JP2013220166A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing and drying machine in which a tank drying course can be started early.SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine of the present invention comprises: an outer tank for holding washing water and rinsing water; an inner tank rotatably provided within the outer tank; blowing means for sending air to laundry placed in the inner tank; and heating means for heating the air, and executes a washing step, a rinsing step and a spin-drying step. When a washing operation including at least one of the washing step, the rinsing step and the spin-drying step is completed and a prescribed key operation is detected, the blowing means and the heating means are caused to start supplying warm air, and thereafter, when the washing and drying machine is detected to be closed, the output of the heating means is increased.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine.

In general, a washing and drying machine can perform a drying operation in addition to a washing operation including washing, rinsing and dewatering steps of clothes. However, when only the washing operation is performed and the drying operation is not performed, moisture remains in the tank, which causes generation of mold and the like. For this reason, there has been proposed a washing and drying machine provided with a dedicated tank drying course for supplying hot air in a state where no clothes are present in the tank and drying the tank.
For example, in Patent Document 1, after the washing operation is completed, it is detected that the lid is closed by the lid opening / closing detection means, and the tank drying course is automatically executed when a specific key is operated. A laundry dryer is disclosed.

JP 2008-229153 A (FIG. 1 etc.)

In the washing and drying machine of Patent Document 1, if the lid open / close detection means does not detect the closed state of the lid, the drying operation is not performed. For this reason, if the user forgets to close the lid after taking out the clothes after washing, or if he / she does not notice that the lid is slightly open, the drying operation is not performed and moisture is contained in the tank. There was a possibility of remaining. In addition, when it takes time to close the lid after operating a specific key for taking out clothes or the like, the start of the drying operation is delayed.
The objective of this invention is providing the washing-drying machine which can start a tank drying course at an early stage.

The washing and drying machine of the present invention includes an outer tub for storing washing water and rinsing water, an inner tub that is rotatably installed in the outer tub, a blower that supplies air to the laundry in the inner tub, A heating means for wind, a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process are executed, the washing operation including at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process is terminated, and a predetermined key is operated. And a control circuit for increasing the output of the heating means when detecting the closed state of the lid of the washing and drying machine.
Other means will be described in the embodiment for carrying out the invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the washing-drying machine which can start a tank drying course at an early stage.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows schematic structure of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the drying mechanism concerning this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the inside of the drying mechanism which concerns on this embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of the warm air unit which concerns on this embodiment. It is the perspective view which removed the front side unit case of the warm air unit which concerns on this embodiment, and showed the inside of a warm air unit. In FIG. 5, it is the perspective view which removed the fan cover and showed the inside of the ventilation fan. It is a figure explaining control of the washing and drying machine concerning this embodiment. It is another figure explaining control of the washing and drying machine concerning this embodiment. It is another figure explaining control of the washer / dryer concerning this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the structure of the control circuit of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the operation panel of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the control processing procedure of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present invention (referred to as “the present embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Outline of washing machine)
First, the schematic structure of the washing / drying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The outer frame 1 of the washing / drying machine 100 includes an outer tub 2 for storing washing water. The outer tub 2 is supported by the outer frame 1 in a vibration-proof manner. A laundry dewatering tub (inner tub) 3 for storing laundry to be washed or dried is rotatably supported in the outer tub 2.

  The stirring blade 4 for stirring and washing the laundry is rotatably installed in the inner tub 3. During the washing operation and the drying operation, the agitating blade 4 is rotated forward / reversely. During the dehydration operation, the stirring blade 4 rotates at a high speed together with the inner tub 3, and the water contained in the laundry in the inner tub 3 is dehydrated.

  The washing and drying drive motor 10 drives the stirring blade 4 and the inner tub 3 to rotate. The washing / drying drive motor 10 uses a DC brushless motor. This DC brushless motor is vector controlled.

  The outer lid 5 is provided on a top cover 6 provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. An inner lid 34 is provided on the upper part of the outer tub 2 so as to be freely opened and closed. The user opens and closes the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 and puts the laundry in and out of the inner tub 3.

  The top cover 6 has a water supply box (not shown) on the front side (left side in the figure). The water supply box supplies tap water and bath water to the outer tub 2. A detergent and finish charging device 35 is provided on the front side of the top cover 6. The detergent and the finishing agent are poured between the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3 by the charging hose 36.

