove 22. The lower part of the lead-out duct 60 communicates with a lead-out port 62 that opens into the water tank 2 at the rear position of the cooling plate 23. The upper end portion of the lead-out duct 60 communicates with a lead-out pipe 63 that protrudes upward from the upper peripheral surface of the water tank 2.

  The introduction duct 61 includes a circular portion provided at the center of the bottom surface of the water tank 2 and a linear portion that is continuous with one end of the circular portion and rises obliquely upward. The upper end of the straight line portion communicates with an introduction pipe 64 that protrudes upward from the upper peripheral surface of the water tank 2. An output shaft 40 of the drum motor 4 protrudes at the center position of the circular portion, and an introduction port 65 having a circular cross section that is coaxial with the protruding portion and opens toward the inside of the water tank 2 is opened.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the support portion of the drum motor 4. As shown in part in the figure, the output shaft 40 of the drum motor 4 is rotatably supported by a bearing 41 and protrudes toward the inside of the water tank 2, and the protruding end portion is connected via a connecting bracket 42. The center of the bottom surface of the rotating drum 3 is fixed. A thin sealing plate 66 is clamped and fixed between the connection bracket 42 and the rotary drum 3. An outer periphery of the sealing plate 66 is provided with a flange portion that faces the inside of the introduction port 65 at the end of the introduction duct 61, and an oil seal 67 that is fitted into the introduction port 65 and fixed to the flange portion. Is in sliding contact.

  On the bottom surface of the rotating drum 3, a plurality of introduction holes 34 arranged on the outer periphery of the fixed portion of the connection bracket 42 are opened, and these introduction holes 34 are provided at positions corresponding to the sealing plate 66. The communication port 68 communicates with the introduction port 65 through the communication hole 68.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an air blower 70 for sending dry air is disposed on the upper part of the water tank 2. The blower 70 is unitized together with a suction-side filter 71 and a discharge-side heater 72, and is fixedly supported inside the outer box 1. The suction side of the blower 70 is connected to the end of the outlet pipe 63 via a connecting duct 69, and the discharge side of the blower 70 is connected to the end of the introduction pipe 64 via an air supply pipe 79. The filter 71 captures dry wind dust flowing through the inside of the connecting duct 69, and the heater 72 heats the dry wind sent into the air supply pipe 79. An exhaust duct 73 that exhausts dry air communicates with the connection duct 69.

  5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the exhaust duct 73, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration in the vicinity of the exhaust duct 73, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the exhaust port of the exhaust duct 73. 5 to 7, the front, rear, left, and right directions are shown together with arrows. In FIG. 5, the flow of exhaust and intake air is indicated by arrows.

  The exhaust duct 73 is provided between the filter 71 and the blower 70 on the upper peripheral surface of the connection duct 69 and communicates with the connection duct 69. The exhaust duct 73 has a protruding portion 73b that protrudes upward from the upper peripheral surface of the connecting duct 69, and an L-shaped portion 73c that continues to the protruding portion 73b (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The L-shaped portion 73c is arranged with one end directed to the left and the other end directed to the rear. One end portion of the L-shaped portion 73c is connected to the tip portion of the protruding portion 73b, and the other end portion is widened in the lateral direction (left-right direction).

  An exhaust port 73a is formed at the other end of the L-shaped portion 73c. Inside the L-shaped portion 73c, three wind direction adjusting ribs 78, 78, 78 extending from the corner portion of the L-shaped portion 73c to the exhaust port 73a are arranged side by side. Each of the wind direction adjusting ribs 78, 78, 78 is curved in an L shape along the L-shaped portion 73c.

  Four air paths are formed by the left and right side surfaces of the three air direction adjusting ribs 78, 78, 78 and the L-shaped portion 73c, and the exhaust is dispersed in the lateral direction (left and right direction) by the four air paths.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an exhaust cover 76 is provided at the exhaust port 73 a via a sealing member 77. The exhaust cover 76 is designed with dimensions corresponding to the exhaust port 73a. The sealing member 77 is provided at the peripheral edge of the exhaust port 73a and seals the gap between the exhaust cover 76 and the exhaust port 73a. The exhaust cover 76 has an opening 76b corresponding to the exhaust port 73a. In the opening 76b, a plurality of louvers 76a, 76a,. It is set up. The exhaust is discharged upward by the louvers 76a, 76a,..., 76a.