  The water supply valve 7 is provided at the rear portion (right side in the figure) of the top cover 6. The inflow connection 8 of the water supply valve 7 protrudes upward through the top cover 6. A water hose (not shown) is connected to the protruding inflow connection portion 8. The discharge port side of the water supply valve 7 is connected to a previous water supply box through a water supply hose 30 connected thereto. The outlet of the water supply box is directed between the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3.

  A bath water pump (not shown) for sucking bath water is also installed in the rear portion of the top cover 6. A suction hose extending to the bath is connected to the bath water pump. A tip of the suction hose is provided with a bath water sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing the bath water.

  The drying mechanism 9 performs circulation ventilation and dehumidification of drying air for drying the laundry in the inner tub 3. Most of the drying mechanism 9 is occupied by a drying air circulation path.

  The drying air circulation path communicates with the bottom circulation path 20 connected to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2, the dehumidification vertical passage 21 that rises from the bottom circulation path 20, and the dehumidification vertical path 21. It has the warm air unit 22 connected to. The hot air unit 22 has a blower fan 202 (FIG. 4) and a heater 24, which will be described in detail later. The suction side of the warm air unit 22 is connected to the upper side of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21, and the return side is connected so that the return connection circuit 25 communicates.

  The return connection circuit 25 has an upper bellows hose 23 and is connected to communicate with the upper part of the outer tub 2 via the upper bellows hose 23. The bottom circulation path 20 also has a lower bellows hose 26 and is connected to communicate with the bottom of the outer tub 2 via the lower bellows hose 26.

  The dehumidifying vertical passage 21 has a dehumidifying area to be described later. The dehumidifying region exists in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 so as to extend vertically. The drying air rising up the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 is cooled by bath water or tap water supplied to the dehumidifying region, and moisture contained in the drying air is taken away.

  By the blower fan 202 (FIG. 4) of the hot air unit 22, the drying air passing through the drying air circulation path circulates in the inner tub 3 and dries the laundry in the inner tub 3. The drying air from which moisture has been removed in the dehumidifying region is reheated and flows through the inner tub 3 by the heater 24 of the hot air unit 22, so that moisture in the laundry is removed. By repeating this moisture removal with circulation of drying air, the laundry is dried well.

  The lower bellows hose 26 communicates with the washing water drainage channel 42 and the washing water circulation channel 43 through the lower communication pipe 41 in the bottom drop portion 31 of the outer tub 2. A lower communication pipe 41 communicates with the washing water drainage passage 42 via a drain valve 44, and a lower communication pipe 41 communicates with the washing water circulation water passage 43 via a circulation pump 45 and a foreign matter removal trap 32.

  During the washing operation and the drying operation, the drain valve 44 is closed. When draining the washing water, the drain valve 44 is opened, and the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are drained to the outside of the washing dryer 100 through the washing water drain passage 42.

  The suction side of the circulation pump 45 is connected to communicate with the foreign matter removal trap 32. The discharge side of the circulation pump 45 is connected so as to communicate with the washing water circulation channel 43. A washing water circulation water vertical channel 46 connected to the tip of the washing water circulation channel 43 rises along the outer surface of the outer tub 2, extends to the upper side of the inner tub 3, and the washing thread waste removing device 33 provided on the upper side of the inner tub 3. Is connected to communicate with.

  The washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2 are sucked up by the circulation pump 45 and poured into the inner tub 3 from the washing thread waste removing device 33 through the washing water circulation water longitudinal water channel 46. Washing and rinsing are performed under the sprayed water injection by the circulation pump 45, so that washing and rinsing can be performed with a small amount of water.

  The water level sensor 47 detects the water level of the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2. An air trap 50 is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the outer tub 2, and an air tube 49 connected so as to communicate with the air trap 50 is provided. A water level sensor 47 is connected to the upper end of the air tube 49 so as to communicate therewith. The water level sensor 47 detects the water level fluctuation in the outer tub 2 to detect the water level.

  The drying mechanism 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

  The drying air circulation path that occupies most of the drying mechanism 9 has a dehumidifying vertical passage 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 has cooling fins 72 included in the dehumidifying means in the dehumidifying region 70. The dehumidifying area 70 extends from the middle to the upper part of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. The lower end of the dehumidifying area 70 is at a high water level (when the amount of washing is large).

  The cooling fins 72 of the dehumidifying means are formed of a metal material having good thermal conductivity such as stainless steel or aluminum. The cooling fins 72 can also be formed integrally with the same synthetic resin as the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. The cooling fins 72 are erected so as to protrude from the inner wall surface of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. The drying air flowing from the bottom to the top in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 rises while touching the cooling fins 72, and dehumidification is performed.