  On the lower surface of the connecting duct 69, an intake port 69 a is opened between the communication point with the exhaust duct 73 and the blower 70, and a guide plate that guides dry air to the exhaust duct 73 at the communication point with the exhaust duct 73. 74 is pivotally supported by a pivot 74a which is long in the left-right direction. The guide plate 74 has one edge connected to the pivot and extends toward the intake port 69a, and opens and closes the intake port 69a in addition to guiding the dry air to the exhaust duct 73. An intake motor 74 b (see FIG. 8) that pivots the guide plate 74 is provided on the lower surface of the connection duct 69 that faces the communication point with the exhaust duct 73. The intake motor 74b is a stepping motor, the output shaft of the intake motor 74b is connected to the pivot 74a, and the guide plate 74 is pivoted by the rotation of the intake motor 74b. By the pivoting of the guide plate 74, the air inlet 69a is opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an exhaust plate 75 that opens and closes the exhaust duct 73 is pivotally supported on a side surface of the projecting portion 73 b by a pivot (not shown) that is long in the front-rear direction inside the tip portion of the projecting portion 73 b. The exhaust plate 75 is pivoted by an exhaust motor 75a. The exhaust motor 75a is a stepping motor. The output shaft of the exhaust motor 75a is connected to a pivot that pivotally supports the exhaust plate 75, and the exhaust plate 75 is pivoted by the rotation of the exhaust motor 75a. The exhaust duct 73 is opened and closed by pivoting the exhaust plate 75.

  In the circulation air passage configured as described above, when the blower 70 is operated with the intake port 69a and the exhaust duct 73 closed, dry air is sucked from the outlet duct 60 connected to the suction side of the blower 70. Then, the pressurized dry air is sent out to the introduction duct 61 connected to the discharge side of the blower 70. The dry air sent into the introduction duct 61 flows from the outer periphery of the water tank 2 toward the center, reaches the introduction port 65, and is introduced into the rotary drum 3 through the communication hole 68 and the introduction hole 34. The drying air introduced into the rotating drum 3 flows out into the water tank 2 through a large number of small holes 32 formed in the peripheral wall, and is led out into the outlet duct 60 through the outlet port 62 formed as described above. Then, it is sucked into the blower 70 again.

  The drying operation of the washing / drying machine according to the present invention is executed by driving the blower 70, the heater 72, and the drum motor 4 and switching the water supply valve 51 to the second water supply outlet.

  When the drying operation is performed, the drying air circulates in the circulation air passage as described above by driving the blower 70. The drying air is heated by the heater 72 and then introduced into the rotating drum 3. The rotating drum 3 is repeatedly rotated at a low speed by driving the drum motor 4, and repeatedly lifts and drops the laundry in the rotating drum 3. The drying air introduced into the rotating drum 3 hits the laundry in the rotating drum 3, deprives the laundry of moisture and flows out into the water tank 2, toward the outlet 62 that opens at the bottom of the bottom of the water tank 2. Flowing.

  The drying air circulating in this way is cooled in contact with the cooling water flowing on the cooling plate 23 by switching the water supply valve 51 to the second water supply outlet, and the moisture contained in the drying air is condensed and dried. Removed from. The dry air from which moisture has been removed becomes dry air, reaches the outlet 62, and is sent out into the outlet duct 60.

  The dry air sent into the lead-out duct 60 rises through the lead-out duct 60, is sucked into the blower 70 through the lead-out pipe 63, is pressurized, and is reheated by the heater 72 to become hot air with high temperature and low humidity. Then, it is introduced into the rotary drum 3. The laundry in the rotating drum 3 is dried by repeating contact with the drying air circulating through the circulation air passage as described above.