  The cooling water supply connection port 80 is provided in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. The supply connection port 80 is connected to a cooling water supply tube (not shown) for supplying tap water or bath water sucked up by the bath water pump. The cooling water passes through the supply connection port 80 and goes down the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 while being transmitted through the cooling fins 72. The drying air that goes up from the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 from below is cooled by touching the cooling water or the cooling fins 72, and moisture contained in the drying air is taken away.

  The cleaning water supply connection port 81 is provided adjacent to the cooling water supply connection port 80. The supply connection port 81 is connected to a wash water supply tube for supplying tap water or bath water sucked up by a bath water pump. The washing water passes through the washing water supply connection port 81 and descends the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 while being transmitted through the cooling fins 72. The lint, cloth waste, etc. adhering to the cooling fin 72 and the inner wall surface of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 are removed by being washed away with washing water.

  The defoaming nozzle 82 is provided above the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. The defoaming nozzle 82 is placed such that the tip of the defoaming nozzle 82 is obliquely downward. A defoaming water supply tube 83 is connected to the defoaming nozzle 82. Although not shown, the defoaming water supply tube 83 is connected to communicate with the washing water circulation water longitudinal water channel 46. Defoaming water is sprayed from the defoaming nozzle 82 during the washing operation and the rinsing operation.

  The upper end of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 has a drying air outlet 86 through which drying air flows at an upper portion of the expansion air passage portion 84, and a cooling water flow lower portion 85 is provided at other portions excluding the expansion air passage portion 84. Have. The cooling water supplied from the cooling water supply connection port 80 flows down from the flow lower portion 85, travels along the cooling fin 72, and goes down the dehumidifying vertical passage 21.

  The drying air rises from the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 from below, leaves the contact with the cooling water at the extended air passage portion 84, and flows toward the hot air unit 22 and a drying filter described later.

  As described above, by providing the extended air passage portion 84, the drying air does not carry the cooling water droplets, so that the cooling water droplets flow into the hot air unit 22 or the drying filter. Can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 has a lint removal window 90. The lint removal window 90 is provided in the extended air passage portion 84 facing the outer frame 1.

  The drying filter (not shown) is provided so as to be interposed in the drying air circulation path of the drying mechanism 9. The drying filter functions as dry lint removing means for collecting and removing lint such as lint carried by the drying air flowing through the drying air circulation path. A drying filter is placed between the drying air outlet 86 of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 and the upstream side (suction side) of the hot air unit 22.

  The hot air unit 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

  The warm air unit 22 includes a front side unit case 200, a back side unit case 201, a blower fan 202, and a heater 24 for heating. A unit case is formed by combining the front unit case 200 and the back unit case 201. A blower fan 202 and a heater 24 for heating are placed inside the unit case. As the heater 24, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) thermistor is used. The heater 24 of the PTC thermistor that is long in a bar shape generates heat uniformly over the whole, and heats the air blown from the blower fan 202 that circulates in contact with the numerous cooling fins 72.

  The front-side unit case 200 and the back-side unit case 201 have a casing portion 204 in which the blower fan 202 is placed, and a heater chamber 205 in which the heater 24 is placed. The blower fan 202 is a turbo fan and rotates at high speed in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 5 and 6. The blades 212 of the turbo fan have an arc shape, and the twelve blades 212 are arranged at an equal pitch. The blower fan 202 is driven by an electric motor. The blower fan 202 and the electric motor are collectively referred to as an electric blower 610 (FIG. 10).

  The front unit case 200 has a suction port 206 and a discharge port 207. The suction port 206 is located at the center of the casing portion 204 so as to face the suction side center of the blower fan 202. The discharge port 207 is disposed at the position of the heater chamber 205 on the downstream side of the heater 24. The suction port 206 communicates with the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 via a drying filter (drying filter device). The discharge port 207 communicates with the connection circuit 25 of the drying air circuit.

  The casing unit 204 has a discharge port 208. The discharge port 208 has a rear side end portion 209 that is the rear side and a front side end portion (nose portion) 210 that is the front side with respect to the rotation direction of the blower fan 202. The nose portion 210 is close to the outer periphery of the blower fan 202. The rear end 209 is separated from the outer periphery of the blower fan 202. Therefore, the gap between the inner periphery of the casing portion 204 and the outer periphery of the blower fan 202 has an involute shape that gradually increases from the nose portion 210 toward the rear end portion 209 in the clockwise direction of FIGS.