  The moisture removed from the drying air by the condensation of moisture flows together with the cooling water on the cooling plate 23, reaches the rear end of the cooling plate 23 and flows down into the concave groove 22, and the drain pit 24, drain pipe 25 and It is discharged into the drain hose 28 through the filter case 26.

As described above, the washing and drying machine according to the present invention performs heating and drying in which the laundry is dried while the drying air circulating in the circulation air path is heated by the heater 72.
The washing / drying machine according to the present invention is further sucked from the intake port 69a with the heater 72 stopped after heating and drying for a certain period of time for the purpose of reducing the power consumed by the heating of the heater 72. Exhaust drying is performed to dry the laundry while discharging the drying air flowing through the circulation air passage from the exhaust port 73a.

  When the drying operation is switched from heat drying to exhaust drying, the driving of the heater 72 is stopped, and the intake port 69a and the exhaust duct 73 are opened. The blower 70 and the drum motor 4 are continuously driven. At this time, the guide plate 74 pivots to maintain an obliquely upward posture, and guides the dry air that has passed through the filter 71 to the exhaust duct 73. A gap is formed between the leading end (upper end) of the guide plate 74 and the upper side surface of the connection duct 69.

  When exhaust drying is performed, the drying air sent out by the blower 70 is introduced into the rotary drum 3 through which the laundry is repeatedly lifted and dropped through the introduction pipe 64. The drying air introduced into the rotary drum 3 hits the laundry in the rotary drum 3, deprives the laundry of moisture, and flows out into the water tank 2 through a large number of small holes 32 formed in the peripheral wall of the rotary drum 3. And reaches the outlet 62 that opens to the bottom of the bottom of the water tank 2. The dry air that has reached the outlet 62 is sent into the outlet duct 60.

  The dry air that has reached the outlet 62 is sent into the outlet duct 60, passes through the filter 71, and dust contained in the dry air is removed from the dry air. The dry air that has passed through the filter 71 is guided to the exhaust duct 73 by the guide plate 74 and exhausted from the exhaust port 73a. The inside of the connection duct 69 becomes negative pressure due to the exhaust of dry air, and the air outside the connection duct 69 is sucked from the opened intake port 69a. Air sucked from the air inlet 69 a is introduced into the rotary drum 3 by the blower 70. In general, since the air outside the connection duct 69 is drier than the air deprived of moisture from the laundry, the laundry in the rotating drum 3 comes into contact with the dry air sucked from outside the connection duct 69 as described above. Repeat to dry.

  In addition, the washing / drying machine according to the present invention monitors the air pressure in the air trap 24a detected by the water level sensor 24b in order to detect clogging of the filter 71 during the heat drying or the exhaust drying. . When the filter 71 is clogged, the dry air flowing through the circulation air passage is subjected to a large resistance by the filter 71, so that the internal pressure of the circulation air passage from the downstream side of the blower 70 that sends out the dry air to the upstream side of the filter 71 is increased. To rise.

  Since the air trap 24 a communicates with the water tank 2 provided in the circulation air path from the downstream side of the blower 70 to the upstream side of the filter 71 via the drainage pit 24, the air pressure in the air trap 24 a is downstream of the blower 70. This corresponds to the internal pressure of the circulating air path from the side to the upstream side of the filter 71.

  While the heat drying or the exhaust drying is performed, the operation control unit 8 displays the display unit included in the operation panel 15 when the water level sensor 24b detects the air pressure equal to or higher than the reference pressure a plurality of times, for example, 15 times. A message indicating the clogging of the filter 71 is displayed to notify the user of the clogging of the filter 71. Here, the reference pressure is the air pressure in the air trap 24a when the filter 71 is clogged, and is stored in the operation control unit 8 in advance.