  The flow rate distribution discharged from the discharge port 208 by the rotation of the blower fan 202 is non-uniform with a large number of the rear end portions 209 and a small nose portion 210. Therefore, in order to make the flow distribution close to be uniform, a raised portion 211 that protrudes toward the nose portion 210 so as to narrow the discharge port 208 is provided on the rear end portion 209 side. The raised portion 211 is located between the rear end portion 209 and one end portion of the heater 24 and has a shape in which the center facing the nose portion 210 is raised.

  Thus, the discharge port 208 is provided with a raised portion 211 that protrudes toward the nose portion 210 so as to narrow the discharge port 208 at the rear end 209 located on the opposite side of the nose portion 210. As a result, the air distribution to the heater 24 can be made to approach the rear end portion 209 and the nose portion 210 uniformly, so that the heating range of the heater 24 is made uniform as a whole and dry air is heated well.

(Control of washing dryer)
Control of the washing / drying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a case where “user operation”, “lid state”, “heater output”, “washer / dryer power supply” and “timer” are performed when the “drying of the tub” is performed after the washing / drying machine 100 executes “washing”. "Each schematically shows how the transition proceeds with time. Time is taken on the horizontal axis of FIG.

In the process column 301, processes of the washing / drying machine 100 are described. “Laundry” is a process in which the washing / drying machine 100 performs a part or all of “washing”, “rinsing”, and “dehydration” in the order. Of course, during “washing”, laundry such as clothes is present in the inner tub 3, and the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 are closed.
“Laundry removal” is a process in which the user takes out the laundry from the inner tub 3 to the outside of the laundry dryer 100. The “laundry removal” starts when the user opens the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 and ends when the user takes out the laundry and then closes the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5.

  “Bath drying” is a process in which the washing and drying machine 100 blows drying air (warm air) into the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3 to dry the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3. During “tank drying”, it is assumed that there is no laundry such as clothes in the inner tub 3 and the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 are closed. In this way, the washing / drying machine 100 prevents the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3 from holding moisture, for example, preventing mold from occurring.

The user action column 302 describes user actions. “Lid opening” is an operation in which the user opens the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34. “Lid closing” is an operation in which the user closes the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5. A lid opening / closing sensor 614 (FIG. 10) is disposed in the vicinity of the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 (not shown in FIG. 1). The lid open / close sensor 614 indicates whether the lid is in an open state (“open”) or in a closed state (“closed”), for example, by optically or mechanically reading the position of the lid. It is constantly monitored.
“Key operation” is an operation in which the user presses the “clean” button 627 on the operation switch 612 of the operation panel 611 (FIGS. 1 and 11).

  In the lid state column 303, the state of the lid is indicated by a line segment indicating either “open” or “closed”. “Open” indicates that the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 are open, and “closed” indicates that the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 are closed. Naturally, the lid state is “open” in the time period (t1 to t4) between “lid open” and “lid closed”, and the lid state is “closed” in other time zones. is there.

  In the heater output column 304, the output level of the heater 24 is indicated by a line segment indicating any one level of “OFF”, “weak”, and “strong”. Here, the output level is, for example, the power consumption of the heater 24, the amount of generated heat, and the like. “OFF” indicates that the value is “zero”, “weak” indicates that the value is an arbitrary positive value, and “strong” indicates that the value is “weak”. "Indicates an arbitrary value larger than the value of" ". In the time zone before “key operation” (t2) in FIG. 7, the output level of the heater 24 is “OFF”. After the “key operation” (t2), the output level of the heater 24 becomes “weak”. Further, after “lid closing” (t4), the output level of the heater 24 becomes “strong”.

  In the washing / drying machine power supply column 305, the power supply state of the washing / drying machine 100 is indicated by a line segment indicating either “ON” or “OFF”. “OFF” indicates that the power supply of the entire washing and drying machine 100 including the heater 24 and other parts is cut off. “ON” indicates that the power supply of the entire washing and drying machine 100 is secured. Even if the power of the washing / drying machine 100 is “ON”, the output level of the heater 24 may be “OFF”. On the other hand, if the power state of the washing / drying machine 100 is “OFF”, the output level of the heater 24 is always “OFF”.

In the timer column 306, for each of the two “timers 1” and “timer 2”, a line segment indicating a state in which each timer counts the elapsed time is described. For example, the timer 1 is activated at the time of “lid opening” (t1), and holds an elapsed time starting from the time of activation at each subsequent time. The timer 1 may end the counting at a time (t3) when a time (t3-t1) preset by the user has elapsed. Similarly, the timer 2 is activated at the time of “key operation” (t2), and holds the elapsed time starting from the time of activation at each subsequent time. The timer 2 may end the counting at a time (t5) when a time (t5-t2) preset by the user has elapsed.
The time period from t1 to t3 is referred to as “heater preheating operation start time period”. The time period from t2 to t5 is referred to as “heater full operation start time period”.

  In FIG. 7, the user performs “key operation” in the heater preheating operation start time zone (t1 <t2 <t3). Thus, at t2, the output level of the heater 24 changes from “OFF” to “weak” (column 304). In addition, in the heater full-scale operation start time zone, the user performs “lid closing” (t2 <t4 <t5). As a result, at t4, the output level of the heater 24 changes from “weak” to “strong” (heater output column 304).

Another example of the control of the washing / drying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The configurations of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis (column) in FIG. 8 are the same as those in FIG. However, FIG. 8 differs from FIG. 7 in the following points.
(Difference 1) After the heater full-scale operation start time period has ended, the user performs “lid closing” (t2 <t5 <t4).
(Difference 2) As a result, at t5, the heater output level changes from “weak” to “OFF” (heater output column 304).

A further example of the control of the washer / dryer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The configurations of the horizontal axis and the vertical axis (column) in FIG. 9 are the same as those in FIG. However, FIG. 9 differs from FIG. 7 in the following points.
(Difference 3) After the heater preheating operation start time period is over, the user performs “key operation” (t1 <t3 <t2).
(Difference 4) Thus, at t3, the power state of the washing and drying machine 100 is changed from “ON” to “OFF” (washing and drying machine power supply column 305).
(Difference 5) The output level of the heater 24 remains “OFF” (heater output column 304).
(Difference 6) Timer 2 is not started (timer field 306).

(Configuration of control circuit)
The configuration of the control circuit of the washing / drying machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The control circuit includes a main control circuit 600 whose main part is a microcomputer, a load drive control circuit 601, a power supply circuit 602, and an auto-off relay 603, and is supplied with power from an AC power supply 604. Note that a switch that is opened and closed by an auto-off relay 603 exists between the power supply circuit 602 and the AC power supply 604.

  Power is supplied to the main control circuit 600, the load drive control circuit 601, and the power supply circuit 602 through an auto-off relay 603. The power supply circuit 602 converts alternating current into direct current and supplies it to the main control circuit 600.

  Various devices such as a water supply valve 7, a cooling water valve 607, a drain valve 44, a washing and drying drive motor 10, an electric blower 610, a heater 24, and a circulation pump 45 are connected to the load drive control circuit 601. The load drive control circuit 601 controls energization of various devices under the instruction of the main control circuit 600.

  The main control circuit 600 includes various operation switches 612, a water level sensor 47, a temperature sensor 613, a lid opening / closing sensor 614, a nonvolatile storage unit 615, a sound generation unit 616 to which a speaker 630 is connected, a display unit 617 such as a liquid crystal display, and the like. An error notification buzzer 618, a timer 1 (619), and a timer 2 (620) are connected.

  The main control circuit 600 communicates information with various operation switches 612, the water level sensor 47, the temperature sensor 613, the lid opening / closing sensor 614, and the nonvolatile storage unit 615, and controls the load drive control circuit 601 and the sound generation unit 616. Further, the main control circuit 600 displays various information including an error display on the display unit 617 (see FIG. 11), and sounds the buzzer 618 when an error occurs.

  In the following, when “the main control circuit 600” indicates the operation subject, the main control circuit 600 acquires an arbitrary program from the nonvolatile storage means 615 and loads the program into the memory in the main control circuit 600. In addition, it means that the function of each program is executed. As a matter of course, dedicated hardware may operate as the main control circuit 600 instead of the main control circuit 600 reading the software (program) and becoming the operation subject.

(Processing procedure)
A control processing procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Assuming that the following control processing procedure is started, it is assumed that the user puts laundry in the inner tub 3 and closes the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5.

In step S101, the main control circuit 600 turns on the power and accepts the washing operation details. Specifically, first, main control circuit 600 accepts that the user presses “On” button 628 on operation panel 611 (FIG. 11).
Secondly, the main control circuit 600 displays a preset “course” on the display unit 617 of the operation panel 611. An example of the displayed course is “washing → rinsing → dehydration”. Incidentally, there are four processes that can be included in the course: “washing”, “rinsing”, “dehydration”, and “drying”, and “washing” button 622, “rinse” button 623, and “dehydration” button 624, respectively. And “dry” 625 button. Here, “drying” is a step of drying the dehydrated laundry, and is different from the “cleaning” step of drying the outer tub 2 and the inner tub 3 in a state where the laundry is not present. The “cleaning” process corresponds to the “cleaning” button 627 and is the same process as the “tank drying” in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

  In order to change the displayed set course, the user presses the “Course setting” button 621 after pressing the “wash” button 622 and the “rinse” button 623, for example. In this way, a course of “washing → rinsing” is newly set in place of “washing → rinsing → dehydration”. If the user does not want to change the set course, the user does nothing.