  As described above, based on the internal pressure of the circulating air path from the downstream side of the blower 70 to the upstream side of the filter 71, not only the period in which the heater 72 is driven and heat drying is performed, but also the heater 72 is stopped. Even during the period when exhaust drying is performed, clogging of the filter 71 can be reported without error. Further, it is possible to prompt the user to replace the filter 71 by notifying the filter clogging. Furthermore, since the existing water level sensor 24b is used to detect the internal pressure of the circulating air path from the downstream side of the blower 70 to the upstream side of the filter 71, the product cost is low.

  Since the intake port 69a is disposed on the upstream side of the blower 70 and the exhaust duct 73 is disposed on the downstream side of the filter 71, when the filter 71 is clogged during exhaust drying, the blower 70 is provided. The internal pressure of the circulating air path from the downstream side to the upstream side of the filter 71 is not reduced by the opening of the intake port 69 a and the exhaust duct 73.

Further, the drain valve 27 is opened while the heat drying or the exhaust drying is performed. However, the inner diameter and area of the opening of the drain valve 27 that communicates the filter case 26 and the drain hose 28 are 31.5 mm and 778.91 mm ² , respectively, and the connection duct 69 that communicates with the exhaust port 73a from the inside of the water tank 2. The inner diameter and area of the inlet through which the circulating drying air enters are 64 mm and 3215.36 mm ² , respectively. For this reason, the area of the opening of the drain valve 27 is about a quarter of the area of the inlet through which the drying air enters in the connection duct 69, and is sufficiently small. Accordingly, the dry air is subjected to a very large resistance when flowing through the drain valve 27. For this reason, the internal pressure of the circulating air path from the downstream side of the blower 70 to the upstream side of the filter 71 is unlikely to decrease due to the opening of the drain valve 27.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the washing / drying machine according to the present invention. The operation control unit 8 of the washing / drying machine according to the present invention includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 8a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 8b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 8c, an input / output interface 8d, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory 8e. And a timer 8f connected by a shared bus. The CPU 8a reads the control program stored in the ROM 8b into the RAM 8c and executes it. The nonvolatile memory 8e is composed of, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

  The aforementioned operation panel 15 is connected to the input / output interface 8d. The CPU 8a instructs the operation panel 15 via the input / output interface 8d to display a message indicating operation details, warnings, cautions, etc., for example, a message indicating clogging of the filter 71, on the display unit of the operation panel 15.

  The above-described water level sensor 24b is connected to the input / output interface 8d. The air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is applied to the CPU 8a via the input / output interface 8d. The CPU 8a determines the water level of the stored water in the water tank 2 or the internal pressure of the circulation air path based on the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b. Recognize

  Further, the input / output interface 8d is connected to the drum motor 4, the water supply valve 51, the drain valve 27, the blower 70, the heater 72, the intake motor 74b and the exhaust motor 75a, and more specifically to these drive circuits. The CPU 8a executes a control program stored in the ROM 8b in accordance with the operation contents of the operation panel 15, and operates the drum motor 4, the water supply valve 51, the drain valve 27, the blower 70, the heater 72, the intake motor 74b, and the exhaust motor 75a. And the washing operation and the drying operation described above, and the dehydration operation are executed.

  9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the drying operation control by the CPU 8a. In the initial state, the intake port 69 a is closed by the guide plate 74 and the exhaust duct 73 is closed by the exhaust plate 75.

  The CPU 8a determines whether or not the drying process should be started (step S1). For example, when the washing / drying machine according to the present invention is set to execute washing, rinsing and drying, the CPU 8a determines whether or not the drying process should be started based on whether or not the washing and rinsing are finished. judge.

  When determining that the drying process should not be started (step S1: NO), the CPU 8a returns the process to step S1. When determining that the drying process should be started (step S1: YES), the CPU 8a turns on the blower 70 by issuing an operation command to the blower 70 (step S2), and issues an operation command to the heater 72. The heater 72 is turned on (step S3). Further, the CPU 8a repeatedly rotates the rotating drum 3 at a low speed by issuing an operation command to the drum motor 4 (step S4).

  Next, the CPU 8a opens the drain valve 27 by issuing an operation command to the drain valve 27 (step S5), and opens the second feed water outlet by issuing an operation command to the feed valve 51 (step S6). Thereby, heat drying is started.

  After executing Step S6, the CPU 8a starts measuring time by the timer 8f (Step S7), and determines whether or not the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is equal to or higher than the reference pressure (Step S8). When determining that the air pressure is equal to or higher than the reference pressure (step S8: YES), the CPU 8a increments the counter value k stored in the nonvolatile memory 8e by 1 (step S9). The counter value k is the number of times that the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is equal to or higher than the reference pressure. Note that the counter value k is set to zero as the initial state of the drying operation control.

  Next, the CPU 8a determines whether or not the counter value k is equal to or larger than the counter value N for notifying the clogging of the filter 71 (step S10). The counter value N is a natural number stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 8e.

  When the CPU 8a determines that the counter value k is greater than or equal to N (step S10: YES), the CPU 8a instructs the operation panel 15 to display a message indicating the clogging of the filter 71 on the display unit of the operation panel 15. A clogging error of the filter 71 is notified (step S11).

  When determining that the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is less than the reference pressure (step S8: NO), the CPU 8a resets the counter value k to zero (step S12). When the CPU 8a determines that the counter value k is less than N (step S10: NO), or after executing step S11 or S12, whether the time measured by the timer 8f is equal to or longer than the heating and drying time It is determined whether or not (step S13). The heat drying time is a time for performing heat drying, and is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 8e.

  If the CPU 8a determines that the timed time is less than the heat drying time (step S13: NO), the CPU 8a returns the process to step S8, and continues the heat drying until the timed time is equal to or longer than the heat drying time.

  When the CPU 8a determines that the measured time is equal to or longer than the heating and drying time (step S13: YES), the CPU 8a turns off the heater 72 by issuing an operation command to the heater 72 (step S14), and stops the time measurement by the timer 8f (step S14). Step S15). At this time, the time measured by the timer 8f is reset to zero.

  Next, the CPU 8a issues an operation command to the exhaust motor 75a to pivot the exhaust plate 75 to open the exhaust duct 73 (step S16), and issues an operation command to the intake motor 74b to pivot the guide plate 74. As a result, the intake port 69a is opened (step S17). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide plate 74 pivots to maintain an obliquely upward posture, and guides the drying air to the exhaust duct 73.

  Next, the CPU 8a issues an operation command to the water supply valve 51 to close the second water supply outlet (step S18). As a result, the drying operation is switched from heat drying to exhaust drying. The air deprived of moisture from the laundry (dry air) contacts the guide plate 74 and turns upward, flows through the exhaust duct 73, and is exhausted from the exhaust port 73a. Due to the exhaust, the pressure in the connecting duct 69 is reduced, and the air outside the connecting duct 69 is sucked from the intake port 69a. In general, the air outside the connection duct 69 is drier than the air that has taken moisture from the laundry.

  After executing Step S18, the CPU 8a starts measuring time by the timer 8f (Step S19), and determines whether or not the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is equal to or higher than the reference pressure (Step S20). When determining that the air pressure is equal to or higher than the reference pressure (step S20: YES), the CPU 8a increments the counter value k stored in the nonvolatile memory 8e by 1 (step S21). Next, the CPU 8a determines whether or not the counter value k is equal to or greater than the counter value N for notifying the clogging of the filter 71 (step S22).

  When the CPU 8a determines that the counter value k is greater than or equal to N (step S22: YES), the CPU 8a instructs the operation panel 15 to display a message indicating the clogging of the filter 71 on the display unit of the operation panel 15. A clogging error of the filter 71 is notified (step S23).

  When determining that the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b is less than the reference pressure (step S20: NO), the CPU 8a resets the counter value k to zero (step S24). When the CPU 8a determines that the counter value k is less than N (step S22: NO), or after executing step S23 or S24, is the time measured by the timer 8f equal to or longer than the exhaust drying time? It is determined whether or not (step S25). The exhaust drying time is a time for performing exhaust drying, and is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 8e.