Thirdly, the main control circuit 600 accepts that the user presses the “clean” button 627 on the operation panel 611. The pressing means that the user desires to dry the inner tub 3 and the outer tub 2 in a state where the laundry operation is finished and no laundry remains in the inner tub 3.
Fourthly, the main control circuit 600 accepts that the user presses the “start / pause” button 626 on the operation panel 611.

In step S102, the main control circuit 600 executes a washing operation. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 sends control signals to various devices via the load drive control circuit 601 based on the course displayed in the “second” of step S101 or a newly set course. Send. For example, it is assumed that a set course “washing → rinsing → dehydration” is displayed and the user has not changed the course.
In this case, the main control circuit 600 performs, for example, the following operations in the following order.

(wash)
(1) An instruction to open the water supply valve 7 is sent to the water supply valve 7 (washing water enters the inner tub 3).
(2) When a signal indicating that the water level has risen to a predetermined level is received from the water level sensor 47, an instruction to close the water supply valve 7 is sent to the water supply valve 7.
(3) An instruction to start rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10.
(4) An instruction to start operation is sent to the circulation pump 45.
(5) After a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to stop the rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10, and an instruction to stop the operation is sent to the circulation pump 45.

(rinse)
(6) An instruction to open the drain valve 44 is sent to the drain valve 44 (washing water comes out from the inner tub 3)
(7) An instruction to close the drain valve 44 is sent to the drain valve 44. Then, an instruction to open the water supply valve 7 is sent to the water supply valve 7 (the washing water for rinsing enters the inner tub 3).
(8) An instruction to start rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10.
(9) After a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to stop the rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10.
(10) An instruction to open the drain valve 44 is sent to the drain valve 44 (washing water for rinsing comes out from the inner tub 3).
(11) Repeat (7) to (10) a predetermined number of times.

(dehydration)
(12) An instruction to start rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10.
(13) After a predetermined time has elapsed, an instruction to stop the rotation is sent to the washing and drying drive motor 10. The main control circuit 600 may always receive a signal indicating the weight of the laundry in the inner tub 3 from a weight sensor (not shown). When the signal indicates that the weight of the laundry has decreased beyond a predetermined threshold value (dehydration has been sufficiently performed), the main control circuit 600 causes the laundry drying drive motor 10 to An instruction to stop the rotation may be sent.
When the above operation is finished, the washing operation is finished.

  In step S103, the main control circuit 600 determines whether or not “open” of the lid is detected. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 determines whether a signal indicating that the user has opened the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 has been received from the lid opening / closing sensor 614. If accepted ("YES" in step S103), the main control circuit 600 first displays a message such as "Please press the" clean "button again" on the display unit 617 (FIG. 11) of the operation panel 611. . Alternatively, the message is voiced by the voice generation means 616 and then the message is issued via the speaker 630. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S104. If not received (step S103 “NO”), it waits until it is received.

  In step S104, the main control circuit 600 starts timer 1 (619). The timer 1 (619) counts the elapsed time starting from this point. Note that the time zone starting from this point and having a predetermined length is the heater preheating operation start time zone.

  In step S105, the main control circuit 600 determines whether or not a key operation is detected within a predetermined time. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 has received from the operation switch 612 a signal indicating that the user has pressed the “clean” button 627 (FIG. 11) of the operation panel 611 again within the heater remaining heat operation start time period. Judge whether or not. If accepted (step S105 “YES”), the process proceeds to step S106. If not accepted (step S105 “NO”), the process proceeds to step S111.

  If not accepted (step S105 “NO”), the main control circuit 600 may proceed to step S111 after confirming that there is no response from the user after presenting a warning message to the user. That is, the main control circuit 600 first displays a message such as “Please press the“ clean ”button again when drying the inside of the washing machine” on the display unit 617 (FIG. 11) of the operation panel 611. Alternatively, the message is voiced by the voice generation means 616 and then the message is issued via the speaker 630. The main control circuit 600 proceeds to step S106 when the user accepts that the user presses the “clean” button 627 within a predetermined time, and proceeds to step S111 when not accepted.

  In step S106, the main control circuit 600 starts timer 2 (620). The timer 2 (620) counts the elapsed time starting from this time point. Note that the time zone starting from this point and having a predetermined length is nothing but the heater full operation start time zone. Furthermore, after this time, the main control circuit 600 counts the remaining time required for “tank drying” and displays it on the display unit 617 (FIG. 11) of the operation panel 611 in real time. The time required for “tank drying” is set in advance by the user.

  In step S107, the main control circuit 600 starts supplying hot air. Specifically, main control circuit 600 sends an instruction to start rotation of the electric motor to electric blower 610. Then, the heater 24 is instructed to start heating at the output of the level “weak”.

  In step S108, the main control circuit 600 determines whether or not the lid “closed” is detected within a predetermined time. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 determines whether or not a signal indicating that the user has closed the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 has been received from the lid opening / closing sensor 614 within the heater full-scale operation start time period. If accepted (step S108 “YES”), the process proceeds to step S109. If not accepted (step S108 “NO”), the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S109, the main control circuit 600 increases the output of the heater. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 sends an instruction to start heating at the output of the level “strong” to the heater 24, and instructs the cooling water valve 607 to open the cooling water supply connection port 80. send. Further, an instruction to start rotation may be sent to the dry washing drive motor 10 or may not be sent.

Thereafter, the main control circuit 600 continues the tank drying operation. That is, the main control circuit 600 constantly receives signals indicating the temperature of the cooling water and the temperature of the air in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 from the temperature sensor 613. And the instruction | indication which adjusts an output with respect to the heater 24 as needed is sent so that the temperature of the air in the dehumidification vertical channel | path 21 may be settled in the predetermined range. The predetermined range of the temperature of the air in the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 is normally set to a temperature significantly higher than the temperature of the cooling water.
Thereafter, when the tank drying operation is completed, the main control circuit 600 turns off the power and ends the control processing procedure.

In step S110, the main control circuit 600 stops supplying hot air. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 sends an instruction to stop the heating to the heater 24 and sends an instruction to stop the rotation of the electric motor to the electric blower 610. At this time, instead of an instruction to completely stop heating, an instruction to reduce the output of the heater 24 may be sent to the heater 24, or an instruction to stop the rotation of the electric motor is sent to the electric blower 610. It does not have to be.
Thereafter, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the main control circuit 600 turns off the power and ends the control processing procedure.

In step S111, the main control circuit 600 turns off the power. Specifically, the main control circuit 600 sends an instruction to turn off the power of the washing / drying machine 100 to the auto-off relay 603 (FIG. 10). At this time, the power supply from the AC power supply 604 is cut off.
Thereafter, the main control circuit 600 ends the control processing procedure.

(Modification 1)
Depending on the amount of laundry, the time required for the user to remove the laundry from the inner tub 3 varies. Therefore, the main control circuit 600 determines the length of the heater preheating operation start time zone (t1 to t3) and / or the length of the heater full operation start time zone (t2 to t5) according to the weight of the laundry. You may decide.
Specifically, the main control circuit 600 additionally executes the following processing at the last time point (at the end of the washing operation) in step S102.
(14) A signal indicating the weight of the laundry in the inner tub 3 is received from the weight sensor.
(15) Using “function 1” having the laundry weight as an input value, the length of the heater preheating operation start time zone is determined. And the length of the heater full-scale operation start time zone is determined using “function 2” with the weight of the laundry as an input value.
(16) The length of the heater residual heat operation start time zone and the length of the heater full operation start time zone determined in this way are stored in the nonvolatile storage means 615.

  It is assumed that the function 1 and the function 2 are stored in the nonvolatile storage unit 615. There are no particular restrictions on the contents of function 1 and function 2. However, a function that increases the length of the heater preheat operation start time zone and the length of the heater full operation start time zone, which are output values as the input value increases, is desirable.

(Modification 2)
The main control circuit 600 stores the time (t2-t1 in FIG. 7) elapsed from when the user actually “opens the lid” until the “key operation” is performed in the nonvolatile storage means 615 as history information. You may keep it. The main control circuit 600 may determine the length of the heater preheating operation start time zone based on the history information at an arbitrary time after a predetermined number or more of such history information has been accumulated. For example, a number obtained by multiplying the average value of “t2-t1” in the past by a safety factor (1 or more) may be set as the length of the heater preheating operation start time zone.