  If the CPU 8a determines that the measured time is less than the exhaust drying time (step S25: NO), the CPU 8a returns the process to step S20 and continues exhaust drying until the measured time reaches the exhaust drying time or longer.

  CPU8a turns off the air blower 70 by issuing an operation command to the air blower 70, when it determines with the timekeeping time being more than an exhaust gas drying time (step S25: YES) (step S26). Next, the CPU 8a stops the repeated rotation of the rotary drum 3 by issuing an operation command to the drum motor 4 (step S27), and stops the time count by the timer 8f (step S28). At this time, the time measured by the timer 8f is reset to zero.

  Next, the CPU 8a closes the intake port 69a by issuing an operation command to the intake motor 74b (step S29), and closes the exhaust duct 73 by issuing an operation command to the exhaust motor 75a (step S30). finish.

As described above, the CPU 8a notifies a clogging error when the water level sensor 24b continuously detects the air pressure equal to or higher than the reference pressure for the counter value N times or more. Therefore, the clogging of the filter 71 can be notified to the user without error.
The CPU 8a and the operation panel 15 correspond to notification means in the claims.

  Note that a PCI (Plasma Cluster Ion) unit may be provided in the exhaust duct 73 to exhaust the dry air together with the PCI. The PCI unit is mounted on the upper side surface of the L-shaped portion 73c, for example. By releasing PCI to the outside, the indoor environment in which the washing and drying machine according to the present invention is installed can be improved. Alternatively, a PCI unit may be mounted on the side surface of the introduction duct 61 and the PCI may be introduced into the rotating drum 3 together with the drying air. Thereby, the laundry in the rotating drum 3 can be antimicrobial.

  In the present embodiment, the method of notifying the clogging error of the filter 71 by the CPU 8a is not limited to the method of displaying the clogging error on the display unit of the operation panel 15. For example, the washing / drying machine according to the present invention may include a sound output unit that outputs a warning sound indicating a clogging error, and the CPU 8a may notify the clogging error by a warning sound of the sound output unit.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the air pressure detected by the water level sensor 24b becomes equal to or higher than the reference pressure, the CPU 8a not only notifies clogging of the filter 71 but also stops the drying operation. Good.

  Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a washing / drying machine but also to a drying machine. In this dryer, the present invention can be implemented by providing a pressure sensor for detecting the internal pressure of the circulating air passage instead of the water level sensor 24b. Each of the pressure sensor and the rotating drum 3 functions as an internal pressure detection unit and a storage tub that stores laundry that is an object to be dried.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Operation panel 2 Water tank 24 Drain pit 24a Air trap 24b Water level sensor 25 Drain pipe 3 Rotating drum 32 Small hole 34 Introduction hole 60 Derivation duct 61 Introduction duct 65 Introduction port 68 Communication hole 69 Connection duct 70 Blower 71 Filter 79 Air supply pipe 8 Operation Control unit 8a CPU

Claims (4)

A water tank for storing washing water, a filter for capturing dust, and a blower are provided in the middle, and are connected to a circulation air passage through which dry air sent out by the blower circulates and a drainage passage for discharging water in the water tank. In the washing and drying machine provided with a pressure detection unit that detects the air pressure inside the air trap,
A washing / drying machine comprising: a notifying unit that notifies that the filter is clogged when the air pressure detected by the pressure detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. The laundry according to claim 1, wherein the notification means is configured to notify the clogging when the pressure detection unit detects an air pressure equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure a plurality of times continuously. Dryer. In a dryer provided with a circulation tank through which a storage tank for storing an object to be dried, a filter for capturing dust, and a blower are provided in the middle, and the drying wind sent out by the blower circulates.
An internal pressure detector for detecting an internal pressure of the circulation air passage;
A drier comprising: informing means for informing of clogging of the filter when the internal pressure detected by the internal pressure detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. The said notification means is comprised so that the said clogging may be notified when the said internal pressure detection part detects the internal pressure more than the said predetermined pressure continuously several times, The drying of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Machine.

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