(Modification 3)
The main control circuit 600 accumulates the time (t4-t2 in FIG. 7) elapsed from when the user actually performed “key operation” until “lid closing” is stored in the nonvolatile storage means 615 as history information. You may keep it. The main control circuit 600 may determine the length of the heater full operation start time zone based on the history information at an arbitrary time after a predetermined number or more of such history information has been accumulated. For example, the number obtained by multiplying the average value of “t4-t2” in the past by a safety factor (1 or more) may be set as the length of the heater full-scale operation start time zone.

(Modification 4)
The main control circuit 600 may store the actual laundry weight in the nonvolatile storage means 615 in association with the actually elapsed time. Now, it is assumed that “function 1” and “function 2” in Modification 1 are as follows.
Function 1: y ₁ = f ₁ (x, p ₁ , p ₂ ,...)
Function 2: y ₂ = f ₂ (x, q ₁ , q ₂ ,...)
Here, x is the weight of the laundry. y ₁ is the time (t2-t1 in FIG. 7) that has elapsed since the user performed “open the lid” until the “key operation” is performed. y ₂ is the time that has elapsed since the user perform "key operation" until the "lid closing" (in FIG. 7, t4-t2) is. p ₁ , p ₂ ,... and q ₁ , q ₂ ,.

The main control circuit 600 performs a regression analysis using these plural (x, y ₁ ) at an arbitrary time when a predetermined number or more of (x, y ₁ ) as the actual value is accumulated. , P ₁ , p ₂ ,... Further, the main control circuit 600 executes a regression analysis using the plurality of (x, y ₂ ) at an arbitrary time when a predetermined number or more of (x, y ₂ ) as the actual value is accumulated. Thus, q ₁ , q ₂ ,... Are determined. The determined result is stored in the nonvolatile storage means 615.

Thereafter, on the occasion of an actual washing operation, the main control circuit 600 executes the following processing at the final time point of step S102.
(17) A signal indicating the weight of the laundry in the inner tub 3 is received from the weight sensor.
(18) The length of the heater preheating operation start time zone is determined by inputting the weight of the accepted laundry in “x” of function 1 and obtaining “y ₁ ”. Furthermore, the length of the heater full-scale operation start time zone is determined by inputting the weight of the accepted laundry into “x” of function 2 and obtaining “y ₂ ”. The determined result is stored in the nonvolatile storage means 615.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the type of the washing / drying machine is “vertical” and the heating means is “heater” has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to other types of washing and drying machines such as “drum type”. Furthermore, instead of a “heater”, any heating means capable of heating air can be used. For example, there is a case where a heater is not necessarily used as a heating means, such as a drum type. In such a case, a heat pump may be used as the heating means instead of the heater.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the washing / drying machine has both the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34 has been described as an example. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the number of lids. For example, the present invention is also applicable to a type of washer / dryer that normally has only one lid, such as a drum type.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the open / closed state of both the inner lid 34 and the outer lid 5 is detected has been described as an example. However, it is also possible to detect the open / closed state of either the inner lid 34 or the outer lid 5.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to this embodiment, the outer tank 2 and the inner tank 3 can be efficiently dried while suppressing power consumption. Furthermore, the timing of increasing the output of the heater 24 and the timing of turning off the power of the washing / drying machine 100 can be automatically determined according to the user's habits and the tendency of the amount of laundry.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

2 Outer tank 3 Inner tank 24 Heater (heating means)
100 Washer / Dryer 202 Blower (Blower)
600 Main control circuit

Claims (4)

An outer tub for storing washing water and rinsing water;
An inner tank rotatably mounted in the outer tank;
A blowing means for supplying air to the laundry in the inner tub;
Heating means using the wind as warm air;
Performing a washing process, a rinsing process, and a dehydrating process, ending a washing operation including at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the dehydrating process, and detecting that a predetermined key is operated, A control circuit for increasing the output of the heating means when starting the supply of warm air to the blowing means and the heating means, and then detecting the closed state of the lid of the washing and drying machine;
A washing and drying machine comprising: The control circuit includes:
If the closed state of the lid is not detected within a predetermined time after the predetermined key is operated, the output of the heating means is reduced or stopped;
The washing / drying machine according to claim 1. The control circuit includes:
If it is not detected that the predetermined key is operated within a predetermined time after the washing operation is finished and the lid is opened, turning off the power of the washing and drying machine;
The washing / drying machine according to claim 2. The control circuit includes:
When it is detected that the predetermined key is operated, the remaining time of the tank drying is displayed.
The washing / drying machine according to claim 3.

